I just got a new Liberty limited with the full 4wd package (Selec-Trac). There is a full time 4wd and part time 4wd. When and under what circumstances should I choose between the 2?

The easy way to remember when to use them are as follows:

Full-Time 4WD can be used all the time. It is for the street and can be engaged on any service...Full-Time. It allows all four wheels to turn at different speeds.

Part-Time 4WD can be used only some of the time. It is for off road adventures and should only be used on loose dirt/mud/ect. When engaged it locks the front and rear driveshafts together so that front and rear wheels can not turn at different speeds. It gives better traction for off road adventures. Using part-Time 4WD on the road will damge your drivetrain.

4WD LO is for serious 4Wheelin'. Read your manual to get the correct engagement criteria. It can not be engaged at up to 55 MPH like Full-Time and Part-Time 4WD.

The full time 4wd can be used all of the time hence full time. But the part time mode is to be used only on slipery surfaces like snow, ice, dirt, mud, etc... But it should NOT be used on dry pavement since there will be a lot of strain on the mechanical components especially during turns.

In a turn, the outside wheels travel a greater distance than the inner wheels, so they have to turn at different speeds. The full time 4wd lets this happen but not the part time. Off-road in part time mode, the wheels will slip and skip due to the surface condition without strain tou your truck.

So in winter, put it in full time and forget it. Off-road, better put it in part time and 4LOW.

Hope this helps...

i have a 96 jeep grand cherokee and when in full time 4wd and turning in a parking lot it binds up and makes a grinding noise like breaks eating into rotors. whats the fix for this if im suppose to be able to turn on dry serfaces.

If u got a jeep Cherokee u can go as fast as u want in 4 wheel drive its not limited like our library owners in the past I had a 2004 jeep grand Cherokee. The thing that is going to kill sales for jeep is them eliminating the straight 6 , 4.0 ..

Could be a number of things but the first I'd check are the universal joints at each front wheel.

What modes are available to you?

Normal for you if you got the 249 t-case that uses a clutch pack in the t-case,not normal if you have the 242 t-case.


The 242 t-case is not a direct shift t-case,it uses check balls and springs to shift and is very common for it to get stuck in part time 4wd thinking it's in full time 4wd.Burnt fluid and mis-matched tires(tread depth and/or air pressure) are the big culprits of a bad shifting 242.