Cannot shift into 4H or 4L on my new 2023 gladiator .

[Silverator]

My 2023 was like butter from the factory. I’d definitely recommend letting them look at it.

That's probably cause the sales guys had their way with her before they cleaned her up and delivered her to you.

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[Maximus Gladius]

Maybe the oil level is too low. I’d level the truck and pull the fill plug and see if you can feel any oil in there and then take it from there.

 

[Zimbu]

Yup, it can be tough to get the lever to move sometimes. At 35k now and lots of 4x4 use and mine is still stiff going into 4 low, sometimes I have to smash on it to get back to 4 high.

Force it or bring it to the dealer to have them force it! Not sure how you might have measured your 30lbs of force but that’s not enough apparently

I used a spring scale .

 

[GeneralMaximus]

I'm pretty sure I had to pull more than 35lbs of force to get her into 4H and then 4L for the first time. Judging from my days lifting dumbbells, it felt more like 40-50lbs of jerking er back. Granted, I did this while in Neutral but the manual says to do it while you're in Drive and up to 40mph. For 4L, it says to shift into neutral and go from 4H to 4L while rolling 1-2mph.

 

[Sandevino]

That's probably cause the sales guys had their way with her before they cleaned her up and delivered her to you.

Maybe...

 

[Bjeepz]

I used a spring scale .

Well well..!!

Have you managed to get it to shift yet with more force?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Maybe the oil level is too low. I’d level the truck and pull the fill plug and see if you can feel any oil in there and then take it from there.

Why would that matter?

The stuff inside is always turning and churning the lube around. It would have to be pretty dry to cause stuff to not move.
IMO, since they use ATF in these, it's not ideal for things to slide and shift easily.


I will say, the Selec-Trac is simple to get back into 4H Auto, it's over to 4H part time and 4 lo that are tough and it does help rolling a bit for 4 lo
Even 4H part time I found that if it moved some it helped.

My 2020 was tougher to shift than the 2022 is, and 4 low is the worst, 4HA is simple - even my wife can pull it straight back for that one (Selec-Trac is what I'm talking about - OTHERS may be very different)

 

[Chaos Theory]

Yes mine was very 'locked' at first-- and I actually came to this forum to ask if it was normal for it to be that difficult to shift into 4wd. Turns out it was, and after a couple dozen times now, it's still tight but has loosened up considerably.

 

[aevgladitorrubi]

My new 2023 Gladiator ( auto ) will not shift into 4H or 4L . Lever will not budge . I checked underneath and nothing was out of the ordinary . Not a NB . Any ideas ?

Get it moving a little, then shit into neutral and try

 

[Maximus Gladius]

The stuff inside is always turning and churning the lube around. It would have to be pretty dry to cause stuff to not move.

It’s always turning and churning so the transfer is warm and ready? Let’s assume it doesn’t in 2H and the factory forgot to top up the oil level (which does happen and has happened to me, but thankfully not with my Jeep), the OP can’t engage 4H. Maybe it’s possible the transfer case lube is low. It’s put in there by humans and they can error on purpose or by mistake.
I’ve easily put on 1500 kms on the transfer case now and 3 oil changes in that component in my 74k kms on the odometer and the engagement of 4H and L is effortless. But it didn’t start out that way at first. I think someone at the dealership should show you how hard you have to manhandle it at first …it gets easier from there.

 

[Artsifrtsi]

after a couple dozen times now, it's still tight but has loosened up considerably.

Get it moving a little, then shit into neutral and try

I don't think you are talking about the Jeep anymore...

 

[Chestnut]

I'll add in that i read about how stiff the system can be from the factory, with 15 miles on mine it was STIFF 30lbs doesn't seem like nearly enough. Also once you hit 4low be prepared for just as much effort to get back out. The advice in the manual to try and skip neutral is also good. If you pause in neutral it's going to take some effort again. If it breaks that's what the warrenty is for.

For the first 1k miles i shifted from 2wd to 4hi every day rolling up to the left turn at my work parking lot. It's now effortless into 4hi and i can hit 4low easily at a stop.

 

[sharpsicle]

I agree with everyone else. 30lbs is not enough, especially if it's the first time you're trying to engage it. Pull harder. And don't worry about measuring the force it takes, there's no spec for that.

Once you feel it work the first time, you'll understand that it's normal to really pull on that sucker.

 

[shawnebell]

The Official Factory Video - how to shift into 4H/4L

Try this.

 

[BearFootSam]

I tried both stopped and slow roll , will not budge . Pulling hard enough to move it ( 30 lbs of aft force ) .

Try this - at 5mph lift off the throttle as you pull the lever. *edit* - don't hesistate on the shift, the rotating assemblies lose momentum and you'll get a grindy noise, if you don't get it, go back to 2Hi and start again. It needs not just a hard pull but a quick one, you won't break it, it's a truck.

Gear changes whether a MT or transfer case, are always smoother when you release the load. Same principle behind a quick shift on a motorcycle, when you blip off the throttle you unload the transmission allowing a clutch less shift that's as smooth as can be.


Ten shifts or so and some brief driving in 4L will loosen it up. It will never get 'easy' but that's part of the charm vs cheesy push button.

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