What am I doing wrong? (4-low)

[Mister Lamb]

I'm 0/2 shifting into 4-low at the beach. The Jeep handles just fine @ 4-hi aired down, but the last two times I was there I tried shifting into 4-low to see the difference in handling and 'stalled.'

From 4-hi I would go into drive and hit the pedal to get a roll going, shift to neutral and shift through neutral into 4-low. The truck would drive for a brief moment and then would stall and not move.

I looked like an idiot both times revving at a standstill before shifting back to 4-hi.

What the hell am I doing wrong?

I also have some ATF+4 on order as some of the noises coming out of the transfer case did not sound groovy

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[Misslman]

Have you tried 4low on hard pack like a dirt road? Does it do the same stall scenario?

 

[sass JT]

Here’s what I do regardless of terrain. Stop with your brakes to zero movement. Put it into neutral then grab your lever and go into neutral then 4 low. You might have to let off the brakes to let it roll while you pull your lever into 4 lo. Once locked in… back into drive.

 

[AZCooWhip]

3 mph or less. Make sure you all in on the gear. You may have to yank pretty hard.

Exactly as sass says above.

 

[Mister Lamb]

Ive momentarily done it on a paved road just for the sake of getting the feel of the shift and after successfully getting into 4low shifted right back out without issue. Doing the same process on sand and not having success.

Have you tried 4low on hard pack like a dirt road? Does it do the same stall scenario?

 

[same_O_G]

^ what they said.

Do you have an auto transmission? If so, it should definitely not "stall." If it does, probably worth a dealership diagnostic.

 

[Mister Lamb]

Here’s what I do regardless of terrain. Stop with your brakes to zero movement. Put it into neutral then grab your lever and go into neutral then 4 low. You might have to let off the brakes to let it roll while you pull your lever into 4 lo. Once locked in… back into drive.

In order for me to get the roll I need on the sand I have to give it a little bit of gas just due to how sunken the tires are. Am wondering if I've tried it while above 3mph...

 

[Mister Lamb]

^ what they said.

Do you have an auto transmission? If so, it should definitely not "stall." If it does, probably worth a dealership diagnostic.

Yup, auto. Will come to a stop while in drive and will rev. Am wondering if I havent shifted all the way through like others are suggesting although this last time I gave it some pretty good force and had the indicator light on for 4lo

 

[sass JT]

Yup, auto. Will come to a stop while in drive and will rev. Am wondering if I havent shifted all the way through like others are suggesting although this last time I gave it some pretty good force and had the indicator light on for 4lo

Definitely have to pop into neutral from drive. I even had to do that on my previous xterra with the electric knob transfer case

 

[same_O_G]

Mines a little sticky, but nowhere near as rough as my JK was. Try it on pavement. Bump to neutral while SLOWLY rolling forward or back, pull it all the way down to 4lo, then bump back to Drive.

Seriously though, even if you fuck it up, it definitely shouldn't stall the engine. By "stall" do you mean it stays in neutral or the engine literally dies and you have to restart it?

 

[Mister Lamb]

Definitely have to pop into neutral from drive. I even had to do that on my previous terrace with the electric knob transfer case

Sorry if wasnt clear. Am most definitely shifting into neutral before trying to shift the transfer case. I give a little gas in Drive to get a roll, shift into neutral and then attempt the transfer case shift. Have done it on pavement to get feel for shift without issue. Maybe I'll record process next time at the beach and somebody can point out what I'm missing.

 

[sass JT]

Sorry if wasnt clear. Am most definitely shifting into neutral before trying to shift the transfer case. I give a little gas in Drive to get a roll, shift into neutral and then attempt the transfer case shift. Have done it on pavement to get feel for shift without issue. Maybe I'll record process next time at the beach and somebody can point out what I'm missing.

Definitely let us know… cause we know you can do it! Woot

 

[Mister Lamb]

Mines a little sticky, but nowhere near as rough as my JK was. Try it on pavement. Bump to neutral while SLOWLY rolling forward or back, pull it all the way down to 4lo, then bump back to Drive.

Seriously though, even if you fuck it up, it definitely shouldn't stall the engine. By "stall" do you mean it stays in neutral or the engine literally dies and you have to restart it?

I didn't use stall properly. I'm assuming it gets stuck in neutral which leads to the stopping/revving. Only thing throwing me off is the fact the 4-lo indicator was lit up like it was successfully geared in. Will record next time

 

[same_O_G]

Gotcha!

It's probably just not fully engaging due to being in sand and not rolling far enough. I literally had the same thing happen this past weekend and had to put it back up into four High to get it rolling enough to get into four lo.

 

[Sunnysideup]

Some are difficult when new to get into 4-low... it needs pulled way back. I think the light will come on because the switch happens before the shifter is totally locked into low. First time out for mine it would go in patially and then pop out when it went to climb ...then I relaized it wasn't fully pulled back. The sand is probably creating enough resistance to pop it out.

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