What am I doing wrong? (4-low)

[TheGreatCO]

This is interesting, based on what you've said, you're getting positive confirmation on the instrument cluster that you're in 4L but when you press the gas the engine revs and you don't move.

I just spent the weekend on the beach at NJ Jeep Invasion and used 4L. First, I was able to shift relatively easily into 4L at a stop, I didn't need to roll to do it.

I found that when I'm in 4L, the transmission seems to want to _start_ in 2nd gear. On the hardpack sand of Wildwood, 2nd gear seemed fine. In fact, I found I needed to hold the brake harder to keep from creeping. When I used 4L the first time on my normal beach (Island Beach State Park), the sand is quite soft. I found my Jeep didn't really want to move, I'm guessing because it starts in 2nd gear. So my theories are:
1. You're so sunk in and the gearing is so low, that the engine is revving higher than you would intuitively expect to get motion?
2. The transmission is starting in a very high gear, try forcing it to 1st in manual mode
3. The transfer case isn't fully in gear, despite the display
4. The transmission isn't actually in gear due to a lockout (display says it is in 4L, but isn't)
5. The transfer case is somehow broken such that it is just bound up

I think you can rule out a few of these just from the engine noise.
1. If the system isn't actually in gear, the engine will rev quite easily, just like it was in neutral.
2. If revving the engine requires quite a bit of throttle, such that it sounds "bogged down", the output shaft is bound up (think, 4L is broken/seized) or the transmission is in a very high gear

I would run the following test next time you use 4L:
1. Engage 4H
2. Put the trans in neutral
3. Engage 4L
4. Put the trans in drive
5. Put the trans in manual
6. Shift to 1st gear

If you get no (or very little tire movement) and the engine sounds like it's working hard (or barely doing anything at all), that would likely point to something wrong in the transfer case. If you're getting tire movement, it may just be you're not used to 4L, but wouldn't rule out transfer case issues.

If at any point after shifting to 4L, the transfer case goes into N, 4L was not fully engaged. Be wary of just flooring it, because if the system is bound up, you can grind the gears if it pops out or do some internal damage taking full load from the engine at a standstill.

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[HorneyBadger]

Had this issue the first few times I went to 4lo. Think it was engage started moving and then it pops out. Definitely an art the first few times to get it to be in 4lo. Now, its no longer an issue. Keep at it!

 

[Panthers65]

I tried to do the whole put the transmission in neutral while rolling <3MPH thing over the weekend. The one time I got confirmation it was in 4lo the tcase popped back into neutral about 5 yards later.

Went into 4lo several times without any issue by leaving the transmission in drive. Didn't seem to matter if I was completely stopped or creeping along <3MPH, every time I did that I heard a good clunk, no grinding, and the tcase stayed in 4lo until I shifted it back into 4Hi.

 

[obrianmcc]

Sounds like it is popping into N ... the rolling 2-3 mph does help when on a surface other than sand. These transfer cases need to break in. I can shift into 4lo now from a complete stop without issue.

 

[LordEnzo]

When pulling lever back from N to 4Lo, u need to feel it "clunk" all the way back. As others mentioned, u think you'll break the lever. You won't. Even tho it may require some force. I've always been able to get it in from a stop, except the first couple times. Waiting till ur stuck is not the best time to switch low tho.

 

[Trailman]

Yeah so this is you popping in to neutral, not stalling.

Really crank on it to get as far down as you can with the lever. AND, keep your hand on it as you start to move. Hold it as far down as you can as you move.

Finally as someone else said, pop it over to manual mode and force it in to 1st. The transmission defaults to 2nd in 4Lo, which generally should be fine. But if you're buried, it might need 1st.

 

[DocMike]

This all day. Gotta work it in a bit. I thought I was going to break mine the first few times.
I am at an almost dead stop then I go neutral and finally into four low. Bit of a pause.

Make sure it’s all the way in 4 low. The shift knob should be almost touching the console. Mine took a while to loosen up. The first few times I thought I was gonna break the shifter.

 

[Mister Lamb]

All great information thank you gentlemen.

 

[@californiajeeping]

All great information thank you gentlemen.

Also another tip. While rolling put the jeep in neutral. as you are rolling pull back to 4 high then shift to drive. Do it again for 4 lo. The more you do it the easier it is. I find almost always its easier to shift into 4wd at a 1-2 mph roll. With things spinning they kinda clink together instead of binding.

 

[DLSkinner]

Automatic transmission in neutral with jeep stopped level ground. Pull transfer case into 4lo. If it does not go into 4lo. Go back to 2 0r 4 hi. Drive forward or reverse to take any pressure off the driveline. Go back to neutral on the transmission. Shift the transfer case to 4 lo. Use the manual shift on the transmission once you are in 4 lo. Practice a few times on a dirt or gravel surface. Not pavement.

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