Topic: Trouble engaging 4wd on hills

[stan98tj]

Anyone experience any trouble engaging 4wd while on steep inclines? It doesnt always happen, but it has happened frequently enough. i pull back on the lever while moving up a hill and the 4wd wont engage-no light on or anything- sometimes it catches, but the light doesnt come on, other times it doesnt go in at all and i end up having to go to neutral to engage 4hi. It does it on flat ground as well, but rarely. Sometimes it will also drop out of 4wd.
I had thought the lift without the t-case drop had something to do with it..but i installed the t-case drop and the problem went away for a bit but now is back.  Kind of makes things hairy if im driving in the snow in 2wd and try to go up a hill and need 4wd halfway up...

[sharpxmen]

not sure of the whole scenario but if you're trying to do it while spinning the rear wheels it won't go in, it's like shifting without pressing the clutch (your front driveshaft would be spinning at a different rate compared to the rear, they both need to spin at the same rate).

[Jeffy]

4Hi should be shift-on-the-fly up and can be used up to 55MPH.  Since the TJ does not use an axle disconnect, I would guess that the shifter need to be adjusted.  The shifter, unlike on a YJ is connected to the body and if there was any lower of the transfer case or raising of the body, it will need to be readjusted.  Since it wouldn't engage before but worked after you lowered the transfer case for a while, I'd suspect the shifter.

[sharpxmen]

4Hi should be shift-on-the-fly up and can be used up to 55MPH. 

if you have grip on the rear axle, if you're on snow and spin (keep your foot in the pedal) won't go in

[stan98tj]

But i wonder why it does it most on hills.... Ill have to see about the shifter adjustment, Jeffy. By the way, could this be a sign of maybe having a tooth missing on one of the gears in the t-case? when it drops out of 4wd it seems to be in a state of limbo, even if i go to neutral, it still grinds when you put it back into 4hi or 4lo (this is only if it drops out of 4wd).

[sharpxmen]

But i wonder why it does it most on hills.... Ill have to see about the shifter adjustment, Jeffy. By the way, could this be a sign of maybe having a tooth missing on one of the gears in the t-case? when it drops out of 4wd it seems to be in a state of limbo, even if i go to neutral, it still grinds when you put it back into 4hi or 4lo (this is only if it drops out of 4wd).

probalby the shifter as per Jeffy's suggestion
ok, this is a long shot, but by any chance is it possible that you have different gears front and rear? could also be if one of your tire pressures is off (or front vs rear maybe)

[stan98tj]

im sure the gears are the same. 100K+ maybe it just needs to be readjusted.... im at sea now so it will have to wait. just wondered if anyone else had this happen or if it wasnt too common.

[Torch_Ind]

tj's were bad for 4wd shifting because the levers are bolted to the body.

my buddy had a hard time with his after he put a body lift in. every time the body would flex it would make things difficult

[stan98tj]

tj's were bad for 4wd shifting because the levers are bolted to the body.

my buddy had a hard time with his after he put a body lift in. every time the body would flex it would make things difficult

well i hope the .75" spring spacers i am putting in soon dont make it any worse.

[neale_rs]

Some shifter kits are available that allow you to eliminate the body side attachment.

[Torch_Ind]

well i hope the .75" spring spacers i am putting in soon dont make it any worse.

nope suspension won't affect it.. it's body or linkage worn/bent/misaligned etc

look for linkage problem or worn or broke or rotted body mounts

[Jeffy]

Some shifter kits are available that allow you to eliminate the body side attachment.

Ultimately this is the best option.

[stan98tj]

so the shifter linkages are bolted to the body on a tj? there are kits available to remove/correct that and then bolt the shifter where? the frame? how come more ppl on here with TJs haven't gone through this?

[neale_rs]

It ends up bolted only to the drivetrain.  These problems are actually pretty common, I've read about many cases of this.

[Jeffy]

so the shifter linkages are bolted to the body on a tj? there are kits available to remove/correct that and then bolt the shifter where? the frame? how come more ppl on here with TJs haven't gone through this?

http://www.novak-adapt.com/catalog/shifters/sk2x.htm
http://www.quadratec.com/products/52554_210.htm
http://www.quadratec.com/products/12521_901.htm
http://advanceadapters.com/product/2565/%28P/N-715542%29-Stand-alone-TJ-%26-Cherokee-Shifter-Bracket.html