OK, I was out yesterday wandering around on some dirt tracks on the south side of Albuquerque. I was running in 4HI but got to a point where I really felt I needed 4LO. I tried shifting per the owners manual but couldn't get the t-case to shift past 4HI; when I tried to get into 4LO it felt like I was hitting a stop (like if you try to shift from reverse into drive without depressing the release). I can still shift into and out of 4HI just fine. Anyone have this problem crop up? Is there something I can check underneath or should I take it into the dealer and get it looked at under the powertrain warranty? Thanks for any help.

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Kevin
AD5VG
Just another red Jeep in the world...
L.O.S.T. #KB051963

You have to move the t-case shifter a little to the right, then on past neutral, then down to 4-Low. The diagram on the shifter itself should give you an idea.

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DIRTY KJ :: flickr photostream
"Primitive life is very common and intelligent life is fairly rare ... some would say it has yet to occur on Earth" --- Stephen Hawking

Two obvious things

1 Make sure you are in N or P as I always forget and try it when I am in D

2 Make sure you are moving VERY slowly, or even stopped.

I find it's easier to shift from 4HI to 2WD, and then move it to 4LO in one long sweep of the lever to me. Dunno why, the movemenet seems more natural to me versus the short jerk.

I agree here, it always seems to me that it engages a bit smoother shifting right to 4lo, but be carefull to not do this while moving!

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2010 Liberty Sport Silver
02 Liberty Ltd. Red - Gone

Lost lifetime member - NB060402 -

Tried all of those permutations, no joy. It seems like maybe the switch isn't engaging and won't let me shift thru, but if that was the case would it let me shift into 4HI? Unfortunately my regular computer is in storage at the moment; it has a .pdf copy of the Service Manual on it and would probably help me diagnose the problem. I may have to go pull it out tomorrow. Thanks for the replies.

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Kevin
AD5VG
Just another red Jeep in the world...
L.O.S.T. #KB051963

Actually, I find that if you are moving very slowly (below 5mph the owners manual states) it shift into 4-lo pretty easy. Not sure if you tried, but have her just barely rolling and give it a try.

Agreed, likewise for shifting out of 4Lo. I have the NP231 (Command-Trac) in both of my Jeeps and in both of them, while rolling, shift tranny to neutral, shift transfer case whichever direction, works easiest with least grind (usually none).

You can shift at a standstill, but you might need to shift in and out of gear a couple times to do it (spins the gears up, giving them a chance to align).

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Bri
2005 KJ, still stock
2000 TJ, not so stock

All of this isn't news to me; this is how I normally shift when going into 4LO (also what the owners manual suggests). Apparently no one else has run into this problem? Looks like its time for a trip to the dealer to see what they say...

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Kevin
AD5VG
Just another red Jeep in the world...
L.O.S.T. #KB051963

You didn't mention previously that you'd done it before. If that's the case, maybe the cable is getting caught up somewhere. If you've taken out the floor console before, you might look at the transfer case shift lever assembly to see if it's getting caught in there.

There are four screws holding the floor console to the floor. Two accessible by the back of the flip-up box, one by the top right side of the shifter cover plate, and one by the transfer case shifter cover plate. Both cover plates can be pried off with something soft (plastic knife?) or the Miller tool C-4755.

_________________
DIRTY KJ :: flickr photostream
"Primitive life is very common and intelligent life is fairly rare ... some would say it has yet to occur on Earth" --- Stephen Hawking