Now that i've had a chance to use my new jeep and its 4wd system in the snow i have a question. I understand how the system works but what i've never seen documented is the do not exceed speed when in 4wd lock.
The situation for me is my commute to work i drive on an interstate and the other day when it was crappy out i put it in 4wd lock and hopped on the interstate and got it up to about 50mph in the snow. It seemed to me to have a very faint whine or hum. At this point i'm not sure if it was the tires on the snow or what but it was there.
Obviously at no point was there dry pavement, it was snowing pretty heavily and the roads were crap. Just trying to figure this system out as im used to my old kj that had the nice full time and part time system. Too bad jeep took that away...

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2010 Liberty Sport Silver
02 Liberty Ltd. Red - Gone

Lost lifetime member - NB060402 -

I'm not sure since you have the Command II system, but check your owners manual.

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2008 Jeep Liberty Sport 4x4 - Blue
Auto Transmission, Selec-Trac II, 245/70/16 Firestone Destination AT Tires,
Factory Skids, Factory Tow Pkg , Front Tow Hooks, Black Aries Running boards,
Tint all around, Factory Engine block heater, WeatherTech Digital Fit Floor Mats, Receiver Hitch Recovery Point,

www.CardinalSafetyTraining.com

I think its 55mph. I just turn the 4wd off once i get past 30mph because it isnt really necessary at that speed. Your momentum alone will keep your wheels from slipping.

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2010 KK 4WD BRILLIANT BLACK
Fox/King/Bilstein ATH BUMPERS ATH RACK GY DURATRACS

ATHFAB.com

This same question always comes around winter time, every year. If you need 4wd you shouldn't be driving that fast in the first place. I remember back home in iowa you would see more trucks and suvs in ditches because they thought they would be fine in 4wd. Having 4wd gives you a false sense of your ability to drive faster in slick conditions. Imo 45 is too fast for 4wd.

Yeah ok. maybe 50 is pushing it. I've lived here my whole life, and yes agree its always the dumb asses that seem to find the ditch. HOWEVER, the people in my area that are finding the ditch are either not paying attention or going upwards of 60-70mph.

I also would disagree that 45 is too fast for 4wd. I think it depends on your situation entirely. My old jeep i could leave it in 4wd full time 24/7 and even when its dry there was no harm. This new system is different an it appears thats not the case.

I also think that where i would have used to use 4wd to help the back end from coming around would now be taken care of ESP/TC.

To sum it up, with my old jeep it was kind of a set it and forget it. Now i think i will find myself driving in 2wd more than i would like. I almost wish jeep would have gone to some sort of all the time 4wd system something. To me these two new transfer case options dont really suite everyones needs.

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2010 Liberty Sport Silver
02 Liberty Ltd. Red - Gone

Lost lifetime member - NB060402 -

If you haven't driven in snow yet with esp get ready for it to scare the crap out of you. If you're used to being able to correct your steering for your rear coming out and you try doing it the esp it will jerk you straight. You almost have to let the computer do the driving for you, kinda retarded but it does work and probably saved me from a ditch last winter when I visited iowa fo the holidays.

Yeah agreed. I haven't yet had the moment when it kicks in when i'm not expecting it to though. That will be a bit unnerving.

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2010 Liberty Sport Silver
02 Liberty Ltd. Red - Gone

Lost lifetime member - NB060402 -

Yup. Certainly puckers your A$$hole, that's for sure.

45mph is to fast for part time 4wd like you have now,okay when you are in full time like the Select Trac II which is offered in a KK and what you are used to.

You got the wrong t-case is all.


If you need part time 4wd you should not be driving that fast is basically the bottom line.

In my Compass I used to do a partial off for my ESP when driving in deep snow or ice. I haven't looked yet to see if the Liberty ESP is the same, probably is but I haven't had any situations I have needed to do this. But if you press the ESP button without holding it down it goes into partial off, this limits the ESP and gives you back some control and I think gives you more traction. This was all in the manual I haven't read in a while. If you hold down the ESP button it shuts it completely off (don't quote me on that one though). I live in central MA, usually 100+" or so a season, and an ice storm or two. The first time I drove with the ESP in the snow was in a really bad storm coming home from work. I live on a huge hill and was pissed I couldn't get up it in my new 4x4 Jeep but I could with my old Toyota Matrix. I pulled over read the manual, did the one quick push on the ESP and was on my way.

eta: just saw the esp thread, close enough

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~JoAnne
2009 Liberty 4x4 Skyslider
1999 Cherokee 200k+ miles olllllllo
2008 Dodge Ram 2500 for plowing and towing.