Okay - 4x4 question - shifting between 4HI/4LO

[OdiN]

Is a lound clanking sound normal when going from 4HI to 4LO and back?

Asking as the 4x4 in my friends dodge makes nary a sound when shifting into it.

[Alex Topousis]

are you moving when you try shifting? when going to 4-lo put the tranny in neutral. I usually do it when I'm not moving although it says you can shift when you are moving

[Sully4x4]

Doubt this will help but:

In my 89 pathy, no. I just shift sitting still, doesn't even jolt. Goes in and off I go to burn a clutch.

My friends Dodge, however, he had to look in the manual to figure out how to get it into 4-lo XD

[OdiN]

The sound was when I was in Neutral...as if I understand correctly, I should always be in N when shifting into 4LO with my X. From 2HI to 4HI I can shift while in drive - and can shift while moving if under 25MPH apparently - though I'd try to be very slow/stopped anyway.

I figure it would make a bit of a sound with the gears engaging and whatever but it just seems a bit rough - but I'm not used to this vehicle for 4WD yet so figured I would ask.

[DamnHippie]

I routinely shift between 2H and 4H at up to 40mph with no problems. For 4H<->4L it's best to be at a complete stop and in neutral (not park if you've got an auto, neutral -- it needs some wiggle on the tranny side of the gears to shift). I've found that in practice I can shift in an out of 4L if I'm moving really slow, like 2-3mph, but not above that.

I've always had a noticible sound shifting in and out of 4L, but it's a soft dull clunk sound, not at all alarming.

[OdiN]

I routinely shift between 2H and 4H at up to 40mph with no problems. For 4H<->4L it's best to be at a complete stop and in neutral (not park if you've got an auto, neutral -- it needs some wiggle on the tranny side of the gears to shift). I've found that in practice I can shift in an out of 4L if I'm moving really slow, like 2-3mph, but not above that.

I've always had a noticible sound shifting in and out of 4L, but it's a soft dull clunk sound, not at all alarming.

Yeah that's what I'm doing. I get the clunk but it seems a bit loud to me.

[Alex Topousis]

if you stop by sometime again I'll show you how I do it. I'll listen for whatever sound you are hearing too, I'm sure its normal though

[OdiN]

if you stop by sometime again I'll show you how I do it. I'll listen for whatever sound you are hearing too, I'm sure its normal though

Yeah it probably is - I'm headed up the Poudre this weekend so I'll have the guys going take a listen. I shift like the manual says, only thing I've read is to try to move through N on the transfer case quickly and go right to 4LO.

But I have warranty on the drivetrain so if there is a problem better to figure it out and make them fix it while I still have the warranty.

[woody]

So here is my story as I get some grinding noise from the transfer case every now and then.

When shifting into 4LO, it doesn't always engage/lock correctly. I test it by shifting into 4LO and the putting the tranny in REVERSE. If the transfer case shifter slides, I know it isn't locked (and the light on the dash goes out as well). When I put the transfer case selector back into 4HI, I will get some grinding noise. It normally takes me 2 or 3 tries to get it locked into 4LO.

If I am going over 30 mph and shift from 2HI to 4HI, it will grind as well. Under 30mph, I just take my foot off the gas when shifting. It seems to help.

[OdiN]

You're supposed to take your foot off anytime you shift to take the load off, from what I'm told.