Select Trac questions

[melted]

Being an absolute newby with four wheel drive, I decided to practice a bit within the relatively safe confines of the private road in our development. Since I have no background to compare, I thought the more experienced members of this forum could provide me with some insight.

1. Moving the Selec-Trac lever through all positions felt like drawing Excalibur the sword out of the block of stone. It seemed to work OK and all the idiot lights came on per spec, but the grating feel of the transfer lever seemed odd. Is this a normal sensation?

2. The owner's manual provides what I think is a very odd procedure to shift into / out-of 4 LO. "With the vehicle rolling at 2 to 3 mph, shift auto transmission to N. While the vehicle is coasting a 2 to 3 mph, shift the transfer case lever firmly to the desired position. NOTE: Pausing in transfer case N may require shutting the engine OFF to avoid gear clash."

The idea of shutting the ignition off while rolling troubles me. I did have a devil of a time shifting out of 4 LO until I was rolling.
Other experiences?
Better techiques?

3. I think I have become attuned to the sound of the CRD engine, but I also detect what I think is high exhaust system noise, and some gear whine. Can anybody share some of their thoughts on this?

4. Thanks to those who keep posting the TSBs. I have heard the rear brake moan (disturbing on a brand new vehicle), and appreciate that this issue has been raised before in this forum. This one is on the list for my "5 star" dealer to address at the first maintenance.

 

[grogiefrog]

Melted... about going into 4-LO, I agree that the first time that I was reading about it that it sounded like a lot to do. But once I did it a few times it's something that you just have to due within a few seconds and not really think about it too much. Doing everything within a couple seconds, and you shouldn't need to shut the engine off. Just slightly coast, move the transmutation to neutral and move the 4 wheel-drive lever all the way to 4 LO, then back to drive. The 4-LO really has some power to it. I haven't had to use it in a bad situation, but I would like to! There is a muddy field near me that some other 4x4's have been driving through that is tempting me, lol.

I really found the 4x4 system in the KJ to be a lot of fun, and I like having the Selec-Trac as it's worth having the "anytime" full-time option. I can see how someone like my wife would like a push button, or just full-time "all-the-time" and forget about it like the loaded Grand Cherokee Limited.

My wife did have a situation one morning that she had the lever on "full-time" and she took several sharp turns and had a massive "pop"... which was the result of drive-line binding I believe. For whatever reason, it must have not switched from part-time to full-time? Since then I have suggested that when she engages it to "full-time", make sure she taps the breaks a couple of times, or just engages the full-time while in park, to make sure it switches to full-time. I have read that a few people have had this happen as well.

Well definitely go out and test it, and bring your wife if she's going to drive it all. I took our KJ around the neighborhood last winter in about 8 inches of snow and got the wife comfortable with it. Love the 4x4 on a Jeep!

If I get back to Colorado this summer, I am looking forward to giving the four wheel drive some action. (libatlblue)

 

[gsbrockman]

4. Thanks to those who keep posting the TSBs. I have heard the rear brake moan (disturbing on a brand new vehicle), and appreciate that this issue has been raised before in this forum. This one is on the list for my "5 star" dealer to address at the first maintenance.

What is the build date on yours (MDH) ?
Mine is MDH 040718
Greg

 

[2003KJ]

I've practiced shifting in and out in my driveway rolling forward, with getting into 4-lo. No problems. Even tried it sitting still (engine off, ****** in park) with no problems. I'd recommend rolling though. It helps get everything in the proper gear.

 

[-=JoN=-]

yeah, that 2-3 mph sure does help....(tho when I HAD to shift it on 4 lo, as seen in my avatar....hard or not..i had to get it IN 4-lo..LoL)

 

[melted]

Thanks for the advice. I think I will conduct more driveway shifts to be ready for when I really need 4LO.

The MDH number (as read from the door sticker) is 012616 3155AA. At the top of the sticker is Date of MFR: 1-05.

Greg's MDH makes sense if it means his KJ was born on July 18, 2004, but what could 012616 mean?

Ted

 

[gsbrockman]

Greg's MDH makes sense if it means his KJ was born on July 18, 2004, but what could 012616 mean?

Ted

Actually, my MDH of 040718 means my CRD was built :

04 = April
07 = April 7th
18 = Hour 18

The invoice copy I have has an invoice date of 04/08/05.

Yours was built :

01 = January
26 = January 26th
16 = Hour 16

Greg

 

[melted]

Yours was built :

01 = January
26 = January 26th
16 = Hour 16

Greg

Thanks for the education. So if I am correct, my KJ was built roughly 1 year after the TSB concerning brake moan. Takes DC a while to change things does it?

 

[gsbrockman]

I would have thought that ongoing production models would have had the newer updated parts available for the assembly line much sooner myself.
Greg

 

[JeepJeepster]

grogiefrog, that loud poping ur hearing is just the t-case getting stuck in part time as u were thinking. And when it pops into full-time, u get that loud pop! Ive gotten some loud stuff out of mine, and while i know its not good on it, theres really nothing i can do, sometimes when i go into 4low and dont coast while going into it, im in 2wd low, then when my back wheels will spin it harsly kicks into 4wd low.