Finally got the XJ out of retirement and went offroading this weekend! It was amazing, but there were a couple of times where I would engage the clutch into first gear, and there would be almost no power transfer to the wheels and it would die.


I have only had auto's in the past for offroading, so not 100% if it is just me being incompetent when driving the stick offroad, or if it is something else.


To be more specific about the scenario, I was turning up a hill, put it into first gear with clutch fully let out, get her all the gas I could, did not move anywhere and she died.


Not sure if clutch is out, not enough power in her to go, or I cannot drive stick offroad.


Thanks in advance everybody!

 

are you sure you weren't in 3rd by mistake?

 

I am like 95% sure that after the first time it happened! I tried to reapply it back in first. Never overlook the simple answer!

 

Was it in 4lo? Had a guy on the trail one time that couldn't climb anything and he had it in 4hi.

 

I tend to look for the simplest answers, and then try to recreate the problem until I've nailed it down to just a few possibilities.

 

I was in 4hi, and never would have thought of that being an issue. I will see if I can recreate the issue again, and try to narrow down the issue, if there is one.

 

^This, especially if the tires are larger on stock gears.

 

That was most likely your problem. Anytime I'm running trails I run 4lo.
I hope that was the problem glad I could help. The time I use 4hi is in the winter and the streets are snow covered.

 

If the tires didn't break loose, the clutch is kaput, did you smell anything burning? Are you sure you don't have an engine issue as well?

 

If I remember correctly, the tires did not break loose. I definitely smelled some clutch burning afterwards, which is terrible. I do not believe I have an engine issue. It is running better than any other XJ I have owned.


I am starting to believe that it is just me being incompetent when offroading since it has been a good 7-8 years since I have done it. When in 4lo further in the trail, I was going up a steep hill, tires broke loose but made it up the hill without stalling.

 

4hi is good for going down the road, light trails, etc. But if you are attempting any obstacles / big hills, etc., you will want 4Lo. Think of it as trying to start from a stop light in 4th gear, it puts too much strain on the trans / tcase / axles and something has to give.