I have always just thrown it into park and then changed into four wheel drive. But just read in a thread that they just shift into neutral (while at a stop) and pull the lever? Is this how everyone goes about it? Iv'e never really asked or been told. And also please don't rip on me for asking, I'm still a total n00b when it comes to understanding how all the components of my Jeep work.

 

I believe with the part-time 4WD system it is safe to shift "on the fly" into 4HI up to either 25 or 45 MPH (someone please feel free to correct me). I pop it into 4HI when driving into my snow/ice packed driveway (or mud since it all melted) with no problems.

 

yeah you can shift on the fly. Just make sure you aren't turning and dont have your foot on the gas.

 

I've never worried about shifting into 4HI at any speed lower than 50mph or so.... 4LOW is where I stop, shift trans to neutral, then shift diff lever to N (wait a second), then to 4LOW.

 

I throw mine into neutral. Ground it a few times but nothing major, but only with it in drive. never ground it in N

 

Also, another thing. I know my 4x4 works and can tell but my 4x4 lights don't engage any more? Do you guys know where I can trouble shoot this with out pulling the dash?

 

haha i didn't even know there was a 4x4 light, seems I need to get my bulb replaced too

 

well it doesn't say 4x4. If I remember correctly it has
Full-time
Part-time
and then I also think it has a hi and lo light? not exactly sure can anyone back me up?

But none of these lights work on my Xj. They did at one point but they don't anymore, anyone have an idea?

 

my 96' doesnt have part time or full time, did they come with more than one option for the transfer case?

 

I wouldn't be the guy to ask. Tomorrow I'll look at it and see what I can see through the darkness. But I am almost positive it was full time part time. Although I may be confusing my past '88 and '89 XJ's but this one is a 96 sport. what model is your 96?

 

sport. All you should have is the 4hi and 4lo. You don't want to be running that on pavement, wet or dry.

 

Yea the sport you can be rolling in drive up to 45 mph but at the part why anyway if your spinning stuck don't go ok and throw in 4hi some noises may occur like a waring label for a hot pocket for putting in the microwave to long. To disengage I usaly roll about 5mph in N shift from 4 high to 2wd for a couple of feet throw in drive I feel the bump to kick out and I am good to go no grinding gears. If I use 4lo I stop put foot on the break shift to 4hi then repeat steps above.

 

I think you can really do it either way... Personally, I like to put it into neutral and then shift my transfer case to 4HI. By doing this method you can actually shift from 2wd to 4hi while moving as long as you're under 35mph. Shifting into 4lo is completely different however. To properly execute a 4lo shift; you need to put the transmission into neutral and come to a dead stop. With the brake applied, go ahead and shift into 4lo. Then you're all good!

 

almost right haha it's 35mph according to the 96 owner's manual

 

I was wondering how everyone does it myself. Took her out for the first off road outing today, nothing major, just light trail and some hill climbs so I could test 4lo

When I had my JK the owners manual had a section an inch thick with about 497 steps/cautions about shifting into 4wd. I agree with the above and this is what I do: 4hi just shift on the fly, usually below 25 and for 4lo I drop into neutral, brake, shift t case, drop trans back into drive and go, reverse procedure for going back to 2wd