I'm going to be test driving an xj today, and obviously won't be going off road or doing any hill climbing. How do I test the 4 wheel drive?

 

put it in 4hi and make some turns in the parking lot, the wheels should bind up in the front a little, depending on how tight of a turn you make

 

or, you can put it in 4wd and jack up one of the front tires. you shouldn't be able to turn the wheel.

 

when i test drove my wrangler i took it to a dirt parking lot put it in 4wd and gunned it a little. it took off instead of spinning one wheel. mind you, i didnt go nuts just enough to try and loose traction. wont take much.

 

If you listen carefully, you might be able to hear the transfer case engage with the front axle.

 

I would find some dirt to test it in, step 1: just do a brake stand in 2wd ( just enough to spin a rear wheel a little) then put it in 4wd and repeat step 1.

 

Couldn't find a decent place with enough dirt, did find a big gravel parking lot.
Stomped on it in 4, took off, stomped on it in 2, it wanted to dig a hole
Guess that was a good sign
I bought it, brought it home and went to climb the hill I used to drive up with the zj, and it wouldn't climb it, it would start spinning, I had to get a run at it to get over the top. The zj I could crawl up and over. I'm kinda worried now

 

Couldn't find a decent place with enough dirt, did find a big gravel parking lot.
Stomped on it in 4, took off, stomped on it in 2, it wanted to dig a hole
Guess that was a good sign
I bought it, brought it home and went to climb the hill I used to drive up with the zj, and it wouldn't climb it, it would start spinning, I had to get a run at it to get over the top. The zj I could crawl up and over. I'm kinda worried now

 

it could be the tires...... Put it in 4 low and crawl it =]

 

There could be a lot of factors keeping you from crawling the hill.

 

Had it in 4 lo
The tires aren't any worse than the zjs were
Someone who was watching said my front tires weren't spinning

 

Had it in 4 lo
The tires aren't any worse than the zjs were
Someone who was watching said my front tires weren't spinning

 

What other factors should I look into
I used the zj to go down the hill and do yardwork and landscaping and such
I don't want to have to beat on the xj everytime I need to get back up the hill

 

have you jacked it up yet and checked if the front axle is engaging? I had an MJ that had the vacuum disconnect on the front axle, the shift fork was frozen so even with the T-case sending power it was still in 2wd. I don't know if XJ's came with that style axle. but I know what it's like not to have the 4wd working.

 

start engine put it in n. shift into 4wd,shut off engine jack up passager front side just enough to lift tire off ground, spin tire by hand if it doesnt spin then it's locked in to 4wd.