how do you test the 4 wheel drive

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Apr 23, 2010 | 12:55 AM

#16

troy fritz

CF Veteran

Joined: Jul 2009

Posts: 2,471

Likes: 2

I would test it in 4 hi and 4 lo on gravel or dirt by gunning it and looking at the peel marks .Just cause 4 hi works don't mean 4 lo will.Test both.

Apr 23, 2010 | 05:39 AM

#17

mudfrog

Former Sponsor

Joined: Feb 2010

Posts: 474

Likes: 0

From: Roanoke VA

Year: 1995

Model: Grand Cherokee

Engine: 4.0L

Quote:

Originally Posted by sportrider

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.

Good point.. when I first got mine the vacuum line on the front axle had come loose and my 4wd was not working. It's a common problem for XJ's.

Apr 23, 2010 | 09:21 AM

#18

4jeepers

Member

Joined: Dec 2009

Posts: 224

Likes: 1

From: Southern California

Year: 1988

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0

Put your front wheels against a 6 or 8 inch curb and slowly accelerate, the vehicle should easily climb the curb without the rear wheels loosing traction!

Apr 24, 2010 | 05:22 PM

#19

poomwah

Thread Starter

Member

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 239

Likes: 0

Model: Cherokee

While it was raining I pulled up to one of those cement dealies they have between parking spaces. Crawled right over it, nothing spun.
So obviously the 4wheel is working.
The tires are better than the ones were on the zj
What else should I look for as to why it won't climb that hill

Apr 24, 2010 | 05:22 PM

#20

poomwah

Thread Starter

Member

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 239

Likes: 0

Model: Cherokee

Apr 24, 2010 | 10:39 PM

#21

99xj2.5

Member

Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 174

Likes: 0

From: Minnesota

Year: 1999

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 2.5L MPI (Throttle Body Spacer, Intake)

If it's newer than 96 it wont have the disconnect, didn't catch the year, just a thought

Apr 24, 2010 | 11:02 PM

#22

ckysodkorn_xj

CF Veteran

Joined: Dec 2009

Posts: 1,882

Likes: 0

From: Oxford NC

Year: 1998

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0L

testing 4wd is easy. personaly i like to get my self stuck in 2wd and hope its working. but 4 lo is by far the easiest to test. shift into 4lo and hit the gas. it should windup faster than normal. (4lo is for max pulling power thier for won't allow you to hit highspeeds 35mph i think.)

Apr 24, 2010 | 11:39 PM

#23

1991Jeep_Man

CF Veteran

Joined: Oct 2009

Posts: 2,867

Likes: 16

From: Fauquier County, Virginia

Year: 1991

Model: Cherokee

Engine: I-6 4.0 HO

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckysodkorn_xj

I wouldn't say 35.. more like 15-20 mph. We had a huge snow storm on day, and I was dumb enough to go through it. Got stuck on a hill, 4hi couldnt get the traction, 4lo got me over and I kept it like that. Soon as I hit over 15-20, it would kick or buck.

Apr 25, 2010 | 03:56 AM

#24

XJmanXJ

Member

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 244

Likes: 0

From: chicagoish

Year: 99

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0

to test mine i just punched it and in 2 i spin my tires in 4 i dont

Apr 25, 2010 | 12:00 PM

#25

poomwah

Thread Starter

Member

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 239

Likes: 0

Model: Cherokee

So mines working and has better tires than the zj, but won't climb the hill the zj would.
What should I be looking into?

Apr 25, 2010 | 12:00 PM

#26

poomwah

Thread Starter

Member

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 239

Likes: 0

Model: Cherokee

It does sit quite a bit higher in the back than in the front, could that cause weight transfer on a hill and loss of traction

Last edited by poomwah; Apr 25, 2010 at 12:02 PM.

Apr 25, 2010 | 12:02 PM

#27

ckysodkorn_xj

CF Veteran

Joined: Dec 2009

Posts: 1,882

Likes: 0

From: Oxford NC

Year: 1998

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0L

try once. if that doesnt work back up a foot and floor it.

Apr 25, 2010 | 12:05 PM

#28

ckysodkorn_xj

CF Veteran

Joined: Dec 2009

Posts: 1,882

Likes: 0

From: Oxford NC

Year: 1998

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0L

also another thing to concider is the rear axle. the xj's typicly have open difs so the tire with the least traction will spinn im not to familar with the grands but it could be a limmited slip or something.