purpose of neutral?
Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: Santa Cruz, CA
Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6 MPI "Power Tech HO"
Like on the 4wd or regular drive? You have to be in neutral to engage 4wd, and if u wanna coast down a hill neutral is cool, or rev ur engine to set off car alarms.
Hmmm..... Good question. I too would be interested in an explanation! Possibly it's there to give the transfer case a breather before shifting to 4-Lo and vise-versa? I'm not that educated on t/c's to know for sure.
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So can the 242...
I believe he was mainly referring to low range.
Also, it's for towing. That way you completely disengage axles from drive train without removing drive shafts. If you just put your transmission in neutral while towing, you are still putting wear and tear on the inside of the t-case.
Safest bet for towing is to put the transmission and t-case into neutral in case one accidentally pops out of neutral.
I believe he was mainly referring to low range.
Also, it's for towing. That way you completely disengage axles from drive train without removing drive shafts. If you just put your transmission in neutral while towing, you are still putting wear and tear on the inside of the t-case.
Safest bet for towing is to put the transmission and t-case into neutral in case one accidentally pops out of neutral.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 379
Likes: 2
From: New England
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
You need to be in neutral on the actual transmission to engage 4wd? You cant just do it while at low speeds and in drive?
Seasoned Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 370
Likes: 2
From: Calgary, AB
Year: 99
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I read somewhere that it's a good idea to put it in neutral before 4-lo, and back to neutral before going back to 4full or 2. Just makes it easier on the tx case.
I go from 2H to 4L in my NP242 at 40 MPH with no problem!
Loljk guys. I can shift from 2H - 4FT - 4H up to 62 MPH I think it is, or any legal speed is what the manual says. For 4L you need to be stopped and the transmission in N.
Loljk guys. I can shift from 2H - 4FT - 4H up to 62 MPH I think it is, or any legal speed is what the manual says. For 4L you need to be stopped and the transmission in N.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 850
Likes: 4
From: Arcata California
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
4 lo for steep hills or situations where you need more torque than you get in 4 hi(part or full time). 4 hi part time is for off road when you need more traction(not for pavement driving), 4 hi full time is for driving in snow where you can drive on pavement. Full time is ment for people that want to put there jeep in 4 wheel even if its only wet pavement.
2wd to 4 hi is ok at 35ish mph but going from 4 hi to 4 low you should always stop unless you like rebuilding transfer cases.
2wd to 4 hi is ok at 35ish mph but going from 4 hi to 4 low you should always stop unless you like rebuilding transfer cases.
Last edited by rideordie66; Sep 27, 2011 at 12:10 AM.



....glad i could help.