I have a 2 door Sahara (automatic) and while in P I have no problem getting into 4H from 2H, but when I try to get into N or 4L I have to yank/pull an ungodly amount for it to get into gear. Earlier tonight I had such a problem I asked my friend who is a Randy Savage look alike to try and do it, he had problems as well.

Can anyone relate or offer any advice. Am I doing something wrong?

While pulling so hard I am always in fear of breaking my gear shifter.

Any help is much appreciated. Thanks!

 

Put the transmission into neutral, with the Jeep rolling very slightly, then pull the transfer case through neutral into 4lo.

 

tried that. Once I do it it grinds a disgusting and unhealthy amount.

 

It will grind if moving too fast.
Mine is hard to shift (into and out of 4lo) when stopped because the gears don't line up. It doesn't grind most of the time, and only slightly the rest of the time, when the Jeep is moving a little bit.

I have noticed it gets easier to shift quietly the more it is used.

 

apologize for my redundancy. If I am getting this all correct. If I am in park I can easily shift to 4H from 2H & back and forth. Then I need to put my 4x4 gear into neutral, follow it into neutral with my gearbox and then go back to my 4x4 gears and put it in 2H?

 

When you shift from 2hi to 4hi, there are no gears being engaged. You can do that on the fly, or stopped.

Shifting from 4hi to 4lo, gears rotating at different speed are being engaged. You need to be stopped, or rolling very slightly. You can't be rolling very slightly when the transmission is in Park.

This is from the owner's manual:

4H to 4L or 4L to 4H
With the vehicle rolling at 2 to 3 mph (3 to 5 km/h), shift
an automatic transmission to N (Neutral) or depress the
clutch pedal on a manual transmission. While the vehicle
is coasting at 2 to 3 mph (3 to 5 km/h), shift the transfer
case lever firmly to the desired position. Do not pause in
transfer case N (Neutral).
NOTE: Shifting into or out of 4L is possible with the
vehicle completely stopped, however, difficulty may occur
due to the mating teeth not being properly aligned.
Several attempts may be required for clutch teeth alignment
and shift completion to occur. The preferred
method is with the vehicle rolling at 2 to 3 mph (3 to 5
km/h). Avoid attempting to engage or disengage 4L with
the vehicle moving faster than 2 to 3 mph (3 to 5 km/h).

 

Yep, that should do it. I don't have any problems with mine, but you have to have a slight roll.

 

didn't recieve an owner's manual when I bought my Jeep (used) and the dealership at the time gave me false information. Thank Jebus for this forum and thanks for all the help guys. I've got it all down to a science now.