Had a question for anyone that may know. I tried to find anything on the interwebs but only this video mentions it. The guy outside the jeep in the very beginning of video appears to be a jeep employee or event employee tells the guy he can start it with it in gear and no clutch and it just starts going? Is this just in 4lo/1st gear for wheeling feature or does the trans/4x4 system have features I am not aware of? Appreciate any insight. Peace

 

My 2013 Rubicon will start without clutch in any gear in 4lo, 1-6. As soon as the starter starts turning, the Jeep starts moving.

 

At least with the Rubicons, the clutch safety switch is not active in 4lo, and the gearing is low enough that the Jeep can start with it in gear.

 

Thanks for the response. He is in a 16 Willys in the video and I have a 15 willys. Was gonna play around with it his weekend. Just seeing if there is any other tricks like this.

 

Keep in mind how low the gearing is when the jeep is in 4Lo and getting the leverage of the transfer case (non-rubi 2.72:1, rubicon 4:1). That lower gearing alone is going to make a big difference.

It sure is a good thing they had a spotter to get him through that puddle.

 

I guess what I am looking for is, more the theory behind the no need for clutch to start. I do get that the gearing is so low in 4lo/(any gear?) that this can work but did jeep do this to help the manual driver that stalled to not drift back after a stall, does it work in the same way on an incline or just on flat ground. On an incline if no gas input is given will the computer keep it running if restarted with no clutch? I may be over thinking it but would have never tried starting it in gear no clutch If I had not seen the video. Again thanks for any response.

 

I think it's more about getting a start in muddy/ water conditions where pushing the clutch would bring all sorts of junk into your clutch and slowly tear it up. I've seen folks underestimate a hole, get to the middle, and have to kill it just to pick a lower gear and then restart.

No gas needed, it pretty well chugs right along, even uphill. If you're up against some rocks and it's uphill then it can be helpful to have one foot on the gas and the other on the brake you to hold you but allow you to give it the gusto to get up the rocks. I've used this one before and it works pretty well.

 

That makes sense-" to keep junk out of the clutch". Thanks for the reply.