Hi, I just bought another JK and this one is a 2009 2 door X 6 speed and I put the lift and everything on it and went wheelin and found out the traction control turns off in 4 low automatically. does any one know if there is a way to turn it on? I thought of rigging up a switch from the wires that tells it it is in 4 low at the transfer case so I can turn it on and off at my own will but I thought I would check and see if anybody knows of a way to do it without cutting things up first,

My 2007 JK doesn't turn it off in 4 low and it works great most of the time but it is also an automatic so I don't know if that makes a difference to the computer and that is why it turns it off.
anyway any help would be great but if worse comes to worse I guess I will read the manual.

 

It is my understanding that the limited slip feature of the traction control program is still active in 4 low operation. If that helps.

 

Yup, it is still active in 4 low on my 2007 but in my 2009 it says esp off when I put it in 4low and I can spin the tires till the cows come home in the 2009 but the 2007 it will lock any tire that is slipping and work almost as good as my lockers in my YJ but in the new one nothin?????????????????????

 

The ESP indicator saying ESP is off is normal for the 2007. From my owner's manual:

4WD Low Range
ESP Off
This is the normal operating mode for ESP in 4WD low
range. Whenever the vehicle is started in 4WD low range,
or the transfer case (if equipped) is shifted from 4WD
high range or neutral to 4WD low range, the ESP system
will be in this mode. In 4WD low range, ESP and TCS,
except for the “limited slip” feature described in the TCS
section, are turned off until the vehicle reaches a speed of
40 mph (48 km/h). At 40 mph (48 km/h), the normal ESP
stability function returns but TCS remains off. When the
vehicle speed drops below 35 mph (40 km/h), the ESP
system shuts off. ESP is off at low vehicle speeds in 4WD
low range so that it will not interfere with off-road
driving but ESP function returns to provide the stability
feature at speeds above 40 mph (48 km/h). The ESP/
TCS Indicator Light will always be illuminated in 4WD
low range when ESP is off.

There is some Nintendo procedure to turn the ESP completely off in the JKs (standard in '09s, comes with a firmware upgrade for the '07s). I'm guessing that someone has run through that procedure on your Jeep (explaining why you can spin tires). Suggest that you search for that and see if you can get ESP back into normal operating mode.

 

i put mine in 4L and mine is still on i have a 2009

 

 

the BAS still active even if the ESP is off on low range(on my 2008)

and it's a great feature , almost as efficient as lockers

 

in 4 lo it automatically turns off the stability control( dash light on). IE engine will not retard if wheels are slipping = good thing. BLD or brake lock differential is always on, you cant shut it off and it works great so why would you anyway. in 4 hi you can turn off the stability program by pressing the button on the panel by your flashers. again it only turns off the engine part and not BLD. if i read your post right you are saying the jeep's BLD is not working correctly. i would have it checked out as that feature is always on. i have open differentials and no limited slip on my 09 and i go where locked jeeps go with no worries.

 

Here's the procedure to fully, and permanently turn off ESP (or at least that's my understanding; I've never tried it):

- In park or neutral and the parking brake on
- Start the engine and let it run for 5 seconds until the system bulb check completes
- Shift the transfer case into 4H
- Turn the steering wheel until it is centered and the wheels are straight
- Turn the steering wheel one half turn to the right and hold the wheel in this position
- Press and hold the ESP OFF button for 7 seconds and release just after the 7 seconds and wait for a chime
- Turn the steering wheel back to center then turn the steering wheel one half turn to the left. Hold the steering wheel in this position
- Press and hold the ESP OFF button for 7 seconds and release just after the 7 seconds and wait for a chime
- Turn the steering wheel back to center
- Press and hold the ESP OFF button for 7 seconds and release just after the 7 seconds and wait for a chime
- Turn the engine off

There are two indicators that the ESP is off:

1. The ESP light in the instrument cluster will be illuminated
2. The odometer will display an "ESP OFF" message.

Repeat the above procedure to re-enable ESP. This procedure DOES NOT disable the ABS or BAS systems.

 

I'm understanding the OP wants to make sure traction control is ON in 4 lo, not how to turn off ESP - correct?

Looks like pretty much the same wording is in the 2009 owner's manual as Mark Doiron described in his post. The "limited slip" feature should still be working.

I really don't care much for the brake-lock differentials. Some compare them to be "almost as good as lockers". Not on my rigs they aren't. I get a lot of wheel slip before the BLD kicks in - and when it does it's weak, at best. It's no substitute for a good limited slip or better yet - lockers. It is a lot better than straight open diffs, though.

moabjk072d - since it's using your brakes for traction control, BLD doesn't work as well when the brakes are wet. Are you in wet conditions when it seems to not work? If my brakes are wet, it's as if BLD doesn't even exist.

2 cents.