Gen4 - Selecting 4WD

Interesting weather day today with snow, hail and high winds. Reflecting on the Jimny's progress through the snow - a question - Do forum members use the clutch when moving the selector lever between 2WD and 4WD on the move?

Dunno. On my push button gen3 it's not a requirement as everything is already rotating at the same speed?

I for one do. A habit from other 4x4s but it can't hurt.

crash486

Its a good question Bob.

I have tried both ways, clutch and no clutch. Doesnt make any difference as far as i can tell, and its much easier not to use the clutch rach time. My feeling is its fine to shift without clutch, but 7 times outta 10 i will still use the clutch.

The manual only says to depress the accelerator, which creates more vacuum power i guess.

Mmjhhhhhmmm interesting question.

I have no idea, but let's look at the clues as they say.
I believe the front hubs are the same as a G3, ie vacuum operated. The transfer box is lever operated, the G3 transfer box is solenoid operated, its no more than an electrical lever, so can't see much difference here.
You can happily bang in and out of 4WD high on a G3 without using the clutch, the manual indicates you can do this up to some (cant recall) high mph figure. You only need to stop and preselect foot and steering wheel positions (ref manual) for 4wD low.
So I would guess the G4 is the same, but would have expected it to declare the same MPH limit and preselection details in the handbook as it does for the G3.
Also Andy's done it and it works :laugh:

Having said all that I always try and stop if I can. Selected once 4WD Hi while traveling at 35 ish mph, the bang from the front hubs as they engaged went right over my mechanical sympathy level.
But yes, good question.
Mike

The maximum speed is 60mph for 2 to 4 changes but stationary for range changes. When there is actual snow on the ground I will regularly use the 2 to 4 change as the road dictates like when it goes from packed to slush etc. and thus save transmission wind up. It does however require me to anticipate such conditions and have my front hubs in, this also means that I am not experiencing any delay while the hubs engage and then the props link so that reduces the occasions of loud noises from things not quite being in sync. Really though I suspect that the system is like this as a legacy of countries that have more in the way of paved, gravel and dirt road transitions than we have in the UK.