Super newbie 4x4 question

NCD · October 30, 2019

26 minutes ago, JimCost2014 said:

Think I understand your question, and yes, the truck will not shift into 4 LOW unless it is done correctly.

Ok great, I just did a test run (the right way) put the truck and neutral and switched to 4 lo (on a wet surface) and felt a little jerk. It did switch so I’m assuming this is normal.

Booger T · October 31, 2019

2 hours ago, BlancoSilverado said:

you do not want to go over 25mph when switching.

And why is that?

econometrics · October 31, 2019

I went from auto to 2wd today doing about 70mph. Probably not the best idea, but I made sure to take my foot off the gas and coast while it switched. Truck was likely just in RWD when I made the switch.

I like to be either stopped or going below 20mph when I shift otherwise. Ideally, always stoped when going 2wd to 4Hi.

redwngr · October 31, 2019

I'm truly amazed how many didn't get an operators manual with their truck.

GM says:

Shifts between 2H, 4 H, and AUTO
Any of these shifts can be made at normal driving speed.

Shifting Into 4 L
1. The ignition must be on and the vehicle must be stopped or moving less than 5 km/h (3 mph) with the transmission
in N (Neutral). It is best for the vehicle to be moving 1.6 to 3.2 km/h (1 to 2 mph).

There is lots of other detail in the manual, but above answers the question about changing at speed.

NCD · October 31, 2019

12 minutes ago, redwngr said:

I'm truly amazed how many didn't get an operators manual with their truck.

GM says:

Shifts between 2H, 4 H, and AUTO
Any of these shifts can be made at normal driving speed.

Shifting Into 4 L
1. The ignition must be on and the vehicle must be stopped or moving less than 5 km/h (3 mph) with the transmission
in N (Neutral). It is best for the vehicle to be moving 1.6 to 3.2 km/h (1 to 2 mph).

There is lots of other detail in the manual, but above answers the question about changing at speed.

Unfortunately I looked at the manual a little too late. I just wantEd to know if there could’ve been any damage from the one time I did it. But apparently not as the manual also said there is a 20 second delay in switching from drive to neutral (if the truck wasn’t already in neutral) that it would not engage 4-low. After I did the test run tonight, is it normal to feel a slight jerk when switching to 4-low while In neutral?

redwngr · October 31, 2019

5 minutes ago, NCD said:

Unfortunately I looked at the manual a little too late. I just wantEd to know if there could’ve been any damage from the one time I did it. But apparently not as the manual also said there is a 20 second delay in switching from drive to neutral (if the truck wasn’t already in neutral) that it would not engage 4-low. After I did the test run tonight, is it normal to feel a slight jerk when switching to 4-low while In neutral?

That has always been true with the ones I've had.

NCD · October 31, 2019

7 minutes ago, redwngr said:

That has always been true with the ones I've had.

Thank you, I’m super paranoid about messing up the 4 wheel drive system, seems like a really expensive fix haha. Thanks for the input

Sir Dan · October 31, 2019

9 hours ago, redwngr said:

I'm truly amazed how many didn't get an operators manual with their truck.

GM says:

Shifts between 2H, 4 H, and AUTO
Any of these shifts can be made at normal driving speed.

Shifting Into 4 L
1. The ignition must be on and the vehicle must be stopped or moving less than 5 km/h (3 mph) with the transmission
in N (Neutral). It is best for the vehicle to be moving 1.6 to 3.2 km/h (1 to 2 mph).

There is lots of other detail in the manual, but above answers the question about changing at speed.

^^^^this^^^^

Stunning how many people dont even know their vehicle has an owners manual or are just too lazy to bother with it.

JimCost2014 · October 31, 2019

14 hours ago, NCD said:

Ok great, I just did a test run (the right way) put the truck and neutral and switched to 4 lo (on a wet surface) and felt a little jerk. It did switch so I’m assuming this is normal.

I would think so.

If you did not hear anything alarming, and it engaged, and then you were able to cycle back to 2WD, you should be fine.

You will use 4 HIGH, 4 AUTO a lot more than LOW, but it is still a good idea to know how to engage it, just in case you need too.

KARNUT · October 31, 2019

I’ve owned a few 4WD trucks in my 40 plus working years. As long as I remember 2WD to 4WD was seamless at reasonable speeds. With a manual or electric system. Some members of my family would modify diesels and race them. Starting in 4WD and going into 2WD under hard throttle. I doubt it actually came out until releasing the throttle. Using 4WD low. I would be stoped unbounded and go into reverse then drive to make sure it was fully engage. Same thing coming out of 4WD. I had a crazy uncle who liked and owned modified Broncos. He would race starting in 4WD low and shift under full throttle to high range. Crazy and pretty cool, it wasn’t my money. He would break them often. He just switch to the next one while the other one was getting fix.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

NCD · October 31, 2019

1 hour ago, JimCost2014 said:

I would think so.

If you did not hear anything alarming, and it engaged, and then you were able to cycle back to 2WD, you should be fine.

You will use 4 HIGH, 4 AUTO a lot more than LOW, but it is still a good idea to know how to engage it, just in case you need too.

Ok great, thank you for the info

duquephart · October 31, 2019

18 hours ago, NCD said:

I know this question may sound dumb, but this is my first 4x4 vehicle. I have a 2019 trail boss LT and I was curious, do I have to put it in park to shift from 2 Hi to Auto (or from 2 high to 4 high etc..) on the 4x4 controls I changed it while in drive, but stopped. I just don’t want to break anything. I’ve read that on newer vehicles, you can “shift on the fly” but I’ve also heard that increased wear on the mechanisms and can cause a “burr” in the transfer case.

thanks!

It's called an "Owner's Manual", check it out.

JimCost2014 · October 31, 2019

41 minutes ago, NCD said:

Ok great, thank you for the info

You are very welcome.

If you have downloaded the Chevy App on your phone, there is a tab that gives video tutorials on how things work in the trucks and SUV's, along with a tab for the owners manual you can read also.

Good luck, and enjoy your new truck!!!

BlancoSilverado · October 31, 2019

16 hours ago, Booger T said:

And why is that?

My 2005 canyon stated this in the manual, i kept with this for all my vehicles because it makes sense. You are locking in the front drive shaft, alot of force can be applied. Im not trying to ruin a the system, also if i need to be in 4x4 then i probably dont need to be going over 25mph (in my case).