4HI/4LO Switch - Dodge Dakota Forum

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joey
Dodge Dakota
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4/27/2002
14:36:28

Subject: 4HI/4LO Switch
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are you supposed to put your switch on 4 when you are in neutral or park? i noticed in park it would not go to 4low but it did in neutral, and what is the diff btween high and low anyways? anyone?

eallen
Dodge Dakota
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4/27/2002
17:41:01

RE: 4HI/4LO Switch
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I'm not sure if I understand your question but I'll take a crack at it...

You should leave your switch in 2wd unless you are on a loose slippery surface. To engage 4 hi (front and rear difs locket together) you can swtich at any time moving or not. To switch to 4lo (same as 4 hi but more torque - only for slow speeds, I think less than 25 mph???) you have to shift to neutral and then shift into 4lo.

Bill
Dodge Dakota
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4/27/2002
20:07:49

RE: 4HI/4LO Switch
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When I picked up my 2001 CC 3.9 4x4 last July, the dealer told me to keep it under 55 mph when in 4-hi. He also said the best way to engage the 4-lo is to be rolling at idle (in gear, foot off brake but no gas) and put it in that way. I have used 4-lo only once or twice. Great if you need max torque at low speeds.

Bill
Bill's Truck Page

QUADMAN
GenIII

4/28/2002
01:38:24

RE: 4HI/4LO Switch
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If you have an auto the only way 4Lo can be engaged is with the transmission in neutral. The light on the selector switch will blink no matter what but once it is engaged the light will stop blinking and remain on in what ever range you have selected.

OPINIONS ARE LIKE....WELL, YOU KNOW THE REST!!

joey
Dodge Dakota
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4/29/2002
01:57:33

RE: 4HI/4LO Switch
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so we should only use our 4wd on slippery surfaces?
what if i'm crawling up some steep dry dirt cliff or rocky road? is it bad for the 4wd?
and if i'm pulling someone out that is stuck, should i put it in HI or LO?

Walt Felix
Dodge Dakota
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4/29/2002
13:54:41

RE: 4HI/4LO Switch
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You should come to a complete stop and shift the transmission into neutral before shifting into 4Lo. There are no syncros in the low range gear set. 4Hi is a 1:1 transfer case gear ratio. 4Lo is a 2.5:1 gear ratio. 4Hi normally should only be used in slippery conditions or off-road. 4Lo is good for pulling or extreme off-road / low traction situations where you want to have maximum torque and minimal wheel spin.

Walt

Jerobiemon
Dodge Dakota
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5/03/2002
13:40:25

RE: 4HI/4LO Switch
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If I remember correctly, the owners manual states to shift into 4Lo, you must first be in 4Hi and (preferrably rolling about 2-4mph) in neutral, but it will shift while stopped. I put mine in 4Lo just about every weekend. I have an automatic, and I shift into 4Lo while rolling slowly in neutral. That is the quickest and in my opinion, the best way.

Also, if pulling someone out, I highly suggest 4Lo. I like 4lo much better than 4hi, and I have a 4.7L so I have good torque Hi or Lo. I just like the throttle responce I get in 4Lo. Keep in mind, most of my wheeling is done in bottomless loose creek sand where there is a significant amount of drag, even w/ tires air'd down to 15psi.

my $.02....Mopartoya!

Jerobiemon
Dodge Dakota
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5/03/2002
13:45:00

RE: 4HI/4LO Switch
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p.s...to my last post...

I believe the manual suggests you should shift into 4Hi while moving in Drive, not while stopped, although it will, just not suggested.

'01 CC 4.7L

Bill
GenIII

5/03/2002
14:14:10

RE: 4HI/4LO Switch
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I tried my 4Lo last weekend for the first time. I had to put it in neutral and then do it. I was stopped and it shifted, I think next time I will try it rolling while in neutral and see if that works any better. But like others have said, I did like 4LO for the hairy spots. Good torque!

Bill
Bill's Truck Page
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BlackDak02
*GenIII*

5/03/2002
18:25:21

RE: 4HI/4LO Switch
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Walt is right about 4Lo, IMO. I've never dealt with an electronic switch to change gears in the transfer case so I don't want to take any chances with the unsyncronized 4Lo range. You can shift in or out of 4Hi anytime.

2002 Black CC SLT 4x4
4.7L 45RFE 3.55 LSRD

Lori
Dodge Dakota
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1/02/2005
09:59:30

RE: 4HI/4LO Switch
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I hit black ice on the highway while going 100km/hr last week and my dodge dakota 2001 spun out of control. I was in 2WD at the time.
Should I have been in 4HI or 4LO? I thought you only use 4HI or 4LO in heavy snow or off road type conditions, not on a highway at fast speeds, I would think that would shoot the transmission.
Can anyone offer any insight?

Walt_Felix
Dodge Dakota
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1/02/2005
11:58:53

RE: 4HI/4LO Switch
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You wouldn’t be able to drive at 60mph/100kph in 4Lo. 4Hi depending on the surface. When the roads in my area are snow covered, I’ll put my truck into 4Hi and on bare/wet roads I shift back into 2wd. Thing to remember is black ice is still ice and regardless of your driving 2wd or 4wd, you’re still going to loose traction. You have a better chance of maintaining control while in 4wd, but your still your still going to have a layer of ice between your tires and the road. Years ago back when I drove a wrecker, first snow/ice storm of the season, I could always show you the newbie 4x4 owners. Usually they were the ones on the back of my wrecker who discovered they could drive faster than everyone else on the road with their new 4x4 but learned the hard way they still stop like everyone else. “I don’t know what happened, I was in 4wd?!” In the 13+ years I drove a wrecker that never failed.

In a situation where you hit black ice, first thing to do is turn into the slide and take your foot off on the accelerator. Many people instinctively will hit the breaks, “Bad Instinct!” Keep your foot off the brakes if at all possible. Most times, simply doing those two things will allow you to regain control. But be careful not to over correct or you’ll spin out the other way.

Usually, during the first snow of the season, I’ll take my wife out to a secluded parking lot and her and I will do donuts for a little while. Or we’ll find a snow-covered road with an incline and drive up it in 2wd a few times. Intentionally get the rear of the truck to kick out and re-gain control. After you do that a few times, you’ll know the feel and limits of your truck and you’ll be better prepared to handle a slide.

__________________

Walt Felix

http://www.MoparsinMotion.Com

http://www.Walt-n-Ingrid.Com

Note: I very frequently get email from people asking about the lift kit in my
’88. Typically, I will NOT respond the emails (about 90%) that ask questions
I’ve already covered on my web pages (ie. Where did you get the kit?, Who
makes it?, How much did it cost?, What modifications did you have to make to get it to fit your truck?. How hard was it to install? What problems did you
encounter? etc, etc...)

Lori
Dodge Dakota
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1/05/2005
15:01:29

RE: 4HI/4LO Switch
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Thanks for your response Walt. I did absolutely everything wrong. I slamed on the brakes AND over-corrected, I had no weights in the pick-up, plus, I was in cruise. The problem is that the roads didn't look iced and there was no snow(guess that's why they call it black ice).
So much for my brother's baby dakota, he's not to pleased!
Take care...

2001-4.7
Dodge Dakota
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6/07/2005
00:32:08

RE: 4HI/4LO Switch
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I agree that 4LO is great and all, but you have to be very careful using it or you could be like me and tear it up. I was pulling another truck out and it was in 4lo and sure, the truck was moving less than 25mph but the tires were spinning much faster than that.

Dan
Dodge Dakota
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6/08/2005
00:59:47

RE: 4HI/4LO Switch
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Did not see if anyone answered the question Joey, but you can consider anything but pavement to be loose/slippery. You tires will give on gravel and dirt. You will be fine.

Dan

Guam
Dodge Dakota
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6/29/2005
08:39:37

RE: 4HI/4LO Switch
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you gotta be in neutral and its best to be stopped. once you engage 4lo, put your gear selector handle in 1st, and you will feel what 4lo has to offer...

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