Placing Wrangler in Neutral

[mini4mw]

So I have my first Jeep/Wrangler and switching to flat tow from dolly. In the manual it says to:


1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop on level ground.
2. Press and hold the brake pedal.
3. Shift the automatic transmission into NEUTRAL or
press the clutch pedal on a manual transmission.
4. Turn the engine off.
5. Shift the transfer case lever into (N) Neutral.
6. Start the engine.
7. Shift the transmission into REVERSE.
8. Release the brake pedal (and clutch pedal on manual
transmissions) for five seconds and ensure that there
is no vehicle movement.
9. Repeat steps seven and eight with automatic
transmission in DRIVE or manual transmission in
FIRST gear.
10. Turn the engine off.
11. Firmly apply the parking brake.
12. Shift the transmission into PARK or place manual
transmission in gear (NOT in NEUTRAL).


I get all the steps except #4|6. Does anyone do this? You can shift between 2H, 4H, 4L with the engine on, why not N? Perhaps this is just a safety thing they have written in? What does everyone else do?

[CAG]

Originally Posted by mini4mw

So I have my first Jeep/Wrangler and switching to flat tow from dolly. In the manual it says to:


1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop on level ground.
2. Press and hold the brake pedal.
3. Shift the automatic transmission into NEUTRAL or
press the clutch pedal on a manual transmission.
4. Turn the engine off.
5. Shift the transfer case lever into (N) Neutral.
6. Start the engine.
7. Shift the transmission into REVERSE.
8. Release the brake pedal (and clutch pedal on manual
transmissions) for five seconds and ensure that there
is no vehicle movement.
9. Repeat steps seven and eight with automatic
transmission in DRIVE or manual transmission in
FIRST gear.
10. Turn the engine off.
11. Firmly apply the parking brake.
12. Shift the transmission into PARK or place manual
transmission in gear (NOT in NEUTRAL).


I get all the steps except #4|6. Does anyone do this? You can shift between 2H, 4H, 4L with the engine on, why not N? Perhaps this is just a safety thing they have written in? What does everyone else do?

Because they made those rules to keep you from grinding gears. Why ask why? LOL if you want to try it go for it but my experience is they set those out for a reason. You save what, three seconds by skipping that but maybe not a cog on the tranny gear.

And yes it probably a safety thing too but, oh well.

[CAG]

I should add here that if you don’t get things exactly right when following that routine you will grind gears, have to start over and waste a bunch of time. Ask me how I know.

[mini4mw]

interesting..

I've grinded a few manual gears in the day, but its been a while.

I was farting around (learning/testing) and I have popped between 4A, 4H and 4L (mine doesn't have 2H). Once I popped back in 4H (from N transfer case) while trans was in D instead of N. While there was no grinding it did jerk a little.

Just seems if you were sittin still, put transmission in N you could then shift transfer case to anything you wanted (maybe move a little for 4L)

[ScoobyMike]

My Wrangler t-case shifts easiest when the wheels are rolling just a bit.

[CAG]

Originally Posted by mini4mw

interesting..

I've grinded a few manual gears in the day, but its been a while.

I was farting around (learning/testing) and I have popped between 4A, 4H and 4L (mine doesn't have 2H). Once I popped back in 4H (from N transfer case) while trans was in D instead of N. While there was no grinding it did jerk a little.

Just seems if you were sittin still, put transmission in N you could then shift transfer case to anything you wanted (maybe move a little for 4L)

Keep in mind several things are going on when you go through that routine. At the end of the routine you shift into D test the results and then shift into R to test the results. Simple routine and it takes me all of about 60 seconds and like flying, I have a check list that I read through. Forgetting or skipping one of the steps will give you whiplash when you put the RV into gear to move and the Jeep behind you does not free roll. I would rather go through the list as Jeep wrote it than take a chance on damage. I love my Jeep!

[Jacjayco]

X2 on using the owners manual. There is a reason for the step in the procedure. We may not understand why but as our parents used to say " because I said so".
Safe Travels!

[TaftCoach]

Sometimes you just have to wear a belt and suspenders. I can think of a few times I broke something and thought "that's why they say to do it that way?!" Happy trails