Loganiw, This is from the 17 owner's manual but maybe this will help you understand what is supposed to happen. and then if it isn't then it might suggest a source of the problem.
4WD Indicator Lights
The indicator lights illuminate in the
information display in the reconfigurable
telltale (RTT) location under the following
conditions. See Warning Lamps and
Indicators (page 86).
Note:When a 4X4 system fault is present,
the system will typically remain in whichever
4WD mode was selected prior to the fault
condition occurring. It will not default to 4X2
in all circumstances. When this warning is
displayed, have your vehicle serviced by an
authorized dealer.
4X2
2H Momentarily illuminates when
2H is selected.
4X4 AUTO
4A Continuously illuminates when
4A is selected.
4X4 HIGH
4H Continuously illuminates when
4H is selected.
4X4 LOW
4L Continuously illuminates when
4L is selected.
4WD Switch Positions
WARNING
Utility and four-wheel drive vehicles
are not designed for cornering at
speeds as high as passenger cars any
more than low-slung sports cars are
designed to perform satisfactorily under
off-road conditions. Avoid sharp turns or
abrupt maneuvers in these vehicles.
Note: If your vehicle is equipped with
AdvanceTrac® with RSC®, the system will
automatically turn off the stability
enhancement feature when you shift the
4WD system into 4L (4X4 LOW). You can
manually turn the system off by pressing
the AdvanceTrac button. See Using
Traction Control (page 175). This will
disable the engine management feature,
allowing the vehicle to maintain full power
and enhanced momentum through the
obstacle. The brake traction enhancement
feature will still be enabled.
Note: The Control Trac® selector switch
should not be changed while the rear wheels
are slipping.
The Control Trac® system functions in four
modes:
• 2H delivers power to the rear wheels
only. The information display will
momentarily display 2H when this
mode is selected. This mode is
appropriate for normal on-road driving
on dry pavement and provides the best
fuel economy.
• 4A provides electronic control
four-wheel drive with power delivered
to all four wheels, as required, for
increased traction. The information
display will display 4A when this mode
is selected. This mode is appropriate
for all on-road driving conditions, such
as dry road surfaces, wet pavement,
snow, or gravel.
• 4H provides electronically locked
four-wheel drive power to front and
rear wheels. The information display
will display 4H when this mode is
selected. This mode is not
recommended for use on dry
pavement. This mode is only intended
for severe winter or off-road conditions,
such as deep snow, ice or shallow sand.
• 4L provides electronically locked
four-wheel drive when extra power at
reduced speeds is required. The
information display will display 4L
when this mode is selected. This mode
is not recommended for use on dry
pavement. Use this mode for off-road
low-speed operation or when extra
power is required, such as climbing
steep grades, going through deep sand
or pulling a boat out of the water.
Shifting between system modes
Note: Momentarily releasing the accelerator
pedal while a shift in progress message
displays will improve
engagement/disengagement performance.
Note: Do not perform this operation if the
rear wheels are slipping.
Note: Some noise may be heard as the
system shifts or engages; this is normal.
You can move the control from 2H, 4A or
4H at a stop or while driving. The
information display may display a message
indicating a 4X4 shift is in progress. Once
the shift is complete the information
display will then display the system mode
selected.
Shifting to or from 4L
Note: 4L mode is not intended for use on
dry pavement.
1. Bring the vehicle to a rolling speed of
3 mph (5 km/h) or less.
2. Place the gearshift in neutral (N).
3. Move the 4WD switch to the desired
mode.
The information display will display a
message indicating a 4X4 shift is in
progress. The information display will then
display the system mode selected.
If any of the above shift conditions are not
met, the shift will not occur and the
information display will display information
guiding the driver through the proper range
of shifting procedures.
If SHIFT DELAYED PULL FORWARD is
displayed in the information display,
transfer case gear tooth blockage is
present. To alleviate this condition, place
the transmission in a forward gear, move
the vehicle forward approximately 5 ft
(2 m), and shift the transmission back to
neutral (N) to allow the transfer case to
complete the range shift.
How Your Vehicle Differs From
Other Vehicles
WARNING
Vehicles with a higher center of
gravity such as utility and four-wheel
drive vehicles handle differently than
vehicles with a lower center of gravity.
Utility and four-wheel drive vehicles are
not designed for cornering at speeds as
high as passenger cars any more than
low-slung sports cars are designed to
perform satisfactorily under off-road
conditions. Avoid sharp turns, excessive
speed and abrupt maneuvers in these
vehicles. Failure to drive cautiously could
result in an increased risk of loss of vehicle
control, vehicle rollover, personal injury and
death.
Truck and utility vehicles can differ from
some other vehicles. Your vehicle may be
higher to allow it to travel over rough
terrain without getting hung up or
damaging underbody components.
The differences that make your vehicle so
versatile also make it handle differently
than an ordinary passenger car.
Maintain steering wheel control at all
times, especially in rough terrain. Since
sudden changes in terrain can result in
abrupt steering wheel motion, make sure
you grip the steering wheel from the
outside. Do not grip the spokes.
Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle damage
from concealed objects such as rocks and
stumps.
You should either know the terrain or
examine maps of the area before driving.
Map out your route before driving in the
area. To maintain steering and braking
control of your vehicle, you must have all
four wheels on the ground and they must
be rolling, not sliding or spinning.
Driving Off-Road With Truck and
Utility Vehicles
Note: On some models, the initial shift from
two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive while
your vehicle is moving can cause some
momentary clunk and ratcheting sounds.
This is the front drivetrain coming up to
speed and the automatic locking hubs
engaging and is not cause for concern.
Note: Your vehicle may be equipped with
a front air dam that can become damaged
(due to reduced ground clearance) when
taking your vehicle off-road. You may
remove this air dam by removing eight bolts.
Four-wheel drive vehicles are specially
equipped for driving on sand, snow, mud
and rough terrain and have operating
characteristics that are somewhat
different from conventional vehicles, both
on and off the road.
The transfer case supples power to all four
wheels. On four-wheel drive vehicles, the
transfer case allows you to select different
4WD modes when necessary. You can find
information on transfer case operation and
shifting procedures in this chapter. You can
find information on transfer case
maintenance in the Maintenance chapter.
You should become thoroughly familiar
with this information before you operate
your vehicle.
Four-wheel drive (when you select a 4WD
mode) uses all four wheels to power your
vehicle. This increases traction, enabling
you to drive over terrain and road
conditions that a conventional two-wheel
drive vehicle cannot.
Basic Operating Principles
• Do not use 4H or 4L on dry, hard
surfaced roads. Doing so will produce
excessive noise, increase tire wear and
may damage drive components. 4H or
4L modes are only intended for
consistently slippery or loose surfaces.
• Drive slower in strong crosswinds which
can affect the normal steering
characteristics of your vehicle.
• When driving your vehicle on surfaces
made slippery by loose sand, water,
gravel, snow or ice proceed with care
