?????Downhill no hold back 4wd lowrange?????

John TN · 01-10-2009, 08:30 AM

The 4wd wasn't working on my project Tracker when I got it, lock out hubs needed work so got all that fixed and although I have more work to do, I wanted to see if the 235's would rub and how the little tracker would do off road.

Took the little tracker out to the mountains where I hunt locked the hubs in, go to 4wd low range, little rascal climbs the mountain pretty good, but coming back downhill, no hold back at all (not good, bad on brakes dangerous on the steeps we climb). I made double sure I was in 4wd low range, I even went back to 4wd high range to see if there was a difference in pulling (wasn't sure low range was working) and there is definitely a difference in pulling power.

I've had a few 4wd's over years and this one just doesn't seem to have the low range ratio's as my current 4wd truck and old jeeps have, if this is all the hold back they have hell I'll never keep any brakes, normal or not normal??

See my sig for vehicle info.

the flying scotsman · 01-10-2009, 10:08 AM

Automatic or manual?

John TN · 01-10-2009, 10:13 AM

3spd auto tranny.

CodyJ · 01-10-2009, 12:06 PM

Mainly the auto will cause this... I have a 5-speed manual and have no problem slowing myself down coming down slopes. If you were to put the shifter into L or 2nd it would help when off-roading, just don't forget and maybe add a tach!

John TN · 01-10-2009, 12:28 PM

Got the tach already, see what I'm not sure is if I'm truly able to shift into 1st gear manually, it appears someone had yanked the shifter at some point and the shifting is not as it should be, only the P and R show on the location, but it's one of the problems that's not on the priority list, but will be addressed, if this is what why it's not holding back then it can be fixed.

I've had auto tranny 4wd's and never had one not hold back, I really don't think I'd want to use this vehicle in the mountains if that's all she will hold back, your brakes go out and it's slam tree, go off a bluff or roll over time or several possible combinations of all three.

CodyJ · 01-10-2009, 12:43 PM

Its the way the auto on the tracker is designed... they were optional and sucked. The only purpose of an auto would be for a lazy tracker driver that can't drive stick and usually doesn't want 4x4. I got one of those sitting out back (white one below). Decent gas mileage in town and all he is used for. But, you should be able to put it in the L position and drive it and it should allow the engine to pull it back down to were its idle is. If not you have a problem with your shifter. It would be like putting a 5-speed in gear and revving it... its going to slow you down quick after you let off the gas!

John TN · 01-10-2009, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CodyJ

Its the way the auto on the tracker is designed... It would be like putting a 5-speed in gear and revving it... its going to slow you down quick after you let off the gas!

Not this one at the moment, let off brakes going downhill, it takes off like when you're in 2H and coming to a red light and let off the gas, no hold back, I'm starting to think it's not going into 1st gear manually, maybe someone with a 4wd auto tranny will chime in.

CodyJ · 01-10-2009, 01:30 PM

I have a 2wd 3-speed auto and if I put it in L and hit it... it hooks and as soon as I let off, I get dragged back by what they call engine braking. I can roll maybe about up to 15mph without issues, possibly to fast for coming down a hill though. The gear ratio of auto/manual is different in these trackers.

4-speed conversions are a bitch from what I have read. 5-speeds I think are somewhat easier and of course they last longer and are stronger!

jtgh · 01-10-2009, 04:53 PM

engine braking and or engine compression braking. poor.
yes,
but is the 4wd xfr case going into 4L ? surely you can tell that, right, super granny.
now surely you can tell if you put your 3sp in 1st gear, does it take off in first gear.
only you can tell that,
do it in another car, see, 1st gear works, right.

if all above is working, then the tranny might have a problem.

you could have a weak pump, or slipping bands or a bad valve body in the 3sp.
the list is huge on any slush pump.

dont you want real gears off road.?
put it in, and it STAYS in kind of gears?

sure.

good on ICE too., use the engine to stop car (mostly). no brakes.
very safe.

John TN · 01-10-2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtgh

engine braking and or engine compression braking. poor.
yes,
but is the 4wd xfr case going into 4L ? surely you can tell that, right, super granny.
now surely you can tell if you put your 3sp in 1st gear, does it take off in first gear.
only you can tell that,
do it in another car, see, 1st gear works, right.

if all above is working, then the tranny might have a problem.

you could have a weak pump, or slipping bands or a bad valve body in the 3sp.
the list is huge on any slush pump.

dont you want real gears off road.?
put it in, and it STAYS in kind of gears?

sure.

good on ICE too., use the engine to stop car (mostly). no brakes.
very safe.

No jtgh I would not say it is super granny in 4wd low range xfer case, from what I would compare my other 4wd's vehicles have been like in 4wd low range. The 4wd light does comes on when the xfer case is shifted into low range with the lever all the way forward and to the right, in 4wd low range it is a lower ratio than 4wd High range, but not super granny IMHO.

The vehicle will take off in what I assume is first gear manual shift, but this is still undetermined at this point, the auto tranny is shifting through all three gears in regular 2wd high range, pulls good and is not giving any indication of slipping that is noticeable.

I'm studying the FSM on the transmission at this point, will change the fluid/filter and then do the adjustment checks and go from there.

I can't get one thing fixed for finding more two other things wrong, it's all a matter of time and money,,,,, the project continues.