Hey,
New to the board. Recently got a 93 Dakota with 5.2L V8, club cab LE, with 4WD. Great truck. The 4WD instruction sticker on the drivers sun visor is very worn and I can't read all the instructions. So far, I have learned that I have 4-Hi, N, and 4-Lo all working correctly. Right now, I stop, slip the auto tranny into N and then pick my 4WD range for offroading or unimproved roads...I don't use 4WD on pavement. Can someone post the factory instructions for shifting that are posted on the visor or in the owners manual? Would appreciate it greatly. I don't have an owners manual and am looking for a link that will let me buy the Mopar service manual. Any help/input is welcome.

 

You can shift into 4 hi at any speed, for 4 lo get the truck rolling about 5mph put the transmission into Neutral then between 3-5mph give the transfer case shifter a quick pull into 4 lo.

There is a link to a 95 FSM in the FAQ.

 

Yes festerw is correct. But for 4 low I would say do 2-3MPH.

 

4 Lo should only be used on rare occasions. If you are using 4Lo just dont overwind the motor.

 

To add to what lghngblt02 said, 4hi honestly shouldn't be used much either. Just because you are on a dirt or gravel road doesn't mean you should drop it into 4hi. Think about all the 2wd cars and trucks that make it just fine down those roads. Don't stress out your transfer case unnessessarily!

Here is the '95 FSM we have for free...

It will be close enough to your '93... just a few minor wiring changes.

 

Thanks for the tips/guidelines and the link to the manual. I wondered about 4-Lo...used to have Ford PU's in the 70's and 80's for ranch use and we never used 4-Lo unless we were in the back pastures. Same with the dakota today, only use 4WD on extremely rural roads where you need it or walk. I'll try the advice on shifting into 4-Lo at low speed with tranny in N...if I can overcome my training to stop completely, go to N and then shift down.

 

There is really nothing wrong with stopping and then shifting but the gears seem to mesh a little better if you're rolling.

 

i like the 4x4 hi on gravel back roads. at higher speeds (40-80 kmh, 30-50 mph) loose gravel is like snow and you get to lube all the internals. the thing you don't have to worry about is over use, it's under use.
i drove through snowstorms, hurricanes and just about every swamp in a 100 mile radius for 5 years and never had a problem with my 89. then i let it set a lot for the last 2 years, never used the 4x4. everything from the transfer case to the front differential was rotted.
guess it's a case of if you don't use it you'll lose it.

 

Actually, having just rebuilt my transfer case and seeing first hand how they work, it is better to be rolling. You'll put too much stress on the shift forks if you are stopped and try to shift and the gears aren't lined up... cause the forks will be jammed until you roll enough to line the gears up so they can engage.

Maybe on the early models that have the CAD, but with the later models that don't have that, the front output shaft still spins in the tranfer case, so it still gets lubricated fine.

 

I dont want to steal the thread or anything but since someone posted that you can shift into 4 high at any speed i was always told by my stepdad that you shouldnt go any faster than 45 or it will tare up the transfer case, is that true?