No Reverse in 4 Low

[Deep East TX LJ]

I completed the 241 swap in my 05 LJ with a 6 speed.

Based on recommendations, I installed the savvy cable shifter while I was in there.

I’ve been able to go through all the gears and everything works fine, with one exception. I cannot get reverse to engage in 4 low. It just clicks like it’s not engaging.

My question is should I continue to adjust the cable shifter? Or, is it even possible that the transfer case is the problem?

 

[JKP]

Put Jeep in R in 2H or 4H, I assume this works OK. Then put Jeep in 4L while it's still in R. What happens?

The tcase shouldn't affect the trans gear shifting.

 

[Deep East TX LJ]

Put Jeep in R in 2H or 4H, I assume this works OK. Then put Jeep in 4L while it's still in R. What happens?

The tcase shouldn't affect the trans gear shifting.

R works in 2H and 4H. I just tried what you suggested and no change.

 

[JKP]

Don't really have a guess on this one.

Almost has to be in the tcase if R works in everything but 4L. But if 4L works in all the other gears, no idea.

 

[hear]

It has to be the t-case if R works on the other gears, and I’m further guessing that this is a new symptom after your t-case swap. Something about the transmission output shaft spinning the opposite direction is preventing the t-case from going into 4 low. No idea what that is, however.

 

[jjvw]

The transmission does not know what mode the transfer case is in. Something is interfering with the transmission shifter itself.

 

[g.hayduke]

I had to create some clearance to allow the shift lever to move a bit further to properly engage 4L on my LJR when I installed the Savvy shift cable.

I suspect you are not able to fully engage 4L possibly due to insufficient lever travel.

 

[machoheadgames]

R works in 2H and 4H. I just tried what you suggested and no change.

So I guess the transmission is fully going into R, then? And it just happens to not do go anywhere (but makes clicking noises) when the t-case is in 4L?

Doesn't really make sense in the t-case, but there must be something directional internally that is engaging one way but not the other. No clue how that happens, the 4L selector collar inside the t-case is pretty simple, its either engaged in the planetary or it's not.

 

[g.hayduke]

So I guess the transmission is fully going into R, then? And it just happens to not do go anywhere (but makes clicking noises) when the t-case is in 4L?

Doesn't really make sense in the t-case, but there must be something directional internally that is engaging one way but not the other. No clue how that happens, the 4L selector collar inside the t-case is pretty simple, its either engaged in the planetary or it's not.

If you've ever tried to move when you are not fully into 4L, it makes a clicking noise as described. It's probably engaged just enough to move going forward but might pop out under load.

 

[g.hayduke]

Disconnect the cable.
Manually put TC in 4L
See if jeep drives normally forward and reverse.
Put lever in 4L
See if cable can be reconnected with both TC and lever in 4L. Create clearance if necessary.

Basically, adjust the cable for proper 2H engagement. Then figure out what you need to do to get full 4L engagement.

 

[machoheadgames]

If you've ever tried to move when you are not fully into 4L, it makes a clicking noise as described. It's probably engaged just enough to move going forward but might pop out under load.

Yeah, the clicking are the little teeth on the 4L hub rubbing against the teeth they are supposed to slide into mesh with on the planetary. I just don't understand why forward or reverse makes any difference. It's the same thing either way, just a different direction. In other words, I would expect the clicking and lack of movement to happen going forward as well if reverse is doing that.

The fix is probably is a linkage adjustment regardless, I just don't understand the root cause of it working going forward but not in reverse. That part doesn't make sense.

 

[mrblaine]

Yeah, the clicking are the little teeth on the 4L hub rubbing against the teeth they are supposed to slide into mesh with on the planetary. I just don't understand why forward or reverse makes any difference. It's the same thing either way, just a different direction. In other words, I would expect the clicking and lack of movement to happen going forward as well if reverse is doing that.

The fix is probably is a linkage adjustment regardless, I just don't understand the root cause of it working going forward but not in reverse. That part doesn't make sense.

We always have some issue with 4 low and the 241. The detent is very touchy and we have to set the cable shifter up so it forces it past it a bit and then lets it relax back into the detent. Otherwise the end of the shifter gate prevents full engagement that only shows up under load and then it pops out.

 

[Deep East TX LJ]

If you've ever tried to move when you are not fully into 4L, it makes a clicking noise as described. It's probably engaged just enough to move going forward but might pop out under load.

I loosened one of the 15/16" nuts to one of the mounting brackets for the new Savvy cable shifter (that's all I can reach with the skid plate still on). Giving the cable shifter more length has allowed me to move through all gears without trouble. I will drop the skid plate tonight and finish the fine-tuning. Thanks to all for the input. Hopefully, this helps the next person with the same issue.

And, if anyone is going back and forth between Savvy and Novak I will offer an opinion. The customer service with Savvy has been disappointing. I can't say that is the norm or Novak is better. But, based on this experience I will personally use Novak in the future.

 

[lBasket]

I loosened one of the 15/16" nuts to one of the mounting brackets for the new Savvy cable shifter (that's all I can reach with the skid plate still on). Giving the cable shifter more length has allowed me to move through all gears without trouble. I will drop the skid plate tonight and finish the fine-tuning. Thanks to all for the input. Hopefully, this helps the next person with the same issue.

And, if anyone is going back and forth between Savvy and Novak I will offer an opinion. The customer service with Savvy has been disappointing. I can't say that is the norm or Novak is better. But, based on this experience I will personally use Novak in the future.

Classic savvy

 

[Deep East TX LJ]

Classic savvy

I am new to this stuff and them being a brand name, I assumed it was a safe bet they would do right. But, now I know...

 

[lBasket]

I am new to this stuff and them being a brand name, I assumed it was a safe bet they would do right. But, now I know...

Good products, not good service. Though I'm kinda surprised it isn't any better since they got bought or whatever happened

 

[Deep East TX LJ]

Good products, not good service. Though I'm kinda surprised it isn't any better since they got bought or whatever happened

Looks as though the cable shifter will work great after fine-tuning. Like I said, I'm new so I can't compare to how things were. I know they had more than one chance to right their wrong and wouldn't or couldn't. It's all good though. Live and learn!

 

[hear]

Good products, not good service. Though I'm kinda surprised it isn't any better since they got bought or whatever happened

Yeah, because customer service always improves when ownership transitions.

 

[lBasket]

Yeah, because customer service always improves when ownership transitions.

Well it couldn't get worse so there was nowhere to go but up! But instead it went nowhere.

 

[mrblaine]

Looks as though the cable shifter will work great after fine-tuning. Like I said, I'm new so I can't compare to how things were. I know they had more than one chance to right their wrong and wouldn't or couldn't. It's all good though. Live and learn!

I'm a bit lost as to what Savvy did wrong?