Correct way to engage 4WD?

[El Gallo]

Is it me, or does the owner's manual contradict itself?

"4WD AUTO Four-Wheel Drive Auto High Range — This range sends power to the front wheels. "

and then lower in the page:

"For variable driving conditions, the 4WD AUTO mode can be used. In this mode, the front axle is engaged, but the vehicle’s power is sent to the rear wheels. "

So does 4WD Auto send power to the front or back normally before engaging all 4 wheels in certain conditions?

I see similar errors in other owner's manuals for other trucks too. Seems they don't bother with editorial work these days.

Seems like it’s like “locking the hubs”. but not engaging 4wd until it detects a slip. then it will send power to the front wheels.

 

[Brandon-w]

Seems like it’s like “locking the hubs”. but not engaging 4wd until it detects a slip. then it will send power to the front wheels.

Yep that's exactly what happens...

 

[John Jensen]

Is it me, or does the owner's manual contradict itself?

"4WD AUTO Four-Wheel Drive Auto High Range — This range sends power to the front wheels. "

and then lower in the page:

"For variable driving conditions, the 4WD AUTO mode can be used. In this mode, the front axle is engaged, but the vehicle’s power is sent to the rear wheels. "

So does 4WD Auto send power to the front or back normally before engaging all 4 wheels in certain conditions?

I see similar errors in other owner's manuals for other trucks too. Seems they don't bother with editorial work these days.

I don't see it as contradicting itself, I see it as poor verbiage.

The vehicle's power is always sent to the rear wheels, regardless of the drive mode. They could remove the statement, but the vehicle’s power is sent to the rear wheels. and the PP would read better.

 

[JS4024]

4 wheel High, stopped or rolling no matter speed under 60. Low, I go into neutral, shift into 4 low, wait til the light stops flashing, go... when coming out same thing. Wait til it stops flashing then away you go.

 

[jack67]

Me personally, i mutter a prayer under my breath, pinch my left eye shut, then reach out and turn the knob, always pleasantly surprised when technology holds up in my presence....

Especially in the old days when you had to "gasp" get out and manually turn the hubs to get into four wheel drive.

 

[Dodgedaddie also]

My 2012 Laramie 1500 won't engage the 4wd ?, Turn the knob on dash and nothing happens? No clicking,,No Light on the dash?
It was working in the Morning, but that evening It would NOT activate.

Any Help Would Be A Help.​

 

[TXTONKA]

On my prior Ram 1500 with AWD and 4Hi. I always found the 4Hi preformed better in winter and off road conditions. The AWD alwasy seemed to have a delayed engagement.

 

[CVX20]

Is it me, or does the owner's manual contradict itself?

"4WD AUTO Four-Wheel Drive Auto High Range — This range sends power to the front wheels. "

and then lower in the page:

"For variable driving conditions, the 4WD AUTO mode can be used. In this mode, the front axle is engaged, but the vehicle’s power is sent to the rear wheels. "

So does 4WD Auto send power to the front or back normally before engaging all 4 wheels in certain conditions?

I see similar errors in other owner's manuals for other trucks too. Seems they don't bother with editorial work these days.

So what this is saying is that in 4wd auto they have already applied the front axle actuator but are still only applying mechanical power to the rear axle.When the PCM reads wheel slip then the clutches are applied in the t-case and then mechanical power goes to the front axle which is already engaged making the transfer to 4wd almost instant.Where as if you shifted a non-auto t-case on the fly the power(hydro) has to go through a switch on the t-case only after it has shifted and on to the front axle that then has to mechanically engage.This process is slower obviously.The non-auto t-case can be shifted on the fly at just about any speed without hurting anything as long as you get your foot out of the throttle for a few seconds to give the frt axle a chance to do it's thing.They are a bit slow engaging.