How Do I know If My Jeep Cherokee Is 4 Wheel Drive? (Must Read)

Understanding the drivetrain system of Jeep Cherokee is of paramount importance as this knowledge enables car owners to access the full potential of their vehicles.

On that note, how do I know if my Jeep Cherokee is Four-Wheel Drive? 

First off, look for your driveshaft beneath your Jeep, a lengthy spinny-looking shaft that leads to a compartment in the rear, which runs further to the wheels. Then, to confirm further, check for two shafts of the same composition that runs to the wheels in the front. If these are present in your Cherokee, you have a 4WD. 

How Do I Find the Four-Wheel Drive on My Jeep Cherokee?

You can find the 4-wheel drive on your Jeep Cherokee by checking the underside of your vehicle for the front and rear axles.

The front and rear axles often come with every Jeep Cherokee, which indicates the presence of the Four-Wheel Drive system. 

The Four-Wheel Drive system is the main drivetrain of different models of Jeep, such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Furthermore, other trim levels of Jeep Grand Cherokee, such as Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo, come standard with the Four-Wheel Drive. 

The Four-Wheel Drive system is extremely active and provides equal traction to the four wheels of your vehicle. Giving you full control of your vehicle in any difficult situation, such as excessive snow. 

You can easily activate the Jeep Cherokee snow mode to help you navigate and drive properly. Unfortunately, some models of Jeep do not come with the 4-wheel drive system.

Instead, they come with the Two-Wheel Drive, their basic drivetrain system. 

The Two-Wheel Drive system provides traction to only two wheels of the vehicle. As a result, many car owners who own a Two-Wheel Drive vehicle often change their drivetrain.

Especially car owners who engage in off-roading, heavy towing activities, and driving on rough and bumpy roads. 

The Two-Wheel Drive can not support the vehicle and provide enough traction in this scenario. Hence, all these activities will be extremely difficult to perform.

Nevertheless, you can seek the service of a professional to help you replace the Two-Wheel Drive with the Four-Wheel Drive. 

However, you need to exercise extreme caution when replacing the drivetrain system as the model of your car contains vital components. 

How Does the Four-Wheel Drive System Work in a Jeep Cherokee? 

The Four-Wheel Drive system contains a huge mechanical wet clutch. And an electronic limited-slip differential which you can find in the rear.

When you turn on the 4-wheel drive, the engine transfers power to the transmission. 

And the power from the transmission is further divided into the front and wheel axles. The torque transfers to the wheels.

However, the wheels must contain enough traction on the road. To aid the proper movement of the vehicle and supply enough traction control. 

More often than not, Jeep utilizes various Four-Wheel Drive systems on their vehicles. These drivetrain systems harbor unique features that aid the movement of vehicles in any hazardous situation. 

Perfect examples of these Four-Wheel Drive systems include the Quadra Trac system, Quadra Trac I, Quadra Trac II, and Jeep active drive.

You can easily switch to any of these four-wheel-drive systems as long as they are compatible with the model of your car. 

The Four-Wheel Drive system comes with different modes that serve different functions. For instance, the low range mode is available on the 4×4 system, which comes in handy during off-roading.

But unfortunately, this mode is not suitable for normal driving as it’s only suitable during rides on rough roads and harsh weather conditions. 

Similarly, you can install the select terrain system, calibrating your vehicle to deliver decent on/off-road performance. Again, however, this depends on the terrain mode you activate at that particular point in time. 

That established the select terrain system comes with five settings: auto, snow, sport, sand/mud, and rock.

How these settings work is pretty simple, you can activate any of them with just the press of a button.

So, for example, if your vehicle gets stuck in deep sand, mud, or snow, you can press the button on the system and rescue yourself. 

How to put the Jeep Cherokee in a 4 Wheel Drive System? 

Setting your Jeep Cherokee in the 4-wheel drive system is very easy, especially if it’s your vehicle’s drivetrain. First off, stop your vehicle if it’s in motion and put it in neutral.

Then switch to 4-wheel drive by pressing the 4-wheel drive button. 

However, if you want to switch from the 4-wheel drive low to 4 wheel drive high, your vehicle must move at a speed range of 0 to 3mph. Again, you must carry this out while your vehicle’s engine is running. 

Further, this enables you to change the position of the transmission to neutral and push the Four-Wheel Drive button once.

The Four-Wheel Drive indicator light usually appears out in the instrument cluster to ensure the process is complete. 

However, the Four-Wheel Drive low position process is different as it requires a maximum speed range of 20mph.

That enables the neutral lever position to extricate the front and rear driveshafts from the powertrain. 

Moreover, it comes in handy when you’re flat towing your vehicle behind a truck or another vehicle of high capacity.

It’s important to note that driving your vehicle in the Four-Wheel Drive low position on rough roads is not advisable. 

That is because it could ruin major components of your car and wear out the tires easily. Fortunately, you can use the low position on slippery road surfaces or smooth road surfaces.

On the other hand, you can use the Four-Wheel drive high on rough and bumpy roads. 

What Are the Pros and Cons of the Four-Wheel Drive System? 

The Four-Wheel Drive system is unique, but just like any other drivetrain system, it harbors a few flaws.

So without further ado, let’s explore the pros and cons of the four-wheel-drive system. 

#1. Pros 

The advantages of the four-wheel-drive system are numerous and beneficial. Below are some of them.

• The Four-Wheel Drive system enhances traction during precarious driving situations, such as snow, rocks, mud, and other scenarios that make control and navigation difficult. It engages both pairs of wheels and traction and increases control drastically.
• The 4-wheel drive provides additional weight, contributing to strong road control.
• The Four-Wheel Drive system is an excellent option for car owners who love and engage in off-roading.

#2. Cons

The following are some of the disadvantages of the four-wheel-drive system. 

• The major drawback of the Four-Wheel Drive system is the extra maintenance cost, purchase, and fuel. In addition, the additional equipment, which is the differentials and transfer case, amplifies the complexness and weight of your vehicle. Thereby increasing the original market value, repair costs, tire wear, and maintenance.
• The additional power and weight of the 4-wheel drive system require more fuel, which makes the system less efficient.
• The extra weight causes increased traction and control. However, it also causes an increase in the braking distance you need to make a total stop. 

Four-Wheel Drive Operation | How To

Summary 

The Four-Wheel Drive is a unique drivetrain that you can find on your Jeep Cherokee by locating the front and rear driveshafts.

Nevertheless, you can easily install a new Four-Wheel Drive system if your vehicle doesn’t come with one.

Plus, you can activate the system by pressing the Four-Wheel Drive button to access other features.