Driving in 4LO - How should the vehicle 'drive'

[Cookster]

I recently took an '03 Limited that I am considering buying out for a test drive. It is an automatic 4WD V6 with 73K on the clock.

It shifts in and out 4H and 4L o.k., and the VSC seems to engage and disengage as expected.

My question is - 'what should the shifting feel like in 4L when driving along?'

When engaged in 4L, there is a discernible 'lurch' when the vehicle shift from 1st to 2nd, 2nd back to 1st. Same thing from 2nd to 3rd and back down.

It's not smooth, but not knowing any better, this could very well be 'normal'.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance!!

Rob

 

[drewm]

That is normal

 

[JB.]

Yep....

 

[BigNuge]

Yup, totally normal. I just spent 4 days in the woods of Maine bird hunting and wheeling, spent lots of time in 4-Low.

 

[Cookster]

Thank you!!

Rob

 

[Martinjmpr]

Also if you engage the DAC (Downhill Assist Control) in 4 lo (it only works in 4 lo) and you hear an awful clattering like the transmission is about to fall out of the truck, that's normal, too. DAC actually works pretty well for keeping your speed down when descending a steep hill in 4 lo.