2007 Liberty, feel stuck in 4WD, Shifting Cable Bushing Repair Kit

[Mark 01010101]

Original owner of 2007 Liberty Limited. 3.7 liter, 4 wd. 148 K miles. Has been a good vehicle to own. But issue came up today. 4 wd issue.

Shifts from 2WD, 4WD part, 4 wd full then neutral to shift to 4 WD Low Dash lights indicates each shift. Looks good on dash but when driving in 2 WD and turn into a parking spot the wheels feel like 4 wd. You know the sound/feel...

I have repeated the shift from all the way from 2 WD to 4 wheel low. Does not fix the issue.

My best guess is that it is moving up to 4 wheel low and back down to 4 wd part. Just not getting into 2 wd even though the dash lights indicate it has made the shift..

Looking around it might just need a Jeep Liberty shifter cable bushing repair kit?

Appreciate thoughts.

 

[Mark 01010101]

Looks like this might be the fix.

Shop Jeep Liberty Shifter Cable Bushing Repair Kit Online

Shop Jeep Liberty Shifter Cable Bushing Repair Kit online at just $24.99 from Bushingfix.com. It is an online store, offers transmission shift cable bushing, shift linkage cable, shift control cable, Ford shift cable, automatic transmission shift cable for Audi, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet...

www.bushingfix.com

Let you know how it works out.

 

[michael mehle]

Original owner of 2007 Liberty Limited. 3.7 liter, 4 wd. 148 K miles. Has been a good vehicle to own. But issue came up today. 4 wd issue.

Shifts from 2WD, 4WD part, 4 wd full then neutral to shift to 4 WD Low Dash lights indicates each shift. Looks good on dash but when driving in 2 WD and turn into a parking spot the wheels feel like 4 wd. You know the sound/feel...

I have repeated the shift from all the way from 2 WD to 4 wheel low. Does not fix the issue.

My best guess is that it is moving up to 4 wheel low and back down to 4 wd part. Just not getting into 2 wd even though the dash lights indicate it has made the shift..

Looking around it might just need a Jeep Liberty shifter cable bushing repair kit?

Appreciate thoughts.

Replace your neutral safety switch while you're in there! Very easy from the inside. YouTube has video. OEM only.

 

[mercdudecbr600]

Original owner of 2007 Liberty Limited. 3.7 liter, 4 wd. 148 K miles. Has been a good vehicle to own. But issue came up today. 4 wd issue.

Shifts from 2WD, 4WD part, 4 wd full then neutral to shift to 4 WD Low Dash lights indicates each shift. Looks good on dash but when driving in 2 WD and turn into a parking spot the wheels feel like 4 wd. You know the sound/feel...

I have repeated the shift from all the way from 2 WD to 4 wheel low. Does not fix the issue.

My best guess is that it is moving up to 4 wheel low and back down to 4 wd part. Just not getting into 2 wd even though the dash lights indicate it has made the shift..

Looking around it might just need a Jeep Liberty shifter cable bushing repair kit?

Appreciate thoughts.

In general vehicles get stuck in 4wd in the following conditions

1 engage 4wd in high traction situations and get tension/bind in the drivetrain
2 rare use of 4wd

To get out can be tricky esp for condition 1. I’ve found driving in 2h backwards and then forwards while slightly turning can get things disengaged. Being on loose surface also helps. If it still persists then you might have a tc issue.

Preventatively engaging 4wd periodically will help.

 

[slingworks]

Original owner of 2007 Liberty Limited. 3.7 liter, 4 wd. 148 K miles. Has been a good vehicle to own. But issue came up today. 4 wd issue.

Shifts from 2WD, 4WD part, 4 wd full then neutral to shift to 4 WD Low Dash lights indicates each shift. Looks good on dash but when driving in 2 WD and turn into a parking spot the wheels feel like 4 wd. You know the sound/feel...

I have repeated the shift from all the way from 2 WD to 4 wheel low. Does not fix the issue.

My best guess is that it is moving up to 4 wheel low and back down to 4 wd part. Just not getting into 2 wd even though the dash lights indicate it has made the shift..

Looking around it might just need a Jeep Liberty shifter cable bushing repair kit?

Appreciate thoughts.

How does the shift lever feel? You should feel some resistance or an actual engage/disengage thunk. Is it easy to move through the range and feeling like the cable isn't attached?

I think your transfer case is just getting worn. I've had a couple Liberties over the long haul (15 years) and they seem to all end up that way. They don't always unlock back to 2wd Hi. Try shifting it in and out of 4hi rolling slowly and/or rolling in neutral and see if it clears up.

I made a cable repair on one that lasted 10 years just fine. Used a penny that drilled a hole in, a straight nylon busing and 2 e clips. Was way better than factory.

I've often wondered if they're something a guy could use in the transfer case instead of ATF that would allow it to shift/release more smoothly? Maybe some STP???

 

[mercdudecbr600]

Yes, you can use 5w-30 synthetic motor oil. It is required by the TC rebuild shop called bulldog (family business found on ebay).
I can confirm, no issues whatsoever.

 

[slingworks]

Yes, you can use 5w-30 synthetic motor oil. It is required by the TC rebuild shop called bulldog (family business found on ebay).
I can confirm, no issues whatsoever.

I'm actually tempted to try it when I change oil this coming week or so. I'm thinking maybe a full synthetic might be best?

 

[mercdudecbr600]

I filled m1 5-30

 

[Mark 01010101]

Took Liberty out on a test drive today. Glided down a hill in neutral and shifted into first two two 4 wheel drive(s), Could feel the shift/resistance. Drove backwards and forwards in 2 wd. No change. Tried backwards in all 4 wd settings from low down to 2 wd. At one point I heard a thump. Put it in drive/forward. Still feels like its in 4 wd on turns. Finally drove around shifting up and down. On final push into 2 wd and it felt like shifter did not go straight down but was pushed to the side as I pushed shifter into 2 wd. Waiting till I get a dry/warm day to climb under Jeep and see if I can see what is going on. Feels like it might be resistance in the TC.

 

[mercdudecbr600]

Most likely, the bushing gave up on the TC shifter linkage (at the tc). And if that happens, the linkage just hangs on there... it could easily pop off. Folks make a repair kit that's durable and that's what I installed. And if it's been stuck in 4wd hi on high traction surfaces, it might have cause internal damage. Check/repair linkage and then see if you still have an issue. If so, might be tc is kaput.

 

[sota]

link to this kit?

 

[mercdudecbr600]

See above

 

[mercdudecbr600]

Jeep Liberty Shift Cable Bushing Options

www.bushingfix.com

 

[sota]

great. now I gotta figure out which end I have

 

[Mark 01010101]

With nice weather today so I drove my Liberty up on my ramps in our garage. Looked around. Have had an oil drip. Looks like I need a new gasket on the oil pan. As for the 4wd shifter. The plastic fitting looked ok to the eye without taking it off. So took Liberty on a ride down to a cul-de-sac. Ran a couple circles. Felt like 2wd was engaged. So I shifted into 4 wd. Felt it go in. Then shifted back to 2 wd but it did not make this shift back to 2 wd. Took it home to climb the ramps up, down and back to cul-de-sac. Not in 4 wd. So climbing the ramp shifted it into 2wd. That is a head scratcher.

 

[mercdudecbr600]

Ya this is a normal issue with poorly exercised 4wd systems. I’ve found it helps to turn slightly while driving at 5-10mph (like drifting into other lane). But if you do get stuck in 4hi, don’t start doing big turns on pavement - it causes wind up and binds everything and makes it harder to get undone.

Moral of the story, use your 4wd system from time to time for proper operation.

 

[sota]

if you're doing the pan gasket, change the pan too. it's probably already rotting out anyways.

 

[Mark 01010101]

Climbed under my Jeep Liberty yesterday. Close inspection of the transfer case bushing shows that it needs replaced. Bought a new one. Link below for those interested. Its a BushingsFit HR1Kit in case the link does not work.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BW1VDDY?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

When I wiggled the cable the end came right off the post to the transfer case. The busing is either gone of pretty much gone.

Be a tight squeeze to get a hand up there. Physically impossible for my hand to squeeze in.

So preplanning project thinking I'll pull the cable off on the underside of the jeep to get the bushing end that connects to the transfer case out to work on. Maybe a long screwdriver to push it back on the transfer case post. Done.

Seems pretty straightforward. Glad its not winter anymore.

 

[Mark 01010101]

Got under liberty today. Pulled the transfer case cable out of it's mounting bracket on the bottom of the Jeep. This allowed me to easily get access to the end of the cable that attaches to the transfer case. Used long screwdriver to pop it off the transfer case post. Not much of a pop as the transfer case bushing was non existent. Put new one on and remounted cable into mounting bracket. Pushed the cable/busing onto the transfer case post. Done. 15 minutes.

Went out and drove around shifting into 4 wd. Still does not shift back into 2 wd. Dash lights say it does but that's wrong. Up on ramps, looked to see cable/bushing still properly in place. Backed off ramp and out of driveway. As I turned the back of the Jeep onto road heard a "thump" sound. Liberty was back in 2 wd.

Strange. This Jeep is not a daily driver anymore. Maybe Mercdude (above in comments) has a valid point. It needs driven and used in 4 wd.

I'll try to drive it more and when I get home exercise the transfer case with shift into 4 wd and back to 2 wd. If it does not shift back to 2 wd I'll drive up ramps, back out of driveway and with luck back into 2 wd. Maybe this exercise will get it working normally again.

Love the Jeep for winter/snow driving. Still drives well. Just bummed that this 4 WD issue has come up. Not something I want my wife and son to have to deal with.