You will find many more flashing lights in your regular vehicle than in a police car. It might sound funny, but there is a bunch, from tire pressure warnings and low fuel warnings to even the service required warnings.
If you see a “SERVICE 4WD” warning on your Jeep Grand Cherokee dashboard and want to reset it yourself, then keep on reading to learn how you can perform Jeep Grand Cherokee service 4WD system reset.
Most Commons Symptoms for 4WD Problems
Here are some of the most common symptoms you may notice with your Jeep Grand Cherokee if your 4WD is not functioning correctly.
- “Service 4WD” warning indicator is on
- Less traction in mud or snow
- 4WD light always on
- Rattling noises when the 4WD system is engaged
- Excessive consumption of fuel
- Excessive wear of the front tires
- Lacking in power
Check if your 4WD System is Properly Working
Even though your 4WD light may be turned on, it does not always mean working. Here is a quick and easy way to test this.
Start by having your Jeep Grand Cherokee on an asphalt or concrete surface. Doing this in a parking lot would be the best option.
Then when your Jeep is standing still in either park or neutral, turn on the 4WD system. When the 4WD transfer case is engaged, you will hear or feel a clunk.
Now you need to drive about 10 feet straight forward. It will allow you to lock and engage the front hubs.
Now you want to turn the wheels entirely on either side and drive forward. You should feel your Jeep resisting smoothly go ahead when you do this.
You will know that your 4WD system is most likely not working if you do not feel any resistance from your Jeep.
Of course, if you are still unsure, you can go to a professional repair shop and get your Jeep checked there instead.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Service 4WD System Reset: How to Do It
The service required message can mean that your Jeep needs routine maintenance. 4WD systems can require skilled mechanics to solve any problems, and it can often get quite expensive if you keep on delaying your visit to a repair shop.
That’s why routine maintenance visits can help you a lot in saving your wallet from burning through.
For starters, it’s only possible for you to do it manually if you have quite a bit of experience with dealing with 4WD systems.
If you have no mechanical expertise on this matter, we strongly suggest you take your Jeep to a skilled and trusted repair shop to get it fixed.
When you see the Service 4WD message on your dashboard, it is obvious to alert you that your system has a problem.
This problem mainly arises from issues with your transfer case motor circuits or the courses of your rear or front differential solenoids.
This is why you must take your Jeep Grand Cherokee to a trusted repair shop where they can read the codes being displayed from the control module of your transfer case.
They do it by connecting a scanning tool and then go ahead and fix the circuit that is affected.
If the problem has occurred with the circuits of your transfer case motor, then you are looking at a repair cost that would be somewhere around $500. If the problem is found with your solenoid, you will be spending somewhere around $250 for the repair.
If you are not familiar with any of this, then it is strongly advised that you take your Jeep to a professional mechanic who can fix your problem and have your Grand Cherokee repaired in no time.
Doing it just by yourself when you don’t have much idea about what’s going on can make you pay a lot more if you mess something else up.
DIY Jeep Grand Cherokee Service 4WD System Reset
If you want to do the 4WD system reset by yourself, here’s how you can do it.
Resetting 4WD Service Required Message
- Put the ignition to “On”, but don’t start the vehicle yet.
- Hold down the gas pedal with your feet 3 times.
- Turn off the ignition and start the vehicle after 10 seconds.
Resetting 4WD Error Message
- Open the vehicle’s hood.
- Take a wrench, and find the nut that’s connected to the negative terminal.
- Remove that nut, and reset the computer.
This should clear out the error message.
Final Words
We hope this article helped you understand the Jeep Grand Cherokee service 4WD system reset functions and how to do it properly.
4 Wheel Drives tend to be expensive to repair due to their complexity. This is why make sure that you take your vehicle in for regular maintenance.
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