How a Jeep Patriot 4WD system works - Compass too!

There are other videos on this topic as well including official videos from Jeep themselves - but people continue to ask about it online so I've added my description to the library.
This applies to all 4x4 Jeep Patriot models and all Jeep Compass models made before 2018. It's not quite the same as the 4wd system you'll find in Liberty, Grand Cherokee, Wrangler or other Jeep models and it's not AWD or "All Wheel Drive" .
If you're driving off road you can switch into commanded 4wd mode at any speed - the behavior is all software defined and it prevents any kind of harmful operation.
The following word has been included in this description for reasons that would take too long to explain, you can safely ignore it : JJJreact

[@majortunesmusic9622]

Nicely done and well explained!👍🏼

[@davehair682]

Well, nice clear explanation - thank you

[@DC-cf1hm]

Thank you for the awesome breakdown of the Patriot 4WD system!!

[@peteringram1107]

Thanks for this info session....my patiot 4wd was not working properly on dirt roads and warning lights flashing when ever I used it and back wheels never locked in and ingaged... So a diff Oil change and clean out wire plug has fixed my issue...so thank you for your time and knowledge of this system .... thanks again

[@shoveI]

Glad it helped

[@veedubklown]

I’ve always laughed because of how smooth my pat’s rear diff engagement is, “I’ve got this lil lever right here that makes this fun light pop up on my dash. Not really sure what else it does.” Problem with off-roading the partriot (besides the ground clearance), is the lack of low gearing. You don’t have enough torque to crawl, so you need to depend on momentum. Makes it a better all-around road car, but limits how much fun you are able to have with it on the weekend.

[@shoveI]

I've wished for a low range or a wider ratio transmission too - even a real limited slip differential at either end would help because the nature of the BLD traction control system is to cut your effective torque in half whenever it's in operation. Taking a load off the BLD would mean keeping the full (if very modest) torque more often. I think it's possible that a LSD from a Lancer EVO would fit in the RDU but I don't have the bandwidth or finances right now to experiment with that.

[@veedubklown]

@@shoveI aye I wouldn't mind an LSD at both ends, wouldn't notice much up front until you're stabbin it, anyway. The BLD system is a bit of a disappointment. I've used it to sink and bury myself more successfully than I've used it for self-recovery. Better off airing down, backing out of what got ya stuck, and then momentum is your friend.

[@markbrown9765]

Awesome video. We just purchased a used Patriot and I wanted to see when you could engage/disengage 4WD. I had no idea it's really a front wheel drive, a plus, and engages the rear wheels for 4WD. Also had no idea it's sort of always in AWD/4WD at low speeds and heavy acceleration. You did a great job explaining it. I hope it works as well as we're anticipating. We live in a northern climate with fairly steep access to our place.

[@anthonygillette]

Well my wife and I just bought a 2016 4x4 and idk about its AWD system, but I can confirm that when we popped it on 4x4 the other day while it was snowing, I had no issues. I was in slushy parking lots trying my hardest to break traction, even squirreling it left and right, and I couldn’t break it free.

[@chriskahl6818]

That's a way of doing 4wd/Awd i didn't know about. This is actually the first time i have heard if a vehicle being front wheel drive and engaging the rear wheels for 4wd. Front wheel drive generally tends to have better performance and steering control off-road. I like this idea.

[@shoveI]

It's not entirely new for example Ford Tempo cars as early as 1987 optionally had something a little bit like this - not quite as refined. That probably wasn't the first it's just the earliest example I can think of right now. Despite its limitations in performance and heavy off road situations it's a completely appropriate system for this kind of car & I think it cashes all the checks it actually writes. More than can be said for some other specific Jeeps 🤣

[@guttedxx]

This is the same as Honda's 4wd

[@Susvin66]

Thanks a lot for the infprmation on this .

[@tomnorrisiv]

Neat, I had no idea how 4WD worked, now I have an idea of how it works on a Jeep Patriot. Don't play that drinking game; some of the planes had a cool resonance effect going on.

[@shoveI]

One day I need to convince a friend to visit with their Montero so I can do a video on how Super Select works and then everyone can get mad that zero modern vehicles for the North America market have it. The upcoming 2024 Landcruiser has something almost as good though!

[@RickITRM]

Thank you for this video which clarifies many aspects! I believe my Patriot has 4x4 on all the time, even if the dashboard light is off. With the car with all the wheels off the ground and the engine off and the gearbox in neutral, if I rotate the front wheels the rear ones also rotate. Can you tell me if this is normal? I do not think so...

[@shoveI]

There's always going to be a little bit of drag on the clutch pack in the RDU, maybe enough to overcome wheel bearing preload. It should not be locked tight while powered off.

[@MontanaMedic13]

The only difference I would add is if you have the Patriot with "Freedom Drive II" that it behaves much differently if you have it in "4wd" and then put it into the "L" position on the transmission. Per the manual: - Off-Road Features The following are key off-road features which are active when the system has the 4WD lock lever engaged and is in the Low Off-Road mode. • Hill Descent Braking Hill descent braking uses the vehicle braking system to provide a controlled descent down varying grades. This feature is only active when the system has the 4WD lock lever engaged and is in the Low Off-Road mode or reverse. Hill descent braking can be turned off by turning off ESP. The hill decent control speed varies between 4-6 mph (6-10 km/h) forward, 3 mph (5 km/h) reverse. • Off-Road Brake Traction Control When conditions warrant, the vehicle braking system transfers torque from side to side. It does not control throttle input unlike normal traction control which is active in Normal Drive mode. • 19.1 Crawl Ratio - When the system has the 4WD lock lever engaged and is in the Low Off-Road mode, the CVT2L initially maintains the 19:1 crawl ratio before changing ratio. This low ratio is ideal for crawling over obstacles. • 4WD Lock Mode - 4-wheel drive lock mode com- mands a higher torque to the rear wheels, for im- proved traction capability off-road. It also, turns on other system features in conjunction with Low Off- Road mode. Unique Engine Calibration - When the system has the 4WD lock lever engaged and is in the Low Off-Road mode or reverse, the engine calibration changes to run higher spark advance with premium fuel for optimum off-road performance. Your vehicle is equipped with an active spark knock system and can adjust the engine calibration for a varying range of fuel octane levels.

[@shoveI]

The systems are mechanically the same. FD-II equipped Patriots have a lower (numerically higher) final drive ratio and different software calibration to hold the numerically highest transmission ratio. All Patriots have the off road brake traction control - I demonstrate that in another video - and both 6F24 and manual Patriots can be held in first gear using driver controls. FD-II is more of a tuning difference than a material one.

[@Bendc1970A1]

now a follow up video showing how the charger and challenger system is different.

[@shoveI]

I'd need access to at least two of them first! The early ones are actually better for a road car in my opinion, they're legit split ratio fully mechanical AWD which makes them super responsive and linear

[@m1cajah]

Is this “Freedom Drive 2”? If not, what’s the diff between your setup and the FD2? I can’t find a description anywhere?

[@shoveI]

"Freedom Drive 1" and "Freedom Drive II" both work the same way, with the same components. FD-II has a numerically higher final drive ratio and different software calibration for transmission behavior.

[@veedubklown]

@@shoveII do believe the FD2 TCM’s are actually different, not just a software flash.

[@Deanastl81]

Great video! I’m taking my son off grid camping in our patriot that has a RTT. Have you ever installed a winch on a patriot? I’m contemplating doing this just because we will be alone and it’s mud season.

[@shoveI]

I haven't installed a winch but I did make sure to have recovery points at both ends and I carry a hand powered winch and a tree strap when I go hiking or camping away from pavement. Patriots only came with recovery hooks from the factory if you got the "Freedom Drive II" package, and there's really nowhere else to hook a strap or hand winch. Mine didn't come with them so for the front I bought factory tow hooks and for the back I installed a trailer hitch. I'm not towing any trailers but a bike carrier fits nicely in it + it's a solid, safe place to pull from if I get stuck. The nice thing is Patriots are so light that a hand powered winch (sometimes called a come-along) moves it pretty easily and is a whole lot more affordable than a whole winch & the necessary bracketry, and it works from the front or the back instead of just the front.

[@Deanastl81]

@@shoveI I think I’m going to go with the hitch(I have the tow package)mounted winch for the trip because it’s relatively cheap and I can get a 5500 for under 200. Better safe than sorry 🙌 I wheel at 2012 jk so I’m experienced with sticky situations and there is no better peace of mind than knowing you have a winch.

[@simba98]

Thank you man, hi from Ukraine

[@shoveI]

I'm happy if you found this informative!

[@JohnsonDaChumplie]

While in automatic which are the drive wheels as in front or rear in a 2021 compass.

[@shoveI]

The 4wd system on a 2nd gen Compass is mechanically very similar to a 1st gen, with the addition of a clutch in the PTU so that the driveline connecting the front and rear is stationary under normal operation until slip occurs. Normal operation while in 2wd is front drive, the front axle is always 100% coupled to the transmission and then rear axle can never be driven faster than the front axle.

[@akflyer129]

My friends have a Jeep Patriot that only the front wheels will power the vehicle, the rear wheels wont engage. Any suggestions?

[@shoveI]

The first thing is to make sure it's 4wd in the first place, they sold these as front wheel drive only too. You can use an obd2 dongle with an application called JSCAN to monitor the 4x4 system, and of course one can always safely support the vehicle and get under it to inspect for damage. If there is a driveshaft and it turns with the front wheels you can focus on troubleshooting the rear drive unit.

[@akflyer129]

I think they are just going to get rid of the darn thing! @@shoveI

[@sonnymaguiresmith5592]

Any thoughts on how to "lock" the ECC? They overheat and shut off frequently when driving in sand. Rendering the 4WD useless. Would be really cool to have these little suv's behave more like a real 4WD. Great video BTW, explains the system really well.

[@shoveI]

I'm certain it's possible to intercept the ECC solenoid control wires (the control unit is in the left side of the dashboard according to the FSM) - it might be necessary to include a dummy load when intercepting them to avoid a fault. I can not find it anymore but somewhere I read that the torque capacity of the ECC is 1800 ft-lbs when locked. I do not know if the electromagnet requires thermal relief while in operation (separate of the heat generated in clutch slip) .

[@sonnymaguiresmith5592]

@@shoveI One day, I'll purchase a spare unit, then give it a try. It's my daily driver, which includes a lot of beach going. Not hard core 4x4ing, as I agree it is not intended to be one. Just find it frustrating that it shuts down so easily. Love my 2014 Compass and not interested in something else. Thanks for the input.

[@StevenGuderian14]

Hmmm i have a 2020 compass is it possible to pull a fuse( like in AWD challengers and chargers) to be RWD? LOL I know its a crazy thought.

[@shoveI]

The 2018+ Compass is built on a different platform than the 2007-2016 Compass but the 4wd system is almost identical. Just like on first generation Compass it is a front wheel drive platform so if you were to pull the fuse from the RDU or active PTU it would revert to front wheel drive operation. There is no way to drive only the rear wheels and not the front wheels because it is a front wheel drive platform.

[@StevenGuderian14]

@shoveI yeah I figured, it was a kind of out of the world thing lol but I couldn't figure out the answer by myself lol. Thanks, I know it sounds weird lol

[@RickITRM]

Grazie.

[@shoveI]

Thank you!

[@aidenbaxter9019]

Is this the same with manual or only autos?

[@shoveI]

The 4wd system functions exactly the same regardless of which transmission or model year of Jeep Patriot. The calibration and the final drive gear ratio is different but the components and behavior are the same.

[@aidenbaxter9019]

Even with the clutch in front an back being electronic?

[@shoveI]

😅 I'm not sure what kind of answer you want..

[@peteringram1107]

Is there a way to strengthen the clutches or electrical ingagement mechanism to strengthen the 4wd capabilities ...for better traction in mud or snow? Just a question?

[@Traumassa]

How many miles?

[@shoveI]

Are you asking how many miles my Jeep has? About 130k miles

[@Traumassa]

Yes, not bad👍@@shoveI

[@rickfravel6377]

A true 4WD system has a transfer case with a low range. This does not have low range. That is the main difference.

[@shoveI]

Low range is a nice feature but a traditional 4x4 to your definition, when shifted into 4H is not the same as an AWD vehicle. Some SUVs from the past had 5 position transfer cases with both 4H and AWD selections in the same car. In terms of driving dynamics and application those two things are very different and the distinction is an industry standard reflected on emblems and literature for the cars and trucks which feature them.

[@user-fb1ij9tw5j]

​@@shoveIj😊

[@jamieledrew460]

Mine is awd plus I got a four wheel drive lock button