2WD (2H) and the 2L kit on the Jimny 5-door: front hubs, the blinking light and altitude

The short answer

Use 2H on roads and easy tracks. Do not keep driving while the 4WD light blinks, because owners report that the front hubs are then trying to lock without engaging, and that driving on can cause severe damage to the hubs. This happens more often at higher altitudes. A 2L kit is described by its seller as electronically disengaging the front hubs while the lever stays in 4L, giving low-range torque through the rear axle only. The seller gives 30 km/h as the maximum speed in 2L, so it is for slow driving.

Do

Use 2H for tarmac and easy roads
Watch the 4WD light after any shift, especially at altitude
Stop and sort a blinking light before driving on
Consider a 2L kit if you drive high passes often
Keep to 30 km/h or less in 2L, the seller's stated limit

Do not

Drive for long with the 4WD light blinking
Use 4H or 4L on dry tarmac without the kit
Cruise on the road in 2L, it is for slow driving
Fit a kit without telling your insurer and keeping the bill
Rely on this page over your manual and dealer

The positions, and what the kit adds

Standard positions and the 2L kit
Position	Drive	Use it for
2H	Rear wheels only	Normal road driving
4H	All four wheels, high gearing	Loose, wet or slippery surfaces at moderate speed
4L	All four wheels, low gearing. The transfer case physically engages low range	Slow, steep or difficult ground, see low-range use
2L (with the 2L kit)	Lever stays in 4L. The kit electronically disengages the front hubs, so low range drives the rear wheels only. The 4WD light goes off	Slow driving on tarmac and metalled roads, and at altitude where the front hubs will not lock. The seller gives 30 km/h as the top speed

Part-time 4WD. In 4H and 4L the front and rear shafts are locked together, with no centre differential. On dry, grippy tarmac this binds the driveline in turns, so use 2H there.

The blinking 4WD light and the front hubs

Owners report that in 4L the transfer case does engage, but the front hubs may not. The system then keeps trying to lock them, and the 4WD light blinks. The problem is reported more often at higher altitudes, such as high passes.

A blinking light is a warning, not a mode. It means the system has not finished engaging four-wheel drive
Driving on in that state is reported to risk severe damage to the front hubs
Stop where it is safe and go back to 2H. If it will not settle, or it comes back, have it checked by a dealer or a specialist before you rely on four-wheel drive
Do not push through a descent or a long drive with the light blinking

Reported, not confirmed. The cause and the altitude effect come from owner experience and have not been confirmed by the maker. Your manual and dealer have the procedure for your car.

What a 2L kit does

The CurbOver 2Low (2L) kit is an aftermarket plug-in. Its seller describes it as full low-range torque while staying in rear-wheel drive: you leave the lever in 4L and the kit electronically disengages the front hubs. The 4WD indicator goes off, so the front shaft is not wound up against the rear on tarmac. The seller says it gives about double the torque of 2H, all through the rear axle.

High altitude: the seller says that above about 14,000 ft the Jimny's vacuum hubs often will not lock and 4WD will not engage. With the kit you can still get low-range torque
Speed: the seller gives 30 km/h as the maximum recommended speed in 2L. It is for crawling, climbing and slow traffic, not cruising
Front drive is off, so switch the kit off and go back to normal 4H or 4L before slippery or loose ground
Fitting: described as plug-and-play with no wires cut and no holes drilled, about 35 to 40 minutes for a professional and 1 to 2 hours DIY, and fully reversible
Fits: the seller lists both manual and automatic Jimnys

Warranty and legality. The seller says it does not void the warranty, as it uses no cutting or drilling and draws about 0.6 amp with no ECU interaction. That is the seller's claim, so confirm with Maruti, tell your insurer and keep the bill. See modifications, legality and insurance.

Real-world example: heavy city traffic

A Jimny owner with a manual gearbox describes a morning in heavy traffic on a narrow road, where the car could barely move. Many drivers dislike driving a manual in the city for this reason, and the 2L set-up makes it easier.

When you cannot move, leave the car in neutral. Select first gear only when the traffic opens up and you can actually move
The same goes for stop-start traffic and for traffic lights
Never ride the clutch, and avoid half-clutch attempts. They wear the clutch quickly
With a 2L switch set-up the owner finds it very handy in town. Low range gives the traction and torque you need while staying in two-wheel drive

One owner's experience. It shows how the kit is used in traffic. It does not replace your manual, and it needs the kit to be fitted properly first.

Changing modes safely

2H to 4H: your manual gives a maximum speed for shifting on the move. Slow down below it and shift firmly
4H to 2H: shift when the surface is firm again, and before you reach tarmac
To or from 4L: stop, and follow your manual's procedure
After every shift: check the dash. A steady indicator is engaged. A blinking light is not finished

Pick your situation

Tap a situation to see what to do.

Tap a situation (7 to try)

What to do for Dry tarmac

Use: -
Details: -

Common mistakes

Driving on with the light blinking. Owners report severe front hub damage.
Using 4H or 4L on dry tarmac. It binds the driveline in turns.
Assuming 4L means the front hubs are engaged. The transfer case can engage while the hubs do not.
Fitting a 2L kit without telling the insurer. It is a drivetrain modification.
Driving fast in 2L. The seller gives 30 km/h as the top speed.
Forgetting to switch back from 2L. You have no front drive on loose ground.
Riding the clutch in traffic. Use neutral when you cannot move.

A final word. This page is based on owner experience and is not a maker statement. Shift speeds and procedures are in your owner's manual. If the 4WD light blinks and will not settle, stop and have the car checked before relying on four-wheel drive. A 2L kit is an aftermarket drivetrain change: check with your RTO, insurer and dealer first.

2WD (2H) and the 2L kit