JEEP GLADIATOR 2023 Service Manual
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE39
2. With the bolts loose, the door can be moved  forward by pushing the door handle toward the 
front of the vehicle, and/or upward by grabbing 
the door handle and lifting towards the roof.
3. Once the gaps between the door and vehicle  body are uniform around the entire door, 
tighten the door hinge bolts to 20.3 ft· lb / 
27.5 N·m (Max Torque: 27.3 ft· lb / 37 N·m).
Upper Door Adjustment
After installation of the half-doors, if water leaks or 
wind noise is observed, the seal of the upper 
half-door to the door opening may need to be 
adjusted.
To determine if the upper half-door needs to be 
adjusted, proceed as follows:
1. Determine which door is affected.
2. Open the affected door and hold a dollar-size  piece of paper along the top of the door 
opening against the vehicle near where the 
leak/noise was observed. Make sure half of 
the paper is above the area where the door 
seal contacts the door opening, while the other 
half is below. 3. Close the door on the paper, then pull the 
paper upward. If the paper moves with little to 
no effort, the upper half-door will need to be 
adjusted in that area to increase seal 
compression.
Performing A Paper Test
There is another optional test that can be 
performed using a flashlight and the help of 
another person.
One person should be inside the vehicle, and move 
the flashlight around the periphery of the door 
seal, shining outward. The other person should 
stand outside of the vehicle and check for light 
passing by the seal. If light is seen through the seal 
area, the door will need to be adjusted. To adjust the seal compression, proceed as 
follows:
1. Open the door and lift the upper half-door up 
and away from the lower half. Lay the upper 
half-door on a clean, dry surface.
2. Using an 8 mm open-end wrench (not  provided), loosen the nut located inside the 
bottom of the upper half-door post, closest to 
where the “paper test” detected a gap.
Nut Location Inside Bottom Of Post
2
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40GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE  
3. Using a 3 mm Allen wrench (not provided),  rotate the screw on the side of the post 
counterclockwise (while holding the wrench on 
the loosened bolt) to increase the seal 
compression. If needed, rotate clockwise to 
reduce seal compression.
Rotate Screw For Seal Compression
 4. Tighten the nut inside the bottom of the post 
using the wrench and make sure the screw 
head is flush to the post. Reinstall the upper 
half-door.
Screw Head Flush To Post
5. Close the door and repeat the “paper test”.  Repeat the adjustment procedure if needed. 6. If needed, add the provided shim to a lower 
half-door pocket to seal the upper half-door to 
the roof:
a. Lift upper half-door up and away from lower half.
b. Clean the bottom of the door pocket.
Remove Upper Half-Door & Clean Bottom Of Door Pocket
 c. Slide the shim onto a pencil or similar tool.
d. Remove the paper backing from the adhe -
sive side of the shim and place the shim 
with pencil into the pocket.
e. Press the shim firmly to the bottom of the  pocket, and remove the pencil once the 
shim is firmly in place.
1 — 3 mm Allen Wrench
2 — 8 mm Open-End Wrench
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE41
Press Shim Firmly Into Bottom Of Pocket
f. Replace upper half-door.
NOTE:If the compression is increased too much on the 
front upper corner of the rear doors, deformation 
of the seal will occur.
Half-Door Mirror Installation
To install the front door exterior mirrors on the 
half-doors, proceed as follows:
1. Locate the wiring harness on the outside of  the front half-door.
 Wiring Harness Location
2. Insert the wiring harness firmly into the  connection on the driver’s side exterior mirror.
Connect Wiring Harness To Exterior Mirror
 3. Place the base of the exterior mirror into the 
hole on the door, and support it while 
attaching the three mirror bolts through the 
inside of the door using a #T40 Torx head 
driver.
Attach Exterior Mirror
NOTE:Recommended torque for the mirror bolts is 
5.9 ft· lb / 8.0 N·m.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 on the opposite side front door.
1 — Remove Paper Backing From Shim
2 — Slide Pencil through Hole In Shim
3 — Press Pencil With Shim Into Pocket
1 — Exterior Mirror
2 — Wiring Harness
1 — Support Mirror From Outside
2 — Attach Three Mirror Bolts From Inside
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42GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE  
Half-Door Removal
To remove the half-doors, repeat the installation 
steps in reverse order.
NOTE:When removing the upper half-doors, push upward 
firmly on the middle of the upper half-door until the 
posts detach from the lower half. 
Push Upward On Middle Of Upper Half Door To Remove
STEERING WHEEL
TILT/TELESCOPING STEERING COLUMN  
This feature allows you to tilt the steering column 
upward or downward. It also allows you to lengthen 
or shorten the steering column. The tilt/
telescoping control is located below the steering 
wheel at the end of the steering column.
 Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column Control
To unlock the steering column, push the control 
downward (toward the floor). To tilt the steering 
column, move the steering wheel upward or 
downward as desired. To lengthen or shorten the 
steering column, pull the steering wheel outward 
or push it inward as desired. To lock the steering 
column in position, push the control upward until 
fully engaged.
HEATED STEERING WHEEL — 
I
F EQUIPPED  
The steering wheel contains a heating 
element that helps warm your hands in 
cold weather. The heated steering wheel 
has only one temperature setting. Once 
the heated steering wheel has been turned on, it 
will stay on until the operator turns it off. The 
heated steering wheel may not turn on when it is 
already warm.
The heated steering wheel button is located on the 
center of the instrument panel below the radio 
screen, and within the Climate or Controls screen 
of the touchscreen.
Press the heated steering wheel button once to 
turn the heating element on.
Press the heated steering wheel button a 
second time to turn the heating element off.
NOTE:The engine must be running for the heated 
steering wheel to operate.
For information on use with the Remote Start 
system, see  Ú page 21.WARNING!
Do not adjust the steering column while driving. 
Adjusting the steering column while driving or 
driving with the steering column unlocked, could 
cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle. 
Failure to follow this warning may result in 
serious injury or death.
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE43
(Continued)
SEATS    
Seats are a part of the Occupant Restraint system 
of the vehicle.
MANUAL ADJUSTMENT FRONT SEATS
Manual Front Seat Forward/Rearward 
Adjustment
The seat can be adjusted forward or rearward by 
using a bar located by the front of the seat cushion, 
near the floor. While sitting in the seat, lift up on 
the bar located under the seat cushion and move 
the seat forward or rearward. Release the bar once 
you have reached the desired position. Then, using 
body pressure, move forward and rearward on the 
seat to be sure that the seat adjusters have 
latched.
 Adjustment Bar Location
WARNING!
Persons who are unable to feel pain to the 
skin because of advanced age, chronic illness, 
diabetes, spinal cord injury, medication, 
alcohol use, exhaustion, or other physical 
conditions must exercise care when using the 
steering wheel heater. It may cause burns 
even at low temperatures, especially if used 
for long periods.
Do not place anything on the steering wheel 
that insulates against heat, such as a blanket 
or steering wheel covers of any type and mate
-
rial. This may cause the steering wheel heater 
to overheat.
WARNING!
It is dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside 
or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people 
riding in these areas are more likely to be seri -
ously injured or killed.
Do not allow people to ride in any area of your 
vehicle that is not equipped with seats and 
seat belts. In a collision, people riding in these 
areas are more likely to be seriously injured or 
killed.
Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat 
and using a seat belt properly.
WARNING!
WARNING!
Adjusting a seat while driving may be 
dangerous. Moving a seat while driving could 
result in loss of control which could cause a 
collision and serious injury or death.
Seats should be adjusted before fastening the 
seat belts and while the vehicle is parked. 
Serious injury or death could result from a 
poorly adjusted seat belt.
2
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44GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE  
Manual Seat Height Adjustment
The driver's seat height can be raised or lowered by 
using the ratcheting handle, located on the 
outboard side of the seat. Pull upward on the 
handle to raise the seat, push downward on the 
handle to lower the seat. Several strokes may be 
necessary to achieve the desired position.
Seat Height Adjustment
Manual Front Seatback Recline 
Adjustment
To recline the seat, pull on the recline strap and 
lean forward or rearward, depending on the 
direction you would like the seatback to move. 
Release the strap when the desired position is 
reached and the seatback will lock into place.
 Recline Strap
Lumbar Support
The Lumbar Support Control knob is located on the 
outboard side of the front driver seat. Rotate the 
control forward to increase and rearward to 
decrease the desired amount of lumbar support.
Lumbar Support Control Knob
60/40 SPLIT FOLDING REAR SEAT 
The 60/40 Split Folding Rear Seat can be folded 
flat to access the storage area behind the seat. 
The seat bottom can also be lifted into the Stadium 
Position to create more storage space on the rear 
floor, and provide access to the underseat storage 
bins (if equipped)  Ú
page 46.
WARNING!
Do not ride with the seatback reclined so that 
the shoulder belt is no longer resting against 
your chest. In a collision you could slide under 
the seat belt, which could result in serious injury 
or death.WARNING!
The seatback is not intended to be used for 
storing cargo when folded flat, and only folds to 
allow access to the cargo area behind the seat. 
Do not operate the vehicle with unsecured cargo 
on the second row folded seatback.
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE45
NOTE:
Be sure that the front seats are fully upright and 
positioned forward. This will allow the rear seat 
to fold down easily.
The center head restraints must be in the lowest 
position to avoid contact with the center console 
when folding the seat.
Folding The Rear Seats
To fold down the rear seat, pull the release strap 
located on the upper outboard side of the rear seat 
to release the seat. The head restraints are folded 
independently  Úpage 48.
 Release Strap Location
Rear Seat Folded Flat
NOTE:Each rear seatback can be locked in an upright 
position using the vehicle key. Each seatback must 
be unlocked to release for folding.
 Locking The Seatback
To raise the seatback to the proper position, 
manually lift the seatback until it locks into place. 
To return the head restraint to the proper position, 
manually lift up until it locks into place. If 
interference from the cargo area behind the seat 
prevents the seatback from fully locking, you will 
have difficulty returning the seats to their proper 
position.
WARNING!
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo 
area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a colli -
sion, people riding in these areas are more 
likely to be seriously injured or killed.
Do not allow people to ride in any area of your 
vehicle that is not equipped with seats and 
seat belts.
Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat 
and using a seat belt properly.
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46GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE  
NOTE:
The vehicle is equipped with stow clips located 
on the lower trim, next to the rear seats. Use 
these clips to hold the seat belt out of the path 
of the seatback when it is being folded and 
raised.
Stow Clip Location
You may experience deformation in the seat 
cushion from the seat belt buckles if the seats 
are left folded for an extended period of time. 
This is normal. By simply unfolding the seats to 
the open position, the seat cushion will return to 
its normal shape over time.
REAR SEAT STADIUM POSITION
The rear seat bottoms can be folded upward into 
the Stadium Position to create more storage space 
on the vehicle’s floor, and to access the under seat 
storage bins (if equipped).
To fold the seat bottom upward, proceed as 
follows:
1. Lift upward on each section of the seat bottom.
 Lift From Beneath Seat (Left Side Shown)
2. Raise the seat bottom upward into the  Stadium Position.
Stadium Position
To return the seat bottom to the normal position, 
push downward on the raised seat bottom.
WARNING!
Be certain that the seatback is securely locked 
into position. Perform a “push - pull - push” 
check to confirm the seat is fully locked. If the 
seatback is not securely locked into position, the 
seat will not provide the proper stability for child 
seats and/or passengers. A red indicator on the 
pull strap will be displayed if the seatback is not 
securely locked. An improperly latched seat 
could cause serious injury.
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE47
HEATED SEATS — IF EQUIPPED 
The heated seat control buttons are 
located on the center instrument panel 
below the touchscreen and also in the 
Climate Control touchscreen menu.
Press the heated seat button once to turn the HI 
setting on.
Press the heated seat button a second time to 
turn the MED setting on.
Press the heated seat button a third time to turn 
the LO setting on.
Press the heated seat button a fourth time to 
turn the heating elements off.
NOTE:
The engine must be running for the heated 
seats to operate.
The level of heat selected will stay on until the 
operator changes it.
For information on use with the Remote Start 
system, see  Ú page 21.REAR SEAT ARMREST — IF EQUIPPED
The center part of the rear seat can also be used 
as a rear armrest with cupholders. To unfold it, 
grab the pull strap under the head restraint and 
pull it forward.
 Rear Seat Armrest
NOTE:The cupholder liner can be removed for cleaning.
WARNING!
Persons who are unable to feel pain to the 
skin because of advanced age, chronic illness, 
diabetes, spinal cord injury, medication, 
alcohol use, exhaustion or other physical 
condition must exercise care when using the 
seat heater. It may cause burns even at low 
temperatures, especially if used for long 
periods of time.
Do not place anything on the seat or seatback 
that insulates against heat, such as a blanket 
or cushion. This may cause the seat heater to 
overheat. Sitting in a seat that has been over
-
heated could cause serious burns due to the 
increased surface temperature of the seat.
WARNING!
Be certain that the seatback is securely locked 
into position. If the seatback is not securely 
locked into position the seat will not provide the 
proper stability for child seats and/or 
passengers. An improperly latched seat could 
cause serious injury.
2
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48GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE  
HEAD RESTRAINTS 
Head restraints are designed to reduce the risk of 
injury by restricting head movement in the event of 
a rear impact. Head restraints should be adjusted 
so that the top of the head restraint is located 
above the top of your ear.
Front Head Restraints
To raise the head restraint, pull upward on the 
head restraint. To lower the head restraint, push 
the adjustment button located on the base of the 
head restraint, and push downward on the head 
restraint. The release button does not need to be 
pushed to adjust the head restraint. To remove the head restraint, raise it as far as it 
can go, then push the adjustment button and the 
release button at the base of each post while 
pulling the head restraint up. To reinstall the head 
restraint, put the head restraint posts into the 
holes and push downward. Then adjust it to the 
appropriate height.
Front Head Restraint
NOTE:Do not reposition the head restraint 180 degrees 
to the incorrect position in an attempt to gain addi -
tional clearance to the back of the head.
Rear Head Restraints
The rear seat is equipped with nonadjustable, but 
foldable, outboard head restraints, as well as an 
adjustable, removable center head restraint.
To fold down the outboard head restraints, push 
the button located on the outboard side of the 
head restraint.
WARNING!
All occupants, including the driver, should not 
operate a vehicle or sit in a vehicle’s seat until 
the head restraints are placed in their proper 
positions in order to minimize the risk of neck 
injury in the event of a crash.
Head restraints should never be adjusted 
while the vehicle is in motion. Driving a vehicle 
with the head restraints improperly adjusted 
or removed could cause serious injury or 
death in the event of a collision.
1 — Release Button
2 — Adjustment Button
WARNING!
A loose head restraint thrown forward in a 
collision or hard stop could cause serious 
injury or death to occupants of the vehicle. 
Always securely stow removed head restraints 
in a location outside the occupant compart -
ment.
ALL the head restraints MUST be reinstalled in 
the vehicle to properly protect the occupants. 
Follow the preceding reinstallation instruc -
tions prior to operating the vehicle or occu -
pying a seat.
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