JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 2012 Owner handbook (in English)

ERM can only reduce the chance of wheel lift
occurring during severe or evasive driving ma-
neuvers. It cannot prevent wheel lift due to
other factors such as road conditions, leaving
the roadway or striking objects or other ve-
hicles.
WARNING!
Many factors, such as vehicle loading, road
conditions and driving conditions, influence
the chance that wheel lift or rollover may
occur. ERM cannot prevent all wheel lift or
rollovers, especially those that involve leaving
the roadway or striking objects or other ve-
hicles. The capabilities of an ERM-equipped
vehicle must never be exploited in a reckless
or dangerous manner which could jeopardize
the user’s safety or the safety of others.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
This system enhances directional control and
stability of the vehicle under various driving
conditions. ESC corrects for oversteering or
understeering of the vehicle by applying the
brake of the appropriate wheel to assist incounteracting the oversteer or understeer con-
dition. Engine power may also be reduced to
help the vehicle maintain the desired path.
ESC uses sensors in the vehicle to determine
the vehicle path intended by the driver and
compares it to the actual path of the vehicle.
When the actual path does not match the
intended path, ESC applies the brake of the
appropriate wheel to assist in counteracting the
oversteer or understeer condition.
•
Oversteer - when the vehicle is turning more
than appropriate for the steering wheel po-
sition.
• Understeer - when the vehicle is turning less
than appropriate for the steering wheel po-
sition.
The “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator
Light” located in the instrument cluster will start
to flash as soon as the tires lose traction and
the ESC system becomes active. The “ESC
Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” also
flashes when the TCS is active. If the “ESC
Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” begins
to flash during acceleration, ease up on the
accelerator and apply as little throttle as pos- sible. Be sure to adapt your speed and driving
to the prevailing road conditions.
WARNING!
The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) cannot
prevent the natural laws of physics from act-
ing on the vehicle, nor can it increase the
traction afforded by prevailing road condi-
tions. ESC cannot prevent accidents, includ-
ing those resulting from excessive speed in
turns, driving on very slippery surfaces, or
hydroplaning. The capabilities of an ESC
equipped vehicle must never be exploited in a
reckless or dangerous manner which could
jeopardize the user’s safety or the safety of
others.
The ESC system has two available operating
modes in 4WD HIGH range, and one operating
mode in 4WD LOW range.
High Range (Four-Wheel Drive Models)
On
This is the normal operating mode for ESC in
4WD HIGH range. Whenever the vehicle is 247

started or the transfer case (if equipped) is
shifted from 4WD LOW range or NEUTRAL
back to 4WD HIGH range, the ESC system will
be in this “On” mode. This mode should be
used for most driving situations. ESC should
only be turned to “Partial Off” mode for specific
reasons as noted below.
Partial Off
This mode is entered by momentarily pressing
the “ESC OFF” switch. When in “Partial Off”
mode, the TCS portion of ESC, except for the
BLD feature described in the TCS section, has
been disabled and the “ESC Off Indicator
Light” will be illuminated. All other stability
features of ESC function normally. This mode is
intended to be used if the vehicle is in deep
snow, sand, or gravel conditions and more
wheel spin than ESC would normally allow is
required to gain traction. To turn ESC on again,
momentarily press the “ESC OFF” switch. This
will restore the normal “ESC On” mode of
operation.
When in “Partial Off” mode, the TCS function-
ality of ESC, (except for the limited slip feature
described in the TCS section), has been dis-
abled and the “ESC Off Indicator Light” will beilluminated. All other stability features of ESC
function normally. When in “Partial Off” mode,
the engine power reduction feature of TCS is
disabled, and the enhanced vehicle stability
offered by the ESC system is reduced.
NOTE:
To improve the vehicle’s traction when driv-
ing with snow chains, or starting off in deep
snow, sand, or gravel, it may be desirable to
switch to the “Partial Off” mode by pressing
the “ESC OFF” switch. Once the situation
requiring ESC to be switched to the “Partial
Off” mode is overcome, turn ESC back on by
momentarily pressing the “ESC OFF”
switch. This may be done while the vehicle
is in motion.
4WD Low Range
Partial Off
This is the normal operating mode for ESC in
4WD LOW range. Whenever the vehicle is
started in 4WD LOW range, or the transfer case
(if equipped) is shifted from 4WD HIGH range
or NEUTRAL to 4WD LOW range, the ESC
system will be in the “Partial Off” mode.
Trailer Sway Control (TSC)TSC uses sensors in the vehicle to recognize
an excessively swaying trailer and will take the
appropriate actions to attempt to stop the sway.
The system may reduce engine power and
apply the brake of the appropriate wheel(s) to
counteract the sway of the trailer. TSC will
become active automatically once an exces-
sively swaying trailer is recognized. No driver
action is required. Note that TSC cannot stop all
trailers from swaying. Always use caution when
towing a trailer and follow the trailer tongue
weight recommendations. Refer to “Trailer Tow-
ing” in “Starting and Operating” for further
ESC OFF Switch
248

information. When TSC is functioning, the “ESC
Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” will
flash, the engine power may be reduced and
you may feel the brakes being applied to
individual wheels to attempt to stop the trailer
from swaying. TSC is disabled when the ESC
system is in the “Partial Off” mode.
WARNING!
If TSC activates while driving, slow the vehicle
down, stop at the nearest safe location, and
adjust the trailer load to eliminate trailer sway.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)The HSA system is designed to assist the driver
when starting a vehicle from a stop on a hill.
HSA will maintain the level of brake pressure
the driver applied for a short period of time after
the driver takes their foot off of the brake pedal.
If the driver does not apply the throttle during
this short period of time, the system will release
brake pressure and the vehicle will roll down
the hill. The system will release brake pressure
in proportion to the amount of throttle applied
as the vehicle starts to move in the intended
direction of travel.HSA Activation Criteria
The following criteria must be met in order for
HSA to activate:
•
Vehicle must be stopped.
• Vehicle must be on a 6% (approximate)
grade or greater hill.
• Gear selection matches vehicle uphill direc-
tion (i.e., vehicle facing uphill is in forward
gear; vehicle backing uphill is in REVERSE
gear).
HSA will work in REVERSE and all forward
gears when the activation criteria have been
met. The system will not activate if the vehicle is
placed in NEUTRAL or PARK.
WARNING!
There may be situations on minor hills (i.e.,
less than 8%), with a loaded vehicle, or while
pulling a trailer, when the system will not
activate and slight rolling may occur. This
could cause a collision with another vehicle or
object. Always remember the driver is respon-
sible for braking the vehicle. Towing With HSA
HSA will provide assistance when starting on a
grade when pulling a trailer.
WARNING!
•
If you use a trailer brake controller with your
trailer, your trailer brakes may be activated
and deactivated with the brake switch. If so,
when the brake pedal is released, there
may not be enough brake pressure to hold
the vehicle and trailer on a hill and this
could cause a collision with another vehicle
or object behind you. In order to avoid
rolling down the hill while resuming accel-
eration, manually activate the trailer brake
prior to releasing the brake pedal. Always
remember the driver is responsible for
braking the vehicle.
(Continued)
249

WARNING!(Continued)
• HSA is not a parking brake. If you stop the
vehicle on a hill without putting the trans-
mission in PARK and using the parking
brake, it will roll down the hill and could
cause a collision with another vehicle or
object. Always remember to use the park-
ing brake while parking on a hill, and that
the driver is responsible for braking the
vehicle.
HSA Off
If you wish to turn off the HSA system, it can be
done using the Customer Programmable Fea-
tures in the Electronic Vehicle Information Cen-
ter (EVIC). Refer to “Electronic Vehicle Informa-
tion Center (EVIC)” in “Understanding Your
Instrument Panel” for further information.
Ready Alert BrakingReady Alert Braking may reduce the time re-
quired to reach full braking during emergency
braking situations. It anticipates when an emer-
gency braking situation may occur by monitor-
ing how fast the throttle is released by the driver. When the throttle is released very
quickly, Ready Alert Braking applies a small
amount of brake pressure. This brake pressure
will not be noticed by the driver. The brake
system uses this brake pressure to allow a fast
brake response if the driver applies the brakes.
Rain Brake SupportRain Brake Support may improve braking per-
formance in wet conditions. It will periodically
apply a small amount of brake pressure to
remove any water buildup on the front brake
rotors. It only functions when the windshield
wipers are in the LO or HI mode, it does not
function in the intermittent mode. When Rain
Brake Support is active, there is no notification
to the driver and no driver interaction is re-
quired.
Hill Descent Control (HDC) —
Four-Wheel Drive Models With
MP3023 Two-Speed Transfer Case
Only
HDC maintains vehicle speed while descend-
ing hills during off-road driving situations and is
available in 4WD LOW range only. To enable
HDC, press the HDC switch or put the Selec-Terrain™ system in “ROCK” mode (“ROCK”
mode is only available in 4WD LOW range).
When HDC is enabled, the HDC icon will be
illuminated in the instrument cluster. HDC will
automatically apply the brakes to control down-
hill speed to the selected level when necessary
on grades greater than approximately 8%. It
will usually not activate on level ground.
The HDC speed may be adjusted by the driver
to suit the driving conditions. The speed corre-
sponds to the transmission gear selected.
HDC operation can be overridden with brake
application to slow the vehicle down below the
Hill Descent Switch
250

HDC control speed. Conversely, if more speed
is desired during HDC control, the accelerator
pedal will increase vehicle speed in the usual
manner. When either the brake or the accelera-
tor is released, HDC will control the vehicle
back to the original set speed.
HDC Operation in 4WD Low Range
To enable HDC, press the HDC switch or put
the Selec-Terrain™ system in the “ROCK”
mode. The HDC icon will be illuminated in the
instrument cluster and HDC will function. If the
vehicle speed goes above 20 mph (32 km/h),
the HDC icon will flash and HDC will not
function. To disable HDC, press the HDC
switch.
4WD Low Range Set Speeds
•1st = 1 mph (1.6 km/h)
• 2nd = 2.5 mph (4 km/h)
• 3rd = 4 mph (6 km/h)
• 4th = 5.5 mph (9 km/h)
• 5th or D (Drive) = 7.5 mph (12 km/h)
• REVERSE = 1 mph (1.6 km/h)
• NEUTRAL = 2.5 mph (4 km/h) •
PARK = HDC will not function
HDC is intended for low speed off-road driv-
ing only. At vehicle speeds above 20 mph
(32 km/h), HDC will no longer function. When
the vehicle speed drops below 20 mph
(32 km/h), HDC function will automatically re-
sume and the vehicle speed will return to the
chosen set speed.
WARNING!
HDC is only intended to assist the driver in
controlling vehicle speed when descending
hills. The driver must remain attentive to the
driving conditions and is responsible for main-
taining a safe vehicle speed.
ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator
Light and ESC OFF Indicator Light
The “ESC Activation/Malfunction
Indicator Light” in the instrument
cluster will come on when the igni-
tion switch is turned to the ON
position. It should turn off with the
engine running. If the “ESC
Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” comes on continuously with the engine running, a
malfunction has been detected in the ESC
system. If this light remains on after several
ignition cycles, and the vehicle has been driven
several miles (kilometers) at speeds greater
than 30 mph (48 km/h), see your authorized
dealer as soon as possible to have the problem
diagnosed and corrected.
The “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator
Light” (located in the instrument cluster) starts
to flash as soon as the tires lose traction and
the ESC system becomes active. The “ESC
Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” also
flashes when TCS is active. If the “ESC
Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” begins
to flash during acceleration, ease up on the
accelerator and apply as little throttle as pos-
sible. Be sure to adapt your speed and driving
to the prevailing road conditions.
NOTE:
•
The “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indica-
tor Light” and the “ESC OFF Indicator
Light” come on momentarily each time
the ignition switch is turned ON.
251

•Each time the ignition is turned ON, the
ESC system will be ON even if it was
turned off previously.
• The ESC system will make buzzing or
clicking sounds when it is active. This is
normal; the sounds will stop when ESC
becomes inactive following the maneuver
that caused the ESC activation.
The “ESC OFF Indicator Light” in-
dicates the Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) is off.
TIRES — GENERAL INFORMATION
Tire Pressure
Proper tire inflation pressure is essential to the
safe and satisfactory operation of your vehicle.
Three primary areas are affected by improper
tire pressure: Safety
WARNING!
•
Improperly inflated tires are dangerous and
can cause accidents.
• Under-inflation increases tire flexing and
can result in tire failure.
• Over-inflation reduces a tire’s ability to
cushion shock. Objects on the road and
chuck holes can cause damage that results
in tire failure.
• Unequal tire pressures can cause steering
problems. You could lose control of your
vehicle.
• Over-inflated or under-inflated tires can af-
fect vehicle handling and can fail suddenly,
resulting in loss of vehicle control.
Always drive with each tire inflated to the
recommended pressure. Economy
Improper inflation pressures can cause uneven
wear patterns to develop across the tire tread.
These abnormal wear patterns will reduce
tread life resulting in a need for earlier tire
replacement. Under-inflation also increases tire
rolling resistance and results in higher fuel
consumption.
Ride Comfort and Vehicle Stability
Proper tire inflation contributes to a comfortable
ride. Over-inflation produces a jarring and un-
comfortable ride. Both under-inflation and over-
inflation affect the stability of the vehicle and
can produce a feeling of sluggish response or
over responsiveness in the steering.
Unequal tire pressures can cause erratic and
unpredictable steering response.
Unequal tire pressure from side to side may
cause the vehicle to drift left or right.
252

Tire Inflation PressuresThe proper cold tire inflation pressure for pas-
senger cars is listed on either the face of the
driver’s door or the driver’s side “B” pillar. For
vehicles other than passenger cars, the cold
tire inflation pressures are listed on the driver’s
side “B” pillar, glove box door, or the Certifica-
tion Label.
The tire pressure should be checked and ad-
justed at least once every month. Check more
often if subject to a wide range of outdoor
temperatures, as tire pressures vary with tem-
perature changes.
Inflation pressures specified on the chart are
always “Cold Inflation Pressure.” Cold inflation
pressure is defined as the tire pressure after the
vehicle has been idle for at least three hours, or
driven less than a mile (1.6 km) after a three-
hour period. The cold inflation pressure must
not exceed the maximum values molded into
the tire sidewall.
Tire pressures may increase from 2 to 6 psi
(0.14 to 0.41 bar) [14 to 41 kPa] during opera-
tion. DO NOT reduce this normal pressure
buildup.High Speed OperationThe manufacturer advocates driving at safe
speeds within posted speed limits. Where
speed limits or conditions are such that the
vehicle can be driven at high speeds, correct
tire inflation pressure is very important.
Radial-Ply Tires
WARNING!
Combining radial ply tires with other types of
tires on your vehicle will cause your vehicle to
handle poorly. The instability could cause an
accident. Always use radial tires in sets of
four. Never combine them with other types of
tires.
Cuts and punctures in radial tires are repairable
only in the tread area because of sidewall
flexing. Consult your dealer for radial tire re-
pairs.
Limited-Use Spare – If EquippedThe limited-use spare tire is for temporary
emergency use on your vehicle. This tire is
identified by a limited-use spare tire warning label located on the limited-use spare tire and
wheel assembly. This tire may look like the
original equipped tire on the front or rear axle of
your vehicle, but it is not. Installation of this
limited-use spare tire affects vehicle handling.
Since it is not the same tire, replace (or repair)
the original tire and reinstall on the vehicle at
the first opportunity.
WARNING!
The limited-use spare tires are for emergency
use only. Installation of this limited-use spare
tire affects vehicle handling. With this tire, do
not drive more than 50 mph (80 km/h). Keep
inflated to the cold tire inflation pressure listed
on either your tire placard or limited-use spare
tire and wheel assembly. Replace (or repair)
the original tire at the first opportunity and
reinstall it on your vehicle. Failure to do so
could result in loss of vehicle control.
Tire SpinningWhen stuck in mud, sand, snow, or ice condi-
tions, do not spin your vehicle’s wheels above
30 mph (48 km/h).
253

WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces
generated by excessive wheel speeds may
cause tire damage or failure. A tire could
explode and injure someone. Do not spin your
vehicle’s wheels faster than 30 mph (48 km/h)
when you are stuck, and do not let anyone
near a spinning wheel, no matter what the
speed.
Tire ChainsUse of traction devices require sufficient tire-to-
body clearance. Follow these recommenda-
tions to guard against damage.
•Install on Rear Tires Only
• Due to limited clearance, use SAE class “S”
low profile cables or traction devices only.
Security Chain Company (SCC) Super Z6
#SZ 441 cables or equivalent are recom-
mended.
WARNING!
Using tires of different size and type (M+S,
Snow) between front and rear axles can
cause unpredictable handling. You could lose
control and have a collision.
CAUTION!
To avoid damage to your vehicle or tires,
observe the following precautions:
• Because of restricted traction device clear-
ance between tires and other suspension
components, it is important that only trac-
tion devices in good condition are used.
Broken devices can cause serious dam-
age. Stop the vehicle immediately if noise
occurs that could indicate device breakage.
Remove the damaged parts of the device
before further use.
• Install device as tightly as possible and
then retighten after driving about 0.5 mile
(0.8 km).
• Do not exceed 30 mph (48 km/h).
(Continued)
CAUTION!(Continued)
• Drive cautiously and avoid severe turns
and large bumps, especially with a loaded
vehicle.
• Do not drive for prolonged period on dry
pavement.
• Observe the traction device manufacturer’s
instructions on the method of installation,
operating speed, and conditions for use.
Always use the suggested operating speed
of the device manufacturer’s if it is less than
30 mph (48 km/h).
• Do not use traction devices on a compact
spare tire.
Treadwear IndicatorsThese indicators are narrow strips 1/16 in
(1.6 mm) thick and are found in the tread
pattern grooves.
When the tread pattern is worn down to these
treadwear indicators, the tires should be re-
placed.
254

Overloading your vehicle, long trips in very hot
weather, and driving on bad roads may result in
greater wear.
Life Of TireThe service life of a tire is dependent upon
varying factors including but not limited to:
•Driving style
• Tire pressure
• Distance driven
WARNING!
Tires and the spare tire should be replaced
after six years, regardless of the remaining
tread. Failure to follow this warning can result
in sudden tire failure. You could lose control
and have an accident resulting in serious
injury or death.
Keep unmounted tires in a cool, dry place with
as little exposure to light as possible. Protect
tires from contact with oil, grease and gasoline.
Replacement TiresThe tires on your new vehicle provide a balance
of many characteristics. They should be in-
spected regularly for wear and correct inflation
pressure. The manufacturer strongly recom-
mends that you use tires equivalent to the
originals in quality and performance when re-
placement is needed (see section on tread
wear indicators). Failure to use equivalent re-
placement tires may adversely affect the safety,
handling and ride of your vehicle. We recom-
mend that you contact your local authorized
dealer on any questions you may have on tire
specifications or capability.
WARNING!
• Do not use a tire, wheel size or rating other
than that specified for your vehicle. Some
combinations of unapproved tires and
wheels may change suspension dimen-
sions and performance characteristics, re-
sulting in changes to steering, handling,
and stress to steering and suspension
components. You could lose control and
have an accident resulting in serious injury
or death. Use only the tire and wheel sizes
with load ratings approved for your vehicle.
• Never use a tire smaller than the minimum
tire size listed on your vehicle’s tire placard
unless explicitly instructed to do so by the
vehicle manufacturer (reference tire chain
information in this manual). Using an
under-sized tire could result in tire over-
loading and failure.
•
Failure to equip your vehicle with tires having
adequate speed capability can result in sud-
den tire failure and loss of vehicle control.
(Continued)
1—WornTire
2 — New Tire
255

WARNING!(Continued)
• Overloading your tires is dangerous. Like
under-inflation, overloading can cause tire
failure. Use tires of the recommended load
capacity for your vehicle — never overload
them.
CAUTION!
Replacing original tires with tires of a different
size may result in false speedometer and
odometer readings. This can also affect ve-
hicle performance and can do potential dam-
age to the driveline. Check with your dealer
before replacing tires with a different size.
Directional Tread Pattern Tires – If
Equipped
Your vehicle may be equipped with tires using
a directional tread pattern. These tires are
designed to optimize dry handling as well as
wet performance. To obtain the full benefits of
this design, the tires must be installed so that
they rotate in the correct direction. The rotation
direction of this type of tire is indicated by arrows on the side wall of the tire. The full size
spare tire is mounted as a direct replacement
for the right side of the vehicle. For a flat tire on
the left side of the vehicle, the full size spare
can be used as mounted. If this is required,
correct the rotation as soon as possible to
restore optimum wet performance.
TIRE ROTATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
Non-Directional Tires Only
Tires on the front and rear axles of vehicles
operate at different loads and perform different
steering, handling, and braking functions. For
these reasons, they wear at unequal rates.
These effects can be reduced by timely rotation
of tires. The benefits of rotation are especially
worthwhile with aggressive tread designs such
as those on On/Off-Road type tires. Rotation
will increase tread life, help to maintain mud,
snow, and wet traction levels, and contribute to
a smooth, quiet ride.
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” for the
proper maintenance intervals. More frequent
rotation is permissible if desired. The reasons
for any rapid or unusual wear should be cor-
rected prior to rotation being performed.
NOTE:
The premium Tire Pressure Monitor System
will automatically locate the pressure values
displayed in the correct vehicle position
following a tire rotation.
The suggested rotation method is the “forward-
cross” shown in the following diagram.
Tire Rotation
256