JEEP LIBERTY 2011 KK / 2.G Owners Manual

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
Starting Procedures .................... 313
▫ Normal Starting ..................... 313
▫ Extreme Cold Weather
(Below –20°F Or –29°C) ................ 314
▫ If Engine Fails To Start ................ 314
▫ After Starting ....................... 315
 Engine Block Heater — If Equipped ........ 315
 Automatic Transmission ................. 316
▫ Key Ignition Park Interlock ............. 316▫
Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . 317
▫ Four–Speed Automatic Transmission ....... 317
▫ Gear Ranges ........................ 317
 Four-Wheel Drive Operation ............. 321
▫ Command-Trac II Transfer Case –
If Equipped ........................ 321
▫ Selec-Trac II Transfer Case – If Equipped . . . 327
 On-Road Driving Tips .................. 333
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Off-Road Driving Tips .................. 333
▫ When To Use 4WD Low Range .......... 333
▫ Driving Through Water ................ 334
▫ Driving In Snow, Mud And Sand ......... 335
▫ Hill Climbing ....................... 335
▫ Traction Downhill .................... 336
▫ After Driving Off-Road ................ 336
 Power Steering ....................... 337
▫ Power Steering Fluid Check ............. 339
 Parking Brake ........................ 339
 Anti-Lock Brake System ................. 342
 Electronic Brake Control System ........... 344
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ........... 344▫
Traction Control System (TCS) ........... 345
▫ Brake Assist System (BAS) .............. 346
▫ Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) ......... 347
▫ Hill Start Assist (HSA) ................ 347
▫ Hill Descent Control (HDC) – If Equipped . . 350
▫ Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ......... 352
▫ ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light
And ESC Off Indicator Light ............ 356
 Tire Safety Information ................. 357
▫ Tire Markings ....................... 357
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ......... 360
▫ Tire Terminology And Definitions ......... 361
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure .......... 362
310 STARTING AND OPERATING

Tires — General Information ............. 366
▫ Tire Pressure ....................... 366
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures ................ 367
▫ Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation . . . 369
▫ Radial-Ply Tires ..................... 369
▫ Spare Tire Matching Original Equipped Tire
And Wheel – If Equipped .............. 369
▫ Compact Spare Tire – If Equipped ........ 370
▫ Full Size Spare – If Equipped ............ 371
▫ Limited-Use Spare – If Equipped ......... 371
▫ Tire Spinning ....................... 372
▫ Tread Wear Indicators ................. 372
▫ Life Of Tire ........................ 373 ▫
Replacement Tires .................... 374
 Tire Chains .......................... 375
 Tire Rotation Recommendations ........... 377
 Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) ....... 378
▫ Base System ........................ 380
▫ Premium System – If Equipped .......... 383
▫ General Information .................. 388
 Fuel Requirements ..................... 388
▫ Reformulated Gasoline ................ 389
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ............. 389
▫ E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles ...... 390
▫ MMT In Gasoline .................... 390
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ............... 391
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STARTING AND OPERATING 311

▫Fuel System Cautions ................. 391
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings ............ 392
 Adding Fuel ......................... 393
▫ Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap) .............. 393
▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message ........... 394
 Vehicle Loading ...................... 395
▫ Certification Label ................... 395
 Trailer Towing ........................ 397
▫ Common Towing Definitions ............ 397
▫ Trailer Hitch Classification .............. 402
▫ Trailer Towing Weights
(Maximum Trailer Weight Ratings) ........ 403▫
Trailer And Tongue Weight ............. 405
▫ Towing Requirements ................. 406
▫ Towing Tips ........................ 411
 Recreational Towing
(Behind Motorhome, Etc.) ................ 413
▫ Towing This Vehicle Behind
Another Vehicle ..................... 413
▫ Recreational Towing — Two-Wheel Drive
Models ........................... 414
▫ Recreational Towing — Four-Wheel Drive
Models ........................... 415
312 STARTING AND OPERATING

STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust both
inside and outside mirrors, and fasten your seat belts.
WARNING!
Never leave children alone in a vehicle. Leaving
children in a vehicle unattended is dangerous for a
number of reasons. A child or others could be seri-
ously or fatally injured. Do not leave the keys in the
ignition. A child could operate power windows,
other controls, or move the vehicle.
Start the engine with the shift lever in the NEUTRAL or
PARK position. Apply the brake before shifting to any
driving range.
Normal Starting
NOTE: Normal starting of either a cold or a warm
engine is obtained without pumping or pressing the
accelerator pedal.
Turn the ignition switch to the START position and
release when the engine starts. If the engine fails to start
within 10 seconds, turn the ignition switch to the LOCK
position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the “Normal
Starting” procedure.
Tip Start Feature
Turn the ignition switch to START position and release it
as soon as the starter engages. The starter motor will
continue to run, but will automatically disengage itself
when the engine is running. If the engine fails to start, the
starter will disengage automatically in 10 seconds. If this
occurs, turn the ignition switch to the LOCK position,
wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the “Normal Starting”
procedure.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 313

Extreme Cold Weather (below –20°F or –29°C)
To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of
an externally powered electric engine block heater (avail-
able from your authorized dealer) is recommended.
If Engine Fails To Start
WARNING!
•Never pour fuel or other flammable liquids into
the throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to
start the vehicle. This could result in a flash fire
causing serious personal injury.(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get
it started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic
transmission cannot be started this way. Unburned
fuel could enter the catalytic converter and once
the engine has started, ignite and damage the
converter and vehicle. If the vehicle has a dis-
charged battery, booster cables may be used to
obtain a start from a booster battery or the battery
in another vehicle. This type of start can be dan-
gerous if done improperly. Refer to “Jump Start-
ing” in “What To Do In Emergencies” for further
information.
314 STARTING AND OPERATING

With Tip Start
If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
“Normal Starting” or “Extreme Cold Weather” proce-
dures, it may be flooded. To clear any excess fuel, press
the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and hold it.
Then, turn the ignition switch to the START position and
release it as soon as the starter engages. The starter motor
will disengage automatically in 10 seconds. Once this
occurs, release the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then
repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.
CAUTION!
To prevent damage to the starter, wait 10 to 15 sec-
onds before trying again.
After Starting
The idle speed will automatically decrease as the engine
warms up.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED
The engine block heater warms the engine, and permits
quicker starts in cold weather. Connect the cord to a
standard 110-115 Volt AC electrical outlet with a
grounded three-wire extension cord.
The engine block heater cord is found under the hood
clipped to the heater line on the left side of the engine.
The engine block heater must be plugged in at least one
hour to have an adequate warming effect on the engine.
WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the engine block heater
cord before driving. Damage to the 110-115 Volt AC
electrical cord could cause electrocution.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 315

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the follow-
ing precautions are not observed:
•Shift into PARK only after the vehicle has come to
a complete stop.
•Shift into or out of REVERSE only after the
vehicle has come to a complete stop and the engine
is at idle speed.
•Do not shift from REVERSE, PARK, or NEUTRAL
into any forward gear when the engine is above
idle speed.
•Before shifting into any gear, make sure your foot
is firmly on the brake pedal.
WARNING!
It is dangerous to move the shift lever out of PARK or
NEUTRAL if the engine speed is higher than idle
speed. If your foot is not firmly on the brake pedal,
the vehicle could accelerate quickly forward or in
reverse. You could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear when the
engine is idling normally and when your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal.
Key Ignition Park Interlock
This vehicle is equipped with a Key Ignition Park Inter-
lock which requires the shift lever to be placed in PARK
prior to rotating the key to the LOCK position. The key
can only be removed from the ignition when the ignition
is in the LOCK position. Once the key is removed, the
shift lever is locked in PARK.
316 STARTING AND OPERATING

Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System
This vehicle is equipped with a Brake Transmission Shift
Interlock System (BTSI) that holds the shift lever in the
PARK position when the ignition switch is in the LOCK
position. To move the shift lever out of the PARK
position, the ignition switch must be turned to the ON or
START position (engine running or not) and the brake
pedal must be pressed.
Four–Speed Automatic Transmission
NOTE:Under extreme cold temperatures (-6°F (-21°C)
and when in DRIVE, transmission operation may be
briefly limited to only second gear operation. Normal
operation will resume once the transmission temperature
has risen to a suitable level.
Shifting from DRIVE to PARK or REVERSE should be
done only after the accelerator pedal is released and the
vehicle is stopped. Be sure to keep your foot on the brake
when moving the shift lever between these gears.
Gear Ranges
PARK
This range supplements the parking brake by locking the
transmission. The engine can be started in this range.
Never use PARK while the vehicle is in motion. Apply
Shift Lever
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STARTING AND OPERATING 317

the parking brake when leaving the vehicle in this range.
Always apply the parking brake first, then place the shift
lever in the PARK position.
WARNING!
•Never use the PARK position as a substitute for
the parking brake. Always apply the parking
brake fully when parked to guard against vehicle
movement and possible injury or damage.
•It is dangerous to move the shift lever out of PARK
or NEUTRAL if the engine speed is higher than
idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on the brake
pedal, the vehicle could accelerate quickly forward
or in reverse. You could lose control of the vehicle
and hit someone or something. Only shift into
gear when the engine is idling normally and when
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
REVERSE
This range is for moving the vehicle rearward. Use this
range only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop.
NEUTRAL
This range is used when the vehicle is standing for
prolonged periods with the engine running. The engine
may be started in this range. Set the parking brake and
shift the transmission into PARK if you must leave the
vehicle.
NOTE:Towing the vehicle, coasting, or driving for any
other reason with shift lever in NEUTRAL can result in
severe transmission damage. Refer to “Recreational Tow-
ing” in “Starting and Operating” and “Towing a Disabled
Vehicle” in “What To Do In Emergencies” for further
information.
DRIVE
This range is used for most city and highway driving.
318 STARTING AND OPERATING