battery JEEP COMMANDER 2006 1.G User Guide

CAUTION!
Electrical Outlet Use With Engine Off
•Many accessories that can be plugged in draw
power from the vehicle’s battery, even when not
in use (i.e., cellular phones, etc.). Eventually, if
plugged in long enough, the vehicle’s battery will
discharge sufficiently to degrade battery life
and/or prevent engine starting.
•Accessories that draw higher power (i.e., coolers,
vacuum cleaners, lights, etc.) will degrade the
battery even more quickly. Only use these inter-
mittently and with greater caution.
•After the use of high power draw accessories, or
long periods of the vehicle not being started (with
accessories still plugged in), the vehicle must be
driven a sufficient length of time to allow the
generator to recharge the vehicle’s battery.
CUP HOLDERS
Front Cup Holders
In the center console, there are two cup holders for the
front seat passengers.
Front Cup Holders
164 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

VIDEO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM (SALES CODE
XRV) — IF EQUIPPED
The optional VES™ (Video Entertainment System) con-
sists of a DVD player and LCD (liquid crystal display)
screen, a battery-powered remote control, and two head-
sets. The DVD player is mounted in the rear of the center
console storage bin, and is concealed by a door that lifts
up for access. Refer to your VES™ User’s Manual for
detailed operating instructions.
DVD Player Location
224 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

WARNING!
Abrasive material in any part of the brakes may
cause excessive wear or unpredictable braking. You
might not have full braking power when you need it
to prevent an accident. If you have been operating
your vehicle in dirty conditions, get your brakes
checked and cleaned as necessary.
•If you experience unusual vibration after driving in
mud, slush or similar conditions, check the wheels for
impacted material. Impacted material can cause a
wheel imbalance and freeing the wheels of it will
correct the situation.
MULTI DISPLACEMENT SYSTEM (MDS) - 5.7L
Engine Only
This feature offers improved fuel economy by shutting
off four of the engine’s eight cylinders during light load
and cruise conditions. The system is automatic with no
driver inputs or additional driving skills required.
NOTE:The MDS system may take some time to return
to full functionality after a battery disconnect.
280 STARTING AND OPERATING

HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS
Your vehicle’s hazard warning flasher is an emergency
warning system. When you activate it, all front and rear
directional signals will flash intermittently. Use it when
your vehicle is disabled on or near the road. It warns
other drivers to steer clear of you and your vehicle. This
is an emergency warning system, not to be used when the
vehicle is in motion.
To activate the warning flasher, push down on the button
on top of the steering column until it latches. To turn the
warning flasher off, push down again to unlatch the
button.
NOTE:With extended use, the flasher may run down
your battery.
Hazard Warning Switch
330 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

NOTE:Tire should be stowed with the “beauty” side
up. Storing the tire upside down may result in scratching
or damage to the wheel face. Continue winching up the
tire until you hear the winch “ratchet” three times.
Double check to ensure the tire is snug against the
underbody of the vehicle. Damage to the winch cable
may result if the vehicle is driven with the tire loose.
WARNING!
Do not use power tools to winch the tire up or down.
Impact type tools may damage the winch mecha-
nism.
12. Reinstall the rubber plug into the floor of the cargo
area.
JUMP STARTING PROCEDURE
NOTE:Check the charge indicator on the battery. If the
indicator is light or yellow, replace the battery.
1. Wear eye protection and remove any metal jewelry
such as watch bands or bracelets that might make an
unintended electrical contact.
2. When boost is provided by a battery in another
vehicle, park that vehicle within booster cable reach but
without letting the vehicles touch. Set the parking brake,
place the transmission in P (Park), and turn the ignition
to OFF for both vehicles.
3. Turn off the heater, radio and all unnecessary electrical
loads.
4. Connect one end of a jumper cable to the positive
terminal of the discharged battery. Connect the other end
of the same cable to the positive terminal of the booster
battery.
338 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

5. Connect the other cable, first to the negative terminal
of the booster battery and then connect the other end to
a non-paint metal surface on the engine of the vehicle
with the discharged battery. Make sure you have a good
contact on the engine.
6. Start the engine in the vehicle which has the booster
battery, let the engine idle a few minutes, then start the
engine in the vehicle with the discharged battery.
7. When removing the jumper cables, reverse the above
sequence exactly. Be careful of the moving belts and fan.
NOTE:To start the vehicle following connection of a
booster battery, the Security Alarm System must first be
disabled by cycling a front door key cylinder or by using
the keyless entry transmitter.WARNING!
Jump starting can be dangerous. To avoid personal
injury or damage to electrical components in vehicle,
observe the following warnings:
•Battery fluid is a corrosive acid solution and can burn
or even blind you. Don’t allow battery fluid to contact
your eyes, skin, or clothing. Don’t lean over a battery
when attaching clamps. If acid splashes in eyes or on
skin, flush the area immediately with large amounts of
water.
•Do not use a booster battery or any other booster
source that has a greater than 12–volt system, i.e., do
not use a 24–volt power source.
•Never attempt to jump start a discharged battery that
is frozen, because it could rupture or explode during
jump starting.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 339
6

•Be sure your vehicle is not touching the jump start
vehicle.
•Observe all Battery Warnings in Section 7 of this
manual, while jump starting your vehicle.
WARNING!
Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get it
started. Unburned fuel could enter the catalytic
converter and, once the engine has started, ignite and
damage the converter and vehicle.
EMERGENCY TOW HOOKS — IF EQUIPPED
If your vehicle is equipped with tow hooks, there will be
one in the rear and two mounted on the front of the
vehicle. The rear hook will be located on the driver’s side
of the vehicle.
NOTE:For off-road recovery, it is recommended to use
both of the front tow hooks to minimize the risk of
damage to the vehicle.
CAUTION!
Tow hooks are for emergency use only, to rescue a
vehicle stranded off road. Do not use tow hooks for
tow truck hookup or highway towing. You could
damage your vehicle.
340 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
CONTENTS

3.7L Engine...........................345

4.7L Engine...........................346

5.7L Engine...........................347

Onboard Diagnostic System — OBD II........348
▫Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message............348

Emissions Inspection And Maintenance
Programs............................349

Replacement Parts......................350

Dealer Service.........................351
Maintenance Procedures..................351
▫Engine Oil..........................352
▫Drive Belts — Check Condition And
Tensioner...........................355
▫Spark Plugs.........................356
▫Catalytic Converter....................356
▫Crankcase Emission Control System........358
▫Air Cleaner Filter.....................358
▫Maintenance-Free Battery................359
7

cap until aclickingsound is heard. This is an indication
that the gas cap is properly tightened. Press the odometer
reset button to turn the message off. If the problem
persists, the message will appear the next time the
vehicle is started. This might indicate a damaged cap. If
the problem is detected twice in a row, the system will
turn on the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL). Resolving
the problem will turn the MIL light off.
EMISSIONS INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
PROGRAMS
In some localities, it may be a legal requirement to pass
an inspection of your vehicle’s emissions control system.
Failure to pass could prevent vehicle registration.
For states which have an I/M (Inspection and
Maintenance) requirement, this check verifies the
following: the MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp)is functioning and is not on when the engine is running,
and that the OBD (On Board Diagnostic) system is ready
for testing.
Normally, the OBD system will be ready. The OBD
system maynotbe ready if your vehicle was recently
serviced, if you recently had a dead battery, or a battery
replacement. If the OBD system should be determined
not ready for the I/M test, your vehicle may fail the test.
Your vehicle has a simple ignition key actuated test
which you can use prior to going to the test station. To
check if your vehicle’s OBD system is ready, you must do
the following:
1. Insert your ignition key into the ignition switch.
2. Turn the ignition to the ON position, but do not crank
or start the engine.
3. If you crank or start the engine, you will have to start
this test over.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 349
7

4. As soon as you turn your key to the ON position, you
will see your MIL symbol come on as part of a normal
bulb check.
5. Approximately 15 seconds later, one of two things will
happen:
a. The MIL will flash for about 10 seconds and then
return to being fully illuminated until you turn off the
ignition key or start the engine. This means that your
vehicle’s OBD system isnot readyand you shouldnot
proceed to the I/M station.
b. The MIL will not flash at all and will remain fully
illuminated until you turn off the ignition key or start
the engine. This means that your vehicle’s OBD system
isreadyand you can proceed to the I/M station.
If your OBD system isnot ready,you should see your
authorized dealer or repair facility. If your vehicle was
recently serviced or had a battery failure or replacement,you may need to do nothing more than drive your
vehicle as you normally would in order for your OBD
system to update. A recheck with the above test routine
may then indicate that the system is now ready.
Regardless of whether your vehicle’s OBD system is
ready or not ready, if the MIL symbol is illuminated
during normal vehicle operation, you should have your
vehicle serviced before going to the I/M station. The I/M
station can fail your vehicle because the MIL symbol is on
with the engine running.
REPLACEMENT PARTS
Use of genuine Moparparts for normal/scheduled
maintenance and repairs is highly recommended to in-
sure the designed performance. Damage or failures
caused by the use of non-Moparparts for maintenance
and repairs will not be covered by the manufacturer’s
warranty.
350 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE