traction control JEEP COMMANDER 2007 1.G User Guide

OFF-ROAD DRIVING TIPS
NOTE:Prior to off-road driving, remove the front air
dam to prevent damage. The front air dam is attached to
the lower front fascia with quarter turn fasteners, and can
be removed by hand.
When To Use 4WD LOW Range — If Equipped
When off-road driving, shift to 4WD LOW for additional
traction. This range should be limited to extreme situa-
tions such as deep snow, mud, or sand where additional
low speed pulling power is needed. Vehicle speeds in
excess of 25 mph (40 km/h) should be avoided when in
4WD LOW range.
Driving Through Water
Although your vehicle is capable of driving through
water, there are a number of precautions that must be
considered before entering the water:
CAUTION!
When driving through water, do not exceed 5 mph (8
km/h). Always check water depth before entering as
a precaution, and check all fluids afterward. Driving
through water may cause damage that may not be
covered by the new vehicle limited warranty.
Driving through water more than a few inches deep will
require extra caution to ensure safety and prevent dam-
age to your vehicle. If you must drive through water, try
to determine the depth and the bottom condition (and
location of any obstacles) prior to entering. Proceed with
caution and maintain a steady controlled speed less than
5 mph (8 km/h) in deep water to minimize wave effects.
Flowing Water
If the water is swift flowing and rising (as in storm
run-off) avoid crossing until the water level recedes
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and/or the flow rate is reduced. If you must cross
flowing water avoid depths in excess of 9 inches. The
flowing water can erode the streambed causing your
vehicle to sink into deeper water. Determine exit point(s)
that are downstream of your entry point to allow for
drifting.
Standing Water
Avoid driving in standing water deeper than 20 inches,
and reduce speed appropriately to minimize wave ef-
fects. Maximum speed in 20 inches of water is less than 5
mph (8 km/h).
Maintenance
After driving through deep water, inspect your vehicle
fluids and lubricants (engine oil, transmission oil, axle,
transfer case) to assure the fluids have not been contami-
nated. Contaminated fluid (milky, foamy in appearance)
should be flushed/changed as soon as possible to pre-
vent component damage.Driving In Snow, Mud and Sand
In heavy snow, when pulling a load, or for additional
control at slower speeds, shift the transmission to a low
gear and shift the transfer case to 4WD LOW if necessary.
Refer to “Four-Wheel Drive Operation” in this section.
Do not shift to a lower gear than necessary to maintain
headway. Over-revving the engine can spin the wheels
and traction will be lost.
Avoid abrupt downshifts on icy or slippery roads, be-
cause engine braking may cause skidding and loss of
control.
Hill Climbing
NOTE:Before attempting to climb a hill, determine the
conditions at the crest and/or on the other side.
Before climbing a steep hill,shift the transmission to a
lower gear and shift the transfer case to 4WD LOW. Use
first gear and 4WD LOW for very steep hills.
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If you stall or begin to lose headwaywhile climbing a
steep hill, allow your vehicle to come to a stop and
immediately apply the brakes. Restart the engine and
shift to R (Reverse). Back slowly down the hill allowing
the compression braking of the engine to help regulate
your speed. If the brakes are required to control vehicle
speed, apply them lightly and avoid locking or skidding
the tires.
WARNING!
If the engine stalls or you lose headway or cannot
make it to the top of a steep hill or grade, never
attempt to turn around. To do so may result in
tipping and rolling the vehicle. Always back care-
fully straight down a hill in R (Reverse) gear. Never
back down a hill in N (Neutral) using only the brake.
Remember, never drive diagonally across a hill-always
drive straight up or down.
If the wheels start to slip as you approach the crest of a
hill, ease off the accelerator and maintain headway by
turning the front wheels slowly. This may provide a fresh
“bite” into the surface and will usually provide traction
to complete the climb.
Traction Downhill
Shift the transmission into a low gear and the transfer
case to 4WD LOW range. Let the vehicle go slowly down
the hill with all four wheels turning against engine
compression drag. This will permit you to control the
vehicle speed and direction.
When descending mountains or hills, repeated braking
can cause brake fade with loss of braking control. Avoid
repeated heavy braking by downshifting the transmis-
sion whenever possible.
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•Do not “ride” the brakes by resting your foot on the
pedal. This could overheat the brakes and result in
unpredictable braking action, longer stopping dis-
tances, or brake damage.
•When descending mountains or hills, repeated brak-
ing can cause brake fade with loss of braking control.
Avoid repeated heavy braking by downshifting the
transmission or locking out overdrive whenever pos-
sible.
•Engines may idle at higher speeds during warm-up,
which could cause rear wheels to spin and result in
loss of vehicle control. Be especially careful while
driving on slippery roads, in close-quarter maneuver-
ing, parking or stopping.
•Do not drive too fast for road conditions, especially
when roads are wet or slushy. A wedge of water canbuild up between the tire tread and the road. This
hydroplaning action can cause loss of traction, braking
ability, and control.
•After going through deep water or a car wash, brakes
may become wet, resulting in decreased performance
and unpredictable braking action. Dry the brakes by
gentle, intermittent pedal action while driving at very
slow speeds.
POWER STEERING
The standard power steering system will give you good
vehicle response and increased ease of maneuverability
in tight spaces. The system will provide mechanical
steering capability if power assist is lost.
If for some reason the power assist is interrupted, it will
still be possible to steer your vehicle. Under these condi-
tions, you will observe a substantial increase in steering
effort, especially at very low vehicle speeds and during
parking maneuvers.
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Or
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNIFORM
TIRE QUALITY GRADES
The following describes the tire grading categories estab-
lished by the National highway Traffic Safety Adminis-
tration. The specific grade rating assigned by the tire’s
manufacturer in each category is shown on the sidewall
of the tires on your car.
All Passenger Car Tires Must Conform to Federal Safety
Requirements in Addition to These Grades.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled con-
ditions on a specified government test course. For ex-
ample, a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half (1
1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction Grades
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B,
and C. Those grades represent the tire’s ability to stop on
wet pavement as measured under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction performance.
IF YOU NEED CONSUMER ASSISTANCE 435
9

WARNING!
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction tests, and does not
include acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or
peak traction characteristics.
Temperature Grades
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of heat
and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all
passenger car tires must meet under the Federal MotorVehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A repre-
sent higher levels of performance on the laboratory test
wheel than the minimum required by law.
WARNING!
The temperature grade for this tire is established for
a tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, under inflation, or excessive load-
ing, either separately or in combination, can cause
heat buildup and possible tire failure.
436 IF YOU NEED CONSUMER ASSISTANCE

Passing............................. 124
Reading............................. 125
Seat Belt Reminder..................... 182
Security Alarm (Theft Alarm).............. 178
Service Engine Soon (Malfunction Indicator) . . . 176
SmartBeams.......................... 121
Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPMS)........... 179
Tow/Haul Indicator.................... 181
Traction Control....................143,178
Turn Signal........................ 119,124
Vanity Mirror.......................... 79
Voltage............................. 183
Load Floor, Cargo....................... 165
Loading Vehicle......................... 317
Tires ............................... 284
Locks................................. 26
Automatic Door........................ 27
Child Protection........................ 28
Door................................ 26Power Door........................... 27
Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren
(LATCH)............................61,63
Lubrication, Body....................... 373
Luggage Rack (Roof Rack)................. 168
Lumbar Support........................ 105
Maintenance Free Battery.................. 369
Maintenance Procedures................... 362
Maintenance Schedule.................... 406
Schedule “A”......................... 421
Schedule “B”......................... 409
Maintenance Schedules.................... 406
Malfunction Indicator Light (Check Engine) . . 176,359
Manual, Service......................... 434
Master Cylinder (Brakes).................. 382
Memory Feature (Memory Seat)............. 113
Memory Seat........................... 113
Memory Seats and Radio.................. 113
INDEX 447
10

Rotation............................. 296
Safety............................70,280
Sizes............................... 281
Spare Tire........................... 343
Spinning............................ 291
Tread Wear Indicators................... 292
Wheel Mounting....................... 347
Tongue Weight/Trailer Weight.............. 326
Torque Converter Clutch.................. 262
Tow Hooks, Emergency................... 351
Tow/Haul Indicator Light................. 181
Towing............................319,352
Disabled Vehicle....................... 352
Guide.............................. 324
Recreational.......................... 333
Weight.............................. 324
Traction Control......................... 136
Traction Control Light.................... 178
Trailer Towing.......................... 319Cooling System Tips.................... 332
Hitches............................. 323
Minimum Requirements................. 327
Trailer and Tongue Weight................ 326
Wiring.............................. 330
Trailer Towing Guide..................... 324
Trailer Weight.......................... 324
Transfer Case........................... 384
Maintenance.......................... 384
Transmission
Automatic........................256,385
Maintenance.......................... 385
Range Indicator....................... 182
Shifting............................. 255
Transmitter Battery Service
(Remote Keyless Entry).................... 24
Transmitter, Garage Door Opener (HomeLink) . . 151
Transmitter, Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)........ 19
Tread Wear Indicators.................... 292
454 INDEX