four wheel drive JEEP COMMANDER 2010 1.G Owners Manual

INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on selecting your new Chrysler Group
LLC vehicle. Be assured that it represents precision
workmanship, distinctive styling, and high quality - all
essentials that are traditional to our vehicles.
This is a specialized utility vehicle designed for both
on-road and off-road use. It can go places and perform
tasks for which conventional two-wheel drive enclosed
vehicles were not intended. It handles and maneuvers
differently from many passenger cars both on-road and
off-road, so take time to become familiar with your
vehicle.
The two-wheel drive utility vehicle was designed for
on-road use only. It is not intended for off-road driving
or use in other severe conditions suited for a four-wheel
drive vehicle.Before you start to drive this vehicle, read the Owner’s
Manual. Be sure you are familiar with all vehicle controls,
particularly those used for braking, steering, transmis-
sion, and transfer case shifting. Learn how your vehicle
handles on different road surfaces. Your driving skills
will improve with experience. When driving off-road or
working the vehicle, don’t overload the vehicle or expect
the vehicle to overcome the natural laws of physics.
Always observe federal, state, provincial and local laws
wherever you drive.
As with other vehicles of this type, failure to operate this
vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or an
accident. Refer to “On-Road/Off-Road Driving Tips” in
Section 5 of this manual.
4 INTRODUCTION

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
Starting Procedure ..................... 243
▫ Normal Starting ..................... 243
▫ Extreme Cold Weather (Below 20°F Or
29°C) ............................ 244
▫ If Engine Fails To Start ................ 244
▫ After Starting ....................... 245
 Engine Block Heater — If Equipped ........ 245
 Automatic Transmission ................. 246
▫ Key Ignition Park Interlock ............. 246▫
Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . 247
▫ Brake/Transmission Interlock Manual
Override .......................... 247
▫ Five–Speed Automatic Transmission ....... 248
▫ Gear Ranges ........................ 248
▫ Rocking The Vehicle .................. 255
 Four-Wheel Drive Operation ............. 256
▫ Quadra-Trac I Operating Instructions/
Precautions — If Equipped ............. 256
5

▫Hill Start Assist (HSA) – Four-Wheel Drive
Models With NV245 Two–Speed Transfer
Case Only ......................... 280
▫ Hill Descent Control (HDC) – Four-Wheel
Drive Models With NV245 Two–Speed
Transfer Case Only ................... 283
▫ ESP/BAS Warning Light And ESP/TCS
Indicator Light ...................... 285
 Tire Safety Information ................. 286
▫ Tire Markings ....................... 286
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ......... 289
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure .......... 290
 Tires — General Information ............. 294
▫ Tire Pressure ....................... 294
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures ................ 295
▫ Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation . . . 297 ▫
Radial-Ply Tires ..................... 297
▫ Compact Spare Tire — If Equipped ....... 297
▫ Tire Spinning ....................... 298
▫ Tread Wear Indicators ................. 299
▫ Life Of Tire ........................ 300
▫ Replacement Tires .................... 300
 Tire Chains .......................... 301
 Tire Rotation Recommendations ........... 302
 Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) ....... 303
▫ Base System ........................ 306
▫ Premium System — If Equipped ......... 308
▫ General Information .................. 313
 Fuel Requirements ..................... 314
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STARTING AND OPERATING 241

▫3.7 Engine ......................... 314
▫ 5.7L Engine ........................ 314
▫ Reformulated Gasoline ................ 315
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ............. 315
▫ E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles ...... 315
▫ MMT In Gasoline .................... 316
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ............... 316
▫ Fuel System Cautions ................. 317
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings ............ 317
 Adding Fuel ......................... 318
▫ Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap) .............. 318
 Vehicle Loading ...................... 320
▫ Certification Label ................... 320 
Trailer Towing ........................ 323
▫ Common Towing Definitions ............ 323
▫ Trailer Hitch Classification .............. 327
▫ Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer
Weight Ratings) ..................... 328
▫ Trailer And Tongue Weight ............. 329
▫ Towing Requirements ................. 330
▫ Towing Tips ........................ 335
 Snow Plow .......................... 336
 Recreational Towing (Behind Motorhome, Etc.) . 336
▫ Towing – Two-Wheel Drive Models ....... 336
▫ Towing — Quadra-Trac I (Single-Speed
Transfer Case) Four-Wheel Drive Models . . . 337
▫ Towing — Quadra–Trac II /Quadra–Drive
II Four-Wheel Drive Models ............. 337
242 STARTING AND OPERATING

FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE OPERATION
Quadra-Trac IOperating Instructions/
Precautions — If Equipped
The Quadra-Trac I is a single-speed (HI range only)
transfer case, which provides convenient full-time four–
wheel drive. No driver interaction is required. The Brake
Traction Control (BTC) System, which combines standard
ABS and Traction Control, provides resistance to any
wheel that is slipping to allow additional torque transfer
to wheels with traction.
NOTE: The Quadra-Trac I system is not appropriate
for conditions where 4WD LOW range is recommended.
Refer to “Off-Road Driving Tips” in this section.
Quadra-Trac II Operating Instructions/
Precautions — If Equipped
The Quadra-Trac II transfer case is fully automatic in the
normal driving 4WD HI mode. The Quadra-Trac II
transfer case provides three mode positions:
•4WD HI
•NEUTRAL
•4WD LOW
This transfer case is fully automatic in the 4WD HI mode.
When additional traction is required, the 4WD LOW
position can be used to lock the front and rear driveshafts
together and force the front and rear wheels to rotate at
the same speed. The 4WD LOW position is intended for
loose, slippery road surfaces only. Driving in the 4WD
LOW position on dry, hard-surfaced roads may cause
increased tire wear and damage to driveline components.
When operating your vehicle in 4WD LOW, the engine
speed is approximately three times that of the 4WD HI
position at a given road speed. Take care not to overspeed
the engine and do not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h).
256 STARTING AND OPERATING

Proper operation of four-wheel drive vehicles depends
on tires of equal size, type, and circumference on each
wheel. Any difference will adversely affect shifting and
cause damage to the transfer case.
Because four-wheel drive provides improved traction,
there is a tendency to exceed safe turning and stopping
speeds. Do not go faster than road conditions permit.
WARNING!
You or others could be injured if you leave the
vehicle unattended with the transfer case in the N
(Neutral) position without first fully engaging the
parking brake. The transfer case N (Neutral) position
disengages both the front and rear driveshafts from
the powertrain and will allow the vehicle to move
regardless of the transmission position. The parking
brake should always be applied when the driver is
not in the vehicle.
Shift Positions
For additional information on the appropriate use of each
transfer case mode position, see the information below:
4WD HI
This range is used on surfaces such as ice, snow, gravel,
sand, and dry hard pavement.
NEUTRAL
This range disengages both the front and rear driveshafts
from the powertrain. It is to be used for flat towing
behind another vehicle. Refer to “Recreational Towing”
in Section 5 of this manual.
4WD LOW
This range is for low speed four-wheel drive. It locks the
front and rear driveshafts together and forces the front
and rear wheels to rotate at the same speed. It provides
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 257

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
forward motion. 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. If you stall or begin to lose forward motion
while
climbing a steep hill, allow your vehicle to come to a stop
and immediately apply the brakes. Restart the engine,
and shift into 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, you lose forward motion, 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 REVERSE gear. Never
back down a hill in NEUTRAL using only the brake.
Remember, never drive diagonally across a hill always
drive straight up or down.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 263

If the wheels start to slip as you approach the crest of a
hill, ease off the accelerator and maintain forward motion
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 into 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.
After Driving Off-Road
Off-road operation puts more stress on your vehicle than
does most on-road driving. After going off-road, it isalways a good idea to check for damage. That way you
can get any problems taken care of right away and have
your vehicle ready when you need it.
•Completely inspect the underbody of your vehicle.
Check the tires, body structure, steering, suspension,
and exhaust system for damage.
•Check threaded fasteners for looseness, particularly on
the chassis, drivetrain components, steering, and sus-
pension. Retighten them, if required, and torque to the
values specified in the Service Manual.
•Check for accumulations of plants or brush. These
things could be a fire hazard. They might hide damage
to fuel lines, brake hoses, axle pinion seals, and
propeller shafts.
264 STARTING AND OPERATING

•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.
MULTI-DISPLACEMENT SYSTEM (MDS) (IF
EQUIPPED) – 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.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 271

ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with an advanced electronic
brake control system that includes the Anti-Lock Brake
System (ABS), Traction Control System (TCS), Brake
Assist System (BAS), Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM),
and Electronic Stability Program (ESP). All five of these
systems work together to enhance vehicle stability and
control in various driving conditions.
Also, your vehicle is equipped with Trailer Sway Control
(TSC) and, if it has four-wheel drive with the NV245
two-speed transfer case, Hill Start Assist (HSA) and Hill
Descent Control (HDC).
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
This system aids the driver in maintaining vehicle control
under adverse braking conditions. The system controls
hydraulic brake pressure to prevent wheel lock-up andhelp avoid skidding on slippery surfaces during braking.
Refer to “Anti-Lock Brake System” in Section 5 of this
manual.
WARNING!
The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws of physics
from acting on the vehicle, nor can it increase the
traction afforded by prevailing road conditions. The
ABS cannot prevent accidents, including those re-
sulting from excessive speed in turns, driving on
very slippery surfaces, or hydroplaning. Only a safe,
attentive, and skillful driver can prevent accidents.
The capabilities of an ABS-equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or dangerous manner
which could jeopardize the user’s safety or the safety
of others.
272 STARTING AND OPERATING