traction control JEEP COMPASS 2010 1.G Owners Manual

AutoStick — If Equipped ............... 285
▫ Operation ......................... 286
▫ General Information .................. 286
 Four-Wheel Drive Operation — If Equipped . . 287
 Driving On Slippery Surfaces ............. 288
▫ Acceleration ........................ 288
▫ Traction ........................... 288
 Driving Through Water ................. 289
▫ Flowing/Rising Water ................. 289
▫ Shallow Standing Water ............... 289
 On-Road Driving Tips .................. 291
 Power Steering ....................... 291
▫ Power Steering Fluid Check ............. 293
Parking Brake ........................ 293
 Brake System ........................ 296
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ........... 297
 Electronic Brake Control System ........... 299
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ........... 299
▫ Traction Control System (TCS) ........... 299
▫ Brake Assist System (BAS) .............. 300
▫ Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) ......... 301
▫ Hill Start Assist (HSA) – Manual Transaxle
Only ............................. 302
▫ Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ......... 303
 Tire Safety Information ................. 308
▫ Tire Markings ....................... 308
274 STARTING AND OPERATING

cluster. This can be done on the fly, at any vehicle speed.
To deactivate, simply pull on the switch one more time.
The “4WD Indicator Light” will then go out.
NOTE:Refer to “Electronic Brake Control System/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)” in “Starting and Op-
erating” for further information.
DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES
Acceleration
Rapid acceleration on snow covered, wet, or other slip-
pery surfaces may cause the front wheels to pull errati-
cally to the right or left. This phenomenon occurs when
there is a difference in the surface traction under the front
(driving) wheels.
WARNING!
Rapid acceleration on slippery surfaces is dangerous.
Unequal traction can cause sudden pulling of the
front wheels. You could lose control of the vehicle
and possibly have an accident. Accelerate slowly and
carefully whenever there is likely to be poor traction
(ice, snow, wet, mud, loose sand, etc.).
Traction
When driving on wet or slushy roads, it is possible for a
wedge of water to build up between the tire and road
surface. This is hydroplaning and may cause partial or
complete loss of vehicle control and stopping ability. To
reduce this possibility, the following precautions should
be observed:
1. Slow down during rainstorms or when roads are
slushy.
288 STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING!
•Driving through standing water limits your vehi-
cle’s traction capabilities. Do not exceed 5 mph
(8 km/h) when driving through standing water.
•Driving through standing water limits your vehi-
cle’s braking capabilities, which increases stop-
ping distances. Therefore, after driving through
standing water, drive slowly and lightly press on
the brake pedal several times to dry the brakes.
•Getting water inside your vehicle’s engine can
cause it to lock up and stall out, and leave you
stranded.
•Failure to follow these warnings may result in
injuries that are serious or fatal to you, your
passengers, and others around you.
ON-ROAD DRIVING TIPS
Utility vehicles have higher ground clearance and a
narrower track to make them capable of performing in a
wide variety of off-road applications. Specific design
characteristics give them a higher center of gravity than
ordinary cars.
An advantage of the higher ground clearance is a better
view of the road, allowing you to anticipate problems.
They are not designed for cornering at the same speeds as
conventional two-wheel drive vehicles any more than
low-slung sports cars are designed to perform satisfacto-
rily in off-road conditions. If at all possible, avoid sharp
turns or abrupt maneuvers. As with other vehicles of this
type, failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in
loss of control or vehicle rollover.
POWER STEERING
The standard power steering system will give you good
vehicle response and increased ease of maneuverability
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 291

WARNING!
The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) contains sophis-
ticated electronic equipment that may be susceptible
to interference caused by improperly installed or
high output radio transmitting equipment. This in-
terference can cause possible loss of Anti-Lock brak-
ing capability. Installation of such equipment should
be performed by qualified professionals.
All vehicle wheels and tires must be the same size and
type and tires must be properly inflated to produce
accurate signals for the computer.
ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM
Your vehicle may be equipped with an optional ad-
vanced electronic brake control system that includes
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), Traction Control System (TCS), Brake Assist System (BAS), Electronic Roll Mitiga-
tion (ERM), Hill Start Assist (HSA), and Electronic Sta-
bility Control (ESC). All systems work together to en-
hance vehicle stability and control in various driving
conditions and are commonly referred to as ESC.
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 lockup and
help avoid skidding on slippery surfaces during braking.
Refer to “Anti-Lock Brake System” in “Starting and
Operating” for further information.
Traction Control System (TCS)
This system monitors the amount of wheel spin of each of
the driven wheels. If wheel spin is detected, brake pres-
sure is applied to the slipping wheel(s) and engine power
is reduced to provide enhanced acceleration and stability.
A feature of the TCS system functions similar to a limited
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 299

slip differential and controls the wheel spin across a
driven axle. If one wheel on a driven axle is spinning
faster than the other, the system will apply the brake of
the spinning wheel. This will allow more engine torque to
be applied to the wheel that is not spinning. This feature
remains active even if TCS and ESC are in either the
“Partial Off” or “Full Off” modes. Refer to “Electronic
Stability Control (ESC)” in this section of this manual.
Brake Assist System (BAS)
The BAS is designed to optimize the vehicle’s braking
capability during emergency braking maneuvers. The
system detects an emergency braking situation by sens-
ing the rate and amount of brake application and then
applies optimum pressure to the brakes. This can help
reduce braking distances. The BAS complements the
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS). Applying the brakes very
quickly results in the best BAS assistance. To receive the
benefit of the system, you must applycontinuousbrak-
ing pressure during the stopping sequence (do not “pump” the brakes). Do not reduce brake pedal pressure
unless braking is no longer desired. Once the brake pedal
is released, the BAS is deactivated.
WARNING!
•The Brake Assist System (BAS) cannot prevent the
natural laws of physics from acting on the vehicle,
nor can it increase the traction afforded by prevail-
ing road conditions.
•The BAS cannot prevent accidents, including
those resulting from excessive speed in turns,
driving on very slippery surfaces, or hydroplan-
ing. Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can
prevent accidents.
•The capabilities of a BAS-equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or dangerous
manner which could jeopardize the user ’s safety
or the safety of others.
300 STARTING AND OPERATING

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 over-steer or under-steer condition
•Over-steer - when the vehicle is turning more than
appropriate for the steering wheel position.
•Under-steer - when the vehicle is turning less than
appropriate for the steering wheel position.
ESC Off Indicator Light
The “ESC Off 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 Off Indicator Light” also
flashes when TCS is active. If the “ESC Off Indicator
Light” begins to flash during acceleration, ease up on the
accelerator and apply as little throttle as possible. Be sure
to adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road
conditions.
WARNING!
•The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) cannot pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting on the
vehicle, nor can it increase the traction afforded by
prevailing road conditions.
•ESC cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting 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 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.
304 STARTING AND OPERATING

8. Disconnect the opposite end of the positive(+)jumper
cable from the positive (+)post of the booster battery.
9. Disconnect the positive (+)end of the jumper cable
from the positive (+)post of the discharged vehicle.
10. Reinstall the air intake duct.
If frequent jump-starting is required to start your vehicle
you should have the battery and charging system in-
spected at your authorized dealer.
CAUTION!
Accessories that can be plugged into the vehicle
power outlets 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 the engine from starting.
FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE
If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand or snow, it
can often be moved by a rocking motion. Turn your
steering wheel right and left to clear the area around the
front wheels. Then shift back and forth between RE-
VERSE and 1st gear. Using minimal accelerator pedal
pressure to maintain the rocking motion, without spin-
ning the wheels, is most effective.
NOTE: If your vehicle is equipped with Traction Con-
trol or Electronic Stability Control (ESC), turn the system
OFF before attempting to “rock” the vehicle.
CAUTION!
•When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by moving be-
tween 1st and REVERSE, do not spin the wheels
faster than 15 mph (24 km/h), or drivetrain damage
may result.
(Continued)
370 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNIFORM
TIRE QUALITY GRADES
The following tire grading categories were established by
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The
specific grade rating assigned by the tire’s manufacturer
in each category is shown on the sidewall of the tires on
your vehicle.
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
conditions on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and one-half
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 departsignificantly from the norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices, and differences in road charac-
teristics and climate.
Traction Grades
The Traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B,
and C. These 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 perfor-
mance.
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.
9
IF YOU NEED CONSUMER ASSISTANCE 453

Electronic Stability Program............... 303
Traction Control System ................. 299
Electronic Speed Control (Cruise Control) ...... 148
Electronic Stability Program (ESP) ............ 303
Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) .... 196
Emergency, In Case of Jacking ............................. 360
Jump Starting ......................... 366
Towing ............................. 371
Emission Control System Maintenance ......380,426
Engine ............................... 378
Block Heater ......................... 279
Break-In Recommendations ................ 80
Checking Oil Level ..................... 383
Cooling ............................. 393
Exhaust Gas Caution .................. 81,339
Fuel Requirements ..................... 335
Jump Starting ......................... 366
Oil ........................... 383,421,422Oil Change Interval
.................... 384
Oil Filler Cap ...................... 378,385
Oil Filter ............................ 422
Oil Selection .......................... 384
Oil Synthetic ......................... 385
Overheating .......................... 358
Temperature Gauge .................... 189
Enhanced Accident Response Feature .......... 67
Exhaust Gas Caution ..............36,81,339,391
Exhaust System ....................... 81,391
Exterior Lights .......................... 83
Filters Air Cleaner .......................... 386
Air Conditioning ...................... 271
Engine Oil ........................ 386,422
Flashers .............................. 358
Hazard Warning ....................... 358
Turn Signal ...................... 83,184,416
460 INDEX

Lights.............................. 83,140
Airbag ...................... 57,64,70,82,184
Alarm .............................. 188
Anti-Lock ........................... 185
Back-Up ............................ 416
Brake Warning ........................ 186
Bulb Replacement ...................... 413
Cargo .............................. 169
Center Mounted Stop ................... 419
Daytime Running ...................... 142
Dimmer Switch, Headlight ............... 140
Electronic Stability Program (ESP) Indicator . . . 304
Engine Temperature Warning .............. 186
Exterior .............................. 83
Fog .......................... 142,195,415
Headlight Switch ...................... 140
Headlights ........................... 140
High Beam Indicator .................... 185
Instrument Cluster ..................... 140 License
............................. 417
Lights On Reminder .................... 141
Low Fuel ............................ 184
Malfunction Indicator (Check Engine) ........ 194
Map Reading ......................... 144
Oil Pressure .......................... 184
Seat Belt Reminder ..................... 185
Security Alarm (Theft Alarm) ............18,188
Theft Alarm (Security Alarm) .............. 188
Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPMS) ........... 190
Traction Control ....................... 304
Turn Signal ................... 83,140,142,416
Voltage ............................. 183
Warning (Instrument Cluster Description) ..... 183
Loading Vehicle ...................... 341,343
Capacities ........................... 343
Tires ............................... 313
464 INDEX