lock JEEP COMPASS 2016 1.G Owners Manual
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Page 354 of 589

Torque Converter Clutch
A feature designed to improve fuel economy has been
included in the automatic transmission on your vehicle.
A clutch within the torque converter engages automati-
cally at calibrated speeds. This may result in a slightly
different feeling or response during normal operation in
the upper gears. When the vehicle speed drops or during
some accelerations, the clutch automatically disengages.
NOTE:Engagement of the torque converter clutch is
inhibited at very cold temperatures. Because the engine
speed is higher when the torque converter clutch is not
engaged, it may seem as if the transmission is not shifting
into Overdrive when cold. This is normal. The torque
converter clutch will function normally once the trans-
mission is sufficiently warm.
Continuously Variable Automatic Transmission
(CVT) — If Equipped
The transmission gear position display (located in the
instrument cluster) indicates the transmission gear range.
You must press the brake pedal to move the shift lever
out of PARK (refer to “Brake/Transmission Shift Inter-
lock System” in this section). To drive, move the shift
lever from PARK or NEUTRAL to the DRIVE position.
NOTE: The Continuously Variable Automatic Transmis-
sion (CVT) changes ratios in a continuous manner. This
may sometimes feelas if it is slipping, but this is normal
and does not harm anything.
Only shift from DRIVE to PARK or REVERSE when the
accelerator pedal is released and the vehicle is stopped.
Be sure to keep your foot on the brake pedal when
shifting between these gears.
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The transmission shift lever has PARK, REVERSE, NEU-
TRAL, and DRIVE shift positions. Some models include a
LOW position (the LOW position manually downshifts
the transmission to a lower available ratio based on
vehicle speed); in others, manual shifts are made using
the AutoStick shift control (refer toAutoStickin this
section). Moving the shift lever to the left or right (-/+)
while in the DRIVE position (if equipped with AutoStick)
will manually select from a set of predefined transmis-
sion gear ratios, and will display the current gear in the
instrument cluster as 1, 2, 3, etc.
Gear Ranges
DO NOT race the engine when shifting from PARK or
NEUTRAL into another gear range.
NOTE: After selecting any gear range, wait a moment to
allow the selected gear to engage before accelerating.
This is especially important when the engine is cold. PARK (P)
This range supplements the parking brake by locking the
transmission. The engine can be started in this range.
Never attempt to use PARK while the vehicle is in
motion. Apply the parking brake when leaving the
vehicle in this range.
When parking on a level surface, you may shift the
transmission into PARK first, and then apply the parking
brake.
When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake before
shifting the transmission to PARK, otherwise the load on
the transmission locking mechanism may make it diffi-
cult to move the shift lever out of PARK. As an added
precaution, turn the front wheels toward the curb on a
downhill grade and away from the curb on an uphill
grade.
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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 move-
ment and possible injury or damage.
• Your vehicle could move and injure you and others
if it is not in PARK. Check by trying to move the
gear selector/shift lever out of PARK with the brake
pedal released. Make sure the transmission is in
PARK before leaving the vehicle.
• It is dangerous to shift out of PARK or NEUTRAL
if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If
your foot is not firmly pressing the brake pedal, the
vehicle could accelerate quickly forward or in re-
verse. You could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear when
the engine is idling normally and your foot is
firmly pressing the brake pedal.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Unintended movement of a vehicle could injure those
in or near the vehicle. As with all vehicles, you should
never exit a vehicle while the engine is running.
Before exiting a vehicle, always shift the transmission
into PARK, apply the parking brake, turn the engine
OFF, and remove the ignition key.. Once the key is
removed, the transmission is locked in PARK, secur-
ing the vehicle against unwanted movement.
• When leaving the vehicle, always remove the igni-
tion key from the vehicle and lock the vehicle.
• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Allowing children to
be in a vehicle unattended is dangerous for a
number of reasons. A child or others could be
seriously or fatally injured. Children should be
warned not to touch the parking brake, brake pedal
or the gear selector.
(Continued)
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WARNING!(Continued)
•Do not leave the ignition key in or near the vehicle
(or in a location accessible to children). A child
could operate power windows, other controls, or
move the vehicle.
CAUTION!
• Before moving the gear selector/shift lever out of
PARK, you must turn the ignition switch from the
LOCK/OFF position to the ON/RUN position, and
also press the brake pedal. Otherwise, damage to
the gear selector/shift lever could result.
• DO NOT race the engine when shifting from
PARK or NEUTRAL into another gear range, as this
can damage the drivetrain. The following indicators should be used to ensure that
you have engaged the transmission into the PARK posi-
tion:
•
When shifting into PARK, firmly move the shift lever
all the way forward and to the left until it stops and is
fully seated.
• Look at the transmission gear position display and
verify that it indicates the PARK position (P).
• With brake pedal released, verify that the shift lever
will not move out of PARK.
REVERSE (R)
This range is for moving the vehicle backward. Shift into
REVERSE only after the vehicle has come to a complete
stop.
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In AutoStick mode, the transmission will shift up or
down when (+/-) is manually selected by the driver,
unless an engine lugging or overspeed condition would
result. It will remain in the selected gear until another
upshift or downshift is chosen, except as described
below:
•The transmission will automatically upshift when nec-
essary to prevent engine over-speed.
• The transmission will automatically downshift as the
vehicle slows (to prevent engine lugging) and will
display the current gear.
• The transmission will automatically downshift to first
gear when coming to a stop. After a stop, the driver
should manually upshift (+) the transmission as the
vehicle is accelerated.
• If a requested downshift would cause the engine to
overspeed, that shift will not occur. •
Transmission shifting will be more noticeable when
AutoStick is engaged.
• Heavy Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) application will
disengage AutoStick mode.
• The system may revert to automatic shift mode if a
fault or overheat condition is detected.
To disengage AutoStick mode, hold the shift lever to the
right (+) until “D” is once again displayed in the instru-
ment cluster. You can shift in or out of the AutoStick
mode at any time without taking your foot off the
accelerator pedal.
WARNING!
Do not downshift for additional engine braking on a
slippery surface. The drive wheels could lose their
grip and the vehicle could skid, causing a collision or
personal injury.
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FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE OPERATION — IF
EQUIPPED
This feature provides full time, on-demand, four–wheel
drive (4WD).
Where one or more wheels have wheel spin or if addi-
tional traction is needed in sand, deep snow, or loosetraction surfaces, activate the “4WD LOCK” switch by
pulling up once and releasing. This locks the center
coupling allowing more torque to be sent to the rear
wheels. The “4WD Indicator Light” will come on in the
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.
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.
Four-Wheel Drive Switch
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WARNING!
Always wear your seat belt and firmly tie down
cargo. Unsecured cargo can become projectiles in an
off-road situation.
When To Use Low (L Off-Road) With The 4WD
Lock Lever Engaged — If Equipped
When driving off-road, shift into low (L Off-Road [if
equipped] ) and activate the 4WD LOCK. This will
provide additional traction and activates the numerous
off-road features to improve handling and control on
slippery or difficult terrain. Due to the sustained lower
gearing, low (L Off-Road [if equipped] ) with 4WD LOCK
engaged will allow the engine to operate in a higher
power range. This will allow you to cross over obstacles
and descend hills, with improved control and less effort.NOTE:
For maximum off-road performance, premium
fuel is recommended. While the vehicle will operate on
regular fuel when in L Off-Road mode (if equipped), the
engine has been calibrated for maximum performance
using premium fuel.
Driving In Snow, Mud And Sand
There is a drastic reduction in traction when driving in
snow, mud or sand. The vehicle will be less responsive to
steering, acceleration and braking inputs. Therefore, you
should accelerate slowly, leave greater stopping distances
and avoid abrupt vehicle maneuvers. You want to keep a
slow constant steady pace. The key is to maintain the
vehicle’s momentum.
Snow
In heavy snow or for additional control and traction at
slower speeds, activate the 4WD LOCK and shift the
transaxle to low (L Off-Road [if equipped] ) if necessary.
Do not shift to a lower gear than necessary to maintain
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headway. Over-revving the engine can spin the wheels
and traction will be lost. If you start to slow to a stop, try
turning your steering wheel no more than a 1/4 turn
quickly back and forth, while still applying throttle. This
will allow the tires to get a freshbiteand help maintain
your momentum.
CAUTION!
On icy or slippery roads, do not downshift at high
engine RPM’s or vehicle speeds because engine brak-
ing may cause skidding and loss of control.
Mud
Deep mud creates a great deal of suction around the tires
and is very difficult to get through. You should use low (L
Off-Road [if equipped] ) with the 4WD LOCK engaged
and maintain your momentum. If you start to slow to a
stop, try turning your steering wheel no more than a 1/4 turn quickly back and forth for additional traction. Mud
holes pose an increased threat of vehicle damage and
getting stuck. They are normally full of debris from
previous vehicles getting stuck. As a good practice before
entering any mud hole, get out and determine how deep
it is, if there are any hidden obstacles and if the vehicle
can be safely recovered if stuck.
Sand
Soft sand is very difficult to travel through with full tire
pressure. When crossing soft sandy spots in a trail
maintain your vehicle’s momentum and do not stop. The
key to driving in soft sand is using the appropriate tire
pressure, accelerating slowly, avoiding abrupt maneu-
vers and maintaining the vehicle’s momentum. If you are
going to be driving on large soft sandy areas or dunes,
reduce your tire pressure to a minimum of 15 psi
(103 kPa) to allow for a greater tire surface area. You
should use low (L Off-Road [if equipped] ) with the 4WD
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LOCK engaged and ESC turned off. Reduced tire pres-
sure will drastically improve your traction and handling,
while driving on the soft sand, but you must return the
tires to normal air pressure before driving on pavement
or other hard surfaces. Be sure you have a way to
reinflate the tires prior to reducing the pressure.
CAUTION!
Reduced tire pressures may cause tire unseating and
total loss of air pressure. To reduce the risk of tire
unseating, while at a reduced tire pressure, reduce
your speed and avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneu-
vers.
Hill Climbing
Hill climbing requires good judgment and a good under-
standing of your abilities and your vehicle’s limitations.
Hills can cause serious problems. Some are just too steepto climb and should not be attempted. You should always
feel confident with the vehicle and your abilities. You
should always climb hills straight up and down. Never
attempt to climb a hill on an angle.
Before Climbing A Steep Hill
As you approach a hill consider its grade or steepness.
Determine if it is too steep. Look to see what the traction
is on the hill side trail. Is the trail straight up and down?
What is on top and the other side? Are there ruts, rocks,
branches or other obstacles on the path? Can you safely
recover the vehicle if something goes wrong? If every-
thing looks good and you feel confident, then you should
use low (L Off-Road [if equipped]) with the 4WD LOCK
engaged and proceed with caution maintaining your
momentum as you climb the hill.
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LOCK engaged and proceed with caution. Allow engine
and hill descent braking to control the descent and apply
your brakes if necessary, but do not allow the tires to lock.
WARNING!
Do not descend a steep grade in NEUTRAL. Use
vehicle brakes in conjunction with engine braking.
Descending a grade too fast could cause you to lose
control and be seriously injured or killed.
Driving Across An Incline
If at all possible avoid driving across an incline. If it is
necessary, know your vehicle’s abilities. Driving across
an incline places more weight on the down-hill wheels,
which increases the possibilities of a down-hill slide or
rollover. Make sure the surface has good traction with
firm and stable soils. If possible transverse the incline at
an angle heading slightly up or down.
WARNING!
Driving across an incline increases the risk of a
rollover, which may result in severe injury.
If You Stall Or Begin To Lose Headway
If you stall or begin to lose headway while climbing a
steep hill, allow your vehicle to come to a stop and
immediately apply the brake. Restart the engine and shift
to REVERSE. Back slowly down the hill allowing engine
and hill descent braking to control the descent and apply
your brakes if necessary, but do not allow the tires to lock.
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