engine overheat JEEP LIBERTY 2008 KK / 2.G Owners Manual

cluster comes on when the ignition switch is turned to the
ªONº position. It should go out with the engine running.
If the ªESP/BAS Warning Lampº comes on continuously
with the engine running, a malfunction has been detected
in either the ESP or the BAS system, or both. If this light
remains on after the several ignition cycles, and the
vehicle has been driven several miles at speeds greater
than 30 mph (48 km/h), see your authorized dealer as
soon as possible to have the problem diagnosed and
corrected.(See page 314 for more information.)
NOTE:The ªESP/BAS Warning Lampº comes on mo-
mentarily each time the ignition switch is turned ON.
NOTE:Each time the ignition switch is turned ON, the
ESP System will be ON even if it was turned off previ-
ously.
NOTE:The ESP Control System will make buzzing or
clicking sounds when it is active. This is normal; thesound will stop when the ESP becomes inactive following
a maneuver that caused the ESP activation.
21. SERV (Service) 4WD Indicator Light Ð If Equipped
The ªSERV 4WD Indicator Lightº will turn on
when the ignition key is turned to the ON
position and it will stay on for 2 seconds. If the
light stays on or turns on during driving, it
means that the 4WD system is not functioning properly
and that service is required.
22. Coolant Temperature Warning Light
This light warns of an overheated engine condi-
tion. If the light turns on while driving, safely pull
over and stop the vehicle. If the air conditioner is
on, turn it off. Also, shift the transmission into ªNº
(Neutral) and idle the vehicle. If the temperature reading
does not return to normal, turn the engine off immedi-
ately and call for service. (See page 384 for more infor-
mation.)
INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS 197
4

NOTE:As the coolant temperature gauge approaches
9H,9this indicator will illuminate and a single chime will
sound. Further overheating will cause the temperature
gauge to pass9H.9In this case, the indicator will flash
continuously and a continuous chime will sound, until
the engine is allowed to cool.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could damage
your vehicle. If the temperature gauge reads ªH,º
pull over and stop the vehicle. Idle the vehicle with
the air conditioner turned off until the pointer drops
back into the normal range. If the pointer remains on
the ªH,º and you hear continuous chimes, turn the
engine off immediately, and call for service.
WARNING!
A hot engine cooling system is dangerous. You or
others could be badly burned by steam or boiling
coolant. You may want to call a service center if your
vehicle overheats. If you decide to look under the
hood yourself, see Section 7 of this manual. Follow
the warnings under the Cooling System Pressure Cap
paragraph.
23. Coolant Temperature Gauge
The temperature gauge indicates engine coolant tem-
perature. Any reading within the normal range indicates
that the cooling system is operating satisfactorily. The
gauge pointer will likely indicate a high temperature
when driving in hot weather, up mountain grades, in
heavy traffic, or when towing a trailer. If the pointer rises
to the ªHº mark, safely pull over and stop the vehicle. If
198 INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS

the air conditioner is on, turn it off. Also, shift the
transmission into ªNº (Neutral) and idle the vehicle. If
the needle remains on the ªHº mark, turn the engine off
immediately and call for service. (See page 384 for more
information.)
NOTE:The gauge pointer will remain near its last
reading when the engine is turned off. It will return to a
true reading when the engine is restarted.
CAUTION!
Do not leave your vehicle unattended with the en-
gine running, as you would not be able to react to the
temperature indicator if the engine overheats.24. Transmission Temperature Warning Light Ð If
Equipped
This light indicates that the transmission fluid
temperature is running hot. This may occur
with severe usage, such as trailer towing. If this
light turns on, safely pull over and stop the
vehicle. Then, shift the transmission into ªNº (Neutral)
and run the engine at idle or faster until the light turns
off.
25. Trip Odometer Button
Changing the Display
Press and release this button once to change the display
from odometer to ªTrip A.º Press and release it again to
change the display from ªTrip Aº to ªTrip B.º On vehicles
equipped with a Base Cluster, press and release it once
again to display the outside temperature. On vehicles
equipped with a Mid Line Cluster, press and release it
INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS 199
4

²Most of the time, when in Automatic Operation, you
can temporarily put the system into Recirculation
Mode by pressing the Recirculation Button. However,
under certain conditions, while in Automatic Mode,
the system is blowing air out the defrost vents. When
these conditions are present, and the Recirculation
Button is pressed, the indicator will flash and then
turn off. This tells you that you are unable to go into
recirculation mode at this time. If you would like the
system to go into Recirculation Mode, you must first
move the Mode Knob to Panel, Panel/Floor and then
press the Recirculation Button. This feature reduces
the possibility of window fogging.
Operating Tips
NOTE:Refer to the chart at the end of this section for
suggested control settings for various weather condi-
tions.
Summer Operation
The engine cooling system in air-conditioned vehicles
must be protected with a high-quality antifreeze coolant
to provide proper corrosion protection and to protect
against engine overheating. A 50% solution of ethylene
glycol antifreeze coolant in water is recommended. Refer
to ªMaintenance Proceduresº in Section 7 of this manual
for proper coolant selection.
Winter Operation
Use of the air Recirculation mode during winter months
is not recommended because it may cause window
fogging.
Vacation Storage
Anytime you store your vehicle, or keep it out of service
(i.e. vacation) for two weeks or more, run the air condi-
tioning system at idle for about five minutes in the fresh
air and high blower settings. This will insure adequate
system lubrication to minimize the possibility of com-
pressor damage when the system is started again.
270 INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS

WARNING!
When parking your vehicle, always leave a manual
transmission in first gear and apply the parking
brake fully to guard against vehicle movement and
possible injury or damage. Never use any gear as a
substitute for the parking brake.
CAUTION!
To drive as safely as possible and to prolong the life
of your manual transmission, follow these tips:
²Before shifting from a forward gear into reverse, or
from reverse to a forward gear, stop vehicle com-
pletely. Otherwise, accelerated transmission wear may
result.
²Do not operate at sustained high engine or road
speeds in lower gears. Engine damage may result.
²Do not downshift into a low gear while traveling at too
high a speed for that gear. Engine, clutch, or transmis-
sion damage may result.
²Do not rest your foot on the clutch pedal. This causes
heat buildup and damages the clutch.
²When you slow down or go up a grade, downshift as
speed requires or the engine may overheat.
²Never hold the vehicle stopped on a hill by using the
clutch pedal. The clutch may be damaged.
²During cold weather, you may experience increased
effort in shifting until the transmission fluid warms
up. This is normal.
²Push in the clutch pedal completely when shifting.
Otherwise, transmission or clutch damage may result.
290 STARTING AND OPERATING

²Do not ªrideº 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.
²When 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.
²Engines 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.
²Do 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.
²After 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.
STARTING AND OPERATING 313
5

²The use of leaded gas is prohibited by Federal law.
Using leaded gasoline can impair engine performance,
and damage the emission control system.
²An out-of-tune engine, or certain fuel or ignition
malfunctions, can cause the catalytic converter to
overheat. If you notice a pungent burning odor or
some light smoke, your engine may be out of tune or
malfunctioning and may require immediate service.
Contact your dealer for service assistance.
²The use of fuel additives, which are now being sold as
octane enhancers, is not recommended. Most of these
products contain high concentrations of methanol.
Fuel system damage or vehicle performance problems
resulting from the use of such fuels or additives is not
the responsibility of the manufacturer.
NOTE:Intentional tampering with emissions control
systems can result in civil penalties being assessed
against you.
Carbon Monoxide Warnings
WARNING!
Carbon monoxide (CO) in exhaust gases is deadly.
Follow the precautions below to prevent carbon
monoxide poisoning:
²Do not inhale exhaust gases. They contain carbon
monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas, which can kill.
Never run the engine in a closed area, such as a
garage, and never sit in a parked vehicle with the
engine running for an extended period. If the vehicle is
stopped in an open area with the engine running for
more than a short period, adjust the ventilation system
to force fresh, outside air into the vehicle.
358 STARTING AND OPERATING

Towing Tips
Before setting out on a trip, practice turning, stopping,
and backing the trailer in an area located away from
heavy traffic.
If using a manual transmission vehicle for trailer towing,
all starts must be in FIRST gear to avoid excessive clutch
slippage.
Towing Tips Ð Automatic Transmission
The ªDº range can be selected when towing. However, if
frequent shifting occurs while in this range, you will
want to activate the TOW/HAUL feature. Refer to ªAu-
tomatic Transmissionº in this section for additional in-
formation.
NOTE:Using the TOW/HAUL feature while operating
the vehicle under heavy operating conditions will im-
prove performance and extend transmission life by re-
ducing excessive shifting and heat build up. This action
will also provide better engine braking.If you REGULARLY tow a trailer for more than 45
minutes of continuous operation, then change the auto-
matic transmission fluid and filter according to the
interval specified for ªpolice, taxi, fleet, or frequent trailer
towingº in the ªMaintenance Scheduleº in this manual.
Towing Tips Ð TOW/HAUL
To reduce potential for automatic transmission overheat-
ing, press the ªTOW HAULº button when driving in
hilly areas or shift the transmission to Drive position ª2º
on more severe grades. Refer to ªAutomatic Transmis-
sionº in this section for additional information.
Towing Tips Ð Electronic Speed Control (If
Equipped)
þ
Don't use in hilly terrain or with heavy loads.
þWhen using the speed control, if you experience speed
drops greater than 10 mph (16 km/h), disengage until
you can get back to cruising speed.
STARTING AND OPERATING 377
5

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
CONTENTS
mIf Your Engine Overheats.................384
mJacking And Tire Changing................385
NJack Location........................385
NSpare Tire Stowage....................386
NSpare Tire Removal....................386NPreparations For Jacking................387
NJacking Instructions....................388
mJump Starting.........................390
mTowing A Disabled Vehicle................393
6

IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS
In any of the following situations, you can reduce the
potential for overheating by taking the appropriate ac-
tion.
²On the highways Ð Slow down.
²In city traffic Ð While stopped, put transmission in N
(Neutral), but do not increase engine idle speed.
NOTE:There are steps that you can take to slow down
an impending overheat condition. If your air conditioner
is on, turn it off. The air conditioning system adds heat to
the engine cooling system and turning off the A/C
removes this heat. You can also turn the Temperature
Control to maximum heat, the Mode Control to floor, and
the Fan Control to High. This allows the heater core to act
as a supplement to the radiator and aids in removing heat
from the engine cooling system.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could damage
your vehicle. If the temperature gauge reads ªH,º
pull over and stop the vehicle. Idle the vehicle with
the air conditioner turned off until the pointer drops
back into the normal range. If the pointer remains on
the ªH,º and you hear continuous chimes, turn the
engine off immediately, and call for service.
384 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES