warning light JEEP PATRIOT 2020 Owner handbook (in English)

WARNING!
Do not descend a steep grade in NEUTRAL.
Use vehicle brakes in conjunction with en-
gine 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 pos-
sibilities 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 cometo 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.
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,
which may result in severe injury. Always
back carefully straight down a hill in RE-
VERSE gear. Never back down a hill in
NEUTRAL using only the vehicle brakes.
Never drive diagonally across a hill, always
drive straight up or down.
Driving Through WaterExtreme care should be taken crossing any
type of water. Water crossings should be
avoided if possible, and only be attempted
when necessary in a safe responsible manner.You should only drive through areas which are
designated and approved. You should tread
lightly and avoid damage to the environment.
You should know your vehicles abilities and be
able to recover it if something goes wrong. You
should never stop or shut a vehicle off when
crossing deep water unless you ingested water
into the engine air intake. If the engine stalls, do
not attempt to restart it. Determine if it has
ingested water first. The key to any crossing is
low and slow. You want to use low (L Off-Road
[if equipped] ) with the 4WD LOCK engaged
and proceed very slowly with a constant slow
speed (3-5 mph [5–8 km/h] maximum) and light
throttle. Keep the vehicle moving; do not try to
accelerate through the crossing. After crossing
any water higher than the bottom of the axle
differentials, you should inspect all of the ve-
hicle fluids for signs of water ingestion.
CAUTION!
Water ingestion into the transaxle, transfer
case, engine or vehicle interior can occur if
you drive too fast or through too deep of
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WARNING!(Continued)
curate fluid level reading. Do not overfill. Use
only manufacturer’s recommended power
steering fluid.
If necessary, add fluid to restore to the proper
indicated level. With a clean cloth, wipe any
spilled fluid from all surfaces. Refer to “Fluids,
Lubricants, And Genuine Parts” in “Maintaining
Your Vehicle” for further information.
PARKING BRAKE
Before leaving the vehicle, make sure that the
parking brake is fully applied. Also, be certain to
leave an automatic transmission in PARK, or
manual transmission in REVERSE or first gear.
The parking brake lever is located in the center
console. To apply the parking brake, pull the
lever up as firmly as possible. To release the
parking brake, pull the lever up slightly, press
the center button, then lower the lever com-
pletely.When the parking brake is applied with the
ignition switch in the ON position, the “Brake
Warning Light” in the instrument cluster will
illuminate.
NOTE:
•When the parking brake is applied and the
automatic transmission is placed in gear,
the “Brake Warning Light” will flash. If
vehicle speed is detected, a chime will
sound to alert the driver. Fully release the
parking brake before attempting to move
the vehicle.•This light only shows that the parking
brake is applied. It does not show the
degree of brake application.
When parking on a hill, it is important to turn the
front wheels toward the curb on a downhill
grade and away from the curb on an uphill
grade. For vehicles equipped with an automatic
transmission, apply the parking brake before
placing the gear selector in PARK, otherwise
the load on the transmission locking mecha-
nism may make it difficult to move the gear
selector out of PARK. The parking brake should
always be applied whenever the driver is not in
the vehicle.
Parking Brake Lever
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WARNING!
•Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Allow-
ing 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.
•Do not leave the Key Fob in or near the
vehicle, or in a location accessible to chil-
dren. A child could operate power win-
dows, other controls, or move the vehicle.
•Be sure the parking brake is fully disen-
gaged before driving; failure to do so can
lead to brake failure and a collision.
•
Always fully apply the parking brake when
leaving your vehicle, or it may roll and cause
damage or injury. Also, be certain to leave a
manual transmission in REVERSE or first
gear. Failure to do so may cause the vehicle
to roll and cause damage or injury.
CAUTION!
If the “Brake Warning Light” remains on with
the parking brake released, a brake system
malfunction is indicated. Have the brake
system serviced by an authorized dealer
immediately.
BRAKE SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with power assisted
brakes as standard equipment. In the event
power assist is lost for any reason (for example,
repeated brake applications with the engine off),
the brakes will still function. However, the effort
required to brake the vehicle will be much
greater than that required with the power sys-
tem operating.
WARNING!
Riding the brakes can lead to brake failure
and possibly a collision. Driving with your
foot resting or riding on the brake pedal can
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WARNING!(Continued)
result in abnormally high brake tempera-
tures, excessive lining wear, and possible
brake damage. You would not have your full
braking capacity in an emergency.
If either of the two hydraulic systems lose
normal capability, the remaining system will still
function with some loss of overall braking effec-
tiveness. This will be evident by increased pedal
travel during application and greater pedal force
required to slow or stop. In addition, if the
malfunction is caused by an internal leak, as the
brake fluid in the master cylinder drops, the
“Brake Warning Light” will light.
WARNING!
Driving a vehicle with the “Brake Warning
Light” on is dangerous. A significant de-
crease in braking performance or vehicle
stability during braking may occur. It will take
you longer to stop the vehicle or will make
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WARNING!(Continued)
your vehicle harder to control. You could
have a collision. Have the vehicle checked
immediately.
ELECTRONIC BRAKE
CONTROL SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with an advanced
Electronic Brake Control system (EBC). This
system includes Electronic Brake Force Distri-
bution (EBD), Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS),
Brake Assist System (BAS), Hill Start Assist
(HSA), Traction Control System (TCS), Elec-
tronic Stability Control (ESC), and Electronic
Roll Mitigation (ERM). These systems work
together to enhance both vehicle stability and
control in various driving conditions.
Your vehicle may also be equipped with Hill
Descent Control (HDC).
Electronic Brake Force Distribution
(EBD)
This function manages the distribution of the
braking torque between the front and rear axles
by limiting braking pressure to the rear axle.
This is done to prevent overslip of the rear
wheels to avoid vehicle instability, and to pre-
vent the rear axle from entering ABS before the
front axle.
Brake System Warning LightThe red “Brake System Warning Light” will turn
on when the ignition switch is turned to the ON
position and may stay on for as long as four
seconds.
If the “Brake System Warning Light” remains on
or comes on while driving, it indicates that the
brake system is not functioning properly and
that immediate service is required. If the “Brake
System Warning Light” does not come on when
the ignition switch is turned to the ON position,
have the light repaired as soon as possible.
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) provides
increased vehicle stability and brake perfor-
mance under most braking conditions. The sys-
tem automatically prevents wheel lock, and
enhances vehicle control during braking.
The ABS performs a self-check cycle to ensure
that the ABS is working properly each time the
vehicle is started and driven. During this self-
check, you may hear a slight clicking sound as
well as some related motor noises.
ABS is activated during braking when the sys-
tem detects one or more wheels begins to lock.
Road conditions such as ice, snow, gravel,
bumps, railroad tracks, loose debris, or panic
stops may increase the likelihood of ABS acti-
vation(s).
You also may experience the following when
ABS activates:
•The ABS motor noise (it may continue to run
for a short time after the stop).
•The clicking sound of solenoid valves.
•Brake pedal pulsations.
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•A slight drop of the brake pedal at the end of
the stop.
These are all normal characteristics of ABS.
WARNING!
•The ABS contains sophisticated electronic
equipment that may be susceptible to in-
terference caused by improperly installed
or high output radio transmitting equip-
ment. This interference can cause possible
loss of anti-lock braking capability. Instal-
lation of such equipment should be per-
formed by qualified professionals.
•Pumping of the Anti-Lock Brakes will di-
minish their effectiveness and may lead to
a collision. Pumping makes the stopping
distance longer. Just press firmly on your
brake pedal when you need to slow down
or stop.
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WARNING!(Continued)
•The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws
of physics from acting on the vehicle, nor
can it increase braking or steering effi-
ciency beyond that afforded by the condi-
tion of the vehicle brakes and tires or the
traction afforded.
•The ABS cannot prevent collisions, includ-
ing those resulting from excessive speed
in turns, following another vehicle too
closely, or hydroplaning.
•The capabilities of an ABS equipped ve-
hicle must never be exploited in a reckless
or dangerous manner that could jeopar-
dize the user’s safety or the safety of
others.
ABS is designed to function with the OEM tires.
Modification may result in degraded ABS per-
formance.
Anti-Lock Brake Warning LightThe amber “Anti-Lock Brake Warning Light” will
turn on when the ignition switch is turned to the
ON position and may stay on for as long as four
seconds.
If the “Anti-Lock Brake Warning Light” remains
on or comes on while driving, it indicates that
the anti-lock portion of the brake system is not
functioning and that service is required. How-
ever, the conventional brake system will con-
tinue to operate normally if the “Brake System
Warning Light” is not on.
If the “Anti-Lock Brake Warning Light” is on, the
brake system should be serviced as soon as
possible to restore the benefits of anti-lock
brakes. If the “Anti-Lock Brake Warning Light”
does not come on when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position, have the light re-
paired as soon as possible.
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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 sensing the rate and
amount of brake application and then applies
optimum pressure to the brakes. This can help
reduce braking distances. The BAS comple-
ments the anti-lock brake system (ABS). Apply-
ing the brakes very quickly results in the best
BAS assistance. To receive the benefit of the
system, you must apply continuous braking
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 pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting
on the vehicle, nor can it increase the trac-
tion afforded by prevailing road conditions.
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WARNING!(Continued)
BAS cannot prevent collisions, including
those resulting from excessive speed in
turns, driving on very slippery surfaces, or
hydroplaning. 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.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)The HSA system is designed to mitigate roll
back from a complete stop while on an incline. If
the driver releases the brake while stopped on
an incline, HSA will continue to hold the brake
pressure for a short period. If the driver does not
apply the throttle before this time expires, the
system will release brake pressure and the
vehicle will roll down the hill as normal.
The following conditions must be met in order
for HSA to activate:
•The feature must be enabled.
•The vehicle must be stopped.•Park brake must be off.
•Driver door must be closed.
•The vehicle must be on a sufficient grade.
•The gear selection must match vehicle uphill
direction (i.e., vehicle facing uphill is in for-
ward gear; vehicle backing uphill is in RE-
VERSE gear).
•HSA will work in REVERSE gear and all
forward gears. The system will not activate if
the transmission is in PARK or NEUTRAL.
For vehicles equipped with a manual trans-
mission, if the clutch is pressed, HSA will
remain active.
WARNING!
There may be situations where the Hill Start
Assist (HSA) will not activate and slight roll-
ing may occur, such as on minor hills or with
a loaded vehicle, or while pulling a trailer.
HSA is not a substitute for active driving
involvement. It is always the driver’s respon-
sibility to be attentive to distance to other
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WARNING!(Continued)
vehicles, people, and objects, and most im-
portantly brake operation to ensure safe
operation of the vehicle under all road con-
ditions. Your complete attention is always
required while driving to maintain safe con-
trol of your vehicle. Failure to follow these
warnings can result in a collision or serious
personal injury.
Towing With HSA
HSA will also provide assistance to mitigate roll
back while towing a trailer.
WARNING!
•If you use a trailer brake controller with
your trailer, the trailer brakes may be acti-
vated and deactivated with the brake
switch. If so, there may not be enough
brake pressure to hold both the vehicle
and the trailer on a hill when the brake
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WARNING!(Continued)
pedal is released. In order to avoid rolling
down an incline while resuming accelera-
tion, manually activate the trailer brake or
apply more vehicle brake pressure prior to
releasing the brake pedal.
•HSA is not a parking brake. Always apply
the parking brake fully when leaving your
vehicle. Also, be certain to leave the trans-
mission in PARK.
•Failure to follow these warnings may
cause the vehicle to roll down the incline
and could collide with another vehicle,
object or person, and cause serious or
fatal injury. Always remember to use the
parking brake while parking on a hill and
that the driver is responsible for braking
the vehicle.
Disabling And Enabling HSA
This feature can be turned on or turned off. To
change the current setting, proceed as follows:•For vehicles equipped with the Electronic
Vehicle Information Center (EVIC), refer to
“Electronic Vehicle Information Center
(EVIC)” in “Understanding Your Instrument
Panel” for further information.
•If disabling HSA using Uconnect Settings,
refer to “Uconnect Settings” in “Understand-
ing Your Instrument Panel” for further
information.
For vehicles not equipped with the EVIC, per-
form the following steps:
1. Center the steering wheel (front wheels
pointing straight forward).
2. Shift the transmission into PARK.
3. Apply the parking brake.
4. Start the engine.
5. Rotate the steering wheel slightly more than
one-half turn to the left.
6. Push the “ESC Off” button located in the
lower switch bank below the climate control
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four times within twenty seconds. The “ESC
Off Indicator Light” should turn on and turn
off two times.
7. Rotate the steering wheel back to center and
then an additional slighty more than one-half
turn to the right.
8. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position
and then back to the ON position. If the
sequence was completed properly, the “ESC
Off Indicator Light” will blink several times to
confirm HSA is disabled.
9. Repeat these steps if you want to return this
feature to its previous setting.
Traction Control System (TCS)This system monitors the amount of wheel spin
of each of the driven wheels. If wheel spin is
detected, the TCS may apply brake pressure to
the spinning wheel(s) and/or reduce engine
power to provide enhanced acceleration and
stability. A feature of the TCS, Brake Limited
Differential (BLD), functions similar to a limited
slip differential and controls the wheel spin
across a driven axle. If one wheel on a drivenaxle is spinning faster than the other, the sys-
tem will apply the brake of the spinning wheel.
This will allow more engine torque to be applied
to the wheel that is not spinning. BLD may
remain enabled even if TCS and ESC are in a
reduced mode.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)This system enhances directional control and
stability of the vehicle under various driving
conditions. ESC corrects for over-steering or
under-steering of the vehicle by applying the
brake of the appropriate wheel to assist in
counteracting the over-steering or under-
steering condition. Engine power may also be
reduced to help the vehicle maintain the desired
path. ESC uses sensors in the vehicle to deter-
mine the vehicle path intended by the 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
•Oversteer - when the vehicle is turning more
than appropriate for the steering wheel posi-
tion.•Understeer - when the vehicle is turning less
than appropriate for the steering wheel
position.
WARNING!
•The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) can-
not prevent 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. ESC also cannot prevent
collisions resulting from loss of vehicle
control due to inappropriate driver input for
the conditions. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent collisions.
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191

WARNING!(Continued)
•The capabilities of an ESC-equipped ve-
hicle must never be exploited in a reckless
or dangerous manner, which could jeopar-
dize the user’s safety or the safety of
others
•Vehicle modifications, or failure to properly
maintain your vehicle, may change the
handling characteristics of your vehicle,
and may negatively affect the performance
of the ESC system. Changes to the steer-
ing system, suspension, braking system,
tire type and size or wheel size may ad-
versely affect ESC performance. Improp-
erly inflated and unevenly worn tires may
also degrade ESC performance. Any ve-
hicle modification or poor vehicle mainte-
nance that reduces the effectiveness of the
ESC system can increase the risk of loss
of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, per-
sonal injury and death.ESC Operating Modes
The ESC system has three available operating
modes for four–wheel drive equipped vehicles
and two available operating modes for two–
wheel drive equipped vehicles.
Full On (Four-Wheel Drive Models) Or On
(Two-Wheel Drive Models)
This is the normal operating mode for ESC.
Whenever the vehicle is started, the ESC sys-
tem will be in this “On” mode. This mode should
be used for most driving situations. ESC should
only be turned to “Partial Off” or “ESC Off” for
specific reasons as noted below.
Partial Off (Four-Wheel Drive Models) Or On
(Two-Wheel Drive Models)
This mode is entered by momentarily pushing
the “ESC Off” switch. When in “Partial Off”
mode, the TCS portion of ESC, except for the
“limited slip” feature described in the TCS sec-
tion, has been disabled, and the"ESC OFF
Indicator Light"will be illuminated. All other
stability features of ESC function normally. This
mode is intended to be used if the vehicle is in
deep snow, sand or gravel conditions, and morewheel spin than ESC would normally allow is
required to gain traction.
To turn ESC on again, momentarily push the
“ESC Off” switch. This will restore the normal
“ESC On” mode of operation.
NOTE:
To improve the vehicle’s traction when driv-
ing with snow chains, or starting off in deep
snow, sand or gravel, it may be desirable to
switch to the “Partial Off” mode by pushing
the “ESC Off” switch. Once the situation
requiring ESC to be switched to the “Partial
Off” mode is overcome, turn ESC back on by
momentarily pushing the “ESC Off” switch.
This may be done while the vehicle is in
motion.
WARNING!
When in “Partial Off” mode, the TCS func-
tionality of ESC (except for the limited slip
feature described in the TCS section) has
been disabled and the “ESC Off Indicator
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WARNING!(Continued)
Light” will be illuminated. When in “Partial
Off” mode, the engine power reduction of
TCS is disabled, and the enhanced vehicle
stability offered by the ESC system is re-
duced. Trailer Sway control (TSC) (if
equipped) is disabled when the ESC system
is in the"Partial Off"mode.
Full Off (Four-Wheel Drive Models Only)
This mode is intended for off-highway or off-
road use when ESC stability features could
inhibit vehicle maneuverability due to trail con-
ditions. This mode is entered by pushing and
holding the “ESC Off” switch for five seconds
when the vehicle is stopped and the engine is
running. After five seconds, the"ESC OFF
Indicator Light"will illuminate and the “ESC
OFF” message will appear in the odometer.
Push and release the Trip Odometer button
located on the instrument cluster to clear this
message.
In this mode, ESC and TCS, except for the
“limited slip” feature described in the TCS sec-tion, are turned off until the vehicle reaches a
speed of 35 mph (56 km/h). At 35 mph
(56 km/h), the system returns to “Partial Off”
mode, as described above. TCS remains off.
When the vehicle speed drops below 30 mph
(48 km/h), the ESC system shuts off. ESC is
deactivated at low vehicle speeds so that it will
not interfere with off-road driving however, ESC
function returns to provide the stability feature
at speeds above 35 mph (56 km/h). The"ESC
OFF Indicator Light"will always be illuminated
when ESC is off.
To turn ESC on again, momentarily push the
“ESC Off” switch. This will restore the “ESC On”
mode of operation.
NOTE:
The “ESC OFF” message will display and an
audible chime will sound when the gear
selector is placed into the PARK position
from any other position, and then moved out
of the PARK position. This will occur even if
the message was previously cleared.
WARNING!
In the"Full Off"mode, the engine torque
reduction and stability features are disabled.
In an emergency evasive maneuver, the
ESC system will not engage to assist in
maintaining stability. “ESC Off” mode is in-
tended for off-highway or off-road use only.
ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light
And ESC OFF Indicator Light
The “ESC Activation/Malfunction
Indicator Light” in the instrument
cluster will come on when the igni-
tion switch is cycled to the ON/
RUN position. It should go out with
the engine running. If the “ESC
Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” comes
on continuously with the engine running, a
malfunction has been detected in the ESC
system. If this light remains on after several
ignition cycles, and the vehicle has been driven
several miles (kilometers) at speeds greater
than 30 mph (48 km/h), see your authorized
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