JEEP WRANGLER 2004 Owners Manual

Riding the brakes can lead to brake failure and
possibly an accident. Driving with your foot resting
or riding on the brake pedal can result in abnormally
high brake temperatures, excessive lining wear, and
possible brake damage. You wouldn’t have your full
braking capacity in an emergency.

To use your brakes and decelerate more safely, follow these tips:
•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 distances, or brake damage.
•When descending mountains or hills, repeated braking can cause
brake fade with loss of braking control. Avoid repeated heavy
braking by downshifting the transmission whenever possible.
•Do not downshift on icy or slippery roads, because engine braking
may cause skidding and loss of control.
•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
maneuvering, parking or stopping. Remember, always engage
4-wheel drive when driving on slippery roads.
•Do not drive too fast for road conditions, especially when roads are wet
or slushy. A wedge of water can build up between the tire tread and the
road. This hydroplaning action can cause loss of traction, braking
ability, and control. Under such conditions, engage 4-wheel drive.
•After going through deep water or a car wash, brakes may become
wet, resulting in poor performance and unpredictable braking
action. Dry the brakes by gentle, intermittent pedal action while
driving at very slow speeds.
WARNING!
The weight and position of cargo and passengers can change
the vehicle center of gravity and vehicle handling. To avoid
loss of control resulting in personal injury, follow these
guidelines:
•Always place cargo evenly on the cargo floor, and locate
heavier objects as low and as far forward as possible.
•Place as much cargo as possible in front of the rear axle. Too
much weight or improperly placed weight over or behind
the rear axle can cause the rear of the vehicle to sway.
•Do not pile luggage or cargo higher than the top of the
seatback. This could impair visibility or become a danger-
ous projectile in a sudden stop or collision.
•The rear cargo space is intended for load carrying purposes
only, not for passengers, who should sit in seats and use
seat belts.
•On hardtop models, do not drive with the lift glass up. On
fabric top models, do not drive with the rear window
curtain up unless the side curtains are also open. This will
prevent dangerous exhaust fumes from entering the ve-
hicle.

To help avoid personal injury, follow these tips:
•Never reach through the steering wheel to operate
steering column controls. Injury to your hands or
loss of vehicle control may result.
•If the engine stalls or power assist fails due to a
malfunction, vehicle steering and braking will
require greater effort.Significant over or under-inflation of tires, or mixing
sizes of tires or wheels on the vehicle can lead to loss
of braking effectiveness.