brake fluid JEEP WRANGLER 2017 JK / 3.G Owners Manual

Brake Warning Light
Red TelltaleLight What It Means
English
Metric
Brake Warning Light
This light monitors various brake functions, including brake fluid level and parking brake appli-
cation. If the brake light turns on it may indicate that the parking brake is applied, that the brake
fluid level is low, or that there is a problem with the anti-lock brake system reservoir.
If the light remains on when the parking brake has been disengaged, and the fluid level is at the
full mark on the master cylinder reservoir, it indicates a possible brake hydraulic system mal-
function or that a problem with the Brake Booster has been detected by the Anti-Lock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) / Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system. In this case, the light will remain on until
the condition has been corrected. If the problem is related to the brake booster, the ABS pump
will run when applying the brake, and a brake pedal pulsation may be felt during each stop.
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 197

The dual brake system provides a reserve braking capacity
in the event of a failure to a portion of the hydraulic
system. A leak in either half of the dual brake system is
indicated by the Brake Warning Light, which will turn on
when the brake fluid level in the master cylinder has
dropped below a specified level.
The light will remain on until the cause is corrected.
NOTE:The light may flash momentarily during sharp
cornering maneuvers, which change fluid level conditions.
The vehicle should have service performed, and the brake
fluid level checked.
If brake failure is indicated, immediate repair is necessary.
WARNING!
Driving a vehicle with the red brake light on is
dangerous. Part of the brake system may have failed. It
will take longer to stop the vehicle. You could have a
collision. Have the vehicle checked immediately. Vehicles equipped with the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
are also equipped with Electronic Brake Force Distribution
(EBD). In the event of an EBD failure, the Brake Warning
Light will turn on along with the ABS Light. Immediate
repair to the ABS system is required.
Operation of the Brake Warning Light can be checked by
turning the ignition switch from the OFF position to the
ON/RUN position. The light should illuminate for ap-
proximately two seconds. The light should then turn off
unless the parking brake is applied or a brake fault is
detected. If the light does not illuminate, have the light
inspected by an authorized dealer.
The light also will turn on when the parking brake is
applied with the ignition switch in the ON/RUN position.
NOTE:
This light shows only that the parking brake is
applied. It does not show the degree of brake application.
198 GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

WARNING!(Continued)
•ALWAYS make sure objects cannot fall or slide into
the driver ’s side floor area when the vehicle is
moving. Objects can become trapped under accelera-
tor, brake, or clutch pedals and could cause a loss of
vehicle control.
• NEVER place any objects under the floor mat (e.g.,
towels, keys, etc.). These objects could change the
position of the floor mat and may cause interference
with the accelerator, brake, or clutch pedals.
• If the vehicle carpet has been removed and re-
installed, always properly attach carpet to the floor
and check the floor mat fasteners are secure to the
vehicle carpet. Fully depress each pedal to check for
interference with the accelerator, brake, or clutch
pedals then re-install the floor mats.
• It is recommended to only use mild soap and water
to clean your floor mats. After cleaning, always check
your floor mat has been properly installed and is
secured to your vehicle using the floor mat fasteners
by lightly pulling mat.
Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make Outside
The Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear and uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread or sidewall. Inspect the tread for cuts
and cracks. Inspect sidewalls for cuts, cracks, and bulges.
Check the wheel nuts for tightness. Check the tires (includ-
ing spare) for proper cold inflation pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of brake lights and
exterior lights while you work the controls. Check turn
signal and high beam indicator lights on the instrument
panel.
Door Latches
Check for proper closing, latching, and locking.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for fuel,
engine coolant, oil, or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline
fumes are detected or if fuel, or brake fluid leaks are
suspected. The cause should be located and corrected
immediately.
282 SAFETY

Driving Through Water
Extreme 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 vehicle’s
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. Shift into first gear (manual
transmission), or DRIVE (automatic transmission), with the
transfer case in the 4L (Low) position and proceed very
slowly with a constant slow speed {3 to 5 mph (5 to 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 vehicle fluids for
signs of water ingestion.
CAUTION!
•Water ingestion into the axles, transmission, transfer
case, engine or vehicle interior can occur if you drive
too fast or through too deep of water. Water can cause
permanent damage to engine, driveline or other
vehicle components, and your brakes will be less
effective once wet and/or muddy.
• This vehicle is capable of crossing through water at a
depth of 30 inches (76 cm) at speeds no greater than
5 mph (8 km/h). Water ingestion can occur causing
damage to your vehicle.
Before You Cross Any Type Of Water
As you approach any type of water, you need to determine
if you can cross it safely and responsibly. If necessary, get
out and walk through the water or probe it with a stick.
You need to be sure of its depth, approach angle, current
and bottom condition. Be careful of murky or muddy
waters; check for hidden obstacles. Make sure you will not
be intruding on any wildlife, and you can recover the
vehicle if necessary. The key to a safe crossing is the water
depth, current and bottom conditions. On soft bottoms, the
338 STARTING AND OPERATING

SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
CONTENTS
SCHEDULED SERVICING .................371
▫ Maintenance Plan ...................... .372
▫ Heavy Duty Use Of The Vehicle ............376
 ENGINE COMPARTMENT .................377
▫ Engine Compartment — 3.6L ..............377
▫ Checking Oil Level .....................378
▫ Adding Washer Fluid ...................378
▫ Maintenance-Free Battery .................378
 DEALER SERVICE ...................... .379
▫ Engine Oil .......................... .380
▫ Engine Oil Filter ...................... .381
▫ Engine Air Cleaner Filter .................381
▫ Accessory Drive Belt Inspection ............384
▫ Air Conditioner Maintenance ..............385▫
Body Lubrication ..................... .389
▫ Windshield Wiper Blades .................389
▫ Exhaust System ....................... .394
▫ Cooling System ....................... .395
▫ Brake System ........................ .400
▫ Front/Rear Axle Fluid ...................401
▫ Transfer Case ........................ .402
▫ Automatic Transmission ..................402
▫ Manual Transmission — If Equipped ........405
 RAISING THE VEHICLE ..................405
 TIRES ............................... .405
▫ Tire Safety Information ..................405
▫ T

ires — General Information ..............413
▫ Tire Types ........................... .419
8

Once A Month Or Before A Long Trip:
•Check engine oil level
• Check windshield washer fluid level
• Check the tire inflation pressures and look for unusual
wear or damage
• Check the fluid levels of the coolant reservoir, brake
master cylinder, power steering and automatic transmis-
sion, and fill as needed
• Check function of all interior and exterior lights
Maintenance Plan
Required Maintenance Intervals
Refer to the maintenance plan on the following pages for
the required maintenance intervals.
At Every Oil Change Interval As Indicated By Oil
Change Indicator System:
•Change oil and filter
• Rotate the tires
Rotate at the first sign of irregular wear, even if it
occurs before the oil indicator system turns on
• Inspect battery and clean and tighten terminals as
required
• Inspect automatic transmission fluid if equipped
with dipstick
• Inspect brake pads, shoes, rotors, drums, hoses and
park brake
• Inspect engine cooling system protection and hoses
• Inspect exhaust system
• Inspect engine air cleaner if using in dusty or
off-road conditions
• Inspect all door latches for presence of grease,
reapply if necessary.
372 SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE

Mileage or time passed
(whichever comes first)
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
100,000
110,000
120,000
130,000
140,000
150,000
Or Years: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Or Kilometers:
32,000
48,000
64,000
80,000
96,000
112,000
128,000
144,000
160,000
176,000
192,000
208,000
224,000
240,000
Additional Inspections
Inspect the CV/Universal joints. X XX X X XX
Inspect front suspension, tie rod
ends, and replace if necessary. XXX X X X X
Inspect the front and rear axle
fluid. XX X X
Inspect the brake linings, replace
as necessary XXX X X X X
Adjust parking brake on vehicles
equipped with four wheel disc
brakes. XXX X X X X
Inspect transfer case fluid. XX X
Additional Maintenance
Replace engine air cleaner filter. XX X X X
Replace air conditioning/cabin air
filter. XXX X X X X
Replace spark plugs ** X
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SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 373

ENGINE COMPARTMENT
Engine Compartment — 3.6L
1 — Integrated Power Module (Fuses)7 — Washer Fluid Reservoir
2 — Battery 8 — Engine Coolant Reservoir
3 — Engine Oil Dipstick 9 — Air Cleaner Filter
4 — Automatic Transmission Dipstick (Under Engine Cover) 10 — Coolant Pressure Cap
5 — Engine Oil Fill 11 — Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
6 — Brake Fluid Reservoir
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SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 377

•Make sure that the coolant expansion bottle overflow
hoses are not kinked or obstructed.
• Keep the front of the radiator clean. If your vehicle is
equipped with air conditioning, keep the front of the
condenser clean.
• Do not change the thermostat for Summer or Winter
operation. If replacement is ever necessary, install ONLY
the correct type thermostat. Other designs may result in
unsatisfactory engine coolant (antifreeze) performance,
poor gas mileage, and increased emissions.
Brake System
In order to assure brake system performance, all brake
system components should be inspected periodically. Refer
to the “Maintenance Plan” in this section for the proper
maintenance intervals.
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 result in abnormally high brake
temperatures, excessive lining wear, and possible brake
damage. You would not have your full braking capacity
in an emergency.
Fluid Level Check — Brake Master Cylinder
The fluid level of the master cylinder should be checked
whenever the vehicle is serviced, or immediately if the brake
system warning light is on. If necessary, add fluid to bring
level to the full mark on the side of the reservoir of the brake
master cylinder. Be sure to clean the top of the master
cylinder area before removing cap. With disc brakes, fluid
level can be expected to fall as the brake pads wear. Brake
fluid level should be checked when pads are replaced. If the
brake fluid is abnormally low, check system for leaks.
Refer to “Fluids And Lubricants” in “Technical Specifica-
tions” for further information.
WARNING!
•Use only manufacturer’s recommended brake fluid.
Refer to “Fluids And Lubricants” in “Technical Speci-
fications” for further information. Using the wrong
type of brake fluid can severely damage your brake
system and/or impair its performance. The proper type
of brake fluid for your vehicle is also identified on the
original factory installed hydraulic master cylinder
reservoir.
(Continued)
400 SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE

WARNING!(Continued)
•To avoid contamination from foreign matter or mois-
ture, use only new brake fluid or fluid that has been
in a tightly closed container. Keep the master cylin-
der reservoir cap secured at all times. Brake fluid in
a open container absorbs moisture from the air
resulting in a lower boiling point. This may cause it
to boil unexpectedly during hard or prolonged brak-
ing, resulting in sudden brake failure. This could
result in a collision.
• Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can result in
spilling brake fluid on hot engine parts, causing the
brake fluid to catch fire. Brake fluid can also damage
painted and vinyl surfaces, care should be taken to
avoid its contact with these surfaces.
• Do not allow petroleum based fluid to contaminate
the brake fluid. Brake seal components could be
damaged, causing partial or complete brake failure.
This could result in a collision.
Front/Rear Axle Fluid
For normal service, periodic fluid level checks are not
required. When the vehicle is serviced for other reasons the
exterior surfaces of the axle assembly should be inspected.
If gear oil leakage is suspected inspect the fluid level. Refer
to “Fluids And Lubricants” in “Technical Specifications”
for further information.
Fluid Level Check
Lubricant should be at the bottom edge of the oil fill hole.
Adding Fluid
Add lubricant only at the fill hole and only to the level
specified above.
Selection Of Lubricant
Use only the manufacturer’s recommended fluid. Refer to
“Fluids And Lubricants” in “Technical Specifications” for
further information.
8
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 401