2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE Starting

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS

Starting Procedures.....................230
▫Normal Starting......................230
▫Extreme Cold Weather (Below –20°F (–29°C) . . 231
▫If Engine Fails To Start.................231
▫After Starting........................232

Engine Block Heater — If Equipped.........232

Transmission Shifting....................233
▫5–Speed Automatic Transmission..........233
▫Gear Ranges.........................234▫Rocking The Vehicle...................238

Four-Wheel Drive Operation...............239
▫Quadra-Trac IOperating
Instructions/Precautions — If Equipped.....239
▫Quadra-Trac IIOperating
Instructions/Precautions — If Equipped.....240
▫Shift Positions........................241
▫Shifting Procedures....................242
▫Quadra-DriveSystem — If Equipped......244

Parking Brake.........................244
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Anti-Lock Brake System..................246

Vari-Lok Rear Axle — If Equipped..........249

On-Road Driving Tips...................249

Off-Road Driving Tips...................250
▫When To Use 4WD Low Range — If
Equipped...........................250
▫Driving Through Water.................250
▫Driving In Snow, Mud And Sand..........251
▫Hill Climbing........................251
▫Traction Downhill.....................252
▫After Driving Off-Road.................253

Multi Displacement System (MDS) - 5.7L
Engine Only..........................254

Tire Safety Information...................254▫Tire Markings........................254
▫Tire Identification Number (TIN)..........258
▫Tire Loading And Tire Pressure...........259

Tires — General Information...............263
▫Tire Inflation Pressures.................264
▫High Speed Operation.................265
▫Radial-Ply Tires......................266
▫Tire Spinning........................266
▫Tread Wear Indicators..................267
▫Replacement Tires.....................267
▫Alignment And Balance.................268

Tire Pressure Monitor System..............269
▫Tire Pressure Monitoring — Base System.....269
228 STARTING AND OPERATING

▫Tire Pressure Monitoring — Premium System. . 271
▫General Information...................275

Tire Chains...........................275

Tire Rotation Recommendations............276

Fuel Requirements......................277
▫3.7/4.7L Engines (If Equipped)............277
▫5.7L Engines (If Equipped)...............277
▫Reformulated Gasoline.................278
▫Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends..............278
▫MMT In Gasoline.....................279
▫Materials Added To Fuel................279
▫Fuel System Cautions..................279
▫Carbon Monoxide Warnings..............280

Fuel Tank Filler Cap (Gas Cap).............281▫Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message............282

Trailer Towing.........................283
▫Trailer And Tongue Weight..............285
▫Trailer Tow Wiring....................286
▫Cooling System Tips—Trailer Towing.......287
▫Trailer Classifications...................288
▫Trailer Towing Capability................289

Recreational Towing (Behind Motorhome, Etc.) . . 290
▫Towing – 2WD Models.................290
▫Towing — Quadra-Trac I (Single-Speed
Transfer Case) 4WD Models..............290
▫Towing — Quadra–Trac II /Quadra–Drive II
4WD Models........................290

Snow Plow...........................293
STARTING AND OPERATING 229
5

STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust both
inside and outside mirrors, and fasten your seat belts.
WARNING!
Do not leave children or animals inside parked
vehicles in hot weather. Interior heat build up may
cause serious injury or death.
The gear selector must be in the N (Neutral) or P (Park)
position before you can start the engine. Apply the brakes
before shifting to any driving gear.
Normal Starting
Normal starting of either a cold or a warm engine is
obtained without pumping or depressing the accelerator
pedal. Turn the key to the START position and release
when the engine starts. If the engine fails to start within10 seconds, turn the key to the OFF position, wait 5
seconds, then repeat the normal starting procedure.
Ignition Key Positions
230 STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING!
Never pour fuel or other flammable liquids into the
throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to start
the vehicle. This could result in a flash fire causing
serious personal injury.
Extreme Cold Weather (below –20°F (–29°C)
To insure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of an
externally powered electric engine block heater (available
from your authorized dealer) is recommended.
If Engine Fails to Start
If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
“Normal Starting” or “Extreme Cold Weather” proce-
dures, it may be flooded. Push the accelerator pedal all
the way to the floor and hold it there while cranking the
engine. This should clear any excess fuel in case the
engine is flooded.NOTE:To prevent damage to the starter, do not crank
the engine for more than 15 seconds at a time. Wait 10 to
15 seconds before trying again.
If the engine has been flooded, it may start to run, but not
have enough power to continue running when the key is
released. If this occurs, continue cranking with the accel-
erator pedal pushed all the way to the floor. Release the
accelerator pedal and the key once the engine is running
smoothly.
If the engine shows no sign of starting after two 15–
second periods of cranking with the accelerator pedal
held to the floor, the “Normal Starting” or “Extreme Cold
Weather” procedures should be repeated.
STARTING AND OPERATING 231
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After Starting
The idle speed will automatically decrease as the engine
warms up.
CAUTION!
Long periods of engine idling, especially at high
engine speeds can cause excessive exhaust tempera-
tures which can damage your vehicle. Do not leave
your vehicle unattended with the engine running.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED
The engine block heater warms engine coolant and
permits quicker starts in cold weather. Connect the cord
to a standard 110-115 volt AC electrical outlet with
grounded, three wire extension cord.
Use the heater when temperatures below 0°F (-18°C) are
expected to last for several days.The engine block heater cord is located:
•3.7L/4.7L Engine — coiled and strapped to the engine
oil dipstick tube.
•5.7L Engine — bundled and fastened to the injector
harness.
WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the cord before driving.
Damage to the 110-115 volt AC electrical cord could
cause electrocution.
232 STARTING AND OPERATING

TRANSMISSION SHIFTING
5–Speed Automatic Transmission
The electronically controlled transmission provides a
precise shift schedule. The transmission electronics are
self-calibrating; therefore, the first few shifts on a new
vehicle, may be somewhat abrupt. This is a normal
condition, and precision shifts will develop within a few
hundred miles.
Automatic Shift Controls
STARTING AND OPERATING 233
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WARNING!
It is dangerous to shift the selector lever out of P
(Park) or N (Neutral) if the engine speed is higher
than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on the
brake pedal, the vehicle could accelerate quickly
forward or in reverse. You could lose control of the
vehicle and hit someone or something. Only shift
into gear when the engine is idling normally and
when your foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
Brake Transmission Shift Interlock System
This vehicle is equipped with a brake transmission shift
interlock system (BTSI) that holds the gearshift lever in
the P (Park) position when the ignition switch is in the
LOCK position. To move the gear selector lever out of the
P (Park) position, the ignition switch must be turned to
the ON position, and the brake pedal must be depressed.
Gear Ranges
P (Park)
Supplements the parking brake by locking the transmis-
sion. The engine can be started in this range. Never use P
(Park) while the vehicle is in motion. Apply the parking
brake when leaving the vehicle in this range.
WARNING!
Unintended movement of a vehicle could injure those
in and near the vehicle. As with all vehicles, you
should never exit a vehicle while the engine is running.
Before exiting a vehicle, you should apply the park
brake, shift the transmission into P (Park), and remove
the key from the ignition. Once the key is removed
from the ignition the transmission shift lever is locked
in the P (Park) position, securing the vehicle against
unwanted movement. Furthermore, you should never
leave children unattended inside a vehicle.
234 STARTING AND OPERATING