2005 JEEP LIBERTY Owners Manual

WARNING!
•Cargo tie-down hooks are not safe anchors for a
child seat tether strap. In a sudden stop or colli-
sion a hook could pull loose and allow the child
seat to come loose. A child could be badly injured.
Use only the anchors provided for child seat
tethers.
•The weight and position of cargo and passengers
can change the vehicle center of gravity and
vehicle handling. To avoid loss of control result-
ing in personal injury, follow these guidelines for
loading your vehicle:
•Always place cargo evenly on the cargo floor. Put
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
dangerous projectile in a sudden stop or collision.
WARNING!
To help protect against personal injury, passengers
should not be seated in the rear cargo area. The rear
cargo space is intended for load carrying purposes
only, not for passengers, who should sit in seats and
use seat belts.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 153
3

Cargo Organizer — If Equipped
This vehicle may be equipped with a cargo organizer that
mounts on the floor behind the rear seat. Items may be
placed on the flat surface or stored in the three storage
compartments.
WARNING!
•To avoid tipping, lock the shelf securely in all
positions.
•Do not drive this vehicle with the liftgate open, or
use the shelf as a seat.
•Failure to follow these warnings could result in
serious or fatal injury.
1. To raise the cargo organizer pull up on the handle and
pull towards the rear of the vehicle.
Cargo Organizer
154 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

2. Place the rear corners of the cargo organizer into the
supports located on the rear trim panel. Press down on
the back of the cargo organizer to lock it into place.WARNING!
Do not load objects over 30 lbs (13.5 kg) in the upper
position. Failure to follow this warning could cause
the cargo organizer to collapse resulting in personal
injury.
CAUTION!
Do not load objects over 100 lbs (45 kg) in the lower
position. Failure to follow this could cause damage
to the cargo organizer.
Cargo Organizer Mounting
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 155
3

To Open Storage Compartments
1. Pull up on the center opening of the cargo organizer.
2. Lift up on the storage compartment dividers and lock
into place.Cargo Organizer Removal
Loosen screw, then lift lever from each mount located on
the floor of the rear cargo area, and remove the cargo
organizer from the vehicle.
REAR WINDOW FEATURES
Rear Window Wiper/Washer
A rotary ring switch on the control lever, located on the
right side of the steering column, controls operation of
the rear wiper/washer function. Rotating the center of
the switch up to the DEL (Delay) position or the ON
position will activate the wiper. Rotating the switch ring
beyond the ON or OFF position will activate the rear
washer. The wash pump will continue to operate as long
as the lever or ring is engaged. Upon release, the wipers
will cycle three times before returning to the set position.
Using Cargo Organizer
156 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

If the rear wiper is operating when the ignition is turned
OFF, the wiper will automatically return to the “Park”
position. When the vehicle is restarted, the wiper will
resume function at whichever position the switch is set
at.
If the swing gate flip-up window is open or the swing
gate is open, connection to the rear window wiper is
interrupted preventing activation of the rear wiper blade.
When the swing gate flip-up window or the swing gate is
closed, the rear wiper switch or the ignition switch needs
to be turned OFF, and then to ON to restart the rear
wiper.NOTE: The rear swing gate will lock while the rear
wiper is operating. The gate will stay locked until the
wiper is turned off and the gate is unlocked (by key,
lock switch, or key fob).
Adding Washer Fluid
The fluid reservoir for the windshield washers and the
rear window washer is shared. It is located in the front of
the engine compartment on the passenger side and
should be checked for fluid level at regular intervals. Fill
the reservoir with windshield washer solvent (not radia-
tor antifreeze) and operate the system for a few seconds
to flush out the residual water.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 157
3

Rear Window Defroster
On the top of the climate control panel is a push
button for rear window defrosting. An amber
indicator in the push button will light when the defroster
is turned on. Push again to turn off the defroster prior to
an automatic time-out.The defroster will automatically turn off after about ten
minutes. For about five more minutes of operation, push
the button again. To prevent excessive battery drain, use
the defroster only when the engine is operating. The push
button also activates the heated exterior mirrors, if so
equipped.
CAUTION!
Use care when washing the inside of the rear win-
dow to prevent damage to heating elements. Use a
soft cloth and a mild washing solution, wiping
parallel to the heating elements. Also, keep all
objects a safe distance from the window to prevent
damaging the heating elements.
Rear Defroster Switch
158 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

ROOF LUGGAGE RACK
External racks do not increase the total load carrying
capacity of the vehicle. Be sure that the total occupant
and luggage load inside the vehicle, plus the load on the
luggage rack, do not exceed the rated vehicle capacity as
shown on the label attached to the drivers door shut face.CAUTION!
•To avoid damage to the roof rack and vehicle, do
not exceed the maximum roof rack load capacity
of 150 lbs (68 kg) or 65 lbs (29.5 kg) on Renegade
models. Always distribute heavy loads as evenly
as possible and secure the load appropriately.
•Long loads which extend over the windshield,
such as wood panels or surfboards, should be
secured to both the front and rear of the vehicle.
•Place a blanket or other protection between the
surface of the roof and the load.
•Travel at reduced speeds and turn corners carefully
when carrying large or heavy loads on the roof rack.
Wind forces, due to natural causes or nearby truck
traffic, can add sudden upward loads. This is espe-
cially true on large flat loads and may result in
damage to the cargo or your vehicle.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 159
3

WARNING!
Cargo must be securely tied before driving your
vehicle. Improperly secured loads can fly off the
vehicle, particularly at high speeds, resulting in
personal injury or property damage. Follow the roof
rack “Cautions” when carrying cargo on your roof
rack.
160 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE