2006 JEEP COMMANDER steering wheel

•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 dis-
tances, or brake damage.
•When descending mountains or hills, repeated brak-
ing can cause brake fade with loss of braking control.
Avoid repeated heavy braking by downshifting the
transmission or locking out overdrive whenever pos-
sible.
•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 maneuver-
ing, parking or stopping.
•Do not drive too fast for road conditions, especially
when roads are wet or slushy. A wedge of water canbuild up between the tire tread and the road. This
hydroplaning action can cause loss of traction, braking
ability, and control.
•After going through deep water or a car wash, brakes
may become wet, resulting in decreased performance
and unpredictable braking action. Dry the brakes by
gentle, intermittent pedal action while driving at very
slow speeds.
POWER STEERING
The standard power steering system will give you good
vehicle response and increased ease of maneuverability
in tight spaces. The system will provide mechanical
steering capability if power assist is lost.
If for some reason, the power assist is interrupted, it will
still be possible to steer your vehicle. Under these condi-
tions you will observe a substantial increase in steering
effort, especially at very low vehicle speeds and during
parking maneuvers.
274 STARTING AND OPERATING

NOTE:Increased noise levels at the end of the steering
wheel travel are considered normal and does not indicate
that there is a problem with the power steering system.
Upon initial start-up in cold weather, the power steering
pump may make noise for a short period of time. This is
due to the cold, thick fluid in the steering system. This
noise should be considered normal, and does not in any
way damage the steering system.
WARNING!
Continued operation with reduced power steering
assist could pose a safety risk to yourself and others.
Service should be obtained as soon as possible.
CAUTION!
Prolong operation of the steering system at the end
of the steering wheel travel will increase the steering
fluid temperature and should be avoided when
possible. Damage to the power steering pump may
occur.
ON-ROAD DRIVING TIPS
Utility vehicles have higher ground clearance and a
narrower track to make them capable of performing in a
wide variety of off-road applications. Specific design
characteristics give them a higher center of gravity than
ordinary cars.
An advantage of the higher ground clearance is a better
view of the road, allowing you to anticipate problems.
They are not designed for cornering at the same speeds as
STARTING AND OPERATING 275
5

Traction Downhill
Shift the transmission into a low gear and the transfer
case to 4WD LOW range. Let the vehicle go slowly down
the hill with all four wheels turning against engine
compression drag. This will permit you to control the
vehicle speed and direction.
When descending mountains or hills, repeated braking
can cause brake fade with loss of braking control. Avoid
repeated heavy braking by downshifting the transmis-
sion whenever possible.
After Driving Off-Road
Off-road operation puts more stress on your vehicle than
does most on-road driving. After going off-road it is
always a good idea to check for damage. That way you
can get any problems taken care of right away and have
your vehicle ready when you need it.
•Completely inspect the underbody of your vehicle.
Check tires, body structure, steering, suspension, and
exhaust system for damage.
•Check threaded fasteners for looseness, particularly on
the chassis, drivetrain components, steering, and sus-
pension. Retighten them, if required, and torque to the
values specified in the Service Manual.
•Check for accumulations of plants or brush. These
things could be a fire hazard. They might hide damage
to fuel lines, brake hoses, axle pinion seals, and
propeller shafts.
•After extended operation in mud, sand, water, or
similar dirty conditions, have brake rotors, wheels,
brake linings, and axle yokes inspected and cleaned as
soon as possible.
STARTING AND OPERATING 279
5

WARNING!
•Do not use a tire, wheel size or rating other than
that specified for your vehicle. Some combina-
tions of unapproved tires and wheels may change
suspension dimensions and performance charac-
teristics, resulting in changes to steering, han-
dling, and braking of your vehicle. This can cause
unpredictable handling and stress to steering and
suspension components. You could lose control
and have an accident resulting in serious injury or
death. Use only the tire and wheel sizes with load
ratings approved for your vehicle.
•Never use a tire with a smaller load index or
capacity, other than what was originally equipped
on your vehicle. Using a tire with a smaller load
index could result in tire overloading and failure.
You could lose control and have an accident.
•Failure to equip your vehicle with tires having
adequate speed capability can result in sudden
tire failure and loss of vehicle control.
CAUTION!
Replacing original tires with tires of a different size
may result in false speedometer and odometer read-
ings.
Alignment and Balance
Poor suspension alignment may result in:
•Fast tire wear.
•Uneven tire wear, such as feathering and one-sided
wear.
•Vehicle pull to right or left.
Tires may also cause the vehicle to pull left or right.
Alignment will not correct this problem. See your autho-
rized dealer for proper diagnosis.
296 STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING!
Improper towing can lead to an injury accident.
Follow these guidelines to make your trailer towing
as safe as possible:
Make certain that the load is secured in the trailer
and will not shift during travel. When trailering
cargo that is not fully secured, dynamic load shifts
can occur that may be difficult for the driver to
control. You could lose control of your vehicle and
have an accident.
•When hauling cargo or towing a trailer, do not over-
load your vehicle or trailer. Overloading can cause a
loss of control, poor performance or damage to brakes,
axle, engine, transmission, steering, suspension, chas-
sis structure or tires.
•Safety chains must always be used between your
vehicle and trailer. Always connect the chains to the
frame or hook retainers of the vehicle hitch. Cross the
chains under the trailer tongue and allow enough
slack for turning corners.
•Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a grade.
When parking, apply the parking brake on the tow
vehicle. Put the tow vehicle automatic transmission in
P for Park. With a manual transmission, shift the
transmission into reverse. And with four-wheel-drive
vehicles, make sure the transfer case is not in neutral.
Always, block orchockthe trailer wheels.
•GCWR must not be exceeded.
•Total weight must be distributed between the tow
vehicle and the trailer such that the following four
ratings are not exceeded:
1. GVWR
318 STARTING AND OPERATING

Fluid Leaks............................. 71
Fluid Level Checks
Automatic Transmission...............372,373
Engine Oil........................... 352
Power Steering........................ 361
Fluids, Lubricants and Genuine Parts.......... 389
Fog Lights..........................126,185
Fold and Tumble Rear Seat................. 109
Folding Rear Seat.....................109,113
Four Wheel Drive....................... 264
Operation........................... 264
Systems............................. 264
Four Wheel Drive Operation................ 264
Four-Way Hazard Flasher.................. 330
Freeing A Stuck Vehicle................... 263
Front Axle (Differential)................... 376
Fuel................................. 305
Filler Cap (Gas Cap).................... 309
Filler Door (Gas Cap)................... 309Gasoline............................ 305
Gauge.............................. 184
Materials Added....................... 307
Octane Rating........................ 305
Requirements......................... 388
Tank Capacity........................ 388
Fuel System Caution...................307,310
Fuses................................ 381
Garage Door Opener (HomeLink) ........... 152
Gas Cap (Fuel Filler Cap)...............309,348
Gasoline (Fuel)......................... 305
Gasoline, Reformulated................... 306
Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends................ 306
Gauges
Coolant Temperature.................... 182
Fuel................................ 184
Speedometer......................... 178
Tachometer.......................... 180
INDEX 425
10

Oil ................................ 353
Speed Control (Cruise Control).............. 148
Speedometer........................... 178
Starting............................... 253
Automatic Transmission................. 253
Cold Weather......................254,255
Emergency (Jump Starting)............... 338
Engine Block Heater.................... 255
Engine Fails to Start.................... 254
Steering
Power...........................274,361
Wheel, Tilt........................... 131
Steering Wheel Mounted Sound System
Controls............................. 230
Storage............................... 386
Storage, Vehicle......................246,386
Storing Your Vehicle...................... 386
Sun Roof.............................. 159
Sun Visor Extension....................... 82Supplemental Restraint System - Airbag........ 42
Tachometer............................ 180
Temperature Control, Automatic (ATC)........ 237
Temperature Gauge, Engine Coolant.......... 182
Tether Anchor, Child Restraint............... 63
Tilt Steering Column..................... 131
Time Delay, Headlight.................... 127
Tire and Loading Information Placard......... 285
Tire Identification Number (TIN)............. 284
Tire Markings.......................... 281
Tire Safety Information.................... 281
Tires ............................ 71,289,417
Air Pressure.......................... 290
Alignment and Balance.................. 296
Chains.............................. 303
Changing............................ 332
General Information.................... 289
High Speed.......................... 292
434 INDEX