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Selection of Lubricant
Use only manufacturer’s recommended fluid, refer to
Fluids, Lubricants, and Genuine Parts for correct fluid
type.
Maintenance After Off-Road Driving
After extended operation in mud, sand or water, or
similar dirty conditions, have your brake drums, brake
linings, and axle joints inspected and cleaned as soon as
possible. This will prevent any abrasive material from
causing excessive wear or unpredictable braking action.
Following off-road usage, completely inspect the under-
body of your vehicle. Check tires, body structure, steer-
ing, suspension and exhaust system for damage. Check
threaded fasteners for looseness, particularly on the
chassis, drivetrain components, steering and suspension.
Retighten, if required, to torque values specified in the
Service Manual. Also check for accumulations of vegeta-
tion or brush that could become a fire hazard, or conceal damage to fuel lines, brake hoses, axle pinion seals, and
propeller shafts. Check air conditioning drain tube on the
lower dash wall in the engine compartment for mud or
debris, and clean as required. A plugged tube will
adversely affect air conditioning performance.
CAUTION!
Under frequent heavy-duty driving conditions,
change all lubricants, and lubricate body compo-
nents and steering linkage more often than in nor-
mal service to prevent excessive wear.
Appearance Care And Protection From Corrosion
Protection Of Body And Paint From Corrosion
Vehicle body care requirements vary according to geo-
graphic locations and usage. Chemicals that make roads
passable in snow and ice, and those that are sprayed on
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trees and road surfaces during other seasons, are highly
corrosive to the metal in your vehicle. Outside parking,
which exposes your vehicle to airborne contaminants,
road surfaces on which the vehicle is operated, extreme
hot or cold weather and other extreme conditions will
have an adverse effect on paint, metal trim, and under-
body protection.
The following maintenance recommendations will enable
you to obtain maximum benefit from the corrosion
resistance built into your vehicle.
What Causes Corrosion?
Corrosion is the result of deterioration or removal of
paint and protective coatings from your vehicle.
The most common causes are:
•Road salt, dirt and moisture accumulation.
•Stone and gravel impact.
•Insects, tree sap and tar.
•Salt in the air near sea-coast localities.
•Atmospheric fallout/industrial pollutants.
•Bird droppings.
Washing
•
Wash your vehicle regularly. Always wash your ve-
hicle in the shade using Mopar Car Wash or a mild
car wash soap, and rinse the panels completely with
clear water.
•If insects, tar, or other similar deposits have accumu-
lated on your vehicle, use Mopar Super Kleen Bug
and Tar Remover to remove.
•Use Mopar Cleaner Wax to remove road film, stains,
and to protect your paint finish. Take care never to
scratch the paint.
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•Avoid using abrasive compounds and power buffing
that may diminish the gloss or thin out the paint
finish.
CAUTION!
Do not use abrasive or strong cleaning materials
such as steel wool or scouring powder, which will
scratch metal and painted surfaces.
Special Care
•
If you drive on salted or dusty roads or if you drive
near the ocean, hose off the undercarriage at least once
a month.
•It is important that the drain holes in the lower edges
of the doors, rocker panels and tailgate must be kept
clear and open.
•If you detect any stone chips or scratches in the paint,
touch them up immediately. The cost of such repairs is
considered the responsibility of the owner.
•If your vehicle is damaged due to an accident or
similar cause which destroys the paint and protective
coating have your vehicle repaired as soon as possible.
The cost of such repairs is considered the responsibil-
ity of the owner.
•Aluminum wheels should be cleaned regularly with a
mild soap and water to prevent corrosion. To remove
heavy soil, use Mopar Wheel Cleaner or select a
nonabrasive, non-acidic cleaner. Do not use scouring
pads, steel wool, a bristle brush or metal polishes.
Only Mopar cleaners are recommended. Do not use
oven cleaner. Avoid automatic car washes that use
acidic solutions or harsh brushes that may damage the
wheels’ protective finish.
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•If you carry special cargo such as chemicals, fertilizers,
de-icer salt, etc., assure that such materials are well
packaged and sealed.
•If a lot of driving is done on gravel roads, consider
mud or stone shields behind each wheel.
•Use Mopar Touch Up Paint on scratches or chips as
soon as possible. Your authorized dealer has touch up
paint to match the color of your vehicle.
Interior Care
Use Mopar Total Clean to clean fabric upholstery and
carpeting.
Interior Trim should be cleaned starting with a damp
cloth, a damp cloth with Mopar Total Clean, then
Mopar Spot & Stain Remover if absolutely necessary. Do
not use harsh cleaners or Armorall. Use Mopar Total
Clean to clean vinyl upholstery.
WARNING!
Do not use volatile solvents for cleaning purposes.
Many are potentially flammable, and if used in
closed areas they may cause respiratory harm.
Glass Surfaces
All glass surfaces should be cleaned on a regular basis
with Mopar Glass Cleaner or any commercial
household-type glass cleaner. Never use an abrasive type
cleaner. Use caution when cleaning inside rear windows
equipped with electric defrosters. Do not use scrapers or
other sharp instruments which may scratch the elements.
When cleaning the rear view mirror, spray cleaner on the
towel or rag that you are using. Do not spray cleaner
directly on the mirror.
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Cleaning Plastic Instrument Cluster Lenses
The lenses in front of the instruments in this vehicle are
molded in clear plastic. When cleaning the lenses, care
must be taken to avoid scratching the plastic.
1. Clean with a wet soft rag. A mild soap solution may be
used, but do not use high alcohol content or abrasive
cleaners. If soap is used, wipe clean with a clean damp
rag.
2. Dry with a soft tissue.
Seat Belt Maintenance
Do not bleach, dye or clean the belts with chemical
solvents or abrasive cleaners. This will weaken the fabric.
Sun damage will also weaken the fabric.
If the belts need cleaning, use Mopar Total Clean, a mild
soap solution, or lukewarm water. Do not remove the
belts from the vehicle to wash them. Replace the belts if they appear frayed or worn or if the
buckles do not work properly.
Carpet
Vacuum your carpet regularly to prevent a soil build-up.
Shampoo soiled carpet with a reliable upholstery cleaner,
using a natural sponge or soft bristle brush. After carpet
dries, vacuum it thoroughly.
WARNING!
Only remove the carpet for cleaning purposes. It
provides insulation against high floor pan tempera-
tures. You or your passengers could be burned if the
carpet is not properly in place. Always put the carpet
back into the vehicle before driving.
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Follow These Steps To Remove The Carpet:
1. Unsnap the front and rear floor carpets. A snap is
located on the outboard side of each front seat.
2. Remove the attachment cap from the front footwell
area on both the driver and passenger side. The cap is
removed by pulling it straight out.
3. Remove the front and rear floor carpets.
4. Remove the cargo floor and wheelhouse carpets.
NOTE: If your vehicle is equipped with an Add-A-
Trunk™ it must be removed to be able to remove the
cargo floor and wheelhouse carpets. For Add-A-Trunk™
removal procedure, refer to “Storage” in Section 3 of this
manual.
Follow These Steps To Replace The Carpet:
1. Place the front floor carpets in the vehicle. 2. Attach the carpet to the studs in the footwell and press
on the attachment caps to secure the carpet.
3. Place rear floor carpet in vehicle and snap rear carpet
to front floor carpet.
4. Install wheelhouse carpet followed by the cargo floor
carpet.
5. Reinstall Add-A-Trunk™ if so equipped.
Appearance Care For Fabric Top Models
CAUTION!
To maintain the appearance of your vehicle’s interior
trim and top, follow these precautions:
•Avoid leaving your vehicle unattended with the top
down, as exposure to sun or rain may damage interior
trim.
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•Do not use harsh cleaners or bleaching agents on top
material, as damage may result.
•Do not allow any vinyl cleaner to run down and dry
on the paint, leaving a streak.
•After cleaning your vehicle’s fabric top, always make
sure it is completely dry before lowering.
•Be especially careful when washing the windows by
following the directions for “Care of Fabric Top Win-
dows.”
WASHING — Use MoparCar Wash or mild soap suds,
lukewarm water, and a brush with soft bristles. If extra
cleaning is required, use Mopar Convertible Cloth Top
Cleaner or a mild foaming cleaner on the entire top, but
support top from underneath.
RINSING — Be sure to remove all trace of cleaner by
rinsing the top thoroughly with clean water. Remember
to allow the top to dry before lowering it.
Care Of Fabric Top Windows
CAUTION!
Your vehicle’s fabric top has pliable plastic windows
which can be scratched unless special care is taken
by following these directions:
1. Never use a dry cloth to remove dust. Instead, use a
microfiber towel or soft cotton cloth moistened with
cold or warm, clean water, and wipe across the window,
not up and down. MoparJeep Soft Glass Window
Cleaner will safely clean all plastic windows without
scratching. Removes fine scratches to improve visibility
and provide UV protection to help prevent yellowing.
2. When washing, never use hot water or anything
stronger than a mild soap. Never use solvents such as
alcohol or harsh cleaning agents.
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3. Always rinse thoroughly with cold water, then wipe
with a soft and slightly moist, clean cloth.
4. When removing frost, snow or ice, never use a scraper
or de-icing chemicals. Use warm water only if you must
clean the window quickly.
5. Debris (sand, mud/dirt, dust, or salt) from off-road
driving will have a major impact on zipper operation.
Even normal on-road driving and vehicle washing will
eventually impact window zipper operation. To maintain
ease of use of the window zippers, each window zipper
should be cleaned and lubricated regularly. Use Mopar
Soft Top Zipper Cleaner and Lubricant to ease zipper
operation. Before applying, make sure the zipper teeth are clear of sand, mud, and other materials. Clean both
sides of the zipper, not just one side. Rinse both zipper
halves with fresh water and allow to dry. Aggressively
work the Mopar
Soft Top Zipper Cleaner and Lubricant
into the zipper teeth. If a stuck zipper slide is experi-
enced, work the Mopar Soft Top Zipper Cleaner and
Lubricant into the zipper slide. Several applications may
be required before the zipper comes free.
6. Never paste stickers, gummed labels or any tape to the
windows. Adhesives are hard to remove and may dam-
age the windows.
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