2008 JEEP COMMANDER tires

Safety Checks You Should Make Outside The
Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear or uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread. Inspect for tread cuts or sidewall
cracks. Check wheel nuts for tightness and tires (includ-
ing spare) for proper pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of all exterior lights
while you work the controls. Check turn signal and high
beam indicator lights on the instrument panel.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for fuel,
coolant, oil or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline fumes
are detected, the cause should be located and corrected
immediately.
72 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

ESP (Electronic Stability Program)
This system enhances directional control and stability of
the vehicle under various driving conditions. ESP cor-
rects for oversteering or understeering of the vehicle by
applying the brake of the appropriate wheel to assist in
counteracting the oversteer or understeer condition. En-
gine power may also be reduced to help the vehicle
maintain the desired path.
ESP uses sensors in the vehicle to determine the vehicle
path intended by the driver and compares it to the actual
path of the vehicle. When the actual path does not match
the intended path, ESP applies the brake of the appropri-
ate wheel to assist in counteracting the oversteer or
understeer condition.
²Oversteer - when the vehicle is turning more than
appropriate for the steering wheel position.
²Understeer - when the vehicle is turning less than
appropriate for the steering wheel position.
The9ESP/TCS Indicator Light9located in the instrument
cluster, starts to flash as soon as the tires lose traction and
the ESP system becomes active. The9ESP/TCS Indicator
Light9also flashes when TCS is active. If the9ESP/TCS
Indicator Light9begins to flash during acceleration, ease
up on the accelerator and apply as little throttle as
possible. Be sure to adapt your speed and driving to the
prevailing road conditions.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 143
3

8. Tachometer
The red segments indicate the maximum permissible
engine revolutions-per-minute (r.p.m. x 1000) for each
gear range. Before reaching the red area, ease up on the
accelerator.
9. Security Alarm System Indicator Light Ð If
Equipped
This light will flash rapidly for approximately 15 seconds
when the vehicle theft alarm is arming. The light will
flash at a slower speed continuously after the alarm is set.
The security light will also come on for about three
seconds when the ignition is first turned on.
10. Oil Pressure Warning Light
This light shows low engine oil pressure. The light
should turn on momentarily when the engine is
started. If the light turns on while driving, stop the
vehicle, and shut off the engine as soon as possible. A
continuous chime will sound when this light turns on.Do not operate the vehicle until the cause is corrected.
This light does not show how much oil is in the engine.
The engine oil level must be checked under the hood.
11. Electronic Stability Program (ESP) Indicator
Light/Traction Control System (TCS) Indicator Light
This indicator light starts to flash as soon as the
tires lose traction and the ESP system becomes
active. The ªESP/TCS Indicator Lightº also
flashes when TCS is active. If the ªESP/TCS
Indicator Lightº begins to flash during acceleration, ease
up on the accelerator and apply as little throttle as
possible. Be sure to adapt your speed and driving to the
prevailing road conditions. The ªESP/TCS Indicator
Lightº will flash any time the ESP or TCS is active and
helping to improve vehicle stability. If the ªESP/TCS
Indicator Lightº is on solid, the ESP system has been
turned off by the driver or a temporary condition exists
that will not allow full ESP function.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 189
4

12. Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recommended
by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure label. (If your vehicle
has tires of a different size than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label, you should
determine the proper tire inflation pressure for those
tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been
equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale when one or
more of your tires are significantly under-inflated. Ac-
cordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illuminates,
you should stop and check your tires as soon as possible,
and inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving on a
significantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to over-
heat and can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation alsoreduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect
the vehicle's handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper
tire maintenance, and it is the driver 's responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation has
not reached the level to trigger illumination of the TPMS
low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS
malfunction indicator to indicate when the system is not
operating properly. The TPMS malfunction indicator is
combined with the low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash for
approximately one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue upon subse-
quent vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the sys-
tem may not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure
as intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety
190 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

of reasons, including the installation of replacement or
alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the
TPMS from functioning properly. Always check the
TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing one or more
tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the replace-
ment or alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS to
continue to function properly.CAUTION!
The TPMS has been optimized for the original
equipment tires and wheels. TPMS pressures and
warning have been established for the tire size
equipped on your vehicle. Undesirable system opera-
tion or sensor damage may result when using re-
placement equipment that is not of the same size,
type, and/or style. After-market wheels can cause
sensor damage. Do not use aftermarket tire sealants
or balance beads if your vehicle is equipped with a
TPMS, as damage to the sensors may result.
13. Temperature Gauge
The temperature gauge shows engine coolant tempera-
ture. Any reading within the normal range indicates that
the engine cooling system is operating satisfactorily.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 191
4

²Tire Pressure Monitor System (Shows the current
pressure of all 4 road tires.) For additional information,
refer to ªTire Pressure Monitor Systemº in Section 5 of
this manual.NOTE:Tires heat up during normal driving conditions.
Heat will cause the tire pressure to increase from 2 to 6
psi (14 to 41 kPa) during normal driving conditions. Refer
to ªTire Inflation Pressuresº in Section 5 for additional
information.
NOTE:Your system can be set to display pressure units
in PSI, kPa, or BAR.
RADIO GENERAL INFORMATION
Radio Broadcast Signals
Your new radio will provide excellent reception under
most operating conditions. Like any system, however, car
radios have performance limitations, due to mobile op-
eration and natural phenomena, which might lead you to
believe your sound system is malfunctioning. To help
you understand and save you concern about these ªap-
parentº malfunctions, you must understand a point or
two about the transmission and reception of radio sig-
nals.
Tire Pressure Display
210 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

NShifting Procedures....................293
NQuadra-Drive IItSystem Ð If Equipped.....295
mOn-Road Driving Tips...................296
mOff-Road Driving Tips...................296
NWhen To Use 4WD Low Range Ð
If Equipped.........................296
NDriving Through Water.................296
NDriving In Snow, Mud And Sand..........298
NHill Climbing........................298
NTraction Downhill.....................299
NAfter Driving Off-Road.................299
mParking Brake.........................300
mAnti-Lock Brake System..................302mPower Steering........................305
mMulti Displacement System (MDS) Ð 5.7L Engine
Only................................306
mTire Safety Information...................306
NTire Markings........................306
NTire Identification Number (TIN)..........310
NTire Loading And Tire Pressure...........311
mTires Ð General Information...............315
NTire Pressure.........................315
NTire Inflation Pressures.................316
NTire Pressures For High Speed Operation....318
NRadial-Ply Tires......................318
NTire Spinning........................318
274 STARTING AND OPERATING

NTread Wear Indicators..................319
NLife Of Tire.........................320
NReplacement Tires.....................320
NAlignment And Balance.................321
mTire Chains...........................322
mTire Rotation Recommendations............322
mTire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)........323
NBase System Ð If Equipped..............326
NPremium System Ð If Equipped..........328
NGeneral Information...................333
mFuel Requirements......................333
N3.7/4.7L Engines (If Equipped)............333
N5.7L Engines (If Equipped)...............333NReformulated Gasoline.................334
NGasoline/Oxygenate Blends..............335
NMMT In Gasoline.....................335
NMaterials Added To Fuel................336
NFuel System Cautions..................336
NCarbon Monoxide Warnings..............337
mFlexible Fuel (4.7L Engine Only) Ð
If Equipped...........................337
NE-85 General Information................337
NEthanol Fuel (E-85)....................338
NFuel Requirements....................339
NSelection Of Engine Oil For Flexible Fuel
Vehicles (E-85) And Gasoline Vehicles.......340
NStarting............................340
STARTING AND OPERATING 275
5