2008 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE Owners Manual

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
CONTENTS
mHazard Warning Flashers.................370
mIf Your Engine Overheats.................371
mJacking And Tire Changing................372
NJack Location........................372
NSpare Tire Stowage....................373
NSpare Tire Removal....................373
NPreparations For Jacking................374NJacking Instructions....................375
mJump Starting.........................378
mEmergency Tow Hooks Ð If Equipped........381
mTowing A Disabled Vehicle................382
N2WD Models Only....................382
N4WD Models Only....................382
6

HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS
Your vehicle's hazard warning flasher is an emergency
warning system. When you activate it, all front and rear
directional signals will flash intermittently. Use it when
your vehicle is disabled on or near the road. It warns
other drivers to steer clear of you and your vehicle. This
is an emergency warning system, not to be used when the
vehicle is in motion.
To activate the warning flashers, press the button on the
upper switch bank. To turn the warning flashers off,
press the button again.
NOTE:With extended use, the flasher may run down
your battery.
Hazard Warning Switch
370 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS
In any of the following situations, you can reduce the
potential for overheating by taking the appropriate ac-
tion.
²On the highways Ð Slow down.
²In city traffic Ð While stopped, put transmission in N
(Neutral), but do not increase engine idle speed.
NOTE:There are steps that you can take to slow down
an impending overheat condition. If your air conditioner
is on, turn it off. The air conditioning system adds heat to
the engine cooling system and turning off the A/C
removes this heat. You can also turn the Temperature
Control to maximum heat, the Mode Control to floor, and
the Fan Control to High. This allows the heater core to act
as a supplement to the radiator and aids in removing heat
from the engine cooling system.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could damage
your vehicle. If the temperature gauge reads ªHº,
pull over and stop the vehicle. Idle the vehicle with
the air conditioner turned off until the pointer drops
back into the normal range. If the pointer remains on
the ªHº, and you hear continuous chimes, turn the
engine off immediately, and call for service.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 371
6

JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING
WARNING!
²Getting under a jacked-up vehicle is dangerous.
The vehicle could slip off the jack and fall on you.
You could be crushed. Never get any part of your
body under a vehicle that is on a jack. If you need
to get under a raised vehicle, take it to a service
center where it can be raised on a lift.
²The jack is designed to use as a tool for changing
tires only. The jack should not be used to lift the
vehicle for service purposes. The vehicle should
be jacked on a firm level surface only. Avoid ice or
slippery areas.
Jack Location
The scissor-type jack and tire changing tools are located
in the passenger side compartment behind the second
row seat.
Jack Storage Location
372 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

Spare Tire Stowage
The spare tire is stowed under the rear of the vehicle by
means of a cable winch mechanism. To remove or stow
the spare, use the jack handle to rotate the ªspare tire
driveº nut. The nut is located under a plastic cover at the
center-rear of the cargo floor area, just inside the liftgate
opening.
CAUTION!
Do not use power tools to winch the tire up or down.
Impact type tools can damage the winch mechanism.
Spare Tire Removal
Fit the jack handle extension over the drive nut. Use the
Lug Wrench to rotate the nut counter clockwise until the
spare is on the ground with enough slack in the cable to
allow to pull the tire out from under the vehicle.
Lowering/Raising Spare Tire
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 373
6

CAUTION!
The winch mechanism is designed for use with the
jack extension tube only. Use of an air wrench or
other power tools is not recommended and can dam-
age the winch.
When the spare is clear, tilt the retainer at the end of the
cable and pull it through the center of the wheel.
Preparations For Jacking
Park the vehicle on a firm level surface, avoid ice or
slippery areas,set the parking brakeand place the gear
selector in P (Park). Turn OFF the ignition.
WARNING!
Do not attempt to change a tire on the side of the
vehicle close to moving traffic. Pull far enough off
the road to avoid being hit when operating the jack
or changing the wheel.
²Turn on the Hazard Warning Flasher.
²Block both the front and rear
of the wheel diagonally oppo-
site of the jacking position.
For example, if changing the
right front tire, block the left
rear wheel.
²Passengers should not remain in the vehicle when the
vehicle is being jacked.
374 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

Jacking Instructions
1. Remove the spare tire, jack, and tools from storage.
2. Loosen (but do not remove) the wheel lug nuts by
turning them to the left one turn while the wheel is still
on the ground.
3. Assemble the jack and jacking tools as shown. Connect
jack handle driver (A) to two extensions (B), then to the
lug wrench (C).
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 375
6

4. Locate the jack as shown. For the front axle, place it
under the front lower control arm as shown. For the rear
axle, place it under the axle near the wheel to be changed.
Ensure the jack is closest to the inside of the wheel when
jacking on the rear axle.Do not raise the vehicle until
you are sure the jack is fully engaged.
5. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack screw clockwise.
Raise the vehicle only until the tire just clears the surface
and enough clearance is obtained to install the spare tire.
Minimum tire lift provides maximum stability.
Front Jacking Location
Rear Jacking Location
376 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES