2008 JEEP LIBERTY Owners Manual

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
mStarting Procedures.....................277
NAutomatic Transmission................277
NManual Transmission Ð If Equipped.......277
NNormal Starting......................277
NExtreme Cold Weather (Below ±20ÉF Or
±29ÉC).............................278
NIf Engine Fails To Start.................278
NAfter Starting........................280
mEngine Block Heater Ð If Equipped.........280mAutomatic Transmission..................281
NShift Lock Manual Override Ð If Equipped . . . 281
NBrake/Transmission Interlock System.......283
N4±Speed Automatic Transmission..........283
mManual Transmission Ð If Equipped.........288
NClutch Interlocking Ignition System........288
N6-Speed Manual Transmission............289
mFour-Wheel Drive Operation...............292
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NMP1522 Command-TractTransfer Case Ð
If Equipped.........................292
NMP3022 Selec-Trac IItTransfer Case Ð
If Equipped.........................298
mOn-Road Driving Tips...................303
mOff-Road Driving Tips...................304
NWhen To Use 4WD Low Range...........304
NDriving Through Water.................304
NDriving In Snow, Mud And Sand..........305
NHill Climbing........................306
NTraction Downhill.....................307
NAfter Driving Off-Road.................307
mParking Brake.........................308
mAnti-Lock Brake System..................310mPower Steering........................313
mElectronic Brake Control System............314
NABS (Anti-Lock Brake System)............315
NTCS (Traction Control System)............316
NBAS (Brake Assist System)...............316
NERM (Electronic Roll Mitigation)..........317
NTSC (Trailer Sway Control) ± If Equipped....318
NHSA (Hill Start Assist)..................319
NHDC (Hill Descent Control) ± If Equipped . . . 322
NESP (Electronic Stability Program).........324
NESP/BAS Warning Light & ESP/TCS
Indicator Light.......................328
mTire Safety Information...................329
274 STARTING AND OPERATING

NTire Markings........................329
NTire Identification Number (TIN)..........332
NTire Loading And Tire Pressure...........333
mTires Ð General Information...............337
NTire Pressure.........................337
NTire Inflation Pressures.................338
NTire Pressures For High Speed Operation....340
NRadial-Ply Tires......................340
NTire Spinning........................340
NTread Wear Indicators..................341
NLife Of Tire.........................342
NReplacement Tires.....................342
NAlignment And Balance.................343mTire Chains...........................344
mTire Rotation Recommendations............345
mTire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) Ð
If Equipped...........................346
NBase System Ð If Equipped..............348
NPremium System Ð If Equipped..........351
NGeneral Information...................355
mFuel Requirements......................355
NReformulated Gasoline.................356
NGasoline/Oxygenate Blends..............356
NMMT In Gasoline.....................357
NMaterials Added To Fuel................357
NFuel System Cautions..................357
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NCarbon Monoxide Warnings..............358
mAdding Fuel..........................359
NFuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap)...............359
NLoose Fuel Filler Cap Message............361
mVehicle Loading........................361
NCertification Label.....................361
mTrailer Towing.........................364
NCommon Towing Definitions.............364
NTrailer Hitch Classification...............368NTrailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer
Weight Ratings)......................369
NTrailer And Tongue Weight..............371
NTowing Requirements..................372
NTowing Tips.........................377
mRecreational Towing (Behind Motorhome, Etc.) . . 378
NTowing ± 2WD Models.................378
NTowing Ð 4WD Models................378
276 STARTING AND OPERATING

STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust both
inside and outside mirrors, and fasten your seat belts.
WARNING!
Do not leave children or animals inside parked
vehicles in hot weather. Interior heat build up may
cause serious injury or death.
Automatic Transmission
Start the engine with the selector lever in the ªNº
(Neutral) or ªPº (Park) position. Apply the brake before
shifting to any driving range.
Manual Transmission Ð If Equipped
Apply the parking brake, place the gearshift control lever
in ªNº (Neutral) and depress the clutch pedal beforestarting vehicle. This vehicle is equipped with a clutch
interlocking ignition system. It will not start unless the
clutch pedal is pressed to the floor.
4WD Models Only
To enhance off-road performance, 4-wheel drive models
equipped with a manual transmission will start with or
without pressing the clutch pedal when in 4-wheel drive
low range. The 4 LOW indicator light will illuminate
when the transfer case is in 4-wheel drive low range.
Normal Starting
NOTE:Normal starting of either a cold or a warm
engine is obtained without pumping or depressing the
accelerator pedal.
For vehicles not equipped with Tip Start,turn the ignition
switch to the START position and release it when the
engine starts. If the engine fails to start within 10 seconds,
turn the ignition switch to the LOCK position, wait 10 to
15 seconds, then repeat the normal starting procedure.
STARTING AND OPERATING 277
5

For vehicles equipped with Tip Start,turn the ignition
switch to the START position and release it as soon as the
starter engages. The starter motor will continue to run,
and it will disengage automatically when the engine is
running. If the engine fails to start, the starter will
disengage automatically in 10 seconds. If this occurs, turn
the ignition switch to the LOCK position, wait 10 to 15
seconds, then repeat the normal starting procedure.
Extreme Cold Weather (below ±20ÉF or ±29ÉC)
To insure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of an
externally powered electric engine block heater (available
from your dealer) is recommended.
If Engine Fails to Start
WARNING!
²Never pour fuel or other flammable liquids into
the throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to
start the vehicle. This could result in a flash fire
causing serious personal injury.
²Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get
it started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic
transmission cannot be started this way. Unburned
fuel could enter the catalytic converter and once
the engine has started, ignite and damage the
converter and vehicle. If the vehicle has a dis-
charged battery, booster cables may be used to
obtain a start from a booster battery or the battery
in another vehicle. This type of start can be dan-
gerous if done improperly. Refer to Section 6 of
this manual for proper jump starting procedures
and follow them carefully.
278 STARTING AND OPERATING

Without Tip Start
If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
ªNormal Startingº or ªExtreme Cold Weatherº proce-
dures, it may be flooded. Push the accelerator pedal all
the way to the floor and hold it there while cranking the
engine. This should clear any excess fuel in case the
engine is flooded.
CAUTION!
To prevent damage to the starter, do not crank the
engine for more than 15 seconds at a time. Wait 10 to
15 seconds before trying again.
If the engine is flooded, it may start to run, but not have
enough power to continue running when the key is
released. If this occurs, continue cranking up to 15seconds with the accelerator pedal pushed all the way to
the floor. Release the accelerator pedal and the key once
the engine is running smoothly.
If the engine shows no sign of starting after two 15-
second periods of cranking with the accelerator pedal
held to the floor, repeat the ªNormal Startingº or ªEx-
treme Cold Weatherº procedures.
With Tip Start
If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
ªNormal Startingº or ªExtreme Cold Weatherº proce-
dures, it may be flooded. To clear any excess fuel, push
the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and hold it.
Then, turn the ignition switch to the START position and
release it as soon as the starter engages. The starter motor
will disengage automatically in 10 seconds. Once this
occurs, release the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then
repeat the normal starting procedure.
STARTING AND OPERATING 279
5

CAUTION!
To prevent damage to the starter, wait 10 to 15
seconds before trying again.
After Starting
The idle speed will automatically decrease as the engine
warms up.
WARNING!
Do not leave children or animals inside parked
vehicles in hot weather. Interior heat build up may
cause serious injury or death.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER Ð IF EQUIPPED
The engine block heater warms engine coolant and
permits quicker starts in cold weather. Connect the cord
to a standard 110-115 volt AC electrical outlet with a
grounded three-wire extension cord.
WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the cord before driving.
Damage to the 110-115 volt AC electrical cord could
cause electrocution.
Use the heater when temperatures below 0ÉF (-18ÉC) are
expected to last for several days.
280 STARTING AND OPERATING