2008 JEEP LIBERTY Owners Manual

WARNING!
²If you use a trailer brake controller with your
trailer, the trailer brakes may be activated and
deactivated with the brake switch. If so, there may
not be enough brake pressure to hold both the
vehicle and the trailer on a hill when the brake
pedal is released. In order to avoid rolling down
an incline while resuming acceleration, manually
activate the trailer brake or apply more vehicle
brake pressure prior to releasing the brake pedal.
²HSA is not a parking brake. Always apply the
parking brake fully when leaving your vehicle.
Also, be certain to leave an automatic transmission
in ªPº (Park) or a manual transmission in ªRº
(Reverse) or 1st gear.
²Failure to follow these warnings can result in an
accident or serious personal injury.
Disabling & Enabling HSA
This feature can be turned on or turned off. To change the
current setting, proceed as follows:
²For vehicles equipped with the Electronic Vehicle
Information Center (EVIC), refer to ªHill Start Assist,º
under9Personal Settings (Customer Programmable
Features),º under ªElectronic Vehicle Information
Center (EVIC)º in Section 4 of this manual.
²For vehicles not equipped with the EVIC, perform the
following steps:
NOTE:You must complete Steps 1 through 8 within 90
seconds.
1. Center the steering wheel (front wheels pointing
straight forward).
2. Shift the transmission into ªPº (Park) (automatic
transmission) or ªNº (Neutral) (manual transmission).
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3. Apply the parking brake.
4. Start the engine.
5. Release the clutch pedal (manual transmission).
6. Rotate the steering wheel
1¤2turn to the left.
7. Press the ªESP OFFº button located in the lower
switch bank below the climate control four times within
twenty seconds. The ªESP/TCS Indicatorº light should
turn on and turn off two times.
8. Rotate the steering wheel back to center and then an
additional
1¤2turn to the right.
9. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position and then
back to the ON position. If the sequence was completed
properly, the ªESP/TCS Indicatorº light will blink sev-
eral times to confirm HSA is disabled.
10. Repeat these steps if you want to return this feature
to its previous setting.
HDC (Hill Descent Control) ± If Equipped
HDC is only intended for low speed off-road driving.
HDC maintains vehicle speed while descending hills in
off-road driving conditions by applying the brakes when
necessary.
When enabled, HDC senses the terrain and activates
when the vehicle is descending a hill. HDC speed may be
adjusted by the driver to suit the driving conditions. The
speed corresponds to the transmission gear selected.
Gear Approximate HDC Set Speed
1st 1 mph (1.5 km/h)
2nd 3 mph (4.5 km/h)
D (Drive) 7.5 mph (12 km/h)
R (Reverse) 1 mph (1.5 km/h)
N (Neutral) 3 mph (4.5 km/h)
However, the driver can override HDC operation by
applying the brake to slow the vehicle down below the
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HDC control speed. Conversely, if more speed is desired
during HDC control, the accelerator pedal will increase
vehicle speed in the usual manner. When either the brake
or the accelerator is released, HDC will control the
vehicle at the original set speed.
NOTE:HDC is available on vehicles equipped with the
MP1522 transfer case.
²The transfer case must be in 4WD low range to enable
HDC.
²HDC is enabled only when the ªHill Descent Control
Indicatorº light in the instrument cluster is on solid.
²HDC will NOT activate when the automatic transmis-
sion is in ªPº (Park).
²HDC will NOT activate on level ground.
²HDC will NOT activate at vehicle speeds above 30
mph (50 km/h).The ªHill Descentº button is located in the lower switch
bank below the climate control.
Enabling HDC
Shift the transfer case into 4WD low range.
Refer to ªFour-Wheel Drive Operationº in this
section for transfer case operation information.
Hill Descent Button
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Press the ªHill Descentº button. The ªHill
Descent Control Indicatorº light in the instru-
ment cluster will turn on solid.
NOTE:If the transfer case is not in 4WD low range, the
ªHill Descent Control Indicatorº light will flash for 5
seconds and HDC will not be enabled.
Disabling HDC
1. Press the ªHill Descentº button or shift the transfer
case out of 4WD low range. The ªHill Descent Control
Indicatorº light in the instrument cluster will turn off.
ESP (Electronic Stability Program)
This system enhances directional control and stability of
the vehicle under various driving conditions. ESP cor-
rects for oversteering and understeering the vehicle by
applying the brake of the appropriate wheel. Engine
power may also be reduced to help the vehicle maintain
the desired path.The ESP uses sensors in the vehicle to determine the path
that the driver intends to steer the vehicle and compares
it to the actual path of the vehicle. When the actual path
does not match the intended path, the ESP applies the
brake of the appropriate wheel to assist in counteracting
the condition of oversteer or understeer.
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.
ESP/TCS Indicator Light
The9ESP/TCS Indicatorº light located in the
instrument cluster, starts to flash as soon as the
tires lose traction and the ESP system becomes
active. The9ESP/TCS Indicatorº light also
flashes when TCS is active. If the9ESP/TCS Indicatorº
light begins to flash during acceleration, ease up on the
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accelerator and apply as little throttle as possible. Be sure
to adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road
conditions.
WARNING!
ESP (Electronic Stability Program) cannot prevent the
natural laws of physics from acting on the vehicle,
nor can it increase the traction afforded by prevailing
road conditions. ESP cannot prevent accidents, in-
cluding those resulting from excessive speed in
turns, driving on very slippery surfaces, or hydro-
planing. Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can
prevent accidents. The capabilities of an ESP-
equipped vehicle must never be exploited in a reck-
less or dangerous manner, which could jeopardize
the user's safety or the safety of others.Depending upon model and mode of operation, the ESP
system has up to three operating modes: ªESP Onº
ªPartial Off,º and ªFull Off.º
ESP On Ð 2WD Vehicles & 4WD Vehicles in 2WD &
4WD High Range
This is the normal operating mode for ESP when operat-
ing a 2WD vehicle. It is also the normal mode for
operating a 4WD vehicle in 2WD or 4WD high range. The
ESP system will be in ªESP Onº mode whenever the
vehicle is started or the transfer case (if equipped) is
shifted out of 4WD low range. This mode should be used
for most driving situations. ESP should only be turned to
ªPartial Offº or ªFull Offº for specific reasons as noted.
Refer to ªPartial Offº and to ªFull Offº for additional
information.
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Partial Off Ð 2WD Vehicles & 4WD Vehicles in 2WD
& 4WD High Range
The ªPartial Offº mode is intended for driving in deep
snow, sand, or gravel. This mode raises the threshold for
TCS and ESP activation, which allows for more wheel
spin than what ESP normally allows.
The ªESP OFFº button is located in the lower switch bank
below the climate Control. To enter the ªPartial Offº
mode, momentarily depress the ªESP OFFº button and
the9ESP/TCS Indicatorº light will illuminate. To turn the
ESP on again, momentarily depress the9ESP OFF9button
and the9ESP/TCS Indicatorº light will turn off. This will
restore the normal ªESP Onº mode of operation.
NOTE:To improve the vehicle's traction when driving
with snow chains, or when starting off in deep snow,
sand, or gravel, it may be desirable to switch to the
ªPartial Offº mode by momentarily depressing the ªESP
OFFº button. Once the situation requiring ªPartial Offº
ESP Off Button
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mode is overcome, turn ESP back on by momentarily
depressing the ªESP OFFº button. This may be done
while the vehicle is in motion.
Full Off Ð 4WD Vehicles in 4WD High & 4WD Low
Range
The ªFull Offº mode is intended for off-highway and
off-road use when ESP stability features could inhibit
vehicle maneuverability due to trail conditions.
The ªESP OFFº button is located in the lower switch bank
below the climate Control. To enter ªFull Offº mode,
depress and hold the ªESP Offº button for 5 seconds
while the vehicle is stopped with the engine running.
After 5 seconds, the ªESP/TCS Indicatorº light will
illuminate and an ªESP Offº message will appear in the
odometer. Press and release the trip odometer button
located on the instrument cluster to turn off this message.
In this mode, ESP and TCS are turned off (except for the
ªlimited slipº feature described in the TCS section) untilthe vehicle reaches a speed of 40 mph. At speeds over 40
mph, the system automatically switches to ªPartial Offº
mode, described above. When the vehicle speed returns
to less than 35 mph, the ESP system will return to ªFull
Offº mode. The ªESP/TCS Indicatorº light is always
illuminated when ESP is off. To turn ESP on again,
momentarily depress the ªESP Offº button. This will
restore the normal ªESP Onº mode of operation.
NOTE:
²ªFull Offº is the only operating mode for ESP in 4WD
low range. Therefore, ESP system will be in this mode
whenever the vehicle is started in 4WD low range or
the transfer case is shifted into 4WD low range.
²The ªESP OFFº message will display and a chime will
sound when the gear selector is moved from any
position to the ªPº (Park) position and then moved out
of the ªPº (Park) position. This will occur even if the
message was cleared previously.
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WARNING!
With the ESP switched off, the enhanced vehicle
stability offered by ESP is unavailable. In an emer-
gency evasive maneuver, the ESP system will not
engage to assist in maintaining stability. ªFull Offº
mode is only intended for off-highway or off-road
use.
ESP/BAS Warning Light & ESP/TCS Indicator
Light
The malfunction indicator for the ESP is com-
bined with the BAS indicator. The ªESP/BAS
Malfunction Indicatorº light and the ªESP/
TCS Indicatorº light in the instrument cluster
both turn on when the ignition switch is turned to the
ON position. They should both turn off with the engine
running. If the ªESP/BAS Malfunction Indicatorº lightturns on continuously with the engine running, a mal-
function has been detected in either the ESP or the BAS
system, or both. If this light remains on after several
ignition cycles, and the vehicle has been driven several
miles at speeds greater than 30 mph (48 km/h), see your
authorized dealer as soon as possible to have the problem
diagnosed and corrected.
NOTE:
²9The9ESP/TCS Indicatorº light and the9ESP/BAS
Malfunction Indicatorº light will turn on momentarily
each time the ignition switch is turned ON.
²Each time the ignition is turned ON, the ESP System
will be ON even if it was turned off previously.
²The ESP Control System will make buzzing or clicking
sounds when it is active. This is normal; the sounds
will stop when ESP becomes inactive following the
maneuver that caused the ESP activation.
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