ESP (Electronic Stability Program)
This system enhances directional control and stability of
the vehicle under various driving conditions. ESP cor-
rects for over/under steering of the vehicle by applying
the brake of the appropriate wheel to assist in counter-
acting the over/under steer condition. Engine 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.
•Oversteer - when the vehicle is turning more than
appropriate for the steering wheel position.
•Understeer - when the vehicle is turning less than
appropriate for the steering wheel position.
The ESP/TCS Indicator Light (located in the instrument
cluster), starts to flash as soon as the tires lose traction
and the ESP system becomes active. The ESP/TCS Indi-
cator Light also flashes when TCS is active. If the
ESP/TCS Indicator Light begins to flash during accelera-
tion, 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 109
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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.
The ESP system has three available operating modes in
4H range. The system has one operating mode in 4L
range. 2WD vehicles and 4WD vehicles in 2H range have
two operating modes.
4H Range (4WD Models) or 2WD Models
On
This is the normal operating mode for ESP in 4H and
2WD vehicles. Whenever the vehicle is started or the
transfer case (if equipped) is shifted from 4L range or
NEUTRAL back to 4H range, the ESP system will be in
this mode. This mode should be used for most all driving
situations. ESP should only be turned to “Partial Off” or
“Full Off” for specific reasons as noted below.
Partial Off
This mode is entered by momentarily depressing the ESP
OFF switch. When in Partial Offmode, the TCS portion
of ESP has been disabled and the ESP/TCS Indicator
Light will be illuminated. All other stability features of
ESP function normally. This mode is intended to be used
if the vehicle is in deep snow, sand, or gravel conditions
and more wheel spin than ESP would normally allow is
110 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE
40 mph (48 km/h), the normal ESP stability function
returns but TCS remains off. When the vehicle speed
drops below 35 mph (40 km/h), the ESP system shuts off.
ESP is off at low vehicle speeds in 4L range so that it will
not interfere with off-road driving, but the ESP function
returns to provide the stability feature at speeds above 40
mph (48 km/h). The ESP/TCS Indicator Light will al-
ways be illuminated in 4L range when ESP is off.
NOTE:The “ESP OFF” message will display and the
audible chime will sound when the shift lever is placed in
the PARK position from any position other than PARK,
and then moved out of the PARK position. This will
occur even if the message was previously cleared.WARNING!
With the ESP switched off, the enhanced vehicle
stability offered by ESP and ERM are unavailable. In
an emergency evasive maneuver, the ESP and ERM
systems will not engage to assist in maintaining
stability. The “Full Off” mode is intended for off-
road use only.
Disabling ESP for Modified Vehicles (4WD Models
Only)
Vehicles modified with larger tires and/or suspension
lifts may experience early ESP activations as compared to
a non-modified production vehicle depending on lift
size, tire size, suspension changes and/or driving habits.
If early ESP activations are experienced while driving a
modified vehicle, the additional ability to permanently
turn off ESP is available. A steering wheel/ESP button
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 113
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maneuver must be performed to permanently disable
ESP and defeat the functionality of the ESP switch.
Repeating the procedure will return the system to normal
ESP operation and restore ESP switch functionality al-
lowing ESP “Partial” or “Off” modes.
WARNING!
With ESP in the permanent disable mode, enhanced
vehicle stability offered by the ESP and ERM sys-
tems is unavailable. In an emergency evasive maneu-
ver, the ESP and ERM systems will not engage to
assist in maintaining stability. This disabled mode is
intended for off-highway or off-road use only. Ve-
hicle modifications requiring the owner to configure
the vehicle in the ESP disabled mode, will seriously
affect the vehicles roadworthiness and safety and
may lead to loss of control and/or accident resulting
in possible serious or fatal injuries.The following procedure will disable (or re-enable) ESP
functionality in the vehicle.
1. Shift the transfer case into the 4H range position.
2. Turn the steering wheel until it is centered and the
wheels are pointed straight ahead.
3. Cycle the ignition key OFF to ON.
4. Wait approximately five seconds for the system bulb
check.
5. Turn and hold the steering wheel one-half turn to the
right (clockwise).
6. Press and hold the ESP OFF button for seven seconds.
7. Turn the steering wheel back to center, and turn and
hold an additional one-half turn to the left (counterclock-
wise).
8. Press and hold the ESP OFF button for seven seconds.
114 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE
9. Turn the steering wheel back to center.
10. Press and hold the ESP OFF button for seven seconds.
11. Cycle the ignition key to OFF.
After performing the ESP disable procedure correctly,
“ESP OFF” will be displayed in the odometer for approxi-
mately 12 seconds each time the ignition is moved to ON.
Repeating the ESP disable procedure will re-enable nor-
mal ESP operation.
ESP/BAS Warning Light
The malfunction indicator lamp for the ESP is
combined with the BAS indicator. The ESP/
BAS Warning Light in the instrument cluster
comes on when the ignition switch is turned to
the “ON” position. It should go out with the engine
running. If the ESP/BAS Warning Light comes on continuously
with the engine running, a malfunction 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:
•The ESP/BAS Warning Light comes on momentarily
each time the ignition switch is turned ON.
•Each time the ignition is turned ON, the ESP System
will be ON even if it was previously turned off.
•The 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.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 115
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15. Tachometer
This light indicates the engine speed in revolutions per
minute (RPM).
CAUTION!
Do not operate the engine with the tachometer
pointer in the red area. Engine damage will occur.
16. Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light This light warns of an overheated engine condi-
tion. If the engine is critically hot, a warning chime
will sound 10 times. After the chime turns off, the
engine will still be critically hot until the light goes out.
17. Sentry Key/Security Alarm Indicator Light — If
Equipped
Refer to “Sentry Key Immobilizer System” or “Vehicle
Security Alarm” in Section 2 of this manual. 18. Coolant Temperature Gauge
Indicates engine coolant temperature. The red
zone to the far right indicates possible overheat-
ing. Seek your authorized dealer immediately if
the gauge operates in the red zone. On U.S. vehicles, the
temperature is indicated in degrees fahrenheit; and on
Canadian vehicles in degrees centigrade.
19. Cruise Indicator Light This light shows when the electronic speed
control system is turned on.
20. 4WD Indicator Light — If Equipped This light alerts the driver that the vehicle is in
the four-wheel drive mode, and the front and
rear driveshafts are mechanically locked to-
gether forcing the front and rear wheels to
rotate at the same speed.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 209
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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
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.
24. Odometer/Trip Odometer
The odometer shows the total distance the vehicle has
been driven.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 211
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Two Types of Signals
There are two basic types of radio signals: AM or
Amplitude Modulation, in which the transmitted sound
causes the amplitude, or height, of the radio waves to
vary; and FM or Frequency Modulation, in which the
frequency of the wave is varied to carry the sound.
Electrical Disturbances
Radio waves may pick up electrical disturbances during
transmission. They mainly affect the wave amplitude,
and thus remain a part of the AM reception. They
interfere very little with the frequency variations that
carry the FM signal.
AM Reception
AM sound is based on wave amplitude, so AM reception
can be disrupted by such things as lightning, power lines
and neon signs.
FM Reception
Because FM transmission is based on frequency varia-
tions, interference that consists of amplitude variations
can be filtered out, leaving the reception relatively clear,
which is the major feature of FM radio.
NOTE:The radio, steering wheel radio controls (if
equipped), and six-disc CD/DVD changer (if equipped)
will remain active for up to 10 minutes after the ignition
switch has been turned OFF. Opening a vehicle front
door will cancel this feature.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 221
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