2009 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE Owners Manual

Trailer Towing........................ 369
▫Common Towing Definitions............ 369
▫Trailer Hitch Classification.............. 372
▫Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer
Weight Ratings)..................... 373
▫Trailer And Trailer Tongue Weight........ 375
▫Towing Requirements................. 376
▫Towing Tips........................ 381Snow Plow.......................... 382
Recreational Towing
(Behind Motorhome, Etc.)................ 382
▫Towing – 2WD Models................ 382
▫Towing — Quadra-Trac I(Single-Speed
Transfer Case) 4WD Models............. 383
▫Towing — Quadra–Trac II/Quadra–Drive
II4WD Models..................... 383
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STARTING PROCEDURE
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust the
inside and outside mirrors, fasten your seat belt, and if
present, instruct all other occupants to buckle their seat
belts.
WARNING!
•Never leave children alone in a vehicle. Leaving
unattended children in a vehicle is dangerous for a
number of reasons. A child or others could be
seriously or fatally injured. Do not leave the key in
the ignition. A child could operate power win-
dows, other controls, or move the vehicle.
•Do not leave animals or children inside parked
vehicles in hot weather; interior heat buildup may
cause serious injury or death.
Normal Starting
Tip Start
NOTE:Normal starting of either a cold or a warm
engine is obtained without pumping or depressing the
accelerator pedal.
Do notpress the accelerator. Use the Fob with Integrated
Key to briefly 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.
280 STARTING AND OPERATING

Extremely Cold Weather (Below20°F or29°C)
To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of
an externally powered electric engine block heater (avail-
able from your authorized dealer) is recommended.
If Engine Fails To Start
WARNING!
•Never 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.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Do 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 for
proper jump-starting procedures and follow them
carefully.
If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
“Normal Starting” or “Extreme Cold Weather” 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
STARTING AND OPERATING 281
5

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.
CAUTION!
To prevent damage to the starter, wait 10 to 15 sec-
onds before trying again.
After Starting
The idle speed is controlled automatically and it will
decrease as the engine warms up.
Normal Starting — Diesel Engines
Observe the following when the engine is operating.
•All message center lights are off.
•Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) is off.
•Low Oil Pressure Light is off.
Cold Weather Precautions
Operation in ambient temperature below 32°F (0°C) may
require special considerations. The following chart sug-
gests these options.
*No. 1 Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel (ULSD) should only
be used where extended arctic conditions (-10°F/-23°C)
exist.
282 STARTING AND OPERATING

NOTE:
•Use of Climatized ULSD Diesel Fuel or Number 1
ULSD Diesel Fuel results in a noticeable decrease in
fuel economy.
•Climatized ULSD Diesel Fuel is a blend of Number 2
ULSD and Number 1 ULSD Diesel Fuels, which re-
duces the temperature at which wax crystals form in
fuel.
NOTE:This engine requires the use of“Ultra Low
Sulfur Diesel Fuel.”Use of incorrect fuel could result in
exhaust system damage. Refer to “Fuel Requirements” in
this section for further details on fuel recommendations.
Battery Blanket Usage
A battery loses 60% of its cranking power as the battery
temperature decreases to 0°F (-18°C). For the same de-
crease in temperature, the engine requires twice as much
power to crank at the same RPM. The use of batteryblankets will greatly increase starting capability at low
temperatures. Suitable battery blankets are available
from your authorized MOPARdealer.
Engine Starting Procedure
WARNING!
NEVER pour fuel or other flammable liquid into the
air inlet opening in an attempt to start the vehicle.
This could result in a flash fire causing serious
personal injury.
1. The shift lever must be in the NEUTRAL or PARK
position before you can start the engine.
2. Turn the ignition key to the ON position.
3. Watch for the “Wait To Start Light” in the instrument
cluster. Refer to “Instrument Cluster” in Section 4 of this
manual. It will glow for two to ten seconds or more,
STARTING AND OPERATING 283
5

depending on engine temperature. When the “Wait To
Start” goes out, the engine is ready to start.
4. Tip Start Feature
Do notpress the accelerator. Use the Fob with Integrated
Key (FOBIK) to briefly turn the ignition switch to the
START position and then release it. The starter motor will
continue to run, and it will automatically disengage
when the engine is running. If the engine fails to start, the
starter will disengage automatically in 20 seconds. The
starter can be disengaged by turning the ignition key to
the OFF position, if required.
5. After the engine starts, allow it to idle for approxi-
mately 30 seconds before driving. This allows oil to
circulate and lubricate the turbocharger.
Avoid prolonged idling in ambient temperatures below
0°F (-18°C). Long periods of idling may be harmful to
your engine because combustion chamber temperatures
can drop so low that the fuel may not burn completely.Incomplete combustion allows carbon and varnish to
form on piston rings and injector nozzles. Also, the
unburned fuel can enter the crankcase, diluting the oil
and causing rapid wear to the engine.
Engine Warm-Up
Avoid full throttle operation when the engine is cold.
When starting a cold engine, bring the engine up to
operating speed slowly to allow the oil pressure to
stabilize as the engine warms up.
NOTE:High-speed, no-load running of a cold engine
can result in excessive white smoke and poor engine
performance. No-load engine speeds should be kept
under 1,200 RPM during the warm-up period, especially
in cold ambient temperature conditions.
If temperatures are below 32°F (0°C), operate the engine
at moderate speeds for five minutes before full loads are
applied.
284 STARTING AND OPERATING

Engine Idling - In Cold Weather
Avoid prolonged idling in ambient temperatures below
0°F (-18°C). Long periods of idling may be harmful to
your engine because combustion chamber temperatures
can drop so low that the fuel may not burn completely.
Incomplete combustion allows carbon and varnish to
form on piston rings and injector nozzles. Also, the
unburned fuel can enter the crankcase, diluting the oil
and causing rapid wear to the engine.
Stopping The Engine
Before turning off your turbo diesel engine, always allow
the engine to return to normal idle speed and run for
several seconds. This assures proper lubrication of the
turbocharger. This is particularly necessary after any
period of hard driving.
Idle the engine a few minutes before routine shutdown.
After full load operation, idle the engine three to five
minutes before shutting it down. This idle period willallow the lubricating oil and coolant to carry excess heat
away from the combustion chamber, bearings, internal
components, and turbocharger. This is especially impor-
tant for turbocharged, charge air cooled engines.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED
The engine block heater warms the engine, and permits
quicker starts in cold weather. Connect the heater cord to
a ground-fault interrupter protected 110-115 Volt AC
electrical outlet with a grounded, three-wire extension
cord.
Use the heater when temperatures below 0°F (-18°C) are
expected to last for several days.
The block heater must be plugged in at least one hour to
have an adequate warming effect on the coolant.
The engine block heater cord is located:
•3.7L/4.7L Engine — coiled and strapped to the engine
oil dipstick tube.
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•5.7L Engine — bundled and fastened to the injector
harness.
•3.0L Diesel Engine — on the passenger side of the
vehicle, mounted on a stud between the fresh airbox
and coolant reservoir.
WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the cord before driving.
Damage to the 110-115 Volt AC electrical cord could
cause electrocution.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the follow-
ing precautions are not observed:
•Shift into PARK only after the vehicle has come to
a complete stop.
•Shift into or out of REVERSE only after the
vehicle has come to a complete stop and the engine
is at idle speed.
•Do not shift from REVERSE, PARK, or NEUTRAL
into any forward gear when the engine is above
idle speed.
•Before shifting into any gear, make sure your foot
is firmly on the brake pedal.
286 STARTING AND OPERATING