2009 JEEP WRANGLER Fastener

3. Turn the rear L-shaped lock (located above the shoul-
der belt anchorage).4. Turn the rear fasteners (knobs) (located on the over-
head speaker bar assembly) counter-clockwise until they
can be removed.
3
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 117

Raise the windshield and reinstall the side bars as soon as
the task that required their removal is completed and
before you return to on-road driving. Both you and your
passenger should wear seat belts at all times, on-road and
off-road, regardless of whether the windshield is raised
or folded down.
Outside rearview mirrors are mounted on the doors. If
you choose to remove the doors, see your authorized
dealer for a replacement cowl-mounted outside mirror.
Federal law requires outside mirrors on vehicles for
on-road use.
WARNING!
Carefully follow these warnings to help protect
against personal injury:
•Do not drive your vehicle on-road with the wind-
shield down.(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not drive your vehicle unless the windshield is
securely fastened, either up or down.
•Eye protection, such as goggles, should be worn at
all times when the windshield is down.
•Be sure that you carefully follow the instructions
for raising the windshield. Make sure that the
folding windshield, windshield wipers, side bars,
and all associated hardware and fasteners are
correctly and tightly assembled before driving
your vehicle. Failure to follow these instructions
may prevent your vehicle from providing you and
your passengers protection in some accidents.
•If you remove the doors, store them outside the
vehicle. In the event of an accident, a loose door
may cause personal injury.
3
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 187

should never attempt to cross flowing water which is
deeper than the vehicle’s running ground clearance. Even
the slowest current can push the heaviest vehicle down-
stream and out of control if the water is deep enough to
push on the large surface area of the vehicle’s body.
Before you proceed, determine the speed of the current,
the water’s depth, approach angle, bottom condition and
if there are any obstacles. Then cross at an angle heading
slightly upstream using the low and slow technique.
WARNING!
Never drive through fast moving deep water. It can
push your vehicle downstream, sweeping it out of
control. This could put you and your passengers at
risk of injury or drowning.
After Driving Off-Road
Off-road operation puts more stress on your vehicle than
does most on-road driving. After going off-road, it isalways a good idea to check for damage. That way you
can get any problems taken care of right away and have
your vehicle ready when you need it.
•Completely inspect the underbody of your vehicle.
Check tires, body structure, steering, suspension, and
exhaust system for damage.
•Inspect the radiator for mud and debris and clean as
required.
•Check threaded fasteners for looseness, particularly on
the chassis, drivetrain components, steering, and sus-
pension. Retighten them, if required, and torque to the
values specified in the Service Manual.
•Check for accumulations of plants or brush. These
things could be a fire hazard. They might hide damage
to fuel lines, brake hoses, axle pinion seals, and
propeller shafts.
312 STARTING AND OPERATING

Selection of Lubricant
Use only manufacturer’s recommended fluid. Refer to
“Fluids, Lubricants, and Genuine Parts” in this section
for the correct fluid type.
Maintenance After Off-Road Driving
After extended operation in mud, sand or water, or
similar dirty conditions, have your brake drums, brake
linings, and axle joints inspected and cleaned as soon as
possible. This will prevent any abrasive material from
causing excessive wear or unpredictable braking action.
Following off-road usage, completely inspect the under-
body of your vehicle. Check the tires, body structure,
steering, suspension and exhaust system for damage.
Check the threaded fasteners for looseness, particularly
on the chassis, drivetrain components, steering and sus-
pension. Retighten, if required, to torque values specified
in the Service Manual. Also check for accumulations of
vegetation or brush that could become a fire hazard, orconceal damage to fuel lines, brake hoses, axle pinion
seals, and propeller shafts. Check the air conditioning
drain tube on the lower dash wall in the engine compart-
ment for mud or debris, and clean as required. A plugged
tube will adversely affect air conditioning performance.CAUTION!
Under frequent heavy-duty driving conditions,
change all lubricants, and lubricate body compo-
nents more often than in normal service to prevent
excessive wear.
Appearance Care and Protection from Corrosion
Protection of Body and Paint from Corrosion
Vehicle body care requirements vary according to geo-
graphic locations and usage. Chemicals that make roads
passable in snow and ice, and those that are sprayed on
trees and road surfaces during other seasons, are highly
428 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE