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Regular cleaning of the inside of the windows with a
non-filming cleaning solution (vinegar and water works
very well) will help prevent contaminates (cigarette
smoke, perfumes, etc.) from sticking to the windows.
Contaminates increase the rate of window fogging.
Summer Operation
Air conditioned vehicles must be protected with a high
quality antifreeze coolant during summer to provide
proper corrosion protection and to raise the boiling point
of the coolant for protection against overheating. A 50 %
concentration is recommended. Refer to Fluids and
Genuine Parts in Section 7 for the proper coolant type.
When using the air conditioner in extremely heavy traffic
in hot weather especially when towing a trailer, addi-
tional engine cooling may be required. If this situation is
encountered, operate the transmission in a lower gear to
increase engine RPM, coolant flow and fan speed. When
stopped in heavy traffic, it may be necessary to shift intoNEUTRAL (N) and depress the accelerator slightly for
fast idle operation to increase coolant flow and fan speed.
Winter Operation
When operating the system during the winter months,
make sure the air intake, located directly in front of the
windshield, is free of ice, slush, snow, or other
obstructions.
Vacation Storage
Anytime you store your vehicle or keep it out of service
(i.e., vacation) for two weeks or more, run the air
conditioning system at idle for about five minutes in the
fresh air and high blower setting. This will ensure
adequate system lubrication to minimize the possibility
of compressor damage when the system is started again.
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 271
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▫Automatic Transmission With Overdrive .... 287
Four–Wheel Drive Operation (Command-Trac I
Or Rock-Trac) — If Equipped
............. 291
▫ Operating Instructions/Precautions ....... 291
▫ Shift Positions ...................... 293
▫ Shifting Procedure ................... 294
Trac-Lok Rear Axle — If Equipped ........ 295
Axle Lock (Tru–Lok) — Rubicon Models .... 296
Rear Axle Lock (Four-Wheel Drive
Non-Rubicon Models) — If Equipped ........ 297
Electronic Sway Bar Disconnect —
If Equipped .......................... 298
On-Road Driving Tips .................. 300
Off-Road Driving Tips .................. 300 ▫
Side Step Removal — If Equipped ........ 300
▫ The Basics Of Off-Road Driving .......... 301
▫ When To Use 4L (Low) Range ........... 302
▫ Simultaneous Brake And
Throttle Operation ................... 302
▫ Driving In Snow, Mud And Sand ......... 303
▫ Crossing Obstacles
(Rocks And Other High Points) .......... 304
▫ Hill Climbing ....................... 307
▫ Driving Through Water ................ 309
▫ After Driving Off-Road ................ 312
Power Steering ....................... 313
▫ Power Steering Fluid Check ............. 314
Parking Brake ........................ 315
274 STARTING AND OPERATING
Page 284 of 502
NOTE:During cold weather, you may experience in-
creased effort in shifting until the transmission fluid
warms up. This is normal.Shifting
Fully press the clutch pedal before shifting gears. As you
release the clutch pedal, lightly press the accelerator
pedal.
You should always use 1st gear when starting from a
standing position if under heavy load or when pulling a
trailer.
Recommended Vehicle Shift Speeds
To utilize your manual transmission efficiently for both
fuel economy and performance, it should be upshifted as
listed in recommended shift speed chart. Shift at the
vehicle speeds listed for acceleration. When heavily
loaded or pulling a trailer these recommended up-shift
speeds may not apply.
Shift Pattern
282 STARTING AND OPERATING
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designated and approved. You should tread lightly and
avoid damage to the environment. You should know
your vehicle’s abilities and be able to recover it if
something goes wrong. You should never stop or shut a
vehicle off when crossing deep water unless you ingested
water into the engine air intake. If the engine stalls, do
not attempt to restart it. Determine if it has ingested
water first. The key to any crossing is low and slow. Shift
into first gear (manual transmission), or DRIVE (auto-
matic transmission), with the transfer case in the 4L
(Low) position and proceed very slowly with a constant
slow speed {3 to 5 mph (5 to 8 km/h) maximum} and
light throttle. Keep the vehicle moving; do not try to
accelerate through the crossing. After crossing any water
higher than the bottom of the axle differentials, you
should inspect all of the vehicle fluids for signs of water
ingestion.CAUTION!
•Water ingestion into the axles, transmission, trans-
fer case, engine or vehicle interior can occur if you
drive too fast or through too deep of water. Water
can cause permanent damage to engine, driveline
or other vehicle components, and your brakes will
be less effective once wet and/or muddy.
•This vehicle is capable of crossing through water
at a depth of 30 inches (76 cm) at speeds no greater
than 5 mph (8 km/h). Water ingestion can occur
causing damage to your vehicle.
Before You Cross Any Type of Water
As you approach any type of water, you need to deter-
mine if you can cross it safely and responsibly. If neces-
sary, get out and walk through the water or probe it with
a stick. You need to be sure of its depth, approach angle,
current and bottom condition. Be careful of murky or
310 STARTING AND OPERATING
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Towing Tips
Before setting out on a trip, practice turning, stopping
and backing the trailer in an area away from heavy
traffic.
If using a manual transmission vehicle for trailer towing,
all starts must be in first gear to avoid excessive clutch
slippage.
Automatic Transmission
The DRIVE range can be selected when towing. How-
ever, if frequent shifting occurs while in this range, the
“O/D OFF” feature should be selected.
NOTE:Using “O/D OFF” while operating the vehicle
under heavy operating conditions will improve perfor-
mance and extend transmission life by reducing exces-
sive shifting and heat build up. This action will also
provide better engine braking. The automatic transmission fluid and filter should be
changed if you REGULARLY tow a trailer for more than
45 minutes of continuous operation. Refer to the “Main-
tenance Schedule” in Section 8 for the proper mainte-
nance intervals.
NOTE:
Check the automatic transmission fluid level
before towing.
O/D Off
To reduce the potential for automatic transmission over-
heating, select the “O/D OFF” feature when driving in
hilly areas or shift the transmission to DRIVE position 2
on more severe grades. Refer to “Automatic Transmis-
sion” in this section.5
STARTING AND OPERATING 381
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▫Brake System ....................... 421
▫ Automatic Transmission — If Equipped .... 423
▫ Hydraulic Clutch Fluid — Manual
Transmission ....................... 426
▫ Manual Transmission — If Equipped ...... 426
▫ Transfer Case — If Equipped ............ 426
▫ Front/Rear Axle Fluid ................. 427
▫ Maintenance After Off-Road Driving ...... 428
▫ Appearance Care And Protection From
Corrosion .......................... 428
Fuses .............................. 436
▫ Totally Integrated Power Module ......... 436
Vehicle Storage ....................... 442
Replacement Bulbs .................... 443
Bulb Replacement ..................... 444
▫ Headlamp ......................... 444
▫ Front Park/Turn Signal ................ 445
▫ Front Side Marker .................... 445
▫ Front Fog Lamp ..................... 445
▫ Rear Tail, Stop, Turn Signal, And Backup
Lamp ............................. 446
▫ Center High-Mounted Stop Lamp
(CHMSL) .......................... 446
Fluid Capacities ...................... 447
Fluids, Lubricants And Genuine Parts ....... 448
▫ Engine ............................ 448
▫ Chassis ........................... 449
400 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
Page 403 of 502
ENGINE COMPARTMENT – 3.8L
1 — Integrated Power Module7 — Washer Fluid Reservoir
2 — Battery 8 — Engine Coolant Reservoir
3 — Automatic Transmission Dipstick 9 — Air Cleaner Filter
4 — Engine Oil Fill 10 — Coolant Pressure Cap
5 — Engine Oil Dipstick 11 — Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
6 — Brake Fluid Reservoir
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 401
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CAUTION! (Continued)
•Your vehicle has been built with improved fluids
that protect the performance and durability of
your vehicle and also allow extended maintenance
intervals. Do not use chemical flushes in these
components as the chemicals can damage your
engine, transmission, power steering or air condi-
tioning. Such damage is not covered by the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty. If a flush is needed
because of component malfunction, use only the
specified fluid for the flushing procedure.
Engine Oil
Checking Oil Level
To assure proper lubrication of your vehicle’s engine, the
engine oil must be maintained at the correct level. The
best time to check the engine oil level is about five
minutes after a fully warmed up engine is shut off or
before starting the engine after it has sat overnight.
Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level ground will
improve the accuracy of the oil level readings. Always
maintain the oil level within the SAFE zone on the
dipstick. Adding 1 U.S. Quart (0.95L) of oil when the
reading is at the bottom of the SAFE zone will result in a
reading at the top of the safe zone on these engines.
CAUTION!
Overfilling or underfilling the crankcase will cause
aeration or loss of oil pressure. This could damage
your engine.
406 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE