CAUTION!(Continued)
• 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.
WARNING!
It is dangerous to move the shift lever out of
PARK or NEUTRAL if the engine speed is
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly
on the brake pedal, the vehicle could acceler-
ate quickly forward or in reverse. You could
lose control of the vehicle and hit someone or
something. Only shift into gear when the
engine is idling normally and when your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal.
Key Ignition Park InterlockThis vehicle is equipped with a Key Ignition
Park Interlock which requires the shift lever to
be placed in PARK prior to turning the ignition
switch to the LOCK position. The key fob can
only be removed from the ignition switch when the ignition switch is in the LOCK position and
once removed the shift lever is locked in PARK.
Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock
System
This vehicle is equipped with a Brake Transmis-
sion Shift Interlock System (BTSI) that holds the
shift lever in the PARK position when the igni-
tion switch is in the LOCK position. To move the
shift lever out of the PARK position, the ignition
switch must be turned to the ON or START
position (engine running or not) and the brake
pedal must be pressed.
Brake/Transmission Interlock
Manual Override
Your vehicle may be equipped with a shift lock
manual override. The manual override may be
used in the event that the shift lever should fail
to move from PARK with the ignition switch in
the ON position and the brake pedal pressed.
To operate the shift lock manual override, per-
form the following steps:
1. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position
without starting the engine.
2. Firmly set the parking brake.
3. Remove the rubber liner from the cupholder
(located next to the shifter on the center con-
sole).
4. Using a flat-bladed screwdriver, carefully
remove the shift lock manual override cover,
which is located on the bottom of the cup-
holder.
5. Press and maintain firm pressure on the
brake pedal.
6. Using the screwdriver, reach into the manual
override opening. Press and hold the shift lock
lever down.
7. Move the shift lever into the NEUTRAL posi-
tion.
8. The vehicle may then be started in NEU-
TRAL.
Have your vehicle inspected by your local
authorized dealer if the shift lock manual over-
ride has been used.
205
Five-Speed Automatic TransmissionThe electronically-controlled transmission pro-
vides a precise shift schedule. The transmis-
sion electronics are self-calibrating; therefore,
the first few shifts on a new vehicle may be
somewhat abrupt. This is a normal condition,
and precision shifts will develop within a few
hundred miles/kilometers.
Gear Ranges
NOTE:
After selecting any gear range, wait a mo-
ment to allow the selected gear to engage
before accelerating. This is especially im-
portant when the engine is cold. If there is a
need to restart the engine, be sure to turn
the ignition switch to the LOCK position
before restarting. Transmission gear en-
gagement may be delayed after restarting
the engine if the ignition switch is not turned
to the LOCK position first.
PARK
This range supplements the parking brake by
locking the transmission. The engine can be
started in this range. Never use PARK while the
vehicle is in motion. Apply the parking brakewhen leaving the vehicle in this range. Always
apply the parking brake first, then place the
shift lever into the PARK position.
WARNING!
•
Never use the PARK position as a substi-
tute for the parking brake. Always apply the
parking brake fully when parked to guard
against vehicle movement and possible
injury or damage.
• It is dangerous to move the shift lever out of
PARK or NEUTRAL if the engine speed is
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not
firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or in reverse.
You could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and
when your right foot is firmly on the brake
pedal.
REVERSE
This range is for moving the vehicle backward.
Use only after the vehicle has come to a
complete stop. NEUTRAL
This range is used when vehicle is standing for
prolonged periods with engine running. Engine
may be started in this range. Set the parking
brake if you must leave the vehicle.
NOTE:
Towing the vehicle, coasting, or driving for
any other reason with the shift lever in
NEUTRAL can result in severe transmission
damage. Refer to “Recreational Towing” in
“Starting and Operating” and “Towing a Dis-
abled Vehicle” in “What To Do In Emergen-
cies” for further information.
DRIVE
This range should be selected only when the
vehicle is at a complete stop and the brakes
are firmly applied. The transmission automati-
cally upshifts through fifth gear. The DRIVE
position provides optimum driving characteris-
tics under all normal operating conditions.
Electronic Range Select (ERS) Operation
The Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift control
allows you to move the shift lever left (-) or right
(+) when the shift lever is in the DRIVE position,
allowing you to limit the highest available gear.
206
•If the vehicle has not been driven in sev-
eral days, the first few seconds of opera-
tion after shifting the transmission into
gear may seem sluggish. This is due to
the fluid partially draining from the torque
converter into the transmission. This con-
dition is normal and will not cause dam-
age to the transmission. The torque con-
verter will refill within five seconds after
starting the engine.
Rocking the VehicleIf the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, sand, or
mud, it can often be moved by a rocking
motion. Move the shift lever between DRIVE
and REVERSE, while applying slight pressure
to the accelerator.
NOTE:
The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and
Traction Control System (TCS) (if equipped)
should be turned OFF before attempting to
rock the vehicle. Refer to “Electronic Brake
Control System” in “Starting and Operating”
for further information. The least amount of accelerator pedal pressure
to maintain the rocking motion, without spinning
the wheels or racing the engine, is most effec-
tive. Racing the engine or spinning the wheels
may lead to transmission overheating and fail-
ure. Allow the engine to idle with the shift lever
in NEUTRAL for at least one minute after every
five rocking-motion cycles. This will minimize
overheating and reduce the risk of transmission
failure during prolonged efforts to free a stuck
vehicle.CAUTION!
When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by moving
between “First” and REVERSE, do not spin
the wheels faster than 15 mph (24 km/h) or
drivetrain damage may result.
FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE OPERATION
Quadra-Trac II
Operating
Instructions/Precautions
The Quadra-Trac II transfer case is fully auto-
matic in the normal driving 4WD AUTO mode.
The Quadra-Trac II transfer case provides
three mode positions:
• 4WD HI
• NEUTRAL
• 4WD LOW
This transfer case is fully automatic in the 4WD
HI mode.
Transfer Case Switch
210
When additional traction is required, the 4WD
LOW position can be used to lock the front and
rear driveshafts together and force the front
and rear wheels to rotate at the same speed.
The 4WD LOW position is intended for loose,
slippery road surfaces only. Driving in the 4WD
LOW position on dry, hard-surfaced roads may
cause increased tire wear and damage to
driveline components.
When operating your vehicle in 4WD LOW, the
engine speed is approximately three times that
of the 4WD HI position at a given road speed.
Take care not to overspeed the engine and do
not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h).
Proper operation of four-wheel drive vehicles
depends on tires of equal size, type, and
circumference on each wheel. Any difference
will adversely affect shifting and cause damage
to the transfer case.
Because four-wheel drive provides improved
traction, there is a tendency to exceed safe
turning and stopping speeds. Do not go faster
than road conditions permit.WARNING!
You or others could be injured if you leave the
vehicle unattended with the transfer case in
the N (Neutral) position without first fully en-
gaging the parking brake. The transfer case N
(Neutral) position disengages both the front
and rear driveshafts from the powertrain and
will allow the vehicle to move regardless of the
transmission position. The parking brake
should always be applied when the driver is
not in the vehicle.
Shift Positions
For additional information on the appropriate
use of each transfer case mode position, see
the information below:
4WD AUTO
This range is used on surfaces such as ice,
snow, gravel, sand, and dry hard pavement.NOTE:
Refer to “Selec-Terrain
– If Equipped” in
“Starting and Operating” for further infor-
mation on the various positions and their
intended usages.
NEUTRAL
This range disengages both the front and rear
driveshafts from the powertrain. It is to be used
for flat towing behind another vehicle. Refer to
“Recreational Towing” in “Starting and Operat-
ing” for further information.
4WD LOW
This range is for low speed four-wheel drive. It
locks the front and rear driveshafts together
and forces the front and rear wheels to rotate at
the same speed. It provides additional traction
and maximum pulling power for loose, slippery
road surfaces only. Do not exceed 25 mph
(40 km/h).
NOTE:
Refer to “Selec-Terrain – If Equipped” for
further information on the various positions
and their intended usages.
211
Shifting Procedures
4WD HI to 4WD LOW
With the vehicle at speeds of 0 to 3 mph (0 to
5 km/h), the ignition switch in the ON position or
the engine running, shift the transmission into
NEUTRAL, and press the “4WD LOW” button
once on the transfer case switch. The “4WD
LOW” indicator light in the instrument cluster
will begin to flash and remain on solid when the
shift is complete.
NOTE:
If shift conditions/interlocks are not met, or
a transfer case motor temperature protec-tion condition exists, a “For 4x4 Low Slow
Below 3 MPH or 5 KPH Put Trans in N Press
4 Low” message will flash from the Elec-
tronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC). Re-
fer to “Electronic Vehicle Information Center
(EVIC)” in “Understanding Your Instrument
Panel” for further information.
4WD LOW to 4WD HI
With the vehicle at speeds of 0 to 3 mph (0 to
5 km/h), the ignition switch in the ON position or
the engine running, shift the transmission into
NEUTRAL, and press the “4WD LOW” button
once on the transfer case switch. The “4WD
LOW” indicator light in the instrument cluster
will flash and go out when the shift is complete.
NOTE:
•
If shift conditions/interlocks are not met,
or a transfer case motor temperature pro-
tection condition exists, a “For 4x4 High
Slow Below 3 MPH or 5 KPH Put Trans in
N Press 4 Low” message will flash from
the Electronic Vehicle Information Center
(EVIC). Refer to “Electronic Vehicle Infor- mation Center (EVIC)” in “Understanding
Your Instrument Panel” for further infor-
mation.
• Shifting into or out of 4WD LOW is pos-
sible with the vehicle completely stopped;
however, difficulty may occur due to the
mating clutch teeth not being properly
aligned. Several attempts may be re-
quired for clutch teeth alignment and shift
completion to occur. The preferred
method is with the vehicle rolling 0 to
3 mph (0 to 5 km/h). If the vehicle is
moving faster than 3 mph (5 km/h), the
transfer case will not allow the shift.
NEUTRAL Shift Procedure
1. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position,
engine off.
2. Vehicle stopped, with foot on brake.
3. Place the transmission into NEUTRAL.
4. Hold down the NEUTRAL “pin” switch (with
a pen, etc.) for four seconds until the LED light
by the switch starts to blink indicating shift in
progress. The light will stop blinking (stay on
solid) when the NEUTRAL shift is complete. A
Transfer Case Switch
212
Selec-Terrain™ consists of the following posi-
tions:
•Sport – Dry weather, on-road calibration.
Only available in 4WD High range. Perfor-
mance based tuning that provides a rear
wheel drive feel but with improved handling
and acceleration over a two-wheel drive ve-
hicle. The Electronic Stability Control will set
to allow more driver control of vehicle while
maintaining safe handling controls. The ve-
hicle will lower (if equipped with Air Suspen-
sion) to Aero Mode in High Range. 4WD Low
is not available in SPORT mode, if 4WD Low
is selected the Selec-Terrain™ will automati-
cally switch back to AUTO.
• Snow – Tuning set for additional stability in
inclement weather. Use on and off road on
loose traction surfaces such as snow. When
in Snow mode (depending on certain oper-
ating conditions), the transmission may use
second gear (rather than first gear) during
launches, to minimize wheel slippage. If
equipped with air suspension, the level will
change to Normal Ride Height (NRH) if the transfer case is in high range. The level will
change to Off-Road 1 if the transfer case is in
Low range.
• Auto – Fully automatic full time four-wheel
drive operation can be used on and off road.
Balances traction with seamless steering
feel to provide improved handling and accel-
eration over two-wheel drive vehicles. If
equipped with air suspension, the level will
change to NRH.
• Sand/Mud – Off road calibration for use on
low traction surfaces such as mud, sand, or
wet grass. Driveline is maximized for trac-
tion. Some binding may be felt on less for-
giving surfaces. The electronic brake con-
trols are set to limit traction control
management of throttle and wheel spin. If
equipped with air suspension, the level will
change to Off-Road 1.
• Rock – Off-road calibration only available in
4WD Low range. The vehicle is raised (if
equipped with Air Suspension) for improved
ground clearance. Traction based tuning
with improved steer-ability for use on high
traction off-road surfaces. Activates the Hill Descent Control for steep downhill control.
Use for low speed obstacles such as large
rocks, deep ruts, etc. If equipped with air
suspension, the vehicle level will change to
Off-Road 2. If the Selec-Terrain™ switch is in
ROCK mode, and the transfer case is
switched from 4WD Low to 4WD High, the
Selec-Terrain™ system will return to AUTO.
Electronic Vehicle Information
Center (EVIC) Display Messages
When the appropriate conditions exist, a mes-
sage will appear in the EVIC display. Refer to
“Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)”
in “Understanding Your Instrument Panel” for
further information.
QUADRA-LIFT™ — IF EQUIPPED
Description
The Quadra-Lift™ air suspension system pro-
vides full time load leveling capability along
with the benefit of being able to adjust vehicle
height by the push of a button.
214
sink into deeper water. Determine exit point(s)
that are downstream of your entry point to allow
for drifting.
Standing Water
Avoid driving in standing water deeper than
20 in (51 cm), and reduce speed appropriately
to minimize wave effects. Maximum speed in
20 in (51 cm) of water is less than 5 mph
(8 km/h).
Maintenance
After driving through deep water, inspect your
vehicle fluids and lubricants (engine oil, trans-
mission oil, axle, transfer case) to assure the
fluids have not been contaminated. Contami-
nated fluid (milky, foamy in appearance) should
be flushed/changed as soon as possible to
prevent component damage.
Driving in Snow, Mud and SandIn heavy snow, when pulling a load, or for
additional control at slower speeds, shift the
transmission to a low gear and shift the transfer
case to 4WD LOW if necessary. Refer to “Four-
Wheel Drive Operation” in “Starting and Oper-
ating” for further information. Do not shift to a
lower gear than necessary to maintain forwardmotion. Over-revving the engine can spin the
wheels and traction will be lost.
Avoid abrupt downshifts on icy or slippery
roads, because engine braking may cause
skidding and loss of control.
Hill Climbing
NOTE:
Before attempting to climb a hill, determine
the conditions at the crest and/or on the
other side.
Before climbing a steep hill,
shift the trans-
mission to a lower gear and shift the transfer
case to 4WD LOW. Use first gear and 4WD
LOW for very steep hills.
If you stall or begin to lose forward motion
while climbing a steep hill, allow your vehicle to
come to a stop and immediately apply the
brakes. Restart the engine, and shift into RE-
VERSE. Back slowly down the hill, allowing the
compression braking of the engine to help
regulate your speed. If the brakes are required
to control vehicle speed, apply them lightly and
avoid locking or skidding the tires.
WARNING!
If the engine stalls, you lose forward motion,
or cannot make it to the top of a steep hill or
grade, never attempt to turn around. To do so
may result in tipping and rolling the vehicle.
Always back carefully straight down a hill in
REVERSE gear. Never back down a hill in
NEUTRAL using only the brake.
Remember, never drive diagonally across a
hill always drive straight up or down.
If the wheels start to slip as you approach the
crest of a hill, ease off the accelerator and
maintain forward motion by turning the front
wheels slowly. This may provide a fresh “bite”
into the surface and will usually provide traction
to complete the climb.
Traction DownhillShift the transmission into a low gear, and the
transfer case into 4WD LOW range. Let the
vehicle go slowly down the hill with all four
wheels turning against engine compression
drag. This will permit you to control the vehicle
speed and direction. 219
When descending mountains or hills, repeated
braking can cause brake fade with loss of
braking control. Avoid repeated heavy braking
by downshifting the transmission whenever
possible.
After Driving Off-RoadOff-road operation puts more stress on your
vehicle than does most on-road driving. After
going off-road, it is always 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, steer-
ing, 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 com-
ponents, steering, and suspension. Re-
tighten 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.
• After extended operation in mud, sand, wa-
ter, or similar dirty conditions, have the ra-
diator, fan, brake rotors, wheels, brake lin-
ings, and axle yokes inspected and cleaned
as soon as possible.
WARNING!
Abrasive material in any part of the brakes
may cause excessive wear or unpredictable
braking. You might not have full braking power
when you need it to prevent a collision. If you
have been operating your vehicle in dirty
conditions, get your brakes checked and
cleaned as necessary.
• If you experience unusual vibration after
driving in mud, slush or similar conditions,
check the wheels for impacted material. Im-
pacted material can cause a wheel imbal-
ance and freeing the wheels of it will correct
the situation.
POWER STEERING
3.6L Engine and 3.0L Diesel Engine
Your vehicle is equipped with an electro-
hydraulic power steering system that will give
you good vehicle response and increased ease
of maneuverability in tight spaces. The system
will vary its assist to provide light efforts while
parking and good feel while driving. If the
electro-hydraulic power steering system expe-
riences a fault that prevents it from providing
power steering assist, then the system will
provide mechanical steering capability.
CAUTION!
Extreme steering maneuvers may cause the
electrically driven pump to reduce or stop
power steering assistance in order to prevent
damage to the system. Normal operation will
resume once the system is allowed to cool.
If the “SERVICE POWER STEER-
ING SYSTEM” message and a
flashing icon are displayed on the
EVIC screen, it indicates that the
vehicle needs to be taken to the
220