2010 JEEP LIBERTY recreational towing

Adding Fuel ......................... 378
▫ Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap) .............. 378
▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message ........... 379
 Vehicle Loading ...................... 380
▫ Certification Label ................... 380
 Trailer Towing ........................ 382
▫ Common Towing Definitions ............ 382
▫ Trailer Hitch Classification .............. 387 ▫
Trailer Towing Weights
(Maximum Trailer Weight Ratings) ........ 388
▫ Trailer And Tongue Weight ............. 390
▫ Towing Requirements ................. 391
▫ Towing Tips ........................ 396
 Recreational Towing
(Behind Motorhome, Etc.) ................ 397
▫ Towing – Two-Wheel Drive Models ....... 397
▫ Towing — Four-Wheel Drive Models ...... 397
298 STARTING AND OPERATING

the parking brake when leaving the vehicle in this range.
Always apply the parking brake first, then place the shift
lever in the PARK position.
WARNING!
•Never use the PARK position as a substitute 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 rearward. Use this
range only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop.
NEUTRAL
This range is used when the vehicle is standing for
prolonged periods with the engine running. The 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 shift lever in NEUTRAL can result in
severe transmission damage. Refer to “Recreational Tow-
ing” in Section 5 and “Towing a Disabled Vehicle” in
Section 6 of this manual.
DRIVE
This range is used for most city and highway driving.
306 STARTING AND OPERATING

position locks the front driveshaft and rear driveshaft
together and forces the front and rear wheels to rotate at
the same speed.
Use the transfer case NEUTRAL position for recreational
towing only. Refer to “Recreational Towing” in this
section for specific procedures on shifting into and out of
NEUTRAL.
CAUTION!
•Do not attempt to make a shift while only the front
wheels or rear wheels are spinning. The MP1522
Command-Tractransfer case is not equipped
with a synchronizer and therefore the speed of the
front driveshaft and rear driveshaft must be equal
for the shift to take place. Shifting while only the
front wheels or rear wheels are spinning can cause
damage to the transfer case.
(Continued)
CAUTION! (Continued)
•The 4WD LOCK position and 4WD LOW position
are intended for loose or slippery road surfaces
only. Driving in these positions on dry hard-
surfaced roads may cause increased tire wear and
damage to the driveline components.
•When operating your vehicle in 4WD LOW, the
engine speed is approximately three times that of
the 2WD position or 4WD LOCK position at a
given road speed. Take care not to over-speed the
engine and do not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h).
•Proper operation of four-wheel drive vehicles de-
pends on tires of equal size, type, and circumfer-
ence on each wheel. Any difference in tire size can
cause damage to the transfer case.
310 STARTING AND OPERATING

N
Neutral - This range disengages both the front driveshaft
and rear driveshaft from the powertrain. To be used for
flat towing behind another vehicle. Refer to “Recreational
Towing” in this section for more information.
Transfer Case Position Indicator Lights
The four-wheel drive indicator lights (4WD and 4 LOW)
are located in the instrument cluster. The NEUTRAL
indicator light is located on the transfer case switch. If
there is no indicator light on or flashing, the transfer case
position is two-wheel drive (2WD). If the indicator light
is on, the desired position (4WD LOCK, 4WD LOW, or
NEUTRAL) has been obtained.
If one or more shift requirements are not met:
•An indicator light will flash.
•The transfer casewill notshift. NOTE:
The “SERV 4WD Warning Light” monitors the
electric shift four-wheel drive system. If this light re-
mains on after engine start up, or it illuminates during
driving, it means that the four-wheel drive system is not
functioning properly and that service is required.
Shifting Procedures
NOTE: If any of the requirements to select a new
transfer case position have not been met, the transfer case
will not shift, the indicator light for the previous position
will remain on, and the newly selected position indicator
light will continue to flash until all the requirements for
the selected position have been met. To retry a shift, move
the transfer case switch back to the original position,
make certain all shift requirements have been met, wait
five seconds, and try the shift again.
2WD to 4WD Lock
Move the transfer case switch to the desired position.
Shifts between 2WD and 4WD LOCK can be done with
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 313

This transfer case is intended to be driven in either the
two-wheel drive position (2WD) or the four-wheel drive
Auto position (4WD AUTO) for normal street and high-
way conditions such as dry hard-surfaced roads.
For added capability when traversing steep grades,
rough terrain, or extremely poor traction surfaces, select
the transfer case 4WD LOW position. This position locks
the front driveshaft and rear driveshaft together and
forces the front and rear wheels to rotate at the same
speed while multiplying engine torque.
Use the transfer case NEUTRAL position for recreational
towing only. Refer to “Recreational Towing” in this
section for specific procedures on shifting into and out of
NEUTRAL.CAUTION!
•The 4WD LOW position is intended for loose or
slippery road surfaces only. Driving in this posi-
tion on dry hard-surfaced roads may cause in-
creased tire wear and damage to the driveline
components.
•When operating your vehicle in 4WD LOW, the
engine speed is approximately three times that of
the 2WD position or 4WD AUTO position at a
given road speed. Take care not to over-speed the
engine and do not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h).
•Proper operation of four-wheel drive vehicles de-
pends on tires of equal size, type, and circumfer-
ence on each wheel. Any difference in tire size can
cause damage to the transfer case.
316 STARTING AND OPERATING

N
Neutral - This range disengages both the front driveshaft
and rear driveshaft from the powertrain. To be used for
flat towing behind another vehicle. Refer to “Recreational
Towing” in this section for more information.
Transfer Case Position Indicator Lights
The four-wheel drive indicator lights (4WD, 4 LOW) are
located in the instrument cluster. The NEUTRAL indica-
tor light is located on the transfer case switch. If there is
no indicator light on or flashing, the transfer case posi-
tion is two-wheel drive (2WD). If the indicator light is on,
the desired position (4WD AUTO, 4WD LOW, or NEU-
TRAL) has been obtained.
If one or more shift requirements are not met:
•An indicator light will flash.
•The transfer casewill notshift. NOTE:
The “SERV 4WD Warning Light” monitors the
electric shift four-wheel drive system. If this light re-
mains on after engine start up, or it illuminates during
driving, it means that the four-wheel drive system is not
functioning properly and that service is required.
Shifting Procedures
NOTE: If any of the requirements to select a new
transfer case position have not been met, the transfer case
will not shift, the indicator light for the previous position
will remain on, and the newly selected position indicator
light will continue to flash until all the requirements for
the selected position have been met. To retry a shift, move
the transfer case switch back to the original position,
make certain all shift requirements have been met, wait
five seconds, and try the shift again.
2WD to 4WD Auto
Move the transfer case switch to the desired position.
Shifts between 2WD and 4WD Auto can be done with the
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 319

Cooling System
To reduce potential for engine and transmission over-
heating, take the following actions:
City Driving
When stopped for short periods of time, put transmission
in NEUTRAL and increase engine idle speed.
Highway Driving
Reduce speed.
Air Conditioning
Turn off temporarily.
RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.)
Towing – Two-Wheel Drive Models
Recreational towing is allowed ONLY if the driveshaft
is removed. Towing with the rear wheels on the ground
while the driveshaft is connected can result in severe
transmission damage.
Towing — Four-Wheel Drive Models
The transfer case must be shifted into NEUTRAL and the
transmission must be placed in PARK for recreational
towing. The NEUTRAL selection button is located at the
top of the transfer case switch. Shifts into and out of
transfer case NEUTRAL can take place with the selector
switch in any mode position.5
STARTING AND OPERATING 397

CAUTION!
•The transmission must be in PARK position for
recreational towing. Failure to follow these proce-
dures can cause severe transmission and/or trans-
fer case damage.
•Internal damage to the transmission or transfer
case will occur if a front or rear wheel lift is used
when recreational towing.
•Before recreational towing, perform the procedure
outlined under “Shifting into NEUTRAL” to be
certain that the transfer case is fully in NEUTRAL.
Otherwise, internal damage will result.
•Do not use a bumper mounted clamp-on tow bar
on your vehicle. The bumper face bar will be
damaged.
WARNING!
You or others could be injured if you leave the
vehicle unattended with the transfer case in the
NEUTRAL position without first fully engaging the
parking brake. The transfer case NEUTRAL position
disengages both the front driveshaft and rear drive-
shaft from the powertrain and it will allow the
vehicle to move, even if the transmission is in PARK.
The parking brake should always be applied when
the driver is not in the vehicle.
Shifting into NEUTRAL
Perform the following procedure to prepare your vehicle
for recreational towing:
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Turn OFF the engine.
3. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position.
398 STARTING AND OPERATING