2011 JEEP COMPASS overheating

CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could damage
your vehicle. If the pointer rises to the H (red) mark,
the instrument cluster will sound a chime. When
safe, pull over and stop the vehicle with the engine at
idle. Turn off the air conditioning and wait until the
pointer drops back into the normal range. If the
pointer remains on the H (red) mark for more than a
minute, turn the engine off immediately and call for
service.
WARNING!
You or others can be badly burned by hot engine
coolant (antifreeze) or steam from your radiator. If
you see or hear steam coming from under the hood,
do not open the hood until the radiator has had time
to cool. Never try to open a cooling system pressure
cap when the radiator or coolant bottle is hot.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING
During sustained high speed driving or trailer towing up
long grades on hot days, the automatic transmission oil
may become too hot.If this happens, the transmission overheat in-
dicator light will come on, and the vehicle will
slow slightly until the automatic transmission
cools down enough to allow a return to the
requested speed. If the high speed is maintained, the
overheating may reoccur, as before, in a cyclic fashion.6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 375

CAUTION!
Accessories that can be plugged into the vehicle
power outlets draw power from the vehicle’s battery,
even when not in use (i.e., cellular phones, etc.).
Eventually, if plugged in long enough, the vehicle’s
battery will discharge sufficiently to degrade battery
life and/or prevent the engine from starting.
FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE
If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand or snow, it
can often be moved by a rocking motion. Turn your
steering wheel right and left to clear the area around the
front wheels. Then shift back and forth between DRIVE/
1st gear and REVERSE. Using minimal accelerator pedal
pressure to maintain the rocking motion, without spin-
ning the wheels, is most effective.
CAUTION!
Racing the engine or spinning the wheels may lead to
transmission overheating and failure. Allow the en-
gine 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.
NOTE: If your vehicle is equipped with Traction Con-
trol or Electronic Stability Control (ESC), turn the system
OFF before attempting to “rock” the vehicle.
6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 389

CAUTION!
•When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by moving be-
tween DRIVE/1st gear and REVERSE, do not spin
the wheels faster than 15 mph (24 km/h), or drive-
train damage may result.
•Revving the engine or spinning the wheels too fast
may lead to transmission overheating and failure.
It can also damage the tires. Do not spin the
wheels above 30 mph (48 km/h) while in gear (no
transmission shifting occurring).
WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces gener-
ated by excessive wheel speeds may cause damage, or
even failure, of the axle and tires. A tire could
explode and injure someone. Do not spin your vehi-
cle’s wheels faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) or for
longer than 30 seconds continuously without stop-
ping when you are stuck and do not let anyone near
a spinning wheel, no matter what the speed.
SHIFT LEVER OVERRIDE
If a malfunction occurs and the shift lever cannot be
moved out of the PARK position, you can use the
following procedure to temporarily move the shift lever:
1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Remove the shift lever override access cover located
on the right side of the shifter housing.
390 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

CAUTION!
•The catalytic converter requires the use of un-
leaded fuel only. Leaded gasoline will destroy the
effectiveness of the catalyst as an emissions con-
trol device and may seriously reduce engine per-
formance and cause serious damage to the engine.
•Damage to the catalytic converter can result if your
vehicle is not kept in proper operating condition.
In the event of engine malfunction, particularly
involving engine misfire or other apparent loss of
performance, have your vehicle serviced promptly.
Continued operation of your vehicle with a severe
malfunction could cause the converter to overheat,
resulting in possible damage to the converter and
vehicle.Under normal operating conditions, the catalytic con-
verter will not require maintenance. However, it is im-
portant to keep the engine properly tuned to assure
proper catalyst operation and prevent possible catalyst
damage.
NOTE:
Intentional tampering with emissions control
systems can result in civil penalties being assessed
against you.
In unusual situations involving grossly malfunctioning
engine operation, a scorching odor may suggest severe
and abnormal catalyst overheating. If this occurs, stop
the vehicle, turn off the engine and allow it to cool.
Service, including a tune-up to manufacturer’s specifica-
tions, should be obtained immediately.
412 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Overheating........................ 375
Selection Of Lubricant ................. 422
Shifting ........................... 296
Special Additives ..................... 422
Autostick ............................. 298
B-Pillar Location ........................ 324
Battery ............................... 407
Keyless Transmitter Replacement (RKE) ..... 24
Belts, Seat .............................. 85
Body Mechanism Lubrication ............... 409
Brake Assist System ...................... 309
Brake Fluid ............................ 439
Brake System ........................ 305,419
Anti-Lock (ABS) .................. 306,309
Master Cylinder ..................... 419
Parking ........................... 303
Warning Light ....................... 195 Brake, Parking
.......................... 303
Brake/Transmission Interlock ............... 295
Brakes ............................. 305,419
Break-In Recommendations, New Vehicle ........ 83
Bulb Replacement ..................... 434,435
Bulbs, Light .......................... 87,434
Calibration, Compass ..................... 216
Capacities, Antifreeze (Engine Coolant) ........ 437
Capacities, Fluid ........................ 437
Caps, Filler Fuel .............................. 353
Oil (Engine) ................... 397,398,405
Power Steering ...................... 302
Car Washes ............................ 425
Carbon Monoxide Warning ...............84,353
Cargo Area Cover ....................... 178
Cargo Area Features ...................... 177
10
INDEX 471

Electronic Roll Mitigation............... 310
Traction Control System ................ 309
Electronic Speed Control (Cruise Control) ...... 155
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ............. 314
Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) .... 207
Emergency, In Case of Jacking ............................ 376
Jump Starting ....................... 384
Towing ............................ 391
Emission Control System Maintenance ......... 400
Engine ............................ 397,398
Block Heater ........................ 291
Break-In Recommendations .............. 83
Checking Oil Level ................... 403
Cooling ........................... 413
Exhaust Gas Caution ................84,353
Fuel Requirements .................... 349
Jump Starting ....................... 384
Oil ......................... 403,437,438Oil Change Interval
................... 404
Oil Filler Cap .................. 397,398,405
Oil Filter ........................... 438
Oil Selection ........................ 404
Oil Synthetic ........................ 405
Overheating ........................ 374
Temperature Gauge ................... 198
Enhanced Accident Response Feature .......... 70
Ethanol ............................... 350
Event Data Recorder ...................... 73
Exhaust Gas Caution ................. 36,84,353
Exhaust System ....................... 84,411
Exterior Lights .......................... 87
Filters Air Cleaner ......................... 406
Air Conditioning ..................... 283
Engine Oil ....................... 406,438
474 INDEX

New Vehicle Break-In Period................ 83
Occupant Restraints ................... 37,66,70
Occupant Restraints (Sedan) ...........63,64,66,69
Octane Rating, Gasoline (Fuel) .............. 349
Odometer ............................. 201
Trip ........................... 199,201
Oil Change Indicator ..................... 210
Oil Change Indicator, Reset ................. 210
Oil, Engine ......................... 403,437
Capacity ........................... 437
Change Interval ..................... 404
Checking .......................... 403
Disposal ........................... 405
Filter ............................. 406
Identification Logo ................... 404
Materials Added to ................... 405
Recommendation .................. 404,437Synthetic
.......................... 405
Viscosity ........................... 405
Onboard Diagnostic System ..............399,400
Opener, Garage Door (HomeLink®) ........... 158
Operator Manual (Owner’s Manual) ............ 5
Overdrive ............................. 298
Overheating, Engine ................... 198,374
Owner’s Manual (Operator Manual) .........5,465
Paint Care ............................. 424
Panic Alarm ............................ 23
Parking Brake .......................... 303
Passing Light ........................... 149
Personal Settings ........................ 213
Pets .................................. 83
Phone, Cellular .......................... 97
Phone, Hands-Free (Uconnect™) .............. 97
Placard, Tire and Loading Information ......... 324
480 INDEX