2012 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE warning

LOCK position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then
repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.
CAUTION!
To prevent damage to the starter, wait 10 to
15 seconds before trying again.
After StartingThe idle speed is controlled automatically and it
will decrease as the engine warms up.
Normal Starting – Diesel EngineObserve the following when the engine is op-
erating.
•All message center lights are off.
• Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) is off.
• Low Oil Pressure Light is off.
Cold Weather Precautions
Operation in ambient temperature below 32°F
(0°C) may require special considerations. The
following chart suggests these options. *No. 1 Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel (ULSD)
should only be used where extended arctic
conditions (-10°F/-23°C) exist.
NOTE:
•
Use of Climatized ULSD Diesel Fuel or
Number 1 ULSD Diesel Fuel results in a
noticeable decrease in fuel economy.
• Climatized ULSD Diesel Fuel is a blend of
Number 2 ULSD and Number 1 ULSD
Diesel Fuels, which reduces the tempera-
ture at which wax crystals form in fuel.
NOTE:
This engine requires the use of “Ultra Low
Sulfur Diesel Fuel.” Use of incorrect fuel
could result in exhaust system damage. Re- fer to “Fuel Requirements – Diesel Engine”
in “Starting and Operating” for further infor-
mation.
Battery Blanket Usage
A battery loses 60% of its cranking power as
the battery temperature decreases to 0°F
(-18°C). For the same decrease in temperature,
the engine requires twice as much power to
crank at the same RPM. The use of battery
blankets will greatly increase starting capability
at low temperatures. Suitable battery blankets
are available from your authorized MOPAR
dealer.
Engine Starting Procedure
WARNING!
Never pour fuel or other flammable liquid into
the air inlet opening in an attempt to start the
vehicle. This could result in a flash fire causing
serious personal injury.
1. The shift lever must be in the NEUTRAL or
PARK position before you can start the engine.
2. With your foot on the brake pedal, press the
ENGINE START/STOP button.
219

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the
following precautions are not observed:
•Shift into PARK only after the vehicle has
come to a complete stop.
• Shift into or out of REVERSE only after the
vehicle has come to a complete stop and
the engine is at idle speed.
• Do not shift between PARK, REVERSE,
NEUTRAL, or DRIVE when the engine is
above idle speed.
• Before shifting into any gear, make sure
your foot is firmly pressing the brake pedal.
NOTE:
You must press and hold the brake pedal
while shifting out of PARK.
WARNING!
• Unintended movement of a vehicle could
injure those in or near the vehicle. As with
all vehicles, you should never exit a vehicle
while the engine is running. Before exiting a
vehicle, always apply the parking brake,
shift the transmission into PARK, and re-
move the key fob. Once the key fob is
removed, the shift lever is locked in the
PARK position, securing the vehicle
against unwanted movement.
• 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 pressing the brake pedal, the vehicle
could accelerate quickly forward or in re-
verse. 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 pressing the
brake pedal.
(Continued)WARNING!(Continued)
• When leaving the vehicle, always remove
the key fob and lock your vehicle.
• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Allow-
ing children to be in a vehicle unattended is
dangerous for a number of reasons. A child
or others could be seriously or fatally in-
jured.
• Children should be warned not to touch the
parking brake, brake pedal or the shift
lever. Do not leave the key fob in or near
the vehicle, and do not leave Keyless
Enter-N-Go in the ACC or ON/RUN mode.
A child could operate power windows, other
controls, or move the vehicle.
Key Ignition Park InterlockThis vehicle is equipped with a Key Ignition
Park Interlock which requires the shift lever to
be placed in PARK before the ignition switch
can be turned to the LOCK/OFF position. The
key fob can only be removed from the ignition
221

When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake
before placing the shift lever in PARK, other-
wise the load on the transmission locking
mechanism may make it difficult to move the
shift lever out of PARK. As an added precau-
tion, turn the front wheels toward the curb on a
downhill grade and away from the curb on an
uphill grade.
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.
• Your vehicle could move and injure you and
others if it is not completely in PARK.
Check by trying to move the shift lever
rearward (with the brake pedal released),
after you have placed it in PARK. Make
sure the transmission is in PARK before
leaving the vehicle.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
•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
pressing the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit some-
one or something. Only shift into gear when
the engine is idling normally and when your
foot is firmly pressing the brake pedal.
• Unintended movement of a vehicle could
injure those in or near the vehicle. As with
all vehicles, you should never exit a vehicle
while the engine is running. Before exiting a
vehicle, always apply the parking brake,
shift the transmission into PARK, and re-
move the key fob. Once the key fob is
removed, the shift lever is locked in the
PARK position, securing the vehicle
against unwanted movement.
• When leaving the vehicle, always remove
the key fob and lock your vehicle.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle.
• Allowing children to be in a vehicle unat-
tended is dangerous for a number of rea-
sons. A child or others could be seriously or
fatally injured. Children should be warned
not to touch the parking brake, brake pedal
or the shift lever. Do not leave the key fob in
or near the vehicle, and do not leave Key-
less Enter-N-Go in the ACC or ON/RUN
mode. A child could operate power win-
dows, other controls, or move the vehicle.
CAUTION!
•Before moving the shift lever out of PARK,
you must turn the ignition switch from the
LOCK/OFF position to the ON/RUN posi-
tion, and also press the brake pedal. Oth-
erwise, damage to the shift lever could
result.
(Continued)
223

CAUTION!(Continued)
• DO NOT race the engine when shifting
from PARK or NEUTRAL into another gear
range, as this can damage the drivetrain.
The following indicators should be used to
ensure that you have engaged the shift lever
into the PARK position:
• When shifting into PARK, move the shift lever
all the way forward and to the left until it stops
and is fully seated.
• Look at the shift lever position display and
verify that it indicates the PARK position.
• With brake pedal released, verify that the
shift lever will not move out of PARK.
REVERSE
This range is for moving the vehicle backward.
Shift into REVERSE only after the vehicle has
come to a complete stop.
NEUTRAL
Use this range when the vehicle is standing for
prolonged periods with engine running. The
engine may be started in this range. Set the parking brake and shift the transmission into
PARK if you must leave the vehicle.
WARNING!
Do not coast in NEUTRAL and never turn off
the ignition to coast down a hill. These are
unsafe practices that limit your response to
changing traffic or road conditions. You might
lose control of the vehicle and have a colli-
sion.
CAUTION!
Towing the vehicle, coasting, or driving for any
other reason with the transmission in NEU-
TRAL can result in severe transmission dam-
age. Refer to “Recreational Towing” in “Start-
ing And Operating” and “Towing A Disabled
Vehicle” in “What To Do In Emergencies” for
further information.
DRIVE
This range should be used for most city and
highway driving. It provides the smoothest up-
shifts and downshifts, and the best fuel economy. The transmission automatically up-
shifts through underdrive first, second, and
third gears, direct fourth gear and overdrive
fifth gear. The DRIVE position provides opti-
mum driving characteristics under all normal
operating conditions.
When frequent transmission shifting occurs
(such as when operating the vehicle under
heavy loading conditions, in hilly terrain, travel-
ing into strong head winds, or while towing
heavy trailers), use the Electronic Range Select
(ERS) feature (refer to “Electronic Range Select
(ERS)” in this section) to select a lower gear
range. Under these conditions, using a lower
gear range will improve performance and ex-
tend transmission life by reducing excessive
shifting and heat buildup.
Transmission Limp Home Mode
Transmission function is monitored electroni-
cally for abnormal conditions. If a condition is
detected that could result in transmission dam-
age, Transmission Limp Home Mode is acti-
vated. In this mode, the transmission remains in
the current gear until the vehicle is brought to a
stop. After the vehicle has stopped, the trans-
mission will remain in second gear regardless
224

of which forward gear is selected. PARK, RE-
VERSE, and NEUTRAL will continue to operate.
The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) may be
illuminated. Limp Home Mode allows the ve-
hicle to be driven to an authorized dealer for
service without damaging the transmission.
In the event of a momentary problem, the
transmission can be reset to regain all forward
gears by performing the following steps:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Shift the transmission into PARK.
3. Turn the ignition switch to the LOCK/OFF
position.
4. Wait approximately 10 seconds.
5. Restart the engine.
6. Shift into the desired gear range. If the
problem is no longer detected, the transmis-
sion will return to normal operation.
NOTE:
Even if the transmission can be reset, we
recommend that you visit your authorized
dealer at your earliest possible conve-nience. Your authorized dealer has diagnos-
tic equipment to determine if the problem
could recur.
If the transmission cannot be reset, authorized
dealer service is required.
Electronic Range Select (ERS) Operation
The Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift control
allows the driver to limit the highest available
gear when the shift lever is in the DRIVE
position. For example, if you shift the transmis-
sion into 3 (third gear), the transmission will
never shift above third gear, but will shift down
into second and first gear normally.
You can switch between DRIVE and ERS mode
at any vehicle speed. When the shift lever is in
the DRIVE position, the transmission will oper-
ate automatically, shifting between all available
gears. Tapping the shift lever to the left (-) will
downshift the transmission, activate ERS mode,
display the current gear in the instrument clus-
ter, and maintain that gear as the top available
gear. Once in ERS mode, tapping the shift lever
to the left (-) or right (+) will change the top
available gear.
To exit ERS mode, simply press and hold the
shift lever to the right (+) until “D” is once again
displayed in the shift lever position indicator in
the instrument cluster.
WARNING!
Do not downshift for additional engine braking
on a slippery surface. The drive wheels could
lose their grip and the vehicle could skid,
causing an accident or personal injury.
Screen Display
12 34D
Actual Gear(s)
Allowed 1 1-2 1-3 1-4 1-5
NOTE:
To select the proper gear position for maxi-
mum deceleration (engine braking), simply
press and hold the shift lever to the left (-).
The transmission will shift to the range from
which the vehicle can best be slowed down.
225

When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake
before placing the shift lever in PARK, other-
wise the load on the transmission locking
mechanism may make it difficult to move the
shift lever out of PARK. As an added precau-
tion, turn the front wheels toward the curb on a
downhill grade and away from the curb on an
uphill grade.
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.
• Your vehicle could move and injure you and
others if it is not completely in PARK.
Check by trying to move the shift lever
rearward (with the brake pedal released),
after you have placed it in PARK. Make
sure the transmission is in PARK before
leaving the vehicle.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
•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
pressing the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit some-
one or something. Only shift into gear when
the engine is idling normally and when your
foot is firmly pressing the brake pedal.
• Unintended movement of a vehicle could
injure those in or near the vehicle. As with
all vehicles, you should never exit a vehicle
while the engine is running. Before exiting a
vehicle, always apply the parking brake,
shift the transmission into PARK, and re-
move the key fob. Once the key fob is
removed, the shift lever is locked in the
PARK position, securing the vehicle
against unwanted movement.
• When leaving the vehicle, always remove
the key fob and lock your vehicle.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Allow-
ing children to be in a vehicle unattended is
dangerous for a number of reasons. A child
or others could be seriously or fatally in-
jured. Children should be warned not to
touch the parking brake, brake pedal or the
shift lever. Do not leave the key fob in or
near the vehicle, and do not leave Keyless
Enter-N-Go in the ACC or ON/RUN mode.
A child could operate power windows, other
controls, or move the vehicle.
CAUTION!
•Before moving the shift lever out of PARK,
you must turn the ignition switch from the
LOCK/OFF position to the ON/RUN posi-
tion, and also press the brake pedal. Oth-
erwise, damage to the shift lever could
result.
(Continued)
227

CAUTION!(Continued)
• DO NOT race the engine when shifting
from PARK or NEUTRAL into another gear
range, as this can damage the drivetrain.
The following indicators should be used to
ensure that you have engaged the shift lever
into the PARK position:
• When shifting into PARK, move the shift lever
all the way forward and to the left until it stops
and is fully seated.
• Look at the shift lever position display and
verify that it indicates the PARK position.
• With brake pedal released, verify that the
shift lever will not move out of PARK.
REVERSE
This range is for moving the vehicle backward.
Shift into REVERSE only after the vehicle has
come to a complete stop. NEUTRAL
Use this range when the vehicle is standing for
prolonged periods with engine running. The
engine may be started in this range. Set the
parking brake and shift the transmission into
PARK if you must leave the vehicle.
WARNING!
Do not coast in NEUTRAL and never turn off
the ignition to coast down a hill. These are
unsafe practices that limit your response to
changing traffic or road conditions. You might
lose control of the vehicle and have a colli-
sion.
CAUTION!
Towing the vehicle, coasting, or driving for any
other reason with the transmission in NEU-
TRAL can result in severe transmission dam-
age. Refer to “Recreational Towing” in “Start-
ing And Operating” and “Towing A Disabled
Vehicle” in “What To Do In Emergencies” for
further information.DRIVE
This range should be used for most city and
highway driving. It provides the smoothest up-
shifts and downshifts, and the best fuel
economy. The transmission automatically up-
shifts through underdrive first and second
gears, direct third gear and overdrive fourth
and fifth gears. The DRIVE position provides
optimum driving characteristics under all nor-
mal operating conditions.
To access all six available gears, you must use
the Electronic Range Select (ERS) feature (refer
to “Electronic Range Select (ERS)” in this sec-
tion).
When frequent transmission shifting occurs
(such as when operating the vehicle under
heavy loading conditions, in hilly terrain, travel-
ing into strong head winds, or while towing
heavy trailers), use the Electronic Range Select
(ERS) feature (refer to “Electronic Range Select
(ERS)” in this section) to select a lower gear
range. Under these conditions, using a lower
gear range will improve performance and ex-
tend transmission life by reducing excessive
shifting and heat buildup.
228

If the transmission operating temperature ex-
ceeds normal operating limits, the powertrain
controller will modify the transmission shift
schedule and expand the range of torque con-
verter clutch engagement. This is done to pre-
vent transmission damage due to overheating.
If the transmission becomes extremely hot, the
“Transmission Temperature Warning Light” may
illuminate and the transmission may downshift
out of Overdrive until the transmission cools
down.
NOTE:
Use caution when operating a heavily
loaded vehicle at low speeds (such as tow-
ing a trailer up a steep grade, or in stop-
and-go traffic) during hot weather. In these
conditions, torque converter slip can im-
pose a significant additional heat load on
the cooling system. Downshifting the trans-
mission to the lowest possible gear (when
climbing a grade), or shifting to NEUTRAL
(when stopped in heavy traffic) can help to
reduce this excess heat generation.
During cold temperatures, transmission opera-
tion may be modified depending on engine andtransmission temperature as well as vehicle
speed. This feature improves warm up time of
the engine and transmission to achieve maxi-
mum efficiency. Engagement of both the torque
converter clutch and the top overdrive gear are
inhibited until the transmission fluid is warm
(refer to the “Note” under “Torque Converter
Clutch” in this section). During extremely cold
temperatures (-16°F [-27°C] or below), opera-
tion may briefly be limited to first and direct
gears only. Normal operation will resume once
the transmission temperature has risen to a
suitable level.
Transmission Limp Home Mode
Transmission function is monitored electroni-
cally for abnormal conditions. If a condition is
detected that could result in transmission dam-
age, Transmission Limp Home Mode is acti-
vated. In this mode, the transmission remains in
direct gear regardless of which forward gear is
selected. PARK, REVERSE, and NEUTRAL will
continue to operate. The Malfunction Indicator
Light (MIL) may be illuminated. Limp Home
Mode allows the vehicle to be driven to an
authorized dealer for service without damaging
the transmission.
In the event of a momentary problem, the
transmission can be reset to regain all forward
gears by performing the following steps:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Shift the transmission into PARK.
3. Turn the ignition switch to the LOCK/OFF
position.
4. Wait approximately 10 seconds.
5. Restart the engine.
6. Shift into the desired gear range. If the
problem is no longer detected, the transmis-
sion will return to normal operation.
NOTE:
Even if the transmission can be reset, we
recommend that you visit your authorized
dealer at your earliest possible conve-
nience. Your authorized dealer has diagnos-
tic equipment to determine if the problem
could recur.
If the transmission cannot be reset, authorized
dealer service is required.
229