2012 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 4WD

An advantage of the higher ground clearance
is a better view of the road, allowing you to
anticipate problems. They are not designed for
cornering at the same speeds as conventional
two-wheel drive vehicles any more than low-
slung sports cars are designed to perform
satisfactorily in off-road conditions. If at all
possible, avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneu-
vers. As with other vehicles of this type, failure
to operate this vehicle correctly may result in
loss of control or vehicle rollover.
OFF-ROAD DRIVING TIPS
NOTE:
Prior to off-road driving, remove the front air
dam to prevent damage. The front air dam is
attached to the lower front fascia with seven
quarter turn fasteners and can be removed
by hand.
Quadra-Lift™ – If EquippedWhen off-roading, it is recommended that the
lowest useable vehicle height that will clear the
current obstacle or terrain be selected. The
vehicle height should then be raised as re-
quired by the changes in terrain.
The Selec-Terrain™ switch will automatically
change the vehicle to the optimized height
based on the Selec-Terrain™ switch position.
The vehicle height can be changed from the
default height for each Selec-Terrain™ modeby normal use of the air suspension switches.
Refer to “Quadra-Lift™ – If Equipped” in “Start-
ing and Operating” for further information.
When To Use 4WD LOW Range – If
Equipped
When off-road driving, shift to 4WD LOW for
additional traction. This range should be limited
to extreme situations such as deep snow, mud,
or sand where additional low speed pulling
power is needed. Vehicle speeds in excess of
25 mph (40 km/h) should be avoided when in
4WD LOW range.
CAUTION!
Do not use 4WD LOW range when operating
the vehicle on dry pavement. Driveline hard-
ware damage can result.
Driving Through WaterAlthough your vehicle is capable of driving
through water, there are a number of precau-
tions that must be considered before entering
the water.
Front Air Dam
1 — Front Bumper
2 — Front Air Dam Fasteners
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NOTE:
Your vehicle is capable of water fording in
up to 20 inches (51 cm) of water, while
crossing small rivers or streams. To main-
tain optimal performance of your vehicle’s
heating and ventilation system it is recom-
mended to switch the system into recircula-
tion mode during water fording.
CAUTION!
When driving through water, do not exceed
5 mph (8 km/h). Always check water depth
before entering, as a precaution, and check all
fluids afterward. Driving through water may
cause damage that may not be covered by the
New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Driving through water more than a few inches/
centimeters deep will require extra caution to
ensure safety and prevent damage to your
vehicle. If you must drive through water, try to
determine the depth and the bottom condition
(and location of any obstacles) prior to enter-
ing. Proceed with caution and maintain a steady controlled speed less than 5 mph
(8 km/h) in deep water to minimize wave ef-
fects.
Flowing Water
If the water is swift flowing and rising (as in
storm run-off), avoid crossing until the water
level recedes and/or the flow rate is reduced. If
you must cross flowing water avoid depths in
excess of 9 inches (23 cm). The flowing water
can erode the streambed, causing your vehicle
to 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 inches (51 cm), and reduce speed appro-
priately to minimize wave effects. Maximum
speed in 20 inches (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) shouldbe 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 forward
motion. 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.
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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.
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.
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ERM can only reduce the chance of wheel lift
occurring during severe or evasive driving ma-
neuvers. It cannot prevent wheel lift due to
other factors such as road conditions, leaving
the roadway or striking objects or other ve-
hicles.
WARNING!
Many factors, such as vehicle loading, road
conditions and driving conditions, influence
the chance that wheel lift or rollover may
occur. ERM cannot prevent all wheel lift or
rollovers, especially those that involve leaving
the roadway or striking objects or other ve-
hicles. The capabilities of an ERM-equipped
vehicle must never be exploited in a reckless
or dangerous manner which could jeopardize
the user’s safety or the safety of others.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
This system enhances directional control and
stability of the vehicle under various driving
conditions. ESC corrects for oversteering or
understeering of the vehicle by applying the
brake of the appropriate wheel to assist incounteracting the oversteer or understeer con-
dition. Engine power may also be reduced to
help the vehicle maintain the desired path.
ESC uses sensors in the vehicle to determine
the vehicle path intended by the driver and
compares it to the actual path of the vehicle.
When the actual path does not match the
intended path, ESC applies the brake of the
appropriate wheel to assist in counteracting the
oversteer or understeer condition.
•
Oversteer - when the vehicle is turning more
than appropriate for the steering wheel po-
sition.
• Understeer - when the vehicle is turning less
than appropriate for the steering wheel po-
sition.
The “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator
Light” located in the instrument cluster will start
to flash as soon as the tires lose traction and
the ESC system becomes active. The “ESC
Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” also
flashes when the TCS is active. If the “ESC
Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” begins
to flash during acceleration, ease up on the
accelerator and apply as little throttle as pos- sible. Be sure to adapt your speed and driving
to the prevailing road conditions.
WARNING!
The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) cannot
prevent the natural laws of physics from act-
ing on the vehicle, nor can it increase the
traction afforded by prevailing road condi-
tions. ESC cannot prevent accidents, includ-
ing those resulting from excessive speed in
turns, driving on very slippery surfaces, or
hydroplaning. The capabilities of an ESC
equipped vehicle must never be exploited in a
reckless or dangerous manner which could
jeopardize the user’s safety or the safety of
others.
The ESC system has two available operating
modes in 4WD HIGH range, and one operating
mode in 4WD LOW range.
High Range (Four-Wheel Drive Models)
On
This is the normal operating mode for ESC in
4WD HIGH range. Whenever the vehicle is 247

started or the transfer case (if equipped) is
shifted from 4WD LOW range or NEUTRAL
back to 4WD HIGH range, the ESC system will
be in this “On” mode. This mode should be
used for most driving situations. ESC should
only be turned to “Partial Off” mode for specific
reasons as noted below.
Partial Off
This mode is entered by momentarily pressing
the “ESC OFF” switch. When in “Partial Off”
mode, the TCS portion of ESC, except for the
BLD feature described in the TCS section, has
been disabled and the “ESC Off Indicator
Light” will be illuminated. All other stability
features of ESC function normally. This mode is
intended to be used if the vehicle is in deep
snow, sand, or gravel conditions and more
wheel spin than ESC would normally allow is
required to gain traction. To turn ESC on again,
momentarily press the “ESC OFF” switch. This
will restore the normal “ESC On” mode of
operation.
When in “Partial Off” mode, the TCS function-
ality of ESC, (except for the limited slip feature
described in the TCS section), has been dis-
abled and the “ESC Off Indicator Light” will beilluminated. All other stability features of ESC
function normally. When in “Partial Off” mode,
the engine power reduction feature of TCS is
disabled, and the enhanced vehicle stability
offered by the ESC system is reduced.
NOTE:
To improve the vehicle’s traction when driv-
ing with snow chains, or starting off in deep
snow, sand, or gravel, it may be desirable to
switch to the “Partial Off” mode by pressing
the “ESC OFF” switch. Once the situation
requiring ESC to be switched to the “Partial
Off” mode is overcome, turn ESC back on by
momentarily pressing the “ESC OFF”
switch. This may be done while the vehicle
is in motion.
4WD Low Range
Partial Off
This is the normal operating mode for ESC in
4WD LOW range. Whenever the vehicle is
started in 4WD LOW range, or the transfer case
(if equipped) is shifted from 4WD HIGH range
or NEUTRAL to 4WD LOW range, the ESC
system will be in the “Partial Off” mode.
Trailer Sway Control (TSC)TSC uses sensors in the vehicle to recognize
an excessively swaying trailer and will take the
appropriate actions to attempt to stop the sway.
The system may reduce engine power and
apply the brake of the appropriate wheel(s) to
counteract the sway of the trailer. TSC will
become active automatically once an exces-
sively swaying trailer is recognized. No driver
action is required. Note that TSC cannot stop all
trailers from swaying. Always use caution when
towing a trailer and follow the trailer tongue
weight recommendations. Refer to “Trailer Tow-
ing” in “Starting and Operating” for further
ESC OFF Switch
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WARNING!(Continued)
• HSA is not a parking brake. If you stop the
vehicle on a hill without putting the trans-
mission in PARK and using the parking
brake, it will roll down the hill and could
cause a collision with another vehicle or
object. Always remember to use the park-
ing brake while parking on a hill, and that
the driver is responsible for braking the
vehicle.
HSA Off
If you wish to turn off the HSA system, it can be
done using the Customer Programmable Fea-
tures in the Electronic Vehicle Information Cen-
ter (EVIC). Refer to “Electronic Vehicle Informa-
tion Center (EVIC)” in “Understanding Your
Instrument Panel” for further information.
Ready Alert BrakingReady Alert Braking may reduce the time re-
quired to reach full braking during emergency
braking situations. It anticipates when an emer-
gency braking situation may occur by monitor-
ing how fast the throttle is released by the driver. When the throttle is released very
quickly, Ready Alert Braking applies a small
amount of brake pressure. This brake pressure
will not be noticed by the driver. The brake
system uses this brake pressure to allow a fast
brake response if the driver applies the brakes.
Rain Brake SupportRain Brake Support may improve braking per-
formance in wet conditions. It will periodically
apply a small amount of brake pressure to
remove any water buildup on the front brake
rotors. It only functions when the windshield
wipers are in the LO or HI mode, it does not
function in the intermittent mode. When Rain
Brake Support is active, there is no notification
to the driver and no driver interaction is re-
quired.
Hill Descent Control (HDC) —
Four-Wheel Drive Models With
MP3023 Two-Speed Transfer Case
Only
HDC maintains vehicle speed while descend-
ing hills during off-road driving situations and is
available in 4WD LOW range only. To enable
HDC, press the HDC switch or put the Selec-Terrain™ system in “ROCK” mode (“ROCK”
mode is only available in 4WD LOW range).
When HDC is enabled, the HDC icon will be
illuminated in the instrument cluster. HDC will
automatically apply the brakes to control down-
hill speed to the selected level when necessary
on grades greater than approximately 8%. It
will usually not activate on level ground.
The HDC speed may be adjusted by the driver
to suit the driving conditions. The speed corre-
sponds to the transmission gear selected.
HDC operation can be overridden with brake
application to slow the vehicle down below the
Hill Descent Switch
250

HDC control speed. Conversely, if more speed
is desired during HDC control, the accelerator
pedal will increase vehicle speed in the usual
manner. When either the brake or the accelera-
tor is released, HDC will control the vehicle
back to the original set speed.
HDC Operation in 4WD Low Range
To enable HDC, press the HDC switch or put
the Selec-Terrain™ system in the “ROCK”
mode. The HDC icon will be illuminated in the
instrument cluster and HDC will function. If the
vehicle speed goes above 20 mph (32 km/h),
the HDC icon will flash and HDC will not
function. To disable HDC, press the HDC
switch.
4WD Low Range Set Speeds
•1st = 1 mph (1.6 km/h)
• 2nd = 2.5 mph (4 km/h)
• 3rd = 4 mph (6 km/h)
• 4th = 5.5 mph (9 km/h)
• 5th or D (Drive) = 7.5 mph (12 km/h)
• REVERSE = 1 mph (1.6 km/h)
• NEUTRAL = 2.5 mph (4 km/h) •
PARK = HDC will not function
HDC is intended for low speed off-road driv-
ing only. At vehicle speeds above 20 mph
(32 km/h), HDC will no longer function. When
the vehicle speed drops below 20 mph
(32 km/h), HDC function will automatically re-
sume and the vehicle speed will return to the
chosen set speed.
WARNING!
HDC is only intended to assist the driver in
controlling vehicle speed when descending
hills. The driver must remain attentive to the
driving conditions and is responsible for main-
taining a safe vehicle speed.
ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator
Light and ESC OFF Indicator Light
The “ESC Activation/Malfunction
Indicator Light” in the instrument
cluster will come on when the igni-
tion switch is turned to the ON
position. It should turn off with the
engine running. If the “ESC
Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” comes on continuously with the engine running, a
malfunction has been detected in the ESC
system. If this light remains on after several
ignition cycles, and the vehicle has been driven
several miles (kilometers) at speeds greater
than 30 mph (48 km/h), see your authorized
dealer as soon as possible to have the problem
diagnosed and corrected.
The “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator
Light” (located in the instrument cluster) starts
to flash as soon as the tires lose traction and
the ESC system becomes active. The “ESC
Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” also
flashes when TCS is active. If the “ESC
Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” begins
to flash during acceleration, ease up on the
accelerator and apply as little throttle as pos-
sible. Be sure to adapt your speed and driving
to the prevailing road conditions.
NOTE:
•
The “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indica-
tor Light” and the “ESC OFF Indicator
Light” come on momentarily each time
the ignition switch is turned ON.
251

Towing ConditionWheels OFF the Ground 4WD Models
Flat Tow NONESee instructions in “Recreational Towing” under “Starting and Operating”
•
Transmission in PARK
• Transfer case in NEUTRAL
• To w i n forward direction
Wheel Lift or Dolly Tow Front
NOT ALLOWED
Rear NOT ALLOWED
Flatbed ALL BEST METHOD
Proper towing or lifting equipment is required to
prevent damage to your vehicle. Use only tow
bars and other equipment designed for the
purpose, following equipment manufacturer’s
instructions. Use of safety chains is mandatory.
Attach a tow bar or other towing device to main
structural members of the vehicle, not to bum-
pers or associated brackets. State and local
laws applying to vehicles under tow must be
observed. If you must use the accessories (wipers, de-
frosters, etc.) while being towed, the ignition
must be in the ON/RUN position, not the ACC
position.
If the vehicle’s battery is discharged, see
Brake/Transmission Interlock Manual Override
(under Starting and Operating, Automatic
Transmission) for instructions on shifting the
automatic transmission out of the PARK posi-
tion for towing.
CAUTION!
•
Do not attempt to use sling type equipment
when towing. When securing the vehicle to
a flat bed truck, do not attach to front or rear
suspension components. Damage to your
vehicle may result from improper towing.
• If the vehicle being towed requires steering,
the ignition must be in the ON/RUN or ACC
position, not in the LOCK/OFF position.
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