2012 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE ignition

WARNING!
Be sure the hood is fully latched before driving
your vehicle. If the hood is not fully latched, it
could open when the vehicle is in motion and
block your vision. Failure to follow this warn-
ing could result in serious injury or death.
LIGHTS
Headlight Switch
The headlight switch is located on the left side
of the instrument panel, next to the steering
wheel. The headlight switch controls the opera-
tion of the headlights, parking lights, instrument
panel lights, cargo lights and fog lights (if
equipped).To turn on the headlights, rotate
the headlight switch clockwise.
When the headlight switch is on
the parking lights, taillights, li-
cense plate light and instrument
panel lights are also turned on. To
turn off the headlights, rotate the headlight
switch back to the O (Off) position.
NOTE:
• Your vehicle is equipped with plastic
headlight and fog light (if equipped)
lenses that are lighter and less suscep-
tible to stone breakage than glass lights. Plastic is not as scratch resistant as glass
and therefore different lens cleaning pro-
cedures must be followed.
• To minimize the possibility of scratching
the lenses and reducing light output,
avoid wiping with a dry cloth. To remove
road dirt, wash with a mild soap solution
followed by rinsing.
CAUTION!
Do not use abrasive cleaning components,
solvents, steel wool or other abrasive materi-
als to clean the lenses.
Automatic Headlights — If EquippedThis system automatically turns the headlights
on or off according to ambient light levels. To
turn the system on, rotate the headlight switch
to the A (AUTO) position.
When the system is on, the Headlight Delay
feature is also on. This means the headlights
will stay on for up to 90 seconds after you turn
the ignition switch to the OFF position. To turn
the automatic headlights off, turn the headlight
switch out of the AUTO position.
Headlight Switch
105

the windshield or camera lens will cause the
system to function improperly.
Daytime Running Lights — If
Equipped
The Daytime Running Lights (low intensity)
come on whenever the engine is running, and
the transmission is not in the PARK position.
The lights will remain on until the ignition is
switched to the OFF or ACC position or the
parking brake is engaged. Also, if a turn signal
is activated, the DRL lamp on the same side of
the vehicle will turn off for the duration of the
turn signal activation. Once the turn signal is no
longer active, the DRL lamp will illuminate. The
headlight switch must be used for normal night-
time driving.
Disabling The Daytime Running Lights
To disable the Daytime Running Lights open
the hood and located the Power Distribution
Center (PDC), located on the right side of the
engine compartment.Open the PDC by pulling outward on the lock-
ing tabs (one on each side) and pulling upward
on the cover.Remove the left and right Daytime Running
Lamp relays and reinstall the PDC cover.
Automatic Headlight Leveling — HID
Headlights Only
This feature prevents the headlights from inter-
fering with the vision of oncoming drivers.
Headlight leveling automatically adjusts the
height of the headlight beam in reaction to
changes in vehicle pitch.
Headlight DelayTo aid in your exit, your vehicle is equipped with
a headlight delay that will leave the headlights
on for approximately 90 seconds. This delay is
PDC Location
Locking Tab
Daytime Running Light Relays
107

initiated when the ignition is turned OFF while
the headlight switch is on, and then the head-
light switch is cycled off. Headlight delay can
be cancelled by either turning the headlight
switch on then off, or by turning the ignition ON.
The headlight delay time is programmable on
vehicles equipped with an Electronic Vehicle
Information Center (EVIC). Refer to “Electronic
Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)/Customer-
Programmable Features” in “Understanding
Your Instrument Panel” for further information.
Parking Lights and Panel Lights
To turn on the parking lights and instru-
ment panel lights, rotate the headlight
switch clockwise. To turn off the park-
ing lights, rotate the headlight switch back to
the O (Off) position.
Front And Rear Fog Lights — If
Equipped
The front and rear fog lights may be operated
as desired when visibility is poor due to fog.
The fog lights will activate in the following order:
Press the headlight switch once and the front
fog lights come on. Press the switch a second time and the rear fog lights will come on (front
fog lights stay on). Press the switch a third time
and the rear fog lights turn off (front fog stays
on). Press the switch a fourth times and the
front fog turns off. For vehicles without front fog,
rear fog will activate on the first press.
NOTE:
The headlight switch must first be turned to
the position lights or headlights position
before the fog lamp switch can be pushed in.
Interior LightsCourtesy and dome lights are turned on when
the front doors are opened, when the dimmer
control (rotating wheel on the right side of the
headlight switch) is rotated to the its farthest
upward position, or if equipped, when the UN-
LOCK button is pressed on the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter. When a door is open
and the interior lights are on, rotating the dim-
mer control all the way down, to the OFF detent,
will cause all the interior lights to go out. This is
also known as the “Party” mode because it
allows the doors to stay open for extended
periods of time without discharging the vehi-
cle’s battery.
The brightness of the instrument panel lighting
can be regulated by rotating the dimmer con-
trol up (brighter) or down (dimmer). When the
headlights are on you can supplement the
brightness of the odometer, trip odometer, radio
and overhead console by rotating the control to
its farthest position up until you hear a click.
This feature is termed the “Parade” mode and
is useful when headlights are required during
the day.
Fog Light Operation
108

Lights-On ReminderIf the headlights, parking lights, or cargo lights
are left on after the ignition is turned OFF, a
chime will sound when the driver’s door is
opened.
Battery SaverTo protect the life of your vehicle’s battery, load
shedding is provided for both the interior and
exterior lights.
If the ignition is OFF and any door is left ajar for
10 minutes or the dimmer control is rotated all
the way up to the dome ON position for 10 min-
utes, the interior lights will automatically turn off.If the headlights remain on while the ignition is
cycled OFF, the exterior lights will automatically
turn off after eight minutes. If the headlights are
turned on and left on for eight minutes while the
ignition is OFF, the exterior lights will automati-
cally turn off.
NOTE:
Battery saver mode is cancelled if the igni-
tion is ON.
Front Map/Reading Lights
The front map/reading lights are mounted in the
overhead console.
Each light can be turned on by pressing a
switch on either side of the console. These
buttons are backlit for night time visibility. To
turn the lights off, press the switch a second
time. The lights will also turn on when the
UNLOCK button on the Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) is pressed.Dimmer Control
Front Map/Reading Lights
Front Map/Reading Light Switches
109

wiper sensitivity. Settings 4 can be used if the
driver desires more sensitivity. Place the wiper
switch in the OFF position when not using the
system.
NOTE:
•The Rain Sensing feature will not operate
when the wiper switch is in the low or
high-speed position.
• The Rain Sensing feature may not func-
tion properly when ice, or dried salt water
is present on the windshield.
• Use of Rain-X or products containing
wax or silicone may reduce Rain Sensing
performance.
• A customer programmable feature in the
Electronic Vehicle Information Center
(EVIC) allows the Rain Sensing feature to
be turned off. Refer to “Electronic Vehicle
Information Center (EVIC)/Personal Set-
tings (Customer-Programmable Fea-
tures)” in “Understanding Your Instru-
ment Panel” for further information. The Rain Sensing system has protection fea-
tures for the wiper blades and arms, and will
not operate under the following conditions:
•
Low Ambient Temperature — When the
ignition is first turned ON, the Rain Sensing
system will not operate until the wiper switch
is moved, vehicle speed is greater than
0 mph (0 km/h), or the outside temperature is
greater than 32°F (0°C).
• Transmission In NEUTRAL Position —
When the ignition is ON, and the transmis-
sion is in the NEUTRAL position, the Rain
Sensing system will not operate until the
wiper switch is moved, vehicle speed is
greater than 5 mph (8 km/h), or the shift lever
is moved out of the NEUTRAL position.
TILT/TELESCOPING STEERING
COLUMN
This feature allows you to tilt the steering col-
umn upward or downward. It also allows you to
lengthen or shorten the steering column. The
tilt/telescoping lever is located below the steer-
ing wheel at the end of the steering column. To unlock the steering column, push the lever
downward (toward the floor). To tilt the steering
column, move the steering wheel upward or
downward as desired. To lengthen or shorten
the steering column, pull the steering wheel
outward or push it inward as desired. To lock
the steering column in position, push the lever
upward until fully engaged.
Tilt/Telescoping Lever
11 3

To ActivatePush the ON/OFF button. The Cruise Indicator
Light in the instrument cluster will illuminate. To
turn the system off, push the ON/OFF button a
second time. The Cruise Indicator Light will turn
off. The system should be turned off when not in
use.
WARNING!
Leaving the Electronic Speed Control system
on when not in use is dangerous. You could
accidentally set the system or cause it to go
faster than you want. You could lose control
and have an accident. Always leave the sys-
tem OFF when you are not using it.
To Set A Desired SpeedTurn the Electronic Speed Control ON. When
the vehicle has reached the desired speed,
press the SET (-) button and release. Release
the accelerator and the vehicle will operate at
the selected speed.NOTE:
The vehicle should be traveling at a steady
speed and on level ground before pressing
the SET button.
To DeactivateA soft tap on the brake pedal, pushing the
CANCEL button, or normal brake pressure
while slowing the vehicle will deactivate Elec-
tronic Speed Control without erasing the set
speed memory. Pressing the ON/OFF button or
turning the ignition switch OFF erases the set
speed memory.
To Resume SpeedTo resume a previously set speed, push the
RES (+) button and release. Resume can be
used at any speed above 20 mph (32 km/h).
To Vary The Speed SettingWhen the Electronic Speed Control is set, you
can increase speed by pushing the RES (+)
button. If the button is continually pressed, the
set speed will continue to increase until the
button is released, then the new set speed will
be established.Pressing the RES (+) button once will result in a
1 mph (2 km/h) increase in set speed. Each
subsequent tap of the button results in an
increase of 1 mph (2 km/h).
To decrease speed while the Electronic Speed
Control is set, push the SET (-) button. If the
button is continually held in the SET (-) position,
the set speed will continue to decrease until the
button is released. Release the button when the
desired speed is reached, and the new set
speed will be established.
Pressing the SET (-) button once will result in a
1 mph (2 km/h) decrease in set speed. Each
subsequent tap of the button results in a de-
crease of 1 mph (2 km/h).
To Accelerate For PassingPress the accelerator as you would normally.
When the pedal is released, the vehicle will
return to the set speed.
Using Electronic Speed Control On Hills
The transmission may downshift on hills to
maintain the vehicle set speed.
11 6

Remove your foot from the accelerator pedal. If
you do not, the vehicle may continue to accel-
erate beyond the set speed. If this occurs:
•The message “DRIVER OVERRIDE” will dis-
play in the EVIC.
• The system will not be controlling the dis-
tance between your vehicle and the vehicle
ahead. The vehicle speed will only be deter-
mined by the position of the accelerator
pedal.To CancelThe system will disable ACC without erasing
the memory if:
•You softly tap the brake pedal.
• You depress the brake pedal.
• You press the CANCEL switch.
• An Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) event oc-
curs.
• A Trailer Sway Control (TSC) event occurs.
• If the transmission is shifted into NEUTRAL.
• The Electronic Stability Control/Traction Con-
trol System (ESC/TCS) activates.
NOTE:
If ACC is resumed or set with the ESC/TCS
off, ESC will automatically be re-engaged.
To Turn OffThe system will turn off and erase the set speed
in memory if:
• You push the ON/OFF button.
• You turn OFF the ignition.
• You switch to Four-Wheel Drive Low.
To Resume SpeedPress the RES +button and release. Then
remove your foot from the accelerator pedal.
The EVIC will display the last set speed.Driver Override
Adaptive Cruise Control Cancelled
120

To Vary The Speed Setting
There are two ways to change the set speed:
•Use the accelerator pedal to adjust the ve-
hicle to the desired speed and press the SET
-button.
• Tap the RES +or SET -button to increase or
decrease the set speed in 0.6 mph (1 km/h)
increments respectively. Hold the RES +or
SET -button for 6 mph (10 km/h) increments.
To Cancel
The system will disable normal Cruise Control
without erasing the memory if:
• You softly tap or depress the brake pedal.
• You press the CANCEL button.
• The Electronic Stability Control/Traction Con-
trol System (ESC/TCS) activates.
To Resume
Press the RES +button and then remove your
foot from the accelerator pedal. The EVIC will
display the last set speed. To Turn Off
The system will turn off and erase the set speed
in memory if:
•
You push the ON/OFF button.
• You turn off the ignition.
• You engage Four-Wheel Drive Low.
If the Cruise Control system is turned off and
reactivated, the system will return to the last
driver setting (ACC or Normal Cruise Control).
Forward Collision Warning — If
Equipped
Forward Collision Warning (FCW) warns the
driver of a potential collision with the vehicle in
front of you and prompts the driver to take
action in order to avoid the collision.
FCW monitors the information from the forward
looking sensor as well as the Electronic Brake
Controller (EBC), wheel speed sensors, i.e., to
calculate a probable rear-end collision. When
the system determines that a rear-end collision
is probable a warning message (both audible
and visual) will be displayed on the EVIC. When
the system determines a collision with the ve- hicle in front of you is no longer probable, the
warning message will be deactivated.
When entering or driving in a curve, the FCW
alerts may be triggered on objects other than
vehicles such as guard rails or sign posts
based on the course prediction. This is ex-
pected and is a part of normal FCW activation
and functionality.
NOTE:
The minimum speed for FCW activation is
10 mph (16 km/h).
FCW Message
129