2012 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE neutral

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
248

information. When TSC is functioning, the “ESC
Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” will
flash, the engine power may be reduced and
you may feel the brakes being applied to
individual wheels to attempt to stop the trailer
from swaying. TSC is disabled when the ESC
system is in the “Partial Off” mode.
WARNING!
If TSC activates while driving, slow the vehicle
down, stop at the nearest safe location, and
adjust the trailer load to eliminate trailer sway.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)The HSA system is designed to assist the driver
when starting a vehicle from a stop on a hill.
HSA will maintain the level of brake pressure
the driver applied for a short period of time after
the driver takes their foot off of the brake pedal.
If the driver does not apply the throttle during
this short period of time, the system will release
brake pressure and the vehicle will roll down
the hill. The system will release brake pressure
in proportion to the amount of throttle applied
as the vehicle starts to move in the intended
direction of travel.HSA Activation Criteria
The following criteria must be met in order for
HSA to activate:
•
Vehicle must be stopped.
• Vehicle must be on a 6% (approximate)
grade or greater hill.
• Gear selection matches vehicle uphill direc-
tion (i.e., vehicle facing uphill is in forward
gear; vehicle backing uphill is in REVERSE
gear).
HSA will work in REVERSE and all forward
gears when the activation criteria have been
met. The system will not activate if the vehicle is
placed in NEUTRAL or PARK.
WARNING!
There may be situations on minor hills (i.e.,
less than 8%), with a loaded vehicle, or while
pulling a trailer, when the system will not
activate and slight rolling may occur. This
could cause a collision with another vehicle or
object. Always remember the driver is respon-
sible for braking the vehicle. Towing With HSA
HSA will provide assistance when starting on a
grade when pulling a trailer.
WARNING!
•
If you use a trailer brake controller with your
trailer, your trailer brakes may be activated
and deactivated with the brake switch. If so,
when the brake pedal is released, there
may not be enough brake pressure to hold
the vehicle and trailer on a hill and this
could cause a collision with another vehicle
or object behind you. In order to avoid
rolling down the hill while resuming accel-
eration, manually activate the trailer brake
prior to releasing the brake pedal. Always
remember the driver is responsible for
braking the vehicle.
(Continued)
249

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.
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the maximum combined weight of occu-
pants and cargo for your vehicle.
Towing RequirementsTo promote proper break-in of your new vehicle
drivetrain components, the following guidelines
are recommended.
CAUTION!
•Do not tow a trailer at all during the first
500 miles (805 km) the new vehicle is
driven. The engine, axle or other parts
could be damaged.
• Then, during the first 500 miles (805 km)
that a trailer is towed, do not drive over
50 mph (80 km/h) and do not make starts at
full throttle. This helps the engine and other
parts of the vehicle wear in at the heavier
loads.
Perform the maintenance listed in the “Mainte-
nance Schedule.” Refer to “Maintenance
Schedule” for the proper maintenance inter-
vals. When towing a trailer, never exceed the
GAWR or GCWR ratings.
WARNING!
Improper towing can lead to an injury acci-
dent. Follow these guidelines to make your
trailer towing as safe as possible:
•
Make certain that the load is secured in the
trailer and will not shift during travel. When
trailering cargo that is not fully secured, dy-
namic load shifts can occur that may be
difficult for the driver to control. You could lose
control of your vehicle and have an accident.
• When hauling cargo or towing a trailer, do
not overload your vehicle or trailer. Over-
loading can cause a loss of control, poor
performance or damage to brakes, axle,
engine, transmission, steering, suspen-
sion, chassis structure or tires.
• Safety chains must always be used be-
tween your vehicle and trailer. Always con-
nect the chains to the hook retainers of the
vehicle hitch. Cross the chains under the
trailer tongue and allow enough slack for
turning corners.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
• Vehicles with trailers should not be parked
on a grade. When parking, apply the park-
ing brake on the tow vehicle. Put the tow
vehicle transmission in PARK. For four-
wheel drive vehicles, make sure the trans-
fer case is not in NEUTRAL. Always, block
or chock the trailer wheels.
• GCWR must not be exceeded.
• Total weight must be distributed be-
tween the tow vehicle and the trailer
such that the following four ratings are
not exceeded:
1. GVWR
2. GTW
3. GAWR
4. Trailer tongue weight rating for the trailer
hitch utilized.
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Electronic Speed Control – If Equipped
Do not use in hilly terrain or with heavy loads.
When using the speed control, if you expe-rience speed drops greater than 10 mph
(16 km/h), disengage until you can get back
to cruising speed.
Use speed control in flat terrain and with light loads to maximize fuel efficiency.
Cooling System
To reduce potential for engine and transmission
overheating, take the following actions:
City Driving
When stopped for short periods of time, shift
the transmission into NEUTRAL and increase
engine idle speed.
Highway Driving
Reduce speed.
Air Conditioning
Turn off temporarily. Trailer Hitch Attaching Points
Your vehicle will require extra equipment to tow
a trailer safely and efficiently. The trailer tow
hitch must be attached to your vehicle using
the provided attaching points on the vehicle’s
frame. Refer to the following chart to determine
the accurate attaching points. Other equip-
ment, such as trailer sway controls and braking
equipment, trailer equalizing (leveling) equip-
ment and low profile mirrors, may also be
required or strongly recommended.Trailer Tow Hitch Attaching Points And
Overhang Dimensions
Fixed, Detach andRetractable Hitch
A 1.85 ft. (565 mm)
B 2.09 ft. (636 mm)
C 2.32 ft. (707 mm)
D 2.4 ft. (733 mm)
E 1.62 ft. (494 mm)
F 1.47 ft. (447 mm)
275

RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND MOTORHOME, ETC.)
Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle
Towing ConditionWheel OFF the Ground Four-Wheel Drive Models
Flat Tow NONESee Instructions
•
Transmission in PARK
• Transfer case in NEUTRAL (N)
• Tow in forward direction
Dolly Tow Front
NOT ALLOWED
Rear NOT ALLOWED
On Trailer ALL OK
NOTE:
Vehicles equipped with Quadra-Lift™ must be lowered to the “Park” (lowest) level, and have automatic leveling disabled, before tying
them down (from the body) on a trailer or flatbed truck. Refer to “Quadra-Lift™ – If Equipped” in “Starting and Operating” for more infor-
mation. If the vehicle cannot be lowered to the “Park” level (for example, engine will not run), tie-downs must be fastened to the axles (not
to the body). Failure to follow these instructions may cause fault codes to be set and/or loss of proper tie-down tension.
276

Recreational Towing — Quadra–Trac
II/Quadra–Drive II Four-Wheel
Drive Models
The transfer case must be shifted into NEU-
TRAL (N) and the transmission must be placed
in PARK for recreational towing. The NEUTRAL
(N) selection button is adjacent to the transfer
case selector switch. Shifts into and out of
transfer case NEUTRAL (N) can take place with
the selector switch in any mode position.
CAUTION!
• Front or rear wheel lifts should not be used.
Internal damage to the transmission or
transfer case will occur if a front or rear
wheel lift is used when recreational towing.
• Tow only in a forward direction. Towing this
vehicle backwards can cause severe dam-
age to the transfer case.
• The transmission must be placed in PARK
for recreational towing.
(Continued)
CAUTION!(Continued)
• Before recreational towing, perform the
procedure outlined under “Shifting into
NEUTRAL (N)” to be certain that the trans-
fer case is fully in NEUTRAL (N). Other-
wise, internal damage will result.
• Failure to follow these procedures can
cause severe transmission and/or transfer
case damage.
• Do not use a bumper-mounted clamp-on
tow bar on your vehicle. The bumper face
bar will be damaged. Shifting Into NEUTRAL (N)
WARNING!
You or others could be injured if you leave the
vehicle unattended with the transfer case in
the NEUTRAL (N) position without first fully
engaging the parking brake. The transfer case
NEUTRAL (N) position disengages both the
front and rear driveshafts from the powertrain
and 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.
Use the following procedure to prepare your
vehicle for recreational towing.
CAUTION!
It is necessary to follow these steps to be
certain that the transfer case is fully in NEU-
TRAL (N) before recreational towing to pre-
vent damage to internal parts.
277

1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop and
shift the transmission to PARK.
2. Turn the engine OFF.
3. For vehicles with Keyless Enter-N-Go, re-
move the Keyless Enter-N-Go button and use
the key fob to complete this procedure. Refer to
“Starting Procedures/Keyless Enter-N-Go” in
“Starting and Operating” for further information.
4. Turn the ignition switch to the ON/RUN po-
sition, but do not start the engine.
5. Press and hold the brake pedal.
6. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL.
7. Using the point of a ballpoint pen or similar
object, press and hold the recessed transfer
case NEUTRAL (N) button (located by the
selector switch) for four seconds, until the light
behind the N symbol starts to blink, indicating
shift in progress. The light will stop blinking
(stay on solid) when the shift to NEUTRAL (N) is
complete.8. After the shift is completed and the NEU-
TRAL (N) light stays on, release the NEUTRAL
(N) button.
9. Start the engine.
10. Shift the transmission into REVERSE.
11. Release the brake pedal for five seconds
and ensure that there is no vehicle movement.
12. Turn the engine OFF, then turn the ignition
switch back to the ON/RUN position without
starting the engine.
13. Firmly apply the parking brake.14. Shift the transmission into PARK.
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the
transmission is shifted into PARK with the
transfer case in NEUTRAL (N) and the engine
running. With the transfer case in NEUTRAL
(N) ensure that the engine is off prior to
shifting the transmission into PARK.
15. Attach the vehicle to the tow vehicle using
a suitable tow bar.
16. Release the parking brake.
17. Disconnect the negative battery cable, and
secure it away from the negative battery post.
NOTE:
• Steps 1 through 6 are requirements that
must be met prior to pressing the NEU-
TRAL (N) button, and must continue to be
met until the four seconds elapse and the
shift has been completed. If any of these
requirements are not met prior to press-
ing the NEUTRAL (N) button or are no
longer met during the four second timer,
NEUTRAL (N) Switch
278