2012 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE service

Poor quality gasoline can cause problems such
as hard starting, stalling and stumble. If you
experience these problems, try another brand
of gasoline before considering service for the
vehicle.
Methanol
(Methyl or Wood Alcohol) is used in a variety of
concentrations when blended with unleaded
gasoline. You may find fuels containing 3% or
more Methanol along with other alcohols called
cosolvents. Problems that result from using
Methanol/gasoline or E-85 Ethanol blends are
not the responsibility of the manufacturer. While
MTBE is an oxygenate made from Methanol, it
does not have the negative effects of Methanol.
CAUTION!
Do not use gasolines containing Methanol or
E-85 Ethanol. Use of these blends may result
in starting and driveability problems and may
damage critical fuel system components.Ethanol
The manufacturer recommends that your ve-
hicle be operated on fuel containing no more
than 10% Ethanol. Purchasing your fuel from a
reputable supplier may reduce the risk of ex-
ceeding this 10% limit and/or of receiving fuel
with abnormal properties. It should also be
noted that an increase in fuel consumption
should be expected when using Ethanol-
blended fuels, due to the lower energy content
of Ethanol.
Problems that result from using Methanol/
gasoline or E-85 Ethanol blends are not the
responsibility of the manufacturer. While MTBE
is an oxygenate made from Methanol, it does
not have the negative effects of Methanol.CAUTION!
Use of fuel with Ethanol content higher than
10% may result in engine malfunction, starting
and operating difficulties and materials degra-
dation. These adverse effects could result in
permanent damage to your vehicle.Clean Air Gasoline
Many gasolines are now being blended that
contribute to cleaner air, especially in those
areas where air pollution levels are high. These
new blends provide a cleaner burning fuel and
some are referred to as “reformulated gaso-
line.”
The manufacturer supports these efforts toward
cleaner air. You can help by using these blends
as they become available.
MMT in Gasoline
MMT is a manganese containing metallic addi-
tive that is blended into some gasoline to
increase octane. Gasoline blended with MMT
provides no performance advantage beyond
gasoline of the same octane number without
MMT. Gasoline blended with MMT reduces
spark plug life and reduces emission system
performance in some vehicles. The manufac-
turer recommends that gasoline without MMT
be used in your vehicle. The MMT content of
gasoline may not be indicated on the gasoline
pump; therefore, you should ask your gasoline
retailer whether or not his/her gasoline contains
MMT.
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Materials Added to Fuel
Besides using unleaded gasoline with the
proper octane rating, gasolines that contain
detergents, corrosion and stability additives
are recommended. Using gasolines that have
these additives will help improve fuel economy,
reduce emissions, and maintain vehicle perfor-
mance.
Indiscriminate use of fuel system cleaning
agents should be avoided. Many of these ma-
terials intended for gum and varnish removal
may contain active solvents or similar ingredi-
ents. These can harm fuel system gasket and
diaphragm materials.
WARNING!
Carbon monoxide (CO) in exhaust gases is
deadly. Follow the precautions below to pre-
vent carbon monoxide poisoning:(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
• Do not inhale exhaust gases. They contain
carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless
gas which can kill. Never run the engine in
a closed area, such as a garage, and never
sit in a parked vehicle with the engine
running for an extended period. If the ve-
hicle is stopped in an open area with the
engine running for more than a short pe-
riod, adjust the ventilation system to force
fresh, outside air into the vehicle.
• Guard against carbon monoxide with
proper maintenance. Have the exhaust
system inspected every time the vehicle is
raised. Have any abnormal conditions re-
paired promptly. Until repaired, drive with
all side windows fully open.
• Keep the liftgate closed when driving your
vehicle to prevent carbon monoxide and
other poisonous exhaust gases from enter-
ing the vehicle.FUEL REQUIREMENTS — DIESEL
ENGINE
Use good quality diesel fuel from a reputable
supplier. For most year-round service, No. 2
diesel fuel, meeting ASTM specification D-975
Grade S15, will provide good performance. If
the vehicle is exposed to extreme cold (below
20° F or -7° C), or is required to operate at
colder-than-normal conditions for prolonged
periods, use climatized No. 2 diesel fuel or
dilute the No. 2 diesel fuel with 50% No. 1
diesel fuel. This will provide better protection
from fuel gelling or wax-plugging of the fuel
filters. This vehicle must only use premium
diesel fuel that meets the requirements of
EN 590. Biodiesel blends that meet EN 590
may also be used.
CAUTION!
The manufacturer requires that you must fuel
this vehicle with Ultra Low Sulfur Highway
Diesel fuel (15 ppm Sulfur maximum) and
prohibits the use of Low Sulfur Highway Die-
sel fuel (500 ppm Sulfur maximum) to avoid
damage to the emissions control system.
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HAZARD WARNING FLASHERSThe Hazard Warning flasher switch is located
on the switch bank just above the climate
controls.Press the switch to turn on the Hazard
Warning flasher. When the switch is
activated, all directional turn signals will
flash on and off to warn oncoming
traffic of an emergency. Press the switch a
second time to turn off the Hazard Warning
flashers.
This is an emergency warning system and it
should not be used when the vehicle is in
motion. Use it when your vehicle is disabled
and it is creating a safety hazard for other
motorists.
When you must leave the vehicle to seek assis-
tance, the Hazard Warning flashers will con-
tinue to operate even though the ignition is
placed in the OFF position.
NOTE:
With extended use the Hazard Warning
flashers may wear down your battery.IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATSIn any of the following situations, you can
reduce the potential for overheating by taking
the appropriate action.
• On the highways — slow down.
• In city traffic — while stopped, place the
transmission in NEUTRAL, but do not in-
crease the engine idle speed.
NOTE:
There are steps that you can take to slow
down an impending overheat condition:
• If your air conditioner (A/C) is on, turn it
off. The A/C system adds heat to the
engine cooling system and turning the
A/C off can help remove this heat.
• You can also turn the temperature control
to maximum heat, the mode control to
floor and the blower control to high. This
allows the heater core to act as a supple-
ment to the radiator and aids in removing
heat from the engine cooling system.CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could dam-
age your vehicle. If the temperature gauge
reads HOT (H), pull over and stop the vehicle.
Idle the vehicle with the air conditioner turned
off until the pointer drops back into the normal
range. If the pointer remains on HOT (H), and
you hear continuous chimes, 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.
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JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING
WARNING!
•Do not attempt to change a tire on the side
of the vehicle close to moving traffic. Pull
far enough off the road to avoid the danger
of being hit when operating the jack or
changing the wheel.
• Being under a jacked-up vehicle is danger-
ous. The vehicle could slip off the jack and
fall on you. You could be crushed. Never
put any part of your body under a vehicle
that is on a jack. If you need to get under a
raised vehicle, take it to a service center
where it can be raised on a lift.
• Never start or run the engine while the
vehicle is on a jack.
• The jack is designed to be used as a tool
for changing tires only. The jack should not
be used to lift the vehicle for service pur-
poses. The vehicle should be jacked on a
firm level surface only. Avoid ice or slippery
areas.
Jack LocationThe scissor-type jack and tire changing tools
are located in rear cargo area, below the load
floor.
Spare Tire StowageThe spare tire is stowed under the load floor in
the rear cargo area and is secured to the body
with a special wing nut.
Preparations For Jacking
1. Park the vehicle on a firm, level surface.
Avoid ice or slippery surfaces.
WARNING!
Do not attempt to change a tire on the side of
the vehicle closest to moving traffic, pull far
enough off the road to avoid being hit when
operating the jack or changing the wheel.
2. Turn on the Hazard Warning flasher.
3. Set the parking brake.
4. Place the shift lever into PARK.
5. Turn the ignition OFF. 6. Block both the front
and rear of the wheel
diagonally opposite of
the jacking position. For
example, if changing
the right front tire, block
the left rear wheel.
NOTE:
Passengers should not remain in the vehicle
when the vehicle is being jacked.
Jack Storage Location
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13. Have the aluminum road wheel and tire
repaired as soon as possible, properly secure
the spare tire with the special wing nut torqued
to 3.7 ft-lbs (5 N·m), reinstall the jack and tool
kit foam tray, and latch the rear load floor cover.
WARNING!
A loose tire or jack, thrown forward in a
collision or hard stop could endanger the
occupants of the vehicle. Always stow the jack
parts and the spare tire in the places provided.
Have the deflated (flat) tire repaired or re-
placed immediately.
Road Tire Installation
1. Mount the road tire on the axle.
2. Install the remaining lug nuts with the cone
shaped end of the nut toward the wheel. Lightly
tighten the lug nuts.
WARNING!
To avoid the risk of forcing the vehicle off the
jack, do not tighten the wheel nuts fully until
the vehicle has been lowered. Failure to follow
this warning may result in personal injury.
3. Lower the vehicle to the ground by turning
the jack handle counterclockwise.
4. Finish tightening the lug nuts. Push down on
the wrench while at the end of the handle for
increased leverage. Tighten the lug nuts in a
star pattern until each nut has been tightened
twice. The correct tightness of each lug nut is
110 ft/lbs (150 N·m). If in doubt about the
correct tightness, have them checked with a
torque wrench by your authorized dealer or
service station. 5. After 25 miles (40 km) check the lug nut
torque with a torque wrench to ensure that all
lug nuts are properly seated against the wheel.
JUMP-STARTINGIf your vehicle has a discharged battery it can
be jump-started using a set of jumper cables
and a battery in another vehicle or by using a
portable battery booster pack. Jump-starting
can be dangerous if done improperly so please
follow the procedures in this section carefully.
NOTE:
When using a portable battery booster pack
follow the manufacturer’s operating instruc-
tions and precautions.
CAUTION!
Do not use a portable battery booster pack or
any other booster source with a system volt-
age greater than 12 Volts or damage to the
battery, starter motor, alternator or electrical
system may occur.
Stowed Spare
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5. Press and maintain firm pressure on the
brake pedal.6. Using the screwdriver or similar tool, press
and hold the shift lock lever down.
7. Move the shift lever to the NEUTRAL posi-
tion.
8. The vehicle may then be started in NEU-
TRAL.
9. Reinstall the shift lever override access
cover and install the rubber liner into the cup-
holder.
TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLEThis section describes procedures for towing a
disabled vehicle using a commercial wrecker
service. If the transmission and drivetrain are
operable, disabled vehicles may also be towedas described under “Recreational Towing” in
the “Starting And Operating” section.
NOTE:
Vehicles equipped with Quadra-Lift™ must
be lowered to the Park (lowest) level, and
have automatic leveling disabled, before ty-
ing them down (from the body) on a trailer or
flatbed truck. Refer to the section on
Quadra-Lift™ for more information. 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.
Shift Lever Override Access Cover
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ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM –
OBD II
Your vehicle is equipped with a sophisticated
onboard diagnostic system called OBD II. This
system monitors the performance of the emis-
sions, engine, and automatic transmission con-
trol systems. When these systems are operat-
ing properly, your vehicle will provide excellent
performance and fuel economy, as well as
engine emissions well within current govern-
ment regulations.
If any of these systems require service, the
OBD II system will turn on the “Malfunction
Indicator Light” (MIL). It will also store diagnos-
tic codes and other information to assist your
service technician in making repairs. Although
your vehicle will usually be drivable and not
need towing, see your authorized dealer for
service as soon as possible.
CAUTION!
•Prolonged driving with the MIL on could
cause further damage to the emission con-
trol system. It could also affect fuel
economy and drivability. The vehicle must
be serviced before any emissions tests can
be performed.
• If the MIL is flashing while the engine is
running, severe catalytic converter damage
and power loss will soon occur. Immediate
service is required.
Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message
If the vehicle diagnostic system
determines that the fuel filler cap is
loose, improperly installed, or
damaged, a loose gascap indica-
tor will display in the EVIC telltale
display area. Refer to “Electronic
Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)” in “Under-
standing Your Instrument Panel” for further in-
formation. Tighten the fuel filler cap properly
and press the SELECT button to turn off the message. If the problem continues, the mes-
sage will appear the next time the vehicle is
started.
A loose, improperly installed, or damaged fuel
filler cap may also turn on the Malfunction
Indicator Light (MIL).
REPLACEMENT PARTSUse of genuine MOPAR
parts for normal/
scheduled maintenance and repairs is highly
recommended to ensure the designed perfor-
mance. Damage or failures caused by the use
of non-MOPAR parts for maintenance and
repairs will not be covered by the manufactur-
er’s warranty.
MAINTENANCE PROCEDURESThe pages that follow contain the required
maintenance services determined by the engi-
neers who designed your vehicle.
Besides those maintenance items specified in
the fixed maintenance schedule, there are
other components which may require servicing
or replacement in the future.
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CAUTION!
•Failure to properly maintain your vehicle or
perform repairs and service when neces-
sary could result in more costly repairs,
damage to other components or negatively
impact vehicle performance. Immediately
have potential malfunctions examined by
an authorized dealership or qualified repair
center.
• Your vehicle has been built with improved
fluids that protect the performance and
durability of your vehicle and also allow
extended maintenance intervals. Do not
use chemical flushes in these components
as the chemicals can damage your engine,
transmission, power steering or air condi-
tioning. Such damage is not covered by the
New Vehicle Limited Warranty. If a flush is
needed because of component malfunc-
tion, use only the specified fluid for the
flushing procedure.Engine Oil – Gasoline Engines
Checking Oil Level
To assure proper lubrication of your vehicle’s
engine, the engine oil must be maintained at
the correct level. The best time to check the
engine oil level is about five minutes after a fully
warmed up engine is shut off or before starting
the engine after it has sat overnight.
Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level
ground will improve the accuracy of the oil level
readings. Maintain the oil level in the SAFE level
range. Adding 1 U.S. Quart (0.95L) of oil when
the level is at the bottom of the SAFE range will
result in the level being at the top of the SAFE
range.
CAUTION!
Overfilling or underfilling the crankcase will
cause aeration or loss of oil pressure. This
could damage your engine. Change Engine Oil
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” for the
proper maintenance intervals.
Engine Oil Selection – Non ACEA
Categories
For best performance and maximum protection
under all types of operating conditions, the
manufacturer only recommends engine oils
that are API certified and meet the require-
ments of Chrysler Material Standard MS-6395.
American Petroleum Institute (API) Engine
Oil Identification Symbol
This symbol
means that the oil
has been certified
by the American
Petroleum Institute
(API). The manu-
facturer only rec-
ommends API
Certified engine
oils.
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