2012 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE Owners Manual

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
Starting Procedures .................... 413
▫ Automatic Transmission ............... 413
▫ Keyless Enter-N-Go ................... 414
▫ Normal Starting ..................... 415
▫ Extreme Cold Weather
(Below –20°F Or 29°C)............... 417
▫ If Engine Fails To Start ................ 417
▫ After Starting ....................... 418
 Engine Block Heater — If Equipped ........ 418
Automatic Transmission ................. 419
▫ Key Ignition Park Interlock ............. 421
▫ Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . 421
▫ Five-Speed Automatic Transmission
(3.6L Engine) — If Equipped ............ 421
▫ Gear Ranges ........................ 422
▫ Six-Speed Automatic Transmission
(5.7L Engine) — If Equipped ............ 429
▫ Gear Ranges ........................ 430
5

Four-Wheel Drive Operation ............. 440
▫ Quadra-Trac I Operating Instructions/
Precautions – If Equipped .............. 440
▫ Quadra-Trac II Operating Instructions/
Precautions – If Equipped .............. 441
▫ Shift Positions ...................... 442
▫ Shifting Procedures ................... 443
▫ Quadra-Drive II System – If Equipped .... 445
 Selec-Terrain™ — If Equipped ............ 446
▫ Description ........................ 446
▫ Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)
Display Messages .................... 448
 Quadra-Lift™ — If Equipped ............. 448
▫ Description ........................ 448 ▫
Electronic Vehicle Information Center
(EVIC) Display Messages ............... 451
▫ Operation ......................... 452
 On-Road Driving Tips .................. 453
 Off-Road Driving Tips .................. 454
▫ Quadra-Lift™ – If Equipped ............ 454
▫ When To Use 4WD Low Range –
If Equipped ........................ 454
▫ Driving Through Water ................ 455
▫ Driving In Snow, Mud And Sand ......... 456
▫ Hill Climbing ....................... 456
▫ Traction Downhill .................... 457
▫ After Driving Off-Road ................ 458
408 STARTING AND OPERATING

Power Steering ....................... 459
▫ 3.6L Engine ........................ 459
▫ 5.7L Engine ........................ 460
▫ Power Steering Fluid Check ............. 461
 Multi-Displacement System (MDS)
(If Equipped) — 5.7L Engine Only .......... 462
 Parking Brake ........................ 462
 Electronic Brake Control System ........... 464
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ........... 464
▫ Traction Control System (TCS) ........... 465
▫ Brake Assist System (BAS) .............. 465
▫ Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) ......... 466
▫ Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ......... 467▫
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) ............. 470
▫ Hill Start Assist (HSA) ................ 471
▫ Ready Alert Braking – If Equipped ........ 473
▫ Rain Brake Support – If Equipped ........ 473
▫ Hill Descent Control (HDC) — Four-Wheel
Drive Models With MP3023 Two-Speed
Transfer Case Only ................... 474
▫ ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light
And ESC Off Indicator Light ............ 476
 Tire Safety Information ................. 477
▫ Tire Markings ....................... 477
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ......... 481
▫ Tire Terminology And Definitions ......... 482
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure .......... 483
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 409

Tires — General Information ............. 487
▫ Tire Pressure ....................... 487
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures ................ 488
▫ Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation . . . 490
▫ Radial-Ply Tires ..................... 490
▫ Spare Tire Matching Original Equipped Tire
And Wheel – If Equipped .............. 490
▫ Compact Spare Tire – If Equipped ........ 491
▫ Full Size Spare – If Equipped ............ 492
▫ Limited-Use Spare – If Equipped ......... 492
▫ Tire Spinning ....................... 493
▫ Tread Wear Indicators ................. 494
▫ Life Of Tire ........................ 494 ▫
Replacement Tires .................... 495
 Tire Chains (Traction Devices) ............. 496
 Snow Tires .......................... 498
 Tire Rotation Recommendations ........... 498
 Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) ....... 499
▫ Base System ........................ 502
▫ Premium System – If Equipped .......... 504
▫ General Information .................. 508
 Fuel Requirements ..................... 509
▫ 3.6L Engine ........................ 509
▫ 5.7L Engine ........................ 509
▫ Reformulated Gasoline ................ 510
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ............. 510
410 STARTING AND OPERATING

▫E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles ...... 510
▫ MMT In Gasoline .................... 511
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ............... 512
▫ Fuel System Cautions ................. 512
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings ............ 513
 Flexible Fuel (3.6L Engine Only) —
If Equipped .......................... 513
▫ E-85 General Information ............... 513
▫ Ethanol Fuel (E-85) ................... 515
▫ Fuel Requirements ................... 515
▫ Selection Of Engine Oil For Flexible Fuel
Vehicles (E-85) And Gasoline Vehicles ...... 516
▫ Starting ........................... 516
▫ Cruising Range ...................... 517 ▫
Replacement Parts ................... 517
▫ Maintenance ........................ 517
 Adding Fuel ......................... 517
▫ Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap) .............. 517
▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message ........... 520
 Vehicle Loading ...................... 521
▫ Certification Label ................... 521
 Trailer Towing ........................ 523
▫ Common Towing Definitions ............ 523
▫ Trailer Hitch Classification .............. 528
▫ Trailer Towing Weights
(Maximum Trailer Weight Ratings) ........ 529
▫ Trailer And Tongue Weight ............. 530
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 411

▫Towing Requirements ................. 531
▫ Towing Tips ........................ 536
 Snow Plow .......................... 537
 Recreational Towing
(Behind Motorhome, Etc.) ................ 538
▫ Towing This Vehicle Behind
Another Vehicle ..................... 538 ▫
Recreational Towing – Two-Wheel Drive
Models ........................... 539
▫ Recreational Towing – Quadra-Trac I
(Single-Speed Transfer Case) Four-Wheel
Drive Models ....................... 539
▫ Recreational Towing – Quadra–Trac II /
Quadra–Drive II Four-Wheel
Drive Models ....................... 540
412 STARTING AND OPERATING

STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust the
inside and outside mirrors, fasten your seat belt, and if
present, instruct all other occupants to buckle their seat
belts.
WARNING!
•When leaving the vehicle, always remove the key
fob from the ignition and lock your vehicle.
•Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Allowing children
to be in a vehicle unattended is dangerous for a
number of reasons. A child or others could be
seriously or fatally injured.(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Children should be warned not to touch the park-
ing 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.
Automatic Transmission
The shift lever must be in the NEUTRAL or PARK
position before you can start the engine. Apply the brakes
before shifting into any driving gear.5
STARTING AND OPERATING 413

CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the follow-
ing 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 from REVERSE, PARK, or NEUTRAL
into any forward gear when the engine is above
idle speed.
•Before shifting into any gear, make sure your foot
is firmly on the brake pedal.
Using Fob With Integrated Key (Tip Start)
NOTE:Normal starting of either a cold or a warm
engine is obtained without pumping or pressing the
accelerator pedal. Do not
press the accelerator. Use the Fob with Integrated
Key to briefly turn the ignition switch to the START
position and release it as soon as the starter engages. The
starter motor will continue to run, and it will disengage
automatically when the engine is running. If the engine
fails to start, the starter will disengage automatically in
10 seconds. If this occurs, turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the
“Normal Starting” procedure.
Keyless Enter-N-Go
This feature allows the driver to oper-
ate the ignition switch with the push
of a button, as long as the ENGINE
START/STOP button is installed and
the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) trans-
mitter is in the passenger compart-
ment.
414 STARTING AND OPERATING