2013 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE ignition

The transmission shift lever has only PARK,
REVERSE, NEUTRAL, and DRIVE shift posi-
tions. Manual downshifts can be made using
the Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift control
(refer to “Electronic Range Select (ERS) Opera-
tion” in this section). Moving the shift lever to the
left or right (-/+) while in the DRIVE position will
select the highest available transmission gear,
and will display that gear in the instrument
cluster as 4, 3, 2, 1.Gear RangesDO NOT race the engine when shifting from
PARK or NEUTRAL into another gear range.
NOTE:
•After selecting any gear range, wait a
moment to allow the selected gear to
engage before accelerating. This is espe-
cially important when the engine is cold.
• If there is a need to restart the engine, be
sure to cycle the ignition to the OFF
position before restarting. Transmission
gear engagement may be delayed after
restarting the engine if the key is not
cycled to the OFF position first.
PARK
This range supplements the parking brake by
locking the transmission. The engine can be
started in this range. Never attempt to use
PARK while the vehicle is in motion. Apply the
parking brake when leaving the vehicle in this
range. When parking on a level surface, you may place
the shift lever in PARK first, and then apply the
parking brake.
When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake
before placing the shift lever in PARK, otherwise
the load on the transmission locking mechanism
may make it difficult to move the shift lever out of
PARK. As an added precaution, turn the front
wheels toward the curb on a downhill grade and
away from the curb on an uphill grade.
WARNING!
•
Never use the PARK position as a substi-
tute for the parking brake. Always apply
the parking brake fully when parked to
guard against vehicle movement and pos-
sible injury or damage.
• Your vehicle could move and injure you
and others if it is not completely in PARK.
Check by trying to move the shift lever out
of PARK with the brake pedal released.
Make sure the transmission is in PARK
before leaving the vehicle.
(Continued)
Shift Lever
227

WARNING!(Continued)
•It is dangerous to shift out of PARK or
NEUTRAL if the engine speed is higher
than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly
pressing the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or in reverse.
You could lose control of the vehicle and
hit someone or something. Only shift into
gear when the engine is idling normally
and your foot is firmly pressing the brake
pedal.
• Unintended movement of a vehicle could
injure those in or near the vehicle. As with
all vehicles, you should never exit a ve-
hicle while the engine is running. Before
exiting a vehicle, always apply the parking
brake, shift the transmission into PARK
turn the engine OFF, and remove the key
fob. When the ignition is in the LOCK/OFF
position, the shift lever is locked in PARK,
securing the vehicle against unwanted
movement.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
•When leaving the vehicle, always remove
the key fob 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 unat-
tended is dangerous for a number of rea-
sons. A child or others could be seriously
or fatally injured. Children should be
warned not to touch the parking brake,
brake pedal or the shift lever.
• Do not leave the key fob in or near the
vehicle (or in a location accessible to chil-
dren), and do not leave Keyless Enter-N-
Go™ in the ACC or ON/RUN position. A
child could operate power windows, other
controls, or move the vehicle.
CAUTION!
• Before moving the shift lever out of PARK,
you must turn the ignition switch from the
OFF position to the ON/RUN position, and
also press the brake pedal. Otherwise,
damage to the shift lever could result.
• DO NOT race the engine when shifting
from PARK or NEUTRAL into another gear
range, as this can damage the drivetrain.
The following indicators should be used to
ensure that you have engaged the shift lever
into the PARK position:
• When shifting into PARK, firmly move the
shift lever all the way forward and to the left
until it stops and is fully seated.
• Look at the shift lever position display and
verify that it indicates the PARK position.
• With brake pedal released, verify that the
shift lever will not move out of PARK.
228

REVERSE
This range is for moving the vehicle backward.
Shift into REVERSE only after the vehicle has
come to a complete stop.
NEUTRAL
Use this range when the vehicle is standing for
prolonged periods with the engine running. The
engine may be started in this range. Apply the
parking brake and shift the transmission into
PARK if you must leave the vehicle.
WARNING!
Do not coast in NEUTRAL and never turn off
the ignition to coast down a hill. These are
unsafe practices that limit your response to
changing traffic or road conditions. You might
lose control of the vehicle and have a collision.
CAUTION!
Towing the vehicle, coasting, or driving for
any other reason with the transmission in
NEUTRAL can cause severe transmission
damage. Refer to “Recreational Towing” in
“Starting And Operating” and “Towing A Dis-
abled Vehicle” in “What To Do In Emergen-
cies” for further information.
DRIVE
This range should be used for most city and
highway driving. It provides the smoothest up-
shifts and downshifts, and the best fuel
economy. The transmission automatically up-
shifts through underdrive first, second, and third
gears, direct fourth gear and overdrive fifth
gear. The DRIVE position provides optimum
driving characteristics under all normal operat-
ing conditions. When frequent transmission shifting occurs
(such as when operating the vehicle under
heavy loading conditions, in hilly terrain, travel-
ing into strong head winds, or while towing
heavy trailers), use the AutoStick® shift control
(refer to “AutoStick®” in this section) to select a
lower gear. Under these conditions, using a
lower gear will improve performance and ex-
tend transmission life by reducing excessive
shifting and heat buildup.
Transmission Limp Home Mode
Transmission function is monitored electroni-
cally for abnormal conditions. If a condition is
detected that could result in transmission dam-
age, Transmission Limp Home Mode is acti-
vated. In this mode, the transmission remains in
direct gear regardless of which forward gear is
selected. PARK, REVERSE, and NEUTRAL will
continue to operate. The Malfunction Indicator
Light (MIL) may be illuminated. Limp Home
Mode allows the vehicle to be driven to an
authorized dealer for service without damaging
the transmission.
229

In the event of a momentary problem, the
transmission can be reset to regain all forward
gears by performing the following steps:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Shift the transmission into PARK.
3. Turn the ignition switch to the LOCK/OFF
position.
4. Wait approximately 10 seconds.
5. Restart the engine.
6. Shift into the desired gear range. If the
problem is no longer detected, the transmission
will return to normal operation.
NOTE:
Even if the transmission can be reset, we
recommend that you visit your authorized
dealer at your earliest possible conve-
nience. Your authorized dealer has diagnos-
tic equipment to determine if the problem
could recur. If the transmission cannot be
reset, authorized dealer service is required.Electronic Range Select (ERS) Operation
The Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift control
allows the driver to limit the highest available
gear when the shift lever is in the DRIVE
position. For example, if you shift the transmis-
sion into 3 (third gear), the transmission will
never shift above third gear, but will shift down
into second and first gears normally.
You can switch between DRIVE and ERS mode
at any vehicle speed. When the shift lever is in
the DRIVE position, the transmission will oper-
ate automatically, shifting between all available
gears. Tapping the shift lever to the left (-) will
downshift the transmission, activate ERS mode,
display the current gear in the instrument clus-
ter, and maintain that gear as the top available
gear. Once in ERS mode, tapping the shift lever
to the left (-) or right (+) will change the top
available gears.
To exit ERS mode, simply press and hold the
shift lever to the right (+) until “D” is once again
displayed in the shift lever position indicator in
the instrument cluster.WARNING!
Do not downshift for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery surface. The drive wheels
could lose their grip and the vehicle could
skid, causing a collision or personal injury.
Screen Display
12 3 4 D
Actual Gear(s)
Allowed 1 1-2 1-3 1-4 1-5
NOTE:
To select the proper gear position for maxi-
mum deceleration (engine braking), simply
press and hold the shift lever to the left (-).
The transmission will shift to the range from
which the vehicle can best be slowed down.
230

•If there is a need to restart the engine, be
sure to cycle the ignition to the OFF
position before restarting. Transmission
gear engagement may be delayed after
restarting the engine if the key is not
cycled to the OFF position first.
PARK
This range supplements the parking brake by
locking the transmission. The engine can be
started in this range. Never attempt to use
PARK while the vehicle is in motion. Apply the
parking brake when leaving the vehicle in this
range.
When parking on a level surface, you may place
the shift lever in PARK first, and then apply the
parking brake.
When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake
before placing the shift lever in PARK, otherwise
the load on the transmission locking mecha-
nism may make it difficult to move the shift lever
out of PARK. As an added precaution, turn the
front wheels toward the curb on a downhill
grade and away from the curb on an uphill
grade.WARNING!
• Never use the PARK position as a substi-
tute for the parking brake. Always apply
the parking brake fully when parked to
guard against vehicle movement and pos-
sible injury or damage.
• Your vehicle could move and injure you
and others if it is not completely in PARK.
Check by trying to move the shift lever out
of PARK with the brake pedal released.
Make sure the transmission is in PARK
before leaving the vehicle.
• It is dangerous to shift out of PARK or
NEUTRAL if the engine speed is higher
than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly
pressing the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or in reverse.
You could lose control of the vehicle and
hit someone or something. Only shift into
gear when the engine is idling normally
and your foot is firmly pressing the brake
pedal.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
•Unintended movement of a vehicle could
injure those in or near the vehicle. As with
all vehicles, you should never exit a ve-
hicle while the engine is running. Before
exiting a vehicle, always apply the parking
brake, shift the transmission into PARK
turn the engine OFF, and remove the key
fob. When the ignition is in the LOCK/OFF
position, the shift lever is locked in PARK,
securing the vehicle against unwanted
movement.
• When leaving the vehicle, always remove
the key fob 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 unat-
tended is dangerous for a number of rea-
sons. A child or others could be seriously
or fatally injured. Children should be
warned not to touch the parking brake,
brake pedal or the shift lever.
(Continued)
232

WARNING!(Continued)
•Do not leave the key fob in or near the
vehicle (or in a location accessible to chil-
dren), and do not leave Keyless Enter-N-
Go™ in the ACC or ON/RUN position.
A child could operate power windows,
other controls, or move the vehicle.
CAUTION!
• Before moving the shift lever out of PARK,
you must turn the ignition switch from the
OFF position to the ON/RUN position, and
also press the brake pedal. Otherwise,
damage to the shift lever could result.
• DO NOT race the engine when shifting
from PARK or NEUTRAL into another gear
range, as this can damage the drivetrain. The following indicators should be used to
ensure that you have engaged the shift lever
into the PARK position:
•
When shifting into PARK, firmly move the
shift lever all the way forward and to the left
until it stops and is fully seated.
• Look at the shift lever position display and
verify that it indicates the PARK position.
• With brake pedal released, verify that the
shift lever will not move out of PARK.
REVERSE
This range is for moving the vehicle backward.
Shift into REVERSE only after the vehicle has
come to a complete stop.
NEUTRAL
Use this range when the vehicle is standing for
prolonged periods with the engine running. The
engine may be started in this range. Apply the
parking brake and shift the transmission into
PARK if you must leave the vehicle.
WARNING!
Do not coast in NEUTRAL and never turn off
the ignition to coast down a hill. These are
unsafe practices that limit your response to
changing traffic or road conditions. You might
lose control of the vehicle and have a collision.
CAUTION!
Towing the vehicle, coasting, or driving for
any other reason with the transmission in
NEUTRAL can cause severe transmission
damage. Refer to “Recreational Towing” in
“Starting And Operating” and “Towing A Dis-
abled Vehicle” in “What To Do In Emergen-
cies” for further information.
233

In the event of a momentary problem, the
transmission can be reset to regain all forward
gears by performing the following steps:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Shift the transmission into PARK.
3. Turn the ignition switch to the LOCK/OFF
position.
4. Wait approximately 10 seconds.
5. Restart the engine.
6.
Shift into the desired gear range. If the prob-
lem is no longer detected, the transmission will
return to normal operation.
NOTE:
Even if the transmission can be reset, we
recommend that you visit your authorized
dealer at your earliest possible conve-
nience. Your authorized dealer has diagnos-
tic equipment to determine if the problem
could recur. If the transmission cannot be
reset, authorized dealer service is required. Electronic Range Select (ERS) Operation
The Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift control
allows the driver to limit the highest available
gear when the shift lever is in the DRIVE
position. For example, if you shift the transmis-
sion into 3 (third gear), the transmission will
never shift above third gear, but will shift down
into second and first gears normally.
Use of ERS (or TOW/HAUL mode) also enables
an additional underdrive gear which is not nor-
mally used during through-gear accelerations.
This additional gear can improve vehicle perfor-
mance and cooling capability when towing a
trailer on certain grades. In ERS mode, gears 1
though 3 are underdrive gears, and ERS 4 is
direct drive. ERS 5 and 6 (Overdrive gears ) are
the same as the normal fourth and fifth gears.
You can switch between DRIVE and ERS mode at
any vehicle speed. When the shift lever is in the
DRIVE position, the transmission will operate
automatically, shifting between all available
gears. Tapping the shift lever to the left (-) will
activate ERS mode, display the current gear in
the instrument cluster, and maintain that gear as
the top available gear. Once in ERS mode, tap-
ping the shift lever to the left (-) or right (+) will
change the top available gear.
The instrument cluster display will show the
requested top gear limit, however the transmis-
sion will not downshift to the requested gear if
doing so would overspeed the engine. The
transmission will downshift once the vehicle
speed has slowed sufficiently.
To exit ERS mode, simply press and hold the
shift lever to the right (+) until “D” is once again
displayed in the shift lever position indicator in
the instrument cluster.
WARNING!
Do not downshift for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery surface. The drive wheels
could lose their grip and the vehicle could
skid, causing a collision or personal injury.
NOTE:
To select the proper gear position for maxi-
mum deceleration (engine braking), simply
press and hold the shift lever to the left (-).
The transmission will shift to the range from
which the vehicle can best be slowed down.
235

Shift PositionsFor additional information on the appropriate
use of each transfer case mode position, see
the information below:
4WD AUTO
This range is used on surfaces such as ice,
snow, gravel, sand, and dry hard pavement.
NOTE:
Refer to “Selec-Terrain® – If Equipped” in
“Starting and Operating” for further infor-
mation on the various positions and their
intended usages.
NEUTRAL
This range disengages both the front and rear
driveshafts from the powertrain. It is to be used
for flat towing behind another vehicle. Refer to
“Recreational Towing” in “Starting and Operat-
ing” for further information.4WD LOW
This range is for low speed four-wheel drive. It
locks the front and rear driveshafts together and
forces the front and rear wheels to rotate at the
same speed. It provides additional traction and
maximum pulling power for loose, slippery road
surfaces only. Do not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h).
NOTE:
Refer to “Selec-Terrain® – If Equipped” for
further information on the various positions
and their intended usages.
Shifting Procedures
4WD HI To 4WD LOW
With the vehicle at speeds of 0 to 3 mph (0 to
5 km/h), the ignition switch in the ON position or
the engine running, shift the transmission into
NEUTRAL, and press the “4WD LOW” button
once on the transfer case switch. The “4WD
LOW” indicator light in the instrument cluster will
begin to flash and remain on solid when the shift
is complete.
NOTE:
If shift conditions/interlocks are not met, or
a transfer case motor temperature protec-
tion condition exists, a “For 4x4 Low Slow
Below 3 MPH or 5 KPH Put Trans in N Press
4 Low” message will flash from the Elec-
tronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC). Re-
fer to “Electronic Vehicle Information Center
(EVIC)” in “Understanding Your Instrument
Panel” for further information.
Transfer Case Switch
238