Page 403 of 664
STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
STARTING PROCEDURES ................406
▫ Automatic Transmission ................406
▫ Keyless Enter-N-Go™ ..................407
▫ Normal Starting ...................... .408
▫ Extreme Cold Weather
(Below –20°F Or 29°C) ................409
▫ If Engine Fails To Start .................410
▫ After Starting ........................411
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED . . .411
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ............412▫
Key Ignition Park Interlock ...............414
▫ Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . .414
▫ Fuel Economy (ECO) Mode ..............414
▫ Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission .......415
ALL-WHEEL DRIVE OPERATION ..........424
▫ Single-Speed Operating Instructions/Precautions
(3.6L Engine) — If Equipped .............424
▫
Electronically Shifted Transfer Case (Three-Position
Switch) (5.7L Engine) — If Equipped ........424
▫Shifting Procedure .....................428
5
Page 404 of 664

ON-ROAD DRIVING TIPS ................431
OFF-ROAD DRIVING TIPS ................432
▫ When To Use LOW Range — If Equipped . . . .432
▫ Driving Through Water .................432
▫ Driving In Snow, Mud And Sand ..........433
▫ Hill Climbing ....................... .434
▫ Traction Downhill .....................435
▫ After Driving Off-Road .................435
POWER STEERING .....................436
▫ 3.6L Engine ......................... .436
▫ 5.7L Engine ......................... .437
▫ Power Steering Fluid Check ..............438
FUEL SAVER TECHNOLOGY 5.7L ENGINE ONLY
— IF EQUIPPED ...................... .439
PARKING BRAKE ..................... .439
ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM . . . .442
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ............443
▫ Traction Control System (TCS) ............443
▫ Brake Assist System (BAS) ...............444
▫ Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) ..........444
▫ Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ..........445
▫ Trailer Sway Control (TSC) ..............448
▫ Hill Start Assist (HSA) .................449
▫ Ready Alert Braking ...................451
▫ Rain Brake Support ....................451
402 STARTING AND OPERATING
Page 406 of 664

▫General Information ...................486
FUEL REQUIREMENTS ..................486
▫ 3.6L Engine — If Equipped ...............486
▫ 5.7L Engine — If Equipped ...............486
▫ Reformulated Gasoline .................487
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ..............487
▫ E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles .......488
▫ MMT In Gasoline .....................489
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ................489
▫ Fuel System Cautions ...................490
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings .............491
FLEXIBLE FUEL (3.6L ENGINE ONLY) — IF
EQUIPPED .......................... .492▫
E-85 General Information ...............492
▫ Ethanol Fuel (E-85) ....................492
▫ Fuel Requirements ....................493
▫ Selection Of Engine Oil For Flexible Fuel Vehicles
(E-85) And Gasoline Vehicles .............494
▫ Starting ........................... .494
▫ Cruising Range ...................... .494
▫ Replacement Parts ....................495
▫ Maintenance ....................... .495
ADDING FUEL ....................... .495
▫ Emergency Fuel Filler Door Release .........498
VEHICLE LOADING ....................499
▫ Certification Label ....................499
404 STARTING AND OPERATING
Page 412 of 664

If Engine Fails To Start
WARNING!
•Never pour fuel or other flammable liquid into the
throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to start
the vehicle. This could result in flash fire causing
serious personal injury.
• Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get it
started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic trans-
mission cannot be started this way. Unburned fuel
could enter the catalytic converter and once the
engine has started, ignite and damage the converter
and vehicle.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•If the vehicle has a discharged battery, booster
cables may be used to obtain a start from a booster
battery or the battery in another vehicle. This type
of start can be dangerous if done improperly. Refer
to “Jump Starting” in “What To Do In Emergen-
cies” for further information.
Clearing A Flooded Engine (Using ENGINE
START/STOP Button)
If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
“Normal Starting” or “Extreme Cold Weather proce-
dures, it may be flooded. To clear any excess fuel:
1. Press and hold the brake pedal.
2. Press the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and hold it.
410 STARTING AND OPERATING
Page 416 of 664

Key Ignition Park Interlock
This vehicle is equipped with a Key Ignition Park Inter-
lock which requires the transmission to be in PARK
before the engine can be turned off. This helps the driver
avoid inadvertently leaving the vehicle without placing
the transmission in PARK.
This system also locks the transmission in PARK when-
ever the ignition switch is in the OFF position.
Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System
This vehicle is equipped with a Brake Transmission Shift
Interlock System (BTSI) that holds the transmission gear
selector in PARK unless the brakes are applied. To shift
the transmission out of PARK, the engine must be
running and the brake pedal must be pressed.
The brake pedal must also be pressed to shift from
NEUTRAL into DRIVE or REVERSE when the vehicle is
stopped or moving at low speeds.
Fuel Economy (ECO) Mode
The Fuel Economy (ECO) mode can improve the vehi-
cle’s overall fuel economy during normal driving condi-
tions. Each time the vehicle is started ECO mode is
engaged and a amber light in the center stack of the
instrument panel will be illuminated. To disable ECO
mode, press the “ECO” switch in the center stack of the
instrument panel and the amber light will go out indi-
cating ECO mode is disabled.
414 STARTING AND OPERATING
Page 417 of 664

When the Fuel Economy (ECO) Mode is engaged, the
vehicle control systems will change the following:
•The transmission will upshift sooner and downshift
later. •
The overall driving performance will be more conser-
vative.
• Some ECO mode functions may be temporarily inhib-
ited based on temperature and other factors.
Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission
The transmission is controlled using a rotary electronic
gear selector located on the center console. The transmis-
sion gear range (PRND) is displayed both above the gear
selector and in the Electronic Vehicle Information Center
(EVIC). To select a gear range, simply rotate the gear
selector. You must press the brake pedal to shift the
transmission out of PARK, or to shift from NEUTRAL
into DRIVE or REVERSE when the vehicle is stopped or
moving at low speeds (refer to “Brake/Transmission
Shift Interlock System” in this section). To shift past
multiple gear ranges at once (such as PARK to DRIVE),
simply rotate the gear selector to the appropriate detent.
Select the DRIVE range for normal driving.
Fuel Economy Mode Switch
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 415
Page 422 of 664

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
Disabled Vehicle” in “What To Do In Emergencies”
for further information.DRIVE (D)
This range should be used for most city and highway
driving. It provides the smoothest upshifts and down-
shifts, and the best fuel economy. The transmission
automatically upshifts through all forward gears. The
DRIVE position provides optimum driving characteris-
tics under all normal operating conditions.
When frequent transmission shifting occurs (such as
when operating the vehicle under heavy loading condi-
tions, in hilly terrain, traveling into strong head winds, or
while towing heavy trailers), use the AutoStick® shift
control (refer to AutoStick® in this section for further
information) to select a lower gear. Under these condi-
tions, using a lower gear will improve performance and
extend transmission life by reducing excessive shifting
and heat buildup.
420 STARTING AND OPERATING
Page 437 of 664

by turning the front wheels slowly. This may provide a
fresh “bite” into the surface and will usually provide
traction to complete the climb.
Traction Downhill
Shift the transmission into a low gear, and the transfer
case into LOW range. Let the vehicle go slowly down the
hill with all four wheels turning against engine compres-
sion drag. This will permit you to control the vehicle
speed and direction.
When descending mountains or hills, repeated braking
can cause brake fade with loss of braking control. Avoid
repeated heavy braking by downshifting the transmis-
sion whenever possible.
After Driving Off-Road
Off-road operation puts more stress on your vehicle than
does most on-road driving. After going off-road, it isalways a good idea to check for damage. That way you
can get any problems taken care of right away and have
your vehicle ready when you need it.
•
Completely inspect the underbody of your vehicle.
Check tires, body structure, steering, suspension, and
exhaust system for damage.
• Inspect the radiator for mud and debris and clean as
required.
• Check threaded fasteners for looseness, particularly on
the chassis, drivetrain components, steering, and sus-
pension. Retighten them, if required, and torque to the
values specified in the Service Manual.
• Check for accumulations of plants or brush. These
things could be a fire hazard. They might hide damage
to fuel lines, brake hoses, axle pinion seals, and
propeller shafts.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 435