2014 JEEP COMPASS Owners Manual

Control Setting Suggestions For Various Weather Conditions
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 319

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
STARTING PROCEDURES ................326
▫ Manual Transmission — If Equipped .......326
▫ Automatic Transmission — If Equipped .....327
▫ Normal Starting ...................... .327
▫ Extreme Cold Weather
(Below –20°F Or 29°C) ................328
▫ If Engine Fails To Start .................328
▫ After Starting ....................... .328
 ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED . . .329
 MANUAL TRANSMISSION — IF EQUIPPED . .329 ▫
Five-Speed Manual Transmission ...........329
▫ Recommended Shift Speeds ..............331
▫ Downshifting ....................... .332
 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION — IF
EQUIPPED .......................... .332
▫ Key Ignition Park Interlock ...............334
▫ Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . .334
▫ Six-Speed Automatic Transmission — If
Equipped .......................... .334
▫ Continuously Variable Automatic Transmission
(CVT) — If Equipped ...................342
5

AUTOSTICK® (SIX-SPEED AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION) — IF EQUIPPED ..........347
▫ Operation .......................... .348
▫ AutoStick® (CVT) — If Equipped .........349
▫ Operation .......................... .350
 FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE OPERATION — IF
EQUIPPED .......................... .351
 ON-ROAD DRIVING TIPS ................352
 OFF-ROAD DRIVING TIPS ...............352
▫ When To Use Low (L Off-Road) With The 4WD
Lock Lever Engaged ...................353
▫ Driving In Snow, Mud And Sand ..........354
▫ Hill Climbing ....................... .355
▫ Driving Through Water .................358 ▫
After Driving Off-Road .................360
 POWER STEERING .....................361
▫ Power Steering Fluid Check ..............362
 PARKING BRAKE ..................... .363
 BRAKE SYSTEM ...................... .365
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ............366
 ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM . . . .368
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ............369
▫ Traction Control System (TCS) ............370
▫ Brake Assist System (BAS) ...............370
▫ Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) ..........371
▫ Hill Descent Control (HDC) — If Equipped . . .372
▫ Hill Start Assist (HSA) .................373
322 STARTING AND OPERATING

▫Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ..........375
▫ ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light And
ESC OFF Indicator Light ................379
 TIRE SAFETY INFORMATION .............380
▫ Tire Markings ....................... .380
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ...........384
▫ Tire Terminology And Definitions ..........385
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure ...........387
 TIRES — GENERAL INFORMATION ........392
▫ Tire Pressure ....................... .392
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures .................393
▫ Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation . . . .395
▫ Radial Ply Tires ..................... .395▫
All Season Tires — If Equipped ............396
▫
Summer Or Three Season Tires — If Equipped . .396
▫ Snow Tires ......................... .396
▫ Spare Tire Matching Original Equipped Tire And
Wheel — If Equipped ..................397
▫ Compact Spare Tire — If Equipped ........397
▫ Full Size Spare — If Equipped ............398
▫ Limited-Use Spare — If Equipped .........398
▫ Tire Spinning ....................... .399
▫ Tread Wear Indicators ..................399
▫ Life Of Tire ........................ .400
▫ Replacement Tires .....................401
 TIRE CHAINS (TRACTION DEVICES) .......402
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 323

TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS .....403
 TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM (TPMS) ...................... .404
▫ Base System ........................ .407
▫ Premium System — If Equipped ...........409
▫ General Information ...................413
 FUEL REQUIREMENTS ..................414
▫ 2.0L And 2.4L Engine ...................414
▫ Reformulated Gasoline .................414
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ..............415
▫ E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles .......415
▫ MMT In Gasoline .....................416
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ................416 ▫
Fuel System Cautions ...................417
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings .............418
 ADDING FUEL ....................... .418
▫ Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap) ...............418
▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message ............420
 VEHICLE LOADING ....................421
▫ Vehicle Certification Label ...............421
 TRAILER TOWING .....................423
▫ Common Towing Definitions .............423
▫ Trailer Hitch Classification ...............426
▫ Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer Weight
Ratings) ........................... .427
▫ Trailer And Tongue Weight ..............428
324 STARTING AND OPERATING

▫Towing Requirements ..................429
▫ Towing Tips ........................ .434
RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.) ...................437
▫
Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle . . .437
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 325

STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust both
inside and outside mirrors, and fasten your seat belts.
WARNING!
•Before exiting a vehicle, always apply the parking
brake, shift the transmission into PARK, and re-
move the Key Fob from the ignition. When leaving
the vehicle, always 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. Chil-
dren should be warned not to touch the parking
brake, brake pedal or the shift lever.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not leave the Key Fob in or near the vehicle, or
in a location accessible to children. A child could
operate power windows, other controls, or move
the vehicle.
Manual Transmission — If Equipped
Before starting the engine fully apply the parking brake,
press the clutch pedal to the floor, and place the shift
lever in NEUTRAL.
NOTE:
• The engine will not start unless the clutch pedal is
pressed to the floor.
• If the key will not turn and the steering wheel is
locked, rotate the wheel in either direction to relieve
pressure on the locking mechanism and then turn the
key.
326 STARTING AND OPERATING