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Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make Outside
The Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear and uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread or sidewall. Inspect the tread for cuts
and cracks. Inspect sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
Check the wheel nuts for tightness. Check the tires
(including spare) for proper cold inflation pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of brake lights and
exterior lights while you work the controls. Check turn
signal and high beam indicator lights on the instrument
panel.
Door Latches
Check for positive closing, latching, and locking.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for fuel,
engine coolant, oil, or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline
fumes are detected or if fuel, power steering fluid (if
equipped), or brake fluid leaks are suspected, the cause
should be located and corrected immediately.
104 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
Page 324 of 572

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
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WARNING!(Continued)
not have full braking power when you need it to
prevent a collision. If you have been operating your
vehicle in dirty conditions, get your brakes checked
and cleaned as necessary.
• If you experience unusual vibration after driving in
mud, slush or similar conditions, check the wheels for
impacted material. Impacted material can cause a
wheel imbalance and freeing the wheels of it will
correct the situation.
POWER STEERING
The standard power steering system will give you good
vehicle response and increased ease of maneuverability
in tight spaces. The system will provide mechanical
steering capability if power assist is lost. If for some reason the power assist is interrupted, it will
still be possible to steer your vehicle. Under these condi-
tions, you will observe a substantial increase in steering
effort, especially at very low vehicle speeds and during
parking maneuvers.
NOTE:
•
Increased noise levels at the end of the steering wheel
travel are considered normal and do not indicate that
there is a problem with the power steering system.
• Upon initial start-up in cold weather, the power steer-
ing pump may make noise for a short amount of time.
This is due to the cold, thick fluid in the steering
system. This noise should be considered normal, and it
does not in any way damage the steering system.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 361
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CAUTION!
Prolonged operation of the steering system at the end
of the steering wheel travel will increase the steering
fluid temperature and it should be avoided when
possible. Damage to the power steering pump may
occur.
Power Steering Fluid Check
Checking the power steering fluid level at a defined
service interval is not required. The fluid should only be
checked if a leak is suspected, abnormal noises are
apparent, and/or the system is not functioning as antici-
pated. Coordinate inspection efforts through an autho-
rized dealer.
CAUTION!
Do not use chemical flushes in your power steering
system as the chemicals can damage your power
steering components. Such damage is not covered by
the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
WARNING!
Fluid level should be checked on a level surface and
with the engine off to prevent injury from moving
parts and to ensure accurate fluid level reading. Do
not overfill. Use only manufacturer’s recommended
power steering fluid.
If necessary, add fluid to restore to the proper indicated
level. With a clean cloth, wipe any spilled fluid from all
surfaces. Refer to “Fluids, Lubricants, and Genuine
Parts” in “Maintaining Your Vehicle” for further informa-
tion.
362 STARTING AND OPERATING
Page 481 of 572
ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 2.0L
1 — Washer Fluid Reservoir6 — Air Cleaner Filter
2 — Power Steering Fluid Reservoir 7 — Coolant Pressure Cap
3 — Engine Oil Fill 8 — Engine Oil Dipstick
4 — Brake Fluid Reservoir 9 — Engine Coolant Reservoir
5 — Integrated Power Module (Fuses)
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 479
Page 482 of 572
ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 2.4L
1 — Washer Fluid Reservoir6 — Air Cleaner Filter
2 — Power Steering Fluid Reservoir 7 — Coolant Pressure Cap
3 — Engine Oil Fill 8 — Engine Oil Dipstick
4 — Brake Fluid Reservoir 9 — Engine Coolant Reservoir
5 — Integrated Power Module (Fuses) 480 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
Page 487 of 572

CAUTION!(Continued)
•Your vehicle has been built with improved fluids
that protect the performance and durability of your
vehicle and also allow extended maintenance inter-
vals. Do not use chemical flushes in these compo-
nents as the chemicals can damage your engine,
transmission, power steering or air conditioning.
Such damage is not covered by the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty. If a flush is needed because of
component malfunction, use only the specified
fluid for the flushing procedure.
Engine Oil
Checking Oil Level
To assure proper engine lubrication, the engine oil must
be maintained at the correct level. Check the oil level at
regular intervals, such as every fuel stop. The best time to
check the engine oil level is about five minutes after a fully warmed engine is shut off. Do not check oil level
before starting the engine after it has sat overnight.
Checking engine oil level when the engine is cold will
give you an incorrect reading.
Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level ground and
only when the engine is hot, will improve the accuracy of
the oil level readings. Maintain the oil level between the
range markings on the dipstick. The range markings will
consist of a crosshatch zone which depicts the MIN at the
low end of the range and MAX at the high end of the
range. Adding 1 qt (1L) of oil when the reading is at the
low end of the indicated range will result in the oil level
at the full end of the indicator range.
CAUTION!
Do not overfill the engine. Overfilling the engine
will cause oil aeration, which can lead to loss of oil
(Continued)
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MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 485
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Chassis
ComponentFluid, Lubricant, or Genuine Part
Automatic Transmission (CVT) — If Equipped We recommend you use MOPAR® CVTF+4® Continu-
ously Variable Transmission Fluid.
Automatic Transmission (Six-Speed) — If Equipped We recommend you use SK Energy ATF SP-4 Transmis- sion Fluid.
Manual Transmission — If Equipped We recommend you use MOPAR® ATF+4® Automatic
Transmission Fluid.
Rear Drive Assembly (RDA) We recommend you use MOPAR® Gear & Axle Lubri-
cant SAE 80W-90 API GL 5.
Power Transfer Unit (PTU) We recommend you use MOPAR® Gear & Axle Lubri-
cant SAE 80W-90 API GL 5.
Brake Master Cylinder We recommend you use MOPAR® DOT 3, SAE J1703
should be used. If DOT 3, SAE J1703 brake fluid is not
available, then DOT 4 is acceptable.
Power Steering Reservoir We recommend you use MOPAR® Power Steering Fluid
+4, MOPAR® ATF+4® Automatic Transmission Fluid.
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 529