2014 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE Owners Manual

low-slung sports cars are designed to perform satisfacto-
rily in off-road conditions. If at all possible, avoid sharp
turns or abrupt maneuvers. As with other vehicles of this
type, failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in
loss of control or vehicle rollover.
OFF-ROAD DRIVING TIPS
NOTE:Prior to off-road driving with non-Summit mod-
els that are also equipped with an Off Road Package,
remove the lower fascia to prevent damage. The lower
fascia is attached to the lower part of the front fascia with
seven quarter turn fasteners and can be removed by
hand. The front license plate bracket must be removed
first if equipped.
NOTE:On Summit models the lower front fascia is not
removable.
Front Air Dam
1 — Front Bumper
2 — Front Air Dam Fasteners
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Lower Front Fascia Removal:
1. Remove the seven quarter turn fasteners.
2. Starting on one side of the vehicle, disengage lowerfascia from the upper fascia. Grasp the portion inside
the wheel well. Pulling it downwards and toward you,
separate the tabs from the slots in the upper fascia.
3. Continue working your way across the vehicle, sepa- rating the remaining tabs from the slots in the upper
fascia.
NOTE: Do not allow the lower fascia to freely hang from
the tabs in the opposite corner as damage to lower and
upper fascia may result.
4. Store the lower fascia in a safe location. NOTE:
It is recommend to also remove the radar sensor
on vehicle equipped to Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC).
This radar sensor is specifically calibrated to your vehicle
and is not interchangeable with other radar sensors.
Radar sensor removal procedure (If equipped with
Adaptive Cruise Control [ACC]):
1. With the lower fascia removed, which provides access to the sensor and bracket, disconnect the wiring
harness from the sensor.
2. Using a suitable tool, disconnect the wire clip from the bracket.
3. Using a suitable tool, remove the two fasteners that hold the sensor bracket to the bumper beam.
NOTE: It is recommended to scribe location to assist in
reinstallation.
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4. Locate the protective connector on the rear of thebumper beam. NOTE:
Only models with the Off Road Package are
equipped with the a protective connector.
5. Remove the plug from the protective connector and install on the sensor.
6. Insert the wiring harness connector into the protective connector.
7. Store sensor and bracket in a safe place.
NOTE: All cruise control functions will be disabled when
the radar sensor is disconnected.
Radar sensor installation procedure (If equipped with
Adaptive Cruise Control [ACC]):
1. Disconnect the wiring harness connector from the protective connector on the bumper beam.
2. Remove plug from radar sensor and install in protec- tive connector.
1 — Inside Bumper Beam
2 — Protective Connector Location
3 — Sensor Bracket Fasteners
4 — Sensor Bracket
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3. Using the previously scribed marks, reinstall the radarsensor and bracket using the two fasteners.
NOTE: Some alignment may be required upon fascia
installation to align sensor with fascia.
4. Install the wiring harness connector into the radar sensor.
NOTE: If you receive a fault, see your authorized dealer
they may need to perform a sensor alignment.
Lower Front Fascia Installation (This will only work if
you have a helper. We suggest):
1. Starting at the center of the vehicle, engage a sufficient number of tabs to support the weight of the lower
fascia (typically one or two tabs) into the upper fascia.
2. Working your way outward, engage the tabs into the slots on one side of the vehicle. 3. Return to the center of the vehicle and repeat Step 2 to
the opposite side of the vehicle.
NOTE: •It may be necessary to apply additional force to
individual tabs to make sure they are fully engaged.
• Do not use any tools to apply additional force to the
tabs as damage to the upper and lower fascias may
result.
4. Reinstall the seven quarter turn fasteners.
Quadra-Lift™ — If Equipped
When off-roading, it is recommended that the lowest
useable vehicle height that will clear the current obstacle
or terrain be selected. The vehicle height should then be
raised as required by the changes in terrain.
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The Selec-Terrain™ switch will automatically change the
vehicle to the optimized height based on the Selec-
Terrain™ switch position. The vehicle height can be
changed from the default height for each Selec-Terrain™
mode by normal use of the air suspension switches. Refer
to “Quadra-Lift™ – If Equipped” in “Starting and Oper-
ating” for further information.
When To Use 4WD LOW Range — If Equipped
When off-road driving, shift to 4WD LOW for additional
traction. This range should be limited to extreme situa-
tions such as deep snow, mud, or sand where additional
low speed pulling power is needed. Vehicle speeds in
excess of 25 mph (40 km/h) should be avoided when in
4WD LOW range.
CAUTION!
Do not drive in 4WD-LOW Range on dry pavement;
driveline damage may result. 4WD-LOW Range
locks front and rear drivelines together and does not
allow for differential action between the front to rear
driveshafts. Driving in 4WD-LOW on pavement will
cause driveline binding; use only on wet or slippery
surfaces.
Driving Through Water
Although your vehicle is capable of driving through
water, there are a number of precautions that must be
considered before entering the water.
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NOTE:Your vehicle is capable of water fording in up to
20 inches (51 cm) of water, while crossing small rivers or
streams. To maintain optimal performance of your vehi-
cle’s heating and ventilation system it is recommended to
switch the system into recirculation mode during water
fording.
CAUTION!
When driving through water, do not exceed 5 mph
(8 km/h). Always check water depth before entering,
as a precaution, and check all fluids afterward. Driv-
ing through water may cause damage that may not be
covered by the new vehicle limited warranty.
Driving through water more than a few inches/
centimeters deep will require extra caution to ensure
safety and prevent damage to your vehicle. If you must
drive through water, try to determine the depth and the bottom condition (and location of any obstacles) prior to
entering. Proceed with caution and maintain a steady
controlled speed less than 5 mph (8 km/h) in deep water
to minimize wave effects.
Flowing Water
If the water is swift flowing and rising (as in storm
run-off), avoid crossing until the water level recedes
and/or the flow rate is reduced. If you must cross
flowing water avoid depths in excess of 9 inches (23 cm).
The flowing water can erode the streambed, causing your
vehicle to sink into deeper water. Determine exit point(s)
that are downstream of your entry point to allow for
drifting.
Standing Water
Avoid driving in standing water deeper than 20 inches
(51 cm), and reduce speed appropriately to minimize
wave effects. Maximum speed in 20 inches (51 cm) of
water is less than 5 mph (8 km/h).
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Maintenance
After driving through deep water, inspect your vehicle
fluids and lubricants (engine oil, transmission oil, axle,
transfer case) to assure the fluids have not been contami-
nated. Contaminated fluid (milky, foamy in appearance)
should be flushed/changed as soon as possible to pre-
vent component damage.
Driving In Snow, Mud And Sand
In heavy snow, when pulling a load, or for additional
control at slower speeds, shift the transmission to a low
gear and shift the transfer case to 4WD LOW if necessary.
Refer to “Four-Wheel Drive Operation” in “Starting and
Operating” for further information. Do not shift to a
lower gear than necessary to maintain forward motion.
Over-revving the engine can spin the wheels and traction
will be lost.Avoid abrupt downshifts on icy or slippery roads, be-
cause engine braking may cause skidding and loss of
control.
Hill Climbing
NOTE:
Before attempting to climb a hill, determine the
conditions at the crest and/or on the other side.
Before climbing a steep hill, shift the transmission to a
lower gear and shift the transfer case to 4WD LOW. Use
first gear and 4WD LOW for very steep hills.
If you stall or begin to lose forward motion while
climbing a steep hill, allow your vehicle to come to a stop
and immediately apply the brakes. Restart the engine,
and shift into REVERSE. Back slowly down the hill,
allowing the compression braking of the engine to help
regulate your speed. If the brakes are required to control
vehicle speed, apply them lightly and avoid locking or
skidding the tires.
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WARNING!
If the engine stalls, you lose forward motion, or
cannot make it to the top of a steep hill or grade,
never attempt to turn around. To do so may result in
tipping and rolling the vehicle. Always back care-
fully straight down a hill in REVERSE gear. Never
back down a hill in NEUTRAL using only the brake.
Remember, never drive diagonally across a hill always
drive straight up or down.
If the wheels start to slip as you approach the crest of a
hill, ease off the accelerator and maintain forward motion
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 4WD LOW range. Let the vehicle go slowly
down the hill with all four wheels turning against engine
compression 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 is
always 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.
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