2014 JEEP PATRIOT Owners Manual

If frequent jump-starting is required to start your vehicle
you should have the battery and charging system in-
spected at your authorized dealer.
CAUTION!
Accessories plugged into the vehicle power outlets
draw power from the vehicle’s battery, even when not
in use (i.e., cellular phones, etc.). Eventually, if
plugged in long enough without engine operation,
the vehicle’s battery will discharge sufficiently to
degrade battery life and/or prevent the engine from
starting.
FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE
If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand or snow, it can
often be moved using a rocking motion. Turn the steering
wheel right and left to clear the area around the frontwheels. Then shift back and forth between DRIVE and
REVERSE (with automatic transmission) or 2nd gear and
REVERSE (with manual transmission), while gently press-
ing the accelerator. Use the least amount of accelerator
pedal pressure that will maintain the rocking motion,
without spinning the wheels, or racing the engine.
CAUTION!
Racing the engine or spinning the wheels may lead to
transmission overheating and failure. Allow the en-
gine to idle with the transmission in NEUTRAL for at
least one minute after every five rocking-motion
cycles. This will minimize overheating and reduce
the risk of clutch or transmission failure during
prolonged efforts to free a stuck vehicle.
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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 463

NOTE:Press the ESC Off switch, to place the Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) system in Partial Offmode,
before rocking the vehicle. Refer to “Electronic Brake
Control” in “Starting And Operating” for further infor-
mation. Once the vehicle has been freed, press the ESC
Off switch again to restore ESC Onmode.
CAUTION!
•When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by shifting be-
tween DRIVE/2nd gear and REVERSE, do not spin
the wheels faster than 15 mph (24 km/h), or drive-
train damage may result.
• Revving the engine or spinning the wheels too fast
may lead to transmission overheating and failure.
It can also damage the tires. Do not spin the wheels
above 30 mph (48 km/h) while in gear (no trans-
mission shifting occurring).
WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces gener-
ated by excessive wheel speeds may cause damage, or
even failure, of the axle and tires. A tire could
explode and injure someone. Do not spin your vehi-
cle’s wheels faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) or for
longer than 30 seconds continuously without stop-
ping when you are stuck and do not let anyone near
a spinning wheel, no matter what the speed.
SHIFT LEVER OVERRIDE
If a malfunction occurs and the shift lever cannot be
moved out of the PARK position, you can use the
following procedure to temporarily move the shift lever:
1. Turn the engine OFF.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake.
464 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

3. Using a small screwdriver or similar tool, remove theshift lever override access cover (located on the right
side of the shifter housing). 4. Turn the ignition switch to the ACC or ON/RUN
position, but do not start the engine.
5. Press and maintain firm pressure on the brake pedal.
6. Insert the screwdriver or similar tool into the access port, and push and hold the override release lever
forward.
7. Move the shift lever to the NEUTRAL position.
8. The vehicle may then be started in NEUTRAL.
9. Reinstall the shift lever override access cover.
TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE
This section describes procedures for towing a disabled
vehicle using a commercial wrecker service.
Shift Lever Override Access Cover
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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 465

Towing Condition Wheels OFF theGroundManual
Transmission Automatic
Transmission (FWD Only) Automatic
Transmission 4WD
Flat Tow NONE
• Transmission in
NEUTRAL
• Key in ACC or
ON/RUN
position
If transmission is
operable:
•Transmission in
NEUTRAL
• 25 mph
(40 km/h) max
speed
• 15 miles (24 km)
max distance
If transmission is
operable:
•Transmission in
NEUTRAL
• 25 mph
(40 km/h) max
speed
• 15 miles (24 km)
max distance
Wheel Lift or Dolly
To w Rear
NOT ALLOWED NOT ALLOWED
Front FWD Models
ONLY OK
NOT ALLOWED
Flatbed ALLBEST METHOD BEST METHOD BEST METHOD
466 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

With Ignition Key
Automatic Transmission
•Front Wheel Drive (FWD) vehicles can be towed with
the front wheels elevated, or on a flatbed truck (all four
wheels OFFthe ground).
• Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) vehicles can be towed on a
flatbed truck (all four wheels OFFthe ground).
If the transmission is operable, this vehicle may be flat
towed (with all four wheels on the ground) under the
following conditions:
• The transmission must be in NEUTRAL.
• The towing speed must not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h).
• The towing distance must not exceed 15 miles (24 km). Front Wheel Drive (FWD) models may also be towed
(under the same limitations shown above) with the rear
wheels elevated.
CAUTION!
•
Towing this vehicle using any other method could
result in extensive damage to the transfer case
and/or transmission.
• Damage from improper towing is not covered un-
der the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
If the vehicle’s battery is discharged, refer to “Shift Lever
Override” in this section for instructions on shifting the
automatic transmission out of PARK for towing.
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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 467

Manual Transmission
•Front Wheel Drive (FWD) or Four-Wheel Drive (4WD)
vehicles can be flat towed (all four wheels on the
ground) with the transmission in NEUTRAL.
• FWD vehicles can be towed with the front wheels
elevated.
• FWD or 4WD vehicles can be towed on a flatbed truck
(all wheels OFFthe ground).
CAUTION!
•DO NOT flat tow any disabled vehicle if condition
is related to the clutch, transmission or driveline.
Additional damage to the drivetrain could result.
(Continued)
CAUTION! (Continued)
•Towing this vehicle in violation of the above re-
quirements can cause severe engine, transmission,
or drivetrain damage. Damage from improper tow-
ing is not covered under the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.
All Transmissions
If you must use the accessories (wipers, defroster, etc.)
while being towed, the key must be in the ON/RUN
position, not the ACC position. Make certain the trans-
mission remains in NEUTRAL.
468 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

CAUTION!
•DO NOT use sling-type equipment when towing.
Vehicle damage may occur.
• When securing the vehicle to a flatbed truck, do not
attach to front or rear suspension components.
Damage to your vehicle may result from improper
towing. Without The Ignition Key
Special care must be taken when the vehicle is towed
with the ignition in the LOCK position. The only ap-
proved method of towing without the ignition key is
with a flatbed truck. Proper towing equipment is neces-
sary to prevent damage to the vehicle.
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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 469