2016 JEEP CHEROKEE light

10. Release the brake pedal for five seconds and ensurethat there is no vehicle movement.
11. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL.
12. Apply the parking brake.
13. Shift the transmission into PARK, turn the engine OFF, and remove the Key Fob.
Repeat steps 1-7 to shift out of NEUTRAL.
Rear Electronic Locker (E-Locker) System — If
Equipped
The Rear E-Locker System features a mechanical locking
rear differential to provide better traction in the 4WD
LOW position. The “REAR LOCK” button is on the
Selec-Terrain Knob. Activating The Rear E-Locker
To activate the Rear E-Locker System, the following
conditions must be met:
1. The 4WD system must be in 4WD LOW.
2. The ignition switch in the ON position and the engine
running.
3. Vehicle speed must be below 15 MPH (24 km/h).
4. To engage Rear E-Locker, push the REAR LOCK button once.
Deactivating The Rear E-Locker System
To deactivate the Rear E-Locker System, the following
conditions must be met:
1. Rear E-Locker must be engaged, and the REAR LOCK indicator light on.
502 STARTING AND OPERATING

2. The ignition switch in the ON position and the enginerunning.
3. To disengage Rear E-Locker, push the REAR LOCK button once.
NOTE:
• It may also be necessary to drive slowly steering back
and forth to complete engagement and disengagement
of the E-Locker.
• When engaging Rear E-Locker, the indicator lights in
the instrument cluster and on the REAR LOCK button
will begin to flash. When the shift is complete the
REAR LOCK indicator lights will remain on.
• When disengaging Rear E-Locker, the indicator lights
in the instrument cluster and on the REAR LOCK
button will begin to flash. When the shift is complete
the REAR LOCK indicator lights will remain off. •
Shifting into or out of Rear E-Locker is possible with
the vehicle completely stopped; however, difficulty
may occur due to the mating clutch teeth not being
properly aligned. Several attempts may be required for
clutch teeth alignment and shift completion to occur.
The preferred method is for the vehicle to be rolling,
below 15 MPH (24 km/h), while including right and
left steering maneuvers to allow for the clutch teeth to
align.
• The Rear E-Locker System must be disengaged prior to
taking the vehicle out of 4WD LOW range. If 4WD
LOW shift conditions/interlocks are not met, a mes-
sage will flash from the Electronic Vehicle Information
Center (EVIC)/Driver Information Display (DID) with
instructions on how to complete the requested shift.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 503

Maintenance
After driving through deep water, inspect your vehicle
fluids and lubricants (engine, transmission, Power Trans-
fer Unit and Rear Drive Module) to assure they have not
been contaminated. Contaminated fluids and lubricants
(milky, foamy in appearance) should be flushed/changed
as soon as possible to prevent 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 4WD system to the appropriate terrain
mode, using 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 headway. 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 4WD System to 4WD LOW. Use
first gear and 4WD LOW for very steep hills.
If you stall or begin to lose headway while climbing a
steep hill, allow your vehicle to come to a stop and
immediately apply the brakes. Restart the engine and shift
to 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.
508 STARTING AND OPERATING

light efforts while parking and good feel while driving. If
the electric steering system experiences a fault that
reduces assist or prevents the vehicle from providing
assist, you will still have the ability to steer the vehicle
manually.
WARNING!
Continued operation with reduced assist could pose
a safety risk to yourself and others. Service should be
obtained as soon as possible.If the “SERVICE POWER STEERING OR
POWER STEERING ASSIST OFF - SERVICE
SYSTEM” message and a steering wheel icon
are displayed on the EVIC/DID screen, it indi-
cates that the vehicle needs to be taken to the dealer for
service. It is likely the vehicle has lost power steering
assistance. Refer to “Electronic Vehicle Information (EVIC) or
Driver Information Display (DID)” in “Under-
standing Your Instrument Panel” for further information.
If the “POWER STEERING SYSTEM HOT - PERFOR-
MANCE MAY BE LIMITED” message and an icon are
displayed on the EVIC/DID screen, it indicates that
extreme steering maneuvers may have occurred, which
caused an over temperature condition in the power
steering system. You will lose power steering assistance
momentarily until the over temperature condition no
longer exists. Once driving conditions are safe, then pull
over and let vehicle idle for a few moments until the light
turns off. Refer to “Electronic Vehicle Information
(EVIC)/Driver Information Display (DID)” in “Under-
standing Your Instrument Panel” for further information.5
STARTING AND OPERATING 511

To apply the park brake manually, pull up on the switch
momentarily. You may hear a slight whirring sound from
the back of the vehicle while the park brake engages.
Once the park brake is fully engaged, the BRAKE warn-
ing lamp in the instrument cluster and an indicator on
the switch will illuminate. If your foot is on the brakepedal while you apply the park brake, you may notice a
small amount of brake pedal movement. The park brake
can be applied even when the ignition switch is OFF but
the BRAKE warning lamp will not illuminate, however, it
can only be released when the ignition switch is in the
ON/RUN position.
NOTE:
The EPB fault lamp will illuminate if the EPB
switch is held for longer than 20 seconds in either the
released or applied position. The light will extinguish
upon releasing the switch.
If the Auto Park Brake feature is enabled, the parking
brake will automatically engage whenever the transmis-
sion is placed into PARK, or with a manual transmission,
when the ignition switch is turned OFF. If your foot is on
the brake pedal, you may notice a small amount of brake
pedal movement while the park brake is engaging.
Electric Park Brake Switch
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 513

The park brake will release automatically when the
ignition switch is ON, the transmission is in DRIVE or
REVERSE, the driver seat belt is buckled, and an attempt
is made to drive away.
To release the park brake manually, the ignition switch
must be in the ON/RUN position. Put your foot on the
brake pedal, then push the park brake switch down
momentarily. You may hear a slight whirring sound from
the back of the car while the parking brake disengages.
You may also notice a small amount of movement in the
brake pedal. Once the park brake is fully disengaged, The
BRAKE warning lamp in the instrument cluster and the
LED indicator on the switch will extinguish.NOTE:
When parking on a hill, it is important to turn the
front wheels toward the curb on a downhill grade and
away from the curb on an uphill grade. Apply the park
brake before placing the shift lever in PARK, otherwise
the load on the transmission locking mechanism may
make it difficult to move the shift lever out of PARK. The
parking brake should always be applied whenever the
driver is not in the vehicle.
WARNING!
• Never use the PARK position as a substitute for the
parking brake. Always apply the parking brake
fully when parked to guard against vehicle move-
ment and possible injury or damage.
• When leaving the vehicle, always remove the Key
Fob from the ignition and lock your vehicle.
(Continued)
514 STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING!(Continued)
•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. Children should be
warned not to touch the parking brake, brake pedal
or the shift lever.
• Do not leave the Key Fob in or near the vehicle, or
in a location accessible to children, and do not
leave a vehicle equipped with Keyless Enter-N-Go
in the ACC or ON/RUN mode. A child could
operate power windows, other controls, or move
the vehicle.
• Be sure the parking brake is fully disengaged
before driving; failure to do so can lead to brake
failure and a collision.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Always fully apply the parking brake when leav-
ing your vehicle, or it may roll and cause damage or
injury. Also be certain to leave the transmission in
PARK. Failure to do so may allow the vehicle to roll
and cause damage or injury.
CAUTION!
If the Brake System Warning Light remains on with
the parking brake released, a brake system malfunc-
tion is indicated. Have the brake system serviced by
an authorized dealer immediately.
If exceptional circumstances should make it necessary to
engage the park brake while the vehicle is in motion,
maintain upward pressure on the electric park brake
switch for as long as engagement is desired. The Brake
warning lamp will illuminate, and a continuous chime
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 515

BRAKE SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with dual hydraulic
brake systems. If either of the two hydraulic
systems loses normal capability, the remaining
system will still function. However, there will
be some loss of overall braking effectiveness. This will be
evident by increased pedal travel during application and
greater pedal force required to slow or stop the vehicle. In
addition, if the malfunction is caused by a leak in the
hydraulic system, the “Brake Warning Light” will turn on
as the brake fluid level drops in the master cylinder.
In the event power assist is lost for any reason (i.e.,
repeated brake applications with the engine OFF) the
brakes will still function. However, the effort required to
brake the vehicle will be much greater than that required
with the power system operating.
WARNING!
• Riding the brakes can lead to brake failure and
possibly a collision. Driving with your foot resting
or riding on the brake pedal can result in abnor-
mally high brake temperatures, excessive lining
wear, and possible brake damage. You would not
have your full braking capacity in an emergency.
• Driving a vehicle with the “Brake Warning Light”
on is dangerous. A significant decrease in braking
performance or vehicle stability during braking
may occur. It will take you longer to stop the
vehicle or will make your vehicle harder to control.
You could have a collision. Have the vehicle
checked immediately.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 519