2017 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE emergency towing

reduce the chance of wheel lift occurring during severe or
evasive driving maneuvers; it cannot prevent wheel lift
due to other factors, such as road conditions, leaving the
roadway, or striking objects or other vehicles.
NOTE:ERM is disabled anytime the ESC is in “Full Off”
mode (if equipped). Refer to “Electronic Stability Control
(ESC)” in this section for a complete explanation of the
available ESC modes.
WARNING!
Many factors, such as vehicle loading, road conditions
and driving conditions, influence the chance that
wheel lift or rollover may occur. ERM cannot prevent
all wheel lift or roll overs, especially those that involve
leaving the roadway or striking objects or other ve-
hicles. The capabilities of an ERM-equipped vehicle
must never be exploited in a reckless or dangerous
manner which could jeopardize the user’s safety or the
safety of others.
Trailer Sway Control (TSC)
TSC uses sensors in the vehicle to recognize an excessively
swaying trailer and will take the appropriate actions to attempt to stop the sway. TSC will become active automati-
cally once an excessively swaying trailer is recognized.
Note that TSC cannot stop all trailers from swaying.
Always use caution when towing a trailer and follow the
trailer tongue weight recommendations. Refer to “Trailer
Towing” in “Starting And Operating” for further informa-
tion. When TSC is functioning, the “ESC Activation/
Malfunction Indicator Light” will flash, the engine power
may be reduced and you may feel the brakes being applied
to individual wheels to attempt to stop the trailer from
swaying. TSC is disabled when the ESC system is in the
“Partial Off” or “Full Off” modes.
WARNING!
If TSC activates while driving, slow the vehicle down,
stop at the nearest safe location, and adjust the trailer
load to eliminate trailer sway.
Ready Alert Braking (RAB)
Ready Alert Braking may reduce the time required to reach
full braking during emergency braking situations. It antici-
pates when an emergency braking situation may occur by
monitoring how fast the throttle is released by the driver.
The EBC will prepare the brake system for a panic stop.
5
SAFETY 189

▫Changing LaneSense Status ................364
 PARKVIEW REAR BACK UP CAMERA —
IF EQUIPPED ......................... .364
 REFUELING THE VEHICLE ................366
▫ Emergency Fuel Filler Door Release ..........368
 VEHICLE LOADING .....................369
▫ Certification Label ..................... .369
 TRAILER TOWING ..................... .370
▫ Common Towing Definitions ...............370
▫ Trailer Hitch Classification ................373
▫ Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer
Weight Ratings) ...................... .374
▫ Trailer Hitch Receiver Cover Removal
(Summit Models) — If Equipped ............375
▫ Trailer And Tongue Weight ...............376 ▫
Towing Requirements ...................377
▫ Towing Tips ......................... .381
 SNOW PLOW ......................... .382
 RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.) ....................383
▫ Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle. . . .383
▫ Recreational Towing-Two Wheel Drive Models . .384
▫ Recreational Towing — Quadra-Trac I
(Single-Speed Transfer Case) Four-Wheel
Drive Models ........................ .384
▫ Recreational Towing — Quadra–Trac II/
Quadra–Drive II Four-Wheel Drive Models .....385
 DRIVING TIPS ......................... .389
▫ On-Road Driving Tips ...................389
▫ Off-Road Driving Tips ...................389
264 STARTING AND OPERATING

•With brake pedal released, verify that the gear selector
will not move out of PARK.
NOTE: If the gear selector cannot be moved to the PARK
position (when pushed forward), it is probably in the
AutoStick (+/-) position (beside the DRIVE position). In
AutoStick mode, the transmission gear (1, 2, 3, etc.) is
displayed in the instrument cluster. Move the gear selector
to the right (into the DRIVE [D] position) for access to
PARK, REVERSE, and NEUTRAL.
REVERSE (R)
This range is for moving the vehicle backward. Shift into
REVERSE only after the vehicle has come to a complete
stop.
NEUTRAL (N)
Use this range when the vehicle is standing for prolonged
periods with the engine running. Apply the parking brake
and shift the transmission into PARK if you must leave the
vehicle.WARNING!
Do not coast in NEUTRAL and never turn off the
ignition to coast down a hill. These are unsafe practices
that limit your response to changing traffic or road
conditions. You might lose control of the vehicle and
have a collision.
CAUTION!
Towing the vehicle, coasting, or driving for any other
reason with the transmission in NEUTRAL can cause
severe transmission damage. Refer to “Recreational
Towing” in “Starting And Operating” and “Towing A
Disabled Vehicle” in “In Case Of Emergency” for
further information.
DRIVE (D)
This range should be used for most city and highway
driving. It provides the smoothest upshifts and downshifts,
and the best fuel economy. The transmission automatically
upshifts through all forward gears. The DRIVE position
provides optimum driving characteristics under all normal
operating conditions.
6
STARTING AND OPERATING 279

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
CONTENTS
HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS ............398
 ASSIST AND 9–1–1 MIRROR — IF EQUIPPED . . .398
 BULB REPLACEMENT ....................403
▫ Replacement Bulbs .....................403
▫ Bulb Replacement ..................... .405
 FUSES ............................... .410
▫ General Information .....................410
▫ Underhood Fuses ......................411
 JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING ...........417
▫ Jack Location ........................ .417
▫ Spare Tire Stowage .....................418
▫ Preparations For Jacking .................418
▫ Jacking Instructions .....................418
▫ Road Tire Installation ...................424 
JUMP-STARTING ....................... .425
▫ Preparations For Jump-Start ...............425
▫ Jump-Starting Procedure ..................426
 REFUELING IN EMERGENCY ..............428
 IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS .............428
 MANUAL PARK RELEASE .................429
 FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE ..............432
 TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE ............433
▫ Two-Wheel Drive Models .................435
▫ Four-Wheel Drive Models .................435
 EMERGENCY TOW HOOKS — IF EQUIPPED . . .436
 ENHANCED ACCIDENT RESPONSE SYSTEM
(EARS) .............................. .436
 EVENT DATA RECORDER (EDR) ............437
7

WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces generated
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 vehicle’s wheels
faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) or for longer than 30
seconds continuously without stopping when you are
stuck and do not let anyone near a spinning wheel, no
matter what the speed.
CAUTION!
•Racing the engine or spinning the wheels may lead
to transmission overheating and failure. Allow the
engine 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 transmission failure during pro-
longed efforts to free a stuck vehicle.
• When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by shifting between
DRIVE and REVERSE, do not spin the wheels faster
than 15 mph (24 km/h), or drivetrain damage may
result.
(Continued)
CAUTION! (Continued)
•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 transmis-
sion shifting occurring).
TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE
This section describes procedures for towing a disabled
vehicle using a commercial towing service. If the transmis-
sion and drivetrain are operable, disabled vehicles may
also be towed as described under “Recreational Towing” in
the “Starting and Operating” section.
NOTE: Vehicles equipped with Quadra-Lift must be
placed in Transport mode, before tying them down (from
the body) on a trailer or flatbed truck. Refer to the section
on Quadra-Lift for more information. If the vehicle cannot
be placed in Transport mode (for example, engine will not
run), tie-downs must be fastened to the axles (not to the
body). Failure to follow these instructions may cause fault
codes to be set and/or cause loss of proper tie-down
tension.
7
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 433

Towing ConditionWheels OFF The
Ground Two-Wheel Drive
Models Four-Wheel Drive
Models Without
4WD LOW Range Four-Wheel Drive
Models With 4WD LOW Range
Flat Tow NONEIF transmission is
operable:
•Transmission
in NEUTRAL
• 30 mph
(48 km/h) max
speed
• 30 miles (48 km)
max distance
NOT ALLOWED See Instructions
•Transmission
in PARK
• Transfer case
in NEUTRAL (N)
• Tow in forward
direction
Wheel Lift Or Dolly
To w Front
NOT ALLOWED NOT ALLOWED
Rear OK NOT ALLOWED NOT ALLOWED
On Trailer ALLBEST METHOD OKBEST METHOD
Proper towing or lifting equipment is required to prevent
damage to your vehicle. Use only tow bars and other
equipment designed for this purpose, following equipment
manufacturer ’s instructions. Use of safety chains is man-
datory. Attach a tow bar or other towing device to main
structural members of the vehicle, not to bumpers or
associated brackets. State and local laws regarding vehicles
under tow must be observed. If you must use the accessories (wipers, defrosters, etc.)
while being towed, the ignition must be in the ON/RUN
mode, not the ACC mode.
If the key fob is unavailable, or the vehicle’s battery is
discharged, refer to “Manual Park Release” in this section
for instructions on shifting the transmission out of PARK
for towing.
434 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

CAUTION!
•Do not use sling type equipment when towing.
Vehicle damage may occur.
• When securing the vehicle to a flat bed truck, do not
attach to front or rear suspension components. Dam-
age to your vehicle may result from improper towing.
Two-Wheel Drive Models
The manufacturer recommends towing your vehicle with
all four wheels OFFthe ground using a flatbed.
If flatbed equipment is not available, and the transmission
is operable, the vehicle may be towed (with rear wheels on
the ground) under the following conditions:
• The transmission must be in NEUTRAL. Refer to
Manual Park Release in this section for instructions on
shifting the transmission to NEUTRAL when the engine
is off.
• The towing speed must not exceed 30 mph (48 km/h).
• The towing distance must not exceed 30 miles (48 km).
If the transmission is not operable, or the vehicle must be
towed faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) or farther than 30
miles (48 km), tow with the rear wheels OFFthe ground. Acceptable methods are to tow the vehicle on a flatbed, or
with the front wheels raised and the rear wheels on a
towing dolly, or (when using a suitable steering wheel
stabilizer to hold the front wheels in the straight position)
with the rear wheels raised and the front wheels on the
ground.
CAUTION!
•
Towing faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) or farther than
30 miles (48 km) with rear wheels on the ground can
cause severe transmission damage. Damage from
improper towing is not covered under the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Four-Wheel Drive Models
The manufacturer recommends towing with all wheels
OFF the ground. Acceptable methods are to tow the vehicle
on a flatbed or with one end of vehicle raised and the
opposite end on a towing dolly.
If flatbed equipment is not available, and the transfer case
is operable, vehicles with a two-speed transfer case may
be towed (in the forward direction, with ALLwheels on the
ground), IFthe transfer case is in NEUTRAL (N) and the
7
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 435

transmission is inPARK. Refer to “Recreational Towing” in
“Starting And Operating” for detailed instructions.
Vehicles equipped with a single-speed transfer case have
no NEUTRAL position, and therefore mustbe towed with
all four wheels OFFthe ground.
CAUTION!
•Front or rear wheel lifts must not be used. Internal
damage to the transmission or transfer case will occur
if a front or rear wheel lift is used when towing.
• Towing this vehicle in violation of the above require-
ments can cause severe transmission and/or transfer
case damage. Damage from improper towing is not
covered under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
EMERGENCY TOW HOOKS — IF EQUIPPED
If your vehicle is equipped with tow hooks, there will be
one in the rear and two mounted on the front of the vehicle.
The rear hook will be located on the driver’s side of the
vehicle.
NOTE: For off-road recovery, it is recommended to use
both of the front tow hooks to minimize the risk of damage
to the vehicle.
WARNING!
• Do not use a chain for freeing a stuck vehicle. Chains
may break, causing serious injury or death.
• Stand clear of vehicles when pulling with tow hooks.
Tow straps may become disengaged, causing serious
injury.
CAUTION!
Tow hooks are for emergency use only, to rescue a
vehicle stranded off road. Do not use tow hooks for
tow truck hookup or highway towing. You could
damage your vehicle.
ENHANCED ACCIDENT RESPONSE SYSTEM
(EARS)
This vehicle is equipped with an Enhanced Accident
Response System.
Please refer to “Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) —
Air Bags” in “Occupant Restraints” for further information
on the Enhanced Accident Response System (EARS) func-
tion.
436 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY