NOTE:
If the ignition is left in the ACC or RUN
(engine not running) mode and the transmis-
sion is in PARK, the system will automatically
time out after 30 minutes of inactivity and
the ignition will cycle to the OFF mode.
ENGINE START/STOP Button Functions — With
Driver’s Foot OFF The Brake Pedal (In PARK Or
NEUTRAL Position)
The ENGINE START/STOP button operates
similar to an ignition switch. It has four
modes, OFF, ACC, RUN and START. To
change the ignition modes without starting
the vehicle and use the accessories follow
these steps:
• Starting with the ignition in the OFF mode,
• Push the ENGINE START/STOP buttononce to place the ignition to the ACC mode
(instrument cluster will display “ACC”),
• Push the ENGINE START/STOP button a second time to place the ignition to the
RUN mode (instrument cluster will display
“ON/RUN”), • Push the ENGINE START/STOP button a
third time to return the ignition to the OFF
mode (instrument cluster will display
“OFF”).
Cold Weather Operation (Below –22°F Or
−30°C)
To ensure reliable starting at these tempera-
tures, use of an externally powered electric
engine block heater (available from your Au-
thorized Dealer) is recommended.
After Starting
The idle speed is controlled automatically,
and it will decrease as the engine warms up.
If Engine Fails To Start
WARNING!
• Never pour fuel or other flammable liq-uid into the throttle body air inlet open-
ing in an attempt to start the vehicle.
This could result in flash fire causing
serious personal injury.
• Do not attempt to push or tow your
vehicle to get it started. Vehicles
WARNING!
equipped with an automatic transmis-
sion cannot be started this way. Un-
burned fuel could enter the catalytic
converter and once the engine has
started, ignite and damage the converter
and vehicle.
• If the vehicle has a discharged battery,
booster cables may be used to obtain a
start from a booster battery or the battery
in another vehicle. This type of start can
be dangerous if done improperly. Refer
to “Jump-Starting” in “In Case Of Emer-
gency” for further information.
After Starting
The idle speed is controlled automatically,
and it will decrease as the engine warms up.
STARTING PROCEDURES —
DIESEL ENGINES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat,
both inside and outside mirrors, and fasten
your seat belts.
STARTING AND OPERATING
150
The starter is allowed to crank for up to
30-second intervals. Waiting a few minutes
between such intervals will protect the starter
from overheating.
WARNING!
• Before exiting a vehicle, always shift theautomatic transmission into PARK and
apply the parking brake. Always make
sure the keyless ignition node is in the
“OFF” mode, remove the key fob from
the vehicle and lock the vehicle.
• Never leave children alone in a vehicle,
or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Leaving children 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 gear selector.
• Do not leave the key fob in or near the
vehicle, or in a location accessible to
children, and do not leave the ignition of
a vehicle equipped with Keyless Enter-
N-Go in the ACC or ON/RUN mode. A
WARNING!
child could operate power windows,
other controls, or move the vehicle.
• Do not leave children or animals inside
parked vehicles in hot weather. Interior
heat build-up may cause serious injury
or death.
NOTE:
Engine start up in very low ambient tempera-
ture could result in evident white smoke. This
condition will disappear as the engine warms
up.
CAUTION!
• The engine is allowed to crank as long as 30 seconds. If the engine fails to start
during this period, please wait at least
two minutes for the starter to cool before
repeating start procedure.
• If the “Water in Fuel Indicator Light”
remains on, DO NOT START engine be-
fore you drain the water from the fuel
filters to avoid engine damage. Refer to
“Draining Fuel/Water Separator Filter”
CAUTION!
in “Servicing And Maintenance” for fur-
ther information.
Automatic Transmission
Start the engine with the transmission gear
selector in the PARK position. Apply the
brake before shifting to any driving range.
Extreme Cold Weather
The engine block heater is a resistance heater
installed in the water jacket of the engine. It
requires a 110–115 Volt AC electrical outlet
with a grounded, three-wire extension cord.
Its use is recommended for environments
that routinely fall below -10°F (-23°C). It
should be used when the vehicle has not been
running overnight or longer periods and
should be plugged in two hours prior to start.
Its use is required for cold starts with tem-
peratures under -20°F (-28°C).
151
NOTE:
The engine block heater cord is a factory
installed option. If your vehicle is not
equipped, heater cords are available from
your authorized MOPAR dealer.
• A 12 Volt heater built into the fuel filterhousing aids in preventing fuel gelling. It is
controlled by a built-in thermostat.
• A Diesel Pre-Heat system both improves engine starting and reduces the amount of
white smoke generated by a warming
engine.
Normal Starting Procedure — Keyless
Enter-N-Go
Observe the instrument panel cluster lights
when starting the engine.
NOTE:
Normal starting of either a cold or a warm
engine is obtained without pumping or press-
ing the accelerator pedal
1. Always apply the parking brake.
2. Press and hold the brake pedal while pushing the ENGINE START/STOP button
once. NOTE:
A delay of the start of up to five seconds is
possible under very cold conditions. The
"Wait to Start" telltale will be illuminated
during the pre-heat process, When the
engine Wait To Start light goes off the
engine will automatically crank.
CAUTION!
If the “Water in Fuel Indicator Light” re-
mains on, DO NOT START the engine be-
fore you drain the water from the fuel
filters to avoid engine damage. Refer to
“Draining Fuel/Water Separator Filter” in
“Servicing And Maintenance” for further
information.
3. The system will automatically engage the starter to crank the engine. If the vehicle
fails to start, the starter will disengage
automatically after 25 seconds.
4. If you wish to stop the cranking of the engine prior to the engine starting, push
the button again.
5. Check that the oil pressure warning light has turned off. 6. Release the parking brake.
Starting Fluids
The engine is equipped with a glow plug
preheating system. If the instructions in this
manual are followed, the engine should start
in all conditions and no type of starting fluid
should be used.
WARNING!
• Do not leave children or animals inside
parked vehicles in hot weather. Interior
heat build up may cause serious injury
or death.
• When leaving the vehicle, always make
sure the keyless ignition node is in the
“OFF” mode, remove the key fob from
the vehicle and lock the vehicle.
• Never leave children alone in a vehicle,
or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Allowing children to be in a vehicle un-
attended is dangerous for a number of
reasons. A child or others could be seri-
ously or fatally injured. Children should
be warned not to touch the parking
brake, brake pedal or the gear selector.
STARTING AND OPERATING
152
300 to 500 miles (483 to 805 km):
• Exercise the full engine rpm range, shift-ing manually (paddles or gear shift) at
higher rpms when possible.
• Do not perform sustained operation with the accelerator pedal at wide open
throttle.
• Maintain vehicle speed below 85 mph (136 km/h) and observe local speed
limits.
For the first 1500 miles (2414 km):
• Do not participate in track events, sport driving schools, or similar activities during
the first 1500 mi (2414 km).
NOTE:
Check engine oil with every refueling and add
if necessary. Oil and fuel consumption may
be higher through the first oil change interval.
Running the engine with an oil level below
the add mark can cause severe engine dam-
age.AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
WARNING!
• It is dangerous to shift out of PARK or NEUTRAL if the engine speed is higher
than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly
pressing the brake pedal, the vehicle
could accelerate quickly forward or in
reverse. You could lose control of the
vehicle and hit someone or something.
Only shift into gear when the engine is
idling normally and your foot is firmly
pressing the brake pedal.
• Unintended movement of a vehicle
could injure those in or near the vehicle.
As with all vehicles, you should never
exit a vehicle while the engine is run-
ning. Before exiting a vehicle, always
apply the parking brake, shift the trans-
mission into PARK, and turn the ignition
OFF. When the ignition is in the OFF
mode, the transmission is locked in
PARK, securing the vehicle against un-
wanted movement.
WARNING!
• When leaving the vehicle, always makesure the ignition is in the OFF mode,
remove the key fob from the vehicle, and
lock the vehicle.
• Never leave children alone in a vehicle,
or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Allowing children to be in a vehicle un-
attended is dangerous for a number of
reasons. A child or others could be seri-
ously or fatally injured. Children should
be warned not to touch the parking
brake, brake pedal or the transmission
gear selector.
• Do not leave the key fob in or near the
vehicle (or in a location accessible to
children), and do not leave the ignition
in the ACC or ON/RUN mode. A child
could operate power windows, other con-
trols, or move the vehicle.
157
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if
the following precautions are not ob-
served:
• Shift into or out of PARK or REVERSEonly after the vehicle has come to a
complete stop.
• Do not shift between PARK, REVERSE,
NEUTRAL, or DRIVE when the engine is
above idle speed.
• Before shifting into any gear, make sure
your foot is firmly pressing the brake
pedal.
NOTE:
You must press and hold the brake pedal
while shifting out of PARK.
Ignition Park Interlock
This vehicle is equipped with a Ignition Park
Interlock which requires the transmission to
be in PARK before the ignition can be turned
to the OFF mode. This helps the driver avoid
inadvertently leaving the vehicle without placing the transmission in PARK. This sys-
tem also locks the transmission in PARK
whenever the ignition is in the OFF mode.
Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock
System
This vehicle is equipped with a Brake Trans-
mission Shift Interlock system (BTSI) that
holds the transmission gear selector in PARK
unless the brakes are applied. To shift the
transmission out of PARK, the engine must
be running and the brake pedal must be
pressed. The brake pedal must also be
pressed to shift from NEUTRAL into DRIVE or
REVERSE when the vehicle is stopped or
moving at low speeds.
Fuel Economy (ECO) Mode
The Fuel Economy (ECO) mode can improve
the vehicle's overall fuel economy during nor-
mal driving conditions. Push the “ECO”
switch in the center stack of the instrument
panel to activate or disable ECO mode. An
amber light on the switch indicates when
ECO mode is disabled (for regular models) or
a blue light when enabled (for SRT models).
When the Fuel Economy (ECO) Mode is en-
gaged, the vehicle control systems will
change the following:
• The transmission will upshift sooner and
downshift later.
• The overall driving performance will be more conservative.
• Vehicles with Quadra-Lift air suspension will operate in "Aero" mode over a broader
speed range. Refer to the section on
Quadra-Lift for further information.
ECO SwitchSTARTING AND OPERATING
158
• In SRT models, the transmission willlaunch (from a stop) in second gear, and
the torque converter clutch may engage at
lower engine speeds and remain on longer.
• Some ECO mode functions may be tempo- rarily inhibited based on temperature and
other factors.
Active Noise Cancellation — Summit And
SRT Models Only
Your vehicle is equipped with an Active Noise
Cancellation System. This system uses four
microphones embedded in the headliner to
detect undesirable exhaust noise, which
sometimes occurs when operating in ECO
mode. An onboard frequency generator cre-
ates counteracting sound waves through the
audio system to help keep the vehicle quiet.
Eight–Speed Automatic Transmission
Your vehicle is equipped with a fuel efficient
8 speed transmission. The gear selector is
located in the center console. The transmission gear selector provides
PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL, DRIVE and
MANUAL (AutoStick) shift positions. Manual
shifts can be made using the AutoStick shiftcontrol (refer to “AutoStick” in this section
for further information). Toggling the gear
selector forward (-) or rearward (+) while in
the MANUAL (AutoStick) position (beside
the DRIVE position), or tapping the shift
paddles (+/-), will manually select the trans-
mission gear, and will display the current gear
in the instrument cluster.
NOTE:
If the gear selector cannot be moved to the
PARK, REVERSE, or NEUTRAL position
(when pushed forward), it is probably in the
AutoStick (+/-) position (beside the DRIVE
position). In AutoStick mode, the transmis-
sion 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.
Transmission Gear Selector
1 — Lock Button
2 — Transmission Gear Selector
159
Quadra-Trac II Operating Instructions/
Precautions — If Equipped
The Quadra-Trac II transfer case is fully au-
tomatic in the normal driving 4WD AUTO
mode. The Quadra-Trac II transfer case pro-
vides three mode positions:
• 4WD HI
• NEUTRAL
• 4WD LOW
This transfer case is fully automatic in the
4WD HI mode.
When additional traction is required, the
4WD LOW position can be used to lock the
front and rear driveshafts together and force
the front and rear wheels to rotate at the
same speed. The 4WD LOW position is in-
tended for loose, slippery road surfaces only.
Driving in the 4WD LOW position on dry,
hard-surfaced roads may cause increased tire
wear and damage to driveline components.When operating your vehicle in 4WD LOW,
the engine speed is approximately three
times that of the 4WD HI position at a given
road speed. Take care not to overspeed the
engine and do not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h).
Proper operation of four-wheel drive vehicles
depends on tires of equal size, type, and
circumference on each wheel. Any difference
will adversely affect shifting and cause dam-
age to the transfer case.
Because four-wheel drive provides improved
traction, there is a tendency to exceed safe
turning and stopping speeds. Do not go faster
than road conditions permit.
WARNING!
You or others could be injured or killed if
you leave the vehicle unattended with the
transfer case in the NEUTRAL position
without first fully engaging the parking
brake. The transfer case NEUTRAL posi-
tion disengages both the front and rear
drive shafts from the powertrain and will
allow the vehicle to roll, even if the trans-
mission is in PARK. The parking brake
WARNING!
should always be applied when the driver
is not in the vehicle.
Shift Positions
For additional information on the appropriate
use of each 4WD system mode position, see
the information below:
4WD AUTO
This range is used on surfaces such as ice,
snow, gravel, sand, and dry hard pavement.
NOTE:
Refer to “Selec-Terrain – If Equipped” fur-
ther on in this section for further information
on the various positions and their intended
usages.
NEUTRAL
This range disengages the driveline from the
powertrain. It is to be used for flat towing
behind another vehicle. Refer to “Recre-
ational Towing” in “Starting And Operating”
for further information.
STARTING AND OPERATING
162
WARNING!
You or others could be injured or killed if
you leave the vehicle unattended with the
power transfer unit in the NEUTRAL (N)
position without first fully engaging the
parking brake. The NEUTRAL (N) position
disengages both the front and rear drive-
shafts from the powertrain and will allow
the vehicle to roll, even if the transmission
is in PARK. The parking brake should al-
ways be applied when the driver is not in
the vehicle.
4WD LOW
This range is for low speed four-wheel drive. It
provides an additional gear reduction which
allows for increased torque to be delivered to
both the front and rear wheels while providing
maximum pulling power for loose, slippery
road surfaces only. Do not exceed 25 mph
(40 km/h).
NOTE:
Refer to “Selec-Terrain – If Equipped” for
further information on the various positions
and their intended usages.
Shifting Procedures
4WD HI To 4WD LOW
With the vehicle at speeds of 0 to 3 mph (0 to
5 km/h), the ignition switch in the ON posi-
tion or the engine running, shift the transmis-
sion into “N”, and push the “4WD LOW”
button once on the transfer case switch. The
“4WD LOW” indicator light in the instrument
cluster will begin to flash and remain on solid
when the shift is complete.NOTE:
If shift conditions/interlocks are not met, or a
transfer case motor temperature protection
condition exists, a “For 4x4 Low Slow Below
3 mph (5 km/h) Put Trans in “N” Press
4 Low” message will flash from the instru-
ment cluster display. Refer to “Instrument
Cluster Display” in “Getting To Know Your
Instrument Panel” for further information.
4WD LOW To 4WD HI
With the vehicle at speeds of 0 to 3 mph (0 to
5 km/h), the ignition switch in the ON posi-
tion or the engine running, shift the transmis-
sion into NEUTRAL, and push the “4WD
LOW” button once on the transfer case
switch. The “4WD LOW” indicator light in the
instrument cluster will flash and go out when
the shift is complete.
Transfer Case Switch
163