![JEEP PATRIOT 2017 1.G Owners Manual low (L Off-Road [if equipped]) with the 4WD LOCK
engaged and proceed with caution maintaining your mo-
mentum as you climb the hill.
Driving Up Hill
Once you have determined your ability to proceed an JEEP PATRIOT 2017 1.G Owners Manual low (L Off-Road [if equipped]) with the 4WD LOCK
engaged and proceed with caution maintaining your mo-
mentum as you climb the hill.
Driving Up Hill
Once you have determined your ability to proceed an](/manual-img/16/7147/w960_7147-237.png)
low (L Off-Road [if equipped]) with the 4WD LOCK
engaged and proceed with caution maintaining your mo-
mentum as you climb the hill.
Driving Up Hill
Once you have determined your ability to proceed and
have shifted into the appropriate gear, line your vehicle up
for the straightest possible run. Accelerate with an easy
constant throttle and apply more power as you start up the
hill. Do not race forward into a steep grade; the abrupt
change of grade could cause you to lose control. If the front
end begins to bounce, ease off the throttle slightly to bring
all four tires back on the ground. As you approach the crest
of the hill, ease off the throttle and slowly proceed over the
top. If the wheels start to slip as you approach the crest of
a hill, ease off the accelerator and maintain headway by
turning the steering wheel no more than a 1/4 turn quickly
back and forth. This will provide a freshbiteinto the
surface and will usually provide enough traction to com-
plete the climb. If you do not make it to the top, place the
vehicle in REVERSE and back straight down the grade
using engine resistance along with the vehicle brakes.WARNING!
Never attempt to climb a hill at an angle or turn around
on a steep grade. Driving across an incline increases
the risk of a rollover, which may result in severe injury.
Driving Down Hill
Before driving down a steep hill you need to determine if
it is too steep for a safe descent. What is the surface
traction? Is the grade too steep to maintain a slow con-
trolled descent? Are there obstacles? Is it a straight descent?
Is there plenty of distance at the base of the hill to regain
control if the vehicle descends to fast? If you feel confident
in your ability to proceed then make sure you are in low (L
Off-Road [if equipped] ) with the 4WD LOCK engaged and
proceed with caution. Allow engine and hill descent brak-
ing to control the descent and apply your brakes if neces-
sary, but do not allow the tires to lock.
WARNING!
Do not descend a steep grade in NEUTRAL. Use
vehicle brakes in conjunction with engine braking.
Descending a grade too fast could cause you to lose
control and be seriously injured or killed.
236 STARTING AND OPERATING

Driving Across An Incline
If at all possible avoid driving across an incline. If it is
necessary, know your vehicle’s abilities. Driving across an
incline places more weight on the down-hill wheels, which
increases the possibilities of a down-hill slide or rollover.
Make sure the surface has good traction with firm and
stable soils. If possible transverse the incline at an angle
heading slightly up or down.
WARNING!
Driving across an incline increases the risk of a roll-
over, which may result in severe injury.
If You Stall Or Begin To Lose Headway
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 brake. Restart the engine and shift to REVERSE.
Back slowly down the hill allowing engine and hill descent
braking to control the descent and apply your brakes if
necessary, but do not allow the tires to lock.
WARNING!
If the engine stalls or you lose headway 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, which may result in severe injury.
Always back carefully straight down a hill in RE-
VERSE gear. Never back down a hill in NEUTRAL
using only the vehicle brakes. Never drive diagonally
across a hill, always drive straight up or down.
Driving Through Water
Extreme care should be taken crossing any type of water.
Water crossings should be avoided if possible, and only be
attempted when necessary in a safe responsible manner.
You should only drive through areas which are designated
and approved. You should tread lightly and avoid damage
to the environment. You should know your vehicles abili-
ties and be able to recover it if something goes wrong. You
should never stop or shut a vehicle off when crossing deep
water unless you ingested water into the engine air intake.
If the engine stalls, do not attempt to restart it. Determine
if it has ingested water first. The key to any crossing is low
and slow. You want to use low (L Off-Road [if equipped] )
with the 4WD LOCK engaged and proceed very slowly
6
STARTING AND OPERATING 237

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.
•Completely inspect the underbody of your vehicle.
Check tires, body structure, steering, suspension, and
exhaust system for damage.
• Inspect the radiator for mud and debris and clean as
required.
• Check threaded fasteners for looseness, particularly on
the chassis, drivetrain components, steering, and sus-
pension. Retighten them, if required, and torque to the
values specified in the Service Manual.
• Check for accumulations of plants or brush. These things
could be a fire hazard. They might hide damage to fuel
lines, brake hoses, axle pinion seals, and propeller shafts. •
After extended operation in mud, sand, water, or similar
dirty conditions, have the radiator, fan, brake rotors,
wheels, brake linings, and axle yokes inspected and
cleaned as soon as possible.
WARNING!
Abrasive material in any part of the brakes may cause
excessive wear or unpredictable braking. You might
not have full braking power when you need it to
prevent a collision. If you have been operating your
vehicle in dirty conditions, get your brakes checked
and cleaned as necessary.
• If you experience unusual vibration after driving in
mud, slush or similar conditions, check the wheels for
impacted material. Impacted material can cause a wheel
imbalance and freeing the wheels of it will correct the
situation.
6
STARTING AND OPERATING 239

CavityCartridge Fuse Mini-FuseDescription
34 30 Amp Pink –Antilock BrakeValve
35 40 Amp Green –Antilock Brake Pump
36 30 Amp Pink –Headlamp/Washer Control/
Smart Glass – If Equipped
37 –25 Amp Clear Diesel Heater and H2/MOD
power top
CAUTION!
•When installing the IPM cover, it is important to
ensure the cover is properly positioned and fully
latched. Failure to do so may allow water to get into
the IPM, and possibly result in an electrical system
failure.
• When replacing a blown fuse, it is important to use
only a fuse having the correct amperage rating. The
use of a fuse with a rating other than indicated may
result in a dangerous electrical system overload. If a
properly rated fuse continues to blow, it indicates a
problem in the circuit that must be corrected.
JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING
WARNING!
• Do not attempt to change a tire on the side of the
vehicle close to moving traffic. Pull far enough off
the road to avoid the danger of being hit when
operating the jack or changing the wheel.
• Being under a jacked-up vehicle is dangerous. The
vehicle could slip off the jack and fall on you. You
could be crushed. Never put any part of your body
under a vehicle that is on a jack. If you need to get
under a raised vehicle, take it to a service center
where it can be raised on a lift.
(Continued)
7
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 249

Preparations For Jacking
1. Park the vehicle on a firm level surface, avoiding ice orslippery areas.
WARNING!
Do not attempt to change a tire on the side of the
vehicle close to moving traffic, pull far enough off the
road to avoid the danger of being hit when operating
the jack or changing the wheel.
2. Turn on the Hazard Warning flasher.
3. Set the parking brake.
4. Place the gear selector in PARK (automatic transmis- sion) or REVERSE (manual transmission).
5. Turn OFF the ignition.
6. Block both the front and rear of the wheel diagonally opposite of the jacking position. For ex-
ample, if changing the right front tire, block
the left rear wheel.
NOTE: Passengers should not remain in the vehicle while
the vehicle is being jacked.
Jacking Instructions
WARNING!
Carefully follow these tire changing warnings to help
prevent personal injury or damage to your vehicle:
• Always park on a firm, level surface as far from the
edge of the roadway as possible before raising the
vehicle.
• Turn on the Hazard Warning flasher.
• Block the wheel diagonally opposite the wheel to be
raised.
• Set the parking brake firmly and set an automatic
transmission in PARK; a manual transmission in
REVERSE.
• Never start or run the engine with the vehicle on a
jack.
• Do not let anyone sit in the vehicle when it is on a
jack.
• Do not get under the vehicle when it is on a jack. If
you need to get under a raised vehicle, take it to a
service center where it can be raised on a lift.
• Only use the jack in the positions indicated and for
lifting this vehicle during a tire change.
(Continued)
7
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 251

WARNING!(Continued)
•If working on or near a roadway, be extremely
careful of motor traffic.
• To assure that spare tires, flat or inflated, are securely
stowed, spares must be stowed with the valve stem
facing the ground.
NOTE: Refer to “Tires — General Information” in “Servic-
ing And Maintenance” for further information about the
spare tire, it’s use, and operation. 1. Remove the scissors jack and lug wrench from the spare
wheel as an assembly. Turn the jack screw to the left to
loosen the lug wrench and remove the wrench from the
jack assembly.
NOTE: The jack handle attaches to the side of the jack with
two attachment points. When the jack is partially ex-
panded, the tension between the two attachment points
holds the jack handle in place.
2. Loosen, but do not remove, the wheel nuts by turning them to the left one turn while the wheel is still on the
ground.
Jack Warning Label
Removing Jack Handle From Jack
252 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

Do not raise the vehicle until you are sure the jack is
securely engaged.
3. Turn the jack screw to the left until the jack can be placedunder the jacking location. Once the jack is positioned,
turn the jack screw to the right until the jack head is
properly engaged with the lift area closest to the wheel
to be changed.
WARNING!
Raising the vehicle higher than necessary can make the
vehicle less stable. It could slip off the jack and hurt
someone near it. Raise the vehicle only enough to
remove the tire.
4. Using the swivel wrench raise the vehicle by turning the jack screw to the right. Raise the vehicle only until the
tire just clears the surface and enough clearance is
obtained to install the spare tire. Minimum tire lift
provides maximum stability.
5. Remove the wheel nuts and pull the wheel and wheel covers, where applicable, off the hub. Install the spare
wheel and wheel nuts with the cone shaped end of the
nuts toward the wheel. Lightly tighten the nuts.
WARNING!
To avoid the risk of forcing the vehicle off the jack, do
not tighten the wheel nuts fully until the vehicle has
been lowered. Failure to follow this warning may
result in serious injury.
Rear Jacking Location
254 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

WARNING!
To avoid possible personal injury, handle the wheel
covers with care to avoid contact with any sharp edges.
CAUTION!
Be sure to mount the spare tire with the valve stem
facing outward. The vehicle could be damaged if the
spare tire is mounted incorrectly.NOTE:
The wheel cover is held on the wheel by the wheel
nuts. When reinstalling the original wheel, properly align
the wheel cover to the valve stem, place the wheel cover
onto the wheel, then install the wheel nuts.
6. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack screw to the left.
7. Finish tightening the lug nuts. Push down on the wrench while at the end of the handle for increased
leverage. Tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern until each
nut has been tightened twice. Refer to “Torque Specifi-
cations” in “Technical Specifications” for the correct lug
nut torque. If you doubt that you have tightened the
nuts correctly, have them checked with a torque wrench
by your authorized dealer or service station.
8. Remove the wheel blocks and lower the jack until it is free. Release the parking brake. Reassemble the lug
wrench to the jack assembly and stow it in the spare tire
area. Secure the assembly using the means provided.
WARNING!
A loose tire or jack thrown forward in a collision or
hard stop could endanger the occupants of the vehicle.
Always stow the jack parts and the spare tire in the
places provided.
Mounting Spare Tire
7
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 255