2018 JEEP CHEROKEE Owner handbook (in English)

Downshifting
Moving from a high gear down to a lower gear
is recommended to preserve brakes when
driving down steep hills. In addition, down-
shifting at the right time provides better ac-
celeration when you desire to resume speed.
Downshift progressively. Do not skip gears to
avoid overspeeding the engine and clutch.
WARNING!
Do not downshift for additional engine
braking on a slippery surface. The drive
wheels could lose their grip, and the ve-
hicle could skid.
CAUTION!
• Skipping gears and downshifting intolower gears at higher vehicle speeds can
damage the engine and clutch systems,
CAUTION!
Any attempt to shift into lower gear with
clutch pedal depressed may result dam-
age to the clutch system. Shifting into
lower gear and releasing the clutch may
result in engine damage.
• When descending a hill, be very careful
to downshift one gear at a time to pre-
vent overspeeding the engine which can
cause engine damage, and/or clutch
damage, even if the clutch pedal is
pressed. If transfer case is in low range
the vehicle speeds to cause engine and
clutch damage are significantly lower.
• Failure to follow the maximum recom-
mended downshifting speeds may cause
the engine damage and/or damage the
clutch, even if the clutch pedal is
pressed.
CAUTION!
• Descending a hill in low range withclutch pedal depressed could result in
clutch damage.
Maximum Recommended Downshift Speeds
CAUTION!
Failure to follow the maximum recom-
mended downshifting speeds may cause
the engine to overspeed and/or damage the
clutch disc, even if the clutch pedal is
pressed.
Manual Transmission Shift Speeds in MPH (KM/H)
Gear Selection 6 to 5 5 to 4 4 to 3 3 to 2 2 to 1
Maximum Speed 80 (129) 70 (113) 50 (81) 30 (48) 15 (24)
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CAUTION!
If you skip a gear while downshifting or
downshift at too high of a vehicle speed,
these conditions may cause the engine to
overspeed if too low of a gear is selected
and the clutch pedal is released. Damage
to the clutch and the transmission can
result from skipping a gear while down-
shifting or downshifting at too high of a
vehicle speed even if the clutch pedal is
held pressed (i.e., not released).
AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION —
IF EQUIPPED
WARNING!
• It is dangerous to shift out of PARK orNEUTRAL 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
WARNING!
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
come to a complete stop, then apply the
parking brake, shift the transmission
into PARK, turn the engine OFF, and
remove the key fob. When the ignition is
in the LOCK/OFF (key removal) position,
(or, with Keyless Enter-N-Go, when the
ignition is in the OFF mode) the trans-
mission is locked in PARK, securing the
vehicle against unwanted movement.
• When leaving the vehicle, always make
sure the ignition is in the OFF mode,
remove the key fob from the vehicle, and
lock the vehicle.
•
Never use the PARK position as a substi-
tute for the parking brake. Always apply the
parking brake fully when exiting the ve-
WARNING!
hicle to guard against vehicle movement
and possible injury or damage.
• Your vehicle could move and injure you
and others if it is not in PARK. Check by
trying to move the gear selector out of
PARK with the brake pedal released.
Make sure the transmission is in PARK
before exiting 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 a vehicle equipped with Keyless
Enter-N-Go) in the ACC or ON/RUN
mode. A child could operate power win-
dows, other controls, or move the ve-
hicle.
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128

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.
Key Ignition Park Interlock
This vehicle is equipped with a Key Ignition
Park Interlock which requires the transmis-
sion to be in PARK before the ignition can be
turned to the LOCK/OFF (key removal) posi-
tion. The key fob can only be removed from the ignition when the ignition is in the LOCK/
OFF position, and the transmission is locked
in PARK whenever the ignition is in the
LOCK/OFF position.
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 ignition must
be in the ON/RUN mode (engine running or
not) 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.
Nine-Speed Automatic Transmission
The transmission gear range (PRND) is dis-
played both beside the gear selector and in
the instrument cluster. To select a gear range,
press the lock button on the gear selector and
move the selector rearward or forward. You
must also press the brake pedal to shift thetransmission out of PARK (or NEUTRAL,
when the vehicle is stopped or moving at low
speeds). Select the DRIVE range for normal
driving.
NOTE:
In the event of a mismatch between the gear
selector position and the actual transmission
gear (for example, driver selects REVERSE
while driving forward), the position indicator
will blink continuously until the selector is
returned to the proper position, or the re-
quested shift can be completed.
The electronically-controlled transmission
adapts its shift schedule based on driver
inputs, along with environmental and road
conditions. The transmission electronics are
self-calibrating; therefore, the first few shifts
on a new vehicle may be somewhat abrupt.
This is a normal condition, and precision
shifts will develop within a few hundred miles
(kilometers).
The nine-speed transmission has been devel-
oped to meet the needs of current and future
FWD/AWD vehicles. Software and calibration
is refined to optimize the customer’s driving
experience and fuel economy. By design,
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some vehicle and driveline combinations uti-
lize 9th gear only in very specific driving
situations and conditions.
Only shift from DRIVE to PARK or REVERSE
when the accelerator pedal is released and
the vehicle is stopped. Be sure to keep your
foot on the brake pedal when shifting be-
tween these gears.
The transmission gear selector provides
PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL, DRIVE, and
Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift posi-
tions. Manual downshifts can be made using
the ERS shift control. Moving the gear selec-
tor into the ERS (-/+) position (beside the
DRIVE position) activates ERS mode, dis-
plays the current gear in the instrument clus-
ter, and prevents automatic upshifts beyond
this gear. In ERS mode, toggling the gear
selector forward (-) or rearward (+) will
change the highest available gear.
Refer to “Electronic Range Select (ERS) Op-
eration” in the Owner’s Manual.NOTE:
If the gear selector cannot be moved to the
PARK, REVERSE, or NEUTRAL position
(when pushed forward) it is probably in the
ERS (+/-) position (beside the DRIVE posi-
tion). In ERS mode, the transmission gear
limit (1, 2, 3, etc.) is displayed in the instru-
ment cluster. Move the gear selector to the
right (into the DRIVE [D] position) for access
to PARK, REVERSE, and NEUTRAL.FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE
OPERATION
1-Speed Four-Wheel Drive (4X4) —
If Equipped
This feature provides on-demand four-wheel
drive (4X4). The system is automatic with no
driver inputs or additional driving skills re-
quired. Under normal driving conditions, the
front wheels provide most of the traction. If
the front wheels begin to lose traction, power
is shifted automatically to the rear wheels.
The greater the front wheel traction loss, the
greater the power transfer to the rear wheels.
Gear Selector
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130

Additionally, on dry pavement under heavy
throttle input (where one may have no wheel
spin), torque will be sent to the rear in a
pre-emptive effort to improve vehicle launch
and performance characteristics.
CAUTION!
All wheels must have the same size and type
tires. Unequal tire sizes must not be used.
Unequal tire size may cause failure of the
power transfer unit.
2-Speed Four-Wheel Drive (4x4) —
If Equipped
The Four-Wheel Drive is fully automatic in the
normal driving mode. The Selec-Terrain but-
tons provide three selectable mode positions:
• 4WD LOW
• REAR LOCK (If Equipped)
• NEUTRAL
1-Speed 4X4 Switch
2-Speed 4x4 Switch
2-Speed 4x4 Switch (with Rear Lock)
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When additional traction is required, the
4WD LOW range position can be used to
provide an additional gear reduction which
allows for increased torque to be delivered to
both the front and rear wheels. 4WD LOW is
intended for loose, slippery road surfaces
only. Driving in 4WD LOW 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 normal driving mode 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 driveline components.
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.Shift Positions
For additional information on the appropriate
use of each 4WD system mode position, see
the information below:
NEUTRAL
This range disengages the driveline from the
powertrain.
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 automatic
transmission is in PARK (or manual trans-
mission is in gear). The parking brake
should always 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 deliv-
ered 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
Shifting Into 4X4 LOW
With the vehicle at speeds of 0 to 3 mph (0 to
5 km/h), the ignition in the ON mode and the
engine running, shift the transmission into
NEUTRAL, and push the “4WD LOW” button
once. The “4WD LOW” indicator light in the
instrument cluster will begin to flash and
remain on solid when the shift is complete.
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132

NOTE:
If shift conditions/interlocks are not met, a
message will flash from the instrument clus-
ter display with instructions on how to com-
plete the requested shift. Refer to “Instru-
ment Cluster Display” in “Getting To know
Your Instrument Panel” for further informa-
tion.
Shifting Out Of 4X4 LOW
With the vehicle at speeds of 0 to 3 mph (0 to
5 km/h), the ignition in the ON mode and the
engine running, shift the transmission into
NEUTRAL, and push the “4WD LOW” button
once. The “4WD LOW” indicator light in the
instrument cluster will flash and go out when
the shift is complete.
NOTE:
• If shift conditions/interlocks are not met, amessage will flash from the instrument
cluster display with instructions on how to
complete the requested shift. Refer to “In-
strument Cluster Display” in “Getting To
Know Your Instrument Panel” for further
information.
•
Shifting into or out of 4WD LOW is possible
with the vehicle completely stopped; however,
difficulty may occur due to the mating clutch
teeth not being properly aligned. Several at-
tempts may be required for clutch teeth align-
ment and shift completion to occur. The pre-
ferred method is with the vehicle rolling 0 to
3 mph (0 to 5 km/h). If the vehicle is moving
faster than 3 mph (5 km/h), the 4WD system
will not allow the shift.
NEUTRAL Shift Procedure
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 automatic
transmission is in PARK (or manual trans-
mission is in gear). The parking brake
should always be applied when the driver
is not in the vehicle.
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop on level ground and shift the automatic
transmission to PARK.
2. Turn the engine OFF.
3. Turn the ignition to the ON/RUN mode, but do not start the engine.
4. Press and hold the brake pedal.
Selec-Terrain Switch
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5. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL.
6. Using a ballpoint pen or similar object,push and hold the recessed power transfer
unit NEUTRAL (N) button (located by the
selector switch) for four seconds. The
light behind the NEUTRAL (N) symbol
will blink, indicating shift in progress. The
light will stop blinking (stay on solid)
when the shift to NEUTRAL (N) is
complete. 7. After the shift is completed and the NEU-
TRAL (N) light stays on, release the NEU-
TRAL (N) button.
8. Start the engine.
9. Release the parking brake.
10. Shift the transmission into REVERSE.
11. Release the brake pedal (and clutch pedal on manual transmissions) for five
seconds and ensure that there is no
vehicle movement.
12. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL.
13. Apply the parking brake.
14. Shift the automatic transmission into PARK, or place manual transmission in
gear (NOT in Neutral). 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 me-
chanical 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 in the ON mode 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.
Neutral Switch
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