2018 JEEP COMPASS power steering

The push button ignition can be placed in the
following modes:
OFF
• The engine is stopped.
• Some electrical devices (e.g. Central lock-
ing, alarm, etc.) are still available.
ON/RUN
• Driving mode.
• All the electrical devices are available.
START
• Start the engine.
WARNING!
• When exiting the vehicle, always remove
the key fob from the vehicle and lock
your 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
WARNING!
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 ON/RUN mode. A child
could operate power windows, other con-
trols, 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.
CAUTION!
An unlocked vehicle is an invitation for
thieves. Always remove key fob from the
vehicle and lock all doors when leaving the
vehicle unattended.
NOTE:
For further information, refer to "Starting The
Engine" in "Starting And Operating."
Integrated/Manual Ignition — If Equipped
This vehicle may be equipped with an
integrated/manual ignition switch. It has
three operating positions, two with detents
and one that is spring-loaded. The detent
positions are OFF, ON/RUN, and START. The
START position is a spring-loaded momentary
contact position. When released from the
START position, the switch automatically re-
turns to the RUN position.
OFF
• The engine is stopped.
• The key can be removed from the ignition
switch.
• The steering column can be locked (with
the ignition key removed).
• Some electrical devices (e.g. power locks,
alarm, etc.) are still available.
ON/RUN
• Driving position.
• Electrical devices are available.
START
• Start the engine.
15

The ignition switch is provided with a safety
mechanism. If the engine fails to start, the
ignition should be returned to the STOP/OFF
position prior to repeating the starting proce-
dure.
On models equipped with an automatic
transmission, the ignition key is only remov-
able when the gear selector is in PARK (P).
Vehicle On Message
When opening the driver's door and the igni-
tion is in ON/RUN (engine not running)
mode, a chime will sound to remind you to
place the ignition in the OFF mode. In addi-
tion to the chime, the Vehicle On message
will display in the cluster.
NOTE:
The power window switches and power sun-
roof (if equipped) will remain active for three
minutes after the ignition is cycled to the OFF
mode. Opening either front door will cancel
this feature. The time for this feature is
programmable.
WARNING!
• Before exiting a vehicle, always come to
a complete stop, then shift the auto-
matic transmission into PARK, apply the
parking brake, place the engine in the
OFF position, remove the key fob from
the vehicle and lock your vehicle. If
equipped with Keyless Enter-N-Go, al-
ways make sure the keyless ignition is in
“OFF” position, 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.
• 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 ON/RUN mode. A child
could operate power windows, other
controls, or move the vehicle.
WARNING!
• Do not leave children or animals inside
parked vehicles in hot weather. Interior
heat build-up may cause serious injury
or death.
CAUTION!
An unlocked vehicle is an invitation for
thieves. Always remove key fob from the
vehicle and lock all doors when leaving the
vehicle unattended.
Mechanical Steering Wheel Lock — If
Equipped
Your vehicle may be equipped with a me-
chanical steering wheel lock. This lock pre-
vents steering the vehicle with the ignition
OFF. With the engine running, rotate the
steering wheel one-half revolution in either
direction (six o’clock position), turn off the
engine and remove the key. Turn the steering
wheel slightly in either direction until the
lock engages.GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
16

WARNING!
• Persons who are unable to feel pain to
the skin because of advanced age,
chronic illness, diabetes, spinal cord in-
jury, medication, alcohol use, exhaus-
tion, or other physical conditions must
exercise care when using the steering
wheel heater. It may cause burns even at
low temperatures, especially if used for
long periods.
• Do not place anything on the steering
wheel that insulates against heat, such
as a blanket or steering wheel covers of
any type and material. This may cause
the steering wheel heater to overheat.
MIRRORS
Folding Mirrors
The exterior mirrors are hinged to allow the
mirror to pivot forward or rearward to help
avoid damage. The mirror has three detent
positions: full forward, normal and full rear-
ward.Power Folding Mirror — If Equipped
The switch for the power folding mirrors is
located in the power mirror switch.
Push the switch once and the mirrors will fold
in, pushing the switch a second time will
return the mirrors to the normal driving posi-
tion.
Resetting The Power Folding Outside Mirrors
You may need to reset the power folding
mirrors if the following occurs:
• The mirrors are accidentally blocked while
folding.
• The mirrors are accidentally manually
folded/unfolded.
• The mirrors come out of the unfolded posi-
tion.
• The mirrors shake and vibrate at normal
driving speeds.
To reset the power folding mirrors: Fold and
unfold them by pushing the button. (this may
require multiple button pushes). This resets
them to their normal position.Puddle Lamps — If Equipped
Located under the exterior mirrors is a small
lamp that illuminates the ground when the
doors are unlocked with the key fob or when
the doors to the vehicle are open.
Heated Mirrors — If Equipped
These mirrors are heated to melt frost or ice.
This feature will be activated whenever you
turn on the rear window defroster (if
equipped). Refer to “Climate Controls” in
this section for further information.
EXTERIOR LIGHTS
Headlight Switch
The headlight switch is located on the right
side of the instrument panel. This switch
controls the operation of the headlights,
parking lights, automatic headlights — if
equipped, instrument panel light dimming,
ambient light dimming — if equipped, inte-
rior lights, front and rear fog lights — if
equipped and headlight leveling — if
equipped.GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
34

The dual brake system provides a reserve brak-
ing capacity in the event of a failure to a portion
of the hydraulic system. A leak in either half of
the dual brake system is indicated by the Brake
Warning Light, which will turn on when the
brake fluid level in the master cylinder has
dropped below a specified level.
The light will remain on until the cause is
corrected.
NOTE:
The light may flash momentarily during sharp
cornering maneuvers, which change fluid
level conditions. The vehicle should have
service performed, and the brake fluid level
checked.
If brake failure is indicated, immediate repair
is necessary.
WARNING!
Driving a vehicle with the red brake light
on is dangerous. Part of the brake system
may have failed. It will take longer to stop
the vehicle. You could have a collision.
Have the vehicle checked immediately.Vehicles equipped with the Anti-Lock Brake
System (ABS) are also equipped with Elec-
tronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD). In the
event of an EBD failure, the Brake Warning
Light will turn on along with the ABS Light.
Immediate repair to the ABS system is re-
quired.
Operation of the Brake Warning Light can be
checked by turning the ignition switch from
the OFF position to the ON/RUN position.
The light should illuminate for approximately
four seconds. The light should then turn off
unless the parking brake is applied or a brake
fault is detected. If the light does not illumi-
nate, have the light inspected by an autho-
rized dealer.
The light also will turn on when the parking
brake is applied with the ignition switch in
the ON/RUN position.
NOTE:
This light shows only that the parking brake is
applied. It does not show the degree of brake
application.
— Battery Charge Warning Light
This light illuminates when the battery is not
charging properly. If it stays on while the
engine is running, there may be a malfunc-
tion with the charging system. Contact your
authorized dealer as soon as possible.
This indicates a possible problem with the
electrical system or a related component.
— Door Open Warning Light
This indicator will illuminate when a door is
ajar/open and not fully closed.
NOTE:
If the vehicle is moving, there will also be a
single chime.
— Electric Power Steering Fault
Warning Light
This light will turn on when there's a fault
with the EPS (Electric Power Steering) sys-
tem. Refer to “Power Steering” in “Starting
And Operating” in the Owner’s Manual for
further information.
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
62

required. However, the conventional brake
system will continue to operate normally if
the “Brake System Warning Light” is not on.
If the “Anti-Lock Brake Warning Light” is on,
the brake system should be serviced as soon
as possible to restore the benefits of anti-lock
brakes. If the “Anti-Lock Brake Warning
Light” does not come on when the ignition is
turned to the ON/RUN mode, have the light
repaired as soon as possible.
Electronic Brake Control System
Your vehicle is equipped with an advanced
Electronic Brake Control system (EBC). This
system includes Electronic Brake Force Dis-
tribution (EBD), Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS), Brake Assist System (BAS), Hill Start
Assist (HSA), Traction Control System (TCS),
Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and Elec-
tronic Roll Mitigation (ERM). These systems
work together to enhance both vehicle stabil-
ity and control in various driving conditions.
Your vehicle may also be equipped with
Ready Alert Braking (RAB), Rain Brake Sup-
port (RBS), Trailer Sway Control (TSC), and
Dynamic Steering Torque (DST).
Traction Control System (TCS)
This system monitors the amount of wheel
spin of each of the driven wheels. If wheel
spin is detected, the TCS may apply brake
pressure to the spinning wheel(s) and/or re-
duce vehicle power to provide enhanced ac-
celeration and stability. A feature of the TCS,
Brake Limited Differential (BLD), functions
similar to a limited slip differential and con-
trols the wheel spin across a driven axle. If
one wheel on a driven axle is spinning faster
than the other, the system will apply the
brake of the spinning wheel. This will allow
more vehicle torque to be applied to the
wheel that is not spinning. BLD may remain
enabled even if TCS and ESC are in a reduced
mode.
Brake Assist System (BAS) — If Equipped
The BAS is designed to optimize the vehicle’s
braking capability during emergency braking
maneuvers. The system detects an emer-
gency braking situation by sensing the rate
and amount of brake application and then
applies optimum pressure to the brakes. This
can help reduce braking distances. The BAS
complements the anti-lock brake system(ABS). Applying the brakes very quickly re-
sults in the best BAS assistance. To receive
the benefit of the system, you must apply
continuous braking pressure during the stop-
ping sequence, (do not “pump” the brakes).
Do not reduce brake pedal pressure unless
braking is no longer desired. Once the brake
pedal is released, the BAS is deactivated.
WARNING!
The Brake Assist System (BAS) cannot
prevent the natural laws of physics from
acting on the vehicle, nor can it increase
the traction afforded by prevailing road
conditions. BAS cannot prevent collisions,
including those resulting from excessive
speed in turns, driving on very slippery
surfaces, or hydroplaning. The capabilities
of a BAS-equipped vehicle must never be
exploited in a reckless or dangerous man-
ner, which could jeopardize the user's
safety or the safety of others.
77

Brake System Warning Light
The red “Brake System Warning Light” will
turn on when the ignition is turned to the
ON/RUN mode and may stay on for as long as
four seconds.
If the “Brake System Warning Light” remains
on or comes on while driving, it indicates that
the brake system is not functioning properly
and that immediate service is required. If the
“Brake System Warning Light” does not
come on when the ignition is turned to the
ON/RUN mode, have the light repaired as
soon as possible.
Dynamic Steering Torque (DST)
Dynamic Steering Torque is a feature of the
ESC and Electric Power Steering (EPS) mod-
ules that provides torque at the steering
wheel for certain driving conditions in which
the ESC module is detecting vehicle instabil-
ity. The torque that the steering wheel re-
ceives is only meant to help the driver realize
optimal steering behavior in order to reach/maintain vehicle stability. The only notifica-
tion the driver receives that the feature is
active is the torque applied to the steering
wheel.
NOTE:
The DST feature is only meant to help the
driver realize the correct course of action
through small torques on the steering wheel,
which means the effectiveness of the DST
feature is highly dependent on the driver’s
sensitivity and overall reaction to the applied
torque. It is very important to realize that this
feature will not steer the vehicle, meaning
the driver is still responsible for steering the
vehicle.Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD)
This function manages the distribution of the
braking torque between the front and rear
axles by limiting braking pressure to the rear
axle. This is done to prevent overslip of the
rear wheels to avoid vehicle instability, and to
prevent the rear axle from entering ABS be-
fore the front axle.
Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM)
This system anticipates the potential for
wheel lift by monitoring the driver’s steering
wheel input and the speed of the vehicle.
When ERM determines that the rate of
change of the steering wheel angle and vehi-
cle’s speed are sufficient to potentially cause
wheel lift, it then applies the appropriate
brake and may also reduce engine power to
lessen the chance that wheel lift will occur.
ERM can only 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.
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 vehicles. The capabilities
SAFETY
78

WARNING!
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.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
This system enhances directional control and
stability of the vehicle under various driving
conditions. ESC corrects for oversteering or
understeering of the vehicle by applying the
brake of the appropriate wheel(s) to assist in
counteracting the oversteer or understeer
condition. Engine power may also be reduced
to help the vehicle maintain the desired path.
ESC uses sensors in the vehicle to determine
the vehicle path intended by the driver and
compares it to the actual path of the vehicle.
When the actual path does not match the
intended path, ESC applies the brake of the
appropriate wheel to assist in counteracting
the oversteer or understeer condition.
• Oversteer — when the vehicle is turning
more than appropriate for the steering
wheel position.• Understeer — when the vehicle is turning
less than appropriate for the steering wheel
position.
The “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator
Light” located in the instrument cluster will
start to flash as soon as the ESC system
becomes active. The “ESC Activation/
Malfunction Indicator Light” also flashes
when the TCS is active. If the “ESC
Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” be-
gins to flash during acceleration, ease up on
the accelerator and apply as little throttle as
possible. Be sure to adapt your speed and
driving to the prevailing road conditions.
WARNING!
•Electronic Stability Control (ESC) cannot
prevent the natural laws of physics from
acting on the vehicle, nor can it increase
the traction afforded by prevailing road con-
ditions. ESC cannot prevent accidents, in-
cluding those resulting from excessive
speed in turns, driving on very slippery
surfaces, or hydroplaning. ESC also cannot
prevent accidents resulting from loss of
WARNING!
vehicle control due to inappropriate driver
input for the conditions. Only a safe, atten-
tive, and skillful driver can prevent acci-
dents. The capabilities of an ESC equipped
vehicle must never be exploited in a reck-
less or dangerous manner which could jeop-
ardize the user’s safety or the safety of
others.
• Vehicle modifications, or failure to prop-
erly maintain your vehicle, may change
the handling characteristics of your ve-
hicle, and may negatively affect the per-
formance of the ESC system. Changes to
the steering system, suspension, brak-
ing system, tire type and size or wheel
size may adversely affect ESC perfor-
mance. Improperly inflated and un-
evenly worn tires may also degrade ESC
performance. Any vehicle modification
or poor vehicle maintenance that re-
duces the effectiveness of the ESC sys-
tem can increase the risk of loss of
vehicle control, vehicle rollover, per-
sonal injury and death.
79

WARNING!
It is important that you do not exceed the
maximum front or rear GAWR. A danger-
ous driving condition can result if either
rating is exceeded. You could lose control
of the vehicle and have a collision.
Tongue Weight (TW)
The tongue weight is the downward force
exerted on the hitch ball by the trailer. You
must consider this as part of the load on your
vehicle.
Trailer Frontal Area
The frontal area is the maximum height mul-
tiplied by the maximum width of the front of
a trailer.
Trailer Sway Control
The trailer sway control can be a mechanical
telescoping link that can be installed be-
tween the hitch receiver and the trailertongue that typically provides adjustable fric-
tion associated with the telescoping motion
to dampen any unwanted trailer swaying mo-
tions while traveling.
If equipped, the electronic Trailer Sway Con-
trol (TSC) recognizes a swaying trailer and
automatically applies individual wheel
brakes and/or reduces engine power to at-
tempt to eliminate the trailer sway.
Weight-Carrying Hitch
A weight-carrying hitch supports the trailer
tongue weight, just as if it were luggage
located at a hitch ball or some other connect-
ing point of the vehicle. These kinds of
hitches are the most popular on the market
today and they are commonly used to tow
small and medium sized trailers.
Weight-Distributing Hitch
A weight-distributing system works by apply-
ing leverage through spring (load) bars. They
are typically used for heavier loads to distrib-
ute trailer tongue weight to the tow vehicle's
front axle and the trailer axle(s). When used
in accordance with the manufacturer's direc-tions, it provides for a more level ride, offer-
ing more consistent steering and brake con-
trol thereby enhancing towing safety. The
addition of a friction/hydraulic sway control
also dampens sway caused by traffic and
crosswinds and contributes positively to tow
vehicle and trailer stability. Trailer sway con-
trol and a weight distributing (load equaliz-
ing) hitch are recommended for heavier
Tongue Weights (TW) and may be required
depending on vehicle and trailer
configuration/loading to comply with Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) requirements.
WARNING!
• An improperly adjusted Weight Distrib-
uting Hitch system may reduce han-
dling, stability, braking performance,
and could result in a collision.
• Weight Distributing Systems may not be
compatible with Surge Brake Couplers.
Consult with your hitch and trailer
manufacturer or a reputable Recre-
ational Vehicle dealer for additional in-
formation.
STARTING AND OPERATING
180