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198 Driving and Operating
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold
the brake pedal down firmly and let
ABS work. You may hear the ABS
pump or motor operating and feel
the brake pedal pulsate. This is
normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows you to steer and brake
at the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help
more than even the very best
braking.
Parking Brake
Set the parking brake by holding the
regular brake pedal down, then
pushing down the parking brake
pedal.
If the ignition is on, the brake
system warning light will come on.
SeeBrake System Warning Light
0 122.
Caution
Driving with the parking brake on
can overheat the brake system
and cause premature wear or
damage to brake system parts.
Make sure that the parking brake
is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
To release the parking brake, hold
the regular brake pedal down, then
push down momentarily on the
parking brake pedal until you feel
the pedal release. Slowly pull your
foot up off the parking brake pedal.
If the parking brake is not released
when you begin to drive, the brake system warning light will flash and a
chime will sound warning you that
the parking brake is still on.
If you are towing a trailer and are
parking on a hill, see
Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips
0 219.
Brake Assist
The Brake Assist feature is
designed to assist the driver in
stopping or decreasing vehicle
speed in emergency driving
conditions. This feature uses the
stability system hydraulic brake
control module to supplement the
power brake system under
conditions where the driver has
quickly and forcefully applied the
brake pedal in an attempt to quickly
stop or slow down the vehicle. The
stability system hydraulic brake
control module increases brake
pressure at each corner of the
vehicle until the ABS activates.
Minor brake pedal pulsation or
pedal movement during this time is
normal and the driver should
continue to apply the brake pedal as
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Driving and Operating 199
the driving situation dictates. The
Brake Assist feature will
automatically disengage when the
brake pedal is released or brake
pedal pressure is quickly
decreased.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
This vehicle has a Hill Start Assist
(HSA) feature, which may be useful
when the vehicle is stopped on a
grade sufficient enough to activate
HSA. This feature is designed to
prevent the vehicle from rolling,
either forward or rearward, during
vehicle drive off. After the driver
completely stops and holds the
vehicle in a complete standstill on agrade, HSA will be automatically
activated. During the transition
period between when the driver
releases the brake pedal and starts
to accelerate to drive off on a grade,
HSA holds the braking pressure for
a maximum of two seconds to
ensure that there is no rolling. The
brakes will automatically release
when the accelerator pedal is
applied within the two-second
window. It will not activate if the
vehicle is in a drive gear and facing
downhill, or if the vehicle is facing
uphill and in R (Reverse).
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability
Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) and StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC),
an electronic stability control
system. These systems help limit
wheel spin and assist the driver in
maintaining control, especially on
slippery road conditions.
TCS activates if it senses that any
of the drive wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this
happens, TCS applies the brakes to
the spinning wheels and reduces
engine power to limit wheel spin.
StabiliTrak/ESC activates when the
vehicle senses a difference between
the intended path and the direction
the vehicle is actually traveling.
StabiliTrak/ESC selectively applies
braking pressure to any one of the
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200 Driving and Operating
vehicle wheel brakes to assist the
driver in keeping the vehicle on the
intended path.
If cruise control is being used and
TCS or StabiliTrak/ESC begins to
limit wheel spin, cruise control will
disengage. Cruise control may be
turned back on when road
conditions allow.
Both systems come on
automatically when the vehicle is
started and begins to move. The
systems may be heard or felt while
they are operating or while
performing diagnostic checks. This
is normal and does not mean there
is a problem with the vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both
systems on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary
to turn TCS off if the vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
SeeIf the Vehicle Is Stuck 0167
and “Turning the Systems Off and
On” later in this section.
When the transfer case (if equipped)
is in 4
n, the stability system is
automatically disabled, and
g
comes on in the instrument cluster.
Both TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC are
automatically disabled.
The indicator light for both systems
is in the instrument cluster. This
light will:
. Flash when TCS is limiting
wheel spin.
. Flash when StabiliTrak/ESC is
activated.
. Turn on and stay on when either
system is not working.
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message displays in the
Driver Information Center (DIC), and
dcomes on and stays on to
indicate that the system is inactive
and is not assisting the driver in
maintaining control. The vehicle is
safe to drive, but driving should be
adjusted accordingly. If
dcomes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Turn the engine off and wait 15 seconds.
3. Start the engine.
Drive the vehicle. If
dcomes on
and stays on, the vehicle may need
more time to diagnose the problem.
If the condition persists, see your
dealer.
Turning the Systems Off and
On (Except ZR2)
The button for TCS and StabiliTrak/
ESC is on the center stack.
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Driving and Operating 201
Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or
accelerate heavily when TCS is
off. The vehicle driveline could be
damaged.
To turn off only TCS, press and
release
g. The Traction Off lighti
displays in the instrument cluster. To
turn TCS on again, press and
release
g. The Traction Off lighti
in the instrument cluster will turn off.
If TCS is limiting wheel spin when
g
is pressed, the system will not turn
off until the wheels stop spinning.
To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak/
ESC, press and hold
guntil the
Traction Off light
iand StabiliTrak/
ESC Off light
gcome on and stay
on in the instrument cluster. To turn
TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC on again,
press and release
g. The Traction Off light
iand StabiliTrak/ESC Off
light
gin the instrument cluster
turn off.
StabiliTrak/ESC will automatically
turn on if the vehicle exceeds
56 km/h (35 mph). TCS will remain
off until
gis pressed or until the
ignition is turned off and then
back on.
Adding accessories can affect the
vehicle performance. See
Accessories and Modifications
0 241.
Turning the Systems Off and
On (ZR2 Only)
The button for TCS and StabiliTrak/
ESC is on the center stack.
Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or
accelerate heavily when TCS is
off. The vehicle driveline could be
damaged.
To turn off only TCS, press and
release
g. The Traction Off lighti
and StabiliTrak/ESC Off lightg
display in the instrument cluster. To
turn TCS on again, press and
release
g. The Traction Off lighti
and StabiliTrak/ESC Off lightgin
the instrument cluster will turn off.
If TCS is limiting wheel spin when
g
is pressed, the system will not turn
off until the wheels stop spinning.
To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak/
ESC, press and hold
guntil the
Traction Off light
iand StabiliTrak/
ESC Off light
gcome on and stay
on in the instrument cluster. To turn
TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC on again,
press and release
g. The Traction
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202 Driving and Operating
Off lightiand StabiliTrak/ESC Off
light
gin the instrument cluster
turn off.
StabiliTrak/ESC will automatically
turn on if the vehicle exceeds
56 km/h (35 mph). TCS will remain
off until
gis pressed or until the
ignition is turned off and then
back on.
Adding accessories can affect the
vehicle performance. See
Accessories and Modifications
0 241.
Stability Control Interaction
with Off-Road Mode (ZR2 Only)
The TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC
calibrations are different while in
Off-Road Mode. They provide
optimum performance in an off-road
environment.
Pressing and releasing
gwhile in
Off-Road Mode disables TCS and
changes the StabiliTrak/ESC
calibration to allow a greater
difference between vehicle path and
intended path. This reduces the amount of correction StabiliTrak/
ESC will provide in the event the
vehicle is not traveling on the
intended path.
To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak/
ESC, press and hold
guntil a
StabiliTrak/ESC off message
displays in the instrument cluster. To
turn TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC on
again, press and release
g.i
andgin the instrument cluster will
turn off.
StabiliTrak/ESC will not
automatically turn on while in
Off-Road Mode. TCS and
StabiliTrak/ESC will remain off in
Off-Road Mode until
gis pressed or
the ignition is turned off and then
back on.
Hill Descent
Control (HDC)
If equipped, HDC can be used when
driving downhill. It sets and
maintains vehicle speed while
descending a very steep incline in a
forward or reverse gear. The HDC switch is on the center
stack, below the climate controls.
Press
5to enable or disable HDC.
Vehicle speed must be below
60 km/h (37 mph).
The HDC light displays on the
instrument cluster when enabled.
HDC can maintain vehicle speeds
between 4 and 30 km/h (3 and
19 mph) on an incline greater than
or equal to a 10% grade. A blinking
HDC light indicates that the system
is actively applying the brakes to
maintain vehicle speed.
When HDC is set, that is the initial
set speed. It can be increased or
decreased by applying the
accelerator or brake pedal. Smaller
HDC speed control adjustments are
accomplished using the cruise up or
down buttons. Each tap of the
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Driving and Operating 203
+RES will increase the set speed by
0.8 km/h (0.5 mph), while each tap
of the SET–will decrease the set
speed by 0.8 km/h (0.5 mph). This
adjusted speed becomes the new
set speed.
HDC will remain enabled between
30 and 60 km/h (19 and 37 mph),
however vehicle speed cannot be
set or maintained in this range.
It will automatically disable if the
vehicle speed is above 80 km/h
(50 mph) or above 60 km/h
(37 mph) for at least 30 seconds.
5
must be pressed again to
re-enable HDC.
When enabled, if the vehicle is at a
speed above 30 km/h (19 mph) and
less than 60 km/h (37 mph), a DIC
message will display instructing the
driver to reduce speed for HDC
operation.
Cruise control will not function while
HDC is enabled and vehicle speed
is below 40 km/h (25 mph).
Driver Mode Control
If equipped, the Off-Road Driving
Mode attempts to maximize
performance on terrain with limited
traction. It is turned on by pressing
and releasing
7on the center of
the transfer case knob next to the
steering wheel. The Off-Road Mode
is accessible in all transfer case
modes and is turned off
automatically when the ignition is
turned off.
Transfer Case Knob with Off-Road Mode Off-Road Mode facilitates limited
traction driving by:
.
Modifying the sensitivity of the
accelerator pedal for fine linear
control of torque on uneven
terrain.
. Modifying the transmission shift
map to hold gears for longer, in
order to limit slip while driving
over obstacles.
. Optimizing the performance of
the antilock brake (ABS),
Traction Control System (TCS)
and StabiliTrak/Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) systems
on slippery surfaces.
For more information, on disabling
the TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC
systems see Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0199.
Off-Road Mode also interacts with
the axle locking system. It allows
the vehicle to travel at higher
speeds with a locked rear axle. See
Locking Rear Axle 0204.
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Driving and Operating 205
After pressing the switch to unlock
the axle, it may remain locked due
to torque in the driveline. The axle is
more easily unlocked by turning the
steering wheel to the right and to
the left while traveling at a low
speed.
Locking Front Axle
If equipped, the locking front axle
can give the vehicle additional
traction when traveling in off-road
situations such as mud, snow, steep
hills, and uneven terrain.
Caution
If you try to lock the axle while the
vehicle is stuck and the tires are
spinning, the vehicle’s drivetrain
could be damaged. The repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Always lock the
axle before attempting situations
and/or navigating terrain that
could cause the vehicle to
become stuck.
Caution
If the vehicle’ s axle is locked
while driving on pavement, the
drivetrain could be damaged.
Repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Do not use
the locking axle on pavement.
Before the front axle can be locked,
the rear axle must be locked and
the transfer case must be in 4
n. To lock the front and rear axles:
1. Place the transfer case in 4
n.
This is the only mode that
allows the front axle to lock.
See Four-Wheel Drive 0190
for more information regarding
the transfer case and
four-wheel drive low operation.
2. Press the rear axle locking switch with the vehicle stopped
or moving less than 40 km/h
(25 mph).
3. Wait for the light in the switch to stop flashing and remain
illuminated to show that the
rear axle is locked.
4. Press the front axle locking switch with the vehicle stopped
or moving less than 40 km/h
(25 mph).
5. Wait for the light in the switch to stop flashing and remain
illuminated to show that the
front axle is locked.
Engagement of the front axle
lock will disable the Antilock
Brake System (ABS) and
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206 Driving and Operating
illuminate the ABS warning
light. Hill Decent Control (HDC)
will also be disabled.
The locking front axle will be
disengaged when the vehicle speed
exceeds 40 km/h (25 mph) or the
transfer case is shifted out of 4
n.
ABS will be automatically enabled
and the ABS warning light will turn
off when the locking front axle is
disengaged.
If HDC was enabled prior to axle
lock, it will be automatically enabled
when the locking front axle is
disengaged.
After pressing the switch to unlock
the axle, it may remain locked due
to torque in the driveline. The axle is
more easily unlocked by turning the
steering wheel to the right and to
the left while traveling at a low
speed.
Cruise Control
With cruise control a speed of about
40 km/h (25 mph) or more can be
maintained without keeping your
foot on the accelerator. Cruise
control does not work at speeds
below about 40 km/h (25 mph).
{Warning
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. Do not use
cruise control on winding roads or
in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads. If equipped with a manual
transmission, the cruise control will
remain active when the gears are
shifted. The cruise is deactivated if
the clutch is pressed for several
seconds. If the cruise control is
being used and the Traction Control
(TCS) system or StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage.
See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0199. If a collision
alert occurs when cruise control is
activated, cruise control is
disengaged. See Forward Collision
Alert (FCA) System 0212. When
road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, cruise control can be
turned back on.
If equipped with Hill Descent Control
(HDC), the cruise control will
disengage if HDC is active.
If the brakes are applied, the cruise
control disengages.