2021 JEEP PATRIOT fuel

WARNING!
Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to
get it started. Vehicles equipped with an
automatic transmission cannot be started
this way. Unburned fuel could enter the cata-
lytic converter and once the engine has
started, ignite and damage the converter and
vehicle. If the vehicle has a discharged bat-
tery, booster cables may be used to obtain a
start from another vehicle. This type of start
can be dangerous if done improperly, so
follow the procedure carefully. Refer to
“Jump-Starting” in “What To Do In Emergen-
cies” for further information.
Extreme Cold Weather (below −20°F
or −29°C)
To ensure reliable starting at these tempera-
tures, use of an externally powered electric
engine block heater (available from your autho-
rized dealer) is recommended.
If Engine Fails To StartIf the engine fails to start after you have followed
the “Normal Starting” procedure, it may be
flooded. Push the accelerator pedal all the way
to the floor and hold it there. Crank the engine
for no more than 15 seconds. This should clear
any excess fuel in case the engine is flooded.
Leave the ignition key in the ON position, re-
lease the accelerator pedal and repeat the
“Normal Starting” procedure.
WARNING!
Never pour fuel or other flammable liquid into
the throttle body air inlet opening in an
attempt to start the vehicle. This could result
in flash fire causing serious personal injury.
CAUTION!
To prevent damage to the starter, do not
crank the engine for more than 15 seconds
at a time. Wait 10 to 15 seconds before trying
again.
After StartingThe idle speed will automatically decrease as
the engine warms up.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION — IF
EQUIPPED
Five-Speed Manual Transmission
WARNING!
You or others could be injured if you leave
the vehicle unattended without having the
parking brake fully applied. The parking
brake should always be applied when the
driver is not in the vehicle, especially on an
incline.
Fully press the clutch pedal before you shift
gears. As you release the clutch pedal, lightly
press the accelerator pedal.
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Use each gear in numerical order, do not skip a
gear. Be sure the transmission is in first gear,
(not third), when starting from a standing posi-
tion. Damage to the clutch can result from
starting in a gear higher than first gear.
CAUTION!
•Launching in any gear except 1st gear will
result in excessive slipping of the clutch
and potentially lugging or stalling the en-
gine.
•Use each gear in numerical order, do not
skip a gear. Be sure the transmission is in
first gear, (not third), when starting from a
standing position. Damage to the clutch
can result from starting in a gear higher
than first gear.
For most city driving, you will find it easier to use
only the lower gears. For steady highway driv-
ing with light accelerations, fifth gear is recom-
mended.Never drive with your foot resting on the clutch
pedal, and never try to hold the vehicle on a hill
with the clutch pedal partially engaged. This will
cause abnormal wear on the clutch.
Never shift into REVERSE until the vehicle has
come to a complete stop.
NOTE:
During cold weather, until the transmission
lubricant is warm, you may experience
slightly higher shift efforts. This is normal
and not harmful to the transmission.
Recommended Shift SpeedsTo use your manual transmission for optimal
fuel economy, it should be upshifted as listed in
the following table.
Manual Transmission Recommended Shift Speeds
Units in mph (km/h)
Engine Size Acceleration Rate 1 to 2 2 to 3 3 to 4 4 to 5
All EnginesAccel 14 (23) 23 (37) 29 (47) 45 (72)
Cruise 12 (19) 18 (29) 25 (40) 32 (52)
Shift Pattern
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DownshiftingProper downshifting will improve fuel economy
and prolong engine life.
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 downshifting or down-
shifting at too high of a vehicle speed even if
the clutch pedal is held pressed (i.e., not
released).
To maintain a safe speed and prolong brake life,
shift down to second or first gear when de-
scending a steep grade.
When turning a corner or driving up a steep
grade, downshift early so that the engine will not
be overburdened.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
— IF EQUIPPED
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if
the following precautions are not observed:
•Shift into or out of PARK or REVERSE only
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.
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 ve-
hicle while the engine is running. Before
exiting a vehicle, always shift the transmis-
sion into PARK, apply the parking brake,
turn the engine OFF, and remove the igni-
tion key. Once the key is removed, the
transmission is locked in PARK, securing
the vehicle against unwanted movement.
(Continued)
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CAUTION!
Towing the vehicle, coasting, or driving for
any other reason with the transmission in
NEUTRAL can cause severe transmission
damage. Refer to “Recreational Towing” in
“Starting And Operating” and “Towing A Dis-
abled Vehicle” in “What To Do In Emergen-
cies” for further information.
DRIVE (D)
This range should be used for most city and
highway driving. It provides the smoothest up-
shifts and downshifts, and the best fuel
economy. The transmission automatically up-
shifts through underdrive first, second, third,
and fourth gears, direct fifth gear and overdrive
sixth gear. The DRIVE position provides opti-
mum driving characteristics under all normal
operating conditions.
When frequent transmission shifting occurs
(such as when operating the vehicle under
heavy loading conditions, in hilly terrain, travel-
ing into strong head winds, or while towing
heavy trailers), use the AutoStick shift control(refer to “AutoStick (Six-Speed Automatic
Transmission)” in this section for further infor-
mation) to select a lower gear. Under these
conditions, using a lower gear will improve
performance and extend transmission life by
reducing excessive shifting and heat buildup.
If the transmission temperature exceeds normal
operating limits, the transmission controller will
modify the transmission shift schedule and ex-
pand the range of torque converter clutch en-
gagement. This is done to prevent transmission
damage due to overheating. If the transmission
becomes extremely hot, the “Transmission
Temperature Warning Light” may illuminate and
the transmission may operate differently until
the transmission cools down.
During very cold temperatures (-4°F [-20°C] or
below), transmission operation may be modified
depending on engine and transmission tem-
perature as well as vehicle speed. Normal op-
eration will resume once the transmission tem-
perature has risen to a suitable level.
Transmission Limp Home Mode
Transmission function is monitored electroni-
cally for abnormal conditions. If a condition isdetected that could result in transmission dam-
age, Transmission Limp Home Mode is acti-
vated. In this mode, the transmission remains in
fourth gear regardless of which forward gear is
selected. PARK, REVERSE, and NEUTRAL will
continue to operate. The Malfunction Indicator
Light (MIL) may be illuminated. Limp Home
Mode allows the vehicle to be driven to an
authorized dealer for service without damaging
the transmission.
In the event of a momentary problem, the
transmission can be reset to regain all forward
gears by performing the following steps:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Shift the transmission into PARK.
3. Turn the ignition switch to the LOCK/OFF
position.
4. Wait approximately 10 seconds.
5. Restart the engine.
6. Shift into the desired gear range. If the
problem is no longer detected, the transmis-
sion will return to normal operation.
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NOTE:
Even if the transmission can be reset, we
recommend that you visit your authorized
dealer at your earliest possible conve-
nience. Your authorized dealer has diagnos-
tic equipment to determine if the problem
could recur.
If the transmission cannot be reset, authorized
dealer service is required.
Overdrive Operation
The automatic transmission includes an elec-
tronically controlled Overdrive (sixth gear). The
transmission will automatically shift into Over-
drive if the following conditions are present:
•The gear selector is in the DRIVE position.
•The transmission fluid has reached an ad-
equate temperature.
•The engine coolant has reached an ad-
equate temperature.
•The vehicle speed is sufficiently high.
•The driver is not heavily pressing the
accelerator.Torque Converter Clutch
A feature designed to improve fuel economy
has been included in the automatic transmis-
sion on your vehicle. A clutch within the torque
converter engages automatically at calibrated
speeds. This may result in a slightly different
feeling or response during normal operation in
the upper gears. When the vehicle speed drops
or during some accelerations, the clutch auto-
matically disengages.
NOTE:
Engagement of the torque converter clutch
is inhibited at very cold temperatures. Be-
cause the engine speed is higher when the
torque converter clutch is not engaged, it
may seem as if the transmission is not
shifting into Overdrive when cold. This is
normal. The torque converter clutch will
function normally once the transmission is
sufficiently warm.
Continuously Variable Automatic
Transmission (CVT) — If Equipped
The transmission gear position display (located
in the instrument cluster) indicates the transmis-
sion gear range. You must press the brakepedal to move the gear selector out of PARK
(refer to “Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock
System” in this section). To drive, move the gear
selector from PARK or NEUTRAL to the DRIVE
position.
NOTE:
The Continuously Variable Automatic Trans-
mission (CVT) changes ratios in a continu-
ous manner. This may sometimesfeelas if
it is slipping, but this is normal and does not
harm anything.
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 between these
gears.
The transmission gear selector has only PARK,
REVERSE, NEUTRAL, and DRIVE shift posi-
tions. Manual shifts can be made using the
AutoStick shift control (refer to"AutoStick"in
this section). Moving the gear selector to the left
or right (-/+) while in the DRIVE position will
manually select from a set of predefined trans-
mission gear ratios, and will display the current
gear in the instrument cluster as 1, 2, 3, etc.
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CAUTION!(Continued)
NEUTRAL can cause severe transmission
damage. Refer to “Recreational Towing” in
“Starting And Operating” and “Towing A Dis-
abled Vehicle” in “What To Do In Emergen-
cies” for further information.
DRIVE (D)
This range should be used for most city and
highway driving. It provides the best fuel
economy. The DRIVE position provides opti-
mum driving characteristics under all normal
operating conditions.
When frequent transmission shifting occurs
(such as when operating the vehicle under
heavy loading conditions, in hilly terrain, travel-
ing into strong head winds, or while towing
heavy trailers), use the AutoStick shift control (if
equipped, refer to"AutoStick (CVT)"in this
section for further information) to select a lower
gear ratio. Under these conditions, using a
lower gear ratio will improve performance and
extend transmission life by reducing excessive
shifting and heat buildup.During sustained high speed driv-
ing or trailer towing up long grades
on hot days, the automatic trans-
mission oil may become too hot. If
this happens, the transmission
overheat indicator light will come on, and the
vehicle will slow slightly until the transmission
cools down enough to allow a return to the
requested speed. This is done to prevent trans-
mission damage due to overheating. If the high
speed is maintained, the overheating may reoc-
cur, as before, in a cyclic fashion.
LOW (L) — If Equipped
Use this range for engine braking when de-
scending very steep grades. In this range, the
transmission will downshift for maximum engine
braking, and upshifts will occur only to prevent
engine overspeed.
AUTOSTICK
AutoStick (Six-Speed Automatic
Transmission) — If Equipped
AutoStick is a driver-interactive transmission
feature providing manual shift control, givingyou more control of the vehicle. AutoStick al-
lows you to maximize engine braking, eliminate
undesirable upshifts and downshifts, and im-
prove overall vehicle performance. This system
can also provide you with more control during
passing, city driving, cold slippery conditions,
mountain driving, trailer towing, and many other
situations.
Operation
When the gear selector is in the DRIVE position,
the transmission will operate automatically,
shifting between the six available gears. To
engage AutoStick, simply tap the gear selector
to the right or left (+/-) while in the DRIVE
position. Tapping (-) to enter AutoStick mode will
downshift the transmission to the next lower
gear, while using (+) to enter AutoStick mode
will retain the current gear. When AutoStick is
active, the current transmission gear is dis-
played in the instrument cluster.
In AutoStick mode, the transmission will shift up
or down when the driver moves the gear selec-
tor to the right (+) or left (-), unless an engine
lugging or overspeed condition would result. It
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This will allow you to cross over obstacles and
descend hills, with improved control and less
effort.
NOTE:
For maximum off-road performance, pre-
mium fuel is recommended. While the ve-
hicle will operate on regular fuel when in L
Off-Road mode (if equipped), the engine has
been calibrated for maximum performance
using premium fuel.
Driving In Snow, Mud And SandThere is a drastic reduction in traction when
driving in snow, mud or sand. The vehicle will be
less responsive to steering, acceleration and
braking inputs. Therefore, you should acceler-
ate slowly, leave greater stopping distances and
avoid abrupt vehicle maneuvers. You want to
keep a slow constant steady pace. The key is to
maintain the vehicle’s momentum.
Snow
In heavy snow or for additional control and
traction at slower speeds, activate the 4WD
LOCK and shift the transaxle to low (L Off-Road
[if equipped] ) if necessary. Do not shift to a
lower gear than necessary to maintain head-way. Over-revving the engine can spin the
wheels and traction will be lost. If you start to
slow to a stop, try turning your steering wheel no
more than a 1/4 turn quickly back and forth,
while still applying throttle. This will allow the
tires to get a fresh"bite"and help maintain your
momentum.
CAUTION!
On icy or slippery roads, do not downshift at
high engine RPM’s or vehicle speeds be-
cause engine braking may cause skidding
and loss of control.
Mud
Deep mud creates a great deal of suction
around the tires and is very difficult to get
through. You should use low (L Off-Road [if
equipped] ) with the 4WD LOCK engaged and
maintain your momentum. If you start to slow to
a stop, try turning your steering wheel no more
than a 1/4 turn quickly back and forth for
additional traction. Mud holes pose an in-
creased threat of vehicle damage and getting
stuck. They are normally full of debris fromprevious vehicles getting stuck. As a good prac-
tice before entering any mud hole, get out and
determine how deep it is, if there are any hidden
obstacles and if the vehicle can be safely recov-
ered if stuck.
Sand
Soft sand is very difficult to travel through with
full tire pressure. When crossing soft sandy
spots in a trail maintain your vehicle’s momen-
tum and do not stop. The key to driving in soft
sand is using the appropriate tire pressure,
accelerating slowly, avoiding abrupt maneuvers
and maintaining the vehicle’s momentum. If you
are going to be driving on large soft sandy areas
or dunes, reduce your tire pressure to a mini-
mum of 15 psi (103 kPa) to allow for a greater
tire surface area. You should use low (L Off-
Road [if equipped] ) with the 4WD LOCK en-
gaged and ESC turned off. Reduced tire pres-
sure will drastically improve your traction and
handling, while driving on the soft sand, but you
must return the tires to normal air pressure
before driving on pavement or other hard sur-
faces. Be sure you have a way to reinflate the
tires prior to reducing the pressure.
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CAUTION!(Continued)
water. Water can cause permanent damage
to engine, driveline or other vehicle compo-
nents and your brakes will be less effective
once wet and/or muddy.
Before You Cross Any Type Of Water
As you approach any type of water, you need to
determine if you can cross it safely and respon-
sibly. If necessary, get out and walk through the
water or probe it with a stick. You need to be
sure of its depth, approach angle, current and
bottom condition. Be careful of murky or muddy
waters; check for hidden obstacles. Make sure
you will not be intruding on any wildlife, and you
can recover the vehicle if necessary. The key to
a safe crossing is the water depth, current and
bottom conditions. On soft bottoms, the vehicle
will sink in, effectively increasing the water level
on the vehicle. Be sure to consider this when
determining the depth and the ability to safely
cross.Crossing Puddles, Pools, Flooded Areas
Or Other Standing Water
Puddles, pools, flooded or other standing water
areas normally contain murky or muddy waters.
These water types normally contain hidden
obstacles and make it difficult to determine an
accurate water depth, approach angle, and
bottom condition. Murky or muddy water holes
are where you want to hook up tow straps prior
to entering. This makes for a faster, cleaner and
easier vehicle recovery. If you are able to deter-
mine you can safely cross, than proceed using
the low and slow method.
CAUTION!
Muddy waters can reduce the cooling sys-
tem effectiveness by depositing debris onto
the radiator.
After Driving Off-RoadOff-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 problemstaken 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 dam-
age.
•Inspect the radiator for mud and debris and
clean as required.
•Check threaded fasteners for looseness, par-
ticularly on the chassis, drivetrain compo-
nents, steering, and suspension. 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, wa-
ter, or similar dirty conditions, have the radia-
tor, fan, brake rotors, wheels, brake linings,
and axle yokes inspected and cleaned as
soon as possible.
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