2021 JEEP PATRIOT engine overheat

1. Speedometer
•The Speedometer shows the vehicle
speed in miles per hour (MPH) and kilo-
meters per hour (km/h).
NOTE:
A chime will sound when the vehicle speed
is above 120 km/h.
Odometer Display / Trip Odometer Dis-
playThis display indicates the total dis-
tance the vehicle has been driven.
2. Tachometer
•This gauge measures engine revolutions
per minute (RPM x 1000). Before the
pointer reaches the red area, ease up on
the accelerator to prevent engine damage.
3. Temperature Gauge
•The temperature gauge shows engine
coolant temperature. Any reading within
the normal range indicates that the engine
cooling system is operating satisfactorily.
•The gauge pointer will likely indicate a
higher temperature when driving in hot
weather or up mountain grades. It shouldnot be allowed to exceed the upper limits
of the normal operating range.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot engine cooling system
could damage your vehicle. If the tempera-
ture gauge reads “H” pull over and stop the
vehicle. Idle the vehicle with the air condi-
tioner turned off until the pointer drops back
into the normal range. If the pointer remains
on the “H”, turn the engine off immediately
and call an authorized dealer for service.
WARNING!
A hot engine cooling system is dangerous.
You or others could be badly burned by
steam or boiling coolant. You may want to
call an authorized dealer for service if your
vehicle overheats. If you decide to look un-
der the hood yourself, see “Maintaining Your
Vehicle”. Follow the warnings under the
Cooling System Pressure Cap paragraph.4. Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)
— If Equipped / Odometer Display / Trip
Odometer Display
Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)
— If Equipped
The Electronic Vehicle Information Center
(EVIC) features a driver-interactive display that
is located in the instrument cluster. Refer to
“Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)”
in this section for further information.
Message Display Area
When the appropriate conditions exist, the fol-
lowing odometer messages will display:
door..................Door Open
gATE................Liftgate Open
LoW tirE...........Low Tire Pressure
gASCAP.............Fuel Cap Fault
noFUSE................Fuse Fault
CHAngE OIL.......Oil Change Required
LoCOOL..............Low Coolant
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Oil Pressure Warning Light
Red Telltale Light What It Means
Oil Pressure Warning Light
This light indicates low engine oil pressure. If the light turns on while driving, stop the vehicle and shut off the engine as
soon as possible. A chime will sound when this light turns on.
Do not operate the vehicle until the cause is corrected. This light does not indicate how much oil is in the engine. The en-
gine oil level must be checked under the hood.
Engine Temperature Warning Light
Red Warning Light What It Means
Engine Temperature Warning Light
This light warns of an overheated engine condition. As engine coolant temperatures rise and the gauge approachesH, this
indicator will illuminate and a single chime will sound after reaching a set threshold. Further overheating will cause a con-
tinuous chime sound for 4 minutes, or until the engine is allowed to cool, whichever comes first.
If the light turns on while driving, safely pull over and stop the vehicle. If the A/C system is on, turn it off. Also, shift the
transmission into NEUTRAL and idle the vehicle. If the temperature reading does not return to normal, turn the engine off
immediately and call for service. Refer to “If Your Engine Overheats” in “What To Do In Emergencies” for further informa-
tion.
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Summer Operation
The engine cooling system must be protected
with a high-quality antifreeze coolant to provide
proper corrosion protection and to protect
against engine overheating. A solution of 50%
OAT (Organic Additive Technology) coolant that
meets the requirements of FCA Material Stan-
dard MS.90032 and 50% water is recom-
mended. Refer to “Maintenance Procedures” in
“Maintaining Your Vehicle” for proper coolant
selection.
Winter Operation
Use of the air Recirculation Mode during winter
months is not recommended because it may
cause window fogging.
Vacation Storage
Anytime you store your vehicle, or keep it out of
service (i.e., vacation) for two weeks or more,
run the air conditioning system at idle for about
five minutes in the fresh air and high blower
settings. This will ensure adequate system lu-
brication to minimize the possibility of compres-
sor damage when the system is started again.Window Fogging
Interior fogging on the windshield can be quickly
removed by turning the mode selector to De-
frost. The Defrost/Floor mode can be used to
maintain a clear windshield and provide suffi-
cient heating. If side window fogging becomes a
problem, increase blower speed. Vehicle win-
dows tend to fog on the inside in mild but rainy
or humid weather.
NOTE:
Recirculate without A/C should not be used
for long periods as fogging may occur.
Side Window Demisters
A side window demister outlet is located at each
end of the instrument panel. These non-
adjustable outlets direct air toward the side
windows when the system is in the FLOOR,
MIX, or DEFROST mode. The air is directed at
the area of the windows through which you view
the outside mirrors.Outside Air Intake
Make sure the air intake, located directly in front
of the windshield, is free of obstructions such as
leaves. Leaves collected in the air intake may
reduce airflow, and if they enter the plenum,
they could plug the water drains. In winter
months, make sure the air intake is clear of ice,
slush, and snow.
A/C Air Filter — If Equipped
The A/C Filter prevents most dust and pollen
from entering the cabin. The filter acts on air
coming from outside the vehicle and recircu-
lated air within the passenger compartment.
Refer to “Maintenance Procedures” in “Main-
taining Your Vehicle” for A/C Air Filter service
information or see your authorized dealer for
service. Refer to “Maintenance Schedules” in
“Maintaining Your Vehicle” for filter service inter-
vals.
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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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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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will remain in the selected gear until another
upshift or downshift is chosen, except as de-
scribed below:
•The transmission will automatically upshift
when necessary to prevent engine over-
speed.
•The transmission will automatically downshift
as the vehicle slows (to prevent engine lug-
ging) and will display the current gear.
•The transmission will automatically downshift
to first gear when coming to a stop. After a
stop, the driver should manually upshift (+)
the transmission as the vehicle is
accelerated.
•You can start out, from a stop, in first or
second gear. Tapping (+) (at a stop) will allow
starting in second gear. Starting out in sec-
ond gear can be helpful in snowy or icy
conditions.
•If a requested downshift would cause the
engine to overspeed, that shift will not occur.
•Avoid using speed control when AutoStick is
engaged.•Transmission shifting will be more noticeable
when AutoStick is engaged.
•The system may revert to automatic shift
mode if a fault or overheat condition is
detected.
To disengage AutoStick mode, hold the gear
selector to the right (+) until “D” is once again
displayed in the instrument cluster. You can shift
in or out of the AutoStick mode at any time
without taking your foot off the accelerator
pedal.
WARNING!
Do not downshift for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery surface. The drive wheels
could lose their grip and the vehicle could
skid, causing a collision or personal injury.
AutoStick (CVT) — If EquippedAutoStick is a driver-interactive transmission
feature providing six manually selectable gear
ratios, giving you more control of the vehicle.
AutoStick allows you to maximize engine brak-
ing, eliminate undesirable upshifts and down-shifts, and improve 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
NOTE:
AutoStick is not available until the CVT
warms up in cold weather.
When the gear selector is in the DRIVE position,
AutoStick is activated by moving the gear se-
lector side-to-side. Moving the gear selector to
the right (+) will activate AutoStick and shift up
to the next higher manual ratio, unless you are
already operating in or near Overdrive, in which
case sixth gear ratio will be selected. In like
manner, moving the gear selector to the left (-)
will activate AutoStick and shift to the next lower
manual ratio. The manually-selected gear will
be displayed in the instrument cluster.
In AutoStick mode, the transmission will shift up
or down when (+/-) is manually selected by the
driver, unless an engine lugging or overspeed
condition would result. It will remain in the
177

selected gear until another upshift or downshift
is chosen, except as described below:
•The transmission will automatically upshift
when necessary to prevent engine over-
speed.
•The transmission will automatically downshift
as the vehicle slows (to prevent engine lug-
ging) and will display the current gear.
•The transmission will automatically downshift
to first gear when coming to a stop. After a
stop, the driver should manually upshift (+)
the transmission as the vehicle is
accelerated.
•If a requested downshift would cause the
engine to overspeed, that shift will not occur.
•Transmission shifting will be more noticeable
when AutoStick is engaged.
•Heavy Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) appli-
cation will disengage AutoStick mode.
•The system may revert to automatic shift
mode if a fault or overheat condition is
detected.To disengage AutoStick mode, hold the gear
selector to the right (+) until “D” is once again
displayed in the instrument cluster. You can shift
in or out of the AutoStick mode at any time
without taking your foot off the accelerator
pedal.
WARNING!
Do not downshift for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery surface. The drive wheels
could lose their grip and the vehicle could
skid, causing a collision or personal injury.
FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE
OPERATION — IF EQUIPPED
This feature provides full time, on-demand,
four–wheel drive (4WD).Where one or more wheels have wheel spin or
if additional traction is needed in sand, deep
snow, or loose traction surfaces, activate the
“4WD LOCK” switch by pulling up once and
releasing. This locks the center coupling allow-
ing more torque to be sent to the rear wheels.
The “4WD Indicator Light” will come on in the
cluster. This can be done on the fly, at any
vehicle speed. To deactivate, simply pull on the
switch one more time. The “4WD Indicator
Light” will then go out.
Four-Wheel Drive Switch
178

Towing TipsBefore setting out on a trip, practice turning,
stopping and backing the trailer in an area away
from heavy traffic.
Manual Transmission — If Equipped
If using a manual transmission vehicle for trailer
towing, all starts must be in first gear to avoid
excessive clutch slippage.
Automatic Transmission — If Equipped
The DRIVE range can be selected when towing.
However, if frequent shifting or changes in
engine speed occur while in DRIVE, use the
AutoStick shift control to manually select a
lower gear ratio.
NOTE:
Using a lower gear ratio while operating the
vehicle under heavy loading conditions, will
improve performance and extend transmis-
sion life by reducing excessive shifting and
heat buildup. This action will also provide
better engine braking.
If you REGULARLY tow a trailer for more than
45 minutes of continuous operation, then
change the transmission fluid and filter asspecified for"police, taxi, fleet, or frequent
trailer towing."Refer to the “Maintenance
Schedule” for the proper maintenance intervals.
AutoStick
•When using the AutoStick shift control, select
the highest gear that allows for adequate
performance and avoids frequent downshifts.
For example, choose"4"if the desired speed
can be maintained. Choose"3"or"2"if
needed to maintain the desired speed.
•To prevent excess heat generation, avoid
continuous driving at high RPM. Reduce
vehicle speed as necessary to avoid ex-
tended driving at high RPM. Return to a
higher gear or vehicle speed when grade and
road conditions allow.
Electronic Speed Control — If Equipped
•Do not use in hilly terrain or with heavy loads.
•When using the speed control, if you experi-
ence speed drops greater than 10 mph
(16 km/h), disengage until you can get back
to cruising speed.•Use speed control in flat terrain and with light
loads to maximize fuel efficiency.
Cooling System
To reduce potential for engine and transmission
overheating, take the following actions:
City Driving
When stopped for short periods of time, shift the
transmission into NEUTRAL and increase en-
gine idle speed.
Highway Driving
Reduce speed.
Air Conditioning
Turn off temporarily.
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