2023 JEEP GLADIATOR Owners Manual

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE103
To Open The Sunrider® Top
To open the Sunrider® top, proceed as follows:

1. Fold both sun visors forward against the windshield.

2. Release the header latches from the crossbar by pulling the handle downward. Make sure
the hook is disengaged from its receiver.

Release Both Header Latches
3. From the front of the Sunrider® top, lift and
push the top rearward to the Sunrider®
position.

Sunrider® Position
4. Secure the top by using the two hook-and-loop
fasteners provided with the Sunrider® kit, and
wrap one around the side rails on each side of
the Sunrider® top to hold it in place.

Hook-And-Loop Fastener Placement

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104GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
DOOR FRAME — IF EQUIPPED WITH A SOFT
TOP DOOR FRAME REMOVAL
NOTE:The rear door frames must be removed first,
followed by the front door frames.

1. Using the provided #T40 Torx head driver and
ratchet, loosen the Torx head fasteners
located on the underside of each door hinge
(two per door), and remove the fasteners by
pulling downward.

Step One

NOTE:The fasteners will not fall out once completely
loose, as they are held in place by design.
Step One

2. Lift the frame upward, removing it from the vehicle.

Step Two

3. Store the fasteners in a secure location.
4. Repeat the procedure on the front door frame.
WARNING!
Do not drive your vehicle on public roads with
the door frame(s) removed as you will lose the
protection that they can provide. This procedure
is furnished for use during off-road operation
only.
CAUTION!
Failure to follow these cautions may cause
interior water damage, stains or mildew:
Opening a door or lowering a window while the
top is wet may allow water to drip into the
vehicle's interior.
Careless handling and storage of the remov -
able door frame(s) may damage the seals,
causing water to leak into the vehicle's inte -
rior.
The door frame(s) must be positioned properly
to ensure sealing. Improper installation can
cause water to leak into the vehicle's interior.

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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE105
DOOR FRAME INSTALLATION

1. Install the front door frame first.

2. Ensure the windshield is in the “up” position.
Carefully place the front door frame in the
rubber seal at the top of the windshield, and
line up the holes for the Torx head fasteners
(two for each door).
3. Swing the frame bracket around the side of the door frame, and insert the fasteners from
underneath. Tighten with the #T40 Torx head
driver until they are snug, being careful not to
cross-thread the fasteners or overtighten.
Refer to the following table for the appropriate
torque specifications for the door frame
fasteners.
Tighten Fasteners

4. Set the rear door frame pin into the hole on top of the body side, just behind the rear door
opening. 5. Carefully position the top of the door frame
onto the rear belt rail and the rear of the front
door frame, making sure the rubber seals lie
flat. Ensure the seals are installed correctly to
avoid water leaks.

Step Five
Step Five

WARNING!
Do not drive your vehicle on public roads with
the door and/or door frame(s) removed as you
will lose the protection that they can provide.
This procedure is furnished for use during
off-road operation only.
Target Torque Specification For Torx
Fasteners Maximum Minimum
44.2 in-lb (5 N·m) 53.1 in-lb
(6 N·m) 35.4 in-lb
(4 N·m)
CAUTION!
Do not overtighten Torx fasteners. You can strip
the fasteners if they are overtightened.
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106GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
(Continued)
6. Insert the fasteners from underneath. Tighten
with the #T40 Torx head driver until they are
snug, being careful not to cross-thread the
fasteners or overtighten. Refer to the previous
table for the appropriate torque specifications
for the door frame fasteners.
FOLDING WINDSHIELD
The fold-down windshield on your vehicle is a
structural element that can provide protection in
some accidents. The windshield also provides
protection against weather, road debris and
intrusion of small branches and other objects.
Do not drive your vehicle on-road with the
windshield down, as you lose the protection this
structural element provides.
If required for certain off-road uses, the windshield
can be folded down. However, the protection
afforded by the windshield is then lost. If you fold
down the windshield, drive slowly and cautiously. It
is recommended that the speed of the vehicle be
limited to 10 mph (16 km/h), with low range
operation preferred if you are driving off-road with
the windshield folded down. Raise the windshield as soon as the task that
required its removal is completed and before you
return to on-road driving. Both you and your
passengers should wear seat belts at all times,
on-road and off-road, regardless of whether the
windshield is raised or folded down.
LOWERING THE WINDSHIELD

1. Before completing the following steps:

If your vehicle is equipped with a soft top,
the top
MUST be lowered Ú page 83, and
the door frames must be removed
Ú page 104 prior to lowering the wind -
shield.
If your vehicle is equipped with a hard top,
the Freedom Panels MUST be removed
prior to lowering the windshield Úpage 95.
WARNING!
Carefully follow these warnings to help protect
against personal injury:
Do not drive your vehicle on-road with the
windshield down.
Do not drive your vehicle unless the wind -
shield is securely fastened, either up or down.
Eye protection, such as goggles, should be
worn at all times when the windshield is down.
Be sure that you carefully follow the instruc -
tions for raising the windshield. Make sure
that the folding windshield, windshield wipers,
side bars, and all associated hardware and
fasteners are correctly and tightly assembled
before driving your vehicle. Failure to follow
these instructions may prevent your vehicle
from providing you and your passengers’
protection in some accidents.
If you remove the doors, store them outside
the vehicle. In the event of an accident, a
loose door may cause personal injury.
CAUTION!
Failure to follow this step will cause damage to
the vehicle’s header seal.
WARNING!

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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE107
2. Manually remove the protective caps over the windshield wiper hex bolts.

Step Two

3. Using the provided 15 mm socket, remove the two hex bolts and remove the wiper arms.
4. Move to the inside of the vehicle and lower both sun visors. 5. Using the provided #T40 Torx head driver,
remove the four Torx head fasteners located
along the interior of the windshield (two on
each side of the header trim).

Step Five

NOTE:Store all of the mounting bolts in their original
threaded holes and tighten for safekeeping, or in
the fastener bin located below the rear seat. 6. Lower the windshield gently until it contacts
the tie-down bumpers (if equipped).

Step Six

7. Secure the windshield by passing a cinch strap through the tie-down bumper on either side of
the hood and on the windshield frame. Tighten
the strap to secure the windshield in place.
1 — Hex Bolt Cover Installed
2 — Hex Bolt Cover Removed
1 — Outer Torx Fasteners
2 — Center Torx Fasteners
1 — Washer Nozzle
2 — Bumper
3 — Tie-Down
CAUTION!
Do Not Overtighten! Damage to the windshield
could result.
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108GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)/Forward
Collision Warning (FCW) Sensor Protective
Cover — If Equipped
Your vehicle may be equipped with a protective
cover that is to be used whenever the windshield is
folded down in order to protect the ACC/FCW
sensor. To install the cover, refer to the following
instructions:

1. Secure the top part of the cover so that it
hinges to the header.

2. Swing the cover down and push on it so that it covers the opening.
3. Check to make sure the cover is secured properly.

Protective Cover Installed

NOTE:Be sure to remove the cover before returning the
windshield to the normal position. Store the cover
in the cargo area.
Cleaning Instructions
During windshield down applications, dust/dirt can
accumulate in the cover and block the camera
lens. Use a microfiber cloth to clean the camera
lens, module, and inside cover, being careful not to
damage or scratch the module.
RAISING THE WINDSHIELD

1. Release the strap that secured the windshield in the lowered position.

2. Raise the windshield.
3. Using the provided #T40 Torx head driver, reinstall the four Torx head fasteners located
along the interior of the windshield (two on
each side of the header trim). Secure them
until they are snug, being careful not to
cross-thread the fasteners or overtighten.
Step Three

4. Reinstall the windshield wiper arms using the provided 15 mm socket. First, align the tips of
the blade to the “T” mark in the glass. Then,
while holding the arm in that position, reinstall
the hex nut and tighten until snug. Be careful
not to overtighten. Repeat for the other arm.1 — Outer Torx Fasteners
2 — Center Torx Fasteners

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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE109
5. Reinstall the protective caps over the wiper arm hex bolts and push gently until they snap
into place.

Step Five

NOTE:Make sure the windshield is raised prior to
installing the tops.
HOOD
OPENING THE HOOD
Release both of the outside hood latches.
Hood Latch Locations

Raise the hood slightly, and place a hand
palm-side down in the center of the hood opening.
Locate the safety latch in the middle, and push the
latch to the right to open.

Place Hand In Hood Opening
Remove the support rod from the hood, and insert
it into the radiator crossmember.
NOTE:
Vehicle must be at a stop and the gear selector
must be in PARK.
You may have to push down slightly on the hood
before pushing the safety latch.
While lifting the hood, use both hands.
Before lifting the hood, check that the wiper
arms are not in motion and not in the lifted posi
-
tion.
CLOSING THE HOOD
To close the hood, remove the support rod from the
radiator crossmember, and install into the clip on
the hood. Lower the hood slowly. Secure both of
the hood latches.
1 — Hex Bolt Cover Installed
2 — Hex Bolt Cover Removed
WARNING!
Be sure the hood is fully latched before driving
your vehicle. If the hood is not fully latched, it
could open when the vehicle is in motion and
block your vision. Failure to follow this warning
could result in serious injury or death.
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110GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
TAILGATE
OPENING

Tailgate Release Handle

To open the tailgate, pull the release handle
located on the center of the tailgate and guide it to
the lowered position.
The tailgate is dampened to provide a slower, more
controlled lowering.
THREE-POSITION TAILGATE
The vehicle’s tailgate can be set to three positions:
open, mid, or closed. The mid position can be used
to provide a loading surface for transporting sheet
goods.
To use the mid position, open the tailgate and
lower it to near mid position.
Tailgate In Mid Position

Secure the tailgate in this position by looping the
tailgate straps behind the circular retainer on both
sides.

Loop Tailgate Strap Behind Circular Retainer

Ensure the tailgate strap is properly seated behind
the circular retainer against the sides of the sheet
metal.
Correctly Seated Tailgate Strap
Incorrectly Seated Tailgate Strap

When hauling cargo using the mid position and the
tailgate, you must support the load at two forward
locations:
At the top of the rear wheelhouse (1)
Between the wheelhouse and the tailgate (2)

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