2023 JEEP RENEGADE 4WD

STARTING AND OPERATING 131
the depth and the bottom condition (and location
of any obstacles) prior to entering. Proceed with
caution and maintain a steady controlled speed
less than 5
mph (8 km/h) in deep water to
minim i

ze wave effects.
Flowing Water
If the water is swift flowing and rising (as in storm
run-of f

) avoid crossing until the water level recedes
and/or the flow rate is reduced. If you must cross
flowing-water, avoid depths in excess of 9 inches
(22 c m

). The flowing water can erode the
streambed causing your vehicle to sink into deeper
water. Determine exit point(s) that are downstream
of your entry point to allow for drifting.
Standing Water — Trailhawk Only
Avoid driving in standing water deeper than
1 9 inch

es (48 cm), and reduce speed
approp r
iately to minimize wave effects. Maximum
speed in 19 inches (48 cm) of water is less than
5 mph (8 km/h).
Maintenance
After driving through deep water, inspect your
v ehic l

e fluids and lubricants (engine, transmission,
Power Transfer Unit and Rear Drive Module) to
ensure they have not been contaminated.
Contaminated fluids and lubricants (milky, foamy
in appearance) should be flushed/changed as
soon as possible to prevent component damage.
Driving In Snow, Mud And Sand
In heavy snow, when pulling a load, or for
additional control at slower speeds, shift the
transmission to a low gear and shift the 4WD
system to the appropriate terrain mode, using
4WD Low if necessary Ú page 91. Do not shift to a
lower gear than necessary to maintain headway.
Over- r

evving the engine can spin the wheels and
traction will be lost.
Avoid abrupt downshifts on icy or slippery roads
becau s

e engine braking may cause skidding and
loss of control.
Hill Climbing
NOTE:
Before attempting to climb a hill, determine the
condit i
ons at the crest and/or on the other side.
Before climbing a steep hill, shift
the transmission
to a lower gear and shift the 4WD System to 4WD
Low. Use first gear and 4WD Low for very steep
hills.
If you stall or begin to lose headway while
climbing
a steep hill, allow your vehicle to come to a stop
and immediately apply the brakes. Restart the
engine and shift to REVERSE. Back slowly down the
hill allowing the compression braking of the engine
to help regulate your speed. If the brakes are
required to control vehicle speed, apply them
lightly and avoid locking or skidding the tires.
NOTE:
Remember, never drive diagonally across a hill -
drive
straight up or down.
If the wheels start to slip as you approach the crest
of a hi
ll, ease off the accelerator and maintain
headway by turning the front wheels slowly left and
right. This may provide a fresh “bite” into the
surface and will usually provide traction to
complete the climb.
Traction Downhill
Shift the transmission into a low gear and the 4WD
System to 4WD Low range or select Hill Descent
Control (if equipped) Ú page 222 . Let the vehicle
go slowly down the hill with all four wheels turning
again s

t engine compression drag. This will permit
you to control the vehicle speed and direction.
When descending mountains or hills, repeated
braki n

g can cause brake fade with loss of braking
control. Avoid repeated heavy braking by
downshifting the transmission whenever possible.
WARNING!
If the engine stalls or you lose headway or
cannot make it to the top of a steep hill or grade,
never attempt to turn around. To do so may
result in tipping and rolling the vehicle. Always
back straight down a hill in REVERSE gear
carefully. Never back down a hill in NEUTRAL
using only the brake.
4

224 SAFETY
ESC Operation Modes
To disable ESC and other safety systems, follow
the instructions below.
There are three modes of active safety systems
presen

t on the vehicle:
ESC On
Partial Off
Full Off
ESC On – Two-Wheel Drive Vehicles And
Four-W h

eel Drive Vehicles In 2WD And 4WD High
This is the normal operating mode for ESC when
operati
ng a two-wheel drive vehicle. It is also the
normal mode for operating a four-wheel drive
vehicle in 2WD or 4WD High. The ESC system will
be in “ESC On” mode whenever the vehicle is
started or the power transfer unit (if equipped) is
shifted out of 4WD Low. This mode should be used
for most driving situations. ESC should only be
turned to “Partial Off” or “Full Off” for specific
reasons as noted. Refer to “Partial Off” and to “Full
Off” for additional information.
NOTE:
It is recommended to select the mode "Partial Off"
or "Fu l
l Off" only for specific reasons.
Partial Off – Two-Wheel Drive Vehicles And
Four-Wh
eel Drive Vehicles In 2WD And 4WD High
The “Partial Off” mode is intended for driving in
deep s
now, sand, or gravel. This mode raises the threshold for TCS and ESC activation, which allows
for more wheel spin than what ESC normally
allows.

ESC OFF Button

To enter the “Partial Off” mode, momentarily push
the E S

C OFF button and the ESC OFF Indicator
Light will illuminate. To turn the ESC on again,
momentarily push the ESC OFF button and the ESC
OFF Indicator Light will turn off. This will restore the
normal “ESC On” mode of operation.
NOTE:
To improve the vehicle’s traction when driving with
snow c h
ains, or when starting off in deep snow,
sand, or gravel, it may be desirable to switch to the
“Partial Off” mode by momentarily pushing the ESC
OFF button. Once the situation requiring “Partial
Off” mode is overcome, turn ESC back on by
momentarily pushing the ESC OFF button. This may
be done while the vehicle is in motion. Full Off – Four-Wheel Drive Vehicles In 4WD High
And 4
W

D Low
The “Full Off” mode is intended for off-highway and
off-road
use when ESC stability features could
inhibit vehicle maneuverability due to trail
conditions. The ESC OFF button is located in the
lower switch bank above the climate control panel.
To enter “Full Off” mode, push and hold the ESC
OFF button for five seconds while the vehicle is
stopped with the engine running. After five
seconds, the ESC OFF Indicator Light will illuminate
and an “ESC OFF” message will appear in the
odometer.

In this mode, ESC and TCS are turned off (except for
the “ l

imited slip” feature described in the TCS
section) until the vehicle reaches a speed of 40 mph

WARNING!
When in “Partial Off” mode, the TCS function -
ality of ESC, except for the limited slip feature
descr i
bed in the TCS section, has been
disabled and the ESC OFF Indicator Light will
be illuminated. When in “Partial Off” mode,
the engine power reduction feature of TCS is
disabled, and the enhanced vehicle stability
offered by the ESC system is reduced.
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) is disabled when
the ESC system is in the “Partial Off” mode.

SAFETY 225

(64 km/h). At speeds over 40 mph (64 km/h), the
system
automatically switches to “Partial Off” mode,
described above. When the vehicle speed returns to
less than 35 mph (56 km/h), the ESC system will
retur n

to “Full Off” mode. The ESC OFF Indicator
Light is always illuminated when ESC is off. To turn
ESC on again, momentarily push the ESC OFF
button. This will restore the normal “ESC On” mode
of operation.

NOTE:
With the ESC switched off, the enhanced vehicle
stabi l
ity offered by ESC is unavailable. In an emer -
gency evasive maneuver, the ESC system will not
e ngage

to assist in maintaining stability. “Full Off”
mode is only intended for off-highway or off-road
use.
NOTE:
“Full Off” is the only operating mode for ESC in
4WD Low. The ESC system will be in this mode
whenever the vehicle is started in 4WD Low or
the power transfer unit is shifted into 4WD Low.

The “ESC OFF” message will display and a chime
will sound when the gear selector is moved from
any position to the PARK (P) position and then
moved out of the PARK position. This will occur
even if the message was cleared previously.

Selec-Terrain — If Equipped
On models equipped with Selec-Terrain, the
a ctiva

tion of some driving modes provide partial off or full off of some active safety systems in order
to optimize performance in specific modes.
Partial or full off of the active safety systems will be
indic
a

ted by a light in the instrument cluster.
In "SAND" and "MUD", the active safety systems
are pa
rtially disabled and put in place to ensure
maximum performance in the specific mode of
operation. However, you can reactivate them
completely at any time by pushing the ESC button.
NOTE:
In 4WD Low, the active safety systems are
comple t
ely bypassed in order to ensure maximum
off-road performance.
ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light
And ESC OFF Indicator Light
The ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator
Light in the instrument cluster will come
on whe n
the ignition switch is placed in
the ON position. It should go out with the
engine running. If the ESC Activation/Malfunction
Indicator Light comes on continuously with the
engine running, a malfunction has been detected
in the ESC system. If this light remains on after
several ignition cycles, and the vehicle has been
driven several miles/kilometers at speeds greater
than 30 mph (48 km/h), see an authorized dealer
as soon

as possible to have the problem
diagnosed and corrected. The ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light
(locat
e

d in the instrument cluster) starts to flash as
soon as the tires lose traction and the ESC system
becomes active. The ESC Activation/Malfunction
Indicator Light also flashes when Traction Control
System is active. If the ESC Activation/Malfunction
Indicator Light begins 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.
NOTE:
The ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light
and the ESC OFF Indicator Light come on
momentarily each time the ignition switch is
placed in the ON position.
Each time the ignition is placed in the ON posi -
tion, the ESC system will be on even if it was
turne d
off previously.
The ESC system will make buzzing or clicking
sounds when it is active. This is normal; the
sounds will stop when ESC becomes inactive
following the maneuver that caused the ESC
activation.
The ESC OFF Indicator Light indicates the
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is in
“Part i

al Off” or “Full Off” modes.
The ESC OFF button is located in the center
console.
6

226 SAFETY
Hill Descent Control (HDC) — If Equipped

Hill Descent Control (Trailhawk)

HDC is intended for low speed off-road driving
while
in 4WD Low. HDC maintains vehicle speed
while descending hills during various driving
situations. HDC controls vehicle speed by actively
controlling the brakes.
HDC has three states:

1. O ff (feature is not enabled and will not
acti va

te).

2. Enabled (feature is enabled and ready but activ
ation conditions are not met, or driver is
actively overriding with brake or throttle
application).
3. Active (feature is enabled and actively control
ling vehicle speed). Enabling HDC
HDC is enabled by pushing the HDC switch, but the
f
ollow i

ng conditions must also be met to enable
HDC:
The driveline is in 4WD Low.
The vehicle speed is below 7.5 mph (12 km/h).
The Electric Park Brake (EPB) is released.
The driver’s door is closed.
Activating HDC
Once HDC is enabled, it will activate automatically
i f dri

ven down a grade of sufficient magnitude
(greater than approximately 8%). The set speed for
HDC is selectable by the driver and can be
adjusted using brake and throttle input.
Driver Override:
The driver may override HDC activation with
t hrott l

e or brake application at any time.
Deactivating HDC
HDC will be deactivated but remain available if any
of the

following conditions occur:
The driver overrides HDC set speed with throttle
or brake application.
Vehicle speed exceeds 7.5 mph (12 km/h) but
remain
s below 25 mph (40 km/h).
Vehicle is on a downhill grade of insufficient
magnitude (less than approximately 8%), is on
level ground, or is on an uphill grade.
Vehicle is shifted to PARK (P).
Disabling HDC
HDC will be deactivated and disabled if any of the
f ollowin

g conditions occur:
The driver pushes the HDC switch.
The driveline is shifted out of 4WD Low.
The driver’s door opens.
The vehicle is driven greater than 25 mph
(40 km/
h) (HDC exits immediately.)
Feedback To The Driver:
The instrument cluster has an HDC icon and the
HDC sw i

tch has an LED, which offers feedback to
the driver about the state HDC is in.
The cluster icon and switch lamp will illuminate
and remain solid when HDC is enabled or acti -
vated. This is the normal operating condition for
HD C.
The switch lamp will flash for several seconds
then extinguish when the driver pushes the HDC
switch when enable conditions have not been
met.
The HDC Switch is located within the Selec-Terrain
knob in
the upper right position.

SAFETY 233
If the vehicle enters 4WD Low, the FCW system
will be automatically deactivated.
The active braking is disabled when a trailer is
connected with a Mopar® Trailer Towing
system. If the vehicle is equipped with an after
-
market system, it is recommended that the
Activ e

Braking is turned off manually
Ú page 349.
Turning FCW On Or Off
The Forward Collision menu setting is located in
the Uconnect settings.
NOTE:
The default status of FCW is “Warning + Active
Braki n
g,” this allows the system to warn you of a
possible collision with the vehicle in front of you
and enable the active braking.
Changing the FCW status to “Off” deactivates
the system, so no warning or active braking will
be available in case of a possible collision.
Changing the FCW status to “Only warning”
prevents the system from providing limited
active braking, or additional brake support if the
driver is not braking adequately in the event of
a potential frontal collision, but maintains the
audible and visual warnings.
Changing the status of the system can be done at
any t i

me in the vehicle's head unit.
NOTE:
When the system is turned off, the FCW system
state
will reset.
Changing FCW Sensitivity
By changing the settings on the menu of the
Uconnect system, you can change the sensitivity of
the system by choosing one of the following three
options: "Near", "Medium" or "Far" Ú page 133.
The default option is "Medium". This setting allows
t he sy

stem to warn the driver of a possible collision
with the vehicle in front when it is at a standard
distance, intermediate between the “Near” and
“Far” settings.
By setting the sensitivity of the system to "Far", the
syste m

will warn the driver of a possible accident
with the vehicle in front when the latter is at a
greater distance, giving you the chance to act on
the brakes in a more limited and gradual way. This
setting gives the driver the maximum possible time
of reaction to prevent a possible accident.
NOTE:
The “Far” setting may result in a greater number of
FCW p os
sible collision warnings experienced.
By changing the option to "Near", the system will
warn t
he driver of a possible accident with the
vehicle ahead of it when the latter is a reduced
distance. This setting offers a reaction time to the
driver lower than the settings "Medium" and "Far",
in the case of a potential accident, providing a
more dynamic driving of the vehicle.
NOTE:
The “Near” setting may result in a lesser number of
FCW p os
sible collision warnings experienced.
The setting of the sensitivity of the system is
mainta
ined in memory when the engine is
switched off.
FCW Limited Warning
If the instrument cluster display reads “FCW
Limited Functionality” or “FCW Limited
Functionality Wipe Front Windshield” momentarily,
there may be a condition that limits FCW
functionality. Although the vehicle is still drivable
under normal conditions, the active braking may
not be fully available. Once the condition that
limited the system performance is no longer
present, the system will return to its full
performance state. If the problem persists, see an
authorized dealer.
WARNING!
Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is not intended
to avoid a collision on its own, nor can FCW
detect every type of potential collision. The driver
has the responsibility to avoid a collision by
controlling the vehicle via braking and steering.
Failure to follow this warning could lead to
serious injury or death.
6

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 283
(Continued)
TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE
This section describes procedures for towing a
disabled vehicle using a commercial towing
service. Proper towing or lifting equipment is required to
preve
n

t damage to your vehicle. Use only tow bars
and other equipment designed for this purpose,
following equipment manufacturer’s instructions.
Use of safety chains is mandatory. Attach a tow bar
or other towing device to main structural members
of the vehicle, not to fascia/bumpers or associated
brackets. State and local laws regarding vehicles
under tow must be observed.
NOTE:
Vehicles with a discharged battery or total elec -
trical failure when the Electric Park Brake (EPB)
is en g
aged, will need a wheel dolly or jack to
raise the rear wheels off the ground when
moving the vehicle onto a flatbed.
You must ensure that the Auto Park Brake
feature is disabled before towing this vehicle, to
avoid inadvertent Electric Park Brake engage -
ment. The Auto Park Brake feature is enabled or
disab l

ed via the customer programmable
features in the Uconnect Settings.
If you must use the accessories (wipers,
defros t

ers, etc.) while being towed, the ignition
must be in the ON/RUN position, not the ACC
position.
If the vehicle's battery is discharged, instructions
on shif
ting the automatic transmission out of PARK
(P) in order to move the vehicle Ú page 281.
WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces
generated by excessive wheel speeds may
cause damage, or even failure, of the axle and
tires. A tire could explode and injure someone.
Do not spin your vehicle's wheels faster than
30
mph (48 km/h) or for longer than 30 sec-
onds c on

tinuously without stopping when you
are stuck and do not let anyone near a spinning
wheel, no matter what the speed.
CAUTION!
Racing the engine or spinning the wheels may
lead to transmission overheating and failure.
Allow the engine to idle with the transmission
in NEUTRAL for at least one minute after every
five rocking-motion cycles. This will minimize
overheating and reduce the risk of clutch or
transmission failure during prolonged efforts
to free a stuck vehicle.
When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by shifting
between DRIVE/SECOND gear and REVERSE,
do not spin the wheels faster than 15 mph
(24 km/

h), or drivetrain damage may result.

Revving the engine or spinning the wheels too
fast may lead to transmission overheating and
failure. It can also damage the tires. Do not spin
the wheels above 30 mph (48 km/h) while in
gear (

no transmission shifting occurring).

Towing
Condit i

on Wheels
Off T h
e
Ground Front-
Wheel
D
rive
(FWD) Four-
Wheel D
rive
(4WD)
Flat Tow NONENOT
ALLOWED N
O
T
ALLOWED
Dol
ly Tow REAR
NOT
ALLOWED N
O
T
ALLOWED
FR
ONT OK NOT
ALLOWED
O n

Trailer ALLBEST
METHOD O
K
CAUTION!
7

284 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
FRONT–WHEEL DRIVE (FWD)
FCA US LLC recommends towing your vehicle with
all four wheels OFF the ground on a flatbed.
If flatbed equipment is not available, this vehicle
must t
owed with the front wheels OFF the ground
(using a towing dolly, or wheel lift equipment with
the front wheels raised).
NOTE:
Ensure that the Electric Park Brake is released,
and r e
mains released, while being towed.
FOUR–WHEEL DRIVE (4WD)

FCA US LLC requires towing with all four wheels OFF
the ground. Acceptable methods are to tow the
vehicle on a flatbed, or with one end of the vehicle
raised and the opposite end on a towing dolly.

EMERGENCY TOW HOOKS —
I
F EQUIPPED
If your vehicle is equipped with tow hooks, there
will be one in the rear and two mounted on the
front of the vehicle. The rear hook will be located
on the driver's side of the vehicle.
NOTE:
For off-road recovery, it is recommended to use
both of
the front tow hooks to minimize the risk of
damage to the vehicle.

Front Tow Hook Locations

CAUTION!
Do not use sling type equipment when towing.
Vehicle damage may occur.
When securing the vehicle to a flat bed truck,
do not attach to front or rear suspension
components. Damage to your vehicle may
result from improper towing.
CAUTION!
Towing this vehicle in violation of the above
requirements can cause severe transmission
damage. Damage from improper towing is not
covered under the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.
CAUTION!
DO NOT tow this vehicle with ANY of its wheels
on the ground. Damage to the drivetrain will
result.
Front or rear wheel lifts must not be used (if
the remaining wheels are on the ground).
Internal damage to the transmission or power
transfer unit will occur if a front or rear wheel
lift is used when towing.
Towing this vehicle in violation of the above
requirements can cause severe transmission
and/or power transfer unit damage. Damage
from improper towing is not covered under the
New Vehicle Limited Warranty.

336 SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
(Continued)
TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS
The tires on the front and rear of your vehicle
operate at different loads and perform different
steering, handling, and braking functions. For
these reasons, they wear at unequal rates.
These effects can be reduced by timely rotation of
tires.
The benefits of rotation are especially
worthwhile with aggressive tread designs such as
those on On/Off Road type tires. Rotation will
increase tread life, help to maintain mud, snow,
and wet traction levels, and contribute to a
smooth, quiet ride.
For the proper maintenance intervals Ú page 287.
The reasons for any rapid or unusual wear should
b e cor r

ected prior to rotation being performed.
The suggested Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) rotation
method
is the “forward cross” shown in the following diagram. This rotation pattern does not
apply to some directional tires that must not be
reversed.

Tire Rotation (Forward Cross)

The suggested Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) Tire
rotati on

method is the “rearward cross” shown in
the following diagram.

Tire Rotation (Rearward Cross)

WARNING!
Using tires of different size and type (M+S,
Snow) between front and rear axles can cause
unpredictable handling. You could lose control
and have a collision.
CAUTION!
To avoid damage to your vehicle or tires, observe
the following precautions:
Because of restricted traction device clear -
ance between tires and other suspension
compone n
ts, it is important that only traction
devices in good condition are used. Broken
devices can cause serious damage. Stop the
vehicle immediately if noise occurs that could
indicate device breakage. Remove the
damaged parts of the device before further
use.
Install device as tightly as possible and then
retighten after driving about ½ mile (0.8 km).
Do not exceed 30 mph (48 km/h).
Drive cautiously and avoid severe turns and
large bumps, especially with a loaded vehicle.
Do not drive for a prolonged period on dry
pavement.
Observe the traction device manufacturer’s
instructions on the method of installation,
operating speed, and conditions for use.
Always use the suggested operating speed of
the device manufacturer’s if it is less than
30
mph (48 km/h).
Do not use traction devices on a compact
spare tire.
CAUTION!