Jeep Cherokee (2019 year). Manual

STARTING THE ENGINE

Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust both
inside and outside mirrors, and fasten your seat belts.

WARNING!

• When leaving the vehicle, always remove the key fob

from the ignition and lock your vehicle. If equipped
with Keyless Enter-N-Go, always make sure the
keyless ignition node is in “OFF” mode, remove the
key fob from the vehicle and lock the vehicle.

• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with

access to an unlocked vehicle.

• Allowing children to be in a vehicle unattended is

dangerous for a number of reasons. A child or others
could be seriously or fatally injured. Children
should be warned not to touch the parking brake,
brake pedal or the gear selector.

• Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle, or in

a location accessible to children, and do not leave the
ignition of a vehicle equipped with Keyless Enter-
N-Go in the ACC or ON/RUN mode. A child could
operate power windows, other controls, or move the
vehicle.

Start the engine with the gear selector in the NEUTRAL or
PARK position. Apply the brake before shifting to any
driving range.

Normal Starting — Gasoline Engine

NOTE:

Normal starting of either a cold or a warm engine is

obtained without pumping or pushing the accelerator pedal.

Place your foot on the brake and place the ignition to the
START mode and release when the engine starts. If the
engine fails to start within 10 seconds:

1. Place the ignition in the OFF mode.

2. Wait 10 to 15 seconds.

3. Repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.

Tip Start Feature

Place the ignition in the START mode and release it as the
starter engages. The starter motor will automatically dis-
engage itself once engine is running. If the engine fails to
start, the starter will disengage automatically in 10 sec-
onds. If this occurs:

1. Place the ignition in the OFF mode.

2. Wait 10 to 15 seconds.

3. Repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.

STARTING AND OPERATING

261

Extreme Cold Weather (Below –22°F Or −30°C)

To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of an
externally powered electric engine block heater (available
from an authorized dealer) is recommended.

Extended Park Starting

NOTE:

Extended Park condition occurs when the vehicle

has not been started or driven for at least 30 days.

1. Install a battery charger or jumper cables to the battery

to ensure a full battery charge during the crank cycle.

2. Place the ignition to the START mode and release it

when the engine starts.

3. If the engine fails to start within 10 seconds, place the

ignition in the OFF mode, wait five seconds to allow the
starter to cool, then repeat the Extended Park Starting
procedure.

4. If the engine fails to start after eight attempts, allow the

starter to cool for at least 10 minutes, then repeat the
procedure.

CAUTION!

To prevent damage to the starter, do not crank continu-
ously for more than 10 seconds at a time. Wait 10 to 15
seconds before trying again.

If Engine Fails To Start

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.

• Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get it

started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic transmis-
sion cannot be started this way. Unburned fuel could
enter the catalytic converter and once the engine has
started, ignite and damage the converter and vehicle.

• If the vehicle has a discharged battery, booster cables

may be used to obtain a start from a booster battery
or the battery in another vehicle. This type of start
can be dangerous if done improperly. Refer to “Jump
Starting Procedure” in “In Case Of Emergency” for
further information.

262

STARTING AND OPERATING

After Starting

The idle speed is controlled automatically, and it will
decrease as the engine warms up.

ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED

The engine block heater warms the engine and permits
quicker starts in cold weather.

Connect the cord to a 110-115 Volt AC electrical outlet with
a grounded, three-wire extension cord.

For ambient temperatures below 0°F (-18°C), the engine
block heater is recommended. For ambient temperatures
below -20°F (-29°C), the engine block heater is required.

The engine block heater cord is routed under the hood,
behind to the driver’s side headlamp. Follow the steps
below to properly use the engine block heater:

1. Locate the engine block heater cord (behind the driver’s

side headlamp).

2. Undo the Velcro strap that secures the heater cord in

place.

3. Pull the cord to the front of the vehicle and plug it into

a grounded, three-wire extension cord.

4. After the vehicle is running, reattach the cord to the

Velcro strap and properly stow away behind the driver’s
side headlamp.

NOTE:
• The engine block heater cord is a factory installed

option. If your vehicle is not equipped, heater cords are
available from an authorized Mopar dealer.

• The engine block heater will require 110 Volts AC and 6.5

Amps to activate the heater element.

• The engine block heater must be plugged in at least one

hour to have an adequate warming effect on the engine.

WARNING!

Remember to disconnect the engine block heater cord
before driving. Damage to the 110-115 Volt electrical
cord could cause electrocution.

ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS

A long break-in period is not required for the engine and
drivetrain (transmission and axle) in your vehicle.

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263

Drive moderately during the first 300 miles (500 km). After
the initial 60 miles (100 km), speeds up to 50 or 55 mph (80
or 90 km/h) are desirable.

While cruising, brief full-throttle acceleration within the
limits of local traffic laws contributes to a good break-in.
Wide-open throttle acceleration in low gear can be detri-
mental and should be avoided.

The engine oil installed in the engine at the factory is a
high-quality energy conserving type lubricant. Oil changes
should be consistent with anticipated climate conditions
under which vehicle operations will occur.

For the recommended viscosity and quality grades, refer to
“Fluids And Lubricants” in “Technical Specifications”.

CAUTION!

Never use Non-Detergent Oil or Straight Mineral Oil
in the engine or damage may result.

NOTE:

A new engine may consume some oil during its

first few thousand miles (kilometers) of operation. This
should be considered a normal part of the break-in and not
interpreted as a problem.

PARKING BRAKE

Electric Park Brake (EPB)

Your vehicle is equipped with an Electric Park Brake
System (EPB) that offers simple operation, and some
additional features that make the parking brake more
convenient and useful.

The parking brake is primarily intended to prevent the
vehicle from rolling while parked. Before leaving the
vehicle, make sure that the park brake is applied. Also, be
certain to leave the transmission in PARK.

You can engage the park brake in two ways:
• Manually, by applying the park brake switch.
• Automatically, by enabling the Auto Park Brake feature

in the customer programmable features section of the
Uconnect settings.

The park brake switch is located in the center console.

264

STARTING AND OPERATING

To apply the park brake manually, pull up on the switch
momentarily. You may hear a slight whirring sound from
the back of the vehicle while the park brake engages. Once
the park brake is fully engaged, the BRAKE telltale light in
the instrument cluster and an indicator on the switch will
illuminate. If your foot is on the brake pedal while you
apply the park brake, you may notice a small amount of
brake pedal movement. The park brake can be applied
even when the ignition switch is OFF but the BRAKE
telltale light will not illuminate, however, it can only be
released when the ignition is in the ON/RUN mode.

NOTE:

The EPB fault light will illuminate if the EPB switch

is held for longer than 90 seconds in either the released or
applied position. The light will extinguish upon releasing
the switch.

If the Auto Park Brake feature is enabled, the parking brake
will automatically engage whenever the transmission is
placed into PARK, when the ignition is turned OFF. If your
foot is on the brake pedal, you may notice a small amount
of brake pedal movement while the park brake is engaging.

The park brake will release automatically when the igni-
tion is ON, the transmission is in DRIVE or REVERSE, the
driver seat belt is buckled, and an attempt is made to drive
away.

To release the park brake manually, the ignition switch
must be in the ON/RUN mode. Put your foot on the brake
pedal, then push the park brake switch down momentarily.
You may hear a slight whirring sound from the back of the
vehicle while the parking brake disengages. You may also
notice a small amount of movement in the brake pedal.
Once the park brake is fully disengaged, The BRAKE
telltale light in the instrument cluster and the LED indica-
tor on the switch will extinguish.

Electric Park Brake Switch

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265

NOTE:

When parking on a hill, it is important to turn the

front wheels toward the curb on a downhill grade and
away from the curb on an uphill grade. Apply the park
brake before placing the gear selector in PARK, otherwise
the load on the transmission locking mechanism may make
it difficult to move the gear selector out of PARK. The
parking brake should always be applied whenever the
driver is not in the vehicle.

WARNING!

• Never use the PARK position as a substitute for the

parking brake. Always apply the parking brake fully
when parked to guard against vehicle movement and
possible injury or damage.

• When exiting the vehicle, always remove the key fob

from the ignition and lock your vehicle.

• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with

access to an unlocked vehicle. Allowing children to
be in a vehicle unattended is dangerous for a number
of reasons. A child or others could be seriously or
fatally injured. Children should be warned not to
touch the parking brake, brake pedal or the gear
selector.

(Continued)

WARNING! (Continued)

• Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle, or in

a location accessible to children, and do not leave a
vehicle equipped with Keyless Enter-N-Go in the
ACC or ON/RUN mode. A child could operate power
windows, other controls, or move the vehicle.

• Be sure the parking brake is fully disengaged before

driving; failure to do so can lead to brake failure and
a collision.

• Always fully apply the parking brake when leaving

your vehicle, or it may roll and cause damage or
injury. Also be certain to leave the transmission in
PARK. Failure to do so may allow the vehicle to roll
and cause damage or injury.

CAUTION!

If the Brake System Warning Light remains on with the
parking brake released, a brake system malfunction is
indicated. Have the brake system serviced by an au-
thorized dealer immediately.

If exceptional circumstances should make it necessary to
engage the park brake while the vehicle is in motion,
maintain upward pressure on the electric park brake

266

STARTING AND OPERATING

switch for as long as engagement is desired. The BRAKE
telltale light will illuminate, and a continuous chime will
sound. The rear stop lamps will also be illuminated auto-
matically while the vehicle remains in motion.

To disengage the park brake while the vehicle is in motion,
release the switch. If the vehicle is brought to a complete
stop using the parking brake, when the vehicle reaches
approximately 3 mph, (5 km/h) the parking brake will
remain engaged.

WARNING!

Driving the vehicle with the parking brake engaged, or
repeated use of the parking brake to slow the vehicle
may cause serious damage to the brake system. Be sure
the parking brake is fully disengaged before driving;
failure to do so can lead to brake failure and a collision.

In the unlikely event of a malfunction of the Electric Park
Brake system, a yellow EPB fault light will illuminate. This
may be accompanied by the BRAKE telltale light flashing.
In this event, urgent service of the electric park brake
system is required. Do not rely on the parking brake to
hold the vehicle stationary.

Auto Park Brake

The electric park brake can be programmed to be applied
automatically whenever the vehicle is at a standstill and
the automatic transmission is placed in PARK, whenever
the ignition is turned “OFF”. Auto Park Brake is enabled
and disabled by customer selection through the customer
programmable features section of the Uconnect Settings.

Any single auto park brake application can be bypassed by
pushing the EPB switch to the release position while the
transmission is placed in PARK.

SafeHold

SafeHold is a safety feature of the Electric Park Brake
System that will engage the park brake automatically if the
vehicle is left unsecured while the ignition is in ON/RUN.

For automatic transmissions, the park brake will automati-
cally engage if all of the following conditions are met:
• The vehicle is at a standstill.
• There is no attempt to depress the brake pedal or

accelerator pedal.

• The seat belt is unbuckled.
• The driver door is open.

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267

SafeHold can be temporarily bypassed by pushing the
Electric Park Brake Switch while the driver door is open.
Once manually bypassed, SafeHold will be enabled again
once the vehicle reaches 12 mph (20 km/h) or the ignition
is turned to the OFF position and back to ON again.

Brake Service Mode

We recommend having your brakes serviced by your
authorized dealer. You should only make repairs for which
you have the knowledge and the right equipment. You
should only enter Brake Service Mode during brake ser-
vice.

When servicing your rear brakes, it may be necessary for
you or your technician to push the rear piston into the rear
caliper bore. With the electric park brake system, this can
only be done after retracting the Electric Park Brake
actuator. Fortunately, actuator retraction can be done easily
by entering the Brake Service Mode through the Uconnect
Settings in your vehicle. This menu based system will
guide you through the steps necessary to retract the EPB
actuator in order to perform rear brake service.

Service Mode has requirements that must be met in order
to be activated:
• The vehicle must be at a standstill.
• The park brake must be unapplied.
• The transmission must be in PARK or NEUTRAL.

While in service mode, the Electric Park Brake fault lamp
will flash continuously while the ignition is ON.

When brake service work is complete, the following steps
must be followed to reset the park brake system to normal
operation:
• Ensure the vehicle is at a standstill.
• Press the brake pedal with moderate force.
• Apply the Electric Park Brake Switch.

WARNING!

You can be badly injured working on or around a
motor vehicle. Do only that service work for which you
have the knowledge and the right equipment. If you
have any doubt about your ability to perform a service
job, take your vehicle to a competent mechanic.

268

STARTING AND OPERATING

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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 vehicle while the engine is
running. Before exiting a vehicle, always come to a
complete stop, then apply the parking brake, shift
the transmission into PARK, turn the engine OFF,
and remove the key fob. When the ignition is in the
LOCK/OFF (key removal) position, (or, with Keyless
Enter-N-Go, when the ignition is in the OFF mode)
the transmission is locked in PARK, securing the
vehicle against unwanted movement.

• When leaving the vehicle, always make sure the

ignition is in the OFF mode, remove the key fob from
the vehicle, and lock the vehicle.

(Continued)

WARNING! (Continued)

• Never use the PARK position as a substitute for the

parking brake. Always apply the parking brake fully
when exiting the vehicle to guard against vehicle
movement and possible injury or damage.

• Your vehicle could move and injure you and others if

it is not in PARK. Check by trying to move the gear
selector out of PARK with the brake pedal released.
Make sure the transmission is in PARK before exit-
ing the vehicle.

• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with

• Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle (or in

a location accessible to children), and do not leave
the ignition (in a vehicle equipped with Keyless
Enter-N-Go) in the ACC or ON/RUN mode. A child
could operate power windows, other controls, or
move the vehicle.

STARTING AND OPERATING

269

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.

Key Ignition Park Interlock

This vehicle is equipped with a Key Ignition Park Interlock
which requires the transmission to be in PARK before the
ignition can be turned to the LOCK/OFF (key removal)
position. The key fob can only be removed from the
ignition when the ignition is in the LOCK/OFF position,
and the transmission is locked in PARK whenever the
ignition is in the LOCK/OFF position.

Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System

This vehicle is equipped with a Brake Transmission Shift
Interlock system (BTSI) that holds the transmission gear

selector in PARK unless the brakes are applied. To shift the
transmission out of PARK, the ignition must be in the
ON/RUN mode (engine running or not) and the brake
pedal must be pressed.

The brake pedal must also be pressed to shift from NEU-
TRAL into DRIVE or REVERSE when the vehicle is
stopped or moving at low speeds.

Nine-Speed Automatic Transmission

The transmission gear range (PRND) is displayed both
beside the gear selector and in the instrument cluster. To
select a gear range, press the lock button on the gear
selector and move the selector rearward or forward. You
must also press the brake pedal to shift the transmission
out of PARK (or NEUTRAL, when the vehicle is stopped or
moving at low speeds). Select the DRIVE range for normal
driving.

NOTE:

In the event of a mismatch between the gear

selector position and the actual transmission gear (for
example, driver selects REVERSE while driving forward),
the position indicator will blink continuously until the
selector is returned to the proper position, or the requested
shift can be completed.

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STARTING AND OPERATING

The electronically-controlled transmission adapts its shift
schedule based on driver inputs, along with environmental
and road conditions. The transmission electronics are self-
calibrating; therefore, the first few shifts on a new vehicle
may be somewhat abrupt. This is a normal condition, and
precision shifts will develop within a few hundred miles
(kilometers).

The nine-speed transmission has been developed to meet
the needs of current and future FWD/AWD vehicles.
Software and calibration is refined to optimize the custom-
er’s driving experience and fuel economy. By design, some
vehicle and driveline combinations utilize 9th gear only in
very specific driving situations and conditions.

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 provides PARK, REVERSE,
NEUTRAL, DRIVE, and MANUAL (AutoStick) shift posi-
tions. Manual downshifts can be made using the AutoStick
shift control. Moving the gear selector into the MANUAL
(-/+) position (beside the DRIVE position) activates
AutoStick mode, providing manual shift control and dis-
playing the current gear in the instrument cluster (as 1, 2,
3, etc.). Toggling the gear selector forward (-) or rearward
(+) while in the MANUAL position will manually select the
transmission gear.

Refer to “AutoStick” in this section for further information.

NOTE:

If the gear selector cannot be moved to the PARK,

REVERSE, or NEUTRAL position (when pushed forward)
it is probably in the MANUAL (AutoStick,(+/-)) position
(beside the DRIVE position). In MANUAL (AutoStick)
mode, the transmission gear (1, 2, 3, etc.) is displayed in the
instrument cluster. Move the gear selector to the right (into
the DRIVE [D] position) for access to PARK, REVERSE, and
NEUTRAL.

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271

Gear Ranges

Do not depress the accelerator pedal when shifting from
PARK or NEUTRAL into another gear range.

NOTE:

After selecting any gear range, wait a moment to

allow the selected gear to engage before accelerating. This
is especially important when the engine is cold.

PARK (P)

This range supplements the parking brake by locking the
transmission. The engine can be started in this range.
Never attempt to use PARK while the vehicle is in motion.
Apply the parking brake when exiting the vehicle in this
range.

When parking on a level surface, you may shift the
transmission into PARK first, and then apply the parking
brake.

When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake before
shifting the transmission to PARK, otherwise the load on
the transmission locking mechanism may make it difficult
to move the gear selector out of PARK. As an added
precaution, turn the front wheels toward the curb on a
downhill grade and away from the curb on an uphill grade.

When exiting the vehicle, always:
• Apply the parking brake.
• Shift the transmission into PARK.
• Turn the engine OFF.
• Remove the key fob.

Gear Selector

272

STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING!

• Never use the PARK position as a substitute for the

parking brake. Always apply the parking brake fully
when exiting the vehicle to guard against vehicle
movement and possible injury or damage.

• Your vehicle could move and injure you and others if

it is not in PARK. Check by trying to move the gear
selector out of PARK with the brake pedal released.
Make sure the transmission is in PARK before exit-
ing the vehicle.

• 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 re-
verse. 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

(Continued)

WARNING! (Continued)

the transmission into PARK, turn the engine OFF,
and remove the key fob. When the ignition is in the
LOCK/OFF (key removal) position (or, with Keyless
Enter-N-Go, when the ignition is in the OFF mode),
the transmission is locked in PARK, securing the
vehicle against unwanted movement.

• When leaving the vehicle, always make sure the

ignition is in the OFF mode, remove the key fob from
the vehicle, and lock the vehicle.

• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with

• Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle (or in

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273

CAUTION!

• Before moving the transmission gear selector out of

PARK, you must turn the ignition to the ON/RUN
mode, and also press the brake pedal. Otherwise,
damage to the gear selector could result.

• DO NOT race the engine when shifting from PARK

or NEUTRAL into another gear range, as this can
damage the drivetrain.

The following indicators should be used to ensure that you
have properly engaged the transmission into the PARK
position:
• When shifting into PARK, push the lock button on the

gear selector and firmly move the selector all the way
forward until it stops and is fully seated.

• Look at the transmission gear position display and

verify that it indicates the PARK position (P).

• With brake pedal released, verify that the gear selector

will not move out of PARK.

REVERSE (R)

This range is for moving the vehicle backward. Shift into
REVERSE only after the vehicle has come to a complete
stop.

NEUTRAL (N)

Use this range when the vehicle is standing for prolonged
periods with the engine running. The engine may be
started in this range. Apply the parking brake and shift the
transmission into PARK, if you must exit the vehicle.

WARNING!

Do not coast in NEUTRAL and never turn off the
ignition to coast down a hill. These are unsafe practices
that limit your response to changing traffic or road
conditions. You might lose control of the vehicle and
have a collision.

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STARTING AND OPERATING

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 Op-
erating” and “Towing A Disabled Vehicle” in “In Case
Of Emergency” for further information.

DRIVE (D)

This range should be used for most city and highway
driving. It provides the smoothest upshifts and downshifts,
and the best fuel economy. The transmission automatically
upshifts through all forward gears. The DRIVE position
provides optimum 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, traveling into strong head winds, or while
towing a heavy trailer), use the AutoStick shift control
(refer to

⬙AutoStick⬙ in this section for further information)

to select a lower gear. Under these conditions, using a
lower gear will improve performance and extend transmis-
sion life by reducing excessive shifting and heat buildup.

If the transmission temperature exceeds normal operating
limits, the transmission controller may modify the trans-
mission shift schedule, reduce engine torque, and/or ex-
pand the range of torque converter clutch engagement.
This is done to prevent transmission damage due to
overheating.

If the transmission becomes extremely hot, the “Transmis-
sion Temperature Warning Light” may illuminate and the
transmission may operate differently until the transmission
cools down.

During cold temperatures, transmission operation may be
modified depending on engine and transmission tempera-
ture as well as vehicle speed. This feature improves warm
up time of the engine and transmission to achieve maxi-
mum efficiency. Engagement of the torque converter
clutch, and shifts into 8th or 9th gear, are inhibited until the
transmission fluid is warm (refer to the note within the
“Torque Converter Clutch” topic in this section). Normal
operation will resume once the transmission temperature
has risen to a suitable level.

STARTING AND OPERATING

275

Jeep Cherokee (2019 year). Manual - part 17