2009 Dodge Nitro Owners Manual

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ejected before a new disc can be loaded. If you insert a disc with the ignition ON and the radio ON, the unit will switch from radio to CD mode and begin to play when you insert the disc. The display will show the disc number, the track number, and index time in minutes and seconds. Play will begin at the start of track 1. CAUTION! away and jam the player mechanism. • This CD player will accept 4-3/4 in (12 cm) discs only. The use of other sized discs may damage the CD player mechanism. • Do not use adhesive labels. These labels can peel • RES is a single CD player. Do not attempt to insert • Dual-media disc types (one side is a DVD, the other side is a CD) should not be used, and they can cause damage to the player. a second CD if one is already loaded. EJECT Button - Ejecting a CD Press the EJECT button to eject the CD. UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 223 If you have ejected a disc and have not removed it within 10 seconds, it will be reloaded. If the CD is not removed, the radio will reinsert the CD but will not play it. A disc can be ejected with the radio and ignition OFF. NOTE: Ejecting with ignition OFF is not allowed on convertible or soft-top models (if equipped). SEEK Button Press the right SEEK button for the next selection on the CD. Press the left SEEK button to return to the beginning of the current selection, or return to the beginning of the previous selection if the CD is within the first second of the current selection. Pressing and holding the SEEK button will allow faster scrolling through the tracks in CD, MP3 modes. TIME Button Press this button to change the display from a large CD playing time display to a small CD playing time display. 224 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL RW/FF Press the RW button to stop the CD at the beginning of the current CD track/title. Press and hold the FF (Fast Forward) button and the CD player will begin to fast forward until FF is released, or RW or another CD button is pressed. The RW (Reverse) button works in a similar manner. AM/FM Button Press the button to select either AM or FM mode. SET/RND Button (Random Play Button) Press this button while the CD is playing to activate Random Play. This feature plays the selections on the compact disc in random order to provide an interesting change of pace. Press the right SEEK button to move to the next ran- domly selected track. Press the RND button a second time to stop Random Play. Notes on Playing MP3 Files The radio can play MP3 files; however, acceptable MP3 file recording media and formats are limited. When writing MP3 files, pay attention to the following restric- tions. Supported Media (Disc Types) The MP3 file recording media supported by the radio are CDDA, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3, and CDDA+MP3. Supported Medium Formats (File Systems) The medium formats supported by the radio are ISO 9660 Level 1 and Level 2 and includes the Joliet extension. When reading discs recorded using formats other than ISO 9660 Level 1 and Level 2, the radio may fail to read files properly and may be unable to play the file nor- mally. UDF and Apple HFS formats are not supported. The radio uses the following limits for file systems: • Maximum number of folder levels: 8 • Maximum number of files: 255 • Maximum number of folders. (The radio display of file names and folder names is limited. For large numbers of files and/or folders, the radio may be unable to display the file name and folder name, and will assign a number instead. With a maximum number of files, exceeding 20 folders will result in this display. With in this 200 files, exceeding 50 folders will result display.) • Maximum number of characters in file/folder names: • Level 1: 12 (including a separator ⬙.⬙ and a three- • Level 2: 31 (including a separator ⬙.⬙ and a three- character extension) character extension) UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 225 Multisession disc formats are supported by the radio. Multisession discs may contain combinations of normal CD audio tracks and computer files (including MP3 files). Discs created with an option such as ⬙keep disc open after writing⬙ are most likely multisession discs. The use of multisession for CD audio or MP3 playback may result in longer disc loading times. Supported MP3 File Formats The radio will recognize only files with the *.MP3 exten- sion as MP3 files. Non-MP3 files named with the *.MP3 extension may cause playback problems. The radio is designed to recognize the file as an invalid MP3 and will not play the file. When using the MP3 encoder to compress audio data to an MP3 file, the bit rate and sampling frequencies in the following table are supported. In addition, variable bit 226 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL rates (VBR) are also supported. The majority of MP3 files use a 44.1 kHz sampling rate and a 192, 160, 128, 96 or VBR bit rate. MPEG Sampling Specification MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 MPEG-2 Audio Layer 3 48, 44.1, 32 Frequency (kHz) Bit Rate (kbps) 320, 256, 224, 192, 160, 128, 112, 96, 80, 64, 56, 48, 40, 32 160, 128, 144, 112, 96, 80, 64, 56, 48, 40, 32, 24, 24, 22.05, 16 16, 8 ID3 Tag information for artist, song title, and album title are supported for version 1 ID3 tags. ID3 version 2 is not supported by the radios. Playlist files are not supported. MP3 Pro files are not supported. Playback of MP3 Files When a medium containing MP3 data is loaded, the radio checks all files on the medium. If the medium contains a lot of folders or files, the radio will take more time to start playing the MP3 files. Loading times for playback of MP3 files may be affected by the following: • Media - CD-RW media may take longer to load than • Medium formats - Multisession discs may take longer • Number of files and folders - Loading times will to load than non-multisession discs CD-R media increase with more files and folders To increase the speed of disc loading, it is recommended to use CD-R media and single-session discs. To create a single-session disc, enable the “Disc at Once” option before writing to the disc. Operation Instructions - Auxiliary Mode The auxiliary (AUX) jack is an audio input jack, which allows the user to plug in a portable device, such as an MP3 player, or cassette player, and utilize the vehicle’s audio system to amplify the source and play through the vehicle speakers. Pressing the DISC/AUX button will change the mode to auxiliary device if the AUX jack is connected. NOTE: The AUX device must be turned on and the device’s volume set to proper level. If the AUX audio is not loud enough, turn the device’s volume up. If the AUX audio sounds distorted, turn the device’s volume down. TIME Button (Auxiliary Mode) Press this button to change the display to time of day. The time of day will display for five seconds (when ignition is OFF). UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 227 SALES CODE RES/RSC — AM/FM STEREO RADIO WITH CD PLAYER (MP3 AUX JACK) AND SIRIUS RADIO NOTE: The radio sales code is located on the lower right side of the radio faceplate. RES/RSC Radio 228 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL Operating Instructions — Radio Mode NOTE: The ignition switch must be in the ON or ACC position to operate the radio. Power Switch/Volume Control (Rotary) Push the On/Volume control knob to turn on the radio. Push the On/Volume control knob a second time to turn off the radio. Electronic Volume Control The electronic volume control turns continuously (360 degrees) in either direction without stopping. Turning the On/Volume control knob to the right increases the vol- ume and to the left decreases it. When the audio system is turned on, the sound will be set at the same volume level as last played. SEEK Buttons Press and release the SEEK buttons to search for the next listenable station in AM/FM mode. Press the right switch to seek up and the left switch to seek down. The radio will remain tuned to the new station until you make another selection. Holding either button will bypass stations without stopping until you release it. Voice Recognition System (Radio) — If Equipped Refer to “Voice Recognition System (VR)” in Section 3. Voice Recognition Button (UConnect威 Hands-Free Phone) — If Equipped Press this button to operate the Hands-Free Phone (UConnect威) feature (if equipped). Refer to “Hands-Free Communication (UConnect威)” in Section 3. If your vehicle is not equipped with or this feature is not available on your vehicle, a “Not Equipped With UConnect” message will display on the radio screen. Phone Button (UConnect威 Hands-Free Phone) — If Equipped Press this button to operate the Hands-Free Phone (UConnect威) feature (if equipped). Refer to “Hands-Free Communication (UConnect威)” in Section 3. If your vehicle is not equipped with or this feature is not available on your vehicle, a “Not Equipped With UConnect” message will display on the radio screen. TIME Button Press the TIME button to alternate locations of the time and frequency display. Clock Setting Procedure 1. Press and hold the TIME button, until the hours blink. 2. Adjust the hours by turning the right side Tune/Scroll control knob. UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 229 3. After adjusting the hours, press the right side Tune/ Scroll control knob to set the minutes. The minutes will begin to blink. 4. Adjust the minutes using the right side Tune/Scroll control knob. Press the Tune/Scroll control knob to save time change. 5. To exit, press any button/knob or wait five seconds. The clock can also be set by pressing the SETUP button. For vehicles equipped with satellite radio, press the SETUP button, use the Tune/Scroll control to select SET CLOCK, and then follow the above procedure, starting at Step 2. For vehicles not equipped with satellite radio, press the SETUP button and then follow the above procedure, starting at Step 2. 230 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL INFO Button Press the INFO button for an RDS station (one with call letters displayed). The radio will return a Radio Text message broadcast from an FM station (FM mode only). RW/FF Pressing the RW (Rewind) or FF (Fast Forward) buttons causes the tuner to search for the next frequency in the direction of the arrows. This feature operates in either AM or FM frequencies. TUNE Control Turn the rotary Tune/Scroll control knob clockwise to increase or counterclockwise to decrease the frequency. Setting the Tone, Balance, and Fade Push the rotary Tune/Scroll control knob and BASS will display. Turn the Tune/Scroll control knob to the right or left to increase or decrease the bass tones. Push the rotary Tune/Scroll control knob a second time and MID will display. Turn the Tune/Scroll control knob to the right or left to increase or decrease the mid-range tones. Push the rotary Tune/Scroll control knob a third time and TREBLE will display. Turn the Tune/Scroll control knob to the right or left to increase or decrease the treble tones. Push the rotary Tune/Scroll control knob a fourth time and BALANCE will display. Turn the Tune/Scroll control knob to the right or left to adjust the sound level from the right or left side speakers. Push the rotary Tune/Scroll control knob a fifth time and FADE will display. Turn the Tune/Scroll control knob to the left or right to adjust the sound level between the front and rear speakers. Push the rotary Tune/Scroll control knob again to exit setting tone, balance, and fade. MUSIC TYPE Button Pressing this button once will turn on the Music Type mode for five seconds. Pressing the MUSIC TYPE button or turning the Tune/Scroll control knob within five seconds will allow the program format type to be se- lected. Many radio stations do not currently broadcast Music Type information. Toggle the MUSIC TYPE button to select the following format types: Program Type No program type or un- defined Adult Hits Classical Classic Rock College Country 16-Digit Character Display None Adlt Hit Classicl Cls Rock College Country UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 231 Program Type Foreign Language Information Jazz News Nostalgia Oldies Personality Public Rhythm and Blues Religious Music Religious Talk Rock Soft Soft Rock Soft Rhythm and Blues 16-Digit Character Display Language Inform Jazz News Nostalga Oldies Persnlty Public R & B Rel Musc Rel Talk Rock Soft Soft Rck Soft R&B 232 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL Program Type Sports Talk Top 40 Weather 16-Digit Character Display Sports Talk Top 40 Weather By pressing the SEEK button when the Music Type icon is displayed, the radio will be tuned to the next frequency station with the same selected Music Type name. The Music Type function only operates when in the FM mode. If a preset button is activated while in the Music Type (Program Type) mode, the Music Type mode will be exited and the radio will tune to the preset station. SETUP Button Pressing the SETUP button allows you to select between the following items: • Set Clock — Pressing the SELECT button will allow you to set the clock. Turn the Tune/Scroll control knob to adjust the hours and then press and turn the Tune/Scroll control knob to adjust the minutes. Press the Tune/Scroll control knob again to save changes. AM/FM Button Press the button to select either AM or FM mode. SET/RND Button — To Set the Pushbutton Memory When you are receiving a station that you wish to commit to pushbutton memory, press the SET/RND button. The symbol SET 1 will now show in the display window. Select the button (1 to 6) you wish to lock onto this station and press and release that button. If a button is not selected within five seconds after pressing the SET/RND button, the station will continue to play but will not be stored into pushbutton memory. You may add a second station to each pushbutton by repeating the above procedure with this exception: Press the SET/RND button twice and SET 2 will show in the display window. Each button can be set for SET 1 and SET 2 in both AM and FM. This allows a total of 12 AM and 12 FM stations to be stored into pushbutton memory. The stations stored in SET 2 memory can be selected by pressing the pushbutton twice. Every time a preset button is used, a corresponding button number will display. Buttons 1 - 6 These buttons tune the radio to the stations that you commit to pushbutton memory (12 AM and 12 FM stations). DISC/AUX Button Pressing the DISC/AUX button will allow you to switch from AM/FM modes to DISC/AUX mode. UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 233 Operation Instructions — CD MODE for CD and MP3 Audio Play NOTE: • The ignition switch must be in the ON or ACC • This radio is capable of playing compact discs (CD), recordable compact discs (CD-R), rewritable compact discs (CD-RW), compact discs with MP3 tracks and multisession compact discs with CD and MP3 tracks. position to operate the radio. Inserting Compact Disc(s) Gently insert one CD into the CD player with the CD label facing up. The CD will automatically be pulled into the CD player and the CD icon will illuminate on the radio display. If a CD does not go into the slot more than 1.0 in (2.5 cm), a disc may already be loaded and must be ejected before a new disc can be loaded. 234 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL If you insert a disc with the ignition ON and the radio ON, the unit will switch from radio to CD mode and begin to play when you insert the disc. The display will show the disc number, the track number, and index time in minutes and seconds. Play will begin at the start of track 1. CAUTION! away and jam the player mechanism. • This CD player will accept 4–3/4 in (12 cm) discs only. The use of other sized discs may damage the CD player mechanism. • Do not use adhesive labels. These labels can peel • RES is a single CD player. Do not attempt to insert • Dual-media disc types (one side is a DVD, the other side is a CD) should not be used, and they can cause damage to the player. a second CD if one is already loaded. EJECT Button - Ejecting a CD Press the EJECT button to eject the CD. If you have ejected a disc and have not removed it within 10 seconds, it will be reloaded. If the CD is not removed, the radio will reinsert the CD but will not play it. A disc can be ejected with the radio and ignition OFF. NOTE: Ejecting with ignition OFF is not allowed on convertible or soft-top models (if equipped). SEEK Button Press the right SEEK button for the next selection on the CD. Press the left SEEK button to return to the beginning of the current selection, or return to the beginning of the previous selection if the CD is within the first second of the current selection. Pressing and holding the SEEK button will allow faster scrolling through the tracks in CD, MP3 modes. TIME Button Press this button to change the display from a large CD playing time display to a small CD playing time display. RW/FF Press the RW button to stop the CD at the beginning of the current CD track/title. Press and hold FF (Fast Forward) and the CD player will begin to fast forward until FF is released or RW or another CD button is pressed. The RW (Reverse) button works in a similar manner. AM/FM Button Press the button to select either AM or FM mode. SET/RND Button (Random Play Button) Press this button while the CD is playing to activate Random Play. This feature plays the selections on the compact disc in random order to provide an interesting change of pace. UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 235 Press the right SEEK button to move to the next ran- domly selected track. Press the SET/RND button a second time to stop Ran- dom Play. Notes On Playing MP3 Files The radio can play MP3 files; however, acceptable MP3 file recording media and formats are limited. When writing MP3 files, pay attention to the following restric- tions. Supported Media (Disc Types) The MP3 file recording media supported by the radio are CDDA, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3, and CDDA+MP3. 236 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL Supported Medium Formats (File Systems) The medium formats supported by the radio are ISO 9660 Level 1 and Level 2 and includes the Joliet extension. When reading discs recorded using formats other than ISO 9660 Level 1 and Level 2, the radio may fail to read files properly and may be unable to play the file nor- mally. UDF and Apple HFS formats are not supported. The radio uses the following limits for file systems: • Maximum number of folder levels: 8 • Maximum number of files: 255 • Maximum number of folders. (The radio display of file names and folder names is limited. For large numbers of files and/or folders, the radio may be unable to display the file name and folder name and will assign a number instead. With a maximum number of files, exceeding 20 folders will result in this display. With in this 200 files, exceeding 50 folders will result display.) • Maximum number of characters in file/folder names: • Level 1: 12 (including a separator ⬙.⬙ and a three- • Level 2: 31 (including a separator ⬙.⬙ and a three- character extension) character extension) Multisession disc formats are supported by the radio. Multisession discs may contain combinations of normal CD audio tracks and computer files (including MP3 files). Discs created with an option such as ⬙keep disc open after writing⬙ are most likely multisession discs. The use of multisession for CD audio or MP3 playback may result in longer disc loading times. Supported MP3 File Formats The radio will recognize only files with the *.MP3 exten- sion as MP3 files. Non-MP3 files named with the *.MP3 extension may cause playback problems. The radio is designed to recognize the file as an invalid MP3 and will not play the file. When using the MP3 encoder to compress audio data to an MP3 file, the bit rate and sampling frequencies in the following table are supported. In addition, variable bit rates (VBR) are also supported. The majority of MP3 files use a 44.1 kHz sampling rate and a 192, 160, 128, 96 or VBR bit rates. UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 237 MPEG Specifi- cation Sampling Fre- quency (kHz) MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 48, 44.1, 32 MPEG-2 Audio Layer 3 24, 22.05, 16 Bit Rate (kbps) 320, 256, 224, 192, 160, 128, 112, 96, 80, 64, 56, 48, 40, 32 160, 128, 144, 112, 96, 80, 64, 56, 48, 40, 32, 24, 16, 8 ID3 Tag information for artist, song title, and album title are supported for version 1 ID3 tags. ID3 version 2 is not supported by the radios. Playlist files are not supported. MP3 Pro files are not supported. 238 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL Playback of MP3 Files When a medium containing MP3 data is loaded, the radio checks all files on the medium. If the medium contains a lot of folders or files, the radio will take more time to start playing the MP3 files. Loading times for playback of MP3 files may be affected by the following: • Media - CD-RW media may take longer to load than • Medium formats - Multisession discs may take longer • Number of files and folders - Loading times will to load than non-multisession discs CD-R media increase with more files and folders To increase the speed of disc loading, it is recommended to use CD-R media and single-session discs. To create a single-session disc, enable the “Disc at Once” option before writing to the disc. LIST Button (CD Mode for MP3 Play) Pressing the LIST button will bring up a list of all folders on the disc. Scrolling up or down the list is done by turning the Tune/Scroll control knob. Selecting a folder by pressing the Tune/Scroll control knob will begin playing the files contained in that folder (or the next folder in sequence if the selection does not contain playable files). The folder list will time out after five seconds. INFO Button (CD Mode for MP3 Play) Pressing the INFO button repeatedly will scroll through the following TAG information: Song Title, Artist, File Name, and Folder Name (if available). Press the INFO button once more to return to ⬙elapsed time⬙ priority mode. Press and hold the INFO button for three seconds or more and the radio will display song titles for each file. Press and hold the INFO button again for three seconds to return to ⬙elapsed time⬙ display. Operation Instructions - Auxiliary Mode The auxiliary (AUX) jack is an audio input jack, which allows the user to plug in a portable device such as an MP3 player, or cassette player, and utilize the vehicle’s audio system to amplify the source and play through the vehicle speakers. Pressing the AUX button will change the mode to auxil- iary device if the AUX jack is connected. NOTE: The AUX device must be turned on and the device’s volume set to proper level. If the AUX audio is not loud enough, turn the device’s volume up. If the AUX audio sounds distorted, turn the device’s volume down. UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 239 TIME Button (Auxiliary Mode) Press this button to change the display to time of day. The time of day will display for five seconds (when ignition is OFF). Operating Instructions - Hands-Free Phone (UConnect威) (If Equipped) Refer to “Hands-Free Communication (UConnect威)” in Section 3. Operating Instructions - Satellite Radio Mode (If Equipped) Refer to “Satellite Radio” in this section. 240 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL SATELLITE RADIO — IF EQUIPPED (REN/REQ/RER/RES/REU RADIOS ONLY) Satellite radio uses direct satellite-to-receiver broadcast- ing technology to provide clear digital sound, coast to coast. The subscription service provider is Sirius Satellite Radio. This service offers over 130 channels of music, sports, news, entertainment, and programming for chil- dren, directly from its satellites and broadcasting studios. NOTE: Sirius service is not available in Hawaii and has limited coverage in Alaska. System Activation Sirius Satellite Radio service is pre-activated, and you may begin listening immediately to the one year of audio service that is included with the factory-installed satellite radio system in your vehicle. Sirius will supply a wel- come kit that contains general information, including how to setup your on-line listening account at no addi- tional charge. For further information, call the toll-free number 888-539-7474, or visit the Sirius web site at www.sirius.com, or at www.siriuscanada.ca for Cana- dian residents. Electronic Serial Number/Sirius Identification Number (ESN/SID) Please have the following information available when calling: 1. The Electronic Serial Number/Sirius Identification Number (ESN/SID). 2. Your Vehicle Identification Number. To access the ESN/SID, refer to the following steps: ESN/SID Access With REQ/RES Radios With the ignition switch in the ON/RUN or ACC posi- tion and the radio on, press the SETUP button and scroll using the Tune/Scroll control knob until Sirius ID is selected. Press the Tune/Scroll control knob and the Sirius ID number will display. The Sirius ID number display will time out in two minutes. Press any button on the radio to exit this screen. ESN/SID Access With REN/RER Radios While in SAT mode, press the MENU button on the radio faceplate. Next, touch the SUBSCRIPTION tab on the touch screen. All the ESNs that apply to your vehicle will display. ESN/SID Access With REU Radio While in SAT mode, press the MENU button on the radio faceplate. Next, turn the knob surrounding the joystick in the center of the radio to scroll to Subscription, and then press and release the joystick. All of the ESNs that apply to your vehicle will display. UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 241 Selecting Satellite Mode Press the SAT button until ⬙SAT⬙ appears in the display. A CD may remain in the radio while in the Satellite radio mode. Satellite Antenna To ensure optimum reception, do not place items on the roof around the rooftop antenna location or strap items to the trunk lid around the trunk lid antenna (if equipped). Metal objects placed within the line of sight of the antenna will cause decreased performance. Larger lug- gage items such as bikes should be placed as far rearward as possible, within the loading design of the rack. Do not place items directly on or above the antenna. 242 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL structure or under a physical obstacle. Reception Quality Satellite reception may be interrupted due to one of the following reasons: • The vehicle is parked in an underground parking • Dense tree coverage may interrupt reception in the • Driving under wide bridges or along tall buildings can • Placing objects over or too close to the antenna can cause intermittent reception. form of short audio mutes. cause signal blockage. Operating Instructions — Satellite Mode NOTE: The ignition switch must be in the ON or ACC position to operate the radio. SEEK Buttons Press and release the SEEK buttons to search for the next channel in Satellite mode. Press the right switch to seek up and the left switch to seek down. The radio will remain tuned to the new channel until you make another selection. Holding either button will bypass channels without stopping until you release it. SCAN Button (When Equipped) Pressing the SCAN button causes the tuner to search for the next channel, pausing for eight seconds before con- tinuing to the next. To stop the search, press the SCAN button a second time. INFO Button — Except REU Radio Pressing the INFO button will cycle the display informa- tion between Artist, Song Title, and Composer (if avail- able). Also, pressing and holding the INFO button for an additional three seconds will make the radio display the Song Title all of the time (press and hold again to return to normal display). INFO Button — REU Radio Pressing the INFO button will display information about Artist, Song Title, and Composer (if available). Pressing the INFO button again will close the INFO screen. RW/FF Pressing the RW (Rewind) or FF (Fast Forward) buttons causes the tuner to search for the next channel in the direction of the arrows. TUNE Control (Rotary) Turn the rotary Tune/Scroll control knob clockwise to increase or counterclockwise to decrease the channel. UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 243 MUSIC TYPE Button — Except REU Radio Pressing this button once will turn on the Music Type mode for five seconds. Pressing the MUSIC TYPE button or turning the Tune/Scroll control knob within five seconds will allow the program format type to be se- lected. Toggle the MUSIC TYPE button again to select the music type. By pressing the SEEK button when the Music Type function is active, the radio will be tuned to the next channel with the same selected Music Type name. If a preset button is activated while in the Music Type (Program Type) mode, the Music Type mode will be exited and the radio will tune to the preset channel. 244 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL MUSIC TYPE Button — REU Radio Pressing this button provides a MUSIC TYPES list from which you can make a selection. Once a selection is made, you can seek up, or down, or scan the channels and the radio will tune to the next station matching the selected format. There is no time-out for this screen. Pressing the MUSIC TYPE button again will close the MUSIC TYPE screen. Once closed, seek up, seek down, and scan will no longer be based on your selection. SETUP Button Pressing the SETUP button allows you to select the following items: • Display Sirius ID number — Press the AUDIO/ SELECT button to display the Sirius ID number. This number is used to activate, deactivate, or change the Sirius subscription. SET Button – To Set the Pushbutton Memory When you are receiving a channel that you wish to commit to pushbutton memory, press the SET button. The symbol SET 1 will now show in the display window. Select the button (1-6) you wish to lock onto this channel and press and release that button. If a button is not selected within five seconds after pressing the SET but- ton, the channel will continue to play but will not be stored into pushbutton memory. You may add a second channel to each pushbutton by repeating the above procedure with this exception: Press the SET button twice and SET 2 will show in the display window. Each button can be set for SET 1 and SET 2. This allows a total of 12 Satellite channels to be stored into pushbutton memory. The channels stored in SET 2 memory can be selected by pressing the pushbutton twice. Every time a preset button is used, a corresponding button number will display. Buttons 1 - 6 These buttons tune the radio to the channels that you commit to pushbutton memory (12 Satellite stations). Operating Instructions — Hands-Free Phone (If Equipped) Refer to “Hands-Free Communication (UConnect威)” in Section 3. Operating Instructions — Video Entertainment System (VES)™ (If Equipped) Refer to separate “Video Entertainment System (VES)™ Guide.” VIDEO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM™ (SALES CODE XRV) — IF EQUIPPED The optional VES™ (Video Entertainment System) con- sists of a DVD player and LCD (liquid crystal display) screen, a battery-powered remote control, and two head- sets. Refer to your VES™ User’s Manual for detailed operating instructions. UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 245 The LCD screen is located on the headliner behind the front seats. Press the release button and lower the screen. Overhead Display Screen 246 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL VES™ Remote Control Location Remote Sound System Controls REMOTE SOUND SYSTEM CONTROLS — IF EQUIPPED The remote sound system controls are located on the rear surface of the steering wheel. Reach behind the wheel to access the switches. The right-hand control is a rocker type switch with a pushbutton in the center. Pressing the top of the switch will increase the volume and pressing the bottom of the switch will decrease the volume. The button located in the center of the right-hand control will switch modes to Radio or CD. The left-hand control is a rocker type switch with a pushbutton in the center. The function of the left-hand control is different depending on which mode you are in. Radio Operation Press the top of the switch to SEEK up for the next listenable station. Press the bottom of the switch to SEEK down for the next listenable station. The button located in the center of the left-hand control will tune to the next preset station that you have pro- grammed in the radio preset pushbuttons. CD Player Press the top of the switch once to go to the next track on the CD. Press the bottom of the switch once to go to the beginning of the current track or to the beginning of the previous track, if it is within one second after the current track begins to play. UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 247 If you press the switch up or down twice it plays the second track, three times, it will play the third, etc. The button in the center of the left-hand switch changes CDs on the 6–Disc in-dash CD changer radio. This button does not function for all other radios. CD/DVD MAINTENANCE To keep a CD/DVD in good condition, take the following precautions: 1. Handle the disc by its edge; avoid touching the surface. 2. If the disc is stained, clean the surface with a soft cloth, wiping from center to edge. 3. Do not apply paper or tape to the disc; avoid scratch- ing the disc. 4. Do not use solvents such as benzene, thinner, cleaners, or antistatic sprays. 248 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 5. Store the disc in its case after playing. 6. Do not expose the disc to direct sunlight. 7. Do not store the disc where temperatures may become too high. If you experience difficulty in playing a particu- NOTE: lar disc, it may be damaged (i.e. scratched, reflective coating removed, a hair, moisture or dew on the disc) oversized, or have theft protection encoding. Try a known good disc before considering disc player service. CLIMATE CONTROLS Manual Air Conditioning and Heating System The controls for the heating/air conditioning and venti- lation system in this vehicle consist of a series of rotary knobs. These comfort controls can be set to obtain desired interior conditions. The instrument panel features four airflow registers. Two registers are located on the outer ends of the instrument panel and two are located in the center of the instrument panel. These registers can be fully closed to partially block airflow, and they can be adjusted to direct airflow where you desire. Blower Control control Use this to regulate the amount of air forced through the sys- tem in any mode you select. The fan speed increases as you turn the outer control ring to the right from the OFF position. NOTE: For vehicles equipped with Remote Start, the climate controls will not function during Remote Start operation if the blower control is left in the “O” (Off) position. UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 249 Temperature Control Use this control to regulate the tem- perature of the air inside the passenger compartment. The blue area of the scale indicates cooler temperatures while the red area indicates warmer temperatures. If your air conditioning performance seems NOTE: lower than expected, check the front of the A/C con- denser located in front of the radiator, for an accumula- tion of dirt or insects. Clean with a gentle water spray from behind the radiator and through the condenser. Fabric front fascia protectors may reduce air flow to the condenser, reducing air conditioning performance. 250 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL Mode Control The mode control allows you to choose from several patterns of air distribution. You can select either a primary mode, as identified by the symbols, or a blend of two of these modes. The closer the control is to a particular mode, the more air distribu- tion you receive from that mode. Panel Air is directed through the four outlets in the instru- ment panel. These outlets can be adjusted to direct air flow. Bi-Level Air is directed through the panel and floor outlets. NOTE: There is a difference in temperature between the upper and lower outlets for added comfort. The warmer air goes to the floor outlets. This feature gives improved comfort during sunny but cool conditions. Floor Air is directed through the floor outlets and side window demist outlets with a small amount through the defrost outlet. Mix Air is directed through the floor, defrost and side window demist outlets. This setting works best in cold or snowy conditions that require extra heat at the windshield. This setting is good for maintaining comfort while reducing moisture on the windshield. Defrost Air is directed through the windshield and side window demist outlets. Use this mode with maxi- mum fan and temperature (Hot) settings for best wind- shield and side window defrosting. NOTE: The air conditioning compressor operates in both MIX and DEFROST or a blend of these modes even if the fan switch is not in the A/C position. This dehu- midifies the air to help dry the windshield. To improve fuel economy, use these modes only when necessary. Recirculation Control Press the mode control knob to activate the recirculation mode. A lamp in the knob will illuminate when you are in recirculate mode. Press the knob again to deactivate the system. Only use the recirculation mode to temporarily block out any outside odors, smoke, or dust and to cool the interior rapidly upon initial start up in very hot or humid weather. NOTE: Continuous use of the recirculation mode may make the inside air stuffy and window fogging may occur. Extended use of this mode is not recommended. UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 251 In cold or damp weather, the use of the recirculation mode will cause windows to fog on the inside because of moisture build up inside the vehicle. For maximum defogging, select the Outside Air position. NOTE: Recirculation mode will not operate in FLOOR, MIX or DEFROST modes. Air Conditioning Operation Press the temperature control knob to activate the air conditioning mode. A lamp will illuminate when the air conditioning system is engaged. Press the knob again to deactivate the system. NOTE: The air conditioning compressor will not engage until the engine has been running for about 10 seconds. 252 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL Operating Tips Window Fogging Windows will fog on the inside when the humidity inside the vehicle is high. This often occurs in mild or cool temperatures when it’s rainy or humid. In most cases, turning on the air conditioning (pressing the “Snow- flake” button) will clear the fog. Adjust the temperature control, air direction, and blower speed to maintain comfort. As the temperature gets colder, it may be necessary to direct air onto the windshield. Adjust the temperature control and blower speed to maintain comfort. Higher blower speeds will reduce fogging. Interior fogging on the windshield can be quickly removed by selecting the DEFROST mode. Regular cleaning of the inside of the windows with a non-filming cleaning solution (vinegar and water works very well) will help prevent contaminants (cigarette smoke, perfumes, etc.) from sticking to the windows. Contaminants increase the rate of window fogging. Summer Operation Air conditioned vehicles must be protected with a high quality antifreeze coolant during summer to provide proper corrosion protection and to raise the boiling point of the coolant for protection against overheating. A 50% concentration is recommended. Refer to Fluids and Genuine Parts in Section 7 for the proper coolant type. When using the air conditioner in extremely heavy traffic in hot weather especially when towing a trailer, addi- tional engine cooling may be required. If this situation is encountered, operate the transmission in a lower gear to increase engine RPM, coolant flow and fan speed. When stopped in heavy traffic, it may be necessary to shift into NEUTRAL and depress the accelerator slightly for fast idle operation to increase coolant flow and fan speed. Your air conditioning system is also equipped with an automatic recirculation system. When the system senses a heavy load or high heat conditions, it may use partial recirculation A/C mode to provide additional comfort. Winter Operation When operating the system during the winter months, make sure the air intake, located directly in front of the windshield, snow, or other obstructions. free of slush, ice, is UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 253 Vacation Storage Any time 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 setting. This will ensure adequate system lubrication to minimize the possibility of compressor damage when the system is started again. STARTING AND OPERATING CONTENTS 䡵 Starting Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259 ▫ Normal Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259 ▫ Extreme Cold Weather (Below –20°F Or –29°C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259 ▫ If Engine Fails To Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260 ▫ After Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262 䡵 Engine Block Heater — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . 262 䡵 Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262 ▫ Brake/Transmission Interlock System . . . . . . 263 ▫ Brake/Transmission Interlock Manual Override . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264 ▫ 4–Speed Automatic Transmission (3.7L Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265 ▫ 5–Speed Automatic Transmission (4.0L Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270 ▫ Gear Ranges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271 䡵 Four-Wheel Drive Operation — If Equipped . . . 275 ▫ MP 143 Single-Speed Part-Time Transfer Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275 256 STARTING AND OPERATING ▫ Shifting Procedure - Electronically Shifted Transfer Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276 䡵 On-Road Driving Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277 䡵 Off-Road Driving Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278 ▫ When To Use 4L Or 4LO (Low) Range . . . . . . 278 ▫ Driving Through Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278 ▫ Driving In Snow, Mud And Sand . . . . . . . . . 279 ▫ Hill Climbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280 ▫ Traction Downhill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281 ▫ After Driving Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281 䡵 Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282 ▫ Power Steering Fluid Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283 䡵 Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284 䡵 Anti-Lock Brake System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285 䡵 Electronic Brake Control System . . . . . . . . . . . 288 ▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . 288 ▫ Traction Control System (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . 289 ▫ Brake Assist System (BAS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290 ▫ Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) . . . . . . . . . . 291 ▫ Electronic Stability Program (ESP) . . . . . . . . . 292 ▫ ESP/BAS Warning Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295 䡵 Tire Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296 ▫ Tire Markings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296 ▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) . . . . . . . . . . 300 ▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . 301 䡵 Tires — General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305 ▫ Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305 ▫ Tire Inflation Pressures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306 ▫ Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation . . . . 308 ▫ Radial-Ply Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308 ▫ Compact Spare Tire — If Equipped . . . . . . . . 308 ▫ Limited-Use Spare — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . 309 ▫ Tire Spinning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310 ▫ Tread Wear Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311 ▫ Life Of Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311 ▫ Replacement Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312 䡵 Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314 䡵 Tire Rotation Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . 315 STARTING AND OPERATING 257 䡵 Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) . . . . . . . 316 ▫ Base System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319 ▫ Premium System — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . 321 ▫ General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326 䡵 Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326 ▫ 3.7L Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326 ▫ 4.0L Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327 ▫ Reformulated Gasoline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327 ▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328 ▫ E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles . . . . . . 328 ▫ MMT In Gasoline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329 ▫ Materials Added To Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329 ▫ Fuel System Cautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330 258 STARTING AND OPERATING 䡵 Adding Fuel ▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331 ▫ Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331 ▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message . . . . . . . . . . . 333 䡵 Vehicle Loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334 ▫ Certification Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334 䡵 Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336 ▫ Common Towing Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . 336 ▫ Trailer Hitch Classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341 ▫ Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer Weight Ratings) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342 ▫ Trailer And Tongue Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344 ▫ Towing Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345 ▫ Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350 䡵 Recreational Towing (Behind Motorhome, Etc.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351 ▫ Towing — 2WD Models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351 ▫ Towing — 4WD Or All-Wheel Drive Models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352 STARTING PROCEDURES Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust both inside and outside mirrors, and fasten your seat belts. WARNING! Do not leave children or animals inside parked vehicles in hot weather. Interior heat build up may cause serious injury or death. Start the engine with the shift lever in the NEUTRAL or PARK position. Apply the brake before shifting to any driving range. Normal Starting NOTE: Normal starting of either a cold or a warm engine is obtained without pumping or depressing the accelerator pedal. STARTING AND OPERATING 259 Turn the ignition switch to the START position and release when the engine starts. If the engine fails to start within 10 seconds, turn the ignition switch to the LOCK position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the normal starting procedure. Tip Start Feature Turn the ignition switch to START position and release it as soon as the starter engages. The starter motor will continue to run, but will automatically disengage itself when the engine is running. If the engine fails to start, the starter will disengage automatically in 10 seconds. If this occurs, turn the ignition switch to the LOCK position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the normal starting procedure. Extreme Cold Weather (below –20°F or –29°C) To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of an externally powered electric engine block heater (avail- able from your authorized dealer) is recommended. 260 STARTING AND OPERATING If Engine Fails to Start WARNING! • Never pour fuel or other flammable liquids into the throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to start the vehicle. This could result in a flash fire causing serious personal injury. (Continued) WARNING! (Continued) • 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 catalytic converter and once the engine has started, ignite and damage the converter and vehicle. If the vehicle has a dis- charged 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 dan- gerous if done improperly. Refer to Section 6 of this manual for proper jump starting procedures and follow them carefully. 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. If the engine has been flooded, it may start to run, but not have enough power to continue running when the key is released. If this occurs, continue cranking with the accel- erator pedal pushed all the way to the floor. Release the accelerator pedal and the key once the engine is running smoothly. If the engine shows no sign of starting after two 15 sec- ond periods of cranking with the accelerator pedal held to the floor, repeat the “Normal Starting” or “Extreme Cold Weather” procedures. STARTING AND OPERATING 261 With Tip Start If the engine fails to start after you have followed the “Normal Starting” or “Extreme Cold Weather” proce- dures, it may be flooded. To clear any excess fuel, push the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and hold it. Then, turn the ignition switch to the START position and release it as soon as the starter engages. The starter motor will disengage automatically in 10 seconds. Once this occurs, release the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition switch to the LOCK position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the normal starting procedure. CAUTION! To prevent damage to the starter, wait 10 to 15 sec- onds before trying again. 262 STARTING AND OPERATING After Starting The idle speed will automatically decrease as the engine warms up. WARNING! Do not leave children or animals inside parked vehicles in hot weather. Interior heat buildup may cause serious injury or death. ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED The engine block heater warms the engine, and permits quicker starts in cold weather. Connect the cord to a standard 110-115 Volt AC electrical outlet with a grounded three-wire extension cord. • The engine block heater cord is found under the hood clipped to the heater line on the left side of the engine. WARNING! Remember to disconnect the cord before driving. Damage to the 110-115 Volt AC electrical cord could cause electrocution. Use the heater when temperatures below 0 °F (-18 °C) are expected to last for several days. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CAUTION! Damage to the transmission may occur if the follow- ing precautions are not observed: • Shift into PARK only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop. (Continued) CAUTION! (Continued) • Shift into or out of REVERSE only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop and the engine is at idle speed. • Do not shift from REVERSE, PARK, or NEUTRAL into any forward gear when the engine is above idle speed. • Before shifting into any gear, make sure your foot is firmly on the brake pedal. STARTING AND OPERATING 263 WARNING! It is dangerous to move the shift lever out of PARK or NEUTRAL if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on 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 when your foot is firmly on the brake pedal. Brake/Transmission Interlock System This system prevents you from moving the shift lever out of PARK and into any gear unless the brake pedal is pressed. Always depress the brake pedal first, before moving the shift lever out of PARK. 264 STARTING AND OPERATING Brake/Transmission Interlock Manual Override Your vehicle may be equipped with a shift lock manual override. The manual override may be used in the event that the shift lever should fail to move from PARK with the key in the ON position and the brake pedal de- pressed. To operate the shift lock manual override, per- form the following steps: 1. Turn the key to the ON position but do not start the engine. 2. Firmly set the parking brake. 3. Using a flat blade screwdriver, carefully remove the shift lock manual override cover which is located on the PRNDL bezel. 4. Depress and maintain firm pressure on the brake pedal. 5. Using the screwdriver, reach into the manual override opening. Press and hold the shift lock lever down. Interlock Manual Override 6. Move the shift lever into the NEUTRAL position. 7. The vehicle may then be started in NEUTRAL. Have your vehicle inspected by your local authorized dealer if the shift lock manual override has been used. 4–Speed Automatic Transmission (3.7L Engine) NOTE: Under extreme cold temperatures (-6°F (-21°C) and when in DRIVE, transmission operation may be briefly limited to only 2nd gear operation. Normal op- eration will resume once the transmission temperature has risen to a suitable level. Shifting from DRIVE to PARK or REVERSE should be done only after the accelerator pedal is released and the vehicle is stopped. Be sure to keep your foot on the brake when moving the shift lever between these gears. STARTING AND OPERATING 265 Shift Lever Gear Ranges DO NOT race the engine when shifting from PARK or NEUTRAL position into another gear range. 266 STARTING AND OPERATING PARK This gear position supplements the parking brake by locking the transmission. The engine can be started in this range. Never use PARK while the vehicle is in motion. Apply the parking brake when leaving the vehicle in this range. Always apply the parking brake first, then place the shift lever in the PARK position. 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. (Continued) WARNING! (Continued) • It is dangerous to move the shift lever out of PARK or NEUTRAL if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on 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 when your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal. REVERSE Use this range only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop. NEUTRAL Move the shift lever into this gear only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop. Always depress and main- tain firm pressure on the brake pedal while in this range. Apply the parking brake when leaving the vehicle in this range for extended periods of time. The engine may be started in this range. NOTE: Towing the vehicle, coasting, or driving for any other reason with shift lever in NEUTRAL can result in severe transmission damage. Refer to “Recreational Tow- ing” in Section 5 and “Towing a Disabled Vehicle” in Section 6 of this manual. DRIVE For most city and highway driving. 2 (Second) For moderate grades and to assist braking on dry pavement or in mud and snow. Begins at a stop in low gear with automatic upshift to 2nd gear. Will not shift to 3rd gear. STARTING AND OPERATING 267 1 (First) For hard pulling at low speeds in mud, sand, snow, or on steep grades. Begins and stays in low gear with no upshift. Provides engine compression braking at low speeds. Overdrive Operation The overdrive automatic transmission contains an elec- tronically controlled 4th speed (OVERDRIVE). The trans- mission will automatically shift from 3rd gear to OVER- DRIVE if the following conditions are present: • the shift lever is in DRIVE • the engine coolant has reached normal operating tem- • vehicle speed is above approximately 30 mph • the TOW/HAUL button has not been activated • the transmission has reached normal operating (48 km/h) perature temperature 268 STARTING AND OPERATING If the vehicle is started in extremely cold tem- NOTE: peratures, the transmission may not shift into OVER- DRIVE and will automatically select the most desirable gear for operation at this temperature. Normal operation will resume when the transmission fluid temperature has risen to a suitable level. Refer also to the note under torque converter clutch, later in this section. If the transmission temperature gets extremely hot, the transmission will automatically select the most desirable gear for operation at this temperature. If the transmission temperature becomes hot enough, the “Transmission Temperature Warning Light” may illuminate and the transmission may downshift out of OVERDRIVE until the transmission cools down. After the transmission cools down, the transmission will resume normal operation. The transmission will downshift from OVERDRIVE to DRIVE if the accelerator pedal is fully depressed at vehicle speeds above approximately 35 mph (56 km/h). When To Use TOW/HAUL Mode When driving in hilly areas, towing a trailer, carrying a heavy load, etc., and frequent transmission shifting oc- curs, press the TOW/HAUL button. This will improve performance and reduce the potential for transmission overheating or failure due to excessive shifting. When operating in TOW/HAUL mode, the transmission will shift to 3rd gear. NOTE: TOW/HAUL mode locks out Overdrive. Tow/Haul Button The “TOW/HAUL Indicator Light” will illuminate in the instrument cluster to indicate when the switch has been activated. Pressing the switch a second time restores normal operation. If the TOW/HAUL mode is desired, the switch must be pressed each time the engine is started. STARTING AND OPERATING 269 Transmission Limp Home Mode Transmission function is monitored for abnormal condi- tions. If a condition is detected that could result in transmission damage, the Transmission Limp Home Mode will be engaged. In this mode, the transmission will remain in 2nd gear in any forward driving range. To reset the transmission, use the following procedure: 1. Stop the vehicle. 2. Move the shift lever to the PARK position. 3. Turn OFF the engine and be sure to turn the key to the LOCK position. 4. Wait approximately 10 seconds, then restart the en- gine. 5. Move the shift lever to the desired gear range. 270 STARTING AND OPERATING If the problem is no longer detected, the transmission will return to normal operation. If the problem persists, PARK, REVERSE, and NEUTRAL will continue to oper- ate. Only 2nd gear range will operate in the DRIVE position. Have the transmission checked at your autho- rized dealer as soon as possible. Torque Converter Clutch A feature designed to improve fuel economy has been added to the automatic transmission of this vehicle. A clutch within the torque converter engages automatically at calibrated speeds. This may result in a slightly differ- ent feeling or response during normal operation in high gear. When the vehicle speed drops or during accelera- tion, the clutch automatically and smoothly disengages. 5–Speed Automatic Transmission (4.0L Engine) The electronically controlled transmission provides a precise shift schedule. 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. Shift Lever Gear Ranges 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. If there is a need to restart the engine, be sure to cycle the key to the LOCK position before restarting. Transmission gear engagement may be delayed after restarting the engine if the key is not cycled to the LOCK position first. PARK This gear position supplements the parking brake by locking the transmission. The engine can be started in this range. Never use PARK while the vehicle is in motion. Apply the parking brake when leaving the vehicle in this range. Always apply the parking brake first, then place the shift lever in the PARK position. STARTING AND OPERATING 271 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. • It is dangerous to shift the selector lever out of PARK or NEUTRAL if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on 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 when your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal. REVERSE Use this range only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop. 272 STARTING AND OPERATING NEUTRAL Shift into NEUTRAL when the vehicle is standing for prolonged periods with the engine running. The engine may be started in this range. Set the parking brake if you must leave the vehicle. NOTE: Towing the vehicle, coasting, or driving for any other reason with the shift lever in NEUTRAL can result in severe transmission damage. Refer to “Recreational Towing” in Section 5 and “Towing a Disabled Vehicle” in Section 6 of this manual. DRIVE The transmission automatically upshifts through 5th gear. The DRIVE position provides optimum driving characteristics under all normal operating conditions. Electronic Range Select (ERS)Operation The Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift control allows you to move the shift lever left (-) or right (+) when the shift lever is in the DRIVE position, allowing the selection of the desired top gear. For example, if the driver shifts the transmission into 3rd gear, the transmission will never shift above 3rd gear, but can shift down to 2nd gear or 1st gear, when needed. WARNING! Do not downshift for additional engine braking on a slippery surface. The drive wheels could lose their grip and the vehicle could skid. 1-5 1-3 1-2 1-4 Screen Display Actual Gear(s) Al- lowed NOTE: To select the proper gear position for maximum deceleration (engine braking), move the shift lever to the left “D (-)” and hold it there. The transmission will shift to the range from which the vehicle can best be slowed down. Overdrive Operation The overdrive automatic transmission contains an elec- tronically controlled 5th gear (OVERDRIVE). The trans- mission will automatically shift from 4th gear to OVER- DRIVE if the following conditions are present: • the transmission selector is in DRIVE • the engine coolant has reached normal operating tem- • the vehicle speed is above approximately 30 mph • the transmission has reached normal operating (48 km/h) perature temperature If the vehicle is started in extremely cold tem- NOTE: peratures, the transmission may not shift into OVER- DRIVE and will automatically select the most desirable gear for operation at this temperature. Normal operation will resume when the transmission fluid temperature has STARTING AND OPERATING 273 risen to a suitable level. Refer also to the note under torque converter clutch later in this section. During cold temperature operation, you may notice delayed upshifts depending on engine and transmission temperature. This feature improves the warm up time of the engine and transmission. During cold temperature operation, the transmission may not downshift from 2nd gear to 1st gear after the initial 1st to 2nd gear upshift. Transmission Limp Home Mode Transmission function is monitored for abnormal condi- tions. If a condition is detected that could result in transmission damage, the Transmission Limp Home Mode will be engaged. In this mode, the transmission will remain in the current gear until the vehicle is brought to a stop. 274 STARTING AND OPERATING To reset the transmission, use the following procedure: 1. Stop the vehicle. 2. Move the shift lever to the PARK position. 3. Turn OFF the engine and be sure to turn the key to the LOCK position. 4. Wait approximately 10 seconds, then restart the en- gine. 5. Move the shift lever to the desired gear range. If the problem is no longer detected, the transmission will return to normal operation. If the problem persists, PARK, REVERSE, and NEUTRAL will continue to oper- ate. Only 2nd gear range will operate in the DRIVE position. Have the transmission checked at your autho- rized dealer as soon as possible. Torque Converter Clutch A feature designed to improve fuel economy has been included in the automatic transmission on your vehicle. A clutch within the torque converter engages automati- cally at a calibrated speed at light throttle. It engages at higher speeds under heavier acceleration. This may re- sult in a slightly different feeling or response during normal operation in high gear. When the vehicle speed drops below a calibrated speed, or during acceleration, the clutch automatically and smoothly disengages. The feature is operational in OVERDRIVE and in DRIVE. NOTE: • The torque converter clutch will not engage until the transmission fluid and engine coolant are warm (usu- ally after 1 to 3 miles (1.6 - 4.8 km) of driving). Because the engine speed is higher when the torque converter clutch is not engaged, it may seem as if the transmis- sion is not shifting into OVERDRIVE when cold. This is normal. • If the vehicle has not been driven in several days, the first few seconds of operation after shifting the trans- mission into gear may seem sluggish. This is due to the fluid partially draining from the torque converter into the transmission. This condition is normal and will not cause damage to the transmission. The torque con- verter will refill within five seconds of shifting from PARK into any other gear position. FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE OPERATION — IF EQUIPPED MP 143 Single-Speed Part-Time Transfer Case Operating Information/Precautions This is an electric shift transfer case and is operated by the 4WD Control Switch (Transfer Case Switch), which is located on the center console. STARTING AND OPERATING 275 This electronically shifted transfer case provides two mode positions: 2 (rear) wheel drive high range (2WD) and 4–wheel drive high range (4WD LOCK). Transfer Case Switch The electronically shifted transfer case is designed to be driven in the 2–wheel drive position (2WD) for normal street and highway conditions (dry hard surfaced roads). 276 STARTING AND OPERATING When additional traction is required, the transfer case 4WD LOCK position can be used to lock the front and rear driveshafts together and force the front and rear wheels to rotate at the same speed. This is accomplished by rotating the 4WD Control Switch to the desired position. Refer to “Shifting Procedure” for specific shift- ing instructions. The 4WD LOCK position is designed for loose, slippery road surfaces only. Driving in the 4WD LOCK position on dry hard surfaced roads may cause increased tire wear and damage to the driveline compo- nents. NOTE: Do not attempt to make a shift while only the front or rear wheels are spinning. Shifting while only the front or rear wheels are spinning can cause damage to the transfer case. Proper operation of 4–wheel drive vehicles depends on tires of equal size, type and circumference on each wheel. Any difference in tire size can cause damage to the transfer case. Since 4–wheel drive provides improved traction, there is a tendency to exceed safe turning and stopping speeds. Do not go faster than road conditions permit. Shifting Procedure - Electronically Shifted Transfer Case If any of the requirements to select a new NOTE: transfer case position have not been met, the transfer case will not shift. The “4WD” Indicator Light (located in the display under the tachometer) will flash until all the requirements for the selected position have been met. To retry a shift, return the control knob back to the original position, make certain all shift requirements have been met, wait five seconds and try the shift again. 2WD⇔ 4WD LOCK Rotate the 4WD Control Switch to the desired position. Shifts between 2WD and 4WD LOCK can be done with the vehicle stopped or in motion. With the vehicle in motion, the transfer case will engage/disengage faster if you momentarily release the accelerator pedal after turn- ing the control switch. If the vehicle is stopped, the ignition key must be in the ON position with the engine either RUNNING or OFF. This shift cannot be completed if the key is in the ACC position. NOTE: • The 4–wheel drive system will not allow shifts be- tween 2WD/4WD LOCK if the front and/or rear wheels are spinning (no traction). In this situation, the “4WD” Indicator Light (located in the display under the tachometer) will flash. At this time, reduce speed and stop spinning the wheels to complete the shift. STARTING AND OPERATING 277 • Delayed shifting out of 4WD LOCK may be experi- enced due to uneven tire wear, low tire pressure, or excessive loading. ON-ROAD DRIVING TIPS Utility vehicles have higher ground clearance and a narrower track to make them capable of performing in a wide variety of off-road applications. Specific design characteristics give them a higher center of gravity than ordinary cars. An advantage of the higher ground clearance is a better view of the road, allowing you to anticipate problems. They are not designed for cornering at the same speeds as conventional two-wheel drive vehicles any more than low-slung sports cars are designed to perform satisfacto- rily in off-road conditions. If at all possible, avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers. As with other vehicles of this type, failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or vehicle rollover. 278 STARTING AND OPERATING OFF-ROAD DRIVING TIPS When To Use 4L or 4LO (Low) Range When off-road driving, shift to 4L or 4LO for additional traction and control on slippery or difficult terrain, ascending or descending steep hills, and to increase low-speed pulling power. This range should be limited to extreme situations such as deep snow, mud, or sand where additional low speed pulling power is needed. Vehicle speeds in excess of 25 mph (40 km/h) should be avoided when in 4L or 4LO range. Driving Through Water Although your vehicle is capable of driving through water, there are a number of precautions that must be considered before entering the water: CAUTION! When driving through water, do not exceed 5 mph (8 km/h). Always check water depth before entering as a precaution, and check all fluids afterward. Driv- ing through water may cause damage that may not be covered by the new vehicle limited warranty. Driving through water more than a few inches/ centimeters deep will require extra caution to ensure safety and prevent damage to your vehicle. If you must drive through water, try to determine 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 minimize wave effects. Flowing Water If the water is swift flowing and rising (as in storm run-off) 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 nine inches. 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 Avoid driving in standing water deeper than 20 in (50 cm) and reduce speed appropriately to minimize wave effects. Maximum speed in 20 in (50 cm) of water is less than 5 mph (8 km/h). Maintenance After driving through deep water, inspect your vehicle fluids and lubricants (engine, transmission, axle, transfer STARTING AND OPERATING 279 case) to assure they have not been contaminated. Con- taminated fluids and lubricants (milky, foamy in appear- ance) 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 transfer case to 4L or 4LO if necessary. Refer to “Four-Wheel Drive Operation” in this section. Do not shift to a lower gear than necessary to maintain headway. Over-revving the engine can spin the wheels and traction will be lost. Avoid abrupt downshifts on icy or slippery roads, be- cause engine braking may cause skidding and loss of control. 280 STARTING AND OPERATING Hill Climbing NOTE: Before attempting to climb a hill, determine the conditions at the crest and/or on the other side. Before climbing a steep hill, shift the transmission to a lower gear and shift the transfer case to 4L or 4LO. Use first gear and 4L or 4LO 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. 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. Remember, never drive diagonally across a hill; always drive straight up or down. If the wheels start to slip as you approach the crest of a hill, 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 transfer case to 4L or 4LO range. Let the vehicle go slowly down the hill with all four wheels turning against engine compression drag. This will permit you to control the vehicle speed and direction. When descending mountains or hills, repeated braking can cause brake fade with loss of braking control. Avoid repeated heavy braking by downshifting the transmis- sion whenever possible. After Driving Off-Road Off-road operation puts more stress on your vehicle than most on-road driving. After going off-road, it is always a good idea to check for damage. That way you can get any problems taken care of right away and have your vehicle ready when you need it. STARTING AND OPERATING 281 • Completely inspect the underbody of your vehicle. Check tires, body structure, steering, suspension, and exhaust system for damage. • Check threaded fasteners for looseness, particularly on the chassis, drivetrain components, steering, and sus- pension. 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 lines, brake hoses, axle pinion seals, and to fuel propeller shafts. • After extended operation in mud, sand, water, or similar dirty conditions, have brake rotors, wheels, brake linings, and axle yokes inspected and cleaned as soon as possible. 282 STARTING AND OPERATING WARNING! Abrasive material in any part of the brakes may cause excessive wear or unpredictable braking. You might not have full braking power when you need it to prevent an accident. If you have been operating your vehicle in dirty conditions, get your brakes checked and cleaned as necessary. • If you experience unusual vibration after driving in mud, slush, or similar conditions, check the wheels for impacted material. Impacted material can cause a wheel imbalance and freeing the wheels of it will correct the situation. POWER STEERING The standard power steering system will give you good vehicle response and increased ease of maneuverability in tight spaces. The system will provide mechanical steering capability if power assist is lost. If for some reason the power assist is interrupted, it will still be possible to steer your vehicle. Under these condi- tions, you will observe a substantial increase in steering effort, especially at very low vehicle speeds and during parking maneuvers. Increased noise levels at the end of the steering NOTE: wheel travel are considered normal and do not indicate that there is a problem with the power steering system. Upon initial start-up in cold weather, the power steering pump may make noise for a short amount of time. This is due to the cold, thick fluid in the steering system. This noise should be considered normal, and it does not in any way damage the steering system. WARNING! Continued operation with reduced power steering assist could pose a safety risk to yourself and others. Service should be obtained as soon as possible. CAUTION! Prolonged operation of the steering system at the end of the steering wheel travel will increase the steering fluid temperature and it should be avoided when possible. Damage to the power steering pump may occur. Power Steering Fluid Check Checking the power steering fluid level at a defined service interval is not required. The fluid should only be checked if a leak is suspected, abnormal noises are STARTING AND OPERATING 283 apparent, and/or the system is not functioning as antici- pated. Coordinate inspection efforts through an autho- rized dealer. No chemical flushes should be used in any power steering system; only the approved lubricant may be used. WARNING! Fluid level should be checked on a level surface and with the engine off to prevent injury from moving parts and to ensure accurate fluid level reading. Do not overfill. Use only manufacturer’s recommended power steering fluid. If necessary, add fluid to restore to the proper indicated level. With a clean cloth, wipe any spilled fluid from all surfaces. Refer to “Fluids, Lubricants, and Genuine Parts” in Section 7 for the correct fluid type. 284 STARTING AND OPERATING PARKING BRAKE To set the parking brake, pull the lever up as firmly as possible. When the parking brake is applied with the ignition ON, the “Brake Warning Light” in the instru- ment cluster will light. To release the parking brake, pull up slightly, press the center button, then lower the lever completely. NOTE: The instrument cluster “Brake Warning Light” indicates only that the parking brake is applied. You must be sure the parking brake is fully applied before leaving the vehicle. Parking Brake Be sure the parking brake is firmly set when parked, and the shift lever is in the PARK position. When parking on a hill, you should apply the parking brake before placing the shift lever in PARK. Otherwise, the load on the transmission locking mechanism may make it difficult to move the shift lever out of PARK. WARNING! • Always apply the parking brake fully when leav- ing your vehicle or it may roll and cause damage or injury. Also, be certain to leave the transmission in the PARK position. Failure to do so may allow the vehicle to roll and cause damage or injury. • Leaving unattended children in a vehicle is dan- gerous for a number of reasons. A child or others could be injured. Do not leave the keys in the ignition. 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 problems due to excessive heating of the rear brakes. STARTING AND OPERATING 285 When parking on a hill, turn the front wheels toward the curb on a downhill grade and away from the curb on an uphill grade. The parking brake should always be applied whenever the driver is not in the vehicle. ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) is designed to aid the driver in maintaining vehicle control under adverse braking conditions. The system operates with a separate computer to modulate hydraulic pressure, to prevent wheel lock-up and help avoid skidding on slippery surfaces. All vehicle wheels and tires must be the same size and type, and tires must be properly inflated, to produce accurate signals for the computer. 286 STARTING AND OPERATING WARNING! Significant over or under-inflation of tires or mixing sizes of tires or wheels on the vehicle can lead to loss of braking effectiveness. The ABS conducts a low-speed self-test at about 12 mph (20 km/h). If you have your foot lightly on the brake while this test is occurring, you may feel slight pedal movement. The movement can be more apparent on ice and snow. This is normal. The ABS pump motor runs during the self-test at 12 mph (20 km/h) and during an ABS stop. The pump motor makes a low humming noise during operation, which is normal. WARNING! • Pumping of the Anti-Lock Brakes will diminish their effectiveness and may lead to an accident. Pumping makes the stopping distance longer. Just press firmly on your brake pedal when you need to slow down or stop. • The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) cannot prevent the natural laws of physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can it increase braking or steering efficiency beyond that afforded by the condition of the vehicle brakes and tires or the traction afforded. • The ABS cannot prevent accidents, including those resulting from excessive speed in turns, following another vehicle too closely, or hydro- planing. Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can prevent accidents. (Continued) WARNING! (Continued) • The capabilities of an ABS equipped vehicle must never be exploited in a reckless or dangerous manner, which could jeopardize the user’s safety or the safety of others. CAUTION! The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) is subject to possible detrimental effects of electronic interference caused by improperly installed aftermarket radios or telephones. NOTE: During severe braking conditions, a pulsing sensation may occur and a clicking noise will be heard. This is normal, indicating that the ABS is functioning. STARTING AND OPERATING 287 WARNING! To use your brakes and accelerator more safely, follow these tips: • Do not “ride” the brakes by resting your foot on the pedal. This could overheat the brakes and result in longer stopping dis- unpredictable braking action, tances, or brake damage. • When descending mountains or hills, repeated braking can cause brake fade with loss of braking control. Avoid repeated heavy braking by downshifting the transmis- sion or locking out overdrive whenever possible. • Engines may idle at higher speeds during warm-up, which could cause rear wheels to spin and result in loss of vehicle control. Be especially careful while driving on slippery roads, in close-quarter maneuver- ing, parking, or stopping. 288 STARTING AND OPERATING • Do not drive too fast for road conditions, especially when roads are wet or slushy. A wedge of water can build up between the tire tread and the road. This hydroplaning action can cause loss of traction, braking ability, and control. • After going through deep water or a car wash, brakes may become wet, resulting in decreased performance and unpredictable braking action. Dry the brakes by gentle, intermittent pedal action while driving at very slow speeds. ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM Your vehicle is equipped with an advanced electronic brake control system that includes an Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), Traction Control System (TCS), Brake Assist System (BAS), Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) and Electronic Stability Program (ESP). All five systems work together to enhance vehicle stability and control in various driving conditions and are commonly referred to as ESP. Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) This system aids the driver in maintaining vehicle control under adverse braking conditions. The system controls hydraulic brake pressure to prevent wheel lockup and help avoid skidding on slippery surfaces during braking. Refer to “Anti-Lock Brake System” in Section 5 of this manual for more information about ABS. WARNING! Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) cannot prevent the natural laws of physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can it increase the traction afforded by prevailing road conditions. ABS cannot prevent accidents, in- cluding those resulting from excessive speed in turns, driving on very slippery surfaces, or hydro- planing. Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can prevent accidents. The capabilities of an ABS- equipped vehicle must never be exploited in a reck- less or dangerous manner which could jeopardize the user’s safety or the safety of others. STARTING AND OPERATING 289 Traction Control System (TCS) This system monitors the amount of wheel spin of each of the driven wheels. If wheel spin is detected, brake pressure is applied to the slipping wheel(s) and engine power is reduced to provide enhanced acceleration and stability. A feature of the TCS system functions similar to a limited slip differential and controls the wheel spin across a driven axle. If one wheel on a driven axle is

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2009 Dodge Nitro Owners Manual