Driving in snow, mud and sand, Hill climbing – Jeep 2015 Cherokee - Owner Manual User Manual

Page 493

Maintenance
After driving through deep water, inspect your vehicle

fluids and lubricants (engine, transmission, Power Trans-

fer Unit and Rear Drive Module) to assure they have not

been contaminated. Contaminated fluids and lubricants

(milky, foamy in appearance) should be flushed/changed

as soon as possible to prevent component damage.

Driving In Snow, Mud And Sand

In heavy snow, when pulling a load, or for additional

control at slower speeds, shift the transmission to a low

gear and shift the 4WD system to the appropriate terrain

mode, using 4WD LOW if necessary. Refer to “Four-

Wheel Drive Operation” in “Starting And Operating” for

further information. 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.

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 4WD System to 4WD LOW. Use

first gear and 4WD LOW for very steep hills.
If you stall or begin to lose headway

while climbing a

steep hill, allow your vehicle to come to a stop and

immediately apply the brakes. Restart the engine and

shift to REVERSE. Back slowly down the hill allowing the

compression braking of the engine to help regulate your

speed. If the brakes are required to control vehicle speed,

apply them lightly and avoid locking or skidding the

tires.

STARTING AND OPERATING 491