Jeep Commander (2010 year). Instruction

directed to the front door windows through the side
window demister grilles. Some airflow is delivered to the
floor while in defrost so that comfort can be maintained.

Defrost/Floor

Air flows through the front and rear floor outlets
and the outlets at the base of the windshield. Air is
also directed to the front door windows through the

side window demister grilles. Some airflow is delivered
to the floor while in defrost so that comfort can be
maintained.

Floor

Air flows through the floor outlets located under
the instrument panel and into the rear seating area

through vents under the front seats. Some airflow is
delivered to defrost while in the floor mode so that
comfort can be maintained.

Bi-Level

Air flows both through the outlets located in the
instrument panel and those located on the floor. Air

flows through the registers in the back of the center
console, and under the front seats to the rear seat
passengers. These registers can be closed to partially
block airflow. The center console outlets deliver condi-
tioned air while the floor outlets deliver heated air.

Panel

Air flows through the outlets located in the instru-
ment panel. Air flows through the registers in the

back of the center console to the rear seat passengers.
These registers can be closed to block airflow.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

225

Recirculation

The recirculation feature can be selected with
the mode control knob. You may choose be-
tween Bi-Level Recirculation and Panel Recir-
culation air outlets while in this mode. Nor-

mally, air enters from outside the vehicle. However, when
in Recirculation mode air inside the vehicle is re-used.
Use this mode to rapidly cool the inside of the vehicle.
The Recirculation mode can also be used to temporarily
block out outside odors, smoke, and dust.

Air Conditioning

To turn on the Air Conditioning, set the fan control
at any speed and press the snowflake button
located on the control panel. Conditioned air will

be directed through the outlets selected by the mode
control. A light in the snowflake button shows that the air
conditioning is on.

Slight changes in engine speed or power may be noticed
when the air conditioning compressor is on. This is a
normal occurrence as the compressor will cycle on and
off to maintain comfort and increase fuel economy.

Automatic Temperature Control (ATC) — If
Equipped

The Automatic Temperature Control (ATC) system auto-
matically maintains the interior comfort level desired by
the driver and passenger.

226

UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

NOTE:

The numbers on the temperature dial represent

a comfort setting when the Mode knob is set to AUTO,
and not the actual air temperature.

Turn the mode control (on the right) knob to AUTO, and
place the blower control (on the left) to either LO AUTO
or HI AUTO. The LO AUTO position should be used for
front seat occupants only. The HI AUTO position should
be used when more airflow is desired, or when rear seat
occupants are present. Dial in the comfort setting you
would like the system to maintain by rotating the driver’s
or passenger’s control knob. Once the comfort level is
selected, the system will maintain that level automati-
cally using the heating system. Should the desired com-
fort level require air conditioning, the system will auto-
matically make the adjustment.

Automatic Temperature Controls (ATC)

UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

227

NOTE:

The temperature setting can be adjusted at any

time without affecting automatic control operation. How-
ever, if the driver and/or passenger temperature knobs
are set to the full hot or full cold positions, the air
temperature out of the ducts will be full hot or full cold
respectively. With the temperature setting in these posi-
tions, the system does not attempt automatic comfort
control.

Air Conditioning

The air conditioning in this system is automatic.
Pressing this button while in AUTO mode will
cause the LED to flash three times and remain off.

This indicates that the system is in AUTO and requesting
the air conditioning is not necessary.

Recirculation

The system will automatically control recircu-
lation. However, pressing this button will tem-
porarily put the system in Recirculation mode.
This can be used when outside conditions such

as smoke, odors, dust, or high humidity are present. This
will cause the LED to illuminate.

NOTE:

• The surface of the climate control panel, and the top

center of the instrument panel should be kept free of
debris due to the climate control sensor’s location.
Mud on the windshield may also cause poor operation
of this system.

228

UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

• To provide you with maximum comfort in the auto-

matic mode, during cold start-ups the blower fan will
remain off until the engine warms up. However, the
fan will engage immediately if the defrost mode is
selected or if you manually select a blower speed.

• Under certain conditions (after the vehicle is turned

off) the climate control system may recalibrate and a
noise may be heard for 20 seconds. This is part of
normal operation.

• Most of the time, when in Automatic operation, you

can temporarily put the system into Recirculation
mode by pressing the Recirculation button. However,
under certain conditions in automatic the system is
blowing air out of the defrost vents. When these
conditions are present, and the Recirculation button is
pressed, the indicator will flash and remain off. This
tells you that you are unable to go into Recirculation

mode at this time. If you would like to go to Recircu-
lation mode, you must first move your mode knob to
Panel, Panel/Floor, or Floor, then press the Recircula-
tion button. This feature will reduce the possibility of
window fogging.

Manual Operation
This system offers a full complement of manual override
features which consist of Blower Preferred Automatic,
Mode Preferred Automatic with Manual Air Temperature
Control, and Manual. This means the customer can
override the blower, mode, and disable Automatic Tem-
perature Control completely.

NOTE:

Please read the Automatic Temperature Control

Operation Chart below for details.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

229

NOTE:

Regardless of the type of operation, when a

temperature knob is set to the full clockwise or full
counterclockwise position, the system will deliver full
hot or full cold air out of the ducts, respectively.

The operator can override the AUTO mode setting and
select the direction of the air by rotating the right mode
knob to one of the following positions. When the Mode is
set to any position other than AUTO, the automatic
control of air temperature is disabled. The user must
adjust the temperature knobs to obtain the desired tem-
perature.

Defrost

Air is directed to the windshield through the
outlets at the base of the windshield. Air is also

directed to the front door windows through the side
window demister grilles. Some airflow is delivered to the
floor while in defrost so that comfort can be maintained.

NOTE:

The defrost mode is not automatically selected.

It must be manually selected, when desired.

Defrost/Floor

Air flows through the front and rear floor outlets
and the outlets at the base of the windshield. Air is
also directed to the front door windows through the

side window demister grilles. Some airflow is delivered
to the floor while in defrost so that comfort can be
maintained.

Floor

Air flows through the floor outlets located under
the instrument panel and into the rear seating area

through vents under the front seats. Some airflow is
delivered to defrost while in floor mode, so that comfort
can be maintained.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

231

Bi-Level

Air flows both through the outlets located in the
instrument panel and those located on the floor. Air

flows through the registers in the back of the center
console, and under the front seats to the rear seat
passengers. These registers can be closed to block airflow.
The center console outlets deliver conditioned air while
the floor outlets deliver heated air.

Panel

Air flows through the outlets located in the instru-
ment panel. Air flows through the registers in the

back of the center console to the rear seat passengers.
These registers can be closed to block airflow.

Air Conditioning

Press this button to turn on and off the air condi-
tioning during manual operation only. Condi-
tioned outside air is then directed through the

outlets selected on the mode control dial. The button
includes an LED that illuminates when manual operation
is selected.

NOTE:

To manually control the air conditioning, the

mode selector must be moved out of the AUTO position.

Recirculation

This button can be used to block out smoke,
odors, dust, high humidity, or if rapid cooling
is desired. The Recirculation mode should only
be used temporarily. The button includes an

LED that illuminates, which indicates that the Recircula-
tion mode is active. You may use this feature separately.

NOTE:

Extended use of recirculation may cause the

windows to fog. If the interior of the windows begins to
fog, press the Recirculation button to return to outside
air. Some temperature/humidity conditions will cause
captured interior air to condense on windows and ham-
per visibility. For this reason, the system will not allow

232

UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

Recirculation mode to be selected while in the defrost or
defrost/floor modes. Attempting to use Recirculation
while in these modes will cause the LED in the button to
blink and then turn off.

Rear Climate Control — If Equipped

The Manual Rear Climate Control system has one floor
air outlet (passenger side), and two panel outlets in the
rear quarter trim (on each side). The unit provides warm
or cool air through the floor and upper outlets.

If rear heating/cooling is desired, press the Rear On/Off
Switch (located in the upper switch bank above the
controls) and select Floor, Bi-Level, or Panel from the
Rear Control Panel (right knob located on the right rear
quarter trim panel).

The rear temperature, blower speed, and mode control
can be adjusted as desired by the third row seat occu-
pants.

Rear On/Off Switch

UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

233

NOTE:

The rear climate control system cannot be con-

trolled from the front seat; it can only be turned on and
off. All control of the rear system must be performed by
the rear occupants.

Rear Blower Control
The left knob on the Rear Control Panel has four posi-
tions, “Off”, and a range of three blower speeds. This
allows the third row seat occupants to control the volume
of air circulated in the rear of the vehicle.

CAUTION!

Interior air enters the Manual Rear Zone Climate
Control system through an intake grille located in the
passenger side trim panel behind the third seat. The
heater outlets are located in the passenger side trim
panel just behind the sliding door. Do not block or
place objects directly in front of the inlet grille or
heater outlets. The electrical system could overload
causing damage to the blower motor.

Rear Control Panel

234

UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

Rear Temperature Control
The center knob on the Rear Control Panel allows the
third row seat occupants to have control of the rear
temperature as follows:

• When the temperature knob is in the cold (Blue)

position, cold air will be delivered from the outlets. As
the temperature knob is turned towards the hot (Red)
position, the air will get warmer.

Rear Mode Control

Floor

Air flows through the floor outlet located on the
right side of the rear floor into the rear seating area.

Bi-Level

Air flows through both the outlets located in the
rear quarter trim panels, and the one located on the

floor. The rear quarter trim panel outlets can be closed to
block airflow.

Panel

Air flows through the outlets located in the rear
quarter trim panels. These registers can be closed to

block airflow.

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 snowflake
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.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

235

Regular cleaning of the inside of the windows with a
non-filming cleaning solution (vinegar and water works
very well) will help prevent contaminates (cigarette
smoke, perfumes, etc.) from sticking to the windows.
Contaminates 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, Lubri-
cants, 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,
additional engine cooling may be required. If this situa-
tion 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 press 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, is free of ice, slush, snow, or other
obstructions.

Vacation Storage
Anytime you store your vehicle, or keep it out of service
(i.e. vacation) for two weeks or more, run the air condi-
tioning 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 com-
pressor damage when the system is started again.

236

UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

STARTING AND OPERATING

CONTENTS

䡵 Starting Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243

▫ Normal Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
▫ Extreme Cold Weather (Below ⫺20°F Or

⫺29°C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244

▫ If Engine Fails To Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
▫ After Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245

䡵 Engine Block Heater — If Equipped . . . . . . . . 245
䡵 Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246

▫ Key Ignition Park Interlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246

▫ Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . 247
▫ Brake/Transmission Interlock Manual

Override . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247

▫ Five–Speed Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . 248
▫ Gear Ranges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
▫ Rocking The Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255

䡵 Four-Wheel Drive Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256

▫ Quadra-Trac I威 Operating Instructions/

Precautions — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256

▫ Quadra-Trac II威 Operating Instructions/

Precautions — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256

▫ Shift Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
▫ Shifting Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
▫ Quadra-Drive威 II System — If Equipped . . . . 260

䡵 On-Road Driving Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
䡵 Off-Road Driving Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261

▫ When To Use 4WD Low Range

— If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261

▫ Driving Through Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
▫ Driving In Snow, Mud And Sand . . . . . . . . . 263
▫ Hill Climbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
▫ Traction Downhill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
▫ After Driving Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264

䡵 Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265

▫ Power Steering Fluid Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266

䡵 Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
䡵 Anti-Lock Brake System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
䡵 Multi-Displacement System (MDS) (If

Equipped) – 5.7L Engine Only . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271

䡵 Electronic Brake Control System . . . . . . . . . . . 272

▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . 272
▫ Traction Control System (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . 273
▫ Brake Assist System (BAS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
▫ Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) . . . . . . . . . 274
▫ Electronic Stability Program (ESP) . . . . . . . . 275
▫ Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280

240

STARTING AND OPERATING

Jeep Commander (2010 year). Instruction - part 15