Jeep Liberty: After Driving Off-Road - Off-Road Driving Tips - Starting And Operating - Jeep Liberty Owner's ManualJeep Liberty: After Driving Off-Road

Off-road operation puts more stress on your vehicle than does 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.

• Completely inspect the underbody of your vehicle.

Check tires, body structure, steering, suspension, and exhaust system for damage.

• Inspect the radiator for mud and debris and clean as required.

• Check threaded fasteners for looseness, particularly on the chassis, drivetrain components, steering, and suspension.

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 to fuel lines, brake hoses, axle pinion seals, and propeller shafts.

• After extended operation in mud, sand, water, or similar dirty conditions, have the radiator, fan, brake rotors, wheels, brake linings, and axle yokes inspected and cleaned as soon as possible.

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 a collision. 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.

    Traction Downhill
    Shift the transmission into a low gear and the transfer case to 4WD LOW range. Let the vehicle go slowly down the hill with all four wheels turning against engine compression drag. This will per ...

    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 assi ...

    See also:

    Automatic transmission
    Shiftgate positions Depress the button on the front of the gear selector knob to move the gear selector between the R, N, D, and P positions. The gear selector can be moved freely between th ...

    Cruise Control Messages
    APPLY BRAKE BEFORE CRUISE If this message displays when attempting to activate cruise control, apply the brake pedal and try again. CRUISE SET TO XXX This message displays when the cruise control ...

    Brake Master Cylinder
    The fluid in the master cylinder should be checked when performing under hood services or immediately if the “Brake Warning Light” is illuminated. Be sure to clean the top of the master cylin ...