alfalfa

I have a 2015 Cherokee Trail hawk. I have had this vehicle several years. I have been off road a few times. So far, I leave the rotating selector **** on the console in "auto" mode and just go. This seems to work nicely.

However, I have some questions. I am not finding the answers in the owner's manual. My hope is someone here who plays around more with this type of a vehicle can help me. I am planning to go west and I would like to know a few things.

1) When I travel along in the "auto" select mode on a normal highway, am I in front wheel drive (FWD) or am I in all wheel drive (AWD)??

2) on the select ****, are the modes "sport, snow, and mud all in "all wheel drive"?? In other words, if I rotate the **** to any of these three, will the vehicle automatically go into all wheel drive (AWD)?

3) also on the select ****, on the right side are a couple of symbols on the two pushbuttons. At least, I "think" they are pushbuttons. One looks like something going downhill. The other one looks flatter. What are these modes??? Do I push the button to activate them?? What do they do?? I have pushed these two buttons in the past with nothing happening.

Hope someone can help,
thanks
alfalfa (AKA: John)

RocketMouse

What you need is to get yourself an old school XJ, 4x4, 4.0L, solid axles...

seriously though... you might have better results for an answer if you post this in the KL section. this is for older XJ's.

cruiser54

I moved the thread to the appropriate place.

John, what's the story behind your username??

travistee

When its in AUTO its front wheel drive until the wheels slip then the rear 4x4 kicks in as needed.
Try it on a dirt road up hill..

The other modes will be in 4X4. Except for SPORT you should not use them on dry roads.

lawsoncl

In auto mode its primarily in 2wd except detecting wheel slip, and also when taking off from a stop or accelerating hard. Snow mode is 4wd with 60% power upfront, and it starts in 2nd gear to minimize the wheel spin. Sand/Mud is 4wd but allows more wheel spin for loose surface. Sport mode is 4wd and much more aggressive power and shifting. Rock is for low speed rock crawling. The buttons that looks like downhill is downhill assist that will control your speed on steep descents. The other similar looking but level button is crawl assist which helps maintains a set speed when in 4-lo, which is nice when off-road on steep or uneven stuff.. If you push them at an inappropriate time, the display will tell you.