Jeep Cherokee

 Owners Manual

Starting and operating » Electronic brake control systemElectronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD)
Hill Descent Control (HDC) - If Equipped

HDC is intended for low speed off road driving while in 4WD Low Range. HDC maintains vehicle speed while descending hills during various driving situations. HDC controls vehicle speed by actively controlling the brakes.

HDC has three states:

1. Off (feature is not enabled and will not activate).

2. Enabled (feature is enabled and ready but activation conditions are not met, or driver is actively overriding with brake or throttle application).

3. Active (feature is enabled and actively controlling vehicle speed).

Enabling HDC

HDC is enabled by pushing the HDC switch, but the following conditions must also be met to enable HDC:

• Driveline is in 4WD Low Range
• Vehicle speed is below 5mph (8 km/h).
• Parking brake is released
• Driver door is closed.

Activating HDC

Once HDC is enabled it will activate automatically if driven down a grade of sufficient magnitude. The set speed for HDC is selectable by the driver, and can be adjusted by using the gear shift +/-. The following summarizes the HDC set speeds:

HDC Target Set Speeds

• P = No set speed. HDC may be enabled but will not activate
• R = 0.6 mph (1 km/h)
• N = 1.2 mph (2 km/h)
• D = 0.6 mph (1 km/h)
• 1st = 0.6 mph (1 km/h)
• 2nd = 1.2 mph (2 km/h)
• 3rd = 1.8 mph (3 km/h)
• 4th = 2.5 mph (4 km/h)
• 5th = 3.1 mph (5 km/h)
• 6th = 3.7 mph (6 km/h)
• 7th = 4.3 mph (7 km/h)
• 8th = 5.0 mph (8 km/h)
• 9th = 5.6 mph (9 km/h) - If Equipped

NOTE: During HDC the +/- shifter input is used for HDC target speed selection but will not affect the gear chosen by the transmission. When actively controlling HDC the transmission will shift appropriately for the driver-selected set speed and corresponding driving conditions.

Driver Override

The driver may override HDC activation with throttle or brake application at anytime.

Deactivating HDC

HDC will be deactivated but remain available if any of the following conditions occur:

• Driver overrides HDC set speed with throttle or brake application.
• Vehicle speed exceeds 20 mph (32 km/h) but remains below 40 mph (64 km/h).
• Vehicle is on a downhill grade of insufficient magnitude, is on level ground, or is on an uphill grade.
• Vehicle is shifted to park.

Disabling HDC

HDC will be deactivated and disabled if any of the following conditions occur:

• The driver pushes the HDC switch.
• The driveline is shifted out of 4WD Low Range.
• The parking brake is applied.
• Driver door opens.
• The vehicle is driven greater than 20 mph (32 km/h) for greater than 70 seconds.
• The vehicle is driven greater than 40 mph (64 km/h) (HDC exits immediately).
• HDC detects excessive brake temperature.

Feedback To The Driver

The instrument cluster has an HDC icon and the HDC switch has an LED which offer feedback to the driver about the state HDC is in.

• The cluster icon and switch lamp will illuminate and remain on solid when HDC is enabled or activated.

  This is the normal operating condition for HDC.

• The cluster icon and switch lamp will flash for several seconds then extinguish when the driver pushes the HDC switch but enable conditions are not met.
• The cluster icon and switch lamp will flash for several seconds then extinguish when HDC disables due to excess speed.
• The cluster icon and switch lamp will flash when HDC deactivates due to overheated brakes. The flashing will stop and HDC will activate again once the brakes have cooled sufficiently.

WARNING!

HDC is only intended to assist the driver in controlling vehicle speed when descending hills. The driver must remain attentive to the driving conditions and is responsible for maintaining a safe vehicle speed.

Brake System Warning Light

Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)

Anti-Lock Brake Warning Light

Brake Assist System (BAS)

Hill Start Assist (HSA)

Traction Control System (TCS)

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM)

Trailer Sway Control (TSC)

Ready Alert Braking (RAB)

Dynamic Steering Torque (DST)

Hill Descent Control (HDC) - If Equipped

Selec Speed Control (SSC) - If Equipped