[Rangerman]

I tow my 2017 Cherokee behind a Class A motor home. As a point of reference, I have the power steering wiring harness installed. I follow the towing instructions in the owners manual religiously (see below). On two out of the last three trips, my electronic parking brake engaged even though I released the brake in Step #16 . The first time it happened, I didn't realize what was going on until I ruined a set of tires. Now I use a "spotter" to make sure the wheels on the Cherokee are turning freely. But this is driving me crazy.

Here is my process:

A. Attach Jeep to motorhome with tow bar.
B. Plug in light cable from motorhome to jeep
1. Bring vehicle to a complete stop and shift transmission into PARK (but don’t apply the parking brake)
2. Turn the engine OFF
3. Turn the ignition switch to the ON/RUN position, but do not start the engine (can’t have a foot on the brake pedal in this step or it will start)
3a. On the settings screen, make sure the auto parking brake does not have a check mark by it.
4. Press and hold brake pedal (until step 10)
5. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL
6. Using a ballpoint pen or similar object, push and hold the recessed NEUTRAL (N) button (located by the selector switch) for (about) 4 seconds. The light behind the NEUTRAL (N) symbol will blink, indicating the shift in progress. The light will stop blinking (stay on solid) when the shift to NEUTRAL is complete. (again... keep holding until the shift is complete, but if much more than 6 seconds, you may have missed a step in 1-5)
7. After the shift is completed and the NEUTRAL (N) light stays on, release the NEUTRAL (N) button
8. Start the engine
9. Shift the transmission into REVERSE
10. Release the brake pedal for five seconds and ensure that there is no vehicle movement. (assuming you are on level ground, and you need to also make sure you don’t have the parking brake applied)
11. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL
12. Apply the parking brake (very important, as vehicle could roll regardless of gear selection at this point)
13. Shift the transmission into PARK, turn the engine OFF, and remove the key fob
14. Turn the ignition to the ON/RUN position, but do not start the engine (again, keep your foot off the brake to avoid starting the engine when pushing the ignition button)
15. Press and hold the brake pedal
16. Release the parking brake (if your Jeep has push button start, release the brake pedal at this point)
17. Turn the ignition OFF, remove the key fob, and release brake pedal
18. After the dash shuts down (takes about 60 seconds), flip the power steering switch (in the console) to the up position.
19. Get out of Jeep and attach "Brake Buddy" to break pedal.
20. Connect Brake Buddy to 12v power and attach "break away cables to the Brake Buddy"
21. Hit "Test" button on Brake Buddy.
22. Close door of Jeep.

The test process with the Brake Buddy causes the braking device to push the brake pedal of the Jeep. Is it possible that this is what is causing the issue given that it takes place with the door open? I would have thought that making sure the Auto Park Setting was not checked in Step 3a would prevent this. But after an issue during two of the last three trips, I have to figure out what is going on.

Thanks in advance for any help and advice.

 

[rpasetto]

Somewhere, perhaps in this forum, it was stated that the parking brake can apply itself if the trans is in neutral, unless the 4WD is in neutral... I do not recall the details. Perhaps there is something wrong there. I doubt whether the brake-buddy pushing the brake pedal would cause the parking brake to self-engage, once it is released in step 16.

[As a side note, we usually have towbar connected and locked before starting the 4WD-in-neutral process, so step #12 may not be necessary. That, however, shouldn't affect the issue.]

 

[abjbrtd]

Have you checked to make sure the "Auto Park Feature" is off?
Step 3A

 

[Rangerman]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I did a little research and I am wondering if a feature called Safehold (page 265 of the Jeep Cherokee Owners Manual) is what is causing my issues. If the process beginning with step 3 takes place with the driver's door open, I'm wondering if the "Safehold" feature is kicking in and causing the parking brake to come on. I know that sometimes I go through the process with the driver's door open just because I don't want to sit in a warm vehicle.

For reference here is what is in the owners manual:

SafeHold

SafeHold is a safety feature of the Electric Park Brake
System that will engage the park brake automatically if the
vehicle is left unsecured while the ignition is in ON/RUN.
For automatic transmissions, the park brake will automatically engage if all of the following conditions are met:
• The vehicle is at a standstill.
• There is no attempt to depress the brake pedal or
accelerator pedal.
• The seat belt is unbuckled.
• The driver door is open.

Any thoughts on this? I plan to test this theory on my level driveway and see what happens.

 

[rmueller]

I will be interesting to see if you turn off Auto Park, if SafeHold still works?

 

[Rangerman]

The issue is with the driver's door being open. This causes the parking brake to come on even after turning off the auto park brake feature on the setting screen (step 3a). I'm assuming that the conditions are right to activate the SafeHold feature.

With the driver's door closed, everything works like it should. Jeep goes into neutral an rolls freely.

It took me a set of tires to figure this out. Hopefully it helps another person.

 

[AZJeeper]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I did a little research and I am wondering if a feature called Safehold (page 265 of the Jeep Cherokee Owners Manual) is what is causing my issues. If the process beginning with step 3 takes place with the driver's door open, I'm wondering if the "Safehold" feature is kicking in and causing the parking brake to come on. I know that sometimes I go through the process with the driver's door open just because I don't want to sit in a warm vehicle.

For reference here is what is in the owners manual:

SafeHold

SafeHold is a safety feature of the Electric Park Brake
System that will engage the park brake automatically if the
vehicle is left unsecured while the ignition is in ON/RUN.
For automatic transmissions, the park brake will automatically engage if all of the following conditions are met:
• The vehicle is at a standstill.
• There is no attempt to depress the brake pedal or
accelerator pedal.
• The seat belt is unbuckled.
• The driver door is open.

Any thoughts on this? I plan to test this theory on my level driveway and see what happens.

Wow, this is a good find! I have a 2019 and experienced the MBA (Magic Brake Application).

I've talked about it in thread https://jeepcherokeeclub.com/337-towing-towed/235106-2019-active-drive-ii-flat-tow.html, particularly this post:https://jeepcherokeeclub.com/2910756-post81.html

I will be interesting to see if you turn off Auto Park, if SafeHold still works?

I can answer without a doubt: YES!

If it weren't for the drag marks in the mud, I would have been like @Rangerman and going through a set of tires (or worse).

 

[xjaywalker]

I tow my 2017 Cherokee behind a Class A motor home. As a point of reference, I have the power steering wiring harness installed. I follow the towing instructions in the owners manual religiously (see below). On two out of the last three trips, my electronic parking brake engaged even though I released the brake in Step #16 . The first time it happened, I didn't realize what was going on until I ruined a set of tires. Now I use a "spotter" to make sure the wheels on the Cherokee are turning freely. But this is driving me crazy.

Here is my process:

A. Attach Jeep to motorhome with tow bar.
B. Plug in light cable from motorhome to jeep
1. Bring vehicle to a complete stop and shift transmission into PARK (but don’t apply the parking brake)
2. Turn the engine OFF
3. Turn the ignition switch to the ON/RUN position, but do not start the engine (can’t have a foot on the brake pedal in this step or it will start)
3a. On the settings screen, make sure the auto parking brake does not have a check mark by it.
4. Press and hold brake pedal (until step 10)
5. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL
6. Using a ballpoint pen or similar object, push and hold the recessed NEUTRAL (N) button (located by the selector switch) for (about) 4 seconds. The light behind the NEUTRAL (N) symbol will blink, indicating the shift in progress. The light will stop blinking (stay on solid) when the shift to NEUTRAL is complete. (again... keep holding until the shift is complete, but if much more than 6 seconds, you may have missed a step in 1-5)
7. After the shift is completed and the NEUTRAL (N) light stays on, release the NEUTRAL (N) button
8. Start the engine
9. Shift the transmission into REVERSE
10. Release the brake pedal for five seconds and ensure that there is no vehicle movement. (assuming you are on level ground, and you need to also make sure you don’t have the parking brake applied)
11. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL
12. Apply the parking brake (very important, as vehicle could roll regardless of gear selection at this point)
13. Shift the transmission into PARK, turn the engine OFF, and remove the key fob
14. Turn the ignition to the ON/RUN position, but do not start the engine (again, keep your foot off the brake to avoid starting the engine when pushing the ignition button)
15. Press and hold the brake pedal
16. Release the parking brake (if your Jeep has push button start, release the brake pedal at this point)
17. Turn the ignition OFF, remove the key fob, and release brake pedal
18. After the dash shuts down (takes about 60 seconds), flip the power steering switch (in the console) to the up position.
19. Get out of Jeep and attach "Brake Buddy" to break pedal.
20. Connect Brake Buddy to 12v power and attach "break away cables to the Brake Buddy"
21. Hit "Test" button on Brake Buddy.
22. Close door of Jeep.

The test process with the Brake Buddy causes the braking device to push the brake pedal of the Jeep. Is it possible that this is what is causing the issue given that it takes place with the door open? I would have thought that making sure the Auto Park Setting was not checked in Step 3a would prevent this. But after an issue during two of the last three trips, I have to figure out what is going on.

Thanks in advance for any help and advice.

Sorry for being late to this post. We just bought a 2021 KL for a TOAD, and are going through the manual on the setup for shifting into Neutral. Step 18 is confusing, and maybe because mine is a 2021. I don’t see a power steering switch and there is nothing in my manual about it. Maybe it just doesn’t apply, but I had to ask? TIA

 

[jimc]

As previously mentioned, do not open any doors while the transmission is in drive or reverse.

I was looking through those steps and I didn't even know you could shift into 4WD neutral with the engine off. My procedure on my 2018 is:

1. position vehicle to connect tow bar, put transmission in park
2. exit vehicle
3. connect tow bar
4. enter vehicle, close driver's door.
5. put transmission in reverse to ease Jeep back to extend tow bar to lock
6. put transmission in neutral
7. press 4WD Neutral button with pen for 5 seonds, waiting for "shift in progress" notification
8. put transmission in reverse, rev the engine a little (double-check for 4WD neutral)
9. put transmission in neutral while revs come down
10. put transmission in park
11. turn off ignition, exit vehicle and lock doors
12. hook up brake/light attachments (I have air brake).

My 2018 doesn't have the power steering towing harness/switch.

If my wife helps me, I put the electric parking brake on and off before I'm done, to make sure she didn't open a door or otherwise accidentally turn on the parking brake.

So far the parking brake has only been on once after hooking up, and I could tell immediately the drag was higher than it should be. I got out to look and sure enough there was a 10-foot drag mark across the graveled/sandy asphalt. When I checked the parking brake, the light was off. I started the car and pushed/pulled the button a couple times and it finally got itself sorted out.

Even if it feels normal, I always check the mirror to make sure it looks like it's rolling normally at the first turn.

 

[AZJeeper]

Sorry for being late to this post. We just bought a 2021 KL for a TOAD, and are going through the manual on the setup for shifting into Neutral. Step 18 is confusing, and maybe because mine is a 2021. I don’t see a power steering switch and there is nothing in my manual about it. Maybe it just doesn’t apply, but I had to ask? TIA

That power steering switch only applies to 2014-2018 models where the owners installed the Flat Tow Wiring Kit. That is to prevent the "death wobble" some of those earlier models exhibited with being flat towed. Our 2019+ models don't need it.

You might find Step 13 troublesome. When you shift to reverse, the transmission will engage and start spinning. The PTU is in neutral so no power should be getting to the wheels, that is what Step 9 is for - to be sure. If you try to shift into Park at step 17, you'll likely hear grinding. That's the parking pawls trying to engage while the transmission is spinning.

I always shut the engine off 1st, then put the transmission in Park. You need to apply firm pressure on the brake pressure to get it into Park, so if it doesn't easily shift that's likely the culprit. That is the proper procedure for every other vehicle I've ever flat-towed. All FCA vehicles, too.

I don't know why the Cherokee has that step backward. The procedure as specified can very hard on the parking pawls, especially if you get good at the procedure and get from Reverse to Park very quickly. Perhaps this is FCA's way of getting some out-of-warranty transmission work??

Edit: I also take issue with the OPs step 12. There is no need to apply the parking brake if you already have the tow bars connected. I suppose it depends on your tow bar instructions. I've had a few from different manufacturers. Most say to lock the tow bar in place by slowly backing into reverse. That's the procedure I use on all of my vehicles and it hasn't failed me yet.

Finally, depending on your options you might want to add these steps to your checklist:

• uConnect Settings: Brakes, Auto Park Brake: Off (the autobrake can engage and you might drive off with the brakes engaged! )
• uConnect Settings: Doors & Locks, Personal Settings Linked to FOB: Off (brakes like Blue Ox and Brakebuddy use the seat for support. If you open the driver's door with the key fob in your pocket after you set up the brake, the seat may move from your set position).
• uConnect Settings: Engine Off Options, Easy Exit Seat: Off (same reason as above, except your seat WILL move back)
• If bike rack attached - uConnect Settings: Doors & Locks, Hands Free Power Liftgate: Off (optional. I found that if I have the bike rack on the car my foot sometimes activates the liftgate. This prevents at least that kind of accidental opening)

Of course, if you like these options active you'll need to re-enable them at your destination.

 

[jimc]

I always shut the engine off 1st, then put the transmission in Park. You need to apply firm pressure on the brake pressure to get it into Park, so if it doesn't easily shift that's likely the culprit. That is the proper procedure for every other vehicle I've ever flat-towed. All FCA vehicles, too.

I don't know why the Cherokee has that step backward. The procedure as specified can very hard on the parking pawls, especially if you get good at the procedure and get from Reverse to Park very quickly. Perhaps this is FCA's way of getting some out-of-warranty transmission work??

I discovered pretty quickly that the parking pawls grind if you shift into park before the engine revs are back to idle. It doesn't help that when you rev the motor in reverse the revs don't start dropping for several seconds. So after putting it in reverse and revving a bit to make sure the transfer case is in neutral, I shift the transmission back to neutral, wait for revs to drop to idle, and then shift to park. This keeps the parking pawls from grinding.

I may try shutting off the motor in neutral and then shifting to park but that feels icky, and I'm pretty sure my manual says to shift to park and then turn off the motor. I assumed the transmission does something when you shift to park and if the motor is off there's no hydraulic pressure for the transmission to do that something.

 

[JFlabitz]

I just shut mine off in neutral, and then put it in park. No grinding of the parking pawl if I do it that way. I've not had a problem with the parking brake going back on once off with the transfer case in neutral. As a triple check, I make sure the motor home can creep forward at idle to verify that the parking brake is off.
I've towed it almost as much as I've driven it so far.
I like the simplicity of the Jeep system for flat towing. No fuses to pull and no drain on the battery while towing.

 

[JFlabitz]

I discovered pretty quickly that the parking pawls grind if you shift into park before the engine revs are back to idle. It doesn't help that when you rev the motor in reverse the revs don't start dropping for several seconds. So after putting it in reverse and revving a bit to make sure the transfer case is in neutral, I shift the transmission back to neutral, wait for revs to drop to idle, and then shift to park. This keeps the parking pawls from grinding.

I may try shutting off the motor in neutral and then shifting to park but that feels icky, and I'm pretty sure my manual says to shift to park and then turn off the motor. I assumed the transmission does something when you shift to park and if the motor is off there's no hydraulic pressure for the transmission to do that something.

There really isn't anything that needs to hydraulically retract from neutral. I forget why the manual specs that you do it that way, but I think it's only to get you to follow a set procedure.