New Owner Questions (EVIC, Tire Rotation and 4WD)

[67Customs]

This isn’t how I wanted my first post to read, but I had a few questions I wanted answered before this weekend.

EVIC – My 2005 Jeep Liberty Limited has the EVIC. It also has the TPM system and from reading the owners manual thoroughly, I’m sure it is the Premium TPM system. I believe this because when I bought the vehicle, it said “Spare Low Pressure” on the EVIC. I added air to the spare and the warning message went away. Reading the manual, it seems that only the Premium TPM system offers a spare tire reading and shows low pressure warning on the EVIC. Now for the question… When I scroll through the “Steps” on the EVIC, I never see the Tire Pressure screen. It skips from Service to the Blank Screen. Is there a common reason that the Tire Pressure screen is not showing or is there something wrong? Or, does some Liberties not always show it on the EVIC even though it has the system? I have the Type 43 guage if that makes any difference as to where the pressures and warning should show up.

Tire Rotation – I have a full spare tire. The wheels and the tire match all the rest. I would like to start a 5 tire rotation. The stock tires have 16,983 miles on them and I have no clue if they were ever rotated. By looking at the spare, it has 0 miles. Would it harm the drivetrain to start rotating the 0 miles spare tire into the line-up? I didn’t know if the spare tire having a slightly larger turning radius would cause damage to the drivetrain. Any suggestions on how to rotate it in or if it is to late to rotate it in?

4WD – When I was reading the owners manual I ran across the 4WD system. My Jeep has 2WD, Part Time 4WD, Full Time 4WD, N and 4LO modes. When reading the owners manual, it states that Full Time 4WD mode is the best for dry pavement driving since the front wheels spin independently of the rear wheels therefor avoiding binding. Is this correct? I thought it would be reversed, so I wanted to make sure the manual did not have a typo in it. I mean, I assume the manual is correct, but I have seen some manuals that have typos. So, going by that, Part Time 4WD is good for snow, mud, etc... conditions and Full Time 4WD is good for dry pavement conditions when extra traction is desired. Do I have this correct?

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. I have spent a week reading the site every chance I got looking for information. This is a great site. Very helpful.

I will make a formal introductory post with pictures when I get my Jeep squared away this weekend. The exterior needed some love and other issues needed to be addressed. I am making it perfect again this weekend.

 

[67Customs]

You're right on the 4wd. The manual is correct. Why do you wanna rotate a spare tire?


Don't know about the Evic, I have Otis.

Cool. Just wanted to make sure on the 4WD issue.

I want to rotate the spare tire so it gets used. I guess I don't have to, but I wanted to. I have seen and heard of other people doing it and there is a 5 tire rotation guide on Tire Rack, so I thought there might be an advantage to it and wanted to.

I pretty much found my answer for the EVIC "problem". It was apparently a $75 option for '05 that the original owners did not buy. I still get warnings about which tire is low from the EVIC, but I do not have the Tire Pressure screen. I found these two posts in reference to that here on Jeep KJ...

According to the Jeep website Liberty specifications page, the "Tire Pressure Monitor and Warning Signal" is standard on Limited and Renegade models. Quoting the specification, "The Tire Pressure Monitoring System alerts you to an underinflated or overinflated tire."

The "Tire Pressure Monitoring Display" is listed as a $75 option.

I just took delivery of my 2005 Limited CRD with the $75 option. This display option constantly shows individual tire psi on the EVIC, as opposed to the standard warning system that only warns of low or high tire pressure.

Hope this clears up the difference. Jeep certainly could have done a better job describing the two features.

This has been one of the most confusing issues with my new 05 Lib and I still have not been able to get a straight answer from the service manager at the dealer as to how this system works and the owners manual is totally confusing on the tire pressure monitoring system (TPM), the issue concerns the light on the dash and what is displayed on the EVIC, in one section of the owners manual it states that a low pressure on any tire will illuminate the yellow dash indicator, another sections states that the EVIC will display which tire is low, the dealer tells me the EVIC display that shows all four tires and their pressure has been discontinued for 05, but the sales brochuer shows it as a great feature. the FSM says that the vehicle speed needs to be in excess of 15 mph for a low pressure indication, I am about ready to let the air out of a tire and drive around to see how this thing works, or if it does at all,
The FSM indicated that there is a tire pressure monitoring transducers in the fender well of all wheels except the left rear and I cannot find any.
Sorry to be so long winded, but I have been trying to figure this system for over a month

Bob

I guess I should have researched a little more before asking.

 

[JeepJeepster]

welcome to Jeepkj!

You seem to have everything correct. Your Jeep has the ability to tell you that a tire has low psi but does not have the ability to show you the psi. thats an option.

I wouldnt rotate the spare in since all the other tires have so many miles on them and youre not sure if they have been rotated. Its ok to do that if you rotate them every 6k but I wouldnt risk it.

The manual is correct about the full time. That allows the front and rear axles to turn at different speeds if they need to. Understanding simple physics will tell you that when turning, the front and rear axles turn at a different speed. If those two axles are locked together(4part-time) then you will get drive line binding. In fulltime, the axles can turn at a different speed when needed so it will not bind on blacktop. Never use parttime on blacktop.

 

[67Customs]

welcome to Jeepkj!

You seem to have everything correct. Your Jeep has the ability to tell you that a tire has low psi but does not have the ability to show you the psi. thats an option.

I wouldnt rotate the spare in since all the other tires have so many miles on them and youre not sure if they have been rotated. Its ok to do that if you rotate them every 6k but I wouldnt risk it.

The manual is correct about the full time. That allows the front and rear axles to turn at different speeds if they need to. Understanding simple physics will tell you that when turning, the front and rear axles turn at a different speed. If those two axles are locked together(4part-time) then you will get drive line binding. In fulltime, the axles can turn at a different speed when needed so it will not bind on blacktop. Never use parttime on blacktop.

Thanks. This has been a very helpful website for the past week.lol

Just as long as everything is working like it should, I am good to go.

That is somewhat what I was thinking also. I thought they may have to many miles on them, but I figured I would get some opinions though.

I think it was just the Full Time and Part Time that confused me. I saw it reversed in my mind. Thanks for the explenation. That makes more sense.

 

[Atrus]

67customs, don't feel bad - I initially felt like it should be the same way on the 4WD settings - especially since PT 4WD comes before FT 4WD. Easy to tell on my '07 (I assume yours would be the same) as FT lights up green in the IC, and PT lights up amber. I explained to my wife if it's green you're OK. Anything else, you're not

 

[offrovering]

dont rotate the spare if you dont think it has ever been used, specially with that many miles.

i do the 5 tire rotation on mine, so they all have use, but i have done it since they were new, and rotating every 4-6k, consistently

 

[67Customs]

67customs, don't feel bad - I initially felt like it should be the same way on the 4WD settings - especially since PT 4WD comes before FT 4WD. Easy to tell on my '07 (I assume yours would be the same) as FT lights up green in the IC, and PT lights up amber. I explained to my wife if it's green you're OK. Anything else, you're not

Good point. Funny thing is, when I shifted it into 4WD this morning (just to check things out), I did notice that 4WD Part-Time was amber and 4WD Full-Time was green also and I just though it made sense that a light that was green and matched the dash light would be the mode that was the best for normal driving situations. I was pretty much thinking the same thing your are.lol

dont rotate the spare if you dont think it has ever been used, specially with that many miles.

i do the 5 tire rotation on mine, so they all have use, but i have done it since they were new, and rotating every 4-6k, consistently

Yeah, I checked the tires with a tire depth guage from my wife's work yesterday and they are to far worn to begin rotating the spare in. Ah well. When the times comes though, I am getting some BFG All Terrain T/As anyway. I will get five and start rotating the spare. I have them on a '83 F-150 and had them on a '98 Durango and I love them.

 

[the_titan]

Premium TPMS displays individual Tire Pressure readouts and is not part of the EVIC, no matter what someone may tell you. Only in 04 was there such a thing as a TPMS EVIC, now it is a generic EVIC across the board that either does or doesn't have Homelink, though I have not seen an 05+ that did not have Homelink, either, honestly. If you want PREMIUM TPMS, it can be done, but it is not simple. not hard either.

 

[_UnLiMiTeD_]

to clarify the 4wd a bit more for you. Full time can be used in dry, wet and snow. You do not want to use part time in the rain or snow if the roads have been cleared or packed by plows. part time is for mud, heavy snow and for offroading.