'04 Jeep Liberty as a toad

[gmadams]

I have an '04 Jeep Liberty that is going to be my toad. The owners manual says that the key needs to be in the off position. It also states that the manual has a locking steering wheel but is silent about the automatic. My question is, do you actually need to have the key in the ignition in the off position when towing it?

[don-deb]

I have a 02 Wrangler.....and I must leave my ignition key in the " on " position....so the wheel is unlocked. That was my reason for the battery disconnect set-up I installed.

When I tow....it's ignittion on.....battery disconnected......transfer case in " N " and tranny in " N ". So far I towed it over 4K miles without any problems.

[az bound]

You do not want to tow with the steering locked. In many cases the main power fuse is removed or a battery disconnect is used .

[BCooke]

My father mentioned at about 20 miles it will eat tires if the steering wheel is locked on a Liberty. They have a system now as to who does what.

[Monacoach]

Your owners manual may be referring to if you tow your jeep with the front wheels off the ground. Crankcase in neutral , transmission in park, key turned on to release steering.

[stuhly]

On the Liberty the Key is one click above where you can remove it. Does not need Batt. disconect. Towed one for years this way.

[gmadams]

I meant to say that the owners guide states that if it is a manual transmission, there is a steering wheel lock but it doesn't mention that for an automatic transmission. I have tried to turn the wheels with the engine off but I guess that I haven't eaten enough spinach to be able to turn the wheels.

Does the steering wheel lock on an automatic transmission for the 04 Liberty when the key is not in the ignition?

[stuhly]

Don't know about the 04, but the 07 Liberty Automatic did have steering lock. Think Jeep stopped the lock in 08 or 09.

[gmadams]

Here is what I found on another forum:

Steering Wheel Lock (yes it does) - Page 3 - Jeep Liberty Forum - JeepKJ Country

[phranc]

My '03' has a steering wheel lock in a 4x4 auto trans vehicle. Regarding the ignition switch, just turn key back one notch from the engine running position. You will not be able to remove key and steering will be unlocked. If key comes out you did it wrong.. Makes a great toad.

[TBI]

I had an 02 4x4 automatic. The ignition had 4 positions. LOCK the key can be removed, OFF, no power but steering wheel free to turn, ON or RUN and START. I towed it for several years.

[bgsc]

The owners manual states on the 2004 Liberty Limited I tow to put the key in ACC. position and the transfer case in Neutral and the main transmission in Park. After chewing off 1 front tire when the ignition switch let the key go back to the Lock or off position I now and have for the last 20,000 miles put the main transmission in Neutral and the key in the accessory position. No problems and NO chewed up tires

[tj4dirt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgsc The owners manual states on the 2004 Liberty Limited I tow to put the key in ACC. position

That is NOT true, the manual says, in the off unlocked position. It's one click in from the off. Normally ACC is one click BACK from the off position.