2004 DODGE DAKOTA wheel

Four-Wheel Drive Vehicles
The manufacturer recommends towing with all wheels
off the ground. Acceptable methods are to tow the vehicle
on a flatbed or with one end of the vehicle raised and the
opposite end on a towing dolly.
Two-Wheel Drive Vehicles
Provided that the transmission is operable, tow with the
transmission in Neutral and the ignition key in the OFF
position along with the front wheels raised and the rear
wheels on the ground. The speed must not exceed 30
mph (50 km/h) and the distance must not exceed 15
miles (25 km).If the vehicle is to be towed more than 15 miles (25 km),
it must be towed on a flatbed, or with the rear wheels
raised and the front wheels on the ground, or with the
front end raised and the rear wheels on a towing dolly.
218 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

Front Suspension Ball Joints
The ball joints and seals should be inspected whenever
the vehicle is serviced for other reasons. Damaged seals
should be replaced to prevent leakage or contamination
of the grease.
Steering Linkage
Whenever the vehicle is hoisted, all steering linkage
joints should be inspected for evidence of damage. Dam-
aged seals should be replaced to prevent leakage or
contamination of the grease.
Drive Shaft Constant Velocity Joints Ð 4X4
Models
All four-wheel drive models are equipped with four
constant velocity joints. Periodic lubrication of these
joints is not required. However, the joint boot should be
inspected for external leakage or damage periodically. If
external leakage or damage is evident, the joint boot and
grease should be replaced immediately. Continued op-
eration could result in failure of the joint due to water
and dirt contamination of the grease. This would require
complete replacement of the joint assembly. Refer to the
Service Manual for the detailed replacement procedure.
Body Lubrication
Locks and all body pivot points, including such items as
seat tracks, doors,liftgate and hood hinges, should be
lubricated periodically to assure quiet, easy operation
and to protect against rust and wear. Prior to the appli-
cation of any lubricant, the parts concerned should be
wiped clean to remove dust and grit; after lubricating
excess oil and grease should be removed. Particular
attention should also be given to hood latching compo-
nents to insure proper function. When performing other
underhood services, the hood latch, release mechanism
and safety catch should be cleaned and lubricated.
The external lock cylinders should be lubricated twice a
year, preferably in the fall and spring. Apply a small
amount of a high quality lubricant such as MopartLock
Cylinder Lubricant directly into the lock cylinder.
Windshield Wiper Blades
The rubber edges of the wiper blades and the windshield
should be cleaned periodically with a sponge or soft cloth
and a mild nonabrasive cleaner. This will remove accu-
mulations of salt or road film.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 235
7

There are two groups
identified, those for wheel
bearings (Letter ªGº) and
those for chassis (Letter
ªLº) lubrication. Perfor-
mance categories within
these groups result in dual
letter designations for
each group. The letter des-
ignations shown in the ex-
ample are the highest
quality level available and when combined as shown can
be used for chassis lubrication. Use only those greases
that have the NLGI symbol on the container along with
the proper quality level for your application.
Appearance Care and Protection from Corrosion
Protection of Body and Paint from Corrosion
Vehicle body care requirements vary according to geo-
graphic locations and usage. Chemicals that make roads
passable in snow and ice, and those that are sprayed on
trees and road surfaces during other seasons, are highly
corrosive to the metal in your vehicle. Outside parking,which exposes your vehicle to airborne contaminants,
road surfaces on which the vehicle is operated, extreme
hot or cold weather and other extreme conditions will
have an adverse effect on paint, metal trim, and under-
body protection.
The following maintenance recommendations will enable
you to obtain maximum benefit from the corrosion
resistance built into your vehicle.
What Causes Corrosion?
Corrosion is the result of deterioration or removal of
paint and protective coatings from your vehicle.
The most common causes are:
²Road salt, dirt and moisture accumulation.
²Stone and gravel impact.
²Insects, tree sap and tar.
²Salt in the air near seacoast localities.
²Atmospheric fallout/industrial pollutants.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 249
7

Washing
²
Wash your vehicle regularly. Always wash your ve-
hicle in the shade using a mild car wash soap, and
rinse the panels completely with clear water.
²If insects, tar or other similar deposits have accumu-
lated on your vehicle, wash it as soon as possible.
²Use Mopar auto polish to remove road film and stains
and to polish your vehicle. Take care never to scratch
the paint.
²Avoid using abrasive compounds and power buffing
that may diminish the gloss or thin out the paint
finish.
CAUTION!
Do not use abrasive or strong cleaning materials
such as steel wool or scouring powder, which will
scratch metal and painted surfaces.
Special Care
²
If you drive on salted or dusty roads or if you drive
near the ocean, hose off the undercarriage at least once
a month.
²It is important that the drain holes in the lower edges
of the doors, rocker panels and tailgate be kept clear
and open.
²If you detect any stone chips or scratches in the paint,
touch them up immediately. The cost of such repairs is
considered the responsibility of the owner.
²If your vehicle is damaged due to an accident or
similar cause which destroys the paint and protective
coating have your vehicle repaired as soon as possible.
The cost of such repairs is considered the responsibil-
ity of the owner.
²All wheels and wheel trim, especially aluminum and
chrome plated wheels should be cleaned regularly
with mild soap and water to prevent corrosion. To
remove heavy soil, select a nonabrasive, non-acidic
cleaner. Do not use scouring pads, steel wool, a bristle
brush or metal polishes. Only Mopar cleaners are
250 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

recommended. Do not use oven cleaner. Avoid auto-
matic car washes that use acidic solutions or harsh
brushes that may damage the wheels' protective fin-
ish.
²If you carry special cargo such as chemicals, fertilizers,
de-icer salt, etc., be sure that such materials are well
packaged and sealed.
²If a lot of driving is done on gravel roads, consider
mud or stone shields behind each wheel.
²Use Mopar touch up paint on scratches as soon as
possible. Your dealer has touch up paint to match the
color of your vehicle.
Interior Care
Use Mopar Fabric Cleaner to clean fabric upholstery and
carpeting.
Use Mopar Vinyl Cleaner to clean vinyl upholstery and
trim.
Mopar Total Clean is specifically recommended for
leather upholstery.Your leather upholstery can be best preserved by regular
cleaning with a damp soft cloth. Small particles of dirt
can act as an abrasive and damage the leather upholstery
and should be removed promptly with a damp cloth.
Stubborn soils can be removed easily with a soft cloth
and Mopar Total Clean. Care should be taken to avoid
soaking your leather upholstery with any liquid. Please
do not use polishes, oils, cleaning fluids, solvents, deter-
gents, or ammonia based cleaners to clean your leather
upholstery. Application of a leather conditioner is not
required to maintain the original condition.
WARNING!
Do not use volatile solvents for cleaning purposes.
Many are potentially flammable, and if used in
closed areas they may cause respiratory harm.
Glass Surfaces
All glass surfaces should be cleaned on a regular basis
with any commercial household-type glass cleaner.
Never use an abrasive type cleaner. Use caution when
cleaning inside rear windows equipped with electric
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 251
7

Turn Signal.......................... 99
Flat Tire Stowage....................... 215
Flooded Engine Starting.................. 145
Floor Console.......................... 88
Fluid, Brake........................... 260
Fluid Capacities........................ 258
Fluid Level Checks
Automatic Transmission................ 245
Brake.............................. 243
Cooling System....................... 237
Power Steering....................... 234
Transfer Case........................ 248
Fog Lights..........................69,257
Four Wheel Drive...................... 151
Operation........................... 151
Four-Way Hazard Flasher................. 208
Freeing A Stuck Vehicle.................. 167
Front Axle............................ 248
Fuel................................. 184
Adding............................. 186
Filler Cap........................... 186
Filter.............................. 231
Gasoline............................ 184Gauge............................. 100
Materials Added...................... 186
Octane Rating........................ 259
Requirements.....................184,258
System Hoses........................ 241
Tank Capacity........................ 258
Fuses................................ 253
Garage Door Opener..................... 81
Gasoline............................. 184
Gasoline, Reformulated.................. 184
Gauges
Coolant Temperature................... 99
Fuel............................... 100
Oil Pressure......................... 100
Speedometer......................... 100
Tachometer.......................... 99
Voltmeter............................ 99
Gear Ranges........................100,147
Glass Cleaning......................... 251
GVWR............................... 191
Hazard Warning Flasher.................. 208
292 INDEX

Transfer Case........................ 151
Transfer Case, Shifting into Transfer
Case Neutral (N).................... 202
Transfer Case, Shifting out of Transfer
Case Neutral (N).................... 204
Shoulder Belt Upper Anchorage............. 29
Signals, Turn......................70,99,256
Sliding Rear Window..................... 23
Snow Chains.......................... 182
Snow Plow........................... 201
Snow Tires............................ 183
Spare Tire............................ 210
Spark Plugs........................... 230
Specifications
Fuel............................... 184
Speed Control.......................... 74
Speedometer.......................... 100
Starting.............................. 144
Emergency (Jump Starting).............. 215
Engine Block Heater................... 146
Steering
Column Controls...................... 70
Column Lock......................... 11Linkage............................ 235
Power...........................166,234
Wheel, Tilt........................... 73
Steering Wheel Mounted Sound System
Controls............................ 130
Storage Compartment, Center Seat........... 89
Storage, Vehicle........................ 254
Stuck, Freeing......................... 167
Supplemental Tire Pressure Information...... 182
Synthetic Engine Oil..................... 229
Tachometer............................ 99
Tailgate............................... 90
Taillights............................. 256
Tape Player........................... 131
Temperature Gauge, Engine Coolant......... 99
Tether Anchor, Child Restraint.............. 42
Thermostat........................... 241
Tilt Steering Column..................... 73
Tire and Loading Information Placard.....172,182
Tire Identification Number (TIN)........... 171
Tire Markings......................... 167
Tire Safety Information................... 167
298 INDEX

Tires ..............................54,175
Air Pressure......................... 175
Alignment.......................... 181
Chains............................. 182
Changing........................... 209
Compact Spare....................... 178
General Information................... 175
High Speed......................... 177
Inflation Pressures.................... 176
Jacking............................. 211
Load Capacity....................... 172
Radial............................. 178
Replacement......................... 180
Rotation.........................183,264
Safety...........................167,175
Sizes............................... 169
Snow Tires.......................... 183
Spare Tire........................... 210
Spinning............................ 179
Tread Wear Indicators.................. 180
Warnings........................... 182
Wheel Nut Torque.................... 213
Tongue Weight/Trailer Weight............. 197Torque Converter Clutch................. 149
Towing
Disabled Vehicle...................... 217
Guide.............................. 199
Recreational......................... 202
Trailering........................... 195
Weight............................. 199
Traction.............................. 206
Trailer Towing......................... 195
Cooling System Tips................... 201
Hitches............................. 198
Minimum Requirements................ 199
Trailer and Tongue Weight.............. 197
Wiring............................. 200
Trailer Towing Guide.................... 199
Trailer Weight......................... 199
Transfer Case.......................... 248
Fluid.............................. 260
Transmission....................146,150,245
Automatic.....................144,146,245
Filter.............................. 247
Fluid........................245,247,260
Manual.......................144,150,245
INDEX 299
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