2004 DODGE DAKOTA hood open

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE
CONTENTS
mMirrors..............................58
NInside Day/Night Mirror.................58
NAutomatic Dimming MirrorÐ If Equipped....59
NOutside Mirrors.......................59
NExterior Mirrors Folding Feature...........59
NElectric Remote-Control Mirrors............60
NHeated Mirrors Ð If Equipped.............61
mSeats................................61
NSeat Adjustment.......................61
NReclining Seats........................62
N6 - Way Power Seat Adjuster Ð Driver's Side
Only...............................63NLumbar Support Adjustment Ð Power Seats
Only...............................63
NSeatback Releases Ð Bench Seat............63
NSeatback ReleasesÐBucket And Split Bench....64
NClub Cab Easy Entry System..............64
NClub Cab/Quad Cab Rear Seat.............65
mTo Open And Close The Hood.............66
mLights...............................67
NInterior Lights........................67
NBattery Saver.........................68
NHeadlamp Delay.......................68
NHeadlights, Parking Lights, Panel Lights......68
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TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE HOOD
To open the hood, two latches must be released. First pull
the hood release lever located under the left side of the
instrument panel.
Second, locate the hood safety latch lever between the
front grille openings to the left of center. Push this lever
to the right to release the hood.To prevent possible damage, do not slam the hood to
close it. Use a firm downward push at the center of the
hood to ensure that both latches engage. Never drive
your vehicle unless the hood is fully closed, with both
latches engaged.
66 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
If the hood is not fully latched, it could fly up when
the vehicle is moving and block your forward vision.
Be sure all hood latches are fully latched before
driving.
LIGHTSInterior Lights
Courtesy and dome lights are turned on when the front
doors are opened, when the dimmer control (rotating
wheel on the right side of the switch) is rotated to the
second upward detent position, or if equipped, when the
UNLOCK button is pressed on the key fob. Rotating the
dimmer control to the optional fully upward position will
turn on the cargo light located on the back of the cab.
When a door is open and the interior lights are on,
rotating the dimmer control all the way down to the OFF
detent will cause all the interior lights to go out. This is
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 67
3

Circulation
The cab is designed with features to promote outside air
circulation. There are grilles in the cab back panel. These
are air exhausters that provide the means for regular
exchange of cab air.
Side window demisters direct air flow specifically to the
window glass to help prevent interior fogging of the
glass. They are located in the extreme outside upper
edges of the instrument panel. The demisters also pro-
vide extra air ducts for circulation. They are in operation
whenever the Floor, Mix or Defrost modes are in use.
NOTE:When you turn off the engine you may hear a
hissing sound from under the hood for a short period of
time. This is a normal condition that occurs if the air
conditioning system has been on. It is not an indication of
a problem with the air conditioning system.
Operating Tips
Fast Cooldown
For a fast cooldown, turn the blower fan rotary knob to
the extreme right position, turn the mode control to the
panel fresh position, press the snowflake button to turnon the air conditioning, and drive with the windows
open for the first few minutes. Once the hot air has been
expelled, close the windows and turn the mode selector
to the Recirculation Panel Mode or Recirculation Mode
Bi-level position. When a comfortable condition has been
reached, choose a mode position and adjust the tempera-
ture control knob and blower speed as necessary to
maintain comfort. For high humidity conditions it may
be necessary to remain in the Recirculation mode to
maintain comfort.
Window Fogging
Windows will fog on the inside when the humidity inside
the vehicle is high. This often occurs in mild or cool
temperatures when it's rainy or humid. In most cases
turning on the Air-conditioning (pressing the snowflake
button) will clear the fog. Adjust the temperature control,
air direction and blower speed to maintain comfort.
As the temperature gets colder it may be necessary to
direct air onto the windshield by using MIX Mode
position on the control. Adjust the temperature control
and blower speed to maintain comfort. High blower
INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS 137
4

WARNING!
You or others can be badly burned by hot coolant or
steam from your radiator. If you see or hear steam
coming from under the hood don't open the hood
until the radiator has had time to cool. If you open
the hood and see steam or hot coolant escaping from
the radiator, don't touch anything. Get away quickly.
Never try to open a pressure cap when the radiator is
hot.
Cooling System Maintenance
At the intervals shown on the Maintenance Schedules,
the system should be drained, flushed and filled.
Cooling System Ð Drain, Flush And Refill
If the solution is dirty and contains a considerable
amount of sediment, clean and flush with a reliable
cooling system cleaner. Follow with a thorough rinsing to
remove all deposits and chemicals. Discard old antifreeze
solution according to recommended procedure.
Disposal of Used Engine Coolant
Used ethylene glycol-based engine coolant is a regulated
substance requiring proper disposal. Check with your
local authorities to determine the disposal rules for your
community. Do not store ethylene glycol-based engine
coolant in open containers or allow it to remain in
puddles on the ground. Prevent ingestion by animals and
children. If ingested by a child, contact a physician
immediately. Clean up any ground spills immediately.
Recommended Engine Coolant
Refer to Recommended Fluids, Lubricants and Genuine
Parts for correct fluid type.
238 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Coolant Pressure Cap
The coolant pressure cap must be fully tightened to
prevent loss of coolant, and to insure that coolant will
return to the radiator from the coolant reserve tank.
The pressure cap should be inspected and cleaned if there
is any accumulation of foreign material on the sealing
surfaces.
WARNING!
The warning words ªDO NOT OPEN HOTº on the
coolant pressure cap are a safety precaution. Heat
causes pressure to build up in the cooling system. To
prevent scalding or injury, do not remove the pres-
sure cap when the system is hot or under pressure.
Coolant Level
The coolant reserve system provides a quick visual
method for determining that the coolant level is ad-
equate. With the engine idling, and warmed to normal
operating temperature, remove the cap from the over-
flow bottle, remove the dipstick and wipe the excess
coolant from it. Reinsert the dipstick and remove. Ob-
serve the dipstick checking the holes along the stem for
coolant. Check the coolant level whenever the hood is
raised.
240 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

LIGHT BULBS Ð Outside Bulb No.
Headlight...........................9007LL
Back-Up..............................3157
Center High Mounted Stoplight.............. 921
Fog Lamp.............................881L
Front Sidemarker......................... 168
License Plate Light....................... 168
Park & Turn Signal (2)....................3157
Tail, Stop, & Sidemarker...................3157
Cargo (2).............................. 921BULB REPLACEMENT
Headlights
1. Open the hood.
2. Remove the screw as shown and pull the parking/
turn signal housing out.
3. Disconnect connectors from the parking/turn signal
lamp.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 255
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