2004 DODGE NEON SRT wheel

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 sea coast localities.
²Atmospheric fallout/industrial pollutants.
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. Many wheel cleaners
contain acids that may harm the wheel surface.
156 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

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 rear deck lid 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.
²Use Mopar touch up paint on scratches or chips as
soon as possible. Your dealer has touch up paint to
match the color of your vehicle.
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 pos-
sible. The cost of such repairs is considered the respon-
sibility of the owner.
²If you carry special cargo such as chemicals, fertilizers,
deicer 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.
Wheel And Wheel Trim Care
All wheels and wheel trim, especially Aluminum and
Chrome plated, should be cleaned regularly, using mild
soap and water to maintain their luster and to prevent
corrosion. Wash them with the same soap solution as the
body of your vehicle. Rinse wheels thoroughly.
When cleaning extremely dirty wheels, care must be
taken in the selection of tire and wheel cleaning chemi-
cals and equipment to prevent damage to the wheels.
Only Mopar Wheel Cleaners are recommended. Any of
the ªDO NOT USEº items listed below can damage
wheels and wheel trim.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 157
7

DO NOT USE:
²Any abrasive cleaner
²Any abrasive cleaning pad (such as steel wool) or
abrasive brush
²Any cleaner that contains an acid which can react with
and discolor the chrome surface.
CAUTION!
Many wheel cleaners contain acids that may harm
the wheel surface.
²Oven cleaner
²A car wash that uses carbide-tipped wheel cleaning
brushes or acidic solutions.
Interior Care
Use Mopar Fabric Cleaner to clean fabric upholstery and
carpeting.
Use Mopar Vinyl Cleaner to clean vinyl upholstery.
Mopar Vinyl Cleaner is specifically recommended for
vinyl trim.
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.
158 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Temperature Grades
The temperature grades are A (highest), B, and C, repre-
senting the tire's resistance to the generation of heat and
its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the
tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive
temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C
corresponds to a level of performance which all passen-
ger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law.WARNING!
The temperature grade is established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underinflation, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can cause heat buildup
and possible tire failure.
190 IF YOU NEED CONSUMER ASSISTANCE

Keyless Entry System..................... 16
Keys.................................. 9
Lane Change and Turn Signals.............. 64
Lap/Shoulder Belts...................... 20
Lead Free Gasoline...................... 113
Leaks, Fluid............................ 44
Light Bulbs........................162,163
Lighter, Cigar.......................... 58
Lights................................ 52
Airbag..........................35,44,65
Anti-Lock............................ 63
Brake Warning........................ 63
Center Mounted Stop.................. 164
Daytime Running...................... 54
Dimmer Switch, Headlight.............53,55
Dome............................... 53
Exterior Check........................ 44
Fog ................................ 54
Headlights On Reminder................ 54
High Beam Indicator................... 64
Instrument Cluster..................... 54
Lights On Reminder.................... 54Malfunction Indicator................... 66
Map Reading......................... 52
Oil Pressure.......................... 64
Park................................ 54
Passing............................. 55
Rear Servicing....................... 164
Rear Tail............................ 164
Seat Belt Reminder..................... 65
Side Marker......................... 164
Theft Alarm.......................... 65
Turn Signal.....................55,64,164
Voltage.............................. 65
Loading Vehicle........................ 117
Tires ............................... 100
Locks................................ 12
Child Protection....................... 14
Door............................... 12
Ignition............................ 134
Power Door.......................... 13
Steering Wheel........................ 12
Lubrication, Body....................... 145
Maintenance Free Battery................. 142
196 INDEX

Security Alarm......................... 65
Sentry Key............................. 9
Service Assistance...................... 184
Service Contract........................ 186
Service Manuals........................ 188
Setting the Clock........................ 68
Shift Speeds............................ 91
Shift Speeds, Manual Transaxle............. 91
Shoulder Belt Upper Anchorage............. 24
Side Airbag............................ 34
Side Window Demisters................... 82
Slippery Surfaces, Driving On............. 128
Snow Chains.......................... 111
Snow Tires............................ 111
Spark Plugs........................... 140
Speedometer........................... 64
Starting............................... 87
Engine Fails to Start.................... 88
Steering
Power.............................. 95
Tilt Column.......................... 57
Wheel Lock.......................... 12
Storage, Vehicle........................ 161Supplemental Restraint System - Airbag....... 27
Synthetic Engine Oil..................... 139
Tachometer............................ 64
Temperature Gauge, Engine Coolant.......67,121
Tilt Steering Column..................... 57
Tire and Loading Information Placard....... 100
Tire Markings.......................... 96
Tire Safety Information................... 96
Tires ...........................44,104,189
Alignment.......................... 110
Chains............................. 111
Changing........................... 122
Compact Spare....................... 107
High Speed......................... 106
Inflation Pressures.................... 105
Jacking............................. 122
Load Capacity....................100,101
Quality Grading...................... 189
Radial............................. 107
Replacement......................... 109
Rotation............................ 112
Safety.............................. 104
INDEX 199
10

Sizes............................... 97
Snow Tires.......................... 111
Spinning............................ 108
Tread Wear Indicators.................. 109
Towing
Disabled Vehicle...................... 130
Transaxle
Manual...........................87,90
Transmitter Battery Service................ 18
Transporting Pets........................ 42
Tread Wear Indicators................... 109
Trip Odometer Reset Button................ 66
Trunk Release Button..................... 15
Trunk Release, Emergency................. 15
Trunk Release Remote Control.............. 15
Turbo Boost Gauge....................83,113
Turbo Cool Down....................... 89
Turn Signals.........................55,64
Underhood Fuses....................... 160
Uniform Tire Quality Grades.............. 189Vacuum/Vapor Harnesses................ 152
Vehicle Identification Number............... 6
Vehicle Loading........................ 117
Vehicle Modifications/Alterations............ 6
Vehicle Storage......................... 161
Warnings and Cautions.................... 6
Warranty Information.................... 186
Washers, Windshield..................... 55
Washing Vehicle........................ 156
Wheel Alignment and Balance............. 110
Wheel and Wheel Trim Care............... 157
Window Fogging........................ 82
Windows
Power.............................. 19
Windshield Washer Aiming............... 146
Windshield Washers..................... 55
Windshield Wiper Blades................. 146
Windshield Wipers...................... 55
Wiper Blade Replacement................. 146
Wipers, Intermittent...................... 56
Wiring, Ignition........................ 142
200 INDEX