2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER ESP

Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling
R-134a Air Conditioning Refrigerant is a hydrofluorocar-
bon (HFC) that is endorsed by the Environmental Pro-
tection Agency and is an ozone-saving product. How-
ever, the manufacturer recommends that air conditioning
service be performed by dealers or other service facilities
using recovery and recycling equipment.
NOTE:Use only manufacturer approved A/C System
Sealers, Stop Leak Products, Seal Conditioners, Compres-
sor Oil, or Refrigerants.
Power Steering—Fluid Check
Checking the power steering fluid level at a defined
service interval is not required. The fluid should only be
checked if a leak is suspected, abnormal noises are
apparent, and/or the system is not functioning as antici-
pated. Coordinate inspection efforts through a certified
DaimlerChrysler Dealership.
WARNING!
Fluid level should be checked on a level surface and
with the engine off to prevent injury from moving
parts and to insure accurate fluid level reading. Do
not overfill. Use only manufacturers recommended
power steering fluid.
If necessary, add fluid to restore to the proper indicated
level. With a clean cloth, wipe any spilled fluid from all
surfaces. Refer to Recommended Fluids, Lubricants, and
Genuine Parts for correct fluid types.
Front Suspension Ball Joints
There are two front suspension lower ball joints that are
permanently lubricated. Inspect these ball joints when-
ever under vehicle service is done. Damaged seals and
their corresponding potentially damaged ball joints must
be replaced.
268 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

CAUTION!
Mixing of coolants other than specified engine cool-
ants, may result in engine damage that may not be
covered under the new vehicle warranty, and de-
creased corrosion protection. If a non-HOAT coolant
is introduced into the cooling system in an emer-
gency, it should be replaced with the specified
coolant as soon as possible.
Do not use plain water alone or alcohol base engine
coolant (antifreeze) products. Do not use additional
rust inhibitors or antirust products, as they may not
be compatible with the radiator engine coolant and
may plug the radiator.
This vehicle has not been designed for use with
Propylene Glycol based coolants. Use of Propylene
Glycol based coolants is not recommended.
Adding Coolant
When adding coolant, or refilling the system, a minimum
solution of 50% recommended HOAT ethylene glycol
engine coolant (antifreeze) and distilled water should be
used. Use higher concentrations (not to exceed 70%) if
temperatures below
37°C(
34°F ) are anticipated.
Use only high purity water such as distilled or deionized
water when mixing the water/engine coolant solution.
The use of lower quality water will reduce the amount of
corrosion protection in the engine cooling system.
Please note that it is the owner’s responsibility to main-
tain the proper level of protection against freezing ac-
cording to the temperatures occurring in the area where
the vehicle is operated.
NOTE:Mixing coolant types will decrease the life of the
engine coolant and will require more frequent coolant
changes.
274 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

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
•
If you drive on salted or dusty roads or if you drive
near the ocean, hose off the undercarriage at least once
a month.
•It is important that the drain holes in the lower edges
of the doors, rocker panels and rear deck lid be kept
clear and open.
•If 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.
•Use 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.
•If 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.
•If you carry special cargo such as chemicals, fertilizers,
deicer salt, etc., be sure that such materials are well
packaged and sealed.
•If a lot of driving is done on gravel roads, consider
mud or stone shields behind each wheel.
286 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

CAUTION!
If your vehicle is equipped with flame or woodgrain
graphics, it is recommended that special care be
taken when using hand-held pressure washers to
clean your vehicle. The pressure of these hand-held
car wash wands can vary greatly and could possibly
cause damage to the surface of the graphic. Hold the
tip of the wand at least 12 inches away from the
graphic surface when cleaning the vehicle.
Wheel And Wheel Trim Care
All wheels and wheel trim, especially Aluminum and
Chrome plated, should be cleaned regularly, when cool,
using mild soap and water to maintain their luster and to
prevent corrosion. Wash them with the same soap solu-
tion as the body of your vehicle. Rinse wheels thor-
oughly.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. DO NOT
USE any of the items listed below which can damage
your wheels and wheel trim.
DO NOT USE:
•Any abrasive cleaner
•Any abrasive cleaning pad (such as steel wool) or
abrasive brush
•Any cleaner that contains an acid which can react with
and discolor the chrome surface.
•Chrome polish
•Oven cleaner
•A car wash that uses carbide-tipped wheel cleaning
brushes or acidic solutions.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 287
7

CAUTION!
Many wheel cleaners contain acids that may harm
the wheel surface.
NOTE:Replacement costs for components damaged as
a result of not following the recommended cleaning
practices are considered the responsibility of the cus-
tomer.
Interior Care
Use Mopar Fabric Cleaner to clean fabric upholstery and
carpeting.
Use Mopar Vinyl Cleaner to clean vinyl upholstery and
vinyl 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.
288 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Miles 21,000 24,000 27,000 30,000 33,000 36,000
(Kilometers) (34 000) (38 000) (43 000) (48 000) (53 000) (58 000)
Change engine oil and engine oil filter, if not
replaced at 3 months.XXXXX X
Rotate tires. X X X
Inspect the brake linings. X X
Replace theengine air cleaner filter.X
Replace thespark plugs.X
Inspect the tie rod ends and boot seals. X
Inspect thePCV valveand replace as neces-
sary.*X
Replace theMake-up air filter.X
Adjust the generator drive belt tension. X
312 SCHEDULE“B”—ALL ENGINES
8
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Miles 57,000 60,000 63,000 66,000 69,000 72,000
( Kilometers) (91 000) (96 000) (101 000) (106 000) (111 000) (115 000)
Change engine oil and engine oil filter, if not
replaced at 3 months.XXXXX X
Rotate tires. X X X
Inspect the brake linings. X X
Replace theengine air cleaner filter.X
Replace thespark plugs and ignition cables.X
Inspect the tie rod ends and boot seals. X
Inspect thePCV valveand replace if neces-
sary. Not required if previously changed. *‡X
Replace theMake-up air filter.X
Adjust the generator drive belt tension. X
Change the automatic transaxle fluid and fil-
ter.X
Flush and replace engine coolant at 60
months, if not done at 102,000 miles.X
314 SCHEDULE“B”—ALL ENGINES
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Miles 75,000 78,000 81,000 84,000 87,000 90,000
(Kilometers) (120 000) (125 000) (130 000) (135 000) (130 000) (144 000)
Change engine oil and engine oil filter, if not re-
placed at 3 months.XXXXX X
Rotate tires. X X X
Inspect the brake linings. X
Inspect theengine air cleaner filterand replace
as necessary.*X
Replace theengine air cleaner filter.X
Replace thespark plugs.X
Inspect the tie rod ends and boot seals. X
Inspect thePCV valveand replace if necessary.
Not required if previously changed. *‡X
Replace theengine timing belt.*X
Inspect theMake-up air filter,replace as necessary. X
Adjust the generator drive belt tension. X
Replace theMake-up air filter.X
SCHEDULE“B”—ALL ENGINES 315
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