2005 DODGE DAKOTA air condition

coolant. Your service attendant should be advised of this.
When additional coolant is needed to maintain the
proper level, it should be added to the coolant bottle. Do
not overfill.
Points To Remember
A. Do not overfill the coolant bottle.
B. Check coolant freeze point in the radiator and in the
coolant bottle. If antifreeze needs to be added, contents of
coolant bottle also must be protected against freezing.
C. If frequent coolant additions are required, or if the
level in the coolant bottle does not drop when the engine
cools, the cooling system should be pressure tested for
leaks.
D. Maintain a minimum coolant concentration of 50%
ethylene glycol and distilled water.E. Make sure that the radiator and coolant bottle over-
flow hoses are not kinked or obstructed.
F. Keep the front of the radiator clean. If your vehicle is
equipped with air conditioning, keep the front of the
condenser clean also.
G. The thermostat should not be changed for summer or
winter operation. If replacement is ever necessary, install
ONLY the correct type thermostat. Other designs may
result in unsatisfactory cooling performance.
Emission Related Components
Fuel System Hoses And Vapor/Vacuum Harnesses
When the vehicle is serviced for scheduled maintenance,
inspect surface of hoses and nylon tubing for evidence of
heat and mechanical damage. Hard and brittle rubber,
cracking, checking, tears, cuts, abrasions, and excessive
swelling suggest deterioration of the rubber. Particular
316 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

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:
•Road salt, dirt and moisture accumulation.
•Stone and gravel impact.
•Insects, tree sap and tar.
•Salt in the air near seacoast localities.
•Atmospheric fallout/industrial pollutants.
Washing
•
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.
•If insects, tar or other similar deposits have accumu-
lated on your vehicle, wash it as soon as possible.
•Use Moparauto polish to remove road film and
stains and to polish your vehicle. Take care never to
scratch the paint.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 325
7

EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
The “Scheduled” maintenance services, listed inbold
typeon the following pages must be done at the times or
mileages specified to assure the continued proper func-
tioning of the emission control system. These, and all
other maintenance services included in this manual,
should be done to provide best vehicle performance and
reliability. More frequent maintenance may be needed for
vehicles in severe operating conditions such as dusty
areas and very short trip driving.
Inspection and service also should be done any time a
malfunction is suspected.
NOTE:Maintenance, replacement, or repair of the emis-
sion control devices and systems on your vehicle may be
performed by any automotive repair establishment or
individual using any automotive part which has been
certified pursuant to U.S. EPA or, in the State of Califor-
nia, California Air Resources Board regulations.
EMISSIONS TESTING
In some localities, it may be or will become a legal
requirement to ensure that all emissions components and
systems are functioning properly as a part of the test
procedure. The test center accomplishes this by checking
the On Board Diagnostic System (OBD) system with an
electronic scan tool. If your vehicle has recently been
serviced, the OBD system may have been reset to anot
readycondition because the OBD system has not had
sufficient time since the servicing to reconfirm that
emissions components are operating properly. In most
cases, a reasonable mix and amount of normal city and
highway driving and at least one overnight-off period
will be required to prepare your vehicle for this check;
however your dealer has the equipment and procedures
required to make certain that the OBD system of your
vehicle is ready for the required testing.
348 MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES
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Adding Fuel........................247,273
Air Cleaner, Engine (Engine Air Cleaner Filter) . . . 303
Air Conditioner Maintenance............... 307
Air Conditioning........................ 185
Air Conditioning, Operating Tips..........185,188
Air Conditioning Refrigerant.............307,308
Air Conditioning System................185,307
Air Filter.............................. 303
Air Pressure, Tires....................234,241
Airbag...........................41,55,158
Airbag Light............................ 54
Airbag On/Off Switch..................... 55
Alarm..............................27,154
Alarm, Panic............................ 24
Alignment and Balance................... 241
Alterations/Modifications, Vehicle............. 6
Antenna, Satellite Radio................... 181
Antifreeze (Engine Coolant)...........313,314,343
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)............221,222Anti-Lock Warning Light.................. 155
Anti-Theft System.....................27,154
Appearance Care........................ 325
Arming Theft System...................... 27
Auto Unlock, Doors....................... 18
Automatic Dimming Mirror................. 82
Automatic Door Locks..................... 18
Automatic Transaxle...................... 199
Automatic Transmission.............196,199,320
Adding Fluid......................... 321
Fluid and Filter Changes................. 322
Fluid Level Check...................... 320
Fluid Type........................322,345
Gear Ranges.......................... 199
Special Additives...................... 322
Torque Converter...................... 203
Axle Fluid............................. 345
Axle Lubrication........................ 323
376 INDEX