2005 DODGE MAGNUM coolant temperature

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DESCRIPTIONS
1. Fuel Gauge
The pointer shows the level of fuel in the fuel tank when
the ignition switch is in the ON position.
2. Trip Odometer Button
Standard Cluster
The wordTRIPwill appear when this button is pressed.
Push in and hold the button for two seconds when the
trip odometer is displayed to reset it to 0 miles or
kilometers. A second press of the button will display the
outside temperature in the odometer.
Premium Cluster
Press this button to change the display from odometer to
either of the two trip odometer settings. The letter“A”or
“B”will appear when in the trip odometer mode. Push in
and hold the button for two seconds to reset the trip
odometer to 0 miles or kilometers. The odometer must be
in trip mode to reset.
3. Speedometer
Indicates vehicle speed.
4. Tachometer
The red segments indicate the maximum permissible
engine revolutions-per-minute (r.p.m. x 1000) for each
gear range. Before reaching the red area, ease up on the
accelerator.
5. Temperature Gauge
The temperature gauge shows engine coolant tempera-
ture. Any reading within the normal range indicates that
the engine cooling system is operating satisfactorily.
The gauge pointer will likely indicate a higher tempera-
ture when driving in hot weather, up mountain grades,
or when towing a trailer. It should not be allowed to
exceed the upper limits of the normal operating range.
134 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

CAUTION!
Driving with a hot engine cooling system could
damage your vehicle. If temperature gauge reads (H),
pull over and stop the vehicle. Idle the vehicle with
the air conditioner turned off until the pointer drops
back into the normal range. If the pointer remains on
the“H”, and you hear a chime, turn the engine off
immediately, and call for service.
WARNING!
A hot engine cooling system is dangerous. You or
others could be badly burned by steam or boiling
coolant. You may want to call a service center if your
vehicle overheats. If you decide to look under the
hood yourself, see Section 7 of this manual. Follow
the warnings under the Cooling System Pressure
Cap paragraph.
6. Turn Signal Indicators
The arrow will flash with the exterior turn signal
when the turn signal lever is operated.
If the vehicle electronics sense that the vehicle has
traveled about one mile with the turn signals on, a chime
will sound to alert you to turn the signals off. If either
indicator flashes at a rapid rate, check for a defective
outside light bulb.
7. Airbag Light
This light turns on and remains on for 6 to 8
seconds as a bulb check when the ignition
switch is first turned ON. If the light is not
on during starting, stays on, or turns on
while driving, have the system inspected by an autho-
rized dealer as soon as possible.
8. Engine Temperature Warning Light
This light illuminates, and will be accompanied
by a single chime to warn of an overheated
engine condition. The engine temperature is
critically hot, and the vehicle should be turned off
immediately. The vehicle should be serviced as soon
as possible.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 135
4

NOTE:There are steps that you can take to slow down
an impending overheat condition. If your air conditioner
is on, turn it off. The air conditioning system adds heat to
the engine cooling system and turning off the A/C
removes this heat. You can also turn the Temperature
control to maximum heat, the Mode control to floor, and
the fan control to High. This allows the heater core to act
as a supplement to the radiator and aids in removing heat
from the engine cooling system.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could damage
your vehicle. If temperature gauge reads“H”, pull
over and stop the vehicle. Idle the vehicle with the
air conditioner turned off until the pointer drops
back into the normal range. If the pointer remains on
the“H”, turn the engine off immediately, and call for
service.
WARNING!
A hot engine cooling system is dangerous. You or
others could be badly burned by steam or boiling
coolant. You may want to call a service center if your
vehicle overheats. If you decide to look under the
hood yourself, see Section 7, Maintenance, of this
manual. Follow the warnings under the Cooling
System Pressure Cap paragraph.
JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING
WARNING!
Do not attempt to change a tire on the side of the
vehicle close to moving traffic. Pull far enough off
the road to avoid the danger of being hit when
operating the jack or changing the wheel.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 257
6

Cooling System
Inspection
WARNING!
•When working near the radiator cooling fan, turn
the ignition key to the OFF position. The fan is
temperature controlled and can start at any time
when the ignition key is in the ON position.
•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.
Never try to open a cooling system pressure cap
when the radiator is hot.
Coolant Checks
Coolant protection checks should be made every 12
months (prior to the onset of freezing weather, where
applicable). If coolant is dirty or rusty in appearance, the
system should be drained, flushed and refilled with fresh
coolant. Check the front of the A/C condenser for anyaccumulation of bugs, leaves, etc. If dirty, clean by gently
spraying water from a garden hose vertically down the
face of the condenser.
Check the cooling system hoses for brittle rubber, crack-
ing, tears, cuts and tightness of the connection at the
bottle and radiator. Inspect the entire system for leaks.
Cooling System—Drain, Flush and Refill
At the intervals shown in the appropriate maintenance
schedule, the system should be drained, flushed and
refilled.
If the solution is dirty or 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. Properly dispose of old
antifreeze solution.
Selection Of Coolant
Use only the manufacturers recommended coolant, refer
to Recommended Fluids, Lubricants and Genuine Parts
for correct coolant type.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 295
7

CAUTION!
•Mixing of coolants other than the specified HOAT
coolant may result in decreased corrosion protec-
tion and engine damage that may not be covered
under the new vehicle warranty. If a non-HOAT
coolant is introduced into the cooling system in an
emergency, it should be replaced with the speci-
fied coolant as soon as possible.
•Do not use plain water alone or alcohol base
antifreeze products. Do not use additional rust
inhibitors or antirust products, as they may not be
compatible with the radiator coolant and may
plug the radiator.
•This vehicle has not been designed for use with
Propylene Glycol based coolants. Use of Propy-
lene Glycol based coolants is not recommended.
Adding Coolant
When adding coolant, or refilling the system, a minimum
of 50% solution of ethylene glycol antifreeze coolant inwater should be used. Higher concentrations (not to
exceed 70%) are required if temperatures below
34°F
(
37°C) are anticipated.
Use only high purity water such as distilled or deionized
water when mixing the water/antifreeze 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.
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 coolant bottle from the overflow tank. The
coolant pressure cap should be inspected and cleaned if
there is any accumulation of foreign material on the
sealing surfaces.
296 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

If an examination of your engine compartment shows no
evidence of radiator or hose leaks, the vehicle may be
safely driven. The vapor will soon dissipate.
•Do not overfill the coolant bottle.
•Check coolant freeze point in the system.
•If frequent coolant additions are required, the cooling
system should be pressure tested for leaks.
•Maintain coolant concentration at 50% ethylene glycol
antifreeze (minimum) in water for proper corrosion
protection of your engine which contains aluminum
components.
•Make sure that the radiator and coolant bottle hoses
are not kinked or obstructed.
•Keep the front of the radiator and the front of the A/C
condenser clean.
•Do not change the thermostat for summer or winter
operation. If replacement is ever necessary, install
ONLY the correct type thermostat. Other designs may
result in unsatisfactory cooling performance.
•Increasing engine speed at idle does not reduce cool-
ant temperature! Put transmission in NEUTRAL and
let engine idle at normal engine idle speed.
Hoses And Vacuum/Vapor Harnesses
Inspect surfaces of hoses and nylon tubing for evidence
of heat and mechanical damage. Hard or soft spots,
brittle rubber, cracking, tears, cuts, abrasions, and exces-
sive swelling indicate deterioration of the rubber.
Pay particular attention to those hoses nearest to high
heat sources such as the exhaust manifold. Inspect hose
routing to be sure hoses do not come in contact with any
heat source or moving component which may cause heat
damage or mechanical wear.
Insure nylon tubing in these areas has not melted or
collapsed.
Inspect all hose connections such as clamps and cou-
plings to make sure they are secure and no leaks are
present.
Components should be replaced immediately if there is
any evidence of wear or damage that could cause failure.
298 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Adding Fuel.......................... 247
Adding Washer Fluid..................97,293
Additives, Fuel........................ 245
Adjustable Pedals....................... 88
Air Conditioner Maintenance.............. 290
Air Conditioning....................... 185
Air Conditioning Filter................194,291
Air Conditioning, Operating Tips........... 195
Air Conditioning Refrigerant.............. 291
Air Conditioning System................. 185
Air Pressure, Tires...................... 229
Airbag................................ 36
Airbag Deployment....................40,41
Airbag Light....................40,47,58,135
Airbag Maintenance...................... 43
Airbag, Side........................... 42
Airbag, Window......................37,42
Alarm System.......................... 24
Alignment and Balance.................. 235
All Wheel Drive.....................235,302
Alterations/Modifications, Vehicle............ 7
Antenna, Satellite Radio.................. 180
Antifreeze Disposal..................... 297Antifreeze (Engine Coolant).........295,296,319
Anti-Lock Brake System.................. 216
Anti-Lock Warning Light................. 140
Anti-Theft Security Alarm................. 24
Appearance Care....................... 303
Auto Down Power Windows............... 28
Automatic Dimming Mirror................ 62
Automatic Door Locks..................17,18
Automatic Temperature Control............ 188
Automatic Transaxle..................... 301
Adding Fluid........................ 321
Selection Of Lubricant................. 321
Automatic Transmission............201,206,302
Adding Fluid........................ 302
Fluid and Filter Changes................ 302
Fluid Change........................ 302
Fluid Level Check..................... 301
Gear Ranges......................... 202
Torque Converter..................... 204
Automatic Transmission Limp Home Mode . . . 205
Autostick..........................208,213
Ball Joints............................ 292
350 INDEX

Electrical Power Outlets.................. 115
Electronic Speed Control................. 103
Electronic Stability Program............... 101
Electronic Vehicle Information Center........ 141
Emergency, In Case of
Overheating......................... 256
Emission Control System Maintenance....279,324
Engine............................276,277
Air Cleaner.......................... 287
Air Cleaner Filter..................... 287
Block Heater......................... 201
Break-In Recommendations............... 56
Checking Oil Level.................281,282
Compartment.....................276,277
Coolant............................ 320
Cooling............................ 295
Exhaust Gas Caution................26,246
Fails to Start......................... 200
Fuel Requirements.................243,319
Oil ..........................281,319,320
Oil Change Interval................... 283
Oil Selection......................284,319
Oil Synthetic......................... 286Overheating......................... 256
Temperature Gauge................... 134
Enhanced Accident Response Feature......... 42
Event Data Recorder..................... 47
Exhaust Gas Caution.............26,57,246,294
Exhaust System........................ 294
Exterior Folding Mirrors.................. 63
Filters
Air Cleaner.......................... 287
Air Conditioning..................194,291
Engine Fuel......................... 287
Engine Oil.......................286,320
Engine Oil Disposal................... 286
Flashers
Hazard Warning...................... 256
Turn Signal.......................... 135
Flash-To-Pass........................... 95
Flat Tire Changing...................... 257
Floor Console.......................... 118
Fluid Capacities........................ 319
Fluid Leaks............................ 58
INDEX 353
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