2005 DODGE STRATUS COUPE suspension

Special additives
DaimlerChrysler does not recommend the addition of
any fluid additives to the transaxle.
MANUAL TRANSAXLE
Add oil to maintain the proper level. Refill or change oil
according to the scheduled maintenance table.
Lubricant Gear Oil Classification GL-4
Viscosity range SAE75W-90 or 75W-85W
DISC BRAKE PADS, REAR DRUM BRAKE
LININGS AND REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS
Proper brakes are essential to safe operation of your
vehicle. Check brake pads and rear brake linings for
wear, and check rear wheel cylinders for leakage.
For proper braking performance, replace brake pads with
original equipment type pads.
BRAKE HOSES
Brake hoses and tubing should be checked for:
1. Severe surface cracking, scuffing or worn spots. If the
casing of the hose is exposed by cracks or abrasions in therubber hose cover, the hose should be replaced. Deterio-
ration of the hose could cause brake failure.
2. Faulty installation may cause twisting, or wheel, tire
or chassis interference.
BALL JOINT, STEERING LINKAGE SEAL AND
DRIVE SHAFT BOOTS
Check the following parts for damage and grease leak-
age:
1. Ball joint boots of the front suspension and steering
linkage
2. Bellows on both ends of the drive shaft
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS)
The entire SRS system must be inspected by an autho-
rized dealer 10 years after the vehicle manufacture date
shown on the certification label. [See ªSRS servicingº on
page 101.]
MAINTENANCE 331
9

Tire pressure for sustained high-speed driving
For sustained high-speed driving, increase inflation pres-
sure 4 psi (28 kPa) above the recommended pressure but
do not exceed the maximum cold inflation pressure
molded into the tire sidewall.
Replacing tire and wheels
CAUTION!
²Avoid using different size tires from the one listed
and the combined use of different types of tires,
as this can affect driving safety.
Refer to the(TIRES AND WHEELS(on page 377.
²Even if a wheel has the same rim size and offset as
the specified type of wheel, its shape may prevent
it from being fitted correctly. Consult an autho-
rized dealer before using wheels that you have.
Tire maintenance
The following maintenance steps are recommended:
1. Check pressure regularly.
2. Maintain wheel balance and front suspension align-
ment.3. Rotate tires regularly in accordance with the recom-
mendation in the section ªTire rotationº on page 347.
Loading information
WARNING!
Overloading of your tire is dangerous. Overloading can
cause tire failure, affect vehicle handling, and increase
your stopping distance. Use tires of the recommended
load capacity for your vehicle. Never overload them.
It is important to familiarize yourself with the following
terms before loading your vehicle:
²Vehicle maximum load on the tire : load on an indi-
vidual tire that is determined by distributing to each
axle its share of the maximum loaded vehicle weight
and dividing by two.
342 MAINTENANCE

!24,000 Miles (38 000 km) or at 24 months
NCheck automatic transaxle fluid level.
NInspect disc brake pads, rotors and calipers for
wear and leaks.
NCheck brake hoses for deterioration or leaks.
NInspect drive shaft boots for grease leaks and
damage.
NChange engine oil and engine oil filter.
NRotate tires.
MILEAGE/
MONTHSDEALERSHIP
NAME/CODE DATEREPAIR
ORDER #
!30,000 Miles (48 000 km) or at 30 months
NReplace air cleaner filter.
NReplace spark plugs, standard type.
NCheck drive belts condition (for the generator,
water pump, power steering pump).
NCheck manual transaxle oil level.
NCheck coolant hoses (radiator hose, heater hose).
NCheck fuel hoses condition.
NInspect rear drum brake linings and rear wheel
cylinders (except vehicles with disc brakes) for
wear and leaks of all wheels.
NInspect ball joint and steering linkage seals for
grease leaks and damage.
NInspect suspension system for looseness and dam-
age.
NCheck and service exhaust system as required
(connection portion of muffler, muffler pipes and
converter heat shields).
MILEAGE/
MONTHSDEALERSHIP
NAME/CODE DATEREPAIR
ORDER #
350 MAINTENANCE

!60,000 Miles (96 000 km) or at 60 months
NInspect suspension system for looseness and dam-
age.
NInspect ball joint and steering linkage seals for
grease leaks and damage.
NCheck and service exhaust system as required
(connection portion of muffler, muffler pipes and
converter heat shields).
NCheck fuel system for leak
(tank, pipe line and connection, and fuel tank
filler tube cap).
NCheck evaporative emission control system for
leaks and clogging (except evaporative emission
canister).
NCheck distributor cap and rotor.
NChange engine oil and engine oil filter.
NRotate tires.
MILEAGE/
MONTHSDEALERSHIP
NAME/CODE DATEREPAIR
ORDER #
!66,000 Miles (106 000 km) or at 66 months
NChange engine oil and engine oil filter.
NRotate tires.
MILEAGE/
MONTHSDEALERSHIP
NAME/CODE DATEREPAIR
ORDER #
!72,000 Miles (115 000 km) or at 72 months
NCheck automatic transaxle fluid level.
NInspect disc brake pads, rotors and calipers for
wear.
NCheck brake hoses for deterioration or leaks.
NInspect drive shaft boots for grease leaks and
damage.
NChange engine oil and engine oil filter.
NRotate tires.
MILEAGE/
MONTHSDEALERSHIP
NAME/CODE DATEREPAIR
ORDER #
MAINTENANCE 353
9

!78,000 Miles (125 000 km) or at 78 months
NChange engine oil and engine oil filter.
NRotate tires.
MILEAGE/
MONTHSDEALERSHIP
NAME/CODE DATEREPAIR
ORDER #
!84,000 Miles (134 000 km) or at 84 months
NCheck automatic transaxle fluid level.
NInspect disc brake pads, rotors and calipers for
wear.
NCheck brake hoses for deterioration or leaks.
NInspect drive shaft boots for grease leaks and
damage.
NChange engine oil and engine oil filter.
NRotate tires.
MILEAGE/
MONTHSDEALERSHIP
NAME/CODE DATEREPAIR
ORDER #
!90,000 Miles (144 000 km) or at 90 months
NReplace air cleaner filter.
NReplace spark plugs, standard type.
NCheck drive belts condition (for the generator,
water pump, power steering pump).
NCheck manual transaxle oil level.
NCheck fuel hoses condition.
NCheck automatic transaxle fluid level.
NFlush and replace engine coolant.
NInspect rear drum brake linings and rear wheel
cylinders (except vehicles with disc brakes) for
wear and leaks of all wheels.
NInspect ball joint and steering linkage seals for
grease leaks and damage.
NInspect suspension system for looseness and damage.
NCheck and service exhaust system as required
(connection portion of muffler, muffler pipes and
converter heat shields).
MILEAGE/
MONTHSDEALERSHIP
NAME/CODE DATEREPAIR
ORDER #
354 MAINTENANCE

!114,000 Miles (183 000 km) or at 114 months
NChange engine oil and engine oil filter.
NRotate tires.
MILEAGE/
MONTHSDEALERSHIP
NAME/CODE DATEREPAIR
ORDER #
!120,000 Miles (192 000 km) or at 120 months
NReplace air cleaner filter.
NReplace spark plugs, standard type.
NReplace timing belt.*1
*1:For California, Massachusetts and Vermont this
maintenance is recommended but not required.
NChange automatic transaxle fluid.
NCheck drive belts condition (for the generator,
water pump, power steering pump).
NCheck manual transaxle oil level.
NCheck fuel hoses condition.
MILEAGE/
MONTHSDEALERSHIP
NAME/CODE DATEREPAIR
ORDER #
!120,000 Miles (192 000 km) or at 120 months
NFlush and replace engine coolant.
NInspect rear drum brake linings and rear wheel
cylinders (except vehicles with disc brakes) for
wear and leaks of all wheels.
NInspect disc brake pads, rotors and calipers for
wear and leaks.
NInspect suspension system for looseness and dam-
age.
NInspect ball joint and steering linkage seals for
grease leaks and damage.
NCheck and service exhaust system as required
(connection portion of muffler, muffler pipes and
converter heat shields).
MILEAGE/
MONTHSDEALERSHIP
NAME/CODE DATEREPAIR
ORDER #
356 MAINTENANCE

!120,000 Miles (192 000 km) or at 120 months
NCheck fuel system for leak
(tank, pipe line and connection, and fuel tank
filler tube cap).
NCheck evaporative emission control system for
leaks and clogging (except evaporative emission
canister).
NCheck distributor cap and rotor.
NChange engine oil and engine oil filter.
NRotate tires.
NInspect SRS*2airbag system.
*2: Supplemental Restraint System
MILEAGE/
MONTHSDEALERSHIP
NAME/CODE DATEREPAIR
ORDER #
SEVERE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE
The content and mileage interval can vary depending on
model.
!3,000 Miles (5 000 km) or at 3 months
NChange engine oil and engine oil filter.
NRotate tires.
MILEAGE/
MONTHSDEALERSHIP
NAME/CODE DATEREPAIR
ORDER #
!6,000 Miles (10 000 km) or at 6 months
NChange engine oil and engine oil filter.
NInspect disc brake pads, rotors and calipers for
wear and leaks.
NRotate tires.
NInspect suspension system for looseness and dam-
age.
MILEAGE/
MONTHSDEALERSHIP
NAME/CODE DATEREPAIR
ORDER #
MAINTENANCE 357
9

!9,000 Miles (14 000 km) or at 9 months
NChange engine oil and engine oil filter.
NRotate tires.
MILEAGE/
MONTHSDEALERSHIP
NAME/CODE DATEREPAIR
ORDER #
!12,000 Miles (19 000 km) or at 12 months
NCheck automatic transaxle fluid level.
NCheck brake hoses for deterioration or leaks.
NInspect drive shaft boots for grease leaks and
damage.
NChange engine oil and engine oil filter.
NRotate tires.
NInspect suspension system for looseness and dam-
age.
MILEAGE/
MONTHSDEALERSHIP
NAME/CODE DATEREPAIR
ORDER #
!15,000 Miles (24 000 km) or at 15 months
NReplace air cleaner filter.
NReplace spark plugs, standard type.
NInspect rear drum brake linings and rear wheel
cylinders (except vehicles with disc brakes) for
wear and leaks of all wheels.
NChange engine oil and engine oil filter.
NRotate tires.
MILEAGE/
MONTHSDEALERSHIP
NAME/CODE DATEREPAIR
ORDER #
358 MAINTENANCE