2006 CHRYSLER 300 LX radiator cap

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 HI. 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 275
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Cooling System
WARNING!
•When working near the radiator cooling fan, dis-
connect the fan motor lead or turn the ignition
switch to the OFF position. The fan is temperature
controlled and can start at any time the ignition
switch 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
Check engine coolant (antifreeze) protection every 12
months (before 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 any
accumulation of bugs, leaves, etc. If dirty, clean by gently
spraying water from a garden hose vertically down the
face of the condenser.
Check the coolant recovery bottle tubing for brittle rub-
ber, cracking, tears, cuts and tightness of the connection
at the bottle and radiator. Inspect the entire system for
leaks.
With the engine at normal operating temperature (but
not running), check the cooling system pressure cap for
proper vacuum sealing by draining a small amount of
coolant from the radiator drain cock. If the cap is sealing
properly, the engine coolant (antifreeze) will begin to
drain from the coolant recovery bottle. DO NOT RE-
MOVE THE COOLANT PRESSURE CAP WHEN THE
COOLING SYSTEM IS HOT.
312 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
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Adding Coolant
Your vehicle has been built with an improved engine
coolant that allows extended maintenance intervals. This
coolant can be used up to 5 Years or 100,000 miles (160
000 km) before replacement. To prevent reducing this
extended maintenance period, it is important that you
use the same coolant throughout the life of your vehicle.
Please review these recommendations for using Hybrid
Organic Additive Technology (HOAT) coolant.
When adding coolant, a minimum solution of 50% rec-
ommended MoparAntifreeze/Coolant 5 Year/100,000
Mile Formula HOAT (Hybrid Organic Additive Technol-
ogy), or equivalent, in water should be used. Use higher
concentrations (not to exceed 70%) if temperatures below

34°F(
37°C) 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.
Cooling System Pressure Cap
The cap must be fully tightened to prevent loss of
coolant, and to insure that coolant will return to the
radiator from the coolant recovery bottle.
The cap should be inspected and cleaned if there is any
accumulation of foreign material on the sealing surfaces.
314 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
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WARNING!
•The warning words“DO NOT OPEN HOT”on
the cooling system pressure cap are a safety pre-
caution. Never add coolant when the engine is
overheated. Do not loosen or remove the cap to
cool an overheated engine. Heat causes pressure
to build up in the cooling system. To prevent
scalding or injury, do not remove the pressure cap
while the system is hot or under pressure.
•Do not use a pressure cap other than the one
specified for your vehicle. Personal injury or
engine damage may result.
Disposal of Used Engine Coolant
Used ethylene glycol based engine coolant is a regulated
substance requiring proper disposal. Check with your
local authorities to determine the disposal rules for your
community. To prevent ingestion by animals or children
do not store ethylene glycol based engine coolant in open
containers or allow it to remain in puddles on theground. If ingested by a child, contact a physician
immediately. Clean up any ground spills immediately.
Coolant Level
The coolant bottle provides a quick visual method for
determining that the coolant level is adequate. With the
engine off and cold, the level of the coolant in the bottle
should be between the ranges indicated on the bottle.
The radiator normally remains completely full, so there is
no need to remove the radiator cap unless checking for
coolant freeze point or replacing coolant. Advise your
service attendant of this. As long as the engine operating
temperature is satisfactory, the coolant bottle need only
be checked once a month.
When additional coolant is needed to maintain the
proper level, it should be added to the coolant bottle. Do
not overfill.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 315
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Ball Joints............................ 309
Battery............................... 306
Jump Starting........................ 282
Keyless Transmitter Replacement (RKE)..... 24
Location.........................283,306
Bearings.............................. 321
Belts, Drive........................... 303
Body Mechanism Lubrication.............. 309
B-Pillar Location....................... 239
Brake Assist System..................... 116
Brake, Parking......................... 223
Brake System.......................225,317
Anti-Lock (ABS)...................... 225
Fluid Check......................318,347
Hoses.............................. 317
Warning Light....................... 144
Brake/Transmission Interlock.............. 222
Break-In Recommendations, New Vehicle...... 60
Bulb Replacement...................... 334
Bulbs, Light........................... 333
Calibration, Compass.................... 155
Capacities, Fluid....................... 344Caps, Filler
Fuel............................... 257
Radiator (Coolant Pressure).............. 314
Car Washes........................... 322
Carbon Monoxide Warning.............60,256
Cargo Tie-Downs....................... 135
Cassette Tape and Player Maintenance....... 191
Catalytic Converter..................... 304
CD (Compact Disc) Player.............164,171
Cellular Phone.......................... 70
Chains, Tire........................... 251
Changing A Flat Tire.................... 275
Chart, Tire Sizing....................... 236
Child Restraint...................52,55,56,58
Child Restraint Tether Anchors............. 56
Child Safety Locks....................... 19
Clean Air Gasoline...................... 254
Climate Control........................ 192
Clock.......................162,166,172,188
Compact Disc (CD) Maintenance........... 192
Compact Spare Tire..................... 246
Compass............................. 154
Compass Calibration.................... 155
INDEX 375
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Compass Variance...................... 155
Computer, Trip/Travel................... 153
Console.............................. 135
Console, Floor......................... 135
Console, Overhead...................... 122
Contract, Service....................... 368
Coolant Pressure Cap.................... 314
Cooling System........................ 312
Adding Coolant (Antifreeze)............. 314
Coolant Capacity..................... 344
Coolant Level.....................312,315
Disposal of Used Coolant............... 315
Drain, Flush, and Refill................. 313
Inspection........................... 315
Points to Remember................... 316
Pressure Cap........................ 314
Radiator Cap........................ 314
Selection of Coolant (Antifreeze)....313,344,346
Cruise Control (Speed Control)............. 119
Cup Holder........................133,325
Customer Assistance.................... 366
Data Recorder, Event..................... 51Dealer Service......................... 297
Defroster, Rear Window.................. 193
Defroster, Windshield...............61,195,200
Delay (Intermittent) Wipers............... 109
Diagnostic System, Onboard............... 295
Dimmer Switch, Headlight................ 106
Disposal
Antifreeze (Engine Coolant)............. 315
Door Locks............................ 15
Door Locks, Automatic................... 17
Door Opener, Garage.................... 123
Drive Belts............................ 303
Driving
On Slippery Surfaces.................. 284
DVD Player (Video Entertainment System).... 186
Electric Remote Mirrors................... 69
Electrical Power Outlets.................. 131
Electronic Speed Control (Cruise Control)..... 119
Electronic Stability Program (ESP).......... 117
Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) . . 150
Emergency, In Case of
Freeing Vehicle When Stuck............. 285
376 INDEX
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Synthetic........................... 302
Viscosity.........................301,344
Onboard Diagnostic System............295,296
Opener, Garage Door (HomeLink) ......... 123
Operator Manual (Owner’s Manual).......... 4
Overhead Console...................... 122
Overheating, Engine..................146,274
Owner’s Manual (Operator Manual).......4,369
Panic Alarm........................... 22
Park Assist System, Rear................. 114
Parking Brake......................... 223
Parking On Hill........................ 224
Passing Light.......................... 106
Pedals, Adjustable....................... 98
Personal Settings....................... 158
Pets.................................. 59
Phone, Cellular......................... 70
Phone, Hands-Free (UConnect™) ............ 70
Placard, Tire and Loading Information....... 239
Power
Brakes............................. 225
Distribution Center.................... 326Door Locks.......................... 16
Mirrors............................. 69
Outlet (Auxiliary Electrical Outlet)........ 131
Seats............................... 90
Steering............................ 228
Steering, Checking.................... 309
Sunroof............................ 128
Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column......... 112
Windows............................ 26
Pregnant Women and Seat Belts............. 38
Preparation for Jacking................... 276
Pretensioners
Seat Belts............................ 36
Programmable Electronic Features....124,127,158
Programming Transmitters
(Remote Keyless Entry)...............124,127
Radial Ply Tires........................ 246
Radiator Cap (Coolant Pressure Cap)........ 314
Radio Broadcast Signals.................. 163
Radio Operation..................164,171,192
Radio Remote Controls.................. 189
Radio, Satellite......................... 183
382 INDEX
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