Page 211 of 302

MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
CONTENTS
2.4L Engine..........................213
2.7L Engine..........................214
Onboard Diagnostic System — OBD II......215
Emissions Inspection And Maintenance
Programs
............................216
Replacement Parts.....................217
Dealer Service........................217
Maintenance Procedures.................218
▫Engine Oil..........................218
▫Crankcase Emission Control System........224
▫Maintenance-Free Battery................225
▫Air Conditioner......................226▫Power Steering — Fluid Check............227
▫Suspension Ball Joints..................228
▫Body Mechanism Lubrication.............228
▫Windshield Wiper Blades................229
▫Windshield Washers...................230
▫Exhaust System......................231
▫Cooling System.......................232
▫Hoses And Vacuum/Vapor Harnesses.......236
▫Brakes.............................236
▫Fuel System Hoses....................239
▫Automatic Transmission................239
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Page 229 of 302

If you use a lubricant that cannot be dispensed directly
into the lock cylinder, apply a small amount of the
lubricant to the key. Insert the key into the lock cylinder,
then proceed as described above, to distribute the lubri-
cant within the lock cylinder. Pay attention to trunk
hinges, especially during cold weather, to ensure ease of
trunk operation.
Other Body Mechanisms
The following body mechanisms should be inspected
and, if necessary, all pivot and sliding contact areas of
these components should be lubricated with the lubricant
specified as follows:
Engine Oil
•
Door hinges
•Hood hinges
•Trunk hinges
Smooth White Body Lubricant - Such as Mopar
Spray White Lube or equivalent:
•
Hood hinge springs and links
•Lock cylinders
•Parking brake mechanism
•Trunk latches
•Ash tray
Windshield Wiper Blades
Clean the rubber edges of the wiper blades and the
windshield periodically with a sponge or soft cloth and a
mild non abrasive cleaner. This will remove accumula-
tions of salt or road film.
Operation of the wipers on dry glass for long periods
may cause deterioration of the wiper blades. Always use
washer fluid when using the wipers to remove salt or dirt
from a dry windshield. Avoid using the wiper blades to
remove frost or ice from the windshield. Keep the blade
rubber out of contact with petroleum products such as
engine oil, gasoline, etc.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 229
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Page 236 of 302

•Maintain coolant concentration at 50% HOAT engine
coolant (minimum) and distilled water for proper
corrosion protection of your engine which contains
aluminum components.
•Make sure that the radiator and coolant recovery
bottle overflow hoses are not kinked or obstructed.
•Keep the front of the radiator clean. If your vehicle is
equipped with air conditioning, keep the front of the
condenser clean, also.
•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 coolant performance, poor gas
mileage, and increased emissions.
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, checking, tears, cuts, abrasions,
and excessive swelling indicate deterioration of the rub-
ber.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 touch any heat source or
moving component that 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 couplings to make sure they are secure and no leaks
are present. Components should be replaced immedi-
ately if there is any evidence of degradation that could
cause failure.
Brakes
In order to assure brake system performance, all brake
system components should be inspected periodically.
Suggested service intervals can be found in section 8.
236 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
Page 237 of 302

WARNING!
Riding the brakes can lead to brake failure and
possibly an accident. Driving with your foot resting
or riding on the brake pedal can result in abnormally
high brake temperatures, excessive lining wear, and
possible brake damage. You may not have your full
braking capacity in an emergency.
Brake and Power Steering System Hoses
When servicing the vehicle 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, abrasion, and excessive
swelling suggest deterioration of the rubber. Particular
attention should be made to examining those hose sur-
faces nearest to high heat sources, such as the exhaust
manifold.
Inspect all hose clamps and couplings to make sure they
are secure and no leaks are present.
Insure nylon tubing in these areas has not melted or
collapsed.
NOTE:Often, fluids such as oil, power steering fluid,
and brake fluid are used during assembly plant opera-
tions to ease the assembly of hoses to couplings. There-
fore, oil wetness at the hose-coupling area is not neces-
sarily an indication of leakage. Actual dripping of hot
fluid when systems are under pressure (during vehicle
operation) should be noted before hose is replaced based
on leakage.
NOTE:Inspection of brake hoses should be done
whenever the brake system is serviced and every engine
oil change.
WARNING!
Worn brake hoses can burst and cause brake failure.
You could have an accident. If you see any signs of
cracking, scuffing, or worn spots, have the brake
hoses replaced immediately.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 237
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Page 238 of 302

Master Cylinder
The fluid level in the master cylinder should be checked
when performing under hood services, or immediately if
the brake system warning lamp shows system failure.
Be sure to clean the top of the master cylinder area before
removing the cap. If necessary, fill brake fluid reservoir to
the top of the fill mark chevron. With disc brakes, fluid
level can be expected to fall as the brake pads wear.
However, low fluid level may be caused by a leak and a
checkup may be needed.Use only manufacturer’s recommended brake fluid, refer
to Fluids, Lubricants and Genuine Parts for correct fluid
type.
WARNING!
Use of a brake fluid that has a lower initial boiling
point than MOPAR DOT 3 Brake Fluid or that is
unidentified as to DOT FMVSS specification may
result in sudden brake failure during hard or pro-
longed braking. You could have an accident.
WARNING!
Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can result in
spilling brake fluid on hot engine parts and the
brake fluid catching fire.
Use only brake fluid that has been in a tightly closed
container to avoid contamination from foreign matter.
Brake Fluid Reservoir
238 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
Page 239 of 302

Do not allow petroleum base fluid to contaminate the
brake fluid as seal damage will result!
Fuel System Hoses
Electronic Fuel Injection high pressure fuel systems are
designed with hoses and clamps which have unique
material characteristics to provide adequate sealing and
resist attack by deteriorated gasoline.
You are urged to use only manufacturer specified hoses
and clamps, or their equivalent in material and specifi-
cation, in any fuel system servicing. It is mandatory to
replace all clamps that have been loosened or removed
during service. Care should be taken in installing new
clamps to insure they are properly torqued.
Automatic Transmission
Your front wheel drive vehicle has a transmission and
differential assembly contained within a single housing.
This is referred to as a “Transaxle.”
Selection of Lubricant
It is important that the proper lubricant is used in the
transmission to assure optimum transmission perfor-
mance. Use only manufacturers recommended transmis-
sion fluid, refer to Fluids, Lubricants and Genuine Parts
for correct fluid type. It is important that the transmission
fluid be maintained at the prescribed level using the
recommended fluid.
CAUTION!
Using a transmission fluid other than the manufac-
turers recommended fluid may cause deterioration
in transmission shift quality and/or torque converter
shudder. Using a transmission fluid other than the
manufacturers recommended fluid will result in
more frequent fluid and filter changes. Refer to
Fluids, Lubricants and Genuine Parts for correct
fluid type.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 239
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Page 240 of 302

Procedure For Checking Fluid Level
The fluid level in the automatic transaxle should be
checked whenever the vehicle is serviced. Operation with
an improper fluid level will greatly reduce the life of the
transaxle and of the fluid.
To properly check the automatic transaxle fluid level, the
following procedure must be used:
•The vehicle must be on level ground.
•The engine should be running at curb idle speed for a
minimum of 60 seconds.
•Fully apply parking brake.
•Place the gear selector momentarily in each gear
position ending with the lever in P (PARK).
•Wipe the dipstick clean and reinsert until seated.
Remove dipstick and note reading.
•If the fluid is cold (80°F / 27°C), the reading should be
in the cross hatched area marked “COLD” (between
the lower two holes in the dipstick).
•If the fluid is hot (180°F / 82°C), the reading should be
in the cross hatched area marked ”HOT” (between the
upper two holes in the dipstick).
•If the fluid level shows low, add sufficient transmis-
sion fluid to bring to the proper level.
CAUTION!
Do not overfill. Dirt and water in the transaxle can
cause serious damage. To prevent dirt and water
from entering the transaxle after checking or replen-
ishing fluid, make certain that the dipstick cap is
seated properly.
Fluid and Filter Changes
Automatic transmission fluid and filter should be
changed as follows:
Maintenance schedule “A”— No change necessary.
Maintenance schedule “B”— Every 60,000 miles (96 000
km) change fluid and filter under the following condi-
tions:
240 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
Page 249 of 302
Cavity Fuse Circuit
1 30 Amp
GreenBlower Motor
2 10 Amp Red Right High Beam Head-
light, High Beam Indica-
tor
3 10 Amp Red Left High Beam Head-
light
4 15 Amp
BluePower Door Lock Switch
Illumination, Power Top
Switch, Transmission
Range Switch, Daytime
Running Light Module
(Canada), Power Win-
dows, Anti-lock Brake
System ModuleCavity Fuse Circuit
5 10 Amp Red Power Door Lock and
Door Lock Arm/Disarm
Switches, Vanity, Read-
ing, Map, Rear Seating,
Ignition, and Trunk
Lights, Illuminated Entry,
Radio, Power Antenna,
Data Link Connector,
Body Control Module,
Power Amplifier
6 10 Amp Red Heated Rear Window
Indicator
7 20 Amp Yel-
lowInstrument cluster illumi-
nation, Park and tail
Lights
8 20 Amp Yel-
lowPower Receptacle, Horns,
Ignition, Fuel, Start
9 15 Amp
BluePower Door Lock Motors
(Body Control Module)
10 20 Amp Yel-
lowDaytime Running Light
Module (Canada)
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 249
7