
Cooling System
WARNING!
You or others can be badly burned by hot antifreeze/
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 or coolant bottle is hot.
Engine Coolant Checks
Check antifreeze/coolant protection every 12 months
(before the onset of freezing weather, where applicable).
If antifreeze/coolant is dirty or rusty in appearance, the
system should be drained, flushed and refilled with fresh
antifreeze/coolant. Check the front of the A/C condenserfor 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 engine cooling system hoses for brittle rubber,
cracking, tears, cuts, and tightness of the connection at
the coolant recovery 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 antifreeze/coolant will begin to drain from
the coolant recovery bottle. DO NOT REMOVE THE
COOLANT PRESSURE CAP WHEN THE COOLING
SYSTEM IS HOT.
364 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 

Adding Engine Coolant
Your vehicle has been built with an improved antifreeze/
coolant that allows extended maintenance intervals. This
antifreeze/coolant can be used up to 5 Years or 100,000
miles before replacement. To prevent reducing this ex-
tended maintenance period, it is important that you use
the same antifreeze/coolant throughout the life of your
vehicle. Please review these recommendations for using
Hybrid Organic Additive Technology (HOAT)
antifreeze/coolant.
When adding antifreeze/coolant, a minimum solution of
50% recommended MoparAntifreeze/ Coolant 5 Year/
100,000 Mile Formula HOAT (Hybrid Organic Additive
Technology), 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/antifreeze (coolant) solu-
tion. 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 antifreeze/coolant types will decrease
the life of the antifreeze/coolant and will require more
frequent antifreeze/coolant changes.
Cooling System Pressure Cap
The cap must be fully tightened to prevent loss of
antifreeze/coolant, and to insure that antifreeze/coolant
will return to the radiator from the coolant recovery tank.
366 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 

The cap should be inspected and cleaned if there is any
accumulation of foreign material on the sealing surfaces.
WARNING!
The warning words DO NOT OPEN HOT on the
cooling system pressure cap are a safety precaution.
Never add antifreeze/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.
Disposal of Used Engine Coolant
Used ethylene glycol-based antifreeze/coolant is a regu-
lated substance requiring proper disposal. Check with
your local authorities to determine the disposal rules for
your community. To prevent ingestion by animals andchildren, do not store ethylene glycol-based antifreeze/
coolant in open containers or allow it to remain in
puddles on the ground. If ingested by a child, contact a
physician immediately. Clean up any ground spills im-
mediately.
Engine Coolant Level
The coolant bottle provides a quick visual method for
determining that the antifreeze/coolant level is adequate.
With the engine idling, and warm to normal operating
temperature, the level of the antifreeze/coolant in the
bottle should be between the ranges indicated on the
bottle.
The radiator normally remains completely full, so there is
not need to remove the radiator cap unless checking for
antifreeze/coolant freeze point or replacing antifreeze/
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.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 367
7 

Auxiliary Electrical Outlet (Power Outlet)...... 162
Auxiliary Power Outlet................... 162
Battery............................... 358
Emergency Starting..................... 336
Keyless Transmitter Replacement (RKE)....... 23
Saving Feature (Protection)............... 122
Belts, Drive............................ 354
Belts, Seat.............................. 32
Body Mechanism Lubrication............... 362
B-Pillar Location........................ 283
Brake Assist System...................... 133
Brake Control System, Electronic............. 131
Brake System........................... 369
Anti-Lock (ABS)....................131,269
Hoses.............................. 370
Master Cylinder....................... 370
Parking............................. 267
Warning Light........................ 180Brake/Transmission Interlock............... 255
Break-In Recommendations, New Vehicle........ 68
Bulb Replacement.....................386,387
Capacities, Fluid........................ 392
Caps, Filler
Fuel................................ 306
Radiator (Coolant Pressure)............... 366
Car Washes............................ 376
Carbon Monoxide Warning............69,153,305
Cargo Area Cover....................... 166
Cargo Area Features...................... 165
Cargo Compartment...................... 165
Light............................... 165
Luggage Carrier....................... 171
Cargo Light............................ 165
Cargo Load Floor........................ 169
Cargo Tie-Downs........................ 167
Catalytic Converter...................... 355
INDEX 425
10 

Caution, Exhaust Gas..................... 153
CD (Compact Disc) Player...............202,216
Cellular Phone.......................... 83
Center High Mounted Stop Light............ 391
Chains, Tire............................ 300
Changing A Flat Tire..................... 330
Chart, Tire Sizing........................ 280
Checks, Safety........................... 70
Child Restraint......................58,64,66
Child Restraint Tether Anchors.............62,64
Child Safety Locks........................ 17
Climate Control......................... 233
Clock...........................204,218,225
Compact Disc (CD) Maintenance............. 232
Compass.............................. 195
Compass Variance....................... 200
Computer, Trip/Travel.................... 195
Console, Overhead....................... 151
Contract, Service........................ 418Converter, Catalytic...................... 355
Cooling System......................... 364
Adding Coolant (Antifreeze).............. 366
Coolant Capacity...................... 392
Coolant Level......................... 367
Disposal of Used Coolant................ 367
Drain, Flush, and Refill.................. 365
Inspection........................... 364
Points to Remember.................... 368
Pressure Cap......................... 366
Radiator Cap......................... 366
Selection of Coolant (Antifreeze).........365,392
Crankcase Emission Control System.......... 357
Cruise Control (Speed Control).............. 148
Cruise Light........................... 185
Cup Holder............................ 164
Customer Assistance..................... 416
Data Recorder, Event...................... 56
426 INDEX