
STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust both
inside and outside mirrors, and fasten your seat belts.
WARNING!
Do not leave children or animals inside parked
vehicles in hot weather. Interior heat build up may
cause serious injury or death.
Manual Transmission
Apply the parking brake, place the gearshift control lever
in N (Neutral) and depress the clutch pedal before
starting vehicle. This vehicle is equipped with a clutch
interlocking ignition system. It will not start unless the
clutch pedal is pressed to the floor.
WARNING!
You or others around you could be injured if you
attempt to start the engine with a manual transmis-
sion in gear — your vehicle will move. Remember,
always push the clutch pedal in fully and shift into
N (Neutral) before attempting to start the engine.
Automatic Transmission
Start the engine with the selector lever in the N (Neutral)
or P (Park) position. Apply the brake before shifting to
any driving range.
Normal Starting
Normal starting of either a cold or a warm engine is
obtained without pumping or depressing the accelerator
pedal. Turn the key to the START position and release
when the engine starts. If the engine fails to start within
182 STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING!
Unintended movement of a vehicle could injure
those in and near the vehicle. As with all vehicles,
you should never exit a vehicle while the engine is
running. Before exiting a vehicle, you should always
shift the vehicle into P (Park), remove the key from
the ignition, and apply the parking brake. Once the
key is removed from the ignition, the transmission
shift lever is locked in the P (Park) position, securing
the vehicle against unwanted movement. Further-
more, you should never leave children unattended
inside a vehicle.
The following indicators should be used to ensure that
you have engaged the transmission shift lever into the P
(Park) position:
•When shifting into P (Park), depress the button on the
shift lever and firmly move the lever all the way
forward until it stops.
•Look at the shift indicator window on the console to
ensure it is in the P (Park) position.
•When engaged in P (Park), you will not be able to
move the shifter rearward without depressing the shift
lever button.
CAUTION!
Before moving the shift lever out of P (Park), you
must turn the ignition from LOCK to ON so the
steering wheel and shift lever are released. Other-
wise, damage to the steering column or shifter could
result.
190 STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING!
•Always fully apply the parking brake when leav-
ing your vehicle, or vehicle may roll and cause
damage or injury. Also be certain to leave a
automatic transmission in P (Park), or a manual
transmission in 1st gear. Make certain the transfer
case is in gear. Failure to do so may cause the
vehicle to roll and cause damage or injury.
•If the parking brake is released, and the BRAKE
warning light glows while the ignition switch is
ON or the engine is running, there may be a brake
system problem. Brake pedal travel, effort and
stopping distances may increase, and you should
obtain corrective service immediately.
When parking on a hill, it is important to set the parking
brake before placing the gear selector in P (Park), other-
wise the load on the transmission locking mechanism
may make it difficult to move the selector out of P (Park).
The parking brake should always be applied when the
driver is not in the vehicle.
WARNING!
•Leaving children unattended in a vehicle is dan-
gerous for a number of reasons. A child or others
could be injured. Children should be warned not
to touch the parking brake or the gear selector
lever. Don’t leave the keys in the ignition. A child
could operate controls or move the vehicle.
202 STARTING AND OPERATING

children, 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 coolant level is adequate. With the
engine idling, and warm to normal operating tempera-
ture, 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. When additional antifreeze/coolant is needed to main-
tain the proper level, it should be added to the coolant
bottle. Do not overfill.
Points To Remember
NOTE:
When the vehicle is stopped after a few miles of
operation, you may observe vapor coming from the front
of the engine compartment. This is normally a result of
moisture from rain, snow, or high humidity accumulat-
ing on the radiator and being vaporized when the
thermostat opens, allowing hot antifreeze/coolant to
enter the radiator.
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.
288 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Emergency Starting..................... 258
Voltmeter ............................ 147
Belts, Drive ............................ 275
Belts, Seat .............................. 20
Body Mechanism Lubrication ............... 282
B-Pillar Location ........................ 217
Brake System ........................... 290
Anti-Lock (ABS) ....................... 205
Hoses .............................. 290
Master Cylinder ....................... 291
Parking ............................. 200
Warning Light ........................ 151
Brakes ............................... 203
Brake/Transmission Interlock ............... 189
Break-In Recommendations, New Vehicle ........ 44
Bulb Replacement ..................... 309,310
Calibration, Compass ...................... 54
Capacities, Fluid ........................ 314 Caps, Filler
Fuel ................................ 233
Power Steering ........................ 281
Car Washes ............................ 298
Carbon Monoxide Warning ................. 232
Carpeting ............................. 301
Catalytic Converter ...................... 275
Caution, Exhaust Gas ...................... 45
CD (Compact Disc) Changer ................ 158
CD (Compact Disc) Player .........154,157,160,163
CD (Compact Disc) Player Maintenance ........ 171
Cellular Phone .......................... 172
Center High Mounted Stop Light ............ 313
Chains, Tire ............................ 228
Changing A Flat Tire ..................... 254
Chart, Tire Sizing ........................ 214
Check Engine Light
(Malfunction Indicator Light) .............149,269
Child Restraint ...................... 34,39,42
INDEX 349
10

Child Restraint Tether Anchors.............38,39
Climate Control ......................... 172
Clock ................................ 152
Clutch Interlocking Ignition System ........182,187
Compact Disc (CD) Maintenance ............. 171
Compass .............................. 52
Compass Calibration ...................... 54
Compass Variance ........................ 55
Console ............................... 74
Console, Floor ........................... 74
Contract, Service ........................ 342
Converter, Catalytic ...................... 275
Cooling System ......................... 284
Adding Coolant (Antifreeze) .............. 286
Coolant Capacity ...................... 314
Coolant Level ......................... 288
Disposal of Used Coolant ................ 287
Drain, Flush, and Refill .................. 285
Inspection ........................... 284 Points to Remember
.................... 288
Pressure Cap ......................... 287
Selection of Coolant (Antifreeze) .........285,314
Temperature Gauge ..................... 149
Corrosion Protection ..................... 297
Crankcase Emission Control System .......... 277
Cruise Control (Speed Control) ............... 69
Cruise Light ........................... 147
Cup Holder ............................ 72
Customer Assistance ..................... 340
Daytime Running Lights ................... 66
Dealer Service .......................... 270
Defroster, Rear Window ................... 139
Defroster, Windshield .................. 174,177
Delay (Intermittent) Wipers ................. 67
Deploying, Airbag ........................ 32
Diagnostic System, Onboard ................ 268
Dimmer Switch, Headlight .................. 65
350 INDEX

Key-In Reminder......................... 14
Keys ................................. 13
Lane Change and Turn Signals .............. 147
Lap Belts .............................. 20
Lap/Shoulder Belts ....................... 20
LATCH
(Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren) .....38,39
Lead Free Gasoline ...................... 229
Lights ................................. 64
Airbag ............................ 34,149
Anti-Lock ........................... 151
Anti-Lock Warning ..................... 151
Back-Up ............................. 313
Brake Warning ........................ 151
Bulb Replacement ...................... 310
Center Mounted Stop ................... 313
Check Engine (Malfunction Indicator) ........ 149
Check Gauges ........................ 149 Cruise
.............................. 147
Daytime Running ....................... 66
Dimmer Switch, Headlight ................ 65
Fog .............................. 66,311
Headlight Switch ....................... 64
Headlights ........................... 310
High Beam ........................... 148
High Beam Indicator .................... 148
Instrument Cluster ...................... 64
Interior .............................. 64
Lights On Reminder ..................... 65
Low Fuel ............................ 151
Passing .............................. 65
Rear Servicing ........................ 313
Rear Tail ............................ 313
Seat Belt Reminder ..................... 148
Sentry Key ........................... 147
Service .............................. 310
Side Marker .......................... 313
INDEX 355
10

Turn Signal................... 66,147,311,313
Warning (Instrument Cluster Description) ..... 147
Loading Vehicle Tires ............................... 217
Locking Axle ........................... 199
Locks ................................. 18
Door ................................ 19
Steering Wheel ......................... 17
Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren
(LATCH) ............................ 38,39
Lubrication, Body ....................... 282
Maintenance, Airbag ...................... 33
Maintenance Free Battery .................. 278
Maintenance Procedures ................... 271
Maintenance Schedule .................... 318
Schedule “A” ......................... 332
Schedule “B” ......................... 321
Maintenance Schedules .................... 318 Malfunction Indicator Light (Check Engine) . . 149,269
Manual, Service
......................... 344
Manual Transmission .................. 185,294
Fluid Level Check ...................... 294
Lubricant Selection ..................... 294
Shift Speeds .......................... 187
Master Cylinder (Brakes) .................. 291
Mirrors ................................ 52
Automatic Dimming ..................... 52
Compass/Temperature ................... 52
Outside .............................. 56
Rearview ............................. 52
Modifications/Alterations, Vehicle ............. 9
Mopar Parts ......................... 270,343
Multi-Function Control Lever ................ 64
New Vehicle Break-In Period ................ 44
Occupant Restraints ....................... 19
356 INDEX