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.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 273
6
WARNING!
Exhaust gases can injure or kill. They contain carbon
monoxide (CO) which is colorless and odorless. Breath-
ing it can make you unconscious and can eventually
poison you. To avoid breathing CO, refer to “Exhaust
Gas” in the “Safety Tips” section of this manual.
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 radiator 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.
308 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
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:
•The manufacturer recommends using Mopar
Antifreeze/Coolant 5 Year/100,000 Mile Formula
HOAT (Hybrid Organic Additive Technology).
•Mix a minimum solution of 50% HOAT engine coolant
and distilled water. Use higher concentrations (not to
exceed 70%) if temperatures below34°F (37°C) are
anticipated.
•Use only high purity water such as distilled or deion-
ized water when mixing the water/engine coolantsolution. 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.
310 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
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 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 311
7
Fluid Level Check..................... 316
Fluid Type.......................... 339
Gear Ranges......................... 201
Shifting..........................200,205
Special Additives..................... 317
Torque Converter..................... 204
Automatic Transmission Limp Home Mode . . . 204
Autostick..........................207,209
Ball Joints............................ 306
Battery............................... 303
Emergency Starting.................... 282
Jump Starting........................ 282
Keyless Transmitter Replacement (RKE)..... 21
Location.........................282,303
Bearings.............................. 318
Belts, Drive........................... 300
Belts, Seat............................. 34
Body Mechanism Lubrication.............. 306
B-Pillar Location....................... 228
Brake Assist System..................... 220
Brake, Parking......................... 213
Brake System.......................214,313Anti-Lock (ABS)...................... 214
Fluid Check......................315,339
Hoses.............................. 314
Master Cylinder...................... 315
Parking............................ 213
Warning Light....................133,214
Brakes............................... 214
Brake/Transmission Interlock.............. 200
Break-In Recommendations, New Vehicle...... 59
Bulb Replacement...................... 331
Bulbs, Light........................... 330
Calibration, Compass.................... 142
Capacities, Fluid....................... 337
Caps, Filler
Fuel............................... 254
Oil (Engine)......................... 298
Radiator (Coolant Pressure).............. 310
Car Washes........................... 319
Carbon Monoxide Warning.............60,253
Cassette Tape and Player Maintenance....... 178
Catalytic Converter..................... 301
CD (Compact Disc) Player.............150,157
INDEX 371
10
Cellular Phone.......................... 69
Chains, Tire........................... 240
Changing A Flat Tire.................... 274
Chart, Tire Sizing....................... 225
Check Engine Light
(Malfunction Indicator Light).............. 293
Child Restraint.................51,52,53,55,57
Child Restraint Tether Anchors...........54,55
Child Safety Locks....................... 26
Clean Air Gasoline...................... 251
Cleaning
Wheels............................. 320
Climate Control........................ 180
Clock..........................152,158,169
Compact Disc (CD) Maintenance........... 179
Compact Spare Tire..................... 235
Compass............................. 142
Compass Calibration.................... 142
Compass Variance...................... 143
Computer, Trip/Travel................... 140
Console.............................. 120
Console, Floor......................... 120
Console, Overhead...................... 108Contract, Service....................... 364
Coolant Pressure Cap (Radiator Cap)........ 310
Cooling System........................ 308
Adding Coolant (Antifreeze)............. 310
Coolant Capacity..................... 337
Coolant Level.....................308,311
Disposal of Used Coolant............... 311
Drain, Flush, and Refill................. 309
Inspection........................... 311
Points to Remember................... 312
Pressure Cap........................ 310
Radiator Cap........................ 310
Selection of Coolant (Antifreeze)....309,337,338
Cruise Control (Speed Control)............. 105
Cruise Light........................... 129
Cup Holder........................ 119,322
Customer Assistance.................... 362
Data Recorder, Event..................... 49
Daytime Running Lights.................. 97
Dealer Service......................... 294
Defroster, Rear Window.................. 190
Defroster, Windshield...............61,181,186
372 INDEX
Materials Added to.................... 299
Recommendation..................297,337
Synthetic........................... 299
Viscosity.........................298,337
Onboard Diagnostic System............292,293
Opener, Garage Door (HomeLink) ......... 109
Operating Precautions................... 292
Outside Rearview Mirrors................. 67
Overdrive............................ 202
Overhead Console...................... 108
Overheating, Engine..................130,272
Owner’s Manual (Operator Manual)......... 365
Panic Alarm........................... 20
Parking Brake......................... 213
Parking On Hill........................ 213
Passing Light........................... 98
Pedals, Adjustable...................... 104
Personal Settings....................... 146
Pets.................................. 58
Phone, Cellular......................... 69
Phone, Hands-Free (UConnect™)............ 69
Placard, Tire and Loading Information....... 228Power
Brakes............................. 214
Distribution Center (Fuses).............. 323
Door Locks.......................... 24
Mirrors............................. 68
Outlet (Auxiliary Electrical Outlet)........ 117
Seats............................... 89
Steering.........................217,305
Steering, Checking.................... 305
Sunroof............................ 114
Windows............................ 28
Pregnant Women and Seat Belts............. 41
Preparation for Jacking................... 274
Pretensioners
Seat Belts............................ 39
Programmable Electronic Features..... 110,113,146
Programming Transmitters
(Remote Keyless Entry)..............21,110,113
Radial Ply Tires........................ 235
Radiator Cap (Coolant Pressure Cap)........ 310
Radio Broadcast Signals.................. 149
Radio, Navigation...................... 168
INDEX 379
10