2007 DODGE DAKOTA radiator cap

Cooling System
WARNING!
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 radia-
tor is hot.
Engine Coolant Checks
Check the 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 anyaccumulation 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.
310 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 before
replacement. To prevent reducing this extended mainte-
nance period, it is important that you use the same
coolant throughout the life of your vehicle. Please review
these recommendations for using Hybrid Organic Addi-
tive Technology (HOAT) coolant.
When adding coolant, a minimum solution of 50% rec-
ommended Mopar Antifreeze/ 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.
312 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 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 childrendo not store ethylene glycol based engine 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 immediately.
Coolant Level
The coolant bottle provides a quick visual method for
determining that the coolant level is adequate. With the
engine cold, the level of the coolant in the coolant
recovery 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.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 313
7

Axle Lubrication (Axle Fluid)............... 321
BallJoints ............................. 306
Battery............................... 304
Charging............................ 283
Emergency Starting..................... 283
Gas Caution.......................... 283
Keyless Transmitter Replacement (RKE)....... 25
Saving Feature (Protection)................ 91
Belts,Drive ............................ 301
Belts, Seat.............................. 35
Body Mechanism Lubrication............... 307
B-Pillar Location........................ 222
Brake Fluid............................ 347
Brake System........................213,316
Anti-Lock (ABS)....................213,214
Disc Brakes.......................... 316
Fluid Check.......................... 316
Hoses.............................. 317Master Cylinder....................... 316
Parking............................. 212
Warning Light.....................139,141
Brake/Transmission Interlock............... 191
Break-In Recommendations, New Vehicle........ 71
Bulb Replacement....................... 333
Bulbs,Light ............................ 332
Calibration, Compass..................... 107
Camper............................... 128
Capacities, Fluid........................ 345
Caps, Filler
Oil (Engine).......................... 299
Power Steering........................ 306
Radiator (Coolant Pressure)............... 312
Car Washes............................ 323
Carbon Monoxide Warning..............129,242
CargoLight ............................ 94
Cargo (Vehicle Loading)................... 247
INDEX 379
10

Catalytic Converter...................... 302
CD (Compact Disc) Player...............146,154
Cellular Phone.......................... 175
Center High Mounted Stop Light............ 341
Center Seat Storage Compartment............ 122
Certification Label....................... 247
Changing A Flat Tire..................... 273
Charging.............................. 283
Chart, Tire Sizing........................ 219
Child Restraint........................ 58,59
Child Restraint Tether Anchors............. 61,66
Child Restraint with Automatic Belts........... 40
Child Seat.............................. 63
Circuit Breakers......................... 327
Cleaning
Wheels............................. 325
Climate Control......................... 175
Clock ...........................143,148,156
Compact Disc (CD) Maintenance............. 173Compact Spare Tire...................... 230
Compass.............................. 107
Compass Calibration..................... 107
Compass Variance....................... 108
Computer, Trip/Travel.................... 104
Console, Floor.......................... 121
Console, Overhead....................... 103
Contract, Service........................ 372
Coolant Pressure Cap (Radiator Cap).......... 312
Cooling System......................... 310
Adding Coolant (Antifreeze).............. 312
Coolant Capacity...................... 345
Coolant Level......................310,313
Disposal of Used Coolant................ 313
Drain, Flush, and Refill.................. 311
Inspection........................... 313
Points to Remember.................... 314
Pressure Cap......................... 312
Radiator Cap......................... 312
380 INDEX

Overheating, Engine...................... 138
Owner’s Manual (Operator Manual).......... 374
Panic Alarm............................ 22
Parking Brake.......................... 212
Parking On Hill......................... 212
Passenger Airbag On/Off Switch............. 54
Passing Light........................... 95
Pets.................................. 71
Pets, Transporting........................ 71
Pickup Box............................ 126
Placard, Tire and Loading Information......... 222
Positive Crankcase Valve.................. 315
Power
Brakes.............................. 316
Distribution Center (Fuses)............... 327
Door Locks......................... 19,28
Mirrors .............................. 81
Outlet (Auxiliary Electrical Outlet).......... 119Steering..........................216,306
Sunroof............................. 116
Windows............................. 32
Power Steering Fluid..................... 347
Pregnant Women and Seat Belts.............. 43
Preparation for Jacking.................... 278
Pretensioners
Seat Belts............................. 41
Programmable Electronic Features......... 112,115
Programming Transmitters
(Remote Keyless Entry)............... 23,112,115
Quad Cab.............................. 87
Radial Ply Tires......................... 229
Radiator Cap (Coolant Pressure Cap).......310,312
Radio Broadcast Signals................... 144
Radio Operation...................146,154,175
Radio, Satellite.......................... 167
388 INDEX