2008 DODGE CALIBER transmission

•Safety chains must always be used between your
vehicle and trailer. Always connect the chains to the
frame or hook retainers of the vehicle hitch. Cross the
chains under the trailer tongue and allow enough
slack for turning corners.
•Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a grade.
When parking, apply the parking brake on the tow
vehicle. Put the tow vehicle automatic transmission in
PARK. With a manual transmission, shift the transmis-
sion into REVERSE. Always block orchockthe trailer
wheels.
•GCWR must not be exceeded.
•Total weight must be distributed between the tow
vehicle and the trailer such that the following four
ratings are not exceeded:
1. GVWR
2. GTW3. GAWR
4. Tongue weight rating for the trailer hitch utilized
(this requirement may limit the ability to always
achieve the 10% to 15% range of tongue weight as a
percentage of total trailer weight).
Towing Requirements — Tires

Do not attempt to tow a trailer while using a compact
spare tire.
Proper tire inflation pressures are essential to the safe
and satisfactory operation of your vehicle. Refer to the
“Tires–General Information” section of this manual
under Tire Pressures for proper tire inflation proce-
dures.
Also, check the trailer tires for proper tire inflation
pressures before trailer usage.
294 STARTING AND OPERATING

Towing Tips
Before setting out on a trip, practice turning, stopping
and backing the trailer in an area away from heavy
traffic.
If using a manual transmission vehicle for trailer towing,
all starts must be in 1st gear to avoid excessive clutch
slippage.
Towing Tips — Electronic Speed Control (If
Equipped)

Don’t use in hilly terrain or with heavy loads.
When using the speed control, if you experience speed
drops greater than 10 mph (16 km/h), disengage it
until you can get back to cruising speed.
Use speed control in flat terrain and with light loads to
maximize fuel efficiency.
Towing Tips — Cooling System
To reduce potential for engine and transmission over-
heating, take the following actions:
City Driving
When stopped for short periods of time, put the trans-
mission in NEUTRAL and increase the engine idle speed.
Highway Driving
Reduce speed.
Air Conditioning
Turn off temporarily.
Refer to “Cooling System” under “Maintenance Proce-
dures” in Section 7 of this manual for more information.
298 STARTING AND OPERATING

RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND MOTORHOME, ETC.)
Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle (Flat Towing With All Four Wheels On The Ground)
Recreational Towing Chart
Recreational Towing Condition Manual Transmission Vehicles Automatic Transmission Vehicles
Four Wheel Flat Tow (all wheels on
ground)Yes Never
Two Wheel Dolly Tow (rear wheels
on ground)Never Never
Flat Bed Tow (all wheels on bed of
truck)Ye s Ye s
NOTE: ONLYvehicles equipped withMANUAL
TRANSAXLESmay be recreationally towed (flat towed)
at any legal highway speed, for any distance, if the
MANUAL TRANSAXLEis inNEUTRALand the igni-
tion key is in the ACC position.
STARTING AND OPERATING 299
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CAUTION!
•DO NOT FLAT TOW any vehicles equipped with
an AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE. Damage to the
drivetrain will result. If these vehicles require
towing, make sure all four wheels are off the
ground.
•Front or rear wheel lifts should not be used.
Internal damage to the transmission will occur if a
front or rear wheel lift is used when recreational
towing.
300 STARTING AND OPERATING

HAZARD WARNING FLASHER
The flasher switch is located on the instrument
panel below the radio. Depress the switch and
both cluster indicators and all front and rear
directional signals will flash. Depress the
switch again to turn Hazard Warning Flashers off.
Do not use this emergency warning system when the
vehicle is in motion. Use it when your vehicle is disabled
and is creating a safety hazard for other motorists.If it is necessary to leave the vehicle to go for service, the
flasher system will continue to operate with the ignition
key removed and the vehicle locked.
NOTE:With extended use, the flasher may wear down
your battery.
IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS
In any of the following situations, you can reduce the
potential for overheating by taking the appropriate ac-
tion.
•On the highways — Slow down.
•In city traffic — While stopped, put the transmission in
NEUTRAL, but do not increase engine idle speed.
If the pointer rises to theH(red) mark, the instrument
cluster will sound a chime. When safe, pull over and stop
the vehicle with the engine at idle. Turn off the air
conditioning and wait until the pointer drops back into
Hazard Warning Flasher
302 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

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, refer to “Maintenance”, Section 7 of
this manual. Follow the warnings under the Cooling
System Pressure Cap paragraph.
AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE OVERHEATING
During sustained high speed driving or trailer towing up
long grades on hot days, the automatic transaxle oil may
become too hot.
If this happens, the transmission overheat in-
dicator light will come on, and the vehicle will
slow slightly until the automatic transaxle
cools down enough to allow a return to therequested speed. If the high speed is maintained, the
overheating will reoccur, as before, in a cyclic fashion.
JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING
WARNING!
•Being under a jacked-up vehicle is dangerous. The
vehicle could slip off the jack and fall on you. You
could be crushed. Never put any part of your body
under a vehicle that is on a jack. Never start or run
the engine while the vehicle is on a jack. If you
need to get under a raised vehicle, take it to a
service center where it can be raised on a lift.
•The jack is designed to use as a tool for changing
tires only. The jack should not be used to lift the
vehicle for service purposes. The vehicle should
be jacked on a firm level surface only. Avoid ice or
slippery areas.
304 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

•Turn on the Hazard Warning Flasher.
•Block both the front and rear
of the wheel diagonally oppo-
site the jacking position. For
example, if changing the right
front tire, block the left rear
wheel.
•Passengers should not remain in the vehicle while the
vehicle is being jacked.
Jacking Instructions
WARNING!
Carefully follow these tire changing warnings to help prevent
personal injury or damage to your vehicle:
•Always park on a firm, level surface as far from the edge of
the roadway as possible before raising the vehicle.
•Block the wheel diagonally opposite the wheel to be raised.
•Set the parking brake firmly and set an automatic transmis-
sion in park; a manual transmission in reverse.
•Never start or run the engine with the vehicle on a jack.
•Do not let anyone sit in the vehicle when it is on a jack.
•Do not get under the vehicle when it is on a jack.
•Only use the jack in the positions indicated and for lifting
this vehicle during a tire change.
•If working on or near a roadway, be extremely careful of
motor traffic.
•To assure that spare tires, flat or inflated are securely stowed,
spares must be stowed with the valve stem facing the
ground.
•Turn on the Hazard warning flasher.
Jack Warning Label
306 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

WARNING!
Wear eye protection and remove any metal jewelry
such as watch bands or bracelets that might make an
inadvertent electrical contact. You could be seriously
injured.
NOTE: Disconnecting the battery with the ignition in
the ON position will cause vehicles with an automatic
transaxle (CVT2) to go into “default mode” and turn on
the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL). See your autho-
rized dealer to correct this condition.1. When boosting from a battery in another vehicle, park
that vehicle within booster cable reach but without
letting the vehicles touch. Set the parking brake, place the
automatic transmission in PARK (the manual transmis-
sion in NEUTRAL) and turn the ignition to OFF for both
vehicles.
2. Turn off the heater, radio and all unnecessary electrical
loads.
3. Using the two finger screws on the cover, remove the
air intake duct covering the battery.
4. Connect one end of a jumper cable to the positive
terminal of the booster battery. Connect the other end of
the jumper cable to the positive terminal of the dis-
charged battery.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 311
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