2008 DODGE CARAVAN instrument cluster

COMPASS MINI-TRIP COMPUTER (CMTC) Ð IF
EQUIPPED
NOTE:The compass on your vehicle is self-calibrating,
eliminating the need to manually calibrate the compass.
The Compass Mini-Trip Computer features a driver-
interactive display (displays information on outside tem-
perature, compass direction, and trip information). It is
located in the instrument cluster, below the Fuel and
Temperature gauges.
Compass Mini-Trip Computer (CMTC) Odometer
Displays
When the appropriate conditions exist, the following
odometer messages will display:
CHAngE OIL............... OilChange Required
CRUISE......................Cruise Activated
door.............................Door AjarESPOFF...................... ESPDeactivated
gATE..........................Lift Gate Ajar
gASCAP.......................Fuel Cap Fault
hood............................Hood Ajar
noFUSE..........................Fuse Fault
LoCOOL........................ LowCoolant
LoWASH.................... LowWasher Fluid
These messages can be manually turned off by pressing
the right reset button (on the instrument cluster).
Compass Mini-Trip Computer (CMTC) Reset
Buttons
CMTC Reset Button
Press the left reset button located on the instrument
cluster to scroll through the sub menus (i.e., Trip Func-
tions: AVG Fuel Economy, DTE, Elapsed Time, and
Units).
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To reset the display shown, turn the ignition switch to the
ON position, then press and hold the reset button for
approximately two seconds.
When the appropriate conditions exist, the following
odometer messages will display:
NE.......Eight-point compass headings are displayed
(N, S, E, W, NE, NW, SE, SW)
14ÉF............ Temperature (Fahrenheit or Celsius)
AV G......... AverageFuel Economy (U.S. or Metric)
DTE.......................Distance to Empty
ET............................Elapsed Time
P.......................... ParkAssist On/Off
Should this wrench symbol display with the
letterPnext to it, your Park Assist System
needs servicing. Contact your authorized
dealer.NOTE:Temperature and Average Fuel Economy can be
changed from U.S. or Metric by pressing and holding the
left CMTC Reset Button located on the instrument cluster
near the temperature gauge.
Compass Mini-Trip Computer (CMTC) Trip
Odometer (ODO)
This display shows the distance traveled since the last
reset. Press and release the right button located on the
instrument cluster to switch from odometer, to trip A or
trip B. Press and hold the right button while the
odometer/trip odometer is displayed to reset.
Trip A
Shows the total distance traveled for Trip A since the last
reset.
Trip B
Shows the total distance traveled for Trip B since the last
reset.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 239
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Rear Park Assist System Ð If Equipped
When ENABLE is selected, the Rear Park Assist System is
activated. When DISABLE is selected, the System is
deactivated and, the instrument cluster will display the
9PARK ASSIST DISABLED9message.
Display Units of Measure in
The EVIC, odometer, and navigation system (if
equipped) can be changed between English and Metric
units of measure. To make your selection, press and
release the RESET button until US or METRIC appears.
RADIO GENERAL INFORMATION
RADIO BROADCAST SIGNALS
Your radio will provide excellent reception under most
operating conditions. Like any system, however, car
radios have performance limitations, due to mobile op-
eration and natural phenomena, which might lead you to
believe your sound system is malfunctioning. To helpyou understand and save you concern about these ªap-
parentº malfunctions, you must understand a point or
two about the transmission and reception of radio sig-
nals.
Two Types of Signals
There are two basic types of radio signals:
1. AM or Amplitude Modulation, in which the transmit-
ted sound causes the amplitude, or height, of the radio
waves to vary.
2. FM or Frequency Modulation, in which the frequency
of the wave is varied to carry the sound.
AM Reception
AM sound is based on wave amplitude, so AM reception
can be disrupted by such things as lightning, power lines
and neon signs.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 251
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the instrument cluster will display transmission gear
selection as 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 for six-speed and 4, 3, 2, 1 for
four-speed transmissions.
Gear Ranges
DO NOT race the engine when shifting the gear selector
lever from PARK or NEUTRAL positions into another
gear range.
PARK
Shifting the gear selector lever in PARK supplements the
parking brake by locking the transmission. The engine
can be started in this gear. Never attempt to use PARK
while vehicle is in motion. Apply the parking brake when
leaving the vehicle in this gear.
When parking on a flat surface, place the shift lever in the
PARK position first, and then apply the parking brake.When parking on a hill, it is important to set the parking
brake before placing the shift lever in PARK, otherwise
the load on the transmission locking mechanism may
make it difficult to move the shift lever out of PARK. As
an added precaution, turn the front wheels toward the
curb on a downhill grade and away from the curb on an
uphill grade.
WARNING!
Never use PARK position on an automatic transmis-
sion as a substitute for the parking brake. Always
apply parking brake fully when parked to guard
against vehicle movement and possible injury or
damage.
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under heavy loading conditions, (i.e., in hilly terrain,
traveling into strong head winds or while towing heavy
trailers). Under these conditions, using the ª3º range will
improve performance and extend transmission life by
reducing excessive shifting and heat build-up.
CAUTION!
If the transmission operating temperature exceeds
acceptable limits, the vehicle computer will override
DRIVE and select ª5º range (on six-speed transmis-
sions) or ª3º range (on four-speed transmissions) by
changing shift points. This is done to prevent trans-
mission damage due to overheating.
Electronic Range Select (ERS) Operation
The Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift control allows
you to move the gear selector lever to the left (-) or right
(+) when the gear selector lever is in the D (Drive)position, this allows the selection of the desired top gear.
For example, if the driver shifts the transmission into 3rd
gear, the transmission will never shift above 3rd gear, but
can shift down to 2nd or 1st gear automatically, when
needed.
Switching from ERS to D-Mode (Drive) can be done at any
vehicle speed. To shift from ªDriveº mode to ªERSº mode,
move gear selector lever to the left (-) once. The current gear
will be maintained as the top gear. To disable ERS, simply
press and hold the gear selector lever to the right (+) until
ªDº is displayed in the instrument cluster odometer.
WARNING!
Do not downshift for additional engine braking on a
slippery surface. The drive wheels could lose their
grip and the vehicle could skid causing an accident or
personal injury.
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5. Shift into the desired gear range and resume driving.
NOTE:Even if the transmission can be reset, it is
recommended that you visit an authorized dealer at your
earliest possible convenience. Your authorized dealer has
diagnostic equipment to determine if the problem could
recur.
If the transmission cannot be reset, authorized dealer
service is required.
PARKING BRAKE
When the parking brake is applied with the ignition
switch ON, the brake light in the instrument cluster will
turn on.
NOTE:This light only shows that the parking brake is
applied. It does not show the degree of brake application.
Before leaving the vehicle, make sure that the parking
brake is fully applied by depressing the pedal located at
the bottom left of the instrument panel and place the gearselector lever in the PARK position. To release the park-
ing brake, depress the emergency break pedal a second
time and let your foot up as you feel the brake disengage.
Be sure the parking brake is firmly set when parked and
the gear selector lever is in the PARK position. When
parking on a hill you should apply the parking brake
Parking Brake
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to the ABS system is required. Consult with your autho-
rized dealer service center as soon as possible.
ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS
Your vehicle is equipped with an advanced electronic
brake control system that includes TCS (Traction Control
System), BAS (Brake Assist System) and ESP (Electronic
Stability Program). These systems complement the Anti-
Lock Brake System (ABS) by optimizing the vehicle
braking capability during emergency braking maneu-
vers.
Traction Control System (TCS)
This system monitors the amount of wheel spin of each of
the driven wheels. If wheel spin is detected, brake
pressure is applied to the slipping wheel(s) and engine
power is reduced to provide enhanced acceleration and
stability. A feature of the TCS system functions similar to
a limited slip differential and controls the wheel spin
across a driven axle. If one wheel on a driven axle isspinning faster than the other, the system will apply the
brake of the spinning wheel. This will allow more engine
torque to be applied to the wheel that is not spinning.
This feature remains active even if the ESP is in the
ªPartial Offº mode.
The Traction Control System (TCS) Indicator
Light, located in the instrument cluster, starts
to flash as soon as the tires lose traction and the
wheels begin to spin. This indicates that the
TCS is active. If the indicator light flashes during accel-
eration, ease up on the accelerator and apply as little
throttle as possible. Be sure to adapt your speed and
driving to the prevailing road conditions, and do not
switch off the ESP or TCS.
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ESP ON
This is the normal operating mode for ESP on 2WD
vehicles. Whenever the vehicle is started, the ESP system
will be in this mode. This mode should be used for most
driving situations. ESP should only be turned off for
specific reasons as noted below.
ESP Partial OFF
This mode is entered by momentarily depressing the ESP
OFF switch (located in the center switch bank, next to the
hazard flasher switch).
When in Partial OFF mode, the TCS portion of
ESP, except for the ªlimited slipº feature de-
scribed in the TCS section, has been disabled
and the ESP/TCS Indicator Light will be illu-
minated. All other stability features of the ESP function
normally. This mode is intended to be used if the vehicle
is in deep snow, sand or gravel conditions and more
wheel spin than ESP would normally allow is required togain traction. To turn ESP on again, momentarily depress
the ESP OFF switch. This will restore the normal ESP ON
mode of operation.
NOTE:To improve the vehicle's traction when driving
with snow chains, or starting off in deep snow, sand or
gravel, it may be desirable to switch to the Partial OFF
mode by pressing the ESP OFF switch. Once the situation
requiring ESP to be switched to the Partial OFF mode is
overcome, turn ESP back on by momentarily depressing
the ESP OFF switch. This may be done while the vehicle
is in motion.
ESP/BAS Warning Light
The malfunction indicator light for the ESP is
combined with BAS. The ESP/BAS Warning
light and the ESP/TCS Indicator Light in the
instrument cluster both come on when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON position. They should
go out with the engine running. If the ESP/BAS Warning
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