2009 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE engine overheat

Cooling System
To reduce potential for engine and transaxle overheating,
take the following actions:
•City Driving
When stopped for short periods of time, put transaxle in
neutral and increase engine idle speed.
•Highway Driving
Reduce speed.
•Air Conditioning
Turn off temporarily.
RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.)
Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle (Flat
towing with all four wheels on the ground)
CAUTION!
DO NOT flat tow this vehicle. Damage to the driv-
etrain will result.
NOTE:If the vehicle requires towing make sure all four
wheels are off the ground.
STARTING AND OPERATING 349
5

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
CONTENTS
Hazard Warning Flasher................ 352
If Your Engine Overheats................ 352
▫Engine Oil Overheating — 2.4L Engine Only
(If Equipped)....................... 353
Jacking And Tire Changing............... 354
▫Preparations For Jacking............... 354
▫Jack Location....................... 355
▫Spare Tire Stowage................... 355▫Jacking Instructions................... 356
Jump-Starting Procedure................ 361
Freeing A Stuck Vehicle................. 364
Towing A Disabled Vehicle............... 365
▫With The Ignition Key................. 365
▫Without The Ignition Key.............. 366
6

HAZARD WARNING FLASHER
The Hazard Warning flasher switch is located in the
instrument panel switch bank above the climate controls.
Press the switch to turn on the Hazard
Warning flashers. When the Hazard
Warning flasher switch is activated, all
directional turn signals will flash on
and off to warn oncoming traffic of an
emergency. Press the switch a second
time to turn off flashers.
This is an emergency warning system and it should not
be used when the vehicle is in motion. Use it when your
vehicle is disabled and it is creating a safety hazard for
other motorists.
When you must leave the vehicle to seek assistance, the
Hazard Warning flasher will continue to operate even
though the ignition switch is in the LOCK position.NOTE:With extended use, the Hazard Warning 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 transaxle in
NEUTRAL, but do not increase engine idle speed.
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
352 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

the fan control to High. 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 the pointer rises to the H (red) mark,
the instrument cluster will sound a chime. Pull over
and stop the vehicle with the engine at idle, when
safe. Turn off the air conditioning and wait until the
pointer drops back into the normal range. If the
pointer remains on the H (red) mark for more than a
minute, 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, refer to Section 7, Maintenance, of this
manual. Follow the warnings under the Cooling
System Pressure Cap paragraph.
Engine Oil Overheating — 2.4L Engine Only (If
Equipped)
During sustained high-speed driving or trailer tow up
long grades on hot day, the engine oil temperature may
become too hot. If this happens, the “HOTOIL” message
flashes, the vehicle speed will be reduced to 53 mph
(85 km/h) until the engine oil temperature is reduced.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 353
6

WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces gener-
ated by excessive wheel speeds may cause axle and
tire damage or failure. A tire could explode and
injure someone. Do not spin your vehicle’s wheels
faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) or for longer than
30 seconds continuously without stopping when you
are stuck, and don’t let anyone near a spinning
wheel, no matter what the speed.
CAUTION!
Racing the engine or spinning the wheels too fast
may lead to transaxle overheating and failure. It can
also damage the tires. Do not spin the wheels above
30 mph (48 km/h). Do not spin the wheels continu-
ously for more than 30 seconds.
TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE
With The Ignition Key
Your vehicle may be towed under the following condi-
tions: The shift lever must be in NEUTRAL, the distance
to be traveled must not exceed 15 miles (25 km), and the
towing speed must not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h).
Exceeding these towing limits may cause a transaxle
failure. If the transaxle is not operative, or if the vehicle is
to be towed more than 15 miles (25 km), the vehicle must
be transported either with a flatbed truck (all four wheels
off the ground) or with the front wheels off the ground.
CAUTION!
•If the vehicle being towed requires steering, the
ignition switch must be in the ON position, not in
the LOCK or ACC position.
(Continued)
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 365
6

Under normal operating conditions, the catalytic con-
verter will not require maintenance. However, it is im-
portant to keep the engine properly tuned to assure
proper catalyst operation and prevent possible catalyst
damage.
CAUTION!
Damage to the catalytic converter can result if your
vehicle is not kept in proper operating condition. In
the event of engine malfunction, particularly involv-
ing engine misfire or other apparent loss of perfor-
mance, have your vehicle serviced promptly. Contin-
ued operation of your vehicle with a severe
malfunction could cause the converter to overheat,
resulting in possible damage to the converter and the
vehicle.NOTE:Intentional tampering with emissions control
systems can result in civil penalties being assessed
against you.
WARNING!
A hot exhaust system can start a fire if you park over
materials that can burn. Such materials might be
grass or leaves coming into contact with your exhaust
system. Do not park or operate your vehicle in areas
where your exhaust system can contact anything that
can burn.
In unusual situations involving grossly malfunctioning
engine operation, a scorching odor may suggest severe
and abnormal catalyst overheating. If this occurs, stop
the vehicle, turn off the engine, and allow it to cool.
Service, including a tune up to manufacturer’s specifica-
tions, should be obtained immediately.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 387
7

NOTE:Mixing engine coolant (antifreeze) types will
decrease the life of the engine coolant (antifreeze) and
will require more frequent coolant changes.
Cooling System Pressure Cap
The cap must be fully tightened to prevent loss of engine
coolant (antifreeze), and to ensure that engine coolant
(antifreeze) 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.
WARNING!
•The warning words “DO NOT OPEN HOT” on
the cooling system pressure cap are a safety pre-
caution. Never add engine coolant (antifreeze)
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 en-
gine damage may result.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 391
7

Oil (Engine).......................... 376
Power Steering........................ 282
Disabled Vehicle Towing................... 365
Disposal
Antifreeze (Engine Coolant)............... 392
Engine Oil........................... 379
Door Locks............................. 30
Door Locks, Automatic.................... 31
Door Opener, Garage..................... 158
Driver’s Seat Back Tilt.................... 140
Driving
On Slippery Surfaces.................... 279
Through Flowing, Rising, or Shallow
Standing Water........................ 280
E-85 Fuel............................. 330
Electric Rear Window Defrost............... 173
Electric Remote Mirrors................... 100
Electrical Power Outlets................... 164Electronic Speed Control (Cruise Control)...... 155
Electronic Stability Program (ESP)............ 294
Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC).... 193
Emergency Deck Lid Release................ 37
Emergency, In Case of
Hazard Warning Flasher................. 352
Jacking............................. 354
Jump Starting......................... 361
Overheating.......................... 352
Towing............................. 365
Emergency Trunk Release................... 37
Emission Control System Maintenance......373,424
Engine..........................369,370,371
Air Cleaner.......................... 380
Block Heater......................... 270
Break-In Recommendations................ 72
Checking Oil Level..................... 376
Coolant (Antifreeze).................388,421
Cooling............................. 388
456 INDEX