2009 DODGE AVENGER Owners Manual

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNIFORM
TIRE QUALITY GRADES
The following tire grading categories were established by
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The
specific grade rating assigned by the tire’s manufacturer
in each category is shown on the sidewall of the tires on
your vehicle.
All passenger car tires must conform to Federal safety
requirements in addition to these grades.
Treadwear
The Treadwear grade is a comparative rating, based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and one-half
times as well on the government course as a tire graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends upon the
actual conditions of their use, however, and may departsignificantly from the norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices, and differences in road charac-
teristics and climate.
Traction Grades
The Traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B,
and C. These grades represent the tire’s ability to stop on
wet pavement, as measured under controlled conditions
on specified government test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction perfor-
mance.
WARNING!
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction tests, and does not
include acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or
peak traction characteristics.
IF YOU NEED CONSUMER ASSISTANCE 447
9

Temperature Grades
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of heat
and its ability to dissipate heat, when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of performance, which all
passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A repre-
sent higher levels of performance on the laboratory test
wheel, than the minimum required by law.WARNING!
The temperature grade for this tire is established for
a tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, under-inflation, or excessive load-
ing, either separately or in combination, can cause
heat buildup and possible tire failure.
448 IF YOU NEED CONSUMER ASSISTANCE

INDEX
10

About Your Brakes....................... 282
ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System).............. 286
Adding Engine Coolant (Antifreeze).......... 387
Adding Fuel........................... 331
Adding Washer Fluid..................... 382
Additives, Fuel......................... 326
Air Cleaner, Engine (Engine Air Cleaner Filter) . . . 377
Air Conditioner Maintenance............... 379
Air Conditioning........................ 250
Air Conditioning Controls................. 250
Air Conditioning Filter.................261,380
Air Conditioning, Operating Tips............ 262
Air Conditioning Refrigerant.............379,380
Air Conditioning System.............250,254,379
Air Pressure, Tires....................... 304
Airbag..............................52,61
Airbag Deployment....................... 63
Airbag Light...................53,60,66,81,178
Airbag Maintenance....................... 65Airbag, Side........................55,60,61
Airbag, Window (Side Curtain)...........56,60,61
Alarm System (Security Alarm)............19,178
Alterations/Modifications, Vehicle............. 7
Antenna, Satellite Radio................... 240
Antifreeze (Engine Coolant)...........386,387,417
Disposal............................ 388
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).............. 286
Anti-Lock Warning Light.................. 286
Anti-Theft Security Alarm (Theft Alarm)........ 19
Appearance Care........................ 395
Ashtray............................... 159
Assistance Towing....................... 105
Auto Down Power Windows................ 36
Auto Unlock, Doors....................... 33
Auto Up Power Windows................37,155
Automatic Dimming Mirror................. 88
Automatic Door Locks...................32,33
Automatic Oil Change Indicator........181,191,422
450 INDEX

Automatic Temperature Control (ATC)......... 254
Automatic Transaxle.................13,270,392
Adding Fluid...................393,394,419
Filter............................... 394
Fluid and Filter Changes................. 394
Fluid Level Check...................393,394
Interlock System....................... 272
Reset Mode.......................... 275
Selection Of Lubricant................... 419
Shifting............................. 273
Special Additives...................... 394
Autostick............................. 276
Battery............................... 378
Gas Caution.......................... 378
Keyless Transmitter Replacement (RKE)....... 26
Location............................ 378
Beverage Cooler........................ 168
Body Mechanism Lubrication............... 381B-Pillar Location........................ 299
Brake Assist System...................... 290
Brake, Parking.......................... 282
Brake System........................284,390
Anti-Lock (ABS)....................... 286
Fluid Check.......................391,419
Master Cylinder....................... 391
Parking............................. 282
Warning Light........................ 187
Brakes.............................284,390
Brake/Transmission Interlock............... 271
Break-In Recommendations, New Vehicle........ 79
Bulb Replacement.....................409,410
Bulbs, Light............................ 409
Calibration, Compass..................... 194
Capacities, Antifreeze (Engine Coolant)......... 21
Capacities, Fluid........................ 417
INDEX 451
10

Caps, Filler
Fuel................................ 331
Oil (Engine)..................367,368,369,375
Power Steering........................ 282
Radiator (Coolant Pressure)............... 388
Car Washes............................ 395
Carbon Monoxide Warning................. 327
Cargo Area Features...................... 162
Cargo Compartment...................... 162
Cargo Load Floor........................ 162
Cargo (Vehicle Loading)................... 162
Caution, Exhaust Gas...................... 80
Cellular Phone........................91,249
Center High Mounted Stop Light............ 415
Chains, Tire............................ 312
Changing A Flat Tire..................... 350
Chart, Tire Sizing........................ 296
Check Engine Light (Malfunction Indicator
Light)................................ 371Child Restraint....................68,70,74,77
Child Restraint Tether Anchors.............72,74
Child Safety Locks........................ 34
Cigar Lighter........................... 159
Clean Air Gasoline....................... 324
Cleaning
Wheels............................. 397
Windshield Wiper Blades................. 382
Climate Control......................... 250
Clock........................200,214,218,228
Coin Holder........................... 164
Compact Disc (CD) Maintenance............. 249
Compact Spare Tire...................... 306
Compass.............................. 193
Compass Calibration..................... 194
Compass Variance....................... 194
Computer, Trip/Travel..................21,192
Console............................132,164
Console, Floor.......................132,164
452 INDEX

Contract, Service........................ 443
Coolant Pressure Cap (Radiator Cap).......... 388
Cooler, Beverage........................ 168
Cooling System......................... 385
Adding Coolant (Antifreeze).............. 387
Coolant Capacity...................... 417
Coolant Level......................385,389
Disposal of Used Coolant................ 388
Drain, Flush, and Refill.................. 386
Inspection........................... 389
Points to Remember.................... 389
Pressure Cap......................... 388
Radiator Cap......................... 388
Selection of Coolant (Antifreeze)......386,417,418
Corrosion Protection..................... 395
Crankcase Ventilation Module............... 21
Cruise Control (Speed Control).............. 144
Cruise Light........................... 182
Cupholders......................132,160,400Customer Assistance..................... 441
Customer Programmable Features............ 196
Data Recorder, Event...................... 66
Dealer Service.......................... 373
Defroster, Rear Window................... 167
Defroster, Windshield................81,252,258
Delay (Intermittent) Wipers................. 141
Diagnostic System, Onboard................ 370
Dimmer Switch, Headlight................. 139
Dipsticks
Automatic Transaxle.................393,394
Oil (Engine).......................... 373
Power Steering........................ 282
Disabled Vehicle Towing................... 362
Disposal
Antifreeze (Engine Coolant)............... 388
Engine Oil........................... 376
Door Locks............................. 31
INDEX 453
10

Door Locks, Automatic.................... 32
Door Opener, Garage..................... 147
Driving
On Slippery Surfaces.................... 278
Through Flowing, Rising, or Shallow
Standing Water......................... 279
DVD Player (Video Entertainment System™).... 244
E-85 Fuel............................. 328
Electric Rear Window Defrost............... 167
Electric Remote Mirrors.................... 89
Electrical Power Outlets................... 156
Electronic Speed Control (Cruise Control)...... 144
Electronic Stability Program (ESP)............ 291
Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC).... 189
Emergency, In Case of
Jacking............................. 350
Jump Starting......................... 358
Towing............................. 362Emergency Trunk Release.................39,40
Emission Control System Maintenance......371,422
Engine..........................367,368,369
Air Cleaner.......................... 377
Block Heater......................... 269
Break-In Recommendations................ 79
Checking Oil Level..................... 373
Coolant (Antifreeze).................385,418
Cooling............................. 385
Exhaust Gas Caution.................... 327
Fuel Requirements..................323,417
Jump Starting......................... 358
Oil ...........................373,417,418
Oil Change Interval............181,191,374,422
Oil Filler Cap.................367,368,369,375
Oil Filter............................ 377
Oil Filter Disposal...................... 376
Oil Selection.......................375,417
Oil Synthetic......................... 376
454 INDEX