2009 DODGE CARAVAN low oil pressure

Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make Outside
the Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear or uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread. Inspect tread and sidewall for cuts or
cracks. Check wheel nuts for tightness. Check the tires
(including spare) for proper pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of exterior lights
while you work the controls. Check turn signal and high
beam indicator lights on the instrument panel.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for fuel,
engine coolant, oil or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline
fumes are detected or fuel, power steering fluid, trans-
mission fluid or brake fluid leaks are suspected, the cause
should be located and corrected immediately.
Exhaust Gas
WARNING!
Exhaust gases can injure or kill. They contain carbon
monoxide (CO) which is colorless and odorless.
Breathing it can make you unconscious and can
eventually poison you. To avoid breathing (CO),
follow these safety tips:
Do not run the engine in a closed garage or in confined
areas any longer than needed to move your vehicle in or
out of the area.
If it is necessary to sit in a parked vehicle with the engine
running, adjust your heating or cooling controls to force
outside air into the vehicle. Set the blower at high speed.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 95
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11. Odometer / Trip Odometer — If Equipped
The odometer shows the total distance the vehicle has
been driven.
U.S. federal regulations require that upon transfer of
vehicle ownership, the seller certify to the purchaser the
correct mileage that the vehicle has been driven. There-
fore, if the odometer reading is changed during repair or
replacement, be sure to keep a record of the reading
before and after the service so that the correct mileage can
be determined.
The trip odometer shows individual trip mileage. To
switch from odometer to trip odometer, press the Trip
Odometer button.
To reset a trip odometer, display the desired trip odom-
eter to be reset then push and hold the button until the
display resets (approximately two seconds).12. PRNDL/Odometer Display Area
When the appropriate conditions exist, the following
odometer messages will display:
CHAngE OIL............... OilChange Required
CRUISE.....................Cruise Control On
door.............................Door Ajar
ESPOFF............................ ESPOff
gATE..........................Lift Gate Ajar
gASCAP.......................Fuel Cap Fault
hood............................Hood Ajar
noFUSE..........................Fuse Fault
LoCOOL........................ LowCoolant
LoWASH.................... LowWasher Fluid
Low / tirE.................... LowTirePressure
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18. Oil Pressure Warning Light
This light indicates low engine oil pressure. The
light should turn on momentarily when the engine
is started. If the light turns on while driving, stop the
vehicle and shut off the engine as soon as possible. A
chime will sound for four minutes when this light turns
on.
Do not operate the vehicle until the cause is corrected.
This light does not show how much oil is in the engine.
The engine oil level must be checked under the hood.
19. Front Fog Light Indicator — If Equipped
This light shows when the front fog lights are ON.
20. Seat Belt Reminder Light
When the ignition switch is first turned ON, this
light will turn on for five to eight seconds as a bulb
check. During the bulb check, if the driver’s seat
belt is unbuckled, a chime will sound. After the bulbcheck or when driving, if the driver’s seat belt remains
unbuckled, the Seat Belt Reminder Light will illuminate
and the chime will sound. Refer to the Occupant Re-
straints section for more information.
21. Vehicle Security Light — If Equipped
This light will flash at a fast rate for approxi-
mately 15 seconds when the vehicle security
alarm is arming and then will flash slowly until
vehicle is disarmed.
22. Airbag Warning Light
This light turns on and remains on for four
seconds as a bulb check when the ignition
switch is first turned ON. If the light is not on
during starting, stays on, or turns on while
driving, have the system inspected by an authorized
dealer as soon as possible.
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Steering Wheel EVIC Compass/Temp
Control Button, as it appears on the
right side of the steering column.
Press and release the Compass/Temperature
button to for instant access to the Compass/
Temperature screens.
Press this button to RESET Trip Functions and
change Personal Settings.
EVIC Displays
When the appropriate conditions exist, the EVIC displays
the following messages:
•Door(s) Ajar (with a single chime, if vehicle is in
motion)
•Liftgate Ajar (chime will sound when vehicle starts
moving)
•Hood Ajar (if equipped with hood switch)
•Check TPM System (refer to “Tire Pressure Monitoring
System” in Section 5 of this manual)
•Turn Signal On
•RKE Battery Low
•LOW WASHER FLUID
•Oil Change Required
•Left Front Turn Signal Light Out
•Left Rear Turn Signal Light Out
•Right Front Turn Signal Light Out
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WARNING!
The tires and the spare tire should be replaced after
six years, regardless of the remaining tread. Failure to
follow this warning can result in sudden tire failure.
You could lose control and have an accident resulting
in serious injury or death.
Keep dismounted tires in a cool, dry place with as little
exposure to light as possible. Protect tires from contact
with oil, grease and gasoline.
Replacement Tires
The tires on your new vehicle provide a balance of many
characteristics. They should be inspected regularly forwear and correct cold tire inflation pressure. The manu-
facturer strongly recommends that you use tires equiva-
lent to the originals in size, quality and performance
when replacement is needed. Please see “Tread Wear
Indicators” and “Tire and Loading Information” placard
for the size designation of your tire. The service descrip-
tion and load identification will be found on the original-
equipment tire. Failure to use equivalent replacement
tires may adversely affect the safety, handling, and ride of
your vehicle. We recommend that you contact your
original-equipment manufacturer, or an authorized tire
dealer, with any questions you may have on tire specifi-
cations or capability.
STARTING AND OPERATING 365
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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 temperature gauge reads “H”, pull
over and stop the vehicle. Idle the vehicle with the air
conditioner turned off until the pointer drops back
into the normal range. If the pointer remains on the
“H”, 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, see Section 7, Maintenance, of this
manual. Follow the warnings under the Cooling
System Pressure Cap paragraph.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 411
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NOTE:
•The oil change indicator message will not monitor the
time since the last oil change. Change your vehicle’s
oil if it has been six months since your last oil change,
even if the oil change indicator message is NOT
illuminated.
•Change your engine oil more often if you drive your
vehicle off-road for an extended period of time.
•Under no circumstances should oil change intervals
exceed 6,000 miles (10 000 km) or six months, which-
ever comes first.
Your authorized dealer will reset the oil change indicator
message after completing the scheduled oil change. If this
scheduled oil change is performed by someone other
than your dealer, the message can be reset by referring to
the steps described under “Oil Change Required” in “Use
Factory Settings” of the EVIC section in this manual orunder “Odometer/Trip Odometer” in the “Instrument
Cluster Descriptions section of this manual.
At Each Stop For Fuel
•Check the engine oil level about five minutes after a
fully warmed engine is shut OFF. Checking the oil
level while the vehicle is on level ground will improve
the accuracy of the oil level reading. Add oil only
when the level is at or below the ADD, SAFE or MIN
mark.
•Check the windshield washer solvent and add if
required.
Once A Month
•Check tire pressure and look for unusual wear or
damage.
•Inspect the battery and clean and tighten the terminals
as required.
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES 485
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Airbag......................66,71,75,94,244
Alarm.............................. 244
Anti-Lock........................... 237
Automatic Headlights................... 174
Back-Up............................. 477
Battery Saver......................... 177
Brake Assist Warning................... 348
Brake Warning........................ 238
Bulb Replacement...................474,475
Center Mounted Stop................... 478
Daytime Running...................... 176
Dimmer Switch, Headlight............... 174
Engine Temperature Warning.............. 243
Fog ..........................177,244,476
Hazard Warning Flasher................. 410
Headlight Switch...................... 174
Headlights........................... 475
Headlights On Reminder................. 176
High Beam Indicator.................... 237High Beam/Low Beam Select............. 179
Illuminated Entry....................... 20
Interior..........................172,174
License............................. 478
Lights On Reminder.................... 176
Low Fuel............................ 245
Malfunction Indicator (Check Engine)........ 242
Oil Pressure.......................... 244
Park.............................174,476
Passing............................. 179
Reading............................. 195
Rear Servicing........................ 477
Rear Tail............................ 477
Seat Belt Reminder..................... 244
Security Alarm (Theft Alarm).............. 244
Service...........................474,475
Service Engine Soon (Malfunction Indicator) . . . 242
Side Marker.......................... 477
Theft Alarm (Security Alarm).............. 244
INDEX 521
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