2009 DODGE CHALLENGER cooling

▫Exhaust System..................... 381
▫Cooling System..................... 384
▫Brake System....................... 389
▫Clutch Hydraulic System — Manual
Transmission (If Equipped)............. 392
▫Manual Transmission — If Equipped...... 392
▫Automatic Transmission — If Equipped.... 393
▫Rear Axle.......................... 394
▫Appearance Care And Protection From
Corrosion.......................... 395
Fuses.............................. 400
▫Integrated Power Module (IPM).......... 400
▫Rear Power Distribution Center.......... 403
Vehicle Storage....................... 407Replacement Light Bulbs................ 408
Bulb Replacement..................... 409
▫Low Beam Headlamp, High Beam
Headlamp, Park/Turn Lamp — Models With
Halogen Headlamps — If Equipped....... 409
▫Low Beam Headlamp, High Beam
Headlamp, And Park/Turn Lamp — Models
With High Intensity Discharge (HID)
Headlamps — If Equipped............. 409
▫Front/Rear Side Marker Lamp........... 409
▫Tail/Turn And Stop Lamp.............. 410
▫Center Tail/Backup Lamp.............. 412
▫Center High-Mounted Stop Lamp
(CHMSL).......................... 413
▫License Lamp....................... 413
364 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Cooling System
WARNING!
•When working near the radiator cooling fan, dis-
connect the fan motor lead or turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK position. The fan is tempera-
ture controlled and can start at any time the
ignition switch is in the ON position.
•You or others can be badly burned by hot coolant
or steam from your radiator. If you see or hear
steam coming from under the hood, do not open
the hood until the radiator has had time to cool.
Never try to open a cooling system pressure cap
when the radiator is hot.
Coolant Checks
Check engine coolant (antifreeze) protection every
12 months (before the onset of freezing weather, where
applicable). If coolant is dirty or rusty in appearance, thesystem should be drained, flushed, and refilled with
fresh coolant. Check the front of the radiator for any
accumulation of bugs, leaves, etc. If dirty, clean by gently
spraying water from a garden hose vertically down the
face of the condenser.
Check the coolant recovery bottle tubing for brittle rub-
ber, cracking, tears, cuts, and tightness of the connection
at the bottle and radiator. Inspect the entire system for
leaks.
With the engine at normal operating temperature (but
not running), check the cooling system pressure cap for
proper vacuum sealing by draining a small amount of
coolant from the radiator drain cock. If the cap is sealing
properly, the engine coolant (antifreeze) will begin to
drain from the coolant recovery bottle. DO NOT RE-
MOVE THE COOLANT PRESSURE CAP WHEN THE
COOLING SYSTEM IS HOT.
384 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Cooling System — Drain, Flush, and Refill
If the engine coolant (antifreeze) is dirty or contains a
considerable amount of sediment, clean and flush with a
reliable cooling system cleaner. Follow with a thorough
rinsing to remove all deposits and chemicals. Properly
dispose of old engine coolant (antifreeze) solution.
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” in Section 8 for the
proper maintenance intervals.
Selection of Coolant
Use only the manufacturer’s recommended engine cool-
ant (antifreeze). Refer to “Fluids, Lubricants, and Genu-
ine Parts” in this section for the correct fluid type.
CAUTION!
•Mixing of engine coolant (antifreeze) other than
specified HOAT engine coolant (antifreeze), may
result in engine damage and may decrease corro-
sion protection. If a non-HOAT engine coolant
(antifreeze) is introduced into the cooling system
in an emergency, it should be replaced with the
specified engine coolant (antifreeze) as soon as
possible.
•Do not use water alone or alcohol-based engine
coolant (antifreeze) products. Do not use addi-
tional rust inhibitors or antirust products, as they
may not be compatible with the engine coolant
(antifreeze) and may plug the radiator.
(Continued)
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 385

CAUTION! (Continued)
•This vehicle has not been designed for use with
propylene glycol-based engine coolant (anti-
freeze). Use of propylene glycol-based engine
coolant (antifreeze) is not recommended.
Adding Coolant
Your vehicle has been built with an improved engine
coolant (antifreeze) that allows extended maintenance
intervals. This engine coolant (antifreeze) can be used up
to five years or 102,000 miles (170 000 km) before
replacement. To prevent reducing this extended mainte-
nance period, it is important that you use the same
engine coolant (antifreeze) throughout the life of your
vehicle. Please review these recommendations for using
Hybrid Organic Additive Technology (HOAT) engine
coolant (antifreeze).When adding engine coolant (antifreeze):
•The manufacturer recommends using MOPAR
Antifreeze/Coolant 5 Year/100,000 Mile Formula
HOAT (Hybrid Organic Additive Technology).
•Mix a minimum solution of 50% HOAT engine coolant
(antifreeze) and distilled water. Use higher concentra-
tions (not to exceed 70%) if temperatures below34°F
(37°C) are anticipated.
•Use only high purity water such as distilled or deion-
ized water when mixing the water/engine coolant
(antifreeze) solution. The use of lower quality water
will reduce the amount of corrosion protection in the
engine cooling system.
Please note that it is the owner’s responsibility to main-
tain the proper level of protection against freezing ac-
cording to the temperatures occurring in the area where
the vehicle is operated.
386 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

NOTE:Mixing engine coolant (antifreeze) types will
decrease the life of the engine coolant (antifreeze) and
will require more frequent engine coolant (antifreeze)
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.
Disposal of Used Coolant
Used ethylene glycol-based engine coolant (antifreeze) is
a regulated substance requiring proper disposal. Check
with your local authorities to determine the disposal
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 387

•Do not overfill the coolant recovery bottle.
•Check engine coolant (antifreeze) freeze point in the
radiator and in the coolant recovery bottle. If engine
coolant (antifreeze) needs to be added, contents of
coolant recovery bottle must also be protected against
freezing.
•If frequent engine coolant (antifreeze) additions are
required, or if the level in the coolant recovery bottle
does not drop when the engine cools, the cooling
system should be pressure tested for leaks.
•Maintain engine coolant (antifreeze) concentration at
50% HOAT engine coolant (antifreeze) (minimum)
and distilled water for proper corrosion protection of
your engine, which contains aluminum components.
•Make sure that the radiator and coolant recovery
bottle overflow hoses are not kinked or obstructed.
•Keep the front of the radiator clean. If your vehicle is
equipped with air conditioning, keep the front of the
condenser clean.
•Do not change the thermostat for Summer or Winter
operation. If replacement is ever necessary, install
ONLY the correct type thermostat. Other designs may
result in unsatisfactory engine coolant (antifreeze)
performance, poor gas mileage, and increased
emissions.
Brake System
In order to assure brake system performance, all brake
system components should be inspected periodically.
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” in Section 8 for the
proper maintenance intervals.
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 389

FLUIDS AND CAPACITIES
U.S. Metric
Fuel (Approximate)
3.5 Liter Engine 18 Gallons 68 Liters
5.7 Liter Engine 19 Gallons 72 Liters
Engine Oil with Filter
3.5 Liter Engine (SAE 10W-30, API Certified) 6.0 Quarts 5.7 Liters
5.7 Liter Engine (SAE 5W-20, API Certified) 7.0 Quarts 6.6 Liters
Cooling System *
3.5 Liter Engine (MOPARAntifreeze/Coolant 5 Year/100,000 Mile
Formula or equivalent)11.1 Quarts 10.5 Liters
5.7 Liter Engine (MOPARAntifreeze/Coolant 5 Year/100,000 Mile
Formula or equivalent)14.7 Quarts 13.9 Liters
* Includes heater and coolant recovery bottle filled to MAX level.
414 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Compact Disc (CD) Maintenance............. 229
Compact Spare Tire...................... 300
Compass.............................. 175
Compass Calibration..................... 176
Compass Variance....................... 176
Computer, Trip/Travel.................... 172
Connector
UCI ................................ 217
Universal Consumer Interface (UCI)......... 217
Conserving Fuel........................ 172
Console.............................. 146
Console, Floor.......................... 146
Console, Overhead....................... 132
Contract, Service........................ 437
Coolant Pressure Cap (Radiator Cap).......... 387
Cooling System......................... 384
Adding Coolant (Antifreeze).............. 386
Coolant Capacity...................... 414
Coolant Level......................384,388Disposal of Used Coolant................ 387
Drain, Flush, and Refill.................. 385
Inspection........................... 388
Points to Remember.................... 388
Pressure Cap......................... 387
Radiator Cap......................... 387
Selection of Coolant (Antifreeze)......385,414,415
Corrosion Protection..................... 395
Cruise Control (Speed Control).............. 128
CruiseLight ........................... 156
Cupholders.........................144,399
Customer Assistance..................... 435
Data Recorder, Event...................... 55
Daytime Brightness, Interior Lights........... 124
Daytime Running Lights................... 121
Dealer Service.......................... 371
Deck Lid, Emergency Release................ 35
Deck Lid, Power Release................... 34
10
INDEX 447