2009 DODGE JOURNEY Owners Manual

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
Starting Procedures .....................307
▫ Automatic Transaxle ...................308
▫ Normal Starting (Tip Start) ..............309
▫ Extremely Cold Weather
(Below 20°F Or 29°C)................309
▫ If Engine Fails To Start .................310
▫ After Starting ........................311
 Engine Block Heater — If Equipped .........311
 Automatic Transaxle .....................276 ▫
Brake/Transaxle Interlock System ..........312
▫ Automatic Transaxle Ignition Interlock
System .............................313
▫ 4-Speed Or 6-Speed (AutoStick) Automatic
Transaxle ...........................313
 AutoStick — If Equipped ................317
▫ AutoStick Operation..................318
▫ AutoStick General Information ...........318
 All Wheel Drive (AWD) — If Equipped .......319
5

Driving On Slippery Surfaces ..............320
▫ Acceleration .........................320
▫ Traction ............................320
 Driving Through Water ..................321
▫ Flowing/Rising Water ..................321
 Parking Brake .........................323
 Brake System ..........................326
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ............327
 Electronic Brake Control System ............328
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ............328
▫ Brake Assist System (BAS) ...............330
▫ Traction Control System (TCS) ............331
▫ Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) ..........331▫
Electronic Stability Program (ESP) .........332
▫ ESP/BAS Warning Light And ESP/TCS
Indicator Light .......................334
▫ Trailer Sway Control (TSC) ..............335
 Power Steering ........................336
 Tire Safety Information ...................337
▫ Tire Markings ........................337
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure ...........341
 Tires — General Information ...............345
▫ Tire Pressure .........................345
 Tire Chains ...........................355
 Snow Tires ...........................355
304 STARTING AND OPERATING

Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) —
If Equipped ...........................355
▫ Base System — If Equipped ..............358
▫ Premium System — If Equipped ..........360
▫ General Information ...................363
 Flexible Fuel— 2.7L Engines Only
(Except California Emission States) ..........364
▫ E-85 General Information ................364
▫ Ethanol Fuel (E-85) ....................365
▫ Fuel Requirements ....................365
▫ Selection Of Engine Oil For Flexible Fuel
Vehicles (E-85) And Gasoline Vehicles .......366
▫ Starting ............................367
▫ Cruising Range .......................367 ▫
Replacement Parts .....................367
▫ Maintenance .........................367
 Fuel Requirements ......................368
▫ 2.4L And 2.7L Engines ..................368
▫ 3.5L Engine .........................368
▫ Reformulated Gasoline .................369
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ..............369
▫ MMT In Gasoline .....................370
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ................371
▫ Fuel System Cautions ..................371
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings ..............372
 Adding Fuel ..........................372
▫ Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap) ...............372
STARTING AND OPERATING 305
5

▫Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message ............374
 Vehicle Loading ........................375
▫ Vehicle Certification Label ...............375
▫ Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) .......375
▫ Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) .........375
▫ Overloading .........................376
▫ Loading ............................376
 Trailer Towing .........................377
▫ Common Towing Definitions .............377▫
Trailer Hitch Classification ...............381
▫ Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer
Weight Ratings) ......................382
▫ Trailer And Tongue Weight ..............384
▫ Towing Requirements ..................385
▫ Towing Tips .........................390
 Recreational Towing (Behind Motorhome, Etc.) . . 392
▫ Towing This Vehicle Behind Another
Vehicle (Flat Towing With All Four Wheels
On The Ground) ......................392
306 STARTING AND OPERATING

STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust the
inside and outside mirrors, fasten your seat belt, and if
present, instruct all other occupants to buckle their seat
belts.WARNING!
•Never leave children alone in a vehicle. Leaving
unattended children in a vehicle is dangerous for a
number of reasons. A child or others could be seri-
ously or fatally injured. Don’t leave the key in the
ignition. A child could operate power windows, other
controls, or move the vehicle.
• Do not leave animals or children inside parked ve-
hicles in hot weather; interior heat buildup may cause
serious injury or death.
• Be sure to turn OFF the engine and remove the key
from the ignition switch if you want to rest or sleep in
your car. Accidents can be caused by inadvertently
moving the shift lever. Accidents can also be caused
by pressing the accelerator pedal. This may cause
excessive heat in the exhaust system, resulting in
overheating and vehicle fire, which may cause serious
or fatal injuries.
STARTING AND OPERATING 307
5

Automatic Transaxle
The shift lever must be in the NEUTRAL or PARK
position before you can start the engine. Apply the brakes
before shifting into any driving gear.CAUTION!
Damage to the transaxle may occur if the following
precautions are not observed:
•Shift into PARK only after the vehicle has come to
a complete stop.
•Shift into or out of REVERSE only after the
vehicle has come to a complete stop and the engine
is at idle speed.
•Do not shift from REVERSE, PARK, or NEUTRAL
into any forward gear when the engine is above
idle speed.
•Before shifting into any gear, make sure your foot
is firmly on the brake pedal.
308 STARTING AND OPERATING

Normal Starting (Tip Start)
NOTE:Normal Starting of either a cold or a warm
engine is obtained without pumping or depressing the
accelerator pedal.
Do not press the accelerator. Use the Fob with Integrated
Key to briefly turn the ignition switch to the START
position and release it as soon as the starter engages. The
starter motor will continue to run, and it will disengage
automatically when the engine is running. If the engine
fails to start, the starter will disengage automatically in 10
seconds. If this occurs, turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the
normal starting procedure.
Extremely Cold Weather (Below 20°F or29°C)
To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of
an externally powered electric engine block heater (avail-
able from your authorized dealer) is recommended.
STARTING AND OPERATING 309
5

If Engine Fails To Start
WARNING!
•Never pour fuel or other flammable liquids into
the throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to
start the vehicle. This could result in a flash fire
causing serious personal injury.
•Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get
it started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic
transaxle cannot be started this way. Unburned
fuel could enter the catalytic converter and once
the engine has started, ignite and damage the
converter and vehicle. If the vehicle has a dis-
charged battery, booster cables may be used to
obtain a start from a booster battery or the battery
in another vehicle. This type of start can be dan-
gerous if done improperly. Refer to Section 6 for
proper jump-starting procedures and follow them
carefully.If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
“Normal Starting” or “Extreme Cold Weather” proce-
dures, it may be flooded. To clear any excess fuel, push
the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and hold it.
Then, turn the ignition switch to the START position and
release it as soon as the starter engages. The starter motor
will disengage automatically in 10 seconds. Once this
occurs, release the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then
repeat the normal starting procedure.
CAUTION!
To prevent damage to the starter, wait 10 to 15
seconds before trying again.
310 STARTING AND OPERATING