Page 123 of 457
WARNING!
•It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people
riding in these areas are more likely to be seri-
ously injured or killed.
•Do not allow people to ride in any area of your
vehicle that is not equipped with seats and seat
belts.
•Be sure that everyone in your vehicle is in a seat
and using a seat belt properly.
TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE HOOD
To open the hood, two latches must be released.
1. Pull the hood release lever located on the left kick
panel.
Hood Release Lever
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 121
3
Page 377 of 457

Refrigerant Recovery And Recycling
R-134a air conditioning refrigerant is a hydrofluoro-
carbon (HFC) that is endorsed by the Environmental
Protection Agency and is an ozone-saving product. How-
ever, the manufacturer recommends that air conditioning
service be performed by authorized dealers or other
service facilities using recovery and recycling equipment.
NOTE:Use only manufacturer approved A/C system
sealers, stop leak products, seal conditioners, compressor
oil, or refrigerants.
Body Lubrication
Locks and all body pivot points, including such items as
seat tracks, door hinge pivot points and rollers, liftgate,
tailgate, sliding doors and hood hinges, should be lubri-
cated periodically with a lithium based grease such as
MOPARSpray White Lube to assure quiet, easy opera-
tion and to protect against rust and wear. Prior to the
application of any lubricant, the parts concerned shouldbe wiped clean to remove dust and grit; after lubricating
excess oil and grease should be removed. Particular
attention should also be given to hood latching compo-
nents to insure proper function. When performing other
underhood services, the hood latch, release mechanism
and safety catch should be cleaned and lubricated.
The external lock cylinders should be lubricated twice a
year, preferably in the Fall and Spring. Apply a small
amount of a high quality lubricant such as MOPAR
Lock Cylinder Lubricant directly into the lock cylinder.
Windshield Wiper Blades
Clean the rubber edges of the wiper blades and the
windshield periodically with a sponge or soft cloth and a
mild, nonabrasive cleaner or use the washer solvent. This
will remove accumulations of salt, waxes or road film
and help reduce streaking and smearing.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 375
7
Page 386 of 457

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
proper maintenance intervals.
WARNING!
Riding the brakes can lead to brake failure and
possibly an accident. Driving with your foot resting
or riding on the brake pedal can result in abnormally
high brake temperatures, excessive lining wear, and
possible brake damage. You would not have your full
braking capacity in an emergency.
Brake Master Cylinder
The fluid level in the master cylinder should be checked
when performing under hood services, or immediately if
the brake system warning light is on.Be sure to clean the top of the master cylinder area before
removing the cap. If necessary, add fluid to bring the
fluid level up to the requirements described on the brake
fluid reservoir. Fluid level can be expected to fall as the
brake pads wear. The brake fluid level should be checked
when the pads are replaced. However, low fluid level
may be caused by a leak and a checkup may be needed.
NOTE:If your vehicle is equipped with amanual
transaxle, the brake fluid reservoir supplies fluid to both
the brake system and the clutch release system. The two
systems are separated in the reservoir, and a leak in one
system will not affect the other system. Themanual
transaxleclutch release system should not require fluid
replacement during the life of the vehicle. If the brake
fluid reservoir is low and the brake system does not
indicate any leaks or other problems, it may be a result of
a leak in the hydraulic clutch release system. See your
local authorized dealer for service.
384 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
Page 444 of 457

Gearshift.............................. 262
General Information.................19,109,328
General Maintenance..................... 369
Glass Cleaning.......................... 392
Gross Axle Weight Rating.................. 337
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.............335,337
Hands-Free Phone (UConnect) .............. 81
Hazard
Driving Through Flowing, Rising, or Shallow
Standing Water........................ 267
Hazard Warning Flasher................... 350
Head Restraints......................... 117
Headlights............................ 398
Cleaning............................ 392
High Beam.......................... 126
High Beam/Low Beam Select Switch........ 126
Passing............................. 127
Replacing........................... 398Switch.............................. 123
Heated Seats........................... 117
Hill Descent Control...................177,295
Hitches
Trailer Towing........................ 339
HomeLink(Garage Door Opener) Transmitter . . . 136
Hood Release.......................... 121
Ignition............................... 12
Key ................................ 12
Ignition Key Removal..................... 12
Immobilizer (Sentry Key).................16,20
Infant Restraint.......................... 61
Information Center, Vehicle................. 179
Inside Rearview Mirror.................... 75
Instrument Cluster....................... 167
Instrument Panel and Controls.............. 165
Instrument Panel Cover................... 392
Instrument Panel Lens Cleaning............. 393
442 INDEX