2010 DODGE DAKOTA check transmission fluid

CAUTION!
•Always check the depth of the standing water
before driving through it. Never drive through
standing water that is deeper than the bottom of
the tire rims mounted on the vehicle.
•Determine the condition of the road or the path
that is under water and if there are any obstacles in
the way before driving through the standing wa-
ter.
•Do not exceed 5 mph (8 km/h) when driving
through standing water. This will minimize wave
effects.(Continued)
CAUTION! (Continued)
•Driving through standing water may cause dam-
age to your vehicle’s drivetrain components. Al-
ways inspect your vehicle’s fluids (i.e., engine oil,
transmission/transaxle, axle, etc.) for signs of con-
tamination (i.e., fluid that is milky or foamy in
appearance) after driving through standing water.
Do not continue to operate the vehicle if any fluid
appears contaminated, as this may result in further
damage. Such damage is not covered by the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty.
•Getting water inside your vehicle’s engine can
cause it to lock up and stall out, and cause serious
internal damage to the engine. Such damage is not
covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
266 STARTING AND OPERATING

NOTE:Check the automatic transmission fluid level
before towing.
Tow/Haul – If Equipped
To reduce potential for automatic transmission overheat-
ing, turn the TOW/HAUL feature ON when driving in
hilly areas or shift the transmission to Drive position 2 on
more severe grades.
Electronic Speed Control – If Equipped

Do not use in hilly terrain or with heavy loads.
When using the speed control, if you experience speed
drops greater than 10 mph (16 km/h), disengage until
you can resume cruising speed.
Use speed control in flat terrain and with light loads to
maximize fuel efficiency.
Cooling System
To reduce potential for engine and transmission over-
heating, take the following actions:
City Driving
When stopped for short periods of time, shift the trans-
mission into NEUTRAL and increase engine idle speed.
Highway Driving
Reduce speed.
Air Conditioning
Turn off temporarily.
SNOWPLOW
Snow plows, winches, and other aftermarket equipment
should notbe added to the front end of your vehicle. The
airbag crash sensors may be affected by the change in the
front end structure. The airbags could deploy unexpect-
edly or could fail to deploy during a collision.
324 STARTING AND OPERATING

CAUTION! (Continued)
•Your vehicle has been built with improved fluids
that protect the performance and durability of
your vehicle and also allow extended maintenance
intervals. Do not use chemical flushes in these
components as the chemicals can damage your
engine, transmission, power steering or air condi-
tioning. Such damage is not covered by the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty. If a flush is needed
because of component malfunction, use only the
specified fluid for the flushing procedure.
Engine Oil
Checking Oil Level
To assure proper lubrication of your vehicle’s engine, the
engine oil must be maintained at the correct level. The
best time to check the engine oil level is about fiveminutes after a fully warmed-up engine is shut off, or
before starting the engine after it has sat overnight.
Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level ground will
improve the accuracy of the oil level readings. Always
maintain the oil level within the SAFE zone on the
dipstick. Adding one quart/liter of oil when the reading
is at the bottom of the SAFE zone will result in a reading
at the top of the safe zone on these engines.
CAUTION!
Overfilling or underfilling the crankcase will cause
oil aeration or loss of oil pressure. This could damage
your engine.
Change Engine Oil
The oil change indicator system will remind you that it is
time to take your vehicle in for scheduled maintenance.
Refer to “Maintenance Schedule” for further information.
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 359

WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not allow petroleum based fluid to contami-
nate the brake fluid. Brake seal components could
be damaged, causing partial or complete brake
failure. This could result in an accident.
Automatic Transmission
NOTE:If your vehicle is equipped with a dipstick, use
the following procedure. If your vehicle has a capped
dipstick, it is sealed and should not be tampered with.
Your authorized dealer has the proper tools to ensure that
the fluid level is set properly.
Fluid Level Check
Check the fluid level while the transmission is at normal
operating temperature 180° F (82° C). This occurs after at
least 15 miles (24 km) of driving. At normal operating
temperature the fluid cannot be held comfortably be-
tween the fingertips. To check the automatic transmission fluid level properly,
the following procedure must be used:
1. Operate the engine at idle speed and normal operating
temperature.
2. The vehicle must be on level ground.
3. Fully apply the parking brake and press the brake
pedal.
4. Place the shift lever momentarily into each gear posi-
tion, ending with the shift lever in PARK.
5. Remove the dipstick, wipe it clean and reinsert it until
seated.
6. Remove the dipstick again and note the fluid level on
both sides. The fluid level should be between the “HOT”
(upper) reference holes on the dipstick at normal operat-
ing temperature. Verify that solid coating of oil is seen on
both sides of the dipstick. If the fluid is low, add as
376 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

required into the dipstick tube.Do not overfill.After
adding any quantity of oil through the oil fill tube, wait
a minimum of two minutes for the oil to fully drain into
the transmission before rechecking the fluid level.
NOTE: If it is necessary to check the transmission below
the operating temperature, the fluid level should be
between the two “COLD” (lower) holes on the dipstick
with the fluid at approximately 70° F (21° C) (room
temperature). If the fluid level is correctly established at
room temperature, it should be between the “HOT”
(upper) reference holes when the transmission reaches
180° F (82° C). Remember it is best to check the level at
the normal operating temperature.CAUTION!
Be aware that if the fluid temperature is below 50° F
(10° C) it may not register on the dipstick. Do not add
fluid until the temperature is elevated enough to
produce an accurate reading.
7. Check for leaks. Release the parking brake.
To prevent dirt and water from entering the transmission
after checking or replenishing fluid, make certain that the
dipstick cap is properly reseated. It is normal for the
dipstick cap to spring back slightly from its fully-seated
position, as long as its seal remains engaged in the
dipstick tube.
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 377

•Check the fluid levels of the coolant reservoir, brake
master cylinder, power steering and transmission, and
add as needed.
•Check all lights and other electrical items for correct
operation.
At Each Oil Change
•Change the engine oil filter.
•Inspect the brake hoses and lines.
CAUTION!
Failure to perform the required maintenance items
may result in damage to the vehicle.
Required Maintenance Intervals
NOTE: ** Vehicles built with the 4.7L engine are
equipped with sixteen spark plugs, one set is located on
the top of the engine under the coils, and the second set
is located on the side of the engine.
The spark plugs located under the coils are a standard
plug, and must be changed every 48,000 miles
(80 000 km).
The spark plugs located on the side of the engine are a
premium plug, and must be changed every 96,000 miles
(160 000 km).
8
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S406 MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES

Adding Fuel........................... 307
Air Cleaner, Engine (Engine Air Cleaner Filter) . . . 362
Air Conditioner Maintenance ............... 363
Air Conditioning ........................ 237
Air Conditioning, Operating Tips ..........237,240
Air Conditioning Refrigerant .............363,364
Air Conditioning System ................237,363
Air Filter .............................. 362
Air Pressure, Tires ....................... 284
Airbag ........................... 46,54,186
Airbag Deployment ....................... 56
Airbag Light ........................ 53,58,76
Airbag Maintenance ....................... 57
Airbag, Side .......................... 52,54
Airbag, Window (Side Curtain) ...........49,52,54
Alarm, Panic ............................ 24
Alarm (Security Alarm) .................19,176
Alarm System (Security Alarm) ............... 19
Alterations/Modifications, Vehicle ............. 7Antenna, Satellite Radio
................... 231
Antifreeze (Engine Coolant) ..............370,399
Disposal ............................ 372
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ............270,271
Anti-Lock Warning Light .................. 176
Anti-Theft Security Alarm (Theft Alarm) ........ 19
Anti-Theft System ..................... 19,176
Appearance Care ........................ 380
Assistance Towing ....................... 101
Auto Unlock, Doors ....................... 32
Automatic Dimming Mirror ................. 84
Automatic Door Locks ..................... 31
Automatic Transaxle .................... 12,252
Interlock System ....................... 15
Automatic Transmission .............249,253,376
Adding Fluid ......................... 376
Fluid Level Check ..................... 376
Fluid Type ........................... 401
Gear Ranges ......................... 253
432 INDEX

Special Additives...................... 378
Torque Converter ...................... 257
Axle Fluid ............................. 401
Axle Lubrication (Axle Fluid) ............... 379
Battery ............................... 362
Keyless Transmitter Replacement (RKE) ....... 25
Saving Feature (Protection) ............... 130
Belts, Seat ............................ 37,76
Body Mechanism Lubrication ............... 364
Box, Sound ............................ 229
B-Pillar Location ........................ 279
Brake Fluid ............................ 401
Brake System ........................ 270,374
Anti-Lock (ABS) .................... 270,271
Fluid Check .......................... 374
Master Cylinder ....................... 374
Parking ............................. 269
Warning Light ..................... 176,181Brake/Transmission Interlock
............... 253
Break-In Recommendations, New Vehicle ........ 74
Bulb Replacement ....................... 391
Bulbs, Light .......................... 77,390
Calibration, Compass ..................... 146
Camper ............................... 164
Capacities, Fluid ........................ 399
Caps, Filler Oil (Engine) .......................... 360
Power Steering ........................ 268
Radiator (Coolant Pressure) ............... 371
Car Washes ............................ 380
Carbon Monoxide Warning ............75,164,302
Cargo Light ............................ 133
Cargo (Vehicle Loading) ................... 309
Cellular Phone ........................ 86,237
Center High Mounted Stop Light ............ 395
Certification Label ....................... 309
10
INDEX 433