2010 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN User Guide

• If the light remains lit with the engine running, your vehicle will usually be drivable;however, see an authorized service center immediately. If the light is flashing when
the engine is running, immediate service is required and you may experience reduced
performance, an elevated/rough idle or en gine stall and your vehicle may require
towing.
- Airbag Warning Light
• If the light is not on during starting, stays on, or turns on while driving, have the vehicle serviced by an authorized service center immediately.
Fuel Cap/Loose Gas Cap Message
• If a “gas cap” message (shown as gASCAP) appears, tighten the gas cap until a“clicking” sound is heard.
• Press the odometer reset button to turn the message off.
• If the message continues to appear for mor e than three days after tightening the gas
cap, see your authorized service center.
Oil Change Indicator
Message
• If an “oil change” message (shown as CHAngE OIL) appears and a single chime
sounds, it is time for your next required oil change.
Resetting The Light After Servicing
• Turn the ignition switch to the ON/RUN position (do not start engine).
• Fully depress the accelerator pedal three times within 10 seconds.
• Turn the ignition switch to the OFF/LOCK position.
IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS
• In any of the following situations, you c an reduce the potential for overheating by
taking the appropriate action.
• On the highways — slow down.
• In city traffic — while stopped, shift tran smission intoNEUTRAL, but do not increase
engine idle speed.
NOTE: There are steps that you can take to slow down an impending overheat
condition:
• If your air conditioner (A/C) is on, turn it off. The A/C system adds heat to the engine cooling system and turning the A/C off can help remove this heat.
• You can also turn the Temperature Control to maximum heat, the Mode Control to floor and 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.
• If the temperature reading does not re turn to normal, turn the engine off immediately.
• We recommend that you do not operate the vehicle or engine damage will occur. Have the vehicle serviced immediately.
55
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could damage your vehicle. If the temperature gauge
reads HOT (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
HOT (H), and you hear continuous chimes, t urn the engine off immediately and call for
service.
WARNING!
You or others can be badly burned by hot engine coolant (antifreeze) 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 co ol. Never try to open a cooling system
pressure cap when the radiator or coolant bottle is hot.
JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING
WARNING!
• Do not attempt to change a tire on the side of the vehicle close to moving traffic. Pull far enough off the road to avoid being hit when operating the jack or changing
the wheel.
• Getting under a jacked-up vehicle is dangerous. The vehicle could slip off the jack and fall on you. You could be crushed. Never get any part of your body under a
vehicle that is on a jack. If you need to get under a raised vehicle, take it to a
service center where it can be raised on a lift.
• The jack is designed to use as a tool for changing tires only. The jack should not be used to lift the vehicle for service purposes. The vehicle should be jacked on a firm,
level surface only. Avoid ice or slippery areas.
• If it is necessary to retrieve the spare tire from under the vehicle on the side of the vehicle close to moving traffic, pull far enough off the road to avoid the danger of
being hit.
WARNING!
• The compact spare tire is for emergency use only. Installation of this compact sparetire affects vehicle handling.
• Do not drive more than 50 mph (80 km/h) with a compact spare tire.
• Keep the compact spare tire inflated to the cold tire inflation pressure, listed on either your tire placard or limited use spare tire and wheel assembly.
• Replace (or repair) the original tire at the first opportunity and reinstall it on your vehicle. Failure to do so could result in loss of vehicle control.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
56

Jack Location
• The jack, jack handle and winch handletools are stowed behind the rear left side
trim panel in the rear cargo area. Turn the
two cover latches to release the cover.
• Remove the pouch cont aining the scissors
jack, jack handle, and tools.
Spare Tire Stowage
• The spare tire is stored inside a protective cover located under the center of the
vehicle by means of a cable winch mechanism.
• Using the provided tools, lower the sparetire by turning the “spare tire drive” nut,
located on the floor in front of the floor
console, counter-clockwise.
57
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

• Retrieve the spare tire from under thevehicle with the provided spare tire hook.
Preparations For Jacking
• Park on a firm, level surface. Avoid ice or slippery areas.
• Set the parking brake and shif t the transmission into PARK.
• Turn the ignition to LOCK and turn on the Hazard Warning flasher. • Block both the front and rear of the wheeldiagonally opposite of the jacking position.
For example, if changing the right front tire,
block the left rear wheel.
NOTE: Passengers should not remain in the
vehicle when the vehicle is being jacked.
Jacking And Tire Changing Instructions
WARNING!
Carefully follow these tire changing p rocedures to help prevent personal injury or
damage to your vehicle: Always park on a firm, level surface as far from the edge of
the roadway as possible before raising the vehicle.
• Remove the spare tire, jack and tools from their stored location.
• Loosen (but do not remove) the wheel lug nuts by turning them counterclockwise one
turn while the wheel is still on the ground.
• Assemble the jack and jacking tools. Connect the jack handle driver to the extension, then to the lug wrench.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
58

NOTE:There are two jack engagement locations on each side of the vehicle body. These
locations are on the sill flange of the vehicle body.
• Place the jack:
• Rear jack locations are between a pair of down-facing tabs on the sill flange of thevehicle side body.
• Front jack locations are on the sill flange of the vehicle side body and align with front door edges.
• Turn the jack screw clockwise to firmly engage the jack saddle with the lift area of the sill flange.
• Raise the vehicle by turning the jack screw clockwise. Raise the vehicle only until the tire just clears the surface and enough clearance is obtained to install the spare tire.
WARNING!
Raising the vehicle higher than necessary can make the vehicle less stable and cause
an accident. It could slip off the jack and hurt someone near it. Raise the vehicle only
enough to remove the tire.
• Remove the lug nuts and wheel.
• Position the spare wheel/tire on the vehicle and install the lug nuts with the cone-shaped end toward the wheel. Lightly tight en the lug nuts clockwise. To avoid
the risk of forcing the vehicle off the jack, do not tighten the nuts fully until the vehicle
has been lowered.
59
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

• Lower the vehicle by turning the jack screw counterclockwise, and remove the jack andwheel blocks.
• Finish tightening the lug nuts. Push do wn on the wrench while tightening for
increased leverage. Alternate nuts until each one has been tightened twice. The
correct wheel nut tightness is 95 ft lbs (130 N•m). If in doubt about the correct
tightness, have them checked with a tor que wrench by your authorized dealer or at a
service station.
WARNING!
A loose tire or jack, thrown forward in an accident or hard stop, could endanger the
occupants of the vehicle. Always stow the jack parts and the spare tire in the places
provided.
• Place the deflated (flat) tire and compact spare tire cover assembly in the rear cargo area. DO NOT stow the deflated tire in the spare tire location. Have the full-sized tire
repaired or replaced as soon as possible.
• To stow the winch cable and wheel spacer, fit the assembled jack-handle over the winch drive nut. Rotate the jack-handle as sembly clockwise until you hear the winch
mechanism click three times.
• Secure the jack and tools in their proper locations.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
60

JUMP-STARTING
• If your vehicle has a discharged battery it can be jump-started using a set of jumpercables and a battery in another vehicle or by using a portable battery booster pack.
• Jump-starting can be dangerous if done improperly so please follow the procedures in this section carefully.
NOTE: When using a portable battery booster pack follow the manufacturer’s operating
instructions and precautions.
CAUTION!
Do not use a portable battery booster pack or any other booster source with a system
voltage greater than 12 Volts or damage to the battery, starter motor, alternator or
electrical system may occur.
WARNING!
When temperatures are below the freezing point, electrolyte in a discharged battery
may freeze. Do not attempt jump-starting because the battery could rupture or
explode and cause personal injury. Battery temperature must be brought above
freezing point before attempting a jump-start.
61
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

Preparations for Jump-Start
• The battery in your vehicle is locatedon the left side of the engine compartment.
WARNING!
• Take care to avoid the radiator cooling fan whenever the hood is raised. It can start
anytime the ignition switch is on. You can be injured by moving fan blades.
• Remove any metal jewelry, such as watch bands or bracelets, that might make an inadvertent electrical contact. You could be severely injured.
• Batteries contain sulfuric acid that can burn your skin or eyes and generate hydrogen gas which is flammable and explosive. Keep open flames or sparks away
from the battery.
• Set the parking brake, shift the autom atic transmission into PARK and turn the ignition
to LOCK.
• Turn off the heater, radio, and all unnecessary electrical accessories.
• If using another vehicle to jump-start the battery, park the vehicle within the jumper cables reach, set the parking brake and make sure the ignition is OFF.
WARNING!
Do not allow vehicles to touch each other as this could establish a ground connection
and personal injury could result.
Jump-Starting Procedure
WARNING!
Failure to follow this procedure could result in personal injury or property damage due
to battery explosion.
CAUTION!
Failure to follow these procedures could result in damage to the charging system of
the booster vehicle or the discharged vehicle.
• Connect the positive (+)end of the jumper cable to the positive (+)post of the
discharged vehicle.
• Connect the opposite end of the positive (+)jumper cable to the positive (+)post of
the booster battery.
• Connect the negative end (-)of the jumper cable to the negative (-)post of the booster
battery.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
62