2010 DODGE NITRO parking brake

Rollover Warning
WARNING!
Never use the ‘PARK’ position as a substitute for the parking brake. Always apply the
parking brake fully when parked to guard against vehicle movement and possible
injury or damage.
CAUTION!
Never park your vehicle over dry grass orother combustible mat erials. The heat from
your vehicle exhaust system could cause a fire.
CHRYSLER, DODGE, JEEP, ATF+4, MOPAR and Uconnect are registered trademarks of
Chrysler Group LLC.
COPYRIGHT ©2010 CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
3
INTRODUCTION/WELCOME

KEY FOB
Locking And Unlocking The
Doors/Liftgate
• Press the LOCK button once to lock all thedoors and the liftgate. Press the UNLOCK
button once to unlock the driver’s door only
and twice within five seconds to unlock all
the doors and liftgate.
• All doors can be programmed to unlock on the first press of the UNLOCK button. Refer
to Programmable Features in this guide.
WARNING!
Leaving unattended children in a vehicle is dangerous for a number of reasons. A child
or others could be injured. Children should be warned not to touch the parking brake,
brake pedal, or the shift lever. Do not leave the key in the ignition. A child could
operate power windows, other controls, or move the vehicle.
Remote Start
• Press the REMOTE START buttonx2twice within five seconds. Pressing the REMOTE
START button a third time shuts the engine off.
• To drive the vehicle, press the UNLOCK button, insert the key in the ignition and turn to the ON/RUN position.
• With remote start, the engine will only run for 15 minutes (timeout) unless the ignition key is placed in the ON/RUN position.
• The vehicle must be started with the key after two consecutive timeouts.
WARNING!
• Do not start or run an engine in a closed garage or confined area. Exhaust gas contains Carbon Monoxide (CO) which is odorless and colorless. Carbon Monoxide
is poisonous and can cause serious injury or death when inhaled.
• Keep Key Fob transmitters away from children. Operation of the Remote Start System, windows, door locks or other controls could cause serious injury or death.
GETTING STARTED
8

RECREATIONAL TOWING
(BEHIND MOTORHOME,
ETC.)
Towing — Two-Wheel Drive
Models
Recreational Towing (All Four Wheels
On The Ground)
• Recreational towing is allowed ONLY ifthe driveshaft is removed. Towing
with the rear wheels on the ground
while the driveshaft is connected can
result in severe transmission damage.
WARNING!
If the driveshaft is removed, the
vehicle can roll even if the
transmission is in PARK, which could
cause serious injury or death.
• The parking brake must be firmly engaged and the wheels chocked
during driveshaft removal and
installation. The parking brake must
remain engaged unless the vehicle is
securely and properly connected to
the tow vehicle, or the driveshaft is
completely reinstalled. See your
authorized dealer for proper
driveshaft removal and reinstallation
procedures, including flange
orientation/alignment, use of
thread-locking compound, proper bolt
torque specifications, etc.
NOTE: This vehicle may be towed on a
flatbed or vehicle trailer provided all four
wheels are OFF the ground.
Towing — Four-Wheel Drive Or
All-Wheel Drive Models
CAUTION!
Front or rear wheel lifts should not be
used. Internal damage to the
transmission or transfer case will
occur if a front or rear wheel lift is
used when recreational towing.
Recreational Towing (All Four Wheels
On The Ground)
• Recreational towing is NOT allowed. These models do not have a NEUTRAL
position in the transfer case.
NOTE: This vehicle may be towed on a
flatbed or vehicle trailer provided all four
wheels are OFF the ground.
• Refer to your Owner's Manual on the DVD for further details.
37
UTILITY

BRAKE/TRANSMISSION
INTERLOCK MANUAL
OVERRIDE
• The manual override may be used inthe event that the shift lever should
fail to move from PARK with the Key
Fob in the ON position and the brake
pedal pressed.
• To operate the shift lock manual override, perform the following steps:
• Turn the Key Fob to the ON position but do not start the engine.
• Firmly set the parking brake.
• Using a flat-bladed screwdriver, carefully remove the shift lock
manual override cover which is
located on the PRNDL bezel. • Press and maintain firm pressure
on the brake pedal.
• Using a screwdriver, reach into the manual override opening. Press
and hold the shift lock lever down.
• Move the shift lever into the NEUTRAL position and start the
vehicle.
• Have your vehicle inspected by your local authorized dealer if the shift
lock manual override has been used.
UTILITY
38

WARNING!
A hot engine cooling system is dangerous. You or others could be badly burned by
steam or boiling coolant. You may want to call an authorized dealership for service if
your vehicle overheats.
- Brake Warning Light
• The Brake Warning light illuminates when there is either a system malfunction or the
parking brake is applied. If the light is on and the parking brake is not applied, it
indicates a possible brake hydraulic malfunction, brake booster problem or an
Anti-Lock Brake System problem.
• We recommend you do not operate the vehicle. Have the vehicle serviced immediately.
WARNING!
Driving a vehicle with the red brake light on is dangerous. Part of the brake system
may have failed. It will take longer to stop the vehicle. You could have an accident.
Have the vehicle checked immediately.
- Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
• Certain conditions, such as a loose or m issing gas cap,poor fuel quality, etc., may
illuminate the MIL after engine start. The vehicle should be serviced if the light stays
on through several typical driving cycles. In most situations, the vehicle will drive
normally and not require towing.
• If the MIL flashes when the engine is running, serious conditions may exist that could lead to immediate loss of power or severe catalytic converter damage. We recommend
you do not operate the vehicle. Hav e the vehicle serviced immediately.
- Electronic StabilityProgram (ESP) Indicator Light/Brake Assist
System (BAS) Warning Light
• If the ESP/BAS warning light comes on continuously with the engine running, a
malfunction has been detected.
• If this light remains on after several ignition cycles, and the vehicle has been driven several miles (kilometers) at speeds g reater than 30 mph (48 km/h), we recommend
you do not operate the vehicle. Hav e the vehicle serviced immediately.
- Charging System Light
• This light shows the status of the electrical ch arging system. If the charging system
light remains on, it means that the vehicle is experiencing a problem with the charging
system.
• We recommend you do not continue driving if the charging system light is on. Have the vehicle serviced immediately.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
40

Preparations For Jacking
• Park on a firm, level surface. Avoid ice or slippery areas.
• Set the parking brake and shiftthe automatic transmissioninto 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 the stored location.
• Loosen (but do not remove) the wheel lug nuts by turning them to the left 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
44

Preparations for Jump-Start
• The battery in your vehicle is located in the front of the engine compartment, behind
the left headlight assembly.
NOTE: The positive battery post is covered with a protective cap. Lift up on the cap to
gain access to the positive battery post.
WARNING!
• Take care to avoid the radiator coolin g 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 seriously 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 a 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.
47
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

MAINTENANCE CHART
Miles:
6,000 12,000 18,000 24,000 30,000 36,000 42,000 48,000 54,000 60,000 66,000 72,000 78,000
Or Months: 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78
Or Kilometers:
10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 70,000 80,000 90,000 100,000 110,000 120,000 130,000
Change the engine oil and engine oil filter. XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Rotatethetires. XXXXXXXXXXXXX
If using your vehicle for any of the following: dusty or
off-road conditions. Inspect the engine air cleaner
filter; replace if necessary. XXXX
X
Inspect the brake linings; replace if necessary. XXXXXX
Inspect the CV joints. Perform the first inspection at
12,000 miles (20,000 km) or 12 months. X
XXX
Inspect the exhaust system. Perform the first
inspection at 12,000 miles (20,000 km) or 12 months. X
XXX
Replace the engine air cleaner filter. XX
Inspect the front and rear axle fluid, change if using
your vehicle for police, taxi, fleet, off-road or frequent
trailer towing. XXXX
Inspect the transfer case fluid. X
Change the transfer case fluid if using your vehicle for
the following: police, taxi, fleet or frequent trailer
towing. X
Adjust the parking brake on vehicles equipped with
four wheel disc brakes. XX
Change the autom atic transmissionfluid and filter if
using your vehicle for any of the following: police, taxi,
fleet or frequent trailer towing. X
Inspect front suspension, tie rod ends, and boot seals
for cracks or leaks and all parts for damage, wear,
improper looseness or end play; replace if necessary. XXXXXX
Replace the spark plugs (3.7L engine). XX• Refer to the Owner's Manual on the DVD for the complete maintenance schedule.
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MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE