2011 DODGE CALIBER towing

CAUTION!
If the trailer weighs more than 1,000 lbs (450 kg)
loaded, it should have its own brakes and they
should be of adequate capacity. Failure to do this
could lead to accelerated brake lining wear, higher
brake pedal effort, and longer stopping distances.
WARNING!
•Do not connect trailer brakes to your vehicle’s
hydraulic brake lines. It can overload your brake
system and cause it to fail. You might not have
brakes when you need them and could have a
collision.(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Towing any trailer will increase your stopping
distance. When towing, you should allow for ad-
ditional space between your vehicle and the ve-
hicle in front of you. Failure to do so could result
in a collision.
Towing Requirements – Trailer Lights And Wiring
Whenever you pull a trailer, regardless of the trailer size,
stop lights and turn signals on the trailer are required for
motoring safety.
The Trailer Tow Package may include a four-pin and
seven-pin wiring harness. Use a factory approved trailer
harness and connector.
NOTE:Do not cut or splice wiring into the vehicle’s
wiring harness.5
STARTING AND OPERATING 367

Towing Tips
Before setting out on a trip, practice turning, stopping
and backing the trailer in an area away from heavy
traffic.
If using a manual transmission vehicle for trailer towing,
all starts must be in first gear to avoid excessive clutch
slippage.
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 it
until you can get back to 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 the engine idle
speed.
Highway Driving
Reduce speed.
Air Conditioning
Turn off temporarily.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 369

RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND MOTORHOME, ETC.)
Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle
Towing Condition Wheels OFF the Ground Manual Transmission Automatic Transmission
Flat Tow None
•Transmission in NEUTRAL
•Key in ACC No
Dolly Tow Front
No OK
Rear No No
On Trailer AllOK OK
NOTE: Vehicles equipped with manual transmissions
may be recreationally towed (flat towed) at any legal
highway speed, for any distance, if the manual transmis-
sion is in NEUTRAL and the ignition key is in the ACC
position.
CAUTION!
•Do not flat tow any vehicle equipped with a
automatic transmission. Damage to the drivetrain
will result. If these vehicles require towing, make
sure all drive wheels are off the ground.
•Front or rear wheel lifts should not be used. Inter-
nal damage to the transmission will occur if a front
or rear wheel lift is used when recreational towing.
370 STARTING AND OPERATING

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
CONTENTS
Hazard Warning Flashers ................ 372
 If Your Engine Overheats ................ 372
 Automatic Transmission Overheating ....... 373
 Jacking And Tire Changing ............... 374
▫ Jack Location ....................... 374
▫ Spare Tire Stowage ................... 375
▫ Preparations For Jacking ............... 375
▫ Jacking Instructions ................... 376 
Jump-Starting Procedures ................ 381
▫ Preparations For Jump-Start ............. 382
▫ Jump-Starting Procedure ............... 384
 Freeing A Stuck Vehicle ................. 386
 Shift Lever Override ................... 387
 Towing A Disabled Vehicle ............... 388
▫ With Ignition Key .................... 388
▫ Without The Ignition Key .............. 390
6

CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could damage
your vehicle. If the pointer rises to the H (red) mark,
the instrument cluster will sound a chime. When
safe, pull over and stop the vehicle with the engine at
idle. Turn off the air conditioning and wait until the
pointer drops back into the normal range. If the
pointer remains on the H (red) mark for more than a
minute, turn 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 cool. Never try to open a cooling system pressure
cap when the radiator or coolant bottle is hot.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING
During sustained high speed driving or trailer towing up
long grades on hot days, the automatic transmission oil
may become too hot.If this happens, the transmission overheat in-
dicator light will come on, and the vehicle will
slow slightly until the automatic transmission
cools down enough to allow a return to the
requested speed. If the high speed is maintained, the
overheating may reoccur, as before, in a cyclic fashion.6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 373

2. Remove the shift lever override access cover located
on the right side of the shift lever housing.
3. Turn the ignition switch to the ON/RUN position
without starting the engine.
4. Press and maintain firm pressure on the brake pedal.5. Using a small screwdriver or similar tool, push and
hold the override release lever forward.
6. Move the shift lever into the NEUTRAL position.
7. The vehicle may then be started in NEUTRAL.
8. Reinstall the shift lever override access cover.
TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE
With Ignition Key
Automatic Transmission
•
Front Wheel Drive (FWD) vehicles can be towed with
the front wheels elevated or on a flatbed truck (all four
wheels
OFFthe ground).
•All Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicles must be towed on a
flatbed truck (all four wheels OFFthe ground).
Shift Lever Override Access Cover
388 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

CAUTION!
DO NOT flat tow any vehicle equipped with an
automatic transmission. Damage to the drivetrain
will result.
Manual Transmission
•
Front Wheel Drive (FWD) or All Wheel Drive (AWD)
vehicles can be flat towed (all four wheels on the
ground) with the transmission in NEUTRAL.
•FWD vehicles can be towed with the front wheels
elevated.
•FWD or AWD vehicles can be towed on a flatbed truck
(all wheelsOFFthe ground).
All Transmissions
If you must use the accessories (wipers, defroster, etc.)
while being towed (wipers, defrosters, etc.), the key must
be in the ON position, not the ACC position. Make
certain the transmission remains in NEUTRAL.
If the vehicle’s battery is discharged, see “Shift Lever
Override” in “What To Do In Emergencies” for instruc-
tions on shifting the automatic transmission out of the
PARK position for towing.
6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 389

CAUTION!
•If the vehicle being towed requires steering, the
ignition switch must be in the ON/RUN or ACC
position, not in the LOCK position.
•Do not attempt to use sling-type equipment when
towing. When securing the vehicle to a flatbed
truck, do not attach to front or rear suspension
components. Damage to your vehicle may result
from improper towing.
Without The Ignition Key
Special care must be taken when the vehicle is towed
with the ignition in the LOCK position. The only ap-
proved method of towing without the ignition key is
with a flatbed truck. Proper towing equipment is neces-
sary to prevent damage to the vehicle.
390 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES