2012 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY spare tire

24-HOUR TOWING ASSISTANCE
• Dial toll-free 1-800-521-2779 or 1-800-363-4869 for Canadian residents.
• Provide your name, vehicle identification number and license plate number.
• Provide your location, including telephone number, from which you are calling.
• Briefly describe the nature of the problem and answer a few simple questions.
• You will be given the name of the service provider and an estimated time of arrival. If youfeel you are in an “unsafe situation”, please let us know. With your consent, we will contact
local police or safety authorities.
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WARNING LIGHTS
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Indicator Light
• If this indicator light flashes during acceleration, apply as little throttle as possible. Whiledriving, ease up on the accelerator. Adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road
conditions. To improve the vehicle's traction when starting off in deep snow, sand or
gravel, it may be desirable to switch the ESC system off.
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Light
• Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly, when cold andinflated to the inflation pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label. (If your vehicle has tires of a different size
than the size indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label, you should
determine the proper tire inflation pressure for those tires.)
• As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale when one or more
of your tires is significantly under-inflated. Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale
illuminates, you should stop and check your tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to
the proper pressure. Driving on a significantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to
overheat and can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire
tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
• IF THE LIGHT STARTS FLASHING INDICATING A LOW TIRE PRESSURE,
ADJUST THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE LOW TIRE TO THE AIR PRESSURE
SHOWN ON THE VEHICLE PLACARD OR TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE
LABEL LOCATED ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR. NOTE: AFTER INFLATION,
THE VEHICLE MAY NEED TO BE DRIVEN FOR 20 MINUTES BEFORE THE
FLASHING LIGHT WILL TURN OFF.
• Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver’s responsibility to maintain correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation has not
reached the level to trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
86

JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING
Jack Location
• The jack, jack handle and winch handle tools are stowed behind the rear left side trimpanel in the rear cargo area. Turn the two cover latches to release the cover.
• Remove the pouch containing the scissorsjack, jack handle, and tools.
Spare Tire Removal
• The spare tire is stowed inside a protective cover located under the center of the vehiclebetween the front doors by means of a cable winch mechanism. The “spare tire drive” nut
is located on the floor, under a plastic cap at the front of the floor console or under front
super console forward bin liner.
To Access Spare Tire Winch Drive Nut
• To access the spare tire winch drive nut and lower the spare tire, you will need to refer toone of the following center console configurations.
Super Console
• For vehicles equipped with the Super Console, the spare tire winch assembly drive nut islocated beneath the console.
1. Pull the lower drawer out from the rear ofthe floor console.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
91

2. Open the front drawer to expose thestorage compartment.
3. Remove the liner from the console's storage compartment to access the spare
tire winch drive nut.
Premium/Base/Cargo Center Console
• Pull the Winch Cover assembly plug (ifequipped) to access the winch drive nut.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
92

Spare Tire Tools
• The tool pouch contains three pieces and can be assembled into a spare tire hook; toremove the compact spare tire/cover assembly from under the vehicle, or a Winch
T-handle; to raise/lower the compact spare tire/cover assembly.
A — Spare Tire Hook/T-handle
B — Extension 1
C — Extension 2
Assembled T-handle
A — Spare Tire Hook/T-handle
B — Extension 1
C — Extension 2
Assembling The Spare Tire Hook
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
93

Spare Tire Removal Instructions
• The spare tire is located under the vehicle beneath the center console area.1. Assemble the spare tire tools into aT-handle and place the square end over
the spare tire winch drive nut.
2. Rotate the nut to the left until the winch mechanism stops turning freely. This will
allow enough slack in the cable to allow
you to pull the spare tire out from
underneath the vehicle.
3. Assemble the winch handle extensions to form the spare tire hook, and pull the
spare tire from under the vehicle.
NOTE:If either front tire is flat it may be
necessary to jack up the vehicle to remove
the compact spare tire/cover assembly from
under the vehicle.
4. Stand the tire/cover assembly upright and remove the wheel spacer by
squeezing the winch retaining tabs
together. Push the retainer through the
spare tire to release it from the wheel.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
94

NOTE:In some situations the jack may need
to be placed on its side in order to be pushed
under the vehicle. Return the jack to its correct
orientation once it is under the vehicle.
3. Place the wrench on the jack screw and turn to the right until the jack head is
properly engaged in the described
location. Do not raise the vehicle until
you are sure the jack is securely
engaged.
4. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack screw to the right, using the swivel wrench. Raise the vehicle only until the tire just clears the surface and enough clearance is obtained to
install the spare tire. Minimum tire lift provides maximum stability.
5. Remove the wheel lug nuts, for vehicles with wheel covers, remove the cover from the wheel by hand. Do not pry the wheel cover off. Then pull the wheel off the hub.
6. Install the compact spare tire. Lightly tighten the lug nuts.
NOTE:
• Do not install the wheel cover on the compact spare.
• Do not use a hammer or force to install the wheel covers.
7. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack screw to the left.
8. Finish tightening the lug nuts. Push down on the wrench while at the end of the handle for increased leverage. Tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern until each nut has been
tightened twice. The correct wheel nut tightness is 102 ft lbs (138 N·m). If in doubt about
the correct tightness, have them checked with a torque wrench by your authorized dealer
or at a service station.
9. Lower the jack to its fully-closed position.
10. 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.
11. Stow the cable and wheel spacer before driving the vehicle. Reassemble the winch handle extensions to form a “T” and fit the winch T-handle over the drive nut. Rotate the
nut to the right until the winch mechanism clicks at least three times.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
97

NOTE:Refer to the “Spare Tire Tools” section for instructions on assembling the T-handle.
12. Stow the jack, jack handle and winch handle tools back in the stowage compartment.
13. Check the compact spare tire pressure as soon as possible. Correct the tire pressure, as required.
Securing The Spare Tire
1. Assemble the winch handle extensions to form a T-handle and fit the winch T-handleover the drive nut. Rotate the nut to the left until the winch mechanism stops turning
freely. This will allow enough slack in the cable to allow you to pull the wheel spacer out
from under the vehicle.
2. Assemble the winch handle extensions to form the spare tire hook, and pull the wheel spacer from under the vehicle.
3. Turn the compact spare tire so that the valve stem is down, and place the tire into the spare tire/cover assembly. Slide the wheel spacer through the center of the wheel and
spare tire/cover assembly, so that the two retainer tabs snap out and engage the spare
tire cover on the opposite side.
4. Using the winch T-handle, rotate the drive nut to the right until the compact spare tire/cover assembly is drawn into place against the underside of the vehicle.
5. Continue to rotate the nut to the right until you hear the winch mechanism click three times. It cannot be overtightened. Check under the vehicle to ensure the compact spare
tire/cover assembly is positioned correctly against the underside of the vehicle.
Road Tire Installation
Vehicles Equipped With Wheel Covers
1. Mount the road tire on the axle.
2. To ease the installation process for steel wheels with wheel covers, install two lug nuts onthe mounting studs which are on each side of the valve stem. Install the lug nuts with the
cone shaped end of the nut toward the wheel. Lightly tighten the lug nuts.
3. Align the valve notch in the wheel coverwith the valve stem on the wheel. Install
the cover by hand, snapping the cover
over the two lug nuts. Do not use a
hammer or excessive force to install the
cover.
4. Install the remaining lug nuts with the cone shaped end of the nut toward the
wheel. Lightly tighten the lug nuts.
5. Lower the vehicle to the ground by turning the jack handle counterclockwise.
1 — Valve Stem 4 — Wheel Cover
2 — Valve Notch 5 — Mounting Stud
3 — Wheel Lug Nut
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
98

6. Finish tightening the lug nuts. Push down on the wrench while at the end of the handlefor increased leverage. Tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern until each nut has been
tightened twice. The correct tightness of each lug nut is 102 ft/lbs (138 N·m). If in doubt
about the correct tightness, have them checked with a torque wrench by your authorized
dealer or service station.
7. After 25 miles (40 km) check the lug nut torque with a torque wrench to ensure that all lug nuts are properly seated against the wheel.
Vehicles Without Wheel Covers
1. Mount the road tire on the axle.
2. Install the remaining lug nuts with the cone shaped end of the nut toward the wheel. Lightly tighten the lug nuts.
3. Lower the vehicle to the ground by turning the jack handle counterclockwise.
4. Finish tightening the lug nuts. Push down on the wrench while at the end of the handle for increased leverage. Tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern until each nut has been
tightened twice. The correct tightness of each lug nut is 102 ft/lbs (138 N·m). If in doubt
about the correct tightness, have them checked with a torque wrench by your authorized
dealer or service station.
5. After 25 miles (40 km) check the lug nut torque with a torque wrench to ensure that all lug nuts are properly seated against the wheel.
CAUTION!
• The winch mechanism is designed for use with the winch T-handle only. Use of an airwrench or other power tools is not recommended and can damage the winch.
• Do not attempt to raise the vehicle by jacking on locations other than those indicated in the Jacking Instructions for this vehicle.
• Be sure to mount the spare tire with the valve stem facing outward. The vehicle could be damaged if the spare tire is mounted incorrectly.
• The compact spare tire/cover assembly must be used when the compact spare tire is stored. Failure to use this cover could drastically reduce the life of the compact spare tire.
• The winch mechanism is designed specifically to stow a compact spare tire only. Do not attempt to use the winch to stow the full size flat tire, or any other full-size tire. Vehicle
damage may result.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
99