2012 DODGE AVENGER spare tire

NOTE:The vehicle speed is reduced to a maximum of
53 mph (85 km/h). You may of course, reduce your
vehicle speed further if needed.
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 the danger of being hit when
operating the jack or changing the wheel.
•Being under a jacked-up vehicle is dangerous. The
vehicle could slip off the jack and fall on you. You
could be crushed. Never put 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.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Never start or run the engine while the vehicle is
on a jack.
•The jack is designed to be used 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.
Jack Location
The jack and jack-handle are stowed under the load floor
in the trunk.
Spare Tire Stowage
The compact spare tire is stowed under the rear load floor
in the trunk.
394 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

Spare Tire Removal
Lift up the load floor cover and remove the hold down.
Preparations For Jacking
1. Park the vehicle on a firm, level surface. Avoid ice or
slippery areas.
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 the danger of being hit when
operating the jack or changing the wheel.
2. Turn on the Hazard Warning flashers.
3. Set the parking brake.
4. Place the shift lever into PARK (automatic transmis-
sion) or REVERSE (manual transmission).
5. Turn OFF the ignition.
Spare Tire and Jack Stowage
6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 395

WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not let anyone sit in the vehicle when it is on a
jack.
•Do not get under the vehicle when it 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.
•Only use the jack in the positions indicated and
for lifting this vehicle during a tire change.
•If working on or near a roadway, be extremely
careful of motor traffic.
•To assure that spare tires, flat or inflated, are
securely stowed, spares must be stowed with the
valve stem facing the ground.
CAUTION!
Do not attempt to raise the vehicle by jacking on
locations other than those indicated in the Jacking
Instructions for this vehicle.
NOTE: Refer to the Compact Spare Tire section of
Tires--General Information--for information about the
spare tire, its use, and operation.
Jack Warning Label
6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 397

4. Turn the jack screw to the left until the jack can be
placed under the jacking location. Once the jack is
positioned, turn the jack screw to the right until the jack
head is properly engaged with the lift area closest to the
wheel to be changed. Do not raise the vehicle until you
are sure the jack is securely engaged.
WARNING!
Raising the vehicle higher than necessary can make
the vehicle less stable. It could slip off the jack and
hurt someone near it. Raise the vehicle only enough
to remove the tire.
5. 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.
6. Remove the wheel nuts, and pull the wheel and wheel
covers (where applicable) off the hub. Install the spare
wheel and wheel nuts with the cone shaped end of the
nuts toward the wheel. Lightly tighten the nuts.
Rear Jacking Location
400 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

CAUTION!
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.
WARNING!
•To avoid the risk of forcing the vehicle off the jack,
do not tighten the wheel nuts fully until the
vehicle has been lowered. Failure to follow this
warning may result in personal injury.
•To avoid possible personal injury, handle the
wheel covers with care to avoid contact with any
sharp edges.
7. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack screw to the left.
8. Finish tightening the 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 torque is
100 ft lbs (135 N·m). If you doubt that you have tightened
the nuts correctly, have them checked with a torque
wrench by your authorized dealer or at a service station.
Mounting Spare Tire
6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 401

9. Remove the wheel blocks and lower the jack until it is
free. Reassemble the lug wrench to the jack assembly and
stow it in the spare tire area. Secure the assembly using
the means provided.
WARNING!
A loose tire or jack thrown forward in a collision or
hard stop could endanger the occupants of the ve-
hicle. Always stow the jack parts and the spare tire in
the places provided.
10. Place the deflated (flat) tire in the cargo area and have
the tire repaired or replaced as soon as possible.
11. Check the tire pressure as soon as possible. Correct
the tire pressure as required.
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 on the 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.
WARNING!
To avoid the risk of forcing the vehicle off the jack,
do not tighten the wheel nuts fully until the vehicle
has been lowered. Failure to follow this warning may
result in personal injury.
402 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

Caps, FillerFuel .............................. 373
Oil (Engine) ..................... 417,425
Power Steering ...................... 325
Radiator (Coolant Pressure) ............. 438
Car Washes ............................ 447
Carbon Monoxide Warning ...............86,369
Cellular Phone ........................ 99,278
Chains, Tire ............................ 354
Changing A Flat Tire ..................... 394
Chart, Tire Sizing ........................ 337
Check Engine Light
(Malfunction Indicator Light) ............... 420
Checking Your Vehicle For Safety ............. 85
Checks, Safety ........................... 85
Child Restraint .................... 72,74,79,82
Child Restraint Tether Anchors .............77,79
Child Safety Locks ........................ 34
Cigar Lighter ........................... 180 Clean Air Gasoline
....................... 365
Cleaning Wheels ............................ 449
Windshield Wiper Blades ............... 432
Climate Control ......................... 279
Clock ........................... 226,245,254
Coin Holder ........................... 182
Compact Disc (CD) Maintenance ............. 278
Compact Spare Tire ...................... 349
Compass ........................... 210,216
Compass Calibration ..................... 217
Compass Variance ....................... 218
Computer, Trip/Travel .................. 21,215
Connector UCI .............................. 269
Universal Consumer Interface (UCI) ....... 269
Console .............................. 147
Console, Floor ....................... 147,182
Contract, Service ........................ 485
494 INDEX

Selection of Oil......................... 424
Sentry Key (Immobilizer) ................... 16
Sentry Key Programming ................... 17
Service Assistance ....................... 483
Service Contract ......................... 485
Service Manuals ........................ 487
Setting the Clock .................. 226,245,254
Settings, Personal ........................ 221
Shift Lever Override ...................... 411
Short Message Service (SMS) ................ 121
Shoulder Belts ........................... 44
Side Airbag ............................. 66
Side Window Demisters (Defrosters) .......... 290
Signals, Turn ......................... 89,461
Slippery Surfaces, Driving On ............... 321
Snow Chains (Tire Chains) ................. 354
Snow Tires ............................ 355
Spare Tire ....................... 349,350,394Specifications
Oil ............................... 424
Speed Control (Cruise Control) ...........161,203
Speedometer ........................... 196
Starting ............................... 298
Engine Fails to Start .................. 299
Starting and Operating .................... 298
Starting Procedures ...................... 298
Steering Power .......................... 324,325
Tilt Column ........................ 160
Wheel, Tilt ......................... 160
Steering Wheel Audio Controls .............. 276
Steering Wheel Mounted Sound System
Controls .............................. 276
Storage ............................ 182,458
Storage, Vehicle ......................... 289
Stuck, Freeing .......................... 409
Sun Roof .............................. 173
506 INDEX