2012 DODGE AVENGER User Guide

JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING
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.
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.
2. Turn on the Hazard Warning flashers.
3. Set the parking brake.
4. Place the shift lever into PARK (automatic transmission) or REVERSE (manual transmission).
5. Turn OFF the ignition.
Block both the front and rear of the wheel
diagonally opposite the jacking position.
For example, if changing the right front tire,
block the left rear wheel.
NOTE: Passengers should not remain in the
vehicle while the vehicle is being jacked.
Spare Tire and Jack Stowage
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Jacking Instructions
1. Remove the scissors jack and lugwrench from the spare wheel as an
assembly. Turn the jack screw to the
left to loosen the lug wrench, and
remove the wrench from the jack
assembly.
NOTE: The jack handle attaches to the side
of the jack with two attachment points.
When the jack is partially expanded, the
tension between the two attachment
points holds the jack handle in place.
2. Loosen, but do not remove, the wheel nuts by turning them to the left one
turn while the wheel is still on the
ground.
3. There is a front and rear jacking location on each side of the vehicle.
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4. Turn the jack screw to the left untilthe 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Road Tire Installation
Vehicles Equipped With Wheel Covers1. 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.
3. Align the valve notch in the wheel cover with 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.
6. 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 100 ft/lbs
(135 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 100 ft/lbs
(135 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.
1 — Valve Stem 4 — Wheel Cover
2 — Valve Notch 5 — Mounting Stud
3 — Wheel Lug
Nut
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CAUTION!
• Do not attempt to raise the vehicle by jacking on locations other than thoseindicated in the Jacking Instructions for this vehicle.
• Do not attempt to raise the vehicle by jacking on locations other than those indicated in Step 3.
• 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!
• Do not attempt to change a tire on the side of the vehicle close to movingtraffic. 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.
• 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.
• Always park on a firm, level surface as far from the edge of the roadway as possible before raising the vehicle.
• Turn on the Hazard Warning flashers.
• Block the wheel diagonally opposite the wheel to be raised.
• Set the parking brake firmly and set an automatic transmission in PARK; a manual transmission in REVERSE.
• Never start or run the engine while the vehicle 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.
• 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.
• Only use the jack in the positions indicated and for lifting this vehicle during a tire change.
• Carefully follow these tire changing warnings to help prevent personal injury or damage to your vehicle:
• 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.
(Continued)
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WARNING!(Continued)
• Raising the vehicle higher than necessary can make the vehicle less stable. Itcould slip off the jack and hurt someone near it. Raise the vehicle only
enough to remove the tire.
• To avoid possible personal injury, handle the wheel covers with care to avoid contact with any sharp edges.
• A loose tire or jack thrown forward in a collision or hard stop could endanger the occupants of the vehicle. Always stow the jack parts and the spare tire in
the places provided.
• 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.
BATTERY LOCATION
• The battery in your vehicle is locatedbetween the left front headlight
assembly and the left front wheel
splash shield. To allow jump-starting
there are remote battery posts located
on the left side of the engine
compartment.
JUMP-STARTING
• If your vehicle has a discharged battery it can be jump-started using a set ofjumper cables 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.
Preparations For Jump-Start
• The battery in your vehicle is located between the left front headlight assembly and the left front wheel splash shield. To allow jump-starting there are remote
battery posts located on the left side of the engine compartment.
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1. Set the parking brake, shift theautomatic transmission into PARK
and turn the ignition to LOCK.
2. Turn off the heater, radio, and all unnecessary electrical accessories.
3. Remove the protective cover over the remote positive (+)battery post. To
remove the cover, press the locking
tab and pull upward on the cover.
4. 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.
Jump-Starting Procedure
1. Connect the positive (+)end of the jumper cable to the remote positive (+)post of
the discharged vehicle.
2. Connect the opposite end of the positive (+)jumper cable to the positive (+)post
of the booster battery.
3. Connect the negative end (-)of the jumper cable to the negative (-)post of the
booster battery.
4. Connect the opposite end of the negative (-)jumper cable to the remote negative
(-) post of the vehicle with the discharged battery.
5. Start the engine in the vehicle that has the booster battery, let the engine idle a few minutes, and then start the engine in the vehicle with the discharged battery.
Once the engine is started, remove the jumper cables in the reverse sequence:
6. Disconnect the negative (-)jumper cable from the remote negative (-)post of the
vehicle with the discharged battery.
7. Disconnect the negative end (-)of the jumper cable from the negative (-)post of
the booster battery.
8. Disconnect the opposite end of the positive (+)jumper cable from the positive (+)
post of the booster battery.
9. Disconnect the positive (+)end of the jumper cable from the remote positive (+)
post of the discharged vehicle.
10. Reinstall the protective cover over the remote positive (+)battery post of the
discharged vehicle.
NOTE: If frequent jump-starting is required to start your vehicle you should have the
battery and charging system inspected at your authorized dealer.
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CAUTION!
• Do not use a portable battery booster pack or any other booster source with asystem voltage greater than 12 Volts or damage to the battery, starter motor,
alternator or electrical system may occur.
• Failure to follow these procedures could result in damage to the charging system of the booster vehicle or the discharged vehicle.
• Accessories that can be plugged into the vehicle power outlets draw power from the vehicle’s battery, even when not in use (i.e., cellular phones, etc.).
Eventually, if plugged in long enough, the vehicle’s battery will discharge
sufficiently to degrade battery life and/or prevent the engine from starting.
WARNING!
• Do not attempt jump-starting if the battery is frozen. It could rupture orexplode and cause personal injury.
• 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 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.
• Do not allow vehicles to touch each other as this could establish a ground connection and personal injury could result.
• Failure to follow this procedure could result in personal injury or property damage due to battery explosion.
• Do not connect the cable to the negative post (-)of the discharged battery.
The resulting electrical spark could cause the battery to explode and could
result in personal injury.
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