2012 DODGE AVENGER tow

- Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) Light
• This light monitors the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).
• If the light is not on during starting, stays on, or turns on while driving, werecommend you drive to the nearest service center and have the vehicle serviced
immediately.
- Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Light
• This light informs you of a problem with the Electronic Throttle Control (ETC)system.
• If a problem is detected, the light will come on while the engine is running. Cycle the ignition when the vehicle has completely stopped and the shift lever is placed
in the PARK position; the light should turn off.
• If the light remains lit with the engine running, your vehicle will usually be drivable; however, see an authorized service center immediately. If the light is
flashing when the engine is running, immediate service is required and you may
experience reduced performance, an elevated/rough idle or engine stall and your
vehicle may require towing.
- Transmission Temperature Warning Light
• This light indicates that there is excessive transmission fluid temperature thatmight occur with severe usage such as trailer towing. If this light turns on, stop the
vehicle and run the engine at idle, with the transmission in NEUTRAL, until the
light turns off. Once the light turns off, you may continue to drive normally.
- Air Bag Warning Light
• If the light is not on during starting, stays on, or turns on while driving, have thevehicle serviced by an authorized service center immediately.
Fuel Cap/Loose Gas Cap Message
• If a “gas cap” message (shown as gASCAP) appears, tighten the gas cap until a“clicking” sound is heard.
• Press the odometer reset button to turn the message off.
• If the message continues to appear for more than three days after tightening the gas cap, see your authorized service center.
Oil Change Indicator
Message
• If an “oil change” message (shown as CHANgE OIL) appears and a single chime sounds, it is time for your next required oil change.
Resetting The Light After Servicing
• Turn the ignition switch to the ON/RUN position (do not start engine).
• Fully depress the accelerator pedal three times within 10 seconds.
• Turn the ignition switch to the OFF/LOCK position.
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IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS
• In any of the following situations, you can reduce the potential for overheating bytaking the appropriate action.
• On the highways — slow down.
• In city traffic — while stopped, shift transmission into NEUTRAL, but do not increase engine idle speed.
NOTE: There are steps that you can take to slow down an impending overheat
condition:
• If your air conditioner (A/C) is on, turn it off. The A/C system adds heat to the engine cooling system and turning the A/C off can help remove this heat.
• You can also turn the Temperature Control to maximum heat, the Mode Control to floor and the Fan Control to high. This allows the heater core to act as a supplement
to the radiator and aids in removing heat from the engine cooling system.
• If the temperature reading does not return to normal, turn the engine off immediately.
• We recommend that you do not operate the vehicle or engine damage will occur. Have the vehicle serviced immediately.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could damage your vehicle. If the temperature
gauge reads HOT (H), pull over and stop the vehicle. Idle the vehicle with the
air conditioner turned off until the pointer drops back into the normal range. If
the pointer remains on HOT (H), and you hear continuous chimes, 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.
Engine Oil Overheating — 2.4L Gas
• On hot days the engine oil temperature may become too hot during sustained high-speed driving or if towing a trailer up long grades. If this happens, a HOTOIL
message will flash in the odometer and the vehicle speed will be reduced to
48 mph (77 km/h) maximum until the engine oil temperature is reduced.
NOTE: Although the maximum vehicle speed is reduced to 48 mph (77 km/h), you may
reduce vehicle speed further as needed. Once the engine oil temperature is reduced,
you may continue to drive normally.
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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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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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TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLEModelFlat Towing (all four
wheels on the ground)Flatbed Towing (all four
wheels suspended OFF the
ground)Front Wheels Raised, Rear
Wheels on the Ground
Rear Wheels Raised, Front
Wheels on the Ground
FWD Without a Key NOT Permitted
Recommended Method May Be Used NOT Permitted without a
front end dolly
FWD With a Key Shift lever must be in
*NEUTRAL. The distance
to be traveled must not
exceed 15 mi (25 km),
and the towing speed
must not exceed 25 mph
(40 km/h).Recommended Method May Be Used
NOT Permitted without a
front end dolly
*To shift to NEUTRAL without battery power, firmly apply the parking brake. Turn the key to ON/RUN. Remove the cupholder liner. Insert
a key, screwdriver or similar object into the front hole, then push and hold the manual override release lever forward. While holding the
release lever forward, move the shift lever from PARK to NEUTRAL. Release the override.
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