2012 DODGE CHARGER radiator cap

CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could damage
your vehicle. If the temperature gauge reads “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
the “H,” 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.
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.
•Never start or run the engine while the vehicle is
on a jack.(Continued)
6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 465

To minimize the possibility of catalytic converter dam-
age:
•Do not shut off the engine or interrupt the ignition,
when the transmission is in gear and the vehicle is in
motion.
•Do not try to start the engine by pushing or towing the
vehicle.
•Do not idle the engine with any spark plug wires
disconnected or removed, such as when diagnostic
testing, or for prolonged periods during very rough
idle or malfunctioning operating conditions.
Cooling System
WARNING!
•When working near the radiator cooling fan, dis-
connect the fan motor lead or turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK position. The fan is tempera-
ture controlled and can start at any time the
ignition switch is in the ON position.
•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 is hot.
508 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Coolant Checks
Check engine coolant (antifreeze) protection every
12 months (before the onset of freezing weather, where
applicable). If the engine coolant (antifreeze) is dirty or
rusty in appearance, the system should be drained,
flushed, and refilled with fresh coolant. Check the front
of the radiator for any accumulation of bugs, leaves, etc.
If dirty, clean by gently spraying water from a garden
hose vertically down the face of the condenser.
Check the coolant recovery bottle tubing for brittle rub-
ber, cracking, tears, cuts, and tightness of the connection
at the bottle and radiator. Inspect the entire system for
leaks.
With the engine at normal operating temperature (but
not running), check the cooling system pressure cap for
proper vacuum sealing by draining a small amount of
engine coolant (antifreeze) from the radiator drain cock.If the cap is sealing properly, the engine coolant (anti-
freeze) will begin to drain from the coolant recovery
bottle. DO NOT REMOVE THE COOLANT PRESSURE
CAP WHEN THE COOLING SYSTEM IS HOT.
Cooling System – Drain, Flush, And Refill
If the engine coolant (antifreeze) is dirty or contains a
considerable amount of sediment, clean and flush with a
reliable cooling system cleaner. Follow with a thorough
rinsing to remove all deposits and chemicals. Properly
dispose of the old engine coolant (antifreeze) solution.
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” for the proper
maintenance intervals.
Selection Of Coolant
Use only the manufacturer’s recommended engine cool-
ant (antifreeze). Refer to “Fluids, Lubricants, and Genu-
ine Parts” in “Maintaining Your Vehicle” for further
information.
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 509

•Mix a minimum solution of 50% HOAT engine coolant
and distilled water. Use higher concentrations (not to
exceed 70%) if temperatures below34°F (37°C) are
anticipated.
•Use only high purity water such as distilled or deion-
ized water when mixing the water/engine coolant
(antifreeze) solution. The use of lower quality water
will reduce the amount of corrosion protection in the
engine cooling system.
Please note that it is the owner’s responsibility to main-
tain the proper level of protection against freezing ac-
cording to the temperatures occurring in the area where
the vehicle is operated. NOTE:
Mixing engine coolant (antifreeze) types will
decrease the life of the engine coolant (antifreeze) and
will require more frequent coolant changes.
Cooling System Pressure Cap
The cap must be fully tightened to prevent loss of
coolant, and to ensure that engine coolant (antifreeze)
will return to the radiator from the coolant recovery
bottle.
The cap should be inspected and cleaned if there is any
accumulation of foreign material on the sealing surfaces.
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 511

WARNING!
•The warning words “DO NOT OPEN HOT” on
the cooling system pressure cap are a safety pre-
caution. Never add engine coolant (antifreeze)
when the engine is overheated. Do not loosen or
remove the cap to cool an overheated engine. Heat
causes pressure to build up in the cooling system.
To prevent scalding or injury, do not remove the
pressure cap while the system is hot or under
pressure.
•Do not use a pressure cap other than the one
specified for your vehicle. Personal injury or en-
gine damage may result.
Disposal Of Used Coolant
Used ethylene glycol-based engine coolant (antifreeze) is
a regulated substance requiring proper disposal. Check
with your local authorities to determine the disposalrules for your community. To prevent ingestion by ani-
mals or children, do not store ethylene glycol-based
engine coolant (antifreeze) in open containers or allow it
to remain in puddles on the ground. If ingested by a child
or pet, seek emergency assistance immediately. Clean up
any ground spills immediately.
Coolant Level
The coolant bottle provides a quick visual method for
determining that the coolant level is adequate. With the
engine OFF and cold, the level of the engine coolant
(antifreeze) in the bottle should be between the ranges
indicated on the bottle.
The radiator normally remains completely full, so there is
no need to remove the radiator cap unless checking for
engine coolant (antifreeze) freeze point or replacing cool-
ant. Advise your service attendant of this. As long as the
engine operating temperature is satisfactory, the coolant
bottle need only be checked once a month.
512 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Brightness, Interior Lights.................. 207
Bulb Replacement ..................... 533,534
Bulbs, Light .......................... 85,533
Camera, Rear ........................... 254
Capacities, Fluid ........................ 538
Caps, Filler Oil (Engine) ..................... 496,497
Radiator (Coolant Pressure) ............. 511
Car Washes ............................ 519
Carbon Monoxide Warning ...............82,440
Cargo (Vehicle Loading) ................... 447
Cellular Phone .......................... 345
Certification Label ....................... 447
Chains, Tire ............................ 422
Changing A Flat Tire ..................... 465
Chart, Tire Sizing ........................ 405
Check Engine Light
(Malfunction Indicator Light) .............293,491Checking Your Vehicle For Safety
............. 82
Checks, Safety ........................... 82
Child Restraint .................. 70,72,73,75,79
Child Restraint Tether Anchors .............74,75
Child Safety Locks ........................ 31
Clean Air Gasoline ....................... 437
Cleaning Wheels ............................ 521
Windshield Wiper Blades ............... 504
Climate Control ......................... 346
Coin Holder ........................... 279
Cold Weather Operation ................... 367
Compact Disc (CD) Maintenance ............. 345
Compact Spare Tire ...................... 417
Computer, Trip/Travel .................... 311
Connector UCI .............................. 341
Universal Consumer Interface (UCI) ....... 341
Conserving Fuel ........................ 310
572 INDEX

Console, Floor.......................... 279
Console, Overhead ....................... 256
Contract, Service ........................ 563
Coolant Pressure Cap (Radiator Cap) .......... 511
Cooling System ......................... 508
Adding Coolant (Antifreeze) ............. 510
Coolant Capacity ..................... 538
Coolant Level .................... 509,512
Disposal of Used Coolant ............... 512
Drain, Flush, and Refill ................ 509
Inspection .......................... 512
Points to Remember .................. 513
Pressure Cap ........................ 511
Radiator Cap ........................ 511
Selection of Coolant (Antifreeze) ....509,538,539
Corrosion Protection ..................... 519
Cruise Control (Speed Control) .............. 222
Cupholders ......................... 275,524
Customer Assistance ..................... 561 Data Recorder, Event
...................... 69
Daytime Brightness, Interior Lights ........... 209
Daytime Running Lights ................... 202
Dealer Service .......................... 493
Deck Lid, Emergency Release ................ 41
Deck Lid, Power Release ................... 39
Defroster, Rear Window ................... 282
Defroster, Windshield ................... 84,352
Delay (Intermittent) Wipers ................. 210
Diagnostic System, Onboard ................ 491
Dimmer Switch, Headlight ................. 205
Dipsticks Oil (Engine) ........................ 495
Disabled Vehicle Towing ................... 484
Disposal Antifreeze (Engine Coolant) ............. 512
Engine Oil ......................... 498
Door Locks ............................. 28
Door Locks, Automatic .................... 30
10
INDEX 573

Overheating, Engine................... 299,464
Owner’s Manual (Operator Manual) .........4,565
Paint Care ............................. 519
Panic Alarm ............................ 23
Park Sense System, Rear ................... 246
Parking Brake .......................... 391
Passing Light ........................... 205
Pedals, Adjustable ....................... 217
Pets .................................. 81
Placard, Tire and Loading Information ......... 409
Power Deck Lid Release ..................... 39
Distribution Center (Fuses) ...........524,528
Door Locks ......................... 29
Mirrors ............................ 97
Outlet (Auxiliary Electrical Outlet) ........ 270
Seats ............................. 179
Steering ........................... 390 Sunroof
........................... 267
Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column ......... 214
Windows ........................... 36
Power Steering Fluid ..................... 540
Pregnant Women and Seat Belts .............. 53
Preparation for Jacking .................... 468
Pretensioners Seat Belts ........................... 51
Programming Transmitters
(Remote Keyless Entry) .................... 20
Radial Ply Tires ......................... 416
Radiator Cap (Coolant Pressure Cap) .......... 511
Radio Operation ........................ 345
Radio Remote Controls .................... 343
Rain Sensitive Wiper System ................ 211
Rear Camera ........................... 254
Rear Cupholder ......................... 277
Rear Park Sense System ................... 246
10
INDEX 583