2013 DODGE AVENGER Tires

Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make Outside
The Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear and uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread or sidewall. Inspect the tread for cuts
and cracks. Inspect sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
Check the wheel nuts for tightness. Check the tires
(including spare) for proper cold inflation pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of brake lights and
exterior lights while you work the controls. Check turn
signal and high beam indicator lights on the instrument
panel.
Door Latches
Check for positive closing, latching, and locking.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for fuel,
engine coolant, oil, or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline
fumes are detected or if fuel, power steering fluid (if
equipped), or brake fluid leaks are suspected, the cause
should be located and corrected immediately.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 101

23. Front Fog Light Indicator — If EquippedThis indicator will illuminate when the front fog
lights are on.
24. Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated 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 illumi-
nates, 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.
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.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS
malfunction indicator to indicate when the system is not
operating properly. The TPMS malfunction indicator is
combined with the low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash for
approximately one minute and then remain continuously
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UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 223

illuminated. This sequence will continue upon subse-
quent vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the sys-
tem may not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure
as intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety
of reasons, including the installation of replacement or
alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the
TPMS from functioning properly. Always check the
TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing one or more
tires or wheels on your vehicle, to ensure that the
replacement or alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS
to continue to function properly.
CAUTION!
The TPMS has been optimized for the original
equipment tires and wheels. TPMS pressures and
warning have been established for the tire size
(Continued)
CAUTION!(Continued)
equipped on your vehicle. Undesirable system opera-
tion or sensor damage may result when using re-
placement equipment that is not of the same size,
type, and/or style. Aftermarket wheels can cause
sensor damage. Do not use tire sealant from a can or
balance beads if your vehicle is equipped with a
TPMS, as damage to the sensors may result.
25. Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) is part of
an onboard diagnostic system called OBD that
monitors emissions, engine, and automatic trans-
mission control systems. The light will illuminate when
the key is in the ON/RUN position before engine start.
If the bulb does not come on when turning the key from
LOCK to ON/RUN, have the condition checked promptly.
224 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

Tire PSI
Press and release the MENU button untilTire PSIis
displayed.
Tire pressure information is displayed as follows:
• If tire pressure is OK for all tires, TIRE and a vehicle
graphic are displayed with tire pressure values in each
corner or the graphic.
• If one or more tires have low pressure, LOW TIRE,
Inflate to XX” and a vehicle graphic are displayed
with tire pressure values in each corner of the graphic.
Tire pressure values that are too low will be flashing.
• If the Tire Pressure System requires service, Check
TPM System is displayed. Tire PSI is an information
only function and cannot be reset.
Elapsed Time
Shows the total elapsed time of travel since the last reset.
Elapsed time will increment when the ignition switch is
in the RUN or START position.
Elapsed time is displayed as follows:
• Hours
• Minutes
• Seconds
Elapsed time can be reset by pressing and holding the
SELECT button (as prompted in the EVIC display). Upon
reset all digits will change to zeros and time will start
incrementing again if the ignition switch is in RUN or
START.
238 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES .........323
▫ Acceleration ........................ .323
▫ Traction ........................... .323
 DRIVING THROUGH WATER .............324
▫ Flowing/Rising Water ..................324
▫ Shallow Standing Water .................324
 POWER STEERING .....................326
▫ Power Steering Fluid Check ..............327
 PARKING BRAKE ..................... .328
 ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) .........330
 ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM . . . .332
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ............333
▫ Traction Control System (TCS) ............333▫
Brake Assist System (BAS) ...............334
▫ Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ..........335
▫ ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light
And ESC OFF Indicator Light ............337
 TIRE SAFETY INFORMATION .............339
▫ Tire Markings ....................... .339
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ...........342
▫ Tire Terminology And Definitions ..........344
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure ...........345
 TIRES — GENERAL INFORMATION ........349
▫ Tire Pressure ....................... .349
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures .................350
▫ Radial Ply Tires ..................... .352
294 STARTING AND OPERATING

▫All Season Tires – If Equipped ............353
▫
Summer Or Three Season Tires – If Equipped . . .353
▫ Snow Tires ......................... .353
▫ Spare Tire Matching Original Equipped Tire
And Wheel – If Equipped ................354
▫ Compact Spare Tire – If Equipped .........354
▫ Full Size Spare – If Equipped .............355
▫ Limited-Use Spare – If Equipped ..........355
▫ Tire Spinning ....................... .356
▫ Tread Wear Indicators ..................357
▫ Life Of Tire ........................ .357
▫ Replacement Tires .....................358 
TIRE CHAINS (TRACTION DEVICES) .......360
 TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS .....360
TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM (TPMS) . . .361
▫ Base System ........................ .364
▫ Premium System – If Equipped ............366
▫ General Information ...................370
 FUEL REQUIREMENTS ..................370
▫ Reformulated Gasoline .................371
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ..............371
▫ E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles .......372
▫ MMT In Gasoline .....................372
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ................373
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STARTING AND OPERATING 295

DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES
Acceleration
Rapid acceleration on snow covered, wet, or other slip-
pery surfaces may cause the driving wheels to pull
erratically to the right or left. This phenomenon occurs
when there is a difference in the surface traction under
the front (driving) wheels.
WARNING!
Rapid acceleration on slippery surfaces is dangerous.
Unequal traction can cause sudden pulling of the
front wheels. You could lose control of the vehicle
and possibly have a collision. Accelerate slowly and
carefully whenever there is likely to be poor traction
(ice, snow, wet, mud, loose sand, etc.).
Traction
When driving on wet or slushy roads, it is possible for a
wedge of water to build up between the tire and road
surface. This is hydroplaning and may cause partial or
complete loss of vehicle control and stopping ability. To
reduce this possibility, the following precautions should
be observed:
1. Slow down during rainstorms or when the roads areslushy.
2. Slow down if the road has standing water or puddles.
3. Replace the tires when tread wear indicators first become visible.
4. Keep tires properly inflated.
5. Maintain sufficient distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you to avoid a collision in a
sudden stop.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 323

WARNING!(Continued)
•Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle, or
in a location accessible to children. A child could
operate power windows, other controls, or move
the vehicle.
CAUTION!
If the “Brake Warning Light” remains on with the
parking brake released, a brake system malfunction
is indicated. Have the brake system serviced by an
authorized dealer immediately.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS)
The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) provides increased
vehicle stability and brake performance under most
braking conditions. The system operates with a separate computer to modulate the hydraulic pressure to prevent
wheel lock-up and avoid skidding on slippery surfaces.
WARNING!
•
Pumping of the anti-lock brakes will diminish
their effectiveness and may lead to a collision.
Pumping makes the stopping distance longer. Just
press firmly on your brake pedal when you need to
slow down or stop.
• The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws of phys-
ics from acting on the vehicle, nor can it increase
braking or steering efficiency beyond that afforded
by the condition of the vehicle brakes and tires or
the traction afforded.
• The ABS cannot prevent collisions, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, following
another vehicle too closely, or hydroplaning.
(Continued)
330 STARTING AND OPERATING