2013 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN User Guide

JUMP-STARTING
• If your vehicle has a discharged battery itcan be jump-started using a set of jumper
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 proce-
dures in this section carefully.
NOTE:
When using a portable battery booster pack
follow the manufacturer’s operating instruc-
tions and precautions.
Preparations for Jump-Start
• The battery in your vehicle is located on the left side of the engine compartment.
• Set the parking brake, shift the automatic transmission into PARK and turn the ignition to LOCK.
• Turn off the heater, radio, and all unnecessary electrical accessories.
• 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
• Connect the positive (+)end of the jumper cable to the positive (+)post of the discharged
vehicle.
• Connect the opposite end of the positive (+)jumper cable to the positive (+)post of the
booster battery.
• Connect the negative end (-)of the jumper cable to the negative (-)post of the booster
battery.
• Connect the opposite end of the negative (-)jumper cable to a good engine ground
(exposed metal part of the discharged vehicle's engine) away from the battery and fuel
injection system.
• 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:
• Disconnect the negative (-)jumper cable from the negative (-)post of the vehicle with the
discharged battery.
• Disconnect the negative end (-)of the jumper cable from the negative (-)post of the
booster battery.
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• Disconnect the opposite end of the positive(+)jumper cable from the positive (+)post of
the booster battery.
• Disconnect the positive (+)end of the jumper cable from the positive (+)post of the
discharged vehicle.
• If frequent jump-starting is required to start your vehicle you should have the battery and charging system inspected at your authorized dealer.
CAUTION!
• Do not use a portable battery booster pack or any other booster source with a system
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!
• When temperatures are below the freezing point, electrolyte in a discharged batterymay freeze. Do not attempt jump-starting because the battery could rupture or
explode and cause personal injury. Battery temperature must be brought above
freezing point before attempting a jump-start.
• 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 severely 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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SHIFT LEVER OVERRIDE
• If a malfunction occurs and the shift levercannot be moved out of the PARK posi-
tion, you can use the following procedure
to temporarily move the shift lever:•
To access the shift lever override, remove
the cover located to the top right of the
shift lever in the instrument panel.
• Firmly set the parking brake.
• Turn the ignition switch to the ACC or
ON position without starting the engine.
• Press and maintain firm pressure on the brake pedal.
• The override can be activated by press- ing the white-colored tab, which can be
accessed through the hole in the instru-
ment panel.
• Move the shift lever into the NEUTRAL position.
• The vehicle may then be started in NEU- TRAL.
• Reinstall the override cover.
TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE
Towing Condition Wheels OFF the Ground ALL MODELS
Flat Tow NONEIf transmission is operable:
• Transmission in NEUTRAL
• 25 mph (40 km/h) maxspeed
• 15 miles (24 km) maxdistance
Wheel lift Rear
Front OK
Flatbed ALLBEST METHOD
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FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE
• If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand or snow, it can often be moved using arocking motion. Turn your steering wheel right and left to clear the area around the front
wheels. Then shift back and forth between DRIVE and REVERSE while gently pressing the
accelerator. Use the least amount of accelerator pedal pressure that will maintain the
rocking motion, without spinning the wheels or racing the engine.
NOTE:
Press the "ESC Off" switch, to place the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system in "Partial
Off" mode before rocking the vehicle. Once the vehicle has been freed, press the "ESC Off"
switch again to restore "ESC On" mode.
CAUTION!
• When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by moving between REVERSE and DRIVE, do not spin the wheels faster than 15 mph (24 km/h), or drivetrain damage may result.
• Revving the engine or spinning the wheels too fast may lead to transmission over-
heating and failure. It can also damage the tires. Do not spin the wheels above
30 mph (48 km/h) while in gear (no transmission shifting occurring).
WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces generated by excessive wheel speeds may
cause tire damage or failure. A tire could explode and injure someone. Do not spin your
vehicle's wheels faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) when you are stuck. Do not let anyone
near a spinning wheel, no matter what the speed.
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EVENT DATA RECORDER (EDR)
• This vehicle is equipped with an Event Data Recorder (EDR). The main purpose of an EDRis to record, in certain crash or near crash-like situations, such as an air bag deployment
or hitting a road obstacle, data that will assist in understanding how a vehicle’s systems
performed. The EDR is designed to record data related to vehicle dynamics and safety
systems for a short period of time, typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in this vehicle is
designed to record such data as:• How various systems in your vehicle were operating.
• Whether or not the driver and passenger safety belts were buckled/fastened.
• How far (if at all) the driver was depressing the accelerator and/or brake pedal.
• How fast the vehicle was traveling.
• These data can help provide a better understanding of the circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur.
NOTE:
EDR data are recorded by your vehicle only if a non-trivial crash situation occurs; no data are
recorded by the EDR under normal driving conditions and no personal data (e.g. name,
gender, age, and crash location) are recorded. However, other parties, such as law enforce-
ment, could combine the EDR data with the type of personally identifying data routinely
acquired during a crash investigation.
• To read data recorded by an EDR, special equipment is required, and access to the vehicle or the EDR is needed. In addition to the vehicle manufacturer, other parties such
as law enforcement, that have the special equipment, can read the information if they
have access to the vehicle or the EDR.
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OPENING THE HOOD
• Pull the hood release lever located onthe instrument panel, below the steering
column.
•
Raise the hood and locate the safety catch
lever, in the middle of the hood opening.
• Move the safety latch while lifting the hood at the same time.
• Insert the support rod into the slot on the hood.
• To close the hood, remove the support rod and place it in the retaining clip, then
lower the hood slowly.
WARNING!
Be sure the hood is fully latched before driving your vehicle. If the hood is not fully
latched, it could open when the vehicle is in motion and block your vision. Failure to
follow this warning could result in serious injury or death.
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ADDING FUEL
Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap)
• The gas cap is located behind the fuelfiller door on the left side of the vehicle.
If the gas cap is lost or damaged, be sure
the replacement cap is for use with this
vehicle.
• When the fuel nozzle “clicks” or shuts off, the fuel tank is full.
• Tighten the gas cap until you hear a “clicking” sound. This is an indication that
the gas cap is properly tightened. If not
properly tightened, the MIL (Malfunction
Indicator Light) may come on.
NOTE:
The driver’s side sliding door cannot be
opened while the fuel door is open.
CAUTION!
• Damage to the fuel system or emissions control system could result from using an improper gas cap. A poorly fitting cap could let impurities into the fuel system and
may cause the MIL to turn on, due to fuel vapors escaping from the system.
• To avoid fuel spillage and overfilling, do not “top off” the fuel tank after filling.
WARNING!
• Never have any smoking materials lit in or near the vehicle when the gas cap is
removed or the tank filled.
• Never add fuel when the engine is running. This is in violation of most state and
federal fire regulations and/or local bylaws, and will cause the MIL to turn on.
• A fire may result if gasoline is pumped into a portable container that is inside of a
vehicle. You could be burned. Always place gas containers on the ground while filling.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
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ENGINE COMPARTMENT3.6L Engine
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
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