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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, or
brake fluid leaks are suspected, the cause should be
located and corrected immediately.
108 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
Page 390 of 630

AUTOSTICK®.........................415
▫Operation...........................415
ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) — IF EQUIPPED . .417
DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES.........417
▫Acceleration.........................417
▫Traction............................418
DRIVING THROUGH WATER.............418
▫Flowing/Rising Water..................418
▫Shallow Standing Water.................419
POWER STEERING.....................420
▫Power Steering Fluid Check..............421
PARKING BRAKE......................422BRAKE SYSTEM.......................424
▫Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)............425
ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM. . . .426
▫Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)............426
▫Brake Assist System (BAS)...............428
▫Traction Control System (TCS)............429
▫Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM)..........429
▫Electronic Stability Control (ESC)..........430
▫ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light
And ESC OFF Indicator Light............432
▫Trailer Sway Control (TSC)..............433
TIRE SAFETY INFORMATION.............434
▫Tire Markings........................434
388 STARTING AND OPERATING
Page 423 of 630

•Upon initial start-up in cold weather, the power steer-
ing pump may make noise for a short amount of time.
This is due to the cold, thick fluid in the steering
system. This noise should be considered normal, and it
does not in any way damage the steering system.
WARNING!
Continued operation with reduced power steering
assist could pose a safety risk to yourself and others.
Service should be obtained as soon as possible.
CAUTION!
Prolonged operation of the steering system at the end of
the steering wheel travel will increase the steering fluid
temperature and it should be avoided when possible.
Damage to the power steering pump may occur.
Power Steering Fluid Check
Checking the power steering fluid level at a defined
service interval is not required. The fluid should only be
checked if a leak is suspected, abnormal noises are
apparent, and/or the system is not functioning as antici-
pated. Coordinate inspection efforts through an autho-
rized dealer.
CAUTION!
Do not use chemical flushes in your power steering
system as the chemicals can damage your power
steering components. Such damage is not covered by
the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 421
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WARNING!
Fluid level should be checked on a level surface and
with the engine off to prevent injury from moving
parts and to ensure accurate fluid level reading. Do
not overfill. Use only manufacturer’s recommended
power steering fluid.
If necessary, add fluid to restore to the proper indicated
level. With a clean cloth, wipe any spilled fluid from all
surfaces. Refer to “Fluids, Lubricants, and Genuine Parts”
in “Maintaining Your Vehicle” for the correct fluid type.
PARKING BRAKE
Before leaving the vehicle, make sure that the parking
brake is fully applied. Also, be certain to leave the
transmission in PARK.The foot operated parking brake is located below the
lower left corner of the instrument panel. To apply the
park brake, firmly push the park brake pedal fully. To
release the parking brake, press the park brake pedal a
second time and let your foot up as you feel the brake
disengage.
Parking Brake
422 STARTING AND OPERATING
Page 527 of 630
ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 2.4L
1 — Engine Coolant Reservoir 7 — Totally Integrated Power Module (Fuses)
2 — Power Steering Fluid Reservoir 8 — Automatic Transmission Dipstick
3 — Engine Oil Fill 9 — Washer Fluid Reservoir
4 — Brake Fluid Reservoir 10 — Coolant Pressure Cap
5 — Remote Jump Start (Positive Battery Post) 11 — Engine Oil Dipstick
6 — Remote Jump Start (Negative Battery Post)7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 525
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ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 3.6L
1 — Engine Coolant Reservoir 5 — Air Cleaner Filter
2 — Power Steering Fluid Reservoir 6 — Washer Fluid Reservoir
3 — Brake Fluid Reservoir 7 — Engine Oil Dipstick
4 — Totally Integrated Power Module (Fuses) 8 — Engine Oil Fill 526 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
Page 533 of 630

CAUTION!(Continued)
•Your vehicle has been built with improved fluids
that protect the performance and durability of your
vehicle and also allow extended maintenance inter-
vals. Do not use chemical flushes in these compo-
nents as the chemicals can damage your engine,
transmission, power steering or air conditioning.
Such damage is not covered by the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty. If a flush is needed because of
component malfunction, use only the specified
fluid for the flushing procedure.
Engine Oil
Checking Oil Level
To assure proper engine lubrication, the engine oil must
be maintained at the correct level. Check the oil level at
regular intervals, such as every fuel stop. The best time tocheck the engine oil level is about five minutes after a
fully warmed engine is shut off. Do not check oil level
before starting the engine after it has sat overnight.
Checking engine oil level when the engine is cold will
give you an incorrect reading.
Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level ground and
only when the engine is hot, will improve the accuracy of
the oil level readings. Maintain the oil level between the
range markings on the dipstick. Either the range mark-
ings consist of a crosshatch zone marked SAFE or a
crosshatch zone marked with MIN at the low end of the
range and MAX at the high end of the range. Adding
1.0 qt (1.0 l) of oil when the reading is at the low end of
the range marking will raise the oil level to the high end
of the range marking.
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 531
Page 585 of 630
Chassis
Component Fluid, Lubricant, or Genuine Part
Automatic Transmission
We recommend youONLYuse MOPAR® ATF+4® Automatic Transmission
Fluid.
Failure to use ATF+4 fluid may affect the function or performance of
your transmission.
Power Transfer Unit (PTU) We recommend you use MOPAR® Gear Lubricant 75W-90.
Rear Drive Assembly (RDA) We recommend you use MOPAR® Gear Lubricant 75W-90.
Brake Master Cylinder We recommend you use MOPAR® DOT 3, SAE J1703. If DOT 3 brake
fluid is not available, then DOT 4 is acceptable.
Power Steering Reservoir We recommend you use MOPAR® Power Steering Fluid + 4, or
MOPAR® ATF+4® Automatic Transmission Fluid.
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 583