Page 420 of 666

After Starting
The idle speed is controlled automatically and it will
decrease as the engine warms up.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED
The engine block heater warms the engine, and permits
quicker starts in cold weather. Connect the cord to a
standard 110-115 Volt AC electrical outlet with a grounded,
three-wire extension cord.
The engine block heater must be plugged in at least one
hour to have an adequate warming effect on the engine.
The engine block heater cord is found under the hood
bundled in front of the battery tray.
WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the engine block heater
cord before driving. Damage to the 110-115 Volt AC
electrical cord could cause electrocution.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION — IF EQUIPPED
WARNING!
You or others could be injured if you leave the
vehicle unattended without having the parking
brake fully applied. The parking brake should al-
ways be applied when the driver is not in the vehicle,
especially on an incline.
CAUTION!
Never drive with your foot resting on the clutch
pedal, or attempt to hold the vehicle on a hill with the
clutch pedal partially engaged, as this will cause
abnormal wear on the clutch.
NOTE: During cold weather, you may experience in-
creased effort in shifting until the transmission fluid
warms up. This is normal.
418 STARTING AND OPERATING
Page 458 of 666

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.
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 further information.
PARKING BRAKE
Before leaving the vehicle, make sure that the parking
brake is fully applied. Also, be certain to leave an
automatic transmission in PARK, or manual transmission
in REVERSE or first gear.
456 STARTING AND OPERATING
Page 541 of 666
If you REGULARLY tow a trailer for more than 45
minutes of continuous operation, then change the trans-
mission fluid and filter as specified forpolice, taxi, fleet,
or frequent trailer towing. Refer to the “Maintenance
Schedule” for the proper maintenance intervals.
NOTE: Check the automatic transmission fluid level
before towing.
Electronic Speed Control – If Equipped
• Do not use in hilly terrain or with heavy loads.
• When using the speed control, if you experience speed
drops greater than 10 mph (16 km/h), disengage until
you can get back to cruising speed.
• Use speed control in flat terrain and with light loads to
maximize fuel efficiency.
Cooling System
To reduce potential for engine and transmission over-
heating, take the following actions:
City Driving
When stopped for short periods of time, shift the trans-
mission into NEUTRAL and increase engine idle speed.
Highway Driving
Reduce speed.
Air Conditioning
Turn off temporarily.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 539
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MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
CONTENTS
ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 3.6L ..........569
ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM — OBD II . .570
▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message ............570
EMISSIONS INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS .............571
REPLACEMENT PARTS ..................572
DEALER SERVICE ..................... .573
MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES ...........573
▫ Engine Oil ......................... .574
▫ Engine Oil Filter ..................... .576▫
Engine Air Cleaner Filter ................577
▫ Maintenance-Free Battery ...............577
▫ Air Conditioner Maintenance .............579
▫ Body Lubrication .....................582
▫ Windshield Wiper Blades ...............583
▫ Adding Washer Fluid ..................583
▫ Exhaust System ..................... .584
▫ Cooling System ..................... .586
▫ Brake System ....................... .592
▫ Automatic Transmission – If Equipped ......594
7
Page 571 of 666
ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 3.6L
1 — Integrated Power Module (Fuses)7 — Washer Fluid Reservoir
2 — Battery 8 — Engine Coolant Reservoir
3 — Engine Oil Dipstick 9 — Air Cleaner Filter
4 — Automatic Transmission Dipstick (Under Engine Cover) 10 — Coolant Pressure Cap
5 — Engine Oil Fill 11 — Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
6 — Brake Fluid Reservoir7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 569
Page 596 of 666

WARNING!(Continued)
•Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can result in
spilling brake fluid on hot engine parts, causing
the brake fluid to catch fire. Brake fluid can also
damage painted and vinyl surfaces, care should be
taken to avoid its contact with these surfaces.
• Do not allow petroleum based fluid to contaminate
the brake fluid. Brake seal components could be
damaged, causing partial or complete brake failure.
This could result in a collision.
Automatic Transmission – If Equipped
Selection Of Lubricant
It is important to use the proper transmission fluid to
ensure optimum transmission performance and life. Use
only the manufacturer’s recommended transmission fluid. Refer to “Fluids, Lubricants, and Genuine Parts” in
this section for fluid specifications. It is important to
maintain the transmission fluid at the correct level using
the recommended fluid.
NOTE:
No chemical flushes should be used in any trans-
mission; only the approved lubricant should be used.
CAUTION!
Using a transmission fluid other than the manufac-
turer’s recommended fluid may cause deterioration
in transmission shift quality and/or torque converter
shudder. Refer to “Fluids, Lubricants, and Genuine
Parts” in “Maintaining Your Vehicle” for fluid speci-
fications.
594 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
Page 597 of 666

Special Additives
The manufacturer strongly recommends against using
any special additives in the transmission.
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) is an engineered
product and its performance may be impaired by supple-
mental additives. Therefore, do not add any fluid addi-
tives to the transmission. The only exception to this
policy is the use of special dyes for diagnosing fluid
leaks. Avoid using transmission sealers as they may
adversely affect seals.
CAUTION!
Do not use chemical flushes in your transmission as
the chemicals can damage your transmission compo-
nents. Such damage is not covered by the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Fluid Level Check
It is best to check the fluid level when the transmission is
at normal operating temperature (approximately 180° F
(82° C). This occurs after at least 15 miles (25 km) of
driving. At normal operating temperature, the fluid
cannot be held comfortably between the fingertips.
Use the following procedure to check the transmission
fluid level properly:
1. Park the vehicle on level ground.
2. Run the engine at idle speed and normal operatingtemperature.
3. Fully apply the parking brake, and press the brake pedal.
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 595
Page 622 of 666

Chassis
ComponentFluid, Lubricant, or Genuine Part
Automatic Transmission – If
Equipped We recommend you only use MOPAR® ATF+4® Automatic Transmission
Fluid. Failure to use ATF+4 fluid may affect the function or performance of
your transmission.
Manual Transmission – If Equipped We recommend you use MOPAR® Manual Transmission Lubricant.
Transfer Case We recommend you use MOPAR® ATF+4® Automatic Transmission Fluid.
Axle Differential (Front) We recommend you use MOPAR® Gear & Axle Lubricant (SAE 80W-90)
(API GL-5).
Axle Differential (Rear) 226 RBI (Model 44)– We recommend you use MOPAR® Gear & Axle
Lubricant (SAE 80W-90) (API GL-5) or equivalent. For trailer towing, use
MOPAR® Synthetic Gear & Axle Lubricant (SAE 75W-140). Models
equipped with Trac-Lok™ require an additive.
Brake Master Cylinder We recommend you use MOPAR® DOT 3 Brake Fluid, SAE J1703.
If DOT 3, SAE J1703 brake fluid is not available, then DOT 4 is acceptable.
Power Steering Reservoir We recommend you use MOPAR® Power Steering Fluid +4,
MOPAR® ATF+4® Automatic Transmission Fluid.
620 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE