
WARNING!(Continued)
eventually poison you. To avoid breathing (CO),
follow these safety tips:
•Do not run the engine in a closed garage or in
confined areas any longer than needed to move
your vehicle in or out of the area.
• If you are required to drive with the trunk/liftgate/
rear doors open, make sure that all windows are
closed and the climate control BLOWER switch is
set at high speed. DO NOT use the recirculation
mode.
• If it is necessary to sit in a parked vehicle with the
engine running, adjust your heating or cooling
controls to force outside air into the vehicle. Set the
blower at high speed.
The best protection against carbon monoxide entry into
the vehicle body is a properly maintained engine exhaust
system. Whenever a change is noticed in the sound of the exhaust
system, when exhaust fumes can be detected inside the
vehicle, or when the underside or rear of the vehicle is
damaged, have a competent mechanic inspect the com-
plete exhaust system and adjacent body areas for broken,
damaged, deteriorated, or mispositioned parts. Open
seams or loose connections could permit exhaust fumes
to seep into the passenger compartment. In addition,
inspect the exhaust system each time the vehicle is raised
for lubrication or oil change. Replace as required.
Safety Checks You Should Make Inside The
Vehicle
Seat Belts
Inspect the belt system periodically, checking for cuts,
frays, and loose parts. Damaged parts must be replaced
immediately. Do not disassemble or modify the system.
2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 93

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 to
check 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 one
quart 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 429

cannot be held comfortably between the fingertips.
Cold fluid is at a temperature of approximately 80° F
(27° C).
7. Wipe the dipstick clean and reinsert it until seated. Then, remove the dipstick and note the fluid level on
both sides. The fluid level reading is only valid if there
is a solid coating of oil on both sides of the dipstick.
Note that the holes in the dipstick will be full of fluid
if the actual level is at or above the hole.
• If the fluid is hot, the fluid level should be in the
crosshatched area marked “HOT” (between the up-
per two holes in the dipstick).
• If the fluid is cold, the fluid level should be between
the lower two holes in the area marked “COLD.”
If the fluid level is low, add fluid through the dipstick
tube to bring it to the proper level. Do not overfill. After
adding any quantity of oil through the dipstick tube, wait
at least two minutes for the oil to fully drain into the transmission before rechecking the fluid level.
8. Check for leaks. Release the parking brake.
To prevent dirt and water from entering the transmission
after checking or replenishing fluid, make sure that the
dipstick cap is properly reseated.
CAUTION!
•
Using a transmission fluid other than the manufac-
turer’s recommended fluid may cause deterioration
in transmission shift quality and/or torque con-
verter shudder, and will require more frequent
fluid and filter changes. Refer to “Fluids, Lubri-
cants, and Genuine Parts” in this section for fluid
specifications.
(Continued)
452 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Electronic Speed Control (Cruise Control)........189
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ..............333
Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) ......235
Emergency, In Case of Jacking .............................. .400
Jump Starting ..........................411
Towing ............................. .418
Emission Control System Maintenance ..........426
Engine ................................ .423
Air Cleaner .......................... .432
Block Heater ......................... .302
Break-In Recommendations .................91
Checking Oil Level ..................... .429
Compartment ......................... .424
Compartment Identification ................424
Coolant (Antifreeze) .....................442
Cooling ............................. .442
Exhaust Gas Caution .....................92
Fuel Requirements ..................... .370Jump Starting
..........................411
Oil................................. .429
Oil Change Interval ..................... .225
Oil Filler Cap ......................... .423
Oil Selection .......................... .430
Oil Synthetic ......................... .432
Overheating .......................... .398
Starting ............................. .301
Temperature Gauge ..................... .218
Engine Oil Viscosity ...................... .431
Engine Oil Viscosity Chart ...................431
Enhanced Accident Response Feature ............65
Entry System, Illuminated ....................21
Ethanol ............................... .371
Event Data Recorder ........................69
Exhaust Gas Caution ........................92
Exhaust System ...........................92
Extender, Seat Belt .........................57
504 INDEX

Maintenance Free Battery....................433
Maintenance Procedures ....................428
Maintenance Schedule ..................... .482
Malfunction Indicator Light (Check Engine) .......230
Manual, Service ......................... .496
Map/Reading Lights ...................... .183
Master Cylinder (Brakes) ....................448
Memory Feature (Memory Seat) ...............171
Methanol .............................. .371
Mini-Trip Computer ...................... .233
Mirrors ............................... .124
Automatic Dimming .....................125
Electric Powered ....................... .126
Electric Remote ........................ .126
Heated .............................. .127
Outside ............................. .127
Rearview ............................ .124
Vanity .............................. .128
Modifications/Alterations, Vehicle ...............7Monitor, Tire Pressure System
................362
Mopar Parts ............................ .427
MTBE/ETBE ........................... .371
New Vehicle Break-In Period ..................91
Occupant Restraints ........................40
Occupant Restraints (Sedan) ..................60
Octane Rating, Gasoline (Fuel) ................370
Odometer .............................. .222
Trip ................................ .222
Oil Change Indicator ...................... .225
Oil Change Indicator, Reset ..................225
Oil, Engine ............................. .429
Capacity ............................ .477
Change Interval ....................... .225
Checking ............................ .429
Dipstick ............................. .429
Disposal ............................. .432
510 INDEX