Page 473 of 568
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
CONTENTS
ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 2.0L ..........473
ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 2.4L ..........474
ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM — OBD II . .475
▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message ............475
EMISSIONS INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
PROGRAMS ......................... .476
REPLACEMENT PARTS ..................477
DEALER SERVICE ..................... .478
MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES ...........478
▫ Engine Oil ......................... .479▫
Engine Oil Filter ..................... .482
▫ Engine Air Cleaner Filter ................482
▫ Maintenance-Free Battery ...............483
▫ Air Conditioner Maintenance .............484
▫ Body Lubrication .....................487
▫ Windshield Wiper Blades ...............488
▫ Adding Washer Fluid ..................488
▫ Exhaust System ..................... .489
▫ Cooling System ..................... .491
▫ Brake System ....................... .497
7
Page 482 of 568

low end of the range and MAX at the high end of the
range. Adding 1 qt (1L) of oil when the reading is at the
low end of the indicated range will result in the oil level
at the full end of the indicator range.
CAUTION!
Do not overfill the engine. Overfilling the engine
will cause oil aeration, which can lead to loss of oil
pressure and an increase in oil temperature. This
could damage your engine. Also, be sure the oil fill
cap is replaced and tightened after adding oil.
Change Engine Oil
The oil change indicator system will remind you that it is
time to take your vehicle in for scheduled maintenance.
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” for further informa-
tion.
NOTE: Under no circumstances should oil change in-
tervals exceed 10,000 miles (16,000 km) or twelve
months, whichever occurs first.
Engine Oil Selection
For best performance and maximum protection under all
types of operating conditions, the manufacturer only
recommends engine oils that are API Certified and meet
the requirements of Chrysler Material Standard MS-6395.
480 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
Page 487 of 568

WARNING!(Continued)
•The air conditioning system contains refrigerant
under high pressure. To avoid risk of personal
injury or damage to the system, adding refrigerant
or any repair requiring lines to be disconnected
should be done by an experienced technician.
CAUTION!
Do not use chemical flushes in your air conditioning
system as the chemicals can damage your air condi-
tioning components. Such damage is not covered by
the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Refrigerant Recovery And Recycling
R-134a Air Conditioning Refrigerant is a hydrofluoro-
carbon (HFC) that is endorsed by the Environmental
Protection Agency and is an ozone-saving product. How-
ever, the manufacturer recommends that air conditioning
service be performed by authorized dealer or other
service facilities using recovery and recycling equipment.
NOTE: Use only manufacturer approved A/C system
PAG compressor oil and refrigerants.
A/C Air Filter
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” for the proper
maintenance intervals.
WARNING!
Do not remove the A/C air filter while the blower is
operating or personal injury may result.
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 485
Page 490 of 568

Windshield Wiper Blades
Clean the rubber edges of the wiper blades and the
windshield periodically with a sponge or soft cloth and a
mild nonabrasive cleaner. This will remove accumula-
tions of salt or road film.
Operation of the wipers on dry glass for long periods
may cause deterioration of the wiper blades. Always use
washer fluid when using the wipers to remove salt or dirt
from a dry windshield.
Avoid using the wiper blades to remove frost or ice from
the windshield. Keep the blade rubber out of contact with
petroleum products such as engine oil, gasoline, etc.
NOTE:Life expectancy of wiper blades varies depend-
ing on geographical area and frequency of use. Poor
performance of blades may be present with chattering,
marks, water lines or wet spots. If any of these conditions
are present, clean the wiper blades or replace as neces-
sary.
Adding Washer Fluid
The washer fluid reservoir is located in the engine
compartment, and the fluid level should be checked at
regular intervals. Fill the reservoir with windshield
washer solvent only (not radiator antifreeze).
When refilling the washer fluid reservoir, take some
washer fluid and apply it to a cloth or towel and wipe
clean the wiper blades, this will help blade performance.
To prevent freeze-up of your windshield washer system
in cold weather, select a solution or mixture that meets or
exceeds the temperature range of your climate. This
rating information can be found on most washer fluid
containers.
488 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
Page 553 of 568

Ethanol............................... .409
Event Data Recorder ........................75
Exhaust Gas Caution ........................39
Exhaust System ...........................97
Exterior Lights .......................... .100
Filters Air Cleaner .......................... .482
Air Conditioning ...................... .312
Engine Oil ........................... .482
Engine Oil Disposal .....................482
Flashers ............................... .435
Hazard Warning ....................... .435
Turn Signal .......................... .100
Flooded Engine Starting ....................322
Fluid, Brake ............................ .523
Fluid Capacities ......................... .521
Fluid Leaks ............................ .100Fluid Level Checks
Automatic Transaxle .....................503
Automatic Transmission ..................501
Cooling System ........................ .492
Power Steering ........................ .356
Fluids, Lubricants and Genuine Parts ...........522
Fog Lights ............................. .165
Folding Rear Seat ........................ .160
Folding Rear Seat (Sedan) ...................160
Four Wheel Drive ........................ .345
Systems ............................. .345
Four Wheel Drive Operation .................345
Freeing A Stuck Vehicle .....................463
Fuel .................................. .408
Adding ............................. .413
Additives .............................411
Capacity ............................ .521
Clean Air ............................ .409
Ethanol ............................. .409
10
INDEX 551