2017 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN heater

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
STARTING PROCEDURES .................342
▫ Automatic Transmission ..................342
▫ Normal Starting ........................342
▫ Extreme Cold Weather (Below –22°F Or 30°C) .343
▫ If The Engine Fails To Start ...............343
▫ After Starting ..........................343
 ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED . . . .344
 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ..............344
▫ Key Ignition Park Interlock ................345
▫ Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . . .346
▫ Fuel Economy (ECON) Mode ..............346
▫ Six-Speed Automatic Transmission ...........347
▫ Gear Ranges ..........................348
 DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES ..........353▫
Acceleration .......................... .353
▫ Traction ............................ .354
 DRIVING THROUGH WATER ..............354
▫ Flowing/Rising Water ...................354
▫ Shallow Standing Water ..................355
 POWER STEERING ..................... .356
▫ Power Steering Fluid Check ...............356
 PARKING BRAKE .......................357
 BRAKE SYSTEM ........................359
 ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM .....359
▫ Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) ......359
▫ Brake System Warning Light ...............359
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) .............360
▫ Anti-Lock Brake

Warning Light.............361
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Extreme Cold Weather (Below –22°F Or 30°C)
To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of an
externally powered electric engine block heater (available
from your authorized dealer) is recommended.
If The Engine Fails To Start
WARNING!
•Never pour fuel or other flammable liquids into the
throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to start
the vehicle. This could result in a flash fire causing
serious personal injury.
• Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get it
started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic trans-
mission cannot be started this way. Unburned fuel
could enter the catalytic converter and once the
engine has started, ignite and damage the converter
and vehicle.
• If the vehicle has a discharged battery, booster cables
may be used to obtain a start from a booster battery
or the battery in another vehicle. This type of start
can be dangerous if done improperly. Refer to
“Jump-Starting” in “What To Do In Emergencies” for
further information. If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
“Normal Starting” procedure, it may be flooded. Press the
accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and hold it there
while cranking the engine. This should clear any excess
fuel in case the engine is flooded.
CAUTION!
To prevent damage to the starter, DO NOT crank the
engine for more than 15 second intervals at one time.
Wait 10 to 15 seconds before trying again.
If the engine has been flooded, it may start to run, but not
have enough power to continue running when the key fob
is released. If this occurs, continue cranking with the
accelerator pedal pressed all the way to the floor. Release
the accelerator pedal and the key fob once the engine is
running smoothly.
If the engine shows no sign of starting after two 15-second
intervals of cranking with the accelerator pedal held to the
floor, the “Normal Starting” procedure should be repeated.
After Starting
The idle speed is controlled automatically, and it will
decrease as the engine warms up.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 343

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 routed under the hood on
the driver’s side of the vehicle. It has a removable cap that
is located on the driver side of the Integrated Power
Module.
WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the engine block heater cord
before driving. Damage to the 110-115 Volt electrical
cord could cause electrocution.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WARNING!
•It is dangerous to shift out of PARK or NEUTRAL if
the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If your
foot is not firmly pressing the brake pedal, the
vehicle could accelerate quickly forward or in re-
verse. You could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear when the
engine is idling normally and your foot is firmly
pressing the brake pedal.
• Unintended movement of a vehicle could injure
those in or near the vehicle. As with all vehicles, you
should never exit a vehicle while the engine is
running. Before exiting a vehicle, always apply the
parking brake, shift the transmission into PARK,
turn the engine OFF, and remove the key fob. When
the ignition is in the LOCK/OFF (key removal)
position, (or, with Keyless Enter-N-Go, when the
ignition is in the OFF mode) the transmission is
locked in PARK, securing the vehicle against un-
wanted movement.
(Continued)
344 STARTING AND OPERATING

Starting
The characteristics of E-85 fuel make it unsuitable for use
when ambient temperatures fall below 0°F (-18°C). In the
range of 0°F (-18°C) to 32°F (0°C), an increase in the time it
takes for your engine to start may be experienced, and a
deterioration in driveability (sags and/or hesitations) until
the engine is fully warmed up. These issues may be
improved with the use of seasonally adjusted E-85 fuel.
NOTE:Use of the engine block heater (if equipped) may
improve engine start time when using E-85 fuel when the
ambient temperature is less than 32°F (0°C).
Cruising Range
Because E-85 fuel contains less energy per gallon/liter than
gasoline, an increase in fuel consumption will be experi-
enced. The miles per gallon (mpg)/kilometers per liter and
the driving range will decrease by approximately 30%,
compared to gasoline operation.
Replacement Parts
All fuel and engine components in your Flexible Fuel
Vehicle (FFV) are designed to be compatible with ethanol.
Ethanol compatible service components are required.
CAUTION!
Replacing fuel system components with non-ethanol
compatible components can damage your vehicle.
Maintenance
CAUTION!
Do not use ethanol mixtures greater than 85% in your
vehicle. It will make it more difficult for your engine to
start under cold conditions, may affect drivability, and
could cause engine damage.
ADDING FUEL
Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap)
The gas cap is located behind the fuel filler 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.
404 STARTING AND OPERATING

HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS
The Hazard Warning flasher switch is located in the lower
center area of the instrument panel.Push the switch to turn on the Hazard Warning
flasher. When the switch is activated, all directional
turn signals will flash on and off to warn oncoming traffic
of an emergency. Push the switch a second time to turn off
the Hazard Warning flashers.
This is an emergency warning system and it should not be
used when the vehicle is in motion. Use it when your
vehicle is disabled and it is creating a safety hazard for
other motorists.
When you must leave the vehicle to seek assistance, the
Hazard Warning flashers will continue to operate even
though the ignition is placed in the OFF position.
NOTE: With extended use, the Hazard Warning flashers
may wear down your battery.
IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS
In any of the following situations, you can reduce the
potential for overheating by taking the appropriate action.
• On the highways — slow down. •
In city traffic — while stopped, place the transmission in
NEUTRAL, but do not increase engine idle speed.
NOTE: There are steps that you can take to slow down an
impending overheat condition:
• If your air conditioner (A/C) is on, turn it off. The A/C
system adds heat to the engine cooling system and
turning the A/C off can help remove this heat.
• You can also turn the temperature control to maximum
heat, the mode control to floor and the blower control to
high. This allows the heater core to act as a supplement
to the radiator and aids in removing heat from the
engine cooling system.
WARNING!
You or others can be badly burned by hot engine
coolant (antifreeze) or steam from your radiator. If you
see or hear steam coming from under the hood, do not
open the hood until the radiator has had time to cool.
Never try to open a cooling system pressure cap when
the radiator or coolant bottle is hot.
422 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

WARNING!
•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 rings, watch
bands and bracelets that could make an inadvertent
electrical contact. You could be seriously 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.
1. Set the parking brake, shift the automatic transmission into PARK and turn the ignition to LOCK.
2. Turn off the heater, radio, and all unnecessary electrical accessories.
3. 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.
WARNING!
Do not allow vehicles to touch each other as this could
establish a ground connection and personal injury
could result.
Jump-Starting Procedure
WARNING!
Failure to follow this jump-starting procedure could
result in personal injury or property damage due to
battery explosion.
CAUTION!
Failure to follow these procedures could result in
damage to the charging system of the booster vehicle
or the discharged vehicle.
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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 449

Cavity Cartridge FuseMini-FuseDescription
M23 –10 Amp Red Horn
M24 –25 Amp Clear Rear Wiper
M25 –20 Amp Yellow Fuel Pump
M26 –10 Amp Red Power Mirror Switch, Driver Window Switch
M27 –10 Amp Red Wireless Control Module, Keyless Entry Module
M28 –10 Amp Red Powertrain, Transmission Control Module
M29 –10 Amp Red Occupant Classification Module
M30 –15 Amp Blue Diagnostic Feed
M31 –20 Amp Yellow Back-Up Lamps
M32 –10 Amp Red Airbag Module, THATCHUM – If Equipped
M33 –10 Amp Red Powertrain
M34 –10 Amp Red Park Assist, Heater Climate Control Module,
Headlamp Wash, Compass, Rear Camera, DoorLamps, Flashlight, Relay Diesel Cabin Heater
M35 –10 Amp Red Heated Mirrors
M36 –20 Amp Yellow Power Outlet #3 (Instrument Panel or with Con-
sole Center)
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MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 489

FLUID CAPACITIES
U.S.Metric
Fuel (Approximate) 20 Gallons76 Liters
Engine Oil with Filter
3.6L Engine (SAE 5W-20, API Certified). 6 Quarts5.6 Liters
Cooling System *
3.6L Engine (MOPAR Antifreeze/Engine Coolant 10
Year/150,000 Mile Formula or equivalent) meeting the
requirements of FCA Material Standard MS.90032. 13.4 Quarts
12.6 Liters
* Includes heater and coolant recovery bottle filled to MAX level. Add 2.9 Quarts (2.8 Liters) if equipped with a rear
heater.
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MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 495