If towing service is not available in an
emergency, the vehicle may be towed
with all four wheels on the ground using
the towing hook at the front of the
vehicle. Only tow the vehicle on paved
surfaces for short distances at low
speeds.
Follow these instructions when towing
the vehicle with all wheels on the
ground:
1. Shift to NEUTRAL for manual
transmission or automatic transmission.
2. Place the ignition to ACC.
3. Release the parking brake.
Note: Remember that power assist for
the brakes and steering will not be
available when the engine is not
running. EVENT DATA
RECORDER (EDR) This vehicle is equipped with an Event
Data Recorder (EDR). The main
purpose of an EDR is to record data
that will assist in understanding how a
vehicle’s systems performed under
certain crash or near crash-like
situations, such as an air bag
deployment or hitting a road obstacle.
Please refer to “Occupant Restraint
Systems” in “Safety” for further
information on the Event Data Recorder
(EDR).
222
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
Engine Oil
Warning!Be very careful when working in the
engine compartment when the engine is
hot: you may get burned.
Do not get too close to the radiator
cooling fan: the electric fan may start;
danger of injury.
Loose clothing might be pulled by
moving parts.
Recommended Oil
Refer to “Fluids And Lubricants” in
“Technical Specifications” for further
information.
Inspecting engine oil level
Proceed as follows:
1. Be sure the vehicle is on a level
surface.
2. Warm up the engine to normal
operating temperature.
3. Turn it off and wait at least five
minutes for the oil to return to the
sump.
4. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean,
and reinsert it fully. 5. Pull the dipstick out again and
examine the level. The level is normal if
it is between Low and Full. If it is near
or below Low, open the engine oil
cap/filler 2 and add enough oil to bring
the level to Full.
Note: Do not overfill the engine oil.
This may cause engine damage.
6. Make sure the O-ring on the dipstick
is positioned properly before reinserting
the dipstick.
7. Reinsert the dipstick fully.
Engine oil consumption
During the initial period of use the
engine oil consumption conditions
should stabilize after the first 3000 –
3500 miles (5000 – 6000 km). Engine Coolant
Warning! Turn vehicle off and disconnect the fan
motor lead before working near the radiator
cooling fan.
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 open a cooling system
pressure cap when the radiator or coolant
bottle is hot.
Keep hands, tools, clothing, and jewelry
away from the radiator cooling fan when
the hood is raised. The fan starts
automatically and may start at any time,
whether the engine is running or not.
When working near the radiator cooling
fan, disconnect the fan motor lead or turn
the ignition to the OFF mode. The fan is
temperature controlled and can start at any
time the ignition is in the ON mode.
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 is hot. 07030403-121-001
Engine Compartment
1 — Engine Oil Dipstick
2 — Engine Oil Cap
232
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
BATTERY
RECHARGING BATTERY CHARGING
PROCEDURE
Warning!Battery fluid is a corrosive acid solution
and can burn or even blind you. Do not
allow battery fluid to contact your eyes,
skin, or clothing. Do not lean over a battery
when attaching clamps. If acid splashes in
eyes or on skin, flush the area immediately
with large amounts of water. Refer to
“Jump-Starting Procedure” in “In Case Of
Emergency” for further information.
Battery gas is flammable and explosive.
Keep flame or sparks away from the
battery. Do not use a booster battery or
any other booster source with an output
greater than 12 Volts. Do not allow cable
clamps to touch each other.
Battery posts, terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds. Wash hands after handling. Caution!It is essential when replacing the cables
on the battery that the positive cable is
attached to the positive post and the
negative cable is attached to the negative
post. Battery posts are marked positive (+)
and negative (-) and are identified on the
battery case. Cable clamps should be tight
on the terminal posts and free of corrosion.
If a “fast charger” is used while the
battery is in the vehicle, disconnect both
vehicle battery cables before connecting
the charger to the battery. Do not use a
“fast charger” to provide starting voltage.
Charge battery as follows:
Before recharging the battery, turn off
all accessories and turn the engine off
by placing the ignition in the OFF mode.
Disconnect the negative battery
cable.
Connect the charger cables to the
battery terminals, observing the polarity
(+,–).
Turn on the charger.
When finished, turn the charger off
before disconnecting the battery.
Reconnect the negative battery
terminal. MAINTENANCE
PROCEDURES The following pages contain
instructions on the required
maintenance from the technical
personnel who designed the vehicle.
In addition to these specific
maintenance instructions specified for
routine scheduled servicing, there are
other components which may require
periodic maintenance or replacement
over the vehicle’s life cycle.
Body Lubrication
Ensure that the locks and bodywork
junction points, including components
such as the seat guides, door hinges
(and rollers), trunk and hood are
periodically lubricated with lithium
based grease to ensure correct, silent
operation and to protect them from rust
and wear.
Thoroughly clean the components,
eliminating every trace of dirt and dust.
After lubricating, eliminate excess oil
and grease. Also pay particular
attention to the hood closing devices,
to ensure correct operation.
During operations on the hood, be sure
to perform with the engine cold, also
remember to check, clean and lubricate
the locking, release and safety devices.
Make sure the hood's secondary latch
keeps the hood from opening when the
primary latch is released.
235
Lubricate the external lock cylinders
twice a year. Apply a small amount of
high-quality lubricant directly into the
lock cylinder. If necessary, contact your
authorized dealer.
Wiper Blades
Contamination of either the windshield
or the blades with foreign matter can
reduce wiper effectiveness. Common
sources are insects, tree sap, and hot
wax treatments used by some
commercial car washes.
If the blades are not wiping properly,
clean the window and blades with a
good cleaner or mild detergent; then
rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Repeat if necessary.
When the wiper lever is in the AUTO
position and the ignition is placed in the
ON mode, the wipers may move
automatically in the following cases:
If the windshield above the rain
sensor is touched.
If the windshield above the rain
sensor is wiped with a cloth.
If the windshield is struck with a hand
or other object.
If the rain sensor is struck with a
hand or other object from inside the
vehicle. Note:
Hot waxes applied by automatic car
washers have been known to affect
the wiper's ability to clean windows.
To prevent damage to the wiper
blades, do not use gas, paraffin, paint
thinner, or other solvents on or near
them.
Be careful not to pinch hands or
fingers as it may cause injury, or
damage the wipers. When washing or
servicing the vehicle, make sure the
wiper lever is in the OFF position.
Replacing Windshield Wiper Blades
When the wipers no longer clean well,
the blades are probably worn or
cracked. Replace them.
When raising both windshield wiper
arms, raise the driver's side wiper arm
first.
When lowering the wiper arms, slowly
lower the wiper arm from the
passenger's side first while supporting
it with your hand. Forcefully lowering
the wiper arms could damage the wiper
arm and blade, and may scratch or
crack the windshield.
Note: To prevent damage to the wiper
arms and other components, do not try
to sweep the wiper arm by hand. Blade Replacement
Proceed as follows:
1. Raise the wiper arm.
2. Open the clip and slide the blade
assembly in the direction of the arrow.
3. Tilt the blade assembly and remove
it from the arm. 07031101-36A-001
Clip 07031101-36A-002
Blade Assembly and Arm
236
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tire to
degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C
corresponds to a level of
performance, which all passenger
vehicle tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test
wheel, than the minimum required
by law. Warning!
The temperature grade for this tire
is established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed,
under-inflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure. STORING THE
VEHICLE If the vehicle is left inactive for longer
than a month, the following precautions
should be observed:
Park the vehicle in covered, dry and if
possible well-ventilated premises and
slightly open the windows.
Check that the parking brake is not
activated.
Disconnect the negative battery
terminal and check the battery charge.
Repeat this check once every three
months during storage.
If the battery is not disconnected
from the electrical system, check its
state of charge every thirty days.
Clean and protect the painted parts
using protective wax.
Clean and protect the shiny metal
parts using special compounds
available commercially.
Sprinkle talcum powder on the
windshield and rear window wiper
rubber blades and lift them off the
glass.
Cover the vehicle with a fabric or
perforated plastic sheet, paying
particular care not to damage the
painted surface by dragging any dust
that may have accumulated on it. Do
not use compact plastic sheets which do not allow humidity to evaporate from
the surface of the vehicle.
Inflate the tires at a pressure of
+7.25 psi (+0.5 bar) higher than
recommended on the tire placard and
check it periodically.
Do not drain the engine cooling
system.
Any time the vehicle is left inactive for
two weeks or more, operate the air
conditioning system with engine idling
for at least five minutes, setting external
air and with fan set to maximum speed.
This operation will ensure appropriate
lubrication for the system, thus
minimizing the possibility of damage to
the compressor when the system is
operated again.
Note: After placing the ignition in the
OFF mode and having closed the driver
side door, wait at least one minute
before disconnecting the electrical
supply from the battery. When
reconnecting the electrical supply to the
battery, make sure that the ignition in
the OFF mode and the driver side door
is closed.
255
The vehicle is washed with a rough,
dry, or dirty cloth.
The vehicle is washed at a car wash
that uses brushes that are dirty or too
stiff.
Cleansers or wax containing
abrasives are used.
Note: FCA is not responsible for
scratches caused by automatic car
washes or improper washing.
Scratches are more noticeable on
vehicles with darker paint finishes.
When the wiper lever is in the AUTO
position and the ignition is placed in the
ON mode, the wipers may move
automatically in the following cases:
If the windshield above the rain
sensor is touched or wiped with a cloth.
If the windshield is struck with a hand
or other object from either outside or
inside the vehicle.
Note:
Keep hands and scrapers clear of
the windshield when the wiper lever is
in the AUTO position and the ignition is
placed in the ON mode as fingers
could be pinched or the wipers and
wiper blades damaged when the
wipers activate automatically. If you are
going to clean the windshield, be sure
the wipers are turned off completely
(when it is most likely that the engine is
left running) this is particularly
important when clearing ice and snow. Do not spray water in the engine
compartment. Otherwise, it could
result in engine-starting problems or
damage to electrical parts.
When washing and waxing the
vehicle, be careful not to apply
excessive force to any single area of
the vehicle hood. Otherwise, you could
dent the vehicle.
Do not use automatic car washing
machines and car washing devices
using high water pressure.
Make sure that the fuel door is
closed and lock the doors. Otherwise,
the fuel door may be forcefully opened
by water pressure causing damage to
the vehicle or fuel door.
To minimize scratches on the vehicle's
paint finish:
Rinse off any dirt or other foreign
matter using lukewarm or cold water
before washing.
Use plenty of lukewarm or cold water
and a soft cloth when washing the
vehicle. Do not use a nylon cloth.
Rub gently when washing or drying
the vehicle.
Take your vehicle only to a car wash
that keeps its brushes well maintained.
Do not use abrasive cleansers or
wax that contain abrasives. Caution!Do not use steel wool, abrasive cleaners, or
strong detergents containing highly alkaline
or caustic agents on chrome plated or
anodized aluminium parts. This may
damage the protective coating; also,
cleaners and detergents may discolor or
deteriorate the paint.
Pay special attention to removing salt,
dirt, mud, and other foreign material
from the underside of the fenders, and
make sure the drain holes in the lower
edges of the doors and rocker panels
are clean.
Insects, tar, tree sap, bird droppings,
industrial fallout, and similar deposits
can damage the finish if not removed
immediately. When prompt washing
with plain water is ineffective, use a mild
soap made for use on vehicles.
Thoroughly rinse off all soap with
lukewarm or cold water. Do not allow
soap to dry on the finish.
After washing the vehicle, dry it with a
clean chamois to prevent water spots
from forming.
Waxing
Your vehicle needs to be waxed when
water no longer beads on the finish.
Always wash and dry the vehicle before
waxing it. In addition to the vehicle
258
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE