Diesel Engines
The diesel engine does not require a break-in
period due to its construction. Normal opera-
tion is allowed, providing the following rec-
ommendations are followed:
• Warm up the engine before placing it underload.
• Do not operate the engine at idle for pro- longed periods.
• Use the appropriate transmission gear to prevent engine lugging.
• Observe vehicle oil pressure and tempera- ture indicators.
• Check the coolant and oil levels frequently.
• Vary throttle position at highway speeds when carrying or towing significant weight.
NOTE:
Light duty operation such as light trailer
towing or no load operation will extend the
time before the engine is at full efficiency.
Reduced fuel economy and power may be
seen at this time. The engine oil installed in the engine at the
factory is a high-quality energy conserving
type lubricant. Oil changes should be consis-
tent with anticipated climate conditions un-
der which vehicle operations will occur. The
recommended viscosity and quality grades
are shown under “Fluids And Lubricants” in
"Technical Specifications” in this manual.
NON-DETERGENT OR STRAIGHT MINERAL
OILS MUST NEVER BE USED.
SRT Engines
The following tips will be helpful in obtaining
optimum performance and maximum dura-
bility for your new SRT Vehicle.
Despite modern technology and World Class
manufacturing methods, the moving parts of
the vehicle must still wear in with each other.
This wearing in occurs mainly during the first
500 miles (805 km) and continues through
the first oil change interval.
It is recommended for the operator to observe
the following driving behaviors during the
new vehicle break-in period:
0 to 100 miles (0 to 161 km):
• Do not allow the engine to operate at idle
for an extended period of time.
• Depress the accelerator pedal slowly and not more than halfway to avoid rapid ac-
celeration.
• Avoid aggressive braking.
• Drive with the engine speed less than 3,500 RPM.
• Maintain vehicle speed below 55 mph (88 km/h) and observe local speed limits.
100 to 300 miles (161 to 483 km):
• Depress the accelerator pedal slowly and not more than halfway to avoid rapid ac-
celeration in lower gears (1st to 3rd gears).
• Avoid aggressive braking.
• Drive with the engine speed less than 5,000 RPM.
• Maintain vehicle speed below 70 mph (112 km/h) and observe local speed
limits.
STARTING AND OPERATING
156
5. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL.
6. Using a ballpoint pen or similar object,push and hold the recessed transfer case
NEUTRAL (N) button (located by the se-
lector switch) for one second.
7. When the NEUTRAL (N) indicator light turns off, release the NEUTRAL (N) but-
ton. After the NEUTRAL (N) button has
been released, the transfer case will shift
to the position indicated by the selector
switch. 8. Shift the transmission into PARK. Turn
the engine OFF.
9. Release the brake pedal.
10. Disconnect vehicle from the tow vehicle.
11. Start the engine.
12. Press and hold the brake pedal.
13. Release the parking brake.
14. Shift the transmission into DRIVE, re- lease the brake pedal, and check that
the vehicle operates normally.
NOTE:
• Steps 1 through 5 are requirements that must be met before pushing the NEU-
TRAL (N) button, and must continue to be
met until the shift has been completed. If
any of these requirements are not met
before pushing the NEUTRAL (N) button
or are no longer met during the shift, the
NEUTRAL (N) indicator light will flash
continuously until all requirements are
met or until the NEUTRAL (N) button is
released. • The ignition must be in the ON/RUN mode
for a shift to take place and for the position
indicator lights to be operable. If the igni-
tion is not in the ON/RUN mode, the shift
will not take place and no position indica-
tor lights will be on or flashing.
• A flashing NEUTRAL (N) position indica- tor light indicates that shift requirements
have not been met.
NEUTRAL (N) Switch
STARTING AND OPERATING
202
SCHEDULED SERVICING
NON-SRT
Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic
oil change indicator system. The oil change
indicator system will remind you that it is
time to take your vehicle in for scheduled
maintenance.
Based on engine operation conditions, the oil
change indicator message will illuminate.
This means that service is required for your
vehicle. Operating conditions such as fre-
quent short-trips, trailer tow, extremely hot or
cold ambient temperatures, and E85 fuel
usage will influence when the “Oil Change
Required” message is displayed. Severe op-erating conditions can cause the change oil
message to illuminate as early as
3,500 miles (5,600 km) since last reset.
Have your vehicle serviced as soon as pos-
sible, within the next 500 miles (805 km).
Your authorized dealer will reset the oil
change indicator message after completing
the scheduled oil change.
NOTE:
Under no circumstances should oil change
intervals exceed 10,000 miles (16,000 km),
twelve months or 350 hours of engine run
time, whichever comes first. The 350 hours
of engine run or idle time is generally only a
concern for fleet customers. Once A Month Or Before A Long Trip:
• Check engine oil level.
• Check windshield washer fluid level.
• Check the tire inflation pressures and look
for unusual wear or damage.
• Check the fluid levels of the coolant reser- voir, brake master cylinder and fill as
needed.
• Check function of all interior and exterior lights
Required Maintenance
Refer to the Maintenance Schedules on the
following pages for required maintenance.
At Every Oil Change Interval As Indicated By Oil Change Indicator System:
• Change oil and filter.
• Rotate the tires. Rotate at the first sign of irregular wear, even if it occurs before the oil indicator system turns on.
• Inspect battery and clean and tighten terminals as required.
• Inspect brake pads, shoes, rotors, drums, hoses and park brake.
• Inspect engine cooling system protection and hoses.
• Inspect exhaust system.
• Inspect engine air cleaner if using in dusty or off-road conditions.SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
232
SCHEDULED SERVICING –
SRT
The Scheduled Maintenance services listed in
this manual must be done at the times or mile-
ages specified to protect your vehicle warranty
and ensure the best vehicle performance and
reliability. More frequent maintenance may be
needed for vehicles in severe operating condi-
tions, such as dusty areas and very short trip
driving. Inspection and service should also be
done anytime a malfunction is suspected.
The oil change indicator system will remind
you that it is time to take your vehicle in for
scheduled maintenance.
The Instrument Cluster Display will display
an “Oil Change Required” message and a
single chime will sound, indicating that an oil
change is necessary.
Based on engine operation conditions, the oil
change indicator message will illuminate. This
means that service is required for your vehicle.
Have your vehicle serviced as soon as possible,
within the next 500 miles (805 km).
NOTE:
• The oil change indicator message will notmonitor the time since the last oil change.
Change your vehicle's oil if it has been six
months since your last oil change, even if
the oil change indicator message is NOT
illuminated.
• Change your engine oil more often if you drive your vehicle off-road for an extended
period of time.
•
Under no circumstances should oil change
intervals exceed 6,000 miles (10,000 km) or
six months, whichever comes first.
Your authorized dealer will reset the oil change
indicator message after completing the sched-
uled oil change. If a scheduled oil change is
performed by someone other than your autho-
rized dealer, the message can be reset by
referring to the steps described under “Instru-
ment Cluster Display” in “Getting To Know
Your Instrument Panel” in this guide.
At Each Stop For Fuel
• Check the engine oil level. Refer to “En- gine Compartment” in this section for fur-
ther information. • Check the windshield washer solvent and
add if required.
Once A Month
• Check tire pressure and look for unusual wear or damage.
• Inspect the battery, and clean and tighten the terminals as required.
• Check the fluid levels of the coolant reser- voir, engine oil, brake master cylinder, and
add as needed.
• Check all lights and other electrical items for correct operation.
At Each Oil Change
• Change the engine oil filter.
• Inspect the brake hoses and lines.
CAUTION!
Failure to perform the required mainte-
nance items may result in damage to the
vehicle.
235
SCHEDULED SERVICING —
DIESEL ENGINE
Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic
oil change indicator system. The oil change
indicator system will remind you that it is
time to take your vehicle in for scheduled
maintenance.
Based on engine operation conditions, the oil
change indicator message will illuminate.
This means that service is required for your
vehicle. Operating conditions such as fre-
quent short-trips, trailer tow, extremely hot or
cold ambient temperatures will influence
when the “Oil Change Required” message is
displayed. Severe Operating Conditions can
cause the change oil message to illuminate
as early as 3,500 miles (5,600 km) since last
reset. Have your vehicle serviced as soon as
possible, within the next 500 miles
(805 km).Your authorized dealer will reset the oil
change indicator message after completing
the scheduled oil change. If a scheduled oil
change is performed by someone other than
your authorized dealer, the message can be
reset by referring to the steps described un-
der “Instrument Cluster Display” in “Getting
To Know Your Instrument Panel” in this
guide.
NOTE:
Under no circumstances should oil change
intervals exceed 10,000 miles (16,000 km)
or twelve months, whichever comes first.
Engine Oil Filter Replacement
Residual oil in the housing may spill from the
housing when the new filter is installed if the
residual oil is not either removed from the
housing or enough time has not elapsed to
allow the oil to drain back into the engine.
When servicing the oil filter on this engine,carefully remove the filter and use a suction
gun to remove any residual oil left in the
housing or wait about 30 minutes for the oil
to drain back into the engine.
Once A Month Or Before A Long Trip:
• Check engine oil level
• Check windshield washer fluid level
• Check the tire inflation pressures and look
for unusual wear or damage
• Check the fluid levels of the coolant reser- voir, brake master cylinder, and fill as
needed
• Check function of all interior and exterior lights
239
Checking Oil Level — Gasoline Engine
To assure proper lubrication of your vehicle’s
engine, 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 up engine is
shut off.
Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level
ground will improve the accuracy of the oil
level readings. Always maintain the oil level
within the SAFE zone on the dipstick. Adding
one quart of oil when the reading is at the
bottom of the SAFE zone will result in a
reading at the top of the safe zone on these
engines.
CAUTION!
Overfilling or underfilling the crankcase
will cause aeration or loss of oil pressure.
This could damage your engine.
Checking Oil Level — Diesel Engine
To assure proper lubrication of your vehicle's
engine, the engine oil must be maintained at
the correct level. Check the oil level at regular
intervals. The best time to check the oil level
is before starting the engine after it has been
parked overnight. When checking oil after
operating the engine, first ensure the engine
is at full operating temperature, then wait for
five minutes after engine shutdown to check
the oil.
Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level
ground will improve the accuracy of the oil
level readings. Add oil only when the level on
the dipstick is below the “MIN” mark. The
total capacity from the MIN mark to the MAX
mark is 1.7 qts (1.6L).
CAUTION!
Overfilling or underfilling the crankcase
will cause oil aeration or loss of oil pres-
sure. This could damage your engine.NOTE:
It is possible for your oil level to be slightly
higher than a previous check. This would be
due to diesel fuel that may temporarily be in
the crankcase due to operation of the diesel
particulate filter regeneration strategy. This
fuel will evaporate out under normal opera-
tion.
Never operate the engine with oil level below
the “MIN” mark or above the upper “MAX”
mark.
Adding Washer Fluid
The instrument cluster display will indicate
when the washer fluid level is low. When the
sensor detects a low fluid level, the wind-
shield will light on the vehicle graphic outline
and the “WASHER FLUID LOW” message
will be displayed.
The fluid reservoir for the windshield washers
and the rear window washer is shared. The
fluid reservoir is located in the engine com-
partment, be sure to check the fluid level at
regular intervals. Fill the reservoir with wind-
shield washer solvent only (not radiator anti-
freeze). When refilling the washer fluid reser-
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
248
WARNING!
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
Temperature Grades
The temperature grades are A (the highest),
B, and C, representing the tire's resistance to
the generation of heat and its ability to dissi-
pate heat, when tested under controlled con-
ditions 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 corre-
sponds 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 es-
tablished for a tire that is properly inflated
and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
under-inflation, or excessive loading, ei-
ther separately or in combination, can
cause heat buildup and possible tire fail-
ure.
STORING THE VEHICLE
If the vehicle should remain stationary for
more than a month, observe the following
precautions:
• Park your vehicle in a covered, dry andpossibly airy location the windows open
slightly.
• Check that the Electric Park Brake is not engaged.
• Disconnect the negative (-) terminal from the battery post and be sure that the
battery is fully charged. During storage
check battery charge quarterly. • If you do not disconnect the battery from
the electrical system, check the battery
charge every thirty days.
• Clean and protect the painted parts by applying protective waxes.
• Clean and protect polished metal parts by applying protective waxes.
• Apply talcum powder to the front and rear wiper blades and leave raised from the
glass.
• Cover the vehicle with an appropriate cover taking care not to damage the
painted surface by dragging across dirty
surfaces. Do not use plastic sheeting
which will not allow the evaporation of
moisture present on 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.
• Whenever you leave the vehicle is station- ary for two weeks or more, run idle the
engine for approximately five minutes,
with the air conditioning system on and
high fan speed. This will ensure a proper
267
Torque Specifications
Base Model Vehicle
Lug Nut/Bolt Torque **Lug Nut/Bolt SizeLug Nut/
Bolt Socket Size
130 Ft-Lbs (176 N·m) M14x1.50 22mm
SRT Model Vehicle
Lug Nut/Bolt Torque **Lug Nut/
Bolt SizeLug Nut/
Bolt Socket Size
110 Ft-Lbs (149 N·m) M14x1.50 22mm
**Use only your authorized dealer recom-
mended lug nuts/bolts and clean or remove
any dirt or oil before tightening.
Inspect the wheel mounting surface prior to
mounting the tire and remove any corrosion
or loose particles.
Tighten the lug nuts/bolts in a star pattern
until each nut/bolt has been tightened twice. After 25 miles (40 km) check the lug nut/bolt
torque to be sure that all the lug nuts/bolts
are properly seated against the wheel.
WARNING!
To avoid the risk of forcing the vehicle off
the jack, do not tighten the lug nuts fully
until the vehicle has been lowered. Failure
to follow this warning may result in per-
sonal injury.
FUEL REQUIREMENTS –
GASOLINE ENGINE
3.6L Engine
This engine is designed to
meet all emissions regula-
tions and provide excel-
lent fuel economy and
performance when using
high-quality unleaded
“Regular” gasoline having
an octane rating of 87 as specified by the
(R+M)/2 method. The use of higher octane
“Premium” gasoline will not provide any ben-
efit over “Regular” gasoline in these engines.
While operating on gasoline with an octane
number of 87, hearing a light knocking sound
from the engine is not a cause for concern.
However, if the engine is heard making a
heavy knocking sound, see your dealer imme-
diately. Use of gasoline with an octane num-
ber lower than 87 can cause engine failure
and may void or not be covered by the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Torque Patterns
273