2018 DODGE DURANGO brakes

transfer case) to assure the fluids have not been contami-
nated. Contaminated fluid (milky, foamy in appearance)
should be flushed/changed as soon as possible to prevent
component damage.
Driving In Snow, Mud And Sand
In heavy snow, when pulling a load, or for additional
control at slower speeds, shift the transmission to a low
gear and shift the transfer case to LOW if necessary. Refer
to “All-Wheel Drive Operation” in “Starting And Operat-
ing” for further information. Do not shift to a lower gear
than necessary to maintain forward motion. Over-revving
the engine can spin the wheels and traction will be lost.
Avoid abrupt downshifts on icy or slippery roads, because
engine braking may cause skidding and loss of control.
Hill Climbing
NOTE:Before attempting to climb a hill, determine the
conditions at the crest and/or on the other side.
Before climbing a steep hill, shift the transmission to a
lower gear and shift the transfer case to LOW. Use first gear
and LOW for very steep hills.
If you stall or begin to lose forward motion while climbing
a steep hill, allow your vehicle to come to a stop and immediately apply the brakes. Restart the engine, and shift
into REVERSE. Back slowly down the hill, allowing the
compression braking of the engine to help regulate your
speed. If the brakes are required to control vehicle speed,
apply them lightly and avoid locking or skidding the tires.
WARNING!
If the engine stalls, you lose forward motion, or cannot
make it to the top of a steep hill or grade, never attempt
to turn around. To do so may result in tipping and
rolling the vehicle. Always back carefully straight
down a hill in REVERSE gear. Never back down a hill
in NEUTRAL using only the brake.
Remember, never drive diagonally across a hill; always
drive straight up or down.
If the wheels start to slip as you approach the crest of a hill,
ease off the accelerator and maintain forward motion by
turning the front wheels slowly. This may provide a fresh
“bite” into the surface and will usually provide traction to
complete the climb.
Traction Downhill
Shift the transmission into a low gear, and the transfer case
into LOW range. Let the vehicle go slowly down the hill
6
STARTING AND OPERATING 363

with all four wheels turning against engine compression
drag. This will permit you to control the vehicle speed and
direction.
When descending mountains or hills, repeated braking can
cause brake fade with loss of braking control. Avoid
repeated heavy braking by downshifting the transmission
whenever possible.
After Driving Off-Road
Off-road operation puts more stress on your vehicle than
does most on-road driving. After going off-road, it is
always a good idea to check for damage. That way you can
get any problems taken care of right away and have your
vehicle ready when you need it.
•Completely inspect the underbody of your vehicle.
Check tires, body structure, steering, suspension, and
exhaust system for damage.
• Inspect the radiator for mud and debris and clean as
required.
• Check threaded fasteners for looseness, particularly on
the chassis, drivetrain components, steering, and sus-
pension. Retighten them, if required, and torque to the
values specified in the Service Manual. •
Check for accumulations of plants or brush. These things
could be a fire hazard. They might hide damage to fuel
lines, brake hoses, axle pinion seals, and propeller shafts.
• After extended operation in mud, sand, water, or similar
dirty conditions, have the radiator, fan, brake rotors,
wheels, brake linings, and axle yokes inspected and
cleaned as soon as possible.
WARNING!
Abrasive material in any part of the brakes may cause
excessive wear or unpredictable braking. You might
not have full braking power when you need it to
prevent a collision. If you have been operating your
vehicle in dirty conditions, get your brakes checked
and cleaned as necessary.
• If you experience unusual vibration after driving in
mud, slush or similar conditions, check the wheels for
impacted material. Impacted material can cause a wheel
imbalance and freeing the wheels of it will correct the
situation.
364 STARTING AND OPERATING

CavityCartridge Fuse Micro Fuse Description
F03 60 Amp Yellow –Radiator Fan
F05 40 Amp Green –Compressor for Air Suspension — If
Equipped
F06 40 Amp Green –Anti-lock Brakes/Electronic Stability Control
Pump
F07 30 Amp Pink –Starter Solenoid
F09 30 Amp Pink –Diesel Fuel Heater (Diesel Engine Only)/
Brake Vacuum Pump
F10 40 Amp Green –Body Controller/Exterior Lighting #2
F11 30 Amp Pink –Trailer Tow Electric Brake — If Equipped
F12 40 Amp Green –Body Controller #3/Power Locks
F13 40 Amp Green –Blower Motor Front
F14 40 Amp Green –Body Controller #4/Exterior Lighting #1
F15 40 Amp Green –LTR (Low Temperature Radiator) Engine
Cooling Pump
F17 30 Amp Pink –Headlamp Washer — If Equipped
F19 20 Amp Blue –Headrest Solenoid — If Equipped
F20 30 Amp Pink –Passenger Door Module
F22 20 Amp Blue –Engine Control Module
F23 30 Amp Pink –Interior Lights #1
378 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

CavityCartridge Fuse Micro Fuse Description
F24 30 Amp Pink –Driver Door Module
F25 30 Amp Pink – Front Wipers
F26 30 Amp Pink –Anti-lock Brakes/Stability Control Module/
Valves
F28 20 Amp Blue –Trailer Tow Backup Lights — If Equipped
F29 20 Amp Blue –Trailer Tow Parking Lights — If Equipped
F30 30 Amp Pink –Trailer Tow Receptacle — If Equipped
F32 30 Amp Pink –Drive Train Control Module
F34 30 Amp Pink –Slip Differential Control
F35 30 Amp Pink –Sunroof - If Equipped
F36 30 Amp Pink –Rear Defroster
F37 25 Amp Clear –Rear Blower Motor — If Equipped
F38 30 Amp Pink –Power Inverter 115V AC — If Equipped
F39 30 Amp Pink –Power Liftgate — If Equipped
F40 –10 Amp Red Daytime Running Lights/
Headlamp Leveling
F42 –20 Amp Yellow Horn
F44 –10 Amp Red Diagnostic Port
F45 –5 Amp Tan Cyber Security Gateway
F49 –10 Amp Red Integrated Central Stack/Climate Control
7
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 379

CavityCartridge Fuse Micro Fuse Description
F69 –15 Amp Blue Spotlight Feed — If Equipped
F70 –20 Amp Yellow Fuel Pump Motor
F71 –30 Amp Green Audio Amplifier
F72 –10 Amp Red PCM — If Equipped
F73 –15 Amp Blue HID Headlamp RH — If Equipped
F75 –10 Amp Red Dual Batt Control — If Equipped
F76 –10 Amp Red Anti-lock Brakes/Electronic Stability Control
F77 –10 Amp Red Drivetrain Control Module/Front Axle Dis-
connect Module
F78 –10 Amp Red
Engine Control Module/Electric Power Steering
F80 –10 Amp Red Universal Garage Door Opener/Anti-
Intrusion Module
F81 –20 Amp Yellow Trailer Tow Right Turn/Stop Lights
F82 –10 Amp Red Steering Column Control Module/Cruise
Control/DTV
F83 –10 Amp Red Fuel Door
F84 –15 Amp Blue Switch Bank/Instrument Cluster
F85 –10 Amp Red Airbag Module
F86 –10 Amp Red Airbag Module
F87 –10 Amp Red Air Suspension — If Equipped
7
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 381

If frequent jump starting is required to start your vehicle
you should have the battery and charging system tested at
an authorized dealer.
CAUTION!
Accessories plugged into the vehicle power outlets
draw power from the vehicle’s battery, even when not
in use (i.e., cellular devices, etc.). Eventually, if plugged
in long enough without engine operation, the vehicle’s
battery will discharge sufficiently to degrade battery
life and/or prevent the engine from starting.
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 the engine idle speed
while preventing vehicle motion with the brakes. 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.
7
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 397

WARNING!
Riding the brakes can lead to brake failure and possi-
bly a collision. Driving with your foot resting or riding
on the brake pedal can result in abnormally high brake
temperatures, excessive lining wear, and possible
brake damage. You would not have your full braking
capacity in an emergency.
Fluid Level Check — Brake Master Cylinder
The fluid level of the master cylinder should be checked
whenever the vehicle is serviced, or immediately if the
brake system warning light is on. If necessary, add fluid to
bring level within the designated marks on the side of the
reservoir of the brake master cylinder. Be sure to clean the
top of the master cylinder area before removing cap. With
disc brakes, fluid level can be expected to fall as the brake
pads wear. Brake fluid level should be checked when pads
are replaced. If the brake fluid is abnormally low, check the
system for leaks.
Refer to “Fluids And Lubricants” in “Technical Specifica-
tions” for further information.
WARNING!
•Use only manufacturer’s recommended brake fluid.
Refer to “Fluids And Lubricants” in “Technical
Specifications” for further information. Using the
wrong type of brake fluid can severely damage your
brake system and/or impair its performance. The
proper type of brake fluid for your vehicle is also
identified on the original factory installed hydraulic
master cylinder reservoir.
• To avoid contamination from foreign matter or mois-
ture, use only new brake fluid or fluid that has been
in a tightly closed container. Keep the master cylin-
der reservoir cap secured at all times. Brake fluid in
a open container absorbs moisture from the air
resulting in a lower boiling point. This may cause it
to boil unexpectedly during hard or prolonged brak-
ing, resulting in sudden brake failure. This could
result in a collision.
• Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can result in
spilling brake fluid on hot engine parts, causing the
brake fluid to catch fire. Brake fluid can also damage
painted and vinyl surfaces, care should be taken to
avoid its contact with these surfaces.
(Continued)
8
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 437

Wheel And Wheel Trim Care
All wheels and wheel trim, especially aluminum and
chrome plated wheels, should be cleaned regularly using
mild (neutral Ph) soap and water to maintain their luster
and to prevent corrosion. Wash wheels with the same soap
solution recommended for the body of the vehicle and
remember to always wash when the surfaces are not hot to
the touch.
Your wheels are susceptible to deterioration caused by salt,
sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride,
etc., and other road chemicals used to melt ice or control
dust on dirt roads. Use a soft cloth or sponge and mild soap
to wipe away promptly. Do not use harsh chemicals or a
stiff brush. They can damage the wheel’s protective coating
that helps keep them from corroding and tarnishing.
CAUTION!
Avoid products or automatic car washes that use acidic
solutions or strong alkaline additives or harsh brushes.
Many aftermarket wheel cleaners and automatic car
washes may damage the wheel’s protective finish.
Such damage is not covered by the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty. Only car wash soap, Mopar Wheel
Cleaner or equivalent is recommended.When cleaning extremely dirty wheels including excessive
brake dust, care must be taken in the selection of tire and
wheel cleaning chemicals and equipment to prevent dam-
age to the wheels. Mopar Wheel Treatment or Mopar
Chrome Cleaner or their equivalent is recommended or
select a non-abrasive, non-acidic cleaner for aluminum or
chrome wheels.
CAUTION!
Do not use scouring pads, steel wool, a bristle brush,
metal polishes or oven cleaner. These products may
damage the wheel’s protective finish. Such damage is
not covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Only car wash soap, Mopar Wheel Cleaner or equiva-
lent is recommended.
NOTE: If you intend parking or storing your vehicle for an
extended period after cleaning the wheels with wheel
cleaner, drive your vehicle and apply the brakes to remove
the water droplets from the brake components. This activ-
ity will remove the red rust on the brake rotors and prevent
vehicle vibration when braking.
460 SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE