NOTE:
A delay of the start of up to five seconds is
possible under very cold conditions. The
“Wait to Start” telltale will be illuminated
during the pre-heat process, When the
engine Wait To Start light goes off the
engine will automatically crank.
CAUTION!
If the “Water in Fuel Indicator Light” re-
mains on, DO NOT START the engine be-
fore the water is drained from the fuel
filters to avoid engine damage.
3. The system will automatically engage the starter to crank the engine. If the vehicle
fails to start, the starter will disengage
automatically after 30 seconds.
4. If you wish to stop the cranking of the engine prior to the engine starting, push
the button again.
5. Check that the oil pressure warning light has turned off.
6. Release the parking brake.
Engine Warm Up
Avoid full throttle operation when the engine
is cold. When starting a cold engine, bring the
engine up to operating speed slowly to allow
the oil pressure to stabilize as the engine
warms up.
NOTE:
High-speed, no-load running of a cold engine
can result in excessive white smoke and poor
engine performance. No-load engine speeds
should be kept under 1,200 RPM during the
warm-up period, especially in cold ambient
temperature conditions.
ENGINE BREAK-IN
RECOMMENDATIONS
A long break-in period is not required for the
engine and drivetrain (transmission and axle)
in your vehicle.
Drive moderately during the first 300 miles
(500 km). After the initial 60 miles
(100 km), speeds up to 50 or 55 mph (80 or
90 km/h) are desirable. While cruising, brief full-throttle acceleration
within the limits of local traffic laws contrib-
utes to a good break-in. Wide-open throttle
acceleration in low gear can be detrimental
and should be avoided.
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. For
the recommended viscosity and quality
grades, refer to “Fluids And Lubricants” in
“Technical Specifications”.
CAUTION!
Never use Non-Detergent Oil or Straight
Mineral Oil in the engine or damage may
result.
NOTE:
A new engine may consume some oil during
its first few thousand miles (kilometers) of
operation. This should be considered a nor-
mal part of the break-in and not interpreted
as a problem.
123
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
SCHEDULED SERVICING......196
Scheduled Servicing —
Gasoline Engine..............196
Scheduled Servicing —
Diesel Engine ................200
ENGINE COMPARTMENT .....204
2.4L Engine.................204
3.2L Engine .................205
2.0L Diesel Engine .............206
2.2L Diesel Engine .............207
Checking Oil Level .............208
Cooling System ...............208
Adding Washer Fluid ............209 Brake System
................209
Manual Transmission — If Equipped . .210
Automatic Transmission ..........210
Maintenance-Free Battery ........211
DEALER SERVICE...........211
Windshield Wiper Blades .........211
RAISING THE VEHICLE ........216
TIRES ....................216
Tires — General Information .......216
Tire Types ...................220
Spare Tires — If Equipped ........221
Wheel And Wheel Trim Care .......222Tire Chains (Traction Devices)
.......223
Tire Rotation Recommendations .....224
STORING THE VEHICLE.......225
BODYWORK...............226
Preserving The Bodywork .........226
INTERIORS................227
Seats And Fabric Parts ...........227
Plastic And Coated Parts ..........227
Leather Parts .................228
Glass Surfaces ...............228
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
195
Checking Oil Level
To assure proper engine lubrication, the en-
gine 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 min-
utes 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.
There are three possible dipstick types,
• Crosshatched zone.
• Crosshatched zone marked SAFE.
• Crosshatched zone marked with MIN at thelow end of the range and MAX at the high
end of the range.
NOTE:
Always maintain the oil level within the cross-
hatch markings on the dipstick.
Adding 1 quart (1.0 liters) of oil when the
reading is at the low end of the dipstick range
will raise the oil level to the high end of the
range marking.
CAUTION!
Overfilling or underfilling the crankcase
will cause aeration or loss of oil pressure.
This could damage your 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 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 auto-
matically 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
WARNING!
fan is temperature controlled and can
start at any time the ignition is in the ON
mode.
Engine Coolant Checks
Check the engine coolant (antifreeze) protec-
tion every 12 months (before the onset of
freezing weather, where applicable). If the
engine coolant (antifreeze) is dirty, the sys-
tem should be drained, flushed, and refilled
with fresh PARAFLU
UPFormula OAT (Or-
ganic Additive Technology) or equivalent
meeting the requirements of FCA Material
Standard MS.90032. by an authorized
dealer. Check the front of the A/C condenser
for any accumulation of bugs, leaves, etc. If
dirty, clean by gently spraying water from a
garden hose vertically down the face of the
condenser.
Check the engine cooling system hoses for
brittle rubber, cracking, tears, cuts, and
tightness of the connection at the coolant
recovery bottle and radiator. Inspect the en-
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
208
Leather Parts
Your leather upholstery can be best preserved
by regular cleaning with a damp soft cloth.
Small particles of dirt can act as an abrasive
and damage the leather upholstery and
should be removed promptly with a damp
cloth. Care should be taken to avoid soaking
your leather upholstery with any liquid.
Please do not use polishes, oils, cleaning
fluids, solvents, detergents, or ammonia-
based cleaners to clean your leather uphol-
stery. Application of a leather conditioner is
not required to maintain the original condi-
tion.
NOTE:
If equipped with light colored leather, it
tends to show any foreign material, dirt, and
fabric dye transfer more so than darker col-
ors. The leather is designed for easy cleaning.
CAUTION!
Do not use Alcohol and Alcohol-based
and/or Ketone based cleaning products to
clean leather seats, as damage to the seat
may result.
Glass Surfaces
All glass surfaces should be cleaned on a
regular basis with any commercial
household-type glass cleaner. Never use an
abrasive type cleaner. Use caution when
cleaning the inside rear window equipped
with electric defrosters or windows equipped
with radio antennas. Do not use scrapers or
other sharp instruments that may scratch the
elements.
When cleaning the rear view mirror, spray
cleaner on the towel or cloth that you are
using. Do not spray cleaner directly on the
mirror.
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
228
ComponentFluid, Lubricant, or Genuine Part
Engine Oil – 2.0L Diesel Engine For best performance and maximum protection under all types of operat-
ing conditions, the manufacturer recommends Fully Synthetic Low Ash
0W-30 engine oils that meet the requirements of FCA Material Standard
9.55535–DS1 and ACEA C2.
NOTE:
• If lubricants compliant with the required specifications are not avail-
able, products that comply with the minimum required characteris-
tics can be used for topping off; in this case optimal performance of
the engine is not guaranteed.
• The use of products with specifications other than those indicated
above could cause damage to the engine not covered by the warranty.
Engine Oil – 2.2L Diesel Engine For best performance and maximum protection under all types of
operating conditions, the manufacturer recommends Fully Synthetic
Low Ash 0W-30 engine oils that meet the requirements of FCA Mate-
rial Standard 9.55535–DS1 and ACEA C2.
NOTE:
• If lubricants compliant with the required specifications are not avail-
able, products that comply with the minimum required characteris-
tics can be used for topping off; in this case optimal performance of
the engine is not guaranteed.
• The use of products with specifications other than those indicated
above could cause damage to the engine not covered by the warranty.
239