2020 DODGE DURANGO Owners Manual

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY287
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 trans -
mission in NEUTRAL (N), 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.
MANUAL PARK RELEASE
To move the vehicle in cases where the
transmission will not shift out of PARK (P) (such
as a depleted battery), a Manual Park Release
is available.
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.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could
damage your vehicle. If the temperature
gauge reads HOT (H), pull over and stop the
vehicle. Idle the vehicle with the air
conditioner turned off until the pointer drops
back into the normal range. If the pointer
remains on HOT (H), and you hear continuous
chimes, turn the engine off immediately and
call for service.
WARNING!
Always secure your vehicle by fully applying
the parking brake before activating the
Manual Park Release. In addition, you should
be seated in the driver’s seat with your foot
firmly on the brake pedal when activating the
Manual Park Release. Activating the Manual
Park Release will allow your vehicle to roll
away if it is not secured by the parking brake,
or by proper connection to a tow vehicle.
Activating the Manual Park Release on an
unsecured vehicle could lead to serious injury
or death for those in or around the vehicle.
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288IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
Follow these steps to use the Manual Park
Release:

1. Firmly apply the parking brake.

2. Open the center console and locate the
Manual Park Release cover, remove it by
snapping the cover away from the console
hinges.

Manual Park Release Cover

3. Press and maintain firm pressure on the brake pedal.
4. Using a screwdriver or similar tool, push the metal latch in towards the tether strap.
Release Latch

5. While the metal latch is in the open position, pull upward on the tether strap until the
lever clicks and latches in the released
position. The transmission is now out of
PARK (P) and the vehicle can be moved.

Released Position
NOTE:
To prevent the vehicle from rolling unintention
-
ally, firmly apply the parking brake.
To Disengage The Manual Park Release Lever:

1. To disengage the Manual Park Release, apply tension upward while pushing the
release latch towards the tether to unlock
the lever.

Release Latch
CAUTION!
Closing the armrest while the Manual Park
Release is activated may damage the Manual
Park Release mechanism, the transmission,
and/or the armrest.

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IN CASE OF EMERGENCY289
2. Once the tension has been released and the
lever has been unlocked, be sure it is
stowed properly and locks into position.

Stowed Position

NOTE:
Be sure to replace the cover by snapping it back
in place.FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE
If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand or
snow, it can often be moved using a rocking
motion. Turn the steering wheel right and left to
clear the area around the front wheels. Push
and hold the lock button on the gear selector.
Then, shift back and forth between DRIVE (D)
and REVERSE (R) while gently pressing the
accelerator.
NOTE:
Shifts between DRIVE (D) and REVERSE (R) can
only be achieved at wheel speeds of 5 mph
(8 km/h) or less. Whenever the transmission
remains in NEUTRAL (N) for more than two
seconds, you must press the brake pedal to
engage DRIVE (D) or REVERSE (R).
Use the least amount of accelerator pedal
pressure that will maintain the rocking motion
without spinning the wheels or racing the
engine. NOTE:
Push the ESC OFF switch, to place the Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) system in “Partial Off”
mode, before rocking the vehicle. Refer to “Elec
-
tronic Brake Control System” in “Safety” for
further information. Once the vehicle has been
freed, push the ESC OFF switch again to restore
“ESC On” mode.
WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces
generated by excessive wheel speeds may
cause damage, or even failure, of the axle
and tires. A tire could explode and injure
someone. Do not spin your vehicle's wheels
faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) or for longer than 30 seconds continuously without
stopping when you are stuck and do not let
anyone near a spinning wheel, no matter
what the speed.
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290IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
(Continued)
TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE
This section describes procedures for towing a
disabled vehicle using a commercial towing
service. If the transmission and drivetrain are
operable, disabled vehicles may also be towed
as described under “Recreational Towing” in
“Starting And Operating”.
CAUTION!
Racing the engine or spinning the wheels
may lead to transmission overheating and
failure. Allow the engine to idle with the
transmission in NEUTRAL for at least one
minute after every five rocking-motion
cycles. This will minimize overheating and
reduce the risk of transmission failure
during prolonged efforts to free a stuck
vehicle.When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by shifting
between DRIVE and REVERSE, do not spin
the wheels faster than 15 mph (24 km/h), or drivetrain damage may result.
Revving the engine or spinning the wheels
too fast may lead to transmission over -
heating and failure. It can also damage the
tires. Do not spin the wheels above 30 mph
(48 km/h) while in gear (no transmission
shifting occurring).
CAUTION! (Continued)

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IN CASE OF EMERGENCY291
Towing ConditionWheels OFF The
Ground Rear-Wheel Drive
Models All-Wheel Drive
Models With
Single-Speed
Transfer Case All-Wheel Drive Models With Two-Speed
Transfer Case
Flat Tow NONEIf Transmission Is
Operable:
Transmission in
NEUTRAL
30 mph (48 km/h)
max speed
30 miles (48 km)
max
distance NOT ALLOWED
See Instructions in “Recreational Towing” in
“Starting And Operating”
Transmission in PARK
Transfer case in NEUTRAL (N)
Tow in forward direction
Wheel Lift Or Dolly Tow FrontIf Transmission Is
Operable:
Transmission in
NEUTRAL
30 mph (48 km/h)
max speed
30 miles (48 km)
max
distance NOT ALLOWED
NOT ALLOWED
Rear OKNOT ALLOWED NOT ALLOWED
Flatbed ALLBEST METHOD OKBEST METHOD
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292IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
Proper towing or lifting equipment is required to
prevent damage to your vehicle. Use only tow
bars and other equipment designed for this
purpose, following equipment manufacturer’s
instructions. Use of safety chains is mandatory.
Attach a tow bar or other towing device to main
structural members of the vehicle, not to
bumpers or associated brackets. State and
local laws regarding vehicles under tow must be
observed.
If you must use the accessories (wipers,
defrosters, etc.) while being towed, the ignition
must be in the ON/RUN mode, not the ACC
mode.
If the key fob is unavailable, or the vehicle's
battery is discharged, refer to “Manual Park
Release” in this chapter for instructions on
shifting the transmission out of PARK (P) for
towing or loading onto a flatbed truck. NOTE:
SRT Models:
The manufacturer requires towing
your vehicle with all four wheels OFF the ground
using a flatbed.
REAR WHEEL DRIVE MODELS
The manufacturer recommends towing your
vehicle with all four wheels OFF the ground
using a flatbed.
If flatbed equipment is not available, and the
transmission is operable, the vehicle may be
towed (with rear wheels on the ground) under
the following conditions:
The transmission must be in NEUTRAL (N).
Refer to “Manual Park Release” in this
section for instructions on shifting the trans -
mission to NEUTRAL (N) when the engine is
off.
The towing speed must not exceed 30 mph
(48 km/h).
The towing distance must not exceed
30 miles (48 km). If the transmission is not operable, or the
vehicle must be towed faster than 30 mph
(48 km/h) or farther than 30 miles (48 km), tow
with the rear wheels
OFF the ground.
Acceptable methods are to tow the vehicle on a
flatbed, or with the front wheels raised and the
rear wheels on a towing dolly, or (when using a
suitable steering wheel stabilizer to hold the
front wheels in the straight position) with the
rear wheels raised and the front wheels ON the
ground.
ALL WHEEL DRIVE MODELS
The manufacturer recommends towing with all
wheels OFF the ground. Acceptable methods
are to tow the vehicle on a flatbed or with one
end of the vehicle raised and the opposite end
on a towing dolly.
CAUTION!
Do not use sling type equipment when
towing. Vehicle damage may occur.
When securing the vehicle to a flat bed
truck, do not attach to front or rear suspen -
sion components. Damage to your vehicle
may result from improper towing.
CAUTION!
Towing faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) or
farther than 30 miles (48 km) with rear
wheels on the ground can cause severe
transmission damage. Damage from
improper towing is not covered under the
New Vehicle Limited Warranty.

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IN CASE OF EMERGENCY293
If flatbed equipment is not available, and the
transfer case is operable, vehicles with a
two-speed transfer case may be towed (in the
forward direction, with ALL wheels on the
ground), IF the transfer case is in NEUTRAL (N)
and the transmission is in PARK. Refer to
“Recreational Towing” in “Starting And
Operating” for detailed instructions.
Vehicles equipped with a single-speed transfer
case have no NEUTRAL (N) position, and
therefore must be towed will all four wheels OFF
the ground.TOWING A DISABLED SRT VEHICLE
The manufacturer requires towing your vehicle
with all four wheels OFF the ground using a
flatbed.
If the key fob is unavailable, or the vehicle's
battery is discharged, refer to “Manual Park
Release” in this section for instructions on
shifting the transmission out of PARK (P) for
loading onto a flatbed truck.
ENHANCED ACCIDENT RESPONSE SYSTEM
(EARS)
This vehicle is equipped with an Enhanced
Accident Response System.
Please refer to “Occupant Restraint Systems” in
“Safety” for further information on the
Enhanced Accident Response System (EARS)
function.
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).
CAUTION!
Front or rear wheel lifts must not be used (if
the remaining wheels are on the ground).
Internal damage to the transmission or
transfer case will occur if a front or rear
wheel lift is used when towing.
Towing this vehicle in violation of the above
requirements can cause severe transmis -
sion and/or transfer case damage.
Damage from improper towing is not
covered under the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.
CAUTION!
Towing this vehicle using any other method
can cause severe transmission and/or
transfer case damage.
Damage from improper towing is not
covered under the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.
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294
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
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 frequent
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 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).An 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),
12 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.
Severe Duty All Models
Change Engine Oil at 4,000 miles (6,500 km) or
350 hours of engine run time if the vehicle is
operated in a dusty and off road environment or
is operated predominately at idle or only very
low engine RPM. This type of vehicle use is
considered Severe Duty.
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 reservoir,
brake master cylinder and fill as needed.
Check function of all interior and exterior
lights
MAINTENANCE PLAN — NON-SRT
Required Maintenance
Refer to the Maintenance Plans on the following
pages for required maintenance.

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