2020 DODGE JOURNEY tow

212 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE
This section describes procedures for towing a disabled vehicle using a commercial towing service.
Proper towing or lifting equipment is required to
pr

event 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,
de
frosters, 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
b a

ttery is discharged, refer to “Gear Selector
Override” in this section for instructions on
shifting the transmission out of PARK for
towing.
Towing Condition Wheel OFF The Ground FWD MODELS
Flat Tow NONEIF transmission is operable:
Ignition in ACC or ON/RUN mode
Transmission in NEUTRAL
25 mph (40 km/h) max speed
15 miles (24 km) max distance
Wheel Lift Or Dolly Tow
Rear
Front OK
Flatbed ALLBEST METHOD
CAUTION!
Do not use sling type equipment when
towing. Vehicle damage may occur.
When securing the vehicle to a flatbed
truck, do not attach to front or rear suspen-
sion components. Damage to your vehicle
m a

y result from improper towing.
Do not push or tow this vehicle with another
vehicle as damage to the bumper fascia
and transmission may result.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 213
FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE (FWD) 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
t r

ansmission is operable, the vehicle may be
flat towed (with all four wheels on the ground)
under the following conditions:
The transmission must be in NEUTRAL.
The towing distance must not exceed
15 miles (24 km).
The towing speed must not exceed 25 mph
(4
0 km/h). If the transmission is not operable, or the
v
e

hicle must be towed faster than 25 mph
( 4

0 km/h) or farther than 15 miles (24 km), it
m u

st be towed with the front wheels OFF the
ground (using a flatbed truck, towing dolly, or
wheel lift equipment with the front wheels
raised).
TOW EYE USAGE — IF EQUIPPED
Your vehicle is equipped with a tow eye that can
be used to move a disabled vehicle.
When using a tow eye be sure to follow the “Tow
E y

e Usage Precautions” and the “Towing A
Disabled Vehicle” instructions in this section.

Tow Eye

CAUTION!
Towing faster than 25 mph (40 km/h) or
fa
rther than 15 miles (24 km) with front
w h

eels on the ground can cause severe
transmission damage. Damage from
improper towing is not covered by the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty.
6

214 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
Tow Eye Usage Precautions

Tow Eye Warning Label
Front Tow Eye Installation
The front tow eye receptacle is located behind a
door, located on the right front bumper fascia.
To install the tow eye, open the door using the
vehicle key or a small screwdriver, and thread
the tow eye into the receptacle.
Insert the flat end of the jack handle through
th
e eye and tighten, refer to “Jacking And Tire
Changing” in this chapter for further
information. The tow eye must be fully seated to
the attaching bracket through the lower front
fascia as shown. If the tow eye is not fully
seated to the attaching bracket, the vehicle
should not be towed.

Front Tow Eye Installed

CAUTION!
The tow eye must only be used for roadside
emergencies. Use with an appropriate
device in accordance with highway code
(a rigid bar or rope) to maneuver the vehicle
i n

preparation for transport via a tow truck.
The tow eye must not be used to move the
vehicle off the road or where there are
obstacles.
Do not use the tow eyes for tow truck
hookup or highway towing.
Do not use the tow eye to free a stuck
vehicle. Refer to the “Freeing A Stuck
Vehicle” section for further information.
Please refer to the “Towing A Disabled
Vehicle” section for detailed instructions.
D a

mage to your vehicle may occur if these
guidelines are not followed.
WARNING!
Stand clear of vehicles when pulling with tow
eyes.
Do not use a chain with a tow eye. Chains
may break, causing serious injury or death.
Do not use a tow strap with a tow eye. Tow
straps may break or become disengaged,
causing serious injury or death.
Failure to follow proper tow eye usage may
cause components to break resulting in
serious injury or death.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 215
Rear Tow Eye Installation
The rear tow eye receptacle is located behind a
door, located on the left rear bumper fascia.
To install the tow eye, open the door using the
ve

hicle key or a small screwdriver, and thread
the tow eye into the receptacle.
Insert the flat end of the jack handle through
t h

e eye and tighten, refer to “Jacking And Tire
Changing” in this section for further
information. The tow hook must be fully seated
to the attaching bracket through the lower front
fascia as shown. If the tow hook is not fully
seated to the attaching bracket, the vehicle
should not be towed.

Rear Tow Eye Installed

ENHANCED ACCIDENT RESPONSE
SYSTEM (EARS)
This vehicle is equipped with an Enhanced
Accident Response System.
Please refer to “Occupant Restraint Systems” in
“ S

afety” 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
“ S

afety” for further information on the Event
Data Recorder (EDR).
6

216
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
SCHEDULED SERVICING
Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic
oil change indicator system. The oil change
i n

dicator 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
v e

hicle. Operating conditions such as frequent
short-trips, trailer tow, extremely hot or cold
ambient temperatures, and E-85 fuel usage will
influence when the “Change Oil” or “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
s e

rviced as soon as possible, within the next
500 miles (805 km).
An authorized dealer will reset the oil change
i
n

dicator message after completing the
scheduled oil change. If a scheduled oil change
is performed by someone other than an
authorized dealer, the message can be reset
by referring to the steps described under
“ I

nstrument Cluster Display” in “Getting To
Know Your Instrument Panel” for further
information.
NOTE:
Under no circumstances should oil change
i n

tervals exceed 10,000 miles (16,000 km),
1 2

months or 350 hours of engine run time,
w h

ichever 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
3 5

0 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 tire pressure and look for unusual
wear or damage. Rotate tires at the first sign
of irregular wear, even if it occurs before the
oil indicator system turns on.
Check the fluid levels of the coolant reservoir,
brake master cylinder, power steering, and
transmission (4-speed only) and fill as
needed.
Check function of all interior and exterior
lights.

218 SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
Mileage or time passed (whichever comes first)
20,000
30,0 00
40,0 00
50,0 00
60,0 00
70,0 00
80,0 00
90,0 00
100,0 00
110,0 00
120,0 00
130,0 00
140,0 00
150,0 00
Or Years: 2345678910 1112131415
Or Kilometers:
32,000
48,0 00
64,0 00
80,0 00
96,0 00
112,0 00
128,0 00
144,0 00
160,0 00
176,0 00
192,0 00
208,0 00
224,0 00
240,0 00
Additional Inspections
Inspect the CV/Universal joints. XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Inspect front suspension, tie rod ends, and replace if necessary. XXXXXXX
Inspect the brake linings, parking brake function. XXXXXXX
Additional Maintenance
Replace engine air filter. XXXXX
Replace air conditioning filter. XXXXXXX
Replace spark plugs.
1X XXXX
Flush and replace the engine coolant at 10 years or
150,000 miles (240,000 km) whichever comes first. X
X
Change the automatic transmission fluid and filter. X
Change the automatic transmission fluid and filter if using your
v e

hicle for any of the following: police, taxi, fleet, or frequent
trailer towing. X
X

SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 221
CHECKING OIL LEVEL
To ensure proper engine lubrication, 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 engine is shut off. Checking engine oil
level when the engine is cold will give you an
incorrect reading.
Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level
gr

ound and only when the engine is hot, will
improve the accuracy of the oil level readings.
Maintain the oil level between the range
markings on the dipstick. Either the range
markings consist of a crosshatch zone marked
SAFE or a crosshatch zone marked with MIN at
the low end of the range and MAX at the high
end of the range. Adding 1 Quart (1 Liter) of oil
when the reading is at the low end of the range
marking will raise the oil level to the high end of
the range marking.
ADDING WASHER FLUID
The windshield washer and the rear window
washer share the same fluid reservoir. The fluid
reservoir is located in the engine compartment.
Be sure to check the fluid level in the reservoir
at regular intervals. Fill the reservoir with
windshield washer solvent (not radiator
antifreeze) and operate the system for a few
seconds to flush out the residual water.
When refilling the washer fluid reservoir, apply
s o

me washer fluid to a cloth or towel and wipe
the wiper blades clean. This will help blade
performance.
To prevent freeze-up of your windshield washer
s y

stem in cold weather, select a solution or
mixture that meets or exceeds the temperature
range of your climate. This rating information
can be found on most washer fluid containers. The fluid reservoir will hold nearly 1 Gallon

(4 Liters) of washer fluid when the message
“ Lo

WASH” appears in the instrument cluster.
MAINTENANCE-FREE BATTERY

Your vehicle is equipped with a maintenance-free
battery. You will never have to add water, nor is
periodic maintenance required.

NOTE:
The battery is stored in a compartment that is
lo
cated behind the left front fender and is
accessible through the wheel well. The wheel
and tire assembly do not need to be removed to
access the compartment. Remote battery termi -
nals are located in the engine compartment for
j u

mp starting. Refer to “Jump Starting Proce -
dure” in “In Case Of Emergency” for further
i n

formation.
CAUTION!
Do not overfill the engine with oil. Overfilling
the engine with oil will cause oil aeration,
which can lead to loss of oil pressure and an
increase in oil temperature. This loss of oil
pressure and increased oil temperature could
damage your engine.
WARNING!
Commercially available windshield washer
solvents are flammable. They could ignite and
burn you. Care must be exercised when filling
or working around the washer solution.
7

228 SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
(Continued)

Under normal operating conditions, the catalytic
converter will not require maintenance. However,
it is important to keep the engine properly tuned
to ensure proper catalyst operation and prevent
possible catalyst damage.

NOTE:
Intentional tampering with emissions control
s y

stems can result in civil penalties being
assessed against you.

In unusual situations involving grossly
m a

lfunctioning engine operation, a scorching odor
may suggest severe and abnormal catalyst
overheating. If this occurs, stop the vehicle, turn off
the engine and allow it to cool. Service, including a
tune-up to manufacturer's specifications, should be
obtained immediately.

To minimize the possibility of catalytic converter
d a

mage:
Do not interrupt the ignition when the trans -
mission is in gear and the vehicle is in
m o

tion.
Do not try to start the vehicle by pushing or
towing the vehicle.
Do not idle the engine with any ignition
components disconnected or removed, such
as when diagnostic testing, or for prolonged
periods during very rough idle or malfunc -
tioning operating conditions.
COOLING SYSTEM
Coolant Checks

Check the engine coolant (antifreeze) protection
every 12 months (before the onset of freezing
w e
ather, where applicable). If the engine coolant
(antifreeze) is dirty or rusty in appearance, the
system should be drained, flushed, and refilled
with fresh engine coolant (antifreeze). 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 coolant recovery bottle tubing for
b r

ittle rubber, cracking, tears, cuts, and
tightness of the connection at the bottle and
radiator. Inspect the entire system for leaks.
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 automati -
cally and may start at any time, whether the
e n

gine 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.
WARNING!
The warning words “DO NOT OPEN HOT” on
the cooling system pressure cap are a
safety precaution. Never add engine
coolant (antifreeze) when the engine is
overheated. Do not loosen or remove the
cap to cool an overheated engine. Heat
causes pressure to build up in the cooling
system. To prevent scalding or injury, do not
remove the pressure cap while the system
is hot or under pressure.