5
JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING........................ 199
Jack Location .. ...........................................199
Spare Tire Location And Removal . . ..........200
Preparations For Jacking. . .........................201
Jacking Instructions . . .................................201
Road Tire Installation . . ..............................205
Spare Tire Stowage. . ..................................206
JUMP STARTING ................................................ 2 0 6
Preparations For Jump Start .. ...................207
Jump Starting Procedure. . .........................208
IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS . . ....................... 209
2.4L Engine — If Equipped .. ...................... 210
GEAR SELECTOR OVERRIDE . . .......................... 210
FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE .. ........................... 211
TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE .. ...................... 212
Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) Models.. ............213
Tow Eye Usage — If Equipped . . ................213
ENHANCED ACCIDENT RESPONSE
SYSTEM (EARS) . .
............................................... 215
EVENT DATA RECORDER (EDR) .. ..................... 215
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
SCHEDULED SERVICING ................................... 216
Maintenance Plan.. ....................................217
ENGINE COMPARTMENT . . ................................ 220
2.4L Engine .. ..............................................220
Checking Oil Level . . ................................... 221
Adding Washer Fluid . . ...............................221
Maintenance-Free Battery . . ...................... 221
Pressure Washing . . ....................................222 DEALER SERVICE .
.
............................................222
Engine Oil .................................................. 223
E ngine Oil Filter . . ........................................ 224
Engine Air Cleaner Filter . . ......................... 224
Air Conditioner Maintenance . . ................. 224
Accessory Drive Belt Inspection . . ............. 225
Body Lubrication . . ...................................... 226
Windshield Wiper Blades . . ........................ 226
Exhaust System . . ...................................... 227
Cooling System . . ....................................... 228
Brake System . . .......................................... 232
Automatic Transmission. . .......................... 233
RAISING THE VEHICLE . . .....................................234
TIRES....................................................................234 T ire Safety Information .. ........................... 234
Tires — General Information . . .................. 242
Tire Types . .................................................. 246
S pare Tires — If Equipped . . ....................... 247
Wheel And Wheel Trim Care . . .................. 249
Tire Chains and Traction Devices . . ........... 250
Tire Rotation Recommendations . . ........... 251
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNIFORM
TIRE QUALITY GRADES . .
...................................251
Treadwear .................................................. 251
T raction Grades . . ....................................... 251
Temperature Grades . . ............................... 252
BODYWORK . . ...................................................... 252
Protection From Atmospheric Agents..
..... 252
Body And Underbody Maintenance . . ........ 253
Preserving The Bodywork . . ........................ 253INTERIORS .
.
....................................................... 254
Seats And Fabric Parts .. ............................ 254
Plastic And Coated Parts. . ......................... 254
Leather Parts . . ........................................... 255
Glass Surfaces . . ........................................ 255
Cleaning The Cupholders . . ....................... 255
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
IDENTIFICATION DATA ...................................... 256
Vehicle Identification Number .. ................ 256
BRAKE SYSTEM . . ............................................... 256
WHEEL AND TIRE TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS ..
.............................................. 257
Torque Specifications.. .............................. 257
FUEL REQUIREMENTS . . .................................... 257
Reformulated Gasoline .. .......................... 258
Materials Added To Fuel . . ......................... 258
Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends . . ................... 258
Do Not Use E-85 In Non-Flex Fuel
Vehicles . ..................................................... 259
C
NG And LP Fuel System Modifications . . 259
MMT In Gasoline. . ...................................... 259
Fuel System Cautions. . .............................. 259
Carbon Monoxide Warnings. . .................... 260
FLUID CAPACITIES . . ........................................... 261
FLUIDS AND LUBRICANTS .. .............................. 262
Engine ....................................................... 262
C hassis . ..................................................... 264
96 GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
Right Arrow Button
Push and release the ri
ght arrow
button for access to main menus or
s u
bmenus. Push and hold the right
arrow button for two seconds to
reset features.
Back Button
Push and release the BA
CK button
to scroll back to a previous menu.
OIL CHANGE DUE
Your vehicle is equipped with an engine oil
change indicator system. The “Oil Change Due”
message will appear in the instrument cluster
display for five seconds after a single chime has
sounded to indicate the next scheduled oil
change interval. The engine oil change indicator
system is duty cycle based, which means the
engine oil change interval may fluctuate
dependent upon your personal driving style. Unless reset, this message will continue to
d
i
splay each time you cycle the ignition to the
ON/RUN position. To turn off the message
temporarily, push and release the up arrow
button. To reset the oil change indicator system
(after performing the scheduled maintenance),
perform the following procedure:
1. W ithout pushing the brake pedal, push and
r
elease the ENGINE START/STOP button
and cycle the ignition to the ON/RUN
position (do not start the engine).
2. Fully push the accelerator pedal, slowly, t
hree times within 10 seconds.
3. W ithout pushing the brake pedal, push and
r
elease the ENGINE START/STOP button
once to return the ignition to the OFF/LOCK
position.
NOTE:
If the indicator message illuminates when you
s t
art the vehicle, the oil change indicator system
did not reset. If necessary, repeat this procedure.
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY
S
ELECTABLE MENU ITEMS
Push and release the up or down arrow button
until the desired Selectable Menu item is
displayed in the instrument cluster display.
Follow the Menu or submenu prompts as
d e
sired.
Fuel Economy
Push and release the up or down arrow button
until “Fuel Economy” displays highlighted in the
instrument cluster display and push the right
arrow button. The following Fuel Economy
functions will display in the instrument cluster
display:
Average Fuel Economy
Distance To Empty (DTE)
Instantaneous Fuel Economy
STARTING AND OPERATING 183
Perform the maintenance listed in the
“Maintenance Plan”. Refer to “Scheduled
Servicing” in “Servicing And Maintenance” for
further information. When towing a trailer,
never exceed the GAWR, or GCWR, ratings.
Towing Requirements — Tires
Do not attempt to tow a trailer while using a
compact spare tire.
Do not drive more than 50 mph (80 km/h)
wh
en towing while using a full size spare tire.
Proper tire inflation pressures are essential to
the safe and satisfactory operation of your
vehicle. Refer to “Tires” in “Servicing And Mainte -
nance” for proper tire inflation procedures.
Check the trailer tires for proper tire inflation
pressures before trailer usage.
Check for signs of tire wear or visible tire
damage before towing a trailer. Refer to
“Tires” in “Servicing And Maintenance” for
the proper inspection procedure.
When replacing tires, refer to “Tires” in
“Servicing And Maintenance” for the proper
tire replacement procedures. Replacing tires
with a higher load carrying capacity will not
increase the vehicle's GVWR and GAWR
limits.
Towing Requirements — Trailer Brakes
Do not interconnect the hydraulic brake
system or vacuum system of your vehicle
with that of the trailer. This could cause inad -
equate braking and possible personal injury.
An electronically actuated trailer brake
controller is required when towing a trailer
with electronically actuated brakes. When
towing a trailer equipped with a hydraulic
surge actuated brake system, an electronic
brake controller is not required.
Trailer brakes are recommended for trailers
over 1,000 lbs (453 kg) and required for
trailers in excess of 2,000 lbs (907 kg).
CAUTION!
Do not tow a trailer at all during the first
500 miles (805 km) the new vehicle is
d r
iven. The engine, axle or other parts could
be damaged.
Then, during the first 500 miles (805 km)
th
at a trailer is towed, do not drive over
50 mph (80 km/h) and do not make starts
a t
full throttle. This helps the engine and
other parts of the vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.
WARNING!
Do not connect trailer brakes to your
vehicle's hydraulic brake lines. It can over -
load your brake system and cause it to fail.
Y o
u might not have brakes when you need
them and could have an accident.
Towing any trailer will increase your stop -
ping distance. When towing, you should
a l
low for additional space between your
vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.
Failure to do so could result in an accident.
CAUTION!
If the trailer weighs more than 1,000 lbs
(453 kg) loaded, it should have its own
b r
akes and they should be of adequate
capacity. Failure to do this could lead to
accelerated brake lining wear, higher brake
pedal effort, and longer stopping distances.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 185
Automatic Transmission
The DRIVE range can be selected when towing.
However, if frequent shifting occurs while in
DRIVE, use the AutoStick shift control to
manually select a lower gear.
NOTE:
Using a lower gear while operating the vehicle
u n
der heavy loading conditions will improve
performance and extend transmission life by
reducing excessive shifting and heat build up.
This action will also provide better engine
braking.
If you REGULARLY tow a trailer for more than
4 5
minutes of continuous operation, then
c h
ange the transmission fluid and filter as
specified for “police, taxi, fleet, or frequent
trailer towing”. Refer to the “Scheduled
Servicing” in “Servicing And Maintenance” for
the proper maintenance intervals.
NOTE:
Check the automatic transmission fluid level
b e
fore towing. If you notice fluid leakage or
transmission malfunction, see an authorized
dealer immediately for assistance.
Speed Control — If Equipped
Do not use on hilly terrain or with heavy
loads.
When using the Speed Control, if you experi -
ence speed drops greater than 10 mph
( 1
6 km/h), disengage until you can get back
t o
cruising speed.
Use Speed Control in flat terrain and with
light loads to maximize fuel efficiency.
AutoStick
When using the AutoStick shift control, select
the highest gear that allows for adequate
performance and avoids frequent down -
shifts. For example, choose “4” if the desired
s p
eed can be maintained. Choose “3” or “2”
if needed to maintain the desired speed.
To prevent excess heat generation, avoid
continuous driving at high RPM. Reduce
vehicle speed as necessary to avoid
extended driving at high RPM. Return to a
higher gear or vehicle speed when grade and
road conditions allow.
Cooling System
To reduce potential for engine and transmission
overheating, take the following actions:
City Driving
In city traffic — while stopped, place the
tr
ansmission in NEUTRAL, but do not increase
engine idle speed.
Highway Driving
Reduce speed.
Temporarily turn off air conditioning.5
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.
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 223
ENGINE OIL
Change Engine Oil
The oil change indicator system will remind you
that it is time to take your vehicle in for scheduled
maintenance. Refer to the “Maintenance Plan”
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.
Engine Oil Selection
For best performance and maximum protection
under all types of operating conditions, the
manufacturer only recommends engine oils that
are API Certified and meet the requirements of
FCA Material Standard MS-6395.
American Petroleum Institute (API) Engine
Oil Identification Symbol
This symbol means that the oil has been
certified by the American Petroleum
I n
stitute (API). The manufacturer only
recommends API Certified engine oils.
This symbol certifies 0W-20, 5W-20, 0W-30,
5 W
-30 and 10W-30 engine oils.
Engine Oil Viscosity (SAE Grade) —
2.4L Engine
Mopar SAE 5W-20 engine oil or equivalent
Pennzoil or Shell Helix is recommended for
all operating temperatures. This engine oil
i m
proves low temperature starting and vehicle
fuel economy. The engine oil filler cap also shows the
r
e
commended engine oil viscosity for your
engine. For information on the engine oil filler
cap location, refer to “Engine Compartment” in
“Servicing And Maintenance”.
Lubricants that do not have both, the engine oil
ce
rtification mark and the correct SAE viscosity
grade number should not be used.
Synthetic Engine Oils
You may use synthetic engine oils provided the
recommended oil quality requirements are met,
and the recommended maintenance intervals
for oil and filter changes are followed.
Synthetic engine oils which do not have both the
e n
gine oil certification mark and the correct SAE
viscosity grade number should not be used.
Materials Added To Engine Oil
The manufacturer strongly recommends
against the addition of any additives (other than
leak detection dyes) to the engine oil. Engine oil
is an engineered product and its performance
may be impaired by supplemental additives.
CAUTION!
Do not use chemical flushes in your engine oil
as the chemicals can damage your engine.
Such damage is not covered by the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty.
7
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 245
Tread Wear Indicators
Tread wear indicators are in the original
equipment tires to help you in determining
when your tires should be replaced.
Tire Tread
These indicators are molded into the bottom of
th
e tread grooves. They will appear as bands
when the tread depth becomes a 1/16 of an
inch (1.6 mm). When the tread is worn to the
t r
ead wear indicators, the tire should be
replaced.
Refer to “Replacement Tires” in this section for
f u
rther information.
Life Of Tire
The service life of a tire is dependent upon
varying factors including, but not limited to:
Driving style.
Tire pressure - Improper cold tire inflation pres -
sures can cause uneven wear patterns to
d e
velop across the tire tread. These abnormal
wear patterns will reduce tread life, resulting in
the need for earlier tire replacement.
Distance driven.
Performance tires, tires with a speed rating of
V or higher, and Summer tires typically have
a reduced tread life. Rotation of these tires
per the vehicle scheduled maintenance is
highly recommended. NOTE:
Wheel valve stem must be replaced as well
w h
en installing new tires due to wear and tear
in existing tires.
Keep dismounted tires in a cool, dry place with
a s
little exposure to light as possible. Protect
tires from contact with oil, grease, and gasoline.
Replacement Tires
The tires on your new vehicle provide a balance of
many characteristics. They should be inspected
regularly for wear and correct cold tire inflation
pressures. The manufacturer strongly
recommends that you use tires equivalent to the
originals in size, quality and performance when
replacement is needed. Refer to the paragraph
on “Tread Wear Indicators” in this section.
Refer to the Tire and Loading Information placard
o r
the Vehicle Certification Label for the size
designation of your tire. The Load Index and
Speed Symbol for your tire will be found on the
original equipment tire sidewall.
See the Tire Sizing Chart example found in the
“T
ire Safety Information” section of this manual
for more information relating to the Load Index
and Speed Symbol of a tire.
1 — Worn Tire
2 — New Tire
WARNING!
Tires and the spare tire should be replaced
after six years, regardless of the remaining
tread. Failure to follow this warning can result
in sudden tire failure. You could lose control
and have a collision resulting in serious injury
or death.
7