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CAUTION!
The A/C air filter is identified with an arrow to
indicate airflow direction through the filter.
Failure to properly install the filter will result
in the need to replace it more often.
7. Rotate the glove compartment door back
into position.
Body LubricationLocks and all body pivot points, including such
items as seat tracks, door hinge pivot points
and rollers, liftgate, tailgate, decklid, sliding
doors and hood hinges, should be lubricated
periodically with a lithium based grease, such
as MOPAR Spray White Lube to assure quiet,
easy operation and to protect against rust and
wear. Prior to the application of any lubricant,
the parts concerned should be wiped clean to
remove dust and grit; after lubricating excess oil
and grease should be removed. Particular at-
tention should also be given to hood latching
components to ensure proper function. When
performing other underhood services, the hoodlatch, release mechanism and safety catch
should be cleaned and lubricated.
The external lock cylinders should be lubricated
twice a year, preferably in the Fall and Spring.
Apply a small amount of a high quality lubricant,
such as MOPAR Lock Cylinder Lubricant di-
rectly into the lock cylinder.
Windshield Wiper BladesClean the rubber edges of the wiper blades and
the windshield periodically with a sponge or soft
cloth and a mild nonabrasive cleaner. This will
remove accumulations of salt or road film.
Operation of the wipers on dry glass for long
periods may cause deterioration of the wiper
blades. Always use washer fluid when using the
wipers to remove salt or dirt from a dry wind-
shield.
Avoid using the wiper blades to remove frost or
ice from the windshield. Keep the blade rubber
out of contact with petroleum products such as
engine oil, gasoline, etc.NOTE:
Life expectancy of wiper blades varies de-
pending on geographical area and fre-
quency of use. Poor performance of blades
may be present with chattering, marks, wa-
ter lines or wet spots. If any of these condi-
tions are present, clean the wiper blades or
replace as necessary.Adding Washer FluidThe washer fluid reservoir is located in the
engine compartment, and the fluid level should
be checked at regular intervals. Fill the reservoir
with windshield washer solvent only (not radia-
tor antifreeze).
When refilling the washer fluid reservoir, take
some washer fluid and apply it to a cloth or
towel and wipe clean the wiper blades, this will
help blade performance. To prevent freeze-up
of your windshield washer system in cold
weather, select a solution or mixture that meets
or exceeds the temperature range of your cli-
mate. This rating information can be found on
most washer fluid containers.
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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.
Exhaust SystemThe best protection against carbon monoxide
entry into the vehicle body is a properly main-
tained engine exhaust system.
If you notice a change in the sound of the
exhaust system; or if the exhaust fumes can be
detected inside the vehicle; or when the under-
side or rear of the vehicle is damaged; have an
authorized technician inspect the complete ex-
haust system and adjacent body areas for bro-
ken, damaged, deteriorated, or mispositioned
parts. Open seams or loose connections could
permit exhaust fumes to seep into the passen-
ger compartment. In addition, have the exhaust
system inspected each time the vehicle is
raised for lubrication or oil change. Replace as
required.
WARNING!
•Exhaust gases can injure or kill. They
contain carbon monoxide (CO), which is
colorless and odorless. Breathing it can
make you unconscious and can eventually
poison you. To avoid breathing CO, refer to
“Safety Tips/Exhaust Gas” in “Things To
Know Before Starting Your Vehicle” for
further information.
•A hot exhaust system can start a fire if you
park over materials that can burn. Such
materials might be grass or leaves coming
into contact with your exhaust system. Do
not park or operate your vehicle in areas
where your exhaust system can contact
anything that can burn.CAUTION!
•The catalytic converter requires the use of
unleaded fuel only. Leaded gasoline will
destroy the effectiveness of the catalyst as
an emissions control device and may seri-
ously reduce engine performance and
cause serious damage to the engine.
•Damage to the catalytic converter can
result if your vehicle is not kept in proper
operating condition. In the event of engine
malfunction, particularly involving engine
misfire or other apparent loss of perfor-
mance, have your vehicle serviced
promptly. Continued operation of your ve-
hicle with a severe malfunction could
cause the converter to overheat, resulting
in possible damage to the converter and
vehicle.
Under normal operating conditions, the catalytic
converter will not require maintenance. How-
ever, it is important to keep the engine properly
tuned to assure proper catalyst operation and
prevent possible catalyst damage.
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NOTE:
Intentional tampering with emissions con-
trol systems can result in civil penalties
being assessed against you.
In unusual situations involving grossly malfunc-
tioning engine operation, a scorching odor may
suggest severe and abnormal catalyst over-
heating. If this occurs, stop the vehicle, turn off
the engine and allow it to cool. Service, includ-
ing a tune-up to manufacturer’s specifications,
should be obtained immediately.
To minimize the possibility of catalytic converter
damage:
•Do not shut off the engine or interrupt the
ignition, when the transmission is in gear and
the vehicle is in motion.
•Do not try to start the engine by pushing or
towing the vehicle.
•Do not idle the engine with any spark plug
wires disconnected or removed, such as
when diagnostic testing, or for prolonged
periods during very rough idle or malfunction-
ing operating conditions.Cooling System
WARNING!
•When working near the radiator cooling
fan, disconnect the fan motor lead or turn
the ignition switch to the OFF position. The
fan is temperature controlled and can start
at any time the ignition switch is in the ON
position.
•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 is hot.
Coolant Checks
Check engine coolant (antifreeze) protection
every 12 months (before the onset of freezing
weather, where applicable). If the engine cool-
ant (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
brittle rubber, cracking, tears, cuts, and tight-
ness of the connection at the bottle and radiator.
Inspect the entire system for leaks.
Cooling System – Drain, Flush, And Refill
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” for the
proper maintenance intervals.
If the engine coolant (antifreeze) is dirty or
contains a considerable amount of sediment,
clean and flush with a reliable cooling system
cleaner. Follow with a thorough rinsing to re-
move all deposits and chemicals. Properly dis-
pose of old engine coolant (antifreeze).
Selection Of Coolant
Refer to “Fluids, Lubricants, And Genuine
Parts” in “Maintaining Your Vehicle” for further
information.
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CAUTION!
•
Mixing of engine coolant (antifreeze) other
than specified Organic Additive Technology
(OAT) engine coolant (antifreeze), may re-
sult in engine damage and may decrease
corrosion protection. Organic Additive Tech-
nology (OAT) engine coolant is different and
should not be mixed with Hybrid Organic
Additive Technology (HOAT) engine coolant
(antifreeze) or any “globally compatible”
coolant (antifreeze). If a non-OAT engine
coolant (antifreeze) is introduced into the
cooling system in an emergency, the cooling
system will need to be drained, flushed, and
refilled with fresh OAT coolant (conforming
to MS.90032), by an authorized dealer as
soon as possible.
•Do not use water alone or alcohol-based
engine coolant (antifreeze) products. Do not
use additional rust inhibitors or antirust prod-
ucts, as they may not be compatible with the
engine coolant and may plug the radiator.
(Continued)
CAUTION!(Continued)
•This vehicle has not been designed for use
with propylene glycol-based engine coolant
(antifreeze). Use of propylene glycol-based
engine coolant (antifreeze) is not recom-
mended.
Adding Coolant
Your vehicle has been built with an improved
engine coolant (antifreeze) that allows ex-
tended maintenance intervals. This engine cool-
ant (antifreeze) can be used up to 10 years or
240,000 km before replacement. To prevent
reducing this extended maintenance period, it is
important that you use the same engine coolant
(antifreeze) throughout the life of your vehicle.
Please review these recommendations for us-
ing Organic Additive Technology (OAT) engine
coolant (antifreeze).
When adding engine coolant (antifreeze), a mini-
mum solution of 50% recommended MOPAR
Antifreeze/Coolant 10 Year/240,000 km Formula
OAT (Organic Additive Technology), or equivalent,
in water should be used. Use higher concentra-tions (not to exceed 70%) if temperatures below
−34°F (−37°C) are anticipated.
Use only high purity water such as distilled or
deionized water when mixing the water/engine
coolant (antifreeze) solution. The use of lower
quality water will reduce the amount of corro-
sion protection in the engine cooling system.
Please note that it is the owner’s responsibility to
maintain the proper level of protection against
freezing according to the temperatures occurring
in the area where the vehicle is operated.
NOTE:
Mixing engine coolant (antifreeze) types will
decrease the life of the engine coolant (an-
tifreeze) and will require more frequent cool-
ant changes.
Cooling System Pressure Cap
The cap must be fully tightened to prevent loss
of engine coolant (antifreeze), and to ensure
that engine coolant (antifreeze) will return to the
radiator from the coolant recovery bottle.
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The cap should be inspected and cleaned if
there is any accumulation of foreign material on
the sealing surfaces.
WARNING!
•The warning words “DO NOT OPEN HOT”
on the cooling system pressure cap are a
safety precaution. Never add engine cool-
ant (antifreeze) when the engine is over-
heated. 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 re-
move the pressure cap while the system is
hot or under pressure.
•Do not use a pressure cap other than the
one specified for your vehicle. Personal
injury or engine damage may result.
Disposal Of Used Engine Coolant
Used ethylene glycol-based engine coolant (an-
tifreeze) is a regulated substance requiring
proper disposal. Check with your local authori-
ties to determine the disposal rules for yourcommunity. To prevent ingestion by animals or
children, do not store ethylene glycol-based
engine coolant (antifreeze) in open containers
or allow it to remain in puddles on the ground. If
ingested by a child or pet, seek emergency
assistance immediately. Clean up any ground
spills immediately.
Coolant Level
The coolant bottle provides a quick visual
method for determining that the coolant level is
adequate. With the engine idling and warm to
normal operating temperature, the level of the
engine coolant (antifreeze) in the bottle should
be between the “ADD” and “FULL” lines shown
on the bottle.
The radiator normally remains completely full,
so there is no need to remove the radiator cap
unless checking for the coolant freeze point or
replacing the engine coolant (antifreeze). Ad-
vise your service attendant of this. As long as
the engine operating temperature is satisfac-
tory, the coolant bottle need only be checked
once a month.When additional engine coolant (antifreeze) is
needed to maintain the proper level, it should be
added to the coolant bottle. Do not overfill.
Points To Remember
NOTE:
When the vehicle is stopped after a few
miles/kilometers of operation, you may ob-
serve vapor coming from the front of the
engine compartment. This is normally a re-
sult of moisture from rain, snow, or high
humidity accumulating on the radiator and
being vaporized when the thermostat opens,
allowing hot engine coolant (antifreeze) to
enter the radiator.
If an examination of your engine compartment
shows no evidence of radiator or hose leaks,
the vehicle may be safely driven. The vapor will
soon dissipate.
•Do not overfill the coolant expansion bottle.
•Check the coolant freeze point in the radiator
and in the coolant expansion bottle. If engine
coolant (antifreeze) needs to be added, the
contents of the coolant expansion bottle must
also be protected against freezing.
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•If frequent engine coolant (antifreeze) addi-
tions are required, the cooling system should
be pressure tested for leaks.
•Maintain engine coolant (antifreeze) concen-
tration at a minimum of 50% OAT coolant
(conforming to MS.90032) and distilled water
for proper corrosion protection of your engine
which contains aluminum components.
•Make sure that the coolant expansion bottle
overflow hoses are not kinked or obstructed.
•Keep the front of the radiator clean. If your
vehicle is equipped with air conditioning,
keep the front of the condenser clean.
•Do not change the thermostat for Summer or
Winter operation. If replacement is ever nec-
essary, install ONLY the correct type thermo-
stat. Other designs may result in unsatisfac-
tory engine coolant (antifreeze) performance,
poor gas mileage, and increased emissions.
Brake SystemIn order to assure brake system performance,
all brake system components should be in-spected periodically. Refer to the “Maintenance
Schedule” for the proper maintenance intervals.
WARNING!
Riding the brakes can lead to brake failure
and possibly a collision. Driving with your
foot resting or riding on the brake pedal can
result in abnormally high brake tempera-
tures, excessive lining wear, and possible
brake damage. You would not have your full
braking capacity in an emergency.
Brake Master Cylinder
The fluid level in the master cylinder should be
checked when performing under hood services,
or immediately if the brake system warning light
is on.
Be sure to clean the top of the master cylinder
area before removing the cap. If necessary, add
fluid to bring the fluid level up to the require-
ments described on the brake fluid reservoir.
Fluid level can be expected to fall as the brake
pads wear. The brake fluid level should be
checked when the pads are replaced. However,low fluid level may be caused by a leak and a
checkup may be needed.
NOTE:
If your vehicle is equipped with a manual
transmission, the brake fluid reservoir sup-
plies fluid to both the brake system and the
clutch release system. The two systems are
separated in the reservoir, and a leak in one
system will not affect the other system. The
manual transmission clutch release system
should not require fluid replacement during
the life of the vehicle. If the brake fluid
reservoir is low and the brake system does
not indicate any leaks or other problems, it
may be a result of a leak in the hydraulic
clutch release system. See your local autho-
rized dealer for service.
Use only manufacturer’s recommended brake
fluid. Refer to “Fluids, Lubricants, And Genuine
Parts” in “Maintaining Your Vehicle” for further
information.
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WARNING!
•Use only manufacturer’s recommended
brake fluid. Refer to “Fluids, Lubricants,
And Genuine Parts” in “Maintaining Your
Vehicle” 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 mas-
ter cylinder reservoir.
•To avoid contamination from foreign matter
or moisture, use only new brake fluid or
fluid that has been in a tightly closed
container. Keep the master cylinder reser-
voir 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 braking, resulting
in sudden brake failure. This could result in
a collision.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
•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.
•Do not allow petroleum based fluid to
contaminate the brake fluid. Brake seal
components could be damaged, causing
partial or complete brake failure. This
could result in a collision.
CAUTION!
Use of improper brake fluids will affect over-
all clutch system performance. Improper
brake fluids may damage the clutch system
resulting in loss of clutch function and the
ability to shift the transmission.
Automatic Transmission (6-Speed)
— If Equipped
Selection Of Lubricant — 6-Speed
Transmission
It is important to use the proper transmission
fluid to ensure optimum transmission perfor-
mance and life. Use only the manufacturer’s
specified transmission fluid. Refer to “Fluids,
Lubricants, and Genuine Parts” in this section
for fluid specifications. It is important to maintain
the transmission fluid at the correct level using
the recommended fluid.
No chemical flushes should be used in any
transmission; only the approved lubricant
should be used.
CAUTION!
Using a transmission fluid other than the
manufacturer’s recommended fluid may
cause deterioration in transmission shift
quality and/or torque converter shudder. Re-
fer to “Fluids, Lubricants, And Genuine
Parts” in this section for fluid specifications.
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Special Additives
The manufacturer strongly recommends
against using any special additives in the trans-
mission.
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) is an engi-
neered product and its performance may be
impaired by supplemental additives. Therefore,
do not add any fluid additives to the transmis-
sion. The only exception to this policy is the use
of special dyes for diagnosing fluid leaks. Avoid
using transmission sealers as they may ad-
versely affect seals.
CAUTION!
Do not use chemical flushes in your trans-
mission as the chemicals can damage your
transmission components. Such damage is
not covered by the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.
Fluid Level Check
The fluid level is preset at the factory and does
not require adjustment under normal operating
conditions.Routine fluid level checks are not required,
therefore the transmission filler tube is capped
and no dipstick is provided. Your authorized
dealer can check your transmission fluid level
using special service tools. If you notice fluid
leakage or transmission malfunction, visit your
authorized dealer immediately to have the
transmission fluid level checked. Operating the
vehicle with an improper fluid level can cause
severe transmission damage.
CAUTION!
If a transmission fluid leak occurs, visit your
authorized dealer immediately. Severe trans-
mission damage may occur. Your authorized
dealer has the proper tools to adjust the fluid
level accurately.
Fluid And Filter Changes
Under normal operating conditions, the fluid
installed at the factory will provide satisfactory
lubrication for the life of the vehicle. However, if
the vehicle is frequently driven on rough or
unpaved roads, on mountain roads, on short
trips, or in heavy city traffic during hot weather,or is used for frequent trailer towing, police,
fleet, taxi, etc., change the fluid as indicated in
the Maintenance Schedule. In addition, change
the fluid and filter if the fluid becomes contami-
nated (with water, etc.), or if the transmission is
disassembled for any reason.
Automatic Transmission (CVT) — If
Equipped
Selection Of Lubricant (CVT)
It is important to use the proper transmission
fluid to ensure optimum transmission perfor-
mance and life. Use only the manufacturer’s
specified transmission fluid which has the spe-
cial friction coefficient additives necessary for
proper steel belt traction on the drive and driven
pulleys. Refer to “Fluids, Lubricants, And Genu-
ine Parts” in this section for fluid specifications.
It is important to maintain the transmission fluid
at the correct level using the recommended
fluid.
No chemical flushes should be used in any
transmission; only the approved lubricant
should be used.
268