CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 2008 1.G Owners Manual

▫Replacement Tires .....................328
▫ Alignment And Balance .................329
 Tire Chains ...........................330
 Snow Tires ...........................330
 Tire Rotation Recommendations ............331
 Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) —
If Equipped ...........................332
▫ Base System — If Equipped ..............334
▫ General Information ...................336
 Fuel Requirements — Gasoline Engines .......337
▫ 2.4L And 2.4L Standard Turbo Engines ......337
▫ Reformulated Gasoline .................337
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ..............337 ▫
MMT In Gasoline .....................338
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ................338
▫ Fuel System Cautions ..................338
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings ..............339
 Adding Fuel ..........................340
▫ Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap) ...............340
▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message ............342
 Vehicle Loading ........................342
 Trailer Towing .........................343
▫ Common Towing Definitions .............343
▫ Trailer Hitch Classification ...............345
▫ Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer
Weight Ratings) ......................347
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▫Trailer And Tongue Weight ..............348
▫ Towing Requirements ..................349
▫ Towing Tips .........................354 
Recreational Towing (Behind Motorhome, Etc.) . . 356
▫ Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle
(Flat Towing With All Four Wheels On The
Ground) ............................356
290 STARTING AND OPERATING

STARTING PROCEDURESBefore starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust both
inside and outside mirrors, and fasten your seat belts.
WARNING!
Never leave children alone in a vehicle. Leaving
children in a vehicle unattended is dangerous for a
number of reasons. A child or others could be seri-
ously or fatally injured. Don’t leave the keys in the
ignition. A child could operate power windows,
other controls, or move the vehicle.
WARNING!
Be sure to turn off the engine if you want to rest or
sleep in your car. Accidents can be caused by inad-
vertently moving the gear selector lever or by press-
ing the accelerator pedal. This may cause excessive
heat in the exhaust system, resulting in overheating
and vehicle fire which may cause serious or fatal
injuries.AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLEThe gear selector lever must be in the NEUTRAL or
PARK position before you can start the engine. Apply the
brakes and depress the gear selector lever knob button
before shifting to any driving gear.
NOTE:You must press the brake pedal before shifting
out of PARK.
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5

MANUAL TRANSAXLEBefore starting the engine fully apply the parking brake,
press the clutch pedal to the floor and shift the gear
selector lever in NEUTRAL.
NOTE:The engine will not start unless the clutch pedal
is pressed to the floor.NORMAL STARTINGNormal starting of either a cold or a warm engine does
not require pumping or depressing the accelerator pedal.
Simply turn the ignition switch to the START position
and release when the engine starts. If the engine has not
started within three seconds, slightly depress the accel-
erator pedal while continuing to crank. If the engine fails
to start within 15 seconds, turn the ignition switch to the
OFF position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the
“NORMAL STARTING” procedure above.
WARNING!
Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get it
started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic trans-
axle cannot be started this way. Unburned fuel could
enter the catalytic converter and once the engine has
started, ignite and damage the converter and vehicle.
If the vehicle has a discharged battery, booster cables
may be used to obtain a start from another vehicle.
This type of start can be dangerous if done improp-
erly, so follow the procedure carefully. See Section 6
of this manual for jump starting instructions.EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER (BELOW 20°F or
29°C)To insure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of an
externally powered electric engine block heater (available
from your authorized dealer) is recommended.
292 STARTING AND OPERATING

IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO STARTIf the engine fails to start after you have followed the
“NORMAL STARTING” procedure, it may be flooded.
Push the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and
hold it there. Crank the engine for no more than 15
seconds. This should clear any excess fuel in case the
engine is flooded. Leave the ignition key in the ON
position, release the accelerator pedal and repeat the
“NORMAL STARTING” procedure.
WARNING!
Never pour fuel or other flammable liquid into the
throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to start
the vehicle. This could result in flash fire causing
serious personal injury.
CAUTION!
To prevent damage to the starter, do not crank the
engine for more than 15 seconds at a time. Wait 10 to
15 seconds before trying again.AFTER STARTINGThe idle speed will automatically decrease as the engine
warms up.TURBOCHARGER COOL-DOWN NOTE:Letting the engine idle after severe operation
allows the turbine housing to cool to normal operating
temperature. Do not increase the idle speed manually.
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The following chart should be used as a guide in deter-
mining the amount of engine idle time required to
sufficiently cool down the turbocharger before shut
down, depending upon the type of driving and the
amount of cargo.
TURBOCHARGER COOL-DOWN CHART
Driving Conditions IdleBefore Shut Down
Normal 0 min
Aggressive/Heavy Load 3 min
Trailer Tow 5 min
AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE — IF EQUIPPEDYou must step on the brake pedal and depress the gear
selector lever knob button before you will be able to shift
out of PARK.
CAUTION!
Damage to the transaxle may occur if the following
precautions are not observed:•
Shift into PARK only after the vehicle has come to a
complete stop.
•
Shift into or out of REVERSE only after the vehicle has
come to a complete stop and the engine is at idle
speed.
•
Do not shift from REVERSE, PARK, or NEUTRAL into
any forward gear when the engine is above idle speed.
•
Before shifting into any gear, make sure your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal.
NOTE: You must step on the brake pedal and depress
the gear selector lever knob button before you will be
able to shift the gear selector lever out of PARK.
294 STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING!
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector lever out of
PARK, or NEUTRAL if the engine speed is higher
than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on the
brake pedal, the vehicle could accelerate quickly
forward or in REVERSE. You could lose control of the
vehicle and hit someone or something. Only shift the
gear selector lever into gear when the engine is idling
normally and when your right foot is firmly on the
brake pedal.BRAKE/TRANSMISSION INTERLOCK SYSTEMThis system prevents you from shifting the gear selector
lever out of PARK and into any gear unless the brake
pedal is pressed. This system is active only while the
ignition switch is in the ON or ACC positions.Alwaysstep on the brake pedal and depress the gear selector
lever knob button before shifting out of PARK.
NOTE:
If a malfunction occurs, the system will function
normally, except you may be able to shift the vehicle from
PARK, without depressing the brake pedal. If this occurs
obtain service from an authorized dealer as soon as
possible.
AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE IGNITION INTERLOCK
SYSTEMThis system prevents the key from being removed unless
the gear selector lever is in PARK and the gear selector
lever knob push button is out. It also prevents shifting
out of PARK unless the key is in the ACC or ON
positions, and the brake pedal is depressed.
NOTE: If a malfunction occurs, the system will trap the
key in the ignition cylinder to warn you that this safety
STARTING AND OPERATING 295
5

feature is inoperable. The engine can be started and
stopped but the key cannot be removed until you obtain
service.FOUR-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLEThe electronically controlled transaxle provides a precise
shift schedule. The transaxle electronics are self calibrat-
ing; therefore, the first few shifts on a new vehicle may be
somewhat abrupt. This is a normal condition, and preci-
sion shifts will develop within a few shift cycles.RESET MODEThe transaxle is monitored electronically for abnormal
conditions. If a condition is detected that could cause
damage, the transaxle shifts automatically into second
gear. The transaxle remains in second gear despite the
forward gear selected. PARK, REVERSE, and NEUTRAL
will continue to operate. This second gear limp-in feature
allows the vehicle to be driven to a dealer for service
without damaging the transaxle.In the event that the problem has been momentary, the
transaxle can be reset to regain all forward gears.
Stop the vehicle and shift the gear selector lever into
PARK.
Turn the Key to OFF then restart the engine.
Shift the gear selector lever into DRIVE and resume
driving.
If the transaxle cannot be reset, authorized dealer service
is required.
NOTE:
Even if the transaxle can be reset, it is recom-
mended that you visit an authorized dealer at your
earliest possible convenience. Your authorized dealer has
diagnostic equipment to determine if the problem could
recur.296 STARTING AND OPERATING

GEAR RANGES FOR THE FOUR-SPEED
AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLEDO NOT race the engine when shifting from PARK or
NEUTRAL positions into another gear range.PARKPARK supplements the parking brake by locking the
transmission. The engine can be started in this range.
Never use PARK while the vehicle is in motion. Apply
the parking brake when leaving the vehicle in this range.
Always apply the parking brake first, and then shift the
gear selector lever into the PARK position.
WARNING!
Unintended movement of a vehicle could injure
those in and near the vehicle. As with all vehicles,
you should never exit a vehicle while the engine is
running. Before exiting a vehicle, you should always
shift the vehicle into PARK, remove the key from the
ignition, and apply the parking brake. Once the key
is removed from the ignition, the transmission gear
selector lever is locked in the PARK position, secur-
ing the vehicle against unwanted movement. Further-
more, you should never leave children unattended
inside a vehicle.
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The following indicators should be used to ensure that
you have engaged the transmission gear selector lever
into the PARK position:•
When shifting the gear selector lever into PARK,
depress the button on the gear selector lever knob and
firmly move the lever all the way forward until it
stops.
•
Look at the shift indicator window on the console to
ensure it is in the PARK position.
•
When engaged in PARK, you will not be able to move
the gear selector lever rearward without depressing
the gear selector lever knob button
CAUTION!
Before shifting the gear selector lever out of PARK,
you must turn the ignition from LOCK to ON so the
steering wheel and gear selector lever are released.
Otherwise, damage to the steering column or gear
selector lever could result.REVERSEShift into this range only after the vehicle has come to a
complete stop.NEUTRALThe engine may be started in this range.DRIVE / OVERDRIVEThis range should be used for most city and highway
driving. It provides smoothest upshifts and downshifts,
and best fuel economy.
298 STARTING AND OPERATING