ignition DODGE AVENGER 2009 2.G Owners Manual

JUMP-STARTING PROCEDURE
The battery is stored between the left front headlight
assembly and the left front wheel splash shield. Access is
through the splash shield.
Jump-starting remote battery terminals are located under
the hood.
WARNING!
•Take care to avoid the radiator cooling fan when-
ever the hood is raised. It can start anytime the
ignition switch is on. You can be hurt by the fan.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get
it started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic
transaxle 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 dis-
charged battery, booster cables may be used to
obtain a start from another vehicle. This type of
start can be dangerous if done improperly, so
follow this procedure carefully.
•Do not use a booster battery or any other booster
source with an output that exceeds 12-Volts.
1. Wear eye protection and remove any metal jewelry
such as watchbands or bracelets that might make an
inadvertent electrical contact.
358 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

2. When boosting from a battery in another vehicle, park
that vehicle within booster cable reach, but without
allowing the vehicles to touch. Set the parking brake,
place the automatic transaxle in PARK and turn ignition
to LOCK for both vehicles.
WARNING!
Do not permit vehicles to touch each other as this
could establish a ground connection and personal
injury could result.
3. Turn off the heater, radio, and all unnecessary electri-
cal loads.
4. Remove the protective cover over the remote jump-
start positive battery post(+)in the engine compartment.
Connect one end of the jumper cable to the positive
battery post. Connect the other end of the same cable to
the positive terminal of the booster battery. Refer to the
following illustration for jump-starting connections.5. Connect the other cable, first to the negative terminal
of the booster battery andthen to the engine ground (-)
of the vehicle with the discharged battery.Make sure
you have a good contact on the engine ground. Refer to
the following illustration for jump-starting connections.
Jump-Starting Location
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 359
6

6. If the vehicle is equipped with Sentry KeyImmobi-
lizer, turn the ignition switch to the ON position for three
seconds before moving the ignition switch to the START
position.
7. Start the engine in the vehicle that has the booster
battery, let the engine idle a few minutes, and then start
the engine in the vehicle with the discharged battery.
8. When removing the jumper cables, reverse the se-
quence exactly. Be careful of the moving belts and fan.
9. Reinstall the protective cover over the remote jump-
start positive battery post.WARNING!
During cold weather when temperatures are below
freezing point, electrolyte in a discharged battery
may freeze. Do not attempt jump-starting because
the battery could rupture or explode. The battery
temperature must be brought up above the freezing
point before attempting a jump-start.
NOTE:Refer to “Maintenance Procedures” in Section 7
of this manual for information on accessing the battery
for service or replacement.
WARNING!
Any procedure other than above could result in:
•Personal injury caused by electrolyte squirting out
the battery vent;
(Continued)
360 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

CAUTION!
Racing the engine or spinning the wheels too fast
may lead to transaxle overheating and failure. It can
also damage the tires. Do not spin the wheels above
30 mph (48 km/h). Do not spin the wheels continu-
ously for more than 30 seconds.
TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE
Towing With The Ignition Key
Front Wheel Drive
Your vehicle may be towed (with all four wheels flat on
the ground), under the following conditions: The shift
lever must be in NEUTRAL, the distance to be traveled
must not exceed 15 miles (25 km), and the towing speed
must not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h). Exceeding these
towing limits may cause a transaxle failure. If the trans-
axle is not operative, or if the vehicle is to be towed morethan 15 miles (25 km), the vehicle must be transported
either with a flat bed truck or with the front wheels off
the ground.
CAUTION!
•If the vehicle being towed requires steering, the
ignition switch must be in the ON position, not in
the LOCK or ACC position.
•Do not attempt to tow this vehicle from the front
with sling type towing equipment. Damage to the
front fascia will result.
•Do not push or tow this vehicle with another
vehicle as damage to the bumper fascia and trans-
axle may result.
If you must use the accessories (wipers, defrosters, etc.)
while being towed, the key must be in the ON position,
not the ACC position. Make certain the transaxle remains
in NEUTRAL.
362 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

Towing Without The Ignition Key
Special care must be taken when the vehicle is towed
with the ignition in the LOCK position. Flatbed towing is
the preferred towing method. However, if a flatbed
towing vehicle is not available, a wheel lift towing
vehicle may be used. Rear towing is not recommended
with the front wheels on the ground, as transaxle damage
can result. If rear towing is the only alternative, a front
end dolly must be used. Proper towing equipment is
necessary to prevent damage to the vehicle.
Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle
Flat towing with all four wheels on the ground of
vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, is
only permitted within the limitations described in this
section.
Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle With
A Tow Dolly
Rear towing is not recommended with the front wheels
on the ground, as transaxle damage can result. If rear
towing is the only alternative, a front end dolly must be
used. Proper towing equipment is necessary to prevent
damage to the vehicle.
Towing Without Power — Override Transaxle
Interlock System
Special care must be taken when the vehicle is towed
with the ignition in the LOCK position. A dolly should be
used under the front wheels if the rear wheels are raised.
Proper towing equipment is necessary to prevent dam-
age to the vehicle.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 363
6

Battery power is required to release the brake/transaxle
interlock system. There is an override system that allows
you to shift out of PARK in case of loss of power. To
activate the override system:
•Firmly apply the parking brake.
•Insert the ignition key and rotate it to the ON position.
•Remove the cupholder liner.
•Insert a key, screwdriver, or similar object into the
front hole then push and hold the manual override
release lever forward.
•While holding the release lever forward, move the
shift lever from PARK to NEUTRAL.
•Release the override.
364 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

the gas cap is properly tightened. Press the trip odometer
“Reset” button to turn off the message. If the problem
persists, the message will appear the next time the
vehicle is started. This might indicate a damaged cap. If
the problem is detected twice in a row, the system will
turn on the “Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL).” Resolv-
ing the problem will turn the MIL light off.
EMISSIONS INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
PROGRAMS
In some localities, it may be a legal requirement to pass
an inspection of your vehicle’s emissions control system.
Failure to pass could prevent vehicle registration.
For states that require an Inspection and Mainte-
nance (I/M), this check verifies the Malfunction
Indicator Light (MIL) is functioning and is not on
when the engine is running, and that the OBD II system
is ready for testing.Normally, the OBD II system will be ready. The OBD II
system maynotbe ready if your vehicle was recently
serviced, recently had a dead battery or a battery replace-
ment. If the OBD II system should be determined not
ready for the I/M test, your vehicle may fail the test.
Your vehicle has a simple ignition key-actuated test,
which you can use prior to going to the test station. To
check if your vehicle’s OBD II system is ready, you must
do the following:
1. Insert your ignition key into the ignition switch.
2. Turn the ignition to the ON position, but do not crank
or start the engine.
3. If you crank or start the engine, you will have to start
this test over.
4. As soon as you turn your key to the ON position, you
will see the MIL symbol come on as part of a normal bulb
check.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 371
7

5. Approximately 15 seconds later, one of two things will
happen:
a. The MIL will flash for about 10 seconds and then
return to being fully illuminated until you turn OFF
the ignition or start the engine. This means that your
vehicle’s OBD II system isnot readyand you should
notproceed to the I/M station.
b. The MIL will not flash at all and will remain fully
illuminated until you turn OFF the ignition or start the
engine. This means that your vehicle’s OBD II system
isreadyand you can proceed to the I/M station.
If your OBD II system isnot ready,you should see your
authorized dealer or repair facility. If your vehicle was
recently serviced or had a battery failure or replacement,
you may need to do nothing more than drive your
vehicle as you normally would in order for your OBD II
system to update. A recheck with the above test routine
may then indicate that the system is now ready.Regardless of whether your vehicle’s OBD II system is
ready or not, if the MIL is illuminated during normal
vehicle operation you should have your vehicle serviced
before going to the I/M station. The I/M station can fail
your vehicle because the MIL is on with the engine
running.
REPLACEMENT PARTS
Use of genuine MOPARparts for normal/scheduled
maintenance and repairs is highly recommended to en-
sure the designed performance. Damage or failures
caused by the use of non-MOPARparts for maintenance
and repairs will not be covered by the manufacturer’s
warranty.
372 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

To minimize the possibility of catalyst damage:
•Do not shut off the engine or interrupt the ignition
when the transaxle 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 ignition coil connec-
tors disconnected for prolonged periods.
Cooling System
WARNING!
•When working near the radiator cooling fan, dis-
connect the fan motor lead or turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK position. The fan is tempera-
ture controlled and can start at anytime the igni-
tion switch is in the ON position.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•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 coolant (antifreeze) is dirty or
rusty in appearance, the system should be drained,
flushed, and refilled with fresh engine coolant (anti-
freeze). 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.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 385
7

CavityCartridge
FuseMini Fuse Description
140 Amp
Green—Power Top
Module (If
Equipped)
CavityCartridge
FuseMini Fuse Description
2—20 Amp Yel-
lowAWD Mod-
ule
3 — 10 Amp RedBattery Feed
— Center
High
Mounted
Stop Light
(CHMSL)/
Brake
Switch
4 — 10 Amp RedBattery Feed
— Ignition
Switch
5—20 Amp Yel-
lowTrailer Tow
—If
Equipped
Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM)
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 401
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