DODGE CALIBER SRT 2009 1.G Owners Manual

content of gasoline may not be indicated on the pump,
you should ask your gasoline retailer if the gasoline
contains MMT.
It is even more important to look for gasolines without
MMT in Canada, because MMT can be used at levels
higher than allowed in the United States. MMT is pro-
hibited in Federal and California reformulated gasolines.
Materials Added To Fuel
All gasoline sold in the United States is required to
contain effective detergent additives. Use of additional
detergents or other additives are not needed under
normal conditions and they would result in additional
cost. Therefore, you should not have to add anything to
the fuel.
Fuel System Cautions
CAUTION!
Use the following guidelines to maintain your vehi-
cle’s performance:
•The use of leaded gas is prohibited by Federal law.
Using leaded gasoline can impair engine performance,
or damage the emissions control system.
•An out-of-tune engine, or certain fuel or ignition
malfunctions, can cause the catalytic converter to
overheat. If you notice a pungent burning odor or
some light smoke, your engine may be out-of-tune or
malfunctioning and may require immediate service.
Contact your authorized dealer for service assistance.
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5

•The use of fuel additives, which are now being sold as
octane enhancers, are not recommended. Most of these
products contain high concentrations of methanol.
Fuel system damage or vehicle performance problems
resulting from the use of such fuels or additives are not
the responsibility of the manufacturer.
NOTE:Intentional tampering with emissions control
systems can result in civil penalties being assessed
against you.
Carbon Monoxide Warnings
WARNING!
Carbon monoxide (CO) in exhaust gases is deadly.
Follow the precautions below to prevent carbon
monoxide poisoning.
•Do not inhale exhaust gases. They contain carbon
monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas, which can kill.
Never run the engine in a closed area, such as a
garage, and never sit in a parked vehicle with the
engine running for an extended period. If the vehicle is
stopped in an open area with the engine running for
more than a short period, adjust the ventilation system
to force fresh, outside air into the vehicle.
•Guard against carbon monoxide with proper mainte-
nance. Have the exhaust system inspected every time
the vehicle is raised. Have any abnormal conditions
repaired promptly. Until repaired, drive with all side
windows fully open.
•Keep the trunk closed when driving your vehicle to
prevent carbon monoxide and other poisonous ex-
haust gases from entering the vehicle.
300 STARTING AND OPERATING

ADDING FUEL
Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap)
The gas cap is behind the fuel filler door, on the left side
of the vehicle. If the gas cap is lost or damaged, be sure
the replacement cap is for use with this vehicle.
After removing the gas cap, place the gas cap tether cable
over a hook on the inside of the fuel door. This keeps the
gas cap suspended away from and protects the vehicle’s
surface.
CAUTION!
•A poorly fitting gas cap may cause the Malfunc-
tion Indicator Light (MIL) to turn on.
•To avoid fuel spillage and overfilling, do not “top
off” the fuel tank after filling.
Fuel Filler Door
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5

NOTE:When the fuel nozzle “clicks” or shuts off, the
fuel tank is full.
WARNING!
•Never have any smoking materials lit in or near
the vehicle when the gas cap is removed or the
tank filled.
•Never add fuel when the engine is running. This is
in violation of most state and Federal fire regula-
tions and will cause the Malfunction Indicator
Light (MIL) to turn on.
NOTE:Tighten the gas cap about 1/4 turn until you
hear one click. This is an indication that cap is properly
tightened.
If the gas cap is not tighten properly, the MIL will come
on. Be sure the gas cap is tightened every time the vehicle
is refueled.
WARNING!
A fire may result if gasoline is pumped into a
portable container that is inside of a vehicle. You
could be burned. Always place gas containers on the
ground while filling.
Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message
If the vehicle diagnostic system determines that the fuel
filler cap is loose or improperly installed, a “gASCAP”
message will be displayed in the Odometer/Trip Odom-
eter in the instrument cluster. Refer to “Instrument
Cluster Description” in Section 4 of this manual. Tighten
the fuel filler cap properly and press the odometer/trip
odometer RESET button to turn the message off. If the
problem continues, the message will appear the next time
the vehicle is started. Refer to “Onboard Diagnostic
System — OBD II” in Section 7 of this manual for more
information.
302 STARTING AND OPERATING

CAUTION!
Damage to the fuel system or emission control sys-
tem could result from using an improper fuel tank
filler cap (gas cap). A poorly fitting cap could let
impurities into the fuel system.
TRAILER TOWING
Trailer towing with this vehicle is not recommended.
RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND MOTORHOME, ETC.)
Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle (Flat Towing With All Four Wheels On The Ground)
Recreational Towing Chart
Recreational Towing Condition Manual Transmission Vehicles
Four Wheel Flat Tow (all wheels on ground)Ye s
Two Wheel Dolly Tow (rear wheels on ground)Ye s
Flat Bed Tow (all wheels on bed of truck)Ye s
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5

NOTE: ONLYvehicles equipped withMANUAL
TRANSAXLESmay be recreationally towed at any legal
highway speed, for any distance, if theMANUAL
TRANSAXLEis inNEUTRALand the ignition key is in
the ACC position.CAUTION!
Rear wheel lifts should not be used. Internal damage
to the transmission will occur if a rear wheel lift is
used when recreational towing.
304 STARTING AND OPERATING

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
CONTENTS
Hazard Warning Flasher................. 306
If Your Engine Overheats................ 306
TIREFIT Kit.......................... 308
▫TIREFIT Storage..................... 308
▫TIREFIT Usage Precautions.............. 308
▫TIREFIT Kit Components & Operation...... 311▫Sealing a Tire With TIREFIT............. 312
Jump-Starting Procedures................ 317
Freeing A Stuck Vehicle................. 319
Towing A Disabled Vehicle............... 320
▫With Ignition Key.................... 320
▫Without The Ignition Key............... 322
6

HAZARD WARNING FLASHER
The Hazard Warning flasher switch is located on the
instrument panel, below the radio.
Press the switch and both cluster indicators and all front
and rear directional signals will flash. Press the switch a
second time to turn the flashers off.
Do not use this emergency warning system when the
vehicle is in motion. Use it when your vehicle is disabled
and is creating a safety hazard for other motorists.If it is necessary to leave the vehicle to go for service, the
Hazard Warning flasher will continue to operate with the
ignition key removed and the vehicle locked.
NOTE:With extended use, the Hazard Warning flasher
may wear down your battery.
IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS
In any of the following situations, you can reduce the
potential for overheating by taking the appropriate ac-
tion.
•On the highways — slow down.
•In city traffic — while stopped, put transaxle in
NEUTRAL, but do not increase engine idle speed.
Hazard Warning Switch
306 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

If the pointer rises to theredmark (260 °F / 126.6 °C), the
instrument cluster will sound a chime. Pull over and stop
the vehicle with the engine at idle, when safe. Turn off the
air conditioning and wait until the pointer drops back
into the normal range. If the pointer remains on thered
mark (260 °F / 126.6 °C) for more than a minute, turn the
engine off immediately and call for service.
NOTE:There are steps that you can take to slow down
an impending overheat condition. If your air conditioner
is on, turn it off. The air conditioning system adds heat to
the engine cooling system and turning off the A/C
removes this heat. You can also turn the Temperature
control to maximum heat, the Mode control to floor, and
the Fan control to High. This allows the heater core to act
as a supplement to the radiator and aids in removing heat
from the engine cooling system.CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could damage
your vehicle. If the temperature gauge reads 260 °F
(126.6 °C), pull over and stop the vehicle with the
engine at idle, when safe. Turn the air conditioner off
and wait until the pointer drops back into the normal
range. After appropriate action has been taken, if the
pointer remains on the red mark (260 °F / 126.6 °C),
turn the engine off immediately, and call for service.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 307
6

WARNING!
A hot engine cooling system is dangerous. You or
others could be badly burned by steam or boiling
coolant. You may want to call a service center if your
vehicle overheats. If you decide to look under the
hood yourself, refer to Section 7, Maintenance, of this
manual. Follow the warnings under the Cooling
System Pressure Cap paragraph.
TIREFIT KIT
Small punctures in the tire tread can be sealed with
TIREFIT. Foreign objects (e.g., screws or nails) should not
be removed from the tire. TIREFIT can be used in outside
temperatures down to approximately -4°F (-20°C).
TIREFIT Storage
The TIREFIT kit is located in the trunk.
TIREFIT Usage Precautions
NOTE:
•Replace the TIREFIT Sealant Bottle prior to the expi-
ration date (printed on the bottle label) to assure
optimum operation of the system.
TIREFIT Location
308 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES