steering DODGE CARAVAN 2009 User Guide

12 in (30 cm) and then drop it. This should secure both
latches. Never drive your vehicle unless the hood is fully
closed, with both latches engaged.
WARNING!
If the hood is not fully latched, it could open when
the vehicle is moving and block your forward vision.
You could have a collision. Be sure all hood latches
are fully latched before driving.
LIGHTS
All of the lights, except the Hazard warning lights,
headlight high beams and flash-to-pass, are controlled by
switches to the left of the steering column on the instru-
ment panel.
Interior Lighting
Interior lights are turned on when a door or liftgate is
opened, the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter is
activated, or when the dimmer control is moved to the
extreme top.
Headlight Switch With Halo Control
172 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE
ProCarManuals.com

Front Fog Lights — If Equipped
To activate the front fog lights, turn on the parking
lights or the low beam headlights and push in the
headlight switch control knob. Pressing the head-
light switch control knob in a second time will turn the
front fog lights off.
Battery Protection
This feature provides battery protection to avoid wearing
down the battery if the headlights, parking lights, or
front fog lights are left on for extended periods of time
when the ignition switch is in the LOCK position. After
eight minutes of the ignition switch being in the LOCK
position and the headlight switch in any position other
than OFF or AUTO, the lights will turn off automatically
until the next cycle of the ignition switch or headlight
switch.The battery protection feature will be disabled if the
ignition switch is turned to any other position other than
LOCK during the three minute delay.
Multifunction Lever
The multifunction lever is located on the left side of the
steering column.
The multifunction lever controls the:
•Turn Signals
•Headlight Beams Low/High
•Flash-To-Pass (Optical Horn)
•Front and Rear Wipers — Washer Functions
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 177
3
ProCarManuals.com

3. Rear Wiper and Washer
Rotating the rotary ring to the first detent activates the
rear intermittent wipers. To activate the washers, rotate
the rotary ring fully forward and the washers will spray
until the ring is released, and then resume the intermit-
tent interval.
NOTE:Rear window wipers function in the intermittent
wiper speed only.
WARNING!
Sudden loss of visibility through the windshield
could lead to an accident. You might not see other
vehicles or other obstacles. To avoid sudden icing of
the windshield during freezing weather, warm the
windshield with the defroster before and during
windshield washer use.
TILT STEERING COLUMN — IF EQUIPPED
To tilt the column, pull the lever downward (located on
the steering column and below the steering wheel) to the
open position. You may then position the steering wheel
up or down, as desired. Pull the small lever upward to
the closed position to lock the steering wheel firmly in
place.
WARNING!
Tilting the steering column while the vehicle is
moving is dangerous. Without a stable steering col-
umn, you could lose control of the vehicle and have
an accident. Adjust the column only while the ve-
hicle is stopped. Be sure it is locked before driving.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 181
3
ProCarManuals.com

ADJUSTABLE PEDALS — IF EQUIPPED
This feature allows both the brake and accelerator pedals
to move toward, or away, from the driver to provideimproved position with the steering wheel. The adjust-
able pedal system is designed to allow a greater range of
driver comfort for steering wheel tilt and seat positions.
The switch is located on the left side of the steering
column.
Tilt Steering Column Lever
1 — Closed
2 — Opened
Adjustable Pedal Switch
182 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE
ProCarManuals.com

This system conveniently allows the driver to select a
variety of useful information by pressing the switches
mounted on the steering wheel. The EVIC consists of the
following:
•System Status display
•Vehicle information warning message displays
•Tire Pressure Monitor System
•Personal Settings (Customer-Programmable Features)
•Compass display
•Outside temperature display
•Trip computer functions
•Audio Modes displayEVIC Menu / Step Control Button, as
it appears on the left side of the steer-
ing column.
Press and release the MENU button, and the
mode displayed will change between
Compass/Temperature, Trip, System Status,
and Personal Settings.
Press the STEP button to scroll through sub
menus (i.e., Trip Functions, Avg. Fuel Economy,
DTE, Elapsed Time, and Units).
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 253
4
ProCarManuals.com

Steering Wheel EVIC Compass/Temp
Control Button, as it appears on the
right side of the steering column.
Press and release the Compass/Temperature
button to for instant access to the Compass/
Temperature screens.
Press this button to RESET Trip Functions and
change Personal Settings.
EVIC Displays
When the appropriate conditions exist, the EVIC displays
the following messages:
•Door(s) Ajar (with a single chime, if vehicle is in
motion)
•Liftgate Ajar (chime will sound when vehicle starts
moving)
•Hood Ajar (if equipped with hood switch)
•Check TPM System (refer to “Tire Pressure Monitoring
System” in Section 5 of this manual)
•Turn Signal On
•RKE Battery Low
•LOW WASHER FLUID
•Oil Change Required
•Left Front Turn Signal Light Out
•Left Rear Turn Signal Light Out
•Right Front Turn Signal Light Out
254 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
ProCarManuals.com

REMOTE SOUND SYSTEM CONTROLS — IF
EQUIPPED
The remote sound system controls are located on the rear
surface of the steering wheel, at the three and nine
o’clock positions.
The right-hand rocker switch has a pushbutton in the
center, and controls the volume and mode of the soundsystem. Pressing the top of the rocker switch will increase
the volume. Pressing the bottom of the rocker switch will
decrease the volume. Pressing the center button changes
the operation of the radio from AM to FM, or Tape to CD
mode, depending on which radio is in the vehicle.
The left-hand rocker switch has a pushbutton in the
center. The function of the left-hand switch is different,
depending on which mode you are in.
The following describes the left-hand rocker switch op-
eration in each mode.
Radio Operation
Pressing the top of the switch will SEEK up for the next
listenable station, and pressing the bottom of the switch
will SEEK down for the next listenable station.
The button located in the center of the left-hand switch
will tune to the next preset station that you have pro-
grammed in the radio preset pushbutton.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 299
4
ProCarManuals.com

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
Starting Procedures.................... 324
▫Automatic Transaxle.................. 324
Engine Block Heater — If Equipped......... 327
Automatic Transaxle.................... 327
▫Brake/Transaxle Interlock System......... 328
▫Four-Speed Or Six-Speed Automatic
Transaxle.......................... 329
▫Reset Mode - Electronic Transaxle......... 334
Driving On Slippery Surfaces............. 334▫Acceleration........................ 334
▫Traction........................... 335
Driving Through Water.................. 335
▫Flowing/Rising Water................. 336
▫Shallow Standing Water................ 336
Power Steering........................ 338
▫Power Steering Fluid Check............. 338
Parking Brake........................ 339
5
ProCarManuals.com

•Look at the shift indicator window on the console to
ensure the shift lever is in the PARK position.
•When engaged in PARK, you will not be able to move
the shift lever rearward without depressing the shift
lever button.
CAUTION!
Before moving the shift lever out of PARK, you must
turn the ignition from LOCK/OFF to ON so the
steering wheel and shift lever are released. Other-
wise, damage to the steering column or shift lever
could result.
REVERSE
Use REVERSE for moving the vehicle rearward. Shift into
REVERSE only after the vehicle has come to a complete
stop.
NEUTRAL
Place the shift lever into this gear only after the vehicle
has come to a complete stop. The engine may be started
in this range.
WARNING!
Do not coast in NEUTRAL and never turn off the
ignition to coast down a hill. These are unsafe
practices that limit your response to changing traffic
or road conditions. You might lose control of the
vehicle and have an accident.
DRIVE — Six-Speed Transaxle
This range should be used for most city and highway
driving. It provides the smoothest upshifts, downshifts,
and best fuel economy. However, use the Electronic
Range Select (ERS) mode by moving the lever—/+and
select the “5” range when frequent transaxle shifting
occurs while using the DRIVE range, such as when
STARTING AND OPERATING 331
5
ProCarManuals.com

POWER STEERING
The standard power steering system will give you good
vehicle response and increased ease of maneuverability
in tight spaces. The system will provide mechanical
steering capability if power assist is lost.
If for some reason the power assist is interrupted, it will
still be possible to steer your vehicle. Under these condi-
tions, you will observe a substantial increase in steering
effort, especially at very low vehicle speeds and during
parking maneuvers.
NOTE:Increased noise levels at the end of the steering
wheel travel are considered normal and do not indicate
that there is a problem with the power steering system.
Upon initial start-up in cold weather, the power steering
pump may make noise for a short amount of time. This is
due to the cold, thick fluid in the steering system. This
noise should be considered normal, and it does not in any
way damage the steering system.WARNING!
Continued operation with reduced power steering
assist could pose a safety risk to yourself and others.
Service should be obtained as soon as possible.
CAUTION!
Prolonged operation of the steering system at the end
of the steering wheel travel will increase the steering
fluid temperature and it should be avoided when
possible. Damage to the power steering pump may
occur.
Power Steering Fluid Check
Checking the power steering fluid level at a defined
service interval is not required. The fluid should only be
checked if a leak is suspected, abnormal noises are
338 STARTING AND OPERATING
ProCarManuals.com