climate control DODGE CARAVAN 2009 Owners Manual

•If the power liftgate encounters multiple obstructions
within the same cycle, the system will automatically
stop and must be opened or closed manually.
WARNING!
•Driving with the liftgate open can allow poison-
ous exhaust gases into your vehicle. You and your
passengers could be injured by these fumes. Keep
the liftgate closed when you are operating the
vehicle.
•If you are required to drive with the liftgate open,
make sure that all windows are closed, and the
climate control blower switch is set at high speed.
DO NOT use the recirculation mode.
Gas props support the liftgate in the open position.
However, because the gas pressure drops with tempera-
ture, it may be necessary to assist the props when
opening the liftgate in cold weather.
STORAGE BIN SAFETY WARNING
Safety Warning
WARNING!
•Always close the storage bin covers when your
vehicle is unattended.
•Do not allow children to have access to the second
row seat storage bins. Once in the storage bin,
young children may not be able to escape. If
trapped in the storage bin, children can die from
suffocation or heat stroke.
•In an accident, serious injury could result if the
seat storage bin covers are not properly latched.
•Do not drive the vehicle with the storage bin
covers open.
•Keep the storage bin covers closed and latched
while the vehicle is in motion.
(Continued)
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 53
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WARNING!
If you are required to drive with the deck lid / liftgate
open, make sure that all windows are closed, and the
climate control blower switch is set at high speed.
DO NOT use the recirculation mode.
96 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
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WARNING!
In an accident, serious injury could result if the
removable floor console is not properly installed.
Always be sure the removable floor console is fully
latched.
ELECTRIC REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER — IF
EQUIPPED
Press the rear window defroster button (located on
your front climate control) to turn on the rear
window defroster and the optional heated mirrors. A
light will illuminate to show that the defroster is on. The
defroster automatically turns off after approximately ten
minutes of operation, as long as the ignition switch is in
the ON position.After the initial time interval has expired, if the rear
window defogger switch is pressed to the on position
again (during the same ignition cycle), the system will
automatically turn off after approximately five minutes.
NOTE:You may turn off the heated mirror feature at
anytime by pressing the rear window defogger switch a
second time.CAUTION!
To avoid damaging the electrical conductors of the
rear window defroster, do not use scrapers, sharp
instruments, or abrasive window cleaners on the
interior surface of the window.
Labels can be peeled off after soaking with warm
water.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 223
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Climate Controls...................... 301
▫Manual Heating, Ventilation And Air
Conditioning (HVAC) System............ 301
▫Rear Manual Climate Control Zone — If
Equipped.......................... 308
▫Automatic Temperature Control (ATC) — If
Equipped.......................... 310
▫Summer Operation................... 318▫Winter Operation..................... 319
▫Vacation/Storage..................... 319
▫Window Fogging..................... 319
▫Outside Air Intake.................... 319
▫Operating Tips...................... 320
▫A/C Air Filter— If Equipped............ 320
232 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
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INSTRUMENT PANEL FEATURES
1 - Air Vent 5 - Storage Bin 9 - Storage or DVD 13 - Hazard Switch
2 - Instrument Cluster 6 - Upper Glove Compartment 10 - Cup Holders 14 - Ignition Switch
3 - Shift Lever 7 - Lower Glove Compartment 11 - Storage Bin 15 - Dimmer Switch
4 - Radio 8 - Climate Controls 12 - Power Supply – 12V 16 - Headlight SwitchUNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 233
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RADIO OPERATION AND CELLULAR PHONES
Under certain conditions, the cellular phone being ON in
your vehicle can cause erratic or noisy performance from
your radio. This condition may be lessened or eliminated
by relocating the cellular phone antenna. This condition
is not harmful to the radio. If your radio performance
does not satisfactorily “clear” by the repositioning of the
antenna, it is recommended that the radio volume be
turned down or off during cellular phone operation.
CLIMATE CONTROLS
The Climate Control System allows you to regulate the
temperature, amount, and direction of air circulating
throughout the vehicle. The controls are located on the
instrument panel, below the radio.
Manual Heating, Ventilation And Air Conditioning
(HVAC) System
The controls for the manual HVAC system in this vehicle
consist of a series of outer rotary dials and inner push
knobs. These comfort controls can be set to obtain desired
interior conditions.
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Front Blower Control
There are four blower speeds. Use this
control to regulate the amount of air
forced through the system in any
mode you select. The blower speed
increases as you move the control
clockwise from the off position.
NOTE:For vehicles equipped with Remote Start, the
climate controls will not function during Remote Start
operation if the blower control is left in the “O” (Off)
position.
1 – Front Blower 4 – RECIRCULATION Control
2 – Temperature Control 5 – Air Conditioning (A/C)
3 – MODE Control 6 – DEFROST Mode
302 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
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The primary control for the rear blower is on the front
climate control unit located on the instrument panel.
The Three-Zone Basic Temperature Control bottom panel
has five positions; off, rear, and a range of blower speeds.
Only when the primary control for the rear blower is in
the rear (RR) position do the second row seat occupants
have control of the rear blower speed.
Rear Manual Climate Control Zone — If Equipped
The Rear Manual Climate Control Zone system has floor
air outlets at the rear of the right side sliding door, and
overhead outlets at each outboard rear seating position.
The unit provides warm or cool air through the floor and
upper outlets.
The rear blower and temperature controls for the rear
seat passengers are located in the headliner, near the
center of the vehicle.
Rear Blower Control
The primary control for the rear blower is on the front
climate control unit, located on the instrument panel.
Rear HVAC Manual Controls
1 – Rear Blower 3 – Rear HVAC Lock
2 – Rear Temperature 4 – Rear MODE 308 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
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Only when the front control for the rear blower is in the
RRposition do the second row seat occupants have
control of the rear blower speed.
The rear blower control, located in the rear overhead
console, has an off position and a range of blower speeds.
This allows the second row seat occupants to control the
volume of air circulated in the rear of the vehicle.
CAUTION!
Interior air enters the Manual Rear Zone Climate
Control system through an intake grille, located in
the passenger side trim panel behind the third row
seats. The heater outlets are located in the passenger
side trim panel, just behind the sliding door. Do not
block or place objects directly in front of the inlet
grille or heater outlets. The electrical system could
overload, causing damage to the blower motor.
Rear Temperature Control
When the blower knob on the front climate control unit is
set to any position other thanRR, the rear temperature
settings will be controlled by the rear temperature control
knob on the front climate control unit. The rear mode
selection allows the settings to be controlled by the rear
mode control knob.
To change the temperature in the rear of the vehicle,
rotate the temperature control knob counterclockwise for
cold air, and clockwise for heated air.
When rear controls are locked by the front system, the
lock symbol on the temperature knob is illuminated, and
the rear overhead adjustments are ignored.
The rear airflow modes will mirror the front unit opera-
tion. Rear PANEL mode is automatically selected when
the front control is in the PANEL mode. When the front
unit is in BI-LEVEL mode, airflow will be emitted from
both the upper and lower rear outlets. When the front
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 309
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Operating Tips A/C Air Filter— If Equipped
On vehicles equipped with Automatic Temperature Con-
trol (ATC), the climate control system filters out dust and
pollen from the air. Refer to “Air Conditioning” in
Section 7 of this manual for filter replacement
instructions.
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