DODGE CARAVAN 2010 Owners Manual

▫Maintenance ........................ 381
 Adding Fuel ......................... 381
▫ Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap) .............. 381
▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message ........... 383
 Vehicle Loading ...................... 383
▫ Vehicle Certification Label .............. 383
Trailer Towing ........................ 387
▫ Common Towing Definitions ............ 387
▫ Towing Tips ........................ 401
 Recreational Towing
(Behind Motorhome, Etc.) ................ 403
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STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust the
inside and outside mirrors, fasten your seat belt, and if
present, instruct all other occupants to buckle their seat
belts.
WARNING!
Never leave unattended children alone in a vehicle.
Leaving children in a vehicle is dangerous for a
number of reasons. A child or others could be seri-
ously or fatally injured. Do not leave the key fob in
the ignition switch. A child could operate power
windows, other controls, or move the vehicle.
Automatic Transmission
The shift lever must be in the NEUTRAL or PARK
position before you can start the engine. Press the brake
pedal before shifting into any driving gear.
Normal Starting
1. Do not press the accelerator.
2. Use the Fob with Integrated Key to briefly turn the
ignition switch to the START position and release it as
soon as the starter engages. The starter motor will
continue to run, and it will disengage automatically
when the engine is running.
3. If the engine fails to start, the starter will disengage
automatically in 10 seconds. If this occurs, turn the
ignition switch to the OFF position, wait 10 to 15 seconds,
then repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure (Steps 1–3
above).
NOTE: This vehicle is equipped with a transmission
shift interlocking system. The brake pedal must be
pressed to shift out of PARK.
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Extreme Cold Weather (Below20°F or –29°C)
Follow the same instructions in the “Normal Starting”
procedure.
To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of
an externally powered electric engine block heater (avail-
able from your authorized dealer) is recommended.
If The Engine Fails To Start
WARNING!
•Never pour fuel or other flammable liquids into
the throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to
start the vehicle. This could result in a flash fire
causing serious personal injury.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get
it started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic
transmission 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 a booster
battery or the battery in another vehicle. This type
of start can be dangerous if done improperly. Refer
to “Jump Starting” in “What To Do In Emergen-
cies” for further information.
If 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 while cranking the engine. This should clear any
excess fuel in case the engine is flooded.
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CAUTION!
To prevent damage to the starter, DO NOT crank the
engine for more than 15–second intervals at one time.
Wait 10 to 15 seconds before trying again.
If the engine has been flooded, it may start to run, but not
have enough power to continue running when the key
fob is released. If this occurs, continue cranking with the
accelerator pedal pushed all the way to the floor. Release
the accelerator pedal and the key fob once the engine is
running smoothly.
If the engine shows no sign of starting after two 15–
second intervals of cranking with the accelerator pedal
held to the floor, the “Normal Starting” procedure should
be repeated.
After Starting
The idle speed will automatically decrease as the engine
warms up.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED
The engine block heater warms the engine, and permits
quicker starts in cold weather. Connect the electrical cord
to a standard 110-115 Volt AC electrical outlet with a
grounded, three-wire extension cord.
The engine block heater cord is routed under the hood on
the driver’s side of the vehicle. It has a removable cap
that is located on the driver side of the Integrated Power
Module.
WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the electrical cord before
driving. Damage to the 110-115 volt electrical cord
could cause electrocution.
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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the follow-
ing precautions are not observed:
•Move the shift lever into PARK only after the
vehicle has come to a complete stop.
•Do not move the shift lever from REVERSE,
PARK, or NEUTRAL into any forward gear when
the engine is above idle speed.
•Before moving the shift lever into any gear, make
sure your foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
NOTE: You must press and hold the brake pedal down
while shifting out of PARK.
WARNING!
It is dangerous to move the shift 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 into gear when the
engine is idling normally and when your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal.
Key Ignition Park Interlock
This vehicle is equipped with a Key Ignition Park Inter-
lock which requires the shift lever to be placed in PARK
prior to rotating the key fob to the LOCK position. The
key fob can only be removed from the ignition when the
ignition switch is in the LOCK position and once re-
moved the shift lever is locked in PARK.
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Brake/Transmission Interlock System
This vehicle is equipped with a Brake Transmission Shift
Interlock System (BTSI) that holds the shift lever in the
PARK position when the ignition switch is in the LOCK
position. To move the shift lever out of the PARK
position, the ignition switch must be turned to any other
switch position (ACC, ON, or START) (engine running or
not) and the brake pedal must be pressed.
Automatic Transmission Ignition Interlock System
For electrical system malfunctions, there is an override
for the interlock system. In order to override this system,
remove the cover located to the top right of the shift lever
in the instrument panel. The override can be activated by
pressing the white-colored tab, which can be accessed
through the hole in the instrument panel. While the
override is pressed, the shift lever can be moved out of
the PARK position without pressing the brake pedal.
After operation, return the cover to its original position.This system prevents the key fob from being removed
unless the shift lever is in PARK. It also prevents moving
the shift lever out of PARK, unless the key fob is in the
ACC/ON position, and the brake pedal is pressed.
NOTE:
If a malfunction occurs, the system will trap the
key fob in the ignition cylinder to warn you that this
safety feature is inoperable. The engine can be started
and stopped but the key fob cannot be removed until you
obtain service.Four-Speed or Six-Speed Automatic
Transmission
NOTE: Under extreme cold temperatures (-10°F (-23°C)
and when in DRIVE, transmission operation may be
briefly limited to only second gear operation. Normal
operation will resume once the transmission temperature
has risen to a suitable level.
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The electronically-controlled transmission provides a
precise shift schedule. The transmission electronics are
self-calibrating; therefore, the first few shifts on a new
vehicle may be somewhat abrupt. This is a normal
condition, and precision shifts will develop within a few
hundred miles (kilometers).The transmission has only PRND shift positions. Down-
shifts are carried out by an Electronic Range Select (ERS)
by moving the lever—/ + while in the DRIVE position,
the instrument cluster will display transmission gear
selection as 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 for six-speed, and 4, 3, 2, 1 for
four-speed transmissions.
Gear Ranges
Do not race the engine when moving the shift lever from
PARK or NEUTRAL positions into another gear range.
PARK
This range supplements the parking brake by locking the
transmission. The engine can be started in this gear.
Never attempt to use PARK while the vehicle is in
motion. Apply the parking brake when leaving the
vehicle in this gear.
When parking on a flat surface, place the shift lever in the
PARK position first, and then apply the parking brake.
Shift Lever
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When parking on a hill, it is important to set the parking
brake before placing the shift lever in PARK, otherwise
the load on the transmission locking mechanism may
make it difficult to move the shift lever out of PARK. As
an added precaution, turn the front wheels toward the
curb on a downhill grade, and away from the curb on an
uphill grade.
WARNING!
•Never use the PARK position as a substitute for
the parking brake. Always apply the parking
brake fully when parked to guard against vehicle
movement and possible injury or damage.(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•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 fob from the ignition switch, and apply the
parking brake. Once the key is removed from the
ignition, the shift lever is locked in the PARK
position, securing the vehicle against unwanted
movement. Furthermore, you should never leave
unattended children inside a vehicle.(Continued)
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WARNING! (Continued)
•Never leave children alone in a vehicle. Leaving
unattended children in a vehicle is dangerous for a
number of reasons. A child or others could be
seriously or fatally injured. Do not leave the key
fob in the ignition switch. A child could operate
power windows, other controls, or move the
vehicle.
The following indicators should be used to ensure that
you have placed the shift lever into the PARK position:
•When moving the shift lever into PARK, press the
button on the shift lever and firmly move the lever all
the way forward until it stops.
•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 pressing the shift
lever button.
CAUTION!
Before moving the shift lever out of PARK, you must
turn the ignition switch from OFF to ACC/ON so the
steering wheel and shift lever are released. Other-
wise, damage to the steering column or shift lever
could result.
REVERSE
This range is for moving the vehicle backward. Shift into
REVERSE only after the vehicle has come to a complete
stop.
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NEUTRAL
This range is used when vehicle is standing for pro-
longed periods with engine running. Engine may be
started in this range. Set the parking brake if you must
leave the vehicle.
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 Transmission
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 transmission shiftingoccurs while using the DRIVE range, such as when
operating the vehicle under heavy loading conditions,
(i.e., in hilly terrain, traveling into strong head winds or
while towing heavy trailers). Under these conditions,
using the “5” range will improve performance and
extend transmission life by reducing excessive shifting
and heat buildup.
DRIVE – Four-Speed Transmission
This range should be used for most city and highway
driving. It provides the smoothest upshifts, downshifts,
and best fuel economy. However, select the “3” range
when frequent transmission shifting occurs while using
the DRIVE range, such as when operating the vehicle
under heavy loading conditions, (i.e., in hilly terrain,
traveling into strong head winds or while towing heavy
trailers). Under these conditions, using the “3” range will
improve performance and extend transmission life by
reducing excessive shifting and heat buildup.5
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