DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 2008 5.G Owners Manual

Use the hood prop rod to secure the hood in the open
position.
To prevent possible damage, do not slam the hood to
close it. Lower the hood until it is open approximately 12inches (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 fly up 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.
Hood Safety Switch Ð If Equipped
If the vehicle is equipped with the Electronic Vehicle
Information Center (EVIC), and the hood is not latched,
the EVIC will display ªHood Ajarº in the instrument
cluster EVIC display window.Hood Safety Catch
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3

If the vehicle is equipped with the Compass Mini-Trip
Computer (CMTC) and the hood is not latched, a ªhoodº
will be displayed in the PRNDL/Odometer window of
the instrument cluster.
LIGHTS
All of the lights, except the hazard warning lights,
headlamp 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 keyless entry transmitter is activated, or
when the dimmer control is moved to the extreme top.
Headlight Switch Assembly
160 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

The interior lights will automatically turn off in about 10
minutes for the first activation and 90 seconds every
activation thereafter until the engine is started, if one of
the following occur:
²A door, sliding door or the liftgate is left open
²Any overhead reading light is left on
²If the dimmer control is in the extreme top position
NOTE:The key must be out of the ignition switch or the
ignition switch must be in the OFF position for this
feature to operate.
Dome Light Positions
Rotate the dimmer control completely
upward to the second detent (extreme
top position) to turn on the interior
lights, except the front reading/
courtesy lights. The interior lights will
remain on when the dimmer control is
in this position.
Interior Lighting Defeat (Off)
Rotate the dimmer control to the off
position (extreme bottom). The inte-
rior lights will remain off when the
doors or liftgate are open.
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3

Parade Mode (Daytime Brightness Feature)
Rotate the dimmer control to the first
detent. This feature brightens the
odometer, radio and overhead dis-
plays when the park lights or head-
lights are on.
Dimmer Control
With the park lights or headlights on,
rotating the dimmer control for the
interior lights on the instrument panel
upward will increase the brightness of
the instrument panel lights.
HALO Lights Ð If Equipped
Halo Lights are strategically-placed, soft lighting that
helps to illuminate specific areas to aid the occupants in
locating specific features while driving at night.
To activate the Halo lights, push in on the Halo
switch located below the dimmer control.
Pressing the switch in a second time, will turn
the Halo lights off.
Exterior Lights
Parking Lights
Turn the headlight switch knob to the first detent
to turn the park lights on. This also turns on all
instrument panel lighting.
162 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Daytime Running Lights (Canada/Fleet Vehicles
Only)
The headlights on your vehicle will illuminate when the
engine is started and the transmission is in any gear
except PARK. This provides a constant lights on condi-
tion until the ignition is turned OFF. The lights illuminate
at less than 50% of normal intensity. If the parking brake
is applied the Daytime Running Lights (DRL) will turn
off. Also, if a turn signal is activated, the DRL lamp on the
same side of the vehicle will turn off for the duration of
the turn signal activation. Once the turn signal is no
longer active, the DRL lamp will illuminate.
Headlights
Turn the headlight switch knob to the 2nd
detent to turn the headlights and park lights
on. This also turns on all instrument panel
lighting.To change the brightness of the instrument panel lights,
rotate the dimmer control up or down.
Automatic Headlights Ð If Equipped
This system automatically turns your headlights on or off
based on ambient light levels. To turn the system on, turn
the headlight switch to the extreme counterclockwise
position aligning the indicator with theªAºon the
headlight switch. When the system is on, the Headlight
Time Delay feature is also on. This means your headlights
will stay on for up to 90 seconds after you turn the
ignition switch OFF. To turn the Automatic System off,
turn the headlight switch clockwise to theªOºoff
position.
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3

NOTE:The engine must be running before the head-
lights will come on in the Automatic mode.
Headlights On with Wipers Ð If Equipped
If your vehicle is equipped with Automatic Headlights it
also has this customer programmable feature. When yourheadlights are in the automatic mode, and the engine is
running, the headlights will automatically turn on when
the wiper system is on.
Headlight Delay Ð If Equipped
This feature provides the safety of headlight illumination
for up to 90 seconds after exiting your vehicle.
To activate the delay feature, turn OFF the ignition switch
while the headlights are still on. Then turn off the
headlights within 45 seconds. The 90 second delay inter-
val begins when headlight switch is turned off. If the
headlights or park lights are turned back on or the
ignition switch is turned on, the delay will be cancelled.
The driver can choose, when exiting the vehicle, to have
the headlights remain on for 30, 60, or 90 seconds, or not
remain on. To change the timer setting see your autho-
rized Dealer.
Automatic Headlights
164 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

If the headlights are turned off before the ignition, they
will turn off in the normal manner.
NOTE:The headlights must be turned off within 45
seconds of turning the ignition OFF to activate this
feature.
Front Fog Lights Ð If Equipped
To activate the front fog lights, turn on the park
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.
Lights-On Reminder
If the headlights or the park lights are left on, or if the
dimmer control is in the extreme top position after the
ignition switch is turned OFF, a chime will sound when
the driver's door is opened.
Fog Light Switch
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3

Battery Protection
This feature provides battery protection to avoid wearing
down the battery if the headlights, park 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 posi-
tion 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 control lever is located on the left side
of the steering column.
The Multifunction Lever assembly controls:
²Turn Signals
²Headlight Low and High Beams
²Flash-to-Pass (Optical Horn)
²Front and Rear Wiper And Washer Functions
Turn Signals
Move the multifunction lever up or down to signal a
right-hand or left-hand turn.
The arrow on either side of the instrument cluster flashes
to indicate the direction of the turn, and proper operation
of the front and rear turn signal lights.
166 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

If either indicator flashes at a rapid rate, check for a
defective outside turn signal light bulb. If one of the
indicators fails to light when the lever is moved, it would
suggest that the indicator light is defective.
You may manually signal a lane change by moving the
lever partially up or down.Turn Signal Auto-Mode
Tap the multifunction control lever once and the turn
signal (left or right) will flash three times, and automati-
cally turn off.
Turn Signal Warning
If the vehicle electronics sense that the vehicle has
traveled at over 18 mph (29 km/h) for about 1 mi (1.6
km) with the turn signals on, a chime will sound to alert
the driver.
Turn Signal Switch
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3

Windshield Wiper and Washer Functions
The wipers and washers are operated by a switch within
the multifunction lever. Rotate the end of the lever to
select the desired wiper speed.
NOTE:Always remove any buildup of snow that pre-
vents the windshield wiper blades from returning to the
off position. If the windshield wiper switch is turned off
and the blades cannot return to the off position, damage
to the wiper motor may occur.
Multifunction Lever Features
1 - Front Mist/Washer 3 - Rear Wiper/Washer
2 - Wiper Speeds 4 - Low/High Beam and Flash 168 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE