DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 2017 5.G Owners Manual

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
STARTING PROCEDURES .................342
â–« Automatic Transmission ..................342
â–« Normal Starting ........................342
â–« Extreme Cold Weather (Below –22°F Or 30°C) .343
â–« If The Engine Fails To Start ...............343
â–« After Starting ..........................343
 ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED . . . .344
 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ..............344
â–« Key Ignition Park Interlock ................345
â–« Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . . .346
â–« Fuel Economy (ECON) Mode ..............346
â–« Six-Speed Automatic Transmission ...........347
â–« Gear Ranges ..........................348
 DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES ..........353â–«
Acceleration .......................... .353
â–« Traction ............................ .354
 DRIVING THROUGH WATER ..............354
â–« Flowing/Rising Water ...................354
â–« Shallow Standing Water ..................355
 POWER STEERING ..................... .356
â–« Power Steering Fluid Check ...............356
 PARKING BRAKE .......................357
 BRAKE SYSTEM ........................359
 ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM .....359
â–« Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) ......359
â–« Brake System Warning Light ...............359
â–« Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) .............360
â–« Anti-Lock Brake

Warning Light.............361
5

â–«Brake Assist System (BAS) ................361
â–« Hill Start Assist (HSA) ...................362
â–« Traction Control System (TCS) .............364
â–« Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ...........364
â–« Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) ............367
â–« Trailer Sway Control (TSC) ................368
 TIRE SAFETY INFORMATION ..............368
â–« Tire Markings ........................ .368
â–« Tire Identification Number (TIN) ............372
â–« Tire Terminology And Definitions ...........373
â–« Tire Loading And Tire Pressure ............374
 TIRES — GENERAL INFORMATION .........379
â–« Tire Pressure ..........................379
â–« Tire Inflation Pressures ..................380
â–« Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation .....381
â–« Radial Ply Tires ........................381
â–« Tire Types ............................382 â–«
Run Flat Tires — If Equipped ..............383
â–« Spare Tires — If Equipped ................383
â–« Tire Spinning ........................ .386
â–« Tread Wear Indicators ...................386
â–« Life Of Tire .......................... .387
â–« Replacement Tires ..................... .387
 TIRE CHAINS (TRACTION DEVICES) .........388
 TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS ......389
 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNIFORM
TIRE QUALITY

GRADES..................390
â–« Treadwear ............................390
â–« Traction Grades ........................390
â–« Temperature Grades .....................391
 TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM (TPMS) . . .391
â–« Base System .......................... .393
â–« Premium System .......................395
 FUEL REQUIREMENTS ...................399
340 STARTING AND OPERATING

â–«3.6L Engine .......................... .399
â–« Reformulated Gasoline ..................399
â–« Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ...............399
â–« E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles .........400
â–« CNG And LP Fuel System Modifications ......400
â–« MMT In Gasoline .......................400
â–« Materials Added To Fuel .................401
â–« Fuel System Cautions ....................401
â–« Carbon Monoxide Warnings ...............402
 FLEXIBLE FUEL — IF EQUIPPED ............402
â–« E-85 General Information .................402
â–« Ethanol Fuel (E-85) ..................... .402
â–« Fuel Requirements .....................403
â–« Selection Of Engine Oil For Flexible Fuel Vehicles
(E-85) And Gasoline Vehicles ..............403
â–« Starting ............................ .404â–«
Cruising Range ........................404
â–« Replacement Parts ..................... .404
â–« Maintenance ..........................404
 ADDING FUEL ........................ .404
â–« Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap) .................404
â–« Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message .............406
 VEHICLE LOADING .....................406
â–« Vehicle Certification Label ................406
 TRAILER TOWING ..................... .408
â–« Common Towing Definitions ...............409
â–« Towing Tips ..........................417
 RECREA

TIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.) ....................418
â–« Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle . . .418
â–« Recreational Towing — All Models ..........419
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STARTING AND OPERATING 341

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!
•When leaving the vehicle, always remove the key fob
from the ignition and lock your vehicle.
• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle.
• Allowing children to be in a vehicle unattended is
dangerous for a number of reasons. A child or others
could be seriously or fatally injured. Children
should be warned not to touch the parking brake,
brake pedal or the gear selector.
• Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle, or in
a location accessible to children. A child could oper-
ate power windows, other controls, or move the
vehicle.
• Do not leave children or animals inside parked
vehicles in hot weather. Interior heat build-up may
cause serious injury or death.
Automatic Transmission
The gear selector 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.
342 STARTING AND OPERATING

Extreme Cold Weather (Below –22°F Or 30°C)
To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of an
externally powered electric engine block heater (available
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.
• Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get it
started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic trans-
mission 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 Emergencies” for
further information. If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
“Normal Starting” procedure, it may be flooded. Press 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.
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 pressed 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 is controlled automatically, and it will
decrease as the engine warms up.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 343

ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED
The engine block heater warms the engine, and permits
quicker starts in cold weather. Connect the cord to a
standard 110-115 Volt AC electrical outlet with a grounded,
three-wire extension cord.
The engine block heater must be plugged in at least one
hour to have an adequate warming effect on the engine.
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 engine block heater cord
before driving. Damage to the 110-115 Volt electrical
cord could cause electrocution.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WARNING!
•It is dangerous to shift out of PARK or NEUTRAL if
the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If your
foot is not firmly pressing the brake pedal, the
vehicle could accelerate quickly forward or in re-
verse. You could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear when the
engine is idling normally and your foot is firmly
pressing the brake pedal.
• Unintended movement of a vehicle could injure
those in or near the vehicle. As with all vehicles, you
should never exit a vehicle while the engine is
running. Before exiting a vehicle, always apply the
parking brake, shift the transmission into PARK,
turn the engine OFF, and remove the key fob. When
the ignition is in the LOCK/OFF (key removal)
position, (or, with Keyless Enter-N-Go, when the
ignition is in the OFF mode) the transmission is
locked in PARK, securing the vehicle against un-
wanted movement.
(Continued)
344 STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING!(Continued)
•When leaving the vehicle, always make sure the
ignition is in the OFF mode, remove the key fob from
the vehicle, and lock the vehicle.
• 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.
• Your vehicle could move and injure you and others if
it is not in PARK. Check by trying to move the gear
selector out of PARK with the brake pedal released.
Make sure the transmission is in PARK before leav-
ing the vehicle.
• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Allowing children to
be in a vehicle unattended is dangerous for a number
of reasons. A child or others could be seriously or
fatally injured. Children should be warned not to
touch the parking brake, brake pedal or the trans-
mission gear selector.
• Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle (or in
a location accessible to children), and do not leave
the ignition (in a vehicle equipped with Keyless
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
Enter-N-Go) in the ACC or ON/RUN mode. A child
could operate power windows, other controls, or
move the vehicle.
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the following
precautions are not observed:
•Shift into or out of PARK or REVERSE only after the
vehicle has come to a complete stop.
• Do not shift between PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL,
or DRIVE when the engine is above idle speed.
• Before shifting into any gear, make sure your foot is
firmly pressing the brake pedal.
NOTE: You must press and hold the brake pedal while
shifting out of PARK.
Key Ignition Park Interlock
This vehicle is equipped with a Key Ignition Park Interlock
which requires the transmission to be in PARK before the
ignition can be turned to the LOCK/OFF (key removal)
position. The key fob can only be removed from the
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STARTING AND OPERATING 345

ignition when the ignition is in the LOCK/OFF position,
and the transmission is locked in PARK whenever the
ignition is in the LOCK/OFF position.
NOTE:If a malfunction occurs, the system will trap the key
fob in the ignition 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.
Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System
This vehicle is equipped with a Brake Transmission Shift
Interlock System (BTSI) that holds the transmission gear
selector in PARK unless the brakes are applied. To shift the
transmission out of PARK, the ignition must be turned to
the ON/RUN mode (engine running or not) and the brake
pedal must be pressed.
Fuel Economy (ECON) Mode
The Fuel Economy (ECON) mode can improve the vehi-
cle’s overall fuel economy during normal driving condi-
tions. Push the “econ” switch in the center stack of the
instrument panel and a green light will indicate the ECON
mode is engaged. When the Fuel Economy (ECON) Mode is engaged, the
vehicle control systems will change the following:
•
The transmission will upshift sooner and downshift
later.
• The transmission will skip select gears during shifts to
allow the engine to operate at lower speeds.
• The torque converter clutch may engage at lower engine
speeds and remain on longer.
• The engine idle speed will be lower.
Fuel Economy Mode Switch
346 STARTING AND OPERATING

•The overall driving performance will be more conserva-
tive.
• Some ECON mode functions may be temporarily inhib-
ited based on temperature and other factors.
Six-Speed Automatic Transmission
The transmission gear position display (located in the
instrument cluster) indicates the transmission gear range.
You must press the brake pedal to move the gear selector
out of PARK (Refer to “Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock
System” in this section). To drive, move the gear selector
from PARK or NEUTRAL to the DRIVE position.
The electronically-controlled transmission provides a pre-
cise 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). Only shift from DRIVE to PARK or REVERSE when the
accelerator pedal is released and the vehicle is stopped. Be
sure to keep your foot on the brake pedal when shifting
between these gears.
The transmission gear selector has only PARK, REVERSE,
NEUTRAL, and DRIVE shift positions. Manual downshifts
can be made using the Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift
control (refer to “Electronic Range Select (ERS) Operation”
in this section for further information). Moving the gear
selector to the left or right (–/+) while in the DRIVE
Gear Selector
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STARTING AND OPERATING 347

position will select the highest available transmission gear,
and will display that gear in the instrument cluster as 1, 2,
3, etc.
Gear Ranges
DO NOT race the engine when shifting from PARK or
NEUTRAL into another gear range.
NOTE:After selecting any gear range, wait a moment to
allow the selected gear to engage before accelerating. This
is especially important when the engine is cold.
PARK (P)
This range supplements the parking brake by locking the
transmission. The engine can be started in this range.
Never attempt to use PARK while the vehicle is in motion.
Apply the parking brake when leaving the vehicle in this
range.
When parking on a level surface, you may shift the
transmission into PARK first, and then apply the parking
brake.
When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake before
shifting the transmission to PARK, otherwise the load on
the transmission locking mechanism may make it difficult
to move the gear selector 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.
When exiting the vehicle, always:
•
Apply the parking brake.
• Shift the transmission into PARK.
• Turn the engine OFF.
• Remove the key fob.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.
• Your vehicle could move and injure you and others if
it is not in PARK. Check by trying to move the gear
selector out of PARK with the brake pedal released.
Make sure the transmission is in PARK before leav-
ing the vehicle.
• It is dangerous to shift out of PARK or NEUTRAL if
the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If your
(Continued)
348 STARTING AND OPERATING