DODGE JOURNEY 2010 1.G Owners Manual

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
Starting Procedures .................... 295
▫ Automatic Transmission ............... 295
▫ Normal Starting (Tip Start) ............. 296
▫ Extreme Cold Weather (Below 20°F Or
29°C) ............................ 296
▫ If Engine Fails To Start ................ 296
▫ After Starting ....................... 297
 Engine Block Heater — If Equipped ........ 297
 Automatic Transmission ................. 298 ▫
Key Ignition Park Interlock ............. 300
▫ Brake/Transmission Interlock System ...... 300
▫ Automatic Transmission Ignition Interlock
System ............................ 301
▫ Four-Speed Or Six-Speed Automatic
Transmission ....................... 301
▫ Gear Ranges ........................ 301
 AutoStick — If Equipped ............... 305
▫ Operation ......................... 305
▫ General Information .................. 306
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All Wheel Drive (AWD) — If Equipped ...... 307
 Driving On Slippery Surfaces ............. 307
▫ Acceleration ........................ 307
▫ Traction ........................... 308
 Driving Through Water ................. 308
▫ Flowing/Rising Water ................. 309
 Power Steering ....................... 311
▫ Power Steering Fluid Check ............. 312
 Parking Brake ........................ 312
 Brake System ........................ 315
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ........... 316
 Electronic Brake Control System ........... 317
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ........... 317▫
Brake Assist System (BAS) .............. 319
▫ Traction Control System (TCS) ........... 320
▫ Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) ......... 320
▫ Electronic Stability Program (ESP) ........ 321
▫ ESP/BAS Warning Light And ESP/TCS
Indicator Light ...................... 324
▫ Trailer Sway Control (TSC) ............. 324
 Tire Safety Information ................. 325
▫ Tire Markings ....................... 325
▫ Tire Terminology And Definitions ......... 330
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure .......... 331
 Tires — General Information ............. 335
▫ Tire Pressure ....................... 335
292 STARTING AND OPERATING

▫Tire Inflation Pressures ................ 336
▫ Radial-Ply Tires ..................... 338
▫ Compact Spare Tire ................... 338
▫ Tire Spinning ....................... 339
▫ Tread Wear Indicators ................. 340
▫ Life Of Tire ........................ 341
▫ Replacement Tires .................... 341
 Tire Chains .......................... 343
 Snow Tires .......................... 343
 Tire Rotation Recommendations ........... 343
 Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) ....... 344
▫ Base System ........................ 347
▫ Premium System – If Equipped .......... 349▫
General Information .................. 352
 Fuel Requirements ..................... 353
▫ 2.4L Engine ........................ 353
▫ 3.5L Engine ........................ 353
▫ Reformulated Gasoline ................ 354
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ............. 354
▫ MMT In Gasoline .................... 355
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ............... 355
▫ Fuel System Cautions ................. 355
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings ............ 356
 Adding Fuel ......................... 357
▫ Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap) .............. 357
▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message ........... 359
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STARTING AND OPERATING 293

Vehicle Loading ...................... 359
▫ Vehicle Certification Label .............. 359
▫ Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) ...... 360
▫ Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) ........ 360
▫ Overloading ........................ 360
▫ Loading ........................... 361
 Trailer Towing ........................ 361
▫ Common Towing Definitions ............ 361
▫ Trailer Hitch Classification .............. 366 ▫
Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer
Weight Ratings) ..................... 367
▫ Trailer And Tongue Weight ............. 369
▫ Towing Requirements ................. 370
▫ Towing Tips ........................ 375
 Recreational Towing
(Behind Motorhome, Etc.) ................ 377
▫ Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle
(Flat Towing With All Four Wheels On The
Ground) ........................... 377
294 STARTING AND OPERATING

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 children alone in a vehicle. Leaving
unattended 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. Apply the brakes
before shifting into any driving gear.
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the follow-
ing precautions are not observed:
•Shift into PARK only after the vehicle has come to
a complete stop.
•Shift into or out of REVERSE only after the
vehicle has come to a complete stop and the engine
is at idle speed.
•Do not shift from REVERSE, PARK, or NEUTRAL
into any forward gear when the engine is above
idle speed.
•Before shifting into any gear, make sure your foot
is firmly on the brake pedal.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 295

Normal Starting (Tip Start)
NOTE:Normal starting of either a cold or a warm
engine is obtained without pumping or pressing the
accelerator pedal.
Do not press the accelerator. 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. If the engine
fails to start, the starter will disengage automatically in
10 seconds. If this occurs, turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the
“Normal Starting” procedure.
Extreme Cold Weather (Below 20°F or29°C)
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 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)
296 STARTING AND OPERATING

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 dis-
charged 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 dan-
gerous if done improperly. Refer to “Jump Start-
ing” in “What To Do In Emergencies” for further
information.
If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
“Normal Starting” or “Extreme Cold Weather” proce-
dures, it may be flooded. To clear any excess fuel, push
the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and hold it.
Then, turn the ignition switch to the START position and release it as soon as the starter engages. The starter motor
will disengage automatically in 10 seconds. Once this
occurs, release the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then
repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.
CAUTION!
To prevent damage to the starter, wait 10 to 15 sec-
onds before trying again.
After Starting
The idle speed is controlled automatically and it will
decrease as the engine warms up.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED
The engine block heater warms engine coolant 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.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 297

The engine block heater cord is bundled under the hood
between the headlight assembly and the Totally Inte-
grated Power Module (Fuse Box) on the driver’s side of
the vehicle.
WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the cord before driving.
Damage to the 110-115 Volt electrical cord could cause
electrocution.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the follow-
ing precautions are not observed:
•Shift into PARK only after the vehicle has come to
a complete stop.(Continued)
CAUTION! (Continued)
•Shift into or out of REVERSE only after the
vehicle has come to a complete stop and the engine
is at idle speed.
•Do not shift from REVERSE, PARK, or NEUTRAL
into any forward gear when the engine is above
idle speed.
•Before shifting 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.
298 STARTING AND OPERATING

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 right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.(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 fob is removed from
the ignition switch, the shift lever is locked in the
PARK position, securing the vehicle against un-
wanted movement. Furthermore, you should never
leave unattended children inside a vehicle.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 299