coolant temperature CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 2005 1.G Owners Manual

6. Engine Temperature Warning Light
This light warns of an overheated engine condi-
tion. If the engine is critically hot, a warning chime
will sound 10 times. After the chime turns off, the
engine will still be critically hot until the light goes out.
7. Turn Signal Indicators
The arrows will flash in unison with the exterior
turn signal, when using the turn signal lever.
NOTE:Turn signal bulbs are located in the Instrument
Panel. (See page 98 for more information.)
8. Temperature Gauge
The temperature gauge shows engine coolant tem-
perature. Any reading below the red area of the
gauge shows that the engine cooling system is
operating properly. The gauge pointer may show a
higher than normal temperature when driving in hot
weather, up mountain grades, in heavy stop and go
traffic, or when towing a trailer.If the pointer rises to theH(red) mark, the instrument
cluster will sound a chime. Pull over and stop the vehicle.
Idle the vehicle with the air conditioner turned off until
the pointer drops back into the normal range. If the
pointer remains on theH(red) mark, turn the engine off
immediately and call for service.
There are steps that you can take to slow down an
impending overheat condition. If your air conditioning is
on, turn it off. The air conditioning system adds heat to
the engine cooling system and turning off the A/C
removes this heat. You can also turn the Temperature
control to maximum heat, the Mode control to Floor and
the Fan control to High. This allows the heater core to act
as a supplement to the radiator and aids in removing heat
from the engine cooling system.
9. Speedometer
Indicates vehicle speed.
138 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

Cooling System
WARNING!
•When working near the radiator cooling fan, dis-
connect the fan motor lead or turn the ignition
switch to the OFF position. The fan is temperature
controlled and can start at any time the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
•You or others can be badly burned by hot coolant
or steam from your radiator. If you see or hear
steam coming from under the hood, don’t open
the hood until the radiator has had time to cool.
Never try to open a cooling system pressure cap
when the radiator is hot.
Coolant Checks
Check engine coolant (antifreeze) protection every 12
months (before the onset of freezing weather, whereapplicable). If coolant is dirty or rusty in appearance, the
system should be drained, flushed and refilled with fresh
coolant. Check the front of the A/C condenser for any
accumulation of bugs, leaves, etc. If dirty, clean by gently
spraying water from a garden hose vertically down the
face of the condenser.
Check the coolant recovery bottle tubing for brittle rub-
ber, cracking, tears, cuts and tightness of the connection
at the bottle and radiator. Inspect the entire system for
leaks.
With the engine at normal operating temperature (but
not running), check the cooling system pressure cap for
proper vacuum sealing by draining a small amount of
coolant from the radiator drain cock. If the cap is sealing
properly, the engine coolant (antifreeze) will begin to
drain from the coolant recovery bottle. DO NOT RE-
MOVE THE COOLANT PRESSURE CAP WHEN THE
COOLING SYSTEM IS HOT.
284 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Adding Coolant
Your vehicle has been built with an improved engine
coolant that allows extended maintenance intervals. This
coolant can be used up to 5 Years or 100,000 miles before
replacement. To prevent reducing this extended mainte-
nance period, it is important that you use the same
coolant throughout the life of your vehicle. Please review
these recommendations for using Hybrid Organic Addi-
tive Technology (HOAT) coolant.
When adding coolant, a minimum solution of 50% rec-
ommended Mopar Antifreeze/ Coolant 5 Year/100,000
Mile Formula HOAT (Hybrid Organic Additive Technol-
ogy), or equivalent, in water should be used. Use higher
concentrations (not to exceed 70%) if temperatures below

34°F (
37°C ) are anticipated.
Use only high purity water such as distilled or deionized
water when mixing the water/engine coolant solution.The use of lower quality water will reduce the amount of
corrosion protection in the engine cooling system.
Please note that it is the owner’s responsibility to main-
tain the proper level of protection against freezing ac-
cording to the temperatures occurring in the area where
the vehicle is operated.
NOTE:Mixing coolant types will decrease the life of the
engine coolant and will require more frequent coolant
changes.
Cooling System Pressure Cap
The cap must be fully tightened to prevent loss of
coolant, and to insure that coolant will return to the
radiator from the coolant recovery bottle.
The cap should be inspected and cleaned if there is any
accumulation of foreign material on the sealing surfaces.
286 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
•The warning words “DO NOT OPEN HOT” on
the cooling system pressure cap are a safety pre-
caution. Never add coolant when the engine is
overheated. Do not loosen or remove the cap to
cool an overheated engine. Heat causes pressure
to build up in the cooling system. To prevent
scalding or injury, do not remove the pressure cap
while the system is hot or under pressure.
•Do not use a pressure cap other than the one
specified for your vehicle. Personal injury or
engine damage may result.
Disposal of Used Engine Coolant
Used ethylene glycol based engine coolant is a regulated
substance requiring proper disposal. Check with your
local authorities to determine the disposal rules for your
community. To prevent ingestion by animals or childrendo not store ethylene glycol based engine coolant in open
containers or allow it to remain in puddles on the
ground. If ingested by a child, contact a physician
immediately. Clean up any ground spills immediately.
Coolant Level
The coolant bottle provides a quick visual method for
determining that the coolant level is adequate. With the
engine idling, and warm to normal operating tempera-
ture, the level of the coolant in the bottle should be
between the ranges indicated on the bottle.
The radiator normally remains completely full, so there is
no need to remove the radiator cap unless checking for
coolant freeze point or replacing coolant. Advise your
service attendant of this. As long as the engine operating
temperature is satisfactory, the coolant bottle need only
be checked once a month.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 287
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Fuel..............................235,312
Adding............................. 239
Additives............................ 237
Capacity............................ 311
Clean Air............................ 236
Filler Cap.........................143,239
Filler Door........................... 143
Filter............................... 276
Gasoline............................ 235
Gauge.............................. 137
Hoses.............................. 289
Light............................... 143
Octane Rating........................ 235
Requirements......................... 235
System Hoses......................... 289
Tank Capacity........................ 311
Fueling............................... 239
Fuses................................ 303Garage Door Opener..................... 105
GasCap .............................. 239
Gasoline...........................235,311
Gasoline, Clean Air...................... 236
Gasoline, Reformulated................... 236
Gauges
Coolant Temperature.................... 138
Fuel................................ 137
Tachometer.......................... 139
Gearshift.............................. 201
General Information....................17,24
General Maintenance..................... 269
Glass Cleaning.......................... 302
Hands-Free Phone........................ 70
Hazard Warning Flasher................... 246
Head Restraints.......................... 85
INDEX 355
10

Tachometer............................ 139
Temperature Gauge, Engine Coolant.......138,247
Tether Anchor, Child Restraint............... 57
Theft Alarm............................ 26
Theft System............................ 26
Tilt Steering Column..................... 100
Tire and Loading Information Placard......220,221
Tire Identification Number (TIN)............. 219
Tire Markings.......................... 216
Tire Safety Information.................... 216
Tires ............................62,224,347
Air Pressure.......................... 224
Alignment........................... 232
Chains.............................. 233
Changing............................ 248
Compact Spare........................ 228
Flat Changing........................ 253
General Information.................... 224
High Speed.......................... 227Inflation Pressures..................... 225
Jacking............................. 248
Load Capacity.....................220,221
Quality Grading....................... 347
Radial.............................. 228
Replacement......................... 231
Rotation............................. 234
Safety...........................216,224
Sizes............................... 217
Snow Tires........................... 233
Spare Tire........................... 249
Spinning............................ 230
Tread Wear Indicators................... 231
Towing
Disabled Vehicle....................... 258
Traction.............................. 257
Traction Control................101,140,142,214
Traction Control Switch.................101,214
Trailer Towing.......................... 241
INDEX 363
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