coolant temperature CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 2006 1.G Owners Manual

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DESCRIPTIONS
1. Fuel Gauge
When the ignition switch is in the ON position, the
pointer will show the level of fuel remaining in the
fuel tank.
2. Fuel Door Reminder
This is a reminder that the Fuel Filler Door is located on
the front passenger’s (right) side of the vehicle.
3. 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.
4. Speedometer
Indicates vehicle speed.
222 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, where
applicable). 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.
382 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.
384 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 385
7

SCHEDULE “B”—ALL ENGINES
Follow schedule “B”—All Engines if you usually operate
your vehicle under one or more of the following condi-
tions.
Change the automatic transmission fluid and filter every
60,000 miles (100 000 km) if the vehicle is usually
operated under one or more of the conditions marked
with an.
Change the manual transaxle fluid every 48,000 miles (80
000 km) if the vehicle is usually operated under one or
more of the conditions marked with an †.
•Day and night temperatures are below 32° F (0° C).
•Stop and go driving.
•Extensive engine idling.
•Driving in dusty conditions.
•Short trips of less than 10 miles (16.2 km).
•More than 50% of your driving is at sustained high
speeds during hot weather, above 90° F (32° C ).
•Trailer towing.†
•Taxi, police, or delivery service (commercial ser-
vice).†
•Off-road or desert operation.
•If equipped for and operating with E-85 (ethanol)
fuel.
NOTE:IfANYof these apply to you then change your
engine oil every 3,000 miles (5 000 km) or 3 months,
whichever comes first, and follow schedule “B—All
Engines” of theMaintenance Schedulessection of this
manual.
NOTE:IFANYof these apply to you then flush and
replace the engine coolant every 102,000 miles (170 000
SCHEDULE “B”—ALL ENGINES 419
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Gauges
Coolant Temperature.................... 222
Fuel................................ 222
Odometer........................... 223
Tachometer.......................... 223
Gearshift.............................. 286
General Information...................... 17
General Maintenance..................... 367
Glass Cleaning.......................... 399
Gross Axle Weight Rating.................. 330
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating................ 330
Hands-Free Phone (UConnect™)............. 136
Hazard Warning Flasher................... 344
Head Restraints......................... 164
Headlights
Bulb Replacement...................... 408
Cleaning............................ 399
High Beam........................183,228High Beam/Low Beam Select Switch........ 183
Passing............................. 183
Switch .............................. 182
Heated Seats........................... 165
Hitches
TrailerTowing ........................ 332
HomeLink(Garage Door Opener) Transmitter . . . 192
Hood Release.......................... 177
Hoses................................ 387
Ignition............................... 13
Key ................................. 13
Wiring System........................ 372
Ignition Key Removal..................... 13
Immobilizer (Sentry Key)................. 15,37
Infant Restraint....................... 72,106
Information Center, Vehicle................. 229
Inside Rearview Mirror................... 133
Instrument Cluster....................219,222
454 INDEX

Temperature Gauge, Engine Coolant.......222,345
Tether Anchor, Child Restraint............ 76,109
Theft Alarm (Security Alarm)................ 36
Theft System (Security Alarm)............... 36
Tilt Steering Column..................... 187
Tire and Loading Information Placard......... 307
Tire Identification Number (TIN)............. 306
Tire Markings.......................... 302
Tire Safety Information.................... 302
Tires ........................... 115,311,445
Aging(LifeofTires) .................... 318
Air Pressure.......................... 311
Alignment........................... 319
Chains.............................. 320
Changing............................ 346
Compact Spare........................ 315
Flat Changing........................ 351
General Information.................... 311
High Speed.......................... 313Inflation Pressures..................... 312
Jacking............................. 346
LifeofTires .......................... 318
Load Capacity.....................307,308
Quality Grading....................... 445
Radial.............................. 314
Replacement......................... 318
Rotation............................. 321
Safety............................302,311
Sizes ............................... 304
Snow Tires........................... 320
Spare Tire........................... 347
Spinning ............................ 316
Tread Wear Indicators................... 317
Tongue Weight/Trailer Weight.............. 333
Top Cover............................. 126
Towing ............................... 329
Disabled Vehicle....................... 355
Guide .............................. 332
462 INDEX