coolant level CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 2008 1.G Owners Manual

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DESCRIPTIONS1. Fuel GaugeWhen 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 the
H(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 the H(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.226 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

WARNING!
A hot engine cooling system is dangerous. You or
others could be badly burned by steam or boiling
coolant. You may want to call a service center if your
vehicle overheats. If you decide to look under the
hood yourself, refer to Section 7, Maintenance, of this
manual. Follow the warnings under the Cooling
System Pressure Cap paragraph.
JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING
WARNING!
•
Being under a jacked-up vehicle is dangerous. The
vehicle could slip off the jack and fall on you. You
could be crushed. Never put any part of your body
under a vehicle that is on a jack. Never start or run
the engine while the vehicle is on a jack. If you
need to get under a raised vehicle, take it to a
service center where it can be raised on a lift.
•
The jack is designed to use as a tool for changing
tires only. The jack should not be used to lift the
vehicle for service purposes. The vehicle should
be jacked on a firm level surface only. Avoid ice or
slippery areas.
360 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

Adding CoolantYour vehicle has been built with an improved engine
coolant that allows extended maintenance intervals. This
coolant can be used up to five Years or 100,000 miles
before replacement. To prevent reducing this extended
maintenance 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:•
The manufacturer recommends using Mopar
Antifreeze/Coolant five Year/100,000 Mile Formula
HOAT (Hybrid Organic Additive Technology).
•
Mix a minimum solution of 50% HOAT engine coolant
and distilled water. Use higher concentrations (not to
exceed 70%) if temperatures below34°F(37° C)
are anticipated.
•
Use only high purity water such as distilled or deion-
ized 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 CapThe 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.
400 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

The cap should be inspected and cleaned if there is any
accumulation of foreign material on the sealing surfaces.
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 scald-
ing 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 en-
gine damage may result.
Disposal of Used Engine CoolantUsed 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 humans and animals
do not store ethylene glycol based engine coolant in open
containers or allow it to remain in puddles on the
ground. If ethylene glycol engine coolant is ingested by
anyone, contact a physician immediately. Clean up any
ground spills immediately.Coolant LevelThe 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.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 401
7

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.
When additional coolant is needed to maintain the
proper level, it should be added to the coolant bottle. Do
not overfill.Points To RememberNOTE:When the vehicle is stopped after a few miles (a
few kilometers) of operation, you may observe vapor
coming from the front of the engine compartment. This is
normally a result of moisture from rain, snow, or high
humidity accumulating on the radiator and being vapor-
ized when the thermostat opens, allowing hot coolant to
enter the radiator. If an examination of your engine compartment shows no
evidence of radiator or hose leaks, the vehicle may be
safely driven. The vapor will soon dissipate.
•
Do not overfill the coolant recovery bottle.
•
Check coolant freeze point in the radiator and in the
coolant recovery bottle. If antifreeze needs to be
added, contents of coolant recovery bottle must also be
protected against freezing.
•
If frequent coolant additions are required, or if the
level in the coolant recovery bottle does not drop when
the engine cools, the cooling system should be pres-
sure tested for leaks.
•
Maintain coolant concentration at 50% HOAT engine
coolant (minimum) and distilled water for proper
corrosion protection of your engine which contains
aluminum components.
402 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

FLUIDS AND CAPACITIES
FLUIDS AND CAPACITIESU.S. Metric
Fuel (Approximate) 15 Gallons56.7 Liters
Engine Oil-With Filter
2.4 Liter Engines (Use API Certified
SAE 5W-30 Engine Oil.) 5.0 qts
4.7 Liters
Cooling System *
2.4 Liter Engines (Mopar
Antifreeze/Coolant 5 Year/100,000
Miles Formula), or equivalent. 6.5 qts
6.2 Liters
* Includes heater and coolant recovery bottle filled to MAX level.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 429
7

At Each Stop for Fuel•
Check the engine oil level about 5 minutes after a fully
warmed engine is shut off. Checking the oil level while
the vehicle is on level ground will improve the accu-
racy of the oil level reading. Add oil only when the
level is at or below the ADD or MIN mark.
•
Check the windshield washer solvent and add if
required.
Once a Month
•
Check tire pressure and look for unusual wear or
damage.
•
Inspect the battery and clean and tighten the terminals
as required.
•
Check the fluid levels of coolant reservoir, brake
master cylinder and transaxle and add as needed.
•
Check all lights and all other electrical items for correct
operation.
•
Check rubber seals on each side of the radiator for
proper fit.
At Each Oil Change
•
Change the engine oil filter.
•
Inspect the exhaust system.
•
Inspect the brake hoses.
•
Inspect the CV joints and front suspension compo-
nents.
•
Check the automatic transaxle fluid level.
•
Check the manual transaxle fluid level and fill plug
condition.
•
Check the coolant level, hoses, and clamps.
436 MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES
8M A I
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ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System).............. 308
Adding Engine Coolant (Antifreeze) .......... 400
Adding Fuel ........................... 340
Adding Washer Fluid ..................... 218
Additives, Fuel ......................... 338
Air Cleaner, Engine (Engine Air Cleaner Filter) . . . 391
Air Conditioner Maintenance ............... 393
Air Conditioning Controls ................. 277
Air Conditioning, Operating Tips ............ 283
Air Conditioning Refrigerant .............393,394
Air Conditioning System ................277,393
Air Pressure, Tires ....................... 322
Airbag .............................. 55,90
Airbag Deployment .................... 67,101
Airbag Light .................... 70,104,116,234
Airbag Maintenance .................... 68,103
Airbag, Side ......................... 64,100
Alarm, Panic .......................... 26,32
Alarm System (Security Alarm) ............36,233Alignment and Balance
................... 329
Alterations/Modifications, Vehicle ............. 7
Antenna, Satellite Radio ................... 276
Antifreeze (Engine Coolant) ........399,400,429,430
Capacities ........................... 429
Disposal ............................ 401
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) .............. 308
Anti-Lock Warning Light .................. 233
Anti-Theft Security Alarm (Theft Alarm) ........ 36
Appearance Care ........................ 411
Auto Down Power Windows ................ 43
Automatic Door Locks ..................... 21
Automatic Transaxle ..............13,291,294,408
Adding Fluid ......................... 408
Filter ............................... 409
Fluid and Filter Changes ................. 409
Fluid Level Check ...................... 408
Interlock System ..................... 19,295
Reset Mode .......................... 296470 INDEX

Convertible Top Maintenance............... 416
Convertible Top Manual Override .........134,373
Cool Down, Turbo ....................... 293
Coolant (Antifreeze) ................... 429,430
Coolant Pressure Cap (Radiator Cap) .......... 400
Cooling System ......................... 398
Adding Coolant (Antifreeze) .............. 400
Coolant Level ...................... 398,401
Disposal of Used Coolant ................ 401
Drain, Flush, and Refill .................. 399
Inspection ........................... 401
Points to Remember .................... 402
Pressure Cap ......................... 400
Radiator Cap ......................... 400
Selection of Coolant (Antifreeze) ........... 399
Corrosion Protection ...................... 411
Crankcase Emission Control System .......... 390
Cruise Light ........................... 229
Cup Holder ............................ 208 Customer Assistance
..................... 461
Data Recorder, Event ................... 70,105
Dealer Service .......................... 383
Deck Lid (Convertible) ..................... 39
Deck Lid, Emergency Release Latch (Convertible) . . 41
Deck Lid, Power Release (Convertible) ......... 39
Defroster, Rear Window ................... 217
Defroster, Windshield .................. 1 16,279
Delay (Intermittent) Wipers ................. 192
Diagnostic System, Onboard ................ 380
Dimmer Switch, Headlight ................. 189
Dipsticks Automatic Transaxle .................... 408
Disposal Antifreeze (Engine Coolant) ............... 401
Engine Oil ........................... 387
Door Locks ............................. 19
Door Locks, Automatic .................... 21
INDEX 473
10

Door Opener, Garage..................... 197
Downshifting .......................... 304
Drive Belts ............................ 388
Driver’s Seat Back Tilt .................... 167
Driving On Slippery Surfaces .................... 369
Electric Rear Window Defrost ............... 217
Electric Remote Mirrors ................... 137
Electrical Power Outlets ................... 206
Electronic Speed Control (Cruise Control) ...... 194
Electronic Vehicle Information Center
(EVIC) .......................... 234,235,240
Emergency Deck Lid Release Latch (Convertible) . . 41
Emergency, In Case of Jacking ............................. 360
Jump Starting ......................... 367
Towing ............................. 371
Emergency Seat Back Release (Sedan) .......... 40Emission Control System Maintenance
......381,434
Engine .......................... 1 15,378,379
Break-In Recommendations ............... 115
Checking Oil Level ..................... 384
Coolant (Antifreeze) .................... 398
Cooling ............................. 398
Exhaust Gas Caution .................... 339
Fuel Requirements ..................... 337
Jump Starting ......................... 367
Oil ........................... 384,429,430
Oil Change Interval .................... 385
Oil Filler Cap ................... 378,379,387
Oil Filter ............................ 430
Oil Selection .......................... 386
Oil Synthetic ......................... 387
Operation ............................ 115
Overheating .......................... 358
Temperature Gauge ..................... 226
Timing Belt .......................... 390474 INDEX