engine overheat DODGE AVENGER 2008 User Guide

HAZARD WARNING FLASHER
The flasher switch is located on the instrument
panel, below the radio. Depress the switch and
both cluster indicators and all front and rear direc-
tional signals will flash. Depress the switch again to turn
Hazard Warning Flashers off.
Do not use this emergency warning system when the
vehicle is in motion. Use it when your vehicle is disabled
and it is creating a safety hazard for other motorists.
If it is necessary to leave the vehicle to go for service, the
flasher system will continue to operate with the ignition
key removed and the vehicle locked.
NOTE: With extended use, the flasher may wear down
your battery. IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS
In any of the following situations, you can reduce the
potential for overheating by taking the appropriate ac-
tion.
² On the highways Ð Slow down.
² In city traffic Ð While stopped, put transaxle in
NEUTRAL, but do not increase engine idle speed.
If the pointer rises to the H (red) mark, the instrument
cluster will sound a chime. Pull over and stop the vehicle
with the engine at idle, when safe. Turn off the air
conditioning and wait until the pointer drops back into
the normal range. If the pointer remains on the H (red)
mark for more than a minute, turn the engine off imme-
diately and call for service.348 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

NOTE: There are steps that you can take to slow down
an impending overheat condition. If your air conditioner
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. CAUTION!Driving with a hot cooling system could damage
your vehicle. If temperature gauge reads ªHº, pull
over and stop the vehicle with the engine at idle,
when safe. Turn the air conditioner off and wait until
the pointer drops back into the normal range. After
appropriate action has been taken, if the pointer
remains on the ªHº, turn the engine off immediately,
and call for service. WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 349
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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.
ENGINE OIL OVERHEATING (2.4L ENGINE ONLY)
Ð IF EQUIPPED
During sustained high-speed driving or trailer tow up
long grades on a hot day, the engine oil temperature may
become too hot. If this happens, the ªHOTOILº message
flashes in the odometer and the vehicle speed will be
reduced to 53 mph (85 km/h) until the engine oil
temperature is reduced. NOTE: The vehicle speed is reduced to a maximum of
53 mph (85 km/h). You may of course, reduce your
vehicle speed further if needed.
JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING
WARNING!² Getting under a jacked-up vehicle is dangerous.
The vehicle could slip off the jack and fall on you.
You could be crushed. Never get any part of your
body under a vehicle that 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.
² 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.350 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

CAUTION!Racing the engine or spinning the wheels too fast
may lead to transaxle overheating and failure. It can
also damage the tires. Do not spin the wheels above
30 mph (48 km/h). Do not spin the wheels continu-
ously for more than 30 seconds.
TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE
TOWING WITH THE IGNITION KEY
Front Wheel Drive
Your vehicle may be towed (with all 4 wheels flat on the
ground), under the following conditions: The gear selector
must be in NEUTRAL, the distance to be traveled must not
exceed 15 mi (25 km), and the towing speed must not exceed
25 mph (40 km/h). Exceeding these towing limits may cause
a transaxle failure. If the transaxle is not operative, or if the vehicle is to be towed more than 15 mi (25 km), the vehicle
must be transported either with a flat bed truck or with the
front wheels off the ground.
All Wheel Drive
Your All Wheel Drive vehicle must be transported on a
flat bed truck.
CAUTION!² If the vehicle being towed requires steering, the
ignition switch must be in the ON position, not in
the LOCK or ACC position.
² Do not attempt to tow this vehicle from the front
with sling type towing equipment. Damage to the
front fascia will result.
² Do not push or tow this vehicle with another
vehicle as damage to the bumper fascia and trans-
axle may result.362 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

Under normal operating conditions, the catalytic con-
verter will not require maintenance. However, it is im-
portant to keep the engine properly tuned to assure
proper catalyst operation and prevent possible catalyst
damage.
CAUTION!Damage to the catalytic converter can result if your
vehicle is not kept in proper operating condition. In
the event of engine malfunction, particularly involv-
ing engine misfire or other apparent loss of perfor-
mance, have your vehicle serviced promptly. Contin-
ued operation of your vehicle with a severe
malfunction could cause the converter to overheat,
resulting in possible damage to the converter and the
vehicle. NOTE: Intentional tampering with emissions control
systems can result in civil penalties being assessed
against you.
WARNING!A hot exhaust system can start a fire if you park over
materials that can burn. Such materials might be
grass or leaves coming into contact with your exhaust
system. Do not park or operate your vehicle in areas
where your exhaust system can contact anything that
can burn.
In unusual situations involving grossly malfunctioning
engine operation, a scorching odor may suggest severe
and abnormal catalyst overheating. If this occurs, stop
the vehicle, turn off the engine, and allow it to cool.
Service, including a tune up to manufacturer's specifica-
tions, should be obtained immediately.380 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

² 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 Cap
The cap must be fully tightened to prevent loss of
coolant, and to ensure 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.
WARNING!² The warning words ªDO NOT OPEN HOTº 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.
² Do not use a pressure cap other than the one
specified for your vehicle. Personal injury or en-
gine damage may result. MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 391
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Cooling ............................. 388
Exhaust Gas Caution .................... 323
Fuel Requirements .................. 319,420
Jump Starting ......................... 358
Oil ........................... 374,420,422
Oil Change Interval ............ 173,184,376,426
Oil Filler Cap ................. 368,369,370,377
Oil Filter ............................ 378
Oil Filter Disposal ...................... 378
Oil Selection ....................... 376,420
Oil Synthetic ......................... 377
Operation ............................ 78
Overheating .......................... 348
Temperature Gauge ..................... 170
Engine Oil Viscosity ...................... 377
Enhanced Accident Response Feature .......... 62
Entry System, Illuminated .................. 20
Ethanol ............................... 321
Event Data Recorder ...................... 65 Exhaust Gas Caution ................ 78,323,388
Exhaust System ......................... 387
Extender, Seat Belt ........................ 51
Fabric Care ......................... 403,404
Filler Location Fuel .................... 170,328
Filters
Air Cleaner .......................... 379
Air Conditioning .................... 254,383
Automatic Transaxle .................... 399
Engine Oil ........................ 378,422
Engine Oil Disposal .................... 378
Flashers .............................. 348
Hazard Warning ....................... 348
Turn Signal .......................... 416
Flash-To-Pass ........................... 131
Flat Tire Stowage ........................ 357
Flexible Fuel Vehicles ..................... 324
Cruising Range ........................ 327 INDEX 449
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MP3 Player ......................... 220,223
MTBE/ETBE ........................... 321
Multi-Function Control Lever ............... 130
Navigation Radio ........................ 223
Navigation System ....................... 223
New Vehicle Break-In Period ................ 78
Occupant Restraints ..................... 59,62
Occupant Restraints (Sedan) ......... 40,54,55,59,60
Octane Rating, Gasoline (Fuel) .............. 319
Odometer ............................. 172
Trip ............................. 172,174
Oil Change Indicator ................ 173,184,426
Oil Change Indicator, Reset .............. 173,184
Oil, Engine ......................... 374,422
Capacity ............................ 420
Change Interval ............... 173,184,376,426
Checking ............................ 374 Dipstick ............................. 374
Disposal ............................ 378
Filter ............................ 378,422
Filter Disposal ........................ 378
Identification Logo ..................... 376
Materials Added to ..................... 378
Recommendation ................... 376,420
Synthetic ............................ 377
Viscosity .......................... 377,420
Oil Filter, Change ........................ 378
Oil Filter, Selection ....................... 378
Oil Pressure Light ....................... 171
Onboard Diagnostic System .............. 371,372
Opener, Garage Door (HomeLink t ) ........... 143
Operator Manual (Owner's Manual) ............ 4
Overdrive .......................... 271,272
Overheating, Engine ...................... 348
Owner's Manual (Operator Manual) ......... 4,440 INDEX 455
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