steering wheel DODGE AVENGER 2008 Owner's Manual

FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE
If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand, or snow, it
can often be moved by a rocking motion. Turn your
steering wheel right and left to clear the area around the
front wheels. Then shift back and forth between Reverse
and First gear. Usually the least accelerator pedal pres-
sure to maintain the rocking motion without spinning the
wheels is most effective.
NOTE:
If your vehicle is equipped with Traction Con-
trol, turn the system to Partial OFF before
attempting to ªrockº the vehicle. Refer to ªPar-
tial Off Modeº under ªElectronic Stability Pro-
gram (ESP)º in Section 5 of this manual. WARNING!Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces gener-
ated by excessive wheel speeds may cause axle and
tire damage or failure. A tire could explode and
injure someone. Do not spin your vehicle's wheels
faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) or for longer than 30
seconds continuously without stopping when you
are stuck, and don't let anyone near a spinning
wheel, no matter what the speed. WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 361
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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

N A/C Air Filter Ð If Equipped ............383
N Power Steering .......................385
N Front Suspension .....................385
N Steering Linkage ......................386
N Body Lubrication .....................386
N Windshield Wiper Blades ................386
N Windshield Washers ...................387
N Exhaust System ......................387
N Cooling System .......................388
N Hoses And Vacuum/Vapor Harnesses .......394
N Fuel System .........................394
N Brake System ........................394
N Automatic Transaxle ...................397 N Front And Rear Wheel Bearings ...........400
N Appearance Care And Protection From
Corrosion ...........................400
N Cleaning Center Console Cupholders .......405
m Fuses Ð Totally Integrated Power Module
(TIPM) ..............................406
m Vehicle Storage ........................411
m Replacement Bulbs ......................411
m Bulb Replacement ......................412
N Headlight Bulb Replacement .............412
N Fog Lights ..........................415
N Taillights, Rear Turn Signals And Backup Lights Ð
Replacement .........................416
N License Plate Light Ð Rear ..............418366 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

To minimize the possibility of catalyst damage:
² Do not shut off the engine or interrupt the ignition
when the transaxle is in gear and the vehicle is in
motion.
² Do not try to start the engine by pushing or towing the
vehicle.
² Do not idle the engine with any ignition coil connec-
tors disconnected for prolonged periods.
MAINTENANCE-FREE BATTERY
You will never have to add water, nor is periodic main-
tenance required.
NOTE: The battery is stored in a compartment behind
the left front fender and is accessible without removing
the tire and wheel. Remote battery terminals are located
in the engine compartment for jump-starting.
To access the battery, turn the steering wheel fully to the
right and remove the inner fender shield. WARNING!² Battery fluid is a corrosive acid solution and can
burn or even blind you. Don't allow battery fluid
to contact your eyes, skin, or clothing. Don't lean
over a battery when attaching clamps. If acid
splashes in eyes or on skin, flush the area imme-
diately with large amounts of water.
² Battery gas is flammable and explosive. Keep
flame or sparks away from the battery. Don't use a
booster battery or any other booster source with an
output greater than 12 volts. Don't allow cable
clamps to touch each other.
² Battery posts, terminals, and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds. Wash hands
after handling. MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 381
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Fog Lights
1. Access to the lights through the lower fascia cutout is
limited.
2. We recommend you access the lights by turning the
steering wheel to allow access and remove the inner
fender shield. 3. Rotate bulb and connector 1
¤ 4
turn counterclockwise.
4. Pull bulb off of connector and replace with a new one.
CAUTION!Do not touch the new bulb with your fingers. Oil
contamination will severely shorten bulb life. If the
bulb comes in contact with an oily surface, clean the
bulb with rubbing alcohol.
Fog Light and Connector MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 415
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Engine Oil ........................... 326
Fuel Requirements .................. 324,326
Maintenance ....................... 324,327
Replacement Parts ..................... 327
Starting ............................. 327
Flooded Engine Starting ................... 263
Floor Console .......................... 156
Fluid Capacities ......................... 420
Fluid Leaks ............................. 80
Fluid Level Checks
Automatic Transaxle ................. 397,398
Brake ............................ 396,424
Cooling System ....................... 389
Engine Oil ........................... 374
Power Steering ..................... 385,424
Fluids ................................ 422
Fluids, Lubricants and Genuine Parts .......... 422
Fog Lights ....................... 132,176,415
Folding Rear Seat ..................... 126,127 Freeing A Stuck Vehicle ................... 361
Front Wheel Bearings ..................... 400
Fuel ................................. 319
Adding ............................. 328
Additives ............................ 322
Clean Air ............................ 320
Ethanol ............................. 321
Filler Cap (Gas Cap) ................. 170,328
Filler Door (Gas Cap) ................... 170
Gasoline ............................ 319
Gauge .............................. 170
Hoses .............................. 394
Light ............................... 171
Materials Added ....................... 322
Methanol ............................ 321
Octane Rating ...................... 319,422
Requirements ...................... 319,420
Tank Capacity ........................ 420
Fuel, Flexible ............. See Flexible Fuel Vehicles450 INDEX

Side Window Demisters (Defrosters) .......... 253
Signals, Turn ........................... 416
Slippery Surfaces, Driving On ............... 288
Snow Chains (Tire Chains) ................. 309
Snow Tires ............................ 309
Sound Systems (Radio) ................. 220,223
Spare Tire ....................... 303,304,351
Spark Plugs ............................ 379
Specifications
Oil ................................ 376
Speed Control (Cruise Control) ........... 140,174
Speedometer ........................ 170,172
Speedometer and Odometer ................ 168
Starting ............................... 261
Engine Fails to Start .................... 263
Starting Procedures ...................... 261
Steering
Linkage ............................. 386
Power ........................... 287,385 Tilt Column .......................... 139
Wheel, Tilt ........................... 139
Steering Wheel Mounted Sound System
Controls .............................. 236
Storage ............................ 160,411
Storage, Vehicle ......................... 253
Stuck, Freeing .......................... 361
Sun Roof .............................. 150
Supplemental Restraint System - Airbag ........ 51
Synthetic Engine Oil ...................... 377
System, Navigation ...................... 223
Tachometer ............................ 172
Taillights .............................. 416
Telescoping Steering Column ............... 139
Temperature Control, Automatic (ATC) ........ 246
Temperature Gauge, Engine Coolant ....... 170,349
Tether Anchor, Child Restraint ............... 71
Theft Alarm (Security Alarm) ................ 18 INDEX 459
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