tires DODGE AVENGER 2010 2.G User Guide

24-HOUR TOWING ASSISTANCE - U.S. ONLY
• Dial toll-free 1-800-521-2779 or 1-800-363-4869 for Canadian residents.
• Provide your name, vehicle identification number and license plate number.
• Provide your location, including telephone number, from which you are calling.
• Briefly describe the nature of the problem and answer a few simple questions.
• You will be given the name of the service provider and an estimated time of arrival. Ifyou feel you are in an “unsafe situation”, please let us know. With your consent, we
will contact local police or safety authorities.
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WARNING LIGHTS
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Activation/Malfunction Indicator
Light
• If the “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indic ator Light” comes on continuously with the
engine running, a malfunction has been detect ed in the ESC system. If this light
remains on after several ignition cycles, and the vehicle has been driven several miles
(kilometers) at speeds greater th an 30 mph (48 km/h), we recommend you do not
operate the vehicle. Have the vehicle serviced immediately.
• The “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” starts to flash as soon as the tires lose traction and the ESC system becomes active. If the light begins to flash during
acceleration, ease up on the accelerator and apply as little throttle as possible. Be
sure to adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road conditions. The light also
flashes when TCS is active. To improve the vehicle's traction when starting off in deep
snow, sand or gravel, it may be desirable to switch the ESC system to Partial Off mode
by momentarily pressing the ESC Off
switch.
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Light
• A Tire Pressure Monitoring Light and a “low tire” message will display in your instrument cluster along with an audible chime if one or more of your vehicle’s four
road tires are significantly under-inflated.
• Check the inflation pressure of each tire and inflate to the recommended pressure for your vehicle. The tire pressures recommended for your vehicle are found on the “Tire
and Loading Information” label located on the driver’s side door opening. The TPMS
light should not be used as a tire pressure gauge when adjusting your tire pressure.
• It is recommended that you check the tire pressure once a month in the morning when tires are cool; inflate each tire to the recommended pressure for your vehicle. The light
will turn off after your vehicle’s tire pressures are properly inflated and the pressure
has been recognized. The vehicle may need to be driven for up to 20 minutes above
15 mph (25 km/h) before the light will turn off.
• Temperature changes can affect tire pressure, causing the TPMS light to turn on. Tire pressures will also increase as the vehicle is driven – this is normal and you should
not adjust for this in creased pressure.
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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

• Driving on under-inflated tires reduces yourvehicle’s fuel efficiency and tire tread life.
If a spare tire is in use on the vehicle, the TPMS light may turn on.
- Engine Temperature Warning Light
• This light warns of an overheated engine condition.
• If the light turns on or flashes continuously while driving, safely pull over and stop the vehicle. If the A/C system is on, turn it off. Also, shift the transmissioninto NEUTRAL
and idle the vehicle. If the temperature r eading does not return to normal, turn the
engine off immediately.
• We recommend that you do not operate the vehicle or engine damage will occur. Have the vehicle serviced immediately.
WARNING!
A hot engine cooling system is dangero us. You or others could be badly burned by
steam or boiling coolant. You may want to call an authorized dealership for service if
your vehicle overheats.
- Brake Warning Light
• The Brake Warning light illuminates when there is either a system malfunction or the
parking brake is applied. If the light is on and the parking brake is not applied, it
indicates a possible brake hydraulic malfunction, brake booster problem or an
Anti-Lock Brake System problem.
• We recommend you drive to the nearest service center and have the vehicle serviced immediately.
WARNING!
Driving a vehicle with the red brake light on is dangerous. Part of the brake system
may have failed. It will take longer to stop the vehicle. You could have an accident.
Have the vehicle checked immediately.
- Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
• Certain conditions, such as a loose or m issing gas cap,poor fuel quality, etc., may
illuminate the MIL after engine start. The vehicle should be serviced if the light stays
on through several typical driving cycles. In most situations, the vehicle will drive
normally and not require towing.
• If the MIL flashes when the engine is running, serious conditions may exist that could lead to immediate loss of power or severe catalytic converter damage. We recommend
you do not operate the vehicle. Hav e the vehicle serviced immediately.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
40

WARNING!
You or others can be badly burned by hotengine coolant (antifreeze) or steam from
your radiator. If you see or hear steam coming from under the hood, do not open the
hood until the radiator has had time to co ol. Never try to open a cooling system
pressure cap when the radiator or coolant bottle is hot.
Engine Oil Overheating — 2.4L Gas
• On hot days the engine oil temperature may become too hot during sustained high-speed driving or if towing a trailer up long grades. If this happens, a HOTOIL
message will flash in the odometer and the vehicle speed will be reduced to 48 mph
(77 km/h) maximum until the engine oil temperature is reduced.
NOTE: Although the maximum vehicle speed is reduced to 48 mph (77 km/h), you may
reduce vehicle speed further as needed. Once the engine oil temperature is reduced, you
may continue to drive normally.
JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING
WARNING!
• Do not attempt to change a tire on the side of the vehicle close to moving traffic. Pull far enough off the road to avoid the danger of being hit when operating the jack
or changing the wheel.
• 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.
• 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.
43
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE
• If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand or snow, it can often be moved by arocking motion. Turn your steering wheel right and left to clear the area around the
front wheels. Then move the shift lever back and forth between REVERSE and DRIVE.
Using minimal accelerator pedal pressure to maintain the rocking motion, without
spinning the wheels, is most effective.
NOTE: To improve the vehicle's traction when starting off in deep snow, sand or gravel,
it may be desirable to switch the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) to “Partial Off” mode
by momentarily pressing the ESC Off
switch. For further information on ESC, refer to
the Owner's Manual on the DVD.
WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces generated by excessive wheel speeds
may cause 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) when you are stuck. Do not
let anyone near a spinning wheel, no matter what the speed.
CAUTION!
• When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by moving between 1st and REVERSE, do not spin the wheels faster than 15 mph (24 km/h), or drivetrain damage may result.
• Revving the engine or s pinning the wheels too fast ma y lead to transmission
overheating and failure. It can also damage the tires. Do not spin the wheels above
30 mph (48 km/h) while in gear (no transmission shifting occurring).
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
52

MAINTENANCE CHART
Miles:
6,000 12,000 18,000 24,000 30,000 36,000 42,000 48,000 54,000 60,000 66,000 72,000 78,000
Or Months: 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78
Or Kilometers:
10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 70,000 80,000 90,000 100,000 110,000 120,000 130,000
Change the engine oil and filter. XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Rotatethetires. XXXXXXXXXXXXX
If using your vehicle for any of the following: dusty or
off-road conditions. Inspect the engine air cleaner
filter; replace if necessary. XXXX
X
Replace the air conditioning filter (if equipped). XXXXXX
Inspect the brake linings; replace if necessary. XXXXXX
Inspect the CV joints. Perform the first inspection at
12,000 miles (20,000 km) or 12 months. X
XXX
Inspect the exhaust system. Perform the first
inspection at 12,000 miles (20,000 km) or 12 months. X
XXX
Replace the engine air cleaner filter. XX
Adjust the parking brake on vehicles equipped with
four wheel disc brakes. XX
Change the autom atic transmissionfluid and filter if
using your vehicle for any of the following: police, taxi,
fleet or frequent trailer towing. X
Inspect the front suspe nsion, tie rod ends and boot
seals for cracks or leaks and all parts for damage,
wear, improper looseness or end play; replace if
necessary. XXXXXX
Replace the spark plugs (2.4L engine except PZEV). XX• Refer to the Owner's Manual on the DVD for the complete maintenance schedule.
60
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

TIRE PRESSURES
• Check the inflation pressure of each tire, including the spare tire, at least monthly andinflate to the recommended pressure for your vehicle.
• The tire pressures recommended for your vehicle are found on the “Tire and Loading Information” label located on the driver’s side door opening.
NOTE: Refer to the Owner's Manual on the DVD for more information on the life of tires.
WARNING!
Overloading of your tires is dangerous. Ov erloading can causetire failure, affect
vehicle handling, and increase your stopping distance. Use tires of the recommended
load capacity for your vehicle. Never overload them.
WARNING!
Improperly inflated tires are dangerous and can cause accidents. Under-inflation is
the leading cause of tire failure and may result in severe cracking, component
separation, or “blow out”. Over-inflation r educes a tire’s ability to cushion shock.
Objects on the road and chuck holes can cause damage that results in tire failure.
Unequal tire pressures can cause steering problems. You could lose control of your
vehicle. Over-inflated or under-inflated ti res can affect vehicle handling and can fail
suddenly, resulting in loss of vehicle control.
WHEEL AND WHEEL TRIM CARE
• All wheels and wheel trim, especially aluminum and chrome plated wheels, should be cleaned regularly with a mild soap and water to prevent corrosion.
• To remove heavy soil and/or excessive brake dust, use MOPAR
®Wheel Cleaner or
equivalent or select a non-ab rasive,non-acidic cleaner.
CAUTION!
Do not use scouring pads, steel wool, a bristle brush, or metal polishes. Do not use
oven cleaner. These products may damage the wheel's protective finish. Avoid
automatic car washes that use acidic solution s or harsh brushes that may damage the
wheel's protective finish. Only MOPAR
®Wheel Cleaner or equivalent is recommended.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
64

NOTE:
• The Owner's Manual and User Guideelectronic files are also available on
the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge
websites.
• Click on the "For Owners" tab, select "Owner/Service Manuals", then
select your desired model year and
vehicle from the drop down lists.
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS
IN THE 50 UNITED STATES
AND WASHINGTON, D.C.
• If you believe that your vehicle has adefect that could cause a crash or
cause injury or death, you should
immediately inform the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) in addition to notifying the
manufacturer.
• If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it
finds that a safety defect exists in a
group of vehicles, it may order a recall
and remedy campaign. However,
NHTSA cannot become involved in
individual problems between you,
your authorized dealer, and the
manufacturer.
• To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline toll free at
1–888–327–4236 (TTY: 1–800–424–
9153), or go to http://
www.safercar.gov; or write to:
Administrator, NHTSA, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building,
Washington, D.C. 20590. You can also
obtain other information about motor
vehicle safety from
http://www.safercar.gov.
In Canada
• If you believe that your vehicle has asafety defect, you should contact the
Customer Service Department
immediately. Canadian customers
who wish to report a safety defect to
the Canadian government should
write to: Transport Canada, Motor
Vehicle Defect Investigations and
Recalls, 2780 Sheffield Road, Ottawa,
Ontario K1B 3V9.
TIRE WARRANTY
Tire Limited Warranty And
Adjustment Policy
• When a tire is removed from servicedue to a covered warranty condition
under a tire manufacturer’s “Limited
Warranty Program”, you may be
eligible for a free tire replacement or a
comparable new tire on a “prorated
basis”.
• Certain conditions, such as irregular wear or tire dam age due to road
hazards, collision, improper inflation,
intentional alteration, and misuse,
are excluded from the Limited
Warranty Program. The Limited
Warranty Program expires when your
tires either wear to a specified tread
depth, and/or after a period of time
from the date of purchase, as stated
in the Tire Warranty on the DVD.
NOTE: Refer to the Tire Warranty on
the DVD for specific information relating
to the manufacturer's limited warranty
for the tires in stalledon your vehicle. If
you have any questions regarding the
limited tire warranty coverage, contact
your local authorized dealer or your
local authorized tire dealer.
67
CONSUMER ASSISTANCE

Disclaimer:
• THE TIRE MANUFACTURER’S LIMITEDWARRANTY PROGRAM, THE DETAILS
OF WHICH CAN BE FOUND ON THE
OWNERS MANUAL DVD, THE TIRE
MANUFACTURER’S WEBSITE OR AT
ANY AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER
ARE IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER REMEDIES
OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, ARISING BY LAW OR
OTHERWISE, INCLUDING FITNESS FOR
A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR
MERCHANTABILITY. THE TIRE
MANUFACTURER EXPRESSLY
DISCLAIMS LIABILITY FOR INDIRECT,
SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOST
PROFIT, LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF
GOODWILL, LOSS OF REPUTATION,
PUNITIVE OR ANY OTHER DAMAGE,
COST OR LOSS OF ANY KIND. SOME
STATES AND PROVINCES DO NOT
ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR
LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE
ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION
MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
WARNING!
NOTE: Refer to the Owner's Manual on
the DVD for complete warning
information that could prevent
accidents, injuries and even deaths.
WARNING!
Death, serious injury and/or property
damage may result from:
• Tire failure due to impact damageand/or improper maintenance.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
• Tires should be inspected regularlyby a qualified technician for signs
of damage, such as punctures,
impacts, under-inflation or
overloading.
• Progressive air loss may result from punctures, cuts, curbing,
impacts or partial bead unseating.
Some fitment causes for air loss are:
• Incomplete bead seating.
• Bead tearing caused by a machine tool due to insufficient lubrication
or improper adjustment.
• Leaking valve core or rubber valve components (these should be
replaced when problems are
detected and whenever tires are
replaced).
• Tire failure due to improper repairs.
• See Rubber Manufacturer's Association (RMA) established
repair procedures at www.rma.org
for information on proper repair
procedures. Never perform a
temporary repair or use an inner
tube as a substitute for a proper
repair. Only qualified persons
should repair tires.
• Explosion of tire/rim assembly due to improper mounting.
• Only specially trained persons should mount tires.
• Failure to mount tires on approved rims.
• Failure to deflate single or dual assemblies completely before
demounting.
CONSUMER ASSISTANCE
68

Using Lift Kits
• Use of lift kits with some vehicle/tirecombinations can cause instability or
loss of control. When changing tire
sizes, always consult an installer for
optimum rim width and carefully
check vehicle/tire clearances.
Check Your Tires For Damage
• Frequent (at least monthly) inspectionof your tires for signs of damage,
uneven tread wear and their general
condition is important for safety.
Impacts, penetrations, cracks, knots,
bulges or air loss always require tire
removal and expert inspection.
Tire Service Life
• The service life of a tire is dependentupon varying factors including, but
not limited to, your driving style, tire
pressure and distance driven.
WARNING!
Tires and the spare tire should be
replaced after six ye ars, regardless of
the remaining tread. Failure to follow
this warning can result in sudden tire
failure. You could lose control and
have an accident resulting in serious
injury or death.
• Keep dismounted tires in a cool, dry place with as little exposure to the
light as possible.
• Protect tires from contact with oil, grease, and gasoline.
NOTE: All tire warranties are made by
the tire manufacturer. Tires are not
covered under your Chrysler New Vehicle
Limited Warranty.
69
CONSUMER ASSISTANCE