warning DODGE AVENGER 2011 2.G Owner's Manual

BRAKE- Brake Warning Light
• The Brake Warning light illuminates when there is either a system malfunction orthe 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 a
collision. Have the vehicle checked immediately.
- Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
• Certain conditions, such as a loose or missing gas cap, poor fuel quality, etc., mayilluminate 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. Have the vehicle serviced immediately.
- Charging System Light
• This light shows the status of the electrical charging system. If the chargingsystem light remains on, it means that the vehicle is experiencing a problem with
the charging system.
• We recommend you do not continue driving if the charging system light is on. Have the vehicle serviced immediately.
- Oil Pressure Warning Light
• This light indicates low engine oil pressure. If the light turns on while driving, stopthe vehicle and shut off the engine as soon as possible. A chime will sound for four
minutes when this light turns on.
• We recommend you do not operate the vehicle or engine damage will occur. Have the vehicle serviced immediately.
- Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) Light
• This light monitors the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).
• If the light is not on during starting, stays on, or turns on while driving, werecommend you drive to the nearest service center and have the vehicle serviced
immediately.
- Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Light
• This light informs you of a problem with the Electronic Throttle Control (ETC)system.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
49

• If a problem is detected, the light will come on while the engine is running. Cyclethe ignition when the vehicle has completely stopped and the shift lever is placed
in the PARK position; the light should turn off.
• If the light remains lit with the engine running, your vehicle will usually be drivable; however, see an authorized service center immediately. If the light is
flashing when the engine is running, immediate service is required and you may
experience reduced performance, an elevated/rough idle or engine stall and your
vehicle may require towing.
- Transmission Temperature Warning Light
• This light indicates that there is excessive transmission fluid temperature thatmight occur with severe usage such as trailer towing. If this light turns on, stop the
vehicle and run the engine at idle, with the transmission in NEUTRAL, until the
light turns off. Once the light turns off, you may continue to drive normally.
- Air Bag Warning Light
• If the light is not on during starting, stays on, or turns on while driving, have thevehicle serviced by an authorized service center immediately.
Fuel Cap/Loose Gas Cap Message
• If a “gas cap” message (shown as gASCAP) appears, tighten the gas cap until a“clicking” sound is heard.
• Press the odometer reset button to turn the message off.
• If the message continues to appear for more than three days after tightening the gas cap, see your authorized service center.
Oil Change Indicator
Message
• If an “oil change” message (shown as CHANgE OIL) appears and a single chime sounds, it is time for your next required oil change.
Resetting The Light After Servicing
• Turn the ignition switch to the ON/RUN position (do not start engine).
• Fully depress the accelerator pedal three times within 10 seconds.
• Turn the ignition switch to the OFF/LOCK position.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
50

IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS
• In any of the following situations, you can reduce the potential for overheating bytaking the appropriate action.
• On the highways — slow down.
• In city traffic — while stopped, shift transmission into NEUTRAL, but do not
increase engine idle speed.
NOTE: There are steps that you can take to slow down an impending overheat
condition:
• If your air conditioner (A/C) is on, turn it off. The A/C system adds heat to the engine cooling system and turning the A/C off can help remove 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.
• If the temperature reading 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.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could damage your vehicle. If the temperature
gauge reads HOT (H), 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 HOT (H), and you hear continuous chimes, turn the
engine off immediately, and call for service.
WARNING!
You or others can be badly burned by hot engine 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 cool. 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.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
51

JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING
Jack Location
• The jack and jack-handle are stowed under the load floor in the trunk.
Spare Tire Stowage
• The compact spare tire is stowed under the rear load floor in the trunk.
• To remove the spare tire, lift up the load floor cover and remove the hold down.
Preparations For Jacking
• Park on a firm, level surface. Avoid ice or slippery areas.
• Set the parking brake and shift the automatic transmission into PARK.
• Turn the ignition to LOCK and turn on the Hazard Warning flasher.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
52

• Raise the vehicle by turning the jackscrew clockwise. Raise the vehicle only
until the tire just clears the surface
and enough clearance is obtained to
install the spare tire.
• Remove the lug nuts, wheel cover (if equipped) and wheel.
• Position the spare wheel/tire on the vehicle and install the lug nuts with the cone-shaped end toward the wheel. Do NOT attempt to install a center cap or
wheel cover on the compact spare. Lightly tighten the lug nuts clockwise. To avoid
the risk of forcing the vehicle off the jack, do not tighten the nuts fully until the
vehicle has been lowered.
• Lower the vehicle by turning the jack screw counterclockwise, and remove the jack and wheel blocks.
• Finish tightening the lug nuts. Push down on the wrench while tightening for increased leverage. Alternate nuts until each one has been tightened twice. The
correct wheel nut tightness is 100 ft lbs (135 N•m). If in doubt about the correct
tightness, have them checked with a torque wrench by your authorized dealer or at
a service station.
• Secure the tire, jack and tools in their proper locations.
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.
• Carefully follow these tire changing procedures to help prevent personal injury or damage to your vehicle: Always park on a firm, level surface as far
from the edge of the roadway as possible before raising the vehicle.
(Continued)
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
54

WARNING!(Continued)
• Raising the vehicle higher than necessary can make the vehicle less stableand could cause it to slip off the jack and hurt someone near it. Raise the
vehicle only enough to remove the tire.
• A loose tire or jack, thrown forward in a collision or hard stop, could endanger the occupants of the vehicle. Always stow the jack parts and the spare tire in
the places provided.
JUMP-STARTING
• If your vehicle has a discharged battery it can be jump-started using a set of
jumper cables and a battery in another vehicle or by using a portable battery
booster pack. Jump-starting can be dangerous if done improperly so please follow
the procedures in this section carefully.
NOTE: When using a portable battery booster pack follow the manufacturer's operating
instructions and precautions.
Preparations For Jump-Start
• The battery in your vehicle is located between the left front headlight assembly and the left front wheel splash shield. To allow jump-starting there are remote
battery posts located on the left side of the engine compartment.
1. Set the parking brake, shift theautomatic transmission into PARK
and turn the ignition to LOCK.
2. Turn off the heater, radio, and all unnecessary electrical accessories.
3. Remove the protective cover over the remote positive (+)battery post. To
remove the cover, press the locking
tab and pull upward on the cover.
4. If using another vehicle to jump-start the battery, park the vehicle within
the jumper cables reach, set the
parking brake and make sure the
ignition is OFF.
Jump-Starting Procedure
1. Connect the positive (+)end of the jumper cable to the remote positive (+)post of
the discharged vehicle.
2. Connect the opposite end of the positive (+)jumper cable to the positive (+)post
of the booster battery.
3. Connect the negative end (-)of the jumper cable to the negative (-)post of the
booster battery.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
55

4. Connect the opposite end of the negative(-)jumper cable to the remote negative
(-) post of the vehicle with the discharged battery.
5. Start the engine in the vehicle that has the booster battery, let the engine idle a few minutes, and then start the engine in the vehicle with the discharged battery.
Once the engine is started, remove the jumper cables in the reverse sequence:
6. Disconnect the negative (-)jumper cable from the remote negative (-)post of the
vehicle with the discharged battery.
7. Disconnect the negative end (-)of the jumper cable from the negative (-)post of
the booster battery.
8. Disconnect the opposite end of the positive (+)jumper cable from the positive (+)
post of the booster battery.
9. Disconnect the positive (+)end of the jumper cable from the remote positive (+)
post of the discharged vehicle.
10. Reinstall the protective cover over the remote positive (+)battery post of the
discharged vehicle.
If frequent jump-starting is required to start your vehicle you should have the battery
and charging system inspected at your authorized dealer.
CAUTION!
• Do not use a portable battery booster pack or any other booster source with a system voltage greater than 12 Volts or damage to the battery, starter motor,
alternator or electrical system may occur.
• Failure to follow these procedures could result in damage to the charging system of the booster vehicle or the discharged vehicle.
• Accessories that can be plugged into the vehicle power outlets draw power from the vehicle’s battery, even when not in use (i.e., cellular phones, etc.).
Eventually, if plugged in long enough, the vehicle’s battery will discharge
sufficiently to degrade battery life and/or prevent the engine from starting.
WARNING!
• Do not attempt jump-starting if the battery is frozen. It could rupture orexplode and cause personal injury.
• Take care to avoid the radiator cooling fan whenever the hood is raised. It can start anytime the ignition switch is on. You can be injured by moving fan
blades.
• Remove any metal jewelry such as watch bands or bracelets that might make an inadvertent electrical contact. You could be seriously injured.
• Batteries contain sulfuric acid that can burn your skin or eyes and generate hydrogen gas which is flammable and explosive. Keep open flames or sparks
away from the battery.
(Continued)
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
56

WARNING!(Continued)
• Do not allow vehicles to touch each other as this could establish a groundconnection and personal injury could result.
• Failure to follow this procedure could result in personal injury or property damage due to battery explosion.
• Do not connect the cable to the negative post (-)of the discharged battery.
The resulting electrical spark could cause the battery to explode and could
result in personal injury.
SHIFT LEVER OVERRIDE
• If a malfunction occurs and the shift lever cannot be moved out of the PARK position, you can use the following procedure to temporarily move the shift lever:
• To access the shift lever override, remove the cupholder liner.
• Firmly set the parking brake.
• Turn the ignition switch to the ACC or ON position without starting the engine.
• Press and maintain firm pressure on the brake pedal.
• Using a screwdriver or similar tool, press and hold the override tab through the
access port on the center console.
• Move the shift lever into the NEUTRAL position.
• The vehicle may then be started in NEUTRAL.
• Reinstall the override cover.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
57

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.
CAUTION!
• When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by moving between REVERSE and DRIVE, do not spin the wheels faster than 15 mph (24 km/h), or drivetrain damage may
result.
• Revving the engine or spinning the wheels too fast may 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).
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.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
59

OPENING THE HOOD
• Pull the release lever located below theinstrument panel and in front of the
driver’s door.
• Raise the hood and locate the safety latch, in the middle of the hood
opening.
• Move the safety latch while lifting the hood at the same time.
• Insert the support rod into the slot on the hood.
• To close the hood, remove the support rod and place it in the retaining clip,
then lower the hood slowly.
WARNING!
Be sure the hood is fully latched before driving your vehicle. If the hood is not
fully latched, it could open when the vehicle is in motion and block your vision.
Failure to follow this warning could result in serious injury or death.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
61