automatic transmission DODGE AVENGER 2014 2.G User Guide

ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS
• A long break-in period is not required for the engine and drivetrain (transmission andaxle) in your vehicle.
• Drive moderately during the first 300 miles (500 km). After the initial 60 miles (100 km), speeds up to 50 or 55 mph (80 or 90 km/h) are desirable.
• While cruising, brief full-throttle acceleration within the limits of local traffic laws contributes to a good break-in. Wide-open throttle acceleration in low gear can be
detrimental and should be avoided.
• The engine oil installed in the engine at the factory is a high-quality energy conserving type lubricant. Oil changes should be consistent with anticipated climate conditions
under which vehicle operations will occur. For the recommended viscosity and quality
grades, refer to “Maintaining Your Vehicle.”
NOTE:
A new engine may consume some oil during its first few thousand miles (kilometers) of
operation. This should be considered a normal part of the break-in and not interpreted as
an indication of an engine problem or malfunction.
CAUTION!
Never use Non-Detergent Oil or Straight Mineral Oil in the engine or damage may result.
TURN SIGNAL/LIGHTS LEVER
Headlights/Parking Lights/Automatic Headlights
• Rotate the end of the lever to the first detent for parking lights, the second detent
for headlights
, and the third detent for AUTO.
• When set to AUTO, the system automatically turns the headlights on or off based on ambient light levels.
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
20

TRAILER TOWING WEIGHTS (MAXIMUM TRAILER WEIGHT
RATINGS)
The following chart provides the maximum trailer weight ratings towable for your given
drivetrain.
Maximum Trailer Weight Ratings
Engine/
Transmission Max. Frontal Area Max. GTW (Gross
Trailer Wt.) Max. Trailer Tongue
Wt.
1
2.4L/Auto 11 sq ft (1.0 sq.m)
(See Note2) 1,000 lbs (450 kg) 100 lbs (45 kg)
3.6L/Auto 22 sq. ft. (2.0 sq. m) 1,000 lbs (450 kg) 100 lbs (45 kg) Refer to local laws for maximum trailer towing speeds.
1The trailer tongue weight must be considered as part of the combined weight of occupants
and cargo, and it should never exceed the weight referenced on the Tire and Loading
Information placard.
2Enclosed trailers or open utility trailers with front shields/guards are not recommended for
use with four-cylinder engines with an automatic transmission. Please see your authorized
dealer for additional information.
CAUTION!
Towing a trailer with a larger than recommended frontal area could cause the engine to
overheat or cause severe engine damage under extreme conditions.
UTILITY
74

Preparations For Jacking
1. Park the vehicle on a firm, level surface. Avoid ice or slippery areas.
2. Turn on the Hazard Warning flashers.
3. Set the parking brake.
4. Place the shift lever into PARK (automatic transmission) or REVERSE (manual transmis-sion).
5. Turn OFF the ignition.
6. Block both the front and rear of the wheel diagonally opposite the jacking position. For example, if changing the right front tire, block the left rear wheel.
NOTE:
Passengers should not remain in the vehicle
while the vehicle is being jacked.
Jacking Instructions
1. Remove the scissors jack and lug wrench from the spare wheel as an assembly.
Turn the jack screw to the left to loosen
the lug wrench, and remove the wrench
from the jack assembly.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
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WARNING!
• Being under a jacked-up vehicle is dangerous. The vehicle could slip off the jack andfall on you. You could be crushed. Never put 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.
• Never start or run the engine while the vehicle is on a jack.
• The jack is designed to be used 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.
• 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.
• Carefully follow these tire changing warnings 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 pos-sible before raising the vehicle.
• Turn on the Hazard Warning flasher.
• Block the wheel diagonally opposite the wheel to be raised.
• Set the parking brake firmly and set an automatic transmission in PARK; a
manual transmission in REVERSE.
• Do not let anyone sit in the vehicle when it is on a jack.
• Do not get under the vehicle when it is on a jack.
• Only use the jack in the positions indicated and for lifting this vehicle during a tire
change.
• If working on or near a roadway, be extremely careful of motor traffic.
• To assure that spare tires, flat or inflated, are securely stowed, spares must be
stowed with the valve stem facing the ground.
• Raising the vehicle higher than necessary can make the vehicle less stable. It could
slip off the jack and hurt someone near it. Raise the vehicle only enough to remove
the tire.
• To avoid possible personal injury, handle the wheel covers with care to avoid contact
with any sharp edges.
• A loose tire or jack thrown forward in a collision or hard stop could injure the
occupants in the vehicle. Have the deflated (flat) tire repaired or replaced immedi-
ately.
• To avoid the risk of forcing the vehicle off the jack, do not tighten the lug nuts fully
until the vehicle is lowered to the ground. Failure to follow this warning may result in
personal injury.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
86

Preparations For Jump-Start
• The battery in your vehicle is located between the left front headlight assembly and theleft 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 the automatic transmission into PARK and turn the igni-
tion to LOCK.
2. Turn off the heater, radio, and all unnec- essary electrical accessories.
3. Remove the protective cover over the re- mote 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.
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:
1. Disconnect the negative (-)jumper cable from the remote negative (-)post of the vehicle
with the discharged battery.
2. Disconnect the negative end (-)of the jumper cable from the negative (-)post of the
booster battery.
3. Disconnect the opposite end of the positive (+)jumper cable from the positive (+)post of
the booster battery.
1 — Positive Jump Starting Post
2 — Negative Jump Starting Post
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
88

Component Fluid, Lubricant, or GenuinePartCapacities
Automatic Transmission Use only ATF+4® Automatic
Transmission Fluid. Failure to use ATF+4® fluid may affect
the function or performance
of your transmission. We rec- ommend MOPAR® ATF+4® fluid. —
Brake Master Cylinder We recommend you use
MOPAR® DOT 3 and SAE
J1703. If DOT 3 is not avail- able, then DOT 4 is accept- able. —
Power Steering Reservoir We recommend you use
MOPAR® Power Steering Fluid + 4 or MOPAR® ATF+4® Auto- matic Transmission Fluid. —
CAUTION!
• Mixing of engine coolant (antifreeze) other than specified Organic Additive Technol-
ogy (OAT) engine coolant (antifreeze), may result in engine damage and may de-
crease corrosion protection. Organic Additive Technology (OAT) engine coolant is
different and should not be mixed with Hybrid Organic Additive Technology (HOAT)
engine coolant (antifreeze) or any “globally compatible” coolant (antifreeze). If a
non-OAT engine coolant (antifreeze) is introduced into the cooling system in an
emergency, the cooling system will need to be drained, flushed, and refilled with
fresh OAT coolant (conforming to MS-12106), by an authorized dealer as soon as
possible.
• Do not use water alone or alcohol-based engine coolant (antifreeze) products. Do not
use additional rust inhibitors or antirust products, as they may not be compatible
with the radiator engine coolant and may plug the radiator.
• This vehicle has not been designed for use with propylene glycol-based engine
coolant (antifreeze). Use of propylene glycol-based engine coolant (antifreeze) is not
recommended.
E85 FLEXIBLE FUEL — 3.6L ENGINE ONLY
Refer to your Owner's Manual on the DVD for further details.
CAUTION!
Only vehicles with the E-85 fuel filler door label or a yellow gas cap can operate on E-85.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
98

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE
Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic oil change indicator system. The oil change
indicator system will remind you that it is time to take your vehicle in for scheduled
maintenance.
Based on engine operation conditions, the oil change indicator message will illuminate.
This means that service is required for your vehicle. Operating conditions such as frequent
short-trips, trailer tow, extremely hot or cold ambient temperatures, and E85 fuel usage will
influence when the “Oil Change Required” message is displayed. Severe Operating Condi-
tions can cause the change oil message to illuminate as early as 3,500 miles (5,600 km)
since last reset. Have your vehicle serviced as soon as possible, within the next 500 miles
(805 km).
Your authorized dealer will reset the oil change indicator message after completing the
scheduled oil change. If a scheduled oil change is performed by someone other than your
authorized dealer, the message can be reset by referring to the steps described under
“Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)/Oil Change Required” in “Understanding Your
Instrument Panel” for further information.
NOTE:
Under no circumstances should oil change intervals exceed 10,000 miles (16,000 km) or
twelve months, whichever comes first.
Severe Duty All Models
Change Engine Oil at 4000 miles (6,500 km) if the vehicle is operated in a dusty and off road
environment. This type of vehicle use is considered Severe Duty.
Once A Month Or Before A Long Trip:
• Check engine oil level.
• Check windshield washer fluid level.
• Check tire pressure and look for unusual wear or damage. Rotate tires at the first sign ofirregular wear, even if it occurs before the oil indicator system turns on.
• Check the fluid levels of the coolant reservoir, brake master cylinder, power steering and transmission (four-speed only) and fill as needed.
• Check function of all interior and exterior lights.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
99

Required Maintenance Intervals
Refer to the maintenance schedules on the following page for the required maintenance
intervals.
At Every Oil Change Interval As Indicated By Oil Change Indicator System:
• Change oil and filter.
• Rotate the tires. Rotate at the first sign of irregular wear, even if it occurs before the oil
indicator system turns on.
• Inspect battery and clean and tighten terminals as required.
• Inspect automatic transmission fluid if equipped with dipstick.
• Inspect brake pads, shoes, rotors, drums, hoses and park brake.
• Inspect engine cooling system protection and hoses.
• Inspect exhaust system.
• Inspect engine air cleaner if using in dusty or off-road conditions.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
100

Maintenance Chart
Mileage or time passed
(whichever comes first)
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000 90,000
100,000
110,000
120,000 130,000
140,000
150,000
Or Years: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Or Kilometers:
32,000
48,000
64,000
80,000
96,000
112,000
128,000 144,000
160,000
176,000
192,000
208,000 224,000
240,000
Additional Inspections
Inspect the CV joints. X X X X X
Inspect front suspension, tie rod ends, boot
seals and replace if necessary. XXX X X X X
Inspect the brake linings, replace as neces-
sary. XXX X X X X
Adjust parking brake as necessary. X X X X X X X
Additional Maintenance
Replace engine air filter. X X X X X
Replace cabin/air conditioning filter. X X X X X X X
Replace spark plugs (2.4L Engine). ** X X X X X
Replace spark plugs (2.4L PZEV Engine
Only). ** X
Replace spark plugs (3.6L Engine). ** X
Flush and replace the engine coolant at 10
years or 150,000 miles (240,000 km) which-
ever comes first. XX
Change automatic transmission fluid and
filter if using your vehicle for any of the fol-
lowing: police, taxi, fleet, or frequent trailer
towing. X
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
101

Mileage or time passed
(whichever comes first)
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000 90,000
100,000
110,000
120,000 130,000
140,000
150,000
Or Years: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Or Kilometers:
32,000
48,000
64,000
80,000
96,000
112,000
128,000 144,000
160,000
176,000
192,000
208,000 224,000
240,000
Change automatic transmission fluid and
filter. X
Inspect and replace PCV valve if necessary. X** The spark plug change interval is mileage based only, yearly intervals do not apply.
WARNING!
• You can be badly injured working on or around a motor vehicle. Do only service work for which you have the knowledge and the right equipment. If you have any doubt about your ability to perform a service job, take your vehicle to a competent mechanic.
• Failure to properly inspect and maintain your vehicle could result in a component malfunction and effect vehicle handling and
performance. This could cause an accident.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
102