belt DODGE CALIBER 2008 1.G Owner's Guide

WARNING!
•Adjusting a seat while the vehicle is moving is
dangerous. The sudden movement of the seat
could cause you to lose control. The seat belt might
not be properly adjusted and you could be injured.
Adjust the seat only while the vehicle is parked.
•Do not ride with the seatback reclined so that the
shoulder belt is no longer resting against your
chest. In a collision you could slide under the seat
belt and be seriously or even fatally injured. Use
the recliner only when the vehicle is parked.
Manual Seat Height Adjustment — If Equipped
The driver’s seat height can be raised or lowered by using
the ratcheting handle on the outboard side of the seat to
adjust the driving position.
Seat Height Adjustment
108 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
•It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people
riding in these areas are more likely to be seri-
ously injured or killed.
•Do not allow people to ride in any area of your
vehicle that is not equipped with seats and seat
belts
•Be sure that everyone in your vehicle is in a seat
and using a seat belt properly.
TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE HOOD
To open the hood, two latches must be released. First pull
the hood release lever located on the left kick panel.
Primary Hood Latch
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 115
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POWER SUNROOF — IF EQUIPPED
The power sunroof switch is located in the reading light.WARNING!
•Never leave unattended children in a vehicle, with
the key in the ignition switch. Occupants, particu-
larly unattended children, can become entrapped
by the power sunroof while operating the power
sunroof switch. Such entrapment may result in
serious injury or death.
•In an accident, there is a greater risk of being
thrown from a vehicle with an open sunroof. You
could also be seriously injured or killed. Always
fasten your seat belt properly and make sure all
passengers are properly secured too.
•Do not allow small children to operate the sun-
roof. Never allow fingers or other body parts, or
any object to project through the sunroof opening.
Injury may result.Power Sunroof Switch
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 141
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•Always place cargo evenly on the cargo floor. Put
heavier objects as low and as far forward as possible.
•Place as much cargo as possible in front of the rear
axle. Too much weight or improperly placed weight
over or behind the rear axle can cause the rear of the
vehicle to sway.
•Do not pile luggage or cargo higher than the top of the
seatback. This could impair visibility or become a
dangerous projectile in a sudden stop or collision.
WARNING!
To help protect against personal injury, passengers
should not be seated in the rear cargo area. The rear
cargo space is intended for load carrying purposes
only, not for passengers, who should sit in seats and
use seat belts.
Fold Down Speakers – If Equipped
When the liftgate is open, the speakers can swing down
off the trim panel to face rearward, for tailgating and
other activities.
Fold-Down Speakers
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 151
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5. Tachometer
The white area of the scale shows the permissible engine
revolutions-per-minute (RPM x 1000) for each gear range.
Before reaching the red area, ease up on the accelerator to
prevent engine damage.
6. Low Fuel Light
When the fuel level drops to two gallons, the fuel
symbol will light and a single chime will sound.
7. Charging System Light
This light shows the status of the electrical charg-
ing system. The light should come on when the
ignition switch is first turned ON and remain on briefly
as a bulb check. If the Charging System light remains on,
or comes on while driving, it means that the vehicle is
experiencing a problem with the charging system. Obtain
SERVICE IMMEDIATELY. See your authorized dealer.8. Airbag Light
The light comes on and remains on for six to
eight seconds as a bulb check when the ignition
switch is first turned ON. If the light does not
come on during starting, stays on, or comes on
while driving, have the system checked by an authorized
dealer.
9. Theft Alarm Light — If Equipped
This light will flash rapidly for several seconds when the
alarm system is arming. The light will begin to flash
slowly indicating that the system is armed.
10. Seat Belt Reminder Light
When the ignition switch is first turned ON, this
light will come on for about six seconds. A chime
will sound if you have not pulled the shoulder belt
out of the retractor. This is a reminder to “buckle up”. If
you do not buckle up, the light will remain on.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 165
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STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust both
inside and outside mirrors, and fasten your seat belts.
WARNING!
Never leave children alone in a vehicle. Leaving
unattended children in a vehicle is dangerous for a
number of reasons. A child or others could be seri-
ously or fatally injured. Don’t leave the key in the
ignition. A child could operate power windows,
other controls, or move the vehicle.
Manual Transmission
Before starting the engine fully apply the parking brake,
press the clutch pedal to the floor, and place the shift
lever in NEUTRAL.NOTE:The engine will not start unless the clutch pedal
is pressed to the floor.
NOTE:If the key won’t turn and the steering wheel is
locked, rotate the wheel in either direction to relieve
pressure on the locking mechanism and then turn the
key.
Automatic Transmission
The shift lever must be in the PARK or NEUTRAL
position before you can start the engine. Apply the brakes
before shifting to any driving gear.
NOTE:You must press the brake pedal before shifting
out of PARK.
Normal Starting
Normal starting of either a cold or a warm engine does
not require pumping or depressing the accelerator pedal.
Simply turn the ignition switch to the START position
and release when the engine starts. If the engine fails to
STARTING AND OPERATING 233
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WARNING!
Battery fluid is a corrosive acid solution; do not allow
battery fluid to contact eyes, skin or clothing. Don’t
lean over the battery when attaching the clamps or
allow the clamps to touch each other. If acid splashes
in your eyes or on your skin, flush the contaminated
area immediately with large quantities of water.
A battery generates hydrogen gas which is flam-
mable and explosive. Keep flame or spark away from
the vent holes. Do not use a booster battery or any
other booster source with an output that exceeds 12
volts.
5. Connect the other cable, first to the negative terminal
of the booster battery and then to the negative terminal of
the discharged battery. Make sure you have a good
contact.6. If the vehicle is equipped with a Sentry KeyImmo-
bilizer, turn the ignition switch to the ON position for
three seconds before moving the ignition switch to the
START position.
7. Start the engine in the vehicle that has the booster
battery, let the engine idle a few minutes, then start the
engine in the vehicle with the discharged battery.
8. When removing the jumper cables, reverse the se-
quence exactly. Be careful of the moving belts and fan.
FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE
NOTE:If your vehicle is equipped with Traction Con-
trol or ESP, turn the system OFF before attempting to
“rock” the 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
312 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
CONTENTS

Engine Compartment — Gasoline Engines.....318

Onboard Diagnostic System — OBD II........319
▫Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message............319

Emissions Inspection And Maintenance
Programs............................320

Replacement Parts......................321

Authorized Dealer Service................322

Maintenance Procedures..................322
▫Engine Oil..........................322▫Drive Belt — Check Condition............326
▫Spark Plugs.........................326
▫Catalytic Converter....................326
▫Crankcase Emission Control System........328
▫Fuel Filter..........................328
▫Air Cleaner Element (Filter)..............328
▫Maintenance-Free Battery................329
▫Air Conditioner Maintenance.............331
▫Power Steering — Fluid Check............332
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Drive Belt — Check Condition
Check the drive belt condition. Refer to the “Maintenance
Schedule” in Section 8 of this manual.
Inspect the drive belt for evidence of cuts, cracks, or
glazing and replace the belt for any sign of damage
which could result in belt failure.
The belt is self-tensioning and will not need adjustment.
Spark Plugs
Spark plugs must fire properly to assure engine perfor-
mance and emission control. New spark plugs should be
installed at the specified mileage. The entire set should be
replaced if there is any malfunction due to a faulty spark
plug. Refer to “Fluids, Lubricants, and Genuine Parts” in
Section 8 for spark plug information.
Catalytic Converter
The catalytic converter requires the use of unleaded fuel
only. Leaded gasoline will destroy the effectiveness of the
catalyst as an emission control device.
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.
326 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Air Conditioner Maintenance
For best possible performance, your air conditioner
should be checked and serviced by an authorized dealer
at the start of each warm season. This service should
include cleaning of the condenser fins and a performance
test. Drive belt tension should also be checked at this
time.WARNING!
•Use only refrigerants and compressor lubricants
approved by the manufacturer for your air condi-
tioning system. Some unapproved refrigerants are
flammable and can explode, injuring you. Other
unapproved refrigerants or lubricants can cause
the system to fail, requiring costly repairs. Refer to
Section 3 of the Warranty Information Book for
further warranty information.
•The air conditioning system contains refrigerant
under high pressure. To avoid risk of personal
injury or damage to the system, adding refrigerant
or any repair requiring lines to be disconnected
should be done by an experienced repairman.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 331
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