spare wheel DODGE CARAVAN 2004 4.G Owners Manual

Airbag Light
The light should come on and remain on for 6 to 8
seconds as a bulb check when the ignition switch is first
turned ON. If the LED is not lit during starting, have it
checked. If the light stays on or comes on while driving,
have the system checked by an authorized dealer.
Defroster
Check operation by selecting the defrost mode and place
the blower control on high speed. You should be able to
feel the air directed against the windshield.
Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make Outside
The Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear or uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread. Inspect tread and sidewall for cuts or
cracks. Check wheel nuts for tightness, and tires (includ-
ing spare) for proper pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of exterior lights
while you work the controls. Check turn signal and high
beam indicator lights on the instrument panel.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for fuel,
engine coolant, oil or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline
fumes are detected or fuel, power steering fluid or brake
fluid leaks are suspected, the cause should be located and
corrected immediately.
72 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

When the tire pressure monitoring system warning light
is lit, one or more of your tires is significantly underin-
flated. You should stop and check your tires as soon as
possible, and inflate them to the proper pressure as
indicated on the tire and loading information placard.
Driving on a significantly underinflated tire causes the
tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure. Underinfla-
tion also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and
may affect the vehicle's handling and stopping ability.
Each tire, including the spare, should be checked
monthly when cold and set to the recommended inflation
pressure as specified in the tire and loading information
placard and owner's manual.24. Turn Signal Indicators Ð Base Cluster Only
The arrow will flash with the exterior turn signal
when the turn signal lever is operated.
If the vehicle electronics sense that the vehicle has
traveled about one mile with the turn signals on, a chime
will sound to alert you to turn the signals off. If either
indicator flashes at a rapid rate, check for a defective
outside light bulb.
25. High Beam Light Ð Base Cluster Only
This light shows that the headlights are on high
beam. Pull the turn signal lever towards the
steering wheel to switch the headlights from high or low
beam.
158 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

NTire Loading And Tire Pressure...........247
mTiresÐGeneral Information................251
NTire Pressure.........................251
NTire Inflation Pressures.................252
NRadial-Ply Tires......................255
NCompact Spare Tire Ð If Equipped.........255
NTire Spinning........................256
NTread Wear Indicators..................256
NReplacement Tires.....................257
NAlignment And Balance.................258
mAll Wheel Drive (AWD) Ð If Equipped.......259
mTire Pressure Monitor System Ð If Equipped . . . 259
N1,2,3, Or 4 Tire(s) Low Pressure...........260N1,2,3, Or 4 Tire(s) High Pressure...........260
NService Tire Pressure System/See Owner's
Manual............................260
NTire Pressure Unavailable................260
NTire Pressure Now Available.............261
NSpare Tire In Use? Yes/No...............261
NAll 5 Tires With Car? Yes/No.............261
NGeneral Information...................263
mTire Chains...........................263
mSnow Tires...........................264
mTire Rotation Recommendations............265
mFuel Requirements......................266
NReformulated Gasoline.................266
224 STARTING AND OPERATING

Radial-Ply Tires
WARNING!
Combining radial ply tires with other types of tires
on your vehicle will cause your vehicle to handle
poorly. The instability could cause an accident. Al-
ways use radial ply tires in sets of four (or 6, in case
of trucks with dual rear wheels). Never combine
them with other types of tires.
Cuts and punctures in radial tires are repairable only in
the tread area because of sidewall flexing. Consult your
authorized tire dealer for radial tire repairs.
Compact Spare Tire Ð If Equipped
The compact spare is for temporary emergency use with
radial tires. It is engineered to be used on your style
vehicle only. Since this tire has limited tread life, the
original tire should be repaired (or replaced) and rein-
stalled at the first opportunity.
WARNING!
Temporary use spare tires are for emergency use
only. With these tires, do not drive more than 50 mph
(80 km/h). Temporary-use spare tires have a total
tread life of 3,000 miles (4 800 km). Be sure to follow
the warnings which apply to your spare. Failure to
do so could result in spare tire failure and loss of
vehicle control.
STARTING AND OPERATING 255
5

Do not install a wheel cover or attempt to mount a
conventional tire on the compact spare wheel, since the
wheel is designed specifically for the compact spare.
CAUTION!
Because of the reduced ground clearance, do not take
your vehicle through an automatic car wash with the
compact spare installed. Damage to the vehicle may
result.
Tire Spinning
When stuck in mud, sand, snow, or ice conditions, do not
spin your vehicle's wheels above 35 mph (55 km/h).
See the paragraph on Freeing A Stuck Vehicle in Section
6 of this manual.
WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces gener-
ated by excessive wheel speeds may cause tire dam-
age or failure. A tire could explode and injure
someone. Do not spin your vehicle's wheels faster
than 35 mph (55km/h) when you are stuck. And don't
let anyone near a spinning wheel, no matter what the
speed.
Tread Wear Indicators
Tread wear indicators are in the original equipment tires
to help you in determining when your tires should be
replaced.
256 STARTING AND OPERATING

Improper alignment will not cause vehicle vibration.
Vibration may be a result of tire and wheel out-of-
balance. Proper balancing will reduce vibration and
avoid tire cupping and spotty wear.
ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) Ð IF EQUIPPED
CAUTION!
All Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicles must have the same
size and type tires on all wheel positions. Unequal
tire sizes must not be used. Unequal tire size may
cause failure of the power transfer unit and/or the
viscous coupling.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM Ð IF
EQUIPPED
The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPM) system uses
wireless technology with wheel rim mounted electronic
sensors to monitor tire pressure levels (EXCLUDING
THE SPARE TIRE). Sensors, mounted to each wheel as
part of the valve stem, transmit tire pressure readings to
a receiver located in the overhead console.
NOTE:The tire pressure monitoring system on your
vehicle will warn you when one of your tires is signifi-
cantly underinflated and when some combinations of
your tires are significantly underinflated. However, there
are other combinations of significantly underinflated
tires for which your tire pressure monitoring system may
not warn you. These other combinations are relatively
common, accounting for approximately half the instances
in which vehicles have significantly underinflated tires.
For example, your system may not warn you when both
tires on the same side or on the same axle of your vehicle
STARTING AND OPERATING 259
5

TIRE PRESSURE NOW AVAILABLE
The TPM system is functioning normally and the external
interference is no longer affecting the system.
SPARE TIRE IN USE? YES/NO
The TPM system requires more information to determine
the correct mode of operation, one or more of the vehicle
active tires has been replaced by the spare, a wheel rim
not equipped with a TPM sensor or the TPM system
requires service.
If the spare tire or non TPM sensor equipped wheel rim
is in active use (mounted on the vehicle), answer YES and
the TPM system will resume normal operation.
If the spare tire or non TPM sensor equipped wheel rim
isNOTin active use (mounted on the vehicle), answer
NO and the TPM system will resume normal operation.
ALL 5 TIRES WITH CAR? YES/NO
The TPM system requires more information to determine
the correct mode of operation, one or more of the vehicle
active tires has been replaced by the spare, a wheel rim
not equipped with a TPM sensor or the TPM system
requires service.
If the spare tire or non TPM sensor equipped wheel rim
is in active use (mounted on the vehicle), answer YES and
the TPM system will resume normal operation.
If the spare tire or non TPM sensor equipped wheel rim
isNOTin active use (mounted on the vehicle), answer
NO and the TPM system will resume normal operation.
STARTING AND OPERATING 261
5

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
CONTENTS
mHazard Warning Flasher..................280
mIf Your Engine Overheats.................281
mJacking And Tire Changing................282
NJack Location........................283
NSpare Tire Stowage....................283
NPreparations For Jacking................284
NJacking Instructions....................285
mJump-Starting Procedures If Battery Is Low....288
mDriving On Slippery Surfaces..............290
NAcceleration.........................290NTraction............................290
mFreeing A Stuck Vehicle..................291
mTowing A Disabled Vehicle................291
NWith Ignition Key.....................291
NWithout The Ignition Key...............293
NTowing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle
(Flat Towing With All Four Wheels On The
Ground)............................293
NTowing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle
With A Tow Dolley....................293
6

Spare Tire Removal
Fit the jack-handle over the drive nut. Rotate the nut to
the left until the spare is on the ground with enough slack
cable to allow you to pull the tire out from under the
vehicle.
CAUTION!
The winch mechanism is designed for use with the
jack handle only. Use of an air wrench or other
power tools is not recommended and can damage the
winch.
When the spare is clear, tilt the retainer at the end of the
cable and pull it through the center of the wheel.
Preparations For Jacking
Park the vehicle on a firm level surface, avoid ice or
slippery areas,set the parking brakeand place the gear
selector in PARK. Turn OFF the ignition.
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.
²Turn on the Hazard Warning Flasher.
284 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

²Block both the front and rear
of the wheel diagonally oppo-
site the jacking position. For
example, if changing the right
front tire, block the left rear
wheel.
²Passengers should not remain in the vehicle when the
vehicle is being jacked.
Jacking Instructions
1. Remove the spare wheel, scissors jack and jack-handle
from stowage.
2. Loosen (but do not remove) the wheel lug nuts by
turning them to the left one turn while the wheel is still
on the ground.
3. There are two jack engagement locations on each side
of the body Ð see illustration.4. These locations are on the sill flange of the body and
consist of a pair of downstanding tabs. The jack is to be
located, engaging the flange, between the pair of tabs
closest to the wheel to be changed. Place the wrench on
the jack screw and turn to the right until the jack head is
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 285
6