tires DODGE CARAVAN 2008 5.G Owner's Guide

JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING
WARNING!
²Getting 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.
²The 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.
WARNING!
For vehicles equipped with Stow 'n Go seating, if it
is necessary to retrieve the spare tire from under the
vehicle on the side of the vehicle close to moving
traffic. Pull far enough off the road to avoid the
danger of being hit.
412 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

WARNING!
Carefully follow these tire changing warnings to
help prevent personal injury or damage to your
vehicle:
²Always park on a firm, level surface as far from
the edge of the roadway as possible before raising
the vehicle.
²Block the wheel diagonally opposite the wheel to
be raised.
²Set the parking brake firmly and set an automatic
transmission in park; a manual transmission in
reverse.
WARNING!
Carefully follow these tire changing warnings to
help prevent personal injury or damage to your
vehicle:
²Never start or run the engine with the vehicle on a
jack.
²Do not let anyone sit in the vehicle when it is on a
jack.
²Do not get under the vehicle when it is on a jack.
²Only use the jack in the positions indicated and
for lifting this vehicle during a tire change.
²If working on or near a roadway, be extremely
careful of motor traffic.
²To assure that spare tires, flat or inflated are
securely stowed, spares must be stowed with the
valve stem facing the ground.
²Turn on the Hazard warning flasher.
416 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

6. Start the engine in the vehicle which has the booster
battery, let the engine idle a few minutes, then start the
engine in the vehicle with the discharged battery.
7. When removing the jumper cables, reverse the above
sequence exactly. Be careful of the moving belts and fan.
WARNING!
Any procedure other than the jump-starting process
listed could result in:
²Personal injury caused by electrolyte squirting out
the battery vent;
²Personal injury or property damage due to battery
explosion;
²Damage to charging system of booster vehicle or
of immobilized vehicle.
FREEING A STUCK 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
front wheels. Then shift the gear selector lever back and
forth between REVERSE and DRIVE. Usually the least
amount of accelerator pedal pressure to maintain the
rocking motion without spinning the wheels is most
effective.
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 some-
one. Do not spin your vehicle's wheels faster than 35
mph (55 km/h) when you are stuck. And don't let
anyone near a spinning wheel, no matter what the
speed.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 427
6

CAUTION!
Racing 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 35 mph (55 km/h).
TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE
Towing With The Ignition Key
Your vehicle may be towed under the following condi-
tions: The gear selector lever must be in NEUTRAL, the
distance to be traveled must not exceed 100 mi (160 km),
and the towing speed must not exceed 44 mph (72
km/h). Exceeding these towing limits may cause a trans-
mission geartrain failure. If the transmission is not op-
erative, or if the vehicle is to be towed more than 100 mi
(160 km), the vehicle must be towed with the front
wheels off the ground.
CAUTION!
²Do not attempt to tow this vehicle from the front
with sling type towing equipment. Damage to the
front fascia will result.
²Always use wheel lift equipment when towing
from the front. The only other approved method of
towing is with a flat bed truck.
²Do not tow the vehicle from the rear. Damage to
the rear sheet metal, liftgate and fascia will occur.
428 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

Required Maintenance Intervals
Perform Maintenance Every(Where time and mileage
are listed, follow the interval that occurs first.)
Maintenance Items Miles Kilometers or Months
Change the engine oil and engine oil filter. 6,000 10 000 6
Rotate Tires. 6,000 10 000 6
If using your vehicle for any of the following: Dusty
or off-road conditions. Inspect the engine air cleaner
filter, replace if necessary.12,000 20 000 12
Inspect the brake linings, replace if necessary. 12,000 20 000 12
Replace the air conditioning filter. 12,000 20 000 12
Inspect the CV Joints. Perform the first inspection at
12,000 mi (20 000 km) or 12 months.24,000 40 000 24
Inspect Exhaust System. Perform the first inspection at
12,000 mi (20 000 km) or 12 months.24,000 40 000 24
Inspect the front suspension, tie rod ends and boot
seals, replace if necessary.24,000 40 000 24
Replace the engine air cleaner filter. 30,000 50 000 30
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES 493
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Call toll free at:
²1±800±890±4038 (U.S.)
²1±800±387±1143 (Canada)
Or
Visit us on the Worldwide Web at:
²www.techauthority.com
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNIFORM
TIRE QUALITY GRADES
The following tire grading categories were established by
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The
specific grade rating assigned by the tire's manufacturer
in each category is shown on the sidewall of the tires on
your vehicle.
All passenger car tires must conform to Federal safety
requirements in addition to these grades.
Treadwear
The Treadwear grade is a comparative rating, based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and one-half
times as well on the government course as a tire graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends upon the
actual conditions of their use, however, and may depart
significantly from the norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices, and differences in road charac-
teristics and climate.
Traction Grades
The Traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B,
and C. These grades represent the tire's ability to stop on
wet pavement, as measured under controlled conditions
on specified government test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction perfor-
mance.
IF YOU NEED CONSUMER ASSISTANCE 505
9

WARNING!
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction tests, and does not
include acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or
peak traction characteristics.
Temperature Grades
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire's resistance to the generation of heat
and its ability to dissipate heat, when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of performance, which all
passenger car tires must meet under the Federal MotorVehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A repre-
sent higher levels of performance on the laboratory test
wheel, than the minimum required by law.
WARNING!
The temperature grade for this tire is established for
a tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, under-inflation, or excessive load-
ing, either separately or in combination, can cause
heat buildup and possible tire failure.
506 IF YOU NEED CONSUMER ASSISTANCE

Adding Engine Coolant (Antifreeze).......... 458
Adding Fuel........................... 382
Adding Washer Fluid..................... 455
Additives, Fuel......................... 380
Adjustable Pedals....................... 177
Air Cleaner, Engine (Engine Air Cleaner Filter) . . . 445
Air Conditioner Maintenance............... 450
Air Conditioning........................ 301
Air Conditioning Controls................. 301
Air Conditioning Filter.................320,451
Air Conditioning, Operating Tips............ 319
Air Conditioning, Rear Zone.............307,314
Air Conditioning Refrigerant............... 450
Air Conditioning System.............301,309,450
Air Conditioning System, Zone Control........ 305
Air Pressure, Tires....................... 358
Airbag..............................66,74
Airbag Deployment....................... 75
Airbag Light...................67,73,77,94,233Airbag Maintenance....................... 76
Airbag, Side........................68,72,74
Airbag, Window (Side Curtain)...........70,72,74
Alarm Light........................... 233
Alarm (Security Alarm).................... 18
Alignment and Balance................... 366
Alterations/Modifications, Vehicle............. 7
Antenna, Satellite Radio................... 288
Antifreeze (Engine Coolant)...........457,458,486
Disposal............................ 459
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).............. 338
Anti-Lock Warning Light...............227,339
Anti-Theft System........................ 18
Appearance Care........................ 467
Ashtray............................... 201
Assistance Towing....................... 117
Audio Systems (Radio).................280,283
Auto Down Power Windows................ 39
Auto Up Power Windows................40,194
508 INDEX

Key, Sentry (Immobilizer)................... 15
Key-In Reminder......................... 15
Keyless Entry System...................... 21
Keys................................. 12
Knee Bolster............................ 67
Lap/Shoulder Belts....................... 57
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren)... 86
Latches
Hood............................... 158
Lead Free Gasoline...................... 377
Life of Tires............................ 364
Liftgate................................ 48
Lights..............................94,160
Airbag......................67,73,77,94,233
Alarm.............................. 233
Anti-Lock.........................227,339
Automatic Headlights................... 163
Back-Up............................. 484Battery Saver......................... 166
Brake Assist Warning................... 343
Brake Warning........................ 228
Bulb Replacement...................481,482
Center Mounted Stop................... 485
Daytime Running...................... 163
Dimmer Switch, Headlight.............162,170
Engine Temperature Warning.............. 232
Fog ..........................165,233,483
Hazard Warning Flasher................. 410
Headlight Switch...................... 163
Headlights........................... 482
Headlights On Reminder................. 165
Headlights On With Wipers............... 164
High Beam........................... 170
High Beam Indicator.................... 227
High Beam/Low Beam Select............. 170
Illuminated Entry....................... 20
Interior..........................160,162
INDEX 517
10

License............................. 485
Lights On Reminder.................... 165
Low Fuel............................ 234
Malfunction Indicator (Check Engine)........ 232
Oil Pressure.......................... 233
Park.............................162,483
Passing............................. 170
Reading............................. 183
Rear Servicing........................ 484
Rear Tail............................ 484
Seat Belt Reminder..................... 233
Security Alarm (Theft Alarm).............. 233
Service...........................481,482
Service Engine Soon (Malfunction Indicator) . . . 232
Side Marker.......................... 484
Theft Alarm (Security Alarm).............. 233
Turn Signal.....................166,483,484
Voltage............................. 234
Warning (Instrument Cluster Description)..... 226Load Leveling System.................... 218
Loading Vehicle...................214,388,391
Capacities........................... 391
Tires ............................... 353
Locks
Door................................ 31
Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren (LATCH)... 86
Lubrication, Body....................... 454
Luggage Rack (Roof Rack)................. 215
Lumbar Support........................ 137
Maintenance Free Battery.................. 448
Maintenance Procedures................... 441
Maintenance Schedule.................... 490
Maintenance, Sunroof..................... 195
Malfunction Indicator Light (Check Engine) . . 232,438
Manual, Service......................... 504
Map/Reading Lights..................... 183
Memory Feature (Memory Seat)............. 155
518 INDEX