flat tire DODGE CARAVAN 2011 Owner's Manual

Rim Size
This is the rim size that is appropriate for the tire size
listed.
Inflation Pressure
This is the cold tire inflation pressure for your vehicle, for
all loading conditions up to full GAWR.
Curb Weight
The curb weight of a vehicle is defined as the total weight
of the vehicle with all fluids, including vehicle fuel, at full
capacity conditions, and with no occupants or cargo
loaded into the vehicle. The front and rear curb weight
values are determined by weighing your vehicle on a
commercial scale before any occupants or cargo are
added.
Overloading
The load carrying components (axle, springs, tires,
wheels, etc.) of your vehicle will provide satisfactory
service as long as you do not exceed the GVWR and front
and rear GAWR.
The best way to figure out the total weight of your
vehicle is to weigh it when it is fully loaded and ready for
operation. Weigh it on a commercial scale to ensure that
it is not over the GVWR.
Figure out the weight on the front and rear of the vehicle
separately. It is important that you distribute the load
evenly over the front and rear axles.
Overloading can cause potential safety hazards and
shorten useful service life. Heavier axles or suspension
components do not necessarily increase the vehicle’s
GVWR.
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WARNING! (Continued)
3. GAWR
4. Trailer tongue weight rating for that trailer hitch.
(This requirement may limit the ability to always
achieve the 10% to 15% range of trailer tongue weight
as a percentage of total trailer weight.)
Towing Requirements – Tires
•
Do not attempt to tow a trailer while using a compact
spare tire.
•Proper tire inflation pressures are essential to the safe
and satisfactory operation of your vehicle. Refer to
“Tires – General Information” in “Starting and Oper-
ating” for proper tire inflation procedures.
•Check the trailer tires for proper tire inflation pres-
sures before trailer usage.
•Check for signs of tire wear or visible tire damage
before towing a trailer. Refer to “Tires – General
Information” in “Starting and Operating” for the
proper inspection procedure.
•When replacing tires, refer to “Tires – General Infor-
mation” in “Starting and Operating” for proper tire
replacement procedures. Replacing tires with a higher
load carrying capacity will not increase the vehicle’s
GVWR and GAWR limits.
Towing Requirements – Trailer Brakes
•
Donot interconnect the hydraulic brake system or
vacuum system of your vehicle with that of the trailer.
This could cause inadequate braking and possible
personal injury.
5
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3. To remove the compact spare tire/cover assembly,
assemble the winch T-handle extensions to form a “T”
and fit the winch T-handle over the drive nut, refer to
“Assembling The Spare Tire Hook” graphic in “Spare
Tire Tools”. Rotate the nut to the left until the winch
mechanism stops turning freely. This will allow enough
slack in the cable to allow you to pull the spare tire out
from under the vehicle.NOTE:If either front tire is flat it may be necessary to
jack up the vehicle to remove the compact spare tire/
cover assembly from under the vehicle.
Pulling Spare Tire
446 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
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WARNING! (Continued)
•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.
CAUTION!
Do not attempt to raise the vehicle by jacking on
locations other than those indicated in the Jacking
Instructions for this vehicle.
NOTE: Refer to the “Compact Spare Tire” section of
“Tires – General Information” for information about the
spare tire, its use, and operation.
1. 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.
Jack Warning Label
6
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WARNING!
A loose tire or jack thrown forward in a collision or
hard stop could endanger the occupants of the ve-
hicle. Always stow the jack parts and the spare tire in
the places provided. Have the deflated (flat) tire
repaired or replaced immediately.
10. Place the deflated (flat) tire and compact spare tire
cover assembly. in the rear cargo area. Do not stow the
deflated tire in the spare tire location. Have the full-
sized tire repaired or replaced, as soon as possible.
11. Stow the cable and wheel spacer before driving the
vehicle. Reassemble the winch handle extensions to form
a “T” and fit the winch “T” handle over the drive nut.
Rotate the nut to the right until the winch mechanism
clicks at least three times. 12. Stow the jack, jack handle and winch handle tools
back in the stowage compartment.
13. Check the compact spare tire pressure as soon as
possible. Correct the tire pressure, as required.
Wheel Nuts
All wheel nuts should be tightened occasionally, to
eliminate the possibility of wheel studs being sheared or
the bolt holes in the wheels becoming elongated. This is
especially important during the first few hundred miles
of operation, and after each time a tire is changed, to
allow the wheel nuts to become properly set. All nuts
should first be firmly seated against the wheel. The nuts
should then be tightened to recommended torque.
Tighten the nuts to final torque in increments. Progress
around the bolt circle, tightening the nut opposite to the
nut just previously tightened until final torque is
achieved. Recommended torque is 102 ft lbs (138 N·m).
6
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CAUTION!
The compact spare tire/cover assembly must be used
when the compact spare tire is stored. Failure to use
this cover could drastically reduce the life of the
compact spare tire.
WARNING!
Verify that both retainer tabs of the wheel spacer
have been properly extended through the center of
the wheel and spare tire/cover assembly. Failure to
properly engage both retainer tabs could result in
loss of the spare tire and cover assembly, which will
cause vehicle damage and may cause loss of vehicle
control.4. Using the winch T-handle, rotate the drive nut to the
right until the compact spare tire/cover assembly is
drawn into place against the underside of the vehicle.
5. Continue to rotate the nut to the right until you hear
the winch mechanism click three times. It cannot be
overtightened. Check under the vehicle to ensure the
compact spare tire/cover assembly is positioned cor-
rectly against the underside of the vehicle.CAUTION!
The winch mechanism is designed specifically to
stow a compact spare tire only. Do not attempt to use
the winch to stow the full size flat tire, or any other
full-size tire. Vehicle damage may result.6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 455
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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 Motor
Vehicle 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.
538 IF YOU NEED CONSUMER ASSISTANCE
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Oil (Engine)........................ 474
Power Steering ...................... 366
Radiator (Coolant Pressure) ............. 487
Car Washes ............................ 494
Carbon Monoxide Warning ..............101,412
Cargo (Vehicle Loading) ................... 224
Cargo Compartment Luggage Carrier ..................... 234
Caution, Exhaust Gas ...................... 53
Cellular Phone ....................... 127,321
Center High Mounted Stop Light ............ 510
Chains, Tire ............................ 395
Changing A Flat Tire ..................... 439
Chart, Tire Sizing ........................ 378
Check Engine Light
(Malfunction Indicator Light) .............254,469
Checking Your Vehicle For Safety ............ 101
Checks, Safety .......................... 101
Child Restraint ...................... 87,88,89Child Restraint Tether Anchors
............... 91
Child Safety Locks ........................ 47
Child Seat .............................. 91
Clean Air Gasoline ....................... 408
Cleaning Wheels ............................ 496
Climate Control ......................... 321
Clock ............................. 287,296
Coat Hook ............................ 223
Coin Holder ........................... 224
Cold Weather Operation ................... 352
Compact Disc (CD) Maintenance ............. 320
Compact Spare Tire ...................... 390
Compass ........................ 262,265,277
Compass Calibration .................. 265,278
Compass Variance .................... 264,278
Computer, Trip/Travel .................... 276
Connector UCI .............................. 310
542 INDEX
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Oil Change Interval................... 473
Oil Disposal ........................ 474
Oil Filler Cap ....................... 474
Oil Filter Disposal .................... 474
Oil Selection ..................... 473,511
Oil Synthetic ........................ 474
Overheating ........................ 438
Starting ........................... 351
Temperature Gauge ................... 259
Enhanced Accident Response Feature .......... 82
Entry System, Illuminated .................. 19
Ethanol ............................... 409
Event Data Recorder ...................... 86
Exhaust Gas Caution ................53,101,412
Exhaust System ...................... 101,476
Express Down Windows ................... 22
Extender, Seat Belt ........................ 72
Exterior Folding Mirrors ................... 115
Exterior Lights .......................... 104 Fabric Care
............................ 497
Filler Location Fuel ...................... 256
Filters Air Cleaner ......................... 475
Air Conditioning .................. 345,480
Engine Oil ....................... 475,512
Engine Oil Disposal ................... 474
Flash-To-Pass ........................... 170
Flashers Hazard Warning ..................... 438
Turn Signal ................ 104,249,508,509
Flat Tire Stowage ........................ 453
Flexible Fuel Vehicles Cruising Range ...................... 415
Engine Oil ......................... 415
Fuel Requirements ................. 412,414
Maintenance ........................ 416
Replacement Parts .................... 416
Starting ........................... 415
10
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Tires ...........................104,386,537
Aging (Life of Tires) .................. 393
Air Pressure ........................ 386
Chains ............................ 395
Changing .......................... 439
Compact Spare ...................... 390
Flat Changing ....................... 453
General Information .................. 386
High Speed ......................... 388
Inflation Pressures .................... 387
Jacking ......................... 439,448
Life of Tires ........................ 393
Load Capacity .................... 382,383
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) ......... 398
Pressure Warning Light ................ 253
Quality Grading ..................... 537
Radial ............................ 389
Replacement ........................ 394
Rotation ........................... 397 Safety
.......................... 377,386
Sizes ............................. 378
Snow Tires ......................... 397
Spare Tire .......................... 441
Spinning ........................... 392
Tread Wear Indicators ................. 393
Tongue Weight/Trailer Weight .............. 428
Towing ............................... 421
Disabled Vehicle ..................... 462
Guide ............................. 427
Recreational ........................ 436
Weight ............................ 427
Traction Control ......................... 371
Traction Control Switch ................... 371
Trailer Towing .......................... 421
Cooling System Tips .................. 435
Hitches ............................ 426
Minimum Requirements ................ 429
Trailer and Tongue Weight .............. 428
556 INDEX
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