cooling DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 2009 5.G User Guide

WARNING! (Continued)
Take special care to avoid the radiator cooling fan
whenever the hood is raised. The cooling fan is
electrically operated and can start anytime the
ignition switch is ON. You can be hurt by the fan.
During cold weather when temperatures are be-
low the freezing point, electrolyte in a discharged
battery may freeze. Do not attempt jump-starting
because the battery could rupture or explode. The
battery temperature must be brought up above the
freezing point before attempting a jump-start. When jump-starting, proceed as follows:
1. Wear eye protection and remove any metal jewelry,
such as watch bands or bracelets, that might make an
inadvertent electrical contact.
2. When a boost is provided by a battery in another
vehicle, park that vehicle within booster cable reach and
do not let the vehicles touch. Set the parking brake, place
the automatic transmission shift lever into PARK and
turn the ignition switch to the OFF position for both
vehicles.
3. Turn off the heater, radio and all unnecessary electrical
loads.
4. Connect one end of a jumper cable to the positive
terminal of the discharged battery. Connect the other end
of the same cable to the positive terminal of the booster
battery.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 425 6

▫Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 451
▫ Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 456
▫ Automatic Transaxle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 458
▫ Appearance Care And Protection From
Corrosion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 461
▫ Cleaning The Instrument Panel
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 466
m Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 467
▫ Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) . . 467
m Vehicle Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475
m Replacement Light Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475
m Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 476
▫ Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 476 ▫
Front Park/Turn Signal Lamps . . . . . . . . . 477
▫ Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 477
▫ Rear Tail, Stop, Turn Signal, Side Marker
And Backup Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 478
▫ Center High-Mounted Stop Lamp
(CHMSL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 479
▫ License Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 479
m Fluids And Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 480
m Fluids, Lubricants And Genuine Parts . . . . . . 481
▫ Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 481
▫ Chassis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 482
432 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Cooling System
WARNING!
When working near the radiator cooling fan, dis-
connect the fan motor lead or turn the ignition
switch to the OFF position. The fan is temperature
controlled and can start at anytime the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
You or others can be badly burned by hot engine
coolant (antifreeze) or steam from your radiator. If
you see or hear steam coming from under the
hood, do not open the hood until the radiator has
had time to cool. Never try to open a cooling
system pressure cap when the radiator is hot.
Coolant Checks
Check the engine coolant (antifreeze) protection every
12 months (before the onset of freezing weather, where
applicable). If the engine coolant (antifreeze) is dirty or rusty in appearance, the system should be drained,
flushed and refilled with fresh coolant. Check the front of
the A/C condenser for any accumulation of bugs, leaves,
etc. If dirty, clean by gently spraying water from a garden
hose vertically down the face of the condenser.
Check the coolant recovery bottle tubing for brittle rub-
ber, cracking, tears, cuts and tightness of the connection
at the bottle and radiator. Inspect the entire system for
leaks.
With the engine at normal operating temperature (but
not running), check the cooling system pressure cap for
proper vacuum sealing by draining a small amount of
engine coolant (antifreeze) from the radiator drain cock.
If the cap is sealing properly, the engine coolant (anti-
freeze) will begin to drain from the coolant recovery
bottle. DO NOT REMOVE THE COOLANT PRESSURE
CAP WHEN THE COOLING SYSTEM IS HOT.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 451 7

Cooling System — Drain, Flush and RefillIf the engine coolant (antifreeze) is dirty or contains a
considerable amount of sediment, clean and flush with a
reliable cooling system cleaner. Follow with a thorough
rinsing to remove all deposits and chemicals. Properly
dispose of the old engine coolant (antifreeze) solution.
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” in Section 8 for the
proper maintenance intervals.
Selection of Coolant
Use only the manufacturer’s recommended engine cool-
ant (antifreeze). Refer to “Fluids, Lubricants and Genuine
Parts” in this section for the correct fluid type.
CAUTION!

Mixing of engine coolant (antifreeze) other than
specified Hybrid Organic Additive Technology
(HOAT) engine coolant (antifreeze), may result in
engine damage and may decrease corrosion pro-
tection. If a non-HOAT engine coolant (antifreeze)
is introduced into the cooling system in an emer-
gency, it should be replaced with the specified
engine coolant (antifreeze) as soon as possible.
Do not use water alone or alcohol based engine
coolant (antifreeze) products. Do not use addi-
tional rust inhibitors or anti-rust products, as they
may not be compatible with the radiator engine
coolant (antifreeze) and may plug the radiator. (Continued)
452 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

CAUTION! (Continued)
This vehicle has not been designed for use with
Propylene Glycol-based engine coolant (anti-
freeze). Use of Propylene Glycol-based engine
coolant (antifreeze) is not recommended.
Adding Coolant
Your vehicle has been built with an improved engine
coolant (antifreeze) that allows extended maintenance
intervals. This engine coolant (antifreeze) can be used up
to five years or 102,000 miles (170 000 km) before
replacement. To prevent reducing this extended mainte-
nance period, it is important that you use the same
engine coolant (antifreeze) throughout the life of your
vehicle. Please review these recommendations for using
Hybrid Organic Additive Technology (HOAT) engine
coolant (antifreeze). When adding engine coolant (antifreeze), a minimum
solution of 50% recommended MOPARt
Antifreeze/
Coolant Five Year/100,000 Mile Formula HOAT (Hybrid
Organic Additive Technology), or equivalent, in water
should be used. Use higher concentrations (not to exceed
70%) if temperatures below 34°F (37°C ) are antici-
pated.
Use only high purity water such as distilled or deionized
water when mixing the water/engine coolant (antifreeze)
solution. The use of lower quality water will reduce the
amount of corrosion protection in the engine cooling
system.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 453 7

Please note that it is the owner’s responsibility to main-
tain the proper level of protection against freezing ac-
cording to the temperatures occurring in the area where
the vehicle is operated.
NOTE:Mixing engine coolant (antifreeze) types will
decrease the life of the engine coolant (antifreeze) and
will require more frequent coolant changes.
Cooling System Pressure Cap
The cap must be fully tightened to prevent the loss of
engine coolant (antifreeze), and to ensure that engine
coolant (antifreeze) will return to the radiator from the
coolant recovery bottle.
The cap should be inspected and cleaned if there is any
accumulation of foreign material on the sealing surfaces. WARNING!

The warning words “DO NOT OPEN HOT” on
the cooling system pressure cap are a safety pre-
caution. Never add engine coolant (antifreeze)
when the engine is overheated. Do not loosen or
remove the cap to cool an overheated engine. Heat
causes pressure to build up in the cooling system.
To prevent scalding or injury, do not remove the
pressure cap while the system is hot or under
pressure.
Do not use a pressure cap other than the one
specified for your vehicle. Personal injury or en-
gine damage may result.
Disposal of Used Coolant
Used ethylene glycol-based engine coolant (antifreeze) is
a regulated substance requiring proper disposal. Check
with your local authorities to determine the disposal
454 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

engine coolant (antifreeze) needs to be added, contents
of the coolant recovery bottle must also be protected
against freezing.
If frequent engine coolant (antifreeze) additions are
required, or if the level in the coolant recovery bottle
does not drop when the engine cools, the cooling
system should be pressure tested for leaks.
Maintain engine coolant (antifreeze) concentration at
50% HOAT engine coolant (antifreeze) (minimum)
and distilled water for proper corrosion protection of
your engine, which contains aluminum components.
Make sure that the radiator and coolant recovery
bottle overflow hoses are not kinked or obstructed.
Keep the front of the radiator clean. If your vehicle is
equipped with air conditioning, also keep the front of
the condenser clean.
Do not change the thermostat for Summer or Winter
operation. If replacement is ever necessary, install
ONLY the correct type thermostat. Other designs may
result in unsatisfactory coolant performance, poor gas
mileage, and increased emissions.
Brakes
In order to assure brake system performance, all brake
system components should be inspected periodically.
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” in Section 8 for the
proper maintenance intervals.WARNING!
Riding the brakes can lead to brake failure and
possibly an accident. Driving with your foot resting
or riding on the brake pedal can result in abnormally
high brake temperatures, excessive lining wear, and
possible brake damage. You would not have your full
braking capacity in an emergency.
456 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

FLUIDS AND CAPACITIESU.S.
Metric
Fuel (Approximate) 20 Gallons76 Liters
Engine Oil with Filter
3.3L and 3.8L Engine (SAE 5W-20, API Certified) 5 Quarts4.7 Liters
4.0L Engine (SAE 10W-30, API Certified) 5.5 Quarts5.2 Liters
Cooling System *
3.3L, 3.8L, and 4.0L Engine (MOPARt Engine Coolant/
Antifreeze 5 Year/100,000 Mile Formula) 13.4 Quarts
12.6 Liters
* Includes heater and coolant recovery bottle filled to MAX level. Add 2.9 Qts (2.8 L) if equipped with a rear
heater.
480 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Compass Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255,261
Compass Variance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254,262
Computer, Trip/Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
ConnectorUCI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Universal Consumer Interface (UCI) . . . . . . . . . 290
Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Console, Floor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Console, Overhead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Console, Removable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Contract, Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 505
Coolant Pressure Cap (Radiator Cap) . . . . . . . . . . 454
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 451 Adding Coolant (Antifreeze) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 453
Coolant Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 480
Coolant Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 451,455
Disposal of Used Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 454
Drain, Flush, and Refill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 452
Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 455 Points to Remember . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 455
Pressure Cap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 454
Radiator Cap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 454
Selection of Coolant (Antifreeze) . . . . . . 452,480,481
Cruise Control (Speed Control) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214,466
Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 503
Data Recorder, Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Daytime Running Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Dealer Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 438
Defroster, Rear Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Defroster, Windshield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94,308,318
Diagnostic System, Onboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 435
Dimmer Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Dipsticks Automatic Transaxle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 459
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 459
Oil (Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 439
INDEX 515
10

Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 451
Exhaust Gas Caution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50,92,382
Flooded, Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378,480
Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 439,480,481
Oil Change Interval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 440
Oil Disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 442
Oil Filler Cap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 441
Oil Filter Disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 442
Oil Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 440,480
Oil Synthetic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 441
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Enhanced Accident Response Feature . . . . . . . . . . 70
Event Data Recorder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Exhaust Gas Caution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50,92,382,443
Exhaust System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92,443 Express Down Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Extender, Seat Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Exterior Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Exterior Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Fabric Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 464
Filler Location Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Filters
Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 442
Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324,448
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 442,481
Engine Oil Disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 442
Flashers Hazard Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410
Turn Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94,241,477,478
Flash-To-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Flat Tire Stowage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 421
INDEX 517
10