ECU DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 2009 5.G Service Manual

OverloadingThe 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.
Loading
To load your vehicle properly, first figure out its empty
weight, axle-by-axle and side-by-side. Store heavier items
down low and be sure you distribute their weight as
evenly as possible. Stow all loose items securely before
driving. If weighing the loaded vehicle shows that you
have exceeded either GAWR, but the total load is within
the specified GVWR, you must redistribute the weight.
Improper weight distribution can have an adverse effect
on the way your vehicle steers and handles, and the way
the brakes operate.
CAUTION!
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the GVWR
or the maximum front and rear GAWR. If you do,
parts on your vehicle can break, or it can change the
way your vehicle handles. This could cause you to
lose control. Also, overloading can shorten the life of
your vehicle.
STARTING AND OPERATING 391 5

NOTE:Remember that everything put into or on the
trailer adds to the load on your vehicle. Also, additional
factory-installed options, or authorized dealer-installed
options, must be considered as part of the total load on
your vehicle. Refer to the Tire and Loading Information
placard in the “Tire-Safety Information” section of this
manual for the maximum combined weight of occupants
and cargo for your vehicle.
Towing Requirements
To promote proper break-in of your new vehicle drivetrain
components, the following guidelines are recommended: CAUTION!

Avoid towing a trailer for the first 500 miles
(805 km) of vehicle operation. Doing so may dam-
age your vehicle.
During the first 500 miles (805 km) of trailer
towing, limit your speed to 50 mph (80 km/h). Perform the maintenance listed in the “Maintenance
Schedule.” Refer to Section 8 of this manual. When
towing a trailer, never exceed the GAWR or GCWR
ratings. WARNING!
Improper towing can lead to an injury accident.
Follow these guidelines to make your trailer towing
as safe as possible:
Make certain that the load is secured in the trailer
and will not shift during travel. When trailering
cargo that is not fully secured, dynamic load shifts
can occur that may be difficult for the driver to
control. You could lose control of your vehicle and
have an accident.
STARTING AND OPERATING 401
5

Jacking Instructions
WARNING!Carefully follow these tire changing warnings to
help prevent personal injury or damage to your
vehicle:
Always park on a firm, level surface as far from
the edge of the roadway as possible before raising
the vehicle.
Block the wheel diagonally opposite the wheel to
be raised.
Set the parking brake firmly and set an automatic
transmission in PARK; a manual transmission in
REVERSE.
(Continued) WARNING! (Continued)

Never start or run the engine with the vehicle on a
jack.
Do not let anyone sit in the vehicle when it is on a
jack.
Do not get under the vehicle when it is on a jack.
Only use the jack in the positions indicated and
for lifting this vehicle during a tire change.
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.
(Continued)
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 415 6

CAUTION!Do not attempt to raise the vehicle by jacking on
locations other than those indicated in Step 5.
6. Place the wrench on the jack screw and turn to the
right until the jack head is properly engaged in the
described location. Do not raise the vehicle until you are
sure the jack is securely engaged.
7. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack screw to the right,
using the swivel wrench. Raise the vehicle only until the
tire just clears the surface and enough clearance is
obtained to install the spare tire. Minimum tire lift
provides maximum stability. WARNING!Raising the vehicle higher than necessary can make
the vehicle less stable. It could slip off the jack and
hurt someone near it. Raise the vehicle only enough
to remove the tire.
8. Remove the wheel lug nuts, for vehicles with wheel
covers, remove the cover from the wheel by hand. Do not
pry the wheel cover off. Then pull the wheel off the hub.
9. Install the compact spare tire. Lightly tighten the lug
nuts. To avoid the risk of forcing the vehicle off the jack,
do not tighten the lug nuts fully until the vehicle has been
lowered.
NOTE:
Do not install the wheel cover on the compact spare.
Do not use a hammer or force to install the wheel
covers.
420 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

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 95 ft lbs (130 N·m).
Secure The Spare Tire As Follows:
1. To stow the compact spare tire/cover assembly on
vehicles equipped with Stow ’n Gotseating, assemble
the winch handle extensions to form a “T” and fit the
winch “T” handle over the drive nut. 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 wheel spacer out from under the vehicle. WARNING!
A loose compact spare tire/cover assembly, thrown
forward in a collision or hard stop could endanger
the occupants of the vehicle. Always stow the com-
pact spare tire with the cover assembly in the place
provided.
CAUTION!
The winch mechanism is designed for use with the
winch “T” handle only. Use of an air wrench or other
power tools is not recommended and can damage the
winch.
422 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

A/C Air Filter — If EquippedRefer to the “Maintenance Schedule” in Section 8 for the
proper maintenance intervals.
WARNING!
Do not remove the A/C air filter while the blower is
operating or personal injury may result.
The A/C air filter is located in the fresh air inlet behind
the glove box. Perform the following procedure to re-
place the filter:
1. Open the glove compartment and remove all contents.
2. Push in on the sides of the glove compartment and
lower the door.
3. Pivot the glove compartment downward.
4. Disengage the two retaining tabs that secure the filter
cover to the HVAC housing, and remove the cover. 5. Remove the A/C air filter by pulling it straight out of
the housing.
6. Install the A/C air filter with the arrow on the filter
pointing toward the floor. When installing the filter
cover, make sure the retaining tabs fully engage the
cover. A/C Air Filter Replacement
448 MAINT

AINING YOUR VEHICLE

3. Twist the socket and remove from the lamp assembly.
4. Pull the bulb to remove it from the socket.
5. Replace the bulb, reinstall the socket, and reattach the
lamp assembly.
Center High-Mounted Stop Lamp (CHMSL)
The CHMSL uses LED lamps that are not serviceable
separately. The CHMSL must be replaced as an assembly.
See your authorized dealer.
License Lamp
The license plate lamp is located under the tailgate light
bar and above the license plate.
1. Using a small screwdriver, press inward the locking
tab on the outboard side of the lamp assembly and pull
down on the lamp assembly for removal.
2. Twist and remove the socket from the lamp assembly
and pull the bulb out to remove.
3. Push the bulb into the socket, twist the socket into the
lamp assembly and reinstall the lamp assembly into place
ensuring the locking tab is secure.1 — Stop, Tail, Turn Signal
Bulb Combo
2

— Backup Bulb MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 479 7

Adding Engine Coolant (Antifreeze) . . . . . . . . . . 453
Adding Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
Adding Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 450
Additives, Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Adjustable Pedals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Air Cleaner, Engine (Engine Air Cleaner Filter) . . . 442
Air Conditioner Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 446
Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Air Conditioning Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Air Conditioning Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324,448
Air Conditioning, Operating Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Air Conditioning, Rear Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311,319
Air Conditioning Refrigerant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 446
Air Conditioning System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305,314,446
Air Conditioning System, Zone Control . . . . . . . . 310
Air Pressure, Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63,70
Airbag Deployment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Airbag Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63,69,73,93,249Airbag Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Airbag, Side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68,70
Airbag, Window (Side Curtain) . . . . . . . . . . . 65,68,70
Alarm Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Alarm (Security Alarm) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Alterations/Modifications, Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Antenna, Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Antifreeze (Engine Coolant) . . . . . . . . . . . 452,453,480
Disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 454
Anti-Lock Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Anti-Theft System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 461
Ashtray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Assistance Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Auto Down Power Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Auto Up Power Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38,210
Automatic Dimming Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Automatic Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32,33
Automatic Headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
512 INDEX

Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Rear Servicing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 478
Rear Tail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 478
Seat Belt Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Security Alarm (Theft Alarm) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475,476
Service Engine Soon (Malfunction Indicator) . . . 246
Side Marker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 478
Theft Alarm (Security Alarm) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPMS) . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Turn Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94,477,478
Voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Warning (Instrument Cluster Description) . . . . . 240
Load Leveling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Loading Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220,389,391
Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 391
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
Locks Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren
(LATCH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Lubrication, Body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 449
Luggage Rack (Roof Rack) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Lumbar Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Maintenance Free Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 445
Maintenance Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 438
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 484
Maintenance, Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Malfunction Indicator Light (Check Engine) . . 246,436
Manual, Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507
Map/Reading Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Memory Feature (Memory Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Memory Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103,170
Mini-Trip Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252,260
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Automatic Dimming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Electric Remote . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
522 INDEX

And Pregnant Women . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Child Restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79,81
Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Front Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Pretensioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Rear Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Easy Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Fold in Floor (Stow 8n Go) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Lumbar Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Reclining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Stow 8n Go (Fold in Floor) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Tilting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Security Alarm (Theft Alarm) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Selection of Coolant (Antifreeze) . . . . . . . . . . 452,481
Sentry Key (Immobilizer) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Sentry Key Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Service Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 503
Service Contract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 505
Service Engine Soon Light
(Malfunction Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Service Manuals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507
Setting the Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268,271,280
Settings, Personal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Shoulder Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Signals, Turn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94,182,241,477,478
Sirius Backseat TV™ (uconnectt
studios) . . . . . . . 301
Sliding Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Slippery Surfaces, Driving On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
Snow Chains (Tire Chains) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Snow Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369
Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363,413
Speed Control (Cruise Control) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
526 INDEX