brake DODGE JOURNEY 2009 1.G Owner's Guide

WARNING!
•An improperly adjusted weight distributing hitch
system may reduce handling, stability, braking
performance, and could result in an accident.
•Weight distributing systems may not be compatible
with surge brake couplers. Consult with your hitch
and trailer manufacturer or a reputable recreational
vehicle dealer for additional information.
Weight Distributing Hitch System
380 STARTING AND OPERATING

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 that it will not shift during travel. When traile-
ring 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.
•When hauling cargo or towing a trailer, do not over-
load your vehicle or trailer. Overloading can cause a
loss of control, poor performance, or damage to
brakes, axle, engine, transaxle, steering, suspension,
chassis structure, or tires.
•Safety chains must always be used between your
vehicle and trailer. Always connect the chains to the
frame or hook retainers of the vehicle hitch. Cross the
chains under the trailer tongue and allow enough
slack for turning corners.
•Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a grade.
When parking, apply the parking brake on the tow
vehicle. Put the tow vehicle automatic transaxle in
PARK. Always, block orchockthe trailer wheels.
•GCWR must not be exceeded.
•Total weight must be distributed between the tow
vehicle and the trailer such that the following four
ratings are not exceeded:
1. GVWR
2. GTW
3. GAWR
386 STARTING AND OPERATING

4. Tongue weight rating for the trailer hitch utilized.
(This requirement may limit the ability to always
achieve the 10% to 15% range of 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 this section for infor-
mation on tire pressures and for proper tire inflation
procedures.
Also, check the trailer tires for proper tire inflation
pressures before trailer usage.
Check for signs of tire wear or visible tire damage
before towing a trailer. Refer to “Tires–General Infor-
mation” in this section for information on tread wear
indicators and for the proper inspection procedure.
When replacing tires, refer to “Tires–General Informa-
tion” in this section for information on replacement
tires and for the 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.
An electronically actuated trailer brake controller is
required when towing a trailer with electronically
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actuated brakes. When towing a trailer equipped with
a hydraulic surge actuated brake system, an electronic
brake controller is not required.
Trailer brakes are recommended for trailers over 1,000
lbs (454 kg) and required for trailers in excess of 2,000
lbs (907 kg).
CAUTION!
If the trailer weighs more than 1,000 lbs (454 kg)
loaded, it should have its own brakes, and they
should be of adequate capacity. Failure to do this
could lead to accelerated brake lining wear, higher
brake pedal effort, and longer stopping distances.
WARNING!
Do not connect trailer brakes to your vehicle’s hy-
draulic brake lines. It can overload your brake sys-
tem and cause it to fail. You might not have brakes
when you need them and could have an accident.
Towing any trailer will increase your stopping dis-
tance. When towing, you should allow for additional
space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front
of you. Failure to do so could result in an accident.
Towing Requirements — Trailer Lights and Wiring
Whenever you pull a trailer, regardless of the trailer size,
stoplights and turn signals on the trailer are required for
motoring safety.
388 STARTING AND OPERATING

Spare Tire Location
The spare tire is stowed underneath the rear of the
vehicle and is held in place by means of a cable winch
mechanism.
Preparations For Jacking
1. Park the vehicle on a firm level surface as far from the
edge of the roadway as possible. Avoid icy or slippery
areas.
2.Set the parking brake and place the shift lever in
PARK.
3. Turn OFF the ignition.
4. Turn ON the hazard warning flashers.
5. Passengers should not remain in the vehicle when the
vehicle is being jacked. 6. Block both the front and rear
of the wheel diagonally opposite
the jacking position. For ex-
ample, if changing the right
front tire, block the left rear
wheel.Spare Tire Removal
NOTE:
On Seven-Passenger Models, fold the third-row
passenger seats flat. This will provide more space when
accessing the jacking tools and when operating the winch
mechanism.
1. Remove the jack-handle components 1, 2, and 3 from
storage and assemble them.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 397
6

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 transaxle
in PARK; a manual transaxle in REVERSE.
• 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.
• Turn on the Hazard warning flasher.
1. Remove the spare tire, jack, and jack-handle from
stowage.
2. Loosen, but do not remove, the wheel nuts on the
wheel with the flat tire. Turn the wheel nuts counter-
clockwise one turn while the wheel is still on the ground.
3. Place the jack underneath the lift area that is closest to
the flat tire. Turn the jack screw clockwise to firmly
engage the jack saddle with the lift area of the sill flange.
402 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

1. Wear eye protection and remove any metal jewelry
such as watchbands or bracelets that might make an
inadvertent electrical contact.
2. When boosting from a battery in another vehicle, park
that vehicle within booster cable reach, but without
allowing the vehicles to touch. Set parking brake, place
automatic transaxle in PARK, and turn ignition to LOCK
for both vehicles.
WARNING!
Do not permit vehicles to touch each other as this
could establish a ground connection and personal
injury could result.3. Turn off the heater, radio, and all unnecessary electri-
cal loads.
4. Remove the protective cover over the remote jump-
start positive battery post
(+)in the engine compartment.
Connect one end of the jumper cable to the positive
battery post. Connect the other end of the same cable to
the positive terminal of the booster battery. Refer to the
following illustration for jump-starting connections.
5. Connect the other cable, first to the negative terminal
of the booster battery and then to the engine ground (-)
of the vehicle with the discharged battery. Make sure
you have a good contact on the engine ground. Refer to
the following illustration for jump-starting connections.
408 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

▫A/C Air Filter — If Equipped ............434
▫ Power Steering — Fluid Check ............436
▫ Front Suspension Ball Joints ..............437
▫ Steering Linkage ......................437
▫ Body Lubrication .....................437
▫ Wiper Blades ........................437
▫ Windshield Washers/Rear Window Washer . . . 438
▫ Exhaust System ......................439
▫ Cooling System .......................440
▫ Hoses And Vacuum/Vapor Harnesses .......445
▫ Fuel System .........................446
▫ Brake System ........................446
▫ Automatic Transaxle ...................449 ▫
Front And Rear Wheel Bearings ...........451
▫ Appearance Care And Protection From
Corrosion ...........................452
▫ Cleaning The Cupholders ...............457
 Fuses (Totally Integrated Power Module) ......457
 Vehicle Storage ........................464
 Replacement Bulbs ......................465
 Bulb Replacement ......................466
▫ Low Beam Headlight, High Beam Headlight,
Front Turn Signal/Park Light, Side
Marker Light ........................466
▫ Front Fog Light ......................467
▫ Tail/Stop Light, Rear Turn Signal Light,
Tail Light, Backup Light ................468
416 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

2.7L ENGINE COMPARTMENT
1 — Coolant Bottle7 — Brake Fluid Reservoir
2 — Coolant Pressure Cap 8 — Remote Jump-Start Positive Battery Post
3 — Power Steering Fluid 9 — Remote Jump-Start Negative Post
4 — Engine Oil Fill 10 — Fuses (Totally Integrated Power Module [TIPM])
5 — Engine Oil Dipstick 11 — Air Cleaner Filter
6 — Automatic Transaxle Dispstick 12 — Washer Fluid Bottle
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 419
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3.5L ENGINE COMPARTMENT
1 — Coolant Bottle7 — Remote Jump-Start Positive Battery Post
2 — Coolant Pressure Cap 8 — Remote Jump-Start Negative Post
3 — Power Steering Fluid 9 — Fuses (Totally Integrated Power Module [TIPM])
4 — Engine Oil Fill 10 — Air Cleaner Filter
5 — Engine Oil Dipstick 11 — Washer Fluid Bottle
6 — Brake Fluid Reservoir
420 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE