jump start DODGE NITRO 2010 1.G Owners Manual

If jump starting is required, refer to “Jump Starting
Procedures” in “What To Do In Emergencies”.
18. SERV (Service) 4WD Indicator — If EquippedThe “SERV 4WD Indicator Light” will come on
when the ignition key is turned to the ON
position and will stay on for two seconds. If the
light stays on or comes on during driving, it
means that the 4WD system is not functioning properly
and that service is required.
19. Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) Light This light monitors the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS). The light will turn on when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON position and may
stay on for as long as four seconds.
If the ABS light remains on or turns on while driving, it
indicates that the Anti-Lock portion of the brake system
is not functioning and that service is required. However, the conventional brake system will continue to operate
normally if the BRAKE warning light is not on.
If the ABS light is on, the brake system should be serviced
as soon as possible to restore the benefits of Anti-Lock
brakes. If the ABS light does not turn on when the
Ignition switch is turned to the ON position, have the
light inspected by an authorized dealer.
20. Front Fog Light Indicator — If Equipped
This indicator will illuminate when the fog lights
are On.
21. Oil Pressure Warning Light This light indicates low engine oil pressure. The
light should turn on momentarily when the engine
is started. If the light turns on while driving, stop the
vehicle and shut off the engine as soon as possible. A
chime will sound for four minutes when this light turns
on.
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UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 199

Extreme Cold Weather (below –20°F or –29°C)
To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures, the use
of an externally powered electric engine block heater
(available from your authorized dealer) is recommended.
If Engine Fails to Start
WARNING!
•Never pour fuel or other flammable liquids into
the throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to
start the vehicle. This could result in a flash fire
causing serious personal injury.(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get
it started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic
transmission cannot be started this way. Unburned
fuel could enter the catalytic converter and once
the engine has started, ignite and damage the
converter and vehicle. If the vehicle has a dis-
charged battery, booster cables may be used to
obtain a start from a booster battery or the battery
in another vehicle. This type of start can be dan-
gerous if done improperly. Refer to “Jump Start-
ing” in “What To Do In Emergencies” for further
information.
294 STARTING AND OPERATING

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
CONTENTS
Hazard Warning Flasher ................ 386
 If Your Engine Overheats ................ 386
 Jacking And Tire Changing ............... 388
▫ Jack Location ....................... 388
▫ Spare Tire Stowage ................... 388
▫ Spare Tire Removal ................... 389
▫ Preparations For Jacking ............... 389 ▫
Jacking Instructions ................... 390
 Jump-Starting Procedures ................ 393
▫ Preparations For Jump-Start ............. 394
▫ Jump-Starting Procedure ............... 395
 Towing A Disabled Vehicle ............... 397
▫ Two-Wheel Drive Vehicles .............. 397
▫ Four-Wheel Drive Vehicles .............. 398
6

WARNING!
Raising the vehicle higher than necessary can make
the vehicle less stable and cause an accident. It could
slip off the jack and hurt someone near it. Raise the
vehicle only enough to remove the tire.
6. Remove the lug nuts and wheel.
7. Position the spare wheel/tire on the vehicle and install
the lug nuts with the cone-shaped end toward the wheel.
Lightly tighten the nuts. To avoid the risk of forcing the
vehicle off the jack, do not tighten the nuts fully until the
vehicle has been lowered.
8. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack screw to the left,
and remove the jack and wheel blocks.
9. Finish tightening the lug nuts. Push down on the
wrench while tightening for increased leverage. Alternate
nuts until each nut has been tightened twice. The correct wheel nut tightness is 95 ft lbs (130 N·m). If in doubt
about the correct tightness, have them checked with a
torque wrench by your authorized dealer or at a service
station.
10. Lower the jack to its fully closed position.
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.
11. Secure the tire, jack, and tools in their proper
locations.
JUMP-STARTING PROCEDURES
If your vehicle has a discharged battery it can be jump-
started using a set of jumper cables and a battery in
another vehicle or by using a portable battery booster
6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 393

pack. Jump-starting can be dangerous if done improperly
so please follow the procedures in this section carefully.
NOTE:When using a portable battery booster pack
follow the manufacturer ’s operating instructions and
precautions.
CAUTION!
Do not use a portable battery booster pack or any
other booster source with a system voltage greater
than 12 Volts or damage to the battery, starter motor,
alternator or electrical system may occur.
WARNING!
Do not attempt jump-starting if the battery is frozen.
It could rupture or explode and cause personal injury.
Preparations for Jump-Start
The battery in your vehicle is located in the front of the
engine compartment, behind the left headlight assembly.
NOTE: The positive battery post is covered with a
protective cap. Lift up on the cap to gain access to the
positive battery post.
Positive Battery Post
394 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

WARNING!
•Take care to avoid the radiator cooling fan when-
ever the hood is raised. It can start anytime the
ignition switch is on. You can be injured by
moving fan blades.
•Remove any metal jewelry such as watch bands or
bracelets that might make an inadvertent electrical
contact. You could be seriously injured.
•Batteries contain sulfuric acid that can burn your
skin or eyes and generate hydrogen gas which is
flammable and explosive. Keep open flames or
sparks away from the battery.
1. Set the parking brake, shift the automatic transmission
into PARK and turn the ignition to LOCK.
2. Turn off the heater, radio, and all unnecessary electri-
cal accessories. 3. If using another vehicle to jump-start the battery, park
the vehicle within the jumper cables reach, set the
parking brake and make sure the ignition is OFF.
WARNING!
Do not allow vehicles to touch each other as this
could establish a ground connection and personal
injury could result.
Jump-Starting Procedure
WARNING!
Failure to follow this procedure could result in per-
sonal injury or property damage due to battery ex-
plosion.
6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 395

CAUTION!
Failure to follow these procedures could result in
damage to the charging system of the booster vehicle
or the discharged vehicle.
1. Connect the positive (+)end of the jumper cable to the
positive (+)post of the discharged vehicle.
2. Connect the opposite end of the positive (+)jumper
cable to the positive (+)post of the booster battery.
3. Connect the negative end (-)of the jumper cable to the
negative (-)post of the booster battery.
4. Connect the opposite end of the negative (-)jumper
cable to a good engine ground (exposed metal part of the
discharged vehicle’s engine) away from the battery and
the fuel injection system.
WARNING!
Do not connect the cable to the negative post (-) of the
discharged battery. The resulting electrical spark
could cause the battery to explode and could result in
personal injury.
5. Start the engine in the vehicle that has the booster
battery, let the engine idle a few minutes, and then start
the engine in the vehicle with the discharged battery.
Once the engine is started, remove the jumper cables in
the reverse sequence:
6. Disconnect the negative (-)jumper cable from the
engine ground of the vehicle with the discharged battery.
7. Disconnect the negative end (-)of the jumper cable
from the negative (-)post of the booster battery.
396 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

8. Disconnect the opposite end of the positive(+)jumper
cable from the positive (+)post of the booster battery.
9. Disconnect the positive (+)end of the jumper cable
from the positive (+)post of the discharged vehicle.
If frequent jump-starting is required to start your vehicle
you should have the battery and charging system in-
spected at your authorized dealer.
CAUTION!
Accessories that can be plugged into the vehicle
power outlets draw power from the vehicle’s battery,
even when not in use (i.e., cellular phones, etc.).
Eventually, if plugged in long enough, the vehicle’s
battery will discharge sufficiently to degrade battery
life and/or prevent the engine from starting.
TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE
Proper towing or lifting equipment is required to prevent
damage to your vehicle. Use of safety chains is recom-
mended. Attach towing device to main structural mem-
bers of the vehicle, not to bumpers or associated brack-
ets. State and local laws applying to vehicles under tow
must be observed.
NOTE: The transmission must be in NEUTRAL under
any towing configuration.
Two-Wheel Drive Vehicles
Front Wheels Raised
The speed must notexceed 30 mph (50 km/h) and the
distance must notexceed 15 miles (25 km).
This vehicle may be towed with the transmission in
NEUTRAL, the ignition key in the LOCK position, the
front wheels raised, and the rear wheels on the ground.
6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 397

Engine Air Cleaner Filter Selection
The quality of replacement engine air cleaner filters
varies considerably. Only high quality filters should be
used to assure most efficient service. MOPARengine air
cleaner filters are a high quality filter and are
recommended.
Maintenance-Free Battery
Your vehicle is equipped with a maintenance-free battery.
You will never have to add water, nor is periodic main-
tenance required.
WARNING!
•Battery fluid is a corrosive acid solution and can
burn or even blind you. Do not allow battery fluid
to contact your eyes, skin, or clothing. Do not lean
over a battery when attaching clamps. If acid
splashes in eyes or on skin, flush the area imme-
diately with large amounts of water. Refer to
“Jump-Starting Procedures” in “What To Do In
Emergencies” for further information.
•Battery gas is flammable and explosive. Keep
flame or sparks away from the battery. Do not use
a booster battery or any other booster source with
an output greater than 12 Volts. Do not allow cable
clamps to touch each other.
•Battery posts, terminals, and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds. Wash hands
after handling.
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 411

Cupholders............................ 177
Customer Assistance ..................... 471
Daytime Running Lights ................... 151
Dealer Service .......................... 406
Defroster, Rear Window ................... 184
Defroster, Windshield ................89,277,283
Delay (Intermittent) Wipers ................. 154
Diagnostic System, Onboard ................ 403
Dimmer Switch, Headlight ................. 149
Dipsticks Oil (Engine) .......................... 407
Power Steering ........................ 316
Disposal Engine Oil ........................... 409
Used Coolant (Antifreeze) ................ 421
Door Locks ............................. 28
Door Opener, Garage ..................... 165
Driving ............................... 310 Off-Pavement
......................... 311
Off-Road ............................ 311
Electric Remote Mirrors .................... 99
Electrical Outlet, Auxiliary (Power Outlet) ...... 175
Electrical Power Outlets ................... 175
Electronic Brake Control System ............. 321
Anti-Lock Brake System ................. 322
Brake Assist System .................... 323
Electronic Roll Mitigation ................ 324
Electronic Stability Program ............... 325
Traction Control System ................. 323
Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) ............. 324
Electronic Speed Control (Cruise Control) ...... 156
Electronic Stability Program (ESP) .........194,325
Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) .... 211
Emergency, In Case of Jacking ............................. 388
Jump Starting ......................... 393
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INDEX 483