Dodge 2005 Stratus - Manual

Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV) for 2.4L — IfEquipped NOTE: If the 8th digit of the vehicle identification number (VIN) contains a ⬙ J ⬙ then your vehicle is equipped with the Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV)package. NOTE: There are specific instructions regarding when to change the igniti...

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE CONTENTS 䡵 A Word About Your Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 ▫ Ignition Key Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 ▫ Automatic Transaxle Ignition Interlock System . .12 ▫ Manual Transaxle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 ▫ ...

A WORD ABOUT YOUR KEYS You can insert the double sided keys into the locks witheither side up. The dealer that sold you your new vehicle has the keycode numbers for your vehicle locks. These numbers canbe used to order duplicate keys from your dealer. Askyour dealer for these numbers and keep them i...

SENTRY KEY — IF EQUIPPED With this system, an electronically coded ignition keysends a signal to the vehicle electronics. If the electronicsrecognizes the signal, the vehicle will start and continueto run. If the system does not recognize the signal thevehicle will start and run for 2 seconds then s...

Replacement Keys NOTE: Only keys that have been programmed to the vehicle electronics can be used to start the vehicle. Oncea Sentry Key has been programmed to a vehicle, it cannot be programmed to any other vehicle. At the time of purchase, the original owner is providedwith a four digit PIN number...

General Information The Sentry Key system complies with FCC rules part 15.Operation is subject to the following two conditions: 1. this device may not cause harmful interference 2. this device must accept any interference that may bereceived, including interference that may cause undes-ired operatio...

Power Door Locks There is a door lock switch on each front door trim panellocated to the front of the door handle. Press this switchto lock or unlock the four doors. If you press the door lock switch while the keys are in theignition switch, and the driver’s door is open, the doorswill not lock. If ...

Central Locking — If Equipped All vehicle doors are locked with the first turn of the keyto the LOCK position. The double activation featurerequires you to turn the key in the cylinder lock twotimes within five seconds to UNLOCK all vehicle doorsat once. Door Ajar Warning If you move the vehicle and...

WARNING! Avoid trapping anyone in the vehicle in a collision.Remember that the rear doors can only be openedfrom the outside when the child protection locks areengaged. NOTE: For emergency exit with the system engaged, move the lock plunger up (unlocked position), lower thewindow and open the door w...

2. Continue to hold the Unlock button, wait at least 4but no longer than 10 seconds, then press the Trunkbutton. 3. Release both buttons. Panic Alarm The panic mode unlocks the driver’s door, turns on theinterior lights, flashes the headlights, and sounds thehorn for about 3 minutes or until the ala...

2. This device must accept any interference that may bereceived, including interference that may cause undes-ired operation If your Remote Lock Control fails to operate from anormal distance, check for these two conditions: 1. Weak batteries in transmitter. The expected life ofbatteries is from one ...

VEHICLE THEFT ALARM The system monitors the doors, trunk, and ignition forunauthorized operation. If something triggers the alarm, the system will signal forup to 18 minutes. For the first three minutes the horn willsound and the headlights and interior lights will flash.Then the horn will stop and ...

TRUNK LOCK AND RELEASE Use the key or the Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter toopen the trunk from outside the vehicle. From inside thecar the trunk lid can be released by depressing the TrunkRelease Button located on the instrument panel to the leftof the steering wheel. The transmission must be in P...

Trunk Internal Emergency Release NOTE: As a security measure, a Trunk Internal Emer- gency Release lever is built into the trunk latchingmechanism. In the event of an individual being lockedinside the trunk, the trunk can be simply opened bypulling on the glow-in-the-dark handle attached to thetrunk...

WARNING! In a collision, you and your passengers can suffermuch greater injuries if you are not properly buck-led up. You can strike the interior of your vehicle orother passengers, or you can be thrown out of thevehicle. Always be sure you and others in yourvehicle are buckled up properly. Buckle u...

WARNING! • Wearing a seat belt incorrectly is dangerous. Seatbelts are designed to go around the large bones ofyour body. These are the strongest parts of yourbody and can take the forces of a collision thebest. Wearing your belt in the wrong place couldmake your injuries in a collision much worse. ...

WARNING! • A belt that is buckled into the wrong buckle will not protect you properly. The lap portion could ride toohigh on your body, possibly causing internal injuries.Always buckle your belt into the buckle nearest you. • A belt that is too loose will not protect you as well. In a sudden stop yo...

Adjustable Upper Shoulder Belt Anchorage In the driver and front passenger seats, the shoulder beltcan be adjusted upward or downward to position the beltaway from your neck. Push the lever above the webbingupward to release the anchorage, and then move it up ordown to the position that serves you b...

NOTE: Although the Enhanced Warning System (BeltAlert) has been deactivated, the Seat Belt WarningLight will continue to illuminate while the driver’s seatbelt remains unbuckled. Seat Belts and Pregnant Women We recommend that pregnant women use the seat beltsthroughout their pregnancy. Keeping the ...

Driver and Right Front Passenger SupplementalRestraint System (SRS) - Airbag This vehicle has front airbags for both the driver andfront passenger as a supplement to the seat belt restraintsystems. The driver’s airbag is mounted in the center ofthe steering wheel. The passenger’s front airbag ismoun...

WARNING! • Do not put anything on or around the front airbagcovers or attempt to manually open them. You maydamage the airbags and you could be injured becausethe airbags are not there to protect you. These protec-tive covers for the airbag cushions are designed toopen only when the airbags are infl...

Children that are not big enough to properly wear thevehicle seat belt (see section on “Child Restraint”) shouldbe secured in the rear seat in child restraints or belt-positioning booster seats. Older children who do not use child restraints or belt-positioning booster seats should ride properly buc...

The airbag control module also turns on the AIRBAG light in the instrument panel for 6 to 8 seconds when the ignition is first turned on, then turns the light off. If it detects a malfunction in any partof the system, it turns on the light either momentarily orcontinuously. WARNING! Ignoring the AIR...

Airbag Light You will want to have the airbags ready for your protec-tion in an impact. While the airbag system is designed tobe maintenance free, if any of the following occurs, havean authorized dealer service the system promptly: • The AIRBAG light does not come on or flickers during the 6 to 8 s...

Children Too Large For Booster Seats Children who are large enough to wear the shoulder beltcomfortably, and whose legs are long enough to bendover the front of the seat when their back is against theseat back, should use the lap/shoulder belt in a rear seat. • Make sure that the child is upright in...

share a common lower anchorage. If you are installingLATCH-compatible child restraints in adjacent rear seat-ing positions, you can use the LATCH anchors or thevehicle’s seat belt for the outboard position, but you mustuse the vehicle’s seat belt at the center position. If yourchild restraints are n...

In the rear seat, you may have trouble tightening thelap/shoulder belt on the child restraint because thebuckle or latch plate is too close to the belt path openingon the restraint. Disconnect the latch plate from thebuckle and twist the short buckle-end belt several timesto shorten it. Insert the l...

3. Attach the tether strap hook (A) of the child restraintto the anchor (B) and remove slack in the tether strapaccording to the child restraint manufacturer’s instruc-tions. WARNING! An incorrectly anchored tether strap could lead toincreased head motion and possible injury to thechild. Use only th...

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE CONTENTS 䡵 Console Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 ▫ Console Features — Without Heated Seats . . . .54 ▫ Console Features — With Heated Seats . . . . . . .55 䡵 Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 ▫ ...

CONSOLE FEATURES Console Features — Without Heated Seats The front console has two cup holders in the front and astorage bin. An optional removable ashtray may belocated in the driver’s side cup holder. The center console/armrest has a pencil /tire gage holderand a tissue holder mounted on the under...

Console Features — With Heated Seats The front console has two cup holders. An optionalremovable ashtray may be located in the driver’s side cupholder. The center console/armrest has a pencil /tire gage holderand a tissue holder mounted on the underside of thecover. The bottom of the console bin als...

MIRRORS Inside Day/Night Mirror— If Equipped Adjust the mirror to center on the view through the rearwindow. A two point pivot system allows for horizontaland vertical mirror adjustment. Annoying headlight glare can be reduced by moving thesmall control under the mirror to the night position(toward ...

CAUTION! To avoid damage to the mirror during cleaning,never spray any cleaning solution directly onto themirror. Apply the solution onto a clean cloth andwipe the mirror clean. Electric Remote-Control Mirrors— If Equipped Both of the outside mirrors can be adjusted by using theremote controls mount...

Outside Mirror — Driver’s Side Adjust the outside mirror to center on the adjacent lane oftraffic, with a slight overlap of the view obtained on theinside mirror. Outside Mirror — Passenger’s Side Adjust the convex outside mirror so you can just see theside of your vehicle in the part of the mirror ...

SEATS Manual Front Seat Adjustments Forward/Rearward The adjusting bar is at the front of the seats, near thefloor. Pull the bar up to move the seat to the desiredposition. After releasing the adjusting bar, apply forward andrearward body pressure to be sure the seat is latched. Reclining Bucket Sea...

Lumbar Support — If Equipped This feature allows you to increase or decrease theamount of lumbar support. The control lever is locatedon the inboard side of the driver’s seatback. Turn thecontrol lever forward to increase and rearward to de-crease the desired amount of lumbar support. Power Seats — ...

Adjustable Head Restraints Head restraints can reduce the risk of whiplash injury inthe event of impact from the rear. Adjust the restraints sothat the upper edge is as high as practical. To raise, pullup on the head restraint. To lower, depress the button onthe post guide and push down on the head ...

WARNING! The cargo area in the rear of the vehicle (with therear seatbacks in the locked-up or folded downposition) should not be used as a play area bychildren when the vehicle is in motion. They couldbe seriously injured in an accident. Children shouldbe seated and using the proper restraint syste...

Then lift the secondary latch located under the front edgeof the hood, near the center and raise the hood. Use the hood prop rod to secure the hood in the openposition. Place the upper end of the prop rod in the holemarked “prop” on the underside of the hood. To prevent possible damage, do not slam ...

Front Map/Reading Lights — If Equipped These lights are mounted between the sun visors. Eachlight has a push-on push-off switch. NOTE: The lights will remain on until the switch is pressed a second time, so be sure that they have beenturned off before leaving the vehicle. Multi-Function Control Leve...

Headlights, Parking Lights, Instrument PanelLights Turn the end of the control lever to the first detent forparking light operation. Turn to the second detent forheadlight operation. To change the brightness of the instrument panel lights,turn the center portion of the lever up or down. Turningthe d...

Daytime Running Lights (Canada Only) The headlights come on at a low intensity level wheneverthe ignition switch is turned on. The lights remain onuntil the ignition switch is turned OFF or the parkingbrake is engaged. The headlight switch must be used fornormal night time driving. Lights-on Reminde...

If the headlights are turned off before the ignition, theywill turn off in the normal manner. WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHERS The wipers and washers are operated by a switch in theright side control lever. Turn the end of the control leverto select the desired wiper speed. NOTE: Always remove any buil...

Mist Use this feature when weather conditions make occa-sional usage of the wipers necessary. Pull down andrelease the control lever for a single wiping cycle. Speed Sensitive Intermittent Wiper System Use the intermittent wiper when weather conditionsmake a single wiping cycle, with a variable paus...

WARNING! Tilting the steering column while the vehicle ismoving is dangerous. Without a stable steering col-umn, you could lose control of the vehicle and havean accident. Adjust the column only while the ve-hicle is stopped. Be sure it is locked before driving. TRACTION CONTROL— IF EQUIPPED To turn...

ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL— IF EQUIPPED When engaged, this device will control the throttle op-eration to maintain a constant vehicle speed between 30mph (48 km/h) and 85 mph (137 km/h). The controls areon the steering wheel. To Activate: Press the ON/OFF switch to turn the speed controlsystem ON. To ...

To Deactivate: A soft tap on the brake pedal, pushing the CANCELbutton, or normal brake or clutch pressure will deactivatespeed control without erasing the memory. Pushing theON/OFF button or turning off the ignition turns thespeed control system off and erases the memory. To Resume Speed: To resume...

When Climbing A Hill If vehicle speed drops 3 mph (5 km/h) below the SpeedControl set speed, the transaxle will downshift to thirdgear. Under severe conditions the transaxle may down-shift again to second gear. The transaxle will upshift tofourth gear after the vehicle has reached the top of thehill...

GARAGE DOOR OPENER — IF EQUIPPED The HomeLink 威 Universal Transceiver replaces up to three remote controls (hand held transmitters) that oper-ate devices such as garage door openers, motorizedgates, or home lighting. It triggers these devices at thepush of a button. The Universal Transceiver operate...

WARNING! Vehicle exhaust contains carbon monoxide, a danger-ous gas. Do not run the vehicle’s exhaust whiletraining the transceiver. Exhaust gas can cause seri-ous injury or death. WARNING! Your motorized door or gate will open and closewhile you are training the Universal Transceiver. Donot train t...

5. The indicator light in the Universal Transceiver willbegin to flash, first slowly and then rapidly. The rapidflashing indicates successful programming. If after 90seconds the indicator light does not flash rapidly or goesout, return to step 1 and repeat the procedure. To train theother buttons, r...

difficulty in locating the training button, check yourgarage door opener manual, or call 1-800-355-3515 or, onthe Internet, at www.homelink.com. 2. Press and hold the training button on the garage dooropener head unit. This will activate the “training” light. NOTE: After completing step 2, you have ...

POWER SUNROOF — IF EQUIPPED The sunroof controls are mounted between the sun visorson the overhead console. WARNING! • Never leave children in a vehicle, with the keys inthe ignition switch. Occupants, particularly unat-tended children, can become entrapped by thepower sunroof while operating the po...

Opening Sunroof - Manual Press the switch rearward and hold, and the sunroof willopen automatically from any position. The sunroof willopen fully, then stop automatically. During this opera-tion, any release of the sunroof switch will stop thesunroof. Opening Sunroof - Express Press the switch rearw...

UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTENTS 䡵 Instruments And Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 䡵 Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88 䡵 Instrument Cluster Description . . . . . . . . . . . . .89 䡵 Compass, Temperature, And Trip ComputerDisplay — If Equipped ....

INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 87 4

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER 88 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DESCRIPTION 1. Fuel Gauge When the ignition key is in the ON position, thepointer will show the level of fuel remaining inthe fuel tank. 2. Traction Control — If Equipped This display indicator illuminates momentarilyas a bulb check when the ignition switch is firstturned ON. The ...

An optional AutoStick Gear Indicator displays the current transaxle gear when in AutoStick mode. 16. Odometer/Trip Odometer The odometer shows the total distance the vehicle hasbeen driven. U.S. federal regulations require that upon transfer ofvehicle ownership, the seller certify to the purchaser t...

COMPASS, TEMPERATURE, AND TRIPCOMPUTER DISPLAY — IF EQUIPPED This feature allows you to choose between a compass /temperature display and one of five trip conditions beingmonitored. Control Buttons Step Button Use this button to choose or cycle through the five tripconditions. Reset The following tr...

Trip Conditions Average Fuel Economy (AVG ECO) This display shows the average fuel economy since thelast reset. Estimated Range (DTE) This display shows the estimated distance that can betraveled with the fuel remaining in the tank. This esti-mated distance is based on the most recent trip informa-t...

SALES CODE RAZ—AM/ FM STEREO RADIOWITH CASSETTE TAPE PLAYER, CD PLAYERAND CD CHANGER CONTROLS Operating Instructions — Radio NOTE: Power to operate the radio is controlled by the ignition switch. It must be in the ON or ACC position tooperate the radio. Power Switch, Volume Control Press the ON/VOL ...

Pressing the AM/FM button continues the search in thealternate frequency band. To stop the search, press SCAN a second time. To Set The Radio Push-button Memory When you are receiving a station that you wish tocommit to push-button memory, press the SET button.SET 1 will show in the display window. ...

light in the display will go off when the Dolby System isoff. The Dolby System is automatically reactivated eachtime a tape is inserted. * ”Dolby” noise reduction manufactured under licensefrom Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Dolbyand the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Labo-ratori...

Seek Button Press the top of the SEEK button for the next selection onthe CD. Press the bottom of the button to return to thebeginning of the current selection, or return to thebeginning of the previous selection if the CD is within thefirst 10 seconds of the current selection. EJT CD (Eject) Button...

CD Diagnostic Indicators When driving over a very rough road, the CD player mayskip momentarily. Skipping will not damage the disc orthe player, and play will resume automatically. As a safeguard and to protect your CD player, one of thefollowing warning symbols may appear on your display. A CD HOT ...

NOTE: Power to operate the radio is supplied through the ignition switch. It must be in the ON or ACC positionto operate the radio. Electronic Volume Control The electronic volume control turns continuously (360degrees) in either direction without stopping. Turning thevolume control to the right inc...

Operating Instructions - Satellite Radio Mode (IfEquipped) Refer to the Satellite Radio section of the Owner’sManual. CD Diagnostic Indicators When driving over a very rough road, the CD player mayskip momentarily. Skipping will not damage the disc orthe player, and play will resume automatically. A...

NOTE: Power to operate the radio is supplied through the ignition switch. It must be in the ON or ACC positionto operate the radio. Seek Press and release the SEEK button to search for the nextstation in either the AM or FM mode. Press the top of thebutton to seek up or the bottom to seek down. The ...

Press the AUDIO button a second time and TREB will bedisplayed. Press the SEEK + or SEEK – to increase ordecrease the Treble tones. Press the AUDIO button a third time and BAL will bedisplayed. Press the SEEK + or SEEK – to adjust thesound level from the right or left side speakers. Press the AUDIO ...

Inserting The Compact Disc CAUTION! This CD player will accept 4 3 ⁄ 4 inch (12 cm) discs only. The use of other sized discs may damage theCD player mechanism. You may either insert or eject a disc with the radio OFF. If you insert a disc with the ignition ON and the radioOFF, the display will show ...

Press the SEEK button to move to the next randomlyselected track. Press the RND (button 4) button a second time to stopRandom Play. Mode Press the MODE button repeatedly to select between theCD player, the optional remote CD changer and theSatellite Radio (if equipped). When Satellite Radio (ifequip...

6 DISC CD CHANGER — IF EQUIPPED The CD changer is located below the radio in theinstrument panel. The changer plays only 4 3 ⁄ 4 inch (12 cm) discs. The changer holds up to 6 discs. Each disc isloaded and ejected through a single slot in front of thechanger. Each disc has a numbered button with an a...

Playing Discs The radio will show the CD number, the CD tracknumber, and the Track Time Elapsed while the radio is inthe CD mode. If more than one CD is loaded in thechanger, the changer will automatically play the next discafter playing the last track of the current disc. Seek Button Press the top ...

REMOTE SOUND SYSTEM CONTROLS — IFEQUIPPED The remote sound system controls are located on the rearsurface of the steering wheel. Reach behind the wheel toaccess the switches. The right hand control is a rocker type switch with apush-button in the center and controls the volume andmode of the sound s...

If you press the switch up or down twice it plays thesecond selection, three times, it will play the third, etc. The button in the center of the left hand switch has nofunction in this mode. CD Player — Single Disc in Radio Pressing the top of the switch once will go to the nexttrack on the CD. Pres...

deposits each time a cassette is played. The result ofdeposits on the capstan shaft may cause the tape to wraparound and become lodged in the tape transport. Theother adverse condition is low or “muddy” sound fromone or both channels, as if the treble tone control wereturned all the way down. To pre...

considering disc player service. You may have a problemwith CD-R (recordable) and CD-RW (recordable andwritable) disks. RADIO OPERATION AND CELLULAR PHONES Under certain conditions, the operation of a cellularphone in your vehicle can cause erratic or noisy perfor-mance from your radio. This conditi...

Interior ATC Sensors There are two interior sensors in the vehicle. The SunSensor is mounted in the center of the instrument panelnear the windshield glass. The In-Car Temperature Sen-sor is mounted behind the ATC control panel. Thesesensors transmit data on sun strength and vehicle interiortemperat...

lower it. The comfort setting range is from Low, 60,61,....to 89,90, Hi, for automatic temperature control. Youcan select a very hot or cold comfort setting by holdingthe comfort control until it reaches its highest or lowestlevels. The system adjusts to bring the interior temperature tothe desired ...

NOTE: The air conditioning compressor is on in this mode. This dehumidifies the air to help dry the wind-shield. To improve fuel economy, leave in the defrostmode only when necessary. Rear Window Defroster Press the button once to turn on the Rear WindowDefroster and a second time to turn it off. An...

Side Window Demisters Side window demisters are located on the instrumentpanel. These non adjustable outlets direct air toward theside windows in any mode except Panel or Panel Recir-culation. The air is directed toward the area of the sidewindows through which you view the outside rearviewmirrors. ...

NOTE: If the system is in the AUTO mode and the fan control is already rotated fully clockwise or fully coun-terclockwise, the control may have to be rotated to themiddle and then to the desired fan setting for manualadjustment of fan speed. Manual Air Conditioning/Heater Control — IfEquipped The Ai...

Slight changes in engine speed or power may be noticedwhen the air conditioning compressor is on. This is anormal occurrence as the compressor will cycle on andoff to maintain comfort and increase fuel economy. NOTE: If your air conditioning performance seems lower than expected, check the front of ...

Rear Seat Outlets These outlets are located under the front seats and directwarm air to the rear seat passengers. Air is directedthrough these outlets when you select either the Floor,Bi-Level, or Mix modes. Rear Window Defroster The Rear Window Defroster button is located tothe right of the Mode Co...

Outside Air Intake Make sure the air intake, directly in front of the wind-shield, is free of ice, slush, snow or other obstructionssuch as leaves. Leaves collected in the air-intake plenummay reduce air flow and plug the plenum water drains. Air Intake 138 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

STARTING AND OPERATING CONTENTS 䡵 Starting Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 ▫ Automatic Transaxle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 ▫ Manual Transaxle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 ▫ Normal Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 ▫ Extre...

Extreme Cold Weather (below -20°F or -29°C) To insure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of anexternally powered electric engine block heater andbattery blanket heater package (available from yourdealer) is recommended. If Engine Fails to Start If the engine fails to start after you have f...

WARNING! It is dangerous to shift the selector lever out of “P” or“N” if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. Ifyour foot is not firmly on the brake pedal, thevehicle could accelerate quickly forward or in re-verse. You could lose control of the vehicle and hitsomeone or something. Only shift...

NOTE: Even if the transaxle can be reset, it is recom- mended that you visit a dealer at your earliest possibleconvenience. Your dealer has diagnostic equipment todetermine if the problem could recur. If the transaxle cannot be reset, dealer service is required. Gear Ranges For Four Speed AutomaticT...

“D” Overdrive This range should be used for most city and highwaydriving. It provides smoothest up shifts and down shiftsand best fuel economy. When frequent transaxle shifting occurs while using theOverdrive range, such as when operating the vehicleunder heavy loading conditions (in hilly terrain, ...

PARKING BRAKE When the parking brake is applied with theignition on, the brake light in the instrumentcluster will come on. NOTE: This light only shows that the parking brake is on. It does not show the degree of brake application. Before leaving the vehicle, make sure that the parkingbrake is set. ...

WARNING! • Leaving children in a vehicle unattended is dan-gerous for a number of reasons. A child or otherscould be injured. Children should be warned notto touch the parking brake or the gear selector.Don’t leave the keys in the ignition. A child couldoperate power windows, other controls, or move...

POWER STEERING The power assisted steering system of your vehicleprovides mechanical steering capability in the eventpower assist is lost. If for some reason the hydraulic pressure is interrupted,it will still be possible to steer your vehicle. Under theseconditions you will observe a substantial in...

• The system has been automatically deactivated toprevent damage to the brake system due to overheatedbrake temperatures. NOTE: Extended heavy use of Traction Control may cause the system to deactivate and turn on the tractioncontrol light located in the instrument cluster. This is to prevent overhe...

NOTE: • P(Passenger)-Metric tire sizing is based on U.S. designstandards. P-Metric tires have the letter “P” moldedinto the sidewall preceding the size designation. Ex-ample: P215/65R15 95H. • European Metric tire sizing is based on Europeandesign standards. Tires designed to this standard havethe t...

Tire Sizing Chart EXAMPLE: Size Designation: P = Passenger car tire size based on U.S. design standards ⴖ ....blank.... ⴖ = Passenger car tire based on European design standards LT = Light Truck tire based on U.S. design standards T = Temporary Spare tire 31 = Overall Diameter in Inches (in) 215 = S...

EXAMPLE: Service Description: 95 = Load Index —A numerical code associated with the maximum load a tire can carry. H = Speed Symbol —A symbol indicating the range of speeds at which a tire can carry a load correspondingto its load index under certain operating conditions.—The maximum speed correspon...

Tire Identification Number (TIN) The TIN may be found on one or both sides of the tirehowever the date code may only be on one side. Tireswith white sidewalls will have the full TIN includingdate code located on the white sidewall side of the tire. Look for the TIN on the outboard side of black side...

Tire Loading and Tire Pressure Tire Placard Location NOTE: The proper cold tire inflation pressure for passenger cars is listed on either the face of the driver’sdoor or the driver’s side “B” pillar. For vehicles otherthan passenger cars, the cold tire inflation pressures arelisted on either the “B”...

Loading The vehicle maximum load on the tire must not exceedthe load carrying capacity of the tire on your vehicle. Youwill not exceed the tire’s load carrying capacity if youadhere to the loading conditions, tire size and cold tireinflation pressures specified on the Tire and LoadingInformation pla...

2. Economy— Improper inflation pressures can cause uneven wearpatterns to develop across the tire tread. These abnormalwear patterns will reduce tread life resulting in a need forearlier tire replacement. Underinflation also increases tirerolling resistance and results in higher fuel consumption. 3....

CAUTION! After inspecting or adjusting the tire pressure al-ways reinstall the valve stem cap–if equipped. Thiswill prevent moisture and dirt from entering thevalve stem, which could damage the valve stem. Inflation pressures specified on the placard are always“cold tire inflation pressure”. Cold ti...

WARNING! High speed driving with your vehicle under maxi-mum load is dangerous. The added strain on yourtires could cause them to fail. You could have aserious accident. Don’t drive a vehicle loaded to themaximum capacity at continuous speeds above 75mph (120 km/h). Radial-Ply Tires WARNING! Combini...

WARNING! Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces gener-ated by excessive wheel speeds may cause tire dam-age or failure. A tire could explode and injuresomeone. Do not spin your vehicle’s wheels fasterthan 35 mph (55 km/h) when you are stuck. Anddon’t let anyone near a spinning wheel, no matter...

Replacement Tires The tires on your new vehicle provide a balance of manycharacteristics. They should be inspected regularly forwear and correct cold tire inflation pressure. The manu-facturer strongly recommends that you use tires equiva-lent to the originals in size, quality and performancewhen re...

CAUTION! Replacing original tires with tires of a different sizemay result in false speedometer and odometer read-ings. Alignment And Balance Poor suspension alignment may result in: • Fast tire wear. • Uneven tire wear, such as feathering and one-sidedwear. • Vehicle pull to right or left. Tires ma...

Snow tires generally have lower speed ratings than whatwas originally equipped with your vehicle and shouldnot be operated at sustained speeds over 75 mph (120km/h). Tire Rotation Recommendations Tires on the front and rear axles of vehicles operate atdifferent loads and perform different steering, ...

AUTOSTICK — IF EQUIPPED Autostick is a driver-interactive transaxle that offersmanual gear shifting capability to provide you with morecontrol. Autostick allows you to maximize engine brak-ing, eliminate undesirable upshifts and downshifts, andimprove overall vehicle performance. This system canalso...

Fuel system damage or vehicle performance problemsresulting from the use of such fuels or additives are notthe responsibility of the manufacturer. NOTE: Intentional tampering with emissions control systems can result in civil penalties being assessedagainst you. Carbon Monoxide Warnings WARNING! Car...

WARNING! • Never have any smoking materials lit in or nearthe vehicle when the gas cap is removed or thetank filled. • Never add fuel to the vehicle when the engine isrunning. • A fire may result if gasoline is pumped into aportable container that is inside of a vehicle. Youcould be burned. Always p...

• The weight of any other type of cargo or equipmentput in or on your vehicle. • Remember that everything put in or on the trailer addsto the load on your vehicle. Towing Requirements • The maximum trailer load is 1,000 lbs (450 kg). • The maximum frontal area of the trailer cannot exceed20 square f...

NOTE: Check the automatic transaxle fluid level before towing. Fluid discoloration, or a burnt odor, shows theneed for a transmission fluid and filter change. NOTE: For vehicles equipped with Autostick. By using the Autostick modes, and selecting a specific gear range,frequent shifting can be avoide...

WARNING! Ethanol vapors are extremely flammable and couldcause serious personal injury. Never have any smok-ing materials lit in or near the vehicle when remov-ing the fuel filler tube cap (gas cap) or filling thetank. Do not use E-85 as a cleaning agent and neveruse it near an open flame. Fuel Requ...

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES CONTENTS 䡵 Hazard Warning Flasher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186 䡵 If Your Engine Overheats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186 䡵 Jacking And Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 ▫ Preparations For Jacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188 䡵 Jump-Startin...

HAZARD WARNING FLASHER The flasher switch is on top of the steering column,just behind the steering wheel. Depress the switch and both cluster indicators and all front and rear direc-tional signals will flash. Depress the switch again to turnHazard Warning Flashers off. Do not use this emergency war...

JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING WARNING! • Getting under a jacked-up vehicle is dangerous.The vehicle could slip off the jack and fall on you.You could be crushed. Never get any part of yourbody under a vehicle that is on a jack. Never startor run the engine while the vehicle is on a jack. Ifyou need to g...

3. Before raising the vehicle, use lug wrench to carefullypry off wheel cover (if equipped with steel wheels) orcenter cap (if equipped with aluminum wheels). Loosen,but do not remove, the wheel nuts by turning themcounterclockwise one turn while the wheel is still on theground. WARNING! To avoid po...

Jack Engagement Locations WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 191 6

WARNING! Do not permit vehicles to touch each other as thiscould establish a ground connection and personinjury could result. 5. Connect the other cable, first to the negative terminalof the booster battery and then to the jump start attach-ment of the vehicle with the discharged battery. Makesure y...

WARNING! Any procedure other than above could result in: 1. Personal injury caused by electrolyte squirtingout the battery vent; 2. Personal injury or property damage due to batteryexplosion; 3. Damage to charging system of booster vehicle orof immobilized vehicle. WARNING! Battery fluid is a corros...

DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES Acceleration Rapid acceleration on snow covered, wet, or other slip-pery surfaces may cause the front wheels to pull errati-cally to the right or left. This phenomenon occurs whenthere is a difference in the surface traction under the front(driving) wheels, particularly ...

TOWING THIS VEHICLE BEHIND ANOTHERVEHICLE (Flat towing with all four wheels on theground) Automatic Transaxle Your vehicle may be towed under the following condi-tions: The gear selector must be in NEUTRAL, thedistance to be towed must not exceed 15 miles (25 km),and the towing speed must not exceed...

MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE CONTENTS 䡵 2.4L Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 䡵 2.7L Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 䡵 Onboard Diagnostic System — OBD II . . . . . . 203 䡵 Emissions Inspection And MaintenancePrograms . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...

2.4L ENGINE 2.4L Engine Compartment MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 201 7

2.7L ENGINE 2.7L Engine Compartment 202 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM — OBD II Your vehicle is equipped with a sophisticated onboarddiagnostic system called OBD II. This system monitorsthe performance of the emissions, engine, and automatictransmission control systems. When these systems areoperating properly, your vehicle will provide excell...

EMISSIONS INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCEPROGRAMS In some localities, it may be a legal requirement to passan inspection of your vehicle’s emissions control system.Failure to pass could prevent vehicle registration. For states which have an I/M (Inspection andMaintenance) requirement, this check verifies...

If your OBD system is not ready, you should see your authorized dealer or repair facility. If your vehicle wasrecently serviced or had a battery failure or replacement,you may need to do nothing more than drive yourvehicle as you normally would in order for your OBDsystem to update. A recheck with t...

WARNING! You can be badly injured working on or around amotor vehicle. Do only that service work for whichyou have the knowledge and the proper equipment.If you have any doubt about your ability to performa service job, take your vehicle to a competentmechanic. MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES The pages that ...

CAUTION! Overfilling or underfilling will cause aeration orloss of oil pressure. This could damage your engine. Change Engine Oil Road conditions and your kind of driving affects theinterval at which your oil should be changed. Check thefollowing list to decide if any apply to you. • Day and night t...

If none of these apply to you, then change your engine oilat every interval shown on schedule ⬙ A ⬙ of the ⬙ Mainte- nance Schedules ⬙ section of this manual. NOTE: Under no circumstances should oil change intervals exceed 6,000 miles (10 000 km) or 6 monthswhichever comes first. Engine Oil Selectio...

Engine Oil Viscosity (SAE Grade) SAE 5W-20 and SAE 5W-30 engine oils are recom-mended for all operating temperatures. These engineoils are designed to improve low temperature startingand vehicle fuel economy. Refer to the engine oil fillercap for the preferred engine oil viscosity grade for eachvehi...

CAUTION! Damage to the catalytic converter can result if yourvehicle is not kept in proper operating condition. Inthe event of engine malfunction, particularly involv-ing engine misfire or other apparent loss of perfor-mance, have your vehicle serviced promptly. Contin-ued operation of your vehicle ...

Crankcase Emission Control System Proper operation of this system depends on freedomfrom sticking or plugging due to deposits. As vehiclemileage builds up, the Positive Crankshaft Ventilation(PCV) valve and passages may accumulate deposits. If avalve is not working properly, replace it with a newval...

WARNING! Battery posts, terminals and related accessories con-tain lead and lead compounds. Wash hands afterhandling. Battery fluid is a corrosive acid solutionand can burn or even blind you. Don’t allow batteryfluid to contact your eyes, skin or clothing. Don’tlean over a battery when attaching cla...

through the condenser as required. Fabric front fasciaprotectors may reduce air flow to the condenser, reducingair conditioning performance. WARNING! • Use only refrigerants and compressor lubricantsapproved by the manufacturer for your air condi-tioning system. Some unapproved refrigerants areflamm...

WARNING! Fluid level should be checked on a level surface andwith the engine off to prevent injury from movingparts and to insure accurate fluid level reading. Donot overfill. Use only manufacturer recommendedpower steering fluid, refer to Recommended Fluids,Lubricants and Genuine Parts for correct ...

WARNING! Commercially available windshield washer solventsare flammable. They could ignite and burn you. Caremust be exercised when filling or working aroundthe washer solution. Exhaust System The best protection against carbon monoxide entry intothe vehicle body is a properly maintained engine exha...

Coolant Checks Check engine coolant (antifreeze) protection every 12months (before the onset of freezing weather, whereapplicable). If coolant is dirty or rusty in appearance, thesystem should be drained, flushed and refilled with freshcoolant. Check the front of the radiator for any accumulation of...

If the solution is dirty and contains a considerableamount of sediment, clean and flush with a reliablecooling system cleaner. Follow with a thorough rinsing toremove all deposits and chemicals. Used automotiveantifreeze is a recyclable commodity. Discard or recycleas facilities exist in your area. ...

Disposal Of Used Engine Coolant Used ethylene glycol based engine coolant is a regulatedsubstance requiring proper disposal. Check with yourlocal authorities to determine the disposal rules for yourcommunity. Do not store ethylene glycol based enginecoolant in open containers or allow it to remain i...

• Check coolant freeze point in the system. • If frequent coolant additions are required, or if thelevel in the bottle does not drop when the engine cools,the cooling system should be pressure tested for leaks. • Maintain coolant concentration at 50% HOAT ethyleneglycol engine coolant (minimum) and ...

WARNING! Riding the brakes can lead to brake failure andpossibly an accident. Driving with your foot restingor riding on the brake pedal can result in abnormallyhigh brake temperatures, excessive lining wear, andpossible brake damage. You may not have your fullbraking capacity in an emergency. Brake...

Master Cylinder The fluid level in the master cylinder should be checkedwhen performing under hood services, or immediately ifthe brake system warning lamp shows system failure. Be sure to clean the top of the master cylinder area beforeremoving the cap. If necessary, fill brake fluid reservoir toth...

Procedure For Checking Fluid Level The fluid level in the automatic transaxle should bechecked whenever the vehicle is serviced. Operation withan improper fluid level will greatly reduce the life of thetransaxle and of the fluid. To properly check the automatic transaxle fluid level, thefollowing pr...

• Police, taxi, limousine, commercial type operation, ortrailer towing where the vehicle is driven regularly for more than 45 minutes of continuous operation. NOTE: Refer to Section 8 of this manual for mainte- nance schedules. If the transaxle is disassembled for any reason, the fluidand filter sho...

What Causes Corrosion? Corrosion is the result of deterioration or removal ofpaint and protective coatings from your vehicle. The most common causes are: • Road salt, dirt and moisture accumulation. • Stone and gravel impact. • Insects, tree sap and tar. • Salt in the air near seacoast localities. •...

• Use Mopar touch up paint on scratches or chips assoon as possible. Your dealer has touch up paint tomatch the color of your vehicle. • If your vehicle is damaged due to an accident orsimilar cause which destroys the paint and protectivecoating have your vehicle repaired as soon as possible.The cos...

Never use an abrasive type cleaner. Use caution whencleaning inside rear windows equipped with electricdefrosters. Do not use scrapers or other sharp instru-ments which may scratch the elements. Instrument Panel Cover The instrument panel cover has a low glare surface whichminimizes reflections in t...

FUSES Underhood Fuses (Power Distribution Center) A Power Distribution Center is located in the enginecompartment; near the air cleaner. This information ap-plies to vehicles built without the fuse and relay num-bering embossed on the Power Distribution Center TopCover. Interior Fuses The fuse acces...

Cavity Fuse Circuit 11 10 Amp Red Instrument Cluster,Transmission Control,Park/Neutral Switch,Body Control Module 12 10 Amp Red Left Low beam Headlight 13 20 Amp Yellow Right Low Beam Head-light, Fog Light Switch 14 10 Amp Red Radio 15 10 Amp Red Turn Signal and HazardFlashers, Wiper Switch,Seat Bel...

4. Turn the retaining ring counterclockwise and removethe bulb and socket assembly. 5. Pull the bulb out of the socket and replace the bulb. CAUTION! Do not touch the new bulb with your fingers. Oilcontamination will severely shorten bulb life. 6. If the bulb comes in contact with any oily surface,c...

2. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise and remove thebulb and socket assembly. 3. Pull the bulb out of the socket, replace the bulb, andreinstall the bulb and socket to the headlight assembly.Reinstall the headlight assembly. Fog Light Bulb Replacement 1. Remove the screw securing the light assemb...

4. Turn the bulb and socket assembly counterclockwiseto remove it from the housing. 5. Install the new bulb and socket assembly, reattach thewiring connector, and reinstall the fog light assembly. Center Stoplight Bulb Replacement 1. Open the trunk. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwiseto remove it ...

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES CONTENTS 䡵 Emission Control System Maintenance . . . . . . 248 䡵 Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) For 2.4L —If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248 䡵 Maintenance Schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249 ▫ Schedule “B” . . . . . . . . . ...

EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM MAINTENANCE The “Scheduled” maintenance services, listed in bold type must be done at the times or mileages specified to assure the continued proper functioning of the emissioncontrol system. These, and all other maintenance servicesincluded in this manual, should be done to ...

Use the schedule that best describes your driving condi-tions. Where time and mileage are listed, follow theinterval that occurs first. NOTE: Under no circumstances should oil change intervals exceed 6 months or 6,000 miles, whichevercomes first. CAUTION! Failure to perform the required maintenance ...

At Each Oil Change • Change the engine oil filter. • Inspect the exhaust system. • Inspect the brake linings, hoses and calipers. • Inspect the CV joints and front and rear suspensioncomponents. • Check the automatic transmission fluid level. • Check the brake master cylinder fluid level. • Check th...

Miles 3,000 6,000 9,000 12,000 15,000 18,000 (Kilometers) (5 000) (10 000) (14 000) (19 000) (24 000) (29 000) Change engine oil and engine oil filter, if notreplaced at 3 months. X X X X X X Inspect the air cleaner filter and replace if necessary.* X X X X X X Inspect the front and rear brake pads,...

Miles 21,000 24,000 27,000 30,000 33,000 36,000 (Kilometers) (34 000) (38 000) (43 000) (48 000) (53 000) (58 000) Change engine oil and engine oil filter, if notreplaced at 3 months. X X X X X X Inspect the air cleaner filter and replace if re- quired.* X X X X X Replace the air cleaner filter. X I...

Miles 57,000 60,000 63,000 66,000 69,000 72,000 (Kilometers) (91 000) (96 000) (101 000) (106 000) (110 000) (115 000) Change engine oil and engine oil filter, if not re-placed at 3 months. X X X X X X Inspect the air cleaner filter and replace if neces- sary.* X X X X X Replace the air cleaner filt...

Miles 75,000 78,000 81,000 84,000 87,000 90,000 (Kilometers) (120 000) (125 000) (130 000) (134 000) (139 000) (144 000) Change engine oil and engine oil filter, if notreplaced at 3 months. X X X X X X Inspect the air cleaner filter and replace if necessary.* X X X X X Replace the air cleaner filter...

Miles 144,000 147,000 150,000 (Kilometers) (232 000) (237 000) (241 000) Change engine oil and engine oil filter, if not replaced at 3months. X X X Inspect the air cleaner filter and replace if necessary.* X X Replace the air cleaner filter. X Replace the spark plugs on the 2.4 liter engine. ** X In...

SCHEDULE “A” Miles 6,000 12,000 18,000 24,000 30,000 36,000 (Kilometers) (10 000) (19 000) (29 000) (38 000) (48 000) (58 000) [Months] [6] [12] [18] [24] [30] [36] Change engine oil and engine oil filter. X X X X X X Inspect the air cleaner filter and replace if necessary.* X X X X X Replace the ai...

IF YOU NEED CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CONTENTS 䡵 Suggestions For Obtaining Service For YourVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270 ▫ Prepare For The Appointment . . . . . . . . . . . . 270 ▫ Prepare A List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270 ▫ Be Reasonable ...

Service Contract You may have purchased a service contract for yourvehicle to help protect you from the high cost of unex-pected repairs after your manufacturer’s new vehiclelimited warranty expires. The manufacturer stands be-hind only the manufacturer’s Service Contracts. If youpurchased a manufac...

MOPAR 姞 PARTS Mopar 威 fluids, lubricants, parts, and accessories are available from your dealer. They will help you keep yourvehicle operating at its best. REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS In the 50 United States and Washington D.C.: If youbelieve that your vehicle has a defect which could causea crash or c...

Temperature Grades The temperature grades are A (highest), B, and C, repre-senting the tire’s resistance to the generation of heat andits ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlledconditions on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.Sustained high temperature can cause the material of ...

Special Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 Autostick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172Auxiliary Power Outlet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Ball Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216 Battery . . . . . . . . . . ....

Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle for 2.4 Liter . . . . 248Passing Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48Placard, Tire and Loading Information . . . . . . . 159Power Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....