Dodge Avenger (2014 year). Instruction

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 between the left
front headlight assembly and the left front wheel splash
shield. To allow jump-starting there are remote battery
posts located on the left side of the engine compartment.

Remote Battery Posts

1 — Remote Positive (+) Post (covered with protective cap)
2 — Remote Negative (-) Post

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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 rings, watch

bands and bracelets that could 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. Remove the protective cover over the remote positive

(+)

battery post. To remove the cover, press the locking

tab and pull upward on the cover.

Locking Tab

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

413

4. 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 jump-starting procedure could
result in personal injury or property damage due to
battery explosion.

CAUTION!

Failure to follow these procedures could result in
damage to the charging system of the booster vehicle
or the discharged vehicle.

Connecting The Jumper Cables

1. Connect the positive (+) end of the jumper cable to the

remote 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 the remote negative (-) post of the vehicle with
the discharged battery.

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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

WARNING!

Do not connect the jumper cable to the negative (-)
post of the discharged battery. The resulting electri-
cal spark could cause the battery to explode and
could result in personal injury. Only use the specific
ground point, do not use any other exposed metal
parts.

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.

6. Once the engine is started, remove the jumper cables

in the reverse sequence:

Disconnecting The Jumper Cables

1. Disconnect the negative (-) jumper cable from the

remote negative (-) post of the vehicle with the dis-
charged battery.

2. Disconnect the negative end (-) of the jumper cable

from the negative (-) post of the booster battery.

3. Disconnect the opposite end of the positive (+) jumper

cable from the positive (+) post of the booster battery.

4. Disconnect the positive (+) end of the jumper cable

from the remote positive (+) post of the discharged
vehicle.

5. Reinstall the protective cover over the remote positive

(+)

battery 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.

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

415

CAUTION!

Accessories 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 without engine operation,
the vehicle’s battery will discharge sufficiently to
degrade battery life and/or prevent the engine from
starting.

FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE

If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand, or snow, it
can often be moved using a rocking motion. Turn the
steering wheel right and left to clear the area around the
front wheels. Then shift back and forth between DRIVE
and REVERSE, while gently pressing the accelerator. Use
the least amount of accelerator pedal pressure that will

maintain the rocking motion, without spinning the
wheels, or racing the engine.

CAUTION!

Racing the engine or spinning the wheels may lead to
transmission overheating and failure. Allow the en-
gine to idle with the transmission in NEUTRAL for at
least one minute after every five rocking-motion
cycles. This will minimize overheating and reduce
the risk of transmission failure during prolonged
efforts to free a stuck vehicle.

NOTE:

Press the

⬙ESC Off⬙ switch, to place the Electronic

Stability Control (ESC) system in

⬙Partial Off⬙ mode,

before rocking the vehicle. Refer to “Electronic Brake
Control” in “Starting And Operating” for further infor-
mation. Once the vehicle has been freed, press the

⬙ESC

Off

⬙ switch again to restore ⬙ESC On⬙ mode.

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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

CAUTION!

• When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by shifting be-

tween DRIVE and REVERSE, do not spin the
wheels faster than 15 mph (24 km/h), or drivetrain
damage may result.

• Revving the engine or spinning the wheels too fast

may lead to transmission overheating and failure.
It can also damage the tires. Do not spin the wheels
above 30 mph (48 km/h) while in gear (no trans-
mission shifting occurring).

WARNING!

Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces gener-
ated by excessive wheel speeds may cause damage, or
even failure, of the axle and tires. A tire could

(Continued)

WARNING! (Continued)

explode and injure someone. Do not spin your vehi-
cle’s wheels faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) or for
longer than 30 seconds continuously without stop-
ping when you are stuck and do not let anyone near
a spinning wheel, no matter what the speed.

SHIFT LEVER OVERRIDE

If a malfunction occurs and the shift lever cannot be
moved out of the PARK position, you can use the
following procedure to temporarily move the shift lever:

1. Turn the engine OFF.

2. Firmly apply the parking brake.

3. Remove the rubber cupholder liner. Squeeze one side

of the liner’s center to expose its edge and facilitate
removal.

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

417

4. Turn the ignition to the ACC or ON/RUN position,

but do not start the engine.

5. Press and maintain firm pressure on the brake pedal.

6. Insert a screwdriver or similar tool into the access hole

(at the front of the cupholder) and push and hold the
override release lever forward.

7. Move the shift lever to the NEUTRAL position.

8. The vehicle may then be started in NEUTRAL.

9. Reinstall the cupholder liner.

TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE

This section describes procedures for towing a disabled vehicle using a commercial wrecker service.

Towing Condition

Wheels OFF the Ground

All Models

Flat Tow

NONE

If transmission is operable:

• Transmission in NEUTRAL

• 25 mph (40 km/h) max speed

• 15 mi (24 km) max distance

Wheel Lift Or Dolly Tow

Rear

Front

Flatbed

ALL

BEST METHOD

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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

Proper towing or lifting equipment is required to prevent
damage to your vehicle. Use only tow bars and other
equipment designed for this purpose, following equip-
ment manufacturer’s instructions. Use of safety chains is
mandatory. Attach a tow bar or other towing device to
main structural members of the vehicle, not to bumpers
or associated brackets. State and local laws regarding
vehicles under tow must be observed.

If you must use the accessories (wipers, defrosters, etc.)
while being towed, the ignition must be in the ON/RUN
position, not the ACC position.

If your vehicle’s battery is discharged, refer to

⬙Shift

Lever Override

⬙ in this section for instructions on shifting

the transmission out of PARK for towing.

CAUTION!

• Do not use sling type equipment when towing.

Damage to the fascia will occur.

• When securing the vehicle to a flatbed truck, do not

attach to front or rear suspension components.
Damage to your vehicle may result from improper
towing.

• Do not push or tow this vehicle with another

vehicle as damage to the bumper fascia and trans-
mission may result.

The manufacturer recommends towing your vehicle with
all four wheels OFF the ground using a flatbed.

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

419

If flatbed equipment is not available, and the transmis-
sion is operable, the vehicle may be flat towed (with all
four wheels on the ground) under the following condi-
tions:

• The transmission must be in NEUTRAL.
• The towing distance must not exceed 15 mi (24 km).
• The towing speed must not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h).

If the transmission is not operable, or the vehicle must
be towed faster than 25 mph (40 km/h) or farther than 15
mi (24 km), it must be towed with the front wheels OFF
the ground (using a flatbed truck, towing dolly, or
wheel lift equipment with the front wheels raised).

CAUTION!

Towing faster than 25 mph (40 km/h) or farther than
15 mi (24 km) with front wheels on the ground can
cause severe transmission damage. Such damage is
not covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.

Without The Ignition Key

Special care must be taken when the vehicle is towed
with the ignition in the LOCK/OFF position. Flatbed
towing is the preferred towing method. However, if a
flatbed towing vehicle is not available, wheel lift towing
equipment may be used. Rear towing (with the front
wheels on the ground) is not allowed, as transmission
damage will occur. If rear towing is the only alternative,
the front wheels must be placed on a towing dolly. Proper
towing equipment is necessary to prevent damage to the
vehicle.

420

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 2.4L

1 — Engine Coolant Reservoir

5 — Integrated Power Module (Fuses)

9 — Coolant Pressure Cap

2 — Power Steering Fluid Reservoir

6 — Power Distribution Center (Fuses)

10 — Engine Oil Dipstick

3 — Automatic Transmission Dipstick

7 — Air Cleaner Filter

11 — Washer Fluid Reservoir

4 — Brake Fluid Reservoir

8 — Engine Oil Fill

MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

425

ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 3.6L

1 — Engine Coolant Reservoir

5 — Air Cleaner Filter

2 — Power Steering Fluid Reservoir

6 — Engine Oil Dipstick

3 — Brake Fluid Reservoir

7 — Engine Oil Fill

4 — Integrated Power Module (Fuses)

8 — Washer Fluid Reservoir

426

MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM — OBD II

Your vehicle is equipped with a sophisticated onboard
diagnostic system called OBD II. This system monitors
the performance of the emissions, engine, and automatic
transmission control systems. When these systems are
operating properly, your vehicle will provide excellent
performance and fuel economy, as well as engine emis-
sions well within current government regulations.

If any of these systems require service, the OBD II system
will turn on the “Malfunction Indicator Light” (MIL). It
will also store diagnostic codes and other information to
assist your service technician in making repairs. Al-
though your vehicle will usually be drivable and not
need towing, see your authorized dealer for service as
soon as possible.

CAUTION!

• Prolonged driving with the MIL on could cause

further damage to the emission control system. It
could also affect fuel economy and driveability.
The vehicle must be serviced before any emissions
tests can be performed.

• If the MIL is flashing while the engine is running,

severe catalytic converter damage and power loss
will soon occur. Immediate service is required.

Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message

After fuel is added, the vehicle diagnostic system can
determine if the fuel filler cap is possibly loose or
improperly installed. A “gASCAP” message will be dis-
played in the instrument cluster. Tighten the gas cap until
a

⬙clicking⬙ sound is heard. This is an indication that the

gas cap is properly tightened. Press the trip odometer
“Reset” button to turn off the message. If the problem

MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

427

Dodge Avenger (2014 year). Instruction - part 26