Dodge Avenger (2014 year). Instruction — part 25

HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS

The Hazard Warning flasher switch is located on the
instrument panel, below the radio.

Press the switch to turn on the Hazard Warning
flasher. When the switch is activated, all direc-

tional turn signals will flash on and off to warn oncoming
traffic of an emergency. Press the switch a second time to
turn off the Hazard Warning flashers.

This is an emergency warning system and it should not
be used when the vehicle is in motion. Use it when your
vehicle is disabled and it is creating a safety hazard for
other motorists.

When you must leave the vehicle to seek assistance, the
Hazard Warning flashers will continue to operate even
though the ignition is placed in the OFF position.

NOTE:

With extended use the Hazard Warning flashers

may wear down your battery.

IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS

In any of the following situations, you can reduce the
potential for overheating by taking the appropriate action.
• On the highways — Slow down.
• In city traffic — While stopped, put transaxle in

NEUTRAL, but do not increase engine idle speed.

CAUTION!

Driving with a hot cooling system could damage
your vehicle. If temperature gauge reads “H”, pull
over and stop the vehicle with the engine at idle,
when safe. Turn the air conditioner off and wait until
the pointer drops back into the normal range. After
appropriate action has been taken, if the pointer
remains on the “H”, turn the engine off immediately,
and call for service.

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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

NOTE:

There are steps that you can take to slow down

an impending overheat condition:

• If your air conditioner (A/C) is on, turn it off. The A/C

system adds heat to the engine cooling system and
turning the A/C off can help remove this heat.

• You can also turn the temperature control to maximum

heat, the mode control to floor and the blower control to
high. This allows the heater core to act as a supplement
to the radiator and aids in removing heat from the engine
cooling system.

WARNING!

You or others can be badly burned by hot engine
coolant (antifreeze) or steam from your radiator. If you
see or hear steam coming from under the hood, do not
open the hood until the radiator has had time to cool.
Never try to open a cooling system pressure cap when
the radiator or coolant bottle is hot.

Engine Oil Overheating (2.4L Engine Only) — If
Equipped

During sustained high-speed driving or trailer tow up
long grades on a hot day, the engine oil temperature may
become too hot. If this happens, the “HOTOIL” message
flashes in the odometer and the vehicle speed will be
reduced to 53 mph (85 km/h) until the engine oil
temperature is reduced.

NOTE:

The vehicle speed is reduced to a maximum of

53 mph (85 km/h). You may of course, reduce your
vehicle speed further if needed.

WHEEL AND TIRE TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS

Proper lug nut/bolt torque is very important to ensure
that the wheel is properly mounted to the vehicle. Any
time a wheel has been removed and reinstalled on the
vehicle the lug nuts/bolts should be torqued using a
properly calibrated torque wrench.

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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

397

Torque Specifications

Lug Nut/Bolt

Torque

**Lug Nut/

Bolt Size

Lug Nut/Bolt

Socket Size

100 Ft-Lbs

(135 N·m)

M12 x 1.25

19 mm

**Use only Chrysler recommended lug nuts/bolts and
clean or remove any dirt or oil before tightening.

Inspect the wheel mounting surface prior to mounting
the tire and remove any corrosion or loose particles.

Tighten the lug nuts/bolts in a star pattern until each
nut/bolt has been tightened twice.

Wheel Mounting Surface

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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

After 25 miles (40 km) check the lug nut/bolt torque to be
sure that all the lug nuts/bolts are properly seated
against the wheel.

WARNING!

To avoid the risk of forcing the vehicle off the jack,
do not tighten the lug nuts fully until the vehicle has
been lowered. Failure to follow this warning may
result in personal injury.

JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING

WARNING!

• Do not attempt to change a tire on the side of the

vehicle close to moving traffic. Pull far enough off
the road to avoid the danger of being hit when
operating the jack or changing the wheel.

(Continued)

Torque Patterns

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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

399

WARNING! (Continued)

• Being under a jacked-up vehicle is dangerous. The

vehicle could slip off the jack and fall on you. You
could be crushed. Never put any part of your body
under a vehicle that is on a jack. If you need to get
under a raised vehicle, take it to a service center
where it can be raised on a lift.

• Never start or run the engine while the vehicle is

on a jack.

• The jack is designed to be used as a tool for

changing tires only. The jack should not be used to
lift the vehicle for service purposes. The vehicle
should be jacked on a firm level surface only.
Avoid ice or slippery areas.

Jack Location

The jack and jack-handle are stowed under the load floor
in the trunk.

Spare Tire Stowage

The compact spare tire is stowed under the rear load floor
in the trunk.

Spare Tire Removal

Lift up the load floor cover and remove the hold down.

Spare Tire And Jack Storage

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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

Preparations For Jacking

1. Park the vehicle on a firm, level surface. Avoid ice or

slippery areas.

WARNING!

Do not attempt to change a tire on the side of the
vehicle close to moving traffic, pull far enough off
the road to avoid the danger of being hit when
operating the jack or changing the wheel.

2. Turn on the Hazard Warning flashers.

3. Set the parking brake.

4. Place the shift lever into PARK (automatic transmis-

sion) or REVERSE (instruction transmission).

5. Turn OFF the ignition.

6. Block both the front and rear of the

wheel diagonally opposite the jack-
ing position. For example, if chang-
ing the right front tire, block the left
rear wheel.

NOTE:

Passengers should not remain in the vehicle

while the vehicle is being jacked.

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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

401

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.

• Turn on the Hazard Warning flashers.

• Block the wheel diagonally opposite the wheel to

be raised.

• Set the parking brake firmly and set an automatic

transmission in PARK; a instruction transmission in
REVERSE.

• Never start or run the engine with the vehicle on a

jack.

(Continued)

WARNING! (Continued)

• 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. If

you need to get under a raised vehicle, take it to a
service center where it can be raised on a lift.

• 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.

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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

CAUTION!

Do not attempt to raise the vehicle by jacking on
locations other than those indicated in the Jacking
Instructions for this vehicle.

NOTE:

Refer to the “Spare Tire” section of “Tires —

General Information” in “Starting And Operating” for
information about the spare tire, its use, and operation.

1. Remove the scissors jack and lug wrench from the spare

wheel as an assembly. Turn the jack screw to the left to
loosen the lug wrench, and remove the wrench from the
jack assembly.

NOTE:

The jack handle attaches to the side of the jack

with two attachment points. When the jack is partially
expanded, the tension between the two attachment
points holds the jack handle in place.

Jack Warning Label

Removing Jack Handle From Jack

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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

403

2. Loosen, but do not remove, the wheel nuts by turning

them to the left one turn while the wheel is still on the
ground.

CAUTION!

Do not attempt to raise the vehicle by jacking on
locations other than those indicated in step 3.

Jacking Locations

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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

3. There is a front and rear jacking location on each side

of the vehicle. The plastic trim has been cut away to
expose the jacking locations on the body.

Front Jacking Location

Rear Jacking Location

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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

405

4. Turn the jack screw to the left until the jack can be

placed under the jacking location. Once the jack is
positioned, turn the jack screw to the right until the
jack head is properly engaged to the jacking location
on the wheel to be changed. Do not raise the vehicle
until you are sure the jack is securely engaged.

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.

Jack Engaged (Front Jacking Location)

Jack Engaged (Rear Jacking Location)

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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

5. 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.

6. Remove the wheel nuts, and pull the wheel and wheel

covers (where applicable) off the hub. Install the spare
wheel and wheel nuts with the cone shaped end of the
nuts toward the wheel. Lightly tighten the nuts.

CAUTION!

Be sure to mount the spare tire with the valve stem
facing outward. The vehicle could be damaged if the
spare tire is mounted incorrectly.

Mounting Spare Tire

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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

407

WARNING!

• To avoid the risk of forcing the vehicle off the jack,

do not tighten the lug nuts fully until the vehicle
has been lowered. Failure to follow this warning
may result in personal injury.

• To avoid possible personal injury, handle the

wheel covers with care to avoid contact with any
sharp edges.

7. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack screw to the left.

8. Finish tightening the nuts. Push down on the wrench

while at the end of the handle for increased leverage.
Tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern until each nut has
been tightened twice. For the correct lug nut torque
refer to Torque Specifications in this section. If you
doubt that you have tightened the nuts correctly, have
them checked with a torque wrench by your autho-
rized dealer or at a service station.

9. Remove the wheel blocks and lower the jack until it is

free. Release the parking brake before driving the
vehicle. Reassemble the lug wrench to the jack assem-
bly and stow it in the spare tire area. Secure the
assembly using the means provided.

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.

10. Place the deflated (flat) tire in the cargo area and have

the tire repaired or replaced as soon as possible.

11. Check the tire pressure as soon as possible. Correct

the tire pressure as required.

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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

Road Tire Installation

Vehicles Equipped With Wheel Covers

1. Mount the road tire on the axle.

2. To ease the installation process for steel wheels with

wheel covers, install two lug nuts on the mounting
studs which are on each side of the valve stem. Install
the lug nuts with the cone shaped end of the nut
toward the wheel. Lightly tighten the lug nuts.

WARNING!

To avoid the risk of forcing the vehicle off the jack,
do not tighten the wheel nuts fully until the vehicle
has been lowered. Failure to follow this warning may
result in personal injury.

Tire And Wheel Cover Or Center Cap

1 — Valve Stem

4 — Wheel Cover

2 — Valve Notch

5 — Mounting Stud

3 — Wheel Lug Nut

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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

409

3. Align the valve notch in the wheel cover with the

valve stem on the wheel. Install the cover by hand,
snapping the cover over the two lug nuts. Do not use
a hammer or excessive force to install the cover.

4. Install the remaining lug nuts with the cone shaped

end of the nut toward the wheel. Lightly tighten the
lug nuts.

WARNING!

To avoid the risk of forcing the vehicle off the jack,
do not tighten the wheel nuts fully until the vehicle
has been lowered. Failure to follow this warning may
result in personal injury.

5. Lower the vehicle to the ground by turning the jack

handle counterclockwise.

6. Finish tightening the lug nuts. Push down on the

wrench while at the end of the handle for increased
leverage. Tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern until
each nut has been tightened twice. For the correct lug
nut torque refer to Torque Specifications in this sec-
tion. If in doubt about the correct tightness, have them
checked with a torque wrench by your authorized
dealer or service station.

7. After 25 miles (40 km) check the lug nut torque with a

torque wrench to ensure that all lug nuts are properly
seated against the wheel.

Vehicles Without Wheel Covers

1. Mount the road tire on the axle.

2. Install the remaining lug nuts with the cone shaped

end of the nut toward the wheel. Lightly tighten the
lug nuts.

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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

WARNING!

To avoid the risk of forcing the vehicle off the jack,
do not tighten the wheel nuts fully until the vehicle
has been lowered. Failure to follow this warning may
result in personal injury.

3. Lower the vehicle to the ground by turning the jack

handle counterclockwise.

4. Finish tightening the lug nuts. Push down on the

wrench while at the end of the handle for increased
leverage. Tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern until
each nut has been tightened twice. For the correct lug
nut torque refer to Torque Specifications in this sec-
tion. If in doubt about the correct tightness, have them
checked with a torque wrench by your authorized
dealer or service station.

5. After 25 miles (40 km) check the lug nut torque with a

torque wrench to ensure that all lug nuts are properly
seated against the wheel.

JUMP-STARTING

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
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.

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