Dodge Neon (2005 year). Manual

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 turn
Hazard Warning Flashers off.

Do not use this emergency warning system when the
vehicle is in motion. Use it when your vehicle is disabled
and is creating a safety hazard for other motorists.

If it is necessary to leave the vehicle to go for service, the
flasher system will continue to operate with the ignition
key removed and the vehicle locked.

NOTE:

With extended use, the flasher 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 ac-
tion.

• On the highways — Slow down.
• In city traffic — While stopped, put transaxle in

neutral, but do not increase engine idle speed.

NOTE:

There are steps that you can take to slow down

an impending overheat condition. If your air conditioner
is on, turn it off. The air conditioning system adds heat to
the engine cooling system and turning off the A/C
removes this heat. You can also turn the Temperature
control to maximum heat, the Mode control to floor, and

Hazard Flasher Switch

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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

the fan 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.

CAUTION!

Driving with a hot cooling system could damage
your vehicle. If temperature gauge reads “H”, pull
over and stop the vehicle. Idle the vehicle with the
air conditioner turned off until the pointer drops
back into the normal range. If the pointer remains on
the “H”, turn the engine off immediately, and call for
service.

WARNING!

A hot engine cooling system is dangerous. You or
others could be badly burned by steam or boiling
coolant. You may want to call a service center if your
vehicle overheats. If you decide to look under the
hood yourself, see Section 7, Maintenance, of this
manual. Follow the warnings under the Cooling
System Pressure Cap paragraph.

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

151

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 your
body under a vehicle that is on a jack. Never start
or run the engine while the vehicle 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.

• 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.

Preparations For Jacking

Park the vehicle on a firm level surface, avoid ice or
slippery areas, and set the parking brake. Place the gear
selector in PARK (automatic transaxle) or REVERSE
(manual transaxle).

• Turn on the Hazard Warning Flasher.

• Block both the front and rear

of the wheel diagonally oppo-
site the jacking position. For
example, if changing the right
front tire, block the left rear
wheel.

• Passengers should not remain in the vehicle while the

vehicle is being jacked.

Instructions

The spare wheel, scissors jack, and lug wrench are
stowed under the spare tire cover in the rear cargo area.

Do not attempt to raise this vehicle using a bumper jack.

152

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

1. Remove the spare wheel, scissors jack and lug wrench
from stowage.

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 the
crossmember below the radiator or on the front
suspension crossmember.

3. Jack saddle support must be positioned in between
locating darts at the front of the vehicle and behind
locating dart at the rear. Turn the jack screw to the right
until the jack head is properly engaged with the lift area
closest to the wheel to be changed.

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

153

Do not raise the vehicle until you are sure the jack is
securely engaged.

4. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack screw to the right.
Raise the vehicle only until the tire clears the surface.
Miminum tire lift provides maximum vehicle stability.

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.

5. 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. To avoid
the risk of forcing the vehicle off the jack, do not tighten
the nuts fully until the vehicle has been lowered.

WARNING!

To avoid possible personal injury, handle the wheel
covers with care to avoid contact with any sharp edges.

NOTE:

The wheel cover is held on the wheel by the

wheel nuts. When reinstalling original wheel, properly
align the wheel cover to the valve stem, place the wheel
cover onto the wheel, then install the wheel nuts.

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

7. Finish tightening the nuts. Push down on the wrench
while tightening the wheel nuts. Alternate nuts until each
nut has been tightened twice. Correct wheel nut torque is

154

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

100 ft. lbs. (135 N·m). If you are not sure about the
tightness, have them checked with a torque wrench by
your dealer or at a service station.

8. Remove the wheel blocks and lower the jack until it is
free. Stow the lug wrench, replaced tire, and jack. Secure
all parts 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.

9. Adjust the tire pressure as soon as possible.

NOTE:

The spare tire well is designed to hold the

compact spare tire or a deflated (flat) tire. A fully inflated
tire will not fit in the spare tire well.

JUMP-STARTING PROCEDURES IF BATTERY IS
LOW

WARNING!

Take care to avoid the radiator cooling fan whenever
the hood is raised. It can start anytime the ignition
switch is on. You can be hurt by the fan.

WARNING!

Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get it
started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic trans-
axle 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 discharged battery, booster cables
may be used to obtain a start from another vehicle.
This type of start can be dangerous if done improp-
erly, so follow this procedure carefully.

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

155

1. Wear eye protection and remove any metal jewelry
such as watch bands 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
letting the vehicles touch. Set parking brake, place auto-
matic transaxle in PARK (manual transaxle in NEU-
TRAL) and turn ignition to OFF for both vehicles.

3. Turn off the heater, radio and all unnecessary electrical
loads.

4. Connect one end of a jumper cable to the positive
terminal of the booster battery. Connect the other end to
the positive terminal of the discharged battery.

WARNING!

Do not permit vehicles to touch each other as this
could establish a ground connection and personal
injury could result.

156

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

WARNING!

Battery fluid is a corrosive acid solution; do not
allow battery fluid to contact eyes, skin or clothing.
Don’t lean over battery when attaching clamps or
allow the clamps to touch each other. If acid splashes
in eyes or on skin, flush the contaminated area
immediately with large quantities of water.

A battery generates hydrogen gas which is flam-
mable and explosive. Keep flame or spark away
from the vent holes. Do not use a booster battery or
any other booster source with an output that exceeds
12 volts.

5. Connect the other cable, first to the negative terminal
of the booster battery and then to the engine of the
vehicle with the discharged battery. Make sure you have
a good contact on the engine.

WARNING!

Do not connect the cable to the negative post of the
discharge battery. The resulting electrical spark
could cause the battery to explode.

During cold weather when temperatures are below
freezing point, electrolyte in a discharged battery
may freeze. Do not attempt jump starting because
the battery could rupture or explode. The battery
temperature must be brought up above freezing
point before attempting to jump start.

6. If the vehicle is equipped with sentry key immobilizer,
turn the ignition switch to the ON/RUN position for 3
seconds prior to moving the ignition switch to the crank
position and starting the vehicle.

7. Start the engine in the vehicle that has the booster
battery, let the engine idle a few minutes, then start the
engine in the vehicle with the discharged battery.

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

157

8. When removing the jumper cables, reverse the above
sequence exactly. Be careful of the moving belts and fan.

WARNING!

Any procedure other than above could result in:

1. Personal injury caused by electrolyte squirting
out the battery vent;

2. Personal injury or property damage due to battery
explosion;

3. Damage to charging system of booster vehicle or
of immobilized vehicle.

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 when
there is a difference in the surface traction under the front
(driving) wheels, particularly with high output engines.

WARNING!

Rapid acceleration on slippery surfaces is danger-
ous. Unequal traction can cause sudden pulling of
the front wheels. You could lose control of the
vehicle and possibly have an accident. Accelerate
slowly and carefully whenever there is likely to be
poor traction (ice, snow, wet, mud, loose sand, etc.).

158

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

Traction

When driving on wet or slushy roads, it is possible for a
wedge of water to build up between the tire and road
surface. This is hydroplaning and may cause partial or
complete loss of vehicle control and stopping ability. To
reduce this possibility, the following precautions should
be observed:

1. Slow down during rainstorms or when roads are
slushy.

2. Slow down if road has standing water or puddles.

3. Replace tires when tread wear indicators first become
visible.

4. Keep tires properly inflated.

5. Maintain enough distance between your vehicle and
the vehicle in front of you to avoid a collision in a sudden
stop.

FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE

If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand or snow, it
can often be moved by a rocking motion. Turn your
steering wheel right and left to clear the area around the
front wheels. Then shift back and forth between Reverse
and First gear. Usually the least accelerator pedal pres-
sure to maintain the rocking motion without spinning the
wheels is most effective.

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 injure
someone. Do not spin your vehicle’s wheels faster
than 35 mph (55km/h) when you are stuck. And don’t
let anyone near a spinning wheel, no matter what the
speed.

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

159

CAUTION!

Racing the engine or spinning the wheels too fast
may lead to transaxle overheating and failure. It can
also damage the tires. Do not spin the wheels above
35 mph (55km/h).

TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE

With Ignition Key

Four Speed Automatic Transaxle
Your vehicle may be towed under the following condi-
tions: The steering column must be unlocked and the
gear selector must be in NEUTRAL, the distance to be
towed must not exceed 100 miles (160 km), and the
towing speed must not exceed 44 mph (72 km/h). If the
transaxle is not operative, or if the vehicle is to be towed
more than 100 miles (160 km), the vehicle must be towed
with the front wheels off the ground to avoid damage to
the transaxle.

Manual Transaxle
Your vehicle may be towed if the gearshift lever is in
NEUTRAL. If the transaxle is not operative, the vehicle
must be towed with the front wheels off the ground.

All Transaxles

CAUTION!

If the vehicle being towed requires steering, the
ignition switch must be in the OFF position, not in
the LOCK or ACCESSORY positions.

If it is necessary to use the accessories while being towed
(wipers, defrosters, etc.), the key must be in the ON
position, not the ACCESSORY position. Make certain the
transaxle remains in NEUTRAL.

160

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

Without The Ignition Key

Special care must be taken when the vehicle is towed
with the ignition in the LOCK position. A dolly should be
used under the front wheels if the rear wheels are raised.
Proper towing equipment is necessary to prevent dam-
age to the vehicle.

Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle (Flat
Towing With All Four Wheels On The Ground)

If your vehicle is equipped with a manual transaxle, it
may be towed at any legal highway speed, for any
distance, if the transaxle is in neutral.

If the ignition key is not available, vehicles with auto-
matic transaxles can not be flat towed at any time.

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

161

MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

CONTENTS

m 2.0L Engine Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
m Onboard Diagnostic System — OBD II . . . . . . 166
m Emissions Inspection And Maintenance

Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167

m Replacement Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
m Dealer Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
m Maintenance Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

▫ Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
▫ Ignition Wiring System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
▫ Crankcase Emission Control System . . . . . . . . 175
▫ Fuel Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
▫ Air Cleaner Element (Filter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175

▫ Maintenance-Free Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
▫ Air Conditioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
▫ Power Steering Fluid Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
▫ Front Suspension Ball Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
▫ Body Lubrication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
▫ Windshield Wiper Blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
▫ Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . 179
▫ Windshield Washer Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
▫ Windshield Washer Reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
▫ Exhaust System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
▫ Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181

▫ Hoses And Vacuum/Vapor Harnesses . . . . . . . 185
▫ Brake System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
▫ Automatic Transaxle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
▫ Manual Transaxle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
▫ Appearance Care And Protection From

Corrosion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191

m Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195

▫ Underhood Fuses

(Power Distribution Center) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195

▫ Interior Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197

m Vehicle Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
m Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198

m Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199

▫ Headlight Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
▫ Front Park/Turn Signal Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
▫ Front Sidemarker Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
▫ Tail/Stop, Rear Turn Signals And

Back-Up Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201

▫ Center High Mounted Stop Light . . . . . . . . . . 201

m Fluids And Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
m Recommended Fluids, Lubricants And

Genuine Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203

▫ Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
▫ Chassis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203

164

MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Dodge Neon (2005 year). Manual - part 10