Dodge Neon Srt4 (2005 year). Manual

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
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 over 250
degrees (in the red zone), 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 above 250
degrees (in the red zone), turn the engine off imme-
diately, 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

129

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 REVERSE.

• 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.

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

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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

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

131

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.

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

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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

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
100 ft. lbs. (135 N·m.). If you are not sure about the
tightness, have them checked with a torgue 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 DUE TO A LOW
BATTERY

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. 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 improperly, so follow this
procedure carefully.

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

133

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 trans-
axle in NEUTRAL 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 person
injury could result.

134

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. Since your vehicle is equipped with senrty key immo-
bilizer, 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.

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

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

135

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.).

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.

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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

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.

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).

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

137

TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE

With Ignition Key
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.

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.

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)
Your vehicle may be towed at any legal highway speed,
for any distance, if the transaxle is in neutral.

138

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

CONTENTS

䡵 2.4L Turbo Charged Engine Compartment . . . . 141
䡵 Onboard Diagnostic System — OBD II . . . . . . 142
䡵 Emissions Inspection And Maintenance

Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

䡵 Replacement Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
䡵 Dealer Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
䡵 Maintenance Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

▫ Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
▫ Ignition Wiring System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
▫ Crankcase Emission Control System . . . . . . . . 151
▫ Fuel Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
▫ Air Cleaner Element (Filter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

▫ Maintenance-Free Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
▫ Air Conditioner Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
▫ Power Steering Fluid Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
▫ Front Suspension Ball Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
▫ Body Lubrication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
▫ Windshield Wiper Blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
▫ Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . 156
▫ Windshield Washer Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
▫ Windshield Washer Reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
▫ Exhaust System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
▫ Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

▫ Hoses And Vacuum/Vapor Harnesses . . . . . . . 161
▫ Brake System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
▫ Manual Transaxle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
▫ Appearance Care And Protection From

Corrosion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

䡵 Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170

▫ Underhood Fuses

(Power Distribution Center) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170

▫ Interior Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

䡵 Vehicle Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
䡵 Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
䡵 Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174

▫ Headlight Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
▫ Front Park/Turn Signal Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
▫ Front Sidemarker Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
▫ Tail/Stop, Rear Turn Signals And Back-Up

Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176

▫ Center High Mounted Stop Light . . . . . . . . . . 176

䡵 Fluids And Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
䡵 Recommended Fluids, Lubricants And Genuine

Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177

▫ Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
▫ Chassis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177

140

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, and engine control
systems. When these systems are operating properly,
your vehicle will provide excellent performance and fuel
economy, as well as engine emissions well within current
government regulations.

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

CAUTION!

Prolonged driving with the “Malfunction Indicator
Light” on could cause further damage to the emis-
sion control system. It could also affect fuel economy
and driveability. The vehicle must be serviced before
any emissions tests can be performed.

If the “Malfunction Indicator Light” is flashing
while the engine is running, severe catalytic con-
verter damage and power loss will soon occur. Im-
mediate service is required.

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MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

EMISSIONS INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
PROGRAMS
In some localities, it may be a legal requirement to pass
an inspection of your vehicle’s emissions control system.
Failure to pass could prevent vehicle registration.

For states which have an I/M (Inspection and
Maintenance) requirement, this check verifies the
following: the MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp)

is functioning and is not on when the engine is running,
and that the OBD (On Board Diagnostic) system is ready
for testing.

Normally, the OBD system will be ready. The OBD
system may not be ready if your vehicle was recently
serviced, if you recently had a dead battery, or a battery
replacement. If the OBD system should be determined
not ready for the I/M test, your vehicle may fail the test.

Your vehicle has a simple ignition key actuated test
which you can use prior to going to the test station. To
check if your vehicle’s OBD system is ready, you must do
the following:

1. Insert your ignition key into the ignition switch.

2. Turn the ignition to the ON position, but do not crank
or start the engine.

3. If you crank or start the engine, you will have to start
this test over.

4. As soon as you turn your key to the ON position, you
will see your MIL symbol come on as part of a normal
bulb check.

5. Approximately 15 seconds later, one of two things will
happen:

a. The MIL will flash for about 10 seconds and then
return to being fully illuminated until you turn off
the ignition key or start the engine. This means that
your vehicle’s OBD system is not ready and you
should not proceed to the I/M station.

b. The MIL will not flash at all and will remain fully
illuminated until you turn off the ignition key or
start the engine. This means that your vehicle’s OBD
system is ready and you can proceed to the I/M
station.

MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

143

If your OBD system is not ready, you should see your
authorized dealer or repair facility. If your vehicle was
recently serviced or had a battery failure or replacement,
you may need to do nothing more than drive your
vehicle as you normally would in order for your OBD
system to update. A recheck with the above test routine
may then indicate that the system is now ready.

Regardless of whether your vehicle’s OBD system is
ready or not ready, if the MIL symbol is illuminated
during normal vehicle operation, you should have your
vehicle serviced before going to the I/M station. The I/M
station can fail your vehicle because the MIL symbol is on
with the engine running.

REPLACEMENT PARTS
Use of genuine Mopar parts for normal/scheduled main-
tenance and repairs is highly recommended to insure the
designed performance. Damage or failures caused by the
use of non-Mopar parts for maintenance and repairs will
not be covered by the manufacturer warranty.

DEALER SERVICE
Your dealer has the qualified service personnel, special
tools and equipment to perform all service operations in
an expert manner. Service manuals are available which
include detailed service information for your vehicle.
Refer to these manuals before attempting any procedure
yourself.

NOTE:

Intentional tampering with emissions control

systems can result in civil penalties being assessed
against you.

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MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Dodge Neon Srt4 (2005 year). Manual - part 9