Dodge Avenger: If your engine overheats

Dodge Avenger: If your engine overheats

In any of the following situations, you can reduce thepotential for overheating by taking the appropriate action.

• On the highways — Slow down.

• In city traffic — While stopped, put transaxle inNEUTRAL, but do not increase engine idle speed.

CAUTION:

Driving with a hot cooling system could damageyour vehicle. If temperature gauge reads “H”, pullover and stop the vehicle with the engine at idle,when safe. Turn the air conditioner off and wait untilthe pointer drops back into the normal range. Afterappropriate action has been taken, if the pointerremains on the “H”, turn the engine off immediately,and call for service.

NOTE: There are steps that you can take to slow downan impending overheat condition:

• If your air conditioner (A/C) is on, turn it off. The A/Csystem adds heat to the engine cooling system andturning the A/C off can help remove this heat.

• You can also turn the temperature control to maximumheat, the mode control to floor and the blower controlto high. This allows the heater core to act as asupplement to the radiator and aids in removing heatfrom the engine cooling system.

WARNING:

You or others can be badly burned by hot enginecoolant (antifreeze) or steam from your radiator. Ifyou see or hear steam coming from under the hood,do not open the hood until the radiator has had timeto cool. Never try to open a cooling system pressurecap 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 uplong grades on a hot day, the engine oil temperature maybecome too hot. If this happens, the “HOTOIL” messageflashes in the odometer and the vehicle speed will bereduced to 53 mph (85 km/h) until the engine oiltemperature is reduced.

NOTE: The vehicle speed is reduced to a maximum of53 mph (85 km/h). You may of course, reduce yourvehicle speed further if needed.

Hazard warning flasherJacking and tire changing