Dodge Avenger: Driving through water

Dodge Avenger / Dodge Avenger Owners Manual / Starting and operating / Driving through water

Driving through water more than a few inches/centimeters deep will require extra caution to ensuresafety and prevent damage to your vehicle.

Flowing/Rising Water

WARNING:

Do not drive on or across a road or path where wateris flowing and/or rising (as in storm run-off). Flowingwater can wear away the road or path’s surfaceand cause your vehicle to sink into deeper water.

Furthermore, flowing and/or rising water can carryyour vehicle away swiftly. Failure to follow thiswarning may result in injuries that are serious orfatal to you, your passengers, and others around you.

Shallow Standing Water

Although your vehicle is capable of driving throughshallow standing water, consider the following Cautionand Warning before doing so.

CAUTION:

• Always check the depth of the standing waterbefore driving through it. Never drive throughstanding water that is deeper than the bottom ofthe tire rims mounted on the vehicle.

• Determine the condition of the road or the paththat is under water and if there are any obstacles inthe way before driving through the standing water.

• Do not exceed 5 mph (8 km/h) when drivingthrough standing water. This will minimize waveeffects.

• Driving through standing water may cause damageto your vehicle’s drivetrain components. Alwaysinspect your vehicle’s fluids (i.e., engine oil,transmission, axle, etc.) for signs of contamination(i.e., fluid that is milky or foamy in appearance)after driving through standing water. Do not continueto operate the vehicle if any fluid appearscontaminated, as this may result in further damage.

Such damage is not covered by the NewVehicle Limited Warranty.

• Getting water inside your vehicle’s engine cancause it to lock up and stall out, and cause seriousinternal damage to the engine. Such damage is notcovered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.

WARNING:

• Driving through standing water limits your vehicle’straction capabilities. Do not exceed 5 mph(8 km/h) when driving through standing water.

• Driving through standing water limits your vehicle’sbraking capabilities, which increases stoppingdistances. Therefore, after driving throughstanding water, drive slowly and lightly press onthe brake pedal several times to dry the brakes.

• Getting water inside your vehicle’s engine cancause it to lock up and stall out, and leave youstranded.

• Failure to follow these warnings may result ininjuries that are serious or fatal to you, yourpassengers, and others around you.

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