Maxx,
Check the owners manual about new keys and programming them. The Chrysler vehicles you can self program. (you turn the ignition on with 2 programmed keys 3 times for 5 to 15 seconds within a 1 minute time span, or something like this. This puts the wireless ignition module into program mode. then you can program up to 8 keys for the vehicle) This proceedure is spelled out in the owners manual near the front for Chrysler vehicles. If you have the key with the key fob built into it, it will program both at the same time. These new vehicles don't have cut keys so all you have to do is buy the fob and program it. I think they are about $135. If the proceedure is in your manual, you can save $100. (thats what they charge here) I did a couple extra keys for my daughter this way and on our old mini van I had 2 extra keys and 2 extra key fobs. (2002 Dodge)
Also too, if your engine lite comes on, depending on what the problem is, sometimes it will go off on its own. Say you left the gas cap off or loose and this puts a fault into the engine controller. The engine lite comes on because it sees an evaporate leak in the fuel system. You know what the problem is and you correct it. (you put the gas cap back on) If after a set ammount of key cycles it has not seen the leak again it self clears the fault and turns the light off. This information my not be in the owners manual. (I have not read it all either) My daughter put diesel into her gas vehicle. Luckily she was the typical teen, only put a couple bucks in. Yes I know the nozzle should not have fit in but you know auto companies, the filler tube was plastic and aluminium. It is flexible. She jammed the nozzle in. She called me to come get her. When she realised what she had done she cried. The dealership wanted over $800 to drop the tank, empty it out, flush the system, and put it back together. I went to the dealership and turned the ignition on, she had less than 1/4 tank. I consulted with an engineer at work about this before I did it. I took an empty 2 gallon gas can and a full 5 gallon gas can of super. I disconnected the fuel line at the engine and put the end into the empty can. I put the 5 gallons of gas in the car, the gauge read 3/4 full. After turning the ignition on several times there was about a quart of mixed fuel in the can with the gas line in it. I reconnected it to the motor and after several tries it fires up. Lots of white smoke to start but it quickly fades. After a while the engine lite comes on due to the diesel in it. The day I was going to bring it in to have them shut it off (a $100 dollar cost) it went out on its own. Saved $800. She always checks the pump now. Just to hook up the diagnostic tool is a $100 cost for the customer, but there are some acceptions to this too.
For anybody reading this, there are ways to find out the diagnostic trouble codes that turn your engine lite on and the local branch of your library may have the repair manual. The respective codes and the problem description as well as possible fixes are listed in it. Some are very simple fixes, eg. check to make sure the gas cap is tight.
This post is getting long so I will end it now, but that information may help some people save some money.
Dave C
