2007 CHRYSLER 300 LX heating

STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust the
inside and outside mirrors, fasten your seat belt, and if
present, instruct all other occupants to buckle their seat
belts.WARNING!
•Never leave children alone in a vehicle. Leaving
children in a vehicle unattended is dangerous for
a number of reasons. A child or others could be
seriously or fatally injured. Don’t leave the keys
in the ignition. A child could operate power
windows, other controls, or move the vehicle.
•Do not leave animals or children inside parked
vehicles in hot weather; interior heat build up
may cause serious injury or death.
•Be sure to turn off the engine if you want to rest or
sleep in your car. Accidents can be caused by
inadvertently moving the gear selection lever or
by pressing the accelerator pedal. This may cause
excessive heat in the exhaust system, resulting in
overheating and vehicle fire, which may cause
serious or fatal injuries.
234 STARTING AND OPERATING
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vehicle under heavy loading conditions (in hilly ter-
rain, traveling into strong head winds, or while tow-
ing heavy trailers.
NOTE:
•
If the vehicle is started in cold temperatures, shifts into
Overdrive may be delayed. Normal Overdrive and
shifting operation will resume when the temperature
of the transmission reaches the appropriate tempera-
ture. Refer to the “Note” under “Torque Converter
Clutch” later in this section.
•If the transmission temperature gets too hot, the
transmission may downshift out of Overdrive or en-
gage overdrive at higher vehicle speeds until the
transmission cools down. After cooldown, Overdrive
will resume normal operation.
3 (Third)
This range eliminates shifts into Overdrive. The trans-
mission will operate normally in First, Second and
Third while in this range. The “3” position should also
be used when descending steep grades to prevent
brake system distress.NOTE:
Using the “3” range while operating the vehicle
under heavy operating conditions will improve perfor-
mance and extend transmission life by reducing exces-
sive shifting and heat build up.
L (Low)
This range should be used for engine braking when
descending very steep grades. In this range, upshifts will
occur only to prevent engine overspeed while downshifts
occur earlier than other gear range selections.
CAUTION!
Never race the engine with the brakes on and the
vehicle in gear, and never hold the vehicle on an
incline without applying the brakes. These practices
can cause overheating and damage to the transmission.
Torque Converter Clutch
A feature designed to improve fuel economy has been
added to the automatic transmission of this vehicle. A
clutch within the torque converter engages automatically
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Towing Tips — Autostick(If Equipped)

For vehicles equipped with Autostick.By using the
Autostickmodes, and selecting a specific gear range,
frequent shifting can be avoided. The highest gear
range should be selected that allows for adequate
performance. For example, choose “4” if the desired
speed can be maintained. Choose “3” or “2” if needed
to maintain the desired speed.
Extended driving at high RPM should be avoided to
prevent excess heat generation. A reduction in vehicle
speed may be required to avoid extended driving at
high RPM. Return to a higher gear range or vehicle
speed when road conditions and RPM level allows.
Towing Tips — Cooling System
To reduce potential for engine and transmission over-
heating, take the following actions:
City Driving
When stopped for short periods, put transmission in
neutral and increase engine idle speed.
Highway Driving
Reduce speed.
Air Conditioning
Turn off temporarily.
Refer to “Cooling System” under “Maintenance Pro-
cedures” in Section 7 of this manual for more informa-
tion.
RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.)
TOWING THIS VEHICLE BEHIND ANOTHER
VEHICLE (Flat towing with all four wheels on the
ground)
Recreational towing for this vehicle is not recommended.
NOTE:If the vehicle requires towing, make sure all
four wheels are off the ground.
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HAZARD WARNING FLASHER
The hazard flasher switch is located in the center of the
instrument panel between the center air outlets.
To engage the Hazard Warning Flashers, depress the
switch on the instrument panel. When the Hazard Warn-
ing is activated, all directional turn signals will flash on
and off to warn oncoming traffic of an emergency. Push
the switch a second time to turn off the flashers.This is an emergency warning system and it should not
be used when the vehicle is in motion. Use it when your
vehicle is disabled and it is creating a safety hazard for
other motorists.
When you must leave the vehicle to seek assistance, the
Hazard Warning Flashers will continue to operate even
though the ignition switch is OFF.
NOTE:With extended use, the Hazard Warning Flash-
ers 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 transmission in
neutral, but do not increase engine idle speed.
Hazard Flasher Switch
312 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
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CAUTION!
•When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by moving be-
tween “First” and R (Reverse), do not spin the
wheels faster than 15 mph (24 km/h), or drivetrain
damage may result.
•Racing the engine or spinning the wheels too fast
may lead to transmission overheating and failure.
It can also damage the tires. Do not spin the
wheels above 35 mph (55 km/h).
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 (55 km/h) when you are stuck, and don’t
let anyone near a spinning wheel, no matter what the
speed.
TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE
WITHOUT THE IGNITION KEY
Special care must be taken when the vehicle is towed
with the ignition in the LOCK position. The only ap-
proved method of towing without the ignition key is
with a flat bed truck. Proper towing equipment is neces-
sary to prevent damage to the vehicle.
TOWING THIS VEHICLE BEHIND ANOTHER
VEHICLE (Flat towing with all four wheels on the
ground)
Flat towing of vehicles equipped with an automatic
transmission, is only permitted within the following
limitations:
With The Ignition Key
Your vehicle may be towed under the following condi-
tions: The gear selector must be in NEUTRAL, the
distance to be traveled must not exceed 30 miles (48 km),
and the towing speed must not exceed 30 mph (48
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 325
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CAUTION!
Damage to the catalytic converter can result if your
vehicle is not kept in proper operating condition. In
the event of engine malfunction, particularly involv-
ing engine misfire or other apparent loss of perfor-
mance, have your vehicle serviced promptly. Contin-
ued operation of your vehicle with a severe
malfunction could cause the converter to overheat,
resulting in possible damage to the converter and the
vehicle.
NOTE:Intentional tampering with emissions control
systems can result in civil penalties being assessed
against you.
WARNING!
A hot exhaust system can start a fire if you park over
materials that can burn. Such materials might be
grass or leaves coming into contact with your ex-
haust system. Do not park or operate your vehicle in
areas where your exhaust system can contact any-
thing that can burn.
In unusual situations involving grossly malfunctioning
engine operation, a scorching odor may indicate severe
and abnormal catalyst overheating. If this should occur,
safely bring the vehicle to a complete stop, shut the
engine off, and allow the vehicle to cool. Thereafter,
obtain service, including a tune-up to manufacturer’s
specifications immediately.
To minimize the possibility of catalyst damage:
•Do not shut off the engine or interrupt the ignition
when the transmission is in gear and the vehicle is in
motion.
342 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
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Dealer Service......................... 334
Defroster, Rear Window.................. 229
Defroster, Windshield...............61,220,225
Delay (Intermittent) Wipers............... 110
Diagnostic System, Onboard............... 332
Dimmer Switch, Headlight................ 107
Disposal
Antifreeze (Engine Coolant)............. 352
Door Locks............................ 22
Door Locks, Automatic................... 24
Door Opener, Garage.................... 141
Drive Belts............................ 340
Driving
On Slippery Surfaces.................. 250
DVD Player (Video Entertainment System).... 210
Electric Remote Mirrors................... 70
Electrical Power Outlets.................. 149
Electronic Speed Control (Cruise Control) . . 118,121
Electronic Stability Program (ESP).......... 259
Electronic Throttle Control Warning Light..... 168
Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) . . 171Emergency, In Case of
Freeing Vehicle When Stuck............. 324
Hazard Warning Flasher................ 312
Jacking............................. 314
Jump Starting........................ 322
Overheating......................... 312
Towing............................. 325
Emission Control System Maintenance....333,386
Engine.........................329,330,331
Air Cleaner.......................... 341
Block Heater......................... 237
Break-In Recommendations............... 58
Checking Oil Level.................335,336
Compartment..................329,330,331
Coolant (Antifreeze)................349,383
Cooling............................ 349
Exhaust Gas Caution................59,292
Fails to Start......................... 235
Flooded, Starting..................... 235
Fuel Requirements.................289,382
Oil ..........................335,382,383
Oil Change Interval................... 337
Oil Filler Cap.....................338,339
INDEX 417
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Oil Selection......................337,382
Oil Synthetic......................... 339
Overheating......................... 312
Temperature Gauge................... 166
Enhanced Accident Response Feature......... 48
Ethanol.............................. 290
Event Data Recorder..................... 49
Exhaust Gas Caution.............59,60,292,348
Exhaust System......................59,348
Exterior Folding Mirrors.................. 69
Exterior Lighting....................... 103
Filters
Air Cleaner.......................... 341
Air Conditioning..................227,345
Engine Fuel......................... 341
Engine Oil.......................340,383
Engine Oil Disposal................... 340
Flashers
Hazard Warning...................... 312
Turn Signal.......................107,163
Flash-To-Pass.......................... 107
Flat Tire Changing...................... 314Flooded Engine Starting.................. 235
Floor Console.......................... 153
Fluid Capacities........................ 382
Fluid Leaks............................ 61
Fluid Level Checks
Brake.............................. 355
Cooling System....................... 349
Engine Oil.......................335,336
Power Steering....................... 346
Fluids............................... 383
Fluids, Lubricants and Genuine Parts........ 383
Fog Lights.........................106,163
Folding Rear Seat....................... 97
Freeing A Stuck Vehicle.................. 324
Front Suspension Ball Joints............... 346
Front Wheel Bearings.................... 358
Fuel................................. 289
Adding............................. 293
Clean Air........................... 290
Ethanol............................. 290
Filler Cap (Gas Cap)................... 293
Filter.............................. 341
Gasoline............................ 289
418 INDEX
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