2007 CHRYSLER 300 LX engine

NOTE:To control the air conditioning manually, the
mode selector must be moved out of the AUTO position.
•Recirculation Control
This button can be used to block out smoke,
odors, dust, high humidity, or if rapid cooling
is desired. The recirculation mode should only
be used temporarily. An LED in the button
illuminates when the recirculation mode is active. You
may use this feature separately.
NOTE:Extended use of recirculation may cause the
windows to fog. If the interior of the windows begins to
fog, press the Recirculation button to return to outside
air. Some temp/humidity conditions will cause captured
interior air to condense on windows and hamper visibil-
ity. For this reason, the system will not allow Recircula-
tion to be selected while in defrost or defrost/floor mode.
Attempting to use the recirculation while in these modes
will cause the LED in the control button to blink and then
turn off.
Operating Tips
NOTE:
Refer to the chart at the end of this section for
suggested control settings for various weather condi-
tions.
Summer Operation
The engine cooling system in air-conditioned vehicles
must be protected with a high-quality antifreeze coolant
to provide proper corrosion protection and to protect
against engine overheating. A 50% solution of ethylene
glycol antifreeze coolant in water is recommended. Refer
to “Maintenance Procedures” in Section 7 of this manual
for proper coolant selection.
Winter Operation
Use of the air Recirculation mode during winter months
is not recommended because it may cause window
fogging.
Vacation Storage
Anytime you store your vehicle, or keep it out of service
(i.e. vacation) for two weeks or more, run the air condi-
tioning system at idle for about five minutes in the fresh
air and high blower setting. This will insure adequate
226 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
ProCarManuals.com

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
Starting Procedures....................234
▫Automatic Transmission................235
▫Normal Starting......................235
▫Extremely Cold Weather
(Below20°F Or29°C)................235
▫If Engine Fails To Start.................235
▫After Starting........................236
Engine Block Heater — If Equipped........237
Automatic Transmission.................237
▫Automatic Transmission — General
Information.........................238
▫Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . . 240▫4 Speed Automatic Transmission..........240
▫5 Speed Automatic Transmission..........245
AutoStick— If Equipped...............249
▫AutoStickOperation..................249
All Wheel Drive — If Equipped...........250
Driving On Slippery Surfaces.............250
▫Acceleration.........................250
▫Traction............................251
Parking Brake.........................251
Brake System.........................253
▫Anti-Lock Brake System — If Equipped.....253
5
ProCarManuals.com

Power Steering........................255
Multi Displacement System (MDS) -
5.7L Engine Only
......................256
Traction Control System (TCS) —
If Equipped
..........................257
Brake Assist System (BAS) — If Equipped....258
Electronic Stability Program (ESP) —
If Equipped
..........................259
▫Synchronizing ESP....................261
▫ESP/BAS Malfunction Indicator And ESP/TCS
Indicator Lights......................262
Tire Safety Information..................262
▫Tire Markings........................262
▫Tire Identification Number (TIN)..........266
▫Tire Loading And Tire Pressure...........267
Tires — General Information..............271
▫Tire Pressure.........................271▫Tire Inflation Pressures.................272
▫Radial-Ply Tires......................274
▫Compact Spare Tire — If Equipped.........274
▫Limited Use Spare — If Equipped.........275
▫Tire Spinning........................275
▫Tread Wear Indicators..................276
▫Life Of Tire.........................277
▫Replacement Tires.....................277
▫Alignment And Balance.................278
Self–Sealing Tires — If Equipped..........279
Tire Chains...........................279
Snow Tires...........................280
Tire Rotation Recommendations...........280
Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) —
If Equipped
..........................281
▫Base System — If Equipped..............284
232 STARTING AND OPERATING
ProCarManuals.com

▫Premium System — If Equipped..........285
▫General Information...................288
Fuel Requirements.....................289
▫2.7L Engine.........................289
▫3.5L And 5.7L Engines..................289
▫Reformulated Gasoline.................290
▫Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends..............290
▫MMT In Gasoline.....................290
▫Materials Added To Fuel................291
▫Fuel System Cautions..................291
▫Carbon Monoxide Warnings..............292
Adding Fuel..........................293
▫Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap)...............293
▫Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message............295
Vehicle Loading.......................295
▫Vehicle Certification Label...............295▫Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).......296
▫Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).........296
▫Overloading.........................296
▫Loading............................297
Trailer Towing........................298
▫Common Towing Definitions.............298
▫Trailer Hitch Classification...............301
▫Trailer Towing Weights
(Maximum Trailer Weight Ratings).........301
▫Trailer And Tongue Weight..............303
▫Towing Requirements..................304
▫Towing Tips.........................308
Recreational Towing (Behind Motorhome, Etc.)309
▫Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle
(Flat Towing With All Four Wheels On The
Ground)............................309
STARTING AND OPERATING 233
5
ProCarManuals.com

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
ProCarManuals.com

Automatic Transmission
The gear selector must be in the NEUTRAL or PARK
position before you can start the engine. Apply the brakes
before shifting into any driving gear.
Normal Starting
Normal Starting of either a cold or a warm engine is
obtained without pumping or depressing the accelerator
pedal. Turn the key to the “START” position and release
when the engine starts. If the engine has not started
within 3 seconds, slightly depress the accelerator pedal
while continuing to crank. If the engine fails to start
within 15 seconds, turn the key to the “LOCK” position,
wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the normal starting
procedure.
Extremely Cold Weather (below20°F or29°C)
To insure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of an
externally powered electric engine block heater (available
from your dealer) is recommended.
If Engine Fails To Start
If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
“NORMAL STARTING” procedure, it may be flooded.
Push the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and
hold it there while cranking the engine. This should clear
any excess fuel in case the engine is flooded.
CAUTION!
To prevent damage to the starter, do not crank the
engine for more than 15 seconds at a time. Wait 10 to
15 seconds before trying again.
STARTING AND OPERATING 235
5
ProCarManuals.com

WARNING!
•Never pour fuel or other flammable liquid into
the throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to
start the vehicle. This could result in flash fire
causing serious personal injury.
•Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get
it started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic
transmission cannot be started this way. Un-
burned fuel could enter the catalytic converter and
once the engine has started, ignite and damage the
converter and vehicle. If the vehicle has a dis-
charged battery, booster cables may be used to
obtain a start from a booster battery or the battery
in another vehicle. This type of start can be
dangerous if done improperly. See section 6 of
this manual for the proper jump-starting proce-
dures and follow them carefully.
If the engine is flooded, it may start to run, but not have
enough power to continue running when the key is
released. If this occurs, continue cranking up to 15
seconds with the accelerator pedal pushed all the way to
the floor. Release the accelerator pedal and the key once
the engine is running smoothly. Do not overspeed the
engine.
If the engine shows no sign of starting after two 15-
second periods of cranking with the accelerator pedal
held to the floor, the “NORMAL STARTING” procedure
should be repeated.
After Starting
The idle speed is controlled automatically and it will
decrease as the engine warms up.
236 STARTING AND OPERATING
ProCarManuals.com

ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED
The engine block heater warms engine coolant and
permits quicker starts in cold weather. Connect the cord
to a standard 110-115 volt AC electrical outlet with a
grounded, three-wire extension cord.
The engine block heater cord is routed under the hood on
the driver side of the vehicle. It has a removable cap that
is located on the driver side of the Integrated Power
Module.
WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the cord before driving.
Damage to the 110-115 volt electrical cord could
cause electrocution.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the follow-
ing precautions are not observed:
•Shift into PARK only after the vehicle has come to
a complete stop.
•Shift into or out of REVERSE only after the
vehicle has come to a complete stop and the
engine is at idle speed.
•Do not shift from REVERSE, PARK, or NEUTRAL
into any forward gear when the engine is above
idle speed.
•Before shifting into any gear, make sure your foot
is firmly on the brake pedal.
STARTING AND OPERATING 237
5
ProCarManuals.com