2008 CHRYSLER 300 automatic transmission

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS

Starting Procedures.....................299
▫Automatic Transmission................300
▫Normal Starting (Tip Start)..............301
▫Extremely Cold Weather
(Below
20°F Or
29°C)................301
▫If Engine Fails To Start.................302
▫After Starting........................303

Engine Block Heater — If Equipped.........303

Automatic Transmission..................303▫Automatic Transmission —
General Information...................304
▫Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . . 306
▫4 Speed Automatic Transmission..........307
▫5 Speed Automatic Transmission..........312

AutoStick— If Equipped................318
▫AutoStickOperation..................318

All Wheel Drive — If Equipped............319

Driving On Slippery Surfaces..............319
5

Automatic Transmission
The gear selector must be in the “N” (Neutral) or “P”
(Park) position before you can start the engine. Apply the
brakes before shifting into any driving gear.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.
300 STARTING AND OPERATING

If Engine Fails To Start
WARNING!
•Never pour fuel or other flammable liquids into
the throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to
start the vehicle. This could result in a 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. Unburned
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 dan-
gerous if done improperly. Refer to Section 6 of
this manual for proper jump starting procedures
and follow them carefully.
If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
“Normal Starting” or “Extreme Cold Weather” proce-
dures, it may be flooded. To clear any excess fuel, push
the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and hold it.
Then, turn the ignition switch to the START position and
release it as soon as the starter engages. The starter motor
will disengage automatically in 10 seconds. Once this
occurs, release the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then
repeat the normal starting procedure.
CAUTION!
To prevent damage to the starter, wait 10 to 15
seconds before trying again.
302 STARTING AND OPERATING

After Starting
The idle speed is controlled automatically and it will
decrease as the engine warms up.
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 303
5

WARNING!
It is dangerous to shift the selector lever out of “P” or
“N” if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If
your foot is not firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle
could accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit someone or
something. Only shift into gear when the engine is
idling normally and when your right foot is firmly on
the brake pedal.
Automatic Transmission — General Information
The automatic transmission selects individual gears au-
tomatically, dependent upon:
•Altitude
•Vehicle Loading
•Driving Style
•Selector lever position
•Accelerator position
•Vehicle speed
The gear shifting process is continuously adapted, de-
pendent on the driving style, the driving situation, and
the road characteristics.
NOTE:
•After selecting any driving position, wait a moment to
allow the gear to engage fully before accelerating,
especially when the engine is cold.
•If there is a need to restart the engine, be sure to cycle
the key to the LOCK position before restarting. Trans-
mission engagement may be delayed up to 10 seconds
after restart if the key is not cycled to the LOCK
position first.
304 STARTING AND OPERATING

•The electronically controlled transmission provides a
precise shift schedule. The transmission electronics are
self-calibrating. Therefore, the first few shifts on a new
vehicle may be somewhat abrupt or soft until after the
break-in period. This is a normal condition, and pre-
cision shifts will develop within a few shift cycles.
The selector lever is automatically locked while in the
“P” (Park) position. To move the selector lever out of the
“P” (Park) position, the brake pedal must be firmly
depressed before the shift lock will release.
Shift the selector lever to the desired position only when
the engine is idling normally and the brake pedal is
applied. Do not release the brake until ready to drive. The
vehicle may otherwise accelerate quickly when the selec-
tor lever is in “D” (Drive) or “R” (Reverse) position.WARNING!
Unintended movement of a vehicle could injure
those in and near the vehicle. As with all vehicles,
you should never exit a vehicle while the engine is
running. Before exiting a vehicle, you should always
shift the vehicle into “P” (Park), remove the key from
the ignition, and apply the parking brake. Once the
key is removed from the ignition, the transmission
selector lever is locked in the “P” (Park) position,
securing the vehicle against unwanted movement.
Furthermore, you should never leave children unat-
tended inside a vehicle.
STARTING AND OPERATING 305
5

tab, which can be accessed through a hole inside the bin.
While the override is pressed, the shifter can be moved
out of the “P” (Park) position without pressing the brake.
After operation, return the rubber storage tray to its
original position.
4 Speed Automatic Transmission
Shifting from “D” (Drive) to “P” (Park) or “R” (Reverse)
(or from P or R to D) should be done only after the
accelerator pedal is released and the vehicle is stopped.
Be sure to keep your foot on the brake when moving the
selector lever between these gears.
Gear Ranges
“P” (Park)
“P” (Park) supplements the parking brake by locking the
transmission. The engine can be started in this range.
Selector Lever
STARTING AND OPERATING 307
5

Never use “P” (Park) while the vehicle is in motion.
Apply the parking brake when leaving the vehicle in this
range.
When parking on a flat surface, place the gear selector in
the “P” (Park) position first, and then apply the parking
brake.
When parking on a hill, it is important to set the parking
brake before placing the gear selector in “P” (Park),
otherwise the load on the transmission locking mecha-
nism may make it difficult to move the selector out of
park. As an added precaution, turn the front wheels
toward the curb on a downhill grade and away from the
curb on an uphill grade.WARNING!
Never use “P” (Park) position on an automatic trans-
mission as a substitute for the parking brake. Always
apply parking brake fully when parked to guard
against vehicle movement and possible injury or
damage.
The following indicators should be used to ensure that
you have engaged the selector lever into the “P” (Park)
position:
•When shifting into “P’ (Park) move the lever all the
way forward until it stops, and is fully seated.
•Look at the shift indicator display on the instrument
panel to ensure it is in the “P” (Park) position.
308 STARTING AND OPERATING