2008 CHRYSLER 300 SRT traction control

ESP (Electronic Stability Program)
This system enhances directional control and stability of
the vehicle under various driving conditions. The ESP
corrects for oversteering and understeering the vehicle
by applying the brake of the appropriate wheel. Engine
power may also be reduced to assist in counteracting the
condition of oversteer or understeer and help the vehicle
maintain the desired path.
The ESP uses sensors in the vehicle to determine the path
that the driver intends to steer the vehicle and compares
it to the actual path of the vehicle. When the actual path
does not match the intended path, the ESP applies the
brake of the appropriate wheel to assist in counteracting
the condition of oversteer or understeer.
•Oversteer - when the vehicle is turning more than
appropriate for the steering wheel position.
•Understeer - when the vehicle is turning less than
appropriate for the steering wheel position.
TheESP/TCS Indicator Light,located in the
instrument cluster, starts to flash as soon as the
tires lose traction and the ESP system becomes
active. TheESP/TCS Indicator Lightalso
flashes when TCS is active. If theESP/TCS Indicator
Lightbegins to flash during acceleration, ease up on the
accelerator and apply as little throttle as possible. Be sure
to adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road
conditions.
STARTING AND OPERATING 323
5

NOTE:When the ESP is switched off a feature of the
system remains active. This feature controls wheel spin
across an axle quite similarly to a limited slip differential.
If one wheel on an axle is spinning faster than the other,
the system will apply the brake of the spinning wheel
and allow more engine torque to be applied to the wheel
that is not spinning. To improve the vehicle’s traction
when driving with tire chains, or when starting-off in
deep snow, sand, or gravel, it may be desirable to switch
to the “Partial Off” mode by momentarily depressing the
“ESP OFF” button.WARNING!
With the ESP switched off, the enhanced vehicle
stability offered by ESP is unavailable. In an emer-
gency evasive maneuver, the ESP system will not
engage to assist in maintaining stability. The “Full
Off” ESP mode is intended for off-highway or off-
road only.
Synchronizing ESP
The Malfunction Indicator Light for the ESP is
combined with BAS indicator. If the power
supply is interrupted (battery disconnected or
discharged), the ESP/BAS Malfunction Indica-
tor Light may illuminate with the engine running. If this
should occur, turn the steering wheel completely to the
left and then to the right. The ESP/BAS Malfunction
326 STARTING AND OPERATING

FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE
If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand, or snow, it
can often be moved by a rocking motion. Turn your
steering wheel right and left to clear the area around the
front wheels. Then shift back and forth between RE-
VERSE and DRIVE. Usually, the least accelerator pedal
pressure to maintain the rocking motion without spin-
ning the wheels is most effective.
NOTE:Turn off the Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
before rocking the vehicle. Refer to “Electronic Stability
Program,” or “Traction Control” in Section 5.CAUTION!
•When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by moving be-
tween “1st” and 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).
380 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

Traction Grades
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B,
and C. These grades represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement, as measured under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction performance.
WARNING!
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction tests, and does not
include acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or
peak traction characteristics.
Temperature Grades
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of heat
and its ability to dissipate heat, when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratorytest wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of performance, which all
passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A repre-
sent higher levels of performance on the laboratory test
wheel, than the minimum required by law.
WARNING!
The temperature grade for this tire is established for
a tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, under-inflation, or excessive load-
ing, either separately or in combination, can cause
heat buildup and possible tire failure.
456 IF YOU NEED CONSUMER ASSISTANCE

Headlight Switch...................... 132
Headlights........................132,428
Headlights On Reminder................. 136
Headlights On With Wipers............134,142
High Beam........................138,205
High Beam Indicator.................... 205
Illuminated Entry....................... 20
Instrument Cluster..................132,199
Intensity Control....................... 139
Interior..........................139,176
License............................. 434
Lights On Reminder.................... 136
Low Fuel............................ 199
LowTire ............................ 206
Malfunction Indicator (Check Engine)........ 208
Map Reading......................138,176
Oil Pressure.......................... 208
Parade Mode (Daytime Brightness).......... 140
Passing............................. 138Reading..........................138,176
Seat Belt Reminder..................... 205
Service...........................427,428
Service Engine Soon (Malfunction Indicator) . . . 208
SmartBeams.......................... 134
Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPMS)........206,347
Traction Control....................... 327
Turn Signal................... 77,137,138,199
VanityMirror .......................... 88
Voltage............................. 208
Warning (Instrument Cluster Description)..... 199
Loading Vehicle......................364,365
Capacities........................... 365
Tires ............................... 332
Locks................................. 27
AutoUnlock .......................... 30
Automatic Door........................ 29
Child Protection........................ 30
Door................................ 27
468 INDEX

Rotation............................. 345
Safety...........................328,336
Sizes ............................... 329
Snow Tires........................... 344
Spinning ............................ 340
Tread Wear Indicators................... 340
To Open Hood.......................... 131
Towing ............................... 367
24-Hour Towing Assistance............... 101
Behind a Motor Home.................. 367
Disabled Vehicle....................... 381
Recreational.......................... 367
Towing Assistance....................... 101
Towing Vehicle Behind a Motor Home......... 367
Traction Control......................... 322
TrailerTowing .......................... 367
Transmission........................... 413
Automatic......................301,305,413
Fluid ............................... 437Shifting ............................. 301
Transmitter Battery Service
(Remote Keyless Entry).................... 23
Transmitter, Garage Door Opener (HomeLink) . . 177
Transmitter Programming
(Remote Keyless Entry).................... 20
Transmitter, Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)........ 20
Transporting Pets........................ 73
Tread Wear Indicators.................... 340
Trip Odometer.......................... 204
Trunk Lid (Deck Lid).................... 37,38
Trunk Release, Emergency.................. 38
Trunk Release Remote Control............... 37
Turn Signals.........................138,199
UCI Connector......................... 277
UConnect™ (Hands-Free Phone)........... 88,251
Uniform Tire Quality Grades................ 455
Universal Consumer Interface (UCI) Connector . . . 277
476 INDEX