2008 CHRYSLER CROSSFIRE parking brake

WARNING!
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in order
to obtain braking action. This could result in drive
wheel slip and reduced vehicle control. Your vehi-
cle's ABS will not prevent this type of loss of control.
You could lose control of your vehicle and have an
accident.
NOTE:With transmission in gear ªD,º ª4,º or ª3,º
upshifting from FIRST to SECOND to THIRD gear may
be delayed, depending on vehicle speed and engine
temperature. This allows the catalytic converter to heat
up more quickly to operating temperatures.
The delayed upshift is effective with vehicle speeds
below 31 mph (50 km/h) at partial throttle and engine
temperatures below 95ÉF (35ÉC). To prevent the engine
from laboring at low RPM when driving uphill or withyour vehicle heavily loaded, the automatic transmission
will downshift when necessary to maintain engine RPM
within the best torque range.
Gear Ranges
PARK
NOTE:If the key is in the ON/RUN position, you must
press the brake pedal to shift out of the PARK position.
PARK supplements the parking brake by locking the
transmission. The engine can be started in this range.
Never attempt to use PARK while the vehicle is in
motion.
Apply the parking brake when leaving the vehicle in this
range.
REVERSE
Shift into this range only after the vehicle has come to a
complete stop.
STARTING AND OPERATING 179
5

PARKING BRAKE
When you apply the parking brake with engine
running, the brake system warning light in the
instrument cluster will come on.
NOTE:This light, when illuminated with parking brake
application, shows only that the parking brake is on. It
does not show the degree of brake application.
NOTE:If the light remains on with the parking brake
released, a brake system malfunction is indicated. Have
the brake system serviced by an authorized dealer im-
mediately.
Before leaving the vehicle, make sure that the parking
brake is fully applied. For manual transmission vehicles,
place the shift lever in REVERSE. For vehicles equipped
with automatic transmissions, place the shift lever in the
PARK position.To release the parking brake, slightly pull up the handle
while pushing the lock button, and guide the lever
downward to its stop. The brake warning light in the
instrument cluster should go out.
A warning sounds if you start to drive without having
released the parking brake.
STARTING AND OPERATING 185
5

When parking on a hill, you must set the parking brake
beforeplacing the shift lever in PARK. If you don't, the
load on the transmission locking mechanism may make it
difficult to move the shift lever 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.
The parking brake should always be applied when the
driver is not in the vehicle.
WARNING!
Be sure the parking brake is fully disengaged before
driving; failure to do so can lead to brake failure and
an accident.
WARNING!
Do not leave children unattended in a vehicle. A
child could be injured, or could injure others, if left
unattended.
BRAKE SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with power brakes as standard
equipment. In the event power assist is lost for any
reason (for example, repeated brake applications with the
engine off), the brakes will still function. The effort
required to brake the vehicle will be much greater than
that required with the power system operating.
If either the front or rear hydraulic system loses normal
capability, the remaining system will still function with
some loss of overall braking effectiveness. This will be
evident by increased pedal travel during application,
186 STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING!
To use your brakes and accelerator more safely, follow these
tips:
²Do not ªrideº the brakes by resting your foot on the pedal.
This could overheat the brakes and result in unpredictable
braking action, longer stopping distances, or brake dam-
age.
²When descending mountains or hills, repeated braking
can cause brake fade with loss of braking control. Avoid
repeated heavy braking by downshifting the transmission
whenever possible.
²Do not drive too fast for road conditions, especially when
roads are wet or slushy. A wedge of water can build up
between the tire tread and the road. This hydroplaning
action can cause loss of traction, braking ability, and
control.
²After going through deep water or a car wash, brakes may
become wet, resulting in decreased performance and un-
predictable braking action. Dry the brakes by gentle,
intermittent pedal action while driving at very slow
speeds.
Brake Pad Break-In
The brakes on your vehicle do not require a long break-in
period, but avoid repeated hard brake applications from
high speeds during initial break-in. Also avoid severe
brake loading such as may be encountered when de-
scending long mountain grades.
POWER STEERING
The standard power steering system will give you good
vehicle response and increased ease of maneuverability
in tight spaces. The system will provide mechanical
steering capability if power assist is lost.
If for some reason, the power assist is interrupted, it will
still be possible to steer your vehicle. Under these condi-
tions you will observe a substantial increase in steering
effort, especially at very low vehicle speeds and during
parking maneuvers.
196 STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING!
Cuts or punctures larger than approximately 0.16 in. (4 mm),
tire damage caused by driving with extremely low tire
pressure or on a flat tire, or a damaged wheel can pose a
hazard while driving. TIREFIT should not be used in such
circumstances. Do not drive the vehicle under such circum-
stances. Contact your nearest authorized dealer for assis-
tance.
Take care not to allow the contents of TIREFIT to come in
contact with hair, eyes or clothing. TIREFIT is harmful if
inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through the skin: It causes
skin, eye and respiratory irritation. Any contact with eyes
or skin should be flushed immediately with plenty of
water. If clothing comes in contact with TIREFIT, change
clothing as soon as possible.
In case of allergic reaction or rash, consult a physician
immediately. Keep TIREFIT out of reach of children. If
swallowed, rinse mouth immediately with plenty of water
and drink plenty of water. Do not induce vomiting! Consult
a physician immediately.
Keep away from open flame or heat source.
Sealing tire with TIREFIT
1. Set the parking brake and turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
2. Move the transmission selector lever to the PARK
position (manual transmission to FIRST or REVERSE
gear) and turn off the engine.
3. Remove the TIREFIT kit and electric air pump from
the area below the cargo compartment carpet.
4. Open flap (2) on the electric air pump.
5. Pull the power plug (4) and air hose (5) along with the
pressure gauge out of the air pump housing.
6. Screw the air hose (5) onto the hose connection on the
TIREFIT sealant bottle (1).
7. Holding the sealant bottle by the top, insert it down-
wards into the recess (3) on the air pump.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 235
6

Jacking the vehicle should only be necessary in the event
that a tire has been severely damaged, and must be
replaced. (See TIREFIT Tire Repair section for a descrip-
tion of cuts and punctures that may be repairable with
TIREFIT.)²Turn on the hazard warning flashers and park the
vehicle on a firm, level surface; avoid ice or slippery
areas.
²Firmly set the parking brake and shift the transmission
selector lever into PARK (manual transmission to
FIRST or REVERSE gear).
²Turn OFF the engine.
²Block the wheel diagonally
opposite the flat tire.
²Passengers must not remain in the vehicle when the
vehicle is jacked.
238 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

1. Wear eye protection and remove any metal jewelry
such as watch bands or bracelets that might make an
inadvertent electrical contact.
2. When boost is provided by a battery in another
vehicle, park that vehicle within booster cable reach butwithout letting the vehicles touch. Set the parking brake,
place the transmission in NEUTRAL and turn the igni-
tion OFF for both vehicles.
3. Turn off the heater, radio and all unnecessary electrical
loads.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 243
6

NExhaust System......................279
NCooling System.......................280
NHoses And Vacuum/Vapor Harnesses.......284
NBrakes.............................285
NAutomatic Transmission................288
NManual Transmission..................289
NAppearance Care And Protection From
Corrosion...........................290
mConvertible Top Care....................295
NWashing............................296
NGeneral Cleaning.....................296
NWeather Strip Care....................297
mFuses...............................297NUnderhood Accessory Fuse Block Fuses.....297
NRelay Control Module Fuses.............302
NInterior Fuses........................303
mReplacement Bulbs......................305
NInterior Light Bulbs....................305
NExterior Light Bulbs...................305
mExterior Light Bulb Service................306
NHeadlights..........................306
NFront Turn Signal And Parking/Standing
Lights.............................307
NFront And Rear Sidemarker Lights.........307
NTail, Stop, Back Up And Turn Signal Lights . . . 308
NLicense Plate Light....................309
258 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE