2009 CHRYSLER 300 SRT cooling

SAFETY TIPS
Transporting Passengers
NEVER TRANSPORT PASSENGERS IN THE CARGO
AREA.
WARNING!
•It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people
riding in these areas are more likely to be seri-
ously injured or killed.
•Do not allow people to ride in any area of your
vehicle that is not equipped with seats and seat
belts.
•Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and
using a seat belt properly.
Lock Your Vehicle
Always remove the key from the ignition and lock all
doors when leaving the vehicle unattended, even in yourown driveway or garage. Try to park your vehicle in a
well-lit area and never invite theft by leaving articles of
value exposed.
Exhaust Gas
WARNING!
Exhaust gases can injure or kill. They contain carbon
monoxide (CO), which is colorless and odorless.
Breathing it can make you unconscious and can
eventually poison you. To avoid breathing (CO)
follow these safety tips:
Do not run the engine in a closed garage or in confined
areas any longer than needed to move your vehicle in or
out of the area.
If it is necessary to sit in a parked vehicle with the engine
running, adjust your heating or cooling controls to force
outside air into the vehicle. Set the blower at high speed.
76 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

The light also will turn on when the parking brake is
applied with the ignition switch in the ON position.
NOTE:This light shows only that the parking brake is
applied. It does not show the degree of brake application.
13. Electronic Stability Program (ESP) / Traction
Control System (TCS) Indicator Light
If this indicator light flashes during accelera-
tion, ease up on the accelerator and apply as
little throttle as possible. Adapt your speed and
driving to the prevailing road conditions, and
do not switch off the Electronic Stability Program (ESP).
14. Temperature Gauge
The temperature gauge shows engine coolant tempera-
ture. Any reading within the normal range indicates that
the engine cooling system is operating satisfactorily.The gauge pointer will likely indicate a higher tempera-
ture when driving in hot weather, up mountain grades,
or when towing a trailer. It should not be allowed to
exceed the upper limits of the normal operating range.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could damage
your vehicle. If the temperature gauge reads 240°F
(116°C) or greater, pull over and stop the vehicle. Idle
the vehicle with the air conditioner turned off until
the pointer drops back into the normal range 200–
230°F (93–110°C). If the pointer remains at 240°F
(116°C) or greater and you hear a chime, turn the
engine OFF immediately, and call for service.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 209
4

WARNING!
A hot engine cooling system is dangerous. You or
others could be badly burned by steam or boiling
coolant. You may want to call a service center if your
vehicle overheats. If you decide to look under the
hood yourself, refer to Section 7 and follow the
warnings under the Cooling System Pressure Cap
paragraph.
15. Trip Odometer Button
Press this button to change the display from odometer to
either of two trip odometer settings. The letter “A” or “B”
will appear when in the trip odometer mode. Push in and
hold the button for two seconds to reset the trip odometer
to 0 miles (km). The odometer must be in TRIP mode to
reset it.16. High Beam Light
This light will turn on when the high beam
headlights are ON. Push the multifunction lever
away from the steering wheel to switch the headlights to
high beam.
17. Shift Lever Indicator
This display indicator shows the automatic transmission
shift lever selection.
18. Seat Belt Reminder Light
This light will turn on for five to eight seconds as
a bulb check when the ignition switch is first
turned ON. A chime will sound if the driver’s seat
belt is unbuckled during the bulb check. The Seat Belt
Warning Light will flash, or remain on continuously, if
the driver’s seat belt remains unbuckled after the bulb
check or when driving.
210 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

Automatic Temperature Control
Automatic Operation
The Infrared Dual-Zone Climate Control System auto-
matically maintains the climate in the cabin of the vehicle
at the comfort levels desired by the driver and passenger.
To accomplish this, the system gathers information fromthe controls on the climate control, from a dual sun-
sensor located in the top of the instrument panel, from an
infrared sensor located in the face of the climate control,
and from various sensors located throughout the vehicle.
The controls on the climate control provide the system
with operator input. The dual sun-sensor monitors sun
load coming through the windshield. The infrared sensor
independently measures the surface temperature of the
driver and passenger. Other sensors take into account
vehicle-speed, A/C pressure, outside temperature, and
engine cooling temperature. Using all of these inputs, the
system automatically adjusts airflow temperature, air-
flow distribution, airflow volume, and the amount of
outside air recirculation. This maintains a comfortable
temperature even under changing conditions.
Operation of the system is quite simple. Begin by turning
the mode control knob (on the right) to AUTO, and place
the blower control knob (on the left) to either LO AUTO
Automatic Temperature Controls
294 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

conditioning. An indicator in the button illuminates
when manual compressor operation is selected.
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 indicator 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 recirculation
to be selected while in Defrost or Defrost/Floor mode.Attempting to use the recirculation while in these modes
will cause the indicator 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 for proper
coolant selection.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 299
4

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.
NOTE:There are steps that you can take to slow down
an impending overheat condition. If your air conditioner
is on, turn it off. The air conditioning system adds heat to
the engine cooling system and turning off the A/C
removes this heat. You can also turn the temperature
control to maximum heat, the mode control to floor, and
the fan control to high. This allows the heater core to act
as a supplement to the radiator and aids in removing heat
from the engine cooling system.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could damage
your vehicle. If the temperature gauge reads 240°F
(116°C) or greater pull over and stop the vehicle. Idle
the vehicle with the air conditioner turned off until
the pointer drops back into the normal range 200–
230°F (93–110°C). If the pointer remains at 240°F
(116°C) or greater and you hear a chime, turn the
engine off immediately and call for service.
WARNING!
A hot engine cooling system is dangerous. You or
others could be badly burned by steam or boiling
coolant. You may want to call a service center if your
vehicle overheats. If you decide to look under the
hood yourself, refer to Section 7 and follow the
warnings under the “Cooling System Pressure Cap”
paragraph.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 379
6

NOTE:
•If a pressure of at least 19 psi (1.3 bar) cannot be
maintained in the tire, the tire is too badly damaged.
Do not attempt to drive the vehicle further. Call for
assistance.
•Do not operate the electric air pump for more than
eight minutes to avoid overheating. The air pump may
be used again once it has cooled down.
•Replace the TIREFIT sealant bottle 5 once every four
years to assure optimum operation of the system.
•If TIREFIT is liquid, clean water and a damp cloth will
remove the material from the vehicle or tire and wheel
components. Once TIREFIT sealing material has dried,
it can easily be peeled off and properly discarded.
•Do not exceed 55 mph (90 km/h) until the tire has
been inspected.
JUMP-STARTING PROCEDURES
WARNING!
•Take care to avoid the radiator cooling fan when-
ever the hood is raised. It can start anytime the
ignition switch is ON. You can be hurt by the fan.
•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 another vehicle. This type of
start can be dangerous if done improperly, so
follow this procedure carefully.
(Continued)
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 385
6

▫Cooling System..................... 411
▫Brake System....................... 416
▫Automatic Transmission............... 418
▫Appearance Care And Protection From
Corrosion.......................... 419
Fuses.............................. 424
▫Integrated Power Module.............. 424
▫Rear Power Distribution Center.......... 427
Vehicle Storage....................... 431
Replacement Bulbs.................... 432Bulb Replacement..................... 433
▫Low Beam Headlight, High Beam Headlight,
And Park/Turn Light................. 433
▫Tail/Stop, Tail, Turn Signal Light, And
Backup Light....................... 433
▫License Light....................... 437
Fluids And Capacities.................. 438
Fluids, Lubricants, And Genuine Parts....... 439
▫Engine............................ 439
▫Chassis........................... 440
394 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE