2009 CHRYSLER 300 SRT manual transmission

•Transmission gear selection
•Cruise control status
•Traction/stability control status
•Tire Pressure Monitoring System status (if equipped)
Child Restraints
Everyone in your vehicle needs to be buckled up all the
time, including babies and children. Every state in the
United States and all Canadian provinces require that
small children ride in proper restraint systems. This is the
law, and you can be prosecuted for ignoring it.
Children 12 years and younger should ride properly
buckled up in a rear seat, if available. According to crash
statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in
the rear seats rather than in the front.
WARNING!
In a collision, an unrestrained child, even a tiny baby,
can become a missile inside the vehicle. The force
required to hold even an infant on your lap could
become so great that you could not hold the child, no
matter how strong you are. The child and others
could be badly injured. Any child riding in your
vehicle should be in a proper restraint for the child’s
size.
There are different sizes and types of restraints for
children from newborn size to the child almost large
enough for an adult safety belt. Always check the child
seat Owner’s Manual to ensure you have the correct seat
for your child. Use the restraint that is correct for your
child.
66 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
Starting Procedures.................... 307
▫Automatic Transmission............... 308
▫Keyless Go (If Equipped)............... 308
▫Normal Starting..................... 309
▫Extremely Cold Weather (Below -20°F Or
-29°C)............................ 310
▫If Engine Fails To Start................ 311
▫After Starting....................... 312
Engine Block Heater — If Equipped........ 312Automatic Transmission................. 313
▫Automatic Transmission — General
Information........................ 313
▫Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . 315
▫Brake/Transmission Interlock Manual
Override.......................... 316
▫5-Speed Automatic Transmission......... 317
AutoStick.......................... 321
▫AutoStickOperation................. 321
▫AutoStickGeneral Information.......... 322
5

Brake/Transmission Interlock Manual Override
There is an override for the BTSI that allows you to move
the shift lever out of the PARK position if an electrical
system malfunction occurs (i.e., dead battery). To access
the override, remove the rubber tray from the storage bin
located to the right of the shift lever. The override access
port is at the top of the bin to the right of the shift lever
gate.
To activate the override, first insert the key into the
ignition switch and turn it to the ACC or ON position.
Then, press the pink-colored tab trough the access port
with a small flat blade screwdriver or alike. While
Interlock Manual Override
316 STARTING AND OPERATING

Have the transmission checked at your authorized dealer
as soon as possible.
If the problem has been momentary, the transmission can
be reset to regain all forward gears.
Permanent Transmission Limp Home Mode
Permanent Limp Home Mode will be activated if the
transmission enters temporary Limp Home Mode three
times. Follow the reset procedure described under “Tem-
porary Transmission Limp Home Mode” in this section.
In Permanent Limp Home Mode, PARK, REVERSE, and
NEUTRAL will continue to operate. Second gear will
operate in the DRIVE position. The Malfunction Indicator
Light (MIL) may illuminate.
AUTOSTICK
Autostickis a driver-interactive transmission that offers
manual gear shifting to provide you with more control of
the vehicle. Autostickallows you to maximize engine
braking, eliminate undesirable upshifts and downshifts,
and improve overall vehicle performance. This system
can also provide you with more control during passing,
city driving, cold slippery conditions, mountain driving,
trailer towing, and many other situations.
AutostickOperation
By placing the shift lever in the DRIVE position, it can be
moved from side to side. This allows the driver to select
a higher or lower range of gears. Moving the shift lever to
the left (-) triggers a downshift and to the right (+) an
upshift. The gear position will display in the instrument
cluster on the transmission range indicator.
STARTING AND OPERATING 321
5

NOTE:
•In Autostickmode, the transmission will only shift
up and down when the driver manually moves the
shift lever right (D+) or left (D-).
•An UPSHIFT message will appear in the Electronic
Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) portion of the in-
strument cluster when using Autostick. This message
appears in order to alert the driver to upshift to the
next gear. The UPSHIFT message will display while
operating the vehicle at higher engine revolutions per
minute (RPM).
You can shift in or out of the Autostickmode at any time
without taking your foot off the accelerator pedal. When
you wish to engage Autostick, simply move the shift
lever to the right (D+) or left (D-) while in the DRIVE
position. The transmission will remain in the current gear
until an upshift or downshift is chosen. When you wish
to disengage Autostick, hold the shift lever to the rightfor at least one second. The transmission will now
operate automatically, shifting between the five available
gears.
AutostickGeneral Information
•
You can start out in 1st or 2nd gear. The system will
ignore attempts to upshift at too low of a vehicle
speed.
•The transmission will automatically downshift to 1st
gear when coming to a stop.
•Starting out in 2nd gear is helpful in snowy or icy
conditions.
•Avoid using speed control when Autostickis en-
gaged.
•The transmission will not automatically shift up when
maximum engine speed is reached while Autostickis
engaged.
322 STARTING AND OPERATING

Selection of Oil......................... 400
Sentry Key (Immobilizer)................... 15
Sentry Key Programming................... 17
Sentry Key Replacement................... 16
Service Assistance....................... 461
Service Contract......................... 463
Service Engine Soon Light
(Malfunction Indicator).................... 213
Service Manuals........................ 465
Setting the Clock.............235,237,252,256,265
Settings, Personal........................ 230
Shifting............................... 313
Automatic Transmission...............313,317
Shoulder Belt Upper Anchorage.............. 47
Shoulder Belts........................... 42
Side Airbag...........................53,59
Side Curtain (Window Airbag)............... 53
Side View Mirror Adjustment................ 85
Signals, Turn......................78,139,205Sirius Backseat TV™..................... 287
Slippery Surfaces, Driving On............... 323
SmartBeams........................... 135
Snow Chains (Tire Chains)................. 353
Snow Tires............................ 355
Sound System
Kicker.............................. 286
Spark Plugs............................ 439
Specifications
Fuel (Gasoline)........................ 439
Oil ................................ 439
Speed Control (Cruise Control)...........148,152
Speedometer........................... 205
Starting.............................25,307
Emergency (Jump Starting)............... 385
Engine Fails to Start.................... 311
Remote.............................. 25
Starting and Operating.................... 307
Starting Procedures...................... 307
INDEX 485
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