2009 DODGE CALIBER SRT Owners Manual

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
Starting Procedures.................... 250
▫Normal Starting..................... 250
▫Extremely Cold Weather (Below -20°F Or
-29°C)............................. 251
▫If Engine Fails To Start................. 251
▫After Starting....................... 252
▫Turbocharger “Cool Down”............. 252
Manual Transaxle...................... 252
▫Downshifting....................... 253Driving On Slippery Surfaces............. 254
▫Acceleration........................ 254
▫Traction........................... 254
Driving Through Water.................. 255
▫Flowing/Rising Water................. 255
▫Shallow Standing Water................ 255
Power Steering........................ 257
▫Power Steering Fluid Check............. 258
Parking Brake........................ 259
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Brake System......................... 260
▫Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) — If
Equipped.......................... 261
Electronic Brake Control System........... 264
▫Traction Control System (TCS)........... 264
▫Brake Assist System (BAS).............. 264
▫Electronic Stability Program (ESP)......... 265
Tire Safety Information.................. 270
▫Tire Markings....................... 270
▫Tire Identification Number (TIN).......... 274
▫Tire Loading And Tire Pressure........... 275
Tires — General Information.............. 279
▫Tire Pressure........................ 279▫Tire Inflation Pressures................. 280
▫Radial-Ply Tires...................... 282
▫Tire Spinning....................... 282
▫Tread Wear Indicators................. 283
▫Life Of Tire......................... 284
▫Replacement Tires.................... 284
Tire Chains.......................... 285
Snow Tires.......................... 286
Tire Rotation Recommendations............ 286
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)..... 287
▫Base System........................ 290
▫Premium System — If Equipped.......... 292
▫General Information................... 296
248 STARTING AND OPERATING

Fuel Requirements..................... 296
▫2.4L Turbo Engine.................... 296
▫Reformulated Gasoline................. 297
▫Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends............. 297
▫E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles...... 298
▫MMT In Gasoline.................... 298
▫Materials Added To Fuel............... 299
▫Fuel System Cautions.................. 299
▫Carbon Monoxide Warnings............. 300Adding Fuel......................... 301
▫Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap)............... 301
▫Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message........... 302
Trailer Towing........................ 303
Recreational Towing
(Behind Motorhome, Etc.)................. 303
▫Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle
(Flat Towing With All Four Wheels On The
Ground)........................... 303
STARTING AND OPERATING 249
5

STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust both
inside and outside mirrors, and fasten your seat belts.
WARNING!
Never leave children alone in a vehicle. Leaving
unattended children in a vehicle is dangerous for a
number of reasons. A child or others could be seri-
ously or fatally injured. Do not leave the key in the
ignition. A child could operate power windows,
other controls, or move the vehicle.
Before starting the engine fully apply the parking brake,
press the clutch pedal to the floor, and place the shift
lever in NEUTRAL.NOTE:
•The engine will not start unless the clutch pedal is
pressed to the floor.
•If key won’t turn and steering wheel is locked, rotate
the wheel in either direction to relieve pressure on the
locking mechanism and then turn the key.
Normal Starting
Normal starting of either a cold or a warm engine does
not require pumping or depressing the accelerator pedal.
Simply turn the ignition switch to the START position
and release when the engine starts. If the engine fails to
start within 15 seconds, turn the ignition switch to the
OFF position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the
normal starting procedure.
250 STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING!
Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get it
started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic trans-
axle 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 discharged battery, booster cables
may be used to obtain a start from another vehicle.
This type of start can be dangerous if done improp-
erly, so follow the procedure carefully. See Section 6
of this manual for jump-starting instructions.
Extremely Cold Weather (below -20°F or -29°C)
To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of
an externally powered electric engine block heater (avail-
able from your authorized dealer) is recommended.
If Engine Fails to Start
If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
“Normal Starting” procedure, it may be flooded. Push
the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and hold it
there. Crank the engine for no more than 15 seconds. This
should clear any excess fuel in case the engine is flooded.
Leave the ignition key in the ON position, release the
accelerator pedal and repeat the “Normal Starting” pro-
cedure.
WARNING!
Never pour fuel or other flammable liquid into the
throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to start
the vehicle. This could result in flash fire causing
serious personal injury.
STARTING AND OPERATING 251
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CAUTION!
To prevent damage to the starter, do not crank the
engine for more than 15 seconds at a time. Wait 10 to
15 seconds before trying again.
After Starting
The idle speed will automatically decrease as the engine
warms up.
Turbocharger “Cool Down”
This vehicle is equipped with an after-run pump to cool
the turbocharger after the engine is shut off. Depending
on the type of driving and the amount of cargo, the pump
will run for up to 10 minutes after the engine has been
shut off to circulate coolant through the turbocharger.
Although the pump is rubber-mounted for quiet opera-
tion, it is normal to hear it running during this time.
MANUAL TRANSAXLE
WARNING!
You or others could be injured if you leave the
vehicle unattended without having the parking
brake fully applied. The parking brake should al-
ways be applied when the driver is not in the vehicle,
especially on an incline.
Fully depress the clutch pedal before you shift gears. As
you release the clutch pedal, lightly depress the accelera-
tor pedal.
252 STARTING AND OPERATING

Use each gear in numerical order, do not skip a gear. Be
sure the transaxle is in 1st gear, (not 3rd gear), when
starting from a standing position. Damage to the clutch
can result from starting in 3rd gear.For most city driving you will find it easier to use only
the lower gears. For steady highway driving with light
accelerations, 6th gear is recommended.
Never drive with your foot resting on the clutch pedal, or
try to hold the vehicle on a hill with the clutch pedal
partially engaged. This will cause abnormal wear on the
clutch.
Never shift into REVERSE until the vehicle has come to a
complete stop.
NOTE:During cold weather, until the transaxle lubri-
cant is warm, you may experience slightly higher shift
efforts. This is normal and not harmful to the transaxle.
Downshifting
Proper downshifting will improve fuel economy and
prolong engine life.
Shift Pattern
STARTING AND OPERATING 253
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CAUTION!
If you skip more than one gear while downshifting
or downshift at too high of a vehicle speed, you could
damage the engine, transmission, or clutch.
To maintain a safe speed and prolong brake life, shift
down to 2nd or 1st when descending a steep grade.
When turning a corner, or driving up a steep grade,
downshift early so that the engine will not be
overburdened.
DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES
Acceleration
Rapid acceleration on snow covered, wet, or other slip-
pery surfaces may cause the front wheels to pull errati-
cally to the right or left. This phenomenon occurs when
there is a difference in the surface traction under the front
(driving) wheels.
WARNING!
Rapid acceleration on slippery surfaces is dangerous.
Unequal traction can cause sudden pulling of the
front wheels. You could lose control of the vehicle
and possibly have an accident. Accelerate slowly and
carefully whenever there is likely to be poor traction
(ice, snow, wet, mud, loose sand, etc.).
Traction
When driving on wet or slushy roads, it is possible for a
wedge of water to build up between the tire and road
surface. This is hydroplaning and may cause partial or
complete loss of vehicle control and stopping ability. To
reduce this possibility, the following precautions should
be observed:
1. Slow down during rainstorms or when roads are
slushy.
254 STARTING AND OPERATING