2009 DODGE CHARGER tires

Defroster
Check operation by selecting the defrost mode and place
the blower control on high speed. You should be able to
feel the air directed against the windshield. See your
authorized dealer for service if your defroster is
inoperable.
Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make Outside
The Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear and uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread. Inspect the tread and sidewall for
cuts and cracks. Check the wheel nuts for tightness.
Check the tires (including spare) for proper pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of exterior lights
while you work the controls. Check turn signal and high
beam indicator lights on the instrument panel.
Door Latches
Check for positive closing, latching, and locking.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for fuel,
engine coolant, oil, or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline
fumes are detected or if fuel, power steering fluid, or
brake fluid leaks are suspected, the cause should be
located and corrected immediately.
80 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
Driving a vehicle with the brake light on is danger-
ous. Part of the brake system may have failed. It will
take longer to stop the vehicle. You could have an
accident. Have the vehicle checked immediately.
Vehicles equipped with the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS), are also equipped with Electronic Brake Force
Distribution (EBD). In the event of an EBD failure, the
Brake Warning Light will turn on along with the ABS
Light. Immediate repair to the ABS system is required.
Operation of the Brake Warning Light can be checked by
turning the ignition switch from the OFF position to the
ON position. The light should illuminate for approxi-
mately two seconds. The light should then turn off unless
the parking brake is applied or a brake fault is detected.
If the light does not illuminate, have the light inspected
by an authorized dealer. 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.
21. Vehicle Security Light — If Equipped The Vehicle Security Light flashes rapidly
when the Vehicle Security Alarm is arming,
and slowly when the Vehicle Security Alarm is
armed.
22. Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly, when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recommended
by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure label. (If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label, you should
determine the proper tire inflation pressure for those tires.)
180 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been
equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale when
one or more of your tires is significantly under-inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illumi-
nates, you should stop and check your tires as soon as
possible, and inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving
on a significantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to
overheat and can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation also
reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect
the vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper
tire maintenance, and it is the driver ’s responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation has
not reached the level to trigger illumination of the TPMS
low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS
malfunction indicator to indicate when the system is notoperating properly. The TPMS malfunction indicator is
combined with the low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash for
approximately one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue upon subse-
quent vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the sys-
tem may not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure
as intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety
of reasons, including the installation of replacement or
alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the
TPMS from functioning properly. Always check the
TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing one or more
tires or wheels on your vehicle, to ensure that the
replacement or alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS
to continue to function properly.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 181
4

CAUTION!
The TPMS has been optimized for the original
equipment tires and wheels. TPMS pressures and
warning have been established for the tire size
equipped on your vehicle. Undesirable system opera-
tion or sensor damage may result when using re-
placement equipment that is not of the same size,
type, and/or style. Aftermarket wheels can cause
sensor damage. Do not use tire sealant from a can, or
balance beads if your vehicle is equipped with a
TPMS, as damage to the sensors may result.
23. Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) Light — If Equipped This light monitors the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS). The light will turn on when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON position and may stay on for
as long as four seconds. If the ABS light remains on or turns on while driving,
then the Anti-Lock portion of the brake system is not
functioning and service is required. However, the con-
ventional brake system will continue to operate normally
if the BRAKE warning light is not on.
If the ABS light is on, the brake system should be serviced
as soon as possible to restore the benefits of Anti-Lock
brakes. If the ABS light does not turn on when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON position, have the
light inspected by an authorized dealer.
24. Low Fuel Indicator Light
This light will turn on and a single chime will
sound when the fuel level drops to 1/8 tank.
182 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

Driving Through Water ................. 288
▫ Flowing/Rising Water ................. 289
▫ Shallow Standing Water ............... 289
 Power Steering ....................... 291
▫ Power Steering Fluid Check ............. 291
 Parking Brake ........................ 292
 Anti-Lock Brake System ................. 294
 Electronic Brake Control System ........... 296
▫ ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System) ........... 296
▫ TCS (Traction Control System) ........... 297
▫ BAS (Brake Assist System) .............. 297
▫ ESP (Electronic Stability Program) ........ 298
▫ Synchronizing ESP ................... 300 ▫
ESP/BAS Malfunction Indicator Light And
ESP/TCS Indicator Light ............... 300
 Tire Safety Information ................. 301
▫ Tire Markings ....................... 301
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ......... 305
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure .......... 306
 Tires — General Information ............. 310
▫ Tire Pressure ....................... 310
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures ................ 311
▫ Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation . . . 312
▫ Radial Ply Tires ..................... 313
▫ Compact Spare Tire — If Equipped ....... 313
▫ Limited-Use Spare — If Equipped ........ 314
266 STARTING AND OPERATING

▫Tire Spinning ....................... 315
▫ Tread Wear Indicators ................. 316
▫ Life Of Tire ........................ 316
▫ Replacement Tires .................... 317
 Self-Sealing Tires — If Equipped ........... 318
 Tire Chains .......................... 319
 Snow Tires .......................... 320
 Tire Rotation Recommendations ........... 321
 Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) ....... 322
▫ Base System ........................ 324
▫ Premium System — If Equipped ......... 327
▫ General Information .................. 332 
Fuel Requirements ..................... 332
▫ 2.7L Engine ........................ 332
▫ 3.5L And 5.7L Engines ................. 332
▫ Reformulated Gasoline ................ 333
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ............. 333
▫ E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles ...... 334
▫ MMT In Gasoline .................... 335
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ............... 335
▫ Fuel System Cautions ................. 335
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings ............ 336
 Adding Fuel ......................... 337
▫ Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap) .............. 337
▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message ........... 339
STARTING AND OPERATING 267
5

vehicle automatically shifts into AWD mode. Automatic
AWD operation could be activated by outside tempera-
ture, wheel slip, or other predetermined conditions (there
may be a slight delay for AWD engagement after a wheel
slip condition occurs). AWD can also be manually se-
lected by moving the shift lever into the Autostickmode
(+/-) or activating the windshield wipers for an extended
period of time.
NOTE: If the “t CASE” or “SERVICE AWD SYSTEM”
warning message appears after engine start up, or during
driving, it means that the AWD system is not functioning
properly and that service is required. Refer to “Electronic
Vehicle Information Center” in Section 4 of this manual.CAUTION!
All wheels must have the same size and type tires.
Unequal tire sizes must not be used. Unequal tire
size may cause failure of the front differential and/or
the transfer case.
DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES
Acceleration
Rapid acceleration on snow covered, wet, or other slip-
pery surfaces may cause the rear wheels to pull errati-
cally to the right or left. This phenomenon occurs when
there is a difference in the surface traction under the rear
(driving) wheels.
STARTING AND OPERATING 287
5

WARNING!
Rapid acceleration on slippery surfaces is dangerous.
Unequal traction can cause sudden pulling of the rear
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 known as hydroplaning and may cause
partial or complete loss of vehicle control and stopping
ability. To reduce this possibility, the following precau-
tions should be observed:
1. Slow down during rainstorms or when the roads are
slushy.2. Slow down if the road has standing water or puddles.
3. Replace tires when tread wear indicators first become
visible.
4. Keep tires properly inflated.
5. Maintain sufficient distance between your vehicle and
the vehicle in front of you to avoid a collision in a sudden
stop.DRIVING THROUGH WATER
Driving through water more than a few inches/
centimeters deep will require extra caution to ensure
safety and prevent damage to your vehicle.
288 STARTING AND OPERATING