2010 DODGE CHARGER SRT Owners Manual

AutoStick .......................... 253
▫ Operation ......................... 254
▫ General Information .................. 255
 Driving On Slippery Surfaces ............. 255
▫ Acceleration ........................ 255
▫ Traction ........................... 256
 Driving Through Water ................. 256
▫ Flowing/Rising Water ................. 256
▫ Shallow Standing Water ............... 257
 Power Steering ....................... 258
▫ Power Steering Fluid Check ............. 259
 Parking Brake ........................ 260 
Brake System ........................ 262
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System ............... 263
 Electronic Brake Control System ........... 265
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ........... 265
▫ Traction Control System (TCS) ........... 266
▫ Brake Assist System (BAS) .............. 266
▫ Electronic Stability Program (ESP) ........ 267
▫ Synchronizing ESP ................... 270
▫ ESP/BAS Malfunction Indicator Light And
ESP/TCS Indicator Light ............... 271
 Tire Safety Information ................. 272
▫ Tire Markings ....................... 272
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ......... 275
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▫Tire Terminology And Definitions ......... 276
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure .......... 277
 Tires — General Information ............. 281
▫ Tire Pressure ....................... 281
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures ................ 282
▫ Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation . . . 284
▫ Radial Ply Tires ..................... 284
▫ Tire Spinning ....................... 284
▫ Tread Wear Indicators ................. 285
▫ Life Of Tire ........................ 286
▫ Replacement Tires .................... 286
 Tire Chains .......................... 287
 Snow Tires .......................... 289 
Tire Rotation Recommendations ........... 289
▫ Tire Rotation – Standard Tires ........... 290
▫ Tire Rotation – All Season Tires .......... 290
 Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) ....... 291
▫ Premium System .................... 293
▫ General Information .................. 297
 Fuel Requirements ..................... 298
▫ 6.1L Engine ........................ 298
▫ Reformulated Gasoline ................ 298
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ............. 299
▫ E85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles ...... 299
▫ MMT In Gasoline .................... 300
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ............... 300
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STARTING AND OPERATING 241

▫Fuel System Cautions ................. 301
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings ............ 302
 Adding Fuel ......................... 302
▫ Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap) .............. 302
▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message ........... 304
 Vehicle Loading ...................... 305
▫ Vehicle Certification Label .............. 305 ▫
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) ...... 305
▫ Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) ........ 305
▫ Overloading ........................ 306
▫ Loading ........................... 306
 Trailer Towing ........................ 307
 Recreational Towing
(Behind Motorhome, Etc.) ................ 307
242 STARTING AND OPERATING

STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust the
inside and outside mirrors, fasten your seat belt, and if
present, instruct all other occupants to buckle their 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
seriously or fatally injured. Do not leave the key
fob in the ignition switch. A child could operate
power windows, other controls, or move the ve-
hicle.
•Do not leave animals or children inside parked
vehicles in hot weather; interior heat buildup may
cause serious injury or death.
Automatic Transmission
The shift lever must be in the NEUTRAL or PARK
position before you can start the engine. Apply the brakes
before shifting into any driving gear.
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the follow-
ing precautions are not observed:
•Shift into PARK only after the vehicle has come to
a complete stop.
•Shift into or out of REVERSE only after the
vehicle has come to a complete stop and the engine
is at idle speed.
•Do not shift from REVERSE, PARK, or NEUTRAL
into any forward gear when the engine is above
idle speed.
•Before shifting into any gear, make sure your foot
is firmly on the brake pedal.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 243

Normal Starting (Tip Start)
NOTE:Normal starting of either a cold or a warm
engine is obtained without pumping or pressing the
accelerator pedal.
Do not press the accelerator. Use the Fob with Integrated
Key to briefly turn the ignition switch to the START
position and release it as soon as the starter engages. The
starter motor will continue to run, and it will disengage
automatically when the engine is running. If the engine
fails to start, the starter will disengage automatically in
10 seconds. If this occurs, turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the
“Normal Starting” procedure.
Extreme Cold Weather (Below 20°F or29°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
WARNING!
•Never pour fuel or other flammable liquids into
the throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to
start the vehicle. This could result in a flash fire
causing serious personal injury.
•Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get it
started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic trans-
mission 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 a
booster battery or the battery in another vehicle.
This type of start can be dangerous if done improp-
erly. Refer to “Jump Starting” in “What To Do In
Emergencies” for further information.
244 STARTING AND OPERATING

If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
“Normal Starting” or “Extreme Cold Weather” proce-
dures, it may be flooded. To clear any excess fuel, push
the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and hold it.
Then, turn the ignition switch to the START position and
release it as soon as the starter engages. The starter motor
will disengage automatically in 10 seconds. Once this
occurs, release the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then
repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.
CAUTION!
To prevent damage to the starter, wait 10 to 15 sec-
onds before trying again.
After Starting
The idle speed is controlled automatically and it will
decrease as the engine warms up.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED
The engine block heater warms the engine, and permits
quicker starts in cold weather. Connect the cord to a
standard 110-115 Volt AC electrical outlet with a
grounded, three-wire extension cord.
The engine block heater cord is routed under the hood on
the driver side of the vehicle. It has a removable cap that
is located on the driver side of the Integrated Power
Module.
WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the cord before driving.
Damage to the 110-115 Volt electrical cord could cause
electrocution.
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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the follow-
ing precautions are not observed:
•Shift into PARK only after the vehicle has come to
a complete stop.
•Shift into or out of REVERSE only after the
vehicle has come to a complete stop and the engine
is at idle speed.
•Do not shift from REVERSE, PARK, or NEUTRAL
into any forward gear when the engine is above
idle speed.
•Before shifting into any gear, make sure your foot
is firmly on the brake pedal.
WARNING!
It is dangerous to move the shift lever out of PARK or
NEUTRAL if the engine speed is higher than idle
speed. If your foot is not firmly on the brake pedal,
the vehicle could accelerate quickly forward or in
reverse. You could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear when the
engine is idling normally and when your right foot is
firmly on the brake pedal.
General Information
The automatic transmission selects individual gears au-
tomatically, dependent upon:
•Altitude
•Vehicle loading
•Driving style
246 STARTING AND OPERATING

•Shift lever position
•Accelerator position
•Vehicle speed
The gear shifting process is continuously adapted, de-
pendent on the driving style, the driving situation, and
the road characteristics.
NOTE:
•After selecting any driving position, wait a moment to
allow the gear to engage fully before accelerating,
especially when the engine is cold.
•If there is a need to restart the engine, be sure to turn
the ignition switch to the LOCK position before re-
starting. Transmission engagement may be delayed up
to 10 seconds after restart if the ignition switch is not
turned to the LOCK position first.
•The electronically-controlled transmission provides a
precise shift schedule. The transmission electronics are
self-calibrating. Therefore, the first few shifts on a new
vehicle may be somewhat abrupt or soft until after the
break-in period. This is a normal condition, and pre-
cision shifts will develop within a few shift cycles.
The shift lever is automatically locked while in the PARK
position. To move the shift lever out of the PARK
position, the brake pedal must be firmly pressed before
the shift lock will release.
Move the shift lever to the desired position only when the
engine is idling normally and the brake pedal is applied.
Do not release the brake pedal until ready to drive. The
vehicle may otherwise accelerate quickly when the shift
lever is in DRIVE or REVERSE position.
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