2012 CHRYSLER 300 Owners Manual

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
Starting Procedures.................... 348
▫Automatic Transmission............... 348
▫Keyless Enter-N-Go................... 349
▫Normal Starting..................... 349
▫Extreme Cold Weather
(Below –20°F Or29°C)............... 351
▫If Engine Fails To Start................ 351
▫After Starting....................... 352
Engine Block Heater — If Equipped........ 352Automatic Transmission................. 353
▫Key Ignition Park Interlock............. 354
▫Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . 354
▫Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission –
3.6L Engine........................ 355
▫Standard Shifter..................... 355
▫Gear Ranges........................ 355
▫Optional Shifter With AutoStick......... 358
▫Five-Speed Automatic Transmission –
5.7L Engine........................ 358
5

▫Gear Ranges........................ 359
AutoStick— If Equipped............... 365
▫Operation – 3.6L Engine............... 366
▫Operation – 5.7L Engine............... 367
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) — If Equipped...... 369
Driving On Slippery Surfaces............. 370
▫Acceleration........................ 370
▫Traction........................... 370
Driving Through Water................. 371
▫Flowing/Rising Water................. 371
▫Shallow Standing Water............... 371
Power Steering....................... 373Multi-Displacement System (MDS)
(If Equipped) — 5.7L Engine Only.......... 374
Parking Brake........................ 375
Anti-Lock Brake System................. 377
Electronic Brake Control System........... 379
▫Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........... 379
▫Traction Control System (TCS)........... 380
▫Brake Assist System (BAS).............. 380
▫Electronic Stability Control (ESC)......... 381
▫Hill Start Assist (HSA)................ 383
▫Ready Alert Braking.................. 385
▫Rain Brake Support................... 385
▫ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light
And ESC Off Indicator Light............ 386
344 STARTING AND OPERATING

▫Synchronizing ESC................... 387
Tire Safety Information................. 387
▫Tire Markings....................... 387
▫Tire Identification Number (TIN)......... 391
▫Tire Terminology And Definitions......... 392
▫Tire Loading And Tire Pressure.......... 393
Tires — General Information............. 397
▫Tire Pressure....................... 397
▫Tire Inflation Pressures................ 398
▫Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation . . . 400
▫Radial Ply Tires..................... 400
▫Spare Tire Matching Original Equipped Tire
And Wheel – If Equipped.............. 400▫Compact Spare Tire – If Equipped........ 401
▫Full Size Spare – If Equipped............ 402
▫Limited-Use Spare – If Equipped......... 402
▫Tire Spinning....................... 403
▫Tread Wear Indicators................. 404
▫Life Of Tire........................ 404
▫Replacement Tires.................... 405
Tire Chains.......................... 406
Snow Tires.......................... 408
Tire Rotation Recommendations........... 409
Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)....... 410
▫Base System........................ 412
▫Premium System – If Equipped.......... 415
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STARTING AND OPERATING 345

▫General Information.................. 419
Fuel Requirements..................... 420
▫3.6L Engine – If Equipped.............. 420
▫5.7L Engine – If Equipped.............. 420
▫Reformulated Gasoline................ 421
▫Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends............. 421
▫E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles...... 421
▫MMT In Gasoline.................... 422
▫Materials Added To Fuel............... 423
▫Fuel System Cautions................. 423
▫Carbon Monoxide Warnings............ 424
Flexible Fuel (3.6L Engine Only) —
If Equipped.......................... 424▫E-85 General Information............... 424
▫Ethanol Fuel (E-85)................... 425
▫Fuel Requirements................... 425
▫Selection Of Engine Oil For Flexible Fuel
Vehicles (E-85) And Gasoline Vehicles...... 426
▫Starting........................... 427
▫Cruising Range...................... 427
▫Replacement Parts................... 427
▫Maintenance........................ 427
Adding Fuel......................... 428
▫Emergency Fuel Filler Door Release....... 430
Vehicle Loading...................... 431
▫Vehicle Certification Label.............. 431
346 STARTING AND OPERATING

▫Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)...... 432
▫Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)........ 432
▫Overloading........................ 432
▫Loading........................... 433
Trailer Towing........................ 433
▫Common Towing Definitions............ 433
▫Trailer Hitch Classification.............. 436▫Trailer Towing Weights
(Maximum Trailer Weight Ratings)........ 437
▫Trailer And Tongue Weight............. 438
▫Towing Requirements................. 439
▫Towing Tips........................ 444

Recreational Towing (Behind Motorhome, Etc.). . 445
▫Two-Wheel Drive And All-Wheel Drive.... 445
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STARTING AND OPERATING 347

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!
•When leaving the vehicle, always remove the key
fob from the ignition and lock your vehicle.
•Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Allowing children
to be in a vehicle unattended is dangerous for a
number of reasons. A child or others could be
seriously or fatally injured. Children should be
warned not to touch the parking brake, brake
pedal or the shift lever.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle, and
do not leave Keyless Enter-N-Go in the ACC or
ON/RUN mode. A child could operate power win-
dows, other controls, or move the vehicle.
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.
(Continued)
348 STARTING AND OPERATING

CAUTION! (Continued)
•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.
Keyless Enter-N-Go
This feature allows the driver to oper-
ate the ignition switch with the push
of a button, as long as the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter is in
the passenger compartment.
Normal Starting
Using The ENGINE START/STOP Button
NOTE:Normal starting of either a cold or a warm
engine is obtained without pumping or pressing the
accelerator pedal.
To start the engine, the transmission must be in PARK or
NEUTRAL. Press and hold the brake pedal while press-
ing the ENGINE START/STOP button once. The system
takes over and attempts to start the vehicle. If the vehicle
fails to start, the starter will disengage automatically after
10 seconds. If you wish to stop the cranking of the engine
prior to the engine starting, press the button again.
To Turn Off The Engine Using ENGINE
START/STOP Button
1. Place the shift lever in PARK, then press and release
the ENGINE START/STOP button.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 349

2. The ignition switch will return to the OFF position.
3. If the shift lever is not in PARK, the ENGINE START/
STOP button must be held for two seconds and vehicle
speed must be above 5 mph (8 km/h) before the engine
will shut off. The ignition switch position will remain in
the ACC position until the shift lever is in PARK and the
button is pressed twice to the OFF position. If the shift
lever is not in PARK and the ENGINE START/STOP
button is pressed once, the EVIC (if equipped) will
display a “Vehicle Not In Park” message and the engine
will remain running. Never leave a vehicle out of the
PARK position, or it could roll.
NOTE:If the ignition switch is left in the ACC or RUN
(engine not running) position and the transmission is in
PARK, the system will automatically time out after
30 minutes of inactivity and the ignition will switch to the
OFF position.ENGINE START/STOP Button Functions – With
Driver ’s Foot OFF The Brake Pedal (In PARK Or
NEUTRAL Position)
The Keyless Enter-N-Go feature operates similar to an
ignition switch. It has four positions, OFF, ACC, RUN
and START. To change the ignition switch positions
without starting the vehicle and use the accessories
follow these steps.
•Starting with the ignition switch in the OFF position:
•Press the ENGINE START/STOP button once to
change the ignition switch to the ACC position (EVIC
displays “ACC”),
•Press the ENGINE START/STOP button a second time
to change the ignition switch to the RUN position
(EVIC displays “RUN”),
350 STARTING AND OPERATING