2012 DODGE CALIBER Owners Manual

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
Starting Procedures .................... 299
▫ Manual Transmission – If Equipped ....... 299
▫ Automatic Transmission – If Equipped ..... 299
▫ Normal Starting ..................... 300
▫ Extreme Cold Weather (Below –20°F Or
29°C) ............................ 301
▫ If Engine Fails To Start ................ 301
▫ After Starting ....................... 301
 Engine Block Heater — If Equipped ........ 302
Manual Transmission — If Equipped ........ 302
▫ Five–Speed Manual Transmission ......... 302
▫ Recommended Shift Speeds ............. 303
▫ Downshifting ....................... 304
 Automatic Transmission — If Equipped ...... 304
▫ Key Ignition Park Interlock ............. 306
▫ Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . 306
▫ Gear Ranges ........................ 307
 AutoStick — If Equipped ............... 312
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▫Operation ......................... 312
▫ General Information .................. 313
 Driving On Slippery Surfaces ............. 314
▫ Acceleration ........................ 314
▫ Traction ........................... 314
 Driving Through Water ................. 315
▫ Flowing/Rising Water ................. 315
▫ Shallow Standing Water ............... 315
 Power Steering ....................... 317
▫ Power Steering Fluid Check ............. 318
 Parking Brake ........................ 319
 Brake System ........................ 321
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ........... 322
Electronic Brake Control System ........... 324
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ........... 325
▫ Brake Assist System (BAS) .............. 325
▫ Traction Control System (TCS) ........... 326
▫ Hill Start Assist (HSA) – Manual
Transmission Only ................... 326
▫ Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ......... 328
▫ ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light
And ESC Off Indicator Light ............ 330
 Tire Safety Information ................. 331
▫ Tire Markings ....................... 331
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ......... 335
▫ Tire Terminology And Definitions ......... 336
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure .......... 337
296 STARTING AND OPERATING

Tires — General Information ............. 341
▫ Tire Pressure ....................... 341
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures ................ 342
▫ Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation . . . 343
▫ Radial Ply Tires ..................... 344
▫ Spare Tire Matching Original Equipped Tire
And Wheel – If Equipped .............. 344
▫ Compact Spare Tire – If Equipped ........ 345
▫ Full Size Spare – If Equipped ............ 346
▫ Limited-Use Spare – If Equipped ......... 346
▫ Tire Spinning ....................... 347
▫ Tread Wear Indicators ................. 348
▫ Life Of Tire ........................ 348 ▫
Replacement Tires .................... 349
 Tire Chains .......................... 351
 Snow Tires .......................... 351
 Tire Rotation Recommendations ........... 351
 Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ..... 353
▫ Base System ........................ 355
▫ Premium System – If Equipped .......... 358
▫ General Information .................. 362
 Fuel Requirements ..................... 363
▫ 2.0L And 2.4L Engine ................. 363
▫ Reformulated Gasoline ................ 363
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ............. 364
▫ E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles ...... 364
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STARTING AND OPERATING 297

▫MMT In Gasoline .................... 365
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ............... 365
▫ Fuel System Cautions ................. 366
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings ............ 367
 Adding Fuel ......................... 367
▫ Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap) .............. 367
▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message ........... 369
 Vehicle Loading ...................... 369
▫ Vehicle Certification Label .............. 370
 Trailer Towing ........................ 372
▫ Common Towing Definitions ............ 372▫
Installing A Trailer Hitch ............... 374
▫ Trailer Hitch Classification .............. 375
▫ Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer
Weight Ratings) ..................... 376
▫ Trailer And Tongue Weight ............. 377
▫ Towing Requirements ................. 378
▫ Towing Tips ........................ 383
 Recreational Towing (Behind Motorhome,
Etc.) ................................ 385
▫ Towing This Vehicle Behind Another
Vehicle ............................ 385
298 STARTING AND OPERATING

STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust both
inside and outside mirrors, and fasten your 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. Chil-
dren should be warned not to touch the parking
brake, brake pedal or the shift lever.
•Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle. A
child could operate power windows, other con-
trols, or move the vehicle.
Manual Transmission – If Equipped
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 the key will not turn and the steering wheel is
locked, rotate the wheel in either direction to relieve
pressure on the locking mechanism and then turn the
key.
Automatic Transmission – If Equipped
The shift lever must be in the PARK or NEUTRAL
position before you can start the engine. Apply the brakes
before shifting to any driving gear.
NOTE:You must press the brake pedal before shifting
out of PARK.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 299

Normal Starting
Normal starting of either a cold or a warm engine does
not require pumping or pressing 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.WARNING!
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
another vehicle. This type of start can be dangerous if
done improperly, so follow the procedure carefully.
Refer to “Jump Starting” in “What To Do In Emer-
gencies” for further information.
Tip Start Feature
Do notpress the accelerator. 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.
300 STARTING AND OPERATING

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 sec-
onds, 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
If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
“Normal Starting” or “Extreme Cold Weather” proce-
dures, 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” procedure.
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.
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.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 301

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 must be plugged in at least one
hour to have an adequate warming effect on the engine.
WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the engine block heater
cord before driving. Damage to the 110-115 Volt
electrical cord could cause electrocution.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION — IF EQUIPPED
Five–Speed Manual Transmission
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 press the clutch pedal before you shift gears. As you
release the clutch pedal, lightly press the accelerator
pedal.
302 STARTING AND OPERATING