2013 CHRYSLER 300 Owners Manual

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
STARTING PROCEDURES ................364
▫ Automatic Transmission ................364
▫ Keyless Enter-N-Go™ ..................365
▫ Normal Starting ...................... .365
▫ Extreme Cold Weather
(Below –20°F Or 29°C) ................367
▫ If Engine Fails To Start .................367
▫ After Starting ....................... .368
 ENGINE BLOCK HEATER – IF EQUIPPED . . . .368
 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ............369▫
Key Ignition Park Interlock ...............371
▫ Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . .371
▫ Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission – If
Equipped .......................... .371
▫ Five-Speed Automatic Transmission –
If Equipped ........................ .380
▫ Gear Ranges ........................ .381
 AUTOSTICK® ........................ .387
▫ Operation – Eight-Speed Transmission – If
Equipped .......................... .387
▫ Operation – Five-Speed Transmission .......389
5

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) — IF EQUIPPED . .390
 DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES .........391
▫ Acceleration ........................ .391
▫ Traction ........................... .392
 DRIVING THROUGH WATER .............392
▫ Flowing/Rising Water ..................393
▫ Shallow Standing Water .................393
 POWER STEERING .....................395
 FUEL SAVER TECHNOLOGY 5.7L ENGINE
ONLY – IF EQUIPPED ...................396
 PARKING BRAKE ..................... .396
 ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM .............399
 ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM . . . .401 ▫
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ............401
▫ Traction Control System (TCS) ............401
▫ Brake Assist System (BAS) ...............402
▫ Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ..........402
▫ Hill Start Assist (HSA) .................405
▫ Ready Alert Braking ...................406
▫ Rain Brake Support ....................407
▫ ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light
And ESC OFF Indicator Light ............407
▫ Synchronizing ESC ....................408
 TIRE SAFETY INFORMATION .............409
▫ Tire Markings ....................... .409
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ...........412
360 STARTING AND OPERATING

▫Tire Terminology And Definitions ..........413
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure ...........414
 TIRES — GENERAL INFORMATION .........418
▫ Tire Pressure ....................... .418
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures .................419
▫ Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation . . . .420
▫ Radial Ply Tires ..................... .421
▫ All Season Tires – If Equipped ............422
▫ Summer Or Three Season Tires – If Equipped. .422
▫ Snow Tires ......................... .422
▫ Spare Tire Matching Original Equipped Tire
And Wheel – If Equipped ................423
▫ Compact Spare Tire – If Equipped .........423▫
Full Size Spare – If Equipped .............424
▫ Limited-Use Spare – If Equipped ..........424
▫ Tire Spinning ....................... .425
▫ Tread Wear Indicators ..................426
▫ Life Of Tire ........................ .426
▫ Replacement Tires .....................427
 TIRE CHAINS (TRACTION DEVICES) .......428
 TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS .....430
 TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM (TPMS) . .431
▫ Base System ........................ .434
▫ Premium System – If Equipped ............437
▫ General Information ...................441
 FUEL REQUIREMENTS ..................441
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 361

▫3.6L Engine – If Equipped ...............441
▫ 5.7L Engine – If Equipped ...............441
▫ Reformulated Gasoline .................442
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ..............442
▫ E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles .......443
▫ MMT In Gasoline .....................444
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ................444
▫ Fuel System Cautions ...................444
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings .............445
 FLEXIBLE FUEL (3.6L ENGINE ONLY) — IF
EQUIPPED .......................... .446
▫ E-85 General Information ...............446
▫ Ethanol Fuel (E-85) ....................447 ▫
Fuel Requirements ....................447
▫ Selection Of Engine Oil For Flexible Fuel
Vehicles (E-85) And Gasoline Vehicles .......448
▫ Starting ........................... .448
▫ Cruising Range ...................... .448
▫ Replacement Parts ....................449
▫ Maintenance ....................... .449
 ADDING FUEL ....................... .449
▫ Emergency Fuel Filler Door Release .........451
 VEHICLE LOADING ....................452
▫ Vehicle Certification Label ...............453
▫ Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) .......453
▫ Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) .........453
362 STARTING AND OPERATING

▫Overloading ........................ .454
▫ Loading ........................... .454
 TRAILER TOWING .....................455
▫ Common Towing Definitions .............455
▫ Trailer Hitch Classification ...............458
▫ Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer
Weight Ratings) ..................... .459▫
Trailer And Tongue Weight ..............460
▫ Towing Requirements ..................461
▫ Towing Tips ........................ .466
 RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.) ...................468
▫ Two-Wheel Drive And All-Wheel Drive ......468
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 363

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 (or
in a location accessible to children), and do not
leave a vehicle equipped with Keyless Enter-N-
Go™ in the ACC or ON/RUN mode. A child could
operate power windows, 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.
364 STARTING AND OPERATING

CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the follow-
ing precautions are not observed:
•Do not shift from REVERSE, PARK, or NEUTRAL
into any forward gear when the engine is above
idle speed.
• 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.
• 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
Start/Keyless Enter-N-Go™ FOBIK is
in the passenger compartment.
Normal Starting
Using The ENGINE START/STOP Button
1. The transmission must be in PARK or NEUTRAL.
2. Press and hold the brake pedal while pressing the ENGINE START/STOP button once.
3. The system takes over and attempts to start the vehicle. If the vehicle fails to start, the starter will
disengage automatically after 10 seconds.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 365

4. If you wish to stop the cranking of the engine prior tothe engine starting, press the button again.
NOTE: Normal starting of either a cold or a warm
engine is obtained without pumping or pressing the
accelerator pedal.
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.
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 ENGINE START/STOP button 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.
366 STARTING AND OPERATING