2013 CHRYSLER 300 tires

WARNING!(Continued)
•Always make sure that objects cannot fall into the
driver footwell while the vehicle is moving. Objects
can become trapped under the brake pedal and
accelerator pedal causing a loss of vehicle control.
• If required, mounting posts must be properly in-
stalled, if not equipped from the factory.
Failure to properly follow floor mat installation or
mounting can cause interference with the brake
pedal and accelerator pedal operation causing loss of
control of the vehicle.
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 or sidewall. Inspect the tread for cuts and cracks. Inspect sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
Check the wheel nuts for tightness. Check the tires
(including spare) for proper cold inflation pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of brake lights and
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.
2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 99

technician should leave the odometer reading the same
as it was before the repair or service. If s/he cannot do so,
then the odometer must be set at zero, and a sticker must
be placed in the door jamb stating what the mileage was
before the repair or service. It is a good idea for you to
make a record of the odometer reading before the repair/
service, so that you can be sure that it is properly reset, or
that the door jamb sticker is accurate if the odometer
must be reset at zero.
Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) Display
The Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) fea-
tures a driver-interactive display that is located in the
instrument cluster. For further information, refer to
“Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)”.
The Shift Lever Indicator is self-contained within the
EVIC display. It displays the gear position of the auto-
matic transmission.NOTE:
You must apply the brakes before shifting from PARK.
The highest available transmission gear is displayed in
the lower right corner of the Electronic Vehicle Informa-
tion Center (EVIC) whenever the Electronic Range Select
(ERS) feature is active. Use the +/- selector on the shift
lever to activate ERS. Refer to “Automatic Transmission”
in “Starting And Operating” for further information.
7. Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light — If Equipped
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.)
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 303

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 not
operating 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.
304 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

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.
8. Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) is part of
an onboard diagnostic system, called OBD, that
monitors engine and automatic transmission con-
trol systems. The light will illuminate when the key is in the ON/RUN position, before engine start. If the bulb
does not come on when turning the key from OFF to
ON/RUN, have the condition checked promptly.
Certain conditions, such as poor fuel quality, etc., may
illuminate the MIL after engine start. The vehicle should
be serviced if the light stays on through several of your
typical driving cycles. In most situations, the vehicle will
drive normally and will not require towing.
CAUTION!
Prolonged driving with the Malfunction Indicator
Light (MIL) on could cause damage to the engine
control system. It also could affect fuel economy and
drivability. If the MIL is flashing, severe catalytic
converter damage and power loss will soon occur.
Immediate service is required.
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 305

Resetting A Trip Info Function
To Reset any of the three Trip Info functions, select the
function you want to reset using the UP or DOWN
buttons. Push the SELECT button until the feature dis-
plays zero.
Tire PSI
Press and release the UP or DOWN button untilTire PSI
is highlighted in the EVIC. Press and release the SELECT
button and one of the following will be displayed:
• If tire pressure is OK for all tires a vehicle ICON is
displayed with tire pressure values in each corner of
the ICON.
• If one or more tires have low pressure, Tire Pressure
LOW is displayed with the vehicle ICON and the tire
pressure values in each corner of the ICON.
• If the Tire Pressure system requires service, Service
Tire Pressure System is displayed. Tire PSI is an information only function and cannot be
reset. Press and release the BACK button to return to the
main menu.
Vehicle Info (Customer Information Features)
Press and release the UP or DOWN button until
Vehicle
Info is highlighted in the EVIC. Press and release the
SELECT button and Coolant Temp will be displayed.
Press the UP or DOWN button to scroll through the
following information displays.
• Coolant Temp
Displays the actual coolant temperature.
• AWD Status — If Equipped
Displays a vehicle ICON with four wheels highlighted
and AW D if All Wheel Drive is active. Displays a
vehicle ICON with two wheels highlighted and RWDif
All Wheel Drive is inactive.
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UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 325

▫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
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STARTING AND OPERATING 361

conditions require increased levels of road traction, the
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 AutoStick®
mode (+/-) or activating the windshield wipers for an
extended period of time. Drive mode, RWD or AWD, is
displayed momentarily in the Electronic Vehicle Informa-
tion Center (EVIC) in the gauge area of the vehicle
display when the transmission is first shifted into gear,
and if the drive mode changes during vehicle operation.
NOTE:If the “SERVICE AWD SYSTEM” warning mes-
sage 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 (EVIC)” in “Understanding Your
Instrument Panel” for further information.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 driving wheels to pull
erratically to the right or left. This phenomenon occurs
when there is a difference in the surface traction under
the rear (driving) wheels.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 391

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 a collision. 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 areslushy. 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.
392 STARTING AND OPERATING