2013 DODGE DART Owners Manual

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
Starting Procedures .................... 379
▫ Manual Transmission – If Equipped ....... 379
▫ Automatic Transmission – If Equipped ..... 380
▫ Keyless Enter-N-Go – If Equipped ........ 380
▫ Normal Starting ..................... 380
▫ Extreme Cold Weather
(Below –30°F Or 34°C)............... 382
▫ Extended Park Starting ................ 382
▫ If Engine Fails To Start ................ 382 ▫
After Starting ....................... 383
▫ Turbocharger “Cool Down” – If Equipped . . . 383
 Engine Block Heater — If Equipped ........ 383
 Manual Transmission — If Equipped ........ 384
▫ Shifting ........................... 384
▫ Downshifting ....................... 385
 Automatic Transmission — If Equipped ...... 386
▫ Key Ignition Park Interlock ............. 388
▫ Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . 388
5

▫Six-Speed Automatic Transmission
(1.4L Turbo Engine Only — Ddct) ......... 389
▫ Gear Ranges ........................ 390
▫ Six-Speed Automatic Transmission
(2.0L And 2.4L Engine Only — 6F24) ...... 399
▫ Gear Ranges ........................ 400
 AutoStick .......................... 407
▫ Operation ......................... 407
 Driving On Slippery Surfaces ............. 408
▫ Acceleration ........................ 408
▫ Traction ........................... 409
 Driving Through Water ................. 409
▫ Flowing/Rising Water ................. 410
▫ Shallow Standing Water ............... 410 
Parking Brake ........................ 412
 Power Steering ....................... 414
 Electronic Brake Control System ........... 415
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ........... 415
▫ Brake Assist System (BAS) .............. 418
▫ Traction Control System (TCS) ........... 418
▫ Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) ......... 419
▫ Trailer Sway Control (TSC) ............. 420
▫ Hill Start Assist (HSA) ................ 420
▫ Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ......... 423
 Tire Safety Information ................. 427
▫ Tire Markings ....................... 427
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ......... 430
376 STARTING AND OPERATING

▫Tire Terminology And Definitions ......... 431
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure .......... 432
 Tires — General Information ............. 436
▫ Tire Pressure ....................... 436
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures ................ 437
▫ Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation . . . 438
▫ Radial Ply Tires ..................... 439
▫ Spare Tire Matching Original Equipped Tire
And Wheel – If Equipped .............. 439
▫ Compact Spare Tire – If Equipped ........ 440
▫ Full Size Spare – If Equipped ............ 441
▫ Limited-Use Spare – If Equipped ......... 441
▫ Tire Spinning ....................... 442 ▫
Tread Wear Indicators ................. 442
▫ Life Of Tire ........................ 443
▫ Replacement Tires .................... 444
 Tire Chains (Traction Devices) ............. 446
 Snow Tires .......................... 447
 Tire Rotation Recommendations ........... 448
 Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ..... 449
▫ Base System ........................ 451
▫ Premium System – If Equipped .......... 454
▫ General Information .................. 457
 Fuel Requirements ..................... 457
▫ 1.4L Turbo Engine .................... 457
▫ 2.0L And 2.4L Engine ................. 457
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 377

▫Reformulated Gasoline ................ 458
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ............. 458
▫ E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles ...... 459
▫ MMT In Gasoline .................... 460
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ............... 460
▫ Fuel System Cautions ................. 460
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings ............ 461
 Adding Fuel ......................... 462
▫ Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap) .............. 462
 Vehicle Loading ...................... 464
▫ Vehicle Certification Label .............. 465
Trailer Towing ........................ 467
▫ Common Towing Definitions ............ 467
▫ Trailer Hitch Classification .............. 469
▫ Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer
Weight Ratings) ..................... 470
▫ Trailer And Tongue Weight ............. 470
▫ Towing Requirements ................. 472
▫ Towing Tips ........................ 477
 Recreational Towing
(Behind Motorhome, Etc.) ................ 479
▫ Towing This Vehicle Behind Another
Vehicle ............................ 479
378 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.(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.
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.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 379

•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.
Keyless Enter-N-Go – If Equipped
This feature allows the driver to oper-
ate the ignition switch with the push
of a button, as long as the ENGINE
START/STOP button is installed and
the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) trans-
mitter 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.
380 STARTING AND OPERATING

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.Keyless Enter-N-Go 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 “IGNITION MODE ACCESSORY”),
•Press the ENGINE START/STOP button a second time
to change the ignition switch to the RUN position
(EVIC displays “IGNITION MODE RUN”),
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 381

•Press the ENGINE START/STOP button a third time
to return the ignition switch to the OFF position (EVIC
displays “IGNITION MODE OFF”).
Extreme Cold Weather (Below –30°F or34°C)
To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of
an externally powered electric engine block heater (avail-
able from your authorized dealer) is required for the 1.4L
Turbo and 2.4L engines and recommended for the 2.0L
engine.
Extended Park Starting
NOTE:Extended Park condition occurs when the ve-
hicle has not been started or driven for at least 35 days.
1. Install a battery charger or jumper cables to the battery
to ensure a full battery charge during the crank cycle.
2. Turn the ignition switch to the START position and
release it when the engine starts. 3. If the engine fails to start within 25 seconds, turn the
ignition switch to the STOP (OFF/LOCK) position, wait
60 seconds to allow the starter to cool, then repeat the
Extended Park Starting procedure.
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.
382 STARTING AND OPERATING