2014 CHRYSLER 200 Owners Manual

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
STARTING PROCEDURES ................291
▫ Automatic Transmission ................291
▫ Normal Starting ...................... .292
▫ Extreme Cold Weather
(Below –20°F Or 29°C) ................293
▫ If Engine Fails To Start .................293
▫ After Starting ....................... .295
 ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED . . .295
 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ............295
▫ Key Ignition Park Interlock ...............297 ▫
Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . .298
▫ Four-Speed Automatic Transmission —
If Equipped ......................... .298
▫ Six-Speed Automatic Transmission (62TE) —
If Equipped ......................... .306
 AUTOSTICK® — IF EQUIPPED ............314
▫ Operation .......................... .314
 DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES .........316
▫ Acceleration ........................ .316
▫ Traction ........................... .316
5

DRIVING THROUGH WATER .............317
▫ Flowing/Rising Water ..................317
▫ Shallow Standing Water .................317
 POWER STEERING .....................319
▫ Power Steering Fluid Check ..............319
 PARKING BRAKE ..................... .320
 ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) .........322
 ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM . . . .325
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ............325
▫ Traction Control System (TCS) ............326
▫ Brake Assist System (BAS) ...............326
▫ Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ..........327▫
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
 TIRES — GENERAL INFORMATION ........342
▫ Tire Pressure ....................... .342
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures .................343
▫ Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation . . . .344
▫ Radial Ply Tires ..................... .345
▫ Tire Types .......................... .346
288 STARTING AND OPERATING

▫Run Flat Tires — If Equipped .............347
▫ Spare Tires — If Equipped ...............348
▫ Tire Spinning ....................... .350
▫ Tread Wear Indicators ..................350
▫ Life Of Tire ........................ .351
▫ Replacement Tires .....................352
 TIRE CHAINS (TRACTION DEVICES) .......353
 TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS .....354
 TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM (TPMS) . .355
▫ Base System ........................ .357
▫ Premium System — If Equipped ...........360
▫ General Information ...................363
 FUEL REQUIREMENTS ..................364 ▫
Reformulated Gasoline .................364
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ..............365
▫ E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles .......365
▫ MMT In Gasoline .....................366
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ................366
▫ Fuel System Cautions ...................366
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings .............367
 FLEXIBLE FUEL (3.6L ENGINE ONLY) —
IF EQUIPPED ........................ .368
▫ E-85 General Information ...............368
▫ Ethanol Fuel (E-85) ....................369
▫ Fuel Requirements ....................369
▫ Selection Of Engine Oil For Flexible Fuel
Vehicles (E-85) And Gasoline Vehicles .......370
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STARTING AND OPERATING 289

▫Starting ........................... .371
▫ Cruising Range ...................... .371
▫ Replacement Parts ....................371
▫ Maintenance ....................... .371
 ADDING FUEL ....................... .372
▫ Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap) ...............372
▫ Loose Filler Cap Message ...............374
 VEHICLE LOADING ....................375
▫ Vehicle Certification Label ...............375
▫ Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) .......375
▫ Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) .........375
▫ Overloading ........................ .376
▫ Loading ........................... .376
TRAILER TOWING .....................376
▫ Common Towing Definitions .............377
▫ Trailer Hitch Classification ...............379
▫ Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer
Weight Ratings) ..................... .380
▫ Trailer And Tongue Weight ..............381
▫ Towing Requirements ..................382
▫ Towing Tips ........................ .387
 RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.) ...................389
▫ Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle . .389
▫ Recreational Towing — All Models .........390
290 STARTING AND OPERATING

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. 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. 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.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 291

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.
Normal Starting
NOTE: Normal starting of either a cold or a warm
engine is obtained without pumping or pressing the
accelerator pedal. For Vehicles Not Equipped With Tip Start (Four-Speed
Transmission),
turn the ignition switch to the START
position and release it when the engine starts. If the
engine fails to start within 10 seconds, turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then
repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.
For Vehicles Equipped With Tip Start (Six-Speed Trans-
mission), 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 auto-
matically when the engine is running. 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 seconds, then repeat the
“Normal Starting” procedure.
292 STARTING AND OPERATING

Extreme Cold Weather (Below –20°F Or 29°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
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.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•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 a booster
battery or the battery in another vehicle. This type
of start can be dangerous if done improperly. Refer
to “Jump Starting” in “What To Do In Emergen-
cies” for further information.
Without Tip 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
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STARTING AND OPERATING 293

the way to the floor and hold it there while cranking the
engine. This should clear any excess fuel in case the
engine is flooded.
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.
If the engine is flooded, it may start to run, but not have
enough power to continue running when the key is
released. If this occurs, continue cranking up to 15
seconds with the accelerator pedal pushed all the way to
the floor.
If the engine shows no sign of starting after two 15-
second periods of cranking with the accelerator pedal
held to the floor, repeat the “Normal Starting” or “Ex-
treme Cold Weather” procedures.
With Tip Start
If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
“Normal Starting” or “Extreme Cold Weather” proce-
dures, it may be flooded. To clear any excess fuel, push
the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and hold it.
Then, turn the ignition switch to the START position and
release it as soon as the starter engages. The starter motor
will disengage automatically in 10 seconds. Once this
occurs, release the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then
repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.
CAUTION!
To prevent damage to the starter, wait 10 to 15
seconds before trying again.
294 STARTING AND OPERATING