2014 DODGE DART ABS

•For vehicles not equipped with Keyless Enter-N-
Go™, insert a valid key into the ignition switch and
turn the key to the ON position.
NOTE:
• The driver’s door key cylinder and the liftgate button
on the RKE transmitter cannot arm or disarm the
Vehicle Security Alarm.
• The Vehicle Security Alarm remains armed during
power liftgate entry. Pushing the liftgate button will
not disarm the Vehicle Security Alarm. If someone
enters the vehicle through the liftgate and opens any
door the alarm will sound.
• When the Vehicle Security Alarm is armed, the interior
power door lock switches will not unlock the doors.
The Vehicle Security Alarm is designed to protect your
vehicle; however, you can create conditions where the system will give you a false alarm. If one of the previ-
ously described arming sequences has occurred, the
Vehicle Security Alarm will arm regardless of whether
you are in the vehicle or not. If you remain in the vehicle
and open a door, the alarm will sound. If this occurs,
disarm the Vehicle Security Alarm.
If the Vehicle Security Alarm is armed and the battery
becomes disconnected, the Vehicle Security Alarm will
remain armed when the battery is reconnected; the
exterior lights will flash, the horn will sound. If this
occurs, disarm the Vehicle Security Alarm.
Tamper Alert
If something has triggered the Vehicle Security Alarm in
your absence, the horn will sound three times and the
exterior lights blink three times when you unlock the
doors. Check the vehicle for tampering.
22 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Trunk Emergency Release
As a security measure, a trunk internal emergency release
lever is built into the trunk latching mechanism. In the event
of an individual being locked inside the trunk, the trunk can
be simply opened by pulling on the glow-in-the-dark handle
attached to the trunk latching mechanism.
OCCUPANT RESTRAINTS
Some of the most important safety features in your
vehicle are the restraint systems:
•Three-point lap and shoulder belts for the driver and
all passengers
•
Advanced Front Air Bags for driver and front passenger
• An energy-absorbing steering column and steering
wheel
• Supplemental Side Air Bag Inflatable Curtains (SABIC)
for the driver and passengers seated next to a window
• Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags (SAB)
•
Supplemental Driver Side and Passenger Knee Airbags
• Knee bolsters/blockers for front seat occupant
Trunk Emergency Release
2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 47

Knee Impact Bolsters
The Knee Impact Bolsters help protect the knees of the
driver and front passenger, and position the front occu-
pants for the best interaction with the Advanced Front
Air Bags.
Along with seat belts and pretensioners, Advanced Front
Air Bags work with the Supplemental Driver and Pas-
senger Side Knee Air Bags and the knee bolsters to
provide improved protection for the driver and front
passenger. Side air bags also work with seat belts to
improve occupant protection.
Air Bag Deployment Sensors And Controls
Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
The ORC is part of a Federally regulated safety system
required for this vehicle.
The ORC determines if deployment of the front and/or
side air bags in a frontal or side collision is required.Based on the impact sensor’s signals, a central electronic
ORC deploys the Advanced Front Air Bags, SABIC air
bags, SABs, Supplemental Driver Side Knee Air Bag,
Supplemental Passenger Side Knee Air Bag, and front
seat belt pretensioners, as required, depending on several
factors, including the severity and type of impact.
Advanced Front Air Bags and Supplemental Driver and
Front Passenger Knee Air Bags are designed to provide
additional protection by supplementing the seat belts in
certain frontal collisions depending on several factors,
including the severity and type of collision. Advanced
Front Air Bags and Supplemental Driver and Front
Passenger Knee Air Bags are not expected to reduce the
risk of injury in rear, side, or rollover collisions.The Advanced Front Air Bags and Supplemental Driver and
Front Passenger Knee Air Bags will not deploy in all frontal
collisions, including some that may produce substantial
vehicle damage — for example, some pole collisions, truck
2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 67

Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bag (SAB)
Inflator Units
The Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags (SAB) are
designed to activate only in certain side collisions.
The ORC determines if a side collision requires the side
air bags to inflate, based the severity and type of colli-
sion.
Based on the severity and type of collision, the side air
bag inflators on the crash side of the vehicle may be
triggered, releasing a quantity of non-toxic gas. The
inflating SABs exit through the seat seam into the space
between the occupant and the door. The SABs fully
inflate in about 10 milliseconds. The side air bag moves at
a very high speed and with such a high force that it could
injure you if you are not seated properly, or if items are
positioned in the area where the side air bag inflates. This
especially applies to children.
Supplemental Side Air Bag Inflatable Curtain
(SABIC) Inflator Units
During collisions where the impact is confined to a
particular area of the side of the vehicle, the ORC may
deploy the SABIC air bags, depending on the severity
and type of collision. In these events, the ORC will
deploy the SABIC only on the impact side of the vehicle.
A quantity of non-toxic gas is generated to inflate the side
curtain air bag. The inflating side curtain air bag pushes
the outside edge of the headliner out of the way and
covers the window. The air bag inflates in about 30 mil-
liseconds (about one-quarter of the time that it takes to
blink your eyes) with enough force to injure you if you
are not belted and seated properly, or if items are
positioned in the area where the side curtain air bag
inflates. This especially applies to children. The side
curtain air bag is only about 4 inches (10.16 cm) thick
when it is inflated.
2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 79

10. Brake Warning LightThis light monitors various brake functions,
including brake fluid level and parking brake
application. If the brake light turns on it may
indicate that the parking brake is applied, that
the brake fluid level is low, or that there is a problem with
the anti-lock brake system reservoir.
If the light remains on when the parking brake has been
disengaged, and the fluid level is at the full mark on the
master cylinder reservoir, it indicates a possible brake
hydraulic system malfunction or that a problem with the
Brake Booster has been detected by the Anti-Lock Brake
System (ABS)/Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system.
In this case, the light will remain on until the condition
has been corrected. If the problem is related to the brake
booster, the ABS pump will run when applying the brake
and a brake pedal pulsation may be felt during each stop. The dual brake system provides a reserve braking capac-
ity in the event of a failure to a portion of the hydraulic
system. A leak in either half of the dual brake system is
indicated by the Brake Warning Light, which will turn on
when the brake fluid level in the master cylinder has
dropped below a specified level.
The light will remain on until the cause is corrected.
NOTE:
The light may flash momentarily during sharp
cornering maneuvers, which change fluid level condi-
tions. The vehicle should have service performed, and
the brake fluid level checked.
If brake failure is indicated, immediate repair is neces-
sary.
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 313

WARNING!
Driving a vehicle with the red brake light on is
dangerous. Part of the brake system may have failed.
It will take longer to stop the vehicle. You could have
a collision. Have the vehicle checked immediately.
Vehicles equipped with the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS), are also equipped with Electronic Brake Force
Distribution (EBD). In the event of an EBD failure, the
Brake Warning Light will turn on along with the ABS
Light. Immediate repair to the ABS system is required.
Operation of the Brake Warning Light can be checked by
turning the ignition switch from the OFF position to the
ON/RUN position. The light should illuminate for ap-
proximately two seconds. The light should then turn off
unless the parking brake is applied or a brake fault is
detected. If the light does not illuminate, have the light
inspected by an authorized dealer. The light also will turn on when the parking brake is
applied with the ignition is placed in the ON/RUN
position.
NOTE:
This light shows only that the parking brake is
applied. It does not show the degree of brake application.
11. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) OFF Indicator
Light — If Equipped
This light indicates the Electronic Stability Con-
trol (ESC) is off.
12. Fuel Gauge
The pointer shows the level of fuel in the fuel tank when
the ignition is in the ON/RUN position.
13. Speedometer
Indicates vehicle speed.
314 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

24. Oil Pressure Warning Light
This light indicates low engine oil pressure. The
light should turn on momentarily when the engine is
started. If the light turns on while driving, stop the vehicle
and shut off the engine as soon as possible. A chime will
sound for four minutes when this light turns on.
Do not operate the vehicle until the cause is corrected.
This light does not indicate how much oil is in the engine.
The engine oil level must be checked under the hood.
25. Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) Light
This light monitors the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS). The light will turn on when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON/RUN position and
may stay on for as long as four seconds.
If the ABS light remains on or turns on while driving, it
indicates that the Anti-Lock portion of the brake system
is not functioning and that service is required. However, the conventional brake system will continue to operate
normally if the BRAKE warning light is not on.
If the ABS light is on, the brake system should be serviced
as soon as possible to restore the benefits of Anti-Lock
brakes. If the ABS light does not turn on when the
ignition switch is placed in the ON/RUN position, have
the light inspected by an authorized dealer.
26. 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 placing the
ignition in ON/RUN from the OFF 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.
318 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

▫Six-Speed Automatic Transmission
(2.0L And 2.4L Engine Only — 6F24) ........430
 AUTOSTICK® ........................ .437
▫ Operation .......................... .437
 DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES .........439
▫ Acceleration ........................ .439
▫ Traction ............................440
 DRIVING THROUGH WATER .............440
▫ Flowing/Rising Water ..................440
▫ Shallow Standing Water .................441
 PARKING BRAKE ..................... .442
 POWER STEERING .....................445 
ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM . . . .446
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ............446
▫ Brake Assist System (BAS) ...............449
▫ Traction Control System (TCS) ............449
▫ Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) ..........450
▫ Trailer Sway Control (TSC) ..............451
▫ Hill Start Assist (HSA) .................451
▫ Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ..........455
 TIRE SAFETY INFORMATION .............458
▫ Tire Markings ........................458
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ...........461
▫ Tire Terminology And Definitions ..........463
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure ...........464
406 STARTING AND OPERATING