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 proper 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 (if
equipped), or brake fluid leaks are suspected. The cause
should be located and corrected immediately.
2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 95
warm vehicle should be 200 F - 230 F which indicates that
the engine cooling system is operating satisfactorily.
The gauge pointer will likely indicate a higher tempera-
ture when driving in hot weather, up mountain grades,
or when towing a trailer. It should not be allowed to
exceed the upper limits of the normal operating range.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot engine cooling system could
damage your vehicle. If the temperature gauge reads
“H,” pull over and stop the vehicle. Idle the vehicle
with the air conditioner turned off until the pointer
drops back into the normal range. If the pointer
remains on the “H,” and you hear a chime, turn the
engine OFF immediately and call for service.
WARNING!
A hot engine cooling system is dangerous. You or
others could be badly burned by steam or boiling
coolant. You may want to call a service center if your
vehicle overheats. If you decide to look under the
hood yourself, refer to “Maintaining Your Vehicle”
and follow the warnings under the Cooling System
Pressure Cap paragraph.
17. Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light 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
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 227
vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label, you should
determine the proper tire inflation pressure for those
tires).
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.
228 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. Using aftermarket tire sealants may
cause the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
sensor to become inoperable. After using an after-
market tire sealant it is recommended that you take
your vehicle to an authorized dealership to have your
sensor function checked.18. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) OFF Indicator
Light — If Equipped
This light indicates the Electronic Stability Con-
trol (ESC) is off.
With Drive Modes the ESC OFF indicator will
be lit any time the Traction modes is set to Sport, Track or
Full OFF.
19. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Activation/
Malfunction Indicator Light — If Equipped
The “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator
Light” in the instrument cluster will come on
when the ignition switch is turned to the
ON/RUN position. It should go out with the
engine running. If the “ESC Activation/Malfunction In-
dicator Light” comes on continuously with the engine
running, a malfunction has been detected in the ESC
system. If this light remains on after several ignition
cycles, and the vehicle has been driven several miles
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 229
Vehicle Info
Push and release the UP or DOWN arrow button until
the Vehicle Info menu is highlighted in the DID. Push and
release the RIGHT arrow buttons to enter the submenu
items of Vehicle Info. Follow the directional prompts to
access or reset any of the following Vehicle Info submenu
items:
Tire Pressure Monitor
Coolant Temp
Trans Temp
Oil Temp
Oil Pressure
Oil Life
Battery Voltage
Intake Air TempEngine Torque
Engine Power
Air-Fuel Ratio — 6.2L Supercharged
Boost Pressure — 6.2L Supercharged
Intercooler Water Temp — 6.2L Supercharged
Performance Features
WARNING!
Measurement of vehicle statistics with the Perfor-
mance Features is intended for off-highway or off-
road use only and should not be done on any public
roadways. It is recommended that these features be
used in a controlled environment and within the
limits of the law. The capabilities of the vehicle as
measured by the performance pages must never be
(Continued)
240 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
At the conclusion of each track event, it is recommended
that a brake bleed procedure be performed to maintain
the pedal feel and stopping capability of your Brembo
High Performance brake system.
It is recommended that each track outing end with a
minimum of one cool down lap using minimal braking.
Change the differential and manual transmission fluid
after every five hours of track use. Refer to “Maintaining
Your Vehicle” for fluid levels & specifications.
If equipped with a removable lower front fascia grille, it
is recommended to remove it for track use during
warm/hot weather to improve cooling airflow to critical
powertrain and cooling system components.All SRT vehicles are track tested for 24 hours of endur-
ance, however, it is recommended that the suspension
system, brake system, prop shaft, and half shaft boots
should be inspected for wear or damage after every track
event.
Track usage results in increased operating temperatures
of the engine, transmission, clutch, driveline and brake
system. This increased operating temperature may affect
Noise Vibration Harshness (NVH) countermeasures de-
signed into your vehicle. New components may need to
be installed to return the system to the original NVH
performance.
Recommended tire pressure for track use:
•
Challenger/Charger: 40 psi hot, 32 psi front, 30 psi rear
cold
272 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
▫ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light And
ESC OFF Indicator Light ................395
▫ Synchronizing ESC ....................396
TIRE SAFETY INFORMATION .............397
▫ Tire Markings ....................... .397
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ...........400
▫ Tire Terminology And Definitions ..........402
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure ...........403
TIRES — GENERAL INFORMATION ........408
▫ Tire Pressure ....................... .408
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures .................409
▫ Radial Ply Tires ......................411
▫ All Season Tires — If Equipped ............412▫Summer Or Three Season Tires — If Equipped. .412
▫
Snow Tires ......................... .413
▫ Tire Spinning ....................... .413
▫ Tread Wear Indicators ..................414
▫ Life Of Tire ........................ .415
▫ Replacement Tires .....................415
TIRE CHAINS (TRACTION DEVICES) .......417
TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS .....417
▫ Tire Rotation — Same Tire Size On Front And
Rear Axle .......................... .418
▫ Tire Rotation — Different Tire Size On Front And
Rear Axle .......................... .418
TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM (TPMS) . .419
▫ Premium System ..................... .421
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 339
•If equipped with a removable lower front fascia grille,
it is recommended to remove it for track use during
warm/hot weather to improve cooling airflow to
critical powertrain and cooling system components.
• All SRT vehicles are track tested for 24 hours of
endurance, however, it is recommended that suspen-
sion system, brake system, prop shaft, and ½ shaft
boots should be checked for wear or damage after
every track event.
• Track usage results in increased operating tempera-
tures of the engine, transmission, clutch – if equipped,
driveline and brake system. This may affect noise
(NVH) countermeasures designed into your vehicle.
New components may need to be installed to return
the system to the original NVH performance.
• Tire pressure:
• 40psi hot, recommend 32psi front, 30psi rear cold NOTE:
It is recommended that you target 40psi Hot Tire
Pressure at the conclusion of each track session. Starting
at 32psi Front & 30psi Rear Cold and adjusting based on
ambient & track conditions is recommended. Tire pres-
sure can be monitored via the Driver Information Display
(DID) and can assist with adjustments.
Track burnishing your brakes:
To avoid “green lining fade” during track use, the brake
pads and rotors must have a thermal burnish for factory
installed components or when new brake friction com-
ponents are installed:
1. Use one track session to burnish brakes by driving at 75% speed. Brake at approximately 0.60-0.80g max
without ABS intervention.
2. Lap the track in this manner until you start smelling the brakes. Continue for another ½ lap at speed, then
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 375