2015 DODGE CHARGER traction control

Traction•SPORT
Press the “SPORT” button on the touchscreen to turn off
traction control and reduce stability control.
•NORMAL
Press the “NORM” button on the touchscreen to provide
full traction control and full stability control.
Traction Control
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UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 347

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
!STARTING PROCEDURES................393
▫Automatic Transmission................393
▫Keyless Enter-N-Go™..................394
▫Normal Starting.......................394
▫Extreme Cold Weather (Below –20°F Or
−29°C).............................396
▫If Engine Fails To Start.................396
▫After Starting........................398
!ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED . . .398
!AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION............398
▫Key Ignition Park Interlock...............400
▫Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . .400
▫Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission.......401
!AUTOSTICK..........................408
▫Operation...........................408
!SPORT MODE — WITHOUT PERFORMANCE
CONTROL............................411
!ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) — IF EQUIPPED . .411
!DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES.........412
▫Acceleration.........................412
▫Traction............................413
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!DRIVING THROUGH WATER.............414
▫Flowing/Rising Water..................414
▫Shallow Standing Water.................414
!ELECTRIC POWER STEERING.............416
!FUEL SAVER TECHNOLOGY 5.7L ENGINE
ONLY — IF EQUIPPED..................417
!PARKING BRAKE......................418
!BRAKE SYSTEM.......................420
!ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM . . . .421
▫Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)............421
▫Traction Control System (TCS)............423
▫Brake Assist System (BAS)...............424
▫Electronic Stability Control (ESC)..........425
▫Hill Start Assist (HSA).................428
▫Ready Alert Braking...................430
▫Rain Brake Support....................430
▫ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light And
ESC OFF Indicator Light................431
▫Synchronizing ESC....................432
!TIRE SAFETY INFORMATION.............432
▫Tire Markings........................432
▫Tire Identification Number (TIN)...........436
▫Tire Terminology And Definitions..........437
▫Tire Loading And Tire Pressure...........439
!TIRES — GENERAL INFORMATION........444
▫Tire Pressure........................444
▫Tire Inflation Pressures.................446
▫Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation . . . .447
390 STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING!
Do not downshift for additional engine braking on a
slippery surface. The drive wheels could lose their
grip and the vehicle could skid, causing a collision or
personal injury.
SPORT MODE — WITHOUT PERFORMANCE
CONTROL
Your vehicle is equipped with a Sport Mode feature. This
mode is a configuration set up for typical enthusiast
driving. The engine, transmission, and steering systems
are all set to their SPORT settings. Sport Mode will
provide improved throttle response and modified shift-
ing for an enhanced driving experience, as well the
greatest amount of steering feel. This mode may be
activated and deactivated by pressing the Sport button
on the instrument panel switch bank.
For vehicles equipped with Drive Modes, Refer to “Per-
formance Control — If Equipped” within “Uconnect
Settings” in “Understanding Your Instrument Panel”
chapter for further information.
ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) — IF EQUIPPED
This vehicle is equipped with an active on-demand
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system which makes available
optimum traction for a wide variety of road surface and
driving conditions. The system minimizes wheel slip by
automatically redirecting torque to the front and rear
wheels as necessary.
To maximize fuel economy, your AWD vehicle automati-
cally defaults to rear-wheel drive (RWD) when road and
environmental conditions are such that wheel slip is
unlikely to occur. When specific road and environmental
conditions require increased levels of road traction, the
vehicle automatically shifts into AWD mode. Automatic
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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:
•Slow down during rainstorms or when the roads are
slushy.
•Slow down if the road has standing water or puddles.
•Replace tires when tread wear indicators first become
visible.
•Keep tires properly inflated.
•Maintain sufficient distance between your vehicle and
the vehicle in front of you to avoid a collision in a
sudden stop.
Your vehicle may be equipped with a Limited Slip
Differential (LSD) that reduces, but does not eliminate,
the amount of wheel slip across a given axle for im-
proved handling.
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In the event power assist is lost for any reason (for
example, repeated brake applications with the engine
OFF) the brakes will still function. The effort required to
brake the vehicle will be much greater than that required
with the power system operating.
NOTE:Your vehicle is equipped with a high perfor-
mance braking system. The brake pads are a semi-
metallic compound, which offer superior fade resistance
for consistent operation. A compromise to using this type
of brake pad is that the brakes may produce more brake
dust and may squeal slightly under certain weather and
operating conditions (.i.e., during light brake applica-
tions) this is considered normal conditions.
ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with an advanced electronic
brake control system that include Anti-Lock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS), Traction Control System (TCS), Brake Assist
System (BAS), and the Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
All four of these systems work together to enhance
vehicle stability and control in various driving condi-
tions.
Also, your vehicle may be equipped with Hill Start Assist
(HSA), Ready Alert Braking, and Rain Brake Support.
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) provides increased
vehicle stability and brake performance under most
braking conditions. The system automatically “pumps”
the brakes during severe braking conditions to prevent
wheel lock-up.
The Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) prevents
the rear wheels from over-braking and provides greater
control of available braking forces applied to the rear
axle.
When the vehicle is driven over 7 mph (11 km/h), you
may also hear a slight clicking sound as well as some
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WARNING!(Continued)
•The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws of phys-
ics from acting on the vehicle, nor can it increase
braking or steering efficiency beyond that afforded
by the condition of the vehicle brakes and tires or
the traction afforded.
•The ABS cannot prevent collisions, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, following
another vehicle too closely, or hydroplaning.
•The capabilities of an ABS equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or dangerous
manner that could jeopardize the user’s safety or
the safety of others.
All vehicle wheels and tires must be the same size and
type and tires must be properly inflated to produce
accurate signals for the computer.
Traction Control System (TCS)
This system monitors the amount of wheel spin of each
driven wheel. If wheel spin is detected, brake pressure is
applied to the slipping wheel(s) and engine power is
reduced to provide enhanced acceleration and stability.
A feature of the TCS system, Brake Limited Differential
(BLD), controls the wheel spin across a driven axle. If one
wheel on a driven axle is spinning faster than the other,
the system will apply the brake of the spinning wheel.
This will allow more engine torque to be applied to the
wheel that is not spinning. This feature remains active
even if TCS and ESC are in the “Sport Mode (Partial Off)”
or#Track Mode (Full Off)#mode. Refer to “Electronic
Stability Control (ESC)” in this section for more informa-
tion.
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Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
This system enhances directional control and stability of
the vehicle under various driving conditions. The ESC
corrects for oversteering and understeering the vehicle
by applying the brake of the appropriate wheel. Engine
power may also be reduced to assist in counteracting the
condition of oversteer or understeer and help the vehicle
maintain the desired path.
The ESC uses sensors in the vehicle to determine the path
that the driver intends to steer the vehicle and compares
it to the actual path of the vehicle. When the actual path
does not match the intended path, the ESC applies the
brake of the appropriate wheel to assist in counteracting
the condition of oversteer or understeer.
•Oversteer - when the vehicle is turning more than
appropriate for the steering wheel position.
•Understeer - when the vehicle is turning less than
appropriate for the steering wheel position.
WARNING!
The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) cannot pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting on the
vehicle, nor can it increase the traction afforded by
prevailing road conditions. ESC cannot prevent all
accidents, including those resulting from excessive
speed in turns, driving on very slippery surfaces, or
hydroplaning. ESC also cannot prevent collisions
resulting from loss of vehicle control due to inappro-
priate driver input for the conditions. Only a safe,
attentive, and skillful driver can prevent accidents.
The capabilities of an ESC equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or dangerous manner
which could jeopardize the user ’s safety or the safety
of others.
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