2015 DODGE DART Owners Manual

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
!STARTING PROCEDURES...............411
▫Manual Transmission — If Equipped.......411
▫Automatic Transmission — If Equipped.....412
▫Keyless Enter-N-Go™..................412
▫Normal Starting.......................412
▫Extreme Cold Weather (Below –20°F or
−29°C).............................414
▫Extended Park Starting..................414
▫If Engine Fails To Start.................415
▫After Starting........................416
▫Turbocharger “Cool Down” — If Equipped . . .416
!ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED . . .416
!MANUAL TRANSMISSION — IF EQUIPPED . .417
▫Shifting.............................418
▫Downshifting........................419
!AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION —
IF EQUIPPED.........................421
▫Key Ignition Park Interlock...............423
▫Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . .424
5

▫Six-Speed Automatic Transmission
(1.4L Turbo Engine Only — DDCT).........424
▫Six-Speed Automatic Transmission (2.0L And
2.4L Engine Only — 6F24)...............435
!AUTOSTICK®.........................443
▫Operation...........................443
!DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES.........445
▫Acceleration.........................445
▫Traction............................445
!DRIVING THROUGH WATER.............446
▫Flowing/Rising Water..................446
▫Shallow Standing Water.................446
!PARKING BRAKE......................448
!BRAKE SYSTEM.......................450
!POWER STEERING.....................451
!ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM . . . .452
▫Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)............453
▫Brake Assist System (BAS)...............455
▫Traction Control System (TCS)............456
▫Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM)..........456
▫Trailer Sway Control (TSC)..............457
▫Hill Start Assist (HSA).................458
▫Electronic Stability Control (ESC)..........461
!TIRE SAFETY INFORMATION.............465
▫Tire Markings........................465
▫Tire Identification Number (TIN)...........468
▫Tire Terminology And Definitions..........470
408 STARTING AND OPERATING

▫Tire Loading And Tire Pressure...........471
!TIRES — GENERAL INFORMATION........476
▫Tire Pressure........................476
▫Tire Inflation Pressures.................478
▫Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation . . . .479
▫Radial Ply Tires......................479
▫Tire Types...........................480
▫Run Flat Tires — If Equipped.............482
▫Spare Tires — If Equipped...............482
▫Tire Spinning........................485
▫Tread Wear Indicators..................485
▫Life Of Tire.........................486
▫Replacement Tires.....................487
!TIRE CHAINS (TRACTION DEVICES).......488
!TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS.....490
!TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM
(TPMS)..............................491
▫Base System.........................494
▫Premium System — If Equipped...........497
▫General Information...................500
!FUEL REQUIREMENTS..................500
▫1.4L Turbo Engine.....................500
▫2.0L And 2.4L Engine...................500
▫Reformulated Gasoline.................501
▫Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends..............501
▫E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles.......502
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STARTING AND OPERATING 409

▫MMT In Gasoline.....................503
▫Materials Added To Fuel................503
▫Fuel System Cautions...................503
▫Carbon Monoxide Warnings.............504
!ADDING FUEL........................505
▫Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap)...............505
!VEHICLE LOADING....................508
▫Vehicle Certification Label...............508
!TRAILER TOWING.....................510
▫Common Towing Definitions.............510
▫Trailer Hitch Classification...............513
▫Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer
Weight Ratings)......................514
▫Trailer And Tongue Weight..............515
▫Towing Requirements..................516
▫Towing Tips.........................521
!RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.)...................523
▫Towing This Vehicle Behind Another
Vehicle.............................523
410 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 the ignition of 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 411

•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. Depress the
brake pedal before shifting to any driving gear.
NOTE:You must press the brake pedal before shifting
out of PARK.
Keyless Enter-N-Go™
This feature allows the driver to oper-
ate the ignition switch with the push
of a button, as long as the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter is in
the passenger compartment.
Normal Starting
Using The ENGINE START/STOP Button
1. The transmission must be in PARK or NEUTRAL.
2. Press and hold the brake pedal while pushing the
ENGINE START/STOP button once.
412 STARTING AND OPERATING

3. The system takes over and attempts to start the
vehicle. If the vehicle fails to start, the starter will
disengage automatically after 10 seconds.
4. If you wish to stop the cranking of the engine prior to
the engine starting, push the button again.
NOTE:Normal starting of either a cold or a warm engine
is obtained without pumping or pressing the accelerator
pedal.
To Turn Off The Engine Using ENGINE
START/STOP Button
1. Place the shift lever/gear selector in PARK, then press
and release the ENGINE START/STOP button.
2. The ignition switch will return to the OFF position.
3. If the shift lever/gear selector is not in PARK, the
ENGINE START/STOP button must be held for two
seconds or three short presses in a row with the
vehicle speed 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/gear selector
is in PARK and the button is pressed twice to the OFF
position. If the shift lever/gear selector is not in PARK
and the ENGINE START/STOP button is pressed
once, the EVIC/DID 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.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 413

ENGINE START/STOP Button Functions — With
Driver ’s Foot OFF The Brake Pedal (In PARK Or
NEUTRAL Position)
The ENGINE START/STOP button operates similar to an
ignition switch. It has four positions, OFF, ACC, RUN
and START. To change the ignition positions without
starting the vehicle and use the accessories follow these
steps:
•Starting with the ignition in the OFF position,
•Press the ENGINE START/STOP button once to place
the ignition to the ACC position (EVIC/DID will
display “ACC”),
•Press the ENGINE START/STOP button a second time
to place the ignition to the RUN position (EVIC/DID
will display “ON/RUN”),
•Press the ENGINE START/STOP button a third time to
return the ignition to the OFF position (EVIC/DID will
display “OFF”).
Extreme Cold Weather (Below –20°F or−29°C)
To ensure reliable starting under extreme cold conditions
an externally powered electric block heater (available
from your authorized dealer) is required for the 1.4L
Turbo engine below -20°F (-29°C) and for the 2.4L engine
below -29°F (-34°C) and is recommended for the 2.0L
engine and 2.4L engine below -20°F (-29°C).
Extended Park Starting
NOTE:Extended Park condition occurs when the vehicle
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.
414 STARTING AND OPERATING