2016 DODGE DART transmission

The following indicators should be used to ensure that you
have engaged the transmission into the PARK position:
•When shifting into PARK, press the lock button on the
shift lever and firmly move the lever all the way
forward until it stops and is fully seated.
• Look at the transmission gear position display and
verify that it indicates the PARK position (P).
• With brake pedal released, verify that the shift lever
will not move out of PARK.
REVERSE (R)
This range is for moving the vehicle backward. Shift
into REVERSE only after the vehicle has come to a
complete stop.
NEUTRAL (N)
Use this range when the vehicle is standing for prolonged
periods with the engine running. The engine may be started in this range. Apply the parking brake and shift
the transmission into PARK if you must leave the vehicle.
WARNING!
Do not coast in NEUTRAL and never turn off the
ignition to coast down a hill. These are unsafe
practices that limit your response to changing traffic
or road conditions. You might lose control of the
vehicle and have a collision.
DRIVE (D)
This range should be used for most city and highway
driving. It provides the smoothest upshifts and down-
shifts, and the best fuel economy. The transmission
automatically upshifts through all forward gears. The
DRIVE position provides optimum driving characteris-
tics under all normal operating conditions.
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To maximize fuel economy, the Dual Dry Clutch trans-
mission uses a geartrain arrangement similar to a manual
transmission. Therefore, you should become familiar
with some of the normal operational characteristics of
this transmission:
•During low-speed driving conditions in first gear,
vehicle momentum changes may feel exaggerated in
response to changes in accelerator pedal position. This
behavior is normal and is similar to vehicles equipped
with a manual transmission.
• At low speeds you may hear mechanical noises similar
to a manual transmission as the transmission changes
gears. These noises are normal and will not damage
the transmission.
• Very aggressive driving may result in some clutch
odor similar to a manual transmission. An active
warning message will display in the Instrument Clus-
ter if cool down actions are needed. •
When stopped on an incline, always use the brakes to
hold the vehicle in place. On steep inclines, Hill Start
Assist (HSA) will temporarily hold the car in position
when the brake pedal is released. If the accelerator
pedal is not applied after a short time, the car will roll
back. Either reapply the brake (to hold the vehicle) or
press the accelerator to climb the hill.
• Before and after the engine is started, you may hear a
hydraulic pump for a short period of time. This noise
is normal and will not damage the transmission.
When frequent transmission shifting occurs (such as
when operating the vehicle under heavy loading condi-
tions, in hilly terrain, or traveling into strong head
winds), use the AutoStick shift control (refer to
“AutoStick” in this section for further information) to
select a lower gear. Under these conditions, using a lower
gear will improve performance and extend transmission
life by reducing excessive shifting and heat buildup.
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During extremely cold temperatures, the transmission
will not operate if the oil temperature is -22°F (-30°C) or
below. Allow the engine to idle briefly with the transmis-
sion in PARK in order to warm the fluid. Normal
operation will resume once the transmission temperature
has risen to a suitable level.Instrument Cluster Messages
Messages will be displayed in the instrument cluster to
alert the driver when certain unusual conditions occur.
These messages are described below.
MESSAGE
DESCRIPTION
GEAR NOT AVAILABLE In AutoStick mode, the gear selected by the driver is not available due to a fault condition. See your authorized dealer for diagnosis and service.
SHIFT NOT ALLOWED The gear position requested by the driver is currently blocked. This oc- curs if: REVERSE is requested while moving (at 6 mph [10 km/h] orfaster), if DRIVE is requested while moving backwards (at 6 mph
[10 km/h] or faster), or if (in AutoStick mode) a DOWNSHIFT is re-
quested while in 1st gear, 3rd gear or higher is requested at a stop, or a
requested shift would cause engine lugging or overspeed. Make sure the vehicle is stopped before engaging DRIVE or REVERSE.
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MESSAGEDESCRIPTION
SHIFT TO NEUTRAL – THEN DorR The transmission has shifted itself into NEUTRAL (due to a fault condi-
tion, or overheat due to excessive idling when stopped in DRIVE with
the brakes released), but the shift lever remains in gear. Shift into NEU-
TRAL and then back into gear for continued driving. If the transmission will not re-engage, see your authorized dealer.
AUTOSTICK NOT AVAILABLE AutoStick mode is unavailable due to a shift lever fault. See your autho- rized dealer for diagnosis and service.
AUTOMATIC MODE NOT AVAILABLE The transmission is unable to shift itself automatically, due to a fault con-
dition. Use the AutoStick mode to shift the transmission manually. See your authorized dealer for diagnosis and service.
REDUCE GEAR CHANGES The transmission pump is overheating. In AutoStick mode, try to drive in one specific gear as much as possible, avoiding frequent gear changes. InDRIVE, the transmission will automatically modify its shift schedule to reduce the number of shifts.
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MESSAGEDESCRIPTION
TRANS. GETTING HOT PRESS BRAKE The transmission driving clutch is overheating, usually due to repeated
launches in stop-and-go traffic. Pull over and allow the transmission to cool in NEUTRAL until “TRANS. COOL READY TO DRIVE” is dis- played.
TRANS. HOT STOP SAFELY SHIFT TO P The transmission driving clutch has overheated. Pull over, shift the trans-
mission into PARK, and allow the vehicle to cool until “TRANS. COOL READY TO DRIVE” is displayed.
SERVICE TRANSMISSION A transmission fault has been detected. See your authorized dealer for diagnosis and service.
SERVICE SHIFTER A shift lever fault has been detected. See your authorized dealer for diag-
nosis and service.
ENGAGE PARK BRAKE The sensor that confirms PARK engagement is not functioning properly. Engage the parking brake to ensure that the vehicle will not roll when inPARK.
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Transmission Limp Home Mode
Transmission function is monitored electronically for
abnormal conditions. If a condition is detected that could
result in transmission damage, Transmission Limp Home
Mode is activated. In this mode, some gears will be
unavailable. The transmission will operate only in a
certain select set of gears (such as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and
Reverse, or 1st, 3rd, 5th, and Reverse, or 2nd, 4th, and 6th
[with no Reverse]). PARK and NEUTRAL will continue
to be available. The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
may be illuminated. Limp Home Mode allows the vehicle
to be driven to an authorized dealer for service without
damaging the transmission.
In the event of a momentary problem, the transmission
can be reset to regain all forward gears by performing the
following steps:
1. Stop the vehicle.2. Shift the transmission into PARK.
3. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position.
4. Wait approximately 10 seconds.
5. Restart the engine.
6. Shift into the desired gear range. If the problem is no
longer detected, the transmission will return to normal
operation.
NOTE: Even if the transmission can be reset, we recom-
mend that you visit your authorized dealer at your
earliest possible convenience. Your authorized dealer has
diagnostic equipment to determine if the problem could
recur.
If the transmission cannot be reset, authorized dealer
service is required.
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Six-Speed Automatic Transmission (2.0L And
2.4L Engine Only — 6F24)
The transmission gear position display (located in the
instrument panel cluster) indicates the transmission gear
range. You must press the brake pedal and the lock
button on the shift lever to move the shift lever out of
PARK (refer to “Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock Sys-
tem” in this section). To drive, push the lock button on
the front of the shift lever and move the shift lever from
PARK or NEUTRAL to the DRIVE position.
The electronically-controlled transmission provides a
precise shift schedule. The transmission electronics are
self-calibrating; therefore, the first few shifts on a new
vehicle may be somewhat abrupt. This is a normal
condition, and precision shifts will develop within a few
hundred miles (kilometers).Only shift from DRIVE to PARK or REVERSE when the
accelerator pedal is released and the vehicle is stopped.
Be sure to keep your foot on the brake pedal when
shifting between these gears.
The transmission shift lever has PARK, REVERSE, NEU-
TRAL, DRIVE, and AutoStick (+/-) shift positions.
Manual shifts can be made using the AutoStick shift
control (refer to “AutoStick” in this section for further
information). Toggling the shift lever rearward (+) or
forward (-) while in the AutoStick position (beside the
DRIVE position) will manually select the transmission
gear, and will display the current gear in the instrument
cluster as 1, 2, 3, etc.
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NOTE:If the shift lever cannot be moved to the PARK,
REVERSE, or NEUTRAL position (when pushed for-
ward) it is probably in the AutoStick (+/-) position
(beside the DRIVE position). In AutoStick mode, the
transmission gear (1, 2, 3, etc.) is displayed in the
instrument cluster. Move the shift lever to the right (into
the DRIVE [D] position) for access to PARK, REVERSE,
and NEUTRAL.
Gear Ranges
DO NOT race the engine when shifting from PARK or
NEUTRAL into another gear range.
NOTE: After selecting any gear range, wait a moment to
allow the selected gear to engage before accelerating.
This is especially important when the engine is cold.
PARK (P)
This range supplements the parking brake by locking the
transmission. The engine can be started in this range. Never attempt to use PARK while the vehicle is in
motion. Apply the parking brake when leaving the
vehicle in this range.
When parking on a level surface, you may shift the
transmission into PARK first, and then apply the parking
brake.
When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake before
shifting the transmission to PARK, otherwise the load on
the transmission locking mechanism may make it difficult
to move the shift lever out of PARK. As an added precau-
tion, turn the front wheels toward the curb on a downhill
grade and away from the curb on an uphill grade.
WARNING!
•
Never use the PARK position as a substitute for the
parking brake. Always apply the parking brake
(Continued)
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