2017 DODGE CHALLENGER Owners Manual

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
STARTING PROCEDURES .................299
▫ Manual Transmission — If Equipped .........299
▫ Automatic Transmission — If Equipped ......299
▫ Keyless Enter-N-Go — Ignition .............300
▫ Normal Starting ....................... .300
▫ Extreme Cold Weather
(Below –22°F Or 30°C) ..................302
▫ If Engine Fails To Start ..................302
▫ After Starting ......................... .303
 ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED . . . .303
 MANUAL TRANSMISSION — IF EQUIPPED . . .304
▫ Six-Speed Manual Transmission .............304
▫ Shifting ............................. .305
▫ Recommended Shift Speeds ................306 ▫
1–4 Skip Shift ........................ .307
▫ Downshifting ......................... .307
 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION — IF EQUIPPED .308
▫ Ignition Park Interlock ...................309
▫ Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . . .309
▫ Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission .........309
 AUTOSTICK .......................... .315
▫ Operation ........................... .315
 SPORT MODE — WITHOUT PERFORMANCE
CONTROL ........................... .317
 ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) — IF EQUIPPED . . .318
 DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES ..........318
▫ Acceleration .......................... .318
▫ Traction ............................. .319
5

DRIVING THROUGH WATER ..............319
▫ Flowing/Rising Water ...................319
▫ Shallow Standing Water ..................320
 ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ..............321
 FUEL SAVER TECHNOLOGY 5.7L/6.4L ENGINES
ONLY — IF EQUIPPED ....................321
 PARKING BRAKE ...................... .322
▫ Manual Transmission — If Equipped .........322
▫ Automatic Transmission — If Equipped .......323
 BRAKE SYSTEM ....................... .324
 ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM .....324
▫ Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) ......325
▫ Brake System Warning Light ...............325
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) .............325
▫ Anti-Lock Brake Warning Light .............326
▫ Brake Assist System (BAS) ................327
▫ Hill Start Assist (HSA) ...................327 ▫
Traction Control System (TCS) .............329
▫ Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ...........330
▫ Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) ...........334
▫ Ready Alert Braking (RAB) ................334
▫ Rain Brake Support (RBS) .................334
 TIRE SAFETY INFORMATION ..............335
▫ Tire Markings ........................ .335
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ............338
▫ Tire Terminology And Definitions ...........339
▫ T
ire Loading And Tire Pressure ............340
 TIRES — GENERAL INFORMATION .........345
▫ Tire Pressure ......................... .345
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures ..................346
▫ Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation .....347
▫ Radial Ply Tires ....................... .347
▫ Tire Types ........................... .348
▫ Run Flat Tires — If Equipped ..............349
296 STARTING AND OPERATING

▫Spare Tires — If Equipped ................349
▫ Tire Spinning ........................ .352
▫ Tread Wear Indicators ...................352
▫ Life Of Tire .......................... .353
▫ Replacement Tires ..................... .353
 TIRE CHAINS (TRACTION DEVICES) .........354
 TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS ......355
 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNIFORM
TIRE QUALITY GRADES ..................356
▫ Treadwear ........................... .356
▫ Traction Grades ....................... .356
▫ Temperature Grades .....................357
 TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM (TPMS) . . .357
▫ Premium System ...................... .359
▫ TPMS Deactivation — If Equipped ...........362
▫ General Information .....................363 
FUEL REQUIREMENTS ...................363
▫ 3.6L Engine — If Equipped ................363
▫ 5.7L Engine (With Automatic Transmission) . . . .364
▫ 5.7L Engine (With Manual Transmission) ......364
▫ 6.4L Engine — If Equipped ................365
▫ Reformulated Gasoline ..................365
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ...............365
▫ E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles .........366
▫ CNG And LP Fuel System Modifications ......366
▫ MMT In Gasoline ...................... .366
▫ Materials Added To Fuel .................366
▫ Fuel

System Cautions ....................367
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings ...............368
 ADDING FUEL ........................ .368
▫ Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap) .................368
▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message .............369
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STARTING AND OPERATING 297

VEHICLE LOADING .....................370
▫ Vehicle Certification Label ................370
▫ Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) ........370
▫ Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) ..........370
▫ Overloading ......................... .370
▫ Loading ............................ .371
 TRAILER TOWING ..................... .371
▫ Common Towing Definitions ...............371
▫ Trailer Hitch Classification ................374 ▫
Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer
Weight Ratings) ...................... .374
▫ Trailer And Tongue Weight ...............375
▫ Towing Requirements ...................375
▫ Towing Tips ......................... .379
 RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.) ....................380
▫ Two-Wheel Drive And All-Wheel Drive .......380
298 STARTING AND OPERATING

STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust the
inside and outside mirrors, fasten your seat belt, and if
present, instruct all other occupants to buckle their seat
belts.
WARNING!
•When leaving the vehicle, always make sure the
keyless ignition node is in “OFF” mode, remove the
key fob from the vehicle and lock the vehicle.
• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Leaving children in a
vehicle unattended is dangerous for a number of
reasons. A child or others could be seriously or
fatally injured. Children should be warned not to
touch the parking brake, brake pedal or the trans-
mission gear selector.
• 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.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not leave children or animals inside parked
vehicles in hot weather. Interior heat build-up may
cause serious injury or death.
Manual Transmission — If Equipped
Apply the parking brake, place the gear selector in NEU-
TRAL and press the clutch pedal before starting vehicle.
This vehicle is equipped with a clutch interlocking ignition
system. It will not start unless the clutch pedal is pressed to
the floor.
Automatic Transmission — If Equipped
The gear selector must be in the NEUTRAL or PARK
position before you can start the engine. Apply the brakes
before shifting into any driving gear.
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the following
precautions are not observed:
•
Do not shift from REVERSE, PARK, or NEUTRAL into
any forward gear when the engine is above idle speed.
(Continued)
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 299

CAUTION!(Continued)
•Shift into PARK only after the vehicle has come to a
complete stop.
• Shift into or out of REVERSE only after the vehicle
has come to a complete stop and the engine is at idle
speed.
• Before shifting into any gear, make sure your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal.
Tip Start Feature
Cycle the ignition switch to START position and release it.
The starter motor will continue to run, and will automati-
cally disengage itself when the engine is running. If the
engine fails to start, the starter will disengage automati-
cally in 10 seconds. If this occurs, cycle the ignition switch
to the OFF position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the
“Normal Starting” procedure.
Keyless Enter-N-Go — Ignition
This feature allows the driver to operate
the ignition switch with the push of a
button, as long as the ENGINE START/
STOP button is installed and the Remote
Start/Keyless Enter-N-Go key fob is in
the passenger compartment.
Normal Starting
Using The ENGINE START/STOP Button —
Automatic Transmission Only
1. The transmission must be in PARK or NEUTRAL.
2. Press and hold the brake pedal while pushing the ENGINE START/STOP button once.
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.
300 STARTING AND OPERATING

Using The ENGINE START/STOP Button — Manual
Transmission Only
1. Press and hold the clutch pedal while pushing andholding the ENGINE START/STOP button.
2. Release the button when the engine starts. If the vehicle fails to start within 15 seconds, release the button, wait
10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the “Normal Starting”
procedure.
3. If you wish to stop the cranking of the engine prior to the engine starting, release the button.
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 — Automatic Transmission
Only
1. Place the gear selector in PARK, then push and release the ENGINE START/STOP button.
2. The ignition switch will return to the OFF position.
3. If the gear selector is not in PARK, the ENGINE START/ STOP button must be held for two seconds or three short pushes in a row and vehicle speed must be above 5 mph
(8 km/h) before the engine will shut off. The ignition
switch position will remain in the ACC position until the
vehicle is stopped, placed in PARK and the button is
pushed twice to the OFF position. If the gear selector is
not in PARK and the ENGINE START/STOP button is
pushed once, the instrument cluster 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.
To Turn Off The Engine Using ENGINE
START/STOP Button — Manual Transmission Only
1. With the vehicle stopped, place the gear selector in NEUTRAL, then push and release the ENGINE START/
STOP button.
2. The ignition switch will return to the OFF position.
3. Place the gear selector in first gear or REVERSE and then apply the parking brake.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 301

NOTE:
•If the ignition switch is left in the ACC position, the
system will automatically time out after 30 minutes of
inactivity and the ignition will switch to the OFF posi-
tion.
• If the ignition switch is left in the RUN position, the
system will automatically time out after 30 minutes of
inactivity if the vehicle speed is 0 mph (0 km/h) and the
engine is not running.
• If the vehicle speed is above 5 mph (8 km/h), the
ENGINE START/STOP button must be held for two
seconds or three short pushes in a row before the engine
will shut off. The ignition switch position will remain in
the ACC position until the vehicle is stopped, placed in
park and the button is pushed twice to the OFF position.
Keyless Enter-N-Go Functions — With Driver ’s Foot
OFF The Brake Pedal/Clutch Pedal (In PARK Or
NEUTRAL Position)
The Keyless Enter-N-Go feature operates similar to an
ignition switch. It has three positions, OFF, ACC and RUN.
To change the ignition switch positions without starting the
vehicle and use the accessories, follow these steps starting
with the ignition switch in the OFF position: 1. Push the ENGINE START/STOP button once to change
the ignition switch to the ACC position,
2. Push the ENGINE START/STOP button a second time to change the ignition switch to the RUN position,
3. Push the ENGINE START/STOP button a third time to return the ignition switch to the OFF position.
Extreme Cold Weather (Below –22°F Or 30°C)
To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of an
externally powered electric engine block heater (available
from your authorized dealer) is recommended.
If Engine Fails To Start
WARNING!
•Never pour fuel or other flammable liquid into the
throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to start
the vehicle. This could result in flash fire causing
serious personal injury.
• Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get it
started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic trans-
mission cannot be started this way. Unburned fuel
could enter the catalytic converter and once the
(Continued)
302 STARTING AND OPERATING