2021 CHRYSLER 300 warning

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 187
PREPARATIONS FOR JUMP START
The battery is stored under an access cover in the
trunk. Remote battery posts are located on the
right side of the engine compartment for jump
starting.

Jump Starting Locations

NOTE:
The remote battery posts are viewed by standing
on
the right side of the vehicle looking over the
fender. The positive battery post may be covered
with a protective cap. Lift up on the cap to gain
access to the positive battery post. Do not jump off
fuses. Only jump directly off positive post which
has a positive (+) symbol on or around the post.
Jump Starting Posts

See below steps to prepare for jump starting:

1. Apply the parking brake, shift the automatic t
ransmission into PARK and cycle the ignition
to OFF.

2. T urn off the heater, radio, and all electrical
a
ccessories.
3. If using another vehicle to jump start the b
attery, park the vehicle within the jumper
cables reach, set the parking brake, and make
sure the ignition is OFF.
Remote Positive (+) Post
Remote Negative (-) Post
Remote Positive (+) Post
Remote Negative (-) Post
WARNING!
Do not allow vehicles to touch each other as this
could establish a ground connection and
personal injury could result.
WARNING!
Take care to avoid the radiator cooling fan
whenever the hood is raised. It can start
anytime the ignition switch is ON. You can be
injured by moving fan blades.
Remove any metal jewelry such as rings,
watch bands and bracelets that could make
an inadvertent electrical contact. You could be
seriously injured.
Batteries contain sulfuric acid that can burn
your skin or eyes and generate hydrogen gas
which is flammable and explosive. Keep open
flames or sparks away from the battery.7

188 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
JUMP STARTING PROCEDURE
NOTE:
Make sure at all times that unused ends of jumper
c a
bles are not contacting each other or either
vehicle while making connections.
Connecting The Jumper Cables

1. C onnect the positive
(
+) end of the jumper
cable to the remote positive (+)
post of the
discharged vehicle.

2. C onnect the opposite end of the positive (
+)
jumper cable to the positive (+) post of the
booster battery.
3. C onnect the negative (
-) end of the jumper
cable to the negative (-) post of the booster
battery. 4. C
onnect the opposite end of the negative (
-)
jumper cable to the remote negative (-) post
(exposed metallic/unpainted post of the
discharge vehicle) located directly behind the
under-hood fuse box.
5. S tart the engine in the vehicle that has the
b
ooster battery, let the engine idle a few
minutes, and then start the engine in the
vehicle with the discharged battery.
6. O nce the engine is started, follow the discon-
n
ection procedure below. Disconnecting The Jumper Cables

1. D
isconnect the negative
(
-) end of the jumper
cable from the remote negative (-)
post of the
discharged vehicle.

2. D isconnect the opposite end of the negative (
-)
jumper cable from the negative (-) post of the
booster battery.
3. D isconnect the positive (
+) end of the jumper
cable from the positive (+) post of the booster
battery.
4. D isconnect the opposite end of the positive (
+)
jumper cable from the remote positive (+) post
of the discharged vehicle.
5. R einstall the protective cover over the remote
p
ositive (+) post of the discharged vehicle.
If frequent jump starting is required to start your
ve
hicle you should have the battery and charging
system tested at an authorized dealer.
WARNING!
Failure to follow this jump starting procedure
could result in personal injury or property
damage due to battery explosion.
CAUTION!
Failure to follow these procedures could result in
damage to the charging system of the booster
vehicle or the discharged vehicle.
WARNING!
Do not connect the jumper cable to the negative
(-) post of the discharged battery. The resulting
electrical spark could cause the battery to
explode and could result in personal injury.
CAUTION!
Do not run the booster vehicle engine above
2,000 rpm since it provides no charging benefit,
w a
stes fuel, and can damage booster vehicle
engine.
CAUTION!
Accessories plugged into the vehicle power
outlets draw power from the vehicle’s battery,
even when not in use (i.e., cellular devices, etc.).
Eventually, if plugged in long enough without
engine operation, the vehicle’s battery will
discharge sufficiently to degrade battery life
and/or prevent the engine from starting.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 189
REFUELING IN AN EMERGENCY –
IF EQUIPPED
The vehicle is equipped with a refueling funnel for
a Cap-Less Fuel System. If refueling is necessary,
while using an approved gas can, insert the
refueling funnel into the filler neck opening. Take
care to open both flappers with the funnel to avoid
spills.
NOTE:
In certain cold conditions, ice may prevent the fuel
d oor
from opening. If this occurs, lightly push on
the fuel door to break the ice buildup and
re-release the fuel door using the inside release
button. Do not pry on the door.

Refueling Funnel
Emergency Gas Can Refueling
Most gas cans will not open the flapper doors. A
f
u

nnel is provided to allow emergency refueling
with a gas can.
See below steps for refueling:

1. Retrieve funnel from the spare tire storage a
rea.

2. Insert funnel into same filler pipe opening as t
he fuel nozzle.

Inserting Funnel

3. E nsure funnel is inserted fully to hold flapper
d
oors open. 4. Pour fuel into funnel opening.
5
. Remove funnel from filler pipe, clean off prior t
o putting back in the spare tire storage area.
CAUTION!
To avoid fuel spillage and overfilling, do not “top
off” the fuel tank after filling.
WARNING!
Never have any smoking materials lit in or
near the vehicle when the fuel door is open or
the tank is being filled.
Never add fuel when the engine is running.
This is in violation of most state and federal
fire regulations and may cause the Malfunc -
tion Indicator Light to turn on.
A fire may result if fuel is pumped into a
portable container that is inside of a vehicle.
You could be burned. Always place fuel
containers on the ground while filling.
7

190 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS
If the vehicle is overheating, it will need to be
serviced by an authorized dealer.
In any of the following situations, you can reduce
th

e potential for overheating by taking the
appropriate action.
On the highways — slow down.
In city traffic — while stopped, place the trans -
mission in NEUTRAL, but do not increase the
e n
gine idle speed while preventing vehicle
motion with the brakes.
NOTE:
There are steps that you can take to slow down an
i m
pending overheat condition:
If your Air Conditioner (A/C) is on, turn it off. The
A/C system adds heat to the engine cooling
system and turning the A/C off can help remove
this heat.
You can also turn the temperature control to
maximum heat, the mode control to floor and
the blower control to high. This allows the heater
core to act as a supplement to the radiator and
aids in removing heat from the engine cooling
system.
MANUAL PARK RELEASE
To move the vehicle in cases where the
transmission will not shift out of PARK (such as a
depleted battery), a Manual Park Release is
available.
WARNING!

You or others can be badly burned by hot engine
coolant (antifreeze) or steam from your radiator. If
you see or hear steam coming from under the
hood, do not open the hood until the radiator has
had time to cool. Never try to open a cooling
system pressure cap when the radiator or coolant
bottle is hot.

CAUTION!

Driving with a hot cooling system could damage
your vehicle. If the temperature gauge reads HOT
(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 HOT (H), and you hear continuous
chimes, turn the engine off immediately and call
for service.

WARNING!
Always secure your vehicle by fully applying the
parking brake before activating the Manual Park
Release. In addition, you should be seated in the
driver's seat with your foot firmly on the brake
pedal when activating the Manual Park Release.
Activating the Manual Park Release will allow
your vehicle to roll away if it is not secured by the
parking brake, or by proper connection to a tow
vehicle. Activating the Manual Park Release on
an unsecured vehicle could lead to serious
injury or death for those in or around the vehicle.

192 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE
If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand, or
snow, it can often be moved using a rocking
motion. Turn the steering wheel right and left to
clear the area around the front wheels. Then, shift
back and forth between DRIVE and REVERSE while
gently pressing the accelerator. Use the least
amount of accelerator pedal pressure that will
maintain the rocking motion, without spinning the
wheels or racing the engine.
NOTE:
For vehicles with automatic transmission: Shifts
between DRIVE and REVERSE can only be
achieved at wheel speeds of 5
mph (8 km/h) or
le

ss. Whenever the transmission remains in
NEUTRAL for more than two seconds, you must
press the brake pedal to engage DRIVE or
REVERSE.
Push the ESC OFF switch to place the Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) system in “Partial OFF”
mode, before rocking the vehicle
Ú page 139.
Once the vehicle has been freed, push the ESC
O F
F switch again to restore “ESC On” mode.CAUTION!
Racing the engine or spinning the wheels may
lead to transmission overheating and failure.
Allow the engine to idle with the transmission in
NEUTRAL for at least one minute after every five
rocking-motion cycles. This will minimize
overheating and reduce the risk of clutch or
transmission failure during prolonged efforts to
free a stuck vehicle.
WARNING!

Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces
generated by excessive wheel speeds may cause
damage, or even failure, of the axle and tires. A
tire could explode and injure someone. Do not
spin your vehicle's wheels faster than 30 mph
(4

8 km/h) or for longer than 30 seconds
c o
ntinuously without stopping when you are
stuck and do not let anyone near a spinning
wheel, no matter what the speed.

CAUTION!
Racing the engine or spinning the wheels may
lead to transmission overheating and failure.
Allow the engine to idle with the transmission
in NEUTRAL for at least one minute after every
five rocking-motion cycles. This will minimize
overheating and reduce the risk of transmis -
sion failure during prolonged efforts to free a
s t

uck vehicle.
When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by shifting
between DRIVE and REVERSE, do not spin the
wheels faster than 15 mph (24 km/h), or
dr

ivetrain damage may result.
Revving the engine or spinning the wheels too
fast may lead to transmission overheating and
failure. It can also damage the tires. Do not
spin the wheels above 30 mph (48 km/h)
w h

ile in gear (no transmission shifting occur -
ring).

198 SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
Change the transfer case fluid; if using your vehicle for any of the
following: police, taxi, fleet, off-road, or frequent trailer towing.
(All Wheel Drive Only). X
X
Change the rear axle fluid and on models equipped with All Wheel
D r

ive (AWD) change the front axle fluid if using your vehicle for any
of the following: police, taxi, fleet, off-road, or frequent trailer towing. X
XX
Inspect and replace PCV valve if necessary. X
1. The spark plug change interval is mileage based only, yearly intervals do not apply.
Mileage or time passed (whichever comes first)
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
100,000
110,000
120,000
130,000
140,000
150,000
Or Years: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Or Kilometers:
32,000
48,000
64,000
80,000
96,000
112,000
128,000
144,000
160,000
176,000
192,000
208,000
224,000
240,000
WARNING!
You can be badly injured working on or around a motor vehicle. Do only service work for which you have the knowledge and the right equipment. If you have
any doubt about your ability to perform a service job, take your vehicle to a competent mechanic.
Failure to properly inspect and maintain your vehicle could result in a component malfunction and affect vehicle handling and performance. This could cause
an accident.

SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 201
(Continued)
CHECKING OIL LEVEL
To ensure proper engine lubrication, the engine oil
must be maintained at the correct level. Check the
oil level at regular intervals, such as every month.
The best time to check the engine oil level is about
five minutes after a fully warmed up engine is shut
off.
Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level ground
w i

ll improve the accuracy of the oil level readings.
There are four possible dipstick types:
Crosshatched zone.
Crosshatched zone marked SAFE.
Crosshatched zone marked with MIN at the low
end of the range and MAX at the high end of the
range.
Crosshatched zone marked with dimples at the
MIN and the MAX ends of the range.
NOTE:
Always maintain the oil level within the crosshatch
m a
rkings on the dipstick.
Adding 1 quart (1.0 liters) of oil when the reading
is
at the low end of the dipstick range will raise the
oil level to the high end of the range marking.
ADDING WASHER FLUID
The windshield washer fluid reservoir is located in
the front of the engine compartment. Be sure to
check the fluid level at regular intervals. Fill the
reservoir with windshield washer solvent (not
radiator antifreeze) and operate the system for a
few seconds to flush out the residual water.
When refilling the washer fluid reservoir, apply
s om

e washer fluid to a cloth or towel and wipe the
wiper blades clean. This will help blade
performance.
To prevent freeze-up of your windshield washer
sy
stem in cold weather, select a solution or mixture
that meets or exceeds the temperature range of
your climate. This rating information can be found
on most washer fluid containers.
The fluid reservoir will hold nearly 1 gallon (4 liters)
of

washer fluid when the message “Low Washer
Fluid” appears in the instrument cluster.
MAINTENANCE-FREE BATTERY
Your vehicle is equipped with a maintenance-free
battery. You will never have to add water, nor is
periodic maintenance required.
NOTE:
The battery is stored under an access cover in the
t r
unk. Remote battery terminals are located in the
engine compartment for jump starting
Ú page 186.
CAUTION!
Overfilling or underfilling the crankcase will
cause aeration or loss of oil pressure. This could
damage your engine.
WARNING!
Commercially available windshield washer
solvents are flammable. They could ignite and
burn you. Care must be exercised when filling or
working around the washer solution.
WARNING!
Battery fluid is a corrosive acid solution and
can burn or even blind you. Do not allow
battery fluid to contact your eyes, skin, or
clothing. Do not lean over a battery when
attaching clamps. If acid splashes in eyes or
on skin, flush the area immediately with large
amounts of water

Ú page 186.
8

202 SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
(Continued)
PRESSURE WASHING
Cleaning the engine compartment with a high
pressure washer is not recommended.
VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
An authorized dealer has the qualified service
personnel, special tools, and equipment to
perform all service operations in an expert
manner. Service Manuals are available which
include detailed service information for your
vehicle. Refer to these Service Manuals before
attempting any procedure yourself.
NOTE:
Intentional tampering with emissions control
s y
stems may void your warranty and could result in
civil penalties being assessed against you.
ENGINE OIL
Engine Oil Selection — 3.6L And 5.7L
Engine
For best performance and maximum protection
under all types of operating conditions, the
manufacturer only recommends engine oils that
are API Certified and meet the requirements of FCA
Material Standard MS-6395.
NOTE:
Hemi engines at times can tick right after startup
a n
d then quiet down after approximately 30
seconds. This is normal and will not harm the
engine. This characteristic can be caused by short
drive cycles. For example, if the vehicle is started
then shut off after driving a short distance. Upon
restarting, you may experience a ticking sound.
Battery gas is flammable and explosive. Keep
flame or sparks away from the battery. Do not
use a booster battery or any other booster
source with an output greater than 12 Volts.
Do not allow cable clamps to touch each
other.
Battery posts, terminals, and related accesso -
ries contain lead and lead compounds. Wash
h a
nds after handling.
The battery in this vehicle has a vent hose that
should not be disconnected and should only
be replaced with a battery of the same type
(vented).
CAUTION!
It is essential when replacing the cables on
the battery that the positive cable is attached
to the positive post and the negative cable is
attached to the negative post. Battery posts
are marked positive (+) and negative (-) and
are identified on the battery case. Cable
clamps should be tight on the terminal posts
and free of corrosion.
WARNING!
If a “fast charger” is used while the battery is
in the vehicle, disconnect both vehicle battery
cables before connecting the charger to the
battery. Do not use a “fast charger” to provide
starting voltage.
CAUTION!
Precautions have been taken to safeguard all
parts and connections however, the pressures
generated by these machines is such that
complete protection against water ingress
cannot be guaranteed.
CAUTION!
WARNING!
You can be badly injured working on or around a
motor vehicle. Only do service work for which
you have the knowledge and the proper
equipment. If you have any doubt about your
ability to perform a service job, take your vehicle
to a competent mechanic.