2021 DODGE CHALLENGER engine overheat

STARTING AND OPERATING99
To Vary The Speed Setting
To Increase Or Decrease The Set Speed
While ACC is set, you can increase speed by
pushing the SET (+) button, or decrease speed by
pushing the SET (-) button.
U.S. Speed (mph)
Pushing the SET (+) , or SET (-) button once will
result in a 1 mph speed adjustment. Each
subsequent tap of the button results in an
adjustment of 1 mph.
If the button is continually pushed, the set
speed will continue to adjust in 5 mph incre -
ments until the button is released. The new set
speed is reflected in the instrument cluster
display.
Metric Speed (km/h)
Pushing the SET (+) , or SET (-) button once will
result in a 1 km/h speed adjustment. Each
subsequent tap of the button results in an
adjustment of 1 km/h.
If the button is continually pushed, the set
speed will continue to adjust in 10 km/h incre -
ments until the button is released. The new set
speed is reflected in the instrument cluster
display.
NOTE:When you override and push the SET (+) button or
SET (-) button, the new set speed will be the current
speed of the vehicle.
When ACC Is Active:
NOTE:
When you use the SET (-) button to decelerate, if
the engine’s braking power does not slow the
vehicle sufficiently to reach the set speed, the
brake system will automatically slow the
vehicle.
The ACC system applies the brake down to
15 mph (24 km/h) when following a vehicle
ahead.
The ACC system maintains set speed when
driving uphill and downhill. However, a slight
speed change on moderate hills is normal. In
addition, downshifting may occur while climbing
uphill or descending downhill. This is normal
operation and necessary to maintain set speed.
When driving uphill and downhill, the ACC
system will cancel if the braking temperature
exceeds normal range (overheated).
Setting The Following Distance In ACC
The specified following distance for ACC can be set
by varying the distance setting between four bars
(longest), three bars (long), two bars (medium) and
one bar (short). Using this distance setting and the
vehicle speed, ACC calculates and sets the
distance to the vehicle ahead. This distance
setting will show in the instrument cluster display.

Distance Settings

1 — Longest Distance Setting (Four Bars)
2 — Medium Distance Setting (Two Bars)
3 — Long Distance Setting (Three Bars)
4 — Short Distance Setting (One Bar)
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IN CASE OF EMERGENCY241
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
the 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
engine idle speed while preventing vehicle
motion with the brakes.
NOTE:There are steps that you can take to slow down an
impending 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 — 8 – SPEED
TRANSMISSION 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.
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IN CASE OF EMERGENCY243
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. For
vehicles with automatic transmission, push and
hold the lock button on the gear selector. Then
shift back and forth between DRIVE and REVERSE
(with automatic transmission) or FIRST gear and
REVERSE (with manual transmission), 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
less. 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 button to place the Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) system in “Partial OFF”
mode, before rocking the vehicle Ú page 180.
Once the vehicle has been freed, push the ESC OFF
button 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 (48 km/h) or for longer than 30
seconds continuously without stopping when
you are stuck and do not let anyone near a
spinning wheel, no matter what the speed.
CAUTION!
When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by shifting
between DRIVE / FIRST gear and REVERSE, do
not spin the wheels faster than 15 mph
(24 km/h), or drivetrain 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)
while in gear (no transmission shifting occur -
ring).
7

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SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE261
(Continued)
3. With the wiper blade disengaged, remove the
wiper blade from the wiper arm.

Wiper Blade Removed From Wiper Arm

4. Gently lower the wiper arm onto the glass.
Installing The Front Wipers

1. Lift the wiper arm off of the glass, until the wiper arm is in the full up position.

2. Position the wiper blade near the hook on the tip of the wiper arm.
3. Insert the hook on the tip of the arm through the opening in the wiper blade. 4. Slide the wiper blade up into the hook on the
wiper arm, latch engagement will be
accompanied by an audible click.
5. Gently lower the wiper blade onto the glass.
EXHAUST SYSTEM
The best protection against carbon monoxide entry
into the vehicle body is a properly maintained
engine exhaust system.
If you notice a change in the sound of the exhaust
system; or if the exhaust fumes can be detected
inside the vehicle; or when the underside or rear of
the vehicle is damaged; have an authorized
technician inspect the complete exhaust system
and adjacent body areas for broken, damaged,
deteriorated, or mispositioned parts. Open seams
or loose connections could permit exhaust fumes
to seep into the passenger compartment. In
addition, have the exhaust system inspected each
time the vehicle is raised for lubrication or oil
change. Replace as required.
1 — Wiper Blade
2 — Wiper Arm
3 — Release Tab
WARNING!
Exhaust gases can injure or kill. They contain
carbon monoxide (CO), which is colorless and
odorless. Breathing it can make you uncon
-
scious and can eventually poison you. To
avoid breathing CO, Ú page 223.

A hot exhaust system can start a fire if you
park over materials that can burn. Such
materials might be grass or leaves coming
into contact with your exhaust system. Do not
park or operate your vehicle in areas where
your exhaust system can contact anything
that can burn.

CAUTION!
The catalytic converter requires the use of
unleaded fuel only. Leaded gasoline will
destroy the effectiveness of the catalyst as an
emissions control device and may seriously
reduce engine performance and cause
serious damage to the engine.
Damage to the catalytic converter can result if
your vehicle is not kept in proper operating
condition. In the event of engine malfunction,
particularly involving engine misfire or other
apparent loss of performance, have your
vehicle serviced promptly. Continued opera -
tion of your vehicle with a severe malfunction
could cause the converter to overheat,
resulting in possible damage to the converter
and vehicle.
WARNING!
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262SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
Under normal operating conditions, the catalytic
converter will not require maintenance. However, it
is important to keep the engine properly tuned to
ensure proper catalyst operation and prevent
possible catalyst damage.
NOTE:Intentional tampering with emissions control
systems can result in civil penalties being
assessed against you.
In unusual situations involving grossly
malfunctioning engine operation, a scorching odor
may suggest severe and abnormal catalyst
overheating. If this occurs, stop the vehicle, turn off
the engine and allow it to cool. Service, including a
tune-up to manufacturer's specifications, should
be obtained immediately.
To minimize the possibility of catalytic converter
damage:
Do not shut off the engine or interrupt the igni-
tion when the transmission is in gear and the
vehicle is in motion.
Do not try to start the engine by pushing or
towing the vehicle.
Do not idle the engine with any spark plug wires
disconnected or removed, such as when diag -
nostic testing, or for prolonged periods during
very rough idle or malfunctioning operating
conditions.
NOTE:The vehicle exhaust system may be equipped with
an Electronic Exhaust Valve (EEV) system, if the
exhaust system is replaced with aftermarket
products a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) will
illuminate.
COOLING SYSTEM
Coolant Checks
Check engine coolant (antifreeze) protection every
12 months (before the onset of freezing weather,
where applicable). If the engine coolant is dirty, the
system should be drained, flushed, and refilled
with fresh Organic Additive Technology (OAT)
coolant (conforming to MS.90032) by an
authorized dealer. Check the front of the radiator
for any accumulation of bugs, leaves, etc. If dirty,
clean by gently spraying water from a garden hose
vertically down the face of the condenser.
Check the coolant recovery bottle tubing for brittle
rubber, cracking, tears, cuts, and tightness of the
connection at the bottle and radiator. Inspect the
entire system for leaks. DO NOT REMOVE THE
COOLANT PRESSURE CAP WHEN THE COOLING
SYSTEM IS HOT.
Cooling System — Drain, Flush And Refill
NOTE:Some vehicles require special tools to add coolant
properly. Failure to fill these systems properly
could lead to severe internal engine damage. If any
coolant is needed to be added to the system
please contact an authorized dealer.
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 open a
cooling system pressure cap when the radi -
ator or coolant bottle is hot.
Keep hands, tools, clothing, and jewelry away
from the radiator cooling fan when the hood is
raised. The fan starts automatically and may
start at any time, whether the engine is
running or not.
When working near the radiator cooling fan,
disconnect the fan motor lead or turn the igni -
tion to the OFF mode. The fan is temperature
controlled and can start at any time the igni -
tion is in the ON mode.

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264SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
Cooling System Pressure Cap
The cap must be fully tightened to prevent loss of
engine coolant (antifreeze), and to ensure that
engine coolant will return to the radiator from the
coolant expansion bottle/recovery tank (if
equipped).
The cap should be inspected and cleaned if there
is any accumulation of foreign material on the
sealing surfaces.
Disposal Of Used Coolant
Used ethylene glycol-based coolant (antifreeze) is
a regulated substance requiring proper disposal.
Check with your local authorities to determine the
disposal rules for your community. To prevent
ingestion by animals or children, do not store
ethylene glycol-based coolant in open containers
or allow it to remain in puddles on the ground:
clean up any ground spills immediately. If ingested,
seek emergency assistance immediately.
Coolant Level
The coolant bottle provides a quick visual method
for determining that the engine coolant
(antifreeze) level is adequate. With the engine off
and cold, the level of the engine coolant in the
bottle should be between the ranges indicated on
the bottle.
The radiator normally remains completely full, so
there is no need to remove the radiator cap unless
checking for engine coolant freeze point or
replacing engine coolant. Advise your service
attendant of this. As long as the engine operating
temperature is satisfactory, the coolant bottle
need only be checked once a month.
When additional engine coolant is needed to
maintain the proper level, it should be added to the
coolant bottle. Do not overfill.
Cooling System Notes
NOTE:When the vehicle is stopped after a few miles/kilo -
meters of operation, you may observe vapor
coming from the front of the engine compartment.
This is normally a result of moisture from rain,
snow, or high humidity accumulating on the
radiator and being vaporized when the thermostat
opens, allowing hot engine coolant (antifreeze) to
enter the radiator.
If an examination of your engine compartment
shows no evidence of radiator or hose leaks, the
vehicle may be safely driven. The vapor will soon
dissipate.
Do not overfill the coolant expansion bottle.
Check the coolant freeze point in the radiator
and in the coolant expansion bottle. If engine
coolant needs to be added, the contents of the
coolant expansion bottle must also be protected
against freezing.
If frequent engine coolant additions are
required, the cooling system should be pressure
tested for leaks.
Maintain engine coolant concentration at a
minimum of 50% OAT coolant (conforming to
MS.90032) and distilled water for proper corro -
sion protection of your engine which contains
aluminum components.
WARNING!
Do not open hot engine cooling system. Never
add engine coolant (antifreeze) when the
engine is overheated. Do not loosen or
remove the cap to cool an overheated engine.
Heat causes pressure to build up in the
cooling system. To prevent scalding or injury,
do not remove the pressure cap while the
system is hot or under pressure.
Do not use a pressure cap other than the one
specified for your vehicle. Personal injury or
engine damage may result.

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304TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
(Continued)
DO NOT USE E-85 IN NON-FLEX FUEL
V
EHICLES
Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFV) are compatible with
gasoline containing up to 15% ethanol (E-15). Use
of gasoline with higher ethanol content may void
the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
If a Non-FFV vehicle is inadvertently fueled with
E-85 fuel, the engine will have some or all of these
symptoms:
Operate in a lean mode.
OBD II Malfunction Indicator Light on.
Poor engine performance.
Poor cold start and cold drivability.
Increased risk for fuel system component corro -
sion.
CNG AND LP FUEL SYSTEM
M
ODIFICATIONS
Modifications that allow the engine to run on
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or Liquid Propane
(LP) may result in damage to the engine,
emissions, and fuel system components. Problems
that result from running CNG or LP are not the
responsibility of the manufacturer and may void or
not be covered under the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.
METHYLCYCLOPENTADIENYL
M
ANGANESE TRICARBONYL (MMT) IN
G
ASOLINE
MMT is a manganese-containing metallic additive
that is blended into some gasoline to increase
octane. Gasoline blended with MMT provides no
performance advantage beyond gasoline of the
same octane number without MMT. Gasoline
blended with MMT reduces spark plug life and
reduces emissions system performance in some
vehicles. The manufacturer recommends that
gasoline without MMT be used in your vehicle. The
MMT content of gasoline may not be indicated on
the gasoline pump; therefore, you should ask your
gasoline retailer whether the gasoline contains
MMT. MMT is prohibited in Federal and California
reformulated gasoline.
FUEL SYSTEM CAUTIONSNOTE:Intentional tampering with the emissions control
system can result in civil penalties being assessed
against you.CAUTION!
Follow these guidelines to maintain your
vehicle’s performance:
The use of leaded gasoline is prohibited by
Federal law. Using leaded gasoline can impair
engine performance and damage the emis -
sions control system.
An out-of-tune engine or certain fuel or ignition
malfunctions can cause the catalytic
converter to overheat. If you notice a pungent
burning odor or some light smoke, your engine
may be out of tune or malfunctioning and may
require immediate service. Contact an autho -
rized dealer for service assistance.
The use of fuel additives, which are now being
sold as octane enhancers, is not recom -
mended. Most of these products contain high
concentrations of methanol. Fuel system
damage or vehicle performance problems
resulting from the use of such fuels or addi -
tives is not the responsibility of the manufac-
turer and may void or not be covered under
the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
CAUTION!

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314 Corrosion Protection
...................................... 298Cruise Control.................................................. 93Cruise Control (Speed Control)........................ 94Cruise Light.............................................. 75, 76Customer Assistance..................................... 308Customer Programmable Features................120Cybersecurity................................................. 119
D
Daytime Running Lights................................... 42Dealer Service............................................... 254Deck Lid Power Release............................................ 59Defroster, Windshield.................................... 223De-Icer, Remote Start...................................... 20Delay (Intermittent) Wipers.............................. 46Deleting A Phone........................................... 155Diagnostic System, Onboard........................... 76Dimmer SwitchHeadlight..................................................... 42DipsticksOil (Engine)................................................ 253Disabled Vehicle Towing................................ 244Disc Drive...................................................... 148Disconnecting................................................ 155DisposalAntifreeze (Engine Coolant)....................... 264Disturb........................................................... 157
Door Ajar.......................................................... 71Door Ajar Light................................................. 71Door LocksAutomatic.................................................... 24Doors............................................................... 21Drag & Drop.................................................. 138Drive Modes.................................................. 173Driver Memory Presets................................. 145Driver’s Seat Back Tilt...................................... 29DrivingThrough Flowing, Rising, Or Shallow Standing Water
................................................... 118
E
Electric Brake Control System....................... 179Anti-Lock Brake System............................ 178Electronic Roll Mitigation................. 179, 183Electric Remote Mirrors................................... 37Electrical Power Outlets................................... 54
Electronic Power Distribution Center (Fuses)... 268
Electronic Speed Control (Cruise Control)........ 94Electronic Stability Control (ESC).................. 180Electronic Throttle Control Warning Light......... 71Emergency, In Case OfFreeing Vehicle When Stuck..................... 243Jacking..................................................... 229Jump Starting......................... 238, 239, 240Towing...................................................... 244
Emission Control System Maintenance............77Engine.................................................. 251, 252Air Cleaner................................................ 256Block Heater................................................81Break-In Recommendations........................82Checking Oil Level.................................... 253Compartment.................................. 251, 252Compartment Identification...................... 251Coolant (Antifreeze).................................. 262Cooling...................................................... 262Exhaust Gas Caution................................ 225Fails To Start................................................81Flooded, Starting.........................................81Fuel Requirements................................... 302Jump Starting......................... 238, 239, 240Oil...........................................255, 305, 306Oil Filler Cap............................................. 251Oil Filter.................................................... 256Oil Selection..................................... 255, 305Oil Synthetic.............................................. 255Overheating.............................................. 241Starting.................................................78, 79
Enhanced Accident Response Feature... 206, 245
Ethanol.......................................................... 303Exhaust Gas Cautions................................... 225Exhaust System................................... 225, 261Exterior Lighting...............................................41Exterior Lights........................................ 41, 225

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