2021 DODGE CHALLENGER battery

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL69

Turning on all possible vehicle electrical loads
(e.g. HVAC to max settings, exterior and interior
lights, overloaded power outlets +12 Volts,
115 Volts AC, USB ports) during certain driving
conditions (city driving, towing, frequent stop-
ping).

Installing options like additional lights, upfitter
electrical accessories, audio systems, alarms
and similar devices.
Unusual driving cycles (short trips separated by
long parking periods).
The vehicle was parked for an extended period
of time (weeks, months).
The battery was recently replaced and was not
charged completely.
The battery was discharged by an electrical load
left on when the vehicle was parked.
The battery was used for an extended period
with the engine not running to supply radio,
lights, chargers, +12 Volts portable appliances
like vacuum cleaners, game consoles and
similar devices. What to do when an electrical load reduction
action message is present (“Battery Saver On” or
“Battery Saver Mode”)
During a trip:
Reduce power to unnecessary loads if possible:

Turn off redundant lights (interior or exterior)

Check what may be plugged in to power
outlets +12 Volts, 115 Volts AC, USB ports
Check HVAC settings (blower, temperature)
Check the audio settings (volume)
After a trip:
Check if any aftermarket equipment was
installed (additional lights, upfitter electrical
accessories, audio systems, alarms) and review
specifications if any (load and Ignition Off Draw
currents).
Evaluate the latest driving cycles (distance,
driving time and parking time).
The vehicle should have service performed if
the message is still present during consecutive
trips and the evaluation of the vehicle and
driving pattern did not help to identify the cause.
WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES
The warning/indicator lights will illuminate in the
instrument panel together with a dedicated
message and/or acoustic signal when applicable.
These indications are indicative and precautionary
and as such must not be considered as exhaustive
and/or alternative to the information contained in
the Owner’s Manual, which you are advised to read
carefully in all cases. Always refer to the
information in this chapter in the event of a failure
indication. All active telltales will display first if
applicable. The system check menu may appear
different based upon equipment options and
current vehicle status. Some telltales are optional
and may not appear.
RED WARNING LIGHTS
Air Bag Warning Light
This warning light will illuminate to
indicate a fault with the air bag, and will
turn on for four to eight seconds as a
bulb check when the ignition is placed in
the ON/RUN or ACC/ON/RUN position. This light
will illuminate with a single chime when a fault with
the air bag has been detected, it will stay on until
the fault is cleared. If the light is either not on
during startup, stays on, or turns on while driving,
have the system inspected at an authorized dealer
as soon as possible.
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70GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
Brake Warning Light
This warning light monitors various
brake functions, including brake fluid
level and parking brake application. If
the brake light turns on it may indicate
that the parking brake is applied, that the brake
fluid level is low, or that there is a problem with the
Anti-Lock Brake System reservoir.
If the light remains on when the parking brake has
been disengaged, and the fluid level is at the full
mark on the master cylinder reservoir, it indicates
a possible brake hydraulic system malfunction or
that a problem with the Brake Booster has been
detected by the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) /
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system. In this
case, the light will remain on until the condition has
been corrected. If the problem is related to the
brake booster, the ABS pump will run when
applying the brake, and a brake pedal pulsation
may be felt during each stop.
The dual brake system provides a reserve braking
capacity in the event of a failure to a portion of the
hydraulic system. A leak in either half of the dual
brake system is indicated by the Brake Warning
Light, which will turn on when the brake fluid level
in the master cylinder has dropped below a
specified level.
The light will remain on until the cause is corrected.
NOTE:The light may flash momentarily during sharp
cornering maneuvers, which change fluid level
conditions. The vehicle should have service
performed, and the brake fluid level checked.
If brake failure is indicated, immediate repair is
necessary.
Vehicles equipped with the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS) are also equipped with Electronic Brake
Force Distribution (EBD). In the event of an EBD
failure, the Brake Warning Light will turn on along
with the ABS Light. Immediate repair to the ABS
system is required.
Operation of the Brake Warning Light can be
checked by turning the ignition switch from the OFF
position to the ON/RUN position. The light should
illuminate for approximately two seconds. The light
should then turn off unless the parking brake is
applied or a brake fault is detected. If the light does
not illuminate, have the light inspected by an
authorized dealer. The light also will turn on when the parking brake
is applied with the ignition switch in the ON/RUN
position.
NOTE:This light shows only that the parking brake is
applied. It does not show the degree of brake appli
-
cation.
Seat Belt Reminder Warning Light
This warning light indicates when the
driver or passenger seat belt is
unbuckled. When the ignition is first
placed in the ON/RUN or ACC/ON/RUN
position and if the driver’s seat belt is unbuckled,
a chime will sound and the light will turn on. When
driving, if the driver or front passenger seat belt
remains unbuckled, the Seat Belt Reminder Light
will flash or remain on continuously and a chime
will sound Ú page 192.
Battery Charge Warning Light
This warning light will illuminate when
the battery is not charging properly. If it
stays on while the engine is running,
there may be a malfunction with the
charging system. Contact an authorized dealer as
soon as possible.
This indicates a possible problem with the
electrical system or a related component.
WARNING!
Driving a vehicle with the red brake light on is
dangerous. Part of the brake system may have
failed. It will take longer to stop the vehicle. You
could have a collision. Have the vehicle checked
immediately.

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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL77
EMISSIONS INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS
In some localities, it may be a legal requirement to
pass an inspection of your vehicle's emissions
control system. Failure to pass could prevent
vehicle registration. For states that require an Inspection
and Maintenance (I/M), this check
verifies the Malfunction Indicator Light
(MIL) is functioning and is not on when
the engine is running, and that the OBD II system
is ready for testing.
Normally, the OBD II system will be ready. The OBD
II system may not be ready if your vehicle was
recently serviced, recently had a dead battery or a
battery replacement. If the OBD II system should
be determined not ready for the I/M test, your
vehicle may fail the test.
Your vehicle has a simple ignition actuated test,
which you can use prior to going to the test station.
To check if your vehicle's OBD II system is ready,
you must do the following:

1. Cycle the ignition switch to the ON position, but do not crank or start the engine.

NOTE:If you crank or start the engine, you will have to
start this test over.
2. As soon as you cycle the ignition switch to the ON position, you will see the Malfunction
Indicator Light (MIL) symbol come on as part of
a normal bulb check. 3. Approximately 15 seconds later, one of two
things will happen:
The MIL will flash for about 10 seconds and
then return to being fully illuminated until
you turn OFF the ignition or start the engine.
This means that your vehicle's OBD II
system is not ready and you should not
proceed to the I/M station.
The MIL will not flash at all and will remain
fully illuminated until you place the ignition
in the off position or start the engine. This
means that your vehicle's OBD II system is
ready and you can proceed to the I/M
station.
If your OBD II system is not ready, you should see
an authorized dealer or repair facility. If your
vehicle was recently serviced or had a battery
failure or replacement, you may need to do nothing
more than drive your vehicle as you normally would
in order for your OBD II system to update. A
recheck with the above test routine may then
indicate that the system is now ready.
Regardless of whether your vehicle's OBD II system
is ready or not, if the MIL is illuminated during
normal vehicle operation you should have your
vehicle serviced before going to the I/M station.
The I/M station can fail your vehicle because the
MIL is on with the engine running.
WARNING!
ONLY an authorized service technician should
connect equipment to the OBD II connection
port in order to read the VIN, diagnose, or
service your vehicle.
If unauthorized equipment is connected to the
OBD II connection port, such as a
driver-behavior tracking device, it may:
Be possible that vehicle systems,
including safety related systems, could be
impaired or a loss of vehicle control could
occur that may result in an accident
involving serious injury or death.
Access, or allow others to access, infor -
mation stored in your vehicle systems,
including personal information.
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STARTING AND OPERATING81
ALWAYS DO A VISUAL CHECK
that your vehicle is in
PARK by looking for the "P" in the instrument
cluster display and on the gear selector. As an
added precaution, always apply the parking brake
when exiting the vehicle.
COLD WEATHER OPERATION
(BELOW –22°F OR −30°C)
To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures,
use of an externally powered electric engine block
heater (available from an authorized dealer) is
recommended.
IF ENGINE FAILS TO START
If the engine fails to start after you have followed
the “Normal Starting” or “Cold Weather Operation”
procedure, it may be flooded. Push the accelerator
pedal all the way to the floor and hold it there.
Crank the engine for no more than 15 seconds. This should clear any excess fuel in case the
engine is flooded. Leave the ignition key in the RUN
position, release the accelerator pedal and repeat
the “Normal Starting” procedure.
AFTER STARTING
The idle speed is controlled automatically, and it
will decrease as the engine warms up.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED
The engine block heater warms the engine, and
permits quicker starts in cold weather. Connect the
cord to a standard 110-115 Volt AC electrical
outlet with a grounded, three-wire extension cord.
The engine block heater must be plugged in at
least one hour to have an adequate warming effect
on the engine.
The engine block heater cord is routed under the
hood on the driver side of the vehicle. It has a
removable cap that is located near the air box.
WARNING!

If vehicle speed is above 1.2 mph (1.9 km/h),
the transmission will default to NEUTRAL until
the vehicle speed drops below 1.2 mph
(1.9 km/h). A vehicle left in the NEUTRAL
position can roll. As an added precaution,
always apply the parking brake when exiting the
vehicle.

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 auto
-
matic transmission cannot be started this
way. Unburned fuel could enter the catalytic
converter and once the engine has started,
ignite and damage the converter and vehicle.
If the vehicle has a discharged battery,
booster cables may be used to obtain a start
from a booster battery or the battery in
another vehicle. This type of start can be
dangerous if done improperly Ú page 238.
CAUTION!
To prevent damage to the starter, do not
continuously crank the engine for more than 25
seconds at a time. Wait 60 seconds before
trying again.
WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the engine block
heater cord before driving. Damage to the
110-115 Volt electrical cord could cause
electrocution.
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STARTING AND OPERATING93
NOTE:If equipped with a manual transmission, the 1 - 4
Skip Shift Feature is disabled in SPORT Mode.
FUEL SAVER TECHNOLOGY 5.7L —
IF EQUIPPED
This feature offers improved fuel economy by
shutting off four of the engine's eight cylinders
during light load and cruise conditions. The system
is automatic with no driver inputs or additional
driving skills required. When the system is active,
an indication will display within the instrument
cluster “Fuel Economy” main menu screen.
NOTE:This system may take some time to return to full
functionality after a battery disconnect.
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING
The Electric Power Steering system will give you
good vehicle response and increased ease of
maneuverability in tight spaces. The system will
vary its assist to provide light efforts while parking
and good feel while driving. If the electric steering
system experiences a fault that prevents it from
providing assist, you will still have the ability to
steer the vehicle manually. Alternate electric power steering efforts can be
selected through the Uconnect System
Ú
page 120.
If the Electric Power Steering warning icon is
displayed and the “SERVICE POWER STEERING” or
the “POWER STEERING ASSIST OFF – SERVICE
SYSTEM” message is displayed within the
instrument cluster display, this indicates the
vehicle needs to be taken to the dealer for service
Ú page 69.
NOTE:
Even if the power steering assistance is no
longer operational, it is still possible to steer the
vehicle. Under these conditions there will be a
substantial increase in steering effort, espe -
cially at low speeds and during parking maneu -
vers.
If the condition persists, see an authorized
dealer for service. If the Steering icon is displayed and the “POWER
STEERING SYSTEM OVER TEMP” message is
displayed on the instrument cluster screen, they
indicate that extreme steering maneuvers may
have occurred which caused an over temperature
condition in the power steering system. Once
driving conditions are safe, pull over and let the
vehicle idle for a few moments until the icon and
message turn off.
CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEMS — IF EQUIPPED
Your vehicle may be equipped with the Cruise
Control system, or the Adaptive Cruise Control
(ACC) system:
Cruise Control will keep your vehicle at a
constant preset speed.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) will adjust the
vehicle speed up to the preset speed to main
-
tain a distance with the vehicle ahead.
NOTE:
In vehicles equipped with ACC, if ACC is not
enabled, Fixed Speed Cruise Control will not
detect vehicles directly ahead of you. Always be
aware of the feature selected.
Only one Cruise Control feature can operate at a
time. For example, if Fixed Speed Cruise Control
is enabled, Adaptive Cruise Control will be
unavailable, and vice versa.
WARNING!
Continued operation with reduced assist could
pose a safety risk to yourself and others. Service
should be obtained as soon as possible.
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116STARTING AND OPERATING
Towing Requirements — Trailer Lights And
Wiring
Whenever you pull a trailer, regardless of the trailer
size, stoplights and turn signals on the trailer are
required for motoring safety.
The Trailer Tow Package may include a four- and
seven-pin wiring harness. Use a factory approved
trailer harness and connector.
NOTE:Do not cut or splice wiring into the vehicle’s wiring
harness.
The electrical connections are all complete to the
vehicle but you must mate the harness to a trailer
connector. Refer to the following illustrations.
NOTE:
Disconnect trailer wiring connector from the
vehicle before launching a boat (or any other
device plugged into vehicle’s electrical connect)
into water.
Be sure to reconnect after clear from water
area.
Four-Pin Connector
Seven-Pin Connector
TOWING TIPS
Before towing, practice turning, stopping, and
backing up the trailer in an area located away from
heavy traffic.
1 — Ground
2 — Park
3 — Left Stop/Turn
4 — Right Stop/Turn
1 — Backup Lamps
2 — Running Lamps
3 — Left Stop/Turn
4 — Ground
5 — Battery
6 — Right Stop/Turn
7 — Electric Brakes

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166MULTIMEDIA
The Performance Pages include the following:
Home
Timers
Gauges
G-Force
Engine
Dyno
If a USB drive is installed in the media hub, press
the Camera icon on the top right of the
touchscreen when using Performance Pages. A
screen shot of the page will be taken and saved
onto the USB.

Screenshot Camera Button
The following describes each feature and its
operation:
HOME

Performance Pages — Home

When Home is selected, a series of widgets
(gauges) can be customized by the user. Follow
these steps to change a widget. Either press
directly on the widget you want to change, or:
1. Press the Settings button (gear icon) on the
touchscreen to access the main menu for the
widgets.

2. Select one the following options from the menu:
Set Widget: Top Left
Set Widget: Top Right
Set Widget: Bottom Left
Set Widget: Bottom Right
3. After selecting a widget location, select the gauge to display:
Gauge: Oil Temp
Gauge: Oil Pressure
Gauge: Coolant Temp
Gauge: Battery Voltage
Gauge: Trans Temp — If Equipped with an
Automatic Transmission
Gauge: Boost Pressure — If Equipped
Gauge: Air/Fuel Ratio — If Equipped
Gauge: I/C Coolant Temp — If Equipped

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170MULTIMEDIA
330 ft (100 m) ET
Displays the time it takes the vehicle to go 330
feet (100 m).
⅛ Mile (200 m) ET
Displays the time it takes for the vehicle to go ⅛
mile (200 m).
⅛ Mile (200 m) mph
Displays the vehicle speed at the time ⅛ mile
(200 m) was reached.
1000 ft (300 m) ET
Displays the time it takes the vehicle to go
1000 ft (300 m).
¼ Mile (400 m) ET
Displays the time it takes for the vehicle to go ¼
mile (400 m).
¼ Mile (400 m) mph
Displays the speed the vehicle was at when ¼
mile (400 m) was reached.
Brake Distance ft (meters)
Displays the distance it takes the vehicle to
make a complete stop.
NOTE:The distance measurement will be aborted if the
brake pedal is released or the parking brake is
engaged, before the vehicle comes to a complete
stop.
Brake from mph (km/h)
Displays the speed the vehicle is traveling when
the brake pedal is pressed.
NOTE:Brake Distance and Speed timers only display
"ready" when vehicle is traveling at greater than
30 mph (48 km/h).
GAUGES

Performance Pages — Gauges
When selected, this screen displays the following
values:
Oil Temperature

Shows the actual oil temperature.
Oil Pressure
Shows the actual oil pressure.
Coolant Temperature
Shows the actual coolant temperature.
Battery Voltage
Shows actual battery voltage.
Trans Oil Temp — If Equipped with an Automatic
Transmission
Shows actual transmission oil temperature.
Boost Pressure — If Equipped
Shows actual boost pressure.
Air Fuel Ratio — If Equipped
Shows current air fuel ratio.
I/C Coolant Temp — If Equipped
Shows actual I/C Coolant temperature.
Intake Air Temp
Shows actual air intake temperature.

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