CHRYSLER 200 CONVERTIBLE 2013 1.G Owners Manual

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
STARTING PROCEDURES................303
▫Normal Starting.......................303
▫Extreme Cold Weather
(Below –20°F Or 29°C)................304
▫After Starting........................304
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED . . .304
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.............305
▫Key Ignition Park Interlock...............306
▫Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . .307
▫Four-Speed Automatic Transmission — If
Equipped...........................307▫Gear Ranges.........................316
▫Six-Speed Automatic Transmission — If
Equipped...........................314
▫Gear Ranges.........................316
AUTOSTICK— IF EQUIPPED............322
▫Operation...........................322
DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES.........323
▫Acceleration.........................323
▫Traction............................324
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DRIVING THROUGH WATER.............324
▫Flowing/Rising Water..................325
▫Shallow Standing Water.................325
POWER STEERING.....................327
▫Power Steering Fluid Check..............327
PARKING BRAKE......................328
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS).........331
ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM. . . .333
▫Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)............334
▫Traction Control System (TCS)............334
▫Brake Assist System (BAS)...............335
▫Electronic Stability Control (ESC)..........336
▫ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light And
ESC OFF Indicator Light................338TIRE SAFETY INFORMATION.............340
▫Tire Markings........................340
▫Tire Identification Number (TIN)...........343
▫Tire Terminology And Definitions..........344
▫Tire Loading And Tire Pressure...........345
TIRES — GENERAL INFORMATION.........350
▫Tire Pressure........................350
▫Tire Inflation Pressures.................351
▫Radial Ply Tires......................353
▫All Season Tires – If Equipped............353
▫Summer Or Three Season Tires –
If Equipped..........................354
▫Snow Tires..........................354
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▫Spare Tire Matching Original Equipped Tire And
Wheel – If Equipped...................355
▫Compact Spare Tire – If Equipped.........355
▫Full Size Spare – If Equipped.............356
▫Limited-Use Spare – If Equipped..........356
▫Tire Spinning........................357
▫Tread Wear Indicators..................358
▫Life Of Tire.........................358
▫Replacement Tires.....................359
TIRE CHAINS (TRACTION DEVICES).......360
TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS.....361
TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM (TPMS) . .362
▫Base System.........................364▫Premium System – If Equipped............366
▫General Information...................370
FUEL REQUIREMENTS..................370
▫Reformulated Gasoline.................371
▫Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends..............371
▫E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles.......372
▫MMT In Gasoline.....................373
▫Materials Added To Fuel................373
▫Fuel System Cautions...................373
▫Carbon Monoxide Warnings.............374
FLEXIBLE FUEL (3.6L ENGINE ONLY) — IF
EQUIPPED...........................375
▫E-85 General Information...............375
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STARTING AND OPERATING 301

▫Ethanol Fuel (E-85)....................376
▫Fuel Requirements....................376
▫Selection Of Engine Oil For Flexible Fuel
Vehicles (E-85) And Gasoline Vehicles.......377
▫Starting............................378
▫Cruising Range.......................378
▫Replacement Parts....................378
▫Maintenance........................378
ADDING FUEL........................379
▫Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap)...............379
▫Loose Filler Cap Message...............381VEHICLE LOADING....................382
▫Vehicle Certification Label...............382
▫Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).......382
▫Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).........382
▫Overloading.........................383
▫Loading............................383
TRAILER TOWING.....................384
▫Common Towing Definitions.............384
RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.)...................395
▫Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle . .395
▫Recreational Towing – All Models..........395
302 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 remove the key
fob from the ignition and lock your vehicle.
•Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle.
•Allowing children to be in a vehicle unattended is
dangerous for a number of reasons. A child or
others could be seriously or fatally injured. Chil-
dren should be warned not to touch the parking
brake, brake pedal or the shift lever.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle. A
child could operate power windows, other controls,
or move the vehicle.
Normal Starting
The shift lever must be in the PARK or NEUTRAL
position before you can start the engine. Apply the brakes
before shifting to any driving gear.
NOTE:Normal starting of either a cold or a warm
engine does not require pumping or pressing the accel-
erator pedal.
Tip Start
Do notpress the accelerator. Turn the ignition key briefly
to START position, and release it. The starter motor will
continue to run, and it will disengage automatically
when the engine is running. If the engine fails to start, the
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STARTING AND OPERATING 303

starter will disengage automatically in 10 seconds. If this
occurs, turn the ignition switch to the LOCK position,
wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the “Normal Starting”
procedure.
Extreme Cold Weather (Below –20°F Or 29°C)
To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of
an externally powered electric engine block heater (avail-
able from your authorized dealer) is recommended.
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 warning effect on the engine.
The engine block heater cord is bundled under the hood
between the headlight assembly and the Totally Inte-
grated Power Module (Fuse Box) on the driver ’s side of
the vehicle.
WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the engine block heater
cord before driving. Damage to the 110-115 Volt
electrical cord could cause electrocution.
304 STARTING AND OPERATING

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the follow-
ing precautions are not observed:
•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.
•Do not shift between PARK, REVERSE, NEU-
TRAL, or DRIVE when the engine is above idle
speed.
•Before shifting into any gear, make sure your foot
is firmly pressing on the brake pedal.
NOTE:You MUST press and hold the brake pedal while
shifting out of PARK.
WARNING!
•It is dangerous to move the shift lever out of PARK
or NEUTRAL if the engine speed is higher than
idle speed. If your foot is not firmly pressing on the
brake pedal, the vehicle could accelerate quickly
forward or in reverse. You could lose control of the
vehicle and hit someone or something. Only shift
into gear when the engine is idling normally and
when your foot is firmly pressing on the brake
pedal.
(Continued)
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WARNING! (Continued)
•Unintended movement of a vehicle could injure
those in and near the vehicle. As with all vehicles,
you should never exit a vehicle while the engine is
running. Before exiting a vehicle, always apply the
parking brake, shift the transmission into PARK,
and remove the ignition key. Once the key is
removed, the shift lever is locked in PARK, secur-
ing the vehicle against unwanted movement.
•When leaving the vehicle, always remove the igni-
tion key and lock your vehicle.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Allowing children to
be 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 shift lever.
•Do not leave the ignition key in or near the vehicle.
A child could operate power windows, other con-
trols, or move the vehicle.
Key Ignition Park Interlock
This vehicle is equipped with a Key Ignition Park Inter-
lock which requires the shift lever to be placed in PARK
before the ignition switch can be turned to the LOCK/
OFF position. The key can only be removed from the
306 STARTING AND OPERATING

ignition when the ignition is in the LOCK/OFF position,
and once removed, the shift lever is locked in PARK.
NOTE:If a malfunction occurs, the system will trap the
key in the ignition switch to warn you that this safety
feature is inoperable. The engine can be started and
stopped but the key cannot be removed until you obtain
service.
Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System
This vehicle is equipped with a Brake Transmission Shift
Interlock (BTSI) that holds the shift lever in PARK unless
the brakes are applied. To move the shift lever out of
PARK, the ignition switch must be turned to the ON/
RUN position (engine running or not) and the brake
pedal must be pressed.
Four-Speed Automatic Transmission — If
Equipped
The shift lever position display (located in the instrument
cluster) indicates the transmission gear range. You must
press the brake pedal to move the shift lever out of PARK
(refer to “Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System” in
this section). To drive, 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
moving the shift lever between these gears.
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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
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 place the shift
lever in PARK first, and then apply the parking brake.
When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake before
placing the shift lever in PARK, otherwise the load on the
transmission locking mechanism may make it difficult tomove 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
fully when parked to guard against vehicle move-
ment and possible injury or damage.
•Your vehicle could move and injure you and others
if it is not completely in PARK. Check by trying to
move the shift lever rearward (with the brake pedal
released) after you have placed it in PARK. Make
sure the transmission is in PARK before leaving
the vehicle.
(Continued)
308 STARTING AND OPERATING