DODGE CHALLENGER 2018 Owners Manual

to the radiator and aids in removing heat from the
engine cooling system.
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.
MANUAL PARK RELEASE — 8 SPEED
TRANSMISSION
WARNING!
Always secure your vehicle by fully applying the
parking brake before activating the Manual Park Re-
lease. 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.
In order to move the vehicle in cases where the transmis-
sion will not shift out of PARK (such as a dead battery), a
Manual Park Release is available.
7
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 309

Follow these steps to use the Manual Park Release:
1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Remove the console storage bin to access the ManualPark Release lever.
3. Using a small screwdriver or similar tool, fish the tether strap up through the opening in the console base.
4. Press and maintain firm pressure on the brake pedal. 5. Insert the screwdriver into the slot in the center of the
lever, and disengage the lever locking tab by pushing it
to the right.
6. While holding the locking tab in the disengaged posi- tion, pull the tether strap to rotate the lever up and
rearward until it locks in place in the vertical position.
The vehicle is now out of PARK and can be moved.
Release the parking brake only when the vehicle is
securely connected to a tow vehicle.
Console Storage Bin
Locking Tab
310 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

To Reset The Manual Park Release:
1. Push the latch (at the base of the lever, on the rear side)rearward (away from the lever) to unlatch the lever.
2. Rotate the Manual Park Release lever forward and down, to its original position, until the locking tab snaps
into place to secure the lever.
3. Pull up gently on the tether strap to confirm that the lever is locked in its stowed position.
4. Tuck the tether strap into the base of the console. Reinstall the console storage bin.
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 auto-
matic transmission) or FIRST GEAR and REVERSE (with
manual transmission), while gently pressing the accelera-
tor. 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.
CAUTION!
Racing the engine or spinning the wheels may lead to
transmission overheating and failure. Allow the en-
gine to idle with the transmission in NEUTRAL for at
(Continued)
Tether Strap
7
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 311

CAUTION!(Continued)
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.
NOTE: Push the “ESC Off” switch (if necessary), to place
the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system in “Partial
Off” mode, before rocking the vehicle. Refer to “Electronic
Brake Control System” in “Safety” for further information.
Once the vehicle has been freed, push the ESC Offswitch
again to restore “ESC On” mode.
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 drive-
train 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 transmis-
sion shifting occurring).
312 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE
This section describes procedures for towing a disabled
vehicle using a commercial towing service.
Towing Condition Wheels OFF The Ground RWD MODELSAWD MODELS
Flat Tow NONEIf transmission is
operable:
• Transmission in
NEUTRAL
• 30 mph (48 km/h)
max speed
• 30 miles (48 km)
max distance NOT ALLOWED
Wheel Lift Or Dolly Tow FrontNOT RECOMMENDED
(but, if used, same limita- tions as above) NOT ALLOWED
Rear NOT RECOMMENDED NOT RECOMMENDED,
but, if used:
•Ignition in ON/RUN
mode
• Transmission in NEU-
TRAL (NOT in PARK)
Flatbed ALL BEST METHOD BEST METHOD
7
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 313

Proper towing or lifting equipment is required to prevent
damage to your vehicle. Use only tow bars and other
equipment designed for this purpose, following equipment
manufacturer ’s instructions. Use of safety chains is man-
datory. Attach a tow bar or other towing device to main
structural members of the vehicle, not to bumpers or
associated brackets. State and local laws regarding vehicles
under tow must be observed.
If you must use the accessories (wipers, defrosters, etc.)
while being towed, the ignition must be in the ON/RUN
mode, not the ACC mode.
If the key fob is unavailable, or the vehicle’s battery is
discharged, refer toManual Park Release in this section
for instructions on shifting the transmission out of PARK
for towing.
CAUTION!
• Do not use sling type equipment when towing.
Vehicle damage may occur.
• When securing the vehicle to a flat bed truck, do not
attach to front or rear suspension components. Dam-
age to your vehicle may result from improper towing.
• The manufacturer does not recommend towing this
vehicle using a tow dolly. Vehicle damage may occur.
All Wheel Drive (AWD) Models
The manufacturer recommends towing your vehicle with
all four wheels OFF the ground using a flatbed.
If the transmission and driveline are operable, AWD mod-
els can also be towed with the ignition in the ON/RUN
mode, the transmission in NEUTRAL (not in PARK!), and
the rear wheels OFF the ground with no limitation on
speed or distance. Since the ignition MUST be in the
ON/RUN mode to tow in this manner, AWD vehicles must
be towed with ALL FOUR wheels OFF the ground (e.g. on
a flatbed truck) if the key fob is unavailable.
CAUTION!
• Towing this vehicle using any other method can
cause severe transmission and/or transfer
case damage.
• Damage from improper towing is not covered under
the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
314 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) Models
The manufacturer recommends towing your vehicle with
all four wheels OFF the ground using a flatbed.
If flatbed equipment is not available, and the transmission
is operable, the vehicle may be flat towed (with all four
wheels on the ground) under the following conditions:
•The transmission must be in NEUTRAL. Refer to
Manual Park Release in this section for instructions on
shifting the automatic transmission to NEUTRAL when
the engine is off.
• The towing distance must not exceed 30 miles (48 km).
• The towing speed must not exceed 30 mph (48 km/h).
If the transmission is not operable, or the vehicle must be
towed faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) or farther than 30
miles (48 km), then the only acceptable method of towing
is with a flatbed truck.
CAUTION!
Towing this vehicle in violation of the above require-
ments can cause severe engine and/or transmission
damage. Damage from improper towing is not covered
under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
ENHANCED ACCIDENT RESPONSE SYSTEM
(EARS)
This vehicle is equipped with an Enhanced Accident
Response System.
Please refer to “Occupant Restraint Systems” in “Safety”
for further information on the Enhanced Accident Re-
sponse System (EARS) function.
EVENT DATA RECORDER (EDR)
This vehicle is equipped with an Event Data Recorder
(EDR). The main purpose of an EDR is to record data that
will assist in understanding how a vehicle’s systems per-
formed under certain crash or near crash-like situations,
such as an air bag deployment or hitting a road obstacle.
Please refer to “Occupant Restraint Systems” in “Safety”
for further information on the Event Data Recorder (EDR).7
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 315

SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
CONTENTS
SCHEDULED SERVICING .................319
▫ 3.6L And 5.7L Engines ...................319
▫ 6.4L Engine ......................... .324
 ENGINE COMPARTMENT .................329
▫ 3.6L Engine ......................... .329
▫ 5.7L Engine ......................... .330
▫ 6.4L Engine ......................... .331
▫ Checking Oil Level — 3.6L And 5.7L Engine . . .332
▫ Checking Oil Level — 6.4L Engine ...........332
▫ Adding Washer Fluid ...................333
▫ Maintenance-Free Battery .................333
 DEALER SERVICE ...................... .334
▫ Engine Oil .......................... .335
▫ Engine Oil Filter ...................... .339▫
Engine Air Cleaner Filter .................339
▫ Air Conditioner Maintenance ..............340
▫ Accessory Drive Belt Inspection ............342
▫ Body Lubrication ..................... .344
▫ Windshield Wiper Blades .................344
▫ Exhaust System ....................... .347
▫ Cooling System ....................... .349
▫ Brake System ........................ .353
▫ Clutch Hydraulic System — Manual Transmission
(If Equipped) ......................... .355
▫ Manual Transmission — If Equipped ........355
▫ Automatic Transmission — If Equipped ......355
▫ All Wheel Drive (AWD) — If Equipped .......357
▫ Rear

Axle ........................... .357
8

RAISING THE VEHICLE ..................358
 TIRES ............................... .358
▫ Tire Safety Information ..................358
▫ Tires — General Information ..............368
▫ Tire Types ........................... .374
▫ Spare Tires — If Equipped ................375
▫ Wheel And Wheel Trim Care ..............378
▫ Tire Chains (Traction Devices) .............379
▫ Tire Rotation Recommendations .............380
 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNIFORM
TIRE QUALITY GRADES ..................381
▫ Treadwear ........................... .381
▫ Traction Grades ....................... .381
▫ Temperature Grades .....................382 
VEHICLE STORAGE .....................382
 BODYWORK .......................... .382
▫ Protection From Atmospheric Agents ........382
▫ Body And Underbody Maintenance ..........383
▫ Preserving The Bodywork .................383
 INTERIORS ........................... .385
▫ Seats And Fabric Parts ...................385
▫ Plastic And Coated Parts ..................385
▫ Leather Parts ......................... .386
▫ Glass Surfaces ........................ .386
318 SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE