stop start DODGE DART 2013 PF / 1.G Owner's Manual
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•Press the ENGINE START/STOP button a third time
to return the ignition switch to the OFF position (EVIC
displays “IGNITION MODE OFF”).
Extreme Cold Weather (Below –30°F or34°C)
To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of
an externally powered electric engine block heater (avail-
able from your authorized dealer) is required for the 1.4L
Turbo and 2.4L engines and recommended for the 2.0L
engine.
Extended Park Starting
NOTE:Extended Park condition occurs when the ve-
hicle has not been started or driven for at least 35 days.
1. Install a battery charger or jumper cables to the battery
to ensure a full battery charge during the crank cycle.
2. Turn the ignition switch to the START position and
release it when the engine starts. 3. If the engine fails to start within 25 seconds, turn the
ignition switch to the STOP (OFF/LOCK) position, wait
60 seconds to allow the starter to cool, then repeat the
Extended Park Starting procedure.
If Engine Fails To Start
If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
“Normal Starting” or “Extreme Cold Weather” proce-
dures, 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 ON position, release the accelerator pedal and
repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.
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Maximum Recommended Downshift Speeds
CAUTION!
Failure to follow the maximum recommended down-
shifting speeds may cause the engine to overspeed
and/or damage the clutch disc, even if the clutch
pedal is pressed.
Manual Transmission Downshift Speeds in MPH(KM/H)
Gear
Selec-
tion 6to5 5to4 4to3 3to2 2to1
Maxi-
mum
Speed 80 (129) 70 (113) 50 (81) 30 (48) 15 (24)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION — IF EQUIPPED
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.
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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 key fob in or near the vehicle, and
do not leave a vehicle equipped with Keyless
Enter-N-Go in the ACC or ON/RUN position. 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 OFFposition. The key fob can only be removed from the
ignition when the ignition is in the OFF position and the
shift lever is locked in PARK.
NOTE:
If a malfunction occurs, the system will trap the
key fob in the ignition cylinder switch to warn you that
this safety feature is inoperable. The engine can be started
and stopped, but the key fob cannot be removed until
you obtain service.
Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System
This vehicle is equipped with a Brake Transmission Shift
Interlock system (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.
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Six-Speed Automatic Transmission (1.4L Turbo
Engine Only — DDCT)
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, press the button on the front of the
shift lever and 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).This transmission is programmed to prevent shifting
from REVERSE to DRIVE or DRIVE to REVERSE, if
vehicle speed is above 6 mph (10 km/h). This safety
feature helps protect your transmission from damage.
Only shift from DRIVE to PARK or REVERSE should be
done only when the accelerator pedal is released and the
vehicle is stopped. Be sure to keep your foot on the brake
pedal when shifting between these gears.
The transmission shift lever has PARK, REVERSE, NEU-
TRAL, DRIVE, and AutoStick
shift positions. Manual
shifts can be made using the AutoStick shift control
(refer to “AutoStick” in this section for further informa-
tion). Moving the shift lever rearward (+) or forward (-)
while in the AutoStick position (beside the Drive posi-
tion) will manually select the transmission gear, and will
display the current gear in the instrument cluster as 6, 5,
4, 3, 2, 1.
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CAUTION!
•Before moving the shift lever out of PARK, you
must turn the ignition switch from the OFF posi-
tion to the ON/RUN position, press the brake
pedal, and press the button on the front of the shift
knob. Otherwise, damage to the shift lever could
result.
•DO NOT race the engine when shifting from
PARK or NEUTRAL into another gear range, as
this can damage the drivetrain.
The following indicators should be used to ensure that
you have engaged the shift lever into the PARK position:
•When shifting into PARK, firmly move the shift lever
all the way forward until it stops and is fully seated.
•Look at the shift lever position display and verify that
it indicates the PARK position.
•With brake pedal released, verify that the shift lever
will not move out of PARK.
REVERSE
This range is for moving the vehicle backward. Shift into
REVERSE only after the vehicle has come to a complete
stop.
NEUTRAL
Use this range when the vehicle is standing for prolonged
periods with the engine running. The engine may be
started in this range. Apply the parking brake and shift
the transmission into PARK if you must leave the vehicle.
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•At low speeds you may hear mechanical noises similar
to a manual transmission as the transmission changes
gears. These noises are normal and will not damage
the transmission.
•Very aggressive driving may result in some clutch
odor similar to a manual transmission. An active
warning message will display in the Instrument Clus-
ter if cool down actions are needed.
•When stopped on an incline, always hold the vehicle
in place using the brakes. On steep inclines, Hill Start
Assist (HSA) will temporarily hold the car in position
when the brake pedal is released. If the accelerator
pedal is not applied after a short time, the car will roll
back. Either reapply the brake (to hold the vehicle) or
press the accelerator to climb the hill.
•Before and after the engine is started, you may hear a
hydraulic pump for a short period of time. This noise
is normal and will not damage the transmission.When frequent transmission shifting occurs (such as
when operating the vehicle under heavy loading condi-
tions, in hilly terrain, or traveling into strong head winds,
use the AutoStick
shift control (refer to “AutoStick”in
this section for further information) to select a lower gear.
Under these conditions, using a lower gear will improve
performance and extend transmission life by reducing
excessive shifting and heat buildup.
During extremely cold temperatures, the transmission
will not operate if the oil temperature is -22°F (-30°C) or
below. Allow the engine to idle briefly with the transmis-
sion in PARK in order to warm the fluid. Normal
operation will resume once the transmission oil is suffi-
ciently warm.
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Instrument Cluster Messages
Messages will be displayed in the instrument cluster to
alert the driver when certain unusual conditions occur.
These messages are described below.
MESSAGEDESCRIPTION
GEAR NOT AVAILABLE In AutoStickmode, the gear selected by the driver is not
available due to a fault condition. See your authorized
dealer for diagnosis and service.
SHIFT NOT ALLOWED The gear position requested by the driver is currently
blocked. This occurs if NEUTRAL is requested while moving
(with the throttle opened), if REVERSE is requested while
moving (at 6 mph [10 km/h] or faster), if DRIVE is re-
quested while moving backwards (at 6 mph [10 km/h] or
faster), or if 3rd gear or higher is requested at a stop. Make
sure the vehicle is stopped before engaging DRIVE or RE-
VERSE.
SHIFT TO NEUTRAL – THEN D or R The transmission has shifted itself into NEUTRAL (due to a fault condition, or overheat due to excessive idling when
stopped in DRIVE with the brakes released), but the shift
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MESSAGEDESCRIPTION
lever remains in gear. Shift into NEUTRAL and then back
into gear for continued driving. If the transmission will not
re-engage, see your authorized dealer.
AUTOSTICK NOT AVAILABLE AutoStick mode is unavailable due to a shift lever fault.
See your authorized dealer for diagnosis and service.
AUTOMATIC MODE NOT AVAILABLE The transmission is unable to shift itself automatically, due to a fault condition. Use the AutoStickmode to shift the
transmission manually. See your authorized dealer for diag-
nosis and service.
REDUCE GEAR CHANGES The transmission pump is overheating. In AutoStick mode,
try to drive in one specific gear as much as possible, avoid-
ing frequent gear changes. In DRIVE, the transmission will
automatically modify its shift schedule to reduce the number
of shifts.
TRANS. GETTING HOT PRESS BRAKE The transmission driving clutch is overheating, usually due to repeated launches in stop-and-go traffic. Pull over and
allow the transmission to cool in NEUTRAL until “TRANS.
COOL READY TO DRIVE ” is displayed.
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MESSAGEDESCRIPTION
TRANS. HOT STOP SAFELY SHIFT TO P The transmission driving clutch has overheated. Pull over and shift the transmission into PARK and allow the vehicle
to cool until “TRANS. COOL READY TO DRIVE” is dis-
played.
SERVICE TRANSMISSION A transmission fault has been detected. See your authorized
dealer for diagnosis and service.
SERVICE SHIFTER A shift lever fault has been detected. See your authorized
dealer for diagnosis and service.
ENGAGE PARK BRAKE The sensor that confirms PARK engagement is not function-
ing properly. Engage the parking brake to ensure that the
vehicle will not roll when in PARK.
Transmission Limp Home Mode
Transmission function is monitored electronically for
abnormal conditions. If a condition is detected that could
result in transmission damage, Transmission Limp Home
Mode is activated. In this mode, some gears will be
unavailable. The transmission will operate only in a
certain select set of gears (such as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Reverse, or 1st, 3rd, 5th, and Reverse, or 2nd, 4th, and 6th
[with no Reverse]). PARK and NEUTRAL will continue
to be available. The “Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)”
may be illuminated. Limp Home Mode allows the vehicle
to be driven to an authorized dealer for service without
damaging the transmission.
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In the event of a momentary problem, the transmission
can be reset to regain all forward gears by performing the
following steps:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Shift the transmission into PARK.
3. Turn the engine OFF.
4. Wait approximately 10 seconds.
5. Restart the engine.
6. Shift into the desired gear range. If the problem is no
longer detected, the transmission will return to normal
operation.
NOTE:Even if the transmission can be reset, we recom-
mend that you visit your authorized dealer at your
earliest possible convenience. Your authorized dealer has
diagnostic equipment to determine if the problem could
recur. If the transmission cannot be reset, authorized dealer
service is required.
Six-Speed Automatic Transmission (2.0L And
2.4L Engine Only — 6F24)
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, press the button on the front of the
shift lever, and 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).
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