ESP CHRYSLER 300 SRT 2008 1.G Workshop Manual

FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE
If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand, or snow, it
can often be moved by a rocking motion. Turn your
steering wheel right and left to clear the area around the
front wheels. Then shift back and forth between RE-
VERSE and DRIVE. Usually, the least accelerator pedal
pressure to maintain the rocking motion without spin-
ning the wheels is most effective.
NOTE:Turn off the Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
before rocking the vehicle. Refer to “Electronic Stability
Program,” or “Traction Control” in Section 5.CAUTION!
•When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by moving be-
tween “1st” and REVERSE, do not spin the wheels
faster than 15 mph (24 km/h), or drivetrain damage
may result.
•Racing 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 35 mph (55 km/h).
380 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

Adding Coolant
Your vehicle has been built with an improved engine
coolant that allows extended maintenance intervals. This
coolant can be used up to five years or 100,000 mi (160
000 km) before replacement. To prevent reducing this
extended maintenance period, it is important that you
use the same coolant throughout the life of your vehicle.
Please review these recommendations for using Hybrid
Organic Additive Technology (HOAT) coolant.
When adding coolant:
•The manufacturer recommends using Mopar
Antifreeze/Coolant 5 Year/100,000 Mile Formula
HOAT (Hybrid Organic Additive Technology).
•Mix a minimum solution of 50% HOAT engine coolant
and distilled water. Use higher concentrations (not to
exceed 70%) if temperatures below
34°F (
37°C) are
anticipated.
•Use only high purity water such as distilled or deion-
ized water when mixing the water/engine coolant
solution. The use of lower quality water will reduce
the amount of corrosion protection in the engine
cooling system.
Please note that it is the owner’s responsibility to main-
tain the proper level of protection against freezing ac-
cording to the temperatures occurring in the area where
the vehicle is operated.
NOTE:Mixing coolant types will decrease the life of the
engine coolant and will require more frequent coolant
changes.
Cooling System Pressure Cap
The cap must be fully tightened to prevent loss of coolant
and to ensure that coolant will return to the radiator from
the coolant recovery bottle.
406 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

CAUTION!
Do not use abrasive or strong cleaning materials such
as steel wool or scouring powder that will scratch
metal and painted surfaces.
Special Care
•
If you drive on salted or dusty roads or if you drive
near the ocean, hose off the undercarriage at least once
a month.
•It is important that the drain holes in the lower edges
of the doors, rocker panels, and trunk be kept clear
and open.
•If you detect any stone chips or scratches in the paint,
touch them up immediately. The cost of such repairs is
considered the responsibility of the owner.
•If your vehicle is damaged due to an accident or
similar cause that destroys the paint and protective
coating, have your vehicle repaired as soon as pos-
sible. The cost of such repairs is considered the respon-
sibility of the owner.
•If you carry special cargo such as chemicals, fertilizers,
de-icer salt, etc., be sure that such materials are well
packaged and sealed.
•If a lot of driving is done on gravel roads, consider
mud or stone shields behind each wheel.
•Use Mopartouch up paint or equivalent on scratches
as soon as possible. Your authorized dealer has touch
up paint to match the color of your vehicle.
Wheel and Wheel Trim Care
All wheels and wheel trim, especially aluminum and
chrome plated wheels should be cleaned regularly with a
mild soap and water to prevent corrosion. To remove
416 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

heavy soil and/or excessive brake dust, use Mopar
Wheel Cleaner (05066247AB) or equivalent or select a
nonabrasive, non-acidic cleaner. Do not use scouring
pads, steel wool, a bristle brush, or metal polishes. Only
Moparor equivalent is recommended. Do not use oven
cleaner. Avoid automatic car washes that use acidic
solutions or harsh brushes that may damage the wheels’
protective finish.
Interior Care
Use MoparFabric Cleaner or equivalent to clean fabric
upholstery and MoparCarpet Cleaner for carpeting.
Interior Trim should be cleaned starting with a damp
cloth, or MoparSatin Select. Do not use harsh cleaners
or Armorall. Use MoparTotal Clean to clean vinyl
upholstery.
MoparTotal Clean is specifically recommended for
leather upholstery.Your leather upholstery can be best preserved by regular
cleaning with a damp soft cloth. Small particles of dirt
can act as an abrasive and damage the leather upholstery
and should be removed promptly with a damp cloth.
Stubborn soils can be removed easily with a soft cloth
and MoparTotal Clean or equivalent. Care should be
taken to avoid soaking your leather upholstery with any
liquid. Please do not use polishes, oils, cleaning fluids,
solvents, detergents, or ammonia-based cleaners to clean
your leather upholstery. Application of a leather condi-
tioner is not required to maintain the original condition.
WARNING!
Do not use volatile solvents for cleaning purposes.
Many are potentially flammable, and if used in
closed areas they may cause respiratory harm.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 417
7

Cavity Car-
tridge
FuseMini-
FuseDescription
28 — 10 Amp
RedIgnition Run
29 — 5 Amp
OrangeAdaptive Cruise Control
(ACC) - if equipped/
Cluster/Electronic Sta-
bility Program (ESP)/
Powertrain Control
Module (PCM)/STOP
LIGHT Switch
30 — 10 Amp
RedDoor Modules/Power
Mirrors/Steering Con-
trol Module (SCM)
31 — — —
32 — — —
33 — — —
34 — — —Cavity Car-
tridge
FuseMini-
FuseDescription
35 — 5 Amp
OrangeAntenna Module - if
equipped/Power
Mirrors/Rain Sensor - if
equipped
36 — 20 Amp
YellowHands-Free Phone - if
equipped/Video Moni-
tor - if equipped/Radio
37 — 15 Amp
BlueTransmission
38 — 10 Amp
RedAnalog Clock/Cargo
Light/Satellite Receiver
(SDARS) Video - if
equipped/Vehicle Infor-
mation Module - if
equipped
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 425
7

The manufacturer will not stand behind any service
contract that is not the manufacturer’s Service Contract. It
is not responsible for any service contract other than the
manufacturer’s Service Contract. If you purchased a
service contract that is not a manufacturer’s Service
Contract, and you require service after your manufactur-
er’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty expires, please refer
to your contract documents, and contact the person listed
in those documents.
We appreciate that you have made a major investment
when you purchased your vehicle. Your authorized
dealer has also made a major investment in facilities,
tools, and training to assure that you are absolutely
delighted with your ownership experience. You’ll be
pleased with their sincere efforts to resolve any warranty
issues or related concerns.WARNING!
Engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain
vehicle components contain, or emit, chemicals
known to the State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive harm. In addition,
certain fluids contained in vehicles and certain prod-
ucts of component wear contain, or emit, chemicals
known to the State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive harm.
WARRANTY INFORMATION (U.S. Vehicles Only)
See the Warranty Information Booklet for the terms and
provisions of DaimlerChrysler’s warranties applicable to
this vehicle.
452 IF YOU NEED CONSUMER ASSISTANCE

Traction Grades
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B,
and C. These grades represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement, as measured under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction performance.
WARNING!
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction tests, and does not
include acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or
peak traction characteristics.
Temperature Grades
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of heat
and its ability to dissipate heat, when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratorytest wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of performance, which all
passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A repre-
sent higher levels of performance on the laboratory test
wheel, than the minimum required by law.
WARNING!
The temperature grade for this tire is established for
a tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, under-inflation, or excessive load-
ing, either separately or in combination, can cause
heat buildup and possible tire failure.
456 IF YOU NEED CONSUMER ASSISTANCE

Dealer Service.......................... 390
Deck Lid, Emergency Release................ 38
Deck Lid, Power Release................... 37
Defroster, Rear Window................... 292
Defroster, Windshield................... 77,288
Delay (Intermittent) Wipers................. 141
Diagnostic System, Onboard................ 387
Digital Video Disc (DVD) Player..........232,251
Dimmer Switch, Headlight................. 138
Dipsticks
Oil (Engine).......................... 391
Disabled Vehicle Towing................... 381
Disposal
Antifreeze (Engine Coolant)............... 407
Engine Oil........................... 393
Door Locks............................. 27
Door Locks, Automatic.................... 29
Door Opener, Garage..................... 177
DriveBelts ............................ 393Driving
On Slippery Surfaces.................... 312
Through Flowing, Rising, or Shallow
tanding Water.......................... 313
DVD Player (Video Entertainment System)...... 273
Electric Rear Window Defrost............... 292
Electric Remote Mirrors.................... 86
Electrical Power Outlets................... 187
Electronic Brake Control System............. 320
Electronic Power Distribution Center (Fuses).... 419
Electronic Speed Control (Cruise Control)....150,153
Electronic Stability Program (ESP)............ 323
Electronic Throttle Control Warning Light...... 205
Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC).... 209
Emergency Deck Lid Release................ 38
Emergency, In Case of
FreeingVehicleWhenStuck ............... 380
Hazard Warning Flasher................. 370
462 INDEX

Jump Starting......................... 377
Overheating.......................... 371
Towing ............................. 381
Emergency Trunk Release................... 38
Emission Control System Maintenance......388,440
Engine............................... 386
Air Cleaner.......................... 394
Block Heater......................... 301
Break-In Recommendations................ 73
Checking Oil Level..................... 391
Compartment......................... 386
Coolant (Antifreeze).................404,436
Cooling ............................. 404
Exhaust Gas Caution.................. 75,360
Fails to Start.......................... 300
Flooded, Starting...................... 300
Fuel Requirements..................... 357
Jump Starting......................... 377
Oil ...........................391,435,436Oil Change Interval.................... 392
Oil Filler Cap......................... 392
OilFilter ............................ 393
Oil Filter Disposal...................... 393
Oil Selection.......................392,435
Overheating.......................... 371
Starting............................. 297
Temperature Gauge..................... 203
Engine Oil Viscosity...................... 392
Enhanced Accident Response Feature.......... 60
Entry System, Illuminated.................. 20
Ethanol............................... 358
Event Data Recorder...................... 62
Exhaust Gas Caution.............. 75,76,360,403
Exhaust System....................... 75,403
ExteriorFoldingMirrors ................... 85
ExteriorLighting ........................ 132
ExteriorLights .......................... 77
INDEX 463
10

Jump Starting.......................... 377
Key, Programming........................ 17
Key, Replacement........................ 16
Key, Sentry (Immobilizer)................... 15
Key-In Reminder......................... 15
Keyless Entry System...................... 20
Keys................................. 12
Knee Bolster............................ 49
Lane Change and Turn Signals.............. 138
Lap/Shoulder Belts....................... 40
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether for
CHildren) ............................ 68,69
Latch Plate............................. 41
Latches................................ 77
Hood............................... 131
Lead Free Gasoline...................... 357
Leaks, Fluid............................ 77LifeofTires ............................ 341
LightBulbs .......................... 77,427
Lights .............................. 77,132
Airbag........................ 56,61,76,201
Anti-Lock.........................200,319
Automatic Headlights................... 133
Brake Assist Warning................... 327
Brake Warning.....................201,317
Bulb Replacement...................427,428
Courtesy/Reading...................138,176
Cruise .............................. 199
Daytime Running...................... 136
Dimmer Switch, Headlight.............137,138
Electronic Stability Program (ESP) Indicator . . . 327
Electronic Throttle Control Warning......... 205
Engine Temperature Warning.............. 200
Exterior.............................. 77
Fog .............................137,199
Hazard Warning Flasher................. 370
INDEX 467
10