parking brake CHRYSLER SEBRING SEDAN 2008 3.G Owners Manual

3. Requested by police under a legal warrant.
4. Otherwise required by law.
Data Parameters that May Be Recorded:
•Diagnostic trouble code(s) and warning light status for
electronically-controlled safety systems, including the
airbag system
•Airbag disable light status (if equipped)
•Ti m eof airbag deployment (in terms of ignition
cycles and vehicle mileage)
•Airbag deployment level (if applicable)
•Impact acceleration and angle
•Seat belt status
•Brake status (service and parking brakes)
•Accelerator status (including vehicle speed)
•Engine control status (including engine speed)
•Transmission gear selection
•Cruise control status
•Traction/stability control status
•Tire pressure monitoring system status – if equipped
Child Restraint
Everyone in your vehicle needs to be buckled up at all
times — babies and children, too. Every state in the
United States and all Canadian provinces require that
small children ride in proper restraint systems. This is the
law, and you can be prosecuted for ignoring it.
Children 12 years and younger should ride properly
buckled up in a rear seat, if available. According to crash
statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in
the rear seats, rather than in the front.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 67
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Defroster
Check operation by selecting the defrost mode and place
the blower control on high speed. You should be able to
feel the air directed against the windshield.
NOTE:If the defrost feature is not functioning, the
cause should be located and corrected immediately by an
authorized service center. The windshield could fog up
while driving and obscure your visibility.
Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make Outside
The Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear or uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread. Inspect tread and sidewall for cuts or
cracks. Check wheel nuts for tightness, and tires (includ-
ing spare) for proper pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of exterior lights
while you work the controls. Check turn signal and high
beam indicator lights on the instrument panel.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for fuel,
engine coolant, oil, or other fluid leaks. In addition, if
gasoline fumes are detected or fuel, power steering fluid,
transmission fluid, or brake fluid leaks are suspected, the
cause should be located and corrected immediately.
80 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Passing Light / Flash to Pass
You can signal another vehicle with your headlights by
lightly pulling the Multifunction Control Lever toward
you. This will cause the headlights to turn on at high
beam and remain on until the lever is released.
NOTE:If the Multifunction Control Lever is held in the
flash to pass position for more than 15 seconds, the high
beams will shut off. If this occurs, wait 30 seconds for the
next flash to pass operation.
Daytime Running Lights (DRL) — If Equipped
The high beam lights will come on as DRL at DRL
intensity (lower), whenever the ignition is on, the engine
is running, the headlight switch is off, the parking brake
is off, the turn signal is off, and the gear select lever is in
any position except PARK.NOTE:On this vehicle, the DRLwill automatically turn
off when the turn signal is in operation and automatically
turn back on when the turn signal is not operating.
Lights On Reminder
If the headlights or parking lights are on after the ignition
is turned OFF, a chime will sound to alert the driver
when the driver’s door is opened.
Fog Lights — If Equipped
The front fog light switch is on the Multifunction
Control Lever. To activate the front fog lights, turn
on the parking lights or the low beam headlights
and pull out the end of the control lever.
134 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

19. Brake System Warning Light
This 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 (if equipped).
The dual brake system provides a reserve braking capac-
ity in the event of a failure to a portion of the hydraulic
system. Failure of 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 condi-
tions. The vehicle should have service performed, and
the brake fluid level checked.If brake failure is indicated, immediate repair is neces-
sary.
WARNING!
Driving a vehicle with the brake light on is danger-
ous. Part of the brake system may have failed. It will
take longer to stop the vehicle. You could have an
accident. Have the vehicle checked immediately.
Vehicles equipped with Anti-Lock brakes (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.
The operation of the Brake Warning Light can be checked
by turning the ignition switch from the OFF position to
178 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

the ON position. The light should illuminate for approxi-
mately 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 position.
NOTE:This light shows only that the parking brake is
applied. It does not show the degree of brake application.
20. Turn Signal Indicators
The arrows will flash in unison with the exterior
turn signal, when using the turn signal lever.
21. Front Fog Light Indicator — If Equipped
This light shows when the front fog lights are ON.22. Electronic Stability Program (ESP) Indicator Light
The yellow ESP/BAS malfunction indicator
light will turn on when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position. The light should go
out with the engine running. If the light re-
mains on after several ignition cycles, and you have
driven the vehicle several miles/kilometers at speeds
greater than 30 mph (48 km/h), and the ESP is synchro-
nized (refer to Synchronizing ESP), see your authorized
dealer as soon as possible to have the problem diagnosed
and corrected.
23. Anti-Lock Warning Light (ABS)
This light monitors the ABS. This light will
come on when the ignition key is turned to the
ON position and may stay on for as long as
four seconds.
If the ABS light remains on or comes on during driving,
it indicates that the Anti-Lock portion of the brake system
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 179
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▫AutoStickGeneral Information...........277

Parking Brake.........................277

Brake System..........................281
▫Anti—Lock Brake System (ABS)...........282

Electronic Brake Control System –
ABS/TCS/BAS/ESP.....................285
▫Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) —
If Equipped.........................285
▫Traction Control System (TCS) —
If Equipped.........................285
▫Brake Assist System (BAS) — If Equipped....286
▫Electronic Stability Program (ESP).........287

Power Steering........................290
Driving On Slippery Surfaces..............291
▫Acceleration.........................291
▫Traction............................292

Driving Through Water..................292
▫Flowing/Rising Water..................292
▫Shallow Standing Water.................293

Tire Safety Information...................294
▫Tire Markings........................294
▫Tire Identification Number (TIN)..........298
▫Tire Loading And Tire Pressure...........299

Tires—General Information................303
▫Tire Pressure.........................303
260 STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING!
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector lever out of
PARK or NEUTRAL if the engine speed is higher
than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly 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 the
gear selector lever into gear when the engine is idling
normally and when your right foot is firmly on the
brake pedal.
WARNING!
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, you should always
shift the gear selector lever into PARK, remove the
key from the ignition, and apply the parking brake.
Once the key is removed from the ignition, the gear
selector lever is locked in the PARK position, secur-
ing the vehicle against unwanted movement. Further-
more, you should never leave children unattended
inside a vehicle.
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BRAKE/TRANSAXLE INTERLOCK
This system prevents you from moving the gear selector
lever out of PARK and into any gear unless the brake
pedal is pressed. This system is active only while the
ignition switch is in the ON position.Always press the
brake pedal first, before moving the gear selector lever
out of PARK.
NOTE:If a malfunction occurs, the transaxle will not
shift out of PARK. Battery power is required to release the
brake/transaxle interlock system. However, there is an
override system that allows you to shift out of PARK in
case of loss of power. To activate the override system:
•Firmly apply the parking brake
•Insert the ignition key and rotate it to the ON position
•Remove the cup holder liner
•Insert a key, screwdriver, or finger into the front hole
then push and hold the manual override release lever
forward.
•While holding the release lever forward, move the
gear selector lever from PARK to NEUTRAL. Release
the manual override lever.
NOTE:If this occurs, even if the override is successful,
it is recommended that you visit a dealer at your earliest
possible convenience. Your dealer has diagnostic equip-
ment to determine if the problem could recur.
AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE IGNITION INTERLOCK
SYSTEM
This system prevents the key from being removed unless
the gear selector lever is in PARK. It also prevents shifting
out of PARK unless the key is in the ON position and the
brake pedal is applied.
272 STARTING AND OPERATING

NOTE:If a malfunction occurs, the system will trap the
key in the ignition cylinder 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.
ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC
TRANSAXLE
The electronically controlled transaxle provides a precise
shift schedule. The transaxle 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.
GEAR RANGES
PARK
PARK supplements the parking brake by locking the
transaxle. The engine can be started in this range. Never
attempt to use PARK while vehicle is in motion. Apply
parking brake when leaving vehicle in this range.When parking on a flat surface, place the selector lever in
the PARK position first, and then apply the parking
brake.
When parking on a hill, it is important to set the parking
brake before placing the selector lever in PARK, other-
wise the load on the transaxle locking mechanism may
make it difficult to move the selector out of PARK. As an
added precaution, turn the front wheels toward the curb
on a downhill grade and away from the curb on an uphill
grade.
WARNING!
Never use PARK position on an Automatic Transaxle
as a substitute for the parking brake. Always apply
parking brake fully when parked to guard against
vehicle movement and possible injury or damage.
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AutoStickGeneral Information
•
You can start out in first or second gear. The system
will ignore attempts to upshift at too low of a vehicle
speed.
•If a ratio other than 1st is selected, and the vehicle is
brought to a stop, the transaxle control logic will
automatically select the 1st gear ratio.
•Starting out in second gear is helpful in snowy or icy
conditions.
•Avoid using speed control when Autostickis en-
gaged.
•The transaxle will automatically shift up when maxi-
mum engine speed is reached while Autostickis
engaged.
•Transaxle shifting will be more noticeable when
Autostickis engaged.
•If a downshift would cause the engine to over-speed,
that shift will not occur until it is safe for the engine.
Mostly the transaxle will stay in the manually selected
ratio, however.
•If the system detects powertrain overheating, the
transaxle will revert to the automatic shift mode and
remain in that mode until the powertrain cools off.
•If the system detects a problem, it will disable the
AutoStickmode and the transaxle will return to the
automatic mode until the problem is corrected.
PARKING BRAKE
When the parking brake is applied with the
ignition on, the Brake Light in the instrument
cluster will come on.
NOTE:This light, when illuminated with parking brake
application, shows only that the parking brake is on. It
does not show the degree of brake application.
STARTING AND OPERATING 277
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