CHRYSLER SEBRING SEDAN 2010 3.G Owners Manual

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
Starting Procedures .................... 235
▫ Automatic Transaxle .................. 235
▫ Normal Starting ..................... 235
▫ Extreme Cold Weather
(Below 20°F Or 29°C)............... 236
▫ If Engine Fails To Start ................ 236
▫ After Starting ....................... 238
 Engine Block Heater — If Equipped ........ 238
 Automatic Transaxle ................... 239 ▫
Key Ignition Park Interlock ............. 240
▫ Brake/Transaxle Interlock System ......... 240
▫ Automatic Transaxle Ignition Interlock
System ............................ 241
▫ Four-Speed/Six-Speed Automatic Transaxle . . 242
▫ Gear Ranges ........................ 242
 AutoStick — If Equipped ............... 246
▫ Operation ......................... 246
▫ General Information .................. 246
5

Driving On Slippery Surfaces ............. 247
▫ Acceleration ........................ 247
▫ Traction ........................... 248
 Driving Through Water ................. 248
▫ Flowing/Rising Water ................. 248
▫ Shallow Standing Water ............... 249
 Power Steering ....................... 250
▫ Power Steering Fluid Check ............. 251
 Parking Brake ........................ 252
 Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ............ 254
 Electronic Brake Control System ........... 256
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ........... 257
▫ Traction Control System (TCS) ........... 257▫
Brake Assist System (BAS) .............. 257
▫ Hill Start Assist (HSA) — If Equipped ..... 258
▫ Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ......... 260
 Tire Safety Information ................. 264
▫ Tire Markings ....................... 264
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ......... 267
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure .......... 268
 Tires — General Information ............. 272
▫ Tire Pressure ....................... 272
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures ................ 273
▫ Radial-Ply Tires ..................... 275
▫ Compact Spare Tire ................... 275
▫ Tire Spinning ....................... 276
232 STARTING AND OPERATING

▫Tread Wear Indicators ................. 277
▫ Life Of Tire ........................ 278
▫ Replacement Tires .................... 278
 Tire Chains .......................... 279
 Snow Tires .......................... 280
 Tire Rotation Recommendations ........... 280
 Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) ....... 281
▫ Base System ........................ 284
▫ Premium System — If Equipped ......... 286
▫ General Information .................. 289
 Fuel Requirements ..................... 290
▫ 2.4L And 2.7L Engine ................. 290
▫ 3.5L Engine ........................ 290 ▫
Reformulated Gasoline ................ 291
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ............. 291
▫ E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles ...... 292
▫ MMT In Gasoline .................... 292
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ............... 293
▫ Fuel System Cautions ................. 293
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings ............ 294
 Flexible Fuel (2.7L Only) — If Equipped ..... 295
▫ E-85 General Information ............... 295
▫ Ethanol Fuel (E-85) ................... 297
▫ Fuel Requirements ................... 297
▫ Selection Of Engine Oil For Flexible Fuel
Vehicles (E-85) And Gasoline Vehicles ...... 298
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STARTING AND OPERATING 233

▫Starting ........................... 298
▫ Cruising Range ...................... 298
▫ Replacement Parts ................... 299
▫ Maintenance ........................ 299
 Adding Fuel ......................... 299
▫ Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap) .............. 299
▫ Loose Filler Cap Message .............. 301
 Vehicle Loading ...................... 302
▫ Vehicle Certification Label .............. 302
▫ Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) ...... 302
▫ Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) ........ 302
▫ Overloading ........................ 303 ▫
Loading ........................... 303
 Trailer Towing ........................ 304
▫ Common Towing Definitions ............ 304
▫ Trailer Hitch Classification .............. 306
▫ Trailer Towing Weights
(Maximum Trailer Weight Ratings) ........ 307
▫ Trailer And Tongue Weight ............. 308
▫ Towing Requirements ................. 309
▫ Towing Tips ........................ 313

Recreational Towing (Behind Motorhome, Etc.). . 314
▫ Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle
(Flat Towing With All Four Wheels On The
Ground) ........................... 314
234 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!
•Never leave children alone in a vehicle. Leaving
children in a vehicle unattended is dangerous for a
number of reasons. A child or others could be
seriously or fatally injured. Do not leave the keys
in the ignition. A child could operate power win-
dows, other controls, or move the vehicle.
•Do not leave animals or children inside parked
vehicles in hot weather; interior heat build up may
cause serious injury or death.
Automatic Transaxle
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:The ignition switch must be in the ON position,
and you must press the brake pedal before shifting out of
PARK.
Normal Starting
NOTE: Normal starting of either a cold or a warm
engine is obtained without pumping or pressing the
accelerator pedal.
For vehicles not equipped with Tip Start (Four-Speed
Transaxle), turn the ignition switch to the START posi-
tion and release it when the engine starts. If the engine
fails to start within 10 seconds, turn the ignition switch to
the LOCK position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the
“Normal Starting” procedure.5
STARTING AND OPERATING 235

For vehicles equipped with Tip Start (Six-Speed Trans-
axle),turn the ignition switch to the START position and
release it as soon as the starter engages. The starter motor
will continue to run, and it will disengage automatically
when the engine is running. If the engine fails to start, the
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 or29°C)
To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of
an externally powered electric engine block heater (avail-
able from your dealer) is recommended.
If Engine Fails To Start
WARNING!
•Never pour fuel or other flammable liquids into
the throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to
start the vehicle. This could result in a flash fire
causing serious personal injury.
(Continued)
236 STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get
it started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic
transaxle cannot be started this way. Unburned
fuel could enter the catalytic converter and once
the engine has started, ignite and damage the
converter and vehicle. If the vehicle has a dis-
charged battery, booster cables may be used to
obtain a start from a booster battery or the battery
in another vehicle. This type of start can be dan-
gerous if done improperly. Refer to Section 6 of
this manual for proper jump starting procedures
and follow them carefully.
Without Tip 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 allthe way to the floor and hold it there while cranking the
engine. This should clear any excess fuel in case the
engine is flooded.
CAUTION!
To prevent damage to the starter, do not crank the
engine for more than 15 seconds at a time. Wait 10 to
15 seconds before trying again.
If the engine is flooded, it may start to run, but not have
enough power to continue running when the key is
released. If this occurs, continue cranking up to 15 sec-
onds with the accelerator pedal pushed all the way to the
floor.
If the engine shows no sign of starting after two 15-
second periods of cranking with the accelerator pedal
held to the floor, repeat the “Normal Starting” or “Ex-
treme Cold Weather” procedures.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 237

With Tip Start
If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
“Normal Starting” or “Extreme Cold Weather” proce-
dures, it may be flooded. To clear any excess fuel, push
the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and hold it.
Then, turn the ignition switch to the START position and
release it as soon as the starter engages. The starter motor
will disengage automatically in 10 seconds. Once this
occurs, release the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then
repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.
CAUTION!
To prevent damage to the starter, wait 10 to 15 sec-
onds before trying again.
After Starting
The idle speed will automatically 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 cord is routed under the hood on
the passenger side of the vehicle near the right head lamp
assembly. It is located between the front grille and the
radiator, but underneath the black upper seal.
WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the cord before driving.
Damage to the 110-115 Volt electrical cord could cause
electrocution.
238 STARTING AND OPERATING

AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE
CAUTION!
Damage to the transaxle may occur if the following
precautions are not observed:
•Shift the shift lever into PARK only after the
vehicle has come to a complete stop.
•Shift the shift lever 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 the shift lever from REVERSE, PARK,
or NEUTRAL into any forward gear when the
engine is above idle speed.
•Before shifting the shift lever into any gear, make
sure your foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
NOTE: You MUST press and hold the brake pedal down
while shifting the shift lever 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 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 right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
(Continued)
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 239

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, you should
always shift the vehicle into PARK, remove the
key from the ignition, and apply the parking
brake. Once the key is removed from the ignition,
the shift lever is locked in the PARK position,
securing the vehicle against unwanted movement.
Furthermore, you should never leave children un-
attended inside a 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
prior to rotating the key to the LOCK position. The keycan only be removed from the ignition when the ignition
is in the LOCK position and once removed the shift lever
is locked in PARK.
Brake/Transaxle Interlock System
This vehicle is equipped with a Brake Transmission Shift
Interlock System (BTSI) that holds the shift lever in the
PARK position when the ignition switch is in the LOCK
position. To move the shift lever out of the PARK
position, the ignition switch must be turned to any other
switch position (ACC, ON, or START) (engine running or
not) and the brake pedal must be pressed.
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, an override
system allows you to shift out of PARK in case of loss of
power. To activate the override system:
•Firmly apply the parking brake.
240 STARTING AND OPERATING