DODGE CALIBER 2008 1.G Owners Manual

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS

Starting Procedures.....................233
▫Manual Transmission..................233
▫Automatic Transmission................233
▫Normal Starting......................233
▫Extremely Cold Weather
(Below
20°F Or
29°C)................234
▫If Engine Fails To Start.................234
▫After Starting........................235

Automatic Transaxle — If Equipped.........235▫Brake/Transmission Interlock System.......237
▫Automatic Transaxle Ignition Interlock
System.............................237
▫Gear Ranges For Continuously Variable
Automatic Transaxle (CVT)..............237

AutoStick— If Equipped................239
▫AutoStickOperation..................240
▫AutoStickGeneral Information...........241

Manual Transaxle — If Equipped...........242
▫Recommended Shift Speeds..............243
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▫Downshifting........................243

All Wheel Drive System — If Equipped.......244

Parking Brake.........................244

Brake System..........................246
▫Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) —
If Equipped.........................247

Power Steering........................250

Driving On Slippery Surfaces..............251
▫Acceleration.........................251
▫Traction............................251

Driving Through Water..................252
▫Flowing/Rising Water..................252
▫Shallow Standing Water.................252
Tire Safety Information...................254
▫Tire Markings........................254
▫Tire Identification Number (TIN)..........257
▫Tire Loading And Tire Pressure...........258

Tires — General Information...............262
▫Tire Pressure.........................262
▫Tire Inflation Pressures.................263
▫Radial Ply Tires......................265
▫Compact Spare Tire — If Equipped.........266
▫Limited-Use Spare — If Equipped.........266
▫Tire Spinning........................267
▫Tread Wear Indicators..................268
▫LifeOfTire .........................268
230 STARTING AND OPERATING

▫Replacement Tires.....................269
▫Alignment And Balance.................270

Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) — If
Equipped............................271
▫Base System — If Equipped..............273
▫Premium System — If Equipped..........275
▫General Information...................279

Tire Chains...........................279

Snow Tires...........................279

Tire Rotation Recommendations............280

Fuel Requirements......................281
▫Gasoline Engines.....................281
▫Reformulated Gasoline.................281▫Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends..............282
▫MMT In Gasoline.....................282
▫Materials Added To Fuel................283
▫Fuel System Cautions..................283
▫Carbon Monoxide Warnings..............284

Adding Fuel..........................284
▫Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap)...............284
▫Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message............286

Vehicle Loading........................287
▫Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).......287

TrailerTowing .........................287
▫Common Towing Definitions.............287
▫Installing A Trailer Hitch................290
STARTING AND OPERATING 231
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▫Trailer Hitch Classification...............290
▫Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer
Weight Ratings)......................291
▫Trailer And Tongue Weight..............291
▫Towing Requirements..................293▫TowingTips .........................298

Recreational Towing (Behind Motorhome, Etc.) . . 299
▫Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle
(Flat Towing With All Four Wheels On The
Ground)............................299
232 STARTING AND OPERATING

STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust both
inside and outside mirrors, and fasten your seat belts.
WARNING!
Never leave children alone in a vehicle. Leaving
unattended children in a vehicle is dangerous for a
number of reasons. A child or others could be seri-
ously or fatally injured. Don’t leave the key in the
ignition. A child could operate power windows,
other controls, or move the vehicle.
Manual Transmission
Before starting the engine fully apply the parking brake,
press the clutch pedal to the floor, and place the shift
lever in NEUTRAL.NOTE:The engine will not start unless the clutch pedal
is pressed to the floor.
NOTE:If the key won’t turn and the steering wheel is
locked, rotate the wheel in either direction to relieve
pressure on the locking mechanism and then turn the
key.
Automatic Transmission
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:You must press the brake pedal before shifting
out of PARK.
Normal Starting
Normal starting of either a cold or a warm engine does
not require pumping or depressing the accelerator pedal.
Simply turn the ignition switch to the START position
and release when the engine starts. If the engine fails to
STARTING AND OPERATING 233
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start within 15 seconds, turn the ignition switch to the
OFF position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the
normal starting procedure.
WARNING!
Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get it
started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic trans-
axle 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 discharged battery, booster cables
may be used to obtain a start from another vehicle.
This type of start can be dangerous if done improp-
erly, so follow the procedure carefully. See Section 6
of this manual for jump-starting instructions.
Extremely Cold Weather (Below
20°F Or
29°C)
To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of
an externally powered electric engine block heater (avail-
able from your authorized dealer) is recommended.
If Engine Fails to Start
If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
“Normal Starting” procedure, 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” pro-
cedure.
234 STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING!
Never pour fuel or other flammable liquid into the
throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to start
the vehicle. This could result in flash fire causing
serious personal injury.
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.
After Starting
The idle speed will automatically decrease as the engine
warms up.
AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE — IF EQUIPPED
NOTE:The Continuously Variable Automatic Transaxle
(CVT) changes ratios in a continuous manner. This may
Automatic Shift Lever
STARTING AND OPERATING 235
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sometimesfeelas if it is slipping, but this is normal and
does not harm anything.
CAUTION!
Damage to the transaxle may occur if the following
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 from REVERSE, PARK, or NEUTRAL
into any forward gear when the engine is above
idle speed.
•Before shifting 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 out of PARK.
WARNING!
It is dangerous to shift the 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 into gear when the
engine is idling normally and when your right foot is
firmly on the brake pedal.
236 STARTING AND OPERATING

Brake/Transmission Interlock System
This system prevents you from moving the shift 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 or ACC position. Always depress the
brake pedal first,before moving the shift 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/transmission interlock system. There is a remov-
able plug in the right side of the shifter housing that
allows you to insert your finger to override the system. If
this occurs, obtain service as soon as possible.
Automatic Transaxle Ignition Interlock System
This system prevents the key from being removed unless
the shift lever is in PARK. It also prevents shifting out of
PARK unless the key is in the ACC or ON position, and
the brake pedal is depressed.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.
Gear Ranges For Continuously Variable
Automatic Transaxle (CVT)
DO NOT race the engine when shifting from PARK or
NEUTRAL position into another gear range.
PARK
This supplements the parking brake by locking the
transmission. The engine can be started in this range.
Never use PARK while the vehicle is in motion. Apply
the parking brake when leaving the vehicle in this range.
Always apply the parking brake first, and then place the
shift lever into the PARK position.
STARTING AND OPERATING 237
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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 vehicle into PARK, remove the key from the
ignition, and apply the parking brake. Once the key
is removed from the ignition, the transmission shift
lever is locked in the PARK position, securing the
vehicle against unwanted movement. Furthermore,
you should never leave unattended children inside a
vehicle.The following indicators should be used to ensure that
you have engaged the transmission shift lever into the
PARK position:
•When shifting into PARK firmly move the shift lever
all the way forward until it stops.
•Look at the shift indicator window on the shifter bezel
to ensure it is in the PARK position.
•You must depress the brake pedal to move the shift
lever out of the PARK position.
CAUTION!
Before moving the shift lever out of PARK, you must
turn the ignition from LOCK to ON so the steering
wheel and shift lever are released. Otherwise, dam-
age to the steering column or shift lever could result.
You must also depress the brake pedal.
238 STARTING AND OPERATING