DODGE CALIBER 2011 1.G Owners Manual

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
Starting Procedures .................... 293
▫ Manual Transmission – If Equipped ....... 293
▫ Automatic Transmission – If Equipped ..... 293
▫ Normal Starting ..................... 293
▫ Extreme Cold Weather
(Below –20°F Or 29°C)............... 294
▫ If Engine Fails To Start ................ 294
▫ After Starting ....................... 295
 Engine Block Heater — If Equipped ........ 295
Manual Transmission — If Equipped ........ 296
▫ Five–Speed Manual Transmission ......... 296
▫ Recommended Shift Speeds ............. 297
▫ Downshifting ....................... 297
 Automatic Transmission — If Equipped ...... 298
▫ Automatic Transmission Ignition Interlock
System ............................ 299
▫ Brake/Transmission Interlock System ...... 300
▫ Gear Ranges ........................ 300
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AutoStick — If Equipped ............... 302
▫ Operation ......................... 302
▫ General Information .................. 303
 Driving On Slippery Surfaces ............. 303
▫ Acceleration ........................ 303
▫ Traction ........................... 304
 Driving Through Water ................. 304
▫ Flowing/Rising Water ................. 305
▫ Shallow Standing Water ............... 305
 Power Steering ....................... 307
▫ Power Steering Fluid Check ............. 308
 Parking Brake ........................ 308 
Brake System ........................ 311
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ........... 312
 Electronic Brake Control System ........... 314
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ........... 314
▫ Brake Assist System (BAS) .............. 314
▫ Traction Control System (TCS) ........... 315
▫ Hill Start Assist (HSA) – Manual
Transmission Only ................... 316
▫ Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ......... 317
▫ ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light
And ESC Off Indicator Light ............ 319
 Tire Safety Information ................. 320
▫ Tire Markings ....................... 320
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ......... 324
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▫Tire Terminology And Definitions ......... 325
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure .......... 326
 Tires — General Information ............. 330
▫ Tire Pressure ....................... 330
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures ................ 331
▫ Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation . . . 333
▫ Radial Ply Tires ..................... 333
▫ Spare Tire Matching Original Equipped Tire
And Wheel – If Equipped .............. 334
▫ Compact Spare Tire – If Equipped ........ 334
▫ Full Size Spare – If Equipped ............ 335
▫ Limited-Use Spare – If Equipped ......... 335
▫ Tire Spinning ....................... 336 ▫
Tread Wear Indicators ................. 337
▫ Life Of Tire ........................ 337
▫ Replacement Tires .................... 338
 Tire Chains .......................... 339
 Snow Tires .......................... 339
 Tire Rotation Recommendations ........... 340
 Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ..... 341
▫ Base System ........................ 343
▫ Premium System – If Equipped .......... 345
▫ General Information .................. 349
 Fuel Requirements ..................... 350
▫ 2.0L And 2.4L Engine ................. 350
▫ Reformulated Gasoline ................ 350
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▫Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ............. 351
▫ E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles ...... 351
▫ MMT In Gasoline .................... 352
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ............... 352
▫ Fuel System Cautions ................. 352
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings ............ 353
 Adding Fuel ......................... 354
▫ Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap) .............. 354
▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message ........... 356
 Vehicle Loading ...................... 356
▫ Vehicle Certification Label .............. 356
Trailer Towing ........................ 358
▫ Common Towing Definitions ............ 358
▫ Installing A Trailer Hitch ............... 361
▫ Trailer Hitch Classification .............. 361
▫ Trailer Towing Weights
(Maximum Trailer Weight Ratings) ........ 362
▫ Trailer And Tongue Weight ............. 363
▫ Towing Requirements ................. 364
▫ Towing Tips ........................ 369
 Recreational Towing
(Behind Motorhome, Etc.) ................ 370
▫ Towing This Vehicle
Behind Another Vehicle ................ 370
292 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. Do not leave the key in the
ignition. A child could operate power windows,
other controls, or move the vehicle.
Manual Transmission – If Equipped
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.
•If the key will not 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 – If Equipped
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 pressing the accelerator pedal.
Simply turn the ignition switch to the START position
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STARTING AND OPERATING 293

and release when the engine starts. If the engine fails to
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-
mission 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 improperly, so follow the procedure carefully.
Refer to “Jump Starting” in “What To Do In Emer-
gencies” for further information.
Tip Start Feature
Do notpress the accelerator. 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 sec-
onds, then repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.
Extreme 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” 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
294 STARTING AND OPERATING

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.
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.
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 must be plugged in at least one
hour to have an adequate warming effect on the engine.
WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the engine block heater
cord before driving. Damage to the 110-115 Volt
electrical cord could cause electrocution.
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MANUAL TRANSMISSION — IF EQUIPPED
Five–Speed Manual Transmission
WARNING!
You or others could be injured if you leave the
vehicle unattended without having the parking
brake fully applied. The parking brake should al-
ways be applied when the driver is not in the vehicle,
especially on an incline.
Fully press the clutch pedal before you shift gears. As you
release the clutch pedal, lightly press the accelerator
pedal. Use each gear in numerical order, do not skip a gear. Be
sure the transmission is in first gear, (not third), when
starting from a standing position. Damage to the clutch
can result from starting in third gear.
Shift Pattern
296 STARTING AND OPERATING

For most city driving, you will find it easier to use only
the lower gears. For steady highway driving with light
accelerations, fifth gear is recommended.
Never drive with your foot resting on the clutch pedal,
and never try to hold the vehicle on a hill with the clutch
pedal partially engaged. This will cause abnormal wear
on the clutch.
Never shift into REVERSE until the vehicle has come to a
complete stop.
NOTE:During cold weather, until the transmission
lubricant is warm, you may experience slightly higher
shift efforts. This is normal and not harmful to the
transmission.
Recommended Shift Speeds
To use your manual transmission for optimal fuel
economy, it should be upshifted as listed in the following
table.
Manual Transmission Recommended Shift Speeds
Units in mph (km/h)
Engine Size Accel-
eration Rate 1to2 2to3 3to4 4to5
All En- gines Accel 14 (23) 23 (37) 29 (47) 45 (72)
Cruise 12 (19) 18 (29) 25 (40) 32 (52)
Downshifting
Proper downshifting will improve fuel economy and
prolong engine life.
CAUTION!
If you skip more than one gear while downshifting
or downshift at too high a vehicle speed, you could
damage the engine, transmission, or clutch.
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To maintain a safe speed and prolong brake life, shift
down to second or first gear when descending a steep
grade.
When turning a corner or driving up a steep grade,
downshift early so that the engine will not be
overburdened.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION — IF EQUIPPED
NOTE:The Continuously Variable Automatic Transmis-
sion (CVT) changes ratios in a continuous manner. This
may sometimes feelas if it is slipping, but this is normal
and does not harm anything.
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 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.
298 STARTING AND OPERATING