automatic transmission DODGE CHALLENGER 2008 Owners Manual

the key in the vehicle. Removing the key or closing the
door will allow the locks to operate. If a door is open, the
key is in the ignition, and the ignition is in the LOCK or
ACC position, a chime will sound as a reminder to
remove the key.
Automatic Door Locks
The doors will lock automatically if all of the following
conditions are met:
1. The Automatic Door Locks feature is enabled
2. The transmission is in gear
3. All doors are closed
4. The throttle is pressed
5. The vehicle speed is above 15 mph (24 km/h), and
6. The doors were not previously locked using the power
door lock switch or Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) trans-
mitter.
Automatic Door Locks — If Equipped
The auto door lock feature can be enabled or disabled by
your authorized dealer. See your authorized dealer for
programming.
Automatic Unlock Doors on Exit
The doors will unlock automatically if:
1. The Automatic Unlock Doors On Exit feature is en-
abled
2. The transmission was in gear and the vehicle speed
returned to 0 mph (0 km/h)
3. The transmission is in NEUTRAL or PARK
4. The driver door is opened
5. The doors were not previously unlocked, and
6. The vehicle speed is 0 mph (0 km/h).
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Pushing and releasing the ON/OFF button or turning off
the ignition erases the set speed from memory.
To Resume Speed
If you deactivated the speed control without erasing the
set speed from memory and your vehicle speed is above
20 mph (32 km/h), you can resume the previous set
speed. To do so, push the lever upward to RESUME
ACCEL and release. Then remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal.
To Vary the Speed Setting
When the speed control is set, you can increase speed by
pushing up and holding the lever in RESUME ACCEL.
When the lever is released, a new set speed will be
established.
Tapping the lever to RESUME ACCEL once will result in
a 1 mph (1.6 km/h) speed increase. Each time the lever is
tapped speed increases, so tapping the lever three times
will increase speed by 3 mph (4.8 km/h), etc.To decrease speed while speed control is set, push down
and hold the lever in SET DECEL. Release the lever when
the desired speed is reached, and a new set speed will be
established.
Tapping the lever to SET DECEL once will result in a 1
mph (1.6 km/h) speed decrease. Each time the lever is
tapped, speed decreases.
To Accelerate For Passing
Depress the accelerator as you would normally. When the
pedal is released, the vehicle will return to the set speed.
Using Speed Control on Hills
NOTE:
The speed control system maintains speed up
and down hills. A slight speed change on moderate hills
is normal.
The automatic transmission will downshift while climb-
ing uphill or descending downhill. This downshift is
necessary to maintain vehicle set speed.
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16. Seat Belt Reminder LightThis light will turn on for five to eight seconds as
a bulb check when the ignition switch is first
turned ON. A chime will sound if the driver’s seat
belt is unbuckled during the bulb check. The Seat Belt
Warning Light will flash or remain on continuously if the
driver’s seat belt remains unbuckled after the bulb check
or when driving.
17. Transmission Range Indicator
This display indicator shows the automatic transmission
gear selection.
18. Front Fog Light Indicator Light — If Equipped This light will turn on when the front fog lights are
on. 19. Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)
Display
This display shows the Electronic Vehicle Information
Center (EVIC) messages when the appropriate conditions
exist.
Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message
If the vehicle diagnostic system determines that the fuel
filler cap is loose, improperly installed, or damaged, a
“Check Gascap” message will display in the EVIC.
Tighten the fuel filler cap properly and press the TRIP
ODOMETER button to turn off the message. If the
problem continues, the message will appear the next time
the vehicle is started.
A loose, improperly installed, or damaged fuel filler cap
may also turn on the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL).
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23. Anti-Lock Brake Warning LightThis light monitors the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS). The light will turn on when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON position and may stay on for
as long as four seconds.
If the ABS light remains on or turns on while driving,
then the Anti-Lock portion of the brake system is not
functioning and service is required. However, the con-
ventional brake system will continue to operate normally
if the BRAKE warning light is not on.
If the ABS light is on, the brake system should be serviced
as soon as possible to restore the benefits of Anti-Lock
Brakes. If the ABS light does not turn on when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON position, have the
light inspected by an authorized dealer.
24. Low Fuel Warning Light This light will turn on and a single chime will
sound when the fuel level drops to 1/8 tank. 25. Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
This light is part of an onboard diagnostic system
called OBD. The OBD system monitors engine
and automatic transmission control systems. The
MIL will turn on when the key is in the ON position
before engine start. If the MIL does not come on when
turning the key from LOCK to ON, have the condition
checked promptly.
Certain conditions such as a loose or missing gas cap,
poor fuel quality, etc., may illuminate the MIL after
engine start. The vehicle should be serviced if the MIL
stays on through several of your typical driving cycles. In
most situations, the vehicle will drive normally and will
not require towing.
The MIL flashes to alert you to serious conditions that
could lead to immediate loss of power or severe catalytic
converter damage. The vehicle should be serviced as
soon as possible if this occurs.
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Personal Settings (Customer Programmable
Features)
Personal Settings allows the driver to set and recall
features when the transmission is in PARK.
Press and release the MENU button until Personal Set-
tings displays in the EVIC.
Use the SCROLL button to display one of the following
choices.
Language
When in this display you may select one of three languages
for all display nomenclature, including the trip functions
and the navigation system (if equipped). Press the FUNC-
TION SELECT button while in this display to select En-
glish, Espanol, or Francais. Then, as you continue, the
information will display in the selected language.
NOTE:The EVIC will not change the UConnect lan-
guage selection. Refer to “Language Selection” under
“Hands-Free Communication (UConnect )” in Section 3.
Lock Doors Automatically at 15 mph (24 km/h)
When ON is selected, both doors will lock automatically
when the vehicle reaches a speed of 15 mph (24 km/h).
To make your selection, press and release the FUNC-
TION SELECT button until “ON” or “OFF” appears.
Unlock Doors Automatically on Exit
When ON is selected, both doors will unlock when the
vehicle is stopped and the transmission is in the PARK or
NEUTRAL position and the driver’s door is opened. To
make your selection, press and release the FUNCTION
SELECT button until “ON” or “OFF” appears.
Remote Key Unlock
When Driver Door 1st Press is selected, only the driver’s
door will unlock on the first press of the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) UNLOCK button. When Driver Door 1st
Press is selected, you must press the RKE UNLOCK
button twice to unlock the passenger door. When All
Doors 1st Press is selected, both of the doors will unlock
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STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS

Starting Procedures .....................214
▫ Automatic Transmission ................215
▫ Keyless Go ..........................216
▫ Normal Starting ......................217
▫ Extremely Cold Weather
(Below
20°F Or
29°C) ................217
▫ If Engine Fails To Start .................218
▫ After Starting ........................219

Engine Block Heater — If Equipped .........219

Automatic Transmission ..................220
▫ General Information ...................220
▫ Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . . 222
▫ 5-Speed Automatic Transmission ..........223

AutoStick ...........................228
▫ AutoStick Operation ..................228
▫ AutoStick General Information ...........229

Driving On Slippery Surfaces ..............229
▫ Acceleration .........................229
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Automatic Transmission
The shift lever must be in the NEUTRAL or PARK
position before you can start the engine. Apply the brakes
before shifting into any driving gear.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.
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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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.
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.
General Information
The automatic transmission selects individual gears au-
tomatically, dependent upon:
•Altitude
•Vehicle loading
•Driving style
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•Shift lever position
•Accelerator position
•Vehicle speed
The gear shifting process is continuously adapted, de-
pendent on the driving style, the driving situation, and
the road characteristics.
NOTE:
•After selecting any driving position, wait a moment to
allow the gear to engage fully before accelerating,
especially when the engine is cold.
•If there is a need to restart the engine, be sure to cycle
the key to the LOCK position before restarting. Trans-
mission engagement may be delayed up to 10 seconds
after restart if the key is not cycled to the LOCK
position first.
•The electronically-controlled transmission provides a
precise shift schedule. The transmission electronics are
self-calibrating. Therefore, the first few shifts on a new
vehicle may be somewhat abrupt or soft until after the
break-in period. This is a normal condition, and pre-
cision shifts will develop within a few shift cycles.
The shift lever is automatically locked while in the PARK
position. To move the shift lever out of the PARK
position, the brake pedal must be firmly depressed before
the shift lock will release.
Move the shift lever to the desired position only when the
engine is idling normally and the brake pedal is applied.
Do not release the brake pedal until ready to drive. The
vehicle may otherwise accelerate quickly when the shift
lever is in DRIVE or REVERSE position.
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To activate the override, first insert the key into the
ignition switch and turn it to the ACC or ON position.
Then, press the pink-colored tab through the access port
with a small flat-bladed screwdriver or alike. While
pressing the override tab, move the shift lever out of the
PARK position. When complete, return the override
cover to its original position.
5-Speed Automatic Transmission
Shifting from DRIVE to PARK or REVERSE should be
done only after the accelerator pedal is released and the
vehicle is stopped. Be sure to keep your foot on the brake
pedal when moving the shift lever between these gears.
Brake Interlock Override
Shift Lever
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