manual transmission DODGE CHALLENGER 2021 Owner's Guide

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY239
NOTE:
When using a portable battery booster pack, follow the
manufacturer's operating instructions and precautions.

PREPARATIONS FOR JUMP START

The battery is stored under an access cover in the
trunk. Remote battery posts are located on the right
side of the engine compartment for jump starting.

Jump Starting Locations

NOTE:The remote battery posts are viewed by standing
on the right side of the vehicle looking over the
fender. The positive battery post may be covered
with a protective cap. Lift up on the cap to gain
access to the positive battery post. Do not jump off
fuses. Only jump directly off positive post which
has a positive (+) symbol on or around the post.
See below steps to prepare for jump starting:

1. Apply the parking brake, shift into PARK (automatic transmission) or FIRST gear
(manual transmission) and cycle the ignition
to OFF.

2. Turn off the heater, radio, and all electrical accessories.
3. Pull upward and remove the protective cover over the remote positive (+) battery post.
4. If using another vehicle to jump start the battery, park the vehicle within the jumper
cables reach, apply the parking brake and
make sure the ignition is OFF.CAUTION!

Do not use a portable battery booster pack or any
other booster source with a system voltage greater
than 12 Volts or damage to the battery, starter
motor, alternator or electrical system may occur.

Remote Positive (+) Post
Remote Negative (-) Post
WARNING!
Do not allow vehicles to touch each other as this
could establish a ground connection and
personal injury could result.
WARNING!
Take care to avoid the radiator cooling fan
whenever the hood is raised. It can start
anytime the ignition switch is ON. You can be
injured by moving fan blades.
Remove any metal jewelry such as rings,
watch bands and bracelets that could make
an inadvertent electrical contact. You could be
seriously injured.
Batteries contain sulfuric acid that can burn
your skin or eyes and generate hydrogen gas
which is flammable and explosive. Keep open
flames or sparks away from the battery.7

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IN CASE OF EMERGENCY241
IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS
If the vehicle is overheating, it will need to be
serviced by an authorized dealer.
In any of the following situations, you can reduce
the potential for overheating by taking the
appropriate action.
On the highways — slow down.
In city traffic — while stopped, place the trans -
mission in NEUTRAL, but do not increase the
engine idle speed while preventing vehicle
motion with the brakes.
NOTE:There are steps that you can take to slow down an
impending overheat condition:
If your Air Conditioner (A/C) is on, turn it off. The
A/C system adds heat to the engine cooling
system and turning the A/C off can help remove
this heat.
You can also turn the temperature control to
maximum heat, the mode control to floor and
the blower control to high. This allows the heater
core to act as a supplement to the radiator and
aids in removing heat from the engine cooling
system.
MANUAL PARK RELEASE — 8 – SPEED
TRANSMISSION WARNING!
You or others can be badly burned by hot engine
coolant (antifreeze) or steam from your radiator.
If you see or hear steam coming from under the
hood, do not open the hood until the radiator
has had time to cool. Never try to open a cooling
system pressure cap when the radiator or
coolant bottle is hot.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could damage
your vehicle. If the temperature gauge reads
HOT (H), pull over and stop the vehicle. Idle the
vehicle with the air conditioner turned off until
the pointer drops back into the normal range. If
the pointer remains on HOT (H), and you hear
continuous chimes, turn the engine off
immediately and call for service.
WARNING!
Always secure your vehicle by fully applying the
parking brake before activating the Manual Park
Release. In addition, you should be seated in the
driver's seat with your foot firmly on the brake
pedal when activating the Manual Park Release.
Activating the Manual Park Release will allow
your vehicle to roll away if it is not secured by the
parking brake, or by proper connection to a tow
vehicle. Activating the Manual Park Release on
an unsecured vehicle could lead to serious
injury or death for those in or around the vehicle.
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242IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
In order to move the vehicle in cases where the
transmission will not shift out of PARK (P) (such as
a depleted battery), a Manual Park Release is
available.
Follow these steps to use the Manual Park
Release:

1. Firmly apply the parking brake.

2. Remove the console storage bin to access the Manual Park Release lever.

Console Storage Bin
3. Using a small screwdriver or similar tool, fish
the tether strap up through the opening in the
console base.
4. Press and maintain firm pressure on the brake pedal.
5. Insert the screwdriver into the slot in the center of the lever, and disengage the lever
locking tab by pushing it to the right.

Engaging The Lever

6. Pull the tether strap to rotate the lever up and rearward until it locks in place in the vertical
position. The vehicle is now out of PARK and
can be moved. Release the parking brake only
when the vehicle is securely connected to a
tow vehicle. To Reset The Manual Park Release:

1. Push the latch (at the base of the lever, on the
rear side) rearward (away from the lever) to
unlatch the lever.

Disengaging The Lever

2. Rotate the Manual Park Release lever forward and down, to its original position, until the
locking tab snaps into place to secure the
lever.
3. Pull up gently on the tether strap to confirm that the lever is locked in its stowed position.
4. Tuck the tether strap into the base of the console. Reinstall the console storage bin.
NOTE:When the lever is in the release position the access
cover cannot be reinstalled.

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IN CASE OF EMERGENCY243
FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE
If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand, or
snow, it can often be moved using a rocking
motion. Turn the steering wheel right and left to
clear the area around the front wheels. For
vehicles with automatic transmission, push and
hold the lock button on the gear selector. Then
shift back and forth between DRIVE and REVERSE
(with automatic transmission) or FIRST gear and
REVERSE (with manual transmission), while gently
pressing the accelerator. Use the least amount of
accelerator pedal pressure that will maintain the
rocking motion, without spinning the wheels or
racing the engine.
NOTE:For vehicles with automatic transmission: Shifts
between DRIVE and REVERSE can only be
achieved at wheel speeds of 5 mph (8 km/h) or
less. Whenever the transmission remains in
NEUTRAL for more than two seconds, you must
press the brake pedal to engage DRIVE or
REVERSE.
Push the ESC OFF button to place the Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) system in “Partial OFF”
mode, before rocking the vehicle Ú page 180.
Once the vehicle has been freed, push the ESC OFF
button again to restore “ESC On” mode.
CAUTION!
Racing the engine or spinning the wheels may
lead to transmission overheating and failure.
Allow the engine to idle with the transmission in
NEUTRAL for at least one minute after every five
rocking-motion cycles. This will minimize
overheating and reduce the risk of clutch or
transmission failure during prolonged efforts to
free a stuck vehicle.
WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces
generated by excessive wheel speeds may
cause damage, or even failure, of the axle and
tires. A tire could explode and injure someone.
Do not spin your vehicle's wheels faster than
30 mph (48 km/h) or for longer than 30
seconds continuously without stopping when
you are stuck and do not let anyone near a
spinning wheel, no matter what the speed.
CAUTION!
When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by shifting
between DRIVE / FIRST gear and REVERSE, do
not spin the wheels faster than 15 mph
(24 km/h), or drivetrain damage may result.
Revving the engine or spinning the wheels too
fast may lead to transmission overheating and
failure. It can also damage the tires. Do not
spin the wheels above 30 mph (48 km/h)
while in gear (no transmission shifting occur -
ring).
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248SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
Mileage or time passed
(whichever comes first)
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
100,000
110,000
120,000
130,000
140,000
150,000
Or Years: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Or Kilometers:
32,000
48,000
64,000
80,000
96,000
112,000
128,000
144,000
160,000
176,000
192,000
208,000
224,000
240,000
Additional Inspections
Inspect the CV/Universal joints. X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Inspect front suspension, tie rod ends,
boot seals and replace if necessary. X
XX X X XX
Inspect the rear axle fluid. Inspect the
front axle fluid (All Wheel Drive Only). X
XX X X XX
Inspect the manual transmission fluid
(if equipped). X
XX X X XX
Inspect the brake linings, replace as
necessary. X
XX X X XX
Adjust parking brake on vehicles
equipped with four wheel disc brakes. X
XX X X XX
Inspect transfer case fluid (All Wheel
Drive Only). X
X X X X
Additional Maintenance
Replace engine air cleaner filter. XX X X X
Replace cabin air filter. XXX X X XX

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SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE249
Replace spark plugs.
1X
Flush and replace the engine coolant
at 10 years or 150,000 miles
(240,000 km) whichever comes first. X
X
Change the manual transmission fluid
(if equipped) if using your vehicle for
any of the following: Most of your
driving is at sustained speeds during
hot weather, above 90°F (32°C),
driving in dusty conditions, or stop and
go driving. X
X X
Change the transfer case fluid; if using
your vehicle for any of the following:
police, taxi, fleet, off-road, or frequent
trailer towing. (All Wheel Drive Only). X
X
Mileage or time passed
(whichever comes first)
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
100,000
110,000
120,000
130,000
140,000
150,000
Or Years: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Or Kilometers:
32,000
48,000
64,000
80,000
96,000
112,000
128,000
144,000
160,000
176,000
192,000
208,000
224,000
240,000
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266SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
CLUTCH HYDRAULIC SYSTEM — MANUAL
T
RANSMISSION (IF EQUIPPED)
The clutch hydraulic system is fed by a segregated
volume of fluid within the brake system master
cylinder reservoir. In the event of leakage or wear,
use only the manufacturer's recommended brake
fluid Ú page 306.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION — IF EQUIPPED
Fluid Level Check
Check the fluid level by removing the fill plug on the
left side of the transmission. The fluid level should
be 1/4 inch (6.4mm) below the bottom of the fill
hole. Add fluid, if necessary, to maintain the proper
level Ú page 306.
Change Transmission Fluid
If contaminated with water, change the fluid
immediately. See an authorized dealer for service.
For the proper maintenance intervals Úpage 247.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION —
I
F EQUIPPED
Special Additives
The manufacturer strongly recommends against
using any special additives in the transmission.
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) is an
engineered product and its performance may be
impaired by supplemental additives. Therefore, do
not add any fluid additives to the transmission.
Avoid using transmission sealers as they may
adversely affect seals.
Fluid Level Check
The fluid level is preset at the factory and does not
require adjustment under normal operating
conditions. Routine fluid level checks are not
required; therefore the transmission has no
dipstick. An authorized dealer can check your
transmission fluid level using special service tools.
If you notice fluid leakage or transmission
malfunction, visit an authorized dealer
immediately to have the transmission fluid level
checked. Operating the vehicle with an improper
fluid level can cause severe transmission damage.
Do not allow petroleum based fluid to contam -
inate the brake fluid. Brake seal components
could be damaged, causing partial or
complete brake failure. This could result in a
collision.
WARNING!CAUTION!
Using a transmission fluid other than the
manufacturer's recommended fluid may cause
deterioration in transmission shift quality and/or
damage to the transmission Ú page 306.
CAUTION!
Do not use chemical flushes in your
transmission as the chemicals can damage your
transmission components. Such damage is not
covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
CAUTION!
If a transmission fluid leak occurs, visit an
authorized dealer immediately. Severe
transmission damage may occur. An authorized
dealer has the proper tools to adjust the fluid
level accurately.

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306TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE FLUIDS AND LUBRICANTS
Component Fluid, Lubricant, or Genuine Part
Engine Coolant We recommend you use Mopar® Antifreeze/Coolant 10 Year/150,000 Mile
(240,000 km) Formula OAT (Organic Additive Technology).
Engine Oil – 3.6L/5.7L Engine We recommend you use API Certified SAE 5W-20 Engine Oil, meeting the
requirements of the manufacturer Material Standard MS-6395 such as
Mopar® SAE 5W-20, Pennzoil SAE 5W-20, and Pennzoil gold 5W-20
semi-synthetic oil. Refer to your engine oil filler cap for correct SAE grade.
Engine Oil Filter We recommend you use a Mopar® Engine Oil Filter. If a Mopar® Engine Oil
Filter is unavailable only use filters that meet or exceed SAE/USCAR-36 Filter
Performance Requirements.
Fuel Selection – 3.6L Engine 87 Octane (R+M)/2 Method, 0-15% ethanol.
Fuel Selection – 5.7L Engine With Automatic Transmission
89 Octane recommended – 87 Octane acceptable (R+M)/2 Method, 0-15% ethanol.

Fuel Selection – 5.7L Engine With Manual Transmission 91 Octane or higher (R+M)/2 Method, 0-15% ethanol.
CAUTION!
Mixing of engine coolant (antifreeze) other than specified Organic Additive Technology (OAT) engine coolant (antifreeze), may result in engine damage and
may decrease corrosion protection. Organic Additive Technology (OAT) engine coolant is different and should not be mixed with Hybrid Organic Additive Tech -
nology (HOAT) engine coolant (antifreeze) or any “globally compatible” coolant (antifreeze). If a non-OAT engine coolant (antifreeze) is introduced into the
cooling system in an emergency, the cooling system will need to be drained, flushed, and refilled with fresh OAT coolant (conforming to MS.90032), by an
authorized dealer as soon as possible.
Do not use water alone or alcohol-based engine coolant (antifreeze) products. Do not use additional rust inhibitors or antirust products, as they may not be
compatible with the radiator engine coolant and may plug the radiator.
This vehicle has not been designed for use with propylene glycol-based engine coolant (antifreeze). Use of propylene glycol-based engine coolant (antifreeze)
is not recommended.

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS307
CHASSIS FLUIDS AND LUBRICANTS
Component Fluid, Lubricant, or Genuine Part
Automatic Transmission – If Equipped Use only Mopar® ZF 8 & 9 Speed ATF Automatic Transmission Fluid, or
equivalent. Failure to use the correct fluid may affect the function or
performance of your transmission.
Manual Transmission – If Equipped We recommend you use Mopar® ATF+4 Automatic Transmission Fluid.
Brake Master Cylinder We recommend you use Mopar® DOT 3, SAE J1703.
Front Axle – AWD (If Equipped) We recommend you use Mopar® Synthetic Gear Lubricant SAE 75W90
(API GL-5).
Rear Axle – 3.6L/5.7L Engine With Automatic Transmission We recommend you use Mopar® OD Synthetic Gear Lubricant SAE 75W85
(API GL-5).
Rear Axle – 5.7L Engine With Manual Transmission We recommend you use Mopar® LSD Synthetic Gear Lubricant SAE 75W85
(API GL-5).
Transfer Case – AWD (If Equipped) We recommend you use Mopar® Transfer Case Lubricant for Borg Warner
44–40.
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317
Map
............................................................. 45Park...................................................... 43, 75Passing........................................................ 43Reading....................................................... 45Seat Belt Reminder..................................... 70Security Alarm............................................. 72Service...................................................... 276Traction Control......................................... 182Turn Signals......................... 42, 44, 75, 225Vanity Mirror................................................ 36Warning Instrument Cluster Descriptions..................................... 71, 75Load Shed Battery Saver On............................ 68Load Shed Electrical Load Reduction.............. 68Load Shed Intelligent Battery Sensor.............. 68Loading Vehicle................................... 110, 111Capacities................................................. 111Tires.......................................................... 285LocksAuto Unlock................................................. 24Automatic Door........................................... 24Power Door.................................................. 22Low Tire Pressure System............................. 189Lubrication, Body........................................... 260Lug Nuts/Bolts.............................................. 301
M
Maintenance.................................................... 58Maintenance Free Battery............................ 254Maintenance Schedule........................ 246, 247Malfunction Indicator Light (Check Engine)..... 73ManualBackward............................................. 29, 30Forward................................................ 29, 30Park Release............................................ 241Rearward..................................................... 29Service..................................................... 311Tilt............................................................... 30Manual Transmission................... 83, 266, 267Fluid Level Check............................ 266, 267Map/Reading Lights........................................ 45Media Mode.................................................. 148Memory Seat................................................... 27Memory Settings.............................................. 27Methanol...................................................... 303Mirrors............................................................. 36Electric Powered.......................................... 37Electric Remote........................................... 37Heated......................................................... 38Outside........................................................ 37Rearview.............................................36, 226Vanity.......................................................... 36
Modifications/AlterationsVehicle........................................................... 9Monitor, Tire Pressure System...................... 189Mopar Parts.................................................. 310Multi-Function Control Lever............................42
N
New Vehicle Break-In Period............................82
O
Occupant Restraints..................................... 192Octane Rating, Gasoline (Fuel)............. 302, 306Oil Change Indicator.........................................64Reset...........................................................64Oil Filter, Change........................................... 256Oil Filter, Selection........................................ 256Oil Pressure Light.............................................71Oil, Engine............................................ 255, 306Capacity.................................................... 305Checking................................................... 253Dipstick..................................................... 253Disposal.................................................... 256Filter................................................ 256, 306Filter Disposal........................................... 256Identification Logo.................................... 255
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