clutch DODGE CHALLENGER 2021 Owners Manual

6
JUMP STARTING .................................................. 238 Preparations For Jump Start......................... 239Jump Starting Procedure .............................. 240
IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS ........................... 241
MANUAL PARK RELEASE — 8 – SPEED
TRANSMISSION .................................................. 241
FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE ............................... 243
TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE .......................... 244 Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) Models.................. 245
ENHANCED ACCIDENT RESPONSE SYSTEM
(EARS) .................................................................. 245
EVENT DATA RECORDER (EDR) ......................... 245
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
SCHEDULED SERVICING .................................... 246
3.6L And 5.7L Engines ................................. 246
ENGINE COMPARTMENT .................................... 251
3.6L Engine ................................................... 2515.7L Engine ................................................... 252Checking Oil Level ......................................... 253
Adding Washer Fluid ..................................... 253
Maintenance-Free Battery ............................ 254
Pressure Washing ......................................... 254 VEHICLE MAINTENANCE..................................... 254
Engine Oil ...................................................... 255
Engine Oil Filter ............................................. 256Engine Air Cleaner Filter .............................. 256Air Conditioner Maintenance ....................... 257
Accessory Drive Belt Inspection ................... 259Body Lubrication ........................................... 260Windshield Wiper Blades.............................. 260Exhaust System ............................................. 261Cooling System .............................................. 262
Brake System ............................................... 265
Clutch Hydraulic System — Manual
Transmission (If Equipped)........................... 266Manual Transmission — If Equipped............ 266
Automatic Transmission — If Equipped ....... 266
All Wheel Drive (AWD) — If Equipped .......... 267
Rear Axle ........................................................ 267Fuses.............................................................. 267
Bulb Replacement ........................................ 276 TIRES ..................................................................... 279
Tire Safety Information ................................ 279Tires — General Information ........................ 288Tire Types....................................................... 291Spare Tires — If Equipped ............................ 292
Wheel And Wheel Trim Care ........................ 294Snow Traction Devices.................................. 295Tire Rotation Recommendations ................. 296
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNIFORM
TIRE QUALITY GRADES ...................................... 296
Treadwear...................................................... 297
Traction Grades ............................................. 297Temperature Grades..................................... 297
VEHICLE STORAGE .............................................. 298
BODYWORK .......................................................... 298 Protection From Atmospheric Agents .......... 298
Body And Underbody Maintenance ............. 298
Preserving The Bodywork ............................. 298
INTERIORS ........................................................... 299
Seats And Fabric Parts ................................. 299
Plastic And Coated Parts .............................. 299
Leather Surfaces........................................... 300
Glass Surfaces ............................................. 300

21_LA_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 6

78 (Continued)
STARTING AND OPERATING
STARTING THE ENGINE
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.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION — IF EQUIPPED
Apply the parking brake, place the gear selector in
NEUTRAL and press the clutch pedal before
starting vehicle. This vehicle is equipped with a
clutch interlocking ignition system. It will not start
unless the clutch pedal is pressed to the floor.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION —
I
F EQUIPPED
The gear selector must be in the PARK position
before you can start the engine. Apply the brakes
before shifting into any driving gear.
Tip Start Feature — Automatic
Transmission
Place the ignition in the START mode and release it
as the starter engages. The starter motor will
automatically disengage itself once engine is
running. If the engine fails to start, the starter will
disengage automatically in 10 seconds. If this
occurs:

1. Place the ignition in the OFF mode.

2. Wait 10 to 15 seconds.
3. Repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.
WARNING!
When exiting the vehicle, always make sure
the ignition is in OFF mode, remove the key
fob from the vehicle and lock the vehicle.
Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Leaving chil -
dren in a vehicle unattended is dangerous for
a number of reasons. A child or others could
be seriously or fatally injured. Children should
be warned not to touch the parking brake,
brake pedal or the transmission gear selector.
Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle
(or in a location accessible to children), and do
not leave the ignition (of a vehicle equipped
with Keyless Enter ‘n Go™) in the ACC or ON/
RUN mode. A child could operate power
windows, other controls, or move the vehicle.
Do not leave children or animals inside parked
vehicles in hot weather. Interior heat build-up
may cause serious injury or death.
WARNING!CAUTION!
Shift into or out of PARK or REVERSE only after
the vehicle has come to a complete stop.
Do not shift between PARK, REVERSE,
NEUTRAL, or DRIVE when the engine is above
idle speed.
Before shifting into any gear, make sure your
foot is firmly pressing the brake pedal.

21_LA_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 78

STARTING AND OPERATING79
NORMAL STARTING
To Turn On The Engine Using The ENGINE
START/STOP Button — Manual
Transmission Only

1. Press and hold the clutch pedal while pushing
and holding the ENGINE START/STOP button.

2. Release the ENGINE START/STOP button when the engine starts. If the vehicle fails to
start within 15 seconds, release the ENGINE
START/STOP button, wait 10 to 15 seconds,
then repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.
3. If you wish to stop the cranking of the engine prior to the engine starting, release the
ENGINE START/STOP button.
NOTE:Normal starting of either a cold or a warm engine is
obtained without pumping or pressing the accel -
erator pedal.
To Turn On The Engine Using The ENGINE
START/STOP Button — Automatic
Transmission Only

1. The transmission must be in PARK.

2. Press and hold the brake pedal while pushing the ENGINE START/STOP button once. 3. If the vehicle fails to start, the starter will
disengage automatically after 10 seconds.
4. If you wish to stop the cranking of the engine prior to the engine starting, push the ENGINE
START/STOP button again.
NOTE:Normal starting of either a cold or a warm engine is
obtained without pumping or pressing the accel -
erator pedal.
To Turn Off The Engine Using ENGINE
START/STOP Button — Manual
Transmission Only

1. With the vehicle stopped, place the gear selector in NEUTRAL, then push and release
the ENGINE START/STOP button.

2. The ignition will return to the OFF mode.
3. Place the gear selector in FIRST gear or REVERSE and then apply the parking brake.
NOTE:
If the ignition switch is left in the ACC position,
the system will automatically time out after
30 minutes of inactivity and the ignition will
switch to the OFF position.
If the ignition switch is left in the RUN position,
the system will automatically time out after
30 minutes of inactivity if the vehicle speed is
0 mph (0 km/h) and the engine is not running.
If the vehicle speed is above 5 mph (8 km/h),
the ENGINE START/STOP button must be held
for two seconds or three short pushes in a row
before the engine will shut off. The ignition
switch position will remain in the ACC position
until the vehicle is stopped, placed in park and
the button is pushed twice to the OFF position.
To Turn Off The Engine Using ENGINE
START/STOP Button — Automatic
Transmission Only

1. Place the gear selector in PARK, then push and release the ENGINE START/STOP button.

2. The ignition will return to the OFF mode.
3. If the gear selector is not in PARK, the ENGINE START/STOP button must be held for two
seconds or three short pushes in a row with
the vehicle speed above 5 mph (8 km/h) before the engine will shut off. The ignition will
remain in the ACC mode until the gear selector
is in PARK and the button is pushed twice to
the OFF mode. If the gear selector is not in
PARK and the ENGINE START/STOP button is
pushed once, the instrument cluster will
display a “Vehicle Not In Park” message and
the engine will remain running. Never leave a
vehicle out of the PARK position, or it could roll.4

21_LA_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 79

82STARTING AND OPERATING
ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS —
3.6L & 5.7L
A long break-in period is not required for the
drivetrain (engine, transmission, clutch, and rear
axle) in your new vehicle.
Drive moderately during the first 300 miles
(500 km). After the initial 60 miles (100 km),
speeds up to 50 or 55 mph (80 or 90 km/h) are
desirable.
While cruising, brief full-throttle acceleration within
the limits of local traffic laws contributes to a good
break-in. However, wide-open throttle acceleration
in low gear can be detrimental and should be
avoided.
The engine oil, transmission fluid, and axle
lubricant installed at the factory are high-quality
and energy-conserving. Oil, fluid, and lubricant
changes should be consistent with anticipated
climate and conditions under which vehicle
operations will occur. For the recommended
viscosity and quality grades Ú page 306.
NOTE:A new engine may consume some oil during its first
few thousand miles (kilometers) of operation. This
should be considered a normal part of the break-in
and not interpreted as an indication of difficulty.
Please check your oil level with the engine oil indi -
cator often during the break in period. Add oil as
required.
PARKING BRAKE
Before leaving the vehicle, make sure that the
parking brake is fully applied and place the gear
selector in the PARK or REVERSE (manual
transmission only) position.
When the parking brake is applied and the ignition
switch is in the ON/RUN position, the Brake
Warning Light in the instrument cluster will
illuminate.
NOTE:
When the parking brake is applied and the
transmission is placed in gear, the Brake
Warning Light will flash. If vehicle speed is
detected, a chime will sound to alert the driver.
Fully release the parking brake before
attempting to move the vehicle.
This light only shows that the parking brake is
applied. It does not show the degree of brake
application. When parking on a hill, it is important to turn the
front wheels toward the curb on a downhill grade
and away from the curb on an uphill grade. For
vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission,
apply the parking brake before placing the gear
selector in PARK, otherwise the load on the
transmission locking mechanism may make it
difficult to move the gear selector out of PARK. The
parking brake should always be applied whenever
the driver is not in the vehicle.
Manual Transmission — If Equipped
The foot operated parking brake is positioned
below the lower left corner of the instrument panel.
To release the parking brake, pull the parking
brake release handle.

Parking Brake Release

CAUTION!
Never use Non-Detergent Oil or Straight Mineral
Oil in the engine or damage may result.

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STARTING AND OPERATING83
(Continued)
(Continued)
Automatic Transmission — If Equipped
The foot operated parking brake is located below
the lower left corner of the instrument panel. To
apply the parking brake, firmly push the parking
brake pedal fully. To release the parking brake,
press the parking brake pedal a second time and
let your foot up as you feel the brake disengage.

Parking Brake

MANUAL TRANSMISSION — IF EQUIPPED
SIX-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WARNING!

Never use the PARK position as a substitute for
the parking brake. Always apply the parking
brake fully when parked to guard against vehicle
movement and possible injury or damage.

When exiting the vehicle, always remove the
key fob from the ignition and lock your vehicle.
Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Allowing chil -
dren to be in a vehicle unattended is
dangerous for a number of reasons. A child or
others could be seriously or fatally injured.
Children should be warned not to touch the
parking brake, brake pedal or the gear
selector.
When exiting the vehicle, always make sure
the keyless ignition node is in the OFF mode,
remove the key fob from the vehicle and lock
the vehicle.
Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle
or in a location accessible to children, and do
not leave the ignition of a vehicle equipped
with Keyless Enter ‘n Go™ in the ACC or ON/
RUN mode. A child could operate power
windows, other controls, or move the vehicle.
Be sure the parking brake is fully disengaged
before driving; failure to do so can lead to
brake failure and a collision.
Always fully apply the parking brake when
leaving your vehicle, or it may roll and cause
damage or injury. Also be certain to leave the
transmission in PARK. Failure to do so may
allow the vehicle to roll and cause damage or
injury.
WARNING!CAUTION!
If the Brake Warning Light remains on with the
parking brake released, a brake system
malfunction is indicated. Have the brake system
serviced by an authorized dealer immediately.
WARNING!
You or others could be injured if you leave the
vehicle unattended without having the parking
brake fully applied. The parking brake should
always be applied when the driver is not in the
vehicle, especially on an incline.
CAUTION!
Never drive with your foot resting on the clutch
pedal, or try to hold the vehicle on a hill with
the clutch pedal partially engaged, as this will
cause abnormal wear on the clutch
Ú page 182.
4

21_LA_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 83

84STARTING AND OPERATING
NOTE:During cold weather, you may experience
increased effort in shifting until the transmission
fluid warms up. This is normal.

Manual Gear Selector

SHIFTING
Fully press the clutch pedal and lift your foot off the
accelerator pedal before shifting gears. As you
release the clutch pedal, lightly press the
accelerator pedal. Damage to the transmission or
clutch may occur if you do not fully press the clutch
pedal and lift off of the accelerator pedal when
shifting.
Shift Pattern
The six-speed manual transmission has a spring
that centers the gear selector near THIRD and
FOUTH gear. This spring helps you know which gear
you are in when you are shifting. Be careful when
shifting from FIRST to SECOND or downshifting
from SIXTH to FIFTH.
The spring will try to pull the gear selector toward
THIRD and FOURTH gear. Make sure you move the
gear selector into SECOND or FIFTH gear. If you let
the gear selector move in the direction of the
pulling, you may end shifting from FIRST to
FOURTH or from SIXTH to THIRD gear.
You must always use FIRST gear (or REVERSE)
when starting from a standing position.Failure to press the clutch pedal fully to the
floor may cause increased shift efforts, and
may result in damage to the clutch and trans
-
mission.
Do not rest your hand on the gear selector
while driving, as this may result in transmis -
sion synchronizer damage.
Do not attempt to shift the transmission if the
rear wheels are spinning due to loss of trac -
tion. Damage to the transmission may occur.
CAUTION!
CAUTION!
Always make sure the vehicle comes to a
complete stop before shifting into REVERSE.
Failure to do so may result in transmission
damage.

21_LA_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 84

STARTING AND OPERATING85
RECOMMENDED SHIFT SPEEDS
To utilize your manual transmission efficiently for fuel economy, it should be upshifted as listed in recommended shift speed chart.
Earlier upshifts during cruise conditions (relatively steady speeds) may result in increased fuel economy.
Higher upshift speeds may be used to obtain a desired acceleration rate.
NOTE:
Your vehicle is equipped with a transmission reverse inhibitor system. Always depress the clutch pedal fully to the floor before shifting into REVERSE. When
vehicle speed is greater than 3 mph (5 km/h), the reverse inhibitor activates to help prevent shifts into REVERSE. When at a complete stop, you may notice
lighter shift efforts into REVERSE with the ignition switch in the ON position (RUN position for Keyless Enter ‘n Go™), as compared to the ignition LOCK position
(OFF position for Keyless Enter ‘n Go™). This is normal operation of the transmission reverse inhibitor system.
Due to the high performance nature of your drivetrain, you may hear your transmission. This can be most noticeable when the vehicle is idling in NEUTRAL
with the clutch engaged (clutch pedal released), but it may also be heard when driving at low engine RPM. Also, this may be more noticeable when the trans -
mission is warm. This is a normal condition and is not an indication of a problem with your clutch or transmission.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION RECOMMENDED SHIFT SPEEDS
Axle Ratio 1-44-55-6
3.90 mph
203748
km/h 325977
4

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86STARTING AND OPERATING
(Continued)
(Continued)
1–4 SKIP SHIFT
In Auto Drive Mode, Default, or Street Drive Modes,
there are times when you must shift the
transmission directly from FIRST gear to FOURTH
gear instead of from FIRST gear to SECOND gear.
This is to help you get the best possible fuel
economy from your vehicle. This occurs when the
engine coolant (antifreeze) is higher than 106°F
(41°C), vehicle speed is greater than 19 mph
(30 km/h) but less than 21 mph (34 km/h), and
the transmission is in FIRST gear, and the
accelerator is at ¼ throttle or less.
After you shift the transmission to FOURTH gear,
you can press the clutch in and shift to another
forward gear.
DOWNSHIFTING
To maintain a safe speed and prolong brake life,
downshift to maintain a safe speed when
descending a steep grade.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION —
IF EQUIPPED
You must press and hold the brake pedal while
shifting out of PARK.
WARNING!
Skipping more than one gear while downshifting,
could cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
You could have a collision.
CAUTION!
If you skip more than one gear while down -
shifting or downshift at too high an engine
speed, you could damage the engine, trans -
mission, or clutch.

Do not downshift into FIRST gear when the
vehicle is moving faster than 15 mph
(24 km/h), as you could damage the engine
and/or clutch.

WARNING!
Never use the PARK position as a substitute
for the parking brake. Always apply the
parking brake fully when exiting the vehicle to
guard against vehicle movement and possible
injury or damage.
Your vehicle could move and injure you and
others if it is not in PARK. Check by trying to
move the transmission gear selector out of
PARK with the brake pedal released. Make
sure the transmission is in PARK before
exiting the vehicle.
The transmission may not engage PARK if the
vehicle is moving. Always bring the vehicle to a
complete stop before shifting to PARK, and
verify that the transmission gear position indi -
cator solidly indicates PARK (P) without
blinking. Ensure that the vehicle is completely
stopped, and the PARK position is properly
indicated, before exiting the vehicle.
It is dangerous to shift out of PARK or
NEUTRAL if the engine speed is higher than
idle speed. If your foot is not firmly pressing
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 your foot is firmly
pressing the brake pedal.
WARNING!

21_LA_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 86

90STARTING AND OPERATING
REVERSE (R)
This range is for moving the vehicle backward.
Shift into REVERSE only after the vehicle has come
to a complete stop.
NEUTRAL (N)
Use this range when the vehicle is standing for
prolonged periods with the engine running. Apply
the parking brake and shift the transmission into
PARK if you must exit the vehicle.
DRIVE (D)
This range should be used for most city and
highway driving. It provides the smoothest upshifts
and downshifts, and the best fuel economy. The
transmission automatically upshifts through all
forward gears.
When frequent transmission shifting occurs (such
as when operating the vehicle under heavy loading
conditions, in hilly terrain, traveling into strong
head winds, or while towing a heavy trailer), use
the AutoStick shift control to select a lower gear
Úpage 91. Under these conditions, using a lower
gear will improve performance and extend
transmission life by reducing excessive shifting
and heat build-up.
During cold temperatures, transmission operation
may be modified depending on engine and
transmission temperature as well as vehicle
speed. This feature improves warm up time of the
engine and transmission to achieve maximum
efficiency. Engagement of the torque converter
clutch is inhibited until the transmission fluid is
warm. Normal operation will resume once the
transmission temperature has risen to a suitable
level.
MANUAL (M)
The MANUAL (M, +/-) position (beside the DRIVE
position) enables full manual control of
transmission shifting (also known as AutoStick
mode Ú page 91. Toggling the gear selector
forward (-) or rearward (+) while in the MANUAL
(AutoStick) position will manually select the
transmission gear, and will display the current gear
in the instrument cluster as M1, M2, M3, etc.
Transmission Limp Home Mode
Transmission function is monitored electronically
for abnormal conditions. If a condition is detected
that could result in transmission damage,
Transmission Limp Home Mode is activated. In this
mode, the transmission may operate only in
certain gears, or may not shift at all. Vehicle
performance may be severely degraded and the
engine may stall. In some situations, the
transmission may not re-engage if the engine is
turned off and restarted. The Malfunction Indicator
Light (MIL) may be illuminated. A message in the
instrument cluster will inform the driver of the
more serious conditions, and indicate what actions
may be necessary.
In the event of a momentary problem, the
transmission can be reset to regain all forward
gears by performing the following steps:WARNING!
Do not coast in NEUTRAL and never turn off the
ignition to coast down a hill. These are unsafe
practices that limit your response to changing
traffic or road conditions. You might lose control
of the vehicle and have a collision.
CAUTION!
Towing the vehicle, coasting, or driving for any
other reason with the transmission in NEUTRAL
can cause severe transmission damage.
For Recreational Towing Ú page 117.
For Towing A Disabled Vehicle Ú page 244.

21_LA_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 90

STARTING AND OPERATING95
Metric Speed (km/h)
Pushing the SET (+) , or SET (-) button once will
result in a 1 km/h speed adjustment. Each
subsequent tap of the button results in an
adjustment of 1 km/h.
If the button is continually pushed, the set
speed will continue to adjust until the button is
released, then the new set speed will be estab -
lished.
To Accelerate For Passing
While the Cruise Control system is set, press the
accelerator to pass as you would normally. When
the pedal is released, the vehicle will return to the
set speed.
USING CRUISE CONTROL ON HILLS
The transmission may downshift on hills to
maintain the vehicle set speed.
The Cruise Control system maintains speed up and
down hills. A slight speed change on moderate hills
is normal. On steep hills, a greater speed loss or
gain may occur so it may be preferable to drive
without Cruise Control.
To Resume Speed
To resume a previously set speed, push the RES
button and release. Resume can be used at any
speed above 20 mph (32 km/h).
To Deactivate
A tap on the brake pedal, pushing the CANC button,
or normal brake pressure will deactivate the Cruise
Control system without erasing the set speed from
memory.
Pushing the on/off button or placing the ignition in
the OFF position erases the set speed from
memory. The following conditions will also deactivate the
Cruise Control without erasing the set speed from
memory:
Vehicle parking brake is applied
Stability event occurs
Gear selector is moved out of DRIVE
Engine overspeed occurs
Clutch pedal is pressed (manual transmission
only)
ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL (ACC)
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) increases the driving
convenience provided by Cruise Control while
traveling on highways and major roadways.
However, it is not a safety system and not designed
to prevent collisions. The Cruise Control function
performs differently
Ú page 94.
ACC will allow you to keep Cruise Control engaged
in light to moderate traffic conditions without the
constant need to reset your Cruise Control. ACC
utilizes a radar sensor and a forward facing
camera designed to detect a vehicle directly ahead
of you to maintain a set speed.
WARNING!
Cruise Control can be dangerous where the
system cannot maintain a constant speed. Your
vehicle could go too fast for the conditions, and
you could lose control and have an accident. Do
not use Cruise Control in heavy traffic or on
roads that are winding, icy, snow-covered or
slippery.
4

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