traction control DODGE CHALLENGER SRT 2014 3.G Owners Manual

AUTOSTICK® ........................ .318
▫ Steering Wheel Mounted Paddle Shifters Or
Console Mounted Shifter ................318
 SPORT MODE ........................ .321
 LAUNCH MODE — IF EQUIPPED ..........322
 DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES .........327
▫ Acceleration ........................ .327
▫ Traction ........................... .327
 DRIVING THROUGH WATER .............328
▫ Flowing/Rising Water ..................328
 POWER STEERING .....................330
▫ Power Steering Fluid Check ..............331
 FUEL SAVER TECHNOLOGY —
IF EQUIPPED ......................... .332
PARKING BRAKE ..................... .332
▫ Manual Transmission — If Equipped ........333
▫ Automatic Transmission — If Equipped ......334
 BRAKE SYSTEM ...................... .336
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ............336
 ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM . . . .339
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ............339
▫ Traction Control System (TCS) ............340
▫ Brake Assist System (BAS) ...............340
▫ Hill Start Assist (HSA) .................341
▫ Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ..........343
▫ ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light And
ESC OFF Indicator Light ................346
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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. Refer to “Electronic
Brake Control System/Hill Start Assist” in “Start-
ing And Operating” for further information.
• Failure to press the clutch pedal fully to the floor
may cause increased shift efforts, and may result in
damage to the clutch and transmission.
• Do not rest your hand on the shift lever while
driving, as this may result in transmission synchro-
nizer damage.
• Do not attempt to shift the transmission if the rear
wheels are spinning due to loss of traction. Dam-
age to the transmission may occur. NOTE:
During cold weather, you may experience in-
creased effort in shifting until the transmission fluid
warms up. This is normal.
Manual Shifter
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less aggressive shifting. The system will return to OFF
when the ignition switch is cycled from RUN to OFF to
RUN, if this mode is selected.
• SPORT Mode — This mode is selected by the first
press of the “SPORT” button. A “SPORT” message will
display in the instrument cluster. The system will
return to SPORT mode when the ignition switch is
cycled from RUN to OFF to RUN, if this mode is
selected. This mode will set suspension for maximum
performance handling and is intended for spirited
driving.
• TRACK Mode — This includes SPORT mode and
affects automatic transmission shifting in either Auto
or Manual mode. Refer to “AutoStick” in “Starting
And Operating” for further information. In TRACK
mode, the transmission has a sportier, more aggressive
shift pattern. In Manual mode, the transmission will
hold gear at redline during manual shifting (console shifter or paddle shifters). A “TRACK” message will
display in the instrument cluster. The system will
return to SPORT mode when the ignition switch is
cycled from RUN to OFF to RUN, if this mode is
selected.
NOTE: For manual transmission vehicles, the available
driving modes are SPORT on or SPORT Off. TRACK is
not available.
LAUNCH MODE — IF EQUIPPED
This vehicle is equipped with a Launch Control system
that is designed to allow the driver to achieve maximum
vehicle acceleration in a straight line. Launch Control is a
form of traction control that manages tire slip while
launching the vehicle. This feature is intended for use
during race events on a closed course where consistent
quarter mile and zero to sixty times are desired. The
system is not intended to compensate for lack of driver
experience or familiarity with the race track. Use of this
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feature in low traction (cold, wet, gravel, etc) conditions
may results in excess wheel slip outside this systems
control resulting in an aborted launch.
Preconditions:
•Launch control should not be used on public roads.
Always check track conditions and the surrounding
area.
• Launch Control is not available for the first 500 miles
of vehicle life.
• Launch Control should only be used when the engine
and transmission are at operating temperature.
• Launch Control is intended to be used on dry, paved
road surfaces only. Use on slippery or loose surfaces
may cause damage to vehicle components. Automatic Transmission (If Equipped):
Launch Control is only available when the following
procedure is followed:
1. Press the “ESC OFF” button to put the vehicle into
ESC Partial mode. The “ESC OFF” lamp will illumi-
nate in the cluster.
2. Press the “ESC OFF” button a second time to put the vehicle into Launch Control. The “ESC OFF” lamp will
remain lit, and the cluster display will read “Launch
Control Enabled”.
3. Make sure the vehicle is not moving.
4. Make sure the steering wheel is pointing straight.
5. Hold the brake and make sure the vehicle is in “Drive”.
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Launch control will be active until the vehicle reaches
62 mph (100 kph), at which point the ESC system
continues in ESC Partial mode. Activating Launch Con-
trol again from this state will require pressing the “ESC
OFF” button once. Repeat steps 3 through 8.
Launch control will abort before launch completion and
display “Launch Aborted” in the cluster under any the
following conditions:
•The brake is applied during launch.
• The ESC system detects that the vehicle is no longer
moving in a straight line.
• The “ESC OFF” button is pressed to change the ESC
system to another mode. One press puts the ESC
system into ESC Full-On.
NOTE: After launch control has been aborted, the vehicle
will resort back to ESC Full ON.CAUTION!
Do not attempt to shift when the drive wheels are
spinning and do not have traction. Damage to the
transmission may occur.
Launch RPM Set (Manual Transmission Only)
When selected, this screen displays the vehicle’s current
Launch RPM used for Launch Control (see ESC Operat-
ing Modes – Launch Control).
• This feature will only function when the vehicle is
stationary.
• Pressing the SELECT button will bring up a list of
available rpm values to use with Launch Control.
• Scroll to the desired launch rpm value using the
up/down arrow buttons and press the SELECT button
to set the launch rpm to the desired value.
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•The newly chosen launch rpm will then be displayed.
When Launch Control is activated, the engine speed
will hold at the newly chosen launch rpm.
NOTE: Launch mode is not available within the first 500
miles of engine break-in.
DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES
Acceleration
Rapid acceleration on snow covered, wet, or other slip-
pery surfaces may cause the driving wheels to pull
erratically to the right or left. This phenomenon occurs
when there is a difference in the surface traction under
the rear (driving) wheels.
WARNING!
Rapid acceleration on slippery surfaces is dangerous.
Unequal traction can cause sudden pulling of the rear
wheels. You could lose control of the vehicle and
possibly have a collision. Accelerate slowly and
carefully whenever there is likely to be poor traction
(ice, snow, wet mud, loose sand, etc.).
Traction
When driving on wet or slushy roads, it is possible for a
wedge of water to build up between the tire and road
surface. This is known as hydroplaning and may cause
partial or complete loss of vehicle control and stopping
ability. To reduce this possibility, the following precau-
tions should be observed:
1. Slow down during rainstorms or when the roads are slushy.
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does not come on when the ignition switch is turned to
the ON position, have the bulb repaired as soon as
possible.
If both the “Brake Warning Light” and the “ABS Warning
Light” remain on, the ABS and EBD systems are not
functioning. Immediate repair to the ABS system is
required.
ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with an advanced electronic
brake control system commonly referred to as ESC. This
system includes the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), the
Traction Control System (TCS), the Brake Assist System
(BAS), and the Electronic Stability Control (ESC). These
systems work together to enhance both vehicle stability
and control in various driving conditions.An additional electronic brake control feature called Hill
Start Assist (HSA) is standard on manual transmission
models.
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
This system aids the driver in maintaining vehicle control
under adverse braking conditions by controlling hydrau-
lic brake pressure. This prevents wheel lock-up to help
avoid skidding on slippery surfaces during braking.
Refer to “Anti-Lock Brake System” in “Starting and
Operating” for further information.
WARNING!
The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws of physics
from acting on the vehicle, nor can it increase the
traction afforded by prevailing road conditions. The
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WARNING!(Continued)
ABS cannot prevent collisions, including those re-
sulting from excessive speed in turns, driving on
very slippery surfaces, or hydroplaning. The capa-
bilities of an ABS-equipped vehicle must never be
exploited in a reckless or dangerous manner that
could jeopardize the user’s safety or the safety of
others.
Traction Control System (TCS)
This system monitors the amount of wheel spin of each
driven wheel. If wheel spin is detected, brake pressure is
applied to the slipping wheel(s) and engine power is
reduced to provide enhanced acceleration and stability.
A feature of the TCS system functions similar to a limited-
slip differential and controls the wheel spin across a driven
axle. If one wheel on a driven axle is spinning faster than
the other, the system will apply the brake of the spinning wheel. This will allow more engine torque to be applied to
the wheel that is not spinning. This feature remains active
even if TCS and ESC are in the “Partial Off” or “Full Off”
modes. Refer to “Electronic Stability Control (ESC)” in this
section for more information.
Brake Assist System (BAS)
This system complements the ABS by optimizing the
vehicle braking capability during emergency braking
maneuvers. This system detects an emergency braking
situation by sensing the rate and amount of brake appli-
cation and then applies optimum pressure to the brakes.
This can help reduce braking distances.
Applying the brakes very quickly results in the best BAS
assistance. To receive the benefits of this system, you
must apply continuous brake pedal pressure during the
stopping sequence. Do not reduce brake pedal pressure
unless braking is no longer desired. Once the brake pedal
is released, the BAS is deactivated.
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8. Rotate the steering wheel back to center and then anadditional half-turn to the right.
9. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position and then back to the ON position. If the sequence was com-
pleted properly, the “ESC Activation/Malfunction In-
dicator Light” will blink several times to confirm HSA
is disabled.
10. Repeat these steps if you want to return this feature to it’s previous setting.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
This system enhances directional control and stability of
the vehicle under various driving conditions. The ESC
corrects for oversteering and understeering the vehicle
by applying the brake of the appropriate wheel. Engine
power may also be reduced to assist in counteracting the
condition of oversteer or understeer and help the vehicle
maintain the desired path. The ESC uses sensors in the vehicle to determine the path
that the driver intends to steer the vehicle and compares
it to the actual path of the vehicle. When the actual path
does not match the intended path, the ESC applies the
brake of the appropriate wheel to assist in counteracting
the condition of oversteer or understeer.
•
Oversteer - when the vehicle is turning more than
appropriate for the steering wheel position.
• Understeer - when the vehicle is turning less than
appropriate for the steering wheel position.WARNING!
The Electronic Stability Control System (ESC) cannot
prevent the natural laws of physics from acting on
the vehicle, nor can it increase the traction afforded
by prevailing road conditions. ESC cannot prevent
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NOTE:TheESC OFF message will display and the
audible chime will sound when the shift lever is moved
into the PARK position from any position other than
PARK and then moved out of the PARK position. This
will occur when the message was previously cleared.
WARNING!
In the ESC “Full Off” mode, the engine torque
reduction and stability features are disabled. There-
fore, the enhanced vehicle stability offered by ESC is
unavailable. In an emergency evasive maneuver, the
ESC system will not engage to assist in maintaining
stability. ESC Off mode is intended for off-highway
or off-road use only. NOTE:
When the ESC is switched OFF, a feature of the
system remains active. This feature controls wheel spin
across an axle quite similarly to a limited slip differential.
If one wheel on an axle is spinning faster than the other,
the system will apply the brake of the spinning wheel
and allow more engine torque to be applied to the wheel
that is not spinning. To improve the vehicle’s traction
when driving with tire chains, or when starting off in
deep snow, sand, or gravel, it may be desirable to switch
to the “Partial Off” mode by momentarily pressing the
“ESC Off” switch.
ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light And
ESC OFF Indicator Light
The “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator
Light” in the instrument cluster will come on
when the ignition switch is cycled to the ON/
RUN position. It should go out with the engine
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