automatic transmission DODGE CHALLENGER SRT 2015 3.G Owner's Manual

WARNING!(Continued)
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 a booster
battery or the battery in another vehicle. This type
of start can be dangerous if done improperly. Refer
to “Jump-Starting” in “What To Do In Emergen-
cies” for further information.
Clearing A Flooded Engine (Using ENGINE
START/STOP Button) — Automatic Transmission
Only
If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
“Normal Starting” or “Extreme Cold Weather proce-
dures, it may be flooded. To clear any excess fuel, press
and hold the brake pedal, press the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and hold it, then push and release the
ENGINE START/STOP button once. The starter motor
will engage automatically, run for 10 seconds, and then
disengage. Once this occurs, release the accelerator pedal
and the brake pedal, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat
the “Normal Starting” procedure.
Clearing A Flooded Engine (Using ENGINE
START/STOP Button) — Manual Transmission
Only
If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
“Normal Starting” or “Extreme Cold Weather
proce-
dures, it may be flooded. To clear any excess fuel, press
and hold the clutch pedal, press the accelerator pedal all
the way to the floor and hold it, then push and hold the
ENGINE START/STOP button for no more than 15
seconds. Release the accelerator pedal and the clutch
pedal, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the “Normal
Starting” procedure.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 347

After Starting
The idle speed is controlled automatically and it will
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.
The engine block heater cord is routed under the hood on
the driver side of the vehicle. It has a removable cap that
is located near the air box.
WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the engine block heater
cord before driving. Damage to the 110-115 Volt
electrical cord could cause electrocution.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION — IF EQUIPPED
Six-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.
348 STARTING AND OPERATING

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WARNING!
•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 re-
verse. 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.
• Unintended movement of a vehicle could injure
those in or near the vehicle. As with all vehicles,
you should never exit a vehicle while the engine is
running. Before exiting a vehicle, always apply the
parking brake, shift the transmission into PARK,
turn the engine OFF, and remove the Key Fob.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
When the ignition is in the OFF position, the
transmission is locked in PARK, securing the ve-
hicle against unwanted movement.
• When leaving the vehicle, always make sure the
ignition is in the OFF position, 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. Allowing children 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 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 in the ACC or ON/RUN position.
(Continued)
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STARTING AND OPERATING 353

Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission — If
Equipped
The transmission gear range (PRNDM) is displayed both
on the shift lever and in the Driver Information Display
(DID).
To select a gear range, press the lock button on the shift
lever and move the lever rearward or forward. You must
also press the brake pedal to shift the transmission out of
PARK, or to shift from NEUTRAL into DRIVE or RE-
VERSE when the vehicle is stopped or moving at low
speeds (refer to “Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock Sys-
tem” in this section). Select the DRIVE range for normal
driving.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. This is a normal
condition, and precision shifts will develop within a few
hundred miles (kilometers).
Automatic Transmission Shifter
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 355

CAUTION!(Continued)
severe transmission damage. Refer to “Recreational
Towing” in “Starting And Operating” and “Towing A
Disabled Vehicle” in “What To Do In Emergencies”
for further information.
DRIVE (D)
This range should be used for most city and highway
driving. It provides the smoothest upshifts and down-
shifts, and the best fuel economy. The transmission
automatically upshifts through all forward gears. The
DRIVE position provides optimum driving characteris-
tics under all normal operating conditions.
When frequent transmission shifting occurs (such as
when operating the vehicle under heavy loading condi-
tions, in hilly terrain or traveling into strong head winds),
use the AutoStick shift control (refer to AutoStickin this
section for further information) to select a lower gear. Under these conditions, using a lower gear will improve
performance and extend transmission life by reducing
excessive shifting and heat buildup.
During extremely cold temperatures (-22°F [-30°C] or
below), transmission operation may be modified depend-
ing on engine and transmission temperature as well as
vehicle speed. 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; refer to
“AutoStick” in this section for further information). Tog-
gling the shift lever 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.
360 STARTING AND OPERATING

Operation
When the shift lever is in the DRIVE (D) position, the
transmission will operate automatically, shifting between
the eight available gears. To activate AutoStick, move the
shift lever into the MANUAL (M) position (beside the
DRIVE position). The current transmission gear will be
displayed in the instrument cluster, along with a high-
lightedM(Manual) indication. When the shift lever is
in the MANUAL (M) position, tap the shift lever forward
(-) (or tap the (-) shift paddle on the steering wheel) to
downshift the transmission to the next lower gear, (or tap
the lever rearward (+) or tap the (+) shift paddle), to
command an upshift. NOTE:
Tapping one of the steering wheel-mounted shift
paddles (+/-), while the shift lever is in DRIVE, will
activate a temporary AutoStick mode. Tapping (-) to
enter AutoStick mode will downshift the transmission to
the next lower gear, while using (+) to enter AutoStick
mode will retain the current gear. The current gear will be
displayed in the instrument cluster, but the Mwill not
be highlighted. The transmission will revert back to
normal operation (if the shift lever remains in DRIVE)
after a period of time, depending on accelerator pedal
activity.
In AutoStick mode, the transmission will shift up or
down when (+/-) is manually selected by the driver
(using the shift lever, or the shift paddles), unless an
engine lugging or overspeed condition would result. It
will remain in the selected gear until another upshift or
downshift is chosen, except as described below.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 363

•In temporary AutoStick mode (shift lever in DRIVE),
the transmission will automatically shift up when
maximum engine speed is reached. Lack of accelerator
pedal activity will cause the transmission to revert to
automatic operation.
• If normal AutoStick mode is engaged (shift lever in
MANUAL position), manual gear selection will be
maintained until the shift lever is returned to DRIVE,
or as described below. The transmission will not
upshift automatically at redline in this mode, nor will
downshifts be obtained if the accelerator pedal is
pressed to the floor.
• The transmission will automatically downshift as the
vehicle slows (to prevent engine lugging) and will
display the current gear. •
The transmission will automatically downshift to first
gear when coming to a stop. After a stop, the driver
should manually upshift (+) the transmission as the
vehicle is accelerated.
• You can start out, from a stop, in first or second gear.
Tapping (+) (at a stop) will allow starting in second
gear. Starting out in second gear can be helpful in
snowy or icy conditions.
• If a requested downshift would cause the engine to
over-speed, that shift will not occur.
• The system will ignore attempts to upshift at too low
of a vehicle speed.
• Holding the (-) paddle depressed, or holding the shift
lever in the (-) position, will downshift the transmis-
sion to the lowest gear possible at the current speed.
• Transmission shifting will be more noticeable when
AutoStick is engaged.
364 STARTING AND OPERATING

•The vehicle will restart with VALET active if VALET
was active when the vehicle was last shut down.
• Eco (Automatic Transmission only) — Eco modifies
the vehicle’s engine and transmission settings to pro-
vide improved fuel economy at a trade-off with accel-
eration performance. Increased engine exhaust noise
and/or vibration may be noticed while Eco is active,
this is normal and will not damage the vehicle.
NOTE: Changing the Drive Mode will deactivate Eco.
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
feature in low traction (cold, wet, gravel, etc.) conditions
may results in excess wheel slip outside this systems
control resulting in an aborted launch.
NOTE:
Launch mode is not available within the first 500
miles of engine break-in.
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 the vehicle’s life.
• Launch Control should only be used when the engine
and transmission are at operating temperature.
370 STARTING AND OPERATING

•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 and is not
recommended.
Automatic Transmission — If Equipped
Launch Control is only available when the following
procedure is followed:
1. Push the LAUNCH button on the center stack switch bank.
NOTE: Pushing the SRT button on the center stack or
pressing the “SRT & Apps” button on the touchscreen are
two other options to access launch control features.
Please refer to “Uconnect® Settings” within your Own-
er ’s Manual on the DVD for further information.
2. Press the “Launch RPM Set-Up” button on the touch- screen. This screen will allow you to adjust your
launch RPM’s for optimum launch/traction. 3. Press the “Activate Launch Mode” button on the
touchscreen.
4. Make sure the vehicle is not moving.
5. Make sure the steering wheel is pointing straight.
6. Hold the brake and make sure the vehicle is in “Drive”.
7. While holding the brake, rapidly apply the accelerator pedal to wide open throttle. The engine speed will
hold at the RPM that was set in the “Launch RPM
Set-up” screen.
NOTE: Messages will appear in the Driver Information
Display (DID) to inform the driver if one or more of the
above conditions have not been met.
8. When conditions 5 through 8 have been met, the Driver Information Display (DID) will read “Launch
Ready Release Brake”.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 371

WARNING!
Continued operation with reduced power steering
assist could pose a safety risk to yourself and others.
Service should be obtained as soon as possible.
CAUTION!
Prolonged operation of the steering system at the end
of the steering wheel travel will increase the steering
fluid temperature and it should be avoided when
possible. Damage to the power steering pump may
occur.
FUEL SAVER TECHNOLOGY — IF EQUIPPED
This feature offers improved fuel economy by shutting
off four of the engine’s eight cylinders during light load
and cruise conditions. The system is automatic with no
driver inputs or additional driving skills required.NOTE:
This system may take some time to return to full
functionality after a battery disconnect.
PARKING BRAKE
Before leaving the vehicle, make sure that the parking
brake is fully applied and place the shift lever in the
PARK or REVERSE (manual transmission only) position.
When the parking brake is applied and the ignition
switch is in the ON position (RUN position with Keyless
Enter-N-Go™), the “Brake Warning Light” in the instru-
ment cluster will illuminate.
NOTE:
• When the parking brake is applied and the transmis-
sion 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.
382 STARTING AND OPERATING