warning DODGE CHARGER 2011 7.G Owner's Manual

• Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS malfunction indicator to indicatewhen the system is not operating properly. The TPMS malfunction indicator is
combined with the low tire pressure telltale. When the system detects a
malfunction, the telltale will flash for approximately one minute and then remain
continuously illuminated. This sequence will continue each time the vehicle is
restarted as long as the malfunction exists.
• When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the system may not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure as intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur for a
variety of reasons, including the installation of replacement or alternate tires or
wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS from functioning properly. Always
check the TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing one or more tires or wheels on
your vehicle, to ensure that the replacement or alternate tires and wheels allow the
TPMS to continue to function properly.
CAUTION!
The TPMS has been optimized for the original equipment tires and wheels.
TPMS pressures and warning have been established for the tire size equipped
on your vehicle. Undesirable system operation or sensor damage may result
when using replacement equipment that is not of the same size, type, and/or
style. Aftermarket wheels can cause sensor damage. Do not use tire sealant
from a can, or balance beads if your vehicle is equipped with a TPMS, as
damage to the sensors may result.
- Engine Temperature Warning Light
• This light warns of an overheated engine condition.
• If the light turns on or flashes continuously while driving, safely pull over and stopthe vehicle. If the A/C system is on, turn it off. Also, shift the transmission into
NEUTRAL and idle the vehicle. If the temperature reading does not return to
normal, turn the engine off immediately.
• We recommend that you do not operate the vehicle or engine damage will occur. Have the vehicle serviced immediately.
WARNING!
A hot engine cooling system is dangerous. You or others could be badly burned
by steam or boiling coolant. You may want to call an authorized service center
for service if your vehicle overheats.
BRAKE- Brake Warning Light
• The Brake Warning light illuminates when there is either a system malfunction orthe parking brake is applied. If the light is on and the parking brake is not applied,
it indicates a possible brake hydraulic malfunction, brake booster problem or an
Anti-Lock Brake System problem.
• We recommend you drive to the nearest service center and have the vehicle serviced immediately.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
64

WARNING!
Driving a vehicle with the red brake light on is dangerous. Part of the brake
system may have failed. It will take longer to stop the vehicle. You could have a
collision. Have the vehicle checked immediately.
- Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
• Certain conditions, such as a poor fuel quality, etc., may illuminate the MIL afterengine start. The vehicle should be serviced if the light stays on through several
typical driving cycles. In most situations, the vehicle will drive normally and not
require towing.
• If the MIL flashes when the engine is running, serious conditions may exist that could lead to immediate loss of power or severe catalytic converter damage. We
recommend you do not operate the vehicle. Have the vehicle serviced immediately.
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC) OFF Indicator Light
• This light indicates the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is off.
- Charging System Light
• This light shows the status of the electrical charging system. If the chargingsystem light remains on, it means that the vehicle is experiencing a problem with
the charging system.
• We recommend you do not continue driving if the charging system light is on. Have the vehicle serviced immediately.
- Oil Pressure Warning Light
• This light indicates low engine oil pressure. If the light turns on while driving, stopthe vehicle and shut off the engine as soon as possible. A chime will sound for four
minutes when this light turns on.
• We recommend you do not operate the vehicle or engine damage will occur. Have the vehicle serviced immediately.
- Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) Light
• This light monitors the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).
• If the light is not on during starting, stays on, or turns on while driving, werecommend you drive to the nearest service center and have the vehicle serviced
immediately.
- Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Light
• This light informs you of a problem with the Electronic Throttle Control (ETC)system.
• If a problem is detected, the light will come on while the engine is running. Cycle the ignition when the vehicle has completely stopped and the shift lever is placed
in the PARK position; the light should turn off.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
65

• If the light remains lit with the engine running, your vehicle will usually bedrivable; however, see an authorized service center immediately. If the light is
flashing when the engine is running, immediate service is required and you may
experience reduced performance, an elevated/rough idle or engine stall and your
vehicle may require towing.
- Air Bag Warning Light
• If the light is not on during starting, stays on, or turns on while driving, have thevehicle serviced by an authorized service center immediately.
SERVICE AWD SYSTEM Message
• If the SERVICE AWD SYSTEM warning message appears after engine start up, orduring driving, it means the AWD system is not functioning properly. We
recommend you do not operate the vehicle. Have the vehicle serviced immediately.
Oil Change Indicator
Message
• If an “oil change” message (shown as Oil Change Required) appears and a single chime sounds, it is time for your next required oil change.
Resetting The Light After Servicing
• Without pressing the brake pedal, push the ENGINE START/STOP button and cycle the ignition to the ON/RUN position (Do not start the engine.)
• Fully depress the accelerator pedal three times within 10 seconds.
• Without pressing the brake pedal, push the ENGINE START/STOP button once to return the ignition to the OFF/LOCK position.
IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS
• In any of the following situations, you can reduce the potential for overheating bytaking the appropriate action.
• On the highways — slow down.
• In city traffic — while stopped, place the transmission in NEUTRAL, but do not increase engine idle speed.
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.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
66

CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could damage your vehicle. If the temperature
gauge reads 240°F (116 °C) or greater pull over and stop the vehicle. Idle the
vehicle with the air conditioner turned off until the pointer drops back into the
normal range 200–230°F (93–110°C). If the pointer remains at 240°F (116°C)
or greater and you hear a chime, turn the engine off immediately and call for
service.
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.
JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING
Jack/Spare Tire Location
Preparations For Jacking
• Park on a firm, level surface. Avoid ice or slippery areas.
• Set the parking brake and shift the transmission into PARK.
• Turn the ignition to LOCK and turn on the Hazard Warning flasher.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
67

• Raise the vehicle by turning the jackscrew clockwise. Raise the vehicle only
until the tire just clears the surface
and enough clearance is obtained to
install the spare tire.
• Remove the lug nuts, wheel cover (if equipped) and wheel.
• Position the spare wheel/tire on the vehicle and install the lug nuts with
the cone-shaped end toward the wheel.
Do NOT attempt to install a center cap
or wheel cover on the compact spare.
Lightly tighten the lug nuts. To avoid
the risk of forcing the vehicle off the
jack, do not tighten the nuts fully until
the vehicle has been lowered.
• Lower the vehicle by turning the jack screw counterclockwise, and remove the jack and wheel blocks.
• Finish tightening the lug nuts. Push down on the wrench while tightening for increased leverage. Alternate nuts until each one has been tightened twice. The
correct wheel nut tightness is 100 ft lbs (135 N•m). If in doubt about the correct
tightness, have them checked with a torque wrench by your authorized dealer or at
a service station.
• Secure the tire, jack (base of jack faces front of vehicle), and tools in their proper locations.
WARNING!
• Do not attempt to change a tire on the side of the vehicle close to movingtraffic. Pull far enough off the road to avoid the danger of being hit when
operating the jack or changing the wheel.
• Getting under a jacked-up vehicle is dangerous. The vehicle could slip off the jack and fall on you. You could be crushed. Never get any part of your body
under a vehicle that is on a jack. If you need to get under a raised vehicle,
take it to a service center where it can be raised on a lift.
• The jack is designed to use as a tool for changing tires only. The jack should not be used to lift the vehicle for service purposes. The vehicle should be
jacked on a firm, level surface only. Avoid ice or slippery areas.
• Carefully follow these tire changing procedures to help prevent personal injury or damage to your vehicle: Always park on a firm, level surface as far
from the edge of the roadway as possible before raising the vehicle.
• Raising the vehicle higher than necessary can make the vehicle less stable and could cause it to slip off the jack and hurt someone near it. Raise the
vehicle only enough to remove the tire.
(Continued)
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
69

WARNING!(Continued)
• A loose tire or jack, thrown forward in a collision or hard stop, could endangerthe occupants of the vehicle. Always stow the jack parts and the spare tire in
the places provided.
JUMP-STARTING
• If your vehicle has a discharged batteryit can be jump-started using a set of
jumper cables and a battery in another
vehicle or by using a portable battery
booster pack.
• Jump-starting can be dangerous if done improperly so please follow the
procedures in this section carefully.
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.
NOTE: The remote battery posts are viewed by standing on the right side of the vehicle
looking over the fender.
• Set the parking brake, shift the automatic transmission into PARK and turn theignition to OFF.
• Turn off the heater, radio, and all unnecessary electrical accessories.
• If using another vehicle to jump-start the battery, park the vehicle within the jumper cables reach, set the parking brake and make sure the ignition is OFF.
Jump-Starting Procedure
• Connect the positive (+)end of the jumper cable to the remote positive (+)post of
the discharged vehicle.
• Connect the opposite end of the positive (+)jumper cable to the positive (+)post
of the booster battery.
• Connect the negative end (-)of the jumper cable to the negative (-)post of the
booster battery.
• Connect the opposite end of the negative (-)jumper cable to the remote negative
(-) post of the vehicle with the discharged battery.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
70

• Start the engine in the vehicle that has the booster battery, let the engine idle afew minutes, and then start the engine in the vehicle with the discharged battery.
Once the engine is started, remove the jumper cables in the reverse sequence:
• Disconnect the negative (-)jumper cable from the remote negative (-)post of the
vehicle with the discharged battery.
• Disconnect the negative end (-)of the jumper cable from the negative (-)post of
the booster battery.
• Disconnect the opposite end of the positive (+)jumper cable from the positive (+)
post of the booster battery.
• Disconnect the positive (+)end of the jumper cable from the remote positive (+)
post of the discharged vehicle.
• If frequent jump-starting is required to start your vehicle you should have the battery and charging system inspected at your authorized dealer.
CAUTION!
• Do not use a portable battery booster pack or any other booster source with asystem voltage greater than 12 Volts or damage to the battery, starter motor,
alternator or electrical system may occur.
• Failure to follow these procedures could result in damage to the charging system of the booster vehicle or the discharged vehicle.
• Accessories that can be plugged into the vehicle power outlets draw power from the vehicle’s battery, even when not in use (i.e., cellular phones, etc.).
Eventually, if plugged in long enough, the vehicle’s battery will discharge
sufficiently to degrade battery life and/or prevent the engine from starting.
WARNING!
• When temperatures are below the freezing point, electrolyte in a dischargedbattery may freeze. Do not attempt jump-starting because the battery could
rupture or explode and cause personal injury. Battery temperature must be
brought above freezing point before attempting a jump-start.
• 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 watch bands or bracelets, that might make an inadvertent electrical contact. You could be severely 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.
• Do not allow vehicles to touch each other as this could establish a ground connection and personal injury could result.
(Continued)
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
71

WARNING!(Continued)
• Failure to follow this procedure could result in personal injury or propertydamage due to battery explosion.
• Do not connect the cable to the negative post (-)of the discharged battery.
The resulting electrical spark could cause the battery to explode and could
result in personal injury.
SHIFT LEVER OVERRIDE
• If a malfunction occurs and the shift lever cannot be moved out of the PARK
position, you can use the following
procedure to temporarily move the shift
lever:
• Remove the storage bin liner to
access the shift lever override port
located to the right of the shift lever.
• Firmly set the parking brake.
• Turn the ignition switch to the ACC or ON position without starting the
engine.
• Press and maintain firm pressure on the brake pedal.
• Using a screwdriver or similar tool, press and hold the override tab through the access port on the center console.
• Move the shift lever into the NEUTRAL position.
• The vehicle may then be started in NEUTRAL.
• Reinstall the override cover.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
72

FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE
• If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand or snow, it can often be moved by arocking motion. Turn your steering wheel right and left to clear the area around the
front wheels. Then, move the shift lever back and forth between REVERSE and
DRIVE. Using minimal accelerator pedal pressure to maintain the rocking motion,
without spinning the wheels, is most effective.
NOTE: If your vehicle is equipped with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) or Traction
Control
, turn the system off before attempting to “rock” the vehicle.
CAUTION!
• When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by moving between REVERSE and DRIVE, 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 occurring).
WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces generated by excessive wheel
speeds may cause tire damage or failure. A tire could explode and injure
someone. Do not spin your vehicle's wheels faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) when
you are stuck. Do not let anyone near a spinning wheel, no matter what the
speed.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
74

OPENING THE HOOD
• Pull the hood release lever located onthe instrument panel, below the
headlight switch.
• Raise the hood and locate the safety catch lever, in the middle of the hood
opening.
• Move the safety latch while lifting the hood at the same time.
• Insert the support rod into the slot on the hood.
• To close the hood, remove the support rod and place it in the retaining clip,
then lower the hood slowly.
WARNING!
Be sure the hood is fully latched before driving your vehicle. If the hood is not
fully latched, it could open when the vehicle is in motion and block your vision.
Failure to follow this warning could result in serious injury or death.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
76