DODGE STRATUS COUPE 2004 2.G Owners Manual

THEFT PROTECTION
CAUTION!
Always remove the key from the ignition switch and
lock all doors when leaving the vehicle unattended.
Always try to park your vehicle in a well lighted
area.
The ignition key can only be removed in the ªLOCKº
position. If the key is left in the lock cylinder, a warning
chime sounds when the driver's door is opened.
NOTE: If your vehicle is equipped with a Theft-alarm
system, refer to ªTheft-alarm systemº.
STEERING LOCK
Withdraw the key and the steering wheel will be locked.
Turn the steering wheel to confirm that it is locked.
CAUTION!
If your vehicle needs to be towed, turn the key to the
(ACC(position to unlock the steering wheel.
STARTING
Tips for starting
1. Do not operate the starter motor continuously for
longer than 15 seconds at a time; doing so could run
down the battery. If the engine does not start, turn the
ignition switch back to ªLOCKº, wait a few seconds, and
then try again.
2. If the engine will not start because the battery is weak
or dead, refer to ªJump-starting the engineº section (page
277) for instructions on starting the engine.
3. The engine is well warmed up if the pointer of the
coolant temperature gauge starts to move. Extended
warm up operation will result in excessive fuel consump-
tion.
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5

WARNING!
Never run the engine in a closed or poorly ventilated
area any longer than is needed to move your vehicle
in or out of the area. Carbon monoxide gas, which is
odorless, colorless and extremely poisonous, could
build up, and cause serious injury or death.
CAUTION!
²Do not start the vehicle by pushing or pulling.
²Do not run the engine at high rpm or drive the
vehicle at high speed until the engine has had a
chance to warm up.
²Release the ignition key as soon as the engine
starts to avoid damaging the starter motor.
This vehicle is equipped with an electronically controlled
fuel injection system that automatically controls fuel
quantity. When starting the engine, there is normally no
need to depress the accelerator pedal.
Normal conditions
The starting procedure is as follows:
1. Insert the ignition key and make sure all occupants are
properly seated with seat belts fastened.
2. Depress and hold the brake pedal down with your
right foot.
3. Set the gearshift selector lever (manual transaxle) in
the ªNº (NEUTRAL) position, or the selector lever (au-
tomatic transaxle) in the ªPº (PARK) position.
4. Fully depress the clutch pedal (manual transaxle).
NOTE: For models equipped with a manual trans-
axle, the starter will not operate unless the clutch
pedal is fully depressed (Clutch interlock).
5. After turning the ignition key to the ªONº position,
make certain that all warning lights are functioning
properly before starting the engine.
6. Turn the ignition key to the ªSTARTº position without
depressing the accelerator pedal, and release the key
when the engine starts.
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NOTE: Slight noises may be heard on engine start-up.
These noises will disappear as you continue warming up
the engine.
Flooded engine
If the engine has become flooded during starting, first
operate the starter for 5 to 6 seconds while fully depress-
ing the accelerator pedal (clear flood), then start the
engine without depressing the accelerator pedal at all.
At extremely cold ambient temperature
If the engine won't start, depress the accelerator pedal
about halfway while cranking the engine. Once the
engine starts, release the accelerator pedal.
CAUTION!
When starting the engine, make sure that you step on
the brake pedal. During very cold weather, when
you start the engine while putting your foot on the
accelerator pedal, move your foot to the brake pedal
immediately after the engine has started.
AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE (IF SO EQUIPPED)
The automatic transaxle is designed for optimum control
and equipped with adaptive control capabilities. The
electronically controlled transaxle optimally matches
gear shifts to almost all driving and road conditions.
DRIVING UPHILL
The transaxle may not upshift to a higher gear if the
computer determines the current speed cannot be main-
tained once a higher gear is engaged.
For smoother vehicle performance, if you release the
throttle while climbing a steep grade, the transaxle may
not upshift. This is normal, as the computer is controlling
the shifting. After reaching the top of the hill, normal gear
shift function will resume.
DRIVING DOWNHILL
When traveling down steep grades and depressing the
brake pedal, the computer may automatically select a
lower gear. This function assists engine braking efforts,
reducing the need to use the brakes.
STARTING AND DRIVING 153
5

CAUTION!
The electronically controlled transaxle system is
strictly intended to provide supplementary func-
tions. When driving downhill under certain condi-
tions, or immediately after starting when the auto-
matic transaxle is cold, no automatic shift-down may
be made. The driver should shift down to a low gear
(3rd gear or 2nd gear), which will permit the engine
to exert a braking effect.
NOTE: During the brake-in period or immediately after
re-connection of the battery cable, the vehicle may not
shift as smoothly. This does not indicate a faulty trans-
mission. The transaxle system must have a short period
to learn parameters for proper shifting. Shifting will
become smooth after the transaxle has been shifted
several times by the electronic control system.
Selector lever operation
As an additional safety precaution, models equipped
with an automatic transaxle have a shift-lock device that
holds the selector lever in the ªPº (PARK) position. To
move the selector lever from the ªPº (PARK) position to
another position, follow the steps below.
1. Depress and hold down the brake pedal.
2. Move the selector lever to the desired position.
NOTE: The selector lever cannot be moved from ªPº
(PARK) to another position if the ignition key is at the
ªLOCKº position, removed, or if the brake pedal is not
depressed and held down.
154 STARTING AND DRIVING

The indicator panel, on the console located at the
driver's right, is illuminated for night driving.
Button (A) must be pushed while the brake pedal is
depressed to move the selector lever.
Button need not be pushed to move the lever.
Button must be pushed to move the lever.
WARNING!
Always depress the brake pedal when shifting the
selector lever into a gear from the ªNº (NEUTRAL)
position. When beginning to drive, do not shift the
selector lever from the ªNº (NEUTRAL) position
while depressing the accelerator pedal; doing so may
cause the vehicle to ªjumpº forward or backward.
CAUTION!
If the button is always depressed to operate the
selector lever, the lever may be accidentally shifted
into the ªPº, ªRº, 3, 2, ªLº position. Be sure not to
depress the button when performing the operations
indicated by
in the illustration.
NOTE: If the brake pedal is not depressed and held, the
shift-lock device activates to prevent the selector lever
from being moved from the ªPº (PARK) position.
I04A1570
A
STARTING AND DRIVING 155
5

Gear positions
ªPº PARK
The ªPº (PARK) position supplements the parking brake
by locking the transaxle while the vehicle is parked.
The engine can be started in this position.
Apply the parking brake before leaving the vehicle in this
position.
ªRº REVERSE
Shift into this position only after the vehicle has come to
a complete stop.
CAUTION!
Never shift into the ªPº (PARK) or ªRº (REVERSE)
position while the vehicle is in motion. If the lever is
shifted into the ªPº or ªRº position while the vehicle
is in motion, the transaxle may be damaged.
ªNº NEUTRAL
The engine may be started in this position.
WARNING!
²Never move the lever to the ªNº position while
driving since you could accidentally move the
lever into the(P(or(R(position, damaging the
transaxle.
²To prevent the vehicle from rolling when stopped
on a slope, the engine should be started in the ªPº
(PARK) position, not in ªNº (NEUTRAL).
²Always keep your foot on the brake pedal when
the vehicle is in ªNº (NEUTRAL), or when shift-
ing into or out of ªNº (NEUTRAL), to maintain
control.
ªDº DRIVE
This position is used for most city and highway driving.
Engine shifting is done automatically, depending on road
conditions.
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ª3º THIRD / ª2º SECOND
For driving slowly in heavy city traffic or on mountain
roads where more precise speed control is desired.
Also use it when climbing long grades, and for engine
braking when descending moderately steep grades.
Engine braking is automatically applied when necessary,
depending on road conditions.
ªLº LOW
This position is for driving up very steep hills and for
engine braking at low speeds when descending steep
gradients.
WARNING!
Be very careful not to shift into ªLº suddenly. Doing
so may cause the tires to slip.
Driving speed (Vehicles with automatic transaxle)
In order to avoid damage to the engine from excessively
high rpm, do not exceed the listed driving speed when
the selector lever is set to the ª3º (THIRD) position, the
ª2º (SECOND) position or the ªLº (LOW) position.
ConditionDriving speed mph (km/h)
2.4 liter engine 3.0 liter engine
ª3º (THIRD) 114 (180) 118 (190)
ª2º (SECOND) 74 (115) 80 (130)
ªLº (LOW) 28 (45) 31 (45)
WARNING!
Always obey posted speed limits. Use common
sense and drive safely, regardless of posted speed
limits. Drive at speeds that are safe for the traffic,
weather, or road conditions.
Holding on an upgrade
To avoid transaxle overheating, never hold the vehicle
stationary on an incline by using the accelerator pedal.
Instead, use the brake pedal.
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5

Transaxle Reset Mode
The transaxle is monitored for abnormal conditions. If a
condition is detected that could cause damage, the trans-
axle automatically shifts into second gear. The transaxle
remains in second gear despite the forward gear selected.
Park (P), Reverse (R), and Neutral (N) will continue to
operate. This Reset feature allows the vehicle to be driven
to a dealer for service without damaging the transaxle.
If the problem has been momentary, the transaxle can be
reset to regain all forward gears.
²Stop the vehicle and shift into PARK (P).
²Turn the key to OFF then start the engine.
²Shift into ªDº and resume driving.
NOTE:Even if the transaxle can be reset, we recom-
mend that you visit a dealer at your earliest possible
convenience. Your dealer has diagnostic equipment to
determine if the problem could recur.
If the transaxle cannot be reset, dealer service is required.
AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE AUTOSTICK
(IF SO EQUIPPED)
Designed for optimum control and equipped with adap-
tive control capabilities, the electronically controlled
transaxle optimally matches gear shifts to almost all
driving and road conditions.
DRIVING UPHILL
The transaxle may not upshift to a higher gear if the
computer determines the current speed cannot be main-
tained once a higher gear is engaged.
For smoother vehicle performance, if you release the
throttle while climbing a steep grade, the transaxle may
not upshift. This is normal, as the computer is controlling
the shifting. After reaching the top of the hill, normal gear
shift function will resume.
DRIVING DOWNHILL
When traveling down steep grades and depressing the
brake pedal, the computer may automatically select a
lower gear. This function assists engine braking efforts,
reducing the need to use the brakes.
158 STARTING AND DRIVING

CAUTION!
The electronically controlled transaxle system is
strictly intended to provide supplementary func-
tions. When driving downhill under certain condi-
tions, or immediately after starting when the auto-
matic transaxle is cold, no automatic shift-down may
be made. The driver should shift down to a low gear
(3rd gear or 2nd gear), which will permit the engine
to exert a braking effect.
NOTE: During the brake-in period or immediately after
re-connection of the battery cable, the vehicle may not
shift smoothly. This does not indicate a faulty transmis-
sion. The transaxle system must have a short period to
learn parameters for proper shifting. Shifting will become
smooth after the transaxle has been shifted several times
by the electronic control system.
Selector lever operation
The transaxle has 4 forward gears and 1 reverse gear.
The individual gears are selected automatically, depend-
ing on the position of the gear selector lever, the speed of
the vehicle, and the position of the accelerator pedal.
The selector lever has 29gates9: the main gate and the
manual gate.
NOTE: For information on manual gate operation,
please refer to ªAutostickº on page 161.
I04B0060
Main gate
Manual gate
STARTING AND DRIVING 159
5

In the main gate, the selector lever has 4 positions and
is equipped with a lock button (A) to prevent inad-
vertent selection of the wrong gear.Button (A) must be pushed while the brake pedal is
depressed to move the selector lever.
Button must be pushed to move the lever.
Button need not be pushed to move the lever.
I04S1580
A
I04A1430
160 STARTING AND DRIVING