ignition DODGE STRATUS SEDAN 2004 Owner's Guide

Two Types of Signals
There are two basic types of radio signals... AM or
Amplitude Modulation, in which the transmitted sound
causes the amplitude, or height, of the radio waves to
vary... and FM or Frequency Modulation, in which the
frequency of the wave is varied to carry the sound.
Electrical Disturbances
Radio waves may pick up electrical disturbances during
transmission. They mainly affect the wave amplitude,
and thus remain a part of the AM reception. They
interfere very little with the frequency variations that
carry the FM signal.
AM Reception
AM sound is based on wave amplitude, so AM reception
can be disrupted by such things as lightning, power lines
and neon signs.
FM Reception
Because FM transmission is based on frequency varia-
tions, interference that consists of amplitude variations
can be filtered out, leaving the reception relatively clear,
which is the major feature of FM radio.
SALES CODE RAZÐAM/ FM STEREO RADIO
WITH CASSETTE TAPE PLAYER, CD PLAYER
AND CD CHANGER CONTROLS Ð IF EQUIPPED
Operating Instructions Ð Radio
NOTE:
Power to operate the radio is controlled by the
ignition switch. It must be in the ON or ACC position to
operate the radio.
Power Switch, Volume Control
Press the ON/VOL control to turn the radio on. Turn the
volume control clockwise to increase the volume. The
volume will be displayed and continuously updated
while the button is pressed.
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Seek Button
Press the SEEK button up for the next selection on the
tape and down to return to the beginning of the current
selection.
Press the SEEK button up or down to move the track
number to skip forward or backward 1 to 6 selections.
Press the SEEK button once to move 1 selection, twice to
move 2 selections, etc.
Fast Forward (FF)
Press the FF button up momentarily to advance the tape
in the direction that it is playing. The tape will advance
until the button is pressed again or the end of the tape is
reached. At the end of the tape, the tape will play in the
opposite direction.
Rewind (RW)
Press the RW button momentarily to reverse the tape
direction. The tape will reverse until the button is pressed
again or until the end of the tape is reached. At the end of
the tape, the tape will play in the opposite direction.
Tape Eject
Press the EJT Tape button and the cassette will disengage
and eject from the radio.
Scan Button
Press this button to play 10 seconds of each selection.
Press the scan button a second time to cancel the feature.
Changing Tape Direction
If you wish to change the direction of tape travel (side
being played), press the PTY button. The lighted arrow in
the display window will show the new direction.
Metal Tape Selection
If a standard metal tape is inserted into the player, the
player will automatically select the correct equalization
and the 70 symbol will appear in the display window.
Pinch Roller Release
If ignition power or the radio ON/OFF switch are turned
off, the pinch roller will automatically retract to protect
the tape from any damage. When power is restored to the
tape player, the pinch roller will automatically reengage
and the tape will resume play.
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Noise Reduction
The Dolby Noise Reduction System* is on whenever the
tape player is on, but may be switched off.
To turn off the Dolby Noise reduction System: Press the
Dolby button (button 2) after you insert the tape. The NR
light in the display will go off when the Dolby System is
off. The Dolby System is automatically reactivated each
time a tape is inserted.
* ºDolbyº noise reduction manufactured under license
from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Dolby
and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Labo-
ratories Licensing Corporation.
Operating Instructions Ð CD Player
NOTE:
The ignition switch must be in the ON or ACC
position and the volume control ON before the CD player
will operate.
CAUTION!
This CD player will accept 43¤4inch (12 cm) discs
only. The use of other sized discs may damage the
CD player mechanism.
Inserting The Compact Disc
The CD player contained within the radio is not a
multi-disc changer, and will only accept one CD. Gently
insert one CD into the CD player with the CD label facing
up. The CD will automatically be pulled into the CD
Player.
If the volume control is ON, the unit will switch from
radio to CD mode and begin to play. The display will
show the track number and index time in minutes and
seconds. Play will begin at the start of track one.
100 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

NOTE:
²
You may eject a disc with the radio OFF. The ignition
switch must be in the ON or ACC position to insert a
disc with the radio OFF.
²If you insert a disc with the ignition ON and the radio
OFF, the CD will automatically be pulled into the CD
Player and the display will show the time of day. If
you insert a disc with the ignition OFF, the display will
show the time of day for about 5 seconds, then go out.
Seek Button
Press the top of the SEEK button for the next selection on
the CD. Press the bottom of the button to return to the
beginning of the current selection, or return to the
beginning of the previous selection if the CD is within the
first 10 seconds of the current selection.
EJT CD (Eject) Button
Press this button and the disc will unload and move to
the entrance for easy removal. The unit will switch to the
radio mode.If you do not remove the disc within 15 seconds, it will be
reloaded. The radio mode will continue to appear.
The disc can be ejected with the radio OFF.
FF/TUNE/RW
Press FF (Fast Forward) and the CD player will begin to
fast forward until FF is released. The RW ( Reverse)
button works in a similar manner.
Program Button 4 (Random Play)
Press this button while the CD is playing to activate
Random Play. This feature plays the tracks on the se-
lected disc in random order to provide an interesting
change of pace.
Press the SEEK button to move to the next randomly
selected track.
Press TUNE FF to fast forward through the tracks. Press
the FF button a second time to stop the fast forward
feature. If TUNE RW is pressed, the current track will
reverse to the beginning of the track and begin playing.
Press button 4 a second time to stop Random Play.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 101
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SALES CODE RBBÐAM/FM STEREO RADIO
WITH CASSETTE TAPE PLAYER AND CD
CHANGER CAPABILITY
Operating Instructions
NOTE:
Power to operate the radio is supplied through
the ignition switch. It must be in the ON or ACC position
to operate the radio.
NOTE:When first learning the control functions, the
user should set the controls as shown in the following
list.
Tone Controls¼As illustrated.
Speaker Control¼Centered.Power Button
The volume control/power button pops out when
pressed, this turns the sound system ON in the mode last
used. Pushing the button back in turns the sound system
OFF.
Electronic Volume Control
The electronic volume control turns continuously (360
degrees) in either direction without stopping. Turning the
volume control to the right increases the volume and to
the left decreases it.
When the audio system is turned on, the sound will be
set at the same volume level as last played.
For your convenience, the volume can be turned down,
but not up, when the audio system is off and the ignition
is ON.
Seek
Press and release the SEEK button to search for the next
station in either the AM or FM mode. Press the top of the
button to seek up and the bottom to seek down. The
radio will remain tuned to the new station until you
104 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

AM/FM Selection
Press the AM/FM button to change from AM to FM. The
operating mode will be displayed next to the station
frequency. The display will show ST when a stereo
station is received in the FM mode.
Mode Button
Press the MODE button to select between the cassette
tape player, CD changer, or the Satellite Radio (if
equipped). When the Satellite Radio (if equipped) is
selected ªSAº will appear in your radio display.
A CD or tape may remain in the player while in the
Satellite or radio mode.
Cassette Player Features
With ignition OFF and the sound system OFF, you can
eject the tape cassette by pushing the EJECT button.
You can turn the tape player ON by inserting a cassette or
activating the MODE button (with a cassette in the radio),
but only when the ignition and radio are on.
Each time a cassette is inserted the tape player will begin
playing on the side of the cassette that is facing up in the
player.
Music Search
Pressing the SEEK button while playing a tape will start
the Music Search mode. Press the SEEK button up for the
next selection on the tape and down to return to the
beginning of the current selection, or return to the
beginning of the previous selection if the tape is within
the first 5 seconds of the current selection.
The SEEK symbol appears on the display when Music
Search is in operation. Music Search shuts off automati-
cally when a selection has been located.
Selective Music Search
Press the SEEK button up or down to move the track
number to skip forward or backward 1 to 7 selections.
Press the SEEK button once to move 1 selection, twice to
move 2 selections, etc.
Fast Forward And Rewind Buttons
Pressing the TUNE button up or down momentarily
activates Fast Forward or Rewind and makes the direc-
tional arrows appear on the display.
To stop Fast Forward or Rewind, press the TUNE button
again.
106 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

SALES CODE RBKÐAM/ FM STEREO RADIO
WITH CD PLAYER AND CD CHANGER
CONTROLS
Radio Operation
Power/Volume Control
Press the ON/VOL control to turn the radio on. Turn the
volume control clockwise to increase the volume.
NOTE:Power to operate the radio is supplied through
the ignition switch. It must be in the ON or ACC position
to operate the radio.
Seek
Press and release the SEEK button to search for the next
station in either the AM or FM mode. Press the top of the
button to seek up and the bottom to seek down. The
radio will remain tuned to the new station until you
make another selection. Holding the button in will by-
pass stations without stopping until you release it.
Tune
Press the TUNE control up or down to increase or
decrease the frequency. If you press and hold the button,
the radio will continue to tune until you release the
button. The frequency will be displayed and continu-
ously updated while the button is pressed.
Balance
The Balance control adjusts the left-to-right speaker bal-
ance. Press the BAL button in and it will pop out. Adjust
the balance and push the button back in.
Fade
The Fade control provides for balance between the front
and rear speakers. Press the FADE button in and it will
pop out. Adjust the balance and push the button back in.
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4

NOTE:Changes or modifications not expressively ap-
proved by the party responsible for compliance could
void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
CD Player Operation
NOTE:
The ignition switch must be in the ON or ACC
position and the volume control ON before the CD player
will operate.
Inserting The Compact Disc
CAUTION!
This CD player will accept 43¤4inch (12 cm) discs
only. The use of other sized discs may damage the
CD player mechanism.
You may either insert or eject a disc with the radio OFF.
If you insert a disc with the ignition ON and the radio
OFF, the display will show the time of day.
If the power is ON, the unit will switch from radio to CD
mode and begin to play when you insert the disc. Thedisplay will show the track number and index time in
minutes and seconds. Play will begin at the start of track
one.
Seek
Press the top of the SEEK button for the next selection on
the CD. Press the bottom of the button to return to the
beginning of the current selection, or return to the
beginning of the previous selection if the CD is within the
first second of the current selection.
EJT Ð Eject
Press the EJT button and the disc will unload and move
to the entrance for easy removal. The unit will switch to
the radio mode.
If you do not remove the disc within 15 seconds, it will be
reloaded. The unit will continue in radio mode.
The disc can be ejected with the radio and ignition OFF.
FF/TUNE/RW
Press FF (Fast Forward) and the CD player will begin to
fast forward until FF is released. The RW ( Reverse)
button works in a similar manner.
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4

NOTE:The changer will not random play between
discs.
Press the top of the Seek button once to move to the next
randomly selected track. Press the bottom of the Seek
button to go back to the beginning of the track.
Press button 4 a second time to stop random play.
Program Button 5
Press this button to play the previous disc.
Time Button
Press this button to switch between time of day and CD
track time.
Changing Modes
While in the radio mode, if a cassette is loaded, press the
Mode button to switch to the tape mode. If a CD is
loaded, press the Mode button to select the CD mode. If
neither a tape nor CD is loaded, the radio will ignore the
command.
²Inserting either a tape or CD automatically starts that
mode of play.
²Pressing the AM/FM button while in the tape or CD
mode will select the radio mode.
²If in the CD mode and the last CD is ejected, the radio
will tune to the last station selected.
Removing Discs from the CD Changer
If there is a single CD in the changer, press the EJT button
and the CD will eject. If the CD is not removed within 15
seconds, it will automatically reload into the CD changer.
To eject additional CDs from the changer, first select the
numbered button where the CD is located and then press
the EJT button.
CD Changer Operation with the Changer Off
The CD changer is able to load and eject discs with the
ignition power off. However, while the ignition is off, one
of the six numbered buttons must be pressed first.
116 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
mStarting Procedures....................130
NAutomatic Transaxle...................130
NManual Transaxle.....................130
NNormal Starting......................130
NExtreme Cold Weather
(Below -20ÉF Or -29ÉC).................131
NIf Engine Fails To Start.................132
NAfter Starting........................132
mBattery And Engine Block Heaters Ð If
Equipped
............................132
mAutomatic Transaxle....................133
NBrake/Transmission Interlock.............133NAutomatic Transaxle Ignition Interlock
System.............................134
NFour Speed Automatic Transaxle..........135
NReset Mode.........................135
NGear Ranges For Four Speed Automatic
Transaxle...........................135
mManual Transaxle......................137
NRecommended Shift Speeds..............138
NDownshifting........................138
NCruise Control.......................138
mParking Brake.........................139
mBrake System.........................140
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