Dodge Caliber (2012 year). Manual

Normal Starting

Normal starting of either a cold or a warm engine does
not require pumping or pressing the accelerator pedal.
Simply turn the ignition switch to the START position
and release when the engine starts. If the engine fails to
start within 15 seconds, turn the ignition switch to the
OFF position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the
“Normal Starting” procedure.

WARNING!

Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get it
started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic trans-
mission cannot be started this way. Unburned fuel
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
another vehicle. This type of start can be dangerous if
done improperly, so follow the procedure carefully.
Refer to “Jump Starting” in “What To Do In Emer-
gencies” for further information.

Tip Start Feature
Do not

press the accelerator. Turn the ignition switch to

the START position and release it as soon as the starter
engages. The starter motor will continue to run, and it
will disengage automatically when the engine is running.

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STARTING AND OPERATING

If the engine fails to start, the starter will disengage
automatically in 10 seconds. If this occurs, turn the
ignition switch to the LOCK position, wait 10 to 15 sec-
onds, then repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.

Extreme Cold Weather (Below –20°F or

⫺

29°C)

To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of
an externally powered electric engine block heater (avail-
able from your authorized dealer) is recommended.

If Engine Fails To Start

If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
“Normal Starting” or “Extreme Cold Weather” proce-
dures, it may be flooded. Push the accelerator pedal all
the way to the floor and hold it there. Crank the engine
for no more than 15 seconds. This should clear any excess
fuel in case the engine is flooded. Leave the ignition key
in the ON position, release the accelerator pedal and
repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.

WARNING!

Never pour fuel or other flammable liquid into the
throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to start
the vehicle. This could result in flash fire causing
serious personal injury.

CAUTION!

To prevent damage to the starter, do not crank the
engine for more than 15 seconds at a time. Wait 10 to
15 seconds before trying again.

After Starting

The idle speed will automatically decrease as the engine
warms up.

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301

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.

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

Five–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.

Fully press the clutch pedal before you shift gears. As you
release the clutch pedal, lightly press the accelerator
pedal.

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STARTING AND OPERATING

Use each gear in numerical order, do not skip a gear. Be
sure the transmission is in first gear, (not third), when
starting from a standing position. Damage to the clutch
can result from starting in third gear.

For most city driving, you will find it easier to use only
the lower gears. For steady highway driving with light
accelerations, fifth gear is recommended.

Never drive with your foot resting on the clutch pedal,
and never try to hold the vehicle on a hill with the clutch
pedal partially engaged. This will cause abnormal wear
on the clutch.

Never shift into REVERSE until the vehicle has come to a
complete stop.

NOTE:

During cold weather, until the transmission

lubricant is warm, you may experience slightly higher
shift efforts. This is normal and not harmful to the
transmission.

Recommended Shift Speeds

To use your manual transmission for optimal fuel
economy, it should be upshifted as listed in the following
table.

Shift Pattern

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303

Manual Transmission Recommended Shift Speeds

Units in mph (km/h)

Engine

Size

Accel-

eration

Rate

1 to 2

2 to 3

3 to 4

4 to 5

All En-

gines

Accel

14 (23) 23 (37)

29 (47)

45 (72)

Cruise

12 (19) 18 (29)

25 (40)

32 (52)

Downshifting

Proper downshifting will improve fuel economy and
prolong engine life.

CAUTION!

If you skip more than one gear while downshifting
or downshift at too high a vehicle speed, you could
damage the engine, transmission, or clutch.

To maintain a safe speed and prolong brake life, shift
down to second or first gear when descending a steep
grade.

When turning a corner or driving up a steep grade,
downshift early so that the engine will not be
overburdened.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION — IF EQUIPPED

CAUTION!

Damage to the transmission may occur if the follow-
ing precautions are not observed:
• Shift into PARK only after the vehicle has come to

a complete stop.

• Shift into or out of REVERSE only after the

vehicle has come to a complete stop and the engine
is at idle speed.

(Continued)

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STARTING AND OPERATING

CAUTION! (Continued)

• Do not shift between PARK, REVERSE, NEU-

TRAL, or DRIVE when the engine is above idle
speed.

• Before shifting into any gear, make sure your foot

is firmly pressing the brake pedal.

NOTE:

You must press and hold the brake pedal while

shifting out of PARK.

WARNING!

• 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,
and remove the ignition key. Once the key is
removed, the shift lever is locked in the PARK
position, securing the vehicle against unwanted
movement.

• Before exiting a vehicle, always apply the parking

brake, shift the transmission into PARK, and re-
move the key fob from the ignition. When leaving
the vehicle, always lock your vehicle.

• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with

access to an unlocked vehicle.

(Continued)

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305

WARNING! (Continued)

• 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. Chil-
dren should be warned not to touch the parking
brake, brake pedal or the shift lever.

• Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle. A

child could operate power windows, other con-
trols, or move the vehicle.

• It is dangerous to move the shift lever 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 reverse. 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.

Key Ignition Park Interlock

This vehicle is equipped with a Key Ignition Park Inter-
lock which requires the shift lever to be placed in PARK
before the ignition switch can be turned to the LOCK/
OFF position. The key fob can only be removed from the
ignition when the ignition is in the LOCK/OFF position,
and once removed, the shift lever is locked in PARK.

Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System

This vehicle is equipped with a Brake Transmission Shift
Interlock (BTSI) that holds the shift lever in the PARK
position unless the brakes are applied. To move the shift
lever out of the PARK position, the ignition switch must
be turned to the ON/RUN or START position (engine
running or not) and the brake pedal must be pressed.

The shift lever position display (located in the instrument
panel cluster) indicates the transmission gear range. You
must press the brake pedal to move the shift lever out of
the PARK position (refer to “Brake/Transmission Shift

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STARTING AND OPERATING

Interlock System” in this section). To drive, move the shift
lever from PARK or NEUTRAL to the DRIVE position.

NOTE:

The Continuously Variable Automatic Transmis-

sion (CVT) changes ratios in a continuous manner. This
may sometimes

⬙feel⬙ as if it is slipping, but this is normal

and does not harm anything.

Shifting from DRIVE to PARK or REVERSE should be
done only after the accelerator pedal is released and the
vehicle is stopped. Be sure to keep your foot on the brake
pedal when moving the shift lever between these gears.

The transmission shift lever has PARK, REVERSE, NEU-
TRAL, and DRIVE shift positions. Some models include a
LOW position; in others, manual shifts are made using
the AutoStick

威 shift control (refer to “AutoStick威” in this

section). Moving the shift lever to the left or right (-/+)
while in the DRIVE position (if equipped with
AutoStick

威) will manually select from a set of predefined

transmission gear ratios, and will display the current
gear in the instrument cluster as 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

Gear Ranges

DO NOT race the engine when shifting from PARK or
NEUTRAL into another gear range.

Shift Lever

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307

PARK
This range supplements the parking brake by locking the
transmission. The engine can be started in this range.
Never attempt to use PARK while the vehicle is in
motion. Apply the parking brake when leaving the
vehicle in this range.

When parking on a level surface, you may place the shift
lever in the PARK position first, and then apply the
parking brake.

When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake before
placing the shift lever in PARK, otherwise the load on the
transmission locking mechanism may make it difficult to
move the shift lever out of PARK. As an added precau-
tion, turn the front wheels toward the curb on a downhill
grade and away from the curb on an uphill grade.

WARNING!

• Never use the PARK position as a substitute for

the parking brake. Always apply the parking
brake fully when parked to guard against vehicle
movement and possible injury or damage.

• Your vehicle could move and injure you and others

if it is not completely in PARK. Check by trying to
move the shift lever rearward (with the brake
pedal released) after you have placed it in PARK.
Make sure the transmission is in PARK before
leaving the vehicle.

(Continued)

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STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING! (Continued)

• It is dangerous to move the shift lever out of PARK

(Continued)

WARNING! (Continued)

• Unintended movement of a vehicle could injure

• Before exiting a vehicle, always apply the parking

brake, shift the transmission into PARK, and re-
move the key fob from the ignition. When leaving
the vehicle, always lock your vehicle.

• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with

access to an unlocked vehicle.

(Continued)

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309

WARNING! (Continued)

• 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. Chil-
dren should be warned not to touch the parking
brake, brake pedal or the shift lever.

• Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle. A

child could operate power windows, other con-
trols, or move the vehicle.

CAUTION!

• Before moving the shift lever out of PARK, you

must turn the ignition switch from the LOCK/OFF
position to the ON/RUN position, and also press
the brake pedal. Otherwise, damage to the shift
lever could result.

(Continued)

CAUTION! (Continued)

• DO NOT race the engine when shifting from

PARK or NEUTRAL into another gear range, as
this can damage the drivetrain.

The following indicators should be used to ensure that
you have engaged the shift lever into the PARK position:

• When shifting into PARK, move the shift lever all the

way forward and to the left until it stops and is fully
seated.

• Look at the shift lever position display and verify that

it indicates the PARK position.

• With brake pedal released, verify that the shift lever

will not move out of PARK.

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STARTING AND OPERATING

REVERSE
This range is for moving the vehicle backward. Shift into
REVERSE only after the vehicle has come to a complete
stop.

NEUTRAL
Use this range when the vehicle is standing for prolonged
periods with the engine running. The engine may be
started in this range. Set the parking brake and shift the
transmission into PARK if you must leave the vehicle.

WARNING!

Do not coast in NEUTRAL and never turn off the
ignition to coast down a hill. These are unsafe
practices that limit your response to changing traffic
or road conditions. You might lose control of the
vehicle and have a collision.

CAUTION!

Towing the vehicle, coasting, or driving for any other
reason with the transmission in NEUTRAL can result
in severe transmission damage. Refer to “Recre-
ational Towing” in “Starting And Operating” and
“Towing A Disabled Vehicle” in What To Do In
Emergencies” for further information.

DRIVE
This range should be used for most city and highway
driving. It provides the best fuel economy. The DRIVE
position provides optimum driving characteristics under
all normal operating conditions.

When frequent transmission shifting occurs (such as
when operating the vehicle under heavy loading condi-
tions, in hilly terrain, traveling into strong head winds, or
while towing heavy trailers), use the AutoStick

威 mode (if

equipped) to select a lower gear. Under these conditions,

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311

using a lower gear will improve performance and extend
transmission life by reducing excessive shifting and heat
buildup.

During sustained high speed driving or trailer towing up
long grades on hot days, the automatic transmission oil
may become too hot. If this happens, the transmission
overheat indicator light will come on, and the vehicle will
slow slightly until the transmission cools down enough
to allow a return to the requested speed. This is done to
prevent transmission damage due to overheating. If the
high speed is maintained, the overheating may reoccur,
as before, in a cyclic fashion.

LOW – IF EQUIPPED
This range should be used for engine braking when
descending very steep grades. In this range, the trans-
mission will downshift for maximum engine braking,
and upshifts will occur only to prevent engine overspeed.

AUTOSTICK

姞

— IF EQUIPPED

AutoStick

威 is a driver-interactive transmission that offers

six manual ratio changes to provide you with more
control. AutoStick

威 allows you to maximize engine brak-

ing, eliminate undesirable upshifts and downshifts, and
improve overall vehicle performance. This system can
also provide you with more control during passing, city
driving, cold slippery conditions, mountain driving,
trailer towing, and many other situations. Automatic
ratio changes upward will only occur to protect the
Continuously Variable Automatic Transmission (CVT)
and/or the engine from overspeed. Changes down will
only happen at minimum engine speed to prevent stall-
ing.

Operation

NOTE:

AutoStick

威 is not available until the CVT warms

up in cold weather.

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STARTING AND OPERATING

AutoStick

威 operation is activated in the DRIVE position

by moving the shift lever side-to-side. Moving the shift
lever to the (+) side will activate AutoStick

威 and shift up

to the next higher manual ratio, unless you are already
operating in or near Overdrive, in which case sixth gear
ratio will be selected. In like manner, moving the shift
lever to (-) will activate AutoStick

威 and shift to the next

lower manual ratio. After AutoStick

威 is activated, the

manual ratio selected is displayed in the transmission
ratio display and tipping the shift lever to the (+) or (-)
direction will cause an upshift or downshift by one ratio.

AutoStick

威 Is Deactivated:

• By holding the shift lever to (+) momentarily
• When the shift lever is shifted out of DRIVE
• When in sixth position, touching the shift lever to the

right

• When heavy Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) applica-

tion is detected

General Information

• If a ratio other than first is selected and the vehicle is

brought to a stop, the transmission control logic will
automatically select the first gear ratio.

• If a low range is selected and the engine accelerates to

the rev limit, the transmission will automatically select
the next higher ratio.

• If a downshift would cause the engine to overspeed,

that shift will not occur until it is safe for the engine.

• If the system detects powertrain overheating, the

transmission will revert to the automatic shift mode
and remain in that mode until the powertrain cools off.

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313

• If the system detects a problem, it will disable the

AutoStick

威 mode and the transmission will return to

the automatic mode until the problem is corrected.

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 front (driving) wheels.

WARNING!

Rapid acceleration on slippery surfaces is dangerous.
Unequal traction can cause sudden pulling of the
front 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 hydroplaning and may cause partial or
complete loss of vehicle control and stopping ability. To
reduce this possibility, the following precautions should
be observed:

1. Slow down during rainstorms or when the roads are
slushy.

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STARTING AND OPERATING

2. Slow down if the road has standing water or puddles.

3. Replace the tires when tread wear indicators first
become visible.

4. Keep tires properly inflated.

5. Maintain sufficient distance between your vehicle and
the vehicle in front of you to avoid a collision in a sudden
stop.

DRIVING THROUGH WATER

Driving through water more than a few inches/
centimeters deep will require extra caution to ensure
safety and prevent damage to your vehicle.

Flowing/Rising Water

WARNING!

Do not drive on or across a road or path where water
is flowing and/or rising (as in storm run-off). Flow-
ing water can wear away the road or path’s surface
and cause your vehicle to sink into deeper water.
Furthermore, flowing and/or rising water can carry
your vehicle away swiftly. Failure to follow this
warning may result in injuries that are serious or
fatal to you, your passengers, and others around you.

Shallow Standing Water

Although your vehicle is capable of driving through
shallow standing water, consider the following Caution
and Warning before doing so.

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Dodge Caliber (2012 year). Manual - part 19