Dodge Dart (2016 year). Instruction

NOTE:

When using a portable battery booster pack

follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions and
precautions.

CAUTION!

Do not use a portable battery booster pack or any
other booster source with a system voltage greater
than 12 Volts or damage to the battery, starter motor,
alternator or electrical system may occur.

WARNING!

Do not attempt jump-starting if the battery is frozen.
It could rupture or explode and cause personal injury.

Preparations For Jump-Start

The battery in your vehicle is located in the front of the
engine compartment, behind the left headlight assembly.

NOTE:

The positive battery post is covered with a

protective cap. Lift up on the cap to gain access to the
positive battery post.

Positive Battery Post

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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

WARNING!

• Take care to avoid the radiator cooling fan when-

ever 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 rings, watch

bands and bracelets that could make an inadvertent
electrical contact. You could be seriously 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.

1. Set the parking brake, shift the automatic transmission

into PARK (instruction transmission in NEUTRAL) and
turn the ignition to LOCK.

2. Turn off the heater, radio, and all unnecessary electri-

cal accessories.

3. 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.

WARNING!

Do not allow vehicles to touch each other as this
could establish a ground connection and personal
injury could result.

Jump Starting Procedure

WARNING!

Failure to follow this jump-starting procedure could
result in personal injury or property damage due to
battery explosion.

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

557

CAUTION!

Failure to follow these procedures could result in
damage to the charging system of the booster vehicle
or the discharged vehicle.

Connecting The Jumper Cables

1. Connect the positive (+) end of the jumper cable to the

positive (+) post of the discharged vehicle.

2. Connect the opposite end of the positive (+) jumper

cable to the positive (+) post of the booster battery.

3. Connect the negative (-) end of the jumper cable to the

negative (-) post of the booster battery.

4. Connect the opposite end of the negative (-) jumper

cable to a good engine ground (exposed metal part of
the discharged vehicle’s engine) away from the battery
and the fuel injection system.

WARNING!

Do not connect the jumper cable to the negative (-) post
of the discharged battery. The resulting electrical spark
could cause the battery to explode and could result in
serious injury. Only use the specific ground point, do
not use any other exposed metal parts.

5. Start the engine in the vehicle that has the booster

battery, let the engine idle a few minutes, and then
start the engine in the vehicle with the discharged
battery.

6. Once the engine is started, remove the jumper cables

in the reverse sequence:

Disconnecting The Jumper Cables

1. Disconnect the negative (-) end of the jumper cable

from the engine ground of the vehicle with the dis-
charged battery.

558

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

2. Disconnect the opposite end of the negative (-) jumper

cable from the negative (-) post of the booster battery.

3. Disconnect the positive (+) end of the jumper cable

from the positive (+) post of the booster battery.

4. Disconnect the opposite end of the positive (+) jumper

cable from the positive (+) post of the vehicle with the
discharged battery.

If frequent jump starting is required to start your vehicle
you should have the battery and charging system in-
spected at your authorized dealer.

CAUTION!

Accessories plugged into the vehicle power outlets
draw power from the vehicle’s battery, even when not
in use (i.e., cellular devices, etc.). Eventually, if
plugged in long enough without engine operation,

(Continued)

CAUTION! (Continued)

the vehicle’s battery will discharge sufficiently to
degrade battery life and/or prevent the engine from
starting.

FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE

If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand, or snow, it can
often be moved by a rocking motion. Turn your steering
wheel right and left to clear the area around the front
wheels. Then shift back and forth between DRIVE and
REVERSE (with automatic transmission) or 2nd Gear and
REVERSE (with instruction transmission) while gently press-
ing the accelerator. Use the least amount of accelerator
pedal pressure that will maintain the rocking motion,
without spinning the wheels or racing the engine.

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

559

NOTE:

For 1.4L Turbo automatic (DDCT) transmission:

Shifts between DRIVE and REVERSE can only be
achieved at wheel speeds of approximately 6 mph
(10 km/h) or less.

CAUTION!

Racing the engine or spinning the wheels may lead to
transmission overheating and failure. Allow the en-
gine to idle with the transmission in NEUTRAL for at
least one minute after every five rocking-motion
cycles. This will minimize overheating and reduce
the risk of clutch or transmission failure during
prolonged efforts to free a stuck vehicle.

NOTE:

Push the

⬙ESC Off⬙ switch, to place the Electronic

Stability Control (ESC) system in “partial off” mode,
before rocking the vehicle. Refer to “Electronic Brake
Control” in “Starting And Operating” for further infor-
mation. Once the vehicle has been freed, push the

⬙ESC

Off

⬙ switch again to restore ⬙ESC On⬙ mode.

CAUTION!

• When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by shifting be-

tween DRIVE/2nd gear and REVERSE, do not spin
the wheels faster than 15 mph (24 km/h), or drive-
train 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 trans-
mission shifting occurring).

560

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

WARNING!

Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces gener-
ated by excessive wheel speeds may cause damage, or
even failure, of the axle and tires. A tire could
explode and injure someone. Do not spin your vehi-
cle’s wheels faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) or for
longer than 30 seconds continuously without stop-
ping when you are stuck and do not let anyone near
a spinning wheel, no matter what the speed.

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:

1. Turn the engine OFF.

2. Firmly apply the parking brake.

3. Remove the rubber storage tray liner from the center

console, then lift up the front of the shift lever bezel,
carefully disengage the bezel from the shift lever
housing, and slide it up to the top of the shift lever.

4. Press and maintain firm pressure on the brake pedal.

Shift Lever Bezel

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

561

5. Insert a small screwdriver or similar tool down into

the access slot at the front of the shift lever assembly,
and push and hold the white override release lever
down.

6. Move the shift lever to the NEUTRAL position.

7. The vehicle may then be started in NEUTRAL.

8. Reinstall the shift lever bezel (use care to avoid

pinching the wiring), and the rubber storage tray liner.

Override Release Tab

Shift Lever

562

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE

This section describes procedures for towing a disabled vehicle using a commercial towing service.

Towing Condition

Wheels

OFF The

Ground

2.0L / 2.4L AUTO-

MATIC TRANS-

MISSION

MANUAL TRANS-

MISSION

1.4L TURBO AU-

TOMATIC (DDCT)

TRANSMISSION

Flat Tow

NONE

NOT ALLOWED

Transmission in

NEUTRAL

Transmission in

NEUTRAL

Dolly Tow

Rear

NOT ALLOWED

Front

NOT ALLOWED

Flatbed

ALL

BEST METHOD

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

563

Proper towing or lifting equipment is required to prevent
damage to your vehicle. Use only tow bars and other
equipment designed for this purpose, following equip-
ment manufacturer’s instructions. Use of safety chains is
mandatory. Attach a tow bar or other towing device to
main structural members of the vehicle, not to bumpers
or associated brackets. State and local laws regarding
vehicles under tow must be observed.

Vehicle Recovery Tow Points

Your vehicle is equipped with Vehicle Recovery Points
that can be used to recover a disabled vehicle, located on
the underbody of the vehicle.

NOTE:

• Ensure that the towing service tow hooks are properly

seated and secured in the attachment points.

• This recovery tow feature should be used by a trained

professional only.

• Use approved receptacle location to free the disabled

vehicle from its environment.

Front Of Vehicle Recovery Points

564

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

CAUTION!

Recovery feature:
• Is to be used by a professional ONLY.

• Is used only to provide recovery of the vehicle.

• Is NOT to be used to recover secondary vehicle.

• Is NOT to be used for transporting the vehicle over

the road, i.e. “Flat Towing”.

Recovery load should:
• Be applied at constant speed.

• Be applied parallel to the center line of the length

of the vehicle.

• Not be an abrupt acceleration.

If you must use the accessories (wipers, defroster, etc.)
while being towed, the key must be in the ON/RUN
position, not the ACC position.

CAUTION!

• DO NOT use sling-type equipment when towing.

Vehicle damage may occur.

• When securing the vehicle to a flatbed truck, do not

attach to front or rear suspension components.
Damage to your vehicle may result from improper
towing.

• The manufacturer does not recommend towing this

vehicle using a tow dolly. Vehicle damage may
occur.

2.0L / 2.4L Automatic Transmission

This vehicle must be towed with all four wheels OFF
the ground using a flatbed.

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

565

CAUTION!

• DO NOT flat tow any 2.0L or 2.4L vehicle equipped

with an automatic transmission. Damage to the
drivetrain will result. If these vehicles require
towing, make sure all the wheels are OFF the
ground.

• Do not dolly tow this vehicle. Use of a towing dolly

can cause significant damage to your vehicle. Dam-
age from improper towing is not covered under the
New Vehicle Limited Warranty.

• Towing this vehicle in violation of the above re-

quirements can cause severe transmission damage.
Damage from improper towing is not covered un-
der the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.

If the key fob is unavailable, or the vehicle’s battery is
discharged, refer to “Shift Lever Override” in this section
for instructions on shifting the automatic transmission
out of PARK for loading onto a flatbed truck.

Instruction Transmission Or 1.4L Turbo Automatic
(DDCT) Transmission

• The manufacturer recommends towing your vehicle

with all four wheels OFF the ground using a flatbed.

• Instruction transmission and 1.4L turbo automatic

(DDCT) transmission vehicles can also be flat towed
(all four wheels on the ground) with the transmission
in NEUTRAL. For vehicles with DDCT transmission
(1.4L turbo automatic), refer to

⬙Shift Lever Override⬙

in this section for instructions on shifting the transmis-
sion into NEUTRAL when the ignition is OFF. If the
ignition is left in the ACC position, it may be helpful to
disconnect the negative battery cable (and secure it
away from the battery post), to avoid draining the
battery.

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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

CAUTION!

• DO NOT flat tow any disabled vehicle if condition

is related to the clutch, transmission or driveline.
Additional damage to the drivetrain could result.

• Towing this vehicle in violation of the above re-

quirements can cause severe engine, transmission,
or drivetrain damage. Damage from improper tow-
ing is not covered under the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

567

ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 1.4L TURBO

1 — Engine Coolant Reservoir

5 — Power Distribution Center (Fuses)

2 — Engine Oil Level Indicator

6 — Washer Fluid Reservoir

3 — Engine Oil Fill

7 — Battery

4 — Brake Fluid Reservoir

8 — Air Cleaner Filter

MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

571

Dodge Dart (2016 year). Instruction - part 35