Dodge Charger User manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION PAGE
1INTRODUCTION .............................................................3
2UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE .............................5
3STARTING AND OPERATING .................................................29
4MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE ...............................................35
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2
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4

INTRODUCTION
CONTENTS
䡵Introduction ........................... 4
1

INTRODUCTION
This booklet is a supplement to both the Charger and
Magnum Owner’s Manuals prepared with the assistance
of service and engineering specialists and is intended to
aid the operators of police or fleet vehicles (used in severe
duty, high mileage operations) in understanding the
operation and required maintenance procedures for such
vehicles. It covers maintenance procedures for vehicles
equipped with heavy-duty packages. However, other
vehicles operated under the conditions listed below are
also considered “severe service” vehicles and should be
serviced and maintained as prescribed in this booklet.
This supplement applies to rear wheel drive passenger
cars only. You are urged to read this publication and the
Owner’s Manual carefully.
Refer to the Police Upfitter’s Guide provided with your
vehicle prior to the addition of any aftermarket equip-
ment.
Following the instructions and recommendations pro-
vided herein will help assure safe and reliable operation
of your vehicle. After you have read the booklet it should
be stored in the vehicle for convenient reference and
remain with the vehicle when sold.
4 INTRODUCTION

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE
CONTENTS
䡵Sentry Key Immobilizer — If Equipped ....... 7
䡵Tilt Steering Column ..................... 7
䡵Stealth Mode .......................... 8
䡵Equipment Mounting Bracket .............. 8
䡵Police Dome Light — If Equipped ........... 9
䡵Spotlights — If Equipped ................. 9
䡵Remote Rear Door Locks — If Equipped ......10
䡵Rear Windows — If Equipped .............10
䡵Airbags ..............................10
䡵Airbag Deployment Zones ................11
䡵Electrical Power Sources ..................17
▫Front Power Outlet .....................17
▫Additional Power Leads .................18
▫Electrical Outlet Use With Engine Off ........18
䡵Power Distribution Centers ................19
▫Underhood Power Distribution Center Fuses . . .19
▫Front Power Distribution Center Fuses .......20
▫Rear Power Distribution Center Fuses ........20
䡵Electronic Brake Control System ............21
▫ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System) .............21
▫TCS (Traction Control System) .............22
▫BAS (Brake Assist System) ................22
2

▫ESP (Electronic Stability Program) ..........23
▫ESP/BAS Warning Lamp And ESP/TCS Indicator
Light ...............................26
䡵Full Size Spare Tire — If Equipped ..........27
䡵Battery Access — Vehicles Equipped With Full
Size Spare Tire .........................28
䡵Hour Meter ...........................28
6 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Sentry Key Immobilizer — If Equipped
Do not hold transponders against the ignition key
being used when starting vehicles equipped with the
Sentry Key Immobilizer system (gray key). This may
cause interference with Sentry Key, which can disable the
engine.
TILT STEERING COLUMN
The steering column equipped on this vehicle only tilts.
Unlock the steering column by pulling out the handle
located directly below the column. To tilt the column
move the steering wheel up or down as desired. Lock the
steering column in position by pushing the handle in
until it fully engages.
WARNING!
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driving. The
tilt adjustment must be locked while driving. Ad-
justing the steering wheel while driving, or driving
without the tilt adjustment locked could cause the
driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Tilt Steering Column Control
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 7
2

STEALTH MODE
This vehicle is designed for periods of
surveillance. The dimmer control is
part of the headlamp switch, and is
located on the left side of the instru-
ment panel. By rotating the dimmer
control to the extreme bottom “OFF”
position to “stealth mode”, all interior
illumination except for PRNDL,
odometer, and vehicle critical warning indicators will be
cancelled. The PRNDL and odometer will go to the
lowest legal limit.
Equipment Mounting Bracket
The equipment mounting bracket is located between the
driver’s and front passenger’s seat. Refer to the Police
Upfitter’s Guide for details.
Dimmer Control
Equipment Mounting Bracket
8 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Police Dome Light — If Equipped
The police dome light switch has three positions. Position
I is used for white light, and position II is used for red
LED light. Always remember to return the dome light
switch to the OFF (center) position when finished using
to prevent discharging the vehicle battery.
SPOTLIGHTS — IF EQUIPPED
This vehicle may be equipped with up to two spotlights.
Each spotlight is attached to the A-Pillar. The spotlight
switch is located on the chrome section of the handle. Use
this switch to turn the spotlight on and off. Rotate and
twist the handle to adjust the position of the spotlight.
Dome Light
Spotlight Control
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 9
2

REMOTE REAR DOOR LOCKS — IF EQUIPPED
The emergency rear door lock knob is located in the front
portion of each rear door panel, visible when the front
door is opened. Pull out the knob to unlock the door. In
this same way the rear doors can be locked from the
outside of the vehicle by pushing the knob in.
Both rear passenger doors are inoperable from the rear
seat position inside the vehicle. There are three ways to
operate the rear door locks:
• The driver door master door lock switch.
• The remote keyless entry transmitter.
• The emergency door lock knobs from outside of the
vehicle.
REAR WINDOWS — IF EQUIPPED
The rear windows are inoperable from the rear door
switches. Rear windows are only operable by the Driver
Door Master Switch.
AIRBAGS
Driver/passenger airbags affect the way police equip-
ment can be safely mounted in police vehicles.
Any surfaces that could come into contact with an airbag,
once it has deployed, must not damage the airbag or alter
its deployment path.
The addition of any supplemental equipment (such as
radios, weapons, mounting brackets, cage, etc.), must be
installed such that it will not interfere or come in contact
with a deploying airbag. Airbag deployment zones are
described below. Sharp edges, corners, or protrusions on
supplemental equipment could damage the nylon airbag
material and reduce the effectiveness of the airbag during
a deployment.
Emergency Door Lock Knob
10 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
•Installing a conventional police cage is not rec-
ommended on vehicles equipped with left and
right side curtain airbags, as police cages may
interfere with the deploying airbag. The area
where the side curtain airbag is located should
remain free from any obstructions.
•If your vehicle is equipped with left and right
side curtain airbags, do not have any accessory
items installed which will alter the roof, includ-
ing adding a sunroof to your vehicle. Do not add
roof racks that require permanent attachments
(bolts or screws) for installation on the vehicle
roof. Do not drill into the roof of the vehicle for
any reason.
•Do not place objects or mount equipment in
front of the airbag module cover or in front of
the seat areas that may come in contact with a
deploying airbag. Failure to follow this instruc-
tion could result in personal injury.
•Dash, tunnel or console-mounted equipment
should not be placed outside of the specified
zone. Failure to follow this instruction could
result in personal injury.
AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT ZONES
There are three zones to be aware of:
1. Driver Airbag Deployment Zone (Fig. 1), (Fig. 2) and
Driver Airbag/Steering Wheel Specifications
2. Passenger Airbag Deployment Zone (Fig. 3) and (Fig.
4)
3. Side Airbag Deployment Zone (Fig. 5)
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 11
2

Figure 1– Driver Airbag Deployment Zone depicts the
following:
1. Vertical Plane Passing Through Center of Steering
Wheel
2. 18.7 inches
3. Vertical Plane Passing Through Maximum Rearward
Point That The Driver Airbag Cushion Reaches
4. Steering Wheel
5. Driver Airbag Retainer/Housing
6. Driver Airbag Cushion
DRIVER AIRBAG/STEERING COLUMN SPECIFICA-
TIONS
DRIVER AIRBAG CUSHION POSITION
DAB DIAMETER WHEN FULL 26.5 INCHES
DAB DEPTH WHEN FULL 15 INCHES
MAXIMUM REARWARD DIS-
PLACEMENT DURING FILL 18.7 INCHES
STEERING COLUMN TILT POSITION RANGE
+/– 2.7 DEGREES FROM STEERING COLUMN TILT
PIVOT POINT
21.0 DEGREES FROM VERTICAL IS THE NOMINAL
POSITION
Figure 1
12 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Figure 2 – Driver Airbag Lateral Deployment Zone
depicts the following:
1. Driver Seating Reference
2. Driver Airbag Cushion Lateral Deployment Zone, 28.0
inches.
Figure 2
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 13
2

Figure 3 — Passenger Airbag Deployment Zone depicts
the following:
1. Passenger Airbag Cushion
2. Vertical Plane From Point of Instrument Panel
3. Passenger Airbag Module
4. Instrument Panel
5. Vertical Plane Passing Through the Maximum Rear-
ward Point that the Passenger Airbag Cushion Reaches
6. 18.5 inches
Figure 3
14 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Figure 4 — Passenger Airbag Lateral Deployment Zone
depicts the following:
1. 2.8 inches
2. Passenger Airbag Cushion Deployment Zone
3. 20.4 inches
4. Reference Point
Figure 4
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 15
2

Figure 5
16 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Figure 5 — Side Airbag Deployment Zone depicts the
following:
1. Cross Sectional Area Side View
2. 6.1 inches
3. 3.1 inches
4. 15.8 inches
5. 38.2 inches
6. 22.0 inches
7. 3.6 inches
8. 12.2 inches
9. 15.3 inches
10. B-Pillar Trim
11. Side Airbag Inflator Module
12. 3.5 inches
ELECTRICAL POWER SOURCES
Front Power Outlet
The front 12-volt electrical power outlet is located on the
center console, and is protected by a fuse. This outlet is
powered directly from the battery (power available at all
times). Items plugged into this outlet may discharge the
battery and/or prevent engine starting.
This outlet will also operate a conventional cigar lighter
unit.
Front Power Outlet
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 17
2

Additional Power Leads
There are additional 12-volt electrical power leads lo-
cated under an access cover located directly under the
center console front power outlet. These power leads are
protected by fuses located on the passenger side below
the glove box. Refer to the Police Upfitter’s Guide pro-
vided with your vehicle for more details. Carefully pry
off the access cover to access the power leads.
Electrical Outlet Use With Engine Off
CAUTION!
•Many accessories that can be plugged in 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 engine starting.
•Accessories that draw higher power (i.e. coolers,
vacuum cleaners, lights, etc.), will degrade the
battery even more quickly. Only use these inter-
mittently and with greater caution.
•After the use of high power draw accessories, or
long periods of the vehicle not being started
(with accessories still plugged in), the vehicle
must be driven a sufficient length of time to
allow the alternator to recharge the vehicle’s
battery.
•Power outlets are designed for accessory plugs
only. Do not hang any type of accessory or
accessory bracket from the plug. Improper use of
the power outlet can cause damage.
18 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Power Distribution Centers
The following information contains unique fuse informa-
tion for police vehicles. Refer to “Power Distribution
Centers” in section 7 of the vehicle Owner’s Manual for
more information.
CAUTION!
• When installing the Power Distribution Center
cover, it is important to ensure the cover is prop-
erly positioned and fully latched. Failure to do so
may allow water to get into the Power Distribu-
tion Center, and possibly result in a electrical
system failure.
• When replacing a blown fuse, it is important to
use only a fuse having the correct amperage
rating. The use of a fuse with a rating other than
indicated may result in a dangerous electrical
system overload. If a properly rated fuse contin-
ues to blow, it indicates a problem in the circuit
that must be corrected.
Underhood Power Distribution Center Fuses
A power distribution center is located in the engine
compartment. This center contains fuses and relays.
Cavity Fuse Circuits
24 60 Amp
Yellow
Radiator Fan
Underhood Fuse Access
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 19
2

Front Power distribution Center Fuses
The front power distribution center is located on the front
passenger side below the glove box. This center contains
fuses and relays.
Rear Power Distribution Center Fuses
The rear power distribution center is located in the rear
compartment under an access panel. This center contains
fuses and relays.
Rear Power Distribution Center Access — Vehicles
Equipped with Full Size Spare Tire
Do not place heavy items on the top of the battery cover.
Front Fuse Access
Rear Fuse Access
20 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE