Dodge Charger: Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission / AutoStick — If Equipped

AutoStick is a driver-interactive transmission feature providing manual shift control, giving you more control of the vehicle. AutoStick allows you to maximize engine braking, 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.

Operation

In AutoStick mode, you can use the gear selector (in the MANUAL position), or the shift paddles to the MANUAL (M) position (beside the DRIVE (D) position), or tap one of the shift paddles on the steering wheel. Tapping the (-) shift paddle to enter AutoStick mode will downshift the transmission to the next lower gear, while tapping (+) to enter AutoStick mode will retain the current gear. The current transmission gear will be displayed in the instrument cluster.

1. (–) Shift Paddle
2. (+) Shift Paddle

NOTE:

• Tapping one of the steering wheel-mounted shift paddles (+/-), if equipped, while the gear selector is in DRIVE, will activate a temporary AutoStick mode. Tapping (-) to enter AutoS- tick mode will downshift the transmission to the next lower gear, while tapping (+) to enter AutoStick mode will retain the current gear. The current gear will be displayed in the instrument cluster, but the “M” will not be highlighted. The transmission will revert back to normal operation (if the gear selector remains in DRIVE) after a period of time, depending on accelerator pedal activity.
• In some models, the shift paddles may be disabled (or re-enabled, as desired) using Drive Mode Set-Up, accessed by selecting Performance Control.

In AutoStick mode, the transmission will shift up or down when (+/-) is manually selected by the driver (using the gear selector, or the shift paddles [if equipped]), unless an engine lugging or overspeed condition would result. It will remain in the selected gear until another upshift or downshift is chosen, except as described below.

•  If normal AutoStick mode is engaged (gear selector in MANUAL position), manual gear selection will be maintained until the gear selector is returned to DRIVE, or as described below. The transmission will not upshift auto- matically at redline in this mode, nor will downshifts be obtained if the accelerator pedal is pressed to the floor.
• The transmission will automatically down- shift as the vehicle slows (to prevent engine lugging) and will display the current gear.
• The transmission will automatically down- shift to FIRST gear when coming to a stop. After a stop, the driver should manually upshift (+) the transmission as the vehicle is accelerated.
• You can start out, from a stop, in FIRST or SECOND gear. Tapping (+) (at a stop) will allow starting in SECOND gear. Starting out in SECOND gear can be helpful in snowy or icy conditions.
• If a requested downshift would cause the engine to over-speed, that shift will not occur.
• The system will ignore attempts to upshift at too low of a vehicle speed and an indication will display.
• Holding the (-) paddle pressed (if equipped), or holding the gear selector in the (-) position, will downshift the transmission to the lowest gear possible at the current speed.
• Transmission shifting will be more noticeable when AutoStick is enabled.
• The system may revert to automatic shift mode if a fault or overheat condition is detected.

To disengage AutoStick mode, return the gear selector to the DRIVE position, or press and hold the (+) shift paddle (if equipped, and the gear selector is already in DRIVE) until “D” is once again indicated in the instrument cluster. You can shift in or out of the AutoStick mode at any time without taking your foot off the accelerator pedal.

WARNING!

Do not downshift for additional engine braking on a slippery surface. The drive wheels could lose their grip and the vehicle could skid, causing a collision or personal injury.