2011 Chrysler 300 Owner Manual - Page 319

STARTING AND OPERATING 317 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. ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) - IF EQUIPPED This vehicle is equipped with an active on-demand All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system which makes available optimum traction for a wide variety of road surface and driving conditions. The system minimizes wheel slip by automatically redirecting torque to the front and rear NOTE: If the "t CASE" or "SERVICE AWD SYSTEM" wheels as necessary. warning message appears after engine start up, or during To maximize fuel economy, your AWD vehicle automati- driving, it means that the AWD system is not functioning cally defaults to rear-wheel drive (RWD) when road and properly and that service is required. Refer to "Electronic environmental conditions are such that wheel slip is Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)" in "Understanding unlikely to occur. When specific road and environmental Your Instrument Panel" for further information. conditions require increased levels of road traction, the vehicle automatically shifts into AWD mode. Automatic AWD operation could be activated by outside temperature, wheel slip, or other predetermined conditions (there may be a slight delay for AWD engagement after a wheel slip condition occurs). AWD can also be manually selected by moving the shift lever into the AutoStick௡ mode (+/-) or activating the windshield wipers for an extended period of time. Drive mode, RWD or AWD, is displayed momentarily in the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) in the gage area of the vehicle display when the transmission is first shifted into gear, and if the drive mode changes during vehicle operation. 5