2010 Dodge Charger Owner Manual - Page 275

274 STARTING AND OPERATING occur only to prevent engine overspeed while downshifts NOTE: • The torque converter clutch will not engage until the occur earlier than in other gear range selections. transmission fluid and engine coolant is warm (usuCAUTION! ally after 1-3 miles [1.6-4.8 km] of driving). Because engine speed is higher when the torque converter Never race the engine with the brakes on and the clutch is not engaged, it may seem as if the transmisvehicle in gear, and never hold the vehicle on an sion is not shifting into Overdrive when cold. This is incline without applying the brakes. These practices considered a normal condition. Pulling the shift lever can cause overheating and damage to the transmisinto the "3" position will show that the transmission is sion. able to shift into and out of Overdrive. • If the vehicle has not been driven for several days, the Torque Converter Clutch first few seconds of operation after shifting the transA feature designed to improve fuel economy has been mission into gear may seem sluggish. This is due to the added to the automatic transmission in this vehicle. A transmission fluid partially draining from the torque clutch within the torque converter engages automatically converter into the transmission. This is considered a at calibrated speeds. This may result in a slightly differnormal condition and it will not cause damage to the ent feeling or response during normal operation in high transmission. The torque converter will refill within gear. When the vehicle speed drops or during accelerafive seconds of shifting from PARK into any other gear tion, the clutch automatically and smoothly disengages. position.