2013 Dodge Dart Owner Manual - Page 402

400 STARTING AND OPERATING Only shift from DRIVE to PARK or REVERSE when the NOTE: After selecting any gear range, wait a moment to accelerator pedal is released and the vehicle is stopped. allow the selected gear to engage before accelerating. Be sure to keep your foot on the brake pedal when This is especially important when the engine is cold. shifting between these gears. PARK The transmission shift lever has PARK, REVERSE, NEU- This range supplements the parking brake by locking the TRAL, DRIVE, and AutoStick௡ shift positions. Manual transmission. The engine can be started in this range. shifts can be made using the AutoStick௡ shift control Never attempt to use PARK while the vehicle is in (refer to "AutoStick௡" in this section for further informa- motion. Apply the parking brake when leaving the tion). Moving the shift lever rearward (+) or forward (-) vehicle in this range. while in the AutoStick௡ position (beside the Drive posiWhen parking on a level surface, you may place the shift tion) will manually select the transmission gear, and will lever in PARK first, and then apply the parking brake. display the current gear in the instrument cluster as 6, 5, When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake before 4, 3, 2, 1. placing the shift lever in PARK, otherwise the load on the Gear Ranges transmission locking mechanism may make it difficult to DO NOT race the engine when shifting from PARK or move the shift lever out of PARK. As an added precauNEUTRAL into another gear range. tion, turn the front wheels toward the curb on a downhill grade and away from the curb on an uphill grade.