trailer DODGE POWER WAGON 2005 2.G Owners Manual

These airbags are certified to the new Federal regulations
that allow less forceful deployments.
This vehicle may also be equipped with window bags to
protect the driver and passengers in the first and second
row sitting next to a window. If the vehicle is equipped
with window bags, they are located above the side
windows. Their covers are also labeled SRS AIRBAG.WARNING!
•Do not put anything on or around the airbag covers or
attempt to manually open them. You may damage the
airbags and you could be injured because the airbags are
not there to protect you. These protective covers for the
airbag cushions are designed to open only when the airbags
are inflating.
•Do not mount any aftermarket equipment such as trailer
brake controllers, snowplow controllers, auxiliary light
switches, radios, etc. on or behind the knee bolster. Knee
bolsters are designed to work with the air bag and seat belt
to protect you. Mounting any additional equipment on or
behind the knee bolster can cause injury during a crash.
•If your vehicle is equipped with window bags, do not stack
luggage or other cargo up high enough to block the location
of the window bag. The area where the window bag is
located should remain free from any obstructions.
•If your vehicle is equipped with window bags, do not have
any accessory items installed which will alter the roof,
including 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.
48 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

A new engine may consume some oil during its first few
thousand miles of operation. This is a normal part of the
break-in and is not an indication of difficulty.
CAUTION!
•During the first 500 miles (805 km) your new
vehicle is driven, do not tow a trailer. Doing so
may damage your vehicle.
•Limit your speed to 50 mph (80 km/h) during the
first 500 miles (805 km) of towing.
SAFETY TIPS
Transporting Passengers
This vehicle is designed to carry passengers in the cab
only. For safety reasons, NEVER TRANSPORT PASSEN-
GERS IN THE CARGO AREA.
WARNING!
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people
riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously
injured or killed.
Do not allow people to ride in any area of your
vehicle that is not equipped with seats and seat belts.
Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and
using a seat belt properly.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 71
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▫Exterior Mirrors Folding Feature...........86
▫Electronic Power Mirrors—If Equipped......87
▫Electric Rear Window Defroster And Heated
Sideview Mirrors—If Equipped...........88
▫Trailer Towing Mirrors—If Equipped.......88

Hands–Free Communication (UConnect™)
—If Equipped..........................90
▫Operation............................91
▫Phone Call Features....................95
▫Advanced Phone Connectivity.............97
▫UConnect™System Features..............99

Seats................................102
▫40-20-40 Front Seat....................102
▫Reclining Seats.......................103▫Adjustable Head Restraints..............104
▫Manual Rotary Lumbar Support Adjustment
—If Equipped.......................105
▫Power Seats—If Equipped..............105
▫Heated Seats—If Equipped.............107

To Open And Close The Hood.............108

Lights...............................109
▫Interior Lights.......................110
▫Battery Saver........................111
▫Headlamp Delay—If Equipped..........111
▫Headlights, Parking Lights, Panel Lights.....111
▫Daytime Running Lights (Canada And Fleet
Vehicles Only).......................112
▫Lights-On Reminder...................113
76 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Electric Rear Window Defroster and Heated
Sideview Mirrors—If Equipped
The Electric Rear Window Defroster and Heated
side view mirrors are activated by pressing the
heated grid button, located on the Climate Control panel,
with the ignition On. Turning Off the ignition will
deactivate the Electric Rear Window Defroster and
Heated side view mirrors feature. These features also
turn off after activation, when 15 minutes have elapsed.
To reactivate, simply press the button again.
Trailer Towing Mirrors—If Equipped
These mirrors are designed with an adjustable mirror
head to provide a greater vision range when towing
extra-wide loads. To change position inboard or out-
board, the mirror head should be rotated (flipped Out or
In). A small blindspot mirror is integrated onto the main
mirror surface.NOTE: Fold the7x10inch trailer towing mirrors
rearward prior to entering an automated car wash.
CAUTION!
Do not attempt to fold the7x10inch trailer towing
mirrors forward. The7x10inch trailer towing
mirrors are not designed to be folded forward and
doing so will damage the mirrors and/or vehicle.
88 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Average Fuel Economy (AVG ECO)
Shows the average fuel economy since the last reset. This
display mode becomes less sensitive to instantaneous
changes in fuel consumption as the number of total
vehicle miles since the last reset increases. It is suggested
that this mode be reset periodically for general operation
or when driving conditions change significantly (for
example, at the end of a trip or when a trailer is
connected or disconnected).
Distance To Empty (DTE)
Shows the estimated distance that can be travelled with
the fuel remaining in the tank. The estimated distance is
determined by a weighted average of the instantaneous
and average fuel economy, according to the current fuel
tank level.When Distance To Empty = 0, the fuel gauge pointer will
initially be on the red“E”marker. At this point (fuel
gauge pointer on the red“E”marker) there is reserve fuel
capacity, which corresponds to approximately 8% of tank
volume. This reserve capacity was put in place to prevent
the likelihood of customers running out of fuel when
operating at maximum load conditions in areas where
there aren’t many gas stations.
NOTE:The Distance To Empty will remain equal to
zero, until the vehicle runs out of fuel or is refueled.
Ram fuel tank volumes are as follows:
•34 gallons - short box models
•35 gallons - long box models
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 125
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12. Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Light 5.7L
Engines Only
This light informs you of a problem with the
Electronic Throttle Control system. If a prob-
lem is detected the light will come on while the
engine is running. If the light remains lit with
the engine running your vehicle will usually be drivable,
however, see your dealer for service as soon as possible.
If the light is flashing when the engine is running,
immediate service is required and you may experience
reduced performance, an elevated/rough idle or engine
stall and your vehicle may require towing. The light will
come on when the ignition is first turned on and remain
on briefly as a bulb check. If the light does not come on
during starting, have the system checked by an autho-
rized dealer.13. Temperature Gauge
The temperature gauge indicates engine coolant
temperature. Any reading within the normal
range indicates that the cooling system is operat-
ing satisfactorily. The gauge needle will likely indicate a
higher temperature when driving in hot weather, up
mountain grades, in heavy traffic, or when towing a
trailer. If the needle rises to the“H”mark, stop the
vehicle, shift into N (Neutral), and increase the engine
idle speed for 2 to 3 minutes. If the temperature reading
does not return to normal, shut your engine OFF and
allow it to cool. Seek authorized service immediately. See
Cooling System information in the section on“Maintain-
ing Your Vehicle.”
NOTE:If the gauge pointer moves to either extreme of
the gauge, the“Check Gages”indicator will illuminate
and a single chime will sound.
160 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

28. Transmission Oil Temperature Warning Light
This light indicates that there is excessive trans-
mission fluid temperature that might occur
with severe usage such as trailer towing. If this
light comes on, stop the vehicle and run the
engine at idle or faster, with the transmission in NEU-
TRAL until the light goes off.
ELECTRONIC DIGITAL CLOCK
The clock and radio each use the display panel built into
the radio. A digital readout shows the time in hours and
minutes whenever the ignition switch is in the“ON”or
“ACC”position.
When the ignition switch is in the“OFF”position, or
when the radio frequency is being displayed, time keep-
ing is accurately maintained.
Clock Setting Procedure
1. Turn the ignition switch to the“ON”or“ACC”
position. Using the point of a ballpoint pen or similar
object, press either the“H”(Hour) or“M”(Minute)
buttons on the radio. The display will show the time.
2. Press the“H”button to set hours or the“M”button to
set minutes. The time setting will increase each time you
press a button.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 165
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speeds will reduce fogging. Interior fogging on the
windshield can be quickly removed by selecting the
defrost mode.
Regular cleaning of the inside of the windows with a
non-filming cleaning solution (vinegar and water works
very well) will help prevent contaminates (cigarette
smoke, perfumes, etc.) from sticking to the windows.
Contaminates increase the rate of window fogging.
Summer Operation
Air conditioned vehicles must be protected with a high
quality antifreeze coolant during summer to provide
proper corrosion protection and to raise the boiling point
of the coolant for protection against overheating. A 50 %
concentration is recommended. Refer to Recommended
Fluids and Genuine Parts for the proper coolant type.
When using the air conditioner in extremely heavy traffic
in hot weather especially when towing a trailer, addi-
tional engine cooling may be required. If this situation isencountered, operate the transmission in a lower gear to
increase engine RPM, coolant flow and fan speed. When
stopped in heavy traffic, it may be necessary to shift into
NEUTRAL and depress the accelerator slightly for fast
idle operation to increase coolant flow and fan speed.
NOTE:On models equipped with Diesel engines, the
idle speed will automatically increase to 1000 rpm at
elevated coolant temperatures to improve engine cooling.
Your air conditioning system is also equipped with an
automatic recirculation system. When the system senses
a heavy load or high heat conditions, it may use partial
Recirculation A/C mode to provide additional comfort.
Winter Operation
When operating the system during the winter months,
make sure the air intake, located directly in front of the
windshield, is free of ice, slush, snow, or other obstruc-
tions.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 213
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▫Materials Added To Fuel................309
▫Adding Fuel.........................309
▫Fuel System Cautions..................312
▫Carbon Monoxide Warnings..............313

Catalytic Converter.....................313

Vehicle Loading........................315
▫Certification Label.....................315

Trailer Towing.........................318
▫To Maintain Warranty Coverage...........318
▫Axle Lubricant And Trailer Towing.........320
▫Trailer Towing Recommendations..........320
▫Trailer Towing—Hitches...............321▫Connecting Trailer Lighting And Electric Trailer
Brakes.............................322
▫Trailer Weight And Trailer Tongue Weight....323
▫Trailer Towing Information (Maximum Trailer
Weight Ratings)......................325
▫Trailer Towing Mirrors—If Equipped......326
▫Cooling System Tips—Trailer Towing......326
▫Automatic Transmission Oil Temperature
Warning Light.......................327
▫Towing With An Automatic Transmission....327

Snowplow............................328
▫Dodge Power Wagon Models.............328
218 STARTING AND OPERATING

•the“TOW/HAUL”switch has not been activated;
•transmission has reached normal operating tempera-
ture.
NOTE:If the vehicle is started in extremely cold tem-
peratures, the transmission may not shift into Overdrive
and will automatically select the most desirable gear for
operation at this temperature. Normal operation will
resume when the transmission fluid temperature has
risen to a suitable level. Refer also to the Note under
torque converter clutch, later in this section.
If the transmission temperature gets extremely hot, the
transmission will automatically select the most desirable
gear for operation at this temperature. If the transmission
temperature becomes hot enough the TRANS TEMP light
may illuminate and the transmission may downshift out
of Overdrive until the transmission cools down. After
cooldown, the transmission will resume normal opera-
tion.The transmission will downshift from Overdrive to Drive
if the accelerator pedal is fully depressed at vehicle
speeds above approximately 35 mph (56 km/h).
When To Use“TOW/HAUL”Mode
When driving in hilly areas, towing a trailer, carrying a
heavy load, etc., and frequent transmission shifting oc-
curs, press the“TOW/HAUL”button. This will improve
STARTING AND OPERATING 273
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