ECU Ram 1500 2009 User Guide

To Exit Remote Start Mode without Driving the
Vehicle
Press and release the REMOTE START button one time or
allow the engine to run for the entire 15-minute cycle.
NOTE:To avoid unintentional shut downs, the system
will disable the one time press of the REMOTE START
button for two seconds after receiving a valid Remote
Start request.
To Exit Remote Start Mode and Drive the Vehicle
Before the end of the 15-minute cycle, press and release
the UNLOCK button on the RKE transmitter to unlock
the doors and disarm the Vehicle Security Alarm System
(if equipped). Insert the key into the ignition switch and
turn the switch to the ON/RUN position.
NOTE:
•The ignition switch must be in the ON/RUN position
in order to drive the vehicle.
•For vehicles equipped with the Electronic Vehicle
Information Center (EVIC), the message “Insert Key/
Turn To On” will flash in the EVIC until you insert the
key into the ignition swich. Once inserted, the message
“Turn To On” will flash in the EVIC until you turn the
ignition switch to the ON/RUN position.
Remote Start Comfort Systems — If Equipped
When remote start is activated, the heated steering
wheel, and driver heated seat features will automatically
turn on in cold weather. In warm weather, the driver
vented seat feature will automatically turn on when the
remote start is activated. These features will stay on
through the duration of remote start or until the ignition
switch is turned to the ON/RUN position.
The Remote Start Comfort System can be activated and
deactivated through the Electronic Vehicle Information
Center (EVIC). For more information on Remote Start
28 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Comfort System operation refer to “Electronic Vehicle
Information Center (EVIC) — Customer-Programmable
Features (SETUP)” in section 4.
DOOR LOCKS
Manual Door Locks
Front and rear doors may be locked or unlocked by
moving the lock plunger up or down.
Front doors may be opened with the inside door handle
without lifting the lock plunger. Doors locked before
closing will remain locked when closed.
The emergency key will unlock the driver door lock on
your vehicle.
WARNING!
•For personal security and safety in the event of an
accident, lock the vehicle doors when you drive as
well as when you park and leave the vehicle.
•Never leave children alone in a vehicle. Leaving
unattended children in a vehicle is dangerous for a
number of reasons. A child or others could be
seriously or fatally injured. Don’t leave the key in
the ignition. A child could operate power win-
dows, other controls, or move the vehicle.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 29

Rambox Storage Bin Cover Emergency Release
Lever — If Equipped
As a security measure, a Storage Bin Cover Emergency
Release is built into the storage bin cover latching mecha-
nism.NOTE:
In the event of an individual being locked inside
the storage bin, the storage bin cover can be opened from
inside of the bin by pulling on the glow-in-the-dark lever
attached to the storage bin cover latching mechanism.
OCCUPANT RESTRAINTS
Some of the most important safety features in your
vehicle are the restraint systems:
•Front and rear seat belts for the driver and all passen-
gers
•Front seat belt pretensioners — if equipped
•Advanced Front Airbags for driver and front passen-
ger
•Supplemental Side Airbag Inflatable Curtains (SABIC)
— if equipped
•Supplemental Side Seat Airbags — if equippedStorage Bin Cover Emergency Release Lever
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 39

Along with seat belts and pretensioners, Advanced Front
Airbags work with the knee bolsters to provide improved
protection for the driver and front passenger. Side airbags
also work with seat belts to improve occupant protection.
Knee Impact Bolsters
The Knee Impact Bolsters help protect the knees of the
driver and the front passenger, and position everyone for
the best interaction with the Advanced Front airbag.
Here are some simple steps you can take to minimize the
risk of harm from a deploying airbag:
Children 12 years old and younger should always ride
buckled up in a rear seat.
WARNING!
Infants in rear-facing child restraints should NEVER
ride in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger
front airbag. An airbag deployment can cause severe
injury or death to infants in that position.
Children that are not big enough to wear the vehicle seat
belt properly (see Section on Child Restraints) should be
secured in the rear seat in child restraints or belt-
positioning booster seats. Older children who do not use
child restraints or belt-positioning booster seats should
ride properly buckled up in the rear seat. Never allow
children to slide the shoulder belt behind them or under
their arm.
If a child from 1 to 12 years old (not in a rear facing child
seat) must ride in the front passenger seat, move the seat
as far back as possible and use the proper child restraint.
(Refer to information on Child Restraints in this section.)
58 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

•Transmission gear selection
•Cruise control status
•Traction/stability control status
•Tire Pressure Monitoring System status (if equipped)
Child Restraint
Everyone in your vehicle needs to be buckled up all the
time, including babies and children. Every state in the
United States and all Canadian provinces require that
small children ride in proper restraint systems. This is the
law, and you can be prosecuted for ignoring it.
Children 12 years and younger should ride properly
buckled up in a rear seat, if available. According to crash
statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in
the rear seats rather than in the front.
WARNING!
In a collision, an unrestrained child, even a tiny baby,
can become a projectile inside the vehicle. The force
required to hold even an infant on your lap can
become so great that you could not hold the child, no
matter how strong you are. The child and others
could be badly injured. Any child riding in your
vehicle should be in a proper restraint for the child’s
size.
Infants and Small Children
There are different sizes and types of restraints for
children from newborn size to the child almost large
enough for an adult safety belt. Use the restraint that is
correct for your child.
•Safety experts recommend that children ride
rearward-facing in the vehicle until they are at least
one year old and weigh at least 20 lbs (9 kg). Two types
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 69

•If the belt still can’t be tightened, or if pulling and
pushing on the restraint loosens the belt, disconnect
the latch plate from the buckle, turn the latch plate
around, and insert the latch plate into the buckle
again. If you still can’t make the child restraint secure,
try a different seating position.
•Buckle the child into the seat according to the child
restraint manufacturer’s directions.
•When your child restraint is not in use, secure it in the
vehicle with the seat belt or remove it from the vehicle.
Do not leave it loose in the vehicle. In a sudden stop or
collision, it could strike the occupants or seat backs
and cause serious personal injury.
WARNING!
Improper installation can lead to failure of an infant
or child restraint. It could come loose in a collision.
The child could be badly injured or killed. Follow
the manufacturer’s directions exactly when installing
an infant or child restraint.
Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren (LATCH)
Each vehicle is equipped with the child restraint anchor-
age system called LATCH, which stands for Lower
Anchors and Tether for CHildren. LATCH child restraint
anchorage systems are installed in the Quad Caband
Crew Cab rear seat outboard positions. LATCH equipped
seating positions feature both lower anchor bars, located
at the back of the seat cushion, and tether strap anchor-
ages, located behind the seat back (refer to “Child Re-
straint Tether Anchor” in this section).
72 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

then allow the belt to retract into the retractor. For
additional information on ALR, refer to “Automatic
Locking Mode” in this section.
To install a child restraint, first, pull enough of the seat
belt webbing from the retractor to route it through the
belt path of the child restraint and slide the latch plate
into the buckle. Next, extract all the seat belt webbing out
of the retractor and then allow the belt to retract into the
retractor. Finally, pull on any excess webbing to tighten
the lap portion around the child restraint. Any seat belt
system will loosen with time, so check the belt occasion-
ally, and pull it tight if necessary.
Child Restraint Tether Anchor
Child restraints having tether straps and hooks for con-
nection to tether anchors have been available for some
time. In fact, many child restraint manufacturers will
provide add-on tether strap kits for their older products.
Regular Cab models have two tether anchorages, oneeach behind the front center and right seats. Quad Cab
and Crew Cab models have three anchorages, one behind
each of the rear seats.
WARNING!
An incorrectly anchored tether strap could lead to
seat failure and injury to the child. In a collision, the
seat could come loose and allow the child to crash
into the inside of the vehicle or other passengers, or
even be thrown from the vehicle. Use only the anchor
positions directly behind the child seat to secure a
child restraint top tether strap. Follow the instruc-
tions below. See your authorized dealer for help if
necessary.
76 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Children Too Large for Booster Seats
Children who are large enough to wear the shoulder belt
comfortably, and whose legs are long enough to bend
over the front of the seat when their back is against the
seat back should use the lap/shoulder belt in a rear seat.
•Make sure that the child is upright in the seat.
•The lap portion should be low on the hips and as snug
as possible.
•Check belt fit periodically. A child’s squirming or
slouching can move the belt out of position.
If the shoulder belt contacts the face or neck, move the
child closer to the center of the vehicle. Never allow a
child to put the shoulder belt under an arm or behind
their back.
Transporting Pets
Airbags deploying in the front seat could harm your pet.
An unrestrained pet will be thrown about and possibly injured, or injure a passenger during panic braking or in
a collision. Pets should be restrained in the rear seat in
pet harnesses or pet carriers that are secured by seat belts.
ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS
A long break-in period is not required for the engine in
your vehicle.
Drive moderately during the first 300 miles (500 km).
After the initial 60 miles (100 km), speeds up to 50 or
55 mph (80 or 90 km/h) are desirable.
While cruising, brief full-throttle acceleration within the
limits of local traffic laws, contributes to a good break-in.
Wide-open throttle acceleration in low gear can be detri-
mental and should be avoided.
The engine oil installed in the engine at the factory is a
high-quality energy conserving type lubricant. Oil
changes should be consistent with anticipated climate
conditions under which vehicle operations will occur.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 81

Rear Park Assist — If Equipped ........... 163
▫ Rear Park Assist Sensors ............... 163
▫ Rear Park Assist Warning Display ........ 164
▫ Enable/Disable The Rear Park Assist ...... 167
▫ Service The Rear Park Assist ............ 168
▫ Cleaning The Rear Park Assist ........... 168
 Rear Backup Camera — If Equipped ........ 168
▫ Turning The Rear Camera On Or Off — With
Navigation Radio .................... 170
▫ Turning The Rear Camera On Or Off —
Without Navigation Radio .............. 170
 Overhead Console — If Equipped .......... 171
▫ Courtesy/Reading Lights .............. 172
 Garage Door Opener — If Equipped ........ 174▫
Programming HomeLink .............. 175
▫ Gate Operator/Canadian Programming .... 178
▫ Using HomeLink ................... 178
▫ Reprogramming A Single HomeLink
Button ............................ 179
▫ Security ........................... 179
▫ Troubleshooting Tips .................. 179
▫ General Information .................. 180
 Power Sunroof — If Equipped ............ 180
▫ Open Sunroof — Express Mode .......... 181
▫ Closing Sunroof — Express ............. 182
▫ Pinch Protect Feature ................. 182
▫ Pinch Protect Override ................ 182
90 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

GARAGE DOOR OPENER — IF EQUIPPED
HomeLinkreplaces up to three remote controls (hand-
held transmitters) that operate devices such as garage
door openers, motorized gates, lighting, or home security
systems. The HomeLink unit operates off your vehicle’s
battery.
The HomeLink buttons are located in the overhead
console, and contain one, two, or three dots/lines desig-
nating the different HomeLink channels.
NOTE:HomeLink is disabled when the Vehicle Secu-
rity Alarm is active.
HomeLink Buttons
174 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE