automatic transmission Ram 2500 2013 User Guide

•Auto Dim High Beams “SmartBeam™” — If
Equipped
When this feature is selected, the high beam headlights
will deactivate automatically under certain conditions. To
make your selection, touch the Auto High Beams softkey,
until a check-mark appears next to setting, showing that
setting has been selected. Touch the back arrow soft-key
to return to the previous menu. Refer to “Lights/ Smart-
Beam™ — If Equipped” in “Understanding The Features
Of Your Vehicle” for further information.
• Daytime Running Lights – If Equipped
When this feature is selected, the headlights will turn on
whenever the engine is running. To make your selection,
touch the Daytime Running Lights soft-key, until a
check-mark appears next to setting, showing that setting
has been selected. Touch the back arrow soft-key to
return to the previous menu. •
Flash Headlights With Lock
When this feature is selected, the headlights will flash
when the doors are locked or unlocked with the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter. This feature may be
selected with or without the sound horn on lock feature
selected. To make your selection, touch the Flash Head-
lights with Lock soft-key, until a check-mark appears
next to setting, showing that setting has been selected.
Touch the back arrow soft-key to return to the previous
menu.
Doors & Locks
After pressing the Doors & Locks soft-key the following
settings will be available.
• Auto Unlock On Exit
When this feature is selected, all doors will unlock when
the vehicle is stopped and the transmission is in the
PARK or NEUTRAL position and the driver’s door is
302 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
STARTING PROCEDURES ................342
▫ Normal Starting ...................... .342
▫ Automatic Transmission ................342
▫ Keyless Enter-N-Go™ ..................343
▫ Normal Starting ...................... .343
▫ Extreme Cold Weather (Below –20°F
Or 29°C) ......................... .345
▫ If Engine Fails To Start .................345
▫ After Starting ....................... .346
 STOP/START SYSTEM — IF EQUIPPED ......346▫
Automatic Mode ..................... .346
▫ Possible Reasons The Engine Does Not AUTO
STOP............................. .347
▫ To Start The Engine While In Autostop Mode . .348
▫ To Manually Turn Off The Start Stop System . .350
▫ To Manually Turn On The Start Stop System . .350
▫ System Malfunction ....................351
 ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED . . .351
 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ............352
▫ Key Ignition Park Interlock ...............354
5

▫Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . .354
▫ Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission – If
Equipped .......................... .355
▫ Six–Speed Automatic Transmission If Equipped —
1500 Models Only .....................364
▫ Six–Speed Automatic Transmission (5.7L Engine)
— 2500/3500 Models Only ..............377
 FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE OPERATION — IF
EQUIPPED .......................... .388
▫
Manually Shifted Transfer Case – If Equipped . . .388
▫ Electronically Shifted Transfer Case (Four-Position
Switch) – If Equipped ..................392
▫ Electronically Shifted Transfer Case (Five-Position
Switch) – If Equipped ..................398 ▫
Electronically Shifted Transfer Case (Five-Position
Switch) – If Equipped ..................404
 AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM — IF EQUIPPED . .410
▫ Description ......................... .410
▫ Air Suspension Modes ..................414
▫ Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)
Display Messages .....................416
▫ Operation .......................... .416
 AXLE LOCKER SYSTEM (POWER WAGON
MODELS ONLY) — IF EQUIPPED ...........418
 STABILIZER/SWAY BAR SYSTEM — POWER
WAGON ONLY ....................... .420
 SAFE OFF-ROAD DRIVING — POWER WAGON
ONLY.............................. .422
336 STARTING AND OPERATING

STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust both
inside and outside mirrors, and fasten your seat belt.
The starter should not be operated for more than 15-
second intervals. Waiting a few seconds between such
intervals will protect the starter from overheating.
WARNING!
Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with access to
an unlocked vehicle. Leaving children in a vehicle
unattended is dangerous for a number of reasons. A
child or others could be seriously or fatally injured.
Children should be warned not to touch the parking
brake, brake pedal or the shift lever. Do not leave the
key fob in or near the vehicle, or in a location accessible
to children. A child could operate power windows, other
controls, or move the vehicle.
Normal Starting
Normal starting of either a warm or cold engine is
obtained without pumping or pressing the accelerator
pedal. Turn the key fob to the START position and release
when the engine starts. If the engine fails to start within
10 seconds, turn the key fob to the OFF position, wait five
seconds, then repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.
Automatic Transmission
Start the engine with the shift lever in the NEUTRAL or
PARK position. Apply the brake before shifting into any
driving range.
NOTE: This vehicle is equipped with a transmission
shift interlocking system. The brake pedal must be
pressed to shift out of PARK.
342 STARTING AND OPERATING

Tip Start Feature
Do notpress the accelerator. Turn the ignition switch
briefly to the START position and release it. The starter
motor will continue to run but will automatically disen-
gage when the engine is running.
Keyless Enter-N-Go™
This feature allows the driver to oper-
ate the ignition switch with the push
of a button, as long as the Remote
Start/Keyless Enter-N-Go™ Key Fob
is in the passenger compartment.
Normal Starting
Using The ENGINE START/STOP Button
1. The transmission must be in PARK or NEUTRAL.
2. Press and hold the brake pedal while pressing the ENGINE START/STOP button once.
3. The system takes over and attempts to start the vehicle. If the vehicle fails to start, the starter will
disengage automatically after 10 seconds.
4. If you wish to stop the cranking of the engine prior to the engine starting, press the button again.
NOTE: Normal starting of either a cold or a warm
engine is obtained without pumping or pressing the
accelerator pedal.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 343

To Turn Off The Engine Using ENGINE
START/STOP Button
1. Place the shift lever/shift selector in PARK, then pressand release the ENGINE START/STOP button.
2. The ignition switch will return to the OFF position.
3. If the shift lever/shift selector is not in PARK, the ENGINE START/STOP button must be held for two
seconds and vehicle speed must be above 5 mph
(8 km/h) before the engine will shut off. The ignition
switch position will remain in the ACC position until
the shift lever/shift selector is in PARK and the button
is pressed twice to the OFF position. If the shift
lever/shift selector is not in PARK and the ENGINE
START/STOP button is pressed once, the EVIC (if
equipped) will display a “Vehicle Not In Park” mes-
sage and the engine will remain running. Never leave
a vehicle out of the PARK position, or it could roll. NOTE:
If the ignition switch is left in the ACC or RUN
(engine not running) position and the transmission is in
PARK, the system will automatically time out after 30
minutes of inactivity and the ignition will switch to the
OFF position.
ENGINE START/STOP Button Functions – With
Driver ’s Foot OFF The Brake Pedal (In PARK Or
NEUTRAL Position)
The ENGINE START/STOP button operates similar to an
ignition switch. It has four positions, OFF, ACC, RUN
and START. To change the ignition switch positions
without starting the vehicle and use the accessories
follow these steps.
1. Starting with the ignition switch in the OFF position:
2. Press the ENGINE START/STOP button once to change the ignition switch to the ACC position (EVIC
displays “ACC”),
344 STARTING AND OPERATING

•Cabin heating or cooling is in process and an accept-
able cabin temperature has not been achieved
• HVAC is set to full defrost mode at a high blower
speed
• Engine has not reached normal operating temperature
• Battery discharged
• The transmission is not in DRIVE
• Hood is open
• Vehicle is in 4LO transfer case mode
Other factors which can inhibit AutoStop include: fuel
level, accelerator pedal input, engine temp too high and
steering angle.
It may be possible for the vehicle to be driven several
times without the STOP/START system going into a
STOP/START READY state under more extreme condi-
tions of the items listed above.To Start The Engine While In Autostop Mode
While in DRIVE the engine will start when the brake
pedal is released or the throttle pedal is depressed. The
transmission will automatically reengage upon engine
restart. During this transition the brakes will hold the
vehicle to avoid undesired vehicle movement.
Conditions that will cause the engine to start automati-
cally while in Autostop mode
The Engine Will Start Automatically When:
• The transmission selector is moved from DRIVE to
REVERSE or NEUTRAL
• To maintain cabin temperature near the HVAC settings
• HVAC is set to full defrost mode
• Autostop time exceeds 5 minutes
• Battery voltage drops too low
348 STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the engine block heater
cord before driving. Damage to the 110-115 Volt
electrical cord could cause electrocution.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the follow-
ing precautions are not observed:
•Shift into PARK only after the vehicle has come to
a complete stop.
• Shift into or out of REVERSE only after the vehicle
has come to a complete stop and the engine is at
idle speed.
(Continued)
CAUTION! (Continued)
•Do not shift between PARK, REVERSE, NEU-
TRAL, or DRIVE when the engine is above idle
speed.
• Before shifting into any gear, make sure your foot
is firmly pressing the brake pedal.
NOTE: You must press and hold the brake pedal while
shifting out of PARK.
352 STARTING AND OPERATING

Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission – If
Equipped
Your vehicle is equipped with a state of the art, fuel
efficient eight-speed transmission. The electronic shifter
control is located on the instrument panel. The transmis-
sion gear range (PRND) is displayed both above the
shifter control and in the Electronic Vehicle Information
Center (EVIC). To select a gear range, simply rotate the
shifter control. You must press the brake pedal to shift the
transmission out of PARK (see Brake/Transmission Shift
Interlock System). You must also press the brake pedal to
shift from NEUTRAL into DRIVE or REVERSE, when the
vehicle is stopped or moving at low speeds. To shift past
multiple gear ranges at once (such as Park to Drive),
simply rotate the shifter control to the appropriate detent.
Select the DRIVE range for normal driving.
The electronically-controlled transmission provides a
precise shift schedule. The transmission electronics are
self-calibrating; therefore, the first few shifts on a newvehicle may be somewhat abrupt. This is a normal
condition, and precision shifts will develop within a few
hundred miles (kilometers).
Only shift from DRIVE to PARK or REVERSE when the
accelerator pedal is released and the vehicle is stopped.
Be sure to keep your foot on the brake pedal when
shifting between these gears.
The transmission shifter control has only PARK, RE-
VERSE, NEUTRAL, and DRIVE positions. Manual down-
shifts can be made using the Electronic Range Select
(ERS) switches (described later in this section). Pressing
the GEAR-/GEAR+ switches (on the steering wheel)
while in the DRIVE position will select the highest
available transmission gear, and will display that gear in
the instrument cluster as 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 355

NEUTRAL
Use this range when the vehicle is standing for prolonged
periods with the engine running. The engine may be
started in this range. Apply the parking brake and shift
the transmission into PARK if you must leave the vehicle.
WARNING!
Do not coast in NEUTRAL and never turn off the
ignition to coast down a hill. These are unsafe
practices that limit your response to changing traffic
or road conditions. You might lose control of the
vehicle and have a collision.
CAUTION!
Towing the vehicle, coasting, or driving for any other
reason with the transmission in NEUTRAL can cause
(Continued)
CAUTION!(Continued)
severe transmission damage. Refer to “Recreational
Towing” in “Starting And Operating” and “Towing A
Disabled Vehicle” in “What To Do In Emergencies”
for further information.
DRIVE
This range should be used for most city and highway
driving. It provides the smoothest upshifts and down-
shifts, and the best fuel economy. The transmission
automatically upshifts through all forward gears. The
DRIVE position provides optimum driving characteris-
tics under all normal operating conditions.
When frequent transmission shifting occurs (such as
when operating the vehicle under heavy loading condi-
tions, in hilly terrain, traveling into strong head winds, or
while towing heavy trailers), use the Electronic Range
Select (ERS) switches (refer to Electronic Range Select
360 STARTING AND OPERATING