clutch Ram 3500 2011 Diesel Supplement

STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust both
inside and outside mirrors, and fasten your seat belts.
The starter should not be operated for more than 15-
second intervals. Waiting a few minutes between such
intervals will protect the starter from overheating.
WARNING!
Do not leave children or animals inside parked
vehicles in hot weather. Interior heat build up may
cause serious injury or death.
Manual Transmission – If Equipped
Apply the parking brake, place the shift lever in NEU-
TRAL and press the clutch pedal to the floor before
starting the vehicle. This vehicle is equipped with a
clutch interlocking ignition system. It will not start unless
the clutch is fully pressed.
Automatic Transmission – If Equipped
Start the engine with the shift lever in NEUTRAL or
PARK position. Apply the brake before shifting to any
driving range.
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.
Extreme Cold Weather
The Cummins diesel engine is equipped with several
features designed to assist cold weather starting and
operation:
•The engine block heater is a resistance heater installed
in the water jacket of the engine just above and behind
the oil filter. It requires a 110–115 Volt AC electrical
outlet with a grounded, three-wire extension cord.
44 STARTING AND OPERATING

NOTE:The engine block heater cord is a factory in-
stalled option. If your vehicle is not equipped, heater
cords are available from your authorized MOPAR
dealer.
•A 12 Volt heater built into the fuel filter housing aids in
preventing fuel gelling. It is controlled by a built-in
thermostat.
•A heated intake air system both improves engine
starting and reduces the amount of white smoke
generated by a warming engine.
Normal Starting Procedure – Engine Manifold Air
Temperature Above 66°F (19°C)
Observe the instrument panel cluster lights when starting
the engine.
1. Always apply the parking brake. 2. Shift into PARK for an automatic transmission. For
vehicles equipped with a manual transmission, fully
press and hold the clutch pedal and shift into NEUTRAL.
3. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position and watch
the instrument panel cluster lights.
CAUTION!
If the “Water in Fuel Indicator Light” remains on, DO
NOT START the engine before you drain the water
from the fuel filter to avoid engine damage. Refer to
“Maintenance Procedures/Draining Fuel/Water Sepa-
rator Filter” in “Maintaining Your Vehicle” for fur-
ther information.
4. Turn the ignition switch to the START position and
crank the engine. Do not press the accelerator during
starting.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 45

NOTE:
•During engine shut down on vehicles equipped with
manual transmissions, it is normal for the diesel
engine to resonate heavily for a moment during engine
shut off. When the engine is connected to a manual
transmission, this resonance causes load gear rattle
from the transmission. This is commonly referred to as
“shut down rattle.” The manufacturer recommends
performing engine shut down with the clutch pedal
pushed to the floor (clutch disengaged). When engine
shut down is performed in this manner the rattle is
reduced (not eliminated).
•Refer to the following chart for proper engine
shutdown.
Driving
Condition LoadTurbo-
charger
Temperature Idle Time
(min.) Be-
fore Engine Shutdown
Stop and Go Empty Cool Less than
One
Stop and Go Medium One
Highway Speeds Medium Warm Two
City Traffic Maximum GCWR Three
Highway Speeds Maximum
GCWR Four
Uphill Grade Maximum
GCWR Hot Five
54 STARTING AND OPERATING

•Up Steep Hills —
Select a lower transmission gear, but try and keep the
torque converter clutch engaged.
•Air Conditioning —
Turn it off temporarily.
Do Not Operate The Engine With Low Oil
Pressure
When the engine is at normal operating temperature, the
minimum oil pressures required are:
Idle 700 to 800 RPM ............... 10psi(69kPa)
Full speed and load .............. 30psi (207 kPa)
CAUTION!
If oil pressure falls to less than normal readings, shut
the engine off immediately. Failure to do so could
result in immediate and severe engine damage.
Do Not Operate The Engine With Failed Parts
Practically all failures give some warning before the parts
fail. Be on the alert for changes in performance, sounds,
and visual evidence that the engine requires service.
Some important clues are:
•engine misfiring or vibrating severely
•sudden loss of power
•unusual engine noises
•fuel, oil or coolant leaks
•sudden change, outside the normal operating range, in
the engine operating temperature
•excessive smoke
•oil pressure drop
56 STARTING AND OPERATING

•transmission has reached normal operating
temperature.
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 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 “Transmission
Temperature Warning Light” may illuminate and the
transmission may downshift out of Overdrive until the
transmission cools down. After cool down, the transmis-
sion will resume normal operation. The transmission will downshift from Overdrive to
DRIVE if the accelerator pedal is fully pressed at vehicle
speeds above approximately 35 mph (56 km/h).
When To Use TOW/HAUL
When driving in hilly areas, towing a trailer, carrying a
heavy load, etc., and frequent transmission shifting oc-
curs, press the “TOW/HAUL” switch once to select
“TOW/HAUL.” In “TOW/HAUL” mode, fourth to fifth
gear upshifts are delayed. Shifts into fifth and sixth gear
are still allowed under steady cruise conditions. Closed
throttle downshifts (for improved engine braking) may
occur during steady braking maneuvers. Pressing the
switch a second time restores normal operation. Normal
operation is always the default at engine start-up.
66 STARTING AND OPERATING

The “TOW/HAUL Indicator Light” will illuminate in the
instrument cluster to indicate when the switch has been
activated. If the “TOW/HAUL” modes are desired, the
button must be pressed each time the engine is started.
Torque Converter Clutch
A feature designed to improve fuel economy has been
included in the automatic transmission on your vehicle.
A clutch within the torque converter engages automati-
cally at calibrated speeds. This may result in a slightly
different feeling or response during normal operation in
the upper gears. When the vehicle speed drops or during
acceleration when the transmission downshifts to second
gear, the clutch automatically disengages.
NOTE:
•The torque converter clutch will not engage, and the
transmission will not shift to sixth gear, until the
transmission fluid and engine coolant are warm [usu-
ally after 1-3 miles (1.6 - 4.8 km) of driving]. Because
sixth gear is disabled, and engine speed is higher
when the torque converter clutch is not engaged, it
may seem as if the transmission is not shifting prop-
erly when cold. This is normal. Using the Electronic
Range Select (ERS) feature, when the transmission is
TOW/HAUL Switch
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STARTING AND OPERATING 67

•transmission has reached normal operating
temperature.
NOTE: If the vehicle is started in extremely cold tem-
peratures, the transmission shift schedule initially re-
stricts transmission operation in forward gear ranges to
third gear until the transmission fluid temperature rises
to a suitable level. During this condition, the ability of the
vehicle to accelerate under heavily loaded conditions
may be reduced. Refer to the “Note” under “Torque
Converter Clutch” 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 “Transmission
Temperature Warning Light” may illuminate. After cool
down, the transmission will resume normal operation. The transmission will downshift from Overdrive to Drive
if the accelerator pedal is fully pressed at vehicle speeds
above approximately 35 to 40 mph (57 to 65 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” switch once to select the
“TOW/HAUL” mode. This will improve performance
and reduce the potential for transmission overheating or
failure due to excessive shifting. When operating in
“TOW/HAUL” mode, sixth gear is disabled and 2-3 and
3-4 and 4–5 shift patterns are modified. Shifts into
Overdrive (fifth gear) are allowed during steady cruise
(for improved fuel economy). When “TOW/HAUL”
mode is selected, the transmission may automatically
downshift into a lower gear to improve engine braking
performance when the throttle pedal is not pressed.
72 STARTING AND OPERATING

The “TOW/HAUL Indicator Light” will illuminate in the
instrument cluster to indicate when the switch has been
activated. If the “TOW/HAUL” mode is desired, the
switch must be pressed each time the engine is started.
WARNING!
Do not use the “TOW/HAUL” feature when driving
in icy or slippery conditions. The increased engine
braking can cause the rear wheels to slide, and the
vehicle to swing around with the possible loss of
vehicle control, which may cause an accident possi-
bly resulting in personal injury or death.
Torque Converter Clutch
A feature designed to improve fuel economy has been
included in the automatic transmission on your vehicle.
A clutch within the torque converter engages automati-
cally at calibrated speeds. This may result in a slightly
different feeling or response during normal operation in
high gear. When the vehicle speed drops or during
acceleration when the transmission downshifts to first or
second gear, the clutch automatically disengages.
TOW/HAUL Switch
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STARTING AND OPERATING 73

NOTE:
•The torque converter clutch will not engage until the
transmission fluid and engine coolant are warm [usu-
ally after 1-3 miles (1.6 - 4.8 km) of driving]. Because
the engine speed is higher when the torque converter
clutch is not engaged, it may seem as if the transmis-
sion is not shifting into Overdrive when cold. This is
normal. Pressing the “TOW/HAUL” switch when the
transmission is sufficiently warm will demonstrate
that the transmission is able to shift into and out of
Overdrive.
•If the vehicle has not been driven in several days, the
first few seconds of operation after shifting the trans-
mission into gear may seem sluggish. This is due to the
fluid partially draining from the torque converter into
the transmission. This condition is normal and will not
cause damage to the transmission. The torque con-
verter will refill within five seconds of shifting from
PARK into any other gear position.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION — IF EQUIPPED
WARNING!
You or others could be injured if you leave the
vehicle unattended without having the parking
brake fully applied. The parking brake should al-
ways be applied when the driver is not in the vehicle,
especially on an incline.
CAUTION!
Never drive with your foot resting on the clutch
pedal, or attempt to hold the vehicle on a hill with the
clutch pedal partially engaged, as this will cause
abnormal wear on the clutch.
NOTE: During cold weather, you may experience in-
creased effort in shifting until the transmission fluid
warms up. This is normal.
74 STARTING AND OPERATING

Shifting
Truck models with manual transmission are equipped
with a clutch interlocking ignition system. The clutch
pedal must be fully pressed to start the vehicle.Fully press the clutch pedal before shifting gears. As you
release the clutch pedal, lightly press the accelerator
pedal.
This transmission has a “creeper” first gear (L=Low)
which should be used to start from a standing position
when carrying a payload or towing a trailer. Damage to
the clutch can result from starting in second or third gear
with a loaded vehicle. An unloaded vehicle may be
launched in second gear. Use each gear in numerical
order – do not skip a gear.
You should use first gear when starting from a standing
position if under heavy load or when pulling a trailer.Recommended Vehicle Shift Speeds
To utilize your manual transmission efficiently for both
fuel economy and performance, it should be upshifted as
listed in recommended shift speed chart. Shift at the
Shift Pattern
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STARTING AND OPERATING 75