engine Ram ProMaster 2016 Owner's Guide

smoke, odors, dust, or high humidity are present. Acti-
vating recirculation will cause the LED in the control
button to illuminate.
Continuous use of the Recirculation mode may make the
inside air stuffy and window fogging may occur. Ex-
tended use of this mode is not recommended.
The use of the Recirculation mode in cold or damp
weather will cause windows to fog on the inside, because
of moisture buildup inside the vehicle. Select the outside
air position for maximum defogging.
Recirculated air is not allowed in Defrost modes. If the
Recirculation button is pushed while in Defrost mode,
the LED indicator will flash several times then go out.
Recirculation will be disabled automatically when De-
frost mode is selected.
If the following conditions are verified:
•Mode Floor, Vent or Bi level selected. •
Temperature in Max Cold.
• A/C led ON.
• Hot Ambient Temperature.
• Blower at Maximum speed.
• In case of hot ambient temperature, the recirculation is
closed (opened for a minute each 15 minutes so the air
can be changed) to improve the vehicle cooling.
Rear Window Defrosting
Push the Rear Defrost button to activate heated rear
window defrosting.
This function switches OFF automatically after about 20
minutes or when the engine is turned OFF. It is not
switched on automatically the next time the engine is
started.
208 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
STARTING PROCEDURES ................220
▫ Automatic Transmission — If Equipped .....220
▫ Normal Starting ...................... .220
▫ Extreme Cold Weather
(Below –22°F Or 30°C) ................221
▫ If Engine Fails To Start .................221
▫ After Starting ....................... .221
 ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED . . .222
 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ............222
▫ Key Ignition Park Interlock ...............223 ▫
Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . .224
▫ Six-Speed Automatic Transmission .........224
 DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES .........234
▫ Acceleration ........................ .234
▫ Traction ........................... .235
 DRIVING THROUGH WATER .............235
▫ Flowing/Rising Water ..................235
▫ Shallow Standing Water .................236
 POWER STEERING .....................237
▫ Power Steering Fluid Check ..............238
5

TIRE CHAINS (TRACTION DEVICES) .......274
 TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS .....276

TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) . .277
▫ Base System ........................ .279
▫ General Information ...................281
 FUEL REQUIREMENTS ..................282
▫ 3.6L Engine ......................... .282
▫ Reformulated Gasoline .................283
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ..............283
▫ E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles .......284
▫ MMT In Gasoline .....................284
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ................284
▫ Fuel System Cautions ...................285 ▫
Carbon Monoxide Warnings .............286
 ADDING FUEL ....................... .287
▫ Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap) ...............287
▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message ............288
 VEHICLE LOADING ....................289
▫ Vehicle Certification Label ...............289
 TRAILER TOWING .....................292
▫ Common Towing Definitions .............292
▫ Towing Tips ........................ .304
 RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.) ...................305
▫ Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle . .305
▫ Recreational Towing — Automatic
Transmission ........................ .306
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 219

STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust both
inside and outside mirrors, and fasten your seat belts.
WARNING!
•Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle.
• Allowing children to be in a vehicle unattended is
dangerous for a number of reasons. A child or
others could be seriously or fatally injured. Chil-
dren should be warned not to touch the parking
brake, brake pedal or the transmission gear selec-
tor.
• 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.
Automatic Transmission — If Equipped
The shift lever must be in the PARK or NEUTRAL
position before you can start the engine. Press the brake
pedal before shifting to any driving gear.
NOTE: You must press the brake pedal before shifting
out of PARK.
Normal Starting
NOTE: Normal starting of either a cold or a warm
engine is obtained without pumping or pressing the
accelerator pedal.
Turn the ignition switch to the AVV/ACC (START)
position and release it when the engine starts. If the
engine fails to start within 10 seconds, turn the ignition
switch to the STOP (OFF/LOCK) position, wait 10 to 15
seconds, then repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.
220 STARTING AND OPERATING

Extreme Cold Weather (Below –22°F Or 30°C)
To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of
an externally powered electric engine block heater (avail-
able from your authorized dealer) is recommended.
If Engine Fails To Start
WARNING!
Never pour fuel or other flammable liquids into the
throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to start
the vehicle. This could result in a flash fire causing
serious personal injury.
CAUTION!
•Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get it
started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic trans-
mission cannot be started this way. Unburned fuel
could enter the catalytic converter and once the
engine has started, ignite and damage the converter
and vehicle.
• To prevent damage to the starter, do not continu-
ously crank the engine for more than 15 seconds at
a time. Wait 10 to 15 seconds before trying again.
After Starting
The idle speed is controlled automatically and it will
decrease as the engine warms up.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 221

ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED
The engine block heater warms the engine, and permits
quicker starts in cold weather. Connect the cord to a
standard 110-115 Volt AC electrical outlet with a
grounded, three-wire extension cord.
The engine block heater must be plugged in at least one
hour to have an adequate warming effect on the engine.
WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the engine block heater
cord before driving. Damage to the 110-115 Volt
electrical cord could cause electrocution.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WARNING!
•It is dangerous to shift out of PARK or NEUTRAL
if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If
your foot is not firmly pressing the brake pedal, the
vehicle could accelerate quickly forward or in re-
verse. You could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear when
the engine is idling normally and your foot is
firmly pressing the brake pedal.
• Unintended movement of a vehicle could injure
those in or near the vehicle. As with all vehicles,
you should never exit a vehicle while the engine is
running. Before exiting a vehicle, always shift the
transmission into PARK, apply the parking brake,
turn the engine OFF, and remove the ignition key.
(Continued)
222 STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING!(Continued)
Once the key is removed, the transmission is
locked in PARK, securing the vehicle against un-
wanted movement.
• When leaving the vehicle, always remove the igni-
tion key from the vehicle and lock the vehicle.
• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Allowing children to
be 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 transmission gear selector.
• Do not leave the ignition key in or near the vehicle
(or in a location accessible to children). A child
could operate power windows, other controls, or
move the vehicle.
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the follow-
ing precautions are not observed:
• Shift into or out of PARK or REVERSE only after
the vehicle has come to a complete stop.
• 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.
Key Ignition Park Interlock
This vehicle is equipped with a Key Ignition Park Inter-
lock which requires the transmission to be in PARK
before the ignition switch can be turned to the LOCK/
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 223

OFF (key removal) position. The key can only be re-
moved from the ignition when the ignition is in the
LOCK/OFF position, and once removed the transmission
is locked in PARK.
NOTE:If a malfunction occurs, the system will trap the
key in the ignition switch to warn you that this safety
feature is inoperable. The engine can be started and
stopped but the key cannot be removed until you obtain
service.
Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System
This vehicle is equipped with a Brake Transmission Shift
Interlock System (BTSI) that holds the shift lever in PARK
unless the brakes are applied. To shift the transmission
out of PARK, the ignition switch must be turned to the
ON/RUN position (engine running or not), and the
brake pedal must be pressed. NOTE:
Swivel seats that are unlocked can also prevent
the transmission shift lever from being moved out of the
PARK position. To shift the transmission out of the PARK
position the first time after the cranking is allowed,
ensure swivel seats are locked in forward facing position.
Six-Speed Automatic Transmission
The transmission gear position display (located in the
instrument cluster) indicates the transmission gear range.
You must press the brake pedal to move the shift lever
out of PARK (Refer to “Brake/Transmission Shift Inter-
lock System” in this section). To drive, move the shift
lever from PARK or NEUTRAL to the DRIVE position.
The electronically-controlled transmission provides a
precise shift schedule. The transmission electronics are
self-calibrating; therefore, the first few shifts on a new
vehicle may be somewhat abrupt. This is a normal
condition, and precision shifts will develop within a few
hundred miles (kilometers).
224 STARTING AND OPERATING

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 shift lever has PARK, REVERSE, NEU-
TRAL, DRIVE, and Electronic Range Select (ERS) shiftpositions. Manual downshifts can be made using the ERS
shift control (refer to “Electronic Range Select (ERS)
Operation” in this section for further information). Mov-
ing the shift lever into the ERS (-/+) position (beside the
DRIVE position) displays the current gear in the instru-
ment cluster, and prevents automatic upshifts beyond
this gear. In ERS mode, toggling the shift lever forward (-)
or rearward (+) will change the highest available gear.
NOTE:
If the shift lever cannot be moved to the PARK,
REVERSE, or NEUTRAL position (when pushed for-
ward) it is probably in the ERS (+/-) position (beside the
DRIVE position). In ERS mode, the transmission gear
limit (1, 2, 3, etc.) is displayed in the instrument cluster.
Move the shift lever to the right (into the DRIVE [D]
position) for access to PARK, REVERSE, and NEUTRAL.
Gear Ranges
DO NOT race the engine when shifting from PARK or
NEUTRAL into another gear range.
Shift Lever
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 225

NOTE:After selecting any gear range, wait a moment to
allow the selected gear to engage before accelerating.
This is especially important when the engine is cold.
PARK (P)
This range supplements the parking brake by locking the
transmission. The engine can be started in this range.
Never attempt to use PARK while the vehicle is in
motion. Apply the parking brake when leaving the
vehicle in this range.
When parking on a level surface, you may shift the
transmission into PARK first, and then apply the parking
brake.
When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake before
shifting the transmission to PARK, otherwise the load on
the transmission locking mechanism may make it diffi-
cult to move the shift lever out of PARK. As an added
precaution, turn the front wheels toward the curb on a downhill grade, and away from the curb on an uphill
grade.
WARNING!
•
Never use the PARK position as a substitute for the
parking brake. Always apply the parking brake
fully when parked to guard against vehicle move-
ment and possible injury or damage.
• Your vehicle could move and injure you and others
if it is not in PARK. Check by trying to move the
gear selector/shift lever out of PARK with the brake
pedal released. Make sure the transmission is in
PARK before leaving the vehicle.
• It is dangerous to shift out of PARK or NEUTRAL
if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If
your foot is not firmly pressing the brake pedal, the
(Continued)
226 STARTING AND OPERATING