warning lights DODGE DAKOTA 2009 3.G Owners Manual

Once the vehicle has started, the engine will run for
15 minutes. To cancel remote start, press the REMOTE
START button once.
The parking lights will remain illuminated to indicate
that the vehicle has remote started and the engine isrunning. The lights will turn off when the ignition is
turned to RUN or the remote start is cancelled.
To enter the vehicle while the engine is running during a
remote start, you must first unlock the vehicle using the
UNLOCK button on the RKE transmitter. Then, prior to
the end of the 15-minute cycle, insert the key into the
ignition switch and turn the switch to the ON position,
otherwise the engine will cancel remote start and auto-
matically turn off.
Remote start will also cancel if any of the following occur:
²If the engine stalls or the RPM exceeds 2500
²Any engine warning light come on
²The hood is opened
²The Hazard switch is pressed
²The transmission is moved out of PARK
Remote Start Button
28 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING! (Continued)
²It is dangerous to try to repair any part of the airbag
system yourself. Be sure to tell anyone who works
on your vehicle that it has an airbag system.
NOTE:Perchlorate Material ± special handling may apply.
See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate.
Enhanced Accident Response System
If the airbags deploy after an impact and the electrical
system remains functional, vehicles equipped with
power door locks will unlock automatically. In addition,
approximately five seconds after the vehicle has stopped
moving, the interior lights will light until the ignition
switch is turned off.
Airbag Warning Light
You will want to have the airbags ready to
inflate for your protection in an impact. While
the airbag system is designed to be mainte-
nance free, if any of the following occurs, have
an authorized dealer service the system promptly:
²The Airbag Warning Light does not come on or flickers
during the six to eight seconds when the ignition
switch is first turned on.
²The light remains on or flickers after the six to eight
second interval.
²The light flickers or comes on and remains on while
driving.
NOTE:If the speedometer, tachometer or any engine
related gauges are not working, the Occupant Restraint
Controller (ORC) may also be disabled. The airbags may
not be ready to inflate for your protection. Promptly
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 55
2

WARNING!
Electronic Speed Control can be dangerous where the
system cannot maintain a constant speed. Your ve-
hicle could go too fast for the conditions, and you
could lose control. An accident could be the result.
Do not use Electronic Speed Control in heavy traffic
or on roads that are winding, icy, snow-covered, or
slippery.
OVERHEAD CONSOLE
The overhead console has the following features:
²Courtesy Lights
²Garage Door Opener Ð if equipped
²Compass/Temperature Mini-Trip Computer Ð if
equipped
Overhead Console
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 135
3

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DESCRIPTION
1. Fuel Gauge
The fuel gauge shows the level of fuel in the fuel tank
when ignition switch is in the ON position.
2. Temperature Gauge
The temperature gauge shows engine coolant tempera-
ture. Any reading within the normal range indicates that
the engine cooling system is operating satisfactorily. The
gauge pointer will likely indicate a higher temperature
when driving in hot weather, up mountain grades, or
when towing a trailer. It should not be allowed to exceed
the upper limits of the normal operating range.
CAUTION!
Do not leave your vehicle unattended with the en-
gine running as you would not be able to react to the
temperature gauge if the engine overheats.3. Turn Signal Indicators
When a turn signal is activated, a right-pointing or
left-pointing arrow lights up and flashes to indicate the
direction of the turn. These indicators also indicate
proper operation of the front and rear turn signal lights.
If either indicator flashes at a faster rate than normal,
check for a defective bulb. If either indicator fails to light
up when the lever is moved, check for a defective fuse or
turn signal LED. A single chime is activated when the
left/right turn signal is left on, with the vehicle speed
greater than 15 mph (24 km/h) for more than one mile.
4. Low Fuel Warning Light
The low fuel warning light will illuminate when the
fuel gauge reads 1/8 of a tank or less. There is a
pointer on the side of this symbol that indicates the
side that your fuel filler door is located.
168 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

5. High Beam Indicator
The high beam indicator will illuminate if the
headlights are on high beam.
6. Seat Belt Reminder Light
The seat belt reminder light will illuminate for
several seconds after the ignition is turned ON as
a reminder to ªbuckle up.º This light will remain
on as long as the seat belt remains unbuckled. If this light
flashes, it indicates a fault in the seat belt system. Have
the system checked by an authorized dealer.
7. Engine Temperature Warning Light
This light warns of an overheated engine condi-
tion. As temperatures rise and the gauge ap-
proachesH(Hot), this indicator will illuminate
and a single chime will sound after reaching a setthreshold. Further overheating will cause the tempera-
ture gauge to passH(Hot), the indicator will continu-
ously flash and a continuous chime will occur until the
engine is allowed to cool.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot engine cooling system could
damage your vehicle. If the temperature light is on,
safely pull over and stop the vehicle. Idle the vehicle
in neutral with the air conditioner turned off until
the light turns off. If the light remains on, turn the
engine off immediately, and call for service.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 169
4

Transfer Case Position Indicator Lights
Transfer case position indicator lights are located on the
instrument cluster. If there is no indicator light on or
flashing, the transfer case position is in two-wheel drive
(2WD). If the indicator light is on, the desired position
(4WD LOCK and 4WD LOW) has been obtained.
If One or More Shift Requirements are not Met:
1. An indicator light will flash.
2. The transfer casewill notshift.
NOTE:Before retrying a selection, make certain that all
the necessary requirements for selecting a new transfer
case position have been met. To retry the selection, turn
the control knob back to the current position, wait five
seconds, and retry selection. To find the shift require-
ments, refer to the9Shifting Procedure9in this section.
The ªSVC 4WDº warning light monitors the electric shift
4WD system. If this light remains on after engine start-upor illuminates during driving, it means that the 4WD
system is not functioning properly and that service is
required.
WARNING!
Always engage the parking brake when powering
down the vehicle if the(SVC 4WD(light is illumi-
nated. Not engaging the parking brake may allow the
vehicle to roll, which may cause personal injury.
NOTE:Do not attempt to make a shift while only the
front or rear wheels are spinning. The NV233/243 trans-
fer case is not equipped with a synchronizer and there-
fore the front and rear driveshaft speeds must be equal
for the shift to take place. Shifting while only the front or
rear wheels are spinning can cause damage to the trans-
fer case.
252 STARTING AND OPERATING

roads. This feature provides the safety, security, and
convenience of operating in all-wheel drive at all times
regardless of road conditions.
When additional traction is required, the 4WD LOCK
and 4WD LOW positions can be used to lock the front
and rear driveshafts together, through the transfer case
inter-axle differential, and force the front and rear wheels
to rotate at the same speed. This is accomplished by
rotating the 4WD Control Switch to these positions. The
4WD LOCK and 4WD LOW positions are intended for
loose, slippery road surfaces only. Driving in the 4WD
LOCK and 4WD LOW positions on dry, hard-surfaced
roads may cause increased tire wear and damage to the
driveline components.
The transfer case NEUTRAL position is selected by
depressing the recessed button located on the lower left
hand corner of the 4WD Control Switch.NOTE:The transfer case NEUTRAL position is to be
used for recreational towing only. Refer to ªRecreational
Towingº in Section 5 for specific procedures on shifting
into and out of NEUTRAL.
Transfer Case Position Indicator Lights
Transfer case position indicator lights are located on the
instrument cluster. If there are no indicator lights on or
flashing, the transfer case position is 4-wheel drive
(4WD) and indicates the current and desired transfer case
selection (4WD,4WD LOCK).
The ªSVC 4WDº warning light monitors the electric shift
4WD system. If this light remains on after engine start up
or illuminates during driving, it means that the 4WD
system is not functioning properly and that service is
required. See your authorized dealer for service.
258 STARTING AND OPERATING

CAUTION!
If the trailer weighs more than 1,000 lbs (454 kg)
loaded, it should have its own brakes and they
should be of adequate capacity. Failure to do this
could lead to accelerated brake lining wear, higher
brake pedal effort, and longer stopping distances.
WARNING!
Do not connect trailer brakes to your vehicle's hy-
draulic brake lines. It can overload your brake sys-
tem and cause it to fail. You might not have brakes
when you need them and could have an accident.
Towing any trailer will increase your stopping dis-
tance. When towing you should allow for additional
space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front
of you. Failure to do so could result in an accident.
Towing Requirements Ð Trailer Lights and Wiring
Whenever you pull a trailer, regardless of the trailer size,
stop lights and turn signals on the trailer are required for
motoring safety.
The Trailer Tow Package may include a 4 and 7-pin
wiring harness. Use a factory approved trailer harness
and connector.
NOTE:Do not cut or splice wiring into the vehicle's
wiring harness.
The electrical connections are all complete to the vehicle
but you must mate the harness to a trailer connector.
Refer to the following illustrations:
320 STARTING AND OPERATING

NOTE:
²Steps 1 through 5 are requirements that must be met
prior to depressing the NEUTRAL selection button,
and must continue to be met until 1 second elapses
and the shift has been completed. If any of these
requirements (with the exception of 3 - key ON) are
not met prior to depressing the NEUTRAL button or
are no longer met during the 1 second time, then all of
the mode position indicator lights will flash continu-
ously until all requirements are met or until the
NEUTRAL button is released.
²The ignition key must be ON for a shift to take place
and for the position indicator lights to be operable. If
the key is not ON, the shift will not take place and no
position indicator lights will be on or flashing.
²Flashing NEUTRAL position indicator light indicates
that shift requirements have not been met.
WARNING!
You or others could be injured if you leave the
vehicle unattended with the transfer case in the
NEUTRAL position without first fully engaging the
parking brake. The transfer case NEUTRAL position
disengages both the front and rear driveshafts from
the powertrain and will allow the vehicle to move
despite the transmission position. The parking brake
should always be applied when the driver is not in
the vehicle.
328 STARTING AND OPERATING

Gross Axle Weight Rating...............309,311
Gross Cargo Weight...................... 308
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating................ 311
GVWR............................... 308
Hands-Free Phone (UConnectt) .............. 82
Hazard
Driving Through Flowing, Rising, or
Shallow Standing Water................... 264
Hazard Warning Flasher................... 332
Headlights............................ 387
High Beam........................... 128
High Beam/Low Beam Select Switch........ 128
Lights On Reminder.................... 126
Passing............................. 128
Switch.............................. 125
Heated Seats........................... 120
Heater, Engine Block..................... 241
High Beam Indicator..................... 169High Beam/Low Beam Select (Dimmer) Switch . . 128
Hitches
Trailer Towing........................ 315
Holder, Cup........................... 150
HomeLinkt(Garage Door Opener) Transmitter . . . 142
Hood Release.......................... 121
Ignition
Key ................................. 12
Illuminated Entry........................ 20
Immobilizer (Sentry Key)................... 16
Infant Restraint.......................... 58
Inflation Pressure Tires.................... 289
Inside Rearview Mirror.................... 80
Instrument Cluster....................... 168
Instrument Panel and Controls.............. 166
Instrument Panel Lens Cleaning............. 380
Interior Appearance Care.................. 379
Interior Lights.......................... 123
434 INDEX