manual transmission DODGE DURANGO 2018 User Guide

Towing Tips
Before setting out on a trip, practice turning, stopping, and
backing up the trailer in an area located away from heavy
traffic.
Automatic Transmission
Select the DRIVE range when towing. The transmission
controls include a drive strategy to avoid frequent shifting
when towing. However, if frequent shifting does occur
while in DRIVE, you can use the AutoStick shift control to
manually select a lower gear.
NOTE:Using a lower gear while operating the vehicle
under heavy loading conditions, will improve performance
and extend transmission life by reducing excessive shifting
and heat buildup. This action will also provide better
engine braking.
AutoStick
• When using the AutoStick shift control, select the high-
est gear that allows for adequate performance and
avoids frequent downshifts. For example, choose “5” if
the desired speed can be maintained. Choose “4” or “3”
if needed to maintain the desired speed. •
To prevent excess heat generation, avoid continuous
driving at high RPM. Reduce vehicle speed as necessary
to avoid extended driving at high RPM. Return to a
higher gear or vehicle speed when grade and road
conditions allow.
Speed Control — If Equipped
•Do not use on hilly terrain or with heavy loads.
• When using the speed control, if you experience speed
drops greater than 10 mph (16 km/h), disengage until
you can get back to cruising speed.
• Use speed control in flat terrain and with light loads to
maximize fuel efficiency.
Cooling System
To reduce potential for engine and transmission overheat-
ing, take the following actions:
City Driving
•In city traffic — while stopped, place the transmission in
NEUTRAL, but do not increase engine idle speed.
Highway Driving
• Reduce speed.
• Temporarily turn off air conditioning.
354 STARTING AND OPERATING

with all four wheels turning against engine compression
drag. This will permit you to control the vehicle speed and
direction.
When descending mountains or hills, repeated braking can
cause brake fade with loss of braking control. Avoid
repeated heavy braking by downshifting the transmission
whenever possible.
After Driving Off-Road
Off-road operation puts more stress on your vehicle than
does most on-road driving. After going off-road, it is
always a good idea to check for damage. That way you can
get any problems taken care of right away and have your
vehicle ready when you need it.
•Completely inspect the underbody of your vehicle.
Check tires, body structure, steering, suspension, and
exhaust system for damage.
• Inspect the radiator for mud and debris and clean as
required.
• Check threaded fasteners for looseness, particularly on
the chassis, drivetrain components, steering, and sus-
pension. Retighten them, if required, and torque to the
values specified in the Service Manual. •
Check for accumulations of plants or brush. These things
could be a fire hazard. They might hide damage to fuel
lines, brake hoses, axle pinion seals, and propeller shafts.
• After extended operation in mud, sand, water, or similar
dirty conditions, have the radiator, fan, brake rotors,
wheels, brake linings, and axle yokes inspected and
cleaned as soon as possible.
WARNING!
Abrasive material in any part of the brakes may cause
excessive wear or unpredictable braking. You might
not have full braking power when you need it to
prevent a collision. If you have been operating your
vehicle in dirty conditions, get your brakes checked
and cleaned as necessary.
• If you experience unusual vibration after driving in
mud, slush or similar conditions, check the wheels for
impacted material. Impacted material can cause a wheel
imbalance and freeing the wheels of it will correct the
situation.
364 STARTING AND OPERATING

4. Using a screwdriver or similar tool, push the metal latchin towards the tether strap.
5. While the metal latch is in the open position, pull upward on the tether strap until the lever clicks and
latches in the released position. The transmission is now
out of PARK and the vehicle can be moved.
CAUTION!
Closing the armrest while the Manual Park Release is
activated may damage the Manual Park Release
mechanism, the transmission, and/or the armrest.
NOTE: To prevent the vehicle from rolling unintentionally,
firmly apply the parking brake.
Release Latch
Released Position
7
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 399

Towing Condi-tion Wheels OFF The
Ground Rear-Wheel
Drive Models All-Wheel Drive
Models With
Single-Speed
Transfer Case All-Wheel Drive Models With
Two-Speed Transfer Case
Wheel Lift Or Dolly Tow Front
If Transmission
Is Operable:
• Transmission
in NEUTRAL
• 30 mph
(48 km/h)
max speed
• 30 miles
(48 km)
max distance
NOT ALLOWED NOT ALLOWED
Rear OKNOT ALLOWED NOT ALLOWED
Flatbed ALL BEST METHOD OK BEST METHOD
Proper towing or lifting equipment is required to prevent
damage to your vehicle. Use only tow bars and other
equipment designed for this purpose, following equipment
manufacturer ’s instructions. Use of safety chains is man-
datory. Attach a tow bar or other towing device to main
structural members of the vehicle, not to bumpers or
associated brackets. State and local laws regarding vehicles
under tow must be observed. If you must use the accessories (wipers, defrosters, etc.)
while being towed, the ignition must be in the ON/RUN
mode, not the ACC mode.
If the key fob is unavailable, or the vehicle’s battery is
discharged, refer to “Manual Park Release” in this section
for instructions on shifting the transmission out of PARK
for towing or loading onto a flatbed truck.
7
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 403

CAUTION!
•Do not use sling type equipment when towing.
Vehicle damage may occur.
• When securing the vehicle to a flat bed truck, do not
attach to front or rear suspension components. Dam-
age to your vehicle may result from improper towing.
Rear Wheel Drive Models
The manufacturer recommends towing your vehicle with
all four wheels OFFthe ground using a flatbed.
If flatbed equipment is not available, and the transmission
is operable, the vehicle may be towed (with rear wheels on
the ground) under the following conditions:
• The transmission must be in NEUTRAL. Refer to
Manual Park Release in this section for instructions on
shifting the transmission to NEUTRAL when the engine
is off.
• The towing speed must not exceed 30 mph (48 km/h).
• The towing distance must not exceed 30 miles (48 km).
CAUTION!
•Towing faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) or farther than
30 miles (48 km) with rear wheels on the ground can
cause severe transmission damage. Damage from
improper towing is not covered under the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty.
If the transmission is not operable, or the vehicle must be
towed faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) or farther than 30
miles (48 km), tow with the rear wheels OFFthe ground.
Acceptable methods are to tow the vehicle on a flatbed, or
with the front wheels raised and the rear wheels on a
towing dolly, or (when using a suitable steering wheel
stabilizer to hold the front wheels in the straight position)
with the rear wheels raised and the front wheels on the
ground.
All Wheel Drive Models
The manufacturer recommends towing with all wheels
OFF the ground. Acceptable methods are to tow the vehicle
on a flatbed or with one end of the vehicle raised and the
opposite end on a towing dolly.
404 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

The right-hand control is a rocker-type switch with a
push-button in the center and controls the volume and
mode of the sound system. Pushing the top of the rocker
switch increases the volume, and pushing the bottom of the
rocker switch decreases the volume.
Pushing the center button makes the radio switch between
the various modes available (AM/FM/SXM or Media etc.)
The left-hand control is a rocker-type switch with a push-
button in the center. The function of the left-hand control is
different depending on which mode you are in.
The following describes the left-hand control operation in
each mode.
Radio Operation
Pushing the top of the switch will “Seek” up for the next
listenable station and pushing the bottom of the switch will
“Seek” down for the next listenable station.
The button located in the center of the left-hand control
will tune to the next preset station that you have pro-
grammed in the radio preset button.
Media Mode
Pushing the top of the switch once goes to the next track on
the selected media (AUX/USB/Bluetooth). Pushing the
bottom of the switch once goes to the beginning of the
current track, or to the beginning of the previous track if it
is within eight seconds after the current track begins to
play.
IPOD/USB/MP3 CONTROL — IF EQUIPPED
This feature allows an iPod or external USB device to be
plugged into the USB port, located in the lower section of
the front integrated center stack, in front of the rotary
transmission gear selector.
iPod control supports Mini, 4G, Photo, Nano, 5G iPod and
iPhone devices. Some iPod software versions may not fully
support the iPod control features. Please visit Apple’s
website for software updates.
For further information, refer to the Uconnect Owner ’s
Manual Supplement.
528 MULTIMEDIA

Security Alarm..........................29, 160
Arm The System ..........................30
Disarm The System ........................30
Sentry Key Key Programming .........................28
Sentry Key (Immobilizer) ......................28
Sentry Key Replacement ....................22, 28
Service Assistance ..........................568
Service Contract .......................... .570
Service Manuals .......................... .572
Shifting .................................270
Automatic Transmission ................270, 273
Shoulder Belts ............................ .202
Signals, Turn ....................166, 256, 374, 375
Siri .................................... .560
SiriusXM Guardian Vehicle Health Alert .......................558
Snow Chains (Tire Chains) ....................461
Snow Plow ...............................355
Snow Tires ...............................457
Spare Tires .....................384, 457, 458, 459
Spark Plugs .......................... .479, 481
Speed Control Accel/Decel ........................ .291, 292
Accel/Decel (ACC Only) ...................298 Cancel
............................... .292
Resume ...............................292
Set ...................................291
Speed Control (Cruise Control) ..........289, 290, 293
Starting ............................25, 261, 263
Button .................................22
Cold Weather .......................... .267
Engine Block Heater ..................... .267
Engine Fails To Start ..................... .266
Remote ................................25
Starting And Operating ...................261, 263
Starting Procedures ..................... .261, 263
Steering ..................................65
Power ............................... .286
T ilt

Column .......................... .65, 66
Wheel, Heated ...........................67
Wheel, Tilt .......................... .65, 66
Steering Wheel Audio Controls .................527
Steering Wheel Mounted Sound System Controls . . . .527
Storage, Vehicle ........................100, 464
Storing Your Vehicle ........................464
Sunglasses Storage ..........................133
Sun Roof ............................... .105
Sun Visor .................................72
Sway Control, Trailer ........................180
12
INDEX 585