warning DODGE POWER WAGON 2006 2.G Workshop Manual

Positioning the Load Floor for Storage Access Under
the Seat
1. Lift the 60/40 seat cushion(s) to the upward position.
2. Unsnap the securing snap located at either side of the
load floor.
3. Lift the load floor up to access storage under the load
floor.
WARNING!
Do not drive with the load floor in the up position.
When stopping fast or in an accident, the load floor
could move to the down position causing serious
injury.
4. Reverse the procedure to put the load floor back in the
secured down position before you operate the vehicle.
Load Floor Securing Straps
158 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

PICKUP BOX
The pickup box on your new Ram has many features
designed for utility and convenience.NOTE:If you are installing a toolbox to the front of the
pickup box, you must use Mopartoolbox brackets
available from your dealer.
You can carry wide building materials (sheets of ply-
wood, etc.) by building a raised load floor. Place lumber
across the box in the indentations provided above the
wheel housings and in the bulkhead dividers to form the
floor.
WARNING!
The pickup box is intended for load carrying pur-
poses only, not for passengers, who should sit in
seats and use seat belts.
Pickup Box Features
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 159
3

WARNING!
•Care should always be exercised when operating a
vehicle with unrestrained cargo. Vehicle speeds
may need to be reduced. Severe turns or rough
roads may cause shifting or bouncing of the cargo
that may result in vehicle damage. If wide build-
ing materials are to be frequently carried, the
installation of a support is recommended. This
will restrain the cargo and transfer the load to the
pickup box floor.
•If you wish to carry more than 600 lbs (272 kg) of
material suspended above the wheelhouse, sup-
ports must be installed to transfer the weight of
the load to the pickup box floor or vehicle damage
may result. The use of proper supports will permit
loading up to the rated payload.
•Unrestrained cargo may be thrown forward in an
accident causing serious or fatal injury.
There are stampings in the sheet metal on the inner side
bulkheads of the box in front of and behind both wheel
housings. Place wooden boards across the box from side
to side to create separate load compartments in the
pickup box.
There are four tie-down cleats bolted to the lower sides of
the pickup box that can sustain loads up to 1000 lbs (450
kg) total.
SLIDE-IN CAMPERS
DO NOTuse slide-in campers on Power Wagon models.
160 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
To avoid inhaling carbon monoxide, which is deadly,
the exhaust system on vehicles equipped with “Cap
or Slide-In Campers” should extend beyond the
overhanging camper compartment and be free of
leaks.
162 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

CAUTION!
Do not operate the engine with the tachometer
pointer at high rpm for extended periods. Engine
damage may occur.
5. Airbag Indicator Light
The indicator lights and remains lit for 6 to 8 seconds
when the ignition is first turned on. If the light stays on,
flickers or comes on while driving, have the airbag
system checked by an authorized dealer.
6. High Beam Indicator
This indicator shows that headlights are on high
beam.
7. Seat Belt Reminder Light
When the ignition switch is first turned ON, this
light will turn on for 5 to 8 seconds as a bulb check.
During the bulb check, if the driver’s seat belt isunbuckled, a chime will sound. After the bulb check or
when driving, if the driver seat belt remains unbuckled,
the Seat Belt Warning Light will flash or remain on
continuously. Refer toEnhanced Driver Seat Belt Re-
minder System (BeltAlert™)in the Occupant Restraints
section for more information. (See page 43 for more
information.)
8. Speedometer
The speedometer shows the vehicle speed in miles per
hour and/or kilometers per hour.
9. Oil Pressure Gauge
The pointer should always indicate some oil pres-
sure when the engine is running. A continuous
high or low reading, under normal driving conditions,
may indicate a lubrication system malfunction. Immedi-
ate service should be obtained. (See page 370 for more
information.)
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 169
4

CAUTION!
Prolonged driving with the MIL on could cause
damage to the engine control system. It also could
affect fuel economy and driveability.
If the MIL is flashing, severe catalytic converter
damage and power loss will soon occur. Immediate
service is required.
18. Brake System Warning Light
This light illuminates when the ignition key is turned to
the ON position and remains on for a few seconds. If the
light stays on longer, it may be an indication that the
parking brake has not been released. This light will
illuminate if the brake fluid is low, especially when
braking or accelerating hard. This light will illuminate if
the ABS indicator light has a malfunction. This light will
flash if the engine is running and the parking brake is on.If the light remains on when the parking brake is
released, it indicates a possible brake hydraulic system
malfunction. In this case, the light will remain on until
the cause is corrected.
If brake failure is indicated, immediate repair is necessary
and continued operation of the vehicle in this condition is
dangerous.
Acceleration which causes the rear wheels to slip for a
period of time may result in the red brake light illumi-
nating and a brake switch code being set on ABS
equipped vehicles. Depressing the brake pedal should
extinguish the red brake light.
19. ABS Warning Light
This light monitors the Anti-Lock Brake System
which is described elsewhere in this manual. This
light will come on when the ignition key is turned to the
ON position and may stay on for five seconds. If the ABS
light remains on or comes on during driving, it indicates
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 173
4

24. Low Washer Fluid Light
This light comes on when the washer fluid level falls
below approximately 1/4 full. The light will remain on
until fluid is added and ignition switch is cycled.
25. Transmission Oil Temperature Warning Light
(Automatic Transmissions Only)
This light indicates that there is excessive transmission
fluid temperature that might occur with severe usage
such as trailer towing. It may also occur when operating
the vehicle in a high torque converter slip condition, such
as 4-wheel-drive operation (e.g. snow plowing, off- road
operation). If this light comes on, stop the vehicle and run
the engine at idle or faster, with the transmission in
NEUTRAL until the light goes off.
26. Odometer/Trip Odometer Button
Press this button to toggle between the odometer and the
trip odometer display. Holding the button in resets the
trip odometer reading when in trip mode.27. Fuel Gauge
Shows level of fuel in tank when ignition switch is in the
ON position.
28. Low Fuel Warning Light
When the fuel level drops to 1/16 tank, the fuel
symbol will light and a single chime will sound.
NOTE:If your vehicle is equipped with an overhead
console module (CMTC), it is possible for DTE to display
“LO FUEL” before the low fuel warning light turns on in
the instrument cluster. This could occur because the low
fuel warning is set to a specified fuel tank volume and
DTE is an estimated distance calculation based on vehicle
fuel economy and remaining fuel tank volume.
Ram fuel tank volumes are as follows:
•34 gallons - short box models
•35 gallons - long box models
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 175
4

▫MMT In Gasoline.....................318
▫Sulfur In Gasoline.....................319
▫Materials Added To Fuel................319
▫Adding Fuel.........................319
▫Fuel System Cautions..................321
▫Carbon Monoxide Warnings..............322

Catalytic Converter.....................323

Vehicle Loading........................324
▫Certification Label.....................324

TrailerTowing .........................327
▫Common Towing Definitions.............327
▫Trailer Hitch Classification...............330
▫Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer
Weight Ratings)......................331▫Trailer And Tongue Weight..............331
▫Towing Requirements..................332
▫TowingTips .........................337
▫Trailer Towing Mirrors — If Equipped......339

Snowplow............................340
▫Dodge Power Wagon Models.............340

Recreational Towing — 4–Wheel Drive Vehicles
(Behind Motorhome, Etc.).................341
▫Recreational Towing Procedure — Manual
Shift Transfer Case — If Equipped.........342
▫Returning To Normal Operation — Manual Shift
Transfer Case........................343

Traction.............................344

Equipment Identification Plate.............344
230 STARTING AND OPERATING

NOTE:Left to right wheel speed difference may be
necessary to allow the axle to fully lock. If the indicator
light is flashing after placing the switch in the REAR
LOCK or FRONT/REAR position, drive the vehicle in a
turn or on loose gravel to expedite the locking action.
WARNING!
Do not use the locked axle position for normal
driving. A locked front axle is intended for off-road
driving only. Locking the front axle during on-road
driving will reduce the steering ability. This could
cause an accident and you may be seriously injured.
To lock the front axle move the axle locker switch to
FRONT/REAR while travelingless than 3 MPH (5
KM/H). The indicator light will be solid when the front
axle is locked.NOTE:The rear axle must be locked before the front
axle will lock.
To unlock the front axle move the axle locker switch to
REAR LOCK. The FRONT/REAR indicator light will go
out when the axle is unlocked.
NOTE:The axle lockers could be torque locked due to
side to side loads on the axle. Driving slowly while
turning the steering wheel from a left hand turn to a right
hand turn or driving in reverse for a short distance may
be required to release the torque lock and unlock the
axles.
To unlock the rear axle move the axle locker switch to
AXLE UNLOCK. The REAR LOCK indicator light will go
out when the rear axle is unlocked.
STARTING AND OPERATING 233
5

Stabilizer/Sway Bar System
Power Wagon vehicles are equipped with an electronic
disconnecting stabilizer/sway bar. This system allows
greater front suspension travel in off-road situations.
This system is controlled by the electronic control sway
bar switch located on the instrument panel.The switch has two positions, on-road and off-road. The
system is normally in on-road mode, indicated by a solid
green light. The stabilizer/sway bar should remain in
on-road mode during normal driving conditions.
WARNING!
Do not disconnect the stabilizer bar and drive on
hard surfaced roads or at speeds above 18 MPH, you
may lose control of the vehicle, which could result in
serious injury. The front stabilizer bar enhances
vehicle stability and is necessary for maintaining
control of the vehicle. The system monitors vehicle
speed and will attempt to reconnect the stabilizer bar
at speeds over 18 MPH. This is indicated by a
flashing off road light and solid on road light. Once
vehicle speed is reduced below 14 MPH the system
will once again attempt to return to off road mode.
Electronic Control Sway Bar Switch
234 STARTING AND OPERATING