DODGE RAM 1500 GAS 2004 3.G Owners Manual

Appearance Care and Protection from Corrosion
Protection of Body and Paint from Corrosion
Vehicle body care requirements vary according to geo-
graphic locations and usage. Chemicals that make roads
passable in snow and ice, and those that are sprayed on
trees and road surfaces during other seasons, are highly
corrosive to the metal in your vehicle. Outside parking,
which exposes your vehicle to airborne contaminants,
road surfaces on which the vehicle is operated, extreme
hot or cold weather and other extreme conditions will
have an adverse effect on paint, metal trim, and under-
body protection.
The following maintenance recommendations will enable
you to obtain maximum benefit from the corrosion
resistance built into your vehicle.
What Causes Corrosion?
Corrosion is the result of deterioration or removal of
paint and protective coatings from your vehicle.The most common causes are:
²Road salt, dirt and moisture accumulation.
²Stone and gravel impact.
²Insects, tree sap and tar.
²Salt in the air near seacoast localities.
²Atmospheric fallout/industrial pollutants.
Washing
²
Wash your vehicle regularly. Always wash your ve-
hicle in the shade using a mild car wash soap, and
rinse the panels completely with clear water.
²If insects, tar or other similar deposits have accumu-
lated on your vehicle, wash it as soon as possible.
²Use Mopartauto polish to remove road film and
stains and to polish your vehicle. Take care never to
scratch the paint.
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²Avoid using abrasive compounds and power buffing
that may diminish the gloss or thin out the paint
finish.
CAUTION!
Do not use abrasive or strong cleaning materials
such as steel wool or scouring powder, which will
scratch metal and painted surfaces.
Special Care
²
If you drive on salted or dusty roads or if you drive
near the ocean, hose off the undercarriage at least once
a month.
²It is important that the drain holes in the lower edges
of the doors, rocker panels and tailgate be kept clear
and open.
²If you detect any stone chips or scratches in the paint,
touch them up immediately. The cost of such repairs is
considered the responsibility of the owner.
²If your vehicle is damaged due to an accident or
similar cause which destroys the paint and protective
coating have your vehicle repaired as soon as possible.
The cost of such repairs is considered the responsibil-
ity of the owner.
²All wheels and wheel trim, especially aluminum and
chrome plated wheels should be cleaned regularly
with mild soap and water to prevent corrosion. To
remove heavy soil, select a nonabrasive, non-acidic
cleaner. Do not use scouring pads, steel wool, a bristle
brush or metal polishes. Only Mopar cleaners are
recommended. Do not use oven cleaner. Avoid auto-
matic car washes that use acidic solutions or harsh
brushes that may damage the wheels' protective fin-
ish.
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²If you carry special cargo such as chemicals, fertilizers,
de-icer salt, etc., be sure that such materials are well
packaged and sealed.
²If a lot of driving is done on gravel roads, consider
mud or stone shields behind each wheel.
²Use Moparttouch up paint on scratches as soon as
possible. Your dealer has touch up paint to match the
color of your vehicle.
Interior Care
Use MopartFabric Cleaner to clean fabric upholstery
and carpeting.
Use MopartVinyl Cleaner to clean vinyl upholstery and
trim.
MopartTotal Clean is specifically recommended for
leather upholstery.Your leather upholstery can be best preserved by regular
cleaning with a damp soft cloth. Small particles of dirt
can act as an abrasive and damage the leather upholstery
and should be removed promptly with a damp cloth.
Stubborn soils can be removed easily with a soft cloth
and MopartTotal Clean. Care should be taken to avoid
soaking your leather upholstery with any liquid. Please
do not use polishes, oils, cleaning fluids, solvents, deter-
gents, or ammonia based cleaners to clean your leather
upholstery. Application of a leather conditioner is not
required to maintain the original condition.
WARNING!
Do not use volatile solvents for cleaning purposes.
Many are potentially flammable, and if used in
closed areas they may cause respiratory harm.
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Glass Surfaces
All glass surfaces should be cleaned on a regular basis
with any commercial household-type glass cleaner.
Never use an abrasive type cleaner. Use caution when
cleaning inside rear windows equipped with electric
defrosters or windshields equipped with a windshield
wiper de-icer. Do not use scrapers or other sharp instru-
ments which may scratch the elements.
When cleaning the rear view mirror, spray cleaner on the
towel or rag that you are using. Do not spray cleaner
directly on the mirror.
Cleaning Plastic Instrument Cluster Lenses
The lenses in front of the instruments in this vehicle are
molded in clear plastic. When cleaning the lenses, care
must be taken to avoid scratching the plastic.1. Clean with a wet soft rag. A mild soap solution may be
used, but do not use high alcohol content or abrasive
cleaners. If soap is used, wipe clean with a clean damp
rag.
2. Dry with a soft tissue.
Seat Belt Maintenance
Do not bleach, dye or clean the belts with chemical
solvents or abrasive cleaners. This will weaken the fabric.
Sun damage will also weaken the fabric.
If the belts need cleaning, use a mild soap solution or
lukewarm water. Do not remove the belts from the car to
wash them.
Replace the belts if they appear frayed or worn or if the
buckles do not work properly.
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FUSE AND RELAY CENTER
Your vehicle is equipped with a fuse and relay center
located in the engine compartment near the battery.
Located on the underside of the cover is a label that
identifies each component.
1. Disconnect the battery negative (-) cable before remov-
ing the cover.2. Use specified fuses only.
3. Always properly reinstall the cover.
VEHICLE STORAGE
If you are storing your vehicle for more than 21 days, we
recommend that you take the following steps to mini-
mize the drain on your vehicle's battery:
²Disconnect the Ignition-Off Draw fuse (I.O.D.) fuse
located in the Fuse and Relay Center, located in the
engine compartment. The I.O.D. cavity includes a
snap-in retainer that allows the fuse to be discon-
nected, without removing it from the fuse block.
²The electronic shift transfer case should be placed in
the 4HI mode and kept in this position to minimize the
battery drain.
²As an alternative to the above steps you may, discon-
nect the negative cables from both batteries.
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REPLACEMENT LIGHT BULBS
LIGHT BULBS Ð Inside Bulb No.
Overhead Console Lights............... TS212-2
Dome Light............................7679
All of the inside bulbs are brass or glass wedge base.
Aluminum base bulbs are not approved.
LIGHT BULBS Ð Outside Bulb No.
Back-Up..............................3057
Center High Mounted Stop Lamp............. 912
Fog Lamp...........................9006LL
Headlamp (Halogen)...................9007QL
Park & Turn Signal...................3157NAK
Rear License Plate Lamp................... 168
Rear Cargo Light......................... 912
Tail & Stop............................3057
Cab Clearance Lights...................... 168
Dual Rear Wheel Sidemarker Light............ 168
Dual Rear Wheel Tailgate ID Lights (3)......... 168
BULB REPLACEMENT
Headlight (Halogen)/Front Park and Turn Lights
CAUTION!
This is a halogen bulb. Avoid touching the glass
with your fingers. Reduced bulb life will result.
1. Remove the expanding fastener from the headlight
welt.
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2. Remove the three (3) bolts from the headlight housing.
NOTE:The lower bolt on the driver side headlight also
retains the ambient temperature sensor between the
headlight assembly and the frame.
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3. Pull the housing out from the fender to allow room to
disconnect the electrical connectors.4. Unlock and pull connector straight from the base of
the headlight halogen bulb.
5. Twist connector on turn signal/park light bulb
1¤4turn
and remove connector and bulb from housing.
6. Remove housing from vehicle with headlight halogen
bulb in housing.
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7. Twist collar on headlight halogen bulb1¤4turn and
remove headlight bulb from the housing.
8. Replace headlight or turn signal bulb. Do not touch
the headlight halogen bulb.
9. Reverse procedure for installation of bulbs and hous-
ing.
10. Tighten the outboard fastener first.
Tail, Stop, Turn and Backup Lights
1. Remove the two (2) screws that pass through the bed
sheetmetal.
2. Pull the housing straight out from the body, with a
quick motion, to separate the housing from the body. If
not pulled straight, locators may be damaged.
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