warning DODGE RAM 2500 GAS 2008 3.G Owners Manual

applies optimum pressure to the brakes in emergency
braking conditions. This can help reduce braking dis-
tances. The BAS complements the ABS. Applying the
brakes very quickly results in the best BAS assistance. To
receive the benefit of BAS, you must apply continuous
braking pressure during the stopping sequence. Do not
reduce brake pedal pressure unless braking is no longer
desired.
Once the brake pedal is released, the BAS is deactivated.WARNING!
²BAS cannot prevent the natural laws of physics
from acting on the vehicle, nor can it increase
braking efficiency beyond that afforded by the
condition of the vehicle brakes and tires or the
traction afforded.
²The BAS cannot prevent accidents, including
those resulting from excessive speed in turns,
following another vehicle too closely, or hydro-
planing. Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver
can prevent accidents.
²The capabilities of a BAS-equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or dangerous
manner which could jeopardize the user 's safety
or the safety of others.
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HSA (Hill Start Assist)
The HSA system is designed to assist the driver in
launching a vehicle on an incline. HSA will maintain the
level of brake pressure the driver inputs for a short
duration once the driver takes his foot off of the brake
pedal. If the driver does not apply the throttle during this
short duration, the system will release brake pressure
and the vehicle will roll down the incline. The system will
release brake pressure in proportion to the amount of
throttle applied.
During operation, Hill Start Assist will activate the brake
control system and a clicking noise will occur. If your foot
is on the brake pedal during operation you may feel a
slight pedal movement. The clicking and pedal move-
ment is normal and both will stop when HSA becomes
inactive.WARNING!
If the clutch pedal (manual vehicles only) remains
depressed during the application of the throttle, the
HSA will disengage allowing the vehicle to roll
down the incline. This could cause a collision with
another vehicle or object. To avoid this, do not apply
throttle while depressing the clutch pedal until you
are ready to release the clutch. Always remember the
driver is responsible for braking the vehicle.
HSA Activation Criteria
The following criteria must be met in order for HSA to
activate:
²Vehicle must be stopped
²Vehicle must be on a 7% or greater incline
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²Gear selection matches vehicle uphill direction (i.e.,
vehicle facing uphill is in forward gear; vehicle back-
ing uphill is in REVERSE gear).
WARNING!
There may be situations on minor hills (i.e., less than
7%), with a loaded vehicle, or while pulling a trailer
where the system will not activate and slight rolling
may occur, which could cause a collision with an-
other vehicle or object. Always remember the driver
is responsible for braking the vehicle.
The system will only work if the intended direction of the
vehicle and vehicle gear match. For example, if the
intended direction is forward up a hill and the vehicle is
in drive (automatic equipped vehicle), and the activation
criteria are met, HSA will activate.
HSA on Automatic Vehicles
The system will work in REVERSE and all forward gears
on vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission.
The system will not activate if the vehicle is placed in
neutral.
HSA on Manual Vehicles
The system will work in REVERSE, forward gears, and
NEUTRAL on manual transmission equipped vehicles.
The system does not recognize NEUTRAL on manual
vehicles, thus it will hold the vehicle on an incline for a
short period while in NEUTRAL, regardless of clutch
position. To prevent this, do not attempt to roll down a
hill simply by putting the transmission in NEUTRAL and
letting gravity act on the vehicle, as the HSA will prevent
the vehicle from rolling. Instead, use the appropriate gear
for moving in the desired direction.
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Towing and Hauling with HSA (Vehicles Equipped
with Automatic Transmissions Only)
The HSA system does not know if your vehicle is loaded
or towing a trailer, unless the TOW/HAUL button,
located on the transmission gear shift lever, is selected.
When activated, the TOW/HAUL light will illuminate in
the instrument cluster. For more information on TOW/
HAUL mode, refer to ªWhen To USE TOW/HAUL and
O/D OFF Modesº under9Automatic Transmissionº in
Section 5. In order to accommodate the extra weight
entailed under towing and hauling conditions and to
increase driver comfort while launching on a hill, the
system recognizes when the TOW/HAUL button is acti-
vated and compensates by releasing brake pressure at a
slower rate while throttle is applied in order to prevent
the vehicle from rolling down the hill.
WARNING!
If you use a trailer brake controller with your trailer,
your trailer brakes may be activated and deactivated
with the brake switch. If so, when the brake pedal is
released, there may not be enough brake pressure to
hold the vehicle and trailer on a hill and this could
cause a collision with another vehicle or object be-
hind you. In order to avoid rolling down the incline
while resuming acceleration, manually activate the
trailer brake or apply more vehicle brake pressure
prior to releasing the brake pedal. Always remember
the driver is responsible for braking the vehicle.
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WARNING!
HSA is not a parking brake. If you stop the vehicle on
a hill without putting the transmission in PARK or
using the parking brake, it will roll down the incline
and could cause a collision with another vehicle or
object. Always remember to use the parking brake
while parking on a hill, and that the driver is
responsible for braking the vehicle.
HSA Off
If you wish to turn off the HSA system, follow this
procedure:
1. Start with the engine off and vehicle in PARK (auto-
matic transmission) or NEUTRAL with clutch out
(manual transmission) with wheels straight. Apply park-
ing brake on manual transmission vehicle.2. Start the engine.
3. With the engine running, the brake applied, and the
clutch out, rotate the steering wheel 180É counterclock-
wise from center.
4. Press ESP button four times within twenty seconds.
The ªESP/TCS Indicator Lightº should appear and dis-
appear four times.
5. Rotate the steering wheel 360É clockwise (180É clock-
wise from center).
6. Cycle ignition switch OFF then ON.
7. If the sequence was completed properly, the ªESP/
TCS Indicator Lightº will blink several times to confirm
HSA is off.
Steps 1-7 must be completed within 90 seconds to turn off
HSA. Repeat steps 1-7 to re-enable HSA functionality.
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Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM)
The ERM system anticipates the potential for wheel lift
by monitoring the driver 's steering wheel input and the
speed of the vehicle. When ERM determines that the rate
of change of the steering wheel angle and vehicle speed
are sufficient to potentially cause wheel lift, it applies the
appropriate brake and may reduce engine power to
lessen the chance that wheel lift will occur. ERM will only
intervene during very severe or evasive driving maneu-
vers.
ERM can only reduce the chance of wheel lift occurring
during severe or evasive driving maneuvers. It cannot
prevent wheel lift due to other factors such as road
conditions, leaving the roadway or striking objects or
other vehicles.WARNING!
Many factors, such as vehicle loading, road condi-
tions and driving conditions, influence the chance
that wheel lift or rollover may occur.
²ERM cannot prevent all wheel lift or rollovers,
especially those that involve leaving the roadway
or striking objects or other vehicles. Only a safe,
attentive, and skillful driver can prevent accidents.
²The capabilities of an ERM-equipped vehicle
must never be exploited in a reckless or dangerous
manner which could jeopardize the user's safety
or the safety of others.
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WARNING!
²ESP (Electronic Stability Program) cannot prevent
the natural laws of physics from acting on the
vehicle, nor can it increase the traction afforded by
prevailing road conditions.
²ESP cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, driving on
slippery surfaces, or hydroplaning. Only a safe,
attentive, and skillful driver can prevent accidents.
²The capabilities of an ESP-equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or dangerous
manner which could jeopardize the user's safety
or the safety of others.
The ESP system has multiple operating modes depend-
ing on vehicle type: Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) or Four-
Wheel Drive (4WD). 4WD vehicles may be equippedwith either a four-mode position (2WD/Neutral/4HI/
4LO) transfer case or a five-mode position (2WD/
AUTO/Neutral/4H/4LO) transfer case. If you have a
4WD vehicle, and want to determine which transfer case
is on your vehicle and how to operate it, refer to the
ªFour Wheel Drive Operatingº in Section 5.
All 2WD vehicles and 4WD vehicles in 2WD,
AUTO or 4HI Modes can choose the following ESP
operating modes:
ESP On
This is the normal operating mode for ESP in 2WD/
AUTO/4HI Modes and in 2WD vehicles. Whenever the
vehicle is started, or the transfer case (if equipped) is
shifted from 4LO or Neutral, back to 4HI or AUTO, the
ESP system will be in this mode. This mode should be
used for almost all driving situations. ESP should only be
turned to ªPartial Offº or ªESP Offº for specific reasons
as noted below.
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ESP Partial Off
This mode is entered by momentarily depressing the
9ESP OFFº switch. When in9Partial Off9mode, the TCS
portion of ESP, except for the ªlimited slipº feature
described in the TCS section, has been disabled and the
9ESP/TCS Indicator Light9will be illuminated. All other
stability features of ESP function normally. This mode is
intended to be used if the vehicle is in deep snow, sand,
or gravel conditions and more wheel spin than ESP
would normally allow is required to gain traction. To
turn ESP on again, momentarily depress the9ESP OFFº
switch. This will restore the normal ªESP Onº mode of
operation.
NOTE:To improve the vehicle's traction when driving
with snow chains, or starting off in deep snow, sand or
gravel, it may be desirable to switch to the ªPartial Offº
mode by pressing the ESP switch. Once the situation
requiring ESP to be switched to the ªPartial Offº mode isovercome, turn ESP back on by momentarily depressing
the ªESP Control Switchº. This may be done while the
vehicle is in motion.
WARNING!
In the Partial Off mode, the engine torque reduction
and stability features are desensitized. Therefore, the
enhanced vehicle stability offered by ESP is
unavailable.
All 4WD vehicles in Auto and 4HI Modes can also
choose the following ESP operating mode. This is
the only ESP operating mode in 4LO:
Full Off
This mode is intended for off-road use when ESP stability
features could inhibit vehicle maneuverability due to trail
conditions. This mode is entered by depressing and
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holding the ªESP Control Switchº for five seconds when
the vehicle is stopped and the engine is running. After
five seconds, the ªESP/TCS Indicator Lightº will illumi-
nate and the ªESP Offº message will appear in the
odometer. Press and release the trip odometer button
located on the instrument cluster to clear this message.
NOTE:The ªESP OFFº message will display and the
audible chime will sound when the gear selector is
placed into the PARK position from any other position,
and then moved out of the PARK position. This will
occur even if the message was previously cleared.
In this mode, ESP and TCS, except for the ªLimited Slipº
feature described in the TCS section, are turned off until
the vehicle reaches a speed of 40 mph (64 km/h). At 40
mph (64 km/h) the system returns to ªPartial Offº mode,
described above. When the vehicle speed drops below 35
mph (56 km/h) the ESP system shuts off. ESP is off at low
vehicle speeds so that it will not interfere with off-roaddriving but ESP function returns to provide the stability
feature at speeds above 40 mph (64 km/h). The ªESP/
TCS Indicator Lightº will always be illuminated when
ESP is off. To turn ESP on again, momentarily depress the
ªESP Control Switchº. This will restore the normal ªESP
On' mode of operation.
ªESP Offº is the only operating mode for ESP in 4LO.
Whenever the vehicle is started in 4LO or the transfer
case (if equipped) is shifted from 4HI or Neutral, to 4LO,
the ESP system will be in this mode.
WARNING!
With the ESP switched off, the enhanced vehicle sta-
bility offered by ESP is unavailable. In an emergency
evasive maneuver, the ESP system will not engage to
assist in maintaining stability. ªESP Offº mode is
intended for off-highway or off-road use, only.
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ESP/BAS Warning Lamp and ESP/TCS Indicator
Light
The malfunction indicator for the ESP is combined with
the BAS indicator. The yellow ªESP/BAS Warning
Lampº and the yellow ªESP/TCS Indicator Lightº in the
instrument cluster both come on when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON position. They should both go
out with the engine running. If the ªESP/BAS Warning
Lampº comes on continuously with the engine running,
a malfunction has been detected in either the ESP or BAS
system, or both. If this light remains on after several
ignition cycles, and the vehicle has been driven several
miles/kilometers at speeds greater than 30 mph (48
km/h), see your authorized dealer as soon as possible to
have the problem diagnosed and corrected.
NOTE:
²The ªESP Indicator Lightº and the ªESP/BAS Warning
Lampº come on momentarily each time the ignition
switch is turned ON.
²Each time the ignition is turned ON, the ESP System
will be ON even if it was turned off previously.
²The ESP Control System will make buzzing or clicking
sounds when it is active. This is normal. The sounds
will stop when ESP becomes inactive following the
maneuver that caused the ESP activation.
TSC (Trailer Sway Control)
The TSC system uses sensors in the vehicle to recognize
an excessively swaying trailer and will take the appro-
priate actions to attempt to stop the sway. The system
may reduce engine power and apply the brake of the
appropriate wheel(s) to counteract the sway of the trailer.
TSC will become active automatically once an excessively
swaying trailer is recognized. No driver action is re-
quired. Note that TSC cannot stop all trailers from
swaying. Always use caution when towing a trailer and
follow the trailer tongue weight recommendations. Refer
to ªTrailer Towingº in Section 5 of this manual for more
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