lock DODGE RAM 4500 CHASSIS CAB 2008 3.G Owner's Guide

NOTE:If the speedometer, tachometer or any engine
related gauges are not working, the airbag control mod-
ule may also be disabled. The airbags may not be ready
to inflate for your protection. Promptly check fuse block
for blown fuses. Refer to the label located on the inside of
the fuse block cover for the proper airbag fuses. See your
dealer if the fuse is good.
Event Data Recorder (EDR)
In the event of an accident, your vehicle is designed to
record up to 5-seconds of specific vehicle data parameters
(see the following list) in an event data recorder prior to
the moment of airbag deployment, or near deployment,
and up to a quarter second of high-speed deceleration
data during and/or after airbag deployment. EDR data
are ONLY recorded if an airbag deploys, or nearly
deploys, and are otherwise unavailable.NOTE:
1. A near-deployment event occurs when the airbag
sensor detects severe vehicle deceleration usually indica-
tive of a crash, but not severe enough to warrant airbag
deployment.
2. Under certain circumstances, EDR data may not be
recorded (e.g., loss of battery power).
In conjunction with other data gathered during a com-
plete accident investigation, the electronic data may be
used by DaimlerChrysler Corporation and others to learn
more about the possible causes of crashes and associated
injuries in order to assess and improve vehicle perfor-
mance. In addition to crash investigations initiated by
DaimlerChrysler Corporation, such investigations may
be requested by customers, insurance carriers, govern-
ment officials, and professional crash researchers, such as
those associated with universities, and with hospital and
insurance organizations.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 57
2

Here are some tips for getting the most out of your child
restraint:
²Before buying any restraint system, make sure that it
has a label certifying that it meets all applicable Safety
Standards. We also recommend that you make sure
that you can install the child restraint in the vehicle
where you will use it before you buy it.
²The restraint must be appropriate for your child's
weight and height. Check the label on the restraint for
weight and height limits.
²Carefully follow the instructions that come with the
restraint. If you install the restraint improperly, it may
not work when you need it.
²The passenger seat belts are equipped with Automatic
Locking Retractors (ALR), which are designed to keep
the lap portion tight around the child restraint so that
it is not necessary to use a locking clip.Pull the belt from the retractor until there is enough to
allow you to pass through the child restraint and slide
the latch plate into the buckle. Then pull on the belt
until it is all removed from the retractor. Allow the belt
to return to the retractor, pulling on the excess web-
bing to tighten the lap portion about the child re-
straint. Refer to the9Automatic Locking Retractors
(ALR) Mode9earlier in this section.
²In the rear seat, you may have trouble tightening the
lap/shoulder belt on the child restraint because the
buckle or latch plate is too close to the belt path
opening on the restraint. Disconnect the latch plate
from the buckle and twist the short buckle-end belt
several times to shorten it. Insert the latch plate into
the buckle with the release button facing out.
²If the belt still can't be tightened, or if pulling and
pushing on the restraint loosens the belt, disconnect
the latch plate from the buckle, turn the latch plate
62 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Lock Your Vehicle
Always remove the keys from the ignition and lock all
doors when leaving the vehicle unattended, even in your
own driveway or garage. Try to park your vehicle in a
well-lighted area and never invite theft by leaving ar-
ticles of value exposed.
Exhaust Gas
WARNING!
Exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, a potentially
toxic gas that by itself is colorless and odorless. To
avoid inhaling these gases, the following precautions
should be observed:
²Do not run the engine in a closed garage or in confined
areas any longer than needed to move your vehicle in
or out of the area.
²If it is necessary to sit in a parked vehicle with the
engine running for more than a short period, adjust
your climate control system to force outside air into
the vehicle. Set the blower at high speed and the
controls in any position except OFF or MAX A/C.
²The best protection against carbon monoxide entry
into the vehicle body is a properly maintained engine
exhaust system.
Be aware of changes in the sound of the exhaust system;
exhaust fumes detected inside the vehicle; or damage to
the underside or rear of the vehicle. Have a competent
mechanic inspect the complete exhaust system and adja-
cent body areas for broken, damaged, deteriorated or
mispositioned parts. Open seams or loose connections
could permit exhaust fumes to seep into the passenger
compartment. In addition, inspect the exhaust system
each time the vehicle is raised for lubrication or oil
change. Replace or adjust as required.
74 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Lights
Check the operation of all exterior lights. Check turn
signal and high beam indicator lights on the instrument
panel.
Door Latches
Check for positive closing, latching and locking.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for fuel,
water, oil, or other fluid leaks. Also, if fuel fumes are
detected the cause should be located and corrected.
76 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

To prevent possible damage, do not slam the hood to
close it. Use a firm downward push at the front center of
the hood to ensure that both latches engage.WARNING!
If the hood is not fully latched, it could fly up when
the vehicle is moving and block your forward vision.
Be sure all hood latches are latched fully before
driving.
Secondary Latch
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 121
3

LIGHTS Interior Lights
Courtesy and dome lights are turned on when the front
doors are opened, when the dimmer control (rotating
wheel on the right side of the switch) is rotated to the
upward detent position, or if equipped, when the UN-
LOCK button is pressed on the key fob. When a door is
Headlight Switch LocationDimmer Control
122 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

TILT STEERING COLUMN
To tilt the column, pull rearward on the lever below the
turn signal control and move the wheel up or down, as
desired. Push the lever forward to lock the column firmly
in place.WARNING!
Tilting the steering column while the vehicle is
moving is dangerous. Without a stable steering col-
umn, you could lose control of the vehicle and have
an accident. Adjust the column only while the ve-
hicle is stopped. Be sure it is locked before driving.
Tilt Steering Control Lever
130 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

²DOOR(S) AJAR (with a single chime if vehicle is in
motion)
²LOW WASHER FLUID (with a single chime)
²OIL CHANGE REQUIRED (with a single chime)
²CATALYST FULL SEE OWNER MANUAL
²CATALYST STAT lllllll 90%
²CATALYST FULL SERVICE REQUIRED
²SERVICE AIR FILTER
²SERVICE CCV FILTER
²COOLANT LOW (with a single chime)
OIL CHANGE REQUIRED Ð If Equipped
Your vehicle is equipped with an engine oil change
indicator system. The ªOil Change Requiredº message
will flash in the EVIC display for approximately 10
seconds after a single chime has sounded to indicate thenext scheduled oil change interval. The engine oil change
indicator system is duty cycle based, which means the
engine oil change interval may fluctuate dependent upon
your personal driving style.
Unless reset, this message will continue to display each
time you turn the ignition switch to the ON/RUN
position. To turn off the message temporarily, press and
release the Menu button. To reset the oil change indicator
system (after performing the scheduled maintenance)
refer to the following procedure.
1. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position(Do not
start the engine).
2. Fully depress the accelerator pedal slowly three times
within 10 seconds.
3. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF/LOCK position.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 145
3

NOTE:If the indicator message illuminates when you
start the vehicle, the oil change indicator system did not
reset. If necessary repeat this procedure.
Personal Settings (Customer Programmable
Features)
Personal Settings allows the driver to set and recall
features when the transmission is in PARK. If the trans-
mission is not in PARK the EVIC will display NOT
AVAILABLE and VEHICLE NOT IN PARK.
Press and release the menu button until the
Personal Settings displays on the EVIC.
Use the STEP button to display one of the following:
²ªLANGUAGEº ± When in this display you may select
one of three languages for all display nomenclature,
including the trip functions. Press the RESET buttonwhile in this display to select English, Espanol, or
Francais. Then, as you continue, the information will
display in the selected language.
²ªAUTO DOOR LOCKS > YESº ± When ON is selected,
all doors will lock automatically when the vehicle
reaches a speed of 15 mph (24 km/h). To make your
selection, press and release the RESET button until
ªONº or ªOFFº appears.
²ªAUTO UNLOCK ON EXIT > YESº ± When ON is
selected, all doors will unlock when the vehicle is
stopped and the transmission is in the P (Park) or N
(Neutral) position and the driver's door is opened. To
make your selection, press and release the RESET
button until ªONº or ªOFFº appears.
²ªRKE UNLOCK DRV DR 1stº ± WhenDRV DR 1stis
selected, only the driver's door will unlock on the first
press of the remote keyless entry unlock button. When
Driver Door 1st Press is selected, you must press of the
146 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

remote keyless entry unlock button twice to unlock the
passenger's doors. To make your selection, press and
release the RESET button until ªDRV DR 1st º appears.
²ªRKE UNLOCK ALL DR 1STº ± When AllALL DR
1STis selected, all of the doors will unlock on the first
press of the remote keyless entry unlock button. To
make your selection, press and release the RESET
button until ªAll DR 1stº appears.
²ªSOUND HORN W/LOCK > YESº ± When ON is
selected, a short horn sound will occur when the
remote keyless entry ªLockº button is pressed. This
feature may be selected with or without the flash lights
on lock/unlock feature. To make your selection, press
and release the RESET button until ªONº or ªOFFº
appears.
²ªFLASH LIGHTS w/LOCK > YESº ± When ON is
selected, the front and rear turn signals will flash when
the doors are locked or unlocked with the remotekeyless entry transmitter. This feature may be selected
with or without the sound horn on lock feature
selected. To make your selection, press and release the
RESET button until ªONº or ªOFFº appears.
²ªHEAD LAMP OFF DELAY > 0 SECº ± When this
feature is selected, the driver can choose to have the
headlights remain on for 0, 30, 60, or 90 seconds when
exiting the vehicle. To make your selection, press and
release the RESET button until ª0,º ª30,º ª60,º or ª90º
appears.
²ªKEY OFF POWER DELAY > OFFº ± When this
feature is selected, the power window switches, radio,
hands±free system (if equipped), and power outlets
will remain active for up to 10 minutes after the
ignition switch is turned off. Opening a vehicle door
will cancel this feature. To make your selection, press
and release the RESET button until ªOff,º ª45 sec.,º ª5
min.,º ª10 min appears.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 147
3