warning Ram 1500 2011 Manual PDF

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
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 183

CAUTION! (Continued)
•Loads applied to the top of the bin lid should be
minimized to prevent damage to the lid and
latching/hinging mechanisms.
•Damage to the RamBoxbin may occur due to
heavy/sharp objects placed in bin that shift due to
vehicle motion. In order to minimize potential for
damage, secure all cargo to prevent movement and
protect inside surfaces of bin from heavy/sharp
objects with appropriate padding.
Cargo bins feature two removable drain plugs (to allow
water to drain from bins). To remove plug, pull up on the
edge. To install push plug downward into drain hole.
NOTE: Provisions are provided in the bins for cargo
dividers and shelf supports. These accessories (in addi-
tion to other RamBox accessories) are available from
MOPAR.
RamBox Safety Warning
Carefully follow these warnings to help prevent personal
injury or damage to your vehicle:
WARNING!
•Always close the storage bin covers when your
vehicle is unattended.
•Do not allow children to have access to the storage
bins. Once in the storage bin, young children may
not be able to escape. If trapped in the storage bin,
children can die from suffocation or heat stroke.
•In an accident, serious injury could result if the
storage bin covers are not properly latched.
•Do not drive the vehicle with the storage bin
covers open.
•Keep the storage bin covers closed and latched
while the vehicle is in motion.
•Do not use a storage bin latch as a tie down.
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 187

4. Rotate the handles to the horizontal position to secure
into place.WARNING!
To reduce the risk of potential injury or property
damage:
•Cargo must be secured.
•Do not exceed cargo load rating of your vehicle.
•Secure all loads to truck utilizing cargo tie downs.
•Extender should not be used as cargo tie down.
•When vehicle is in motion do not exceed 150 lbs
(68 kg) load on the tailgate.
•The bed extender is not intended for off road use.
•When not in use, the extender/divider should be in
stowed or divider position with the tailgate closed.
•When in use all handles are to be in the locked
position.Locking Tab
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 195

NOTE:Make sure tailgate is supported when removing
support cables.
3. Raise the tailgate to a 45 degree angle.
4. Raise the right side of the tailgate until the right side
pivot clears the hanger bracket. 5. Slide the entire tailgate to the right to free the left side
pivot.
6. Remove the tailgate from the vehicle.
NOTE:
Do not carry the tailgate loose in the truck
pickup box.
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.
Locking Tailgate
The lock is located next to the tailgate handle. The
tailgate can be locked using the vehicle key.
Locking Tang
200 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

SWITCH BANK BUTTON DESCRIPTION
Upper Switch Bank
The upper switch bank is located on the center of the
instrument panel.
1. TOW/HAUL
Refer to “Starting And Operating” for more information.2. ESC OFF
Refer to “Starting And Operating” for more information.
3. HAZARD WARNING FLASHER
Refer to “What To Do In Emergencies” for more infor-
mation.
4. 115V POWER INVERTER
Refer to “Understanding The Features Of Your Vehicle”
for more information.
5. REAR PARK ASSIST
Refer to “Understanding The Features Of Your Vehicle”
for more information.
6. TPMS LIGHT LOAD — IF EQUIPPED
Refer to “Starting And Operating” for more information.
206 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

CAUTION!
Driving with a hot engine cooling system could
damage your vehicle. If the temperature gauge reads
“H” pull over and stop the vehicle. Idle the vehicle
with the air conditioner turned off until the pointer
drops back into the normal range. If the pointer
remains on the “H” and you hear continuous chimes,
turn the engine off immediately and call an autho-
rized dealership for service.
WARNING!
A hot engine cooling system is dangerous. You or
others could be badly burned by steam or boiling
coolant. You may want to call an authorized dealer-
ship for service if your vehicle overheats. If you
decide to look under the hood yourself, see “Main-
taining Your Vehicle”. Follow the warnings under the
Cooling System Pressure Cap paragraph.
5. Speedometer
The speedometer shows the vehicle speed in miles per
hour and/or kilometers per hour (mph/km/h).
6. 4 LOW This light alerts the driver that the vehicle is in
the four-wheel drive LOW mode. The front and
rear driveshafts are mechanically locked to-
gether forcing the front and rear wheels to
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 211

perform the following: Place the ignition in the ON/
RUN, but do not start the engine. With the odometer
value displayed, hold the TRIP button down for a period
of six seconds. The odometer will change to trip value
first, then it will display the engine hour value. The
engine hours will be displayed for a period of 30 seconds
until the ignition is turned OFF or the engine is started.
If equipped, some of the above warnings will be dis-
played in the Electronic Vehicle Information Center
(EVIC) in the instrument cluster. Refer to ”Electronic
Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) — If Equipped” for
further information.
ECO / ECO-ON (Fuel Saver Indicator) — If Equipped
The ECO-ON indicator will illuminate when you are
driving in a fuel efficient manner and can be used to
modify driving habits in order to increase fuel economy.
The ECO display will toggle between ECO and ECO-ON
depending on driving habits and vehicle usage. Press theOdometer / Trip Odometer / ECO (Fuel Saver Indicator)
button to change the display from odometer to either of
the two trip odometer settings or the “ECO” display.
If the vehicle diagnostic system determines
that the fuel filler cap is loose, improperly
installed, or damaged, a loose gascap indicator
will display in the odometer display area.
Tighten the fuel filler cap properly and press
the TRIP button to turn off the message. If the
problem continues, the message will appear
the next time the vehicle is started.
A loose, improperly installed, or damaged fuel filler cap
may also turn on the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL).
Lo tirE
When the appropriate condition exists, the odometer
display will toggle between Lo and tirE for three cycles.
Loose
Gascap
Indicator
216 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

noFUSE
If the vehicle diagnostic system determines that the
Ignition Off Draw (IOD) fuse is improperly installed, or
damaged, a “noFUSE” message will display in the odom-
eter display area. For further information on fuses and
fuse locations refer to “Fuses” in “Maintaining Your
Vehicle”.
CHAngE OIL
Your vehicle is equipped with an engine oil change
indicator system. TheCHAngE OILmessage will flash in
the instrument cluster odometer for approximately
12 seconds after a single chime has sounded to indicate
the next 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 Trip Odometer button on the instrument
cluster. 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/RUN 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.
NOTE: If the indicator message illuminates when you
start the vehicle, the oil change indicator system did not
reset. If necessary, repeat this procedure.
17. Engine Temperature Warning Light This light warns of an overheated engine condi-
tion. As temperatures rise and the gauge ap-
proaches H,this indicator will illuminate and a
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 217

Center (EVIC). Refer to ”Electronic Vehicle Information
Center (EVIC) — If Equipped” for further information.
20. High Beam IndicatorThis indicator shows that headlights are on high
beam. Push the multifunction lever forward to
switch the headlights to high beam, and pull toward
yourself (normal position) to return to low beam.
21. Voltmeter
When the engine is running, the gauge indicates the
electrical system voltage. The pointer should stay within
the normal range if the battery is charged. If the pointer
moves to either extreme left or right and remains there
during normal driving, the electrical system should be
serviced.
NOTE: The voltmeter may show a gauge fluctuation at
various engine temperatures. This cycling operation is
caused by the post-heat cycle of the intake manifold
heater system. The number of cycles and the length of the cycling operation is controlled by the engine control
module. Post-heat operation can run for several minutes,
and then the electrical system and voltmeter needle will
stabilize.
22. Cargo Light
The cargo light will illuminate when the cargo
light is activated by pressing the cargo light
button on the headlight switch.
23. Brake Warning Light This light monitors various brake functions,
including brake fluid level and parking brake
application. If the brake light turns on it may
indicate that the parking brake is applied, that
the brake fluid level is low, or that there is a problem with
the Anti-lock Brake System reservoir.
If the light remains on when the parking brake has been
disengaged, and the fluid level is at the full mark on the
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 219

master cylinder reservoir, it indicates a possible brake
hydraulic system malfunction or that a problem with the
Brake Booster has been detected by the Anti-Lock Brake
System (ABS) / Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system.
In this case, the light will remain on until the condition
has been corrected. If the problem is related to the brake
booster, the ABS pump will run when applying the brake
and a brake pedal pulsation may be felt during each stop.
The dual brake system provides a reserve braking capac-
ity in the event of a failure to a portion of the hydraulic
system. A leak in either half of the dual brake system is
indicated by the Brake Warning Light, which will turn on
when the brake fluid level in the master cylinder has
dropped below a specified level.
The light will remain on until the cause is corrected.NOTE:
The light may flash momentarily during sharp
cornering maneuvers, which change fluid level condi-
tions. The vehicle should have service performed, and
the brake fluid level checked.
If brake failure is indicated, immediate repair is neces-
sary.
WARNING!
Driving a vehicle with the red brake light on is
dangerous. Part of the brake system may have failed.
It will take longer to stop the vehicle. You could have
a collision. Have the vehicle checked immediately.
Vehicles equipped with the ABS, are also equipped with
Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD). In the event of
an EBD failure, the Brake Warning Light will turn on
along with the ABS Light. Immediate repair to the ABS
system is required.
220 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL