engine Ram Cargo Van 2012 Service Manual

Headliner ModeAir comes from the outlets in the headliner. Each of
these outlets can be individually adjusted to direct
the flow of air. Moving the air vanes of the outlets to one
side will shut off the airflow.
Bi-Level Mode Air comes from both the headliner outlets and the
floor outlets.
NOTE: In many temperature positions, the Bi-Level
mode is designed to provide cooler air out of the head-
liner outlets and warmer air from the floor outlets.
Floor Mode Air comes from the floor outlets.Summer Operation
The engine cooling system in air conditioned vehicles
must be protected with a high-quality antifreeze coolant
to provide proper corrosion protection and to protect
against engine overheating. A solution of 50% ethylene
glycol antifreeze coolant and 50% water is recommended.
Refer to “Maintenance Procedures” in “Maintaining Your
Vehicle” for proper coolant selection.
Winter Operation
To ensure the best possible heater and defroster perfor-
mance, make sure the engine cooling system is function-
ing properly and the proper amount, type, and concen-
tration of coolant is used. Refer to “Maintenance
Procedures” in “Maintaining Your Vehicle” for proper
coolant selection. Use of the air Recirculation mode
during Winter months is not recommended, because it
may cause window fogging.
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 411

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
Starting Procedures .................... 419
▫ Automatic Transmission ............... 419
▫ Normal Starting ..................... 419
▫ Extreme Cold Weather
(Below –20°F Or –29°C) ................ 420
▫ If The Engine Fails To Start ............. 420
▫ After Starting ....................... 422
 Engine Block Heater — If Equipped ........ 422
Automatic Transmission ................. 422
▫ Key Ignition Park Interlock ............. 424
▫ Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . 424
▫ Fuel Economy (Econ) Mode ............. 425
▫ Six-Speed Automatic Transmission ........ 426
▫ Gear Ranges ........................ 427
 Driving On Slippery Surfaces ............. 434
▫ Acceleration ........................ 434
▫ Traction ........................... 435
5

▫Full Size Spare – If Equipped ............ 466
▫ Limited-Use Spare – If Equipped ......... 466
▫ Tire Spinning ....................... 467
▫ Tread Wear Indicators ................. 468
▫ Life Of Tire ........................ 468
▫ Replacement Tires .................... 469
 Tire Chains .......................... 470
 Snow Tires .......................... 472
 Tire Rotation Recommendations ........... 472
 Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) ....... 473
▫ Base System ........................ 476
▫ Premium System – If Equipped .......... 478
Fuel Requirements ..................... 482
▫ 3.6L Engine ........................ 482
▫ Reformulated Gasoline ................ 482
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ............. 483
▫ E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles ...... 483
▫ MMT In Gasoline .................... 484
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ............... 484
▫ Fuel System Cautions ................. 485
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings ............ 486
 Flexible Fuel — If Equipped .............. 486
▫ E-85 General Information ............... 486
▫ Ethanol Fuel (E-85) ................... 488
▫ Fuel Requirements ................... 488
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 417

▫Selection Of Engine Oil For Flexible Fuel
Vehicles (E-85) And Gasoline Vehicles ...... 489
▫ Starting ........................... 489
▫ Cruising Range ...................... 489
▫ Replacement Parts ................... 490
▫ Maintenance ........................ 490
 Adding Fuel ......................... 490
▫ Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap) .............. 490
▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message ........... 492
Vehicle Loading ...................... 492
▫ Vehicle Certification Label .............. 492
 Trailer Towing ........................ 495
▫ Common Towing Definitions ............ 495
▫ Towing Tips ........................ 508
 Recreational Towing
(Behind Motorhome, Etc.) ................ 509
▫ Towing This Vehicle
Behind Another Vehicle ................ 509
418 STARTING AND OPERATING

STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust the
inside and outside mirrors, fasten your seat belt, and if
present, instruct all other occupants to buckle their seat
belts.
WARNING!
•When leaving the vehicle, always remove the key
fob from the ignition and lock your vehicle.
•Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle.
•Allowing children to be in a vehicle unattended is
dangerous for a number of reasons. A child or
others could be seriously or fatally injured. Chil-
dren should be warned not to touch the parking
brake, brake pedal or the shift lever.(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle. A
child could operate power windows, other con-
trols, or move the vehicle.
Automatic Transmission
The shift lever must be in the NEUTRAL or PARK
position before you can start the engine. Press the brake
pedal before shifting into any driving gear.
Normal Starting
1. Do not press the accelerator.
2. Use the Fob with Integrated Key to briefly turn the
ignition switch to the START position and release it as
soon as the starter engages. The starter motor will
continue to run, and it will disengage automatically
when the engine is running.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 419

3. If the engine fails to start, the starter will disengage
automatically in 10 seconds. If this occurs, turn the
ignition switch to the OFF position, wait 10 to 15 seconds,
then repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure (Steps 1–3
above).
NOTE: This vehicle is equipped with a transmission
shift interlocking system. The brake pedal must be
pressed to shift out of PARK.
Extreme Cold Weather (Below –20°F or –29°C)
Follow the same instructions in the “Normal Starting”
procedure.
To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of
an externally powered electric engine block heater (avail-
able from your authorized dealer) is recommended.
If The Engine Fails To Start
WARNING!
•Never pour fuel or other flammable liquids into
the throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to
start the vehicle. This could result in a flash fire
causing serious personal injury.
•Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get
it started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic
transmission cannot be started this way. Unburned
fuel could enter the catalytic converter and once
the engine has started, ignite and damage the
converter and vehicle.(Continued)
420 STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING! (Continued)
•If the vehicle has a discharged battery, booster
cables may be used to obtain a start from a booster
battery or the battery in another vehicle. This type
of start can be dangerous if done improperly. Refer
to “Jump Starting” in “What To Do In Emergen-
cies” for further information.
If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
“Normal Starting” procedure, it may be flooded. Push
the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and hold it
there while cranking the engine. This should clear any
excess fuel in case the engine is flooded.
CAUTION!
To prevent damage to the starter, DO NOT crank the
engine for more than 15–second intervals at one time.
Wait 10 to 15 seconds before trying again.
If the engine has been flooded, it may start to run, but not
have enough power to continue running when the key
fob is released. If this occurs, continue cranking with the
accelerator pedal pushed all the way to the floor. Release
the accelerator pedal and the key fob once the engine is
running smoothly.
If the engine shows no sign of starting after two 15–
second intervals of cranking with the accelerator pedal
held to the floor, the “Normal Starting” procedure should
be repeated.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 421

After Starting
The idle speed will automatically decrease as the engine
warms up.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED
The engine block heater warms the engine, and permits
quicker starts in cold weather. Connect the cord to a
standard 110-115 Volt AC electrical outlet with a
grounded, three-wire extension cord.
The engine block heater cord is routed under the hood on
the driver’s side of the vehicle. It has a removable cap
that is located on the driver side of the Integrated Power
Module.
The engine block heater must be plugged in at least one
hour to have an adequate warming effect on the engine.
WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the engine block heater
cord before driving. Damage to the 110-115 Volt
electrical cord could cause electrocution.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the follow-
ing precautions are not observed:
•Move the shift lever into PARK only after the
vehicle has come to a complete stop.
•Shift into or out of REVERSE only after the
vehicle has come to a complete stop and the engine
is at idle speed.(Continued)
422 STARTING AND OPERATING

CAUTION! (Continued)
•Do not move the shift lever between PARK, RE-
VERSE, NEUTRAL, or DRIVE when the engine is
above idle speed.
•Before moving the shift lever into any gear, make
sure your foot is firmly pressing the brake pedal.
NOTE: You must press and hold the brake pedal down
while shifting out of PARK.
WARNING!
•It is dangerous to move the shift lever out of PARK
or NEUTRAL if the engine speed is higher than
idle speed. If your foot is not firmly pressing the
brake pedal, the vehicle could accelerate quickly
forward or in reverse. You could lose control of the
vehicle and hit someone or something. Only shift
into gear when the engine is idling normally and
when your foot is firmly pressing the brake pedal.
(Continued)
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 423

WARNING! (Continued)
•Unintended movement of a vehicle could injure
those in or near the vehicle. As with all vehicles,
you should never exit a vehicle while the engine is
running. Before exiting a vehicle, always apply the
parking brake, shift the transmission into PARK,
and remove the key fob. Once the key fob is
removed, the shift lever is locked in the PARK
position, securing the vehicle against unwanted
movement. Furthermore, you should never leave
unattended children inside a vehicle.
Key Ignition Park Interlock
This vehicle is equipped with a Key Ignition Park Inter-
lock which requires the shift lever to be placed in PARK
before the ignition switch can be turned to the LOCK/
OFF position. The key fob can only be removed from the
ignition when the ignition is in the LOCK/OFF position,
and once removed, the shift lever is locked in PARK.This system prevents the key fob from being removed
unless the shift lever is in PARK.
NOTE:
If a malfunction occurs, the system will trap the
key fob in the ignition cylinder to warn you that this
safety feature is inoperable. The engine can be started
and stopped but the key fob cannot be removed until you
obtain service.
Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System
This vehicle is equipped with a Brake Transmission Shift
Interlock System (BTSI) that holds the shift lever in the
PARK position unless the brakes are applied. To move
the shift lever out of the PARK position, the ignition
switch must be turned to the ON/RUN position (engine
running or not) and the brake pedal must be pressed.
424 STARTING AND OPERATING