RAM CHASSIS CAB 2012 Owners Manual

STARTING AND OPERATINGCONTENTS  Starting Procedures .................... 273
▫ Normal Starting ..................... 273
▫ Automatic Transmission ............... 273
▫ Extreme Cold Weather
(Below –20°F Or  29°C) ............... 274
▫ If Engine Fails To Start ................ 274
▫ After Starting ....................... 275
 Engine Block Heater — If Equipped ........ 275
 Automatic Transmission ................. 276
▫ Key Ignition Park Interlock ............. 278 ▫ Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . 278
▫ Six–Speed Automatic Transmission
(5.7L Engine) — If Equipped ............ 278
 Four-Wheel Drive Operation — If Equipped . . 288
▫ Manually Shifted Transfer Case – If
Equipped .......................... 288
▫ Shifting Procedure – Manually Shifted
Transfer Case ....................... 290
▫ Transfer Case Position Indicator Light ...... 291
5

▫ Electronically Shifted Transfer Case
(Four-Position Switch) – If Equipped ....... 292
▫ Shifting Procedure ................... 296
 Limited-Slip Differential ................. 298
 Driving On Slippery Surfaces ............. 299
▫ Acceleration ........................ 299
▫ Traction ........................... 299
 Driving Through Water ................. 300
▫ Flowing/Rising Water ................. 300
▫ Shallow Standing Water ............... 300
 Power Steering ....................... 302
▫ Power Steering Fluid Check ............. 303
 Parking Brake ........................ 304  Brake System ........................ 306
▫ Four-Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System ....... 307
 Tire Safety Information ................. 309
▫ Tire Markings ....................... 309
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ......... 312
▫ Tire Terminology And Definitions ......... 313
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure .......... 314
 Tires — General Information ............. 318
▫ Tire Pressure ....................... 318
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures ................ 319
▫ Radial Ply Tires ..................... 324
▫ Spare Tire Matching Original Equipped Tire
And Wheel – If Equipped .............. 324270 STARTING AND OPERATING

▫ Compact Spare Tire – If Equipped ........ 325
▫ Full Size Spare – If Equipped ............ 326
▫ Limited-Use Spare – If Equipped ......... 326
▫ Tire Spinning ....................... 327
▫ Tread Wear Indicators ................. 327
▫ Life Of Tire ........................ 328
▫ Replacement Tires .................... 328
 Supplemental Tire Pressure Information — If
Equipped ............................ 330
 Tire Chains .......................... 330
 Snow Tires .......................... 332
 Tire Rotation Recommendations ........... 333
▫ Dual Rear Wheels .................... 334  Fuel Requirements ..................... 335
▫ Reformulated Gasoline ................ 336
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ............. 336
▫ E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles ...... 336
▫ MMT In Gasoline .................... 337
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ............... 338
▫ Fuel System Cautions ................. 338
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings ............ 339
 Adding Fuel ......................... 340
▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message ........... 341
 Vehicle Loading ...................... 342
▫ Certification Label ................... 342
5 STARTING AND OPERATING 271

 Trailer Towing ........................ 344
▫ Common Towing Definitions ............ 344
▫ Trailer Hitch Classification .............. 347
▫ Trailer Towing Weights
(Maximum Trailer Weight Ratings) ........ 348
▫ Trailer And Tongue Weight ............. 349
▫ Towing Requirements ................. 351
▫ Towing Tips ........................ 360
 Snowplow .......................... 361
▫ Before Plowing ...................... 362
▫ Snowplow Prep Package Model
Availability ......................... 362 ▫ Over The Road Operation With Snowplow
Attached .......................... 363
▫ Operating Tips ...................... 363
▫ General Maintenance .................. 364
 Recreational Towing
(Behind Motorhome, Etc.) ................ 365
▫ Towing This Vehicle Behind
Another Vehicle ..................... 365
▫ Recreational Towing – Two-Wheel Drive
Models ........................... 366
▫ Recreational Towing – Four-Wheel Drive
Models ........................... 367272 STARTING AND OPERATING

STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust both
inside and outside mirrors, and fasten your seat belt.
The starter should not be operated for more than 15-
second intervals. Waiting a few seconds between such
intervals will protect the starter from overheating.
WARNING!Never leave children alone in a vehicle. Leaving
children in a vehicle unattended is dangerous for a
number of reasons. A child or others could be seri-
ously or fatally injured. Children should be warned
not to touch the parking brake, brake pedal or the
shift lever. Do not leave the key fob in the vehicle. A
child could operate power windows, other controls,
or move the vehicle. Normal Starting
Normal starting of either a warm or cold engine is
obtained without pumping or pressing the accelerator
pedal. Turn the key fob to the START position and release
when the engine starts. If the engine fails to start within
10 seconds, turn the key fob to the OFF position, wait five
seconds, then repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.
Automatic Transmission
Start the engine with the shift lever in the NEUTRAL or
PARK position. Apply the brake before shifting into any
driving range.
NOTE: This vehicle is equipped with a transmission
shift interlocking system. The brake pedal must be
pressed to shift out of PARK.
5 STARTING AND OPERATING 273

Tip Start Feature
Do not press the accelerator. Turn the ignition switch
briefly to the START position and release it. The starter
motor will continue to run but will automatically disen-
gage when the engine is running.
Extreme Cold Weather (Below –20°F or  29°C)
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 Engine Fails To Start
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 seconds at a time. Wait 10 to
15 seconds before trying again.
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)274 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 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 periods of cranking with the accelerator pedal
held to the floor, the “Normal Starting” procedure should
be repeated. After Starting
The idle speed is automatically controlled and will de-
crease 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.
3500 Models — 5.7L Engine Only
The engine block heater cord is routed through the grille
by the right front tow hook.
It includes a removable cap that is secured by a tethered
strap. It also has a c-clip that is used for storage when not
in use for the winter months. During winter months,
remove the heater cord wiring assembly from itself on
the c-clip.
5 STARTING AND OPERATING 275

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:
• Shift into PARK only after the vehicle has come to
a complete stop.
(Continued) CAUTION! (Continued)• Shift into or out of REVERSE only after the
vehicle has come to a complete stop and the engine
is at idle speed.
• Do not shift between PARK, REVERSE, NEU-
TRAL, or DRIVE when the engine is above idle
speed.
• Before shifting into any gear, make sure your foot
is firmly pressing the brake pedal.276 STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING!• 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.
(Continued) WARNING! (Continued)• Leaving children in a vehicle unattended is dan-
gerous for a number of reasons. A child or others
could be seriously or fatally injured. Children
should be warned not to touch the parking brake,
brake pedal or the shift lever. Do not leave the key
fob in the vehicle. A child could operate power
windows, other controls, or move the vehicle.
• 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.
5 STARTING AND OPERATING 277

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.
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.
Six–Speed Automatic Transmission
(5.7L Engine) — If Equipped
The shift lever position display (located in the instrument
panel cluster) indicates the transmission gear range. The shift lever is mounted on the right side of the steering
column. You must press the brake pedal to move the shift
lever out of the PARK position (refer to “Brake/
Transmission Shift Interlock System” in this section). To
drive, move the shift lever from PARK or NEUTRAL to
the DRIVE position. Pull the shift lever toward you when
shifting into REVERSE or PARK, or when shifting out of
PARK.
The electronically-controlled transmission provides a
precise shift schedule. The transmission electronics are
self-calibrating; therefore, the first few shifts on a new
vehicle may be somewhat abrupt. This is a normal
condition, and precision shifts will develop within a few
hundred miles (kilometers).
Shifting from DRIVE to PARK or REVERSE should be
done only after the accelerator pedal is released and the
vehicle is stopped. Be sure to keep your foot on the brake
pedal when moving the shift lever between these gears.278 STARTING AND OPERATING