2004 DODGE RAM 2500 DIESEL instrument panel

If brake failure is indicated, immediate repair is necessary
and continued operation of the vehicle in this condition is
dangerous.
Acceleration which causes the rear wheels to slip for a
period of time may result in the red brake light illumi-
nating and a brake switch code being set on ABS
equipped vehicles. Depressing the brake pedal should
extinguish the red brake light.
19. Wait To Start Indicator
The Wait To Start Indicator will illuminate when
the ignition key is first turned to the ON position.
Wait until the Wait To Start Indicator turns OFF then start
the vehicle.
20. Odometer/Trip Odometer
The odometer shows the total distance the vehicle has
been driven.If the odometer reading is changed during repair or
replacement, be sure to keep a record of the reading
before and after the service so that the correct mileage can
be determined.
The trip odometer shows individual trip mileage. To
toggle between the odometer and the trip odometer,
press the Odometer/Trip Odometer Button. To reset the
Trip Odometer, press and hold the button while in trip
mode, until the Trip Odometer resets.
NOTE:There is also an engine hour function. This
indicates the total number of hours the engine has been
running. To display the engine hours perform the follow-
ing: Place the ignition in RUN, but do not start the
engine. With the odometer value displayed, hold the trip
button down for a period of 6 seconds. The odometer will
change to trip value first, then it will display the engine
148 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

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.
21. LAMP OUT Light
The LAMP OUT indicator in the instrument cluster alerts
the driver if a defective bulb or wiring circuit is detected
for headlamps, turn signal lamps, and stop lamps.
22. TOW/HAUL (Automatic Transmissions Only)
The TOW/HAUL button is located at the end of the gear
shift lever. This light will illuminate when the TOW/
HAUL button has been selected.
23. SERV 4WD Indicator
The 4WD indicator will be illuminated whenever the
4WD mode is engaged for either the manual or electric
shift 4WD systems. The SERV 4WD indicator monitors
the electric shift 4WD system. If the SERV 4WD lightstays on or comes on during driving, it means that the
4WD system is not functioning properly and that service
is required.
24. LOW WASH Light
This light comes on when the washer fluid level falls
below approximately 1/4 filled. The light will remain on
until fluid is added and one minute has elapsed.
25. Odometer/Trip Odometer Button
Press this button to toggle between the odometer and the
trip odometer display. Holding the button in resets the
trip odometer reading when in trip mode.
26. Fuel Gauge
Shows level of fuel in tank when ignition switch is in the
ON position.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 149
4

27. Low Fuel Warning Light
Glows when the pointer is between ªEº and 1/8
indication mark (approximately 15% of tank vol-
ume) on the fuel gauge. When the fuel gauge
pointer is on ªEº (equivalent to Distance To Empty [DTE]
= 0 on the overhead console if so equipped) there is
reserve fuel capacity, which corresponds to approxi-
mately 8% of tank volume. This reserve capacity was put
in place to prevent the likelihood of customers running
out of fuel when operating at maximum load conditions
in areas where there aren't many gas stations.
Ram fuel tank volumes are as follows:
²34 gallons - 2500/3500 short box models
²35 gallons - 2500/3500 long box models28. Transmission Oil Temperature Warning Light
(Automatic Transmissions Only)
This light indicates that there is excessive trans-
mission fluid temperature that might occur
with severe usage such as trailer towing. If this
light comes on, stop the vehicle and run the
engine at idle or faster, with the transmission in NEU-
TRAL until the light goes off.
29. Check Gages
This light illuminates when the Voltmeter, Engine
Oil Pressure or Engine Coolant Temperature
gages indicate a reading either too high or too low.
Examine the gages carefully, and follow the instructions
above for each indicated problem.
150 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

NOTE:When the ignition switch is turned to OFF, the
Fuel Gage, Voltmeter, Oil Pressure and Engine Coolant
Temperature gages may not show accurate readings.
When the engine is not running, turn the ignition switch
to ON to obtain accurate readings.
ELECTRONIC DIGITAL CLOCK
The clock and radio each use the display panel built into
the radio. A digital readout shows the time in hours and
minutes whenever the ignition switch is in the ªONº or
ªACCº position.
When the ignition switch is in the ªOFFº position, or
when the radio frequency is being displayed, time keep-
ing is accurately maintained.
Clock Setting Procedure
1. Turn the ignition switch to the ªONº or ªACCº
position. Using the point of a ballpoint pen or similar
object, press either the ªHº (Hour) or ªMº (Minute)
buttons on the radio. The display will show the time.
2. Press the ªHº button to set hours or the ªMº button to
set minutes. The time setting will increase each time you
press a button.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 151
4

SALES CODE RBBÐAM/FM STEREO RADIO
WITH CASSETTE TAPE PLAYER AND CD
CHANGER CAPABILITY
Operating Instructions
NOTE:Power to operate the radio is supplied through
the ignition switch. It must be in the ON or ACC position
to operate the radio.NOTE:When first learning the control functions, the
user should set the controls as shown in the following
list.
Tone Controls¼As illustrated.
Speaker Control¼Centered.
Power Button
The volume control/power button pops out when
pressed, this turns the sound system ON in the mode last
used. Pushing the button back in turns the sound system
OFF.
Electronic Volume Control
The electronic volume control turns continuously (360
degrees) in either direction without stopping. Turning the
volume control to the right increases the volume and to
the left decreases it.
When the audio system is turned on, the sound will be
set at the same volume level as last played.
152 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

For your convenience, the volume can be turned down,
but not up, when the audio system is off and the ignition
is ON.
Seek
Press and release the SEEK button to search for the next
station in either the AM or FM mode. Press the top of the
button to seek up and the bottom to seek down. The
radio will remain tuned to the new station until you
make another selection. Holding the button will bypass
stations without stopping until you release it.
Tune
Press the TUNE control up or down to increase or
decrease the frequency. If the button is pushed and held,
the radio will continue to tune until the button is
released. The frequency will be displayed and continu-
ously updated while the button is pushed.
To Set The Push-Button Memory
When you are receiving a station that you wish to
commit to push-button memory, press the SET button.
The symbol SET 1 will now show in the display window.
Select the ª1±5º button you wish to lock onto this station
and press and release that button. If a button is not
selected within 5 seconds after pressing the SET button,
the station will continue to play but will not be locked
into push-button memory.
You may add a second station to each push-button by
repeating the above procedure with this exception: Press
the SET button twice and SET 2 will show in the display
window. Each button can be set for SET 1 and SET 2 in
both AM and FM. This allows a total of 10 AM and 10 FM
stations to be locked into push-button memory. The
stations stored in SET 2 memory can be selected by
pressing the push-button twice.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 153
4

Every time a preset button is used a corresponding
button number will be displayed.
Balance
The balance control adjusts the left-to-right speaker bal-
ance. Press the BAL button in and it will pop out. Adjust
the balance and push the button back in.
Fade
The fade control provides for balance between the front
and rear speakers. Press the FADE button in and it will
pop out. Adjust the balance and push the button back in.
Bass and Treble Tone Control
The tone controls consist of 2 separate bands. The bass
band is on the left, and the treble band is on the right.
Each band is adjusted by a slider control with a detent at
the mid-position. Moving the control up or down in-
creases or decreases amplification of that band. The mid
position provides a balanced output.
AM/FM Selection
Press the AM/FM button to change from AM to FM. The
operating mode will be displayed next to the station
frequency. The display will show ST when a stereo
station is received in the FM mode.
Mode Button
Press the MODE button to select between the cassette
tape player, CD changer, or the Satellite Radio (if
equipped). When the Satellite Radio (if equipped) is
selected ªSAº will appear in your radio display.
A CD or tape may remain in the player while in the
Satellite or radio mode.
Cassette Player Features
With ignition OFF and the sound system OFF, you can
eject the tape cassette by pushing the EJECT button.
154 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

You can turn the tape player ON by inserting a cassette or
activating the MODE button (with a cassette in the radio),
but only when the ignition and radio are on.
Each time a cassette is inserted the tape player will begin
playing on the side of the cassette that is facing up in the
player.
Music Search
Pressing the SEEK button while playing a tape will start
the Music Search mode. Press the SEEK button up for the
next selection on the tape and down to return to the
beginning of the current selection, or return to the
beginning of the previous selection if the tape is within
the first 5 seconds of the current selection.
The SEEK symbol appears on the display when Music
Search is in operation. Music Search shuts off automati-
cally when a selection has been located.
Selective Music Search
Press the SEEK button up or down to move the track
number to skip forward or backward 1 to 7 selections.
Press the SEEK button once to move 1 selection, twice to
move 2 selections, etc.
Fast Forward And Rewind Buttons
Pressing the TUNE button up or down momentarily
activates Fast Forward or Rewind and makes the direc-
tional arrows appear on the display.
To stop Fast Forward or Rewind, press the TUNE button
again.
Time Button
Press the time button to toggle between station frequency
and time of day.
Pressing this button while playing a cassette tape will
change the side of the tape being played.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 155
4