•Airbag deployment level (if applicable)
•Impact acceleration and angle
•Seatbelt status
•Brake status (service and parking brakes)
•Accelerator status (including vehicle speed)
•Engine control status (including engine speed)
•Transmission gear selection
•Cruise control status
•Traction/stability control status
•Tire pressure monitoring system status (if equipped)
Child Restraint
Everyone in your vehicle needs to be buckled up all the
time — babies and children, too. Every state in the United
States and all Canadian provinces require that small
children ride in proper restraint systems. This is the law,
and you can be prosecuted for ignoring it.
Children 12 years and under should ride properly buck-
led up in a rear seat, if available. According to crash
statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in
the rear seats rather than in the front.
60 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
27. 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.
28. Fuel Gauge
Shows level of fuel in tank when ignition switch is in the
ON position.
29. Low Fuel Warning Light
Glows when the pointer is between “E” and 1/8
indication mark (approximately 15% of tank vol-
ume) on the fuel gauge. When the fuel gauge
pointer is on “E” (equivalent to Distance To Empty [DTE]
= 0 on the overhead console if so equipped) there isreserve 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. (See page
145 for more information.)
Ram fuel tank volumes are as follows:
•34 gallons - 2500/3500 short box models
•35 gallons - 2500/3500 long box models
30. CRUISE Light
This indicator lights when the electronic speed control
system is turned on.
206 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
delayed. Shifts into 5th and 6th gear are still allowed
under steady cruise conditions. Closed throttle down-
shifts (for improved engine braking) may occur during
steady braking maneuvers. Pressing the switch a second
time restores normal operation. Normal operation is
always the default at engine start-up.
The “TOW HAUL” light will illuminate in the instrument
cluster to indicate when the switch has been activated. If
the “TOW HAUL” modes are desired, the button must be
pressed each time the engine is started.
Electronic Range Select (ERS) Operation
The Auto–6 Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift control
allows you to move the switch down (-) or up (+) when
the shifter is in the D (Drive) position, allowing the
selection of the desired top gear. For example, if the
driver shifts the transmission into 3rd gear, the transmis-
sion will never shift above 3rd gear, but can shift down to
2nd or 1st gear, when needed.Switching from ERS to D-Mode can be done at any
vehicle speed. To switch from “Drive” mode to “ERS”
mode, press the switch down (-) once. The selected gear
will be maintained as the top gear. To disable ERS, simply
press and hold the switch up (+) until “D” is displayed in
the instrument cluster odometer.
WARNING!
Do not downshift for additional engine braking on a
slippery surface. The drive wheels could lose their
grip and the vehicle could skid.
Screen Display12 3456D
Actual Gear(s)
Allowed1 1-2 1-3 1-4 1-5 1-6 1-6
STARTING AND OPERATING 295
5
Drain, Flush, and Refill.................. 446
Inspection........................... 448
Points to Remember.................... 449
Pressure Cap......................... 447
Radiator Cap......................... 447
Selection of Coolant (Antifreeze).........446,488
Temperature Gauge..................... 200
Cruise Control (Speed Control).............. 139
CupHolder ............................ 172
Customer Assistance..................... 524
Customer Programmable Features............ 153
Data Recorder, Event...................... 58
Daytime Running Lights................... 131
Dealer Service.......................... 411
Defroster, Rear Window................. 88,181
Defroster, Windshield................ 77,258,261
Delay (Intermittent) Wipers................. 135
Diesel Exhaust Brake..................... 290Diesel Fuel............................ 348
Diesel Fuel Requirements.................. 348
Differential, Limited-Slip.................. 317
Dipsticks .............................. 414
Power Steering........................ 439
Disc Brakes............................ 451
Disposal.............................. 421
Engine Oil........................... 421
Used Coolant (Antifreeze)................ 448
Door Locks............................. 25
Door Locks, Automatic.................... 153
Door Opener, Garage..................... 160
Draining Fuel/Water Separator Filter.......427,430
DriveBelts ............................ 422
Dual Rear Wheels.....................347,396
DVD Player (Video Entertainment System)...... 249
Electric Rear Window Defrost............. 88,181
Electrical Power Outlets................... 169
INDEX 537
10
Electronic Range Select (ERS)............... 295
Electronic Speed Control (Cruise Control)...... 139
Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC).... 151
Electronically Shifted Transfer Case........... 310
Emergency Brake........................ 320
Emergency, In Case of
Freeing Vehicle When Stuck............... 402
Hazard Warning Flasher................. 386
Jacking............................. 389
Jump Starting......................... 399
Tow Hooks.......................... 403
Towing ............................. 404
Emission Control System Maintenance......... 494
Engine............................408,409
Air Cleaner........................422,424
Block Heater.......................276,283
Break-In Recommendations................ 74
Compartment......................408,409
Coolant (Antifreeze).................... 488Cooling ............................. 444
DataPlate ........................... 411
Identification......................408,409
Idling .............................. 286
Jump Starting......................... 399
Oil ..............................414,488
Oil Filler Cap......................... 418
Oil Synthetic.......................285,419
Runaway............................ 348
Temperature Gauge..................... 200
Event Data Recorder...................... 58
Exhaust Brake.......................... 290
Exhaust Gas Caution................ 76,190,444
Exhaust System................. 76,443,444,459
ExteriorLighting ........................ 130
Fabric Care............................ 465
Fan .................................. 450
538 INDEX
Instrument Cluster....................196,198
Instrument Panel and Controls.............. 195
Instrument Panel Lens Cleaning............. 467
Integrated Power Module (Fuses)............ 468
Interior Appearance Care.................. 466
Interior Lights.......................... 129
Intermittent Wipers (Delay Wipers)........... 135
Intervention Regeneration Strategy........... 434
Introduction............................. 4
Jack Location........................... 387
Jack Operation.......................... 389
Jump Starting.......................... 399
Key, Replacement........................ 16
Key, Sentry (Immobilizer)................... 15
Keyless Entry System...................... 20
Keys................................. 12Lane Change and Turn Signals.............. 133
LapBelts .............................. 43
Lap/Shoulder Belts....................... 34
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren) . 65
LifeofTires ............................ 340
Lights .............................. 78,128
Airbag............................ 57,199
Anti-Lock Warning..................204,324
Brake Warning........................ 203
Bulb Replacement...................473,474
Cap Top Clearance..................... 482
Cargo .............................. 132
Center Mounted Stop................... 481
Check Engine (Malfunction Indicator)........ 202
Courtesy/Reading..................... 142
Cruise .............................. 206
Daytime Running...................... 131
Dome.............................. 150
Dual Wheel Assembly Rear............... 484
INDEX 541
10
Automatic Transmission...............291,297
Manual Transmission................... 303
Transfer Case......................... 308
Transfer Case, Shifting into Transfer Case
Neutral (N).........................378,380
Transfer Case, Shifting out of Transfer Case
Neutral (N).........................379,382
Shoulder Belt Upper Anchorage.............. 42
Shoulder Belts........................... 34
Side Airbag............................. 55
Signals, Turn........................... 133
Sliding Rear Window
Power............................ 32,182
Slippery Surfaces, Driving On............... 318
Snow Chains (Tire Chains)................. 343
Snow Plow............................ 373
Snow Tires............................ 345
Soot Filter............................. 434
Spare Tire............................. 338Speed Control (Cruise Control).............. 139
Speedometer........................... 199
Starting............................... 275
Automatic Transmission................. 276
Engine Block Heater.................276,283
Manual Transmission................... 275
Starting Procedures...................... 275
Starting Procedures (Diesel Engines).......... 275
Steering
Linkage............................. 440
Power...........................324,439
Wheel Lock........................... 15
Wheel, Tilt........................... 137
Steering Wheel Mounted Sound System Controls . 253
Storage, Behind the Seat................... 176
Storage Compartment, Center Seat.........176,177
Storage, Vehicle......................... 472
StoringYourVehicle ...................... 472
Sun Roof.............................. 166
INDEX 547
10