2008 DODGE DAKOTA lock

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
mStarting Procedures.....................221
NManual Transmission..................221
NAutomatic Transmission................221
NNormal Starting......................222
NIf Engine Fails To Start.................222
NAfter Starting........................223
mEngine Block Heater Ð If Equipped.........224
mAutomatic Transmission..................224
NBrake/Transmission Interlock System.......225NAutomatic Transmission................225
mManual Transmission....................230
NRecommended Shift Speeds..............231
NDownshifting........................232
mFour-Wheel Drive Operation...............233
NNV233/243 GII Transfer Case Operating
Information/Precautions................233
NShifting Procedure - NV233/243
Transfer Case........................237
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NNV 244 Generation II Transfer Case Operating
Information / Precautions...............239
NShifting Procedure - NV 244 Generation II
Transfer Case........................243
mLimited-Slip Rear Axle Differential Ð If
Equipped............................244
mDriving On Slippery Surfaces..............245
mDriving Through Water..................245
NFlowing/Rising Water..................246
NShallow Standing Water.................246
mParking Brake.........................247
mBrake System..........................249
NRear Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System ± If
Equipped...........................249NFour-Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System........250
mPower Steering........................251
mTire Safety Information...................253
NTire Markings........................253
NTire Identification Number (TIN)..........256
NTire Loading And Tire Pressure...........257
mTires Ð General Information...............261
NTire Pressure.........................261
NTire Inflation Pressures.................262
NRadial-Ply Tires......................264
NCompact Spare Tire Ð If Equipped.........265
NLimited Use Spare Ð If Equipped.........265
NTire Spinning........................266
218 STARTING AND OPERATING

STARTING PROCEDURES
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!
Be sure to turn off the engine and remove the key
from the ignition switch if you want to rest or sleep
in your car. Accidents can be caused by inadvertently
moving the gear selection lever or by pressing the
accelerator pedal. This may cause excessive heat in
the exhaust system, resulting in overheating and
vehicle fire which may cause serious or fatal injuries.
WARNING!
Do not leave children or animals inside parked
vehicles in hot weather. Interior heat build up may
cause serious injury or death.
Manual Transmission
Apply the parking brake, place the gearshift control lever
in NEUTRAL and depress clutch pedal to the floor before
starting the vehicle. This vehicle is equipped with a
clutch interlocking ignition system. It will not start unless
the clutch is depressed.
Automatic Transmission
Start the engine with the shift lever in NEUTRAL or
PARK position. Apply the brake before shifting to any
driving range.
STARTING AND OPERATING 221
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Normal Starting
Normal starting of either a warm or cold engine is
obtained without pumping or depressing the accelerator
pedal. Turn the key to the START position and release
when the engine starts. If the engine fails to start within
10 seconds, turn the key to the OFF position, wait 5
seconds, then repeat the starting procedure.
NOTE: This vehicle is equipped with a transmission
shift interlocking system. The brake pedal must be
depressed to shift out of Park (P).
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.
222 STARTING AND OPERATING

Engine Block Heater Ð If Equipped
The engine block heater warms engine coolant 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 located at the right front
of the engine compartment for all engine applications.
WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the 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:
²Shift into PARK only after the vehicle has come to
a complete stop.
²Shift into or out of REVERSE only after the
vehicle has come to a complete stop and the engine
is at idle speed.
²Do not shift from REVERSE, PARK, or NEUTRAL
into any forward gear when the engine is above
idle speed.
²Before shifting into any gear, make sure your foot
is firmly on the brake pedal.
224 STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING!
It is dangerous to shift the selector lever out of ªPº or
ªNº if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If
your foot is not firmly on 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 right foot is firmly on
the brake pedal.
Brake/Transmission Interlock System
This system prevents you from moving the gear shift out
of Park and into any gear unless the brake pedal is
pressed. This system is active only while the ignition
switch is in the ON position. Always depress thebrake
pedal first,before moving the gear selector out of PARK.
Automatic Transmission
The electronic PRNDL on the instrument cluster indicates
the transmission gear selected. The selector lever is
mounted on the right side of the steering column. To
drive, move the selector lever from Park or Neutral to the
desired drive position. Pull selector lever toward you
when shifting into Reverse, Second, First or Park, or
when shifting out of Park.
Gear Ranges
DO NOT race the engine when shifting from Park or
Neutral position into another gear range.
ªPº Park
Supplements parking brake by locking the transmission.
Engine can be started in this range. Never use Park while
vehicle is in motion. Apply parking brake when leaving
vehicle in this range. Always apply parking brake first,
then place selector in Park position.
STARTING AND OPERATING 225
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or response during normal operation in high gear. When
the vehicle speed drops below a calibrated speed, or
during acceleration, the clutch automatically and
smoothly disengages. The feature is operational in Over-
drive and in Drive.
NOTE:The torque converter clutch will not engage
until the transmission fluid and engine coolant are warm
[usually after 1-3 miles (1.6 - 4.8 km) of driving]. Because
the engine speed is higher when the torque converter
clutch is not engaged, it may seem as if the transmission
is not shifting into Overdrive when cold. This is normal.
Pressing the9TOW/HAUL9button, when the transmis-
sion is sufficiently warm, will demonstrate that the
transmission is able to shift into and out of Overdrive.
NOTE:If the vehicle has not been driven in several
days, the first few seconds of operation after shifting the
transmission into gear may seem sluggish. This is due to
the fluid partially draining from the torque converter intothe transmission. This condition is normal and will not
cause damage to the transmission. The torque converter
will refill within five seconds of shifting from Park into
any other gear position.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WARNING!
You or others could be injured if you leave the
vehicle unattended without having the parking
brake fully applied. The parking brake should al-
ways be applied when the driver is not in the vehicle,
especially on an incline.
This model is equipped with a clutch interlocking igni-
tion system. The clutch pedal must be fully depressed to
start the vehicle.
230 STARTING AND OPERATING

Fully depress the clutch pedal before shifting gears. As
you release the clutch pedal, lightly depress the accelera-
tor pedal. When launching a stationary vehicle, keep the
engine speed low until the clutch is fully engaged.
NOTE:Always launch in first gear. Damage to the
clutch can result from launching in 2nd gear or 3rd gear.
Use each gear in numerical order, do not skip a gear.
When shifting from 5th to 6th gear, do not apply exces-
sive knob load toward the Reverse gear gate, as you may
overpower Reverse crash-through load and unintention-
ally clash into Reverse gear. Also, when shifting from 6th
to 5th gear, excessive knob load toward the Reverse gear
gate will result in blocking of the shift.
To shift into Reverse, come to a complete stop. Depress
the clutch and pause briefly to allow the gear train to
stop. Reverse has a9crash-through9lockout feature. In
order to get into the reverse gate you should start in
neutral 3/4 and move rapidly into the reverse gate in oneswift motion. If you move slowly toward reverse you will
encounter a very high load which makes it difficult to
enter the gate.
Never drive with your foot resting on the clutch pedal, or
attempt to hold the vehicle on a hill with the clutch pedal
partially engaged, as this will cause abnormal wear on
the clutch.
Recommended Shift Speeds
To use your manual transmission for fuel economy it
should be upshifted as listed below. Shift at the vehicle
speeds listed for acceleration. Earlier upshifts during
cruise conditions (relatively steady speeds) will result in
increased fuel economy, and may be used as indicated.
Higher upshift speeds may be used to obtain a desired
acceleration rate.
STARTING AND OPERATING 231
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