2008 DODGE RAM 5500 CHASSIS CAB Owners Manual

Appearance Care and Protection from Corrosion
Protection of Body and Paint from Corrosion
Vehicle body care requirements vary according to geo-
graphic locations and usage. Chemicals that make roads
passable in snow and ice, and those that are sprayed on
trees and road surfaces during other seasons, are highly
corrosive to the metal in your vehicle. Outside parking,
which exposes your vehicle to airborne contaminants,
road surfaces on which the vehicle is operated, extreme
hot or cold weather and other extreme conditions will
have an adverse effect on paint, metal trim, and under-
body protection.
The following maintenance recommendations will enable
you to obtain maximum benefit from the corrosion
resistance built into your vehicle.
What Causes Corrosion?
Corrosion is the result of deterioration or removal of
paint and protective coatings from your vehicle.The most common causes are:
²Road salt, dirt and moisture accumulation.
²Stone and gravel impact.
²Insects, tree sap and tar.
²Salt in the air near seacoast localities.
²Atmospheric fallout/industrial pollutants.
Washing
²
Wash your vehicle regularly. Always wash your ve-
hicle in the shade using MopartCar Wash or a mild
car wash soap, and rinse the panels completely with
clear water.
²If insects, tar or other similar deposits have accumu-
lated on your vehicle, use MopartSuper Kleen Bug
and Tar Remover to remove.
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²Use MopartCleaner Wax to remove road film, stains
and to protect your paint finish. Take care never to
scratch the paint.
²Avoid using abrasive compounds and power buffing
that may diminish the gloss or thin out the paint
finish.
CAUTION!
Do not use abrasive or strong cleaning materials such
as steel wool or scouring powder, which will scratch
metal and painted surfaces.
Special Care
²
If you drive on salted or dusty roads or if you drive
near the ocean, hose off the undercarriage at least once
a month.
²It is important that the drain holes in the lower edges
of the doors, rocker panels and trunk be kept clear and
open.
²If you detect any stone chips or scratches in the paint,
touch them up immediately. The cost of such repairs is
considered the responsibility of the owner.
²If your vehicle is damaged due to an accident or
similar cause which destroys the paint and protective
coating, have your vehicle repaired as soon as pos-
sible. The cost of such repairs is considered the respon-
sibility of the owner.
²If you carry special cargo such as chemicals, fertilizers,
de-icer salt, etc., be sure that such materials are well
packaged and sealed.
²If a lot of driving is done on gravel roads, consider
mud or stone shields behind each wheel.
458 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

²Use Moparttouch up paint on scratches as soon as
possible. Your dealer has touch up paint to match the
color of your vehicle.
Wheel and Wheel Trim Care
All wheels and wheel trim, especially aluminum and
chrome plated wheels should be cleaned regularly with a
mild soap and water to prevent corrosion. To remove
heavy soil and/or excessive brake dust, use Mopart
Wheel Cleaner (05066247AB) or equivalent or select a
nonabrasive, non-acidic cleaner. Do not use scouring
pads, steel wool, a bristle brush, or metal polishes. Only
Mopartor equivalent is recommended. Do not use oven
cleaner. Avoid automatic car washes that use acidic
solutions or harsh brushes that may damage the wheels'
protective finish.
YES EssentialstFabric Cleaning Procedure ± If
equipped
YES Essentialstseats may be cleaned in the following
manner:
²Remove as much of the stain as possible by blotting
with a clean, dry towel.
²Blot any remaining stain with a clean, damp towel.
²For tough stains, apply MopartTotal Clean or a mild
soap solution to a clean, damp cloth and remove stain.
Use a fresh, damp towel to remove soap residue.
²For grease stains, apply MopartMulti-purpose
cleaner to a clean, damp cloth and remove stain. Use a
fresh, damp towel to remove soap residue.
²Do not use any solvents or protectants on Yes Essen-
tials products.
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Interior Care
Use MopartTotal Clean to clean fabric upholstery and
carpeting.
Use MopartTotal Clean to clean vinyl upholstery.
MopartTotal Clean is specifically recommended for
leather upholstery.
Your leather upholstery can be best preserved by regular
cleaning with a damp soft cloth. Small particles of dirt
can act as an abrasive and damage the leather upholstery
and should be removed promptly with a damp cloth.
Stubborn soils can be removed easily with a soft cloth
and MopartTotal Clean. Care should be taken to avoid
soaking your leather upholstery with any liquid. Please
do not use polishes, oils, cleaning fluids, solvents, deter-
gents, or ammonia based cleaners to clean your leather
upholstery. Application of a leather conditioner is not
required to maintain the original condition.WARNING!
Do not use volatile solvents for cleaning purposes.
Many are potentially flammable, and if used in
closed areas they may cause respiratory harm.
Cleaning Headlights
Your vehicle has plastic headlights that are lighter and
less susceptible to stone breakage than glass headlights.
Plastic is not as scratch resistant as glass and therefore
different lens cleaning procedures must be followed.
To minimize the possibility of scratching the lenses and
reducing light output, avoid wiping with a dry cloth. To
remove road dirt, wash with a mild soap solution fol-
lowed by rinsing.
Do not use abrasive cleaning components, solvents, steel
wool or other aggressive material to clean the lenses.
460 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Glass Surfaces
All glass surfaces should be cleaned on a regular basis
with MopartGlass Cleaner or any commercial
household-type glass cleaner. Never use an abrasive type
cleaner. Use caution when cleaning the inside rear win-
dow equipped with electric defrosters or the right rear
quarter window equipped with the radio antenna. Do
not use scrapers or other sharp instruments which may
scratch the elements. When cleaning the rear view mirror,
spray cleaner on the towel or rag that you are using. Do
not spray cleaner directly on the mirror.
Cleaning Plastic Instrument Cluster Lenses
The lenses in front of the instruments in this vehicle are
molded in clear plastic. When cleaning the lenses, care
must be taken to avoid scratching the plastic.1. Clean with a wet soft rag. A mild soap solution may be
used, but do not use high alcohol content or abrasive
cleaners. If soap is used, wipe clean with a clean damp
rag.
2. Dry with a soft tissue.
Seat Belt Maintenance
Do not bleach, dye or clean the belts with chemical
solvents or abrasive cleaners. This will weaken the fabric.
Sun damage can also weaken the fabric.
If the belts need cleaning, use a mild soap solution or
lukewarm water. Do not remove the belts from the car to
wash them.
Replace the belts if they appear frayed or worn or if the
buckles do not work properly.
Dry with a soft tissue.
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FUSES (INTEGRATED POWER MODULE)
An integrated Power Module is located in the engine
compartment near the battery. This center contains car-
tridge fuses and mini fuses. A description of each fuse
and component may be stamped on the inside cover
otherwise the cavity number of each fuse is stamped on
the inside cover that corresponds to the following chart.
Integrated Power Module Location
462 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Cavity Cartridge
FuseMini
FuseDescription
1 20 Amp
YellowPower Outlet Console
2 20 Amp
YellowCabin Compartment
Node (CCN) Door
Locks
3ÐÐ
4 15 Amp
BlueAisin Transmission
Controls (Diesel Only)
5 20 Amp
YellowPower Sunroof
6 10 Amp
RedVistronic Fan/
Wastegate Solenoid
7ÐÐ
8 10 Amp
RedHeated MirrorsCavity Cartridge
FuseMini
FuseDescription
9 30 Amp
PinkOff Road Module
Power
10 5 Amp
OrangeTrx-Off Rd Pkg Sen
(Gas Engine Only)
NOTE: Insert 5 amp
fuse in this cavity to
enable the TRX capa-
bility (If Equipped).
11 20 Amp
YellowIgnition Off Draw
(IOD)-Cabin Com-
partment Node
(CCN)/Radio/Under
Hood Lamp/Wireless
Control Module
(WCM)/Satellite Digi-
tal Audio Receiver
(SDARS)/Hands Free
Module (HFM)/EOM
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Cavity Cartridge
FuseMini
FuseDescription
12 30 Amp
PinkElectric Brake
13 25 Amp
NaturalPower-Battery
RWAL/ABS Module
Feed
14 15 Amp
BluePark Lamps Left
15 20 Amp
YellowTrailer Park Lamps
16 15 Amp
BluePark Lamps Right
17 Ð Ð
18 40 Amp
GreenABS Pump
19 30 Amp
PinkTrailer Tow Battery
FeedCavity Cartridge
FuseMini
FuseDescription
20 10 Amp
RedOccupant Restraints
Controller (ORC) 2
21 10 Amp
RedOccupant Restraints/
Pass Disable Switch
22 2 Amp
GrayIGN Switch Feed
23 10 Amp
RedHVAC
24 20 Amp
BlueAISIN Relay Feed
(Diesel Only)
25 10 Amp
RedPower Mirror/T-Case
Brake
26 20 Amp
YellowBrake Switch/Center
High Mount Stop
Lamp (CHMSL)/
Aftermarket CHMSL
464 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE