2009 DODGE RAM 3500 DIESEL Owners Manual

Folding Rear Seat (Kneel Mode) — If EquippedBoth the left and right rear seats can be folded flat (kneel
mode) and used for carrying cargo. Each of the rear
seatbacks provide two D-rings and rear storage bin lids
with two slotted cutouts. Use a cargo tie-downs to secure
cargo.
WARNING!
•
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people
riding in these areas are more likely to be seri-
ously injured or killed.
•
Do not allow people to ride in any area of your
vehicle that is not equipped with seats and seat
belts.
•
Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and
using a seat belt properly.
•
Cargo must be securely tied down before driving
your vehicle. Improperly secured cargo can fly
around in a sudden stop and strike someone in the
vehicle, causing serious injury or possible death.
Secure cargo with a cargo tie-down using the
D-rings provided on the back of the seats and the
slotted cutouts in the rear storage bin lid.
Securing Cargo
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3

NOTE:The rear seat will drop and move forward in
“kneel mode”.
To fold either rear seat flat:
1. Lift the handle, located on the outboard side of the
seat. 2. Fold the seatback down and push the seat forward.
3. Lift the seatback, to return the seat to the upright
position. Be sure the seat is locked in place.
Kneel Mode Handle
Kneel Mode
128 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
Be certain that the seatback is securely locked into
position. If the seatback in not securely locked into
position the seat will not provide the proper stability
for child seats and/or passengers. An improperly
latched seat could cause serious injury.Heated Seats — If EquippedThis feature heats the front driver and passenger seats.
The controls for front heated seats are located in the
instrument panel under the climate controls.After turning the ignition ON, you can choose from High,
Low, or Off heat settings. Amber indicator lights in each
switch indicate the level of heat in use. Two indicator
lights will illuminate for High, one for Low, and none for
Off.
Heated Seat Switches
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 129
3

Press the switch once to select High-level heat-
ing. Press the switch a second time to select
Low-level heating. Press the switch a third time
to shut the heating elements Off.
WARNING!
•
Persons who are unable to feel pain to the skin
because of advanced age, chronic illness, diabetes,
spinal cord injury, medication, alcohol use, ex-
haustion or other physical condition must exercise
care when using the seat heater. It may cause burns
even at low temperatures, especially if used for
long periods of time.
•
Do not place anything on the seat that insulates
against heat, such as a blanket or cushion. This
may cause the seat heater to overheat.
TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE HOODTo open the hood, two latches must be released.
1. Pull the hood release lever located below the steering
wheel at the base of the instrument panel.
Hood Release Lever
130 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

2. Reach into the opening beneath the center of the grille
and push upward on the safety latch to release it before
raising the hood.
CAUTION!
To prevent possible damage, do not slam the hood to
close it. Use a firm downward push at the front center
of the hood to ensure that both latches engage.
WARNING!
If the hood is not fully latched, it could fly up when
the vehicle is moving and block your forward vision.
Be sure all hood latches are latched fully before
driving.
Safety Latch
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 131
3

LIGHTSThe headlight switch is located on instrument panel to
the left of the steering wheel.Interior LightsCourtesy and dome lights are turned on when the front
doors are opened, when the dimmer control (rotatingwheel on the right side of the switch) is rotated to the
upward detent position, or by pressing the UNLOCK
button on the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter (if
equipped).
When a door is open and the interior lights are on,
rotating the dimmer control all the way down to the off
detent will cause all the interior lights to go out. This is
also known as the
Partymode because it allows the
doors to stay open for extended periods of time without
discharging the vehicle’s battery.
The brightness of the instrument panel lighting can be
regulated by rotating the dimmer control up (brighter) or
down (dimmer). When the headlights are on you can
supplement the brightness of the odometer, trip odom-
eter, radio and overhead console by rotating the control
up until you hear a click. This feature is termed the
“Parade” mode and is useful when headlights are re-
quired during the day.
Headlight Switch Location
132 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Battery SaverTo protect the life of your vehicle’s battery, load shedding
is provided for both the interior and exterior lights.
If the ignition is OFF and any door is left ajar, or if the
dimmer control is rotated upwards for approximately
10 minutes, the interior lights will automatically turn off.If the headlights are left on, or turned on, when the
ignition is turned OFF, the headlights will automatically
turn off after approximately eight minutes.
NOTE:
Battery saver mode is cancelled if the ignition is
ON.
Headlight DelayTo aid in your exit, your vehicle is equipped with a
headlight delay that will leave the headlights on for
approximately 90 seconds. This delay is initiated when
the ignition is turned OFF while the headlight switch is
on, and then the headlight switch is cycled off. Headlight
delay can be cancelled by either turning the headlight
switch on then off, or by turning the ignition ON.
Dimmer Control
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Headlights, Parking Lights and Panel Lights
When the headlight switch is rotated to the first
position, the parking lights, taillights, side marker
lights, license plate light and instrument panel
lights are all turned on. The headlights will turn on when
the switch is rotated to the second position. Your vehicle is equipped with plastic headlight lenses
that are lighter and less susceptible to stone breakage
than glass. 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 the lenses with a
mild soap solution followed by rinsing.
NOTE:
Do not use abrasive cleaning components, sol-
vents, steel wool or other abrasive materials to clean the
lenses.
Daytime Running Lights (Canada Only and Fleet
Vehicles)The headlights on your vehicle will illuminate when the
engine is started and the transmission is in any gear
except PARK. This provides a constant Lights On
condition until the ignition is turned OFF or the parking
brake is applied. The lights illuminate at less than 50% of
their normal intensity. If a turn signal is activated, the
Headlight Switch Rotation
134 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE