2009 DODGE RAM 3500 DIESEL manual transmission

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLECONTENTSA Word About Your Keys ................ 12
▫ Ignition Key Removal ................. 12
▫ Locking Doors With A Key ............. 14
 Steering Wheel Lock — If Equipped ........ 14
▫ To Manually Lock The Steering Wheel ..... 14
▫ To Release The Steering Wheel Lock ....... 14
▫ Automatic Transmission Ignition Interlock
System ............................. 14 
Sentry Key ......................... 15
▫ Replacement Keys ................... 16
▫ Customer Key Programming ............ 17
▫ General Information .................. 18
 Vehicle Security Alarm — If Equipped ....... 18
▫ Rearming Of The System .............. 18
▫ To Set The Alarm .................... 18
▫ To Disarm The System ................ 19
 Illuminated Entry System — If Equipped ..... 20
2

Locking Doors With A KeyYou can insert the key with either side up. To lock the
door, turn the key rearward. To unlock the door, turn the
key forward. For door lock lubrication, see “Body Lubri-
cation” in Section 7 of this manual.STEERING WHEEL LOCK — IF EQUIPPEDYour vehicle may be equipped with a passive steering
wheel lock. This lock prevents steering the vehicle with-
out the ignition key. If the steering wheel is moved
approximately a half turn in either direction and the key
is not in the ignition switch, the steering wheel will lock.To Manually Lock the Steering WheelWith the engine running, turn the steering wheel upside
down, turn off the engine and remove the key. Turn the
steering wheel slightly in either direction until the lock
engages.
To Release the Steering Wheel LockInsert the key in the ignition switch and start the engine.
If the key is difficult to turn, move the wheel slightly to
the right or left to disengage the lock.
NOTE:If you turned the wheel to the right to engage
the lock, you must turn the wheel slightly to the right to
disengage it. If you turned the wheel to the left to engage
the lock, turn the wheel slightly to the left to disengage it.Automatic Transmission Ignition Interlock SystemThis system prevents the key from being removed unless
the shift lever is in PARK. It also prevents shifting out of
PARK unless the key is in the ON positions, and the
brake pedal is depressed.
14 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
Even if the display still reads a few degrees above
32°F ( 0°C), the road surface may be icy, particularly
in woods or on bridges. Drive carefully under such
conditions to prevent an accident and possible per-
sonal injury or property damage.Automatic Compass CalibrationThis compass is self-calibrating which eliminates the
need to manually set the compass. When the vehicle is
new, the compass may appear erratic and the CAL
symbol will be displayed.
After completing up to three 360 degree turns, with the
vehicle traveling less than 5 mph (8 km/h), in an area free
from large metal or metallic objects, the CAL symbol will
turn off and the compass will function normally.
Manual Compass CalibrationNOTE:To ensure proper compass calibration, make
sure the compass variance is properly set before manu-
ally calibrating the compass.
If the compass appears erratic and the CAL symbol does
not appear, you must manually put the compass into the
“Calibration” mode.Recalibrating The CompassStart the engine and leave the transmission in the PARK
position then set the display to “Compass/Temperature.”
Press and hold the RESET button to change the display
between VAR (compass variance) and CAL (compass
calibration) modes. When the CAL symbol is displayed,
complete one 360 degree turn in an area free from large
metal objects or power lines. The CAL symbol will turn
off and the compass will function normally.UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 151
3

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTSStarting Procedures .................... 252
▫ Normal Starting ..................... 252
▫ Automatic Transmission ............... 252
▫ If Engine Fails To Start ................ 252
▫ After Starting ....................... 254
 Engine Block Heater — If Equipped ........ 254
 Automatic Transmission ................. 254
▫ Automatic Transmission With Overdrive .... 255
Four-Wheel Drive Operation — If Equipped
... 260
▫ Manually Shifted Transfer Case Operating
Information/Precautions ............... 260
▫ Shifting Procedure - Manually Shifted
Transfer Case ....................... 263
▫ Transfer Case Position Indicator Light ...... 264
▫ Electronically Shifted Transfer Case
Operating Information/Precautions (Five
Position Switch) — If Equipped .......... 264
▫ Shifting Procedure — Electronically Shifted
Transfer Case ....................... 269
5

the upper gears. When the vehicle speed drops or during
acceleration when the transmission downshifts to second
gear, the clutch automatically disengages.
NOTE:•
The torque converter clutch will not engage until the
transmission fluid and engine coolant are warm [usu-
ally 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 transmis-
sion is not shifting into Overdrive when cold. This is
normal. Pressing the “TOW HAUL O/D OFF” button,
when the transmission is sufficiently warm, will dem-
onstrate that the transmission is able to shift into and
out of overdrive.
•
If the vehicle has not been driven in several days, the
first few seconds of operation after shifting the trans-
mission 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 con-
verter will refill within five seconds of shifting from
PARK into any other gear position.
FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE OPERATION — IF
EQUIPPEDFour-wheel drive trucks are equipped with either a
manually shifted transfer case or an electronically shifted
transfer case. Refer to the operating instructions for your
transfer case, located in this section.Manually Shifted Transfer Case Operating
Information/PrecautionsThe transfer case provides four mode positions.•
Two-wheel drive high range (2H)
•
Four-wheel drive high range (4H)
•
Neutral (N)
•
Four-wheel drive low range (4L)
260 STARTING AND OPERATING

Shifting Procedure - Manually Shifted Transfer
Case
2H⇔4HShifting between 2H and 4H can be made with the
vehicle stopped or in motion. If the vehicle is in motion,
shifts can be made up to 55 mph (88 km/h). With the vehicle in motion, the transfer case will engage/
disengage faster if you momentarily release the accelera-
tor pedal after completing the shift. Apply a constant
force when shifting the transfer case lever.
2H or 4H
⇔4LWith the vehicle rolling at 2 to 3 mph (3 to 5 km/h), shift
the transmission into NEUTRAL. While the vehicle is
coasting at 2 to 3 mph (3 to 5 km/h), shift the transfer
case lever firmly to the desired position. Do not pause in
transfer case NEUTRAL.
NOTE:•
Pausing in transfer case NEUTRAL in vehicles
equipped with an automatic transmission may require
shutting the engine OFF to avoid gear clash while
completing the shift. If difficulty occurs, shift the
transmission into NEUTRAL, hold foot on brake, and
turn the engine OFF. Make shift to the desired mode.
Manual Transfer Case Shifter
STARTING AND OPERATING 263
5

freshbite into the surface and will usually provide
enough traction to complete the climb. If you do not
make it to the top, place the vehicle in REVERSE and
back straight down the grade using engine resistance
along with the vehicle brakes.
WARNING!
Never attempt to climb a hill at an angle or turn
around on a steep grade. Driving across an incline
increases the risk of a roll over, which may result in
severe injury.•
Driving Down Hill – Before driving down a steep hill
you need to determine if it is too steep for a safe
descent. What is the surface traction? Is the grade too
steep to maintain a slow controlled descent? Are there
obstacles? Is it a straight descent? Is there plenty of
distance at the base of the hill to regain control if the
vehicle descends too fast? If you feel confident in your ability to proceed then make sure you are in 4L (Low
Range) with the transmission in 1st gear (manually
select 1st gear on automatic transmissions) and pro-
ceed with caution. Allow engine braking to control the
descent and apply your brakes if necessary, but do not
allow the tires to lock.
WARNING!
Do not descend a steep grade in NEUTRAL. Use
vehicle brakes in conjunction with engine braking.
Descending a grade too fast could cause you to lose
control and be seriously injured.•
Driving Across An Incline
– If at all possible avoid
driving across an incline. If it is necessary, know your
vehicle’s abilities. Driving across an incline places
more weight on the down hill wheels, which increases
the possibilities of a down hill slide or rollover. Make
294 STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING!
•
If you use a trailer brake controller with your
trailer, your trailer brakes may be activated and
deactivated with the brake switch. If so, when the
brake pedal is released, there may not be enough
brake pressure to hold the vehicle and trailer on a
hill and this could cause a collision with another
vehicle or object behind you. In order to avoid
rolling down the incline while resuming accelera-
tion, manually activate the trailer brake or apply
more vehicle brake pressure prior to releasing the
brake pedal. Always remember the driver is re-
sponsible for braking the vehicle.(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•
HSA is not a parking brake. If you stop the vehicle
on a hill without putting the transmission in
PARK or using the parking brake, it will roll down
the incline and could cause a collision with an-
other vehicle or object. Always remember to use
the parking brake while parking on a hill, and that
the driver is responsible for braking the vehicle.
HSA OffIf you wish to turn off the HSA system, follow this
procedure:
1. Start with the engine off, and vehicle in PARK with
wheels straight.
2. Start the engine.
3. With the engine running, the brake applied, rotate the
steering wheel 180° counterclockwise from center.
338 STARTING AND OPERATING