2009 DODGE RAM 4500 CHASSIS CAB steering

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
CONTENTS
A Word About Your Keys ................. 12
▫ Ignition Key Removal .................. 12
▫ Locking Doors With The Key ............. 14
 Steering Wheel Lock — If Equipped ......... 14
▫ If You Wish To Manually Lock The Steering
Wheel ............................. 14
▫ To Release The Steering Wheel Lock ........ 15
 Sentry Key .......................... 15
▫ Replacement Keys ..................... 16 ▫
Customer Key Programming ............. 17
▫ General Information ................... 18
 Vehicle Security Alarm System — If Equipped . . 19
▫ Rearming Of The System ................ 19
▫ To Set The Alarm ..................... 19
▫ To Disarm The System ................. 20
 Illuminated Entry System — If Equipped ...... 20
 Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) — If Equipped . . . 21
▫ To Unlock The Doors .................. 22
2

WARNING!
Never leave children alone in a vehicle. Leaving
unattended children in a vehicle is dangerous for a
number of reasons. A child or others could be seri-
ously or fatally injured. Don’t leave the key in the
ignition. A child could operate power windows,
other controls, or move the vehicle.
CAUTION!
An unlocked car is an invitation to thieves. Always
remove key from the ignition and lock all doors
when leaving the vehicle unattended.
Locking Doors with the Key
You 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 EQUIPPED
Your 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.
If You Wish to Manually Lock the Steering Wheel
With 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.
14 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

To Release the Steering Wheel Lock
Insert 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.
SENTRY KEY
The Sentry Key Immobilizer System prevents unautho-
rized vehicle operation by disabling the engine. The
system does not need to be armed or activated. Operation
is automatic, regardless of whether the vehicle is locked
or unlocked. The system uses ignition keys that have an embedded
electronic chip (transponder) to prevent unauthorized
vehicle operation. Therefore, only keys that are pro-
grammed to the vehicle can be used to start and operate
the vehicle. The system will shut the engine off in two
seconds if someone uses an invalid key to try to start the
engine.
NOTE:
A key that has not been programmed is also
considered an invalid key, even if it is cut to fit the
ignition switch lock cylinder for that vehicle.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 15
2

Driver And Right Front Passenger Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS) – Airbag
This vehicle may have front airbags for both the driver
and front passenger (if equipped) as a supplement to the
seat belt restraint systems. The driver’s front airbag is
mounted in the center of the steering wheel. The passen-
ger’s front airbag (if equipped) is mounted in the instru-
ment panel, above the glove compartment. The words
SRS AIRBAG are embossed on the airbag covers.
These airbags are certified to the new Federal regulations
that allow less forceful deployments.This vehicle may also be equippedwithouta passenger’s
front airbag. In this case the passenger’s side airbag will
be replaced with a storage bin.
1 — Driver and Passenger Airbags
2 — Knee Bolsters
48 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

•Infants in rear-facing child restraints mustNEVER
ride in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger front
airbag unless the airbag is turned off (Regular Cab
Vehicles Only). An airbag deployment can cause se-
vere injury or death to infants in that position. Refer to
the “Passenger Airbag On/Off Switch (if equipped)”
in this section.
•If your vehicle does not have a rear seat, refer to the
“Passenger Airbag On/Off Switch (if equipped)” in
this section
•Children that are not big enough to properly wear the
vehicle seat belt (refer to “Child Restraints” in this
section) should be secured in the rear seat in child
restraints or belt-positioning booster seats. Older chil-
dren who do not use child restraints or belt-
positioning booster seats should ride properly buckled
up in the rear seat. Never allow children to slide the
shoulder belt behind them or under their arms.
•All occupants should use their seat belts properly.
•The driver and front passenger seats should be moved
back as far as practical to allow the airbag room to
inflate.
WARNING!
•Relying on the airbags alone could lead to more
severe injuries in a collision. The airbags work
with your seat belt to restrain you properly. In
some collisions the airbags won’t deploy at all.
Always wear your seat belts even though you have
airbags.
•Being too close to the steering wheel or instrument
panel during airbag deployment could cause seri-
ous injury. Airbags need room to inflate. Sit back,
comfortably extending your arms to reach the
steering wheel or instrument panel.
50 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Airbag System Components
The airbag system consists of the following:
•Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
•AIRBAG Readiness Light
•Driver Airbag
•Passenger Airbag (if equipped)
•Steering Wheel and Column
•Instrument Panel
•Crash Sensor
•Interconnecting Wiring
•Knee Impact Bolsters
•Passenger’s Side Front Airbag ON/OFF Switch (Regu-
lar Cab Vehicles Only ) (if equipped)
How The Airbag System Works
•
The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) determines
if a frontal collision is severe enough to require the
airbags to inflate.
•The ORC will not detect rollover, or rear collisions.
•The ORC also monitors the readiness of the electronic
parts of the system whenever the ignition switch is in
the START or RUN positions. These include all of the
items listed above except the knee bolsters, the instru-
ment panel, and the steering wheel and column. If the
key is in the OFF position, in the ACC position, or not
in the ignition, the airbags are not on and will not
inflate.
•The ORC also turns on the Airbag Warning Light in
the instrument panel for 6 to 8 seconds when the
ignition is first turned on, and then turns the light off.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 51
2

Enhanced Accident Response System
If the airbags deploy after an impact and the electrical
system remains functional, vehicles equipped with
power door locks will unlock automatically. In addition,
approximately 10 seconds after the vehicle has stopped
moving, the interior lights will light until the ignition
switch is turned off.
Maintaining Your Airbag Systems
WARNING!
•Modifications to any part of the airbag system
could cause it to fail when you need it. You could
be injured because the airbags are not there to
protect you. Do not modify the components or
wiring, including adding any kind of badges or
stickers to the steering wheel hub trim cover or the
upper right side of the instrument panel. Do not
modify the front bumper, vehicle body structure,
or frame.
•You need proper knee impact protection in a
collision. Do not mount or locate any aftermarket
equipment on or behind the knee bolster.
•It is dangerous to try to repair any part of the
airbag system yourself. Be sure to tell anyone who
works on your vehicle that it has airbags.
56 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Seats .............................. 114
▫ 40-20-40 Front Seat ................... 115
▫ Reclining Seats ...................... 116
▫ Adjustable Head Restraints ............. 117
▫ Manual Rotary Lumbar Support
Adjustment — If Equipped ............. 118
▫ Power Seats — If Equipped ............. 118
▫ Heated Seats — If Equipped ............ 120
 To Open And Close The Hood ............ 121
 Lights ............................. 123
▫ Interior Lights ...................... 123
▫ Battery Saver ....................... 124
▫ Headlight Delay ..................... 124 ▫
Headlights, Parking Lights And
Panel Lights ........................ 125
▫ Daytime Running Lights — If Equipped .... 126
▫ Lights-On Reminder .................. 126
▫ Fog Lights — If Equipped .............. 126
▫ Multifunction Lever .................. 126
 Windshield Wipers And Washers .......... 129
▫ Intermittent Wiper System .............. 129
▫ Windshield Washers .................. 130
 Tilt Steering Column ................... 130
 Driver Adjustable Pedals — If Equipped ..... 131
▫ Adjustment ........................ 132
78 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE