2011 DODGE DAKOTA open hood

WARNING!
•Do not start or run an engine in a closed garage or
confined area. Exhaust gas contains Carbon Mon-
oxide (CO) which is odorless and colorless. Car-
bon Monoxide is poisonous and can cause serious
injury or death when inhaled.
•Keep Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitters
away from children. Operation of the Remote Start
System, windows, door locks or other controls
could cause serious injury or death.
To Enter Remote Start
Press and release the REMOTE START button
on the RKE transmitter twice within five sec-
onds. The parking lights will flash and the horn
will chirp twice (if programmed). Then, the
engine will start and the vehicle will remain in the
Remote Start mode for a 15-minute cycle. NOTE:
•The park lamps will turn on and remain on during
Remote Start mode.
•For security, power window and power sunroof op-
eration (if equipped) are disabled when the vehicle is
in the Remote Start mode.
•The engine can be started two consecutive times (two
15-minute cycles) with the RKE transmitter. However,
the ignition switch must be cycled to the ON/RUN
position before you can repeat the start sequence for a
third cycle.
Remote start will also cancel if any of the following occur:
•The engine stalls or RPM exceeds 2500
•Any engine warning lamps come on
•The hood is opened
•The hazard switch is pressed
26 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Seats .............................. 123
▫ Power Driver Seat .................... 124
▫ Manual Seat Adjustment ............... 126
▫ Front Seat — Manual Recliner ........... 128
▫ Manual Lumbar — If Equipped .......... 128
▫ Heated Seats — If Equipped ............ 129
▫ Head Restraints ..................... 130
▫ Extended Cab/Crew Cab Rear Seat ....... 132
 To Open And Close The Hood ............ 132
 Lights ............................. 134
▫ Headlights, Parking Lights And
Panel Lights ........................ 134
▫ Headlight Delay ..................... 135 ▫
Lights-On Reminder .................. 135
▫ Daytime Running Lights — If Equipped .... 135
▫ Fog Lights — If Equipped .............. 135
▫ Interior Lights ...................... 135
▫ Multifunction Lever .................. 136
▫ Battery Saver ....................... 138
▫ Cargo Light — If Equipped ............. 139
 Windshield Wipers And Washers .......... 139
▫ Windshield Wipers ................... 140
▫ Windshield Washers .................. 141
 Tilt Steering Column ................... 142
 Electronic Speed Control — If Equipped ..... 143
▫ To Activate ......................... 144
82 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Extended Cab/Crew Cab Rear Seat
More cargo space is available by lifting up on the rear
seat cushion.
The Crew Cab Rear Seat is a 60/40 split cushion and full
back. Either cushion can be raised, independently.
TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE HOOD
To open the hood, two latches must be released.
1. First pull the hood release lever located under the left
side of the instrument panel.2. Then push the safety latch lever up while lifting the
grille with your hand. It is located at the bottom center of
the grille.
Hood Release Lever Location
132 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Lift the hood, and the gas filled props will hold it open.
CAUTION!
To prevent possible damage, do not slam the hood to
close it. Use a firm downward push at the center front
edge of the hood to ensure that both latches engage.
Never drive your vehicle unless the hood is fully
closed, with both latches engaged.
WARNING!
Be sure the hood is fully latched before driving your
vehicle. If the hood is not fully latched, it could open
when the vehicle is in motion and block your vision.
Failure to follow this warning could result in serious
injury or death.
Secondary Latch Location
3
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 133

To set the variance: Turn the ignition ON and set the
display to “Compass/Temperature.” Press and hold the
RESET button approximately five seconds. The last vari-
ance zone number will be displayed. Press the STEPbutton to select the new variance zone and press the
RESET button to resume normal operation.
Outside Temperature
Because the ambient temperature sensor is located under
the hood, engine temperature can influence the displayed
temperature; therefore, temperature readings are slowly
updated when the vehicle speed is below 20 mph
(30 km/h) or during stop-and-go driving.
GARAGE DOOR OPENER — IF EQUIPPED
HomeLink
replaces up to three remote controls (hand-
held transmitters) that operate devices such as garage
door openers, motorized gates, lighting or home security
systems. The HomeLink unit operates off of your vehi-
cle’s battery.
Compass Variance Map
3
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 153

NOTE:For vehicles equipped with Remote Start, the
climate controls will not function during Remote Start
operation if the blower control is left in the “O” (Off)
position.
Temperature Control
The rotary knob at the center of the
control panel controls the temperature
of the interior air. You can choose your
degree of comfort by rotating the
knob. The coldest temperature setting
is to the extreme left (blue region) and
the warmest setting is to the extreme
right (red region) of the rotation.
Circulation
The cab is designed with features to promote outside air
circulation. There are grilles in the cab back panel. These
are air exhausters that provide the means for regular
exchange of cab air. Side window demisters direct airflow specifically to the
window glass to help prevent interior fogging of the
glass. They are located in the extreme outside upper
edges of the instrument panel. The demisters also pro-
vide extra air ducts for circulation. They are in operation
whenever the Floor, Mix, Defrost, or Bi-Level modes are
in use.
NOTE:
When you turn off the engine you may hear a
hissing sound from under the hood for a short period of
time. This is a normal condition that occurs if the air
conditioning system has been on. It is not an indication of
a problem with the air conditioning system.
Operating Tips
Fast Cooldown
For a fast cooldown, open the windows and turn the
blower fan rotary knob to the extreme right position, turn
the mode control to the panel fresh position, press the
SNOWFLAKE button to turn on the air conditioning, and
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 241

WARNING!
•Take care to avoid the radiator cooling fan when-
ever the hood is raised. It can start anytime the
ignition switch is on. You can be injured by
moving fan blades.
•Remove any metal jewelry such as watch bands or
bracelets that might make an inadvertent electrical
contact. You could be seriously injured.
•Batteries contain sulfuric acid that can burn your
skin or eyes and generate hydrogen gas which is
flammable and explosive. Keep open flames or
sparks away from the battery.
1. Set the parking brake, shift the automatic transmission
into PARK and turn the ignition to LOCK.
2. Turn off the heater, radio, and all unnecessary electri-
cal accessories. 3. If using another vehicle to jump-start the battery, park
the vehicle within the jumper cables reach, set the
parking brake and make sure the ignition is OFF.
WARNING!
Do not allow vehicles to touch each other as this
could establish a ground connection and personal
injury could result.
Jump-Starting Procedure
WARNING!
Failure to follow this procedure could result in per-
sonal injury or property damage due to battery ex-
plosion.
6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 347

•Do not idle the engine with any spark plug wires
disconnected or removed, such as when diagnostic
testing, or for prolonged periods during very rough
idle or malfunctioning operating conditions.
Cooling System
WARNING!
You or others can be badly burned by hot engine
coolant (antifreeze) or steam from your radiator. If
you see or hear steam coming from under the hood,
do not open the hood until the radiator has had time
to cool. Never try to open a cooling system pressure
cap when the radiator is hot.
Engine Coolant Checks
Check the engine coolant (antifreeze) protection every
12 months (before the onset of freezing weather, where
applicable). If the engine coolant (antifreeze) is dirty orrusty in appearance, the system should be drained,
flushed and refilled with fresh engine coolant (anti-
freeze). Check the front of the A/C condenser and
radiator for any accumulation of bugs, leaves, etc. If dirty,
clean by gently spraying water from a garden hose
vertically down the face of the condenser and radiator.
Check the coolant recovery bottle tubing for brittle rub-
ber, cracking, tears, cuts and tightness of the connection
at the bottle and radiator. Inspect the entire system for
leaks.
With the engine at normal operating temperature (but
not running), check the cooling system pressure cap for
proper vacuum sealing by draining a small amount of
engine coolant (antifreeze) from the radiator drain cock.
If the cap is sealing properly, the engine coolant (anti-
freeze) will begin to drain from the coolant recovery
bottle. DO NOT REMOVE THE COOLANT PRESSURE
CAP WHEN THE COOLING SYSTEM IS HOT.
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 371