2011 Ram 1500 instrument panel

WARNING! (Continued)
•Check mounting of mats on a regular basis. Al-
ways properly reinstall and secure floor mats that
have been removed for cleaning.
•Always make sure that objects cannot fall into the
driver footwell while the vehicle is moving. Ob-
jects can become trapped under the brake pedal
and accelerator pedal causing a loss of vehicle
control.
•If required, mounting posts must be properly
installed, if not equipped from the factory.
Failure to properly follow floor mat installation or
mounting can cause interference with the brake
pedal and accelerator pedal operation causing loss
of control of the vehicle.
Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make Outside
The Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear and uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread or sidewall. Inspect the tread for cuts
and cracks. Inspect sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
Check the wheel nuts for tightness. Check the tires
(including spare) for proper cold inflation pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of exterior lights
while you work the controls. Check turn signal and high
beam indicator lights on the instrument panel.
Door Latches
Check for positive closing, latching, and locking.
2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 85

▫Sunroof Maintenance ................. 161
▫ Ignition Off Operation ................. 161
 Electrical Power Outlets ................. 162
 Cigar Lighter And Ash Receiver —
If Equipped .......................... 166
 Power Inverter — If Equipped ............ 167
 Cupholders .......................... 169
▫ Front Instrument Panel Cupholders —
(40–20–40 Seats) ..................... 169
▫ Front Instrument Panel Cupholders — Floor
Mounted Shifter ..................... 170
▫ Rear Cupholder — Quad Cab .......... 170
▫ Rear Cupholder — Crew Cab ........... 171
 Storage ............................. 171 ▫
Glove Box Storage ................... 171
▫ Door Storage ....................... 173
▫ Center Storage Compartment —
If Equipped ........................ 174
▫ Second Row In-Floor Storage Bin — If
Equipped .......................... 176
▫ Seatback Storage ..................... 177
▫ Storage (Regular Cab) ................. 178
▫ Storage And Seats (Crew Cab) ........... 178
▫ Plastic Grocery Bag Retainers (Regular Cab
Models) ........................... 179
 Rear Window Features .................. 180
▫ Rear Window Defroster ................ 180
3
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 91

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. Sitting in a
seat that has been overheated could cause serious
burns due to the increased surface temperature of
the seat.
CAUTION!
Repeated overheating of the seat could damage the
heating element and/or degrade the material of the
seat.
Front Heated Seats
There are two heated seat switches that allow the driver
and passenger to operate the seats independently. The
controls for each seat are located near the bottom center
of the instrument panel (below the climate controls).
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.
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 105

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.Press the switch once to select HIGH-
level heating. Press the switch a sec-
ond time to select LOW-level heating.
Press the switch a third time to shut
the heating elements OFF.
NOTE:
•Once a heat setting is selected, heat will be felt within
two to five minutes.
•The engine must be running for the heated seats to
operate.
When the HIGH-level setting is selected, the heater will
provide a boosted heat level during the first four minutes
of operation. Then, the heat output will drop to the normal HIGH-level. If the HIGH-level setting is selected,
the system will automatically switch to LOW-level after a
maximum of 60 minutes of continuous operation. At that
time, the number of illuminated LEDs changes from two
to one, indicating the change. The LOW-level setting will
turn OFF automatically after a maximum of 45 minutes.
Ventilated Seats — If Equipped
On some models, both the driver and passenger seats are
ventilated. Located in the seat cushion and seatback are
small fans that draw the air from the passenger compart-
ment and blow air through fine perforations in the seat
cover to help keep the driver and front passenger cooler
in higher ambient temperatures.
The ventilated seat switches are located in the switch
bank in the center stack of the instrument panel, just
below the climate controls. The fans operate at two
speeds, HIGH and LOW.
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 107

To Disable A RKE Transmitter Linked To Memory
1. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position and
remove the key.
2. Press and release the memory SET button located on
the driver’s seat.
3. Within 10 seconds, press and release the UNLOCK
button on the RKE transmitter.
To disable another RKE transmitter linked to either
memory position, repeat Steps 1-3 for each RKE trans-
mitter.
NOTE:The capability to link RKE transmitters to
memory is enabled when delivered from the factory. The
capability to link RKE transmitters to memory can be
disabled (or later re-enabled) by an authorized dealer. For vehicles equipped with the Electronic vehicle Informa-
tion Center (EVIC), refer to “Electronic Vehicle Informa-
tion Center (EVIC)/Customer-Programmable Features”
in “Understanding Your Instrument Panel” for further
information.
Self-Limiting Control
The memory system includes a self-limiting control for
full travel positioning of power seat and adjustable pedal
movement (all directions). This self-limiting control may,
however, develop an unintended movement limitation if
an obstruction is encountered sometime during usage.
One example of such an occurrence may include a box or
package obstructing the full rearward movement of the
driver’s seat. Once the obstruction is removed, the self-
limiting control may store a new maximum position. the
self-limiting control may be reset by reaching the new
stored position, then press and release MEMORY button 1
or 2. Continued seat travel beyond the new stored posi-
tion will indicate the self-limiting control has been reset.
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 119

Driver Easy Exit And Easy Entry Control
This additional feature provides automatic driver’s seat
positioning which will enhance driver mobility into and
out of the vehicle. The seat cushion will move rearward
approximately 2.5 in (60 mm) when the key is removed
from the ignition switch. The seat will move forward
approximately 2.5 in (60 mm) when the key is placed into
the ignition and turned out of the LOCK position. Each
stored memory setting will have an associated Easy Exit
and Easy Entry position. The Easy Exit and Easy Entry
feature may be automatically disabled if the seat is
positioned rearward enough and there is no benefit in
moving the seat any farther rearward.
NOTE:The Easy Entry/Easy Exit feature can be en-
abled or disabled through the programmable features in
the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC). Refer
to “Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)/
Customer-Programmable Features” in “Understanding
Your Instrument Panel” for further information.
TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE HOOD
To 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
120 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

2. Reach into the opening beneath the center of the hood
and push the safety latch lever from right to left 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!
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.
LIGHTS
The headlight switch is located on the left side of the
instrument panel, next to the steering wheel. The head-
light switch controls the operation of the headlights,Safety Latch (1500 Series Shown)
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 121

parking lights, instrument panel lights, cargo lights and
fog lights (if equipped).Your vehicle is equipped with plastic headlight and fog
light (if equipped) lenses that are lighter and less suscep-
tible to stone breakage than glass lights. 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.
CAUTION!
Do not use abrasive cleaning components, solvents,
steel wool or other abrasive materials to clean the
lenses.
Headlight Switch Location
122 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE