2011 RAM CHASSIS CAB sensor

▫ Driver And Right Front Passenger
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) –
Airbag ............................. 49
▫ Airbag System Components .............. 51
▫ Advanced Front Airbag Features .......... 51
▫ Airbag Deployment Sensors And Controls . . . 54
▫ Event Data Recorder (EDR) .............. 59
▫ Child Restraints ...................... 60  Engine Break-In Recommendations .......... 71
 Safety Tips ........................... 72
▫ Transporting Passengers ................ 72
▫ Exhaust Gas ......................... 73
▫ Safety Checks You Should Make Inside The
Vehicle ............................. 73
▫ Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make
Outside The Vehicle ................... 76
2 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 11

mounted in the instrument panel, above the glove com-
partment. The words SRS AIRBAG are embossed on the
airbag covers.
NOTE: These airbags are certified to the new Federal
regulations for Advanced Airbags. The Advanced Front Airbags have a multistage inflator
design. This allows the airbag to have different rates of
inflation based on the severity and type of collision.
This vehicle may be equipped with driver and/or front
passenger seat track position sensors that may adjust the
inflation rate of the Advanced Front Airbags based upon
seat position.
This vehicle may be equipped with a driver and/or front
passenger seat belt buckle switch that detects whether
the driver or front passenger seat belt is fastened. The
seat belt buckle switch may adjust the inflation rate of the
Advanced Front Airbags.
NOTE:
• Airbag covers may not be obvious in the interior trim;
but they will open during airbag deployment.
• After any accident, the vehicle should be taken to an
authorized dealer immediately.Advanced Front Airbag and Knee Bolster Locations1 — Driver and Passenger Advanced
Front Airbags (if equipped) 2 — Knee Boltser50 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Airbag System Components
Your vehicle may be equipped with the following airbag
system components:
• Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
• Airbag Warning Light
• Steering Wheel and Column
• Instrument Panel
• Knee Impact Bolster
• Driver Advanced Front Airbag
• Passenger Advanced Front Airbag
• Front Seat Belt Pretensioners, Seat Belt Buckle Switch,
and Seat Track Position Sensors Advanced Front Airbag Features
The Advanced Front Airbag system has multistage driver
and front passenger (if equipped) airbags. This system
provides output appropriate to the severity and type of
collision as determined by the Occupant Restraint Con-
troller (ORC).
The first stage inflator is triggered immediately during an
impact that requires airbag deployment. The timing of
the second stage determines whether the output force is
low, medium, or high. If a low output is sufficient to meet
the need, the remaining gas in the inflator is expended.
WARNING!• No objects should be placed over or near the airbag
on the instrument panel, because any such objects
could cause harm if the vehicle is in a collision
severe enough to cause the airbag to inflate.
(Continued)2 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 51

Airbag Deployment Sensors and Controls
Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
The ORC is part of a Federally regulated safety system
required for this vehicle.
The ORC determines if deployment of the front airbags in
a frontal collision is required. Based on impact sensor
signals a central electronic ORC deploys the Advanced
Front Airbags, as required, depending on the severity
and type of impact.
Advanced Front Airbags are designed to provide addi-
tional protection by supplementing the seat belts in
certain frontal collisions depending on the severity and
type of collision. Advanced Front Airbags are not ex-
pected to reduce the risk of injury in rear, side or rollover
collisions.
The Advanced Front Airbags will not deploy in all frontal
collisions, including some that may produce substantial vehicle damage — for example, some pole collisions,
truck underrides, and angle offset collisions. On the other
hand, depending on the type and location of impact,
Advanced Front Airbags may deploy in crashes with
little vehicle front-end damage but that produce a severe
initial deceleration.
Because airbag sensors measure vehicle deceleration over
time, vehicle speed and damage by themselves are not
good indicators of whether or not an airbag should have
deployed.
Seat belts are necessary for your protection in all acci-
dents, and also are needed to help keep you in position,
away from an inflating airbag.
The ORC monitors the readiness of the electronic parts of
the airbag system whenever the ignition switch is in the
START or ON/RUN position. If the key is in the LOCK
position, in the ACC position, or not in the ignition, the
airbag system is not on and the airbags will not inflate.54 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Compass / Temperature Display
The compass readings indicate the direction the vehicle is
facing. The EVIC will display one of eight compass
readings and the outside temperature.
NOTE:
• The system will display the last known outside tem-
perature when starting the vehicle and may need to be
driven several minutes before the updated tempera-
ture is displayed. Engine temperature can also affect
the displayed temperature, therefore temperature
readings are not updated when the vehicle is not
moving.
• During snowplow usage on vehicles equipped with
outside temperature display, the display may show
higher temperatures than the outside ambient tem-
perature. The higher displayed temperature is due to
blocked or reduced airflow to the underhood ambient temperature sensor caused by the snowplow. In addi-
tion, on vehicles equipped with Automatic Tempera-
ture Control (ATC), it is suggested that the interior
cabin temperature be manually controlled should the
system not perform as desired while in automatic
mode. Both the outside temperature display and ATC
operation will return to normal when the snowplow is
removed.
Automatic Compass Calibration
This compass is self-calibrating, which eliminates the
need to manually reset the compass. When the vehicle is
new, the compass may appear erratic and the EVIC will
display CAL until the compass is calibrated. You may
also calibrate the compass by completing one or more
360–degree turns (in an area free from large metal or
metallic objects) until the CAL indicator displayed in the
EVIC turns off. The compass will now function normally.
4 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 203

NOTE: A good calibration requires a level surface and
an environment free from large metallic objects such as
buildings, bridges, underground cables, railroad tracks,
etc.
Manual Compass Calibration
If the compass appears erratic and the CAL indicator
does not appear in the EVIC display, you must put the
compass into the Calibration Mode manually, as follows:
1. Turn ON the ignition switch.
2. Press the UP or DOWN button until the System Setup
(Customer-Programmable Features) menu is reached,
then press the SELECT button.
3. Press the DOWN button until “Calibrate Compass” is
displayed in the EVIC.
4. Press and release the SELECT button to start the
calibration. The “CAL” indicator will be displayed in the
EVIC. 5. Complete one or more 360–degree turns (in an area
free from large metal or metallic objects) until the “CAL”
indicator turns off. The compass will now function
normally.
Compass Variance
Compass Variance is the difference between Magnetic
North and Geographic North. To compensate for the
differences the variance should be set for the zone where
the vehicle is driven, per the zone map. Once properly
set, the compass will automatically compensate for the
differences, and provide the most accurate compass
heading. For the most accurate compass performance, the
compass must be set using the following steps.
NOTE: Keep magnetic materials away from the top of
the instrument panel, such as iPod’s, Cell Phones, Lap-
tops and Radar Detectors. This is where the compass
module is located, and it can cause interference with the
compass sensor, and it may give false readings.204 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

NOTE: If you experience difficulty in playing a particu-
lar disc, it may be damaged (i.e., scratched, reflective
coating removed, a hair, moisture or dew on the disc)
oversized, or have protection encoding. Try a known
good disc before considering disc player service.
RADIO OPERATION AND CELLULAR PHONES
Under certain conditions, the cellular phone being on in
your vehicle can cause erratic or noisy performance from
your radio. This condition may be lessened or eliminated
by relocating the cellular phone antenna. This condition
is not harmful to the radio. If your radio performance
does not satisfactorily “clear” by the repositioning of the
antenna, it is recommended that the radio volume be
turned down or off during cellular phone operation. CLIMATE CONTROLS
The Climate Control System allows you to regulate the
temperature, amount, and direction of air circulating
throughout the vehicle. The controls are located on the
instrument panel below the radio.
NOTE: During snowplow usage on vehicles equipped
with outside temperature display, the display may show
higher temperatures than the outside ambient tempera-
ture. The higher displayed temperature is due to blocked
or reduced airflow to the underhood ambient tempera-
ture sensor caused by the snowplow. In addition, on
vehicles equipped with Automatic Temperature Control
(ATC), it is suggested that the interior cabin temperature
be manually controlled should the system not perform as
desired while in automatic mode. Both the outside tem-
perature display and ATC operation will return to nor-
mal when the snowplow is removed.
4 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 247

NOTE: During snowplow usage on vehicles equipped
with outside temperature display, the display may show
higher temperatures than the outside ambient tempera-
ture. The higher displayed temperature is due to blocked
or reduced airflow to the underhood ambient tempera-
ture sensor caused by the snowplow. In addition, on
vehicles equipped with Automatic Temperature Control
(ATC), it is suggested that the interior cabin temperature
be manually controlled should the system not perform as
desired while in automatic mode. Both the outside tem-
perature display and ATC operation will return to nor-
mal when the snowplow is removed.
General Maintenance
Snowplows should be maintained in accordance with the
plow manufacturer’s instructions.
Keep all snowplow electrical connections and battery
terminals clean and free of corrosion. When plowing snow, to avoid transmission and drive-
train damage, the following precautions should be ob-
served.
• Operate with transfer case in 4L when plowing small
or congested areas where speeds are not likely to
exceed 15 mph (24 km/h). At higher speeds operate in
4H.
• Vehicles with automatic transmissions should use 4L
range when plowing deep or heavy snow for extended
periods of time to avoid transmission overheating.
• Do not shift the transmission unless the engine has
returned to idle and wheels have stopped. Make a
practice of stepping on the brake pedal before shifting
the transmission.
5 STARTING AND OPERATING 343