2012 RAM CHASSIS CAB manual transmission

Information Center (EVIC)/Customer-Programmable
Features (System Setup)” in “Understanding Your Instru-
ment Panel”.
DOOR LOCKS
Manual Door Locks
Front and rear doors may be locked by moving the lock
knob down or unlocked by moving the lock knob up.
Front doors may be opened with the inside door handle
without lifting the lock knob.
Doors locked before closing will remain locked when
closed.
The emergency key will unlock the driver door lock on
your vehicle. WARNING!• Do not leave children or animals inside parked
vehicles in hot weather. Interior heat build-up may
cause serious injury or death.
• For personal security and safety in the event of an
accident, lock the vehicle doors as you drive as
well as when you park and leave the vehicle.
• Before exiting a vehicle, always apply the parking
brake, shift the transmission into PARK, and re-
move the key fob from the ignition. When leaving
the vehicle, always lock your vehicle.
• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle.
(Continued)30 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

STARTING AND OPERATINGCONTENTS  Starting Procedures .................... 273
▫ Normal Starting ..................... 273
▫ Automatic Transmission ............... 273
▫ Extreme Cold Weather
(Below –20°F Or  29°C) ............... 274
▫ If Engine Fails To Start ................ 274
▫ After Starting ....................... 275
 Engine Block Heater — If Equipped ........ 275
 Automatic Transmission ................. 276
▫ Key Ignition Park Interlock ............. 278 ▫ Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . 278
▫ Six–Speed Automatic Transmission
(5.7L Engine) — If Equipped ............ 278
 Four-Wheel Drive Operation — If Equipped . . 288
▫ Manually Shifted Transfer Case – If
Equipped .......................... 288
▫ Shifting Procedure – Manually Shifted
Transfer Case ....................... 290
▫ Transfer Case Position Indicator Light ...... 291
5

The transmission shift lever has only PARK, REVERSE,
NEUTRAL, and DRIVE shift positions. Manual down-
shifts can be made using the Electronic Range Select
(ERS) shift control (refer to “Electronic Range Select
(ERS)” in this section). Pressing the ERS (-/+) switches on
the shift lever while in the DRIVE position will select the
highest available transmission gear, and will display that
gear in the instrument cluster as 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
Gear Ranges
DO NOT race the engine when shifting from PARK or
NEUTRAL into another gear range.
PARK
This range supplements the parking brake by locking the
transmission. The engine can be started in this range.
Never attempt to use PARK while vehicle is in motion.
Apply the parking brake when leaving vehicle in this
range. When parking on a level surface, you may place the shift
lever in the PARK position first, and then apply the
parking brake.
When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake before
placing the shift lever in PARK, otherwise the load on the
transmission locking mechanism may make it difficult to
move the shift lever out of PARK. As an added precau-
tion, turn the front wheels toward the curb on a downhill
grade and away from the curb on an uphill grade
WARNING!• Never use the PARK position as a substitute for
the parking brake. Always apply the parking
brake fully when parked to guard against vehicle
movement and possible injury or damage.
(Continued)
5 STARTING AND OPERATING 279

If necessary, add fluid to restore to the proper indicated
level. With a clean cloth, wipe any spilled fluid from all
surfaces. Refer to “Fluids, Lubricants, and Genuine
Parts” in “Maintaining Your Vehicle” for further
information.
PARKING BRAKE
Before leaving the vehicle, make sure that the parking
brake is fully applied, the engine is off and the key fob is
removed from the ignition switch. Also, be certain to
leave an automatic transmission in PARK, or manual
transmission in REVERSE or first gear.
The foot operated parking brake is located below the
lower left corner of the instrument panel. To apply the
park brake, firmly push the park brake pedal fully. To
release the parking brake, pull the parking brake release
handle. When the parking brake is applied with the ignition
switch ON, the “Brake Warning Light” in the instrument
cluster will illuminate. Parking Brake Release304 STARTING AND OPERATING

NOTE:
• When the parking brake is applied and the automatic
transmission is placed in gear, the “Brake Warning
Light” will flash. If vehicle speed is detected, a chime
will sound to alert the driver. Fully release the parking
brake before attempting to move the vehicle.
• This light only shows that the parking brake is ap-
plied. It does not show the degree of brake application.
When parking on a hill, it is important to turn the front
wheels toward the curb on a downhill grade and away
from the curb on an uphill grade. For vehicles equipped
with an automatic transmission, apply the parking brake
before placing the shift lever in PARK, otherwise the load
on the transmission locking mechanism may make it
difficult to move the shift lever out of PARK.
The parking brake should always be applied whenever
the driver is not in the vehicle. 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
seriously or fatally injured.
• Do not leave the key fob in the vehicle. A child
could operate power windows, other controls, or
move the vehicle.
• Be sure the parking brake is fully disengaged
before driving; failure to do so can lead to brake
failure and a collision.
• Always fully apply the parking brake when leav-
ing your vehicle or it may roll and cause damage or
injury. Also, be certain to leave an automatic
transmission in PARK, a manual transmission in
REVERSE or first gear. Failure to do so may cause
the vehicle to roll and cause damage or injury.
5 STARTING AND OPERATING 305

Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer Weight Ratings)
CHASSIS CAB 3500
ST/SLT/Laramie
5.7L HEMI  V8 5-Speed Automatic Transmission Towing: 10,850 lbs (4921 kg) - max
Payload: 6,520 lbs (2957 kg) - max
6.7L Cummins  Turbo Diesel I-6 6-Speed Manual
Transmission Towing: 18,750 lbs (8505 kg) - max
Payload: 5,910 lbs (2681 kg) - max
6.7L Cummins  Turbo Diesel I-6 6-Speed Automatic
Transmission Towing: 18,700 lbs (8482 kg) - max
Payload: 5,850 lbs (2653 kg) - max
CHASSIS CAB 4500
ST/SLT/Laramie
6.7L Cummins  Turbo Diesel I-6 6-Speed Manual
Transmission Towing: 18,350 lbs (8323 kg) - max
Payload: 8,880 lbs (4028 kg) - max
6.7L Cummins  Turbo Diesel I-6 6-Speed AISIN Au-
tomatic Transmission Towing: 18,300 lbs (8301 kg) - max
Payload: 8,830 lbs (4005 kg) - max348 STARTING AND OPERATING

CHASSIS CAB 5500
ST/SLT/Laramie
6.7L Cummins  Turbo Diesel I-6 6-Speed Manual
Transmission Towing: 18,300 lbs (8301 kg) - max
Payload: 11,820 lbs (5361 kg) - max
6.7L Cummins  Turbo Diesel I-6 6-Speed AISIN
Automatic Transmission Towing: 18,250 lbs (8278 kg) - max
Payload: 11,770 lbs (5339 kg) - max
NOTE: For additional trailer towing information (maxi-
mum trailer weight ratings) refer to the following website
addresses:
• http://www.ramtrucks.com .
• http://www.ramtruck.ca (Canada). Trailer And Tongue Weight
Always load a trailer with 60% to 65% of the weight in
the front of the trailer. This places 10% to 15% of the GTW
on the tow hitch of your vehicle. Loads balanced over the
wheels or heavier in the rear can cause the trailer to sway
severely side to side which will cause loss of control of
the vehicle and trailer. Failure to load trailers heavier in
front is the cause of many trailer collisions.
5 STARTING AND OPERATING 349

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.364 STARTING AND OPERATING