2020 Ram ProMaster City brake

156 SAFETY
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 bolts for tightness. Check the tires (including
spare) for proper cold inflation pressure.
Lights

Have someone observe the operation of brake lights and
exterior lights while you work the controls. Check turn signal
and high beam indicator lights on the instrument panel.

Door Latches
Check for proper closing, latching, and locking.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under the vehicle after overnight parking for
fuel, coolant, oil, or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline fumes
are detected or if fuel, or brake fluid leaks are suspected, the
cause should be located and corrected immediately.
• NEVER place any objects under the floor mat (e.g.,
towels, keys, etc.). These objects could change the posi -
tion of the floor mat and may cause interference with
the accelerator, brake, or clutch pedals.
• If the vehicle carpet has been removed and re-installed, always properly attach carpet to the floor and check the
floor mat fasteners are secure to the vehicle carpet.
Fully depress each pedal to check for interference with
the accelerator, brake, or clutch pedals then re-install
the floor mats.
• It is recommended to only use mild soap and water to clean your floor mats. After cleaning, always check
your floor mat has been properly installed and is
secured to your vehicle using the floor mat fasteners by
lightly pulling mat.
WARNING! (Continued)
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157
STARTING AND OPERATING
STARTING THE ENGINE
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust both
inside and outside mirrors, and fasten your seat belts.
Automatic Transmission
The gear selector must be in the PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
position before you can start the engine. Press the brake
pedal before shifting to any driving gear.
NOTE:
You must press the brake pedal before shifting out of PARK.
Normal Starting
NOTE:
Normal starting of either a cold or a warm engine is obtained
without pumping or pressing the accelerator pedal.
Turn the ignition switch to the AVV (START) position and
release it when the engine starts. If the engine fails to start
within 10 seconds, turn the ignition switch to the STOP
(OFF/LOCK) position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the
“Normal Starting” procedure.
WARNING!
• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
• Allowing children to be in a vehicle unattended is dangerous for a number of reasons. A child or others
could be seriously or fatally injured. Children should
be warned not to touch the parking brake, brake pedal
or the transmission gear selector.
• Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle (or in a location accessible to children). A child could operate
power windows, other controls, or move the vehicle.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 161
NOTE:
A new engine may consume some oil during its first few
thousand miles (kilometers) of operation. This should be
considered a normal part of the break-in and not interpreted
as a problem. Please check your oil level with the engine oil
indicator often during the break in period. Add oil as
required.
PARKING BRAKE
Before leaving the vehicle, make sure that the parking brake
is fully applied. Also, be certain to leave an automatic trans-
mission in PARK, or manual transmission in REVERSE or
first gear.
The parking brake lever is located in the center console. To
apply the parking brake, pull the lever up as firmly as
possible. To release the parking brake, pull the lever up
slightly, press the center button, then lower the lever
completely. Parking Brake
When the parking brake is applied with the ignition switch
in the ON position, the “Brake Warning Light” in the instru-
ment cluster will illuminate.
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162 STARTING AND OPERATING
(Continued)
NOTE:
• When the parking brake is applied and the automatictransmission 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 applied. 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 gear selector in PARK, otherwise the load on the
transmission locking mechanism may make it difficult to
move the gear selector out of PARK. The parking brake
should always be applied whenever the driver is not in the
vehicle.
WARNING!
• When exiting the vehicle, always remove the key fob from the ignition and lock your vehicle.
• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.

• Allowing children to be in a vehicle unattended is dangerousfor a number of reasons. A child or others could be seriously
or fatally injured. Children should be warned not to touch
the parking brake, brake pedal or the gear selector.

• Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle, or in a location accessible to children. 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 leaving 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.
CAUTION!
If the Brake System Warning Light remains on with the
parking brake released, a brake system malfunction is
indicated. Have the brake system serviced by an
authorized dealer immediately.
WARNING! (Continued)
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STARTING AND OPERATING 163
(Continued)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NOTE:
You must press and hold the brake pedal while shifting out
of PARK.
WARNING!
• It is dangerous to shift out of PARK or NEUTRAL if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If your foot is
not firmly pressing the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You could lose
control of the vehicle and hit someone or something.
Only shift into gear when the engine is idling normally
and your foot is firmly pressing the brake pedal.
• Unintended movement of a vehicle could injure those in or near the vehicle. As with all vehicles, you should
never exit a vehicle while the engine is running. Before
exiting a vehicle always come to a complete stop, then
apply the parking brake, shift the transmission into
PARK, turn the engine OFF, and remove the ignition
key. Once the key is removed, the transmission is
locked in PARK, securing the vehicle against unwanted
movement.
• When leaving the vehicle, always remove the ignition key from the vehicle and lock the vehicle.• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with accessto an unlocked vehicle. Allowing children to be in a
vehicle unattended is dangerous for a number of
reasons. A child or others could be seriously or fatally
injured. Children should be warned not to touch the
parking brake, brake pedal or the transmission gear
selector.
• Do not leave the ignition key in or near the vehicle (or in a location accessible to children). A child could
operate power windows, other controls, or move the
vehicle.
CAUTION!
• Shift into or out of PARK or REVERSE only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop.
• Do not shift between PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL, or DRIVE when the engine is above idle speed.
• Before shifting into any gear, make sure your foot is firmly pressing the brake pedal.
WARNING! (Continued)
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164 STARTING AND OPERATING
Key Ignition Park Interlock
This vehicle is equipped with a Key Ignition Park Interlock
which requires the transmission to be in PARK before the
ignition can be turned to the full STOP (OFF/LOCK) (key
removal) position. The key can only be removed from the
ignition when the ignition is in the STOP (OFF/LOCK) posi-
tion, and once removed, the transmission is locked in PARK.
Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System
This vehicle is equipped with a Brake Transmission Shift
Interlock system (BTSI) that holds the transmission gear
selector in PARK unless the brakes are applied. To shift the
transmission out of PARK, the ignition must be in the MAR/
RUN mode (engine running or not) and the brake pedal
must be pressed.
The brake pedal must also be pressed to shift from
NEUTRAL into DRIVE or REVERSE when the vehicle is
stopped or moving at low speeds.
Nine-Speed Automatic Transmission
The transmission gear range (PRND) is displayed both
beside the gear selector and in the instrument cluster. To
select a gear range, press the lock button on the gear selector
and move the lever rearward or forward. You must also press the brake pedal to shift the transmission out of PARK
(or NEUTRAL, when the vehicle is stopped or moving at low
speeds). Select the DRIVE range for normal driving.
NOTE:
In the event of a mismatch between the gear selector position
and the actual transmission gear (for example, driver selects
REVERSE while driving forward), the position indicator will
blink continuously until the selector is returned to the proper
position, or the requested shift can be completed.
The electronically-controlled transmission adapts its shift
schedule based on driver inputs, along with environmental
and road conditions. The transmission electronics are
self-calibrating; therefore, the first few shifts on a new
vehicle may be somewhat abrupt. This is a normal condition,
and precision shifts will develop within a few hundred miles
or kilometers.
The nine-speed transmission has been developed to meet the
needs of current and future FWD/AWD vehicles. Software
and calibration is refined to optimize the customer’s driving
experience and fuel economy. By design, some vehicle and
driveline combinations utilize 9th gear only in very specific
driving situations and conditions.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 165
Only shift from DRIVE to PARK or REVERSE when the
accelerator pedal is released and the vehicle is stopped. Be
sure to keep your foot on the brake pedal when shifting
between these gears.
The transmission gear selector provides PARK, REVERSE,
NEUTRAL, DRIVE, and Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift
positions. Manual downshifts can be made using the ERS
shift control. Moving the gear selector into the ERS (-/+)
position (beside the DRIVE position) activates ERS mode,
displays the current gear in the instrument cluster, and
prevents automatic upshifts beyond this gear. In ERS mode,
toggling the gear selector forward (-) or rearward (+) will
change the highest available gear. Refer to "Electronic Range
Select (ERS) Operation" in this section for further informa-
tion.
NOTE:
If the gear selector cannot be moved to the PARK, REVERSE,
or NEUTRAL position (when pushed forward) it is probably
in the ERS (+/-) position (beside the DRIVE position). In ERS
mode, the transmission gear limit (1, 2, 3, etc.) is displayed in
the instrument cluster. Move the gear selector to the right
(into the DRIVE [D] position) for access to PARK, REVERSE,
and NEUTRAL. Gear Selector
Gear Ranges
Do not depress the accelerator pedal when shifting from
PARK or NEUTRAL into another gear range.
NOTE:
After selecting any gear range, wait a moment to allow the
selected gear to engage before accelerating. This is especially
important when the engine is cold.
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166 STARTING AND OPERATING
(Continued)
PARK (P)
This range supplements the parking brake by locking the
transmission. The engine can be started in this range. Never
attempt to use PARK while the vehicle is in motion. Apply
the parking brake when exiting the vehicle in this range.
When parking on a level surface, you may shift the transmis-
sion into PARK first, and then apply the parking brake.
When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake before
shifting the transmission to PARK, otherwise the load on the
transmission locking mechanism may make it difficult to
move the gear selector out of PARK. As an added precaution,
turn the front wheels toward the curb on a downhill grade
and away from the curb on an uphill grade.
When exiting the vehicle, always:
• Apply the parking brake,
• Shift the transmission into PARK,
• Turn the engine OFF, and
• Remove the ignition key.WARNING!
• Never use the PARK position as a substitute for the parking brake. Always apply the parking brake fully
when exiting the vehicle to guard against vehicle move -
ment and possible injury or damage.
• Your vehicle could move and injure you and others if it is not in PARK. Check by trying to move the gear
selector out of PARK with the brake pedal released.
Make sure the transmission is in PARK before exiting
the vehicle.
• It is dangerous to shift out of PARK or NEUTRAL if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If your foot is
not firmly pressing the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You could lose
control of the vehicle and hit someone or something.
Only shift into gear when the engine is idling normally
and your foot is firmly pressing the brake pedal.
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