Dodge Chassis Cab (2012 year). Instruction

STARTING AND OPERATING

CONTENTS

䡵 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

䡵 Engine Block Heater — If Equipped . . . . . . . . 275

䡵 Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276

▫ Key Ignition Park Interlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
▫ Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . 278
▫ Six–Speed Automatic Transmission

(5.7L Engine) — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . 278

䡵 Four-Wheel Drive Operation — If Equipped . . 288

▫ Instructionly Shifted Transfer Case – If

Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288

▫ Shifting Procedure – Instructionly Shifted

Transfer Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290

▫ Transfer Case Position Indicator Light . . . . . . 291
▫ Electronically Shifted Transfer Case

(Four-Position Switch) – If Equipped . . . . . . . 292

▫ Shifting Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296

䡵 Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
䡵 Driving On Slippery Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299

▫ Acceleration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
▫ Traction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299

䡵 Driving Through Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300

▫ Flowing/Rising Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
▫ Shallow Standing Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300

䡵 Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302

▫ Power Steering Fluid Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303

䡵 Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
䡵 Brake System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306

▫ Four-Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System . . . . . . . 307

䡵 Tire Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309

▫ Tire Markings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) . . . . . . . . . 312
▫ Tire Terminology And Definitions . . . . . . . . . 313
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . 314

䡵 Tires — General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318

▫ Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
▫ Radial Ply Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324

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STARTING AND OPERATING

▫ Spare Tire Matching Original Equipped Tire

And Wheel – If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324

▫ Compact Spare Tire – If Equipped . . . . . . . . 325
▫ Full Size Spare – If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
▫ Limited-Use Spare – If Equipped . . . . . . . . . 326
▫ Tire Spinning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
▫ Tread Wear Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
▫ Life Of Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
▫ Replacement Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328

䡵 Supplemental Tire Pressure Information — If

Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330

䡵 Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
䡵 Snow Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332

䡵 Tire Rotation Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . 333

▫ Dual Rear Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334

䡵 Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335

▫ Reformulated Gasoline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
▫ E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles . . . . . . 336
▫ MMT In Gasoline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
▫ Materials Added To Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
▫ Fuel System Cautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . 339

䡵 Adding Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340

▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message . . . . . . . . . . . 341

STARTING AND OPERATING

271

䡵 Vehicle Loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342

▫ Certification Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342

䡵 Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344

▫ Common Towing Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
▫ Trailer Hitch Classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
▫ Trailer Towing Weights

(Maximum Trailer Weight Ratings) . . . . . . . . 348

▫ Trailer And Tongue Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
▫ Towing Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
▫ Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357

䡵 Snowplow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358

▫ Before Plowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359

▫ Snowplow Prep Package

Model Availability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359

▫ Over The Road Operation With Snowplow

Attached . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360

▫ Operating Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
▫ General Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361

䡵 Recreational Towing

(Behind Motorhome, Etc.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362

▫ Towing This Vehicle

Behind Another Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362

▫ Recreational Towing – Two-Wheel Drive

Models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363

▫ Recreational Towing – Four-Wheel Drive

Models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364

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STARTING AND OPERATING

STARTING PROCEDURES

Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust both
inside and outside mirrors, and fasten your seat belt.

The starter should not be operated for more than 15-
second intervals. Waiting a few seconds between such
intervals will protect the starter from overheating.

WARNING!

Never leave children alone in a vehicle. Leaving
children in a vehicle unattended is dangerous for a
number of reasons. A child or others could be seri-
ously or fatally injured. Children should be warned
not to touch the parking brake, brake pedal or the
shift lever. Do not leave the key fob in the vehicle. A
child could operate power windows, other controls,
or move the vehicle.

Normal Starting

Normal starting of either a warm or cold engine is
obtained without pumping or pressing the accelerator
pedal. Turn the key fob to the START position and release
when the engine starts. If the engine fails to start within
10 seconds, turn the key fob to the OFF position, wait five
seconds, then repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.

Automatic Transmission

Start the engine with the shift lever in the NEUTRAL or
PARK position. Apply the brake before shifting into any
driving range.

NOTE:

This vehicle is equipped with a transmission

shift interlocking system. The brake pedal must be
pressed to shift out of PARK.

STARTING AND OPERATING

273

Tip Start Feature
Do not

press the accelerator. Turn the ignition switch

briefly to the START position and release it. The starter
motor will continue to run but will automatically disen-
gage when the engine is running.

Extreme Cold Weather (Below –20°F or

⫺

29°C)

To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of
an externally powered electric engine block heater (avail-
able from your authorized dealer) is recommended.

If Engine Fails To Start

If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
“Normal Starting” procedure, it may be flooded. Push
the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and hold it
there while cranking the engine. This should clear any
excess fuel in case the engine is flooded.

CAUTION!

To prevent damage to the starter, do not crank the
engine for more than 15 seconds at a time. Wait 10 to
15 seconds before trying again.

WARNING!

• Never pour fuel or other flammable liquids into

the throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to
start the vehicle. This could result in a flash fire
causing serious personal injury.

• Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get

it started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic
transmission cannot be started this way. Unburned
fuel could enter the catalytic converter and once
the engine has started, ignite and damage the
converter and vehicle.

(Continued)

274

STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING! (Continued)

• If the vehicle has a discharged battery, booster

cables may be used to obtain a start from a booster
battery or the battery in another vehicle. This type
of start can be dangerous if done improperly. Refer
to “Jump Starting” in “What To Do In Emergen-
cies” for further information.

If the engine has been flooded, it may start to run, but not
have enough power to continue running when the key
fob is released. If this occurs, continue cranking with the
accelerator pedal pushed all the way to the floor. Release
the accelerator pedal and the key fob once the engine is
running smoothly.

If the engine shows no sign of starting after two 15-
second periods of cranking with the accelerator pedal
held to the floor, the “Normal Starting” procedure should
be repeated.

After Starting

The idle speed is automatically controlled and will de-
crease as the engine warms up.

ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED

The engine block heater warms the engine, and permits
quicker starts in cold weather. Connect the cord to a
standard 110-115 Volt AC electrical outlet with a
grounded, three-wire extension cord.

3500 Models — 5.7L Engine Only
The engine block heater cord is routed through the grille
by the right front tow hook.

It includes a removable cap that is secured by a tethered
strap. It also has a c-clip that is used for storage when not
in use for the winter months. During winter months,
remove the heater cord wiring assembly from itself on
the c-clip.

STARTING AND OPERATING

275

The engine block heater must be plugged in at least one
hour to have an adequate warming effect on the engine.

WARNING!

Remember to disconnect the engine block heater
cord before driving. Damage to the 110-115 Volt
electrical cord could cause electrocution.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CAUTION!

Damage to the transmission may occur if the follow-
ing precautions are not observed:
• Shift into PARK only after the vehicle has come to

a complete stop.

(Continued)

CAUTION! (Continued)

• Shift into or out of REVERSE only after the

vehicle has come to a complete stop and the engine
is at idle speed.

• Do not shift between PARK, REVERSE, NEU-

TRAL, or DRIVE when the engine is above idle
speed.

• Before shifting into any gear, make sure your foot

is firmly pressing the brake pedal.

276

STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING!

• 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 apply the
parking brake, shift the transmission into PARK,
and remove the key fob. Once the key fob is
removed, the shift lever is locked in the PARK
position, securing the vehicle against unwanted
movement. Furthermore, you should never leave
unattended children inside a vehicle.

(Continued)

WARNING! (Continued)

• Leaving children in a vehicle unattended is dan-

gerous 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 shift lever. Do not leave the key
fob in the vehicle. A child could operate power
windows, other controls, or move the vehicle.

• It is dangerous to move the shift lever 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
when your foot is firmly pressing the brake pedal.

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277

Key Ignition Park Interlock

This vehicle is equipped with a Key Ignition Park Inter-
lock which requires the shift lever to be placed in PARK
before the ignition switch can be turned to the LOCK/
OFF position. The key fob can only be removed from the
ignition when the ignition is in the LOCK/OFF position,
and once removed the shift lever is locked in PARK.

Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System

This vehicle is equipped with a Brake Transmission Shift
Interlock System (BTSI) that holds the shift lever in the
PARK position unless the brakes are applied. To move
the shift lever out of the PARK position, the ignition
switch must be turned to the ON/RUN position (engine
running or not) and the brake pedal must be pressed.

Six–Speed Automatic Transmission
(5.7L Engine) — If Equipped

The shift lever position display (located in the instrument
panel cluster) indicates the transmission gear range. The

shift lever is mounted on the right side of the steering
column. You must press the brake pedal to move the shift
lever out of the PARK position (refer to “Brake/
Transmission Shift Interlock System” in this section). To
drive, move the shift lever from PARK or NEUTRAL to
the DRIVE position. Pull the shift lever toward you when
shifting into REVERSE or PARK, or when shifting out of
PARK.

The electronically-controlled transmission provides a
precise shift schedule. 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 (kilometers).

Shifting from DRIVE to PARK or REVERSE should be
done only after the accelerator pedal is released and the
vehicle is stopped. Be sure to keep your foot on the brake
pedal when moving the shift lever between these gears.

278

STARTING AND OPERATING

The transmission shift lever has only PARK, REVERSE,
NEUTRAL, and DRIVE shift positions. Instruction 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)

STARTING AND OPERATING

279

WARNING! (Continued)

• Your vehicle could move and injure you and others

if it is not completely in PARK. Check by trying to
move the shift lever clockwise without first pull-
ing it toward you after you have placed it in PARK.
Make sure the transmission is in PARK before
leaving the vehicle.

• It is dangerous to move the shift lever out of PARK

(Continued)

WARNING! (Continued)

• Unintended movement of a vehicle could injure

those in and near the vehicle. As with all vehicles,
you should never exit a vehicle while the engine is
running. Before exiting a vehicle, always apply the
parking brake, shift the transmission into PARK,
and remove the key fob. Once the key fob is
removed, the shift lever is locked in the PARK
position, securing the vehicle against unwanted
movement. Furthermore, you should never leave
unattended children inside a vehicle.

• 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.

280

STARTING AND OPERATING

CAUTION!

• Before moving the shift lever out of PARK, you

must turn the ignition switch from the LOCK/OFF
position to the ON/RUN position, and also press
the brake pedal. Otherwise, damage to the shift
lever could result.

• DO NOT race the engine when shifting from

PARK or NEUTRAL into another gear range, as
this can damage the drivetrain.

The following indicators should be used to ensure that
you have engaged the shift lever into the PARK position:

• When shifting into PARK, pull the shift lever toward

you and move it all the way counterclockwise until it
stops.

• Release the shift lever and make sure it is fully seated

in the PARK gate.

• Look at the shift lever position display and verify that

it indicates the PARK position.

• With brake pedal released, verify that the shift lever

will not move out of PARK.

REVERSE
This range is for moving the vehicle rearward. Use this
range only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop.

NEUTRAL
Use this range when the vehicle is standing for prolonged
periods with the engine running. The engine may be
started in this range. Set the parking brake and shift the
transmission into PARK if you must leave the vehicle.

STARTING AND OPERATING

281

WARNING!

Do not coast in NEUTRAL and never turn off the
ignition to coast down a hill. These are unsafe
practices that limit your response to changing traffic
or road conditions. You might lose control of the
vehicle and have a collision.

CAUTION!

Towing the vehicle, coasting, or driving for any other
reason with the transmission in NEUTRAL can result
in severe transmission damage. Refer to “Recre-
ational Towing” in “Starting And Operating” and
“Towing A Disabled Vehicle” in “What To Do In
Emergencies” for further information.

DRIVE
This range should be used for most city and highway
driving. It provides the smoothest upshifts and down-
shifts, and the best fuel economy. The transmission
automatically upshifts through underdrive first, second,
and third gears, direct fourth gear and overdrive fifth and
sixth gears. The DRIVE position provides optimum driv-
ing characteristics under all normal operating conditions.

When frequent transmission shifting occurs (such as
when operating the vehicle under heavy loading condi-
tions, in hilly terrain, traveling into strong head winds, or
while towing heavy trailers), use the Electronic Range
Select (ERS) feature (refer to “Electronic Range Select
(ERS)” in this section) to select a lower gear range. Under
these conditions, using a lower gear range will improve
performance and extend transmission life by reducing
excessive shifting and heat buildup.

282

STARTING AND OPERATING

If the transmission operating temperature exceeds normal
operating limits, the powertrain controller will modify the
transmission shift schedule and expand the range of
torque converter clutch engagement. This is done to
prevent transmission damage due to overheating.

If the transmission becomes extremely hot, the “Trans-
mission Temperature Warning Light” may illuminate and
the transmission may downshift out of Overdrive until
the transmission cools down.

NOTE:

Use caution when operating a heavily loaded

vehicle at low speeds (such as towing a trailer up a steep
grade, or in stop-and-go traffic) during hot weather. In
these conditions, torque converter slip can impose a
significant additional heat load on the cooling system.
Downshifting the transmission to the lowest possible
gear (when climbing a grade), or shifting to NEUTRAL
(when stopped in heavy traffic) can help to reduce this
excess heat generation.

During cold temperatures, transmission operation may
be modified depending on engine and transmission
temperature as well as vehicle speed. This feature im-
proves warm up time of the engine and transmission to
achieve maximum efficiency. Engagement of both the
torque converter clutch and the top overdrive gear are
inhibited until the transmission fluid is warm (refer to the
“Note” under “Torque Converter Clutch” in this section).
During extremely cold temperatures (-16°F [-27°C] or
below), operation may briefly be limited to first and
direct gears only. Normal operation will resume once the
transmission temperature has risen to a suitable level.

Transmission Limp Home Mode
Transmission function is monitored electronically for
abnormal conditions. If a condition is detected that could
result in transmission damage, Transmission Limp Home
Mode is activated. In this mode, the transmission remains
in fourth gear regardless of which forward gear is
selected. PARK, REVERSE, and NEUTRAL will continue

STARTING AND OPERATING

283

Dodge Chassis Cab (2012 year). Instruction - part 17