2006 Dodge Dakota Owners Manual

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Setting the Tone, Balance, and Fade Press the rotary TUNE control and BASS will display. Turn the TUNE control to the right or left to increase or decrease the Bass tones. Press the rotary TUNE control a second time and MID will display. Turn the TUNE control to the right or left to increase or decrease the Mid Range tones. Press the rotary TUNE control a third time and TREBLE will display. Turn the TUNE control to the right or left to increase or decrease the Treble tones. Press the rotary TUNE control a fourth time and BAL- ANCE will display. Turn the TUNE control to the right or left to adjust the sound level from the right or left side speakers. INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS 171 Press the rotary TUNE control a fifth time and FADE will display. Turn the TUNE control to the left or right to adjust the sound level between the front and rear speak- ers. Press the rotary TUNE control again to exit setting tone, balance and fade. RND/PTY Button (Radio Mode) Pressing this button once will turn on the PTY mode for 5 seconds. If no action is taken during the 5 second time out the PTY icon will turn off. Pressing the PTY button or turning the TUNE rotary knob within 5 seconds will allow the program format type to be selected. Many radio stations do not currently broadcast PTY information. 172 INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS Toggle the PTY button to select the following format types: Program Type 16 Digit-Character Display No program type or undefined Adult Hits Alert Alert Classical Classic Rock College Country Emergency Test Foreign Language Information Jazz News Nostalgia None Adult_Hits Alert Alert Classical Classic_Rock College Country Emergency Test Foreign_Language Information Jazz News Nostalgia Program Type Oldies Personality Public Rhythm and Blues Religious Music Religious Talk Rock Soft Soft Rock Soft Rhythm and Blues Sports Talk Top 40 Weather 16 Digit-Character Display Oldies Personality Public Rhythm_and_Blues Religious_Music Religious_Talk Rock Soft Soft_Rock Soft_R_&_B Sports Talk Top_40 Weather By pressing the SEEK button when the PTY icon is displayed, the radio will be tuned to the next frequency station with the same selected PTY name. The PTY function only operates when in the FM mode. If a preset button is activated while in the PTY (Program Type) mode, the PTY mode will be exited and the radio will tune to the preset station. SET/DIR Button (Radio Mode) — To Set the Push-Button Memory When you are receiving a station that you wish to commit to push-button memory, press the SET/DIR button. The symbol SET 1 will now show in the display window. Select the button (1-6) you wish to lock onto this station and press and release that button. If a button is not selected within 5 seconds after pressing the SET/DIR button, the station will continue to play but will not be stored into push-button memory. INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS 173 You may add a second station to each push-button by repeating the above procedure with this exception: Press the SET/DIR button twice and SET 2 will show in the display window. Each button can be set for SET 1 and SET 2 in both AM and FM. This allows a total of 12 AM,12 FM and 12 Satellite (if equipped) stations to be stored into push-button memory. The stations stored in SET 2 memory can be selected by pressing the push-button twice. Every time a preset button is used a corresponding button number will be displayed. Buttons 1 - 6 (Radio Mode) These buttons tune the Radio to the stations that you commit to push-button memory {12AM, 12 FM, and 12 Satellite (if equipped) stations}. 174 INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS Operation Instructions - (CD MODE for CD Audio Play) NOTE: The ignition switch must be in the ON or ACC position to operate the radio. NOTE: Note: This Radio is capable of playing compact discs (CD), recordable compact discs (CD-R), rewritable compact discs (CD-RW) compact discs with MP3 tracks and multisession compact discs with CD and MP3 tracks. Inserting Compact Disc(s) Gently insert one CD into the CD player with the CD label facing up. The CD will automatically be pulled into the CD Player and the CD icon will illuminate on the radio display. CAUTION! This CD player will accept 4 3/4 inch (12 cm) discs only. The use of other sized discs may damage the CD player mechanism. You may eject a disc with the radio OFF. If you insert a disc with the ignition ON and the radio ON, the unit will switch from radio to CD mode and begin to play when you insert the disc. The display will show the disc number, the track number, and index time in minutes and seconds. Play will begin at the start of track 1. SEEK Button (CD MODE for CD Audio Play) Press the right side of the SEEK button for the next selection on the CD. Press the left side of the button to return to the beginning of the current selection, or return to the beginning of the previous selection if the CD is within the first 10 seconds of the current selection. MUTE Button (CD MODE for CD Audio Play) Press the MUTE button to cancel the sound from the speakers. ⬙MUTE⬙ will be displayed. Press the MUTE button a second time and the sound from the speakers will return. Rotating the volume control, turning the radio ON/OFF, or turning OFF the ignition will also return the sound from the speakers. SCAN Button (CD MODE for CD Audio Play) Press the Scan button to scan through each track on the CD currently playing. INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS 175 LOAD/EJECT Button (CD Mode for CD Audio Play) LOAD/ EJECT - Load Press the LOAD/ EJECT button and the push- button with the corresponding number where the CD is being loaded. The radio will display PLEASE WAIT and prompt when to INSERT DISC. After the radio displays ⬙LOAD DISC⬙ insert the CD into the player. Radio display will show ⬙LOADING DISC⬙ when the disc is loading, and “READING DISC” when the radio is reading the disc. LOAD / EJT - Eject Press the LOAD/ EJT button and the push- button with the corresponding number where the CD was loaded and the disc will unload and move to the entrance for easy removal. 176 INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS Radio display will show ⬙EJECTING DISC⬙ when the disc is being ejected and prompt the user to remove the disc. Press and hold the LOAD/ EJT button for 5 seconds and all CDs will be ejected from the radio. If you have ejected a disc and have not removed it within 15 seconds, it will be reloaded. If the CD is not removed, the radio will continue to play the non-removed CD. If the CD is removed and there are other CD’s in the radio, the radio will play the next CD after a 2 minute timeout. If the CD is removed and there are no other CD’s in the radio, the radio will remain in CD mode and display ⬙INSERT DISC” for 10 seconds. If no discs are inserted within 10 seconds “NO DISCS LOADED” will be dis- played. On some vehicles a disc can be ejected with the radio and ignition OFF. TIME Button (CD MODE for CD Audio Play) Press this button to change the display from a large CD playing time display to a small CD playing time display. RW/FF (CD MODE for CD Audio Play) Press and hold FF (Fast Forward) and the CD player will begin to fast forward until FF is released or RW or another CD button is pressed. The RW (Reverse) button works in a similar manner. TUNE Control (CD MODE for CD Audio Play) Pressing the TUNE control allows the setting of the Tone, Fade, and Balance. See Radio Mode. AM/FM Button (CD MODE for CD Audio Play) Switches the Radio to the Radio mode. RND/PTY Button (Random Play Button) (CD MODE for CD Audio Play) Press this button while the CD is playing to activate Random Play. This feature plays the selections on the compact disc in random order to provide an interesting change of pace. Press the SEEK button to move to the next randomly selected track. Press and hold the FF button to fast forward through the tracks. Release the FF button to stop the fast forward feature. Press the RND button a second time to stop Random Play. Buttons 1 - 6 (CD MODE for CD Audio Play) Selects disc positions 1 - 6 for Play/Load/Eject. INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS 177 Notes On Playing MP3 Files The radio can play MP3 files, however, acceptable MP3 file recording media and formats are limited. When writing MP3 files, pay attention to the following restric- tions. Supported Media (Disc Types) The MP3 file recording media supported by the radio are CD-ROM, CD-R and CD-RW. Supported Medium Formats (File Systems) The medium formats supported by the radio are ISO 9660 Level 1 and Level 2 and includes the Joliet extension. When reading discs recorded using formats other than ISO 9660 Level 1 and Level 2, the radio may fail to read files properly and may be unable to play the file nor- mally. UDF and Apple HFS formats are not supported. The radio uses the following limits for file systems: • Maximum number of directory levels: 15 178 INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS • Maximum number of files: 255 • Maximum number of folders: 100 • Maximum number of characters in file/folder names: • Level 1: 12 (including a separator ⬙.⬙ and a • Level 2: 31 (including a separator 3-character extension) ⬙.⬙ and a 3-character extension) Multisession disc formats are supported by the radio. Multisession discs may contain combinations of normal CD audio tracks and computer files (including MP3 files). Discs created with an option such as ⬙keep disc open after writing⬙ are most likely multisession discs. The use of multisession for CD audio or MP3 playback may result in longer disc loading times. Supported MP3 File Formats The radio will recognize only files with the *.mp3 exten- sion as MP3 files. Non-MP3 files named with the *.mp3 extension may cause playback problems. The radio is designed to recognize the file as an invalid MP3 and will not play the file. When using the MP3 encoder to compress audio data to an MP3 file, the bit rate and sampling frequencies in the following table are supported. In addition, variable bit rates (VBR) are also supported. The majority of MP3 files use a 44.1 kHz sampling rate and a 192, 160, 128, 96 or VBR bit rates. MPEG Specification MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 MPEG-2 Audio Layer 3 Sampling 48, 44.1, 32 Frequency (kHz) Bit rate (kbps) 320, 256, 224, 192, 160, 128, 112, 96, 80, 64, 56, 48, 40, 32 160, 128, 144, 112, 96, 80, 64, 56, 48, 40, 32, 24, 24, 22.05, 16 16, 8 ID3 Tag information for artist, song title and album title are supported for version 1 ID3 tags. ID3 version 2 is not supported by the radios. Playlist files are not supported. MP3 Pro files are not supported. INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS 179 Playback of MP3 Files When a medium containing MP3 data is loaded, the radio checks all files on the medium. If the medium contains a lot of folders or files, the radio will take more time to start playing the MP3 files. Loading times for playback of MP3 files may be affected by the following: • Media - CD-RW media may take longer to load than • Medium formats - Multisession discs may take longer • Number of files and folders - Loading times will to load than non-multisession discs CD-R media increase with more files and folders To increase the speed of disc loading, it is recommended to use CD-R media and single-session discs. To create a single-session disc, enable the Disc at Once option before writing to the disc. 180 INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS Operation Instructions - (CD Mode for MP3 Audio Play) SEEK Button (CD Mode for MP3 Play) Pressing the right side of the SEEK button plays the next MP3 File. Pressing the left side of the SEEK button plays the beginning of the MP3 file. Pressing the button within the first ten seconds plays the previous file. LOAD/EJECT Button (CD Mode for MP3 Play) LOAD/ EJECT - Load Press the LOAD/ EJECT button and the push- button with the corresponding number where the CD is being loaded. The radio will display PLEASE WAIT and prompt when to INSERT DISC. After the radio displays ⬙LOAD DISC⬙ insert the CD into the player. Radio display will show ⬙LOADING DISC⬙ when the disc is loading. LOAD / EJECT - Eject Press the LOAD/ EJECT button and the push- button with the corresponding number where the CD was loaded and the disc will unload and move to the entrance for easy removal. Radio display will show ⬙EJECTING DISC⬙ when the disc is being ejected and prompt the user to remove the disc. If you have ejected a disc and have not removed it within 15 seconds, it will be reloaded. If the CD is not removed, the radio will continue to play the non-removed CD. If the CD is removed and there are other CD’s in the radio, the radio will play the next CD after a 2 minute timeout. If the CD is removed and there are no other CD’s in the radio, the radio will remain in CD mode and display ⬙INSERT DISC” for 2 minutes. After 2 minutes the radio will go to the previous tuner mode. MSG or INFO Button (CD Mode for MP3 Play) Press and MSG or INFO button while playing MP3 disc. The radio scrolls through the following TAG information: Song Title, Artist, File Name, and Folder Name (if avail- able). Press the MSG or INFO button once more to return to ⬙elapsed time⬙ priority mode. Press and hold the MSG or INFO button while in the message display priority mode or elapsed time display priority mode will display the song title for each file. RW/FF (CD Mode for MP3 Play) Press the FF side of the button to move forward through the MP3 selection. TUNE Control (CD Mode for MP3 Play) Pressing the TUNE Control allows the adjustment of Tone, Balance, and Fade. INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS 181 AM/FM Button (CD Mode for MP3 Play) Switches back to Radio mode. RND/ PTY Button (CD Mode for MP3 Play) Pressing this button plays files randomly. SET/DIR Button (CD Mode for MP3 Play) Press the SET/DIR Button to display folders, when playing an MP3 discs that have a file/folder structure. Turn the TUNE control to display available folders or move through available folders. Press the TUNE control to select a folder. Buttons 1 - 6 (CD Mode for MP3 Play) Selects disc positions 1 - 6 for Play/Load/Eject. Operating Instructions - Hands Free Phone (If Equipped) Refer to Hands Free Phone in Section 3 of the Owner’s Manual. 182 INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS Operating Instructions - Satellite Radio Mode (If Equipped) Refer to the Satellite Radio section of Manual. Operating Instructions - Video Entertainment System (VES威) (If Equipped) Refer to separate Video Entertainment System (VES威) Guide. the Owner’s SATELLITE RADIO — IF EQUIPPED Satellite radio uses direct satellite to receiver broadcast- ing technology to provide clear digital sound, coast to coast. The subscription service provider is Sirius™ Satel- lite Radio. This service offers over 100 channels of music, sports, news, entertainment, and programming for chil- dren, directly from its satellites and broadcasting studios. System Activation NOTE: Your vehicle’s radio must be on and in satellite mode when the activation process takes place. To activate your Sirius Satellite Radio service, call the toll-free number 888-539-7474, or visit the Sirius web site at www.sirius.com. Please have the following informa- tion available when activating your system: 1. The Electronic Serial Number/Sirius Identification Number (ESN/SID). 2. Credit card information. 3. Your Vehicle Identification Number. Electronic Serial Number/Sirius Identification Number (ESN/SID) The Electronic Serial Number/Sirius Identification Num- ber is needed to activate your Sirius Satellite Radio system. To access the ESN/SID, refer to the following steps: ESN/SID Access With REF Radios With the ignition switch in the ACCESSORY position and the radio OFF, press the CD Eject and Time buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds. The first four digits of the twelve-digit ESN/SID number will be displayed. Press the SEEK UP button to display the next four digits. Continue to press the SEEK UP button until all twelve ESN/SID digits have been displayed. The SEEK DOWN will page down until the first four digits are displayed. The radio will exit the ESN/SID mode when any other button is pushed, the ignition is turned OFF, or 5 minutes has passed since any button was pushed. INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS 183 ESN/SID Access With RAQ and RAK Radios With the ignition switch in the ACCESSORY position and the radio OFF, press the CD Eject and TIME buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds. All twelve ESN/SID num- bers will be displayed. The radio will exit the ESN/SID mode when any other button is pushed, the ignition is turned OFF, or 5 minutes has passed since any button was pushed. ESN/SID Access With REC Navigation Radios Please refer to your Navigation User’s Manual. With the ignition in the ACCESSORY position and the radio off, press the CD Eject and Set buttons simulta- neously until the 12 digits of the ESN/SID appear on the screen. 184 INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS Selecting Satellite Mode in REF, RAQ, and RAK Radios Selecting Satellite Mode — REF Radio Press the MODE button repeatedly until the word ⬙SAT⬙ appears in the display. A CD may remain in the radio while in the Satellite radio mode. Selecting Satellite Mode — RAQ and RAK Radio Press the MODE button repeatedly until the word ⬙SAT⬙ appears in the display. These radios will also display the current station name and program type. For more information such as song title and artist press the MSG or INFO button. A CD or tape may remain in the radio while in the Satellite radio mode. Selecting a Channel Press and release the SEEK or TUNE knob to search for the next channel. Press the top of the button to search up and the bottom of the button to search down. Holding the TUNE button causes the radio to bypass channels until the button is released. Press and release the SCAN button (if equipped) to automatically change channels every 7 seconds. The radio will pause on each channel for 7 seconds before moving on to the next channel. The word ⬙SCAN⬙ will appear in the display between each channel change. Press the SCAN button a second time to stop the search. NOTE: Channels that may contain objectionable content can be blocked. Contact Sirius Customer Care at 888-539- 7474 to discuss options for channel blocking or unblock- ing. Please have your ESN/SID information available. Storing and Selecting Pre-Set Channels In addition to the 12 AM and 12 FM pre-set stations, you may also commit 12 satellite stations to push button memory. These satellite channel pre-set stations will not erase any AM or FM pre-set memory stations. Follow the memory pre-set procedures that apply to your radio. Using the PTY (Program Type) Button (if equipped) Follow the PTY button instructions that apply to your radio. PTY Button ⴖSCANⴖ When the desired program type is obtained, press the ⬙SCAN⬙ button within five seconds. The radio will play 7 seconds of the selected channel before moving to the next channel of the selected program type. Press the ⬙SCAN⬙ button a second time to stop the search. NOTE: Pressing the ⬙SEEK⬙ or ⬙SCAN⬙ button while performing a music type scan will change the channel by INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS 185 one and stop the search. Pressing a pre-set memory button during a music type scan, will call up the memory channel and stop the search. PTY Button ⴖSEEKⴖ When the desired program is obtained, press the ⬙SEEK⬙ button within five seconds. The channel will change to the next channel that matches the program type selected. Satellite Antenna To ensure optimum reception, do not place items on the roof around the rooftop antenna location. Metal objects placed within the line of sight of the antenna will cause decreased performance. Larger luggage items should be placed as far forward as possible. Do not place items directly on or above the antenna. 186 INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS structure or under a physical obstacle. Reception Quality Satellite reception may be interrupted due to one of the following reasons. • The vehicle is parked in an underground parking • Dense tree coverage may interrupt reception in the • Driving under wide bridges or along tall buildings can • Placing objects over or too close to the antenna can cause intermittent reception. form of short audio mutes. cause signal blockage. REMOTE SOUND SYSTEM CONTROLS — IF EQUIPPED The remote sound system controls are located on the rear surface of the steering wheel. Reach behind the wheel to access the switches. The right hand control is a rocker type switch with a push button in the center. Pressing the top of the switch will increase the volume and pressing the bottom of the switch will decrease the volume. The button located in the center of the right hand control will switch modes to Radio or CD. The left hand control is a rocker type switch with a push button in the center. The function of the left hand control is different depending on which mode you are in. The following describes the left hand control operation in each mode. Radio Operation Pressing the top of the switch will SEEK up for the next listenable station and pressing the bottom of the switch will SEEK down for the next listenable station. INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS 187 The button located in the center of the left hand control will tune to the next pre-set station that you have programmed in the radio pre-set push-buttons. CD Player Pressing the top of the switch once will go to the next track on the CD. Pressing the bottom of the switch once will go to the beginning of the current track or to the beginning of the previous track if it is within one second after the current track begins to play. If you press the switch up or down twice it plays the second track, three times, it will play the third, etc. The button in the center of the left hand switch changes CD’s on the 6–Disc in-dash CD changer radio. This button does not function for all other radios. 188 INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS COMPACT DISC MAINTENANCE To keep the compact discs in good condition, take the following precautions: 1. Handle the disc by its edge; avoid touching the surface. 2. If the disc is stained, clean the surface with a soft cloth, wiping from center to edge. 3. Do not apply paper or tape to the disc; avoid scratch- ing the disc. 4. Do not use solvents such as benzine, thinner, cleaners, or antistatic sprays. 5. Store the disc in its case after playing. 6. Do not expose the disc to direct sunlight. 7. Do not store the disc where temperatures may become too high. If you experience difficulty in playing a particu- NOTE: lar disc, it may be damaged (i.e. scratched, reflective coating removed, a hair, moisture or dew on the disc) oversized, or have theft 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 controls for the heating, ventilation and air condi- tioning system in this vehicle consist of a series of rotary knobs. These comfort controls can be set to obtain desired interior conditions. Air Conditioning And Heater INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS 189 Air Conditioning And Heater Operation To turn on the Air Conditioning, set the fan control at any speed and press the snowflake button located at the right of the control panel. Conditioned air will be directed through the outlets selected by the mode control. A light at the top of the snowflake button shows that the air conditioning is on. Press the button a second time to turn the air conditioning off. Slight changes in engine speed or power may be noticed when the air conditioning compressor is on. This is a normal occurrence as the compressor will cycle on and off to maintain comfort and increase fuel economy. 190 INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS The mode control (at the right of the control panel) can be set in any of the following positions: Mode Control NOTE: To improve your selection choices, the system allows you to operate at intermediate positions between the major modes. These intermediate positions are iden- tified by the small dots. Recirculation Modes (Panel or Bi-Level ) Select the recirculation modes when the outside air contains dust, odors, high humidity, or if rapid cooling is desired. This feature allows for recir- culation of interior air only. Air flows through either the panel outlets or both the panel and floor outlets, together, depending wich recirculation mode is selected. Panel (Fresh Air Modes) Outside air flows through the outlets located in the instrument panel. Bi-Level Outside air flows through the outlets located in the instrument panel and at the floor. Floor Mix Outside air flows primarily through the floor out- lets located under the instrument panel. Outside air flows in equal proportions through the floor and defroster outlets. Defrost Outside air is primarily directed to the windshield through the defroster outlets located at the base of INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS 191 the windshield, and the demister outlets located at the edge of each side of the instrument panel. Blower Control Temperature Control is control panel The rotary knob on the left of the the blower control. Turn the knob clockwise to one of the four positions to obtain the blower speed you desire. To turn the blower off, turn the knob to the far left position. The rotary knob at the center of the control panel controls the temperature of the inte- rior air. You can choose your degree of comfort by rotating the knob. The coldest tem- perature setting is to the ex- treme left (blue region) and the warmest setting is to the extreme right (red region) of the rotation. Circulation The cab is designed with features to promote outside air circulation. There are grilles in the cab back panel. These are air exhausters that provide the means for regular exchange of cab air. 192 INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS Side window demisters direct air flow specifically to the window glass to help prevent interior fogging of the glass. They are located in the extreme outside upper edges of the instrument panel. The demisters also pro- vide extra air ducts for circulation. They are in operation whenever the Floor, Mix or Defrost modes are in use. NOTE: When you turn off the engine you may hear a hissing sound from under the hood for a short period of time. This is a normal condition that occurs if the air conditioning system has been on. It is not an indication of a problem with the air conditioning system. Operating Tips Fast Cooldown For a fast cooldown, turn the blower fan rotary knob to the extreme right position, turn the mode control to the panel fresh position, press the snowflake button to turn on the air conditioning, and drive with the windows open for the first few minutes. Once the hot air has been expelled, close the windows and turn the mode selector to the Recirculation Panel Mode or Recirculation Mode Bi-level position. When a comfortable condition has been reached, choose a mode position and adjust the tempera- ture control knob and blower speed as necessary to maintain comfort. For high humidity conditions it may be necessary to remain in the Recirculation mode to maintain comfort. Window Fogging Windows will fog on the inside when the humidity inside the vehicle is high. This often occurs in mild or cool temperatures when it’s rainy or humid. In most cases turning on the Air-conditioning (pressing the snowflake button) will clear the fog. Adjust the temperature control, air direction and blower speed to maintain comfort. As the temperature gets colder it may be necessary to direct air onto the windshield by using MIX Mode position on the control. Adjust the temperature control and blower speed to maintain comfort. High blower speeds will reduce fogging. Interior fogging on the windshield can be quickly removed by selecting the defrost mode. Regular cleaning of the inside of the windows with a non-filming cleaning solution (vinegar and water works very well) will help prevent contaminates (cigarette smoke, perfumes, etc.) from sticking to the windows. Contaminates on the inside of windows can increase the rate of window fogging. Summer Operation Air conditioned vehicles must be protected with a high quality antifreeze coolant during summer to provide proper corrosion protection and to raise the boiling point of the coolant for protection against overheating. A 50% concentration of engine coolant to distilled water is recommended. See coolant section of Owner’s manual. INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS 193 When using the air conditioner in extremely heavy traffic in hot weather especially when towing a trailer, addi- tional engine cooling may be required. If this situation is encountered, operate the transmission in a lower gear. When stopped in heavy traffic, it may be necessary to shift into NEUTRAL and depress the accelerator slightly for fast idle operation. Winter Operation When operating the system during the winter months, make sure the air intake, located directly in front of the windshield, is free of ice, slush, snow, or other obstruc- tions. 194 INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS Operation Tips Chart REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER – IF EQUIPPED CAUTION! Use care when washing the inside of the rear win- dow to prevent damage to heating elements. Use a soft cloth and a mild washing solution, wiping parallel to the heating elements. Also, keep all objects a safe distance from the window to prevent damaging the heating elements. INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS 195 A push-button type switch is located on the right side of the control below the A/C (Snowflake) button. Pressing the switch will turn on the Rear Window Defroster and heated mirrors, if equipped. A light above the Rear Window Defroster symbol will illuminate to indicate the Rear Window Defroster is On. Pushing the button again will turn the Rear Window Defroster Off prior to the time-out. The Rear Window Defroster will turn off automatically after 15 minutes after the first push, 10 minutes after the second push and 5 minutes after the third push and all subsequent pushes of the button (all within the same ignition cycle). To prevent excessive battery drain, use the rear defroster only when the engine is running. STARTING AND OPERATING CONTENTS 䡵 Starting Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 ▫ Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 ▫ Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 ▫ Normal Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 ▫ Engine Block Heater — If Equipped . . . . . . . . 203 䡵 Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204 ▫ Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204 䡵 Four-Wheel Drive Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211 ▫ NV233/243 GII Transfer Case Operating Information/Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211 ▫ Shifting Procedure - NV233/243 Transfer Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214 ▫ NV244 Transfer Case Operating Information / Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216 ▫ Shifting Procedure - NV244 Transfer Case . . . . 220 䡵 Limited-Slip Rear Axle Differential— If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223 䡵 Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224 198 STARTING AND OPERATING 䡵 Brake System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225 ▫ Rear Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System — (If Equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225 ▫ Four-Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226 䡵 Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228 䡵 Rocking The Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229 䡵 Tire Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 ▫ Tire Markings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 ▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) . . . . . . . . . . 233 ▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . 234 䡵 Tires—General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238 ▫ Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238 ▫ Tire Inflation Pressures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239 ▫ Radial-Ply Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241 ▫ Compact Spare Tire — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . 242 ▫ Limited Use Spare — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . 243 ▫ Tire Spinning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243 ▫ Tread Wear Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244 ▫ Life Of Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245 ▫ Replacement Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245 ▫ Alignment And Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246 䡵 Supplemental Tire Pressure Information – If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247 䡵 Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247 䡵 Snow Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249 䡵 Tire Rotation Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . 249 䡵 Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250 ▫ Reformulated Gasoline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251 ▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251 ▫ MMT In Gasoline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252 ▫ Materials Added To Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252 ▫ Adding Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253 ▫ Fuel System Cautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255 ▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256 䡵 Catalytic Converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256 䡵 Vehicle Loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258 ▫ Certification Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258 ▫ Curb Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259 ▫ Loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259 STARTING AND OPERATING 199 䡵 Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261 ▫ Common Towing Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261 ▫ Trailer Hitch Classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264 ▫ Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer Weight Ratings) . . . . . . . . . 265 ▫ Trailer And Tongue Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265 ▫ Towing Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266 ▫ Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270 ▫ Trailer Towing Mirrors — If Equipped . . . . . . 272 䡵 Snowplow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272 ▫ Dodge Dakota Models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272 䡵 Recreational Towing (Behind Motorhome, Etc.) . . 273 . . . . . . . . . 273 ▫ Recreational Towing 2WD Models 200 STARTING AND OPERATING ▫ Recreational Towing 4WD Models . . . . . . . . . 274 䡵 Traction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278 䡵 Equipment Identification Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279 STARTING PROCEDURES 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. Manual Transmission Apply the parking brake, place the gearshift control lever in NEUTRAL and depress clutch pedal to the floor before starting the vehicle. This vehicle is equipped with a clutch interlocking ignition system. It will not start unless the clutch is depressed. Automatic Transmission Start the engine with the shift lever in NEUTRAL or PARK position. Apply the brake before shifting to any driving range. STARTING AND OPERATING 201 WARNING! Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get it started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic trans- mission 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. 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. See section 6 of this manual for the proper jump starting procedures and follow them carefully. 202 STARTING AND OPERATING Normal Starting Normal starting of either a warm or cold engine is obtained without pumping or depressing the accelerator pedal. Turn the key to the START position and release when the engine starts. If the engine fails to start within 10 seconds, turn the key to the OFF position, wait 5 seconds, then repeat the starting procedure. 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. If the engine has been flooded, it may start to run, but not have enough power to continue running when the key is released. If this occurs, continue cranking with the accel- erator pedal pushed all the way to the floor. Release the accelerator pedal and the key 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. WARNING! WARNING! Never pour fuel or other flammable liquid 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 leave children or animals inside parked vehicles in hot weather. Interior heat build up may cause serious injury or death. STARTING AND OPERATING 203 After Starting The idle speed is automatically controlled on fuel injected engines and will decrease as the engine warms up. CAUTION! Long periods of engine idling can cause excessive exhaust temperatures which can damage your ve- hicle. Do not leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running. Engine Block Heater — If Equipped The engine block heater warms engine coolant 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. The engine block heater cord is located at the right front of the engine compartment for all engine applications. 204 STARTING AND OPERATING WARNING! Remember to disconnect the cord before driving. Damage to the 110-115 volt electrical cord could cause electrocution. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Automatic Transmission The electronic PRNDL on the instrument cluster indicates the transmission gear selected. The selector lever is mounted on the right side of the steering column. To drive, move the selector lever from Park or Neutral to the desired drive position. Pull selector lever toward you when shifting into Reverse, Second, First or Park, or when shifting out of Park. Brake/Transmission Interlock System This system prevents you from moving the gear shift out of Park and into any gear unless the brake pedal is pressed. This system is active only while the ignition switch is in the ON position. Always depress the brake pedal first, before moving the gear selector out of PARK. Gear Ranges DO NOT race the engine when shifting from Park or Neutral position into another gear range. “P” Park Supplements parking brake by locking the transmission. Engine can be started in this range. Never use Park while vehicle is in motion. Apply parking brake when leaving vehicle in this range. Always apply parking brake first, then place selector in Park position. WARNING! WARNING! STARTING AND OPERATING 205 Your vehicle could move and injure you and others if it is not completely in P (Park). Check by trying to move the gearshift lever back and forth without first pulling the lever toward you, after you have set it in P (Park). Make sure it is in Park before leaving the vehicle. WARNING! Never use Park position on an automatic transmis- sion as a substitute for the parking brake. Always apply parking brake fully when parked to guard against vehicle movement and possible injury or damage. It is dangerous to shift the selector lever out of “P” or “N” if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could accelerate quickly forward or in re- verse. 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 right foot is firmly on the brake pedal. “R” Reverse Use this range only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop. 206 STARTING AND OPERATING “N” Neutral Shift to Neutral when vehicle is standing for prolonged periods with engine running. Engine may be started in this range. Set the parking brake if you must leave the vehicle. “D” Drive For most city and highway driving. “2” Second For driving slowly in heavy city traffic or on mountain roads where more precise speed control is desirable. Use it also when climbing long grades, and for engine brak- ing when descending moderately steep grades. To pre- vent excessive engine speed do not exceed 45 miles per hour (72 km/h) in this range. “1” First For driving up very steep hills and for engine braking at low speeds 25 mph (40 km/h) or less when going down hill. To prevent excessive engine speed do not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h) in this range. Overdrive Operation The overdrive automatic transmission contains an elec- tronically controlled fourth and fifth (if equipped) speed (Overdrive). The transmission will automatically shift from Drive to Overdrive if the following conditions are present: • the transmission selector is in Drive; • the engine coolant has reached normal operating tem- • vehicle speed is above approximately 30 mph (48 • the “TOW/HAUL” switch has not been activated; perature; km/h); • transmission has reached normal operating tempera- ture. If the vehicle is started in extremely cold tem- NOTE: peratures, the transmission may not shift into Overdrive and will automatically select the most desirable gear for operation at this temperature. Normal operation will resume when the transmission fluid temperature has risen to a suitable level. Refer also to the Note under torque converter clutch, later in this section. If the transmission temperature gets extremely hot, the transmission will automatically select the most desirable gear for operation at this temperature. If the transmission temperature becomes hot enough the TRANS TEMP light may illuminate and the transmission may downshift out of Overdrive until the transmission cools down. After cooldown, the transmission will resume normal opera- tion. STARTING AND OPERATING 207 The transmission will downshift from Overdrive to Drive if the accelerator pedal is fully depressed at vehicle speeds above approximately 35 mph (56 km/h). When To Use “TOW/HAUL” Mode When driving in hilly areas, towing a trailer, carrying a heavy load, etc., and frequent transmission shifting oc- curs, press the “TOW/HAUL” button. This will improve 208 STARTING AND OPERATING 5th gear performance and reduce the potential for transmission overheating or failure due to excessive shifting. When operating in “TOW/HAUL” mode, (if equipped) is disabled and 2-3 and 3-4 shift patterns are modified. Shifts into Overdrive (4th gear) are allowed during steady cruise (for improved fuel economy) and automatic closed-throttle downshifts to 3rd gear (for improved braking) will occur during steady braking. The “TOW/HAUL” light will illuminate in the instru- ment cluster to indicate when the switch has been activated. Pressing the switch a second time restores normal operation. If the “TOW/HAUL” mode is desired, the button must be pressed each time the engine is started. Torque Converter Clutch A feature designed to improve fuel economy is included in all automatic transmissions. A clutch within the torque converter engages automatically at a calibrated speed at the light throttle. It engages at higher speeds under heavier acceleration. This may result in a slightly different feeling or response during normal operation in high gear. When the vehicle speed drops below a calibrated speed, or during acceleration, clutch automatically and smoothly disengages. The feature is operational in Over- drive and in Drive. NOTE: The torque converter clutch will not engage until the transmission fluid and engine coolant are warm [usually after 1-3 miles (1.6 - 4.8 km) of driving]. Because the engine speed is higher when the torque converter clutch is not engaged, it may seem as if the transmission is not shifting into Overdrive when cold. This is normal. Pressing the⬙TOW/HAUL⬙ button, when the transmis- sion is sufficiently warm, will demonstrate that the transmission is able to shift into and out of Overdrive. If the vehicle has not been driven in several NOTE: days, the first few seconds of operation after shifting the transmission into gear may seem sluggish. This is due to the fluid partially draining from the torque converter into the transmission. This condition is normal and will not cause damage to the transmission. The torque converter will refill within five seconds of shifting from Park into any other gear position. Manual Transmission — 6-Speed NOTE: The parking brake should be engaged before leaving the vehicle, especially on an incline. This model is equipped with a clutch interlocking igni- tion system. The clutch pedal must be fully depressed to start the vehicle. Fully depress the clutch pedal before shifting gears. As you release the clutch pedal, lightly depress the accelera- tor pedal. When launching a stationary vehicle, keep the engine speed low until the clutch is fully engaged. STARTING AND OPERATING 209 NOTE: Damage to the clutch can result from starting in 2nd or 3rd gear with a loaded vehicle. Use each gear in numerical order – do not skip a gear. When shifting from 5th to 6th gear, do not apply exces- sive knob load toward the Reverse gear gate, as you may overpower Reverse crash-through load and unintention- ally clash into Reverse gear. Also, when shifting from 6th to 5th gear, excessive knob load toward the Reverse gear gate will result in blocking of the shift. To shift into Reverse, come to a complete stop. Depress the clutch and pause briefly to allow the gear train to stop. Reverse has a ⬙crash-through⬙ lockout feature. In order to get into the reverse gate you should start in neutral 3/4 and move rapidly into the reverse gate in one swift motion. If you move slowly toward reverse you will encounter a very high load which makes it difficult to enter the gate. 210 STARTING AND OPERATING Never drive with your foot resting on the clutch pedal, or attempt to hold the vehicle on a hill with the clutch pedal partially engaged, as this will cause abnormal wear on the clutch. Recommended Shift Speeds To use your manual transmission for fuel economy it should be upshifted as listed below. Shift at the vehicle speeds listed for acceleration. Earlier upshifts during cruise conditions (relatively steady speeds) will result in increased fuel economy, and may be used as indicated. Higher upshift speeds may be used to obtain a desired acceleration rate. 6 Speed Manual Transmission Shift Speed in mph (km/h) gine Model Axle Accelera- En- tion Rate 3.7L ALL 3.21 & 3.55 4.7L All 3.21 & 3.55 ACCEL CRUISE ACCEL CRUISE to 15 (24) 10 (16) 15 (24) to 24 (39) 19 (31) 25 (40) to 34 (55) 27 (44) 40 (65) to 47 (76) 37 (60) 45 (72) to 56 (90) 41 (66) 50 (81) Downshifting Moving from a high gear down to a lower gear is recommended to preserve brakes when driving down steep hills. In addition, downshifting at the right time provides better acceleration when you desire to resume speed. For acceleration at speeds less than 20 mph (30 km/h), 2nd gear is recommended. CAUTION! When descending a hill, be very careful to downshift one gear at a time to prevent overspeeding the engine which can cause valve damage. FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE OPERATION NV233/243 GII Transfer Case Operating Information/Precautions The NV233/243 is an electric shift transfer case and is operated by the 4WD Control Switch (Transfer Case Switch), which is located on the instrument panel. The NV233/243 transfer case provides 4 mode positions: 2 (rear) wheel drive high range, 4 wheel drive high range, 4 wheel drive low range, and neutral. STARTING AND OPERATING 211 The NV233/243 transfer case is designed to be driven in the 2 wheel drive position (2WD) for normal street and highway conditions (dry hard surfaced roads). When additional traction is required, the transfer case 4HI and 4LO positions can be used to lock the front and rear driveshafts together and force the front and rear wheels to rotate at the same speed. This is accomplished by rotating the 4WD Control Switch to the desired position - see Shifting Procedure section for specific shifting instructions. The 4HI and 4LO positions are designed for loose or slippery road surfaces only. Driving in the 4HI and 4LO positions on dry hard-surfaced roads may cause increased tire wear and damage to the driv- eline components. The transfer case Neutral (N) position is selected by depressing the recessed button located on the lower left hand corner of the 4WD Control Switch. 212 STARTING AND OPERATING NOTE: The transfer case Neutral (N) position is to be used for recreational towing only. See Recreational Tow- ing section for specific procedures on shifting into and out of Neutral (N). Transfer Case Position Indicator Lights Transfer case position indicator lights are located on the instrument cluster. If there is no indicator light on or flashing, the transfer case position is two-wheel drive (2WD). If the indicator light is on, the desired position (4HI or 4LO) has been obtained. If One or More Shift Requirements are not Met: 1. An indicator light will flash. 2. The transfer case will not shift. NOTE: Before retrying a selection, make certain that all the necessary requirements for selecting a new transfer case position have been met. To retry the selection, turn the control knob back to the current position, wait five (5) seconds, and retry selection. To find the shift require- ments, refer to the ⬙Shifting Procedure⬙ for your transfer case, located in this section of the owner’s manual. The “SVC 4WD” warning light monitors the electric shift 4WD system. If this light remains on after engine start up or illuminates during driving, it means that the 4WD system is not functioning properly and that service is required. WARNING! Always engage the parking brake when powering down the vehicle if the ⴖSVC 4WDⴖ light is illumi- nated. Not engaging the parking brake may allow the vehicle to roll, which may cause personal injury. NOTE: Do not attempt to make a shift while only the front or rear wheels are spinning. The NV233/243 trans- fer case is not equipped with a synchronizer and there- fore the front and rear driveshaft speeds must be equal for the shift to take place. Shifting while only the front or rear wheels are spinning can cause damage to the trans- fer case. When operating your vehicle in 4LO, the engine speed is approximately three times that of the 2WD or 4HI positions at a given road speed. Take care not to over- speed the engine and do not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h). Proper operation of 4 wheel drive vehicles depends on tires of equal size, type and circumference on each wheel. Any difference in tire size can cause damage to the transfer case. Because 4 wheel drive provides improved traction, there is a tendency to exceed safe turning and stopping speeds. Do not go faster than road conditions permit. STARTING AND OPERATING 213 WARNING! You or others could be injured if you leave the vehicle unattended with the transfer case in the Neutral (N) position without first fully engaging the parking brake. The transfer case Neutral (N) position disengages both the front and rear driveshafts from the powertrain and will allow the vehicle to move regardless of the transmission position. The parking brake should always be applied when the driver is not in the vehicle. For additional information on the appropriate use of each transfer case mode position see the information below: 2WD Rear Wheel Drive High Range - Normal street and highway driving. Dry hard surfaced roads. 214 STARTING AND OPERATING 4HI 4 Wheel Drive High Range - Locks the front and rear driveshafts together. Forces the front and rear wheels to rotate at the same speed. Additional traction for loose or slippery road surfaces only. 4LO 4 Wheel Drive Low Range - Low speed 4 wheel drive. Locks the front and rear driveshafts together. Forces the front and rear wheels to rotate at the same speed. Additional traction and maximum pulling power for loose or slippery road surfaces only. Do not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h). Neutral - Disengages both the front and rear driveshafts from the powertrain. To be used for flat towing behind another vehicle. See Recreational Towing for more infor- mation. Shifting Procedure - NV233/243 Transfer Case If any of the requirements to select a new NOTE: transfer case position have not been met, the transfer case will not shift, the indicator light for the previous position will remain ON, and the newly selected position indica- tor light will continue to flash until all the requirements for the selected position have been met. To retry a shift: return the control knob back to the original position, make certain all shift requirements have been met, wait five (5) seconds and try the shift again. 2WD to 4HI or 4HI to 2WD Rotate the 4WD Control Switch to the desired position. Shifts between 2WD and 4HI can be done with the vehicle stopped or in motion. With the vehicle in motion, the transfer case will engage / disengage faster if you momentarily release the accelerator pedal after turning the control switch. If the vehicle is stopped, the ignition key must be in the ON position with the engine either RUNNING or OFF. This shift cannot be completed if the key is in the accessory position. NOTE: On vehicles equipped with Anti-Lock Brake Systems, the 4x4 system will not allow shifts between 2WD/ 4HI if the rear wheels are spinning (no traction). In this situation the selected position indicator light will flash and the original position indicator light will remain STARTING AND OPERATING 215 ON. At this time, reduce speed and stop spinning the wheels to complete the shift. There may be a delay up to 10 seconds for the shift to complete after the wheels have stopped spinning. 4HI to 4LO or 4LO to 4HI NOTE: When shifting into or out of 4LO, some gear noise may be heard. This noise is normal and is not detrimental to the vehicle or occupants. Shifting can be performed with the vehicle rolling 2-3 mph (3-5 km/h) or completely stopped. USE EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES: Preferred Procedure 1. With engine RUNNING, slow vehicle to 2-3 mph (3-5 km/h). 2. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL (depress clutch on manual transmissions). 216 STARTING AND OPERATING 3. While still rolling, rotate the transfer case control switch to the desired position. 4. After the desired position indicator light is ON (not flashing), shift transmission back into gear (release clutch on manual transmissions). Alternate Procedure 1. Bring the vehicle to complete stop. 2. With the key ON and the engine either OFF or RUNNING, shift the transmission into NEUTRAL (de- press clutch on manual transmissions). 3. Rotate the transfer case control switch to the desired position. 4. After the desired position indicator light is ON (not flashing), shift transmission back into gear (release clutch on manual transmissions). If steps 1 or 2 of either the Preferred or Alternate NOTE: Procedure are not satisfied prior to attempting the shift or if they no longer are being met while the shift attempt is in process, then the indicator light will flash and the current transfer case position will be maintained. To retry the selection, turn the control knob back to the current position, wait five (5) seconds, and retry shift. NOTE: The ignition key must be ON for a shift to take place and for the position indicator lights to be operable. If the key is not ON then the shift will not take place and no position indicator lights will be on or flashing. NV244 Transfer Case Operating Information / Precautions The NV244 is an electric shift transfer case and is operated by the 4WD Control Switch, which is located on the instrument panel. The NV244 transfer case provides 4 mode positions - Normal all wheel drive high range, 4 wheel drive high range, 4 wheel drive low range, and neutral. This transfer case is equipped with an inter-axle differ- ential that allows driving the vehicle in the normal all wheel drive position (AWD) at all times on any given road surface, including dry hard surfaced roads. The AWD mode allows the front and rear wheels to rotate at different speeds. This eliminates driveline binding and component wear normally associated with driving the vehicle in the 4HI position on dry hard surfaced roads. This feature provides the safety, security, and conve- nience of operating in all wheel drive at all times regardless of road conditions. When additional traction is required, the 4HI and 4LO positions can be used to lock the front and rear drive- shafts together through the transfer case inter-axle differ- ential and force the front and rear wheels to rotate at the STARTING AND OPERATING 217 same speed. This is accomplished by rotating the 4WD Control Switch to these positions. The 4HI and 4LO positions are intended for loose or slippery road surfaces only. Driving in the 4HI and 4LO positions on dry hard surfaced roads may cause increased tire wear and dam- age to the driveline components. The transfer case Neutral (N) position is selected by depressing the recessed button located on the lower left hand corner of the 4WD Control Switch. NOTE: The transfer case Neutral (N) position is to be used for recreational towing only. (See Recreational Tow- ing section for specific procedures on shifting into and out of Neutral (N). Transfer Case Position Indicator Lights Transfer case position indicator lights are located on the instrument cluster. If there are no indicator lights on or 218 STARTING AND OPERATING flashing the transfer case position is all-wheel drive (AWD). If an indicator light is on, the desired position (4HI or 4LO) has been met. If One or More Shift Requirements are not Met 1. An indicator light will flash until conditions are met. 2. The transfer case will not shift. NOTE: Before retrying a selection, make certain that all the necessary requirements for selecting a new transfer case position have been met. To retry the selection, turn the control knob back to the current position, wait five (5) seconds, and retry selection. To find the shift require- ments, refer to the ⬙Shifting Procedure⬙ for your transfer case, located in this section of the owner’s manual. The SERVICE 4WD warning light monitors the electric shift 4WD system. If this light remains on after engine start up or illuminates during driving, it means that the 4WD system is not functioning properly and that service is required. WARNING! Always engage the parking brake when powering down the vehicle if the ⴖSVC 4WDⴖ light is illumi- nated. Not engaging the parking brake may allow the vehicle to roll, which may cause personal injury. NOTE: Do not attempt to make a shift while only the front or rear wheels are spinning. The NV244 transfer case is not equipped with a synchronizer and therefore the front and rear driveshaft speeds must be equal for the shift to take place. Shifting while only the front or rear wheels are spinning can cause damage to the transfer case. When operating your vehicle in 4LO, the engine speed is approximately three times that of the AWD or 4HI positions at a given road speed. Take care not to over- speed the engine and do not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h). Proper operation of 4 wheel drive vehicles depends on tires of equal size, type and circumference on each wheel. Any difference in tire size can cause damage to the transfer case. Because 4 wheel drive provides improved traction, there is a tendency to exceed safe turning and stopping speeds. Do not go faster than road conditions permit. STARTING AND OPERATING 219 WARNING! You or others could be injured if you leave the vehicle unattended with the transfer case in the Neutral (N) position without first fully engaging the parking brake. The transfer case Neutral (N) position disengages both the front and rear driveshafts from the powertrain and will allow the vehicle to move even if the transmission is in the Park (P) position. The parking brake should always be applied when the driver is not in the vehicle. For additional information on the appropriate use of each transfer case mode position, see the information below: AWD Normal All Wheel Drive High Range - Employs inter- axle differential. Allows front and rear wheels to rotate at different speeds. All road surfaces. 220 STARTING AND OPERATING 4HI 4 Wheel Drive High Range - Locks the transfer case inter-axle differential. Forces front and rear wheels to rotate at the same speed. Additional traction for loose or slippery road surfaces only. 4LO 4 Wheel Drive Low Range - Low speed 4 wheel drive. Locks the transfer case inter-axle differential. Forces the front and rear wheels to rotate at the same speed. Additional traction and maximum pulling power for loose or slippery road surfaces only. Do not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h). Neutral - Disengages both the front and rear driveshafts from the powertrain. To be used for flat towing behind another vehicle. See Recreational Towing for more infor- mation. Shifting Procedure - NV244 Transfer Case If any of the requirements to select a new NOTE: transfer case position have not been met, the transfer case will not shift.The indicator light for the previous position will remain ON and the newly selected position indicator light will continue to flash until all the requirements for the selected position have been met. To retry a shift: return the control knob back to the original position, make certain all shift requirements have been met, wait five (5) seconds and try the shift again. AWD to 4HI or 4HI to AWD Rotate the 4WD Control Switch to the desired position. Shifts between AWD and 4HI can be done with the vehicle stopped or in motion. With the vehicle in motion, the transfer case will engage / disengage faster if you momentarily release the accelerator pedal after turning the control switch. If the vehicle is stopped, the ignition key must be in the ON position with the engine either RUNNING or OFF. This shift cannot be completed if the key is in the accessory position. NOTE: On vehicles equipped with a Anti-Lock Brake Systems, the 4x4 system will not allow shifts between AWD/ 4HI if the rear wheels are spinning (no traction). In this situation, an indicator light will flash until condi- tions are met. At this time, reduce speed and stop STARTING AND OPERATING 221 spinning the wheels to complete the shift. There may be a delay up to 10 seconds for the shift to complete after the wheels have stopped spinning. NOTE: Delayed shifting out of the 4HI position may be experienced due to uneven tire wear, low tire pressure, or excessive loading. 4HI to 4LO or 4LO to 4HI NOTE: When shifting into or out of 4LO, some gear noise may be heard. This noise is normal and is not detrimental to the vehicle or occupants. Shifting can be performed with the vehicle rolling 2-3 mph (3-5 km/h) or completely stopped. USE EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES: Preferred Procedure 1. With engine RUNNING, slow vehicle to 2-3 mph (3-5 km/h). 222 STARTING AND OPERATING 2. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL (depress clutch on manual transmissions). 3. Ensure ignition key is in the ON position with the engine either RUNNING or OFF. While still rolling, rotate the transfer case control switch to the desired position. 4. After the desired position indicator light is ON (not flashing), shift transmission back into gear (release clutch on manual transmissions). Alternate Procedure 1. Bring the vehicle to complete stop. 2. With the key ON and the engine either OFF or RUNNING, shift the transmission into NEUTRAL (de- press clutch on manual transmissions). 3. Rotate the transfer case control switch to the desired position. 4. After the desired position indicator light is ON (not flashing), shift transmission back into gear (release clutch on manual transmissions). If steps 1 or 2 of either the Preferred or Alternate NOTE: Procedure are not satisfied prior to attempting the shift or if they no longer are being met while the shift attempt is in process, then the desired position indicator light will flash continuously while the original position indicator light is ON, until all requirements have been met. NOTE: The ignition key must be ON for a shift to take place and for the position indicator lights to be operable. If the key is not ON, then the shift will not take place and no position indicator lights will be on or flashing. LIMITED-SLIP REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL— IF EQUIPPED The limited-slip differential provides additional traction on snow, ice, mud, sand and gravel. It improves traction when there is a difference between the characteristics of the surface under the right and left rear wheels. During normal driving and cornering, the limited-slip unit is similar to a conventional differential. But on a slippery surface, the differential delivers more of the driving effort to the wheel having the better traction. STARTING AND OPERATING 223 WARNING! On vehicles equipped with a limited-slip differen- tial, never run the engine with one rear wheel off the ground. The vehicle may drive through the rear wheel remaining on the ground and cause you to lose control of the vehicle. Care should be taken to avoid sudden accelerations when both rear wheels are on a slippery surface. This could cause both rear wheels to spin, and allow the vehicle to slide sideways on the crowned surface of a road or in a turn. 224 STARTING AND OPERATING PARKING BRAKE The foot operated parking brake is positioned below the lower left corner of the instrument panel. To release the parking brake, pull the parking brake release handle. Be sure the parking brake is firmly set when parked and the gear-shift lever is in the PARK position. When parking on a hill you should apply the parking brake before placing the gear shift lever in PARK; otherwise the load on the transmission locking mechanism may make it difficult to move the selector out of PARK. NOTE: The instrument cluster brake warning light indicates only that the parking brake is applied. You must be sure the parking brake is fully applied before leaving the vehicle. When parking on a hill, turn the front wheels toward the curb on a downhill grade and away from the curb on an uphill grade. The parking brake should be applied whenever the driver is not in the vehicle. WARNING! • Always fully apply the parking brake when leav- ing your vehicle, or the vehicle may roll and cause damage or injury. Also be certain to leave an automatic transmission in Park. Failure to do so may cause the vehicle to roll and cause damage or injury. • Be sure the parking brake is fully disengaged before driving. Failure to do so can lead to brake failure and an accident. • Leaving children in a vehicle unattended is dan- gerous for a number of reasons. A child or others could be injured. Children should be warned not to touch the parking brake or the gear selector lever. Don’t leave the key in the ignition. A child could operate power windows, other controls, or move the vehicle. STARTING AND OPERATING 225 BRAKE SYSTEM In the event power assist is lost for any reason (for example, repeated brake applications with the engine off), the brakes will still function. The effort required to brake the vehicle will be significantly more than that required with the power system operating. If either the front or rear hydraulic system loses normal capability, the remaining system will still function with some loss of braking effectiveness. This will be evident by increased pedal travel during application, greater pedal force required to slow or stop, and activation of the Brake Warning light and the ABS light during brake use. Rear Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System — (If Equipped) This Anti-Lock Brake System provides increased vehicle stability and brake performance under most braking conditions. The system automatically controls the opera- tion of the rear brakes to prevent rear wheel lockup. 226 STARTING AND OPERATING The system remains operational in the four-wheel drive mode. The level of performance is reduced when the front brakes are locked up. This will cause the rear brakes to lock-up through the drivetrain, which may reduce the effectiveness of the anti-lock system. During severe braking conditions, particularly with changing road surfaces, such as ice to concrete, a slight drop or minor pulsation may be felt in the brake pedal. WARNING! Both Anti-Lock Brake Systems contain sophisticated electronic equipment. It may be susceptible to inter- ference caused by improperly installed or high out- put radio transmitting equipment. This interference can cause possible loss of anti-lock braking capabil- ity. Installation of such equipment should be done by qualified professionals. Four-Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System — If Equipped This Anti-Lock Brake System is designed to aid the driver in maintaining vehicle control under adverse braking conditions. The system operates with a separate com- puter to modulate hydraulic pressure to prevent wheel lock-up and help avoid skidding on slippery surfaces. The system’s pump motor runs during an ABS stop to provide regulated hydraulic pressure. The pump motor makes a low humming noise during operation, which is normal. The Anti-Lock Brake System includes an amber ABS warning light. When the light is illuminated, the Anti- Lock Brake System is not functioning. The system reverts to standard non-anti-lock brakes. Turning the ignition OFF and ON again may reset the Anti-Lock Brake System if the fault detected was only momentary. WARNING! WARNING! STARTING AND OPERATING 227 Pumping of the Anti-Lock Brakes will diminish their effectiveness and may lead to an accident. Pumping makes the stopping distance longer. Just press firmly on your brake pedal when you need to slow down or stop. • Anti-lock Brake Systems (ABS) cannot prevent the natural laws of physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can it increase braking or steering efficiency beyond that afforded by the condition of the vehicle brakes and tires or the traction afforded. • The ABS cannot prevent accidents, including those resulting from excessive speed in turns, following another vehicle too closely, or hydro- planing. Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can prevent accidents. • The capabilities of an ABS equipped vehicle must never be exploited in a reckless or dangerous manner which could jeopardize the user’s safety or the safety of others. 228 STARTING AND OPERATING When you are in a severe braking condition involving use of the Anti-lock Brake System, you will experience some pedal drop as the vehicle comes to a stop. This is the result of the system reverting to the base brake system. Engagement of the Anti-lock Brake System may be accompanied by a pulsing sensation. You may also hear a clicking noise. These occurrences are normal, and indi- cate that the system is functioning properly. POWER STEERING The standard power steering system will give you good vehicle response and increased ease of maneuverability in tight spaces. The system will provide mechanical steering capability if power assist is lost. If for some reason, the power assist is interrupted, it will still be possible to steer your vehicle. Under these condi- tions you will observe a substantial increase in steering effort, especially at very low vehicle speeds and during parking maneuvers. Increased noise levels at the end of the steering NOTE: wheel travel are considered normal and does not indicate that there is a problem with the power steering system. Upon initial start-up in cold weather, the power steering pump may make noise for a short period of time. This is due to the cold, thick fluid in the steering system. This noise should be considered normal, and does not in any way damage the steering system. WARNING! Continued operation with reduced power steering assist could pose a safety risk to yourself and others. Service should be obtained as soon as possible. CAUTION! Prolong operation of the steering system at the end of the steering wheel travel will increase the steering fluid temperature and should be avoided when possible. Damage to the power steering pump may occur. STARTING AND OPERATING 229 ROCKING THE VEHICLE If vehicle becomes stuck in snow, sand, or mud, it can often be moved by a rocking motion. Move the gear selector rhythmically between FIRST and REVERSE, while applying slight pressure to the accelerator. The least amount of accelerator pedal pressure to main- tain the rocking motion without spinning the wheels or racing the engine is most effective. Allow the engine to idle with the transmission selector in NEUTRAL for at least one minute after every five rocking-motion cycles. This will minimize overheating and reduce the risk of transmission failure during prolonged efforts to free a stuck vehicle. 230 STARTING AND OPERATING TIRE SAFETY INFORMATION Tire Markings NOTE: • P (Passenger)-Metric tire sizing is based on U.S. design standards. P-Metric tires have the letter “P” molded into the sidewall preceding the size designation. Ex- ample: P215/65R15 95H. • European Metric tire sizing is based on European design standards. Tires designed to this standard have the tire size molded into the sidewall beginning with the section width. The letter ⬙P⬙ is absent from this tire size designation. Example: 215/65R15 96H • LT (Light Truck)-Metric tire sizing is based on U.S. design standards. The size designation for LT-Metric tires is the same as for P-Metric tires except for the letters “LT” that are molded into the sidewall preced- ing the size designation. Example: LT235/85R16. • Temporary Spare tires are high pressure compact spares designed for temporary emergency use only. Tires designed to this standard have the letter “T” molded into the sidewall preceding the size designa- tion. Example: T145/80D18 103M. • High Flotation tire sizing is based on U.S. design standards and begins with the tire diameter molded into the sidewall. Example: 31x10.5 R15 LT. Tire Sizing Chart Size Designation: EXAMPLE: P = Passenger car tire size based on U.S. design standards ⴖ....blank....ⴖ = Passenger car tire based on European design standards LT = Light Truck tire based on U.S. design standards T = Temporary Spare tire 31 = Overall Diameter in Inches (in) 215 = Section Width in Millimeters (mm) 65 = Aspect Ratio in Percent (%) —Ratio of section height to section width of tire. 10.5 = Section Width in Inches (in) R = Construction Code —⬙R⬙ means Radial Construction. —⬙D⬙ means Diagonal or Bias Construction. 15 = Rim Diameter in Inches (in) STARTING AND OPERATING 231 232 STARTING AND OPERATING Service Description: 95 = Load Index EXAMPLE: —A numerical code associated with the maximum load a tire can carry. H = Speed Symbol —A symbol indicating the range of speeds at which a tire can carry a load corresponding to its load index under certain operating conditions. —The maximum speed corresponding to the Speed Symbol should only be achieved un- der specified operating conditions. (i.e. tire pressure, vehicle loading, road conditions and posted speed limits). Load Identification: ⴖ....blank....ⴖ = Absence of any text on sidewall of the tire indicates a Standard Load (SL) Tire Extra Load (XL) = Extra Load (or Reinforced) Tire Light Load = Light Load Tire C,D,E = Load range associated with the maximum load a tire can carry at a specified pressure Maximum Load — Maximum Load indicates the maximum load this tire is designed to carry. Maximum Pressure — Maximum Pressure indicates the maximum permissible cold tire inflation pressure for this tire. Tire Identification Number (TIN) The TIN may be found on one or both sides of the tire however the date code may only be on one side. Tires with white sidewalls will have the full TIN including date code located on the white sidewall side of the tire. STARTING AND OPERATING 233 Look for the TIN on the outboard side of black sidewall tires as mounted on the vehicle. If the TIN is not found on the outboard side then you will find it on the inboard side of the tire. DOT = Department of Transportation —This symbol certifies that the tire is in compliance with the U.S. Department of Transportation tire safety standards, and is approved for highway use. EXAMPLE: DOT MA L9 ABCD 0301 MA = Code representing the tire manufacturing location. (2 digits) L9 = Code representing the tire size. (2 digits) ABCD = Code used by tire manufacturer. (1 to 4 digits) 03 = Number representing the week in which the tire was manufactured. (2 digits) —03 means the 3rd week. 01 = Number representing the year in which the tire was manufactured. (2 digits) —01 means the year 2001. —Prior to July 2000, tire manufacturers were only required to have 1 number to represent the year in which the tire was manufactured. Example: 031 could represent the 3rd week of 1981 or 1991. 234 STARTING AND OPERATING Tire Loading and Tire Pressure Tire Placard Location NOTE: The proper cold tire inflation pressure is listed on either the face of the driver’s door or the driver’s side “B” pillar. Tire and Loading Information Placard Tire and Loading Information This placard tells you important information about the: 1) number of people that can be carried in the vehicle 2) the total weight your vehicle can carry 3) the tire size designed for your vehicle 4) the cold tire inflation pressures for the front, rear and spare tires. Tire Placard Location Loading The vehicle maximum load on the tire must not exceed the load carrying capacity of the tire on your vehicle. You will not exceed the tire’s load carrying capacity if you adhere to the loading conditions, tire size, and cold tire inflation pressures specified on the “Tire and Loading Information” placard and in the “Vehicle Loading” sec- tion of this manual. NOTE: Under a maximum loaded vehicle condition, gross axle weight ratings (GAWR’s) for the front and rear axles must not be exceeded. For further information on GAWR’s, vehicle loading, and trailer towing, refer to the “Vehicle Loading” section of this manual. To determine the maximum loading conditions of your vehicle, locate the statement “The combined weight of STARTING AND OPERATING 235 occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on the Tire and Loading Information placard. The combined weight of occupants, cargo/luggage and trailer tongue weight (if applicable) should never exceed the weight referenced here. Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit 1. Locate the statement “The combined weight of occu- pants and cargo should never exceed XXX pounds” on your vehicle’s placard. 2. Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will be riding in your vehicle. 3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver and pas- sengers from XXX kilograms or XXX pounds. 236 STARTING AND OPERATING 4. The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage load capacity. For example, if “XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will be five 150 lb. passengers in your vehicle, the amount of available cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lb. (since 5 x 150 = 750, and 1400 – 750 = 650 lb.) 5. Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and luggage load capacity calculated in Step 4. 6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will be transferred to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how this reduces the available cargo and luggage load capacity of your vehicle. NOTE: The following table shows examples on how to calculate total load, cargo/luggage and towing capacities of your vehicle with varying seating configurations and number and size of occupants. This table is for illustra- tion purposes only and may not be accurate for the seating and load carry capacity of your vehicle. NOTE: For the following example the combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed 865 lbs. (392 Kg). STARTING AND OPERATING 237 238 STARTING AND OPERATING WARNING! 1. Safety— Overloading of your tires is dangerous. Overloading can cause tire failure, affect vehicle handling, and increase your stopping distance. Use tires of the recommended load capacity for your vehicle. Never overload them. TIRES—GENERAL INFORMATION Tire Pressure Proper tire inflation pressure is essential to the safe and satisfactory operation of your vehicle. Three primary areas are affected by improper tire pressure: WARNING! Improperly inflated tires are dangerous and can cause accidents. • Under inflation increases tire flexing and can result in tire failure. • Over inflation reduces a tire’s ability to cushion shock. Objects on the road and chuck holes can cause damage that results in tire failure. • Unequal tire pressures can cause steering prob- lems. You could lose control of your vehicle. • Over inflated or under inflated tires can affect vehicle handling and can fail suddenly, resulting in loss of vehicle control. • Unequal tire pressures from one side of the vehicle to the other can cause the vehicle to drift to the right or left. Always drive with each tire inflated to the recom- mended cold tire inflation pressure. 2. Economy— Improper inflation pressures can cause uneven wear patterns to develop across the tire tread. These abnormal wear patterns will reduce tread life resulting in a need for earlier tire replacement. Underinflation also increases tire rolling resistance and results in higher fuel consumption. 3. Ride Comfort and Vehicle Stability— Proper tire inflation contributes to a comfortable ride. Overinflation produces a jarring and uncomfortable ride. Tire Inflation Pressures The proper cold tire inflation pressure is listed on either the face of the driver’s door or the driver’s side “B” pillar. Some vehicles may have Supplemental Tire Pressure Information for vehicle loads that are less than the maximum loaded vehicle condition. These pressure con- ditions will be found in the “Supplemental Tire Pressure Information” section of this manual. STARTING AND OPERATING 239 Tire Placard Location The pressure should be checked and adjusted as well as inspecting for signs of tire wear or visible damage at least once a month. Use a good quality pocket-type gauge to check tire pressure. Do not make a visual judgement when determining proper inflation. Radial tires may look properly inflated even when they are under inflated. 240 STARTING AND OPERATING CAUTION! After inspecting or adjusting the tire pressure, al- ways reinstall the valve stem cap–if equipped. This will prevent moisture and dirt from entering the valve stem, which could damage the valve stem. Inflation pressures specified on the placard are always “cold tire inflation pressure”. Cold tire inflation pressure is defined as the tire pressure after the vehicle has not been driven for at least 3 hours, or driven less than 1 mile (1 km) after a 3 hour period. The cold tire inflation pressure must not exceed the maximum inflation pres- sure molded into the tire side wall.

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2006 Dodge Dakota Owners Manual