Login- Download PDF Manual
-
If the odometer reading is changed during repair or replacement, be sure to keep a record of the reading before and after the service so that the correct mileage can be determined.
The trip odometer shows individual trip mileage. To toggle between the odometer and the trip odometer, press the Odometer/Trip Odometer Button. To reset the Trip Odometer, press and hold the button while in trip mode, until the Trip Odometer resets. NOTE: There is also an engine hour function. This indicates the total number of hours the engine has been running. To display the engine hours perform the follow- ing: Place the ignition in RUN, but do not start the engine. With the odometer value displayed, hold the trip button down for a period of 6 seconds. The odometer will change to trip value first, then it will display the engine hour value. The engine hours will be displayed for a period of 30 seconds until the ignition is turned off or the engine is started.
15. Check Gages Light
This light is part of an onboard diagnostic system which monitors the emissions and engine control system. If the vehicle is ready for emissions testing the light will come on when the ignition is first turned on and remain on, as a bulb check, until the engine is started. If the vehicle is not ready for emissions testing the light will come on when the ignition is first turned on and remain on for 15 seconds, then blink for 5
seconds, and remain on until the vehicle is started. If the bulb does not come on during starting, have the condi- tion investigated promptly. If this light comes on and remains on while driving, it suggests a potential engine control problem and the need for system service. Although your vehicle will usually be drivable and not need towing, see your dealer for service as soon as possible.UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 169
CAUTION!
Prolonged driving with the MIL on could cause damage to the engine control system. It also could affect fuel economy and driveability. If the MIL is flashing, severe catalytic converter damage and power loss will soon occur. Immediate service is required.
16. Brake System Warning Light This light illuminates when the ignition key is turned to the ON position and remains on for a few seconds. If the light stays on longer, it may be an indication that the parking brake has not been released. This light will illuminate if the brake fluid is low, especially when braking or accelerating hard. This light will illuminate if the ABS indicator light has a malfunction. This light will flash if the engine is running and the parking brake is on.
170 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
If the light remains on when the parking brake is released, it indicates a possible brake hydraulic system malfunction. In this case, the light will remain on until the cause is corrected. If brake failure is indicated, immediate repair is necessary and continued operation of the vehicle in this condition is dangerous. Acceleration which causes the rear wheels to slip for a period of time may result in the red brake light illumi- nating and a brake switch code being set on ABS equipped vehicles. Depressing the brake pedal should extinguish the red brake light. 17. ABS Warning Light
This light monitors the Anti-Lock Brake System which is described elsewhere in this manual. This light will come on when the ignition key is turned to the ON position and may stay on for five seconds. If the ABS light remains on or comes on during driving, it indicates
that the anti-lock portion of the brake system is not functioning and that service is required. See your autho- rized dealer immediately. The ABS light could also illuminate during loss of traction and remain illuminated until the brake pedal is pressed. 18. Cargo Lamp The Cargo Lamp light will illuminate when the Cargo Lamp is activated by pressing the Cargo Light Button on the headlight switch. 19. Front Fog Light Indicator — If Equipped
This light shows when the front fog lights are ON.
20. Transmission Oil Temperature Warning Light (Automatic Transmissions Only) This light indicates that there is excessive transmission fluid temperature that might occur with severe usage such as trailer towing. It may also occur when operating the vehicle in a high torque converter slip condition, such
as 4-wheel-drive operation (e.g. off- road operation). If this light comes on, stop the vehicle and run the engine at idle or faster, with the transmission in NEUTRAL until the light goes off. 21. Low Washer Fluid Light This light comes on when the washer fluid level falls below approximately 1/4 full. The light will remain on until fluid is added and ignition switch is cycled. 22. Odometer/Trip Odometer Button Press this button to toggle between the odometer and the trip odometer display. Holding the button in resets the trip odometer reading when in trip mode. 23. Fuel Gauge Shows level of fuel in tank when ignition switch is in the ON position.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 171
24. Low Fuel Warning Light
Glows when the pointer is between “E” and 1/8
indication mark (approximately 15% of tank vol- ume) on the fuel gauge. When the fuel gauge pointer is on “E” (equivalent to Distance To Empty [DTE] = 0 on the overhead console if so equipped) there is reserve fuel capacity, which corresponds to approxi- mately 8% of tank volume. This reserve capacity was put in place to prevent the likelihood of customers running out of fuel when operating at maximum load conditions in areas where there aren’t many gas stations. Ram SRT-10 fuel tank volume is as follows: • 26 gallons - Standard Cab • 34 gallons - Quad Cab172 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
25. Door Ajar
The Door Ajar light will illuminate when any door is opened. When the ignition is ON the Door Ajar light will stay illuminated until the open door is closed. When the ignition is OFF the Door Ajar light will stay illuminated until the open door is closed or the battery saver feature automatically turns the light off. 26. CRUISE Light This indicator lights when the electronic speed control system is turned on. 27. Transmission Oil Temperature Warning Light (Automatic Transmissions Only) This light indicates that there is excessive transmission fluid temperature that might occur with severe usage such as trailer towing. It may also occur when operating the vehicle in a high torque converter slip condition, such as 4-wheel-drive operation (e.g. snow plowing, off- road
operation). If this light comes on, stop the vehicle and run the engine at idle or faster, with the transmission in NEUTRAL until the light goes off. NOTE: The oil temperature gauge will not illuminate the CHECK GAGES Light.
ELECTRONIC DIGITAL CLOCK The clock and radio each use the display panel built into the radio. A digital readout shows the frequency and/or time in hours and minutes (depending on your radio model) whenever the ignition switch is in the “ON” or “ACC” position. When the ignition switch is in the “OFF” position, or when the radio frequency is being displayed, time keep- ing is accurately maintained. On the RAQ radio the time button alternates the location of the time and frequency on the display. On the REF only one of the two, time or frequency is displayed at a time.
Clock Setting Procedure
1. Press and hold the time button until the hours blink. 2. Adjust the hours by turning the right side Tune / Audio control. 3. After the hours are adjusted, press the right side Tune / Audio control to set the minutes. 4. Adjust the minutes using the right side Tune / Audio control. 5. To exit, press any button/knob or wait approximately 5 seconds.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 173
SALES CODE REC — AM/FM/CD (6–DISC) RADIO WITH NAVIGATION SYSTEM
REC Radio
SALES CODE RAQ – AM/FM/CD (6-DISC) RADIO WITH OPTIONAL SATELLITE RADIO, HANDS FREE PHONE, AND VEHICLE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEMS (VES) CAPABILITIES
NOTE: The radio sales code is located on the lower right side of your radio faceplate.
174 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
Satellite Navigation Radio with CD Player with MP3
Capability (REC) combines a Global-Positioning System-based navigation system with an integrated color screen to provide maps, turn identification, selection menus and instructions for selecting a variety of destina- tions and routes, AM/FM stereo radio and six-disc CD changer with MP3 capability. Mapping information for navigation is supplied on a DVD that is loaded into the unit. One map DVD covers all of North America. Refer to your “Navigation User’s Manual” for detailed operating instructions. Operating Instructions — Satellite Radio (If Equipped) Refer to your “Navigation User’s Manual” for detailed operating instructions.RAQ Radio
Operating Instructions - Radio Mode
NOTE: The ignition switch must be in the ON or ACC position to operate the radio. Power Switch/Volume Control (Rotary) Press the ON/VOL control to turn the radio ON. Press the ON/VOL a second time to turn OFF the radio. Electronic Volume Control The electronic volume control turns continuously (360
degrees) in either direction without stopping. Turning the volume control to the right increases the volume and to the left decreases it. When the audio system is turned on, the sound will be set at the same volume level as last played. For your convenience, the volume can be turned down, but not up, when the audio system is off and the ignition is ON.UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 175
Mode Button (Radio Mode) Press the mode button repeatedly to select between the CD player, Satellite Radio, or Vehicle Entertainment System (VES) (if equipped). SEEK Button (Radio Mode) Press and release the SEEK button to search for the next listenable station in either AM/FM or Satellite (if equipped) mode. Press the right side of the button to seek up and the left side to seek down. The radio will remain tuned to the new station until you make another selec- tion. Holding the button will bypass stations without stopping until you release it. MUTE Button (Radio Mode) 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
176 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
In Hands Free Phone (if equipped) mode, the
NOTE: MUTE button mutes the microphone. SCAN Button (Radio Mode) Pressing the SCAN button causes the tuner to search for the next listenable station, in either AM, FM or Satellite (if equipped) frequencies, pausing for 5 seconds at each listenable station before continuing to the next. To stop the search, press SCAN a second time. MSG or INFO Button (Radio Mode) Press the MSG or INFO button for an RBDS station (one with call letters displayed). The radio will return a Radio Text message broadcast from an FM station (FM mode only). Time Button Press the time button and the time of day will be displayed for 5 seconds.
Clock Setting Procedure 1. Press and hold the time button until the hours blink. 2. Adjust the hours by turning the right side Tune / Audio control. 3. After the hours are adjusted, press the right side Tune / Audio control to set the minutes. The minutes will begin to blink. 4. Adjust the minutes using the right side Tune / Audio control. 5. To exit, press any button/knob or wait 5 seconds. RW/FF (Radio Mode) Pressing the rewind/fast forward button causes the tuner to search for the next frequency in the direction of the arrows. This feature operates in either AM, FM or Satel- lite (if equipped) frequencies.
TUNE Control (Radio Mode) Turn the right side rotary control clockwise to increase or counter-clockwise to decrease the frequency. AM/FM Button (Radio Mode) Press the button to select AM or FM Modes. 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.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 177
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. 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.
178 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
Toggle the PTY button to select the following format types:
Program Type
No program type or un-
defined
Adult Hits Alert Alert Classical
Classic Rock
College Country
Emergency Test Foreign Language
Information
Jazz News
16 Digit-Character Dis-
play
None
Adult_Hits Alert Alert Classical
Classic_Rock
College Country
Emergency Test Foreign_Language
Information
Jazz News
Nostalgia
Oldies
Personality
Public
Nostalgia
Oldies
Personality
Public
Rhythm and Blues Religious Music Religious Talk
Rhythm_and_Blues
Religious_Music Religious_Talk
Rock Soft
Soft Rock
Soft Rhythm and Blues
Sports Talk Top 40
WeatherRock Soft
Soft_Rock Soft_R_&_B
Sports Talk
Top_40
WeatherBy 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.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 179
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}.180 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
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. 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
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 181
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. 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.
182 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
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. 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.UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 183
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
• 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 separator3-character extension)
⬙.⬙ and a
3-character extension)
184 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
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 bitrates (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 Specifi-
cation
Sampling Fre- quency (kHz)
MPEG-1 Audio
Layer 3
48, 44.1, 32
MPEG-2 Audio
Layer 3
24, 22.05, 16
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, 24,16, 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.
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.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 185
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.
186 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
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.
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.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 187
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
VIDEO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM (SALES CODE XRV) — IF EQUIPPED The optional VES™ (Video Entertainment System) con- sists of a DVD player and LCD (liquid crystal display) screen, a battery-powered remote control, and two head- sets. The system is located in the headliner behind the front row seat. Refer to your VES™ User’s Manual for detailed operating instructions.
188 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
REMOTE SOUND SYSTEM CONTROLS 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 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 center button of the right hand control will allow you to change the mode. 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 left side switch will SEEK up for the next listenable station and pressing the bottom of the switch will SEEK down for the next listenable station. 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 has no function in this mode.
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.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 189
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 benzene, 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, oversized, or have theft protection encoding. Try a known good disc before considering disc player service.
190 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
RADIO OPERATION AND CELLULAR PHONES Under certain conditions, the operation of a cellular phone in your vehicle can cause erratic or noisy perfor- mance 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 repo- sitioning of the antenna, it is recommended that the radio volume be turned down or off during cellular phone operation.
CLIMATE CONTROLS With the Dual Zone Temperature Control System, each front seat occupant can independently control the tem- perature of air coming from the outlets on their side of the vehicle.
Climate Control Location
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 191
Air Conditioning and Heating Operation To turn on the Air Conditioning, set the fan control at any speed and press the snowflake button located on the control panel. Conditioned air will be directed through the outlets selected by the mode control. A light in the snowflake button shows that the air conditioning is on. Press the button a second time to turn the air condition- ing off. A/C Pushbutton
With the fan control in the ON posi- tion, pushing the A/C button turns on the air conditioning compressor. An indicator light on the button shows that the Air Conditioning compressor is on. Conditioned air is now directed through the mode outlets selected. Pushing the button a second time turns the compressor OFF.
Dual Zone Control Head
192 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
Recirculation Pushbutton
Pushing the Recirculation button al- lows interior air to recirculate continu- ously in any position except defrost and defrost/floor mode for rapid cool down of interior. See “Fast Cooldown” later in this section.
the
The mode control allows you to choose from several patterns of air distribution.
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 and give an even blend of both modes. Panel
Outside air flows through the outlets located in the instrument panel. These outlets can be adjusted to
direct the airflow. Bi-Level
Air flows through the outlets located in the instru- ment panel and those located on the floor.
NOTE: There is a difference in temperature between the upper and lower outlets for added comfort. The warmer air goes to the floor outlets. This feature gives improved comfort during sunny but cool conditions.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 193
Blower Control
The rotary knob on the left of the control panel is 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 posi- tion.
Heat
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
the windshield and side window demist outlets. NOTE: The air conditioning compressor operates in both Mix and Defrost or a blend of these modes, even if the A/C button has not been pressed. This dehumidifies the air to help dry the windshield.
194 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
Dual Zone Temperature Control
Dual Zone Temperature Control
Use this control to regulate the temperature of the air inside the passenger compartment. This is accomplished by having separate temperature control slides for both the driver and front passenger. The blue area of the scale indicates cooler temperatures while the red area indicates warmer temperatures.
Electric Rear Window Defroster and Heated Sideview Mirrors — If Equipped
The Electric Rear Window Defroster and Heated side view mirrors are activated by pressing the heated grid button, located on the Climate Control panel, with the ignition On. Turning Off the ignition will deactivate the Electric Rear Window Defroster and Heated side view mirrors feature. These features also turn off after activation, when 15 minutes have elapsed. To reactivate, simply press the button again. 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 press the Recirculation
pushbutton. When a comfortable condition has been reached, choose a mode position and adjust the tempera- ture control slide 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. Higher blower
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 195
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 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 is recommended. Refer to Recommended Fluids and Genuine Parts for the proper coolant type.
196 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
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 to increase engine RPM, coolant flow and fan speed. When stopped in heavy traffic, it may be necessary to shift into NEUTRAL and depress the accelerator slightly for fast idle operation to increase coolant flow and fan speed. NOTE: On models equipped with Diesel engines, the idle speed will automatically increase to 1000 rpm at elevated coolant temperatures to improve engine cooling.
Your air conditioning system is also equipped with an automatic recirculation system. When the system senses a heavy load or high heat conditions, it may use partial Recirculation A/C mode to provide additional comfort. 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.
Operating Tips Chart
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 197
STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
䡵 Ignition/Starter Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
▫ Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
▫ Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
▫ On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
▫ ACC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
▫ Manual Transmission Key Release Button . . . . 202
▫ Key Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
䡵 Starting Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
▫ Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203▫ If Engine Fails To Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
▫ After Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
䡵 Transmission Shifting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
▫ Automatic Transmission With Overdrive . . . . . 205
▫ Manual Transmission — 6-Speed . . . . . . . . . . 211
䡵 Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
䡵 Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
䡵 Brake System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
▫ Brake Noise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216200 STARTING AND OPERATING
▫ Four-Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
. . . 216
䡵 Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
䡵 Tire Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
▫ Tire Markings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) . . . . . . . . . . 222
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . 223
䡵 Tires—General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
▫ Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
▫ Radial-Ply Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
▫ Compact Spare Tire — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . 231
▫ Limited Use Spare — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . 232
▫ Tire Spinning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232▫ Tread Wear Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
▫ Life Of Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
▫ Replacement Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
▫ Alignment And Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
䡵 Supplemental Tire Pressure Information . . . . . . . 236
䡵 Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
䡵 Snow Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
䡵 Tire Rotation Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
䡵 Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
▫ Reformulated Gasoline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
▫ MMT In Gasoline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
▫ Sulfur In Gasoline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241䡵 Adding Fuel
▫ Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap)
▫ Materials Added To Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
▫ Fuel System Cautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
䡵 Catalytic Converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
䡵 Vehicle Loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
▫ Certification Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
䡵 Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
▫ Common Towing Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
▫ Trailer Hitch Classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252STARTING AND OPERATING 201
▫ Trailer Towing Weights
(Maximum Trailer Weight Ratings) . . . . . . . . . 253
▫ Trailer And Tongue Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
▫ Towing Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
▫ Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
▫ Trailer Towing Mirrors — If Equipped . . . . . . 261
䡵 Snowplow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
▫ Dodge SRT-10 Models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
䡵 Traction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
䡵 Equipment Identification Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264202 STARTING AND OPERATING
IGNITION/STARTER SWITCH
LOCK Engages the steering wheel lock (if equipped) when the steering wheel is turned.
OFF Unlocks the steering wheel (if equipped with locking wheel). ON This is the normal running position. ACC Allows the electrical accessories to be used when the engine is not running. Manual Transmission Key Release Button To remove the key on vehicles equipped with manual transmissions, turn the key to the Lock position and press the button to remove the ignition key. Key Reminder An alarm will sound to remind you if the key is left in the ignition and the driver’s door is opened.
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 the 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 fully depressed. Place the ignition switch in the ON position.
STARTING AND OPERATING 203
Start Button Locator Normal starting of either a cold or a warm engine does not require pump- ing or depressing the accelerator pedal. To start the vehicle, turn the key to the ON position and press the red ENGINE START button located on the
204 STARTING AND OPERATING
instrument panel 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 normal 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.
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.CAUTION!
WARNING!
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.
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.
After Starting The idle speed is automatically controlled and will de- crease as the engine warms up.
CAUTION!
Long periods of engine idling, especially at high engine speeds can cause excessive exhaust tempera- tures which can damage your vehicle. Do not leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running.
WARNING!
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 205
TRANSMISSION SHIFTING
Automatic Transmission with Overdrive The gear shift selector display, located in the instrument panel cluster, indicates the transmission gear range (the selector is illuminated for night driving). The selector lever is mounted on the right side of the steering column. You must depress the brake pedal, to pull the selector lever out of park (P) position (Brake Interlock System). To drive, move the selector lever from Park or Neutral to the desired drive position. Pull the selector lever toward you when shifting into Reverse, Second, First or Park, or when shifting out of Park. NOTE: The automatic transmission shift quality has been matched to the SRT-10 performance resulting in a more firm feeling shift. Gear Ranges DO NOT race the engine when shifting from Park or Neutral position into another gear range.
206 STARTING AND OPERATING
“P” Park This gear position supplements the parking brake by locking the transmission. The engine can be started in this range. Never use Park while the vehicle is in motion. Apply the parking brake when leaving the vehicle in this range. Always apply parking brake first, then place the selector in Park position. On 4-wheel-drive vehicles be sure that the transfer case is in a drive position!
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.
WARNING!
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 it toward you after you have set it in P. Make sure it is in Park before leaving the vehicle.
WARNING!
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.
STARTING AND OPERATING 207
“N” Neutral Shift to Neutral when the vehicle is standing for pro- longed periods with the engine running. The engine may be started in this range. Set the parking brake if you must leave the vehicle. “D” Drive This position provides all forward gears, including 3rd gear direct and 4th gear overdrive (see Overdrive Opera- tion). Use this range for most city and highway driving. “2” Second Use this position 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 braking when descending moderately steep grades.
208 STARTING AND OPERATING
NOTE: Do not exceed maximum engine speed. “1” First Use this position for driving up very steep hills and for engine braking at low speeds (20 mph [32 km/h] or less) when going downhill. NOTE: Do not exceed a maximum engine speed of 5500
rpm.Overdrive Operation
The four-speed overdrive automatic transmission con- tains an electronically controlled fourth speed (Over- drive). The transmission will automatically shift from Drive to Overdrive if the following conditions are present: • the transmission selector is in Drive;
perature;
• the engine coolant has reached normal operating tem- • vehicle speed is above approximately 30 mph (48
• the “TOW/HAUL” switch has not been activated; • transmission has reached normal operating tempera-km/h);
ture.
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). Overdrive can be locked out by pressing the “TOW/ HAUL” button located on the selector lever. The “TOW/ HAUL” light will illuminate in the instrument cluster to indicate that the switch has been activated. Pressing the switch a second time restores the Overdrive function. If the “TOW/HAUL” feature is desired, the“TOW/HAUL” button must be pressed each time the engine is started.
STARTING AND OPERATING 209
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 temperature. 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 “TOW/HAUL” and/or TRANS TEMP light(s) may illuminate and the transmission may downshift out of Overdrive until the transmission cools down. After cooldown, the transmis- sion will resume normal operation. When To Lock Out Overdrive When driving in hilly areas, towing a trailer, carrying a heavy load, etc., and frequent 4–3–4 transmission shifting
210 STARTING AND OPERATING
occurs, press the “TOW/HAUL” button. This will im- prove performance and reduce the potential for transmis- sion overheating or failure due to excessive shifting. 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, has been included in the automatic transmission on your vehicle. A clutch within the torque converter engages automati- cally at calibrated speeds. This may result in a slightly different feeling or response during normal operation in high gear. When the vehicle speed drops or during acceleration when the transmission downshifts to second gear, the clutch automatically disengages.
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 211
Damage to the clutch can re- sult from starting in 2nd or 3rd gear with a loaded ve- hicle. Use each gear in nu- merical order – do not skip a gear.
For improved clutch life, all six forward gears should be used. For steady highway driving with light acceleration, 6th gear is recommended. When shifting from 4th to 5th gear, apply side effort away and forward without push- ing hard enough to engage Reverse gear. Shifting from 5th to 6th requires the same side effort or the lever will return to center resulting in a shift into 4th gear and damage the transmission, clutch, or engine.
212 STARTING AND OPERATING
You should use low gear when starting from a standing position if under a heavy load. To shift into Reverse, come to a complete stop. Depress the clutch and pause briefly to allow the gear train to stop. Move the shift lever from the Neutral position straight across and up into Reverse. 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.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION
RECOMMENDED SHIFT SPEEDS
5-6
50
(80)1-2
15
(24)2-3
25
(40)3-4
40
(65)4-5
45
(72)MPH (km/h) Higher upshift speeds may be used to obtain a desired acceleration rate. 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. Downshifting progressively. Do not skip gears to avoid overspeeding the engine and clutch. For accelera- tion at speeds less than 15 mph (25 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.
LIMITED-SLIP DIFFERENTIAL The limited-slip differential provides additional traction on snow, ice, mud, sand and gravel, particularly when there is a difference between the traction characteristics of the surface under the right and left rear wheels. During normal driving and cornering, the limited-slip unit per- forms similarly to a conventional differential. On slip- pery surfaces, however, the differential delivers more of the driving effort to the rear wheel having the better traction. The limited-slip differential is especially helpful during slippery driving conditions. With both rear wheels on a
STARTING AND OPERATING 213
slippery surface, a slight application of the accelerator will supply maximum traction. When starting with only one rear wheel on an excessively slippery surface, slight momentary application of the parking brake may be necessary to gain maximum traction.
WARNING!
On vehicles equipped with a limited-slip differen- tial, never run the engine with one rear wheel off the ground, since the vehicle may drive through the rear wheel remaining on the ground. You could 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.
214 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. NOTE: The instrument cluster red brake warning light will come on and flash to indicate that the parking brake is applied. You must be sure that the parking brake is fully applied before leaving the vehicle.
Be sure the parking brake is firmly set when parked and the gear shift lever is in the REVERSE position.
WARNING!
• Always fully apply the parking brake when leaving your vehicle, or it may roll and cause damage or injury. Also be certain to leave a manual transmis- sion in Reverse or first gear. Failure to do so may allow the vehicle to roll and cause damage or injury. • 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 keys in the ignition. A child could operate power windows, other controls, or move the vehicle. • Be sure the parking brake is fully disengaged before driving, failure to do so can lead to brake problems due to excessive heating of the rear brakes.
STARTING AND OPERATING 215
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 always be applied whenever the driver is not in the vehicle.
BRAKE SYSTEM If power assist is lost for any reason (for example, repeated brake applications with the engine off), the brakes will still function. However, you will experience a substantial increase in braking effort to stop the vehicle. If either the front or rear hydraulic systems lose normal capability, the remaining system will still function with some loss of overall braking effectiveness. This will be evident by increased pedal travel during application, greater pedal force required to slow or stop, and activa- tion of the BRAKE warning lamp and the ABS lamp (if equipped) during brake use.
216 STARTING AND OPERATING
Brake Noise During normal operation of the brake system certain noises may be present from time to time. Occasional ⬙groan⬙ or ⬙squeal⬙ noises may occur during normal operation of the brake system which may not be indica- tive of a problem. These noises may be heard at any time the brakes are applied but may be more noticeable during the first few brake applications in the morning. Moisture, hot or cold temperature, dust, and or other debris may also contribute to the noise condition. Repeated or con- tinuous noises during braking may be an indication that the brake linings are worn and in need of replacement. Four-Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) 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 lockup 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. This is normal. 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 complete stop. This is the result of the system reverting to the base brake system and is normal. 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. ABS Warning Light The Anti-lock Brake System includes an amber warning light. When the light is illuminated, the Anti-lock Brake System is not functioning. The system reverts to standard non-anti-lock brakes.
WARNING!
WARNING!
STARTING AND OPERATING 217
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 system (ABS) cannot prevent the natu- ral laws of physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can it increase braking or steering efficiency be- yond 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.
218 STARTING AND OPERATING
POWER STEERING Your power steering system will provide mechanical steering capability if power assist is lost. If for any reason the hydraulic pressure is interrupted, it will still be possible to steer your vehicle. Under these conditions you will experience a substantial increase in steering effort.
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.
STARTING AND OPERATING 219
• 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.
220 STARTING AND OPERATING
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 Milimeters (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 221
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. (ie. 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.
222 STARTING AND OPERATING
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.
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.
Tire Loading and Tire Pressure
Tire and Loading Information Placard
STARTING AND OPERATING 223
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
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
Tire Placard Location
224 STARTING AND OPERATING
3) the tire size designed for your vehicle 4) the cold tire inflation pressures for the front, rear and spare tires. 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 the Vehicle Loading section 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, see the Vehicle Loading section of this manual.
To determine the maximum loading conditions of your vehicle, locate the statement “The combined weight of 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.
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
STARTING AND OPERATING 225
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).226 STARTING AND OPERATING
WARNING!
1. Safety—
STARTING AND OPERATING 227
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.
228 STARTING AND OPERATING
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.
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.
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 1mile (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.
STARTING AND OPERATING 229
Check tire pressures more often if subject to a wide range of outdoor temperatures, as tire pressures vary with temperature changes. Tire pressures change by approximately 1 psi (7 kPa) per 12° F (7° C) of air temperature change. Keep this in mind when checking tire pressure inside a garage, especially in the winter. Example: If garage temperature = 68° F (20° C) and the outside temperature = 32° F (0° C) then the cold tire inflation pressure should be increased by 3 psi (21 kPa), which equals 1 psi (7 kPa) for every 12° F (7° C) for this outside temperature condition. Tire pressure may increase from 2 to 6 psi (13 to 40 kPa) during operation. DO NOT reduce this normal pressure build up or your tire pressure will be too low.
230 STARTING AND OPERATING
Tire Pressures for High Speed Operation The manufacturer advocates driving at safe speeds within posted speed limits. Where speed limits or condi- tions are such that the vehicle can be driven at high speeds, maintaining correct tire inflation pressure is very important. Increased tire pressure and reduced vehicle loading may be required for high speed vehicle opera- tion. Refer to original equipment or an authorized tire dealer for recommended safe operating speeds, loading and cold tire inflation pressures.
WARNING!
High speed driving with your vehicle under maxi- mum load is dangerous. The added strain on your tires could cause them to fail. You could have a serious accident. Don’t drive a vehicle loaded to the maximum capacity at continuous speeds above 75
mph (120 km/h).Radial-Ply Tires
WARNING!
Combining radial ply tires with other types of tires on your vehicle will cause your vehicle to handle poorly. The instability could cause an accident. Al- ways use radial ply tires in sets of four (or 6, in case of trucks with dual rear wheels). Never combine them with other types of tires.
Cuts and punctures in radial tires are repairable only in the tread area because of sidewall flexing. Consult your authorized tire dealer for radial tire repairs.
Compact Spare Tire — If Equipped The compact spare is for temporary emergency use with radial tires. It is engineered to be used on your style vehicle only. Since this tire has limited tread life, the original tire should be repaired (or replaced) and rein- stalled at the first opportunity.
Do not install a wheel cover or attempt to mount a conventional tire on the compact spare wheel, since the wheel is designed specifically for the compact spare. Do not install more than one compact spare tire/wheel on the vehicle at any given time.
STARTING AND OPERATING 231
WARNING!
Temporary use spare tires are for emergency use only. With these tires, do not drive more than 50 mph (80 km/h). Temporary-use spare tires have limited tread life. When the tread is worn to the tread wear indicators, the temporary use spare tire needs to be replaced. Be sure to follow the warnings which apply to your spare. Failure to do so could result in spare tire failure and loss of vehicle control.
CAUTION!
Because of the reduced ground clearance, do not take your vehicle through an automatic car wash with the compact spare installed. Damage to the vehicle may result.
232 STARTING AND OPERATING
Limited Use Spare — If Equipped The limited use spare tire is for temporary emergency use on your vehicle. This tire is identified by a limited use spare tire warning label located on the limited use spare tire and wheel assembly. This tire may look like the original equipped tire on the front or rear axle of your vehicle, but it is not. Installation of this limited use spare tire affects vehicle handling. Since it is not the same tire, replace (or repair) the original tire and reinstall on the vehicle at the first opportunity.
WARNING!
The limited use spare tires are for emergency use only. Installation of this limited use spare tire affects vehicle handling. With this tire, do not drive more than 60 mph (100 km/h). Keep inflated to the cold tire inflation pressure listed on either your tire placard or limited use spare tire and wheel assembly. Replace (or repair) the original tire at the first opportunity and reinstall it on your vehicle. Failure to do so could result in loss of vehicle control.
Tire Spinning When stuck in mud, sand, snow, or ice conditions, do not spin your vehicle’s wheels above 35 mph (55 km/h). See the paragraph on Freeing A Stuck Vehicle in Section 6 of this manual.
WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces gener- ated by excessive wheel speeds may cause tire dam- age or failure. A tire could explode and injure someone. Do not spin your vehicle’s wheels faster than 35 mph (55 km/h) when you are stuck. And don’t let anyone near a spinning wheel, no matter what the speed.
Tread Wear Indicators Tread wear indicators are in the original equipment tires to help you in determining when your tires should be replaced.
STARTING AND OPERATING 233
These indicators are molded into the bottom of the tread grooves and will appear as bands when the tread depth becomes 1/16 inch (2 mm). When the tread is worn to the tread wear indicators, the tire should be replaced. Many states have laws requiring tire replacement at this point.
234 STARTING AND OPERATING
Life of Tire The service life of a tire is dependent upon varying factors including but not limited to: • Driving style • Tire pressure • Distance driven
WARNING!
Tires and spare tire should be replaced after six years, regardless of the remaining tread. Failure to follow this warning can result in sudden tire failure. You could lose control and have an accident result- ing in serious injury or death.
Keep unmounted tires in a cool, dry place with as little exposure to light as possible. Protect tires from contact with oil, grease and gasoline. Replacement Tires The tires on your new vehicle provide a balance of many characteristics. They should be inspected regularly for wear and correct cold tire inflation pressure. The manu- facturer strongly recommends that you use tires equiva- lent to the originals in size, quality and performance when replacement is needed (see the paragraph on tread wear indicators). Refer to the Tire and Loading Informa- tion placard for the size designation of your tire. The service description and load identification will be found on the original equipment tire. Failure to use equivalent replacement tires may adversely affect the safety, han- dling, and ride of your vehicle. We recommend that you contact your original equipment or an authorized tire dealer with any questions you may have on tire specifi- cations or capability.
WARNING!
• Do not use a tire, wheel size or rating other than that specified for your vehicle. Some combina- tions of unapproved tires and wheels may change suspension dimensions and performance charac- teristics, resulting in changes to steering, han- dling, and braking of your vehicle. This can cause unpredictable handling and stress to steering and suspension components. You could lose control and have an accident resulting in serious injury or death. Use only the tire and wheel sizes with load ratings approved for your vehicle. • Never use a tire with a smaller load index or capacity, other than what was originally equipped on your vehicle. Using a tire with a smaller load index could result in tire overloading and failure. You could lose control and have an accident. • Failure to equip your vehicle with tires having adequate speed capability can result in sudden tire failure and loss of vehicle control.
STARTING AND OPERATING 235
CAUTION!
Replacing original tires with tires of a different size may result in false speedometer and odometer read- ings.
Alignment And Balance Poor suspension alignment may result in: • Fast tire wear. • Uneven tire wear, such as feathering and one-sided • Vehicle pull to right or left. Tires may also cause the vehicle to pull to the left or right. Alignment will not correct this condition. See your dealer for proper diagnosis.
wear.
236 STARTING AND OPERATING
Improper alignment will not cause vehicle vibration. Vibration may be a result of tire and wheel out-of- balance. Proper balancing will reduce vibration and avoid tire cupping and spotty wear.
SUPPLEMENTAL TIRE PRESSURE INFORMATION A light load vehicle condition is defined as two passen- gers {150 lbs (68 kg) each} plus 200 lbs (91kg) of cargo. Cold tire inflation pressures for a lightly loaded vehicle will be found on the face of the driver’s door.
TIRE CHAINS Use “Class S” chains on SRT–10 models, or other traction aids that meet SAE Type “S” specifications. Tire chain use is permitted only on the rear tires of SRT–10 models. NOTE: Chains must be the proper size for the vehicle, as recommended by the chain manufacturer.
CAUTION!
To avoid damage to your vehicle, tires or chains, observe the following precautions:
• Because of limited chain clearance between tires and other
driving about 1/2 mile (0.8 km).
suspension components, it is important that only chains in good condition are used. Broken chains can cause serious vehicle damage. Stop the vehicle immediately if noise occurs that could suggest chain breakage. Remove the damaged parts of the chain before further use.
• Install chains as tightly as possible and then retighten after • Do not exceed 45 mph (72 km/h). • Drive cautiously and avoid severe turns and large bumps, • Do not install tire chains on front wheels of 4x2 vehicles. • Do not drive for a prolonged period on dry pavement. • Observe the tire chain manufacturer’s instructions on
especially with a loaded vehicle.
method of installation, operating speed, and conditions for usage. Always use the lower suggested operating speed of the chain manufacturer if different than the speed recom- mended by the manufacturer.
These cautions apply to all chain traction devices, includ- ing link and cable (radial) chains. Tire chain use is permitted only on the rear tires of SRT–10 Models. NOTE: The use of class “S” chains is permitted on SRT– 10 Models with the use of 17 x 8 steel wheels (part number 52113265AC) available from your authorized dealer.
CAUTION!
Do not use tire chains on the front wheels. There may not be adequate clearance for the chains and you are risking structural or body damage to your vehicle.
STARTING AND OPERATING 237
SNOW TIRES Snow tires should be of the same size and type construc- tion as the front tires. Consult the manufacturer of the snow tire to determine any maximum vehicle speed requirement associated with the tire. These tires should always be operated at the vehicle maximum capacity inflation pressures under any load condition. While studded tires improve performance on ice, skid and traction capability on wet or dry surfaces may be poorer than that of non-studded tires. Some states pro- hibit studded tires; local laws should be checked before using these tire types.
therefore,
238 STARTING AND OPERATING
TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS Tires on the front and rear axles of vehicles operate at different loads and perform different steering, driving, and braking functions. For these reasons, they wear at unequal rates, and develop irregular wear patterns. These effects can be reduced by timely rotation of tires. The benefits of rotation are especially worthwhile with aggressive tread designs such as those on On/Off Road type tires. Rotation will increase tread life, help to main- tain mud, snow, and wet traction levels, and contribute to a smooth, quiet ride. Follow the recommended tire rotation frequency for your type of driving found in the “Maintenance Schedules” Section of this manual. More frequent rotation is permis- sible if desired. The reasons for any rapid or unusual wear should be corrected prior to rotation being per- formed.
NOTE: On Canadian vehicles only, if your Ram truck is equipped with All-Season type tires on the front and ON/OFF Road type tires mounted on the rear, do not use a front to back rotation pattern. Instead, rotate your tires side to side at the recommended intervals.
FUEL REQUIREMENTS
Your vehicle is designed to meet all emis- sion regulations and provide excellent fuel economy when using high quality pre- mium unleaded gasoline having an octane rating of 91 or higher.
Light spark knock at low engine speeds is not harmful to your engine. However, continued heavy spark knock at high speeds can cause damage and immediate service is required. Poor quality gasoline can cause problems such as hard starting, stalling and hesitations. If you experience these symptoms, try another brand of “regular” gasoline be- fore considering service for the vehicle. Over 40 automobile manufacturers around the world have issued and endorsed consistent gasoline specifica- tions (the World Wide Fuel Charter, WWFC) to define fuel properties necessary to deliver enhanced emissions,
STARTING AND OPERATING 239
engine performance, and durability for your vehicle. The manufacturer recommends the use of gasolines that meet the WWFC specifications if they are available. Reformulated Gasoline Many areas of the country require the use of cleaner burning fuel referred to as Reformulated Gasoline. Reformulated gasolines contain oxygenates, and are spe- cially blended to reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality. The manufacturer strongly supports the use of reformu- lated gasolines. Properly blended reformulated gasolines will provide excellent performance and durability of engine and fuel system components.
240 STARTING AND OPERATING
Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends Some fuel suppliers blend unleaded gasoline with mate- rials called oxygenates such as 10% alcohol, MTBE, ETBE or TAME. Oxygenates are required in some areas of the country during the winter months to reduce carbon monoxide emissions. Fuels blended with these oxygen- ates may be used in your vehicle.
CAUTION!
DO NOT use gasolines containing METHANOL. Gasoline containing methanol may damage critical fuel system components.
MMT In Gasoline MMT is a manganese containing metallic additive that is blended into some gasoline to increase the octane. Gaso- lines blended with MMT offer no performance advantage beyond gasolines of the same octane number without MMT. Gasolines blended with MMT reduce spark plug life and reduce emission system performance in some vehicles. The manufacturer recommends that gasolines without MMT be used in your vehicle. The MMT content of gasoline may not be indicated on the gasoline pump, therefore, you should ask your gasoline retailer whether or not his/her gasoline contains MMT. It is even more important to look for gasolines without MMT in Canada because MMT can be used at higher levels than are allowed in the United States. MMT is prohibited in Federal and California reformulated gaso- lines.
Sulfur In Gasoline Your vehicle may have been designed to meet California low emission standards on clean burning, low sulfur,
