2021 RAM 2500 Owners Manual - STARTING THE ENGINE — GASOLINE ENGINE

STARTING THE ENGINE — GASOLINE ENGINE

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

The starter should not be operated for more than 10-second intervals. Waiting a few seconds between such intervals will protect the starter from overheating.

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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Start the engine with the transmission in PARK position. Apply the brake before shifting into any driving range.

This vehicle is equipped with a transmission shift interlocking system. The brake pedal must be pressed to shift out of PARK.

If equipped with an eight-speed transmis- sion, starting the vehicle in NEUTRAL is not possible unless the Manual Park Release has been activated page 388.

TIP START FEATURE

Do not press the accelerator. Place the ignition switch briefly to the START position and release it. The starter motor will continue to run and will automatically disengage when the engine is running.

KEYLESS ENTER-N-GO — IGNITION

This feature allows the driver to operate the ignition switch with the push of a button, as long as the Remote Start/Keyless Enter-N-Go key fob is in the passenger compartment.

NORMAL STARTING USING ENGINE START/STOP BUTTON

The transmission must be in PARK.

Press and hold the brake pedal while pushing the ENGINE START/STOP button once.

The system takes over and attempts to start the vehicle. If the vehicle fails to start, the starter will disengage automatically after 10 seconds.

If you wish to stop the cranking of the engine prior to the engine starting, push the ENGINE START/STOP button again.

Normal starting of either a cold or a warm engine is obtained without pumping or pressing the accelerator pedal.

Place the gear selector in PARK, then push and release the ENGINE START/STOP button.

The ignition will return to the OFF mode.

If the gear selector is not in PARK, the ENGINE START/STOP button must be held for two seconds or three short pushes in a row with the vehicle speed above 5 mph

(8 km/h) before the engine will shut off. The ignition will remain in the ACC mode until the gear selector is in PARK and the button is pushed twice to the OFF mode.

If the gear selector is not in PARK and the ENGINE START/STOP button is pushed once with the vehicle speed above 5 mph (8 km/h), the instrument cluster will display a “Vehicle Not In Park” message and the engine will remain running. Never leave a vehicle out of the PARK position, or it could roll.

If the gear selector is not in PARK, and the ENGINE START/STOP button is pushed once with

the vehicle speed below 5 mph (8 km/h), the engine will shut off and the ignition will remain in the ACC position. If vehicle speed drops below

1.2 mph (1.9 km/h), the vehicle may AutoPark. See AutoPark section for further details.

The ENGINE START/STOP button operates 4

similar to an ignition switch. It has three modes:

OFF, ACC, and RUN. To change the ignition modes without starting the vehicle and use the accessories, follow these directions:

Start with the ignition in the OFF mode.

Push the ENGINE START/STOP button once to place the ignition to the ACC mode.

Push the ENGINE START/STOP button a second time to place the ignition to the RUN mode.

Push the ENGINE START/STOP button a third time to return the ignition to the OFF mode.

AUTOPARK — ROTARY SHIFTER AND

EIGHT-SPEED TRANSMISSION ONLY

AutoPark is a supplemental feature to assist in placing the vehicle in PARK should the situations on the following pages occur. It is a back up system and should not be relied upon as the primary method by which the driver shifts the vehicle into PARK.

The conditions under which AutoPark will engage are outlined on the following pages.

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AutoPark will engage when all of these conditions are met:

Vehicle is equipped with a rotary shifter and an eight-speed transmission

Vehicle is not in PARK

Vehicle speed is 1.2 mph (1.9 km/h) or less

Ignition switched from RUN to ACC NOTE:

For Keyless Enter-N-Go equipped vehicles, the engine will turn off and the ignition switch will change to ACC mode. After 30 minutes the igni- tion switches to OFF automatically, unless the driver turns the ignition switch off.

AutoPark will engage when all of these conditions are met:

Vehicle is equipped with a rotary shifter and an eight-speed transmission

Vehicle is not in PARK

Vehicle speed is 1.2 mph (1.9 km/h) or less

Driver’s seat belt is unbuckled

Driver’s door is ajar

Brake pedal is not pressed

The message “AutoPark Engaged Shift to P then Shift to Gear” will display in the instrument cluster.

In some cases the ParkSense graphic will be displayed in the instrument cluster, causing the “AutoPark Engaged Shift to P then Shift to Gear” to not be seen. In these cases, the shifter must be returned to “P” to select desired gear.

AutoPark will engage ONLY when vehicle speed is 1.2 mph (1.9 km/h) or less.

The message “Vehicle Speed is Too High to Shift to P” will be displayed in the instrument cluster if vehicle speed is above 1.2 mph (1.9 km/h).

AutoPark will be disabled when operating the vehicle in 4WD Low.

The message “AutoPark Disabled” will be displayed in the instrument cluster.

Vehicle is not in PARK

Driver’s door is ajar

Vehicle is in 4WD Low range

The message “AutoPark Not Engaged” will be displayed in the instrument cluster. A warning chime will continue until you shift the vehicle into PARK or the driver’s door is closed.

ALWAYS DO A VISUAL CHECK that your vehicle is in PARK by looking for the “P” in the instrument cluster display and near the shifter. As an added precaution, always apply the parking brake when exiting the vehicle.

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 the engine is cranking. This should clear any excess fuel in case the engine is flooded.

The starter motor will engage automatically, run for 10 seconds, and then disengage. Once this occurs, release the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.

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

If the engine shows no sign of starting after a 10 second period of engine cranking with the accelerator pedal held to the floor, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.

COLD WEATHER OPERATION (BELOW

–22°F OR −30°C)

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

AFTER STARTING

The idle speed is controlled automatically, and it will decrease as the engine warms up.