Dodge Ram 1500 (2011 year). Manual

WARNING!

Improper installation of a child restraint to the
LATCH anchorages can lead to failure of an infant or
child restraint. The child could be badly injured or
killed. Follow the manufacturer’s directions exactly
when installing an infant or child restraint.

Installing Child Restraints Using the Vehicle Seat
Belt
The seat belts in the passenger seating positions are
equipped with either an Automatic Locking Retractor
(ALR) or a cinching latch plate or both. Both types of seat
belts are designed to keep the lap portion of the seat belt
tight around the child restraint so that it is not necessary
to use a locking clip. The ALR will make a ratcheting
noise if you extract the entire belt from the retractor and

then allow the belt to retract into the retractor. For
additional information on ALR, refer to “Automatic
Locking Mode”.

To install a child restraint, first, pull enough of the seat
belt webbing from the retractor to route it through the
belt path of the child restraint and slide the latch plate
into the buckle. Next, extract all the seat belt webbing out
of the retractor and then allow the belt to retract into the
retractor. Finally, pull on any excess webbing to tighten
the lap portion around the child restraint. Any seat belt
system will loosen with time, so check the belt occasion-
ally, and pull it tight if necessary.

Child Restraint Tether Anchor
Child restraints having tether straps and hooks for con-
nection to tether anchors have been available for some
time. In fact, many child restraint manufacturers will
provide add-on tether strap kits for their older products.
Regular Cab models have two tether anchorages, one

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

each behind the front center and right seats. Quad Cab

威,

Mega Cab

威 and Crew Cab models have three anchor-

ages, one behind each of the rear seats.

WARNING!

An incorrectly anchored tether strap could lead to
seat failure and injury to the child. In a collision, the
seat could come loose and allow the child to crash
into the inside of the vehicle or other passengers, or
even be thrown from the vehicle. Use only the anchor
positions directly behind the child seat to secure a
child restraint top tether strap. Follow the instruc-
tions below. See your authorized dealer for help if
necessary.

Tether Anchorage Points at the Right and Center
Front Seat (Regular Cab - All Seats)

1. Place the child restraint on the seat and adjust the
tether strap so that it will reach over the seat back under
the head restraint to the tether anchor directly behind the
seat.

2. Lift the cover (if so equipped), and attach the hook to
the square opening in the sheet metal.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

3. Install the child restraint and remove the slack in the
tether strap according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Multiple Child Restraint Installation Sequence
(Quad Cab

威/Crew Cab/Mega Cab威 - Rear Seats)

Quad Cab

威/Mega Cab威

1. Obtain tether straps by raising the head restraints and
reaching between the rear glass and rear seat. The tether
strap may be retained with an elastic band. Accessibility
to the tether strap is greatly improved by raising the seat
cushion to the “up” position. Remove the elastic before
use.

Regular Cab Tether Strap Mounting

1 — Tether Strap Hook
2 — Tether Strap to Child Restraint
3 — Tether Anchor

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

2. Place a child restraint on each outboard rear seat and
adjust the tether strap so that it will reach under the head
restraint to the tether anchor directly behind the seat and
then to the anchor directly behind the center rear seat.

3. Pass each tether strap hook under the head restraint
and through the loop of webbing behind the child seat.

4. Route each tether strap to the anchor behind the center
seat, and attach the hooks to the metal ring.

5. Place a child restraint on the center rear seat and
adjust the tether strap so that it will reach under the head
restraint to the tether anchor directly behind the seat and
to the anchor directly behind the right seat.

Head Restraint Adjustment

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

6. Install each child restraint and remove the slack in the
tether strap according to the child restraint manufactur-
er’s instructions.

Crew Cab

1. The tether straps loops are located between the rear glass
and the rear seat. There is a tether strap loop located behind
each seating position. You can gain access to the center
seating position tether strap loop by raising the head re-
straint and reaching between the rear glass and rear seat.

Multiple Child Restraint Quad Cab

威/Mega Cab威

1 — Inner Anchor Strap

Ring(s)

4 — Passenger’s Side Rear Child

Seat

2 — Snap Hook

5 — Rear Center Child Seat

3 — Tether Strap

6 — Driver’s Side Rear Child Seat

Head Restraint Adjustment

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

2. Place a child restraint on each outboard rear seat and
adjust the tether strap so that it will reach under the head
restraint, through the outboard tether strap loop, then
route it to the tether strap loop located directly behind
the center rear seat.

3. Pass each tether strap hook under the head restraint
and through the loop of webbing behind the child seat.

4. Route each tether strap through the tether strap loop
behind the center seat, and attach the hooks to the anchor
located directly behind the center rear seat located under
a plastic cover.

5. Place a child restraint on the center rear seat and
adjust the tether strap so that it will reach under the head
restraint through the center seat tether strap loop and
anchor to the tether strap loop located behind either
outboard seating positions.

6. Install each child restraint and remove the slack in the
tether strap according to the child restraint manufactur-
er’s instructions.

Transporting Pets
Airbags deploying in the front seat could harm your pet.
An unrestrained pet will be thrown about and possibly
injured, or injure a passenger during panic braking or in
an accident. Pets should be restrained in the rear seat in
pet harnesses or pet carriers that are secured by seat belts.

ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS
A long break-in period is not required for the engine and
drivetrain (transmission and axle) in your vehicle.

Drive moderately during the first 300 miles (500 km).
After the initial 60 miles (100 km), speeds up to 50 or
55 mph (80 or 90 km/h) are desirable.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

While cruising, brief full-throttle acceleration within the
limits of local traffic laws, contributes to a good break-in.
Wide-open throttle acceleration in low gear can be detri-
mental and should be avoided.

The engine oil installed in the engine at the factory is a
high-quality energy conserving type lubricant. Oil
changes should be consistent with anticipated climate
conditions under which vehicle operations will occur. For
the recommended viscosity and quality grades refer to
“Maintenance Procedures” in “Maintaining Your Ve-
hicle”. NON-DETERGENT OR STRAIGHT MINERAL
OILS MUST NEVER BE USED.

A new engine may consume some oil during its first few
thousand miles (kilometers) of operation. This should be
considered a normal part of the break-in and not inter-
preted as an indication of difficulty.

SAFETY TIPS

Transporting Passengers
NEVER TRANSPORT PASSENGERS IN THE CARGO
AREA.

WARNING!

• Do not leave children or animals inside parked

vehicles in hot weather. Interior heat build-up may
cause serious injury or death.

• It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,

inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people
riding in these areas are more likely to be seri-
ously injured or killed.

• Do not allow people to ride in any area of your

vehicle that is not equipped with seats and seat belts.

• Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and

using a seat belt properly.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Exhaust Gas

WARNING!

Exhaust gases can injure or kill. They contain carbon
monoxide (CO), which is colorless and odorless.
Breathing it can make you unconscious and can
eventually poison you. To avoid breathing (CO)
follow these safety tips:

Do not run the engine in a closed garage or in confined
areas any longer than needed to move your vehicle in or
out of the area.

If it is necessary to sit in a parked vehicle with the engine
running, adjust your heating or cooling controls to force
outside air into the vehicle. Set the blower at high speed.

If you are required to drive with the trunk/liftgate open,
make sure that all windows are closed and the climate
control BLOWER switch is set at high speed. DO NOT
use the recirculation mode.

The best protection against carbon monoxide entry into
the vehicle body is a properly maintained engine exhaust
system.

Whenever a change is noticed in the sound of the exhaust
system, when exhaust fumes can be detected inside the
vehicle, or when the underside or rear of the vehicle is
damaged, have a competent mechanic inspect the com-
plete exhaust system and adjacent body areas for broken,
damaged, deteriorated, or mispositioned parts. Open
seams or loose connections could permit exhaust fumes
to seep into the passenger compartment. In addition,
inspect the exhaust system each time the vehicle is raised
for lubrication or oil change. Replace as required.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Safety Checks You Should Make Inside the
Vehicle

Seat Belts
Inspect the belt system periodically, checking for cuts,
frays, and loose parts. Damaged parts must be replaced
immediately. Do not disassemble or modify the system.

Front seat belt assemblies must be replaced after a
collision. Rear seat belt assemblies must be replaced after
a collision if they have been damaged (i.e., bent retractor,
torn webbing, etc.). If there is any question regarding belt
or retractor condition, replace the belt.

Airbag Warning Light
The light should come on and remain on for four to eight
seconds as a bulb check when the ignition switch is first
turned ON. If the light is not lit during starting, see your
authorized dealer. If the light stays on, flickers, or comes
on while driving, have the system checked by an autho-
rized dealer.

Defroster
Check operation by selecting the defrost mode and place
the blower control on high speed. You should be able to
feel the air directed against the windshield. See your
authorized dealer for service if your defroster is
inoperable.

Floor Mat Safety Information
Always use floor mats designed to fit the foot well of
your vehicle. Use only floor mats that leave the pedal
area unobstructed and that are firmly secured so that
they cannot slip out of position and interfere with the
pedals or impair safe operation of your vehicle in other
ways.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!

Pedals that cannot move freely can cause loss of
vehicle control and increase the risk of serious per-
sonal injury.
• Always make sure that floor mats are properly

attached to the floor mat fasteners.

• Never place or install floor mats or other floor

coverings in the vehicle that cannot be properly
secured to prevent them from moving and inter-
fering with the pedals or the ability to control the
vehicle.

• Never put floor mats or other floor coverings on

top of already installed floor mats. Additional
floor mats and other coverings will reduce the size
of the pedal area and interfere with the pedals.

(Continued)

WARNING! (Continued)

• Check mounting of mats on a regular basis. Al-

ways properly reinstall and secure floor mats that
have been removed for cleaning.

• Always make sure that objects cannot fall into the

driver foot well while the vehicle is moving.
Objects can become trapped under the brake pedal
and accelerator pedal causing a loss of vehicle
control.

• If required, mounting posts must be properly

installed, if not equipped from the factory.
Failure to properly follow floor mat installation or
mounting can cause interference with the brake
pedal and accelerator pedal operation causing loss
of control of the vehicle.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make Outside
the Vehicle

Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear and uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread. Inspect the tread and sidewall for
cuts and cracks. Check the wheel nuts for tightness.
Check the tires (including spare) for proper pressure.

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

Door Latches
Check for positive closing, latching, and locking.

Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for fuel,
engine coolant, oil, or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline
fumes are detected or if fuel, power steering fluid, or
brake fluid leaks are suspected, the cause should be
located and corrected immediately.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

CONTENTS

䡵 Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

▫ Inside Day/Night Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
▫ Automatic Dimming Mirror — If Equipped . . . 94
▫ Outside Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
▫ Outside Mirrors Folding Feature . . . . . . . . . . 95
▫ Power Mirrors — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
▫ Heated Mirrors — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
▫ Driver’s Automatic Dimming Mirror

— If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

▫ Illuminated Vanity Mirror — If Equipped . . . . 98
▫ “Slide-On-Rod” Features Of Sun Visor

— If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

▫ Trailer Towing Mirrors — If Equipped . . . . . . 99

䡵 Uconnect™ Phone — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . 100
䡵 Voice Command — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . 100
䡵 Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

▫ Power Seats — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
▫ Power Lumbar — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . 103

▫ Heated Seats — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
▫ Ventilated Seats — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . 106
▫ Manual Seat Adjuster — If Equipped . . . . . . 107
▫ Manual Reclining Seats — If Equipped . . . . . 108
▫ 40-20-40 Front Bench Seat — If Equipped . . . 109
▫ Mega Cab威 Rear Seat Features . . . . . . . . . . . 110
▫ Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

䡵 Driver Memory Seat — If Equipped . . . . . . . . 116

▫ Setting Memory Positions And Linking RKE

Transmitter To Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

▫ Memory Position Recall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
▫ To Disable a RKE Transmitter Linked To

Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

▫ Self-Limiting Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

▫ Driver Easy Exit And Easy Entry Control . . . 119

䡵 To Open And Close The Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
䡵 Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

▫ Headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
▫ Automatic Headlights — If Equipped . . . . . . 123
▫ Headlight Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
▫ Parking Lights And Panel Lights . . . . . . . . . 124
▫ Fog Lights — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
▫ Interior Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
▫ Cargo Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
▫ Lights-On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
▫ Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

▫ Daytime Running Lights (DRL) (Canada

Only And Fleet Vehicles) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

▫ Multifunction Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

䡵 Windshield Wipers And Washers . . . . . . . . . . 129

▫ Windshield Wipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
▫ Windshield Washers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
▫ Mist Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

䡵 Tilt Steering Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
䡵 Heated Steering Wheel — If Equipped . . . . . . 132
䡵 Driver Adjustable Pedals — If Equipped . . . . . 133

▫ Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

䡵 Electronic Speed Control — If Equipped . . . . . 135

▫ To Activate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

▫ To Set a Desired Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
▫ Deactivating Electronic Speed Control . . . . . . 136
▫ To Resume Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
▫ Varying The Speed Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
▫ To Accelerate For Passing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

䡵 Parksense威 Rear Park Assist — If Equipped . . . 138

▫ Parksense威 Sensors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
▫ Parksense威 Warning Display . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
▫ Parksense威 Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
▫ Enabling And Disabling Park Sense威 . . . . . . 143
▫ Service The Parksense威 Rear Park Assist

System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

▫ Cleaning The Parksense威 System . . . . . . . . . 144

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

▫ Parksense威 System Usage Precautions . . . . . . 144

䡵 Parkview威 Rear Back Up Camera

— If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

▫ Turning Parkview威 On Or Off — With

Navigation/Multimedia Radio . . . . . . . . . . . 148

▫ Turning Parkview威 On Or Off — Without

Navigation/Multimedia Radio . . . . . . . . . . . 148

䡵 Overhead Console — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . 149

▫ Courtesy/Reading Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149

䡵 Garage Door Opener — If Equipped . . . . . . . . 151

▫ Programming HomeLink威 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
▫ Gate Operator/Canadian Programming . . . . 155
▫ Using HomeLink威 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155

▫ Reprogramming A Single

HomeLink

威 Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156

▫ Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
▫ Troubleshooting Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
▫ General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

䡵 Power Sunroof — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

▫ Open Sunroof — Express Mode . . . . . . . . . . 158
▫ Closing Sunroof — Express . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
▫ Pinch Protect Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
▫ Pinch Protect Override . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
▫ Venting Sunroof — Express . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
▫ Sunshade Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
▫ Wind Buffeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

▫ Sunroof Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
▫ Sunroof Fully Closed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160

䡵 Electrical Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
䡵 Cigar Lighter And Ash Receiver —

If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163

䡵 Power Inverter — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
䡵 Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166

▫ Front Instrument Panel Cupholders —

(40–20–40 Seats) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166

▫ Front Instrument Panel Cupholders — Floor

Mounted Shifter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166

▫ Rear Cupholder — Quad Cab威 . . . . . . . . . . 167
▫ Rear Cupholder — Crew Cab . . . . . . . . . . . 167

䡵 Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

▫ Glove Box Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
▫ Door Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
▫ Center Storage Compartment —

If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

▫ Second Row In-Floor Storage Bin —

If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173

▫ Seatback Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
▫ Storage (Regular Cab) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
▫ Storage And Seats (Crew Cab) . . . . . . . . . . . 174
▫ Plastic Grocery Bag Retainers (Regular Cab

Models) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Dodge Ram 1500 (2011 year). Manual - part 5