Dodge 2010 Ram Pickup 3500 Diesel User Manual

Page 50

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

DRIVE
This range provides underdrive first, second and third
gears, direct fourth gear and overdrive fifth and sixth
gears. The shift into overdrive fifth and sixth gear occurs
only after the transmission has completed the shift into
fourth gear. No other movement of the shift mechanism
is required to complete the 4–5 or 5–6 gear shifts.

Upshifts into both overdrive gears, fifth and sixth, will be
delayed when the transmission fluid temperature is
below 40° F (4.5° C) or above 240° F (115.5° C).

NOTE:

Use caution when operating a heavily loaded

vehicle in second or first gear in high ambient tempera-
tures as torque converter slip can impose significant
additional heat load on the cooling system.

Overdrive Operation
The overdrive automatic transmission contains an elec-
tronically controlled fifth and sixth (Overdrive). The
transmission will automatically shift from DRIVE to
Overdrive if the following conditions are present:

• the shift lever is in DRIVE;
• the engine coolant has reached normal operating tem-

perature;

• vehicle speed is above approximately 30 mph

(48 km/h);

• the “TOW/HAUL” switch has not been activated;

STARTING AND OPERATING