Dodge 2011 Ram Truck, Owner'S Manual

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NOTE: Use caution when operating a heavily loaded
vehicle in second or first gear selections in high ambients
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 gear. The transmis-
sion will automatically shift from DRIVE to fifth or sixth
gear 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 38 mph
(61 km/h) for fifth gear and 50 mph (80 km/h) for
sixth gear;
•
the “TOW/HAUL” switch has not been activated
(sixth gear is inhibited in “TOW/HAUL” mode);
•
transmission has reached normal operating
temperature.
NOTE: If the vehicle is started in extremely cold tem-
peratures, the transmission shift schedule initially re-
stricts transmission operation in forward gear ranges to
third gear until the transmission fluid temperature rises
to a suitable level. During this condition, the ability of the
vehicle to accelerate under heavily loaded conditions
may be reduced. Refer to the “Note” under “Torque
Converter Clutch” 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 “Transmission
Temperature Warning Light” may illuminate. After cool
down, the transmission will resume normal operation.
4
STARTING AND OPERATING 73