RAM 2011 DAKOTA, User Manual

Page: 44 / 76

IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS
• In any of the following situations, you can reduce the potential for overheating
by taking the appropriate action.
• On the highways — slow down.
• In city traffic — while stopped, shift transmission into NEUTRAL, but do not
increase engine idle speed.
NOTE: There are steps that you can take to slow down an impending overheat
condition:
• If your air conditioner (A/C) is on, turn it off. The A/C system adds heat to the
engine cooling system and turning the A/C off can help remove this heat.
• You can also turn the Temperature Control to maximum heat, the Mode Control
to floor and the Fan Control to high. This allows the heater core to act as a
supplement to the radiator and aids in removing heat from the engine cooling
system.
• If the temperature reading does not return to normal, turn the engine off
immediately.
• We recommend that you do not operate the vehicle or engine damage will occur.
Have the vehicle serviced immediately.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could damage your vehicle. If the
temperature gauge reads HOT (H), pull over and stop the vehicle. Idle the
vehicle with the air conditioner turned off until the pointer drops back into
the normal range. If the pointer remains on HOT (H), and you hear
continuous chimes, turn the engine off immediately and call for service.
WARNING!
You or others can be badly burned by hot engine coolant (antifreeze) or
steam from your radiator. If you see or hear steam coming from under the
hood, do not open the hood until the radiator has had time to cool. Never
try to open a cooling system pressure cap when the radiator or coolant
bottle is hot.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
42