Dodge RAM PROMASTER 2018 Diesel Supplement page 38

36 STARTING AND OPERATING
To ensure proper parking performance, it is essential to
engage MANUAL (1st) gear, DRIVE (D) or REVERSE (R)
gear while your foot is on the brake pedal. Once MANUAL
(1st) gear, DRIVE (D) or REVERSE (R) gear is displayed in
the instrument cluster display, turn the engine off and
engage the parking brake. It is essential to wait until the
gear engaged appears in the display before turning the
engine off and releasing the brake pedal. Always remem-
ber to apply your parking brake.
NOTE: NEVER leave your vehicle with the gearbox in
NEUTRAL (N) without the parking brake engaged. Al-
ways remember to fully apply your parking brake. Always
remember to apply the parking brake when the "Set Park
Brake" message is displayed.
General Warnings
• With the vehicle at a standstill and a gear engaged, keep
the brake pedal pressed until you decide to drive away.
Then release the brake and accelerate gradually.
• When parked for long periods with the engine running,
it is advisable to place the transmission in NEUTRAL
(N) and apply the parking brake.
• To avoid accelerated clutch wear, do not use the accel-
erator to keep the vehicle at a standstill (for example,
holding on a hill); the clutch could be damaged by
overheating. Use the brake pedal instead and operate
the accelerator only when you are ready to drive away.
• Only launch (from a stop) in second gear when you need
more control on surfaces with low traction.
• Only shift between DRIVE (D) and REVERSE (R) gears
when the vehicle has come to a stop and the brake pedal
is pressed.
• Although very inadvisable, if the vehicle is unexpect-
edly allowed to roll downhill with the gearbox in
NEUTRAL (N) the system will automatically engage the
gear best suited to vehicle speed when a gear shift is
requested to allow drive to be correctly transmitted to
the wheels.
• If necessary, with the engine off, it is possible to engage
1st, REVERSE (R) or NEUTRAL (N) with the key in
ON/RUN/MAR position and the brake pressed.
• During hill starts, accelerate immediately after releasing
the parking brake or brake pedal to allow the engine to
increase its rpm to a greater extent and overcome higher
gradients with more torque.