Six-Speed Automatic Transmission - 2500/3500 Models Only - RAM 2015 1500 Operating Information Manual

This condition is normal and will not
cause damage to the transmission. The
torque converter will refill within five sec-
onds after starting the engine.
Six-Speed Automatic Transmission
— 2500/3500 Models Only
The transmission gear position display (located
in the instrument cluster) indicates the transmis-
sion gear range. The shift lever is mounted on
the right side of the steering column. You must
press the brake pedal to move the shift lever out
of PARK (refer to "Brake/Transmission Shift
Interlock System" in this section for further
information). To drive, move the shift lever from
PARK or NEUTRAL to the DRIVE position. Pull
the shift lever toward you when shifting into
REVERSE or PARK, or when shifting out of
PARK.
The electronically-controlled transmission pro-
vides a precise shift schedule. The transmission
electronics are self-calibrating; therefore, the
first few shifts on a new vehicle may be some-
what abrupt. This is a normal condition, and
precision shifts will develop within a few hun-
dred miles (kilometers).
262
Only shift from DRIVE to PARK or REVERSE
when the accelerator pedal is released and the
vehicle is stopped. Be sure to keep your foot on
the brake pedal when shifting between these
gears.
The transmission shift lever has only PARK,
REVERSE, NEUTRAL, and DRIVE shift posi-
tions. Manual downshifts can be made using
the Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift control
(refer to "Electronic Range Select (ERS) Opera-
tion" in this section for further information).
Pressing the ERS (-/+) switches (on the shift
lever) while in the DRIVE position will select the
highest available transmission gear, and will
display that gear in the instrument cluster as 1,
2, 3, etc.
Gear Ranges
DO NOT race the engine when shifting from
PARK or NEUTRAL into another gear range.
NOTE:
After selecting any gear range, wait a mo-
ment to allow the selected gear to engage
before accelerating. This is especially im-
portant when the engine is cold.
PARK (P)
This range supplements the parking brake by
locking the transmission. The engine can be
started in this range. Never attempt to use
PARK while the vehicle is in motion. Apply the
parking brake when leaving the vehicle in this
range.
When parking on a level surface, you may shift
the transmission into PARK first, and then apply
the parking brake.
When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake
before shifting the transmission to PARK, oth-
erwise the load on the transmission locking
mechanism may make it difficult to move the
shift lever out of PARK. As an added precaution,
turn the front wheels toward the curb on a
downhill grade and away from the curb on an
uphill grade.
On four-wheel drive vehicles be sure that the
transfer case is in a drive position.