2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup Owner Manual - Page 317

STARTING AND OPERATING 315 Never use PARK while the vehicle is in motion. Apply the parking brake when leaving the vehicle in this range. Always apply the parking brake first, then place the shift NOTE: Under extremely cold temperatures (-6°F (-21°C) lever in the PARK position. and when in DRIVE, transmission operation may be briefly limited to only second gear operation. Normal WARNING! operation will resume once the transmission temperature has risen to a suitable level. • Never use the PARK position as a substitute for the parking brake. Always apply the parking Shifting from DRIVE to PARK or REVERSE should be brake fully when parked to guard against vehicle done only after the accelerator pedal is released and the movement and possible injury or damage. vehicle is stopped. Be sure to keep your foot on the brake • It is dangerous to move the shift lever out of PARK when moving the shift lever between these gears. or NEUTRAL if the engine speed is higher than Gear Ranges idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on the brake Do not race the engine when shifting from PARK or pedal, the vehicle could accelerate quickly forward NEUTRAL position into another gear range. or in reverse. You could lose control of the vehicle and hit someone or something. Only shift into PARK gear when the engine is idling normally and when This range supplements the parking brake by locking the your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal. transmission. The engine can be started in this range. Four-Speed Automatic Transmission - If Equipped 5