Dodge Durango (WD) 2011-2024 Owners Manual » Starting and operating »

Starting procedures

Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust the inside and outside mirrors, fasten your seat belt, and if present, instruct all other occupants to buckle their seat belts.

WARNING!

Before exiting a vehicle, always shift the automatic transmission into PARK and apply the parking brake. Always make sure the keyless ignition node is in the "OFF" mode, remove the key fob from the vehicle and lock the vehicle.
Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. Leaving children in a vehicle unattended is dangerous for a number of reasons. A child or others could be seriously or fatally injured. Children should be warned not to touch the parking brake, brake pedal or the gear selector.
Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle, or in a location accessible to children, and do not leave the ignition of a vehicle equipped with Keyless Enter-N-Go in the ACC or ON/RUN mode. A child could operate power windows, other controls, or move the vehicle.
Do not leave children or animals inside parked vehicles in hot weather. Interior heat build-up may cause serious injury or death.

Automatic Transmission

The gear selector must be in the NEUTRAL or PARK position before you can start the engine. Apply the brakes before shifting into any driving gear.

CAUTION! Damage to the transmission may occur if the following precautions are not observed:

Do not shift from REVERSE, PARK, or NEUTRAL into any forward gear when the engine is above idle speed.
Shift into PARK only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop.
Shift into or out of REVERSE only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop and the engine is at idle speed.
Before shifting into any gear, make sure your foot is firmly on the brake pedal.

Using Fob With Integrated Key (Tip Start)

NOTE: Normal starting of either a cold or a warm engine is obtained without pumping or pressing the accelerator pedal.

Do not press the accelerator. Use the fob with Integrated Key to briefly place the ignition in the START position and release it as soon as the starter engages. The starter motor will continue to run, and it will disengage automatically when the engine is running. If the engine fails to start, the starter will disengage automatically in 10 seconds. If this occurs, place the ignition in the LOCK/ OFF position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the "Normal Starting" procedure.

Keyless Enter-N-Go - Ignition

This feature allows the driver to operate the ignition switch with the push of a button, as long as the Remote Start/Keyless Enter-N-Go key fob is in the passenger compartment.

Normal Starting

To Turn On The Engine Using The ENGINE START/STOP Button

The transmission must be in PARK or NEUTRAL.
Press and hold the brake pedal while pushing the ENGINE START/STOP button once.
The system takes over and attempts to start the vehicle. If the vehicle fails to start, the starter will disengage automatically after 10 seconds.
If you wish to stop the cranking of the engine prior to the engine starting, push the button again.

NOTE: Normal starting of either a cold or a warm engine is obtained without pumping or pressing the accelerator pedal.

To Turn Off The Engine Using ENGINE START/STOP Button

Place the gear selector in PARK, then push and release the ENGINE START/STOP button.
The ignition switch will return to the OFF position.
If the gear selector is not in PARK, the ENGINE START/STOP button must be held for two seconds or three short pushes in a row with the vehicle speed above 5 mph (8 km/h) before the engine will shut off.The ignition switch position will remain in the ACC position until the gear selector is in PARK and the button is pushed twice to the OFF position. If the gear selector is not in PARK and the ENGINE START/ STOP button is pushed once, the DID will display a "Vehicle Not In Park" message and the engine will remain running. Never leave a vehicle out of the PARK position, or it could roll.
If the gear selector is in Neutral, push and release the ENGINE START/STOP button with the vehicle speed below 5 mph (8 km/h) before the engine will shut off.The ignition switch position will remain in the ACC position.

NOTE: If the ignition switch is left in the ACC or RUN (engine not running) position and the transmission is in PARK, the system will automatically time out after 30 minutes of inactivity and the ignition will switch to the OFF position.

ENGINE START/STOP Button Functions - With Driver's Foot OFF The Brake Pedal (In PARK Or NEUTRAL Position)

The ENGINE START/STOP button operates similar to an ignition switch. It has four positions, OFF, ACC, RUN and START. To change the ignition positions without starting the vehicle and use the accessories, follow these steps:

Starting with the ignition in the OFF position.
Push the ENGINE START/STOP button once to place the ignition to the ACC position (DID will display "ACC").
Push the ENGINE START/STOP button a second time to place the ignition to the RUN position (DID will display "ON/RUN").
Push the ENGINE START/STOP button a third time to return the ignition to the OFF position (DID will display "OFF").

Extreme Cold Weather (Below -22F Or −30C)

To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of an externally powered electric engine block heater (available from your authorized dealer) is recommended.

If Engine Fails To Start

WARNING!

Never pour fuel or other flammable liquid into the throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to start the vehicle. This could result in flash fire causing serious personal injury.
Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get it started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission cannot be started this way. Unburned fuel could enter the catalytic converter and once the engine has started, ignite and damage the converter and vehicle.
If the vehicle has a discharged battery, booster cables may be used to obtain a start from a booster battery or the battery in another vehicle. This type of start can be dangerous if done improperly. Refer to "Jump-Starting" in "What To Do In Emergencies" for further information.

Clearing A Flooded Engine (Using ENGINE START/STOP Button)

If the engine fails to start after you have followed the "Normal Starting" or "Extreme Cold Weather procedures, it may be flooded. To clear any excess fuel:

Press and hold the brake pedal.
Press the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and hold it.
Push and release the ENGINE START/STOP button once.

The starter motor will engage automatically, run for 10 seconds, and then disengage. Once this occurs, release the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat the "Normal Starting" procedure.

After Starting

The idle speed is controlled automatically, and it will decrease as the engine warms up.

« Previous

Starting and operating

Stop/start system - if equipped