oil Ram 1500 2011 User Guide

•Lights On
•Keyfob Battery Low
•ECO (Fuel Saver Indicator) — If Equipped
•Door(s) Ajar (with a single chime, if vehicle is in
motion)
•Wrong Key
•Damaged Key
•Key not programmed
•Key In Ignition
•Turn Signal On
•RKE Battery Low
•LOW WASHER FLUID
•Oil Change Due > Dealer Info
•Park Assist On
•Park Assist Off
•Warning Object Detected
•Left Front Turn Signal Light Out
•Left Rear Turn Signal Light Out
•Right Front Turn Signal Light Out
•Right Rear Turn Signal Light Out
•Service Park Assist System
•Park Assist System Blinded
•Trailer Brake Disconnected — If Equipped
•Personal Settings Not Available — Vehicle Not in Park
•Remote start aborted — Door ajar
•Remote start aborted — Hood ajar
230 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

•Remote start aborted — Fuel low
•Remote start disabled — System fault
•Remote start disabled — Turn key
•Remote start active — Key to Run
•Remote Start Disabled — Start Vehicle to Reset
•Remote Start Active — Insert Key and Turn to RUN
•Memory 1 Profile Set
•Memory 2 Profile Set
•Memory System Unavailable — Not in Park
•Memory System Unavailable — Seatbelt Buckled
•Memory 1 Profile Recall
•Memory 2 Profile Recall
•Adjustable Pedals Unavailable — Vehicle in Reverse
•Adjustable Pedals Unavailable — Cruise Engaged
•To Tow Vehicle Safely, Read Neutral Shift Procedure in
Owners Manual
EVIC Warning Lights
•
Door AjarThis light will turn on to indicate that one or
more doors may be ajar.
•Oil Pressure Warning LightThis light indicates low engine oil pressure. The
light should turn on momentarily when the engine
is started. If the light turns on while driving, stop the
vehicle and shut off the engine as soon as possible. A
chime will sound for four minutes when this light turns
on.
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 231

Do not operate the vehicle until the cause is corrected.
This light does not show how much oil is in the engine.
The engine oil level must be checked under the hood.
•Charging System LightThis light shows the status of the electrical charg-
ing system. The light should come on when the
ignition switch is first turned ON and remain on briefly
as a bulb check. If the light stays on or comes on while
driving, turn off some of the vehicle’s non-essential
electrical devices or increase engine speed (if at idle). If
the charging system light remains on, it means that the
vehicle is experiencing a problem with the charging
system. Obtain SERVICE IMMEDIATELY. See an autho-
rized dealer.
If jump starting is required, refer to “Jump Starting
Procedures” in “What To Do In Emergencies”.
•Electronic Speed Control Light This light will turn on when the electronic
speed control is ON.
•Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) LightThis light informs you of a problem with the
Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) system. The
light will come on when the ignition is first
turned ON and remain on briefly as a bulb
check. If the light does not come on during starting, have
the system checked by an authorized dealer.
If a problem is detected, the light will come on while the
engine is running. Cycle the ignition key when the
vehicle has completely stopped and the shift lever is
placed in the PARK position. The light should turn off.
232 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

•Transmission Temperature LightThis light indicates that there is excessive trans-
mission fluid temperature that might occur
with severe usage such as trailer towing. It may
also occur when operating the vehicle in a high
torque converter slip condition, such as 4-wheel-drive
operation (e.g., snow plowing, off- road operation). If this
light comes on, stop the vehicle and run the engine at idle
or faster, with the transmission in NEUTRAL until the
light goes off.
CAUTION!
Continuous driving with the Transmission Tempera-
ture Indicator illuminated will eventually cause se-
vere transmission damage or transmission failure.
WARNING!
If the Transmission Temperature Warning Light is
illuminated and you continue operating the vehicle,
in some circumstances you could cause the fluid to
boil over, come in contact with hot engine or exhaust
components and cause a fire.
•Loose Gascap Indicator If the vehicle diagnostic system determines
that the fuel filler cap is loose, improperly
installed, or damaged, a loose gascap indicator
will display in the telltale display area. Tighten
the fuel filler cap properly and press the SELECT button
to turn off the message. If the problem continues, the
message will appear the next time the vehicle is started.
A loose, improperly installed, or damaged fuel filler cap
may also turn on the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL).
234 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

Oil Change Due
Your vehicle is equipped with an engine oil change
indicator system. TheOil Change Duemessage will
flash in the EVIC display for approximately 10 seconds
after a single chime has sounded to indicate the next
scheduled oil change interval. The engine oil change
indicator system is duty-cycle based, which means the
engine oil change interval may fluctuate dependent upon
your personal driving style.
Unless reset, this message will continue to display each
time you turn the ignition switch to the ON position. To
turn off the message temporarily, press and release the
RETURN button. To reset the oil change indicator system
(after performing the scheduled maintenance), perform
the following steps.
1. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position. (Do not
start the engine) 2. Fully depress the accelerator pedal slowly three times
within 10 seconds.
3. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position.
NOTE:
If the indicator message illuminates when you
start the engine, the oil change indicator system did not
reset. If necessary, repeat these steps.
Fuel Economy / Fuel Saver Mode / Distance To
Empty (DTE) — If Equipped
Average Fuel Economy
Shows the average fuel economy since the last reset.
When the fuel economy is reset, the display will read “0”
or show dashes for two seconds. Then, the history
information will be erased, and the averaging will con-
tinue from the last fuel average reading before the reset.
Fuel Saver Mode
The FUEL SAVER MODE message will display above the
average fuel economy in the EVIC display. This message
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 235

Vehicle Info (Customer Information Features)
Press and release the UP or DOWN button until “Vehicle
Info” displays in the EVIC and press the SELECT button.
Press the UP and DOWN button to scroll through the
available information displays, then press SELECT to
display any one of the following choices.
•Coolant Temp
Displays the actual coolant temperature.
•Oil Temperature — If Equipped
Displays the actual oil temperature.
•Oil Pressure
Displays the actual oil pressure.
•Trans Temperature — If Equipped
Displays the actual transmission temperature.
•Engine Hours
Displays the number of hours of engine operation.
•Trailer Brake — If Equipped
Displays trailer brake output power and trailer brake
status indicator.
Tire PSI
Press and release the UP or DOWN button until “Tire
PSI” displays in the EVIC and press the SELECT button.
This will display the Tire Pressure Monitor System
(shows the current pressure of all four road tires). For
additional information, refer to “Tire Pressure Monitor
System” in “Starting And Operating”.
238 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

▫Directional Tires – If Equipped ........... 429
▫ Dual Rear Wheels .................... 429
 Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) ....... 430
▫ Base System ........................ 433
▫ Premium System – If Equipped .......... 435
▫ Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) Tire
Light Load Inflation Switch Description
(2500 Models) – If Equipped ............ 439
▫ General Information .................. 442
 Fuel Requirements ..................... 443
▫ 3.7L And 4.7L Engine ................. 443
▫ 5.7L Engine ........................ 443
▫ Reformulated Gasoline ................ 444
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ............. 444▫
E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles ...... 445
▫ MMT In Gasoline .................... 445
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ............... 446
▫ Fuel System Cautions ................. 446
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings ............ 447
 Flexible Fuel (4.7L Engine Only) —
If Equipped .......................... 448
▫ E-85 General Information ............... 448
▫ Ethanol Fuel (E-85) ................... 449
▫ Fuel Requirements ................... 449
▫ Selection Of Engine Oil For Flexible Fuel
Vehicles (E-85) And Gasoline Vehicles ...... 450
▫ Starting ........................... 450
▫ Cruising Range ...................... 451
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 307

sure the surface has good traction with firm and stable
soils. If possible transverse the incline at an angle
heading slightly up or down.
WARNING!
Driving across an incline increases the risk of a
rollover, which may result in severe injury.
•If You Stall Or Begin To Lose Headway– If you stall
or begin to lose headway while climbing a steep hill,
allow your vehicle to come to a stop and immediately
apply the brake. Restart the engine and shift into
REVERSE. Back slowly down the hill allowing the
compression braking of the engine and transmission to
help regulate your speed. If the brakes are required to
control vehicle speed, apply them lightly and avoid
locking or skidding the tires.
WARNING!
If the engine stalls or you lose headway or cannot
make it to the top of a steep hill or grade, never
attempt to turn around. To do so may result in
tipping and rolling the vehicle, which may result in
severe injury. Always back carefully straight down a
hill in REVERSE. Never back down a hill in NEU-
TRAL using only the vehicle brakes. Never drive
diagonally across a hill, always drive straight up or
down.
Driving Through Water
Extreme care should be taken crossing any type of water.
Water crossings should be avoided if possible and only
be attempted when necessary, in a safe responsible
manner. You should only drive through areas which are
designated and approved. You should tread lightly and
avoid damage to the environment. You should know
356 STARTING AND OPERATING

CAUTION! (Continued)
•Driving through standing water may cause dam-
age to your vehicle’s drivetrain components. Al-
ways inspect your vehicle’s fluids (i.e., engine oil,
transmission, axle, etc.) for signs of contamination
(i.e., fluid that is milky or foamy in appearance)
after driving through standing water. Do not con-
tinue to operate the vehicle if any fluid appears
contaminated, as this may result in further dam-
age. Such damage is not covered by the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty.
•Getting water inside your vehicle’s engine can
cause it to lock up and stall out, and cause serious
internal damage to the engine. Such damage is not
covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
WARNING!
•Driving through standing water limits your vehi-
cle’s traction capabilities. Do not exceed 5 mph
(8 km/h) when driving through standing water.
•Driving through standing water limits your vehi-
cle’s braking capabilities, which increases stop-
ping distances. Therefore, after driving through
standing water, drive slowly and lightly press on
the brake pedal several times to dry the brakes.
•Getting water inside your vehicle’s engine can
cause it to lock up and stall out, and leave you
stranded.
•Failure to follow these warnings may result in
injuries that are serious or fatal to you, your
passengers, and others around you.
368 STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING!
Tires and the spare tire should be replaced after six
years, regardless of the remaining tread. Failure to
follow this warning can result in sudden tire failure.
You could lose control and have a collision resulting
in serious injury or death.
Keep dismounted tires in a cool, dry place with as little
exposure to light as possible. Protect tires from contact
with oil, grease, and gasoline.
Replacement Tires
The tires on your new vehicle provide a balance of many
characteristics. They should be inspected regularly for
wear and correct cold tire inflation pressure. The manu-
facturer strongly recommends that you use tires equiva-
lent to the originals in size, quality and performance
when replacement is needed. (Refer to the paragraph on
“Tread Wear Indicators”). Refer to the “Tire and Loading Information” placard for the size designation of your tire.
The Load Index and Speed Symbol for your tire will be
found on the original equipment tire sidewall. See the
Tire Sizing Chart example found in the Tire Safety
Information section of this manual for more information
relating to the Load Index and Speed Symbol of a tire.
It is recommended to replace the two front tires or two
rear tires as a pair. Replacing just one tire can seriously
affect your vehicle’s handling. If you ever replace a
wheel, make sure that the wheel’s specifications match
those of the original wheels.
It is recommended you contact your original equipment
or an authorized tire dealer with any questions you may
have on tire specifications or capability. Failure to use
equivalent replacement tires may adversely affect the
safety, handling, and ride of your vehicle.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 423