sensor Ram 1500 2015 User Guide

ParkSense® Sensors
The four ParkSense® sensors, located in the rear fascia/
bumper, monitor the area behind the vehicle that is
within the sensors’ field of view. The sensors can detect
obstacles from approximately 18 in (45 cm) up to 79 in
(200 cm) from the rear fascia/bumper in the horizontal
direction, depending on the location, type and orienta-
tion of the obstacle.
The six ParkSense® sensors, located in the front fascia/
bumper, monitor the area in front of the vehicle that is
within the sensors’ field of view. The sensors can detect
obstacles from approximately 12 in (30 cm) up to 47 in
(120 cm) from the front fascia/bumper in the horizontal
direction, depending on the location, type and orienta-
tion of the obstacle.
ParkSense® Warning Display
The ParkSense® Warning screen is located within the
Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) or Driver
Information Display (DID). It provides visual warnings
to indicate the distance between the rear fascia/bumper
and/or front fascia/bumper and the detected obstacle.
Refer to “Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) or
Driver Information Display (DID) Settings” in Under-
standing Your Instrument Panel” for further information.
The ParkSense® Warning screen will only be displayed if
Sound and Display is selected.
202 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

When the shift lever is moved to REVERSE and the Front
or Rear system is disabled, the EVIC/DID will display
the#FRONT PARKSENSE OFF#or#REAR PARKSENSE
OFF#message for five seconds, followed by a car graphic
with#OFF#in the corresponding side. This car graphic
will be displayed for as long as the vehicle is in RE-
VERSE.
NOTE:Arc alerts from the enabled ParkSense® system,
will interrupt the five second messages, and the EVIC/
DID will display the car graphic with the corresponding
arcs and#OFF#message.
The Front or Rear ParkSense® switch LED will be ON
when Front or Rear ParkSense® is disabled or requires
service. The Front or Rear ParkSense® switch LED will be
OFF when the Front or Rear system is enabled. If the Front
or Rear ParkSense® switch is pressed, and the system
requires service, the Front or Rear ParkSense® switch LED
will blink momentarily, and then the LED will be ON.
Service The ParkSense® Park Assist System
During vehicle start up, when the ParkSense® System
has detected a faulted condition, the instrument cluster
will actuate a single chime, once per ignition cycle, and it
will display the#PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE WIPE
REAR SENSORS#,#PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE WIPE
FRONT SENSORS#,orthe#PARKSENSE UNAVAIL-
ABLE SERVICE REQUIRED#message for five seconds.
When the shift lever is moved to Reverse and the system
has detected a faulted condition, the Electronic Vehicle
Information Center (EVIC) or Driver Information Display
(DID) will display a#PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE WIPE
REAR SENSORS#,#PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE WIPE
FRONT SENSORS#or#PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE
SERVICE REQUIRED#pop up message for five seconds.
After five seconds, a car graphic will be displayed with
#UNAVAILABLE#at either the front or rear sensor loca-
tion depending on where the fault is detected. The
system will continue to provide arc alerts for the side that
206 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

is functioning properly. These arc alerts will interrupt the
#PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE WIPE REAR SENSORS#,
#PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE WIPE FRONT SEN-
SORS#,or#PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE SERVICE RE-
QUIRED#messages if an object is detected within the five
second pop-up duration. The car graphic will remain
displayed for as long as the vehicle is in REVERSE. Refer
to “Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) or#
Driver Information Display (DID)” for further informa-
tion.
If#PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE WIPE REAR SENSORS#
or#PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE WIPE FRONT SEN-
SORS#appears in the Electronic Vehicle Information
Center (EVIC) or Driver Information Display (DID) make
sure the outer surface and the underside of the rear
fascia/bumper and/or front fascia/bumper is clean and
clear of snow, ice, mud, dirt or other obstruction and then
cycle the ignition. If the message continues to appear see
an authorized dealer.
If the#PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE SERVICE RE-
QUIRED#message appears in the EVIC/DID, see an
authorized dealer.
Cleaning The ParkSense® System
Clean the ParkSense® sensors with water, car wash soap
and a soft cloth. Do not use rough or hard cloths. Do not
scratch or poke the sensors. Otherwise, you could dam-
age the sensors.
ParkSense® System Usage Precautions
NOTE:
•Ensure that the front and rear bumper are free of snow,
ice, mud, dirt and debris to keep the ParkSense®
system operating properly.
•Jackhammers, large trucks, and other vibrations could
affect the performance of ParkSense®.
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 207

•When you turn Front or Rear ParkSense® off, the
instrument cluster will display “FRONT PARKSENSE
OFF” or “REAR PARKSENSE OFF.” Furthermore,
once you turn Front or Rear ParkSense® off, it remains
off until you turn it on again, even if you cycle the
ignition key.
•When you move the shift lever to the REVERSE
position and Front or Rear ParkSense® is turned off,
the instrument cluster will display#FRONT
PARKSENSE OFF#or#REAR PARKSENSE OFF#mes-
sage for five seconds, followed by a car graphic with
#OFF#in the corresponding side. This car graphic will
be displayed for as long as the vehicle is in REVERSE.
•ParkSense®, when on, will reduce the volume of the
radio when it is sounding a tone.
•Clean the ParkSense® sensors regularly, taking care
not to scratch or damage them. The sensors must not
be covered with ice, snow, slush, mud, dirt or debris.
Failure to do so can result in the system not working
properly. The ParkSense® system might not detect an
obstacle behind or in front of the fascia/bumper, or it
could provide a false indication that an obstacle is
behind or in front of the fascia/bumper.
•Use the ParkSense® switch to turn the ParkSense®
system off if obstacles such as bicycle carriers, trailer
hitches, etc. are placed within 18 in (45 cm) from the
rear fascia/bumper. Failure to do so can result in the
system misinterpreting a close obstacle as a sensor
problem, causing the “PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE
SERVICE REQUIRED” message to be displayed in the
instrument cluster.
•On vehicles equipped with a tailgate, ParkSense®
should be disabled when the tailgate is in the lowered
or open position. A lowered tailgate could provide a
false indication that an obstacle is behind the vehicle.
208 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

CAUTION!
•ParkSense® is only a parking aid and it is unable to
recognize every obstacle, including small obstacles.
Parking curbs might be temporarily detected or not
detected at all. Obstacles located above or below
the sensors will not be detected when they are in
close proximity.
•The vehicle must be driven slowly when using
ParkSense® in order to be able to stop in time
when an obstacle is detected. It is recommended
that the driver looks over his/her shoulder when
using ParkSense®.
WARNING!
•Drivers must be careful when backing up even
when using ParkSense®. Always check carefully
behind your vehicle, look behind you, and be sure
to check for pedestrians, animals, other vehicles,
obstructions, and blind spots before backing up.
You are responsible for safety and must continue to
pay attention to your surroundings. Failure to do so
can result in serious injury or death.
(Continued)
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 209

WARNING!(Continued)
•Before using ParkSense®, it is strongly recom-
mended that the ball mount and hitch ball assem-
bly is disconnected from the vehicle when the
vehicle is not used for towing. Failure to do so can
result in injury or damage to vehicles or obstacles
because the hitch ball will be much closer to the
obstacle than the rear fascia when the loudspeaker
sounds the continuous tone. Also, the sensors
could detect the ball mount and hitch ball assem-
bly, depending on its size and shape, giving a false
indication that an obstacle is behind the vehicle.
PARKVIEW® REAR BACK UP CAMERA — IF
EQUIPPED
Your vehicle may be equipped with the ParkView® Rear
Back Up Camera that allows you to see a image of the
rear surroundings of your vehicle whenever the shift
lever is put into REVERSE. The image will be displayed
in the rearview mirror display (if equipped) or
Uconnect® screen (if equipped) along with a caution note
to “check entire surroundings” across the top of the
screen. After five seconds this note will disappear.
The ParkView® camera is located to the left of the
tailgate handle.
When the vehicle is shifted out of REVERSE (with camera
delay turned OFF), the rear camera mode is exited and
the navigation or audio screen appears again.
210 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

CAUTION!
The TPMS has been optimized for the original
equipment tires and wheels. TPMS pressures and
warning have been established for the tire size
equipped on your vehicle. Undesirable system opera-
tion or sensor damage may result when using re-
placement equipment that is not of the same size,
type, and/or style. Aftermarket wheels can cause
sensor damage. Do not use tire sealant from a can or
balance beads if your vehicle is equipped with a
TPMS, as damage to the sensors may result.
NOTE:The TPMS telltale is also accompanied by a “Low
Tire” message in the odometer (Base Cluster), or in the
Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) screen in-
dicating “Low Tire” for EVIC enabled clusters.
17. Front Fog Light Indicator — If Equipped
This indicator will illuminate when the front
fog lights are on.
18. Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)/Driver
Information Display (DID)
The EVIC/DID features a driver-interactive display that
is located in the instrument cluster. For further informa-
tion, refer to “Electronic Vehicle Information Center
(EVIC” OR “/Driver Information Display (DID)” in
“Understanding Your Instrument Panel.”
19. Shift Lever Indicator
The Shift Lever Indicator is self-contained within the
instrument cluster. It displays the gear position of the
automatic transmission.
296 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

set, the compass will automatically compensate for the
differences, and provide the most accurate compass
heading.
NOTE:Keep magnetic materials away from the top of the
instrument panel, such as iPod’s, Mobile Phones, Lap-
tops and Radar Detectors. This is where the compass
module is located, and it can cause interference with the
compass sensor, and it may give false readings.
•Perform Compass Calibration
Press the “Calibration” button on the touchscreen to
change this setting. This compass is self-calibrating,
which eliminates the need to manually reset the compass.
When the vehicle is new, the compass may appear erratic
until it is calibrated. You may also calibrate the compass
Compass Variance Map
372 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

WARNING!(Continued)
•HSA is not a parking brake. If you stop the vehicle
on a hill without putting the transmission in PARK
or using the parking brake, it will roll down the
incline and could collide with another vehicle,
object or person, and cause serious or fatal injury.
Always remember to use the parking brake while
parking on a hill and that the driver is responsible
for braking the vehicle.
HSA Off
HSA is a Customer Programmable Feature in the EVIC/
DID. If you wish to turn off the HSA feature, refer to
“Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)/Driver
Information Display (DID)” in “Understanding Your
Instrument Panel” for further information.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
The ESC system enhances directional control and stabil-
ity of the vehicle under various driving conditions. ESC
corrects for oversteering or understeering of the vehicle
by applying the brake of the appropriate wheel to assist
in counteracting the oversteer or understeer condition.
Engine power may also be reduced to help the vehicle
maintain the desired path.
ESC uses sensors in the vehicle to determine the vehicle
path intended by the driver and compares it to the actual
path of the vehicle. When the actual path does not match
the intended path, ESC applies the brake of the appro-
priate wheel to assist in counteracting the oversteer or
understeer condition.
•Oversteer - when the vehicle is turning more than
appropriate for the steering wheel position.
•Understeer - when the vehicle is turning less than
appropriate for the steering wheel position.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 587

NOTE:
•The “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light”
and the “ESC OFF Indicator Light” come on momen-
tarily each time the ignition switch is turned ON.
•Each time the ignition is turned ON, the ESC system
will be ON even if it was turned off previously. Except
for when the vehicle is started while in 4WD Low
Range.
•The ESC system will make buzzing or clicking sounds
when it is active. This is normal; the sounds will stop
when ESC becomes inactive following the maneuver
that caused the ESC activation.
The “ESC OFF Indicator Light” indicates the
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is in#ESC
Partial Off#or#ESC Full Off#.
Trailer Sway Control (TSC)
The TSC system uses sensors in the vehicle to recognize
an excessively swaying trailer and will take the appro-
priate actions to attempt to stop the sway. The system
may reduce engine power and apply the brake of the
appropriate wheel(s) to counteract the sway of the trailer.
TSC will become active automatically once an excessively
swaying trailer is recognized. No driver action is re-
quired to activate. Note that TSC cannot stop all trailers
from swaying. Always use caution when towing a trailer
and follow the trailer tongue weight recommendations.
Refer to “Trailer Towing” in “Starting and Operating” for
further information. When TSC is functioning, the “ESC
Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” will flash, the
engine power may be reduced and you may feel the
brakes being applied to individual wheels to attempt to
stop the trailer from swaying. TSC is disabled when the
ESC system is in the “ESC Partial Off” or “ESC Full Off”
modes.
592 STARTING AND OPERATING