wheel Ram 2500 2017 Service Manual

IconDescription
Faceplate Knob
Touchscreen Buttons
Blower Control
Blower Control is used to regulate the amount of air forced through the climate system. There
are seven blower speeds available. Adjusting the blower will cause automatic mode to switch to
manual operation. The speeds can be selected using either the blower control knob on the face-
plate or the buttons on the touchscreen.
• Faceplate: The blower speed increases as you turn the blower control knob clockwise from
the lowest blower setting. The blower speed decreases as you turn the blower control knob
counterclockwise.
• Touchscreen: Use the small blower icon to reduce the blower setting and the large blower
icon to increase the blower setting. Blower can also be selected by pressing the blower bar
area between the icons.
Panel ModePanel Mode
Air comes from the outlets in the instrument panel. Each of these outlets can be individually
adjusted to direct the flow of air. The air vanes of the center outlets and outboard outlets can be
moved up and down or side to side to regulate airflow direction. There is a shut off wheel lo-
cated below the air vanes to shut off or adjust the amount of airflow from these outlets.
Bi-Level Mode
Bi-Level Mode
Air comes from the instrument panel outlets and floor outlets. A slight amount of air is directed
through the defrost and side window demister outlets.
NOTE: BI-LEVEL mode is designed under comfort conditions to provide cooler air out of the
panel outlets and warmer air from the floor outlets.
342 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

TIP:Voice Text Reply is not compatible with iPhone, but if
your vehicle is equipped with Siri Eyes Free, you can use
your voice to send a text message.
Climate (8.4/8.4 NAV)
Too hot? Too cold? Adjust vehicle temperatures hands-free
and keep everyone comfortable while you keep moving
ahead. (If vehicle is equipped with climate control.)
Push the VR button
. After the beep, say one of the
following commands:
• Set driver temperature to 70degrees
• Set passenger temperature to 70degrees
TIP: Voice Command for Climate may only be used to
adjust the interior temperature of your vehicle. Voice
Command will not work to adjust the heated seats or
steering wheel if equipped.
Uconnect 8.4/8.4 NAV Climate
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 361

Siri Eyes Free — If Equipped
Siri lets you use your voice to send text messages, select
media, place phone calls and much more. Siri uses your
natural language to understand what you mean and will
respond back to confirm your requests. The system is
designed to keep your eyes on the road and your hands on
the wheel by letting Siri help you perform useful tasks.
To enable Siri push and hold, then release the Uconnect
Voice Recognition (VR) button on the steering wheel. After
you hear a double beep, you can ask Siri to play podcasts
and music, get directions, read text messages, and many
other useful requests.
Siri Eyes Free Available
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 369

Do Not Disturb
With Do Not Disturb, you can disable notifications from
incoming calls and texts, allowing you to keep your eyes
on the road and hands on the wheel. For your convenience,
there is a counter display to keep track of your missed calls
and text messages while you were using Do Not Disturb.
Do Not Disturb can automatically reply with a text mes-
sage, a call or both, when declining an incoming call and
send it to voicemail.
Automatic reply messages can be:
•“I am driving right now, I will get back to you shortly.”
• Create a custom auto reply message up to 160 characters.
NOTE: Only the first 25 characters can been seen on the
touchscreen while typing a custom message. While in Do Not Disturb, Conference Call can be selected
so you can still place a second call without being inter-
rupted by incoming calls.
NOTE:
•
Reply with text message is not compatible with iPhones.
•
Auto reply with text message is only available on phones
that supporting Bluetooth MAP.
372 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
STARTING PROCEDURES .................381
▫ Normal Starting ....................... .381
▫ Automatic Transmission ..................382
▫ Keyless Enter-N-Go — Ignition .............382
▫ Normal Starting ....................... .382
▫ Extreme Cold Weather
(Below –22°F Or 30°C) ..................384
▫ If Engine Fails To Start ..................384
▫ After Starting ......................... .385
 ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED . . . .385
 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ..............386
▫ Key Ignition Park Interlock ................387
▫ Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . . .387 ▫
Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission —
If Equipped ......................... .388
▫ Six-Speed Automatic Transmission —
1500 Models Only (If Equipped) ............395
▫ Six-Speed Automatic Transmission —
2500/3500 Models Only ..................405
 FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE OPERATION —
IF EQUIPPED ......................... .414
▫ Manually Shifted Transfer Case —
If Equipped .......................... .414
▫ Electronically Shifted Transfer Case
(Four-Position Switch) — If Equipped ........417
▫ Electronically Shifted Transfer Case
(Five-Position Switch) — If Equipped ........422
▫ Four-Position Electronically Shifted Transfer
Case (Eight Speed Transmission Only) —
If Equipped ......................... .427
5

▫Trailer Sway Control (TSC) — If Equipped . . . .504
▫ Hill Descent Control (HDC) — If Equipped . . . .505
 TIRE SAFETY INFORMATION ..............508
▫ Tire Markings ........................ .508
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ............511
▫ Tire Terminology And Definitions ...........512
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure ............513
 TIRES — GENERAL INFORMATION .........518
▫ Tire Pressure ......................... .518
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures ..................519
▫ Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation .....520
▫ Radial Ply Tires ....................... .520
▫ Tire Types ........................... .521
▫ Run Flat Tires — If Equipped ..............522
▫ Spare Tires — If Equipped ................523
▫ Tire Spinning ........................ .525
▫ Tread Wear Indicators ...................526 ▫
Life Of Tire .......................... .526
▫ Replacement Tires ..................... .527
 TIRE CHAINS (TRACTION DEVICES) .........528
 TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS ......530
▫ Directional Tires — If Equipped .............531
▫ Dual Rear Wheels — If Equipped ...........532
 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADES ..........533
▫ Treadwear ........................... .533
▫ Traction Grades ....................... .534
▫ T

emperature Grades .....................534
 TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM (TPMS) . . .535
▫ Premium System ...................... .536
▫ Tire Pressure Information System (TPIS)
3500 Series Trucks ..................... .539
▫ General Information ....................540
 FUEL REQUIREMENTS ...................541
▫ 3.6L Engine .......................... .541
378 STARTING AND OPERATING

SNOWPLOW .......................... .568
▫ 1500 Models Only ..................... .568
▫ 2500/3500 Models Only ..................569
 RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.) ....................572 ▫
Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle. . . .572
▫ Recreational Towing — Two-Wheel Drive
Models ............................. .573
▫ Recreational Towing — Four-Wheel Drive
Models ............................. .573
380 STARTING AND OPERATING

Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission —
If Equipped
The transmission is controlled using a rotary electronic
gear selector located on the instrument panel. The trans-
mission gear range (PRND) is displayed both above the
gear selector and in the instrument cluster. To select a gear
range, simply rotate the gear selector. You must press the
brake pedal to shift the transmission out of PARK, or to
shift from NEUTRAL into DRIVE or REVERSE, when the
vehicle is stopped or moving at low speeds (refer to
“Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System” in this sec-
tion). To shift past multiple gear ranges at once (such as
Park to Drive), simply rotate the gear selector to the
appropriate detent. Select the DRIVE range for normal
driving.
The electronically-controlled transmission provides a pre-
cise shift schedule. The transmission electronics are self-
calibrating; therefore, the first few shifts on a new vehicle
may be somewhat abrupt. This is a normal condition, and
precision shifts will develop within a few hundred miles
(kilometers).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 gear selector has only PARK, REVERSE,
NEUTRAL, and DRIVE positions. Manual downshifts can
be made using the Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift
control (refer to
Electronic Range Select (ERS) Operation
in this section for further information). Pressing the
GEAR-/GEAR+ switches (on the steering wheel) while in
the DRIVE position will select the highest available trans-
mission gear, and will display that gear limit in the
instrument cluster as 1, 2, 3, etc. Some models will display
both the selected gear limit, and the actual current gear,
while in ERS mode.
388 STARTING AND OPERATING

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 moment to
allow the selected gear to engage before accelerating. This
is especially important 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. As an added precau-
tion, turn the front wheels toward the curb on a downhill
grade and away from the curb on an uphill grade.
NOTE:
On four-wheel drive vehicles be sure that the
transfer case is in a drive position.
When exiting the vehicle, always:
• Apply the parking brake.
• Shift the transmission into PARK.
• Turn the engine OFF.
• Remove the key fob.
Electronic Transmission Gear Selector
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 389

3. Turn the ignition to the OFF position. On vehicles withKeyless Enter-N-Go, push and hold the ignition until
the engine turns OFF.
4. Wait approximately 30 seconds.
5. Restart the engine.
6. Shift into the desired gear range. If the problem is no longer detected, the transmission will return to normal
operation.
NOTE: Even if the transmission can be reset, we recom-
mend that you visit your authorized dealer at your earliest
possible convenience. Your authorized dealer has diagnos-
tic equipment to determine if the problem could recur.
If the transmission cannot be reset, authorized dealer
service is required.
Electronic Range Select (ERS) Operation —
Eight-Speed Transmission
The Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift control allows the
driver to limit the highest available gear when the trans-
mission is in DRIVE. For example, if you set the transmis-
sion gear limit to 4 (fourth gear), the transmission will not
shift above fourth gear (except to prevent engine over-
speed), but will shift through the lower gears normally. You can switch between DRIVE and ERS mode at any
vehicle speed. When the transmission gear selector is in
DRIVE, the transmission will operate automatically, shift-
ing between all available gears. Tapping the GEAR- switch
(on the steering wheel) will activate ERS mode, display the
current gear in the instrument cluster, and set that gear as
the top available gear. Once in ERS mode, tapping the
GEAR- or GEAR+ switch will change the top available
gear.
1 — GEAR - Switch
2 — GEAR + Switch
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 393