service indicator Ram 4500 Chassis Cab 2018 Owner's Manual

The transmission gear position display (lo-
cated in the instrument cluster) indicates the
transmission gear range. The gear selector is
mounted on the right side of the steering
column. You must press the brake pedal to
move the gear selector out of PARK (refer to
“Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System”
in this section). To drive, move the gear
selector from PARK or NEUTRAL to the
DRIVE position. Pull the gear selector toward
you when shifting into REVERSE or PARK, or
when shifting out of PARK.
The electronically-controlled transmission
provides a precise shift schedule. The trans-
mission 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 be-
tween these gears.The transmission gear selector has only
PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL, and DRIVE
shift positions. Manual downshifts can be
made using the Electronic Range Select
(ERS) shift control. Pushing the ERS (-/+)
switches (on the gear selector) while in the
DRIVE position will select the highest avail-
able transmission gear, and will display that
gear limit in the instrument cluster as 1, 2, 3,
etc. Refer to "Electronic Range Select (ERS)
Operation" in this section for further informa-
tion. Some models will display both the se-
lected gear limit, and the actual current gear,
while in ERS mode.
Transmission Limp Home Mode
Transmission function is monitored electroni-
cally for abnormal conditions. If a condition is
detected that could result in transmission dam-
age, Transmission Limp Home Mode is acti-
vated. In this mode, the transmission remains
in fourth gear (for 66RFE transmission) or third
gear (for AS66RC/AS69RC transmission) re-
gardless of which forward gear is selected. If an
AS66RC/AS69RC equipped truck enters Limp
Home Mode at highway speeds, it will initially
engage fifth gear, until the vehicle slows to a speed where third gear can be engaged. PARK,
REVERSE, and NEUTRAL will continue to op-
erate. The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
may be illuminated. Limp Home Mode allows
the vehicle to be driven to an authorized dealer
for service without damaging the transmission.
In the event of a momentary problem, the
transmission can be reset to regain all for-
ward gears by performing the following steps:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Shift the transmission into PARK.
3. Turn the ignition OFF.
4. Wait approximately 10 seconds.
5. Restart the engine.
6. Shift into the desired gear range. If the
problem is no longer detected, the trans-
mission will return to normal operation.
NOTE:
Even if the transmission can be reset, we
recommend that you visit your authorized
dealer at your earliest possible convenience.
Your authorized dealer has diagnostic equip-
ment to assess the condition of your trans-
mission.
STARTING AND OPERATING
130

SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
SCHEDULED SERVICING — GASOLINE
ENGINE................... .174
Maintenance Plan – Gasoline Engine . .175
Heavy Duty Use Of The Vehicle ......178
SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE —
6.7L CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINE.....178
Oil Change Indicator System — Cummins
Diesel.....................178
Perform Service Indicator — Cummins
Diesel .....................179
Maintenance Plan — Cummins Diesel
Engine .....................180
ENGINE COMPARTMENT .........184
6.4L Engine.................184
6.7L Diesel Engine — Six-Speed
AS69RC HD (3500/Chassis Cab
Models) ....................185
DEALER SERVICE —
6.7L DIESEL ENGINE ............186
Engine Air Cleaner Filter .........186
Draining Fuel/Water Separator Filter . .187
Engine Mounted Fuel Filter
Replacement .................188
Underbody Mounted Fuel Filter
Replacement .................189
Priming If The Engine Has Run Out
Of Fuel ....................190
HOISTING ................. .191
TIRES .................... .191
Tire Safety Information..........191
Tires — General Information .......199
Tire Types ...................203
Spare Tires — If Equipped .........204
Wheel And Wheel Trim Care .......206
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADES . . . .207
Treadwear...................207
Traction Grades ...............207
Temperature Grades .............208
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
173

SCHEDULED SERVICING — GASOLINE
ENGINE
Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic
oil change indicator system. The oil change
indicator system will remind you that it is
time to take your vehicle in for scheduled
maintenance.
Based on engine operation conditions, the oil
change indicator message will illuminate.
This means that service is required for your
vehicle. Operating conditions such as fre-
quent short-trips, trailer tow, extremely hot or
cold ambient temperatures, and E85 fuel
usage will influence when the “Oil Change
Required” message is displayed. Severe Op-
erating Conditions can cause the change oil
message to illuminate as early as
3,500 miles (5,600 km) since last reset.
Have your vehicle serviced as soon as pos-
sible, within the next 500 miles (805 km).
Your authorized dealer will reset the oil
change indicator message after completing
the scheduled oil change. If a scheduled oil
change is performed by someone other than
your authorized dealer, the message can bereset by referring to the steps described under
“Warning And Indicator Lights” or “Instru-
ment Cluster Display” in “Getting To Know
Your Instrument Panel” in your Owner’s
Manual at
www.mopar.com/en-us/care/
owner-manual.html (U.S. Residents) or
www.owners.mopar.ca (Canadian Residents)
for further information.
Gasoline Engines:
Under no circumstances should oil change
intervals exceed 8,000 miles (13,000 km),
twelve months or 350 hours of engine run
time, whichever comes first. The 350 hours
of engine run or idle time is generally only a
concern for fleet customers.
Severe Duty:
Change Engine Oil at 4,000 miles
(6,500 km) or 350 hours of engine run time
if the vehicle is operated in a dusty and off
road environment or is operated predomi-
nately at idle or very low engine RPM’s. This
type of vehicle use is considered Severe Duty. Once A Month Or Before A Long Trip:
• Check engine oil level
• Check windshield washer fluid level
• Check the tire inflation pressures and look
for unusual wear or damage
• Check the fluid levels of the coolant reser- voir, brake master cylinder, power steering
and automatic transmission, and fill as
needed
• Check function of all interior and exterior lights
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
174

Maintenance Plan –
Gasoline Engine
Required Maintenance
Refer to the maintenance plan on the follow-
ing pages for required maintenance.
At Every Oil Change Interval As Indicated By OilChange Indicator System:
• Change oil and filter.
• Rotate the tires. Rotate at the first sign of
irregular wear, even if it occurs before the oil
indicator system turns on.
• Inspect engine cooling system protection and hoses.
• Inspect exhaust system.
• Inspect engine air cleaner if using in dusty or off-road conditions.
• Inspect battery and clean and tighten ter- minals as required.
• Inspect automatic transmission fluid if equipped with dipstick.
• Inspect brake pads, shoes, rotors, drums, hoses and park brake.
• Inspect front end, and lubricate — If equipped with serviceable fittings.
At Every Oil Change Interval As Indicated By Oil Change Indicator System:
• Lube the front drive shaft fitting (4X4 models only).
175

Heavy Duty Use Of The Vehicle
Change engine oil at 4,000 miles (6,500 km)
or 350 hours of engine run time if the vehicle
is operated in a dusty and off road environ-
ment or is operated predominately at idle or
only very low engine RPM’s. This type of
vehicle use is considered Severe Duty.
SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE — 6.7L
CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINE
CAUTION!
Failure to perform the required mainte-
nance items may result in damage to the
vehicle.
At Each Stop For Fuel
Check the engine oil level at least 30 minutes
after a fully warmed engine is shut off.
Checking the oil level while the vehicle is on
level ground will improve the accuracy of the
oil level reading. Add oil only when the level
is at or below the ADD or MIN mark. Once A Month
• Inspect the batteries, and clean and
tighten the terminals as required.
• Check the fluid levels of the coolant reser- voir, brake master cylinder, and automatic
transmission (if equipped), and add as
needed.
At Each Oil Change
• Change the engine oil filter.
• Inspect the exhaust system.
• Inspect engine air filter.
• Check the coolant level, hoses, and clamps.
• Inspect front end, and lubricate — If equipped with serviceable fittings.
• Lube the front drive shaft fitting (4X4 mod- els only).
Inspection and service should also be per-
formed anytime a malfunction is observed or
suspected. Retain all receipts.
Oil Change Indicator System —
Cummins Diesel
Your vehicle is equipped with an engine oil
change indicator system. This system will
alert you when it is time to change your
engine oil by displaying the words “Oil
Change Due” in your instrument cluster dis-
play. The oil change reminder will remind the
owner to change the engine oil every
15,000 miles or 500 hours, whichever
comes first, except for the Chassis Cab mod-
els and Pickup models configured with op-
tional B20 capability that are using B20 bio-
diesel, which are 12,500 miles or 400 hours,
whichever comes first. Failure to change the
engine oil per the maintenance schedule can
result in internal engine damage.
Replace the engine oil and oil filter every
15,000 miles (24,000 km) or six months, or
sooner if prompted by the oil change indicator
system. Under no circumstances should oil
change intervals exceed 15,000 miles
(24,000 km) or six months, whichever comes
first.
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
178

NOTE:
• Under no circumstances should oil changeintervals exceed 15,000 miles
(24,000 km) or six months or 500 Hours,
whichever comes first.
• Replace the engine oil and oil filter every 12,500 miles (20 000 km) when running
B20 fuel (Chassis Cab Only).
If Chassis Cab models and Pickup models
configured with optional B20 capability are
operated with greater than 5% levels of bio-
diesel, the oil change interval must not ex-
ceed 12,500 miles (20 000 km) under any
circumstances. See the Fuel Requirements
section for more information regarding opera-
tion of Chassis Cab models and Pickup mod-
els configured for use with biodiesel blend
(B6-B20) fuel meeting ASTM specification
D-7467.Perform Service Indicator —
Cummins Diesel
Your vehicle will require emissions mainte-
nance at a set interval. To help remind you
when this maintenance is due, the instru-
ment cluster will display “Perform Service”.
When the “Perform Service” message is dis-
played on the instrument cluster it is neces-
sary to have the emissions maintenance per-
formed. Emissions maintenance may include
replacing the Closed Crankcase Ventilation
(CCV) filter element. The procedure for clear-
ing and resetting the “Perform Service” indi-
cator message is located in the appropriate
Service Information.
179

If the vehicle experiences a sudden loss of
engine power while being driven in heavy
snow or rain, or when plowing snow, and/or
the “SERVICE AIR FILTER” message is dis-
played on the instrument cluster along with a
chime that repeats every 60 seconds, visually
inspect the air filter for snow/ice build up or
extreme water saturation. If the air filter is
not damaged, remove all snow/ice and rein-
stall air filter. If the air filter is damaged,
replace filter element.
NOTE:
The air filter housing contains a Mass Air
Flow sensor. This sensor is critical to proper
engine operation and component longevity.
Any damage or modification to this sensor
could result in major engine and/or exhaust
aftertreatment damage. We recommend you
use Mopar brand parts.
Even though your vehicle is equipped with an
Air Filter Monitor, a visual inspection of the
air cleaner filter element is recommended
every 15,000 miles (24,000km) or
12 months – whichever occurs first.Under nocircumstances should the air cleaner filter ele-
ment exceed 30,000 miles (48,000 km) or
24 months, whichever comes first.
CAUTION!
Many aftermarket performance air filter
elements do not adequately filter the air
entering the engine. Use of such filters can
severely damage your engine.
Draining Fuel/Water Separator
Filter
There are two fuel filter assemblies. One is
located on the driver's side of the engine. The
best access to this water drain valve is from
under the hood. The second one is on the
under body, located in front of the rear axle
above the drive shaft on pick-up models. The
Chassis Cab models second filter location is
on the frame behind the front axle. The best
access to this water drain valve is from under
the vehicle.
CAUTION!
• Do not drain the fuel/water separator
filter when the engine is running.
• Diesel fuel will damage blacktop paving
surfaces. Drain the filter into an appro-
priate container.
If water is detected in the water separator
while the engine is running, or while the
ignition switch is in the ON position, the
“Water In Fuel Indicator Light” will illumi-
nate and an audible chime will be heard five
times. At this point you should stop the
engine and drain the water from both of the
filters.
CAUTION!
If the “Water In Fuel Indicator Light” re-
mains on, DO NOT START the engine be-
fore you drain water from the fuel filters to
avoid engine damage.
If the “Water In Fuel Indicator Light” comes
on and a single chime is heard while you are
driving, or with the ignition switch in the ON
187

position, there may be a problem with your
water separator wiring or sensor. See your
authorized dealer for service.
Upon proper draining of the water from both
fuel filters, the “Water In Fuel Indicator
Light” will remain illuminated for approxi-
mately 10 seconds. If the water was drained
while the engine was running, the “Water In
Fuel Indicator Light” may remain on for ap-
proximately three minutes.
NOTE:
Care should be taken in disposing of used
fluids from your vehicle. Used fluids, indis-
criminately discarded, can present a problem
to the environment. Contact an authorized
dealer, service station, or government agency
for advice on recycling programs and for
where used fluids and filters can be properly
disposed of in your area.
Drain the fuel/water separator filters when
the “Water In Fuel Indicator Light” is ON.
Within 10 minutes of vehicle shutdown, turn
the engine mounted filter drain valve (located
on the side of the filter assembly) counter-
clockwise 1/4 turn, and turn the under body
mounted filter drain valve (located on thebottom of the filter assembly) counterclock
wise 1 full turn. Then turn the ignition switch
to the ON position, and allow any accumu-
lated water to drain. Leave the drain valve
open until all water and contaminants have
been removed. When clean fuel is visible,
close the drain valves by turning them fully
clockwise, and turn the ignition switch to
OFF.
If more than a couple ounces/milliliters of
fuel have been drained, follow the directions
for “Priming If The Engine Has Run Out Of
Fuel.”
Engine Mounted Fuel Filter
Replacement
NOTE:
• Using a fuel filter that does not meet the
manufacturer's filtration and water separat-
ing requirements can severely impact fuel
system life and reliability.
• The engine mounted filter housing is equipped with a No-Filter-No-Run (NFNR)
feature. Engine will not run if:
1. No filter is installed. 2. Inferior/Non-approved filter is used.
Use of OEM filter is required to ensure
vehicle will run.
CAUTION!
• Diesel fuel will damage blacktop pavingsurfaces. Drain the filter into an appro-
priate container.
• Do not prefill the fuel filter when install-
ing a new fuel filter. There is a possibility
debris could be introduced into the fuel
filter during this action. It is best to
install the filter dry and allow the in-tank
lift pump to prime the fuel system.
1. Ensure engine is turned off.
2. Place drain pan under the fuel filter drain hose.
3. Open the water drain valve 1/4 turn coun- terclockwise and completely drain fuel
and water into the approved container.
4. Close the water drain valve.
5. Remove lid using a socket or strap wrench. Rotate counterclockwise for re-
moval. Remove used o-ring and discard it.
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
188

Tread Wear Indicators
Tread wear indicators are in the original
equipment tires to help you in determining
when your tires should be replaced.
These indicators are molded into the bottom
of the tread grooves. They will appear as
bands when the tread depth becomes a
1/16 of an inch (1.6 mm). When the tread is
worn to the tread wear indicators, the tire
should be replaced. Refer to “Replacement
Tires” in this section for further information.
Life Of Tire
The service life of a tire is dependent upon
varying factors including, but not limited to:• Driving style.
• Tire pressure - Improper cold tire inflation
pressures can cause uneven wear patterns
to develop across the tire tread. These ab-
normal wear patterns will reduce tread life,
resulting in the need for earlier tire replace-
ment.
• Distance driven.
• Performance tires, tires with a speed rating of V or higher, and Summer tires typically
have a reduced tread life. Rotation of these
tires per the vehicle scheduled mainte-
nance is highly recommended.
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 bal-
ance of many characteristics. They should be
inspected regularly for wear and correct cold
tire inflation pressures. The manufacturer
strongly recommends that you use tires
equivalent to the originals in size, quality and
performance when replacement is needed.
Refer to the paragraph on “Tread Wear Indi-
cators” in this section. Refer to the Tire and
Loading Information placard or the Vehicle
Certification Label 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.
Tire Tread
1 — Worn Tire
2 — New Tire
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
202

Security Alarm..............63
Service ..................154
Tire Pressure Monitoring
(TPMS) ................65, 72
Turn Signal ..........34, 68, 118
Warning (Instrument
Cluster Description) ........63, 68
Loading Vehicle Tires ...................196
Low Tire Pressure System ..........72
Lug Nuts ............163, 210, 211
Maintenance Plan ..............180
Maintenance Schedule . . . .174, 178, 180
Malfunction Indicator Light (Check Engine) ...............63
Manual, Service ...............286
Memory Feature (Memory Seat) ......21
Memory Seat ..................21
Memory Seats And Radio ..........21
Mirrors .....................30
Memory ..................21
Monitor, Tire Pressure System .......72
Mopar .....................219
Mopar Accessories .............219
Multi-Function Control Lever ........32Navigation
...........259, 261, 262
Navigation System (Uconnect GPS) . . .136
New Vehicle Break-In Period .......127
Occupant Restraints ...........76, 77
Oil Change Indicator ............178
Oil, Engine ..............214, 216
Capacity .................213
Filter ................214, 216
Pressure Warning Light .........63
Oil Pressure Light ...............63
Onboard Diagnostic System .........69
Operating Precautions ............69
Overheating, Engine ............166
Owner's Manual (Operator Manual) . . .286
Panic Alarm ..................15
ParkSense System, Rear ..........136
Passive Entry .................19
Pedals, Adjustable ..............29
Perform Service Indicator, Reset .....179
Personalized Menu Bar ...........241
Pets ......................115
Phone,

Hands-Free (Uconnect) ......264
Phone (Pairing) ...............266
Phone (Uconnect) ..............264
Placard, Tire And Loading Information .196 Power
Distribution Center (Fuses) ......155
Outlet (Auxiliary
Electrical Outlet) ..........49, 51
Power Steering Fluid ............216
Pregnant Women And Seat Belts ......85
Radial Ply Tires ...............201
Radio Presets ........225, 228, 233, 242
Radio 3.0 ...................224
Radio Frequency General Information ......15, 17, 21
Radio Operation ...............232
Radio Screens ................238
Radio (Sound Systems) ..........232
Rain Sensitive Wiper System ........35
Rear ParkSense System ..........136
Rear Seat, Folding ..............21
Recreational Towing ............147
Shifting Into Transfer Case
Neutral (N) ...............148
Shifting Out Of Transfer Case
Neutral (N) ...............150
Release, Hood .................44
Reminder, Seat Belt .............78
Remote Keyless Entry ............15
INDEX
292