sensor RAM CHASSIS CAB 2016 User Guide

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.
PARKSENSE FRONT AND REAR PARK ASSIST —
IF EQUIPPED
The ParkSense Park Assist system provides visual and
audible indications of the distance between the rear
and/or front fascia and a detected obstacle when backing up or moving forward, e.g. during a parking maneuver.
Refer to ParkSense System Usage Precautions for limita-
tions of this system and recommendations.
ParkSense will retain the last system state (enabled or
disabled) from the last ignition cycle when the ignition is
changed to the ON/RUN position.
ParkSense can be active only when the gear selector is in
REVERSE or DRIVE. If ParkSense is enabled at one of
these gear selector positions, the system will remain
active until the vehicle speed is increased to approxi-
mately 7 mph (11 km/h) or above. A display warning
will appear in the Electronic Vehicle Information Center
(EVIC) or Driver Information Display (DID) indicating
the vehicle is above ParkSense operating speed. The
system will become active again if the vehicle speed is
decreased to speeds less than approximately 6 mph
(9 km/h).196 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

ParkSense Sensors
For the 3500, 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cab vehicles, the rear
ParkSense sensors are shipped loose. Please Refer to the
Ram Body Builders Guide for more information.
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.
NOTE: If your vehicle is equipped with a touchscreen,
this feature can be programmed through the Uconnect
system. Refer to “Uconnect Settings” in “Understanding
Your Instrument Panel” for further information. 3UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 197

(EVIC) or Driver Information Display (DID)” in “Under-
standing Your Instrument Panel” for further information.
When the gear selector 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 REVERSE.
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 pushed, 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 gear selector 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 UNAVAIL-
ABLE WIPE REAR SENSORS  ,  PARKSENSE UNAVAIL-
ABLE WIPE FRONT SENSORS  or  PARKSENSE UN-
AVAILABLE SERVICE REQUIRED  pop up message for
five seconds. After five seconds, a car graphic will be 3UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 201

displayed with  UNAVAILABLE  at either the front or
rear sensor location depending on where the fault is
detected. The system will continue to provide arc alerts
for the side that is functioning properly. These arc alerts
will interrupt the  PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE WIPE
REAR SENSORS  ,  PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE WIPE
FRONT SENSORS  ,or  PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE
SERVICE REQUIRED  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 Cen-
ter (EVIC) or  Driver Information Display (DID)” for
further information.
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.202 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

• Jackhammers, large trucks, and other vibrations could
affect the performance of ParkSense.
• 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 gear selector to the REVERSE
position and Front or Rear ParkSense is turned off, the
instrument cluster will display  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 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 3UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 203

or open position. A lowered tailgate could provide a
false indication that an obstacle is behind the 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.
• 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 (Continued)204 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, (Continued) CAUTION! (Continued)type, and/or style. Aftermarket wheels can cause
sensor damage. Using aftermarket tire sealants may
cause the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
sensor to become inoperable. After using an after-
market tire sealant it is recommended that you take
your vehicle to an authorized dealership to have your
sensor function checked.256 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

Compass Settings — If Equipped
After pressing the “Compass Settings” button on the
touchscreen the following settings will be available:
• Variance
Compass Variance is the difference between Magnetic
North and Geographic North. To compensate for the
differences the variance should be set for the zone where
the vehicle is driven, per the zone map. Once properly
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 Map326 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

to the wheel that is not spinning. BLD may remain
enabled even if TCS and ESC are in a reduced mode.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
This system enhances directional control and stability of
the vehicle under various driving conditions. ESC cor-
rects for oversteering or understeering of the vehicle by
applying the brake of the appropriate wheel(s) to assist in
counteracting the oversteer or understeer condition. En-
gine 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.
The “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” lo-
cated in the instrument cluster will start to flash as soon
as the ESC system becomes active. The “ESC Activation/
Malfunction Indicator Light” also flashes when the TCS
is active. If the “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator
Light” begins to flash during acceleration, ease up on the
accelerator and apply as little throttle as possible. Be sure
to adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road
conditions.
WARNING!• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) cannot prevent
the natural laws of physics from acting on the
vehicle, nor can it increase the traction afforded by
prevailing road conditions. ESC cannot prevent (Continued)450 STARTING AND OPERATING

engine power to lessen the chance that wheel lift will
occur. ERM can only reduce the chance of wheel lift
occurring during severe or evasive driving maneuvers; it
cannot prevent wheel lift due to other factors, such as
road conditions, leaving the roadway, or striking objects
or other vehicles.
NOTE: ERM is disabled anytime the ESC is in “Full Off”
mode (if equipped). Refer to “Electronic Stability Control
(ESC)” in this section for a complete explanation of the
available ESC modes.
WARNING!Many factors, such as vehicle loading, road condi-
tions and driving conditions, influence the chance
that wheel lift or rollover may occur. ERM cannot
prevent all wheel lift or roll overs, especially those
that involve leaving the roadway or striking objects (Continued) WARNING! (Continued)or other vehicles. The capabilities of an ERM-
equipped vehicle must never be exploited in a reck-
less or dangerous manner which could jeopardize the
user’s safety or the safety of others.
Trailer Sway Control (TSC)
TSC uses sensors in the vehicle to recognize an exces-
sively swaying trailer and will take the appropriate
actions to attempt to stop the sway. TSC will become
active automatically once an excessively swaying trailer
is recognized. 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 this section for further informa-
tion.
When TSC is functioning, the “ESC Activation/
Malfunction Indicator Light” will flash, the engine power 5STARTING AND OPERATING 455