brake Ram 1500 2009 Workshop Manual

CAUTION!
If the trailer weighs more than 1,000 lbs (454 kg)
loaded, it should have its own brakes and they
should be of adequate capacity. Failure to do this
could lead to accelerated brake lining wear, higher
brake pedal effort, and longer stopping distances.
WARNING!
•Do not connect trailer brakes to your vehicle’s
hydraulic brake lines. It can overload your brake
system and cause it to fail. You might not have
brakes when you need them and could have an
accident.(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Towing any trailer will increase your stopping
distance. When towing you should allow for addi-
tional space between your vehicle and the vehicle
in front of you. Failure to do so could result in an
accident.
Towing Requirements — Trailer Lights and Wiring
Whenever you pull a trailer, regardless of the trailer size,
stop lights and turn signals on the trailer are required for
motoring safety.
The Trailer Tow Package will include a four and seven-
pin wiring harness. Use a factory approved trailer har-
ness and connector.
NOTE:Do not cut or splice wiring into the vehicle’s
wiring harness.
408 STARTING AND OPERATING

The electrical connections are all complete to the vehicle
but you must mate the harness to a trailer connector.
Refer to the following illustrations.
Four-Pin Connector
1 — Female Pins4 — Park
2 — Male Pin 5 — Left Stop/Turn
3 — Ground 6 — Right Stop/Turn
Seven-Pin Connector
1 — Battery5 — Ground
2 — Backup Lamps 6 — Left Stop/Turn
3 — Right Stop/Turn 7 — Running Lamps
4 — Electric Brakes
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 409

Recreational Towing – Four-Wheel Drive Models
CAUTION!
Failure to follow these requirements can cause severe
damage to the transmission and/or transfer case.
NOTE: The electronic shift transfer cases must be
shifted into NEUTRAL for recreational towing. The trans-
mission must be shifted into PARK for recreational
towing. Refer to the following for the proper transfer case
NEUTRAL shifting procedure for your vehicle.
Recreational Towing Procedure — Electronic Shift
Transfer Case — If Equipped
Use the following procedure to prepare your vehicle for
recreational towing:
WARNING!
You or others could be injured if you leave the
vehicle unattended with the transfer case in the
NEUTRAL position without first fully engaging the
parking brake. The transfer case NEUTRAL position
disengages both the front and rear driveshafts from
the powertrain and will allow the vehicle to move,
even if the transmission is in PARK. The parking
brake should always be applied when the driver is
not in the vehicle.
CAUTION!
It is necessary to follow these steps to be certain that
the transfer case is fully in NEUTRAL before recre-
ational towing to prevent damage to internal parts.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 413

1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Turn OFF the engine.
3. Turn the ignition key to the ON position, but do not
start the engine.
4. Press the brake pedal.
5. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL.
6. Press the transfer case switch NEUTRAL button for
four seconds.
7. After the shift is completed and the NEUTRAL light
comes on, release the NEUTRAL button.
8. Start the engine.
9. Shift the transmission into REVERSE.
10. Release the brake pedal for five seconds and ensure
that there is no vehicle movement.
11. Repeat Steps 9 and 10 with the transmission in
DRIVE.12. Turn the engine OFF and place the ignition key in the
unlocked OFF position.
13. Shift the transmission into PARK.
14. Apply the parking brake.
15. Attach the vehicle to the tow vehicle with the tow bar.
16. Release the parking brake.
NOTE:
•Steps 1 through 5 are requirements that must be met
prior to depressing the NEUTRAL button, and must
continue to be met until the four seconds elapses and
the shift has been completed. If any of these require-
ments (with the exception of 3 - Key ON) are not met
prior to depressing the NEUTRAL button or are no
longer met during the four second timer, then the
NEUTRAL indicator light will flash continuously until
all requirements are met or until the NEUTRAL button
is released.
414 STARTING AND OPERATING

•The ignition key must be ON for a shift to take place
and for the position indicator lights to be operable. If
the key in not ON, the shift will not take place and no
position indicator lights will be on or flashing.
•The flashing NEUTRAL indicator light indicates that
shift requirements have not been met.
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the trans-
mission is shifted into PARK with the transfer case in
NEUTRAL and the engine running. With the transfer
case in NEUTRAL, ensure that the engine is OFF
prior to shifting the transmission into PARK.
Returning to Normal Operation — Electronic Shift
Transfer Case
Use the following procedure to prepare your vehicle for
normal usage:1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Turn OFF the engine.
3. Turn the ignition key to the ON position, but do not
start the engine.
4. Press the brake pedal.
5. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL.
6. Press the transfer case switch NEUTRAL button for
one second.
7. After the NEUTRAL indicator light turns off, release
the NEUTRAL button.
8. After the NEUTRAL button has been released, the
transfer case will shift to the position identified by the
selector switch.
9. Shift the transmission into PARK.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 415

NOTE:
•The transfer case cannot be shifted into NEUTRAL
from the 4WD AUTO (if equipped) position.
•Steps 1 through 5 are requirements that must be met
prior to depressing the transfer case NEUTRAL button
and must continue to be met until one second elapses
and the shift has been completed. If any of these
requirements (with the exception of step 3 - key ON)
are not met prior to pressing the NEUTRAL button, or
are no longer met during the one second time, then all
of the mode position indicator lights will flash con-
tinuously until all requirements are met or until the
NEUTRAL button is released.
•The ignition key must be ON for a transfer case shift to
take place and for the position indicator lights to be
operable. If the key is not ON, the shift will not take
place and no position indicator lights will be on or
flashing.
•The flashing NEUTRAL position indicator light indi-
cates that shift requirements have not been met.
WARNING!
You or others could be injured if you leave the
vehicle unattended with the transfer case in the
NEUTRAL position without first fully engaging the
parking brake. The transfer case NEUTRAL position
disengages both the front and rear driveshafts from
the powertrain and will allow the vehicle to move,
even if the transmission is in PARK. The parking
brake should always be applied when the driver is
not in the vehicle.
416 STARTING AND OPERATING

NOTE:The winch mechanism is designed for use with
the jack extension tube only. Use of an air wrench or other
power tools is not recommended and can damage the
winch.
Preparations
1. Park the vehicle on a firm, level surface. Avoid ice or
slippery areas.
WARNING!
Do not attempt to change a tire on the side of the
vehicle close to moving traffic. Pull far enough off
the road to avoid the danger of being hit when
operating the jack or changing the wheel. 2. Set the parking brake.
3. Place the shift lever into PARK. On four-wheel drive
vehicles, shift the transfer case to the 4L position.
4. Turn the ignition OFF.
5. Turn on the Hazard Warning flasher.
6. Block both the front and rear of the
wheel diagonally opposite the jacking
position. For example, if the right front
wheel is being changed, block the left
rear wheel.
NOTE: Passengers should not remain in the vehicle
when the vehicle is being jacked.6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 427

Instructions
WARNING!
Carefully follow these tire changing warnings to
help prevent personal injury or damage to your
vehicle:
•Always park on a firm, level surface as far from
the edge of the roadway as possible before raising
the vehicle.
•Block the wheel diagonally opposite the wheel to
be raised.
•Set the parking brake firmly and set an automatic
transmission in PARK; a manual transmission in
REVERSE.
•Never start or run the engine with the vehicle on a
jack.
•Do not let anyone sit in the vehicle when it is on a
jack.(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not get under the vehicle when it is on a jack.
•Only use the jack in the positions indicated and
for lifting this vehicle during a tire change.
•If working on or near a roadway, be extremely
careful of motor traffic.
•To assure that spare tires, flat or inflated, are
securely stowed, spares must be stowed with the
valve stem facing the ground.
•Turn on the Hazard Warning flasher.
1. Remove the spare wheel, jack, and tools from storage.
Jack Warning Label
428 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

1. Remove all metal jewelry such as watch bands or
bracelets which might make an unintended electrical
contact.
2. Park the booster vehicle within cable reach but with-
out letting the vehicles touch. Set the parking brake on
both vehicles, place the automatic transmission in PARK
and turn the ignition OFF.
3. Turn off the heater, radio, and all unnecessary electri-
cal loads.
4. Connect one end of a jumper cable to the positive
terminal of the booster battery. Connect the other end of
the same cable to the positive terminal of the discharged
battery.WARNING!
Do not permit vehicles to touch each other as this
could establish a ground connection and personal
injury could result.
5. Connect the other cable; first to the negative terminal
of the booster battery, and then to the engine of the
vehicle with the discharged battery. Make sure you have
a good contact on the engine.
WARNING!
•You should not try to start your vehicle by pushing
or towing.
•Do not connect the cable to the negative post of the
discharge battery. The resulting electrical spark
could cause the battery to explode. (Continued)
434 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

â–«Exhaust System ..................... 455
â–« Cooling System ..................... 458
â–« Brake System ....................... 463
â–« Rear Axle And Four-Wheel Drive Front
Driving Axle Fluid Level ............... 465
â–« Transfer Case ....................... 466
â–« Automatic Transmission ............... 466
â–« Appearance Care And Protection From
Corrosion .......................... 469
 Fuses .............................. 475
â–« Totally Integrated Power Module ......... 475
 Vehicle Storage ....................... 480
 Replacement Light Bulbs ................ 481 
Bulb Replacement ..................... 481
â–« Dual Or Quad Headlamp/Front Park And
Turn Signal — If Equipped ............. 481
â–« Fog Lamps ......................... 483
â–« Rear Tail/Stop, Turn Signal And Backup
Lamps ............................ 484
â–« Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)
With Cargo Lamp .................... 485
 Fluids And Capacities .................. 488
 Fluids, Lubricants And Genuine Parts ....... 489
â–« Engine ............................ 489
â–« Chassis ........................... 490
440 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE