warning Ram 1500 2013 Get to Know Guide 

ELECTRONIC VEHICLE INFORMATION CENTER (EVIC)
•The EVIC features a driver interactive
display that is located in the instrument
cluster. Pressing the controls on the left
side of the steering wheel allows the
driver to select vehicle information and
Personal Settings. For additional infor-
mation, refer to Programmable Features
in this guide.
•Press and release the UPbutton to
scroll upward through the main menus
(Fuel Economy, Vehicle Info, Tire PSI,
Cruise, Messages, Trip Info, Vehicle
Speed and Turn Menu Off) and sub menus.
•Press and release the DOWNbutton to scroll downward through the main menus
and sub menus.
• Press and release the RIGHTbuttonfor access to main menus, sub menus or to
select a personal setting in the setup menu. Press and hold the RIGHT
button for
two seconds to reset features.
• Press the BACK/LEFTbutton to scroll back to a previous menu or sub menu.
Compass Calibration
• This compass is self-calibrating, which eliminates the need to set the compass manually. When the vehicle is new, the compass may appear erratic and the EVIC
will display “CAL” until the compass is calibrated.
• You may also calibrate the compass by completing one or more 360 degree turns (in an area free from large metal or metallic objects) until the “CAL” message
displayed in the EVIC turns off. The compass will now function normally.
PROGRAMMABLE FEATURES
Programmable Features
• The EVIC can be used to view or change the following settings. Press the UP
or
DOWN
button until System Setup displays, then press the RIGHTbutton.
Scroll through the settings using the UP or DOWN buttons. Press the RIGHT
button to change the setting. Press the BACK/LEFTbutton to scroll back to a
previous menu or sub menu.
• Radio Info • Trip Info
• Fuel Economy Info • Tire Pressure
• Cruise Control Info • Vehicle Info
• Digital Vehicle Speed • Stored Warning Messages
• Stop/Start • Turn Menu OFF
• Screen Setup
ELECTRONICS
98

Using HomeLink®
• To operate, press and release the programmed HomeLink
®button. Activation will
now occur for the programmed device (i.e., garage door opener, gate operator,
security system, entry door lock, home/office lighting, etc.,). The hand-held
transmitter of the device may also be used at any time.
WARNING!
• Your motorized door or gate will open and close while you are programming the universal transceiver. Do not program the transceiver if people or pets are in the
path of the door or gate.
• Do not run your vehicle in a closed garage or confined area while programming
the transceiver. Exhaust gas from your vehicle contains Carbon Monoxide (CO)
which is odorless and colorless. Carbon Monoxide is poisonous when inhaled
and can cause you and others to be severely injured or killed.
POWER INVERTER
• A 115 Volt, 150 Watt power inverteroutlet is located on the lower instru-
ment panel next to the climate control
knob. This outlet can power cellular
phones, electronics and other low
power devices requiring power up to
150 Watts.
• To turn on the power outlet, simply plug in the device. The outlet auto-
matically turns off when the device is
unplugged.
NOTE:
The power inverter is designed with
built-in overload protection. If the power
rating of 150 Watts is exceeded, the
power inverter will automatically shut down. Once the electrical device has been
removed from the outlet, the inverter should automatically reset.
WARNING!
To Avoid Serious Injury or Death DO NOT:
• insert any objects into the receptacles
• touch with wet hands
Close the lid when not in use. If this outlet is mishandled, it may cause an electric
shock and failure.
ELECTRONICS
103

FIVE-POSITION/ON-DEMAND TRANSFER CASE
•
This electronically shifted transfer case
provides five mode positions:
• Two-wheel drive high range (2WD)
• Four-wheel drive automatic range
(4WD AUTO)
• Four-wheel drive lock range (4WD LOCK)
• Four-wheel drive low range (4WD LOW)
• NEUTRAL (N)
•
This electronically shifted transfer case
is designed to be driven in the two-wheel
drive position (2WD) or four-wheel drive
position (4WD AUTO) for normal street
and highway conditions on dry, hard-
surfaced roads.
• Driving the vehicle in 2WD will have greater fuel economy benefits as the front axle is not engaged in 2WD.
Shifting Procedure
• Shifting between 2WD and 4WD AUTO or 4WD LOCK can be made with the vehicle stopped or in motion at speeds up to 55 mph (88 km/h).
• Shifting between 2WD, 4WD AUTO and 4WD LOCK into 4WD LOW must be made with the transmission in NEUTRAL and the vehicle stopped or rolling at 2 to 3 mph
(3 to 5 km/h).
NOTE:
It is preferred to have the engine running and the vehicle moving at 2 to 3 mph
(3 to 5 km/h).
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 regardless of the transmis-
sion position. The parking brake should always be applied when the driver is not
in the vehicle.
OFF-ROAD CAPABILITIES
106

FIVE-POSITION/ON-DEMAND TRANSFER CASE
•
This electronically shifted transfer case
provides five mode positions:
• Two-wheel drive high range (2WD)
• Four-wheel drive automatic range
(4WD AUTO)
• Four-wheel drive lock range (4WD LOCK)
• Four-wheel drive low range (4WD LOW)
• NEUTRAL (N)
•
This electronically shifted transfer case
is designed to be driven in the two-wheel
drive position (2WD) or four-wheel drive
position (4WD AUTO) for normal street
and highway conditions on dry, hard-
surfaced roads.
•Driving the vehicle in 2WD will have greater fuel economy benefits as the front axle
is not engaged in 2WD.
Shifting Procedure
• Shifting between 2WD and 4WD AUTO or 4WD LOCK can be made with the vehicle stopped or in motion at speeds up to 55 mph (88 km/h).
• Shifting between 2WD, 4WD AUTO and 4WD LOCK into 4WD LOW must be made with the transmission in NEUTRAL and the vehicle stopped or rolling at 2 to 3 mph
(3 to 5 km/h).
NOTE:
It is preferred to have the engine running and the vehicle moving at 2 to 3 mph
(3 to 5 km/h).
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 regardless of the transmis-
sion position. The parking brake should always be applied when the driver is not
in the vehicle.
OFF-ROAD CAPABILITIES
107

TONNEAU COVER
• The Tonneau Cover can be removed and reinstalled by using the locking clampslocated underneath the Tonneau Cover.
NOTE:
Be sure that the Tonneau Cover is secured before driving.
EASY-OFF TAILGATE
•To simplify mounting of a camper unit with an overhang, the tailgate can be removed.
NOTE:
If your vehicle is equipped with a rear camera or RKE the electrical connector must
be disconnected prior to removing the tailgate.
Removing the Tailgate
• Disconnect the wiring harness for the rear camera or RKE (if equipped).
• Unlatch the tailgate and remove the support cables by releasing the lock tang from the pivot.
• Raise the right side of the tailgate until the right side pivot clears the hanger bracket.
• Slide the entire tailgate to the right to free the left side pivot.
• Remove the tailgate from the vehicle.
NOTE:
Do not carry the tailgate loose in the truck pickup box.
Locking Tailgate
• The lock is located next to the tailgate handle. The tailgate can be locked using the vehicle key.
WARNING!
To avoid inhaling carbon monoxide, which is deadly, the exhaust system on vehicles
equipped with “Cap or Slide-In Campers” should extend beyond the overhanging
camper compartment and be free of leaks.
UTILITY
108

PICKUP BOX
• You can carry wide building materials (sheets of plywood, etc.) by building a raisedload floor. Place lumber across the box in the indentations provided above the
wheel housings and in the bulkhead dividers to form the floor.
• There are stampings in the sheet metal on the inner side bulkheads of the box in front of and behind both wheel housings. Place wooden boards across the box from
side to side to create separate load compartments in the pickup box.
• There are four tie-down cleats bolted to the lower sides of the pickup box that can sustain loads up to 1000 lbs (450 kg) total.
WARNING!
• The pickup box is intended for load carrying purposes only, not for passengers,
who should sit in seats and use seat belts.
• Care should always be exercised when operating a vehicle with unrestrained
cargo. Vehicle speeds may need to be reduced. Severe turns or rough roads may
cause shifting or bouncing of the cargo that may result in vehicle damage.
If wide building materials are to be frequently carried, the installation of a
support is recommended. This will restrain the cargo and transfer the load to
the pickup box floor.
•
If you wish to carry more than 600 lbs (272 kg) of material suspended above the
wheelhouse, supports must be installed to transfer the weight of the load to the
pickup box floor or vehicle damage may result. The use of proper supports will
permit loading up to the rated payload.
• Unrestrained cargo may be thrown forward in an accident causing serious or
fatal injury.
UTILITY
109

CAUTION!
• Failure to follow the following items could cause damage to the vehicle:• Assure that all cargo inside the storage bins is properly secured.
• Do not exceed cargo weight rating of 150 lb (68 kg) per bin.
• Leaving the lid open for extended periods of time could cause the vehiclebattery to discharge. If the lid is required to stay open for extended periods
of time, it is recommended that the bin lights be turned off manually using
the on/off switch.
• Ensure cargo bin lids are closed and latched before moving or driving
vehicle.
• Loads applied to the top of the bin lid should be minimized to prevent
damage to the lid and latching/hinging mechanisms.
• Damage to the RamBox
®bin may occur due to heavy/sharp objects placed
in bin that shift due to vehicle motion. In order to minimize potential for
damage, secure all cargo to prevent movement and protect inside surfaces
of bin from heavy/sharp objects with appropriate padding.
• The maximum load per cleat should not exceed 250 lbs (113 kg) and the
angle of the load on each cleat should not exceed 60 degrees above
horizontal, or damage to the cleat or cleat rail may occur.
WARNING!
•Always close the storage bin covers when your vehicle is unattended or in motion.
• Do not allow children to have access to the storage bins. Once in the storagebin, young children may not be able to escape. If trapped in the storage bin,
children can die from suffocation or heat stroke.
• In a collision, serious injury could result if the storage bin covers are not
properly latched.
• Do not use a storage bin latch as a tie down.
• To reduce the risk of potential injury or property damage:
• Cargo must be secured.
• Do not exceed cargo load rating of your vehicle.
• Secure all loads to truck utilizing cargo tie-downs.
• Extender should not be used as cargo tie-down.
•
When vehicle is in motion do not exceed 150 lbs (68 kg) load on the tailgate.
• The bed extender is not intended for off road use.
•
When not in use, the extender/divider should be in stowed or divider position
with the tailgate closed.
• When in use, all handles are to be in the locked position.
UTILITY
113

• To make the proper selection in the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC),press the UP or DOWN steering wheel buttons until “VEHICLE SETTINGS”
displays. For additional information, refer to Electronics in this guide.
• Press the RIGHT arrow on the steering wheel to enter “VEHICLE SETTINGS.”
• Press the UP or DOWN buttons until Trailer Brake Type appears on the screen.
• Press the RIGHT arrow and then press the UP or DOWN buttons until the proper Trailer Brake Type appears on the screen.
GAIN Adjustment Buttons (+/-)
•
Pressing the +/- buttons, located on the
left side of the module, will increase/
decrease the brake control power output
to the trailer brakes in 0.5 increments.
The GAIN setting can be increased to a
maximum of 10 or decreased to a mini-
mum of 0 (no trailer braking).
• Refer to your Owner's Manual on the DVD for further details.
WARNING!
Connecting a trailer that is not compatible with the ITBM system may result in
reduced or complete loss of trailer braking. There may be a increase in stopping
distance or trailer instability which could result in personal injury.
UTILITY
117

Cold Start Procedure
• Turn the ignition switch to the ON position. If the Wait To Start
light appears
in the cluster, wait for the light to turn off before starting.
• In extremely cold weather below 0°F (-18°C) it may be beneficial to cycle the manifold heaters twice before attempting to start the engine. This can be
accomplished by turning the ignition OFF for at least five seconds and then back
ON after the “Wait To Start Light” has turned off, but before the engine is started.
However, excessive cycling of the manifold heaters will result in damage to the
heater elements or reduced battery voltage.
• Refer to the Owner's Manual Diesel Supplement on the DVD for further details.
Engine Idling
• Avoid prolonged engine idling. Long periods of idling may be harmful to your engine because combustion chamber temperatures can drop so low that the fuel
may not burn completely.
• Incomplete combustion allows carbon and varnish to form on piston rings, engine valves, and injector nozzles. Also, the unburned fuel can enter the crankcase,
diluting the oil and causing rapid wear to the engine.
• If the engine is allowed to idle, under some conditions the idle speed may increase to 900 RPM then return to normal idle speed. This is normal operation.
WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the cord before driving. Damage to the 110–115 volt
electrical cord could cause electrocution.
DIESEL EXHAUST BRAKE (ENGINE BRAKING)
• The exhaust brake feature will only function when the driver presses the exhaustbrake switch.
• The switch is located on the switch bank below the audio system.
• Your vehicle is also equipped with the Smart Brake feature.
• This feature will automatically provide a variable amount of engine braking in an attempt to maintain a constant vehicle speed.
• The Smart Brake is activated by pressing the exhaust brake switch twice. The first press activate the full strength brake, second press activates the Smart Brake and
third press turns the brake off.
• The Smart Brake target vehicle speed is set when either the vehicle brake or the throttle pedal is released.
• Exhaust braking is most effective when the engine RPM is higher.
NOTE:
For optimum braking power, it is recommended to use the exhaust brake while in
TOW/HAUL mode.
DIESEL
121

CAUTION!
Use of aftermarket exhaust brakes is not recommended and could lead to engine
damage.
WARNING!
Do not use the exhaust brake feature when driving in icy or slippery conditions as
the increased engine braking can cause the rear wheels to slide and the vehicle to
swing around with the possible loss of vehicle control, which may cause a collision
possibly resulting in personal injury or death.
IDLE-UP FEATURE (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ONLY)
•The Idle-Up Feature uses the speed control switches to increase engine idle speed
and quickly warm the vehicle’s interior. This feature must be enabled by your dealer.
See your local dealer.
•With the transmission in PARK, the parking brake applied, and the engine running,
push the speed control ON/OFF switch on, then push the SET switch.
• The engine RPM will go up to 1100 RPM. To increase the RPM, push and hold the RESUME/ACCEL switch and the idle speed will increase to approximately
1500 RPM. To decrease the RPM, push and hold the SET/DECEL switch and the
idle speed will decrease to approximately 1100 RPM.
• To cancel the Idle Up Feature, either push the CANCEL switch, push the ON/OFF switch or push the brake pedal.
DIESEL
122