suspension Ram 1500 2014 Owner's Guide

WARNING!
Improper towing can lead to a collision. Follow these
guidelines to make your trailer towing as safe as
possible:
•Make certain that the load is secured in the trailer
and will not shift during travel. When trailering
cargo that is not fully secured, dynamic load shifts
can occur that may be difficult for the driver to
control. You could lose control of your vehicle and
have a collision.
• When hauling cargo or towing a trailer, do not
overload your vehicle or trailer. Overloading can
cause a loss of control, poor performance or dam-
age to brakes, axle, engine, transmission, steering,
suspension, chassis structure or tires.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Safety chains must always be used between your
vehicle and trailer. Always connect the chains to
the hook retainers of the vehicle hitch. Cross the
chains under the trailer tongue and allow enough
slack for turning corners.
• Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a
grade. When parking, apply the parking brake on
the tow vehicle. Put the tow vehicle transmission in
PARK. For four-wheel drive vehicles, make sure
the transfer case is not in NEUTRAL. Always,
block or chockthe trailer wheels.
• GCWR must not be exceeded.
(Continued)
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 601

Air Conditioning
Turn off temporarily.
Air Suspension System
To aid in attaching/detaching the trailer from the vehicle,
the air suspension system can be used. Refer to “Air
Suspension System” in “Starting And Operating” for
further information.
NOTE:The vehicle must remain in the engine running
position while attaching a trailer for proper leveling of
the air suspension system.
SNOWPLOW
1500 Models Only
NOTE: Do not use this model vehicle for snowplow
applications.
WARNING!
Snowplows and other aftermarket equipment should
not be added to the front end of your vehicle. The
airbag crash sensors may be affected by the change in
the front end structure. The airbags could deploy
unexpectedly or could fail to deploy during a colli-
sion resulting in serious injury or death.
CAUTION!
Using this vehicle for snowplow applications can
cause damage to the vehicle.
612 STARTING AND OPERATING

NOTE:Vehicles equipped with air suspension must be
lowered to the “Entry/Exit” (lowest) level, and have
automatic leveling disabled, before tying them down
(from the body) on a trailer or flatbed truck. Refer to “Air
Suspension – If Equipped” for more information. If the
vehicle cannot be lowered to the “Entry/Exit” level (for
example, engine will not run), tie-downs must be fas-
tened to the axles (not to the body). Failure to follow
these instructions may cause fault codes to be set and/or
cause loss of proper tie-down tension.
Recreational Towing — Two-Wheel Drive Models
DO NOT flat tow this vehicle. Damage to the drivetrain
will result.
Recreational towing (for two-wheel drive models) is
allowed ONLYif the rear wheels are OFFthe ground.
This may be accomplished using a tow dolly or vehicle
trailer. If using a tow dolly, follow this procedure: 1. Properly secure the dolly to the tow vehicle, following
the dolly manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Drive the rear wheels onto the tow dolly.
3. Firmly apply the parking brake. Place automatic trans- mission in PARK, manual transmission in gear (not in
NEUTRAL).
4. Properly secure the rear wheels to the dolly, following the dolly manufacturer’s instructions.
5. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position and remove the Key Fob.
6. Install a suitable clamping device, designed for tow- ing, to secure the front wheels in the straight position.
618 STARTING AND OPERATING

TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE
This section describes procedures for towing a disabled
vehicle using a commercial wrecker service. If the trans-
mission and drivetrain are operable, disabled vehicles
may also be towed as described under “Recreational
Towing” in the “Starting and Operating” section.
NOTE:Vehicles equipped with air suspension must be
placed in Transport mode, before tying them down (from
the body) on a trailer or flatbed truck. Refer to Air
Suspension inStarting and Operating for more infor-
mation. If the vehicle cannot be placed in Transport mode
(for example, engine will not run), tie-downs must be
fastened to the axles (not to the body). Failure to follow
these instructions may cause fault codes to be set and/or
cause loss of proper tie-down tension.
682 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

If you must use the accessories (wipers, defrosters, etc.)
while being towed, the ignition must be in the ON/RUN
position, not the ACC position.
If the key fob is unavailable or the vehicle’s battery is
discharged, refer to ”Manual Park Release” or “Shift
Lever Override” in this section for instructions on shift-
ing the automatic transmission out of PARK for towing.
CAUTION!
Do not use sling type equipment when towing.
When securing the vehicle to a flat bed truck, do not
attach to front or rear suspension components. Dam-
age to your vehicle may result from improper towing.
Two-Wheel Drive Models
The manufacturer recommends towing your vehicle with
all four wheelsOFFthe ground using a flatbed. If flatbed equipment is not available, and the transmis-
sion is operable, this vehicle may be towed (with rear
wheels on the ground) under the following conditions:
•
The transmission must be in NEUTRAL.
• The towing speed must not exceed 30 mph (48 km/h).
• The towing distance must not exceed 15 miles (24 km)
for 6-speed transmission, or 30 miles (48 km) for
8-speed transmission.
If the transmission is not operable, or the vehicle must be
towed faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) or farther than 15
miles (24 km) for 6-speed transmission, or 30 miles
(48 km) for 8-speed transmission, tow with the rear
wheels OFFthe ground. Acceptable methods are to tow
the vehicle on a flatbed, or with the front wheels raised
and the rear wheels on a towing dolly, or (when using a
suitable steering wheel stabilizer to hold the front wheels
in the straight position) with the rear wheels raised and
the front wheels on the ground.
684 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

Power Distribution Center
The Power Distribution Center is located in the engine
compartment near the battery. This center contains car-
tridge fuses, micro fuses, relays, and circuit breakers. A
description of each fuse and component may be stamped
on the inside cover, otherwise the cavity number of each
fuse is stamped on the inside cover that corresponds to
the following chart.
CavityCartridge Fuse Micro Fuse Description
F01 80 Amp Red Rad Fan Control Module – If equipped
F03 60 Amp Yellow Rad Fan – If Equipped
F05 40 Amp Green Compressor for Air Suspension – If
Equipped
Power Distribution Center Location
734 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

CavityCartridge Fuse Micro Fuse Description
F44 10 Amp RedDiagnostic Port
F46 10 Amp RedTire Pressure Monitor
F47 10 Amp RedSnow Plow (Right) – If Equipped
F49 10 Amp RedInstrument Panel Cluster
F50 20 Amp Yellow Air Suspension Control Module – If
Equipped
F51 10 Amp Red Ignition Node Module / Keyless Ignition
F52 5 Amp TanBattery Sensor
F53 20 Amp Yellow Trailer Tow – Left Turn/Stop Lights
F54 20 Amp YellowAdjustable Pedals
F55 20 Amp YellowE38 Radio – If Equipped
F56 15 Amp Blue Additional Diesel Content – If Equipped
F57 20 Amp YellowTransmission
738 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

CavityCartridge Fuse Micro Fuse Description
F78 10 Amp Red Engine Control Module / Electric Power
Steering
F79 15 Amp BlueClearance Lights
F80 10 Amp Red Universal Garage Door Opener / Compass
F81 20 Amp Yellow Trailer Tow Right Turn/Stop Lights
F82 10 Amp Red Steering Column Control Module/ Cruise
Control
F84 15 Amp BlueSwitch Bank/Instrument Cluster
F85 10 Amp RedAirbag Module
F86 10 Amp RedAirbag Module
F87 10 Amp Red Air Suspension-If Equipped / Trailer Tow
/ Steering Column Control Module
F88 15 Amp BlueInstrument Panel Cluster
F90/F91 20 Amp Yellow Power Outlet (Rear seats) Customer Select-
able
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 741

Maintenance Chart
Mileage or time passed
(whichever comes first)
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
100,000
110,000
120,000
130,000
140,000
150,000
Or Years: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Or Kilometers:
32,000
48,000
64,000
80,000
96,000
112,000
128,000
144,000
160,000
176,000
192,000
208,000
224,000
240,000
Additional Inspections
Inspect the CV/Universal joints. X XX X X
Inspect front suspension, tie rod
ends, and replace if necessary. XXX X X X X
Inspect the front and rear axle
surfaces. If gear oil leakage is
suspected, check the fluid level.
If using your vehicle for police,
taxi, fleet, off-road or frequent
trailer towing, change axle fluid. XXX X X X X
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SMAINTENANCE SCHEDULES 767

Adding Engine Coolant (Antifreeze)............711
Adding Fuel ............................ .586
Additives, Fuel .......................... .580
Adjustable Pedals ........................ .187
Airbag ..................................68
Airbag Deployment ........................79
Airbag Light .............................76
Airbag Maintenance ........................81
Airbag, Side ..............................72
Airbag, Window (Side Curtain) ................72
Air Cleaner, Engine (Engine Air Cleaner Filter) . . . .701
Air Conditioner Maintenance .................702
Air Conditioning ......................... .361
Air Conditioning Controls ...................361
Air Conditioning Refrigerant .................702
Air Conditioning System ....................361
Air Pressure, Tires ........................ .552
Air Suspension .......................... .459
Alarm Light ............................ .289Alarm, Panic
.............................28
Alarm (Security Alarm) ......................22
Alarm System (Security Alarm) ................22
Alterations/Modifications, Vehicle ...............7
Antifreeze (Engine Coolant) ..................710
Disposal ............................. .713
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ................527
Anti-Lock Warning Light ....................284
Appearance Care ........................ .725
Ashtray ............................... .231
Auto Down Power Windows ..................47
Automatic Door Locks ......................39
Automatic Headlights ..................... .170
Automatic High Beams .....................173
Automatic Transmission ....................403
Adding Fluid ......................... .723
Fluid and Filter Changes ..................724
Fluid Change ......................... .724
Fluid Level Check ...................... .721
784 INDEX