truck Ram 1500 2015 Owner's Guide

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
CONTENTS
!HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS...........685
!IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS............685
!WHEEL AND TIRE TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS......................686
▫Torque Specifications..................686
!JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING..........688
▫Jacking And Tire Changing 1500 Series
Trucks.............................688
▫Jacking And Tire Changing 2500 And
3500 Series Trucks.....................708
!HOISTING...........................728
!JUMP-STARTING PROCEDURES...........729
▫Preparations For Jump-Start..............729
▫Jump-Starting Procedure................731
!FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE.............734
!EMERGENCY TOW HOOKS —
IF EQUIPPED.........................735
!SHIFT LEVER OVERRIDE................736
▫Column Shifter — If Equipped............736
▫Center Console Shifter — If Equipped.......737
6

After 25 miles (40 km) check the lug nut/bolt torque to be
sure that all the lug nuts/bolts are properly seated
against the wheel.
WARNING!
To avoid the risk of forcing the vehicle off the jack,
do not tighten the lug nuts fully until the vehicle has
been lowered. Failure to follow this warning may
result in personal injury.
JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING
Jacking And Tire Changing 1500 Series Trucks
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.
(Continued)
4 And 5 Lug Nuts/Bolts Torque Pattern
688 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

WARNING!
After using the jack and tools, always reinstall them
in the original carrier and location. While driving
you may experience abrupt stopping, rapid accelera-
tion or sharp turns. A loose jack, tools, bracket or
other objects in the vehicle may move around with
force, resulting in serious injury.
Removing The Spare Tire
1. Remove the spare tire before attempting to jack up the
truck. Attach the wheel wrench to the jack extension
tube with the curved angle facing away from the
vehicle. Insert the tube through the access hole be-
tween the lower tailgate and the top of the bumper
and into the winch mechanism tube.
Inserting The Jack Extension Tube Into The Access Hole6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 693

CAUTION!
Do not attempt to raise the vehicle by jacking on
locations other than those indicated in the Jacking
Instructions for this vehicle.
1. Remove the spare wheel, jack, and tools from storage.
2. Using the wheel wrench, loosen, but do not remove,
the wheel nuts by turning them counterclockwise one
turn while the wheel is still on the ground.
3. Placement of the jack:
4x2 Series Trucks Front Jacking Location
There is a jack location indicator on the rear portion of the
lower control arm.
Jack Warning Label
4X2 Front Jacking Location Indicator
698 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

When changing a front wheel, place the scissor jack
under the rear portion of the lower control arm as shown
below.
4x4 Series Trucks Front Jacking Location
There is a jack location indicator on the rear portion of the
lower control arm.
4X2 Front Jacking Location4X4 Front Jacking Location Indicator
6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 699

When changing a front wheel, place the scissor jack
under the rear portion of the lower control arm as shown
below.
4x2 and 4x4 Rear Jacking Location
Operate the jack using the jack drive tube and the wheel
wrench. The tube extension may be used but is not
required.
For 4x2 and 4x4 trucks, when changing a rear wheel,
assemble the jack drive tube to the jack and connect the
drive tube to the extension tube. Place the jack under the
axle between the wheel and the shock bracket with the
drive tubes extending to the rear.
4X4 Front Jacking Location
700 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

Connect the jack tube extension and wheel wrench.
CAUTION!
Before raising the wheel off the ground, make sure
that the jack will not damage surrounding truck parts
and adjust the jack position as required.
4. By rotating the lug wrench clockwise, raise the vehicle
until the wheel just clears the surface.
WARNING!
Raising the vehicle higher than necessary can make
the vehicle unstable and cause a collision. It could
slip off the jack and hurt someone near it. Raise the
vehicle only enough to remove the tire.
5. Remove the wheel nuts and pull the wheel off. Install
the spare wheel and wheel nuts with the cone shaped
end of the wheel nuts toward the wheel. To avoid the
risk of forcing the vehicle off the jack, do not fully
tighten the wheel nuts until the vehicle has been
lowered.
6. Finish tightening the lug nuts. Push down on the
wrench while at the end of the handle for increased
leverage. Tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern until
Rear Jacking Location6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 701

each nut has been tightened twice. For the correct lug
nut torque refer to “Torque Specifications” in this
section. If in doubt about the correct tightness, have
them checked with a torque wrench by you authorized
dealer or service station.
WARNING!
A loose tire or jack thrown forward in a collision or
hard stop could injure someone in the vehicle. Al-
ways stow the jack parts and the extra tire and wheel
in the places provided.
7. Install the wheel center cap and remove the wheel
blocks. Do not install chrome or aluminum wheel
center caps on the spare wheel. This may result in cap
damage.
8. Lower the jack to its fully closed position. If the bottle
jack will not lower by turning the dial (thumbwheel)
by hand, it may be necessary to use the jack drive tube
in order to lower the jack. Stow the replaced tire, jack,
and tools as previously described.
9. Adjust the tire pressure when possible.
NOTE:Do not oil wheel studs. For chrome wheels, do
not substitute with chrome plated wheel nuts.
To Stow The Flat Or Spare
NOTE:Vehicles equipped with aluminum wheels can-
not be stored under the vehicle because the wheel
retainer will not fit through the wheel pilot hole. Secure
the flat tire in the bed of the truck.Have the flat tire
repaired or replaced immediately.
702 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

WARNING!(Continued)
you may experience abrupt stopping, rapid accelera-
tion or sharp turns. A loose jack, tools, bracket or
other objects in the vehicle may move around with
force, resulting in serious injury.
Jacking And Tire Changing 2500 And 3500 Series
Trucks
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.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
•Being under a jacked-up vehicle is dangerous. The
vehicle could slip off the jack and fall on you. You
could be crushed. Never put any part of your body
under a vehicle that is on a jack. If you need to get
under a raised vehicle, take it to a service center
where it can be raised on a lift.
•Never start or run the engine while the vehicle is
on a jack.
•The jack is designed to be used as a tool for
changing tires only. The jack should not be used to
lift the vehicle for service purposes. The vehicle
should be jacked on a firm level surface only.
Avoid ice or slippery areas.
708 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

Assembled For Jack OperationWARNING!
After using the jack and tools, always reinstall them
in the original carrier and location. While driving
you may experience abrupt stopping, rapid accelera-
tion or sharp turns. A loose jack, tools, bracket or
other objects in the vehicle may move around with
force, resulting in serious injury.
Removing The Spare Tire
1. Remove the spare tire before attempting to jack up the
truck. Attach the wheel wrench to the jack extension
tube with the curved angle facing away from the
vehicle. Insert the tube through the access hole be-
tween the lower tailgate and the top of the bumper
and into the winch mechanism tube.
Assembled For Jack Operation
1 — Extension With Jack Hook 4 — Extension 12 — Extension 3 5 — Wheel Wrench3—Extension2
712 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES