sensor Ram 1500 2015 Owner's Manual

•Knee Impact Bolsters
•Advanced Front Air Bags
•Supplemental Side Air Bags
•Front And Side Impact Sensors — If Equipped
•Seat Belt Pretenioners
•Seat Belt Buckle Switch
Advanced Front Air Bags
This vehicle has Advanced Front Air Bags for both the
driver and front passenger as a supplement to the seat
belt systems. The driver ’s Advanced Front Air Bag is
mounted in the center of the steering wheel. The passen-
ger ’s Advanced Front Air Bag is mounted in the instru-
ment panel, above the glove compartment. The words
SRS AIRBAG are embossed on the air bag covers.
Advanced Front Air Bag And Knee Bolster Locations
1—DriverAndPassengerAd-vanced Front Air Bags2 — Driver/Passenger KneeImpact Bolsters
68 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
•Being too close to the steering wheel or instrument
panel during Advanced Front Air Bag deployment
could cause serious injury, including death. Air
bags need room to inflate. Sit back, comfortably
extending your arms to reach the steering wheel or
instrument panel.
•Never place a rear-facing child restraint in front of
an air bag. A deploying Passenger Advanced Front
Air Bag can cause death or serious injury to a child
12 years or younger, including a child in a rear-
facing child restraint.
•Only use a rear-facing child restraint in a vehicle
with a rear seat.
Advanced Front Air Bag Features
The Advanced Front Air Bag system has multistage
driver and front passenger air bags. This system provides
output appropriate to the severity and type of collision as
determined by the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC),
which may receive information from the front impact
sensors (if equipped) or other system components.
The first stage inflator is triggered immediately during an
impact that requires air bag deployment. A low energy
output is used in less severe collisions. A higher energy
output is used for more severe collisions.
This vehicle may be equipped with a driver and/or front
passenger seat belt buckle switch that detects whether
the driver or front passenger seat belt is buckled. The seat
belt buckle switch may adjust the inflation rate of the
Advanced Front Air Bags.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 69

On the other hand, depending on the type and location of
impact, Advanced Front Air Bags may deploy in crashes
with little vehicle front-end damage but that produce a
severe initial deceleration.
Because air bag sensors measure vehicle deceleration
over time, vehicle speed and damage by themselves are
not good indicators of whether or not an air bag should
have deployed.
Seat belts are necessary for your protection in all colli-
sions, and also are needed to help keep you in position,
away from an inflating air bag.
When the ORC detects a collision requiring the Ad-
vanced Front Air Bags, it signals the inflator units. A large
quantity of non-toxic gas is generated to inflate the
Advanced Front Air Bags.
The steering wheel hub trim cover and the upper right
side of the instrument panel separate and fold out of the
way as the air bags inflate to their full size. The Advanced
Front Air Bags fully inflate in less time than it takes to
blink your eyes. The air bags then quickly deflate while
helping to restrain the driver and front passenger.
Knee Impact Bolsters
The Knee Impact Bolsters help protect the knees of the
driver and front passenger, and position the front occu-
pants for improved interaction with the Advanced Front
Air Bags.
WARNING!
•Do not drill, cut, or tamper with the knee impact
bolsters in any way.
•Do not mount any accessories to the knee impact
bolsters such as alarm lights, stereos, citizen band
radios, etc.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 71

WARNING!(Continued)
•Relying on the Side Air Bags alone could lead to
more severe injuries in a collision. The Side Air
Bags work with your seat belt to restrain you
properly. In some collisions, Side Air Bags won’t
deploy at all. Always wear your seat belt even
though you have Side Air Bags.
NOTE:Air bag covers may not be obvious in the interior
trim, but they will open during air bag deployment.
Side Impacts
In side impacts, the side impact sensors aid the ORC in
determining the appropriate response to impact events.
The system is calibrated to deploy the Side Air Bags on
the impact side of the vehicle during impacts that require
Side Air Bag occupant protection. In side impacts, the
Side Air Bags deploy independently; a left side impact
deploys the left Side Air Bags only and a right side
impact deploys the right Side Air Bags only.
The Side Air Bags will not deploy in all side collisions,
including some collisions at certain angles, or some side
collisions that do not impact the area of the passenger
compartment. The Side Air Bags may deploy during
angled or offset frontal collisions where the Advanced
Front Air Bags deploy.
Rollover Events
Side Air Bags are designed to activate in certain rollover
events. The ORC determines whether the deployment of
the Side Air Bags in a particular rollover event is appro-
priate, based on the severity and type of collision. Vehicle
damage by itself is not a good indicator of whether or not
Side Air Bags should have deployed.
The Side Air Bags will not deploy in all rollover events.
The rollover sensing-system determines if a rollover
76 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

▫To Accelerate For Passing................191
!PARKSENSE® REAR PARK ASSIST — IF
EQUIPPED...........................191
▫ParkSense® Sensors....................192
▫ParkSense® Warning Display.............192
▫ParkSense® Display....................193
▫Enabling And Disabling ParkSense®.......197
▫Service The ParkSense® Rear Park Assist
System.............................198
▫Cleaning The ParkSense® System..........199
▫ParkSense® System Usage Precautions.......199
!PARKSENSE® FRONT AND REAR PARK
ASSIST — IF EQUIPPED.................201
▫ParkSense® Sensors....................202
▫ParkSense® Warning Display.............202
▫ParkSense® Display....................203
▫Enabling And Disabling Front And/Or Rear
ParkSense®..........................205
▫Service The ParkSense® Park Assist System . . .206
▫Cleaning The ParkSense® System..........207
▫ParkSense® System Usage Precautions.......207
!PARKVIEW® REAR BACK UP CAMERA — IF
EQUIPPED...........................210
!OVERHEAD CONSOLE — IF EQUIPPED.....212
▫Courtesy/Reading Lights...............213
!GARAGE DOOR OPENER — IF EQUIPPED . . .214
▫Before You Begin Programming HomeLink® . .215
▫Programming A Rolling Code............216
122 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

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 shift lever/gear
selector is in REVERSE. If ParkSense® is enabled at this
shift lever/gear selector position, the system will remain
active until the vehicle speed is increased to approxi-
mately 7 mph (11 km/h) or above. When in REVERSE
and above the system’s operating speed, a warning will
appear within the Electronic Vehicle Information Center
(EVIC) or Driver Information Display (DID) indicating
the vehicle speed is too fast. The system will become
active again if the vehicle speed is decreased to speeds
less than approximately 6 mph (9 km/h).
ParkSense® Sensors
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 12 in (30 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.
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 the detected obstacle. Refer to “Electronic Vehicle
Information Center (EVIC) or Driver Information Display
(DID) Settings” in Understanding Your Instrument
Panel” for further information.
192 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

The ParkSense® switch LED will be ON when
ParkSense® is disabled or defective. The ParkSense®
switch LED will be OFF when the system is enabled.
If the ParkSense switch is pressed, and the system is
disabled or requires service, the ParkSense switch LED
will blink momentarily, and then the LED will be ON.
Service The ParkSense® Rear Park Assist
System
During vehicle start up, when the ParkSense® Rear Park
Assist 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#or the
#PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE SERVICE REQUIRED#
message. Refer to “Electronic Vehicle Information Center
(EVIC) or Driver Information Display (DID)” in “Under-
standing Your Instrument Panel” for further information.
When the shift lever is moved to REVERSE and the
system has detected a faulted condition, the EVIC/DID
will display the#PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE WIPE
REAR SENSORS#or the#PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE
SERVICE REQUIRED#message for as long as the vehicle
is in REVERSE. Under this condition, ParkSense® will
not operate.
If#PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE WIPE REAR SENSORS#
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 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#PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE SERVICE REQUIRED#
appears in the EVIC/DID, see your authorized dealer.
198 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

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 rear bumper is free of snow, ice, mud,
dirt and debris to keep the ParkSense® system oper-
ating properly.
•Jackhammers, large trucks, and other vibrations could
affect the performance of ParkSense® .
•When you turn ParkSense® off, the instrument cluster
will display#PARKSENSE OFF#. Furthermore, once
you turn ParkSense® off, it remains off until you turn
it on again, even if you cycle the ignition key.
•When you move the shift lever to the REVERSE
position and ParkSense® is turned off, the instrument
cluster will display#PARKSENSE OFF#message 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 the fascia/bumper, or it could provide
a false indication that an obstacle is behind the fascia/
bumper.
•Ensure the ParkSense® system is OFF if objects such as
bicycle carriers, trailer hitches, etc., are placed within
18 in (45 cm) from the rear fascia/bumper while
driving the vehicle. Failure to do so can result in the
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 199

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
or open position and the vehicle is in REVERSE. 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.
(Continued)
CAUTION!(Continued)
•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.
(Continued)
200 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

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 limi-
tations 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 shift lever is in
REVERSE or DRIVE. If ParkSense® is enabled at one of
these shift lever positions, the system will remain active
until the vehicle speed is increased to approximately
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).
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 201