torque Ram 1500 2020 User Guide

316 STARTING AND OPERATING
This electronically shifted transfer case is designed to be
driven in the two–wheel drive position (2WD) or four-wheel
drive auto 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.For variable driving conditions, the 4WD AUTO mode can
be used. In this mode, the front axle is engaged, but the
vehicle's power is sent to the rear wheels. Four-wheel drive
will be automatically engaged when the vehicle senses a loss
of traction. Because the front axle is engaged, this mode will
result in lower fuel economy than the 2WD mode.
When additional traction is required, the transfer case 4WD
HIGH and 4WD LOW positions can be used to maximize
torque to the front driveshaft, forcing the front and rear
wheels to rotate at the same speed. This is accomplished
pushing the desired position on the 4WD Control Switch.
Refer to “Shifting Procedure” in this section for specific
shifting instructions.

The 4WD HIGH and 4WD LOW positions are designed for
loose, slippery road surfaces only. Driving in the 4WD HIGH
and 4WD LOW positions on dry hard surfaced roads may cause
increased tire wear and damage to the driveline components.
NOTE:
The transfer case NEUTRAL button is located in the center of the
4WD Control Switch and is pushed by using a ballpoint pen or
similar object. The transfer case NEUTRAL position is to be used
for recreational towing only. Refer to “Recreational Towing” in
“Starting And Operating” for further information.

WARNING!
• You or others could be injured or killed if you leave the vehicle unattended with the transfer case in the
NEUTRAL (N) position without first fully engaging
the parking brake. The transfer case NEUTRAL (N)
position disengages both the front and rear drive shaft
from the powertrain, and will allow the vehicle to roll,
even if the transmission is in PARK. The parking brake
should always be applied when the driver is not in the
vehicle.
• The transmission may not engage PARK if the vehicle is moving. Always bring the vehicle to a complete stop
before shifting to PARK, and verify that the transmis -
sion gear position indicator solidly indicates PARK (P)
without blinking. Ensure that the vehicle is completely
stopped, and the PARK position is properly indicated,
before exiting the vehicle.
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332 STARTING AND OPERATING
Operating the locker in 2WD, 4WD AUTO, and 4WD
LOCK/HIGH the locker can be engaged up to 20 mph
(32 km/h). While driving with the locker engaged, if speed
exceeds 25 mph (40 km/h), the locker will automatically
disengage, but will automatically reengage at 20 mph
(32 km/h).
NOTE:
Left to right wheel speed difference may be necessary to
allow the rear axle to fully lock. If the indicator light is
flashing after selecting the rear axle lock mode, drive the
vehicle in a turn or on loose gravel to expedite the locking
action.
The axle locker could become torque locked due to side to
side loads on the rear axle. Driving slowly while turning the
steering wheel from a left hand turn to a right hand turn or
driving in REVERSE for a short distance may be required to
release the torque lock and unlock the axles.
To unlock the rear axle; push the AXLE LOCK button. The
AXLE LOCK indicator light will go out when the rear axle is
unlocked.
LIMITED-SLIP DIFFERENTIAL — IF EQUIPPED
The limited-slip differential provides additional traction on
snow, ice, mud, sand and gravel, particularly when there is a difference between the traction characteristics of the
surface under the right and left rear wheels. During normal
driving and cornering, the limited-slip unit performs simi
-
larly to a conventional differential. On slippery surfaces,
however, the differential delivers more of the driving effort
to the rear wheel having the better traction.
The limited-slip differential is especially helpful during slip -
pery driving conditions. With both rear wheels on a slippery
surface, a slight application of the accelerator will supply
maximum traction. When starting with only one rear wheel
on an excessively slippery surface, slight momentary appli -
cation of the parking brake may be necessary to gain
maximum traction.
Care should be taken to avoid sudden accelerations when
both rear wheels are on a slippery surface. This could cause
both rear wheels to spin, and allow the vehicle to slide side -
ways on the crowned surface of a road or in a turn.
WARNING!
When servicing vehicles equipped with a limited-slip or
locking differential never run the engine with one rear
wheel off the ground since the vehicle may drive
through the rear wheel remaining on the ground and
result in unintended movement.
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334 STARTING AND OPERATING
STOP/START SYSTEM — IF EQUIPPED
The Stop/Start function is developed to save fuel and reduce
emissions. The system will stop the engine automatically
during a vehicle stop if the required conditions are met.
Releasing the brake pedal or shifting out of DRIVE will auto-
matically restart the engine.
Vehicles equipped with eTorque contain a heavy duty motor
generator and an additional hybrid electric battery to store
energy from vehicle deceleration for use on engine startup
after a stop as well as providing launch torque assist.
Automatic Mode
The Stop/Start feature is enabled after every normal
customer engine start. It will remain in STOP/START NOT
READY until you drive forward with a vehicle speed greater
than 2 mph (3 km/h). At that time, the system will go into
STOP/START READY and if all other conditions are met,
can go into an STOP/START AUTO STOP ACTIVE
“Autostop” mode.
To Activate The Autostop Mode, The Following Must
Occur:
1. The system must be in STOP/START READY state. A STOP/START READY message will be displayed in the instrument cluster within the Stop/Start section. Refer to
“Instrument Cluster Display” in “Getting To know Your
Instrument Panel” for further information.
2. The vehicle must be completely stopped.
3. The transmission Gear Selector must be in DRIVE and the brake pedal depressed.
The engine will shut down, the tachometer will move to the
zero position and the stop/start telltale will illuminate indi -
cating you are in an Autostop. While in an Autostop, the
Climate Controls system may automatically adjust airflow to
maintain cabin comfort. Customer settings will be main -
tained upon return to an engine running condition.
Possible Reasons The Engine Does Not Autostop
Prior to engine shut down, the system will check many safety
and comfort conditions to see if they are fulfilled. In
following situations, the engine will not Autostop:
• Driver’s seat belt is not buckled
• Driver’s door is not closed
• The vehicle is on a steep grade
• Cabin heating or cooling is in process and an acceptable cabin temperature has not been achieved
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STARTING AND OPERATING 391
LANESENSE — IF EQUIPPED
LaneSense Operation
The LaneSense system is operational at speeds above 37 mph
(60 km/h) and below 112 mph (180 km/h). It uses a forward
looking camera to detect lane markings and measure vehicle
position within the lane boundaries.
When both lane markings are detected and the driver unin -
tentionally drifts out of the lane while no turn signal has been
applied OR the driver departs the lane on the opposite side
of the applied turn signal (if the left turn signal is applied and
the vehicle departs to the right), the LaneSense system
provides a haptic warning in the form of torque applied to
the steering wheel to prompt the driver to remain within the
lane boundaries. The LaneSense system will also provide a
visual warning through the instrument cluster display to
prompt the driver to remain within the lane boundaries.
The driver may manually override the haptic warning by
applying torque into the steering wheel at any time. When only a single lane marking is detected and the driver
unintentionally drifts across that lane marking (no turn
signal applied), the LaneSense system provides a visual
warning through the instrument cluster display to prompt
the driver to remain within the lane. When only a single lane
marking is detected, a haptic (torque) warning will not be
provided.
NOTE:
When operating conditions have been met, the LaneSense
system will monitor if the driver’s hands are on the steering
wheel and provides an audible and visual warning to the
driver when the driver’s hands are not detected on the
steering wheel. The system will cancel if the driver does not
return their hands to the wheel.
Turning LaneSense On Or Off
The LaneSense button is located on the switch panel
below the Uconnect display.
NOTE:
If your vehicle is equipped with a 12–inch Uconnect Display
screen, the LaneSense button is located above the display.
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394 STARTING AND OPERATING
Left Lane Departure — Both Lane Lines Detected
• When the LaneSense system is ON and both the lane mark -
ings have been detected, the system is "armed" to provide
visual warnings in the instrument cluster display and a
torque warning in the steering wheel if an unintentional
lane departure occurs .The lane lines turn from gray to
white and the LaneSense telltale is solid green.
Lanes Sensed (White Lines) With Green Telltale • When the LaneSense system senses a lane drift situation,
the left lane line turns solid yellow. The LaneSense telltale changes from solid green to solid yellow. At this time
torque is applied to the steering wheel in the opposite
direction of the lane boundary.
For example: If approaching the left side of the lane the
steering wheel will turn to the right.
Lane Sensed (Solid Yellow Lane Line) With Solid Yellow Telltale
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STARTING AND OPERATING 395
• When the LaneSense system senses the lane has beenapproached and is in a lane departure situation, the left
lane line flashes yellow (on/off). The LaneSense telltale
changes from solid yellow to flashing yellow. At this time
torque is applied to the steering wheel in the opposite
direction of the lane boundary.
For example: If approaching the left side of the lane the
steering wheel will turn to the right.
Lane Approached (Flashing Yellow Lane Line) With Flashing Yellow Telltale NOTE:
The LaneSense system operates with the similar behavior for
a right lane departure.
Changing LaneSense Status
The LaneSense system has settings to adjust the intensity of
the torque warning and the warning zone sensitivity (Early/
Medium/Late) that you can configure through the Uconnect
system screen. Refer to “Uconnect Settings” in “Multimedia”
for further information.
NOTE:

• When enabled the system operates above 37 mph (60 km/h)
and below 112 mph (180 km/h).

• Use of the turn signal suppresses the warnings.
• The system will not apply torque to the steering wheel whenever a safety system engages (Anti-Lock Brakes,
Traction Control System, Electronic Stability Control,
Forward Collision Warning, etc.).
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STARTING AND OPERATING 429
Off-Road Driving Tips
Care should be taken when attempting to climb steep hills or
driving diagonally across a hill or slope. If natural obstacles
force you to travel diagonally up or down a hill, choose a
mild angle and keep as little side tilt as possible. Keep the
vehicle moving and make turns slowly and cautiously.
If you must back down a hill, back straight down using
REVERSE gear. Never back down in NEUTRAL or diago-
nally across the hill. When driving over sand, mud, and other soft terrain, shift to
low gear and drive steadily. Apply the accelerator slowly to
avoid spinning the wheels.
Do not reduce the tire pressures for this type of driving.
After Driving Off-Road
Off-road operation puts more stress on your vehicle than
does most on-road driving. After going off-road, it is always
a good idea to check for damage. That way you can get any
problems taken care of right away and have your vehicle
ready when you need it.
• Completely inspect the underbody of your vehicle. Check
tires, body structure, steering, suspension, and exhaust
system for damage.
• Inspect the radiator for mud and debris and clean as required.
• Check threaded fasteners for looseness, particularly on the chassis, drivetrain components, steering, and suspension.
Retighten them, if required, and torque to the values spec -
ified in the Service Manual.
• Check for accumulations of plants or brush. These things could be a fire hazard. They might hide damage to fuel
lines, brake hoses, axle pinion seals, and propeller shafts.
• Driving through standing water may cause damage to
your vehicle’s drivetrain components. Always inspect
your vehicle’s fluids (i.e., engine oil, transmission, axle,
etc.) for signs of contamination (i.e., fluid that is milky
or foamy in appearance) after driving through standing
water. Do not continue to operate the vehicle if any
fluid appears contaminated, as this may result in
further damage. Such damage is not covered by the
New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
• Getting water inside your vehicle’s engine can cause it to lock up and stall out, and cause serious internal
damage to the engine. Such damage is not covered by
the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. CAUTION!
(Continued)
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IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 467
6. Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheel off. Install thespare wheel and lug nuts with the cone shaped end of the
lug nuts toward the wheel. Hand tighten the lug nuts
with vehicle lifted. To avoid the risk of forcing the vehicle
off the jack, do not fully tighten the lug nuts until the
vehicle has been lowered.
7. Lower vehicle to ground, 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 each nut has been tightened twice.
NOTE:
For the correct lug nut torque refer to “Technical Specifica -
tions” in “Torque Specifications.” If in doubt about the
correct tightness, have them checked with a torque wrench
by an authorized dealer or service station. 8. If your vehicle is equipped with a wheel center cap, install
the 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.
9. Lower the jack to its fully closed position. Stow the replaced tire, and secure the jack and tools in the proper
location.
10. Adjust the tire pressure when possible.
WARNING!
Raising the vehicle higher than necessary can make the
vehicle less stable. It could slip off the jack and hurt
someone near it. Raise the vehicle only enough to
remove the tire.WARNING!
A loose tire or jack thrown forward in a collision or hard
stop, could endanger the occupants of the vehicle.
Always stow the jack parts and the spare tire in the
places provided.
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SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 513
(Continued)
Automatic Transmission
Selection Of Lubricant
It is important to use the proper transmission fluid to ensure
optimum transmission performance and life. Use only the
manufacturer’s specified transmission fluid. Refer to “Fluids
And Lubricants” in “Technical Specifications”. It is
important to maintain the transmission fluid at the correct
level using the recommended fluid. No chemical flushes
should be used in any transmission; only the approved lubri-
cant should be used.
WARNING!
• Use only manufacturer's recommended brake fluid. Refer to “Fluids And Lubricants” in “Technical Speci -
fications” for further information. Using the wrong
type of brake fluid can severely damage your brake
system and/or impair its performance. The proper type
of brake fluid for your vehicle is also identified on the
original factory installed hydraulic master cylinder
reservoir.
• To avoid contamination from foreign matter or mois -
ture, use only new brake fluid or fluid that has been in
a tightly closed container. Keep the master cylinder
reservoir cap secured at all times. Brake fluid in a open
container absorbs moisture from the air resulting in a
lower boiling point. This may cause it to boil unexpect -
edly during hard or prolonged braking, resulting in
sudden brake failure. This could result in a collision.
• Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can result in spilling brake fluid on hot engine parts, causing the
brake fluid to catch fire. Brake fluid can also damage
painted and vinyl surfaces, care should be taken to
avoid its contact with these surfaces.
• Do not allow petroleum based fluid to contaminate thebrake fluid. Brake seal components could be damaged,
causing partial or complete brake failure. This could
result in a collision.
CAUTION!
Using a transmission fluid other than the manufacturer’s
recommended fluid may cause deterioration in
transmission shift quality and/or torque converter
shudder. Refer to “Fluids And Lubricants” in “Technical
Specifications” for fluid specifications.
WARNING! (Continued)
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546
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
IDENTIFICATION DATA
Vehicle Identification Number
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is found on the left
front corner of the instrument panel, visible through the
windshield. This number also appears on the vehicle frame
etched on right hand center rail, as well as the Automobile
Information Disclosure Label affixed to a window on your
vehicle, the vehicle registration and title.Vehicle Identification Number
NOTE:
It is illegal to remove or alter the VIN.
BRAKE SYSTEM
If power assist is lost for any reason (for example, repeated
brake applications with the engine off), the brakes will still
function. However, you will experience a substantial
increase in braking effort to stop the vehicle.
If either the front or rear hydraulic system loses normal
braking capability, the remaining system will still function
with some loss of overall braking effectiveness. This will be
evident by increased pedal travel during application, greater
pedal force required to slow or stop, and activation of the
“Brake Warning Light” and the “ABS Warning Light” (if
equipped) during brake use.
WHEEL AND TIRE TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
Proper lug nut/bolt torque is very important to ensure that
the wheel is properly mounted to the vehicle. Any time a
wheel has been removed and reinstalled on the vehicle, the
lug nuts/bolts should be torqued using a properly calibrated
torque wrench using a high quality six sided (hex) deep wall
socket.
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