sensor Ram 1500 2020 Owner's Guide

SAFETY 261
The Side Air Bags and seat belt pretensioners will not deploy
in all rollover events. The rollover sensing system deter-
mines if a rollover event may be in progress and whether
deployment is appropriate. In the event the vehicle experi -
ences a rollover or near rollover event, and deployment is
appropriate, the rollover sensing system will deploy the side
air bags and seat belt pretensioners on both sides of the
vehicle.
The SABICs may help reduce the risk of partial or complete
ejection of vehicle occupants through side windows in
certain rollover or side impact events.
Air Bag System Components
NOTE:
The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) monitors the
internal circuits and interconnecting wiring associated with
electrical Air Bag System Components listed below:
• Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
• Air Bag Warning Light
• Steering Wheel and Column
• Instrument Panel
• Knee Impact Bolsters
• Driver and Front Passenger Air Bags • Seat Belt Buckle Switch
• Supplemental Side Air Bags
• Front and Side Impact Sensors
• Seat Belt Pretensioners
• Seat Track Position Sensors
• Occupant Classification System
If A Deployment Occurs
The front air bags are designed to deflate immediately after
deployment.
NOTE:
Front and/or side air bags will not deploy in all collisions.
This does not mean something is wrong with the air bag
system.
If you do have a collision which deploys the air bags, any or
all of the following may occur:
• The air bag material may sometimes cause abrasions and/
or skin reddening to the occupants as the air bags deploy
and unfold. The abrasions are similar to friction rope burns
or those you might get sliding along a carpet or gymna -
sium floor. They are not caused by contact with chemicals.
They are not permanent and normally heal quickly.
4
2020_DT_1500_OM_US.book Page 261

340 STARTING AND OPERATING
To Accelerate For Passing
Press the accelerator as you would normally. When the pedal
is released, the vehicle will return to the set speed.
To Resume Speed
To resume a previously set speed, push the RES button and
release. Resume can be used at any speed above 20 mph
(32 km/h).
To Deactivate
A soft tap on the brake pedal, pushing the CANC (cancel)
button, or normal brake pressure while slowing the vehicle
will deactivate the speed control without erasing the set
speed from memory.
Pushing the on/off button or placing the ignition in the OFF
position, erases the set speed from memory.
Using Speed Control On Hills
The transmission may downshift on hills to maintain the
vehicle set speed.
NOTE:
The Speed Control system maintains speed up and down
hills. A slight speed change on moderate hills is normal.On steep hills, a greater speed loss or gain may occur so it
may be preferable to drive without Speed Control.
ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL (ACC) — IF EQUIPPED
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) increases the driving conve
-
nience provided by cruise control while traveling on high -
ways and major roadways. However, it is not a safety system
and not designed to prevent collisions. Speed Control func-
tion performs differently. Please refer to the proper section
within this chapter.
ACC will allow you to keep cruise control engaged in light
to moderate traffic conditions without the constant need to
reset your cruise control. ACC utilizes a radar sensor and a
forward facing camera designed to detect a vehicle directly
ahead of you.
NOTE:
• If the sensor does not detect a vehicle ahead of you, ACC will maintain a fixed set speed.
• If the ACC sensor detects a vehicle ahead, ACC will apply limited braking or accelerate (not to exceed the original set
speed) automatically to maintain a preset following
distance, while matching the speed of the vehicle ahead.
2020_DT_1500_OM_US.book Page 340

350 STARTING AND OPERATING
Distance Setting 1 Bar (Short)
To increase the distance setting, push the Distance Setting —
Increase button and release. Each time the button is pushed,
the distance setting increases by one bar (longer).
To decrease the distance setting, push the Distance Setting —
Decrease button and release. Each time the button is pushed,
the distance setting decreases by one bar (shorter).

If there is no vehicle ahead, the vehicle will maintain the set
speed. If a slower moving vehicle is detected in the same lane,
the instrument cluster displays the “Sensed Vehicle Indicator”
icon, and the system adjusts vehicle speed automatically to
maintain the distance setting, regardless of the set speed.
The vehicle will then maintain the set distance until:
• The vehicle ahead accelerates to a speed above the set
speed.
• The vehicle ahead moves out of your lane or view of the sensor.
• The distance setting is changed.
• The system disengages. (Refer to the information on ACC Activation).
The maximum braking applied by ACC is limited; however,
the driver can always apply the brakes manually, if neces -
sary.
NOTE:
The brake lights will illuminate whenever the ACC system
applies the brakes.
A Proximity Warning will alert the driver if ACC predicts
that its maximum braking level is not sufficient to maintain
the set distance. If this occurs, a visual alert “BRAKE” will
flash in the instrument cluster display and a chime will
sound while ACC continues to apply its maximum braking
capacity.
2020_DT_1500_OM_US.book Page 350

STARTING AND OPERATING 353
Display Warnings And Maintenance
“Wipe Front Radar Sensor In Front Of Vehicle” Warning
The “ACC/FCW Unavailable Wipe Front Radar Sensor”
warning will display and also a chime will indicate when
conditions temporarily limit system performance.
This most often occurs at times of poor visibility, such as in
snow or heavy rain. The ACC system may also become
temporarily blinded due to obstructions, such as mud, dirt or
ice. In these cases, the instrument cluster display will display
“ACC/FCW Unavailable Wipe Front Radar Sensor” and the
system will deactivate.
The “ACC/FCW Unavailable Wipe Front Radar Sensor”
message can sometimes be displayed while driving in highly
reflective areas (i.e. tunnels with reflective tiles, or ice and
snow). The ACC system will recover after the vehicle has left
these areas. Under rare conditions, when the radar is not
tracking any vehicles or objects in its path this warning may
temporarily occur.
NOTE:
If the “ACC/FCW Unavailable Wipe Front Radar Sensor”
warning is active Normal (Fixed Speed) Cruise Control is
still available. For additional information refer to “Normal
(Fixed Speed) Cruise Control Mode” in this section.If weather conditions are not a factor, the driver should
examine the sensor. It may require cleaning or removal of an
obstruction. The sensor is located in the camera in the center
of the windshield, on the forward side of the rearview
mirror.
To keep the ACC System operating properly, it is important
to note the following maintenance items:
• Always keep the sensor clean. Carefully clear the wind
-
shield.
• Do not remove any screws from the sensor. Doing so could cause an ACC system malfunction or failure and require a
sensor realignment.
• Do not attach or install any accessories near the sensor, including transparent material or aftermarket grilles.
Doing so could cause an ACC system failure or malfunc -
tion.
When the condition that deactivated the system is no longer
present, the system will return to the “Adaptive Cruise
Control Off” state and will resume function by simply reac -
tivating it.
5
2020_DT_1500_OM_US.book Page 353

354 STARTING AND OPERATING
NOTE:
• If the “ACC/FCW Unavailable Wipe Front Radar Sensor”message occurs frequently (e.g. more than once on every
trip) without any snow, rain, mud, or other obstruction,
have the radar sensor realigned at your authorized dealer.
• Installing a snow plow, front-end protector, an after -
market grille or modifying the grille is not recommended.
Doing so may block the sensor and inhibit ACC/FCW
operation.
“Clean Front Windshield” Warning
The “ACC/FCW Limited Functionality Clean Front Wind -
shield” warning will display and also a chime will indicate
when conditions temporarily limit system performance. This
most often occurs at times of poor visibility, such as in snow
or heavy rain and fog. The ACC system may also become
temporarily blinded due to obstructions, such as mud, dirt,
or ice on windshield, driving directly into the sun and fog on
the inside of glass. In these cases, the instrument cluster
display will show “ACC/FCW Limited Functionality Clean
Front Windshield” and the system will have degraded
performance.
The “ACC/FCW Limited Functionality Clean Front Wind -
shield” message can sometimes be displayed while driving in adverse weather conditions. The ACC/FCW system will
recover after the vehicle has left these areas. Under rare
conditions, when the camera is not tracking any vehicles or
objects in its path this warning may temporarily occur.
If weather conditions are not a factor, the driver should
examine the windshield and the camera located on the back
side of the inside rear view mirror. They may require
cleaning or removal of an obstruction.
When the condition that created limited functionality is no
longer present, the system will return to full functionality.
NOTE:
If the “ACC/FCW Limited Functionality Clean Front Wind
-
shield” message occurs frequently (e.g. more than once on
every trip) without any snow, rain, mud, or other obstruc -
tion, have the windshield and forward facing camera
inspected at your authorized dealer.
Service ACC/FCW Warning
If the system turns off, and the instrument cluster displays
“ACC/FCW Unavailable Service Required” or “Cruise/
FCW Unavailable Service Required”, there may be an
internal system fault or a temporary malfunction that limits
ACC functionality. Although the vehicle is still drivable
under normal conditions, ACC will be temporarily unavail -
2020_DT_1500_OM_US.book Page 354

STARTING AND OPERATING 363
ParkSense can be active only when the gear selector is in
REVERSE or DRIVE. If ParkSense is enabled at one of these
gear selector positions, the system will remain active until
the vehicle speed is increased to approximately 7 mph
(11 km/h) or above. A warning will appear in the instrument
cluster display 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).
ParkSense Sensors

The six ParkSense sensors, located in the front fascia/bumper,
monitor the area in front of the vehicle that is within the
sensors’ field of view. The sensors can detect obstacles from
approximately 12 inches (30 cm) up to 47 inches (120 cm) from
the front fascia/bumper in the horizontal direction,
depending on the location, type and orientation of the
obstacle.
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 inches (30 cm) up to 79 inches (200 cm) from
the rear fascia/bumper in the horizontal direction, depending
on the location, type and orientation of the obstacle.

ParkSense Warning Display
The ParkSense Warning screen is located within the instru-
ment cluster display. It provides visual warnings to indicate
the distance between the rear fascia/bumper and/or front
fascia/bumper and the detected obstacle. Refer to “Instru-
ment Cluster Display” in “Getting To Know Your Instru-
ment Panel” for further information.
ParkSense Display
The warning display will turn on indicating the system
status when the vehicle is in REVERSE or when the vehicle is
in DRIVE and an obstacle has been detected.
The system will indicate a detected obstacle by showing a
single arc in the left, right, or center regions based on the
obstacle’s distance and location relative to the vehicle.
If an obstacle is detected in the left, right, or center regions,
the display will show a single arc in the left and/or right
regions and the system will produce a tone. As the vehicle
moves closer to the obstacle, the display will show the single
arc moving closer to the vehicle and the tone will change
from a single 1/2 second tone to slow, to fast, to continuous.5
2020_DT_1500_OM_US.book Page 363

368 STARTING AND OPERATING
Front Park Assist Audible Alerts
ParkSense will turn off the Front Park Assist audible alert
(chime) after approximately three seconds when an obstacle
has been detected, the vehicle is stationary, and brake pedal
is applied.
Adjustable Chime Volume Settings
The Front and Rear chime volume settings are program-
mable.
• The settings may be programmed through the Uconnect System. Refer to “Uconnect Settings ” in “Multimedia” for
further information.
Enabling And Disabling Front And/Or Rear ParkSense
Front ParkSense can be enabled and disabled with the Front
ParkSense switch.
Rear ParkSense can be enabled and disabled with the Rear
ParkSense switch.
When the Front or Rear ParkSense switch is pushed
to disable the system, the instrument cluster display
will show a vehicle graphic of the Front or Rear Park-
Sense on/off state for two seconds. Refer to “Instrument
Cluster Display” in “Getting To Know Your Instrument
Panel” for further information. When the gear selector is moved to REVERSE and the Front
or Rear system is disabled, the instrument cluster display
will show a vehicle graphic with "OFF" on the corresponding
side. This vehicle graphic will be displayed for as long as the
vehicle is in REVERSE.
NOTE:
Arc alerts from the enabled ParkSense system, will interrupt
the five second messages, and the instrument cluster display
will show the vehicle graphic with the corresponding arcs
and "OFF" message.
The Front or Rear ParkSense switch LED will be on when
Front or Rear ParkSense is disabled or requires service. The
Front or Rear ParkSense switch LED will be off when the
Front or Rear system is enabled. If the Front or Rear Park
-
Sense switch is pushed, and the system requires service, the
Front or Rear ParkSense switch LED will blink momentarily,
and then the LED will be on.
Service The ParkSense Park Assist System
During vehicle start up, when the ParkSense 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", "PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE WIPE FRONT
2020_DT_1500_OM_US.book Page 368

STARTING AND OPERATING 369
SENSORS", or the "PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE SERVICE
REQUIRED" message for five seconds. When the gear
selector is moved to REVERSE and the system has detected a
faulted condition, the instrument cluster display will display
a "WIPE OFF" message on the corresponding blocked system
while the vehicle is in REVERSE. The system will continue to
provide arc alerts for the side that is functioning properly.
Refer to “Instrument Cluster Display” in “Getting To Know
Your Instrument Panel” for further information.
If "PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE WIPE REAR SENSORS" or
"PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE WIPE FRONT SENSORS"
appears in the instrument cluster display make sure the
outer surface and the underside of the rear fascia/bumper
and/or front 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 your authorized dealer.
NOTE:
Water from a car wash or road slush in freezing weather may
also cause sensors to become blocked.
If the "PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE SERVICE REQUIRED"
message appears in the instrument cluster display, see your
authorized dealer.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 damage the
sensors.
ParkSense System Usage Precautions
NOTE:
• Ensure that the front and rear bumper are 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 Front or Rear ParkSense off, the instrument cluster display will show a vehicle graphic of the Front or
Rear ParkSense on/off state for two seconds. Furthermore,
once you turn Front or Rear ParkSense off, it remains off
until you turn it on again, even if you cycle the ignition key.

• When you move the gear selector to the REVERSE position and Front or Rear ParkSense is turned off, the instrument
cluster display will show a vehicle graphic with "OFF" in
the corresponding side. This vehicle graphic will be
displayed for as long as the vehicle is in REVERSE.
5
2020_DT_1500_OM_US.book Page 369

370 STARTING AND OPERATING
• ParkSense, when on, will reduce the volume of the radiowhen 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 Park -
Sense system might not detect an obstacle behind or in
front of the fascia/bumper, or it could provide a false indi -
cation that an obstacle is behind or in front of the fascia/
bumper.
• Use the ParkSense switch to turn the ParkSense system off if obstacles such as bicycle carriers, trailer hitches, etc. are
placed near the rear fascia/bumper. Failure to do so can
result in the system misinterpreting a close obstacle as a
sensor problem, causing the “PARKSENSE UNAVAIL -
ABLE SERVICE REQUIRED” message to be appear in the
instrument cluster display.
• On vehicles equipped with a tailgate, ParkSense should be disabled when the tailgate is in the lowered or open posi -
tion. A lowered tailgate could provide a false indication
that an obstacle is behind the vehicle and could also cause
a false braking event.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.
• Before using ParkSense, it is strongly recommended that the ball mount and hitch ball assembly is discon -
nected 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
assembly, depending on its size and shape, and give a
false indication that an obstacle is behind the vehicle,
and could cause false braking.
2020_DT_1500_OM_US.book Page 370

STARTING AND OPERATING 371
PARKSENSE ACTIVE PARK ASSIST SYSTEM — IF
EQUIPPED
The ParkSense Active Park Assist system is intended to assist
the driver during parallel and perpendicular parking
maneuvers by identifying a proper parking space, providing
audible/visual instructions, and controlling the steering
wheel. The ParkSense Active Park Assist system is defined as
“semi-automatic” since the driver maintains control of the
accelerator, gear selector and brakes. Depending on the
driver's parking maneuver selection, the ParkSense ActivePark Assist system is capable of maneuvering a vehicle into
a parallel or a perpendicular parking space on either side
(i.e., driver side or passenger side).
NOTE:
• The driver is always responsible for controlling the
vehicle, responsible for any surrounding objects, and must
intervene as required.
• The system is provided to assist the driver and not to substitute the driver.
• During a semi-automatic maneuver, if the driver touches the steering wheel after being instructed to remove their
hands from the steering wheel, the system will cancel, and
the driver will be required to manually complete the
parking maneuver.
• The system may not work in all conditions (e.g. environ -
mental conditions such as heavy rain, snow, etc., or if
searching for a parking space that has surfaces that will
absorb the ultrasonic sensor waves).
• New vehicles from the dealership must have at least 30 miles (48 km) accumulated before the ParkSense Active
Park Assist system is fully calibrated and performs accu -
rately. This is due to the system’s dynamic vehicle calibra -
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.
• The vehicle must be driven slowly when using Park -
Sense 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.
5
2020_DT_1500_OM_US.book Page 371