Ignition Ram 1500 2020 Repair Manual

SAFETY 205
The “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” (located
in the instrument cluster) starts to flash as soon as the tires
lose traction and the ESC system becomes active. The “ESC
Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” also flashes when
TCS is active. If the “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator
Light” begins to flash during acceleration, ease up on the
accelerator and apply as little throttle as possible. Be sure to
adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road condi-
tions.
NOTE:
• The “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” and the “ESC OFF Indicator Light” come on momentarily each
time the ignition is placed in the ON/RUN mode.
• Each time the ignition is placed in the ON/RUN mode, the ESC system will be on even if it was turned off previously.
• The ESC system will make buzzing or clicking sounds when it is active. This is normal; the sounds will stop when
ESC becomes inactive following the maneuver that caused
the ESC activation.
The “ESC OFF Indicator Light” indicates the
customer has elected to have the Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) in a reduced mode. Hill Descent Control (HDC) — If Equipped
Hill Descent Control (HDC) is intended for low speed
off-road driving while in 4L Range. HDC maintains vehicle
speed while descending hills during various driving situa
-
tions. HDC controls vehicle speed by actively controlling the
brakes.
HDC Has Three States:
1. Off (feature is not enabled and will not activate).
2. Enabled (feature is enabled and ready but activation conditions are not met, or driver is actively overriding
with brake or throttle application).
3. Active (feature is enabled and actively controlling vehicle speed).
Enabling HDC
HDC is enabled by pushing the HDC switch, but the
following conditions must also be met to enable HDC:
• Driveline is in 4L Range
• Vehicle speed is below 5 mph (8 km/h)
• Park brake is released
• Driver door is closed
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6. Push the “ESC Off” button located in the lower switch bankbelow the climate control four times within 20 seconds. The
“ESC Off Indicator Light” should turn on and turn off two
times.

7. Rotate the steering wheel back to center and then an addi -
tional slightly more than one-half turn to the right.
8. Turn the ignition to the OFF mode and then back to ON. If the sequence was completed properly, the “ESC Off
Indicator Light” will blink several times to confirm HSA
is disabled.
9. Repeat these steps if you want to return this feature to its previous setting.
Traction Control System (TCS)
The Traction Control System (TCS) monitors the amount of
wheel spin of each of the driven wheels. If wheel spin is
detected, the TCS may apply brake pressure to the spinning
wheel(s) and/or reduce engine power to provide enhanced
acceleration and stability. A feature of the TCS, Brake
Limited Differential (BLD), functions similar to a limited slip
differential and controls the wheel spin across a driven axle.
If one wheel on a driven axle is spinning faster than the other,
the system will apply the brake of the spinning wheel. This will allow more engine torque to be applied to the wheel that
is not spinning. BLD may remain enabled even if TCS and
ESC are in a reduced mode.
Trailer Sway Control (TSC)
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) uses sensors in the vehicle to
recognize an excessively swaying trailer and will take the
appropriate actions to attempt to stop the sway. TSC will
become active automatically once an excessively swaying
trailer is recognized.
NOTE:
TSC cannot stop all trailers from swaying. Always use
caution when towing a trailer and follow the trailer tongue
weight recommendations. Refer to “Trailer Towing” in
“Starting And Operating” for further information.
When TSC is functioning, the “ESC Activation/Malfunction
Indicator Light” will flash, the engine power may be reduced
and you may feel the brakes being applied to individual
wheels to attempt to stop the trailer from swaying. TSC is
disabled when the ESC system is in the “Partial Off” or “Full
Off” modes.
WARNING!
If TSC activates while driving, slow the vehicle down,
stop at the nearest safe location, and adjust the trailer
load to eliminate trailer sway.
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212 SAFETY
The vehicle’s taillights, where the radar sensors are located,
must remain free of snow, ice, and dirt/road contamination
so that the BSM system can function properly. Do not block
the taillights with foreign objects (bumper stickers, bicycle
racks, etc.).Radar Sensor Locations
If the system detects degraded performance due to contami -
nation or foreign objects, a message will warn you of a
blocked sensor and the warning indicators in side view
mirrors will be on. The warning indicators will remain illu-
minated until blockage clearing conditions are met. First clear the taillights around the sensors of the blockage. After
removing the blockage, the following procedure can be used
to reset the system:
• Cycle the ignition from ON to OFF and then back ON.
If the blockage message is still present after cycling the igni
-
tion and driving in traffic, check again for a blockage.
The BSM system notifies the driver of objects in the detection
zones by illuminating the BSM warning light located in the
outside mirrors, in addition to sounding an audible (chime)
alert and reducing the radio volume. Refer to “Modes Of
Operation” in this section for further information.
Warning Light Location
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SAFETY 219
The vehicle must be moving above 6 mph (10 km/h) to
activate the feature. Once the trailer has been detected, the
system will default to the maximum blind spot zone until
the length has been verified. You will see “Auto” in the
instrument panel cluster .
• Max Mode — When “Max Mode” is selected, the system
will default to the maximum blind spot zone regardless of
what size trailer is attached
NOTE:
Selected setting is stored when the ignition is cycled OFF. To
change this setting, it must be selected through the Uconnect
Settings. Refer to “Uconnect Settings” in “Multimedia” for
further information.
Trailer Length Detection
Once the trailer presence has been established. The trailer
length will be established (by making a 90 degree turn) and
then the trailer length category (example 10-20 ft (3 m to
6 m)) will be displayed. This can take up to 30 seconds after
completing the turn. NOTE:
During the same ignition cycle, if the vehicle is at a standstill
for a minimum of 90 seconds, a new “trailer detection
request” is enabled by the system once the vehicle resumes
motion.
Maximum length supported by the Trailer Merge Assist
feature is 39.5 ft (12 m). Trailer length is considered the
forward most portion of the trailer hitch to the rearward
most portion of the body, bumper, or ramp of the trailer.
Maximum width supported by the Trailer Merge Assist
feature is 8.5 ft (2.59 m). Trailer width is measured at the
widest portion of the trailer and may include wheels, tires,
finders, or rails.
NOTE:
Fifth wheel or gooseneck trailers are not supported by
Trailer Merge Assist.
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224 SAFETY
Turning FCW On or Off
The FCW button is located in the Uconnect display in the
control settings. Refer to “Uconnect Settings” in “Multi-
media” for further information.
• To turn the FCW system on, press the forward collision button once to turn the system on.
• To turn the FCW system off, press the forward collision button once to turn the system off.
NOTE:
• When the FCW is “on”, this allows the system to warn the driver of a possible collision with the vehicle in front.
• When the FCW is “off”, this prevents the system from warning the driver of a possible collision with the vehicle
in front. If the FCW is set to “off”, “FCW OFF" will be
displayed in the instrument cluster display.
• When FCW status is set to “Only Warning”, this prevents the system from providing limited active braking, or addi -
tional brake support if the driver is not braking adequately
in the event of a potential frontal collision. • When FCW status is set to “Warning and Braking”, this
allows the system to warn the driver of a possible collision
with the vehicle in front using audible/visual warnings
and it applies autonomous braking.
• The system will retain the last setting selected by the driver after ignition shutdown.
FCW Braking Status And Sensitivity
The FCW Sensitivity and Active Braking status are program -
mable through the Uconnect System. Refer to “Uconnect
Settings” in “Multimedia” for further information.
• Far
• When the sensitivity of FCW is set to the “Far” settingand the system status is “Only Warning “, this allows
the system to warn the driver of a possible more distant
collisions with the vehicle in front using audible/visual
warnings.
• More cautious drivers that do not mind frequent warn -
ings may prefer this setting.
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SAFETY 231
If the ignition switch is cycled, this sequence will repeat,
providing the system fault still exists. If the system fault no
longer exists, the “Tire Pressure Monitoring System Warning
Light” will no longer flash, and the "SERVICE TPM
SYSTEM" message will no longer display, and a pressure
value will display in place of the dashes. A system fault can
occur due to any of the following:
• Signal interference due to electronic devices or drivingnext to facilities emitting the same radio frequencies as the
Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) sensors
• Installing aftermarket window tinting that contains mate -
rials that may block radio wave signals
• Accumulation of snow or ice around the wheels or wheel housings
• Using tire chains on the vehicle
• Using wheels/tires not equipped with TPM sensors

A system fault may occur due to an incorrect TPM sensor loca -
tion condition. When a system fault occurs due to an incorrect
TPM sensor location, the “Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS) Warning Light” will flash on and off for 75 seconds
and then remain on solid. The system fault will also sound a
chime. In addition, the instrument cluster will display a “Tire
Pressure Temporarily Unavailable” message in place of the
tire pressure display screen. If the ignition switch is cycled, this sequence will repeat, providing the system fault still
exists. If the system fault no longer exists, the “Tire Pressure
Monitoring System Warning Light” will no longer flash and
the tire pressure display screen will be displayed showing the
tire pressure values the correct locations.

Vehicles With Non Matching Full Size Spare Or Compact
Spare
• The non matching full size spare or compact spare tire
does not have a TPM sensor. Therefore, the TPMS will not
monitor the pressure in the non matching full size spare or
compact spare tire.
• If you install the non matching full size spare or compact spare tire in place of a road tire that has a pressure below
the low-pressure warning limit, upon the next ignition
switch cycle, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Warning Light and a “LOW TIRE” message will remain
ON and a chime will sound. In addition, the graphic in the
instrument cluster will still display a pressure value in a
different color and an “Inflate to XX” message.
• After driving the vehicle for up to 20 minutes above 15 mph (24 km/h), the Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS) Warning Light will flash on and off for 75 seconds
and then remain on solid. In addition, the instrument
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232 SAFETY
cluster will display a "SERVICE TPM SYSTEM" message
for a minimum of five seconds and then display dashes (--)
in place of the pressure value.
• For each subsequent ignition switch cycle, a chime will sound, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Warning Light will flash on and off for 75 seconds and
then remain on solid, and the instrument cluster will
display a "SERVICE TPM SYSTEM" message for a
minimum of five seconds and then display dashes (--) in
place of the pressure value.
• Once you repair or replace the original road tire and rein -
stall it on the vehicle in place of the non matching full size
spare or compact spare, the TPMS will update automati -
cally. In addition, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS) Warning Light will turn OFF and the graphic in
the instrument cluster will display a new pressure value
instead of dashes (--), as long as no tire pressure is below
the low-pressure warning limit in any of the four active
road tires. The vehicle may need to be driven for up to
20 minutes above 15 mph (24 km/h) in order for the TPMS
to receive this information. Tire Fill Alert
This feature notifies the user when the placard tire pressure
is attained while inflating or deflating the tire.
The customer may choose to disable or enable the Tire Fill
Alert feature through use of the customer settings in the
radio.
NOTE:
• Only one tire can be filled at a time when using the Tire Fill
Alert system.
• The Tire Fill Alert feature cannot be entered if an existing TPM system fault is set to “active” or if the system is in
deactivation mode (if equipped).
The system will be activated when a positive increase in tire
pressure is detected by the TPM system while inflating the
tire. The ignition must be in the RUN mode, with the trans -
mission in PARK (P).
NOTE:
It is not required to have the engine running to enter Tire Fill
Alert mode.
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236 SAFETY
Seat Belt Systems
Buckle up even though you are an excellent driver, even on
short trips. Someone on the road may be a poor driver and
could cause a collision that includes you. This can happen far
away from home or on your own street.
Research has shown that seat belts save lives, and they can
reduce the seriousness of injuries in a collision. Some of the
worst injuries happen when people are thrown from the
vehicle. Seat belts reduce the possibility of ejection and the
risk of injury caused by striking the inside of the vehicle.
Everyone in a motor vehicle should be belted at all times.
Enhanced Seat Belt Use Reminder System (BeltAlert)
Driver And Passenger BeltAlert — If Equipped BeltAlert is a feature intended to remind the driver and
outboard front seat passenger (if equipped with outboard front passenger seat BeltAlert) to buckle their seat belts. The
BeltAlert feature is active whenever the ignition switch is in
the START or ON/RUN position.
Initial Indication
If the driver is unbuckled when the ignition switch is first in
the START or ON/RUN position, a chime will signal for a
few seconds. If the driver or outboard front seat passenger (if
equipped with outboard front passenger seat BeltAlert) is
unbuckled when the ignition switch is first in the START or
ON/RUN position the Seat Belt Reminder Light will turn on
and remain on until both outboard front seat belts are
buckled. The outboard front passenger seat BeltAlert is not
active when an outboard front passenger seat is unoccupied.
BeltAlert Warning Sequence
The BeltAlert warning sequence is activated when the
vehicle is moving above a specified vehicle speed range and
the driver or outboard front seat passenger is unbuckled (if
equipped with outboard front passenger seat BeltAlert) (the
outboard front passenger seat BeltAlert is not active when
the outboard front passenger seat is unoccupied). The
BeltAlert warning sequence starts by blinking the Seat Belt
Reminder Light and sounding an intermittent chime. Once
the BeltAlert warning sequence has completed, the Seat Belt
• Never install a rear-facing child restraint in the front
seat of a vehicle. Only use a rear-facing child restraint
in the rear seat. If the vehicle does not have a rear seat,
do not transport a rear-facing child restraint in that
vehicle.
WARNING! (Continued)
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246 SAFETY
The air bag system must be ready to protect you in a colli-
sion. The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) monitors the
internal circuits and interconnecting wiring associated with
the electrical Air Bag System Components. Your vehicle may
be equipped with the following Air Bag System Compo -
nents:
Air Bag System Components
• 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 Air Bag Warning Light
The ORC monitors the readiness of the electronic
parts of the air bag system whenever the ignition
switch is in the START or ON/RUN position. If the
ignition switch is in the OFF position or in the ACC position,
the air bag system is not on and the air bags will not inflate.
The ORC contains a backup power supply system that may
deploy the air bag system even if the battery loses power or
it becomes disconnected prior to deployment.
The ORC turns on the Air Bag Warning Light in the instru-
ment panel for approximately four to eight seconds for a
self-check when the ignition switch is first in the ON/RUN
position. After the self-check, the Air Bag Warning Light will
turn off. If the ORC detects a malfunction in any part of the
system, it turns on the Air Bag Warning Light, either
momentarily or continuously. A single chime will sound to
alert you if the light comes on again after initial startup.
The ORC also includes diagnostics that will illuminate the
instrument panel Air Bag Warning Light if a malfunction is
detected that could affect the air bag system. The diagnostics
also record the nature of the malfunction. While the air bag
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SAFETY 247
system is designed to be maintenance free, if any of the
following occurs, have an authorized dealer service the air
bag system immediately.
• The Air Bag Warning Light does not come on during thefour to eight seconds when the ignition switch is first in the
ON/RUN position.
• The Air Bag Warning Light remains on after the four to eight-second interval.
• The Air Bag Warning Light comes on intermittently or remains on while driving.
NOTE:
If the speedometer, tachometer, or any engine related gauges
are not working, the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
may also be disabled. In this condition the air bags may not
be ready to inflate for your protection. Have an authorized
dealer service the air bag system immediately. Redundant Air Bag Warning Light
If a fault with the Air Bag Warning Light is detected, which
could affect the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), the
Redundant Air Bag Warning Light will illuminate on the
instrument panel. The Redundant Air Bag Warning Light
will stay on until the fault is cleared. In addition, a single
chime will sound to alert you that the Redundant Air Bag
Warning Light has come on and a fault has been detected. If
the Redundant Air Bag Warning Light comes on intermit
-
tently or remains on while driving have an authorized dealer
service the vehicle immediately.
For additional information regarding the Redundant Air Bag
Warning Light refer to “Getting To Know Your Instrument
Panel” section of this manual.
Front Air Bags
This vehicle has front air bags and lap/shoulder belts for
both the driver and front passenger. The front air bags are a
supplement to the seat belt restraint systems. The driver
front air bag is mounted in the center of the steering wheel.
The passenger front air bag is mounted in the instrument
panel, above the glove compartment. The words “SRS
AIRBAG” or “AIRBAG” are embossed on the air bag covers.
WARNING!
Ignoring the Air Bag Warning Light in your instrument
panel could mean you won’t have the air bag system to
protect you in a collision. If the light does not come on as
a bulb check when the ignition is first turned on, stays
on after you start the vehicle, or if it comes on as you
drive, have an authorized dealer service the air bag
system immediately.
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