Ram 2500 2013 Owner's Manual

WARNING!
Never place a rear facing infant seat 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 rearward facing infant
seat.
Quad Cab® or Crew Cab Trucks: The top tether anchor-
ages in this vehicle are tether strap loops located between
the rear glass and the back of the rear seat. There is a
tether strap loop located behind each seating position.
Follow the steps below to attach the tether strap of the
child restraint.
Right or Left Outboard Seats:
1. Raise the head restraint and reach between the rear seat and rear glass to access the tether strap loop.
Mega Cab® Tether Strap Mounting
2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 109

2. Place a child restraint on the seat and adjust the tetherstrap so that it will reach over the seat back, under the
head restraint, through the tether strap loop behind
the seat and over to the tether strap loop behind the
center seat.
Head Restraint In Raised PositionTether Strap Loop With Center Head Restraint In Raised
Position
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3. Pass the tether strap hook under the head restraintbehind the child seat, though the tether strap loop
behind the seat and over to the center tether strap
loop. 4. Attach the hook to the center tether strap loop (see
diagram). Tighten the tether strap according to the
child seat manufacturer ’s instructions.
Tether Strap Through Outboard Tether Strap Loop
Tether Strap Through Outboard Tether Strap Loop And
Attached To Center Tether Strap Loop
2
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NOTE:If there are child seats in both of the outboard (left
and right) seating positions, the tether strap hooks of
both child seats should be connected to the center tether
strap loop. This is the correct way to tether two outboard
child seats.
Center Seat:
1. Raise the head restraint and reach between the rear seat and rear glass to access the tether strap loop.
2. Place a child restraint on the seat and adjust the tetherstrap so that it will reach over the seat back, under the
head restraint, through the tether strap loop behind
the seat and over to the tether strap loop behind either
the right or left outboard seat.
Tether Strap Loop With Head Restraint In Raised
Position
112 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

3. Pass the tether strap hook under the head restraintbehind the child seat, though the tether strap loop
behind the seat and over to the right or left outboard
tether strap loop. 4. Attach the hook to the outboard tether strap loop (see
diagram). Tighten the tether strap according to the
child seat manufacturer ’s instructions.
Tether Strap Through Center Tether Strap Loop
Tether Strap Through Center Tether Strap Loop And
Attached To Outboard Tether Strap Loop
2
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Installing Three Child Restraints:
1. Place a child restraint on each outboard rear seat.Route the tether straps following the directions for
right and left seating positions, above.
2. Attach both hooks to the center tether strap loop, but do not tighten the straps yet.
3. Place a child restraint on the center rear seat. Route the tether strap following the directions for the center
seating position, above.
4. Attach the hook to the outboard tether strap loop.
5. Tighten the tether straps according to the child seat manufacturer ’s instructions, tightening the right and
left tether straps before the center tether strap.
Left Outboard And Center Seating Position Shown
114 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
•An incorrectly anchored tether strap could lead to
increased head motion and possible injury to the
child. Use only the anchorage position directly
behind the child seat to secure a child restraint top
tether strap.
• If your vehicle is equipped with a split rear seat,
make sure the tether strap does not slip into the
opening between the seatbacks as you remove
slack in the strap.
Transporting Pets
Air Bags deploying in the front seat could harm your pet.
An unrestrained pet will be thrown about and possibly
injured, or injure a passenger during panic braking or in
a collision.
Pets should be restrained in the rear seat in pet harnesses
or pet carriers that are secured by seat belts.
ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS
A long break-in period is not required for the engine and
drivetrain (transmission and axle) in your vehicle.
Drive moderately during the first 300 miles (500 km).
After the initial 60 miles (100 km), speeds up to 50 or
55 mph (80 or 90 km/h) are desirable.
While cruising, brief full-throttle acceleration within the
limits of local traffic laws contributes to a good break-in.
Wide-open throttle acceleration in low gear can be detri-
mental and should be avoided.
The engine oil installed in the engine at the factory is a
high-quality energy conserving type lubricant. Oil
changes should be consistent with anticipated climate
conditions under which vehicle operations will occur. For
the recommended viscosity and quality grades, refer to
“Maintenance Procedures” in “Maintaining Your Ve-
hicle”.
2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 115

CAUTION!
Never use Non-Detergent Oil or Straight Mineral Oil
in the engine or damage may result.
NOTE: A new engine may consume some oil during its
first few thousand miles (kilometers) of operation. This
should be considered a normal part of the break-in and
not interpreted as an indication of difficulty.
SAFETY TIPS
Transporting Passengers
NEVER TRANSPORT PASSENGERS IN THE CARGO
AREA.
WARNING!
• Do not leave children or animals inside parked
vehicles in hot weather. Interior heat build-up may
cause serious injury or death.
• It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people
riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously
injured or killed.
• Do not allow people to ride in any area of your
vehicle that is not equipped with seats and seat
belts.
• Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and
using a seat belt properly.
116 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Exhaust Gas
WARNING!
Exhaust gases can injure or kill. They contain carbon
monoxide (CO), which is colorless and odorless.
Breathing it can make you unconscious and can
eventually poison you. To avoid breathing (CO),
follow these safety tips:
•Do not run the engine in a closed garage or in
confined areas any longer than needed to move
your vehicle in or out of the area.
• If you are required to drive with the trunk/liftgate
open, make sure that all windows are closed and
the climate control BLOWER switch is set at high
speed. DO NOT use the recirculation mode.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•If it is necessary to sit in a parked vehicle with the
engine running, adjust your heating or cooling
controls to force outside air into the vehicle. Set the
blower at high speed.
The best protection against carbon monoxide entry into
the vehicle body is a properly maintained engine exhaust
system.
Whenever a change is noticed in the sound of the exhaust
system, when exhaust fumes can be detected inside the
vehicle, or when the underside or rear of the vehicle is
damaged, have a competent mechanic inspect the com-
plete exhaust system and adjacent body areas for broken,
damaged, deteriorated, or mispositioned parts. Open
seams or loose connections could permit exhaust fumes
to seep into the passenger compartment. In addition,
inspect the exhaust system each time the vehicle is raised
for lubrication or oil change. Replace as required.2
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Safety Checks You Should Make Inside The
Vehicle
Seat Belts
Inspect the belt system periodically, checking for cuts,
frays, and loose parts. Damaged parts must be replaced
immediately. Do not disassemble or modify the system.
Front seat belt assemblies must be replaced after a
collision. Rear seat belt assemblies must be replaced after
a collision if they have been damaged (i.e., bent retractor,
torn webbing, etc.). If there is any question regarding belt
or retractor condition, replace the belt.
Air Bag Warning Light
The light should come on and remain on for
four to eight seconds as a bulb check when the
ignition switch is first turned ON. If the light is
not lit during starting, see your authorizeddealer. If the light stays on, flickers, or comes on while
driving, have the system checked by an authorized
dealer.
Defroster
Check operation by selecting the defrost mode and place
the blower control on high speed. You should be able to
feel the air directed against the windshield. See your
authorized dealer for service if your defroster is inoper-
able.
Floor Mat Safety Information
Always use floor mats designed to fit the footwell of your
vehicle. Use only floor mats that leave the pedal area
unobstructed and that are firmly secured so that they
cannot slip out of position and interfere with the pedals
or impair safe operation of your vehicle in other ways.
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