wheel Ram 2500 2013 User Guide

Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make Outside
The Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear and uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread or sidewall. Inspect the tread for cuts
and cracks. Inspect sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
Check the wheel nuts for tightness. Check the tires
(including spare) for proper cold inflation pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of brake lights and
exterior lights while you work the controls. Check turn
signal and high beam indicator lights on the instrument
panel.
Door Latches
Check for positive closing, latching, and locking.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for fuel,
engine coolant, oil, or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline
fumes are detected or if fuel, power steering fluid
(2500,3500,4500,5500 Models Only), or brake fluid leaks
are suspected, the cause should be located and corrected
immediately.
120 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

▫Interior Lights ...................... .163
▫ Cargo Light ........................ .166
▫ Multifunction Lever ...................167
▫ Turn Signals ........................ .167
▫ Lane Change Assist ...................168
▫ Flash-To-Pass ....................... .168
▫ High/Low Beam Switch ................168
 WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHERS ......169
▫ Windshield Wipers ....................169
▫ Windshield Wiper Operation .............169
▫ Intermittent Wiper System ...............169
▫ Windshield Washers ...................170
▫ Mist Feature ........................ .170▫
Rain Sensing Wipers — If Equipped ........171
 TILT STEERING COLUMN ...............172

HEATED STEERING WHEEL — IF EQUIPPED . . .173
 DRIVER ADJUSTABLE PEDALS — IF
EQUIPPED .......................... .175
 ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL ...........177
▫ To Activate ......................... .178
▫ To Set A Desired Speed .................178
▫ To Deactivate ....................... .179
▫ To Resume Speed .....................179
▫ To Vary The Speed Setting ...............179
▫ To Accelerate For Passing ................179
 PARKSENSE® REAR PARK ASSIST — IF
EQUIPPED .......................... .1803
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 123

TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE HOOD
To open the hood, two latches must be released.
1. Pull the hood release lever located below the steeringwheel at the base of the instrument panel. 2. Reach into the opening beneath the center of the hood
and push the safety latch lever to the left to release it,
before raising the hood.
Hood Release
Safety Latch Location (1500 Series Shown)
156 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

CAUTION!
To prevent possible damage, do not slam the hood to
close it. Use a firm downward push at the front center
of the hood to ensure that both latches engage.
WARNING!
Be sure the hood is fully latched before driving your
vehicle. If the hood is not fully latched, it could open
when the vehicle is in motion and block your vision.
Failure to follow this warning could result in serious
injury or death.
LIGHTS
The headlight switch is located on the left side of the
instrument panel, next to the steering wheel. The head-
light switch controls the operation of the headlights,
parking lights, instrument panel lights, cargo lights and
fog lights (if equipped).
Headlight Switch Location
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 157

turn off when the switch is pushed a second time, when
the headlight switch is rotated to the off position, or the
high beam is selected.
Lights-On Reminder
If the headlights, parking lights, or cargo lights are left on
after the ignition is turned OFF, a chime will sound when
the driver ’s door is opened.
Battery Saver
To protect the life of your vehicle’s battery, load shedding
is provided for both the interior and exterior lights.
If the ignition is OFF and any door is left ajar for 10
minutes or the dimmer control is rotated all the way up
to the dome ON position for 10 minutes, the interior
lights will automatically turn off.
If the headlights remain on while the ignition is cycled
OFF, the exterior lights will automatically turn off aftereight minutes. If the headlights are turned on and left on
for eight minutes while the ignition is OFF, the exterior
lights will automatically turn off.
NOTE:
Battery saver mode is cancelled if the ignition is
ON.
Interior Lights
Courtesy and dome lights are turned on when the front
doors are opened, when the dimmer control (rotating
wheel on the bottom of the switch) is rotated to the far
right detent position, or if equipped, when the UNLOCK
button is pressed on the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter. When a door is open and the interior lights
are on, rotating the dimmer control all the way left, to the
OFF detent, will cause all the interior lights to go out.
This is also known as the Partymode because it allows
the doors to stay open for extended periods of time
without discharging the vehicle’s battery.
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 163

Lane Change Assist
Tap the lever up or down once, without moving beyond
the detent, and the turn signal (right or left) will flash
three times then automatically turn off.
Flash-To-Pass
You can signal another vehicle with your headlights by
partially pulling the multifunction lever toward the steer-
ing wheel. This will cause the high beam headlights to
turn on until the lever is released.
High/Low Beam Switch
Push the multifunction lever toward the instrument
panel to switch the headlights to high beam. Pulling the
multifunction lever back toward the steering wheel will
turn the low beams back on, or shut the high beams off.High/Low Beam Switch
168 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

The Rain Sensing system has protection features for the
wiper blades and arms, and will not operate under the
following conditions:
•Low Ambient Temperature — When the ignition is
first turned ON, the Rain Sensing system will not
operate until the wiper switch is moved, vehicle speed
is greater than 0 mph (0 km/h), or the outside tem-
perature is greater than 32°F (0°C).
• Transmission In NEUTRAL Position — When the
ignition is ON, and the transmission is in the NEU-
TRAL position, the Rain Sensing system will not
operate until the wiper switch is moved, vehicle speed
is greater than 5 mph (8 km/h), or the shift lever is
moved out of the NEUTRAL position.
Remote Start Mode Inhibit — On vehicles equipped
with Remote Starting system, Rain Sensing wipers are
not operational when the vehicle is in the remote start
mode. Once the operator is in the vehicle and has placed the ignition switch in the RUN position, rain sensing
wiper operation can resume, if it has been selected, and
no other inhibit conditions (mentioned previously) exist.
TILT STEERING COLUMN
This feature allows you to tilt the steering column
upward or downward. The tilt lever is located on the
steering column, below the multifunction lever.
Pull the lever toward the steering wheel to unlock the
steering column. With one hand firmly on the steering
wheel, move the steering column up or down, as desired.
Release the lever to lock the steering column firmly in
place.
172 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
Do not adjust the steering column while driving.
Adjusting the steering column while driving or driv-
ing with the steering column unlocked, could cause
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Failure to
follow this warning may result in serious injury or
death.
HEATED STEERING WHEEL — IF EQUIPPED
The steering wheel contains a heating element that helps
warm your hands in cold weather. The heated steering
wheel has only one temperature setting. Once the heated
steering wheel has been turned on it will operate for
approximately 30 to 80 minutes before automatically
shutting off. The heated steering wheel can shut off early
or may not turn on when the steering wheel is already
warm.
Tilt Steering Lever
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 173

The heated steering wheel switch is located on the switch
bank below the climate controls. There are also soft-keys
in the radio screen that will activate the heated steering
wheel.Press the switch to turn on the heated
steering wheel. The light on the switch
will illuminate to indicate the steering
wheel heater is on. Pressing the switch
a second time will turn off the heated
steering wheel and light indicator.
NOTE: The engine must be running for the heated
steering wheel to operate.
Vehicles Equipped With Remote Start
On models that are equipped with remote start, the
heated steering wheel can be programmed to come on during a remote start. Refer to “Remote Starting System
— If Equipped” in “Things to Know Before Starting Your
Vehicle” for further information.
WARNING!
•
Persons who are unable to feel pain to the skin
because of advanced age, chronic illness, diabetes,
spinal cord injury, medication, alcohol use, exhaus-
tion, or other physical conditions must exercise
care when using the steering wheel heater. It may
cause burns even at low temperatures, especially if
used for long periods.
• Do not place anything on the steering wheel that
insulates against heat, such as a blanket or steering
wheel covers of any type and material. This may
cause the steering wheel heater to overheat.
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174 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

DRIVER ADJUSTABLE PEDALS — IF EQUIPPED
The adjustable pedals system is designed to allow a
greater range of driver comfort for steering wheel tilt and
seat position. This feature allows the brake, accelerator,
and clutch pedals (if equipped) to move toward or away
from the driver to provide improved position with the
steering wheel.
The adjustable pedal switch is located to the left side of
the steering column.•The pedals can be adjusted with the ignition OFF.
Adjustable Pedals Switch
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 175