warning Ram 2500 2018 Service Manual

3. Position the tailgate on a 45 degree angle.
4. Raise the right side of the tailgate until the right sidepivot clears the hanger bracket.
5. Slide the entire tailgate to the right to free the left side pivot.
6. Remove the tailgate from the vehicle.
NOTE: Do not carry the tailgate loose in the truck pickup
box.
WARNING!
To avoid inhaling carbon monoxide, which is deadly,
the exhaust system on vehicles equipped with “Cap or
Slide-In Campers” should extend beyond the over-
hanging camper compartment and be free of leaks.
Locking Tailgate
The lock is located next to the tailgate handle. The tailgate
can be locked using the vehicle key or by locking the truck
with the key fob if equipped with remote keyless entry.
TRI-FOLD TONNEAU COVER — IF EQUIPPED
Your vehicle may be equipped with a Tri-Fold Tonneau
Cover which consists of different features:
• Easy Tri-Fold cover
• Tonneau fore aft locator
• Crosscar inside bed locator
• Front and rear clamps
• Stowage strap
• Locking Capability
Locking Tang
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE 155

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
CONTENTS
BASE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ..............168
▫ Base Instrument Cluster Descriptions .........169
 PREMIUM INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ..........170
▫ Premium Instrument Cluster Descriptions .....171
 INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY ...........172
▫ Instrument Cluster Display Controls .........173
▫ Display Menu Screens ...................175
▫ Oil Life Reset ..........................177
▫ Display Messages .......................178
▫ Display Menu Items .....................180
▫ Battery Saver On/Battery Saver Mode Message —
Electrical Load Reduction Actions —
If Equipped ..........................187 
WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES .........189
▫ Red Warning Lights .....................189
▫ Yellow Warning Lights ...................192
▫ Yellow Indicator Lights ...................196
▫ Green Indicator Lights ...................198
▫ White Indicator Lights ...................199
▫ Blue Indicator Lights ....................199
 ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM — OBD II . . .200
▫ Onboard Diagnostic System (OBD II)
Cybersecurity ........................ .200
 EMISSIONS INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
PROGRAMS .......................... .2014

Base Instrument Cluster Descriptions
1. Tachometer•Indicates the engine speed in revolutions per minute
(RPM x 1000).
2. Instrument Cluster Display •When the appropriate conditions exist, this display
shows the instrument cluster display messages. Refer
to “Instrument Cluster Display” in “Getting To Know
Your Instrument Panel” for further information.
3. Speedometer •Indicates vehicle speed.
4. Fuel Gauge •The pointer shows the level of fuel in the fuel tank
when the ignition is in the ON/RUN position.
•
The fuel pump symbol points to the side of the
vehicle where the fuel door is located.
5. Temperature Gauge
•The temperature gauge shows engine coolant tem-
perature. Any reading within the normal range indi-
cates that the engine cooling system is operating
satisfactorily. •
The gauge pointer will likely indicate a higher tem-
perature when driving in hot weather, up mountain
grades, or when towing a trailer. It should not be
allowed to exceed the upper limits of the normal
operating range.
WARNING!
A hot engine cooling system is dangerous. You or
others could be badly burned by steam or boiling
coolant. You may want to call an authorized dealer for
service if your vehicle overheats. If you decide to look
under the hood yourself, see “Servicing And Mainte-
nance.” Follow the warnings under the Cooling System
Pressure Cap paragraph.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot engine cooling system could dam-
age your vehicle. If the temperature gauge reads “H,”
pull over and stop the vehicle. Idle the vehicle with the
air conditioner turned off until the pointer drops back
into the normal range. If the pointer remains on the
“H,” turn the engine off immediately and call an
authorized dealer for service.
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 169

allowed to exceed the upper limits of the normal
operating range.
WARNING!
A hot engine cooling system is dangerous. You or
others could be badly burned by steam or boiling
coolant. You may want to call an authorized dealer for
service if your vehicle overheats. If you decide to look
under the hood yourself, see “Servicing And Mainte-
nance.” Follow the warnings under the Cooling System
Pressure Cap paragraph.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot engine cooling system could dam-
age your vehicle. If the temperature gauge reads “H,”
pull over and stop the vehicle. Idle the vehicle with the
air conditioner turned off until the pointer drops back
into the normal range. If the pointer remains on the
“H,” turn the engine off immediately and call an
authorized dealer for service.
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY
Your vehicle may be equipped with an instrument cluster
display, which offers useful information to the driver. With
the ignition in the STOP/OFF mode, opening/closing of a
door will activate the display for viewing, and display the
total miles, or kilometers, in the odometer. Your instrument
cluster display is designed to display important informa-
tion about your vehicle’s systems and features. Using a
driver interactive display located on the instrument panel,
your instrument cluster display can show you how sys-
tems are working and give you warnings when they are
not. The steering wheel mounted controls allow you to
scroll through the main menus and submenus. You can
access the specific information you want and make selec-
tions and adjustments.
172 GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

The instrument cluster display screens are located in the
center portion of the cluster and consists of eight sections:
1. Main Screen — The inner ring of the display willilluminate in grey under normal conditions, yellow for
non critical warnings, red for critical warnings, and
white for on demand information.
2. Audio / Phone Information and Submenu Information — Whenever there are submenus available, the position
within the submenus is shown here.
3. Selectable Information (Compass, Outside Temp, Range to Empty, Trip A, Trip B, Average Fuel Economy, Trailer
Trip (distance only), Trailer Brake Gain, Time)
4. Telltales/Indicators
5. Gear Selector Status
6. Selectable Menu Icons
7. Air Suspension Status – If Equipped
8. 4WD Status
9. Selectable Gauge 2 (Trans Temp, Oil Temp, Oil Life, Trailer Brake, Current Fuel Economy) 10. Selectable Gauge 1 (Trans Temp, Oil Temp, Oil Life,
Trailer Brake, Current fuel economy)
The instrument cluster display area will normally display
the main menu or the screens of a selected feature of the
main menu. The main display area also displays “pop up”
messages that consist of approximately 60 possible warn-
ing or information messages. These pop up messages fall
into several categories:
• Five Second Stored Messages
When the appropriate conditions occur, this type of mes-
sage takes control of the main display area for five seconds
and then returns to the previous screen. Most of the
messages of this type are then stored (as long as the
condition that activated it remains active) and can be
reviewed from the “Messages” main menu item. As long as
there is a stored message, an “i” will be displayed in the
instrument cluster display’s compass/outside temp line.
Examples of this message type are “Right Front Turn Signal
Lamp Out” and “Low Tire Pressure.”
• Unstored Messages
This message type is displayed indefinitely or until the
condition that activated the message is cleared. Examples
176 GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

•Service Electronic Throttle Control
• Lights On
• Right Turn Signal Light Out
• Left Turn Signal Light Out
• Turn Signal On
• Sound Horn With Remote Lock: Off; 1st Press; 2nd Press
• Vehicle Not In Park
• Key In Ignition
• Key In Ignition Lights On
• Remote Start Active Key To Run
• Remote Start Active Push Start Button
• Remote Start Aborted Fuel Low
• Remote Start Aborted Too Cold
• Remote Start Aborted Door Open
• Remote Start Aborted Hood Open
• Remote Start Aborted Trunk Open
• Remote Start Aborted Time Expired
• Remote Start Disabled Start To Reset •
Service Airbag System
• Service Airbag Warning Light
• Driver Seatbelt Unbuckled
• Passenger Seatbelt Unbuckled
• Front Seatbelts Unbuckled
• Door Open
• Doors Open
• Gear Not Available
• Shift Not Allowed
• Shift To Neutral Then Drive Or Reverse
• Autostick Unavailable Service Required
• Automatic Unavailable Use Autostick Service Req.
• Transmission Getting Hot Push Brake
• Trans. Hot Stop Safely Shift To Park Wait To Cool
• Transmission Cool Ready To Drive
• Trailer Brake Disconnected
• Service Transmission
• Service Shifter
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 179

•Output
• Type
• Gain
Audio
Push and release the upordown arrow button until the
Audio display icon is highlighted in the instrument cluster
display. Push and release the rightarrow button to display
the active source.
Stored Messages
Push and release the upordown arrow button until the
Messages Menu item is highlighted. This feature shows the
number of stored warning messages. Pushing the right
arrow button will allow you to see what the stored
messages are.
When no messages are present, main menu icon will be a
closed envelope.
Screen Setup Menu Item
Push and release the upordown arrow button until the
Screen Setup menu item is highlighted in the instrument
cluster display. Push and release the rightarrow button to enter the Screen Setup submenu. The Screen Setup feature
allows you to change what information is displayed in the
instrument cluster as well as the location that information
is displayed.
Settings
Personal Settings allows the driver to set and recall features
when the transmission is in PARK.
Push and release the
upand down button until Settings
displays in the instrument cluster display.
Follow the prompts to display and set any of the following
Vehicle Settings.
NOTE: Your vehicle may be equipped with the following
settings.
• If equipped with a base radio (Non-Touchscreen) Vehicle
Settings will be included in the instrument cluster dis-
play.
• If equipped with a Touchscreen radio, the Vehicle Set-
tings will be included in the radio head unit.
182 GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

Setting NamesSetting Names
Abbreviated (Left Submenu Layer) Sub-Menus (Right Submenu Layer)
22 Commercial Settings Commercial
• Aux Switches
• Power Take-Off
• PIN Setup
NOTE: If the vehicle’s PIN is forgotten or not known,
see an authorized dealer to have the PIN reset.
23 Air Suspension Display Alerts Air Susp. Alerts
All; Warnings Only
24 Aero Ride Height Mode Aero Mode
On; Off
25 Tire/Jack Mode Tire/Jack Mode On; Off
26 Transport Mode Transport Mode On; Off
27 Wheel Alignment Mode Wheel Alignment
On; Off
28 Horn w/ Remote Lower Horn w/ Rmt Lwr
On; Off
29 Lights w/ Remote Lower Lights w/ Rmt Lwr
On; Off
30 Trailer Select Trailer SelectTrailer 1; Trailer 2; Trailer 3; Trailer 4
31 Brake Type Brake Type Light Electric; Heavy Electric; Light EOH; Heavy EOH
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 185

NOTE:
•The charging system is independent from load reduc-
tion. The charging system performs a diagnostic on the
charging system continuously.
• If the Battery Charge Warning Light is on it may indicate
a problem with the charging system. Refer to “Battery
Charge Warning Light” in “Getting To Know Your
Instrument Panel” for further information.
The electrical loads that may be switched off (if equipped),
and vehicle functions which can be affected by load
reduction:
• Heated Seat/Vented Seats/Heated Wheel
• Heated/Cooled Cup Holders — If Equipped
• Rear Defroster And Heated Mirrors
• HVAC System
• 115V AC Power Inverter System
• Audio and Telematics System
Loss of the battery charge may indicate one or more of the
following conditions:
• The charging system cannot deliver enough electrical
power to the vehicle system because the electrical loads are larger than the capability of charging system. The
charging system is still functioning properly.
• Turning on all possible vehicle electrical loads (e.g.
HVAC to max settings, exterior and interior lights,
overloaded power outlets +12V, 115V AC, USB ports)
during certain driving conditions (city driving, towing,
frequent stopping).
• Installing options like additional lights, upfitter electri-
cal accessories, audio systems, alarms and similar de-
vices.
• Unusual driving cycles (short trips separated by long
parking periods).
• The vehicle was parked for an extended period of time
(weeks, months).
• The battery was recently replaced and was not charged
completely.
• The battery was discharged by an electrical load left on
when the vehicle was parked.
• The battery was used for an extended period with the
engine not running to supply radio, lights, chargers,
+12V portable appliances like vacuum cleaners, game
consoles and similar devices.
188 GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

What to do when an electrical load reduction action
message is present (“Battery Saver On” or “Battery Saver
Mode”)
During a trip:
•Reduce power to unnecessary loads if possible:
– Turn off redundant lights (interior or exterior)
– Check what may be plugged in to power outlets +12V, 115V AC, USB ports
– Check HVAC settings (blower, temperature)
– Check the audio settings (volume)
After a trip:
• Check if any aftermarket equipment was installed (ad-
ditional lights, upfitter electrical accessories, audio sys-
tems, alarms) and review specifications if any (load and
Ignition Off Draw currents).
• Evaluate the latest driving cycles (distance, driving time
and parking time).
• The vehicle should have service performed if the mes-
sage is still present during consecutive trips and the
evaluation of the vehicle and driving pattern did not
help to identify the cause.WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES
Red Warning Lights
— Seat Belt Reminder Warning Light
This light indicates when the driver or passenger seat belt
is unbuckled. When the ignition is first placed in the
ON/RUN or ACC/ON/RUN position and if the driver ’s
seat belt is unbuckled, a chime will sound and the light will
turn on. When driving, if the driver or front passenger seat
belt remains unbuckled, the Seat Belt Reminder Light will
flash or remain on continuously and a chime will sound.
Refer to “Occupant Restraints Systems” in “Safety” for
further information.
— Air Bag Warning Light
This light indicates a fault with the air bag, and will turn on
for four to eight seconds as a bulb check when the ignition
is placed in the ON/RUN or ACC/ON/RUN position.
This light will illuminate with a single chime when a fault
with the air bag has been detected, it will stay on until the
fault is cleared. If the light is either not on during startup,
stays on, or turns on while driving, have the system
inspected at an authorized dealer as soon as possible.
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 189