manual transmission Ram 2500 2020 Owner's Manual

5
STARTING AND OPERATING
STARTING THE ENGINE — GAS ENGINE ......... 211Automatic Transmission ............................211
Tip Start Feature .......................................211
Keyless Enter-N-Go — Ignition ...................211
Normal Starting Using ENGINE START/
STOP Button ...............................................212 Cold Weather Operation (Below –22°F Or
−30°C) ......................................................215 After Starting ..............................................215
STARTING THE ENGINE — DIESEL ENGINE..... 215
Automatic Transmission ............................215
Keyless Enter-N-Go — Ignition ...................216
Extreme Cold Weather...............................218
Normal Starting Procedure — Engine
Manifold Air Temperature Above 66° F
(19° C)........................................................ 218 Starting Procedure — Engine Manifold Air
Temperature 0°F To 66°F (–18°C to
19°C) ..........................................................219 Starting Procedure — Engine Manifold Air
Temperature Below 0°F (-18°C) ..............220 Starting Fluids ............................................221 NORMAL OPERATION — DIESEL ENGINE ........221
Cold Weather Precautions ........................ 222
Engine Idling ............................................. 224
Noise........................................................... 225
Stopping The Engine ................................. 225
Idle Shutdown ............................................ 226
Programmable Maximum Vehicle
Speed ......................................................... 226 Operating Precautions............................... 226
Cooling System Tips .................................. 226
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — GAS ENGINE (IF
EQUIPPED) ..........................................................227
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — DIESEL ENGINE (IF
EQUIPPED) ......................................................... 227
Block Heater Usage ................................... 228
ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS — GAS
ENGINE ................................................................ 228
ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS —
DIESEL ENGINE...................................................228
PARKING BRAKE ............................................... 229
DIESEL EXHAUST BRAKE — ENGINE BRAKING
(IF EQUIPPED) ....................................................230
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ........................... 231
Ignition Park Interlock ............................... 232
Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock
System ....................................................... 232 Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission — If
Equipped .................................................... 233 Six-Speed Automatic Transmission — If
Equipped .................................................... 237
AUXILIARY SWITCHES — IF EQUIPPED ........... 243
ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION ........................ 243
FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE OPERATION —
IF EQUIPPED ...................................................... 244
Four-Position Electronically Shifted Transfer
Case — If Equipped ................................... 244
Manually Shifted Transfer Case —
If Equipped ................................................. 247
AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM — IF EQUIPPED.... 250
Description ................................................. 250
Air Suspension Modes .............................. 251
Instrument Cluster Display Messages ..... 251
Operation ................................................... 251
AXLE LOCKER SYSTEM — POWER WAGON
MODELS ONLY (IF EQUIPPED) ......................... 252
STABILIZER/SWAY BAR SYSTEM — POWER
WAGON ONLY .................................................... 253

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7
PARKVIEW REAR BACK UP CAMERA ............. 302 AUX Camera — If Equipped .......................304
SURROUND VIEW CAMERA SYSTEM — IF
EQUIPPED ........................................................... 305
AUX Camera — If Equipped .......................311
ENGINE RUNAWAY — DIESEL ENGINE ............ 312
REFUELING THE VEHICLE — GAS ENGINE ..... 312
Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message ................313
REFUELING THE VEHICLE — DIESEL
ENGINE ............................................................... 313
Diesel Exhaust Fluid ..................................314
VEHICLE LOADING ............................................. 317
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) ......317
Payload .......................................................317
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) ............317
Tire Size ......................................................317
Rim Size......................................................318
Inflation Pressure ......................................318
Curb Weight................................................318
Loading .......................................................318
TRAILER TOWING .............................................. 318
Common Towing Definitions .....................318
Trailer Hitch Type and Maximum Trailer
Weight.........................................................322 Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer
Weight Ratings) ..........................................323 Trailer And Tongue Weight ........................ 323
Towing Requirements ...............................323
Towing Tips ................................................328 SNOWPLOW ....................................................... 329
Before Plowing ........................................... 329
Snowplow Prep Package Model
Availability .................................................. 330 Over The Road Operation With Snowplow
Attached ..................................................... 330 Operating Tips ............................................ 330
General Maintenance................................ 330
RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.) .......................................... 331
Towing This Vehicle Behind Another
Vehicle ........................................................ 331 Recreational Towing — Two-Wheel Drive
Models ........................................................ 331 Recreational Towing — Four-Wheel Drive
Models ........................................................ 332
DRIVING TIPS ...................................................... 335
Driving On Slippery Surfaces ................... 335
Driving Through Water .............................. 335
Off-Road Driving Tips ................................. 336
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS........................338
ASSIST AND SOS SYSTEM — IF EQUIPPED..... 338
General Information .................................. 342 JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING ...................... 342
Jack Location ............................................. 343
Removal Of Jack And Tools....................... 343
Removing The Spare Tire .......................... 345
Preparations For Jacking .......................... 346
Jacking Instructions................................... 347
To Stow The Flat Or Spare ....................... 350
Reinstalling The Jack And Tools ............... 352
Hub Caps/Wheel Covers — If Equipped ... 352
FUSES .................................................................. 353
Power Distribution Center ........................ 354
JUMP STARTING ............................................... 362
Preparations For Jump Start ..................... 363
Jump Starting Procedure .......................... 363
GEAR SELECTOR OVERRIDE — 6–SPEED
TRANSMISSION ................................................ 365
MANUAL PARK RELEASE — 8 – SPEED
TRANSMISSION ................................................ 366
IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS ......................... 367
FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE ............................ 367
TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE ........................ 369
Two-Wheel Drive Models ........................... 370
Four-Wheel Drive Models .......................... 370
Emergency Tow Hooks — If Equipped ...... 371

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11
INTRODUCTION
Dear Customer, congratulations on selecting
your new vehicle. Be assured that it represents
precision workmanship, distinctive styling, and
high quality.
This is a specialized utility vehicle. It can go
places and perform tasks that are not intended
for conventional passenger vehicles. It handles
and maneuvers differently from many
passenger vehicles both on-road and off-road,
so take time to become familiar with your
vehicle. If equipped, the two-wheel drive version
of this vehicle was designed for on-road use
only. It is not intended for off-road driving or use
in other severe conditions suited for a
four-wheel drive vehicle. Before you start to
drive this vehicle, read the Owner’s Manual. Be
sure you are familiar with all vehicle controls,
particularly those used for braking, steering,
transmission, and transfer case shifting. Learn
how your vehicle handles on different road
surfaces. Your driving skills will improve with
experience. When driving off-road, or working
the vehicle, don’t overload the vehicle or expect
the vehicle to overcome the natural laws of
physics. Always observe federal, state, provin-cial and local laws wherever you drive. As with
other vehicles of this type, failure to operate this
vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or
a collision. Refer to the “Driving Tips” in
“Starting and Operating” for further informa
-
tion.
This Owner's Manual has been prepared with
the assistance of service and engineering
specialists to acquaint you with the operation
and maintenance of your vehicle. It is supple -
mented by Warranty Information, and
customer-oriented documents. Within this infor -
mation, you will find a description of the
services that FCA US LLC offers to its
customers, the vehicle's warranty coverage,
and the details of the terms and conditions for
maintaining its validity. Please take the time to
read all of these publications carefully before
driving your vehicle for the first time. Following
the instructions, recommendations, tips, and
important warnings in this manual will help
assure safe and enjoyable operation of your
vehicle. This Owner's Manual describes all versions of
this vehicle. Options and equipment dedicated
to specific markets or versions are not expressly
indicated in the text. Therefore, you should only
consider the information which is related to the
trim level, engine, and version that you have
purchased. Any content introduced throughout
the Owner's Information, that may or may not be
applicable to your vehicle, will be identified with
the wording “If Equipped”. All data contained in
this publication are intended to help you use
your vehicle in the best possible way. FCA US
LLC aims at a constant improvement of the
vehicles produced. For this reason, it reserves
the right to make changes to the model
described for technical and/or commercial
reasons. For further information, contact an
authorized dealer.
When it comes to service, remember that an
authorized dealer knows your vehicle best, has
factory-trained technicians and genuine
MOPAR® parts, and cares about your satisfac
-
tion.1

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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE27
(Continued)
DOORS
Manual Door Locks
Front and rear doors may be locked by moving
the lock knob down. The lock knobs will unlock
when the interior handle is used to open the
doors.
Door Lock Knob

Front doors may be opened with the inside door
handle without lifting the lock knob.
Doors locked before closing will remain locked
when closed.
The emergency key will unlock the driver door
lock on your vehicle.
Power Door Locks — If Equipped
The power door lock switches are on each front
door trim panel. Use these switches to lock or
unlock the doors.
WARNING!
Do not leave children or animals inside
parked vehicles in hot weather. Interior
heat build-up may cause serious injury or
death.
For personal security and safety in the
event of an collision, lock the vehicle doors
as you drive as well as when you park and
leave the vehicle.
Before exiting a vehicle, always shift the
automatic transmission into PARK, apply
the parking brake, turn the vehicle OFF,
remove the key fobs from vehicle, and lock
all doors. and lock your vehicle.
Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Leaving
children in a vehicle unattended is
dangerous for a number of reasons. A child
or others could be seriously or fatally
injured. Children should be warned not to
touch the parking brake, brake pedal or the
gear selector.
Allowing children to be in a vehicle unat -
tended is dangerous for a number of
reasons. A child or others could be seriously
or fatally injured. Children should be
warned not to touch the parking brake,
brake pedal or the gear selector.
Do not leave the key fob in or near the
vehicle, or in a location accessible to chil -
dren, and do not leave the ignition of a
vehicle equipped with Keyless Enter-N-Go
in the ACC or ON/RUN mode. A child could
operate power windows, other controls, or
move the vehicle.
WARNING! (Continued)
2

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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE57
NOTE:
The Rain Sensing feature will not operate
when the wiper switch is in the low or
high-speed position.
The Rain Sensing feature may not function
properly when ice, or dried salt water is
present on the windshield.
Use of Rain-X or products containing wax or
silicone may reduce Rain Sensing perfor -
mance.
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 igni-
tion is first placed in the ON position, 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
temperature is greater than 32°F (0°C).
Transmission In NEUTRAL Position — When
the ignition is ON, and the transmission is in
the NEUTRAL 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 gear selector 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 condi -
tions (mentioned previously) exist.
CLIMATE CONTROLS
The Climate Control system allows you to regu -
late the temperature, air flow, and direction of
air circulating throughout the vehicle. The
controls are located on the touchscreen (if
equipped), on the sides of the touchscreen, or
on the instrument panel below the radio.
Manual Climate Control Overview

Manual Climate Controls

2

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SAFETY151
The cluster icon and switch lamp will flash for
several seconds then extinguish when HDC
disables due to excess speed.
The cluster icon and switch lamp will flash
when HDC deactivates due to overheated
brakes. The flashing will stop and HDC will
activate again once the brakes have cooled
sufficiently.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
The Hill Start Assist (HSA) system is designed to
mitigate roll back from a complete stop while on
an incline. If the driver releases the brake while
stopped on an incline, HSA will continue to hold
the brake pressure for a short period. If the
driver does not apply the throttle before this
time expires, the system will release brake pres -
sure and the vehicle will roll down the hill as
normal. The following conditions must be met in order
for HSA to activate:
The feature must be enabled.
The vehicle must be stopped.
The park brake must be off.
The driver door must be closed.
The vehicle must be on a sufficient grade.
The gear selection must match vehicle uphill
direction (i.e., vehicle facing uphill is in
forward gear; vehicle backing uphill is in
REVERSE (R) gear).
HSA will work in REVERSE gear and all
forward gears. The system will not activate if
the transmission is in PARK or NEUTRAL (N).
For vehicles equipped with a manual trans
-
mission, if the clutch is pressed, HSA will
remain active.
WARNING!
HDC is only intended to assist the driver in
controlling vehicle speed when descending
hills. The driver must remain attentive to the
driving conditions and is responsible for
maintaining a safe vehicle speed.
WARNING!
There may be situations where the Hill Start
Assist (HSA) will not activate and slight rolling
may occur, such as on minor hills or with a
loaded vehicle, or while pulling a trailer. HSA
is not a substitute for active driving
involvement. It is always the driver’s
responsibility to be attentive to distance to
other vehicles, people, and objects, and most
importantly brake operation to ensure safe
operation of the vehicle under all road
conditions. Your complete attention is always
required while driving to maintain safe control
of your vehicle. Failure to follow these
warnings can result in a collision or serious
personal injury.
4

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152SAFETY
Disabling And Enabling HSA
This feature can be turned on or turned off. To
change the current setting, proceed as follows:
If disabling HSA using your instrument cluster
display, refer to “Instrument Cluster Display”
in “Getting To Know Your Instrument Panel”
for further information.
If disabling HSA using Uconnect Settings,
refer to “Uconnect Settings” in “Multimedia”
for further information.
For vehicles not equipped with an instrument
cluster display, perform the following steps:

1. Center the steering wheel (front wheels pointing straight forward).

2. Shift the transmission into PARK.
3. Apply the parking brake.
4. Start the engine.
5. Rotate the steering wheel slightly more than one-half turn to the left. 6. Push the “ESC OFF” button located in the
lower switch bank below 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 additional slightly more than
one-half turn to the right.
8. Place the ignition in 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.
Towing With HSA
HSA will also provide assistance to mitigate roll
back while towing a trailer.
WARNING!
If you use a trailer brake controller with your
trailer, the trailer brakes may be activated
and deactivated with the brake switch. If
so, there may not be enough brake pres -
sure to hold both the vehicle and the trailer
on a hill when the brake pedal is released.
In order to avoid rolling down an incline
while resuming acceleration, manually acti -
vate the trailer brake or apply more vehicle
brake pressure prior to releasing the brake
pedal.
HSA is not a parking brake. Always apply
the parking brake fully when exiting your
vehicle. Also, be certain to place the trans -
mission in PARK.
Failure to follow these warnings can result
in a collision or serious personal injury.

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211
(Continued)
STARTING AND OPERATING
STARTING THE ENGINE — GAS ENGINE
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat,
adjust both inside and outside mirrors, and
fasten your seat belt.
The starter should not be operated for more
than 10-second intervals. Waiting a few
seconds between such intervals will protect the
starter from overheating.
Automatic Transmission
Start the engine with the transmission in PARK
position. Apply the brake before shifting into any
driving range.
NOTE:
This vehicle is equipped with a transmission
shift interlocking system. The brake pedal
must be pressed to shift out of PARK.
If equipped with an 8-speed transmission,
starting the vehicle in NEUTRAL is not
possible unless the Manual Park Release has
been activated. For the Manual Park Release
operation refer to Manual Park Release in “In
Case Of Emergency”.
Tip Start Feature
Do not press the accelerator. Cycle the ignition
switch briefly to the START position and release
it. The starter motor will continue to run and will
automatically disengage when the engine is
running.
Keyless Enter-N-Go — Ignition

Keyless Push Button Ignition

WARNING!
When leaving the vehicle, always make
sure the keyless ignition node is in the
"OFF" mode, remove the key fob from the
vehicle and lock the vehicle.
Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Allowing children to be in a vehicle unat -
tended is dangerous for a number of
reasons. A child or others could be seriously
or fatally injured. Children should be
warned not to touch the parking brake,
brake pedal or the gear selector.
Do not leave the key fob in or near the
vehicle, or in a location accessible to chil -
dren, and do not leave the ignition of a
vehicle equipped with Keyless Enter-N-Go
in the ACC or ON/RUN mode. A child could
operate power windows, other controls, or
move the vehicle.
Do not leave children or animals inside
parked vehicles in hot weather. Interior
heat build-up may cause serious injury or
death.
WARNING! (Continued)
5

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STARTING AND OPERATING229
(Continued)
NOTE:
Light duty operation such as light trailer towing
or no load operation will extend the time before
the engine is at full efficiency. Reduced fuel
economy and power may be seen at this time.
For additional vehicle break-in requirements,
refer to “Trailer Towing” in “Starting And Oper -
ating” of the Owners Manual.
Because of the construction of the Cummins®
Turbo Diesel engine, engine run-in is enhanced
by loaded operating conditions which allow the
engine parts to achieve final finish and fit during
the first 6,000 miles (10,000 km).
PARKING BRAKE
Before leaving the vehicle, make sure that the
parking brake is fully applied. Also, be certain to
leave the transmission in PARK.
The foot-operated parking brake is located
below the lower left corner of the instrument
panel. To apply the park brake, firmly push the
park brake pedal fully. To release the parking
brake, pull the parking brake release handle.
Parking Brake Release

When the parking brake is applied with the igni -
tion switch ON, the “Brake Warning Light” in the
instrument cluster will illuminate.
NOTE:When the parking brake is applied and the
transmission is placed in gear, the “Brake
Warning Light” will flash. If vehicle speed is
detected, a chime will sound to alert the
driver. Fully release the parking brake before
attempting to move the vehicle.
This light only shows that the parking brake is
applied. It does not show the degree of brake
application.
When parking on a hill, it is important to turn the
front wheels toward the curb on a downhill
grade and away from the curb on an uphill grade. Apply the parking brake before placing
the gear selector in PARK, otherwise the load on
the transmission locking mechanism may make
it difficult to move the gear selector out of PARK.
The parking brake should always be applied
whenever the driver is not in the vehicle.
WARNING!
Never use the PARK position as a substi
-
tute for the parking brake. Always apply the
parking brake fully when parked to guard
against vehicle movement and possible
injury or damage.
Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Leaving
unattended children in a vehicle is
dangerous for a number of reasons. A child
or others could be seriously or fatally
injured.
Do not leave the key fob in or near the
vehicle, or in a location accessible to chil -
dren, and do not leave a vehicle equipped
with Keyless Enter-N-Go in the ACC or ON/
RUN mode. A child could operate power
windows, other controls, or move the
vehicle.
5

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STARTING AND OPERATING233
Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission — If
Equipped
The transmission is controlled using a rotary
electronic gear selector located on the instru -
ment panel. The transmission gear range
(PRND) is displayed both above the gear
selector and in the instrument cluster. To select
a gear range, simply rotate the gear selector.
You must press the brake pedal to shift the
transmission out of PARK (or NEUTRAL, when
the vehicle is stopped or moving at low speeds).
To shift past multiple gear ranges at once (such
as PARK to DRIVE), simply rotate the gear
selector to the appropriate detent. Select the
DRIVE range for normal driving.
NOTE:
In the event of a mismatch between the gear
selector position and the actual transmission
gear (for example, driver selects PARK while
driving), the position indicator will blink continu -
ously until the selector is returned to the proper
position, or the requested shift can be
completed.
The electronically-controlled transmission
adapts its shift schedule based on driver inputs,
along with environmental and road conditions.
The transmission electronics are self-cali -brating; therefore, the first few shifts on a new
vehicle may be somewhat abrupt. This is a
normal condition, and precision shifts will
develop within a few hundred miles (kilome
-
ters).
Only shift from DRIVE to PARK or REVERSE
when the accelerator pedal is released and the
vehicle is stopped. Be sure to keep your foot on
the brake pedal when shifting between these
gears.
The transmission gear selector has only PARK,
REVERSE, NEUTRAL, and DRIVE positions.
Manual downshifts can be made using the Elec -
tronic Range Select (ERS) shift control. Pressing
the GEAR -/GEAR + switches (on the steering
wheel) while in the DRIVE position will select the
highest available transmission gear, and will
display that gear limit in the instrument cluster
as 1, 2, 3, etc. Refer to “Electronic Range Select
(ERS) Operation” in this section for further infor -
mation. Some models will display both the
selected gear limit, and the actual current gear,
while in ERS mode.
Electronic Transmission Gear Selector

Gear Ranges
Do not depress the accelerator pedal when
shifting from PARK or NEUTRAL into another
gear range.
NOTE:
After selecting any gear range, wait a moment
to allow the selected gear to engage before
accelerating. This is especially important when
the engine is cold.
PARK (P)
This range supplements the parking brake by
locking the transmission. The engine can be
started in this range. Never attempt to use
PARK while the vehicle is in motion. Apply the
parking brake when exiting the vehicle in this
range.5

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