four wheel drive Ram 3500 2014 Owner's Manual

If the light remains lit with the engine running, your
vehicle will usually be drivable. However, see an autho-
rized dealer for service as soon as possible. If the light is
flashing when the engine is running, immediate service is
required. You may experience reduced performance, an
elevated/rough idle or engine stall and your vehicle may
require towing.
28. Air Suspension Normal Ride Height Indicator Lamp
– If Equipped
This light will illuminate when the air suspension system
is set to the Normal Ride Height setting. For further
information, refer to “Air Suspension System” in “Start-
ing And Operating”.29. Air Suspension Off-Road 1 Indicator Lamp – If
Equipped
This light will illuminate when the air suspension system
is set to the Off-Road 1 setting. For further information,
refer to “Air Suspension System” in “Starting And
Operating”.
30. Air Suspension Off-Road 2 Indicator Lamp – If
Equipped
This light will illuminate when the air suspension system
is set to the Off-Road 2 setting. For further information,
refer to “Air Suspension System” in “Starting And
Operating”.
31. 4 LOW
This light alerts the driver that the vehicle is in
the four-wheel drive LOW mode. The front and
rear driveshafts are mechanically locked to-
gether forcing the front and rear wheels to
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UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 289

rotate at the same speed. Low range provides a greater
gear reduction ratio to provide increased torque at the
wheels.
For further information on four-wheel drive operation
and proper use, refer to “Four-Wheel Drive Operation —
If Equipped” in “Starting And Operating”.
32. 4WD AUTO Indicator Light — If EquippedThis light alerts the driver that the vehicle is in
the four-wheel drive auto mode, and the front
axle is engaged, but the vehicle’s power is sent
to the rear wheels. Four-wheel drive will be
automatically engaged when the vehicle senses a loss of
traction.
For further information on four-wheel drive operation
and proper use, refer to “Four-Wheel Drive Operation —
If Equipped” in “Starting And Operating”. 33. 4WD Indicator Light — If Equipped
This light alerts the driver that the vehicle is in
the four-wheel drive mode, and the front and
rear driveshafts are mechanically locked to-
gether forcing the front and rear wheels to
rotate at the same speed.
For further information on four-wheel drive operation
and proper use, refer to “Four-Wheel Drive Operation —
If Equipped” in “Starting And Operating”.
290 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

•Loose Fuel Filler Cap
This telltale will turn on to indicate that the fuel
filler cap may be loose.
EVIC White Telltales
•Electronic Speed Control Ready
This light will turn on when the electronic
speed control is ON. For further information,
refer to “Electronic Speed Control” in “Under-
standing The Features Of Your Vehicle.”
• Hill Decent Control (HDC) — If Equipped
The symbol indicates the status of the Hill
Decent Control (HDC) feature. The lamp will
be on solid when HDC is armed. HDC can only
be armed when the transfer case is in the “4WD
Low” position and the vehicle speed is less then 30 mph (48 km/h). If these conditions are not met while attempt-
ing to use the HDC feature, the HDC indicator lamp will
flash on/off.
Four-Wheel Drive Models With MP3023 Two-Speed
Transfer Case OnlyHDC maintains vehicle speed while
descending hills during off-road driving situations and is
available in 4WD LOW range only. To enable HDC, press
the HDC switch When HDC is enabled, the HDC icon
will be illuminated in the instrument cluster. HDC will
automatically apply the brakes to control downhill speed
to the selected level when necessary on grades greater
than approximately 8%. It will usually not activate on
level ground.
308 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

▫Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . .396
▫ Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission —
If Equipped ........................ .397
▫ Six-Speed Automatic Transmission —
1500 Models Only (If Equipped) ...........406
▫ Six-Speed Automatic Transmission — 2500/3500
Models Only ....................... .418
 FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE OPERATION —
IF EQUIPPED ........................ .429
▫
Manually Shifted Transfer Case — If Equipped . .429
▫ Electronically Shifted Transfer Case (Four-Position
Switch) — If Equipped .................433
▫ Electronically Shifted Transfer Case (Five-Position
Switch) — If Equipped .................439 ▫
Electronically Shifted Transfer Case (Five-Position
Switch) — If Equipped .................444
 AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM (1500 MODELS ONLY)
— IF EQUIPPED ...................... .451
▫ Description ......................... .451
▫ Air Suspension Modes ..................455
▫ Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)
Display Messages .....................456
▫ Operation .......................... .456
 AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM (2500/3500 MODELS
ONLY) — IF EQUIPPED ..................458
▫ Description ......................... .458
▫ Air Suspension Modes ..................459
▫ Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)
Display Messages .....................461
378 STARTING AND OPERATING

▫Common Towing Definitions .............582
▫ Trailer Hitch Type and Maximum Trailer
Weight ............................ .585
▫ Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer
Weight Ratings) ..................... .586
▫ Trailer And Tongue Weight ..............589
▫ Towing Requirements ..................590
▫ Towing Tips ........................ .600
 SNOWPLOW ........................ .601▫
1500 Models Only .....................601
▫ 2500/3500 Models Only .................602
 RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.) ...................606
▫ Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle . .606
▫ Recreational Towing — Two-Wheel Drive
Models ............................ .607
▫ Recreational Towing — Four-Wheel Drive
Models ............................ .608
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STARTING AND OPERATING 383

NOTE:On four-wheel drive vehicles be sure that the
transfer case is in a drive position.
WARNING!
• Never use the PARK position as a substitute for the
parking brake. Always apply the parking brake
fully when parked to guard against vehicle move-
ment and possible injury or damage.
• Your vehicle could move and injure you and others
if it is not in PARK. Make sure the transmission is
in PARK before leaving the vehicle.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•It is dangerous to shift out of PARK or NEUTRAL
if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If
your foot is not firmly pressing the brake pedal, the
vehicle could accelerate quickly forward or in re-
verse. You could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear when
the engine is idling normally and your foot is
firmly pressing the brake pedal.
(Continued)
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STARTING AND OPERATING 399

WARNING!
Do not downshift for additional engine braking on a
slippery surface. The drive wheels could lose their
grip and the vehicle could skid, causing a collision or
personal injury.
NOTE: To select the proper gear position for maximum
deceleration (engine braking), simply press and hold the
shift lever to the left (-) (console shift) or the ERS (-)
switch down (column shift). The transmission will shift
to the range from which the vehicle can best be slowed
down.
CAUTION!
When using ERS for engine braking while descend-
ing steep grades, be careful not to overspeed the
engine. Apply the brakes as needed to prevent en-
gine overspeed.
Overdrive Operation
The automatic transmission includes an electronically
controlled Overdrive (fourth and fifth gears). The trans-
mission will automatically shift into Overdrive if the
following conditions are present:
• the shift lever is in the DRIVE position,
• the transmission fluid has reached an adequate tem-
perature,
• the engine coolant (antifreeze) has reached an ad-
equate temperature,
• vehicle speed is sufficiently high, and
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STARTING AND OPERATING 415

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 leaving the
vehicle in this range.
When parking on a level surface, you may shift the
transmission into PARK first, and then apply the parking
brake.
When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake before
shifting the transmission to PARK, otherwise the load on
the transmission locking mechanism may make it diffi-
cult to move the shift lever out of PARK. As an added
precaution, turn the front wheels toward the curb on a
downhill grade and away from the curb on an uphill
grade.On four-wheel drive vehicles be sure that the transfer
case is in a drive position.
WARNING!
•
Never use the PARK position as a substitute for the
parking brake. Always apply the parking brake
fully when parked to guard against vehicle move-
ment and possible injury or damage.
• Your vehicle could move and injure you and others
if it is not completely in PARK. Check by trying to
move the shift lever out of PARK with the brake
pedal released. Make sure the transmission is in
PARK before leaving the vehicle.
(Continued)
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 419

cause damage to the transmission. The torque con-
verter will refill within five seconds after starting the
engine.
FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE OPERATION — IF
EQUIPPED
Four-wheel drive trucks are equipped with either a
manually shifted transfer case or an electronically shifted
transfer case. Refer to the operating instructions for your
transfer case, located in this section for further informa-
tion.
Manually Shifted Transfer Case — If Equipped
The transfer case provides four mode positions.
•Two-wheel drive high range (2H)
• Four-wheel drive high range (4H)
• Neutral (N) •
Four-wheel drive low range (4L)
This transfer case is intended to be driven in the 2H
position for normal street and highway conditions such
as dry, hard surfaced roads.
When additional traction is required, the 4H and 4L
positions can be used to lock the front and rear drive-
shafts together and force the front and rear wheels to
rotate at the same speed. This is accomplished by simply
moving the shift lever to the desired positions once the
appropriate speed and gear requirements are met refer to
“Shifting Procedure – Manually Shifted Transfer Case” in
this section for further information .The 4H and 4L
positions are intended for loose, slippery road surfaces
only. Driving in the 4H and 4L positions on dry, hard
surfaced roads may cause increased tire wear and dam-
age to the driveline components.
The “Transfer Case Position Indicator Light” in the
instrument cluster will alert the driver that the vehicle is
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 429

in four-wheel drive and that the front and rear drive-
shafts are locked together. This light will illuminate when
the transfer case is shifted into either the 4H or 4L
position. There is no light for the 2H or NEUTRAL
positions on some models.
When operating your vehicle in 4L, the engine speed is
approximately three times that of the 2H or 4H positions
at a given road speed. Take care not to overspeed the
engine and do not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h).
Proper operation of four-wheel drive vehicles depends
on tires of equal size, type and circumference on each
wheel. Any difference will adversely affect shifting and
can cause damage to the drivetrain.
NOTE:Do not attempt to make a shift while only the
front or rear wheels are spinning. The front and rear
driveshaft speeds must be equal for the shift to take
place. Shifting while only the front or rear wheels are
spinning can cause damage to the transfer case. Because four-wheel drive provides improved traction,
there is a tendency to exceed safe turning and stopping
speeds. Do not go faster than road conditions permit.
NOTE:
Delayed shifts out of four-wheel drive may be
experienced due to uneven tire wear, low or uneven tire
pressures, excessive vehicle loading, or cold tempera-
tures.
WARNING!
You or others could be injured or killed if you leave
the vehicle unattended with the transfer case in the
NEUTRAL position without first fully engaging the
parking brake. The transfer case NEUTRAL position
disengages both the front and rear drive shafts from
the powertrain and will allow the vehicle to move
regardless of the transmission position. The parking
brake should always be applied when the driver is
not in the vehicle.
430 STARTING AND OPERATING