towing Ram 3500 2015 User Guide

DID Yellow Telltales
This area will show reconfigurable yellow caution tell-
tales. These telltales include:
•Low Fuel Telltale
When the fuel level reaches approximately 3.0 gal
(11.0 L), this light will turn on, and remain on until
fuel is added.
• Windshield Washer Fluid Low Indicator
This telltale will turn on to indicate the wind-
shield washer fluid is low.
• Low Coolant Level Indicator
This telltale will turn on to indicate the vehicle
coolant level is low. •
Transmission Temperature Warning Telltale
This telltale indicates that the transmission
fluid temperature is running hot. This may
occur with severe usage, such as trailer towing.
If this telltale turns on, safely pull over and
stop the vehicle. Then, shift the transmission into NEU-
TRAL and run the engine at idle or faster until the light
turns off.
CAUTION!
Continuous driving with the Transmission Tempera-
ture Warning Light illuminated will eventually cause
severe transmission damage or transmission failure.
338 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

•Auto Entry/Exit Suspension
When this feature is selected, the vehicle automatically
lowers from ride height position when vehicle shifted to
park for easy entry/exit. To make your selection, press
the “Auto Entry/Exit” button on the touchscreen, select
“On” or “Off” followed by pressing the back arrow/
Done button on the touchscreen.
• Display Suspension Messages
When “All” is selected, all the Air Suspension Alerts will
be displayed. When “Warning Only” is selected only the
Air Suspension Warnings will be displayed.
• Automatic Aero Mode (1500 Model Only)
When this feature is selected the Ride Height will auto-
matically be adjusted depending on the vehicle speed. To
make your selection, press the “Aero Mode” button on
the touchscreen, select “On” or “Off” followed by press-
ing the back arrow/Done button on the touchscreen. •
Tire Jack Mode
When this feature is selected the air suspension system is
disabled to prevent auto leveling of the suspension, while
the vehicle is on a jack changing a tire. To make your
selection, press the “Tire Jack Mode” button on the
touchscreen, select “On” or “Off” followed by pressing
the back arrow/Done button on the touchscreen.
• Transport Mode
When this feature is selected the air suspension system is
disabled to assist with flat bed towing. To make your
selection, press the “Transport Mode” button on the
touchscreen, select “On” or “Off” followed by pressing
the back arrow/Done button on the touchscreen.
• Wheel Alignment Mode
This feature prevents auto leveling of the air suspension
while performing a wheel alignment service. Before
364 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

system has been activated or the check-mark is removed
showing the system has been deactivated.
•Suspension Display Messages
When “All” is selected, all the Air Suspension Alerts will
be displayed. When “Warning” is selected only the Air
Suspension Warnings will be displayed.
• Automatic Aero Mode (1500 Model Only)
When this feature is selected the Ride Height will auto-
matically be adjusted depending on the vehicle speed.
Press the box next to your selection and a check-mark
appears next to the feature showing the system has been
activated or the check-mark is removed showing the
system has been deactivated.
• Tire Jack Mode
When this feature is selected the air suspension system is
disabled to assist with changing a spare tire. Press the box
next to your selection and a check-mark appears next to the feature showing the system has been activated or the
check-mark is removed showing the system has been
deactivated.
•
Transport Mode
When this feature is selected the air suspension system
lowers and then disables to assist with flat bed towing.
Press the box next to your selection and a check-mark
appears next to the feature showing the system has been
activated or the check-mark is removed showing the
system has been deactivated.
• Wheel Alignment Mode
Before performing a wheel alignment this mode must be
enabled. Refer to your authorized dealer for further
information.
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 385

ADDING FUEL ....................... .636
▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message ............638
 VEHICLE LOADING ....................639
▫ Certification Label ....................639
 TRAILER TOWING .....................641
▫ Common Towing Definitions .............641
▫ Trailer Hitch Type and Maximum Trailer
Weight ............................ .648
▫ Trailer Towing Weights
(Maximum Trailer Weight Ratings) .........649
▫ Trailer And Tongue Weight ..............650
▫ Towing Requirements ..................651 ▫
Towing Tips ........................ .661
 SNOWPLOW ........................ .663
▫ 1500 Models Only .....................663
▫ 2500/3500 Models Only .................663
 RECREATIONAL TOWING
(BEHIND MOTORHOME, ETC.) ............667
▫ Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle . .667
▫ Recreational Towing — Two-Wheel Drive
Models ............................ .668
▫ Recreational Towing — Four-Wheel Drive
Models ............................ .669
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 441

CAUTION!
Towing the vehicle, coasting, or driving for any other
reason with the transmission in NEUTRAL can cause
severe transmission damage. Refer to “Recreational
Towing” in “Starting And Operating” and “Towing A
Disabled Vehicle” in “What To Do In Emergencies”
for further information.
DRIVE (D)
This range should be used for most city and highway
driving. It provides the smoothest upshifts and down-
shifts, and the best fuel economy. The transmission
automatically upshifts through all forward gears. The
DRIVE position provides optimum driving characteris-
tics under all normal operating conditions. When frequent transmission shifting occurs (such as
when operating the vehicle under heavy loading condi-
tions, in hilly terrain, traveling into strong head winds, or
while towing heavy trailers), select TOW/HAUL mode
or use the Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift control
(refer to
Electronic Range Select (ERS) Operation in this
section for further information) to select a lower gear
range. Under these conditions, using a lower gear range
will improve performance and extend transmission life
by reducing excessive shifting and heat buildup.
During extremely cold temperatures (-22°F [-30°C] or
below), transmission operation may be modified depend-
ing on engine and transmission temperature as well as
vehicle speed. Normal operation will resume once the
transmission temperature has risen to a suitable level.
460 STARTING AND OPERATING

To exit ERS mode, simply push and hold the GEAR+
switch until the gear limit display disappears from the
instrument cluster.
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.
When to Use TOW/HAUL Mode
When driving in hilly areas, towing a trailer, carrying a
heavy load, etc., and frequent transmission shifting oc-
curs, press the TOW/HAUL switch to activate TOW/
HAUL mode. This will improve performance and reduce
the potential for transmission overheating or failure due
to excessive shifting.
1 — ERS (-) Switch2 — ERS (+) Switch
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 463

CAUTION!
Towing the vehicle, coasting, or driving for any other
reason with the transmission in NEUTRAL can cause
severe transmission damage. Refer to “Recreational
Towing” in “Starting And Operating” and “Towing A
Disabled Vehicle” in “What To Do In Emergencies”
for further information.
DRIVE (D)
This range should be used for most city and highway
driving. It provides the smoothest upshifts and down-
shifts, and the best fuel economy. The transmission
automatically upshifts through underdrive first and sec-
ond gears, direct third gear and overdrive fourth and
fifth gears. The DRIVE position provides optimum driv-
ing characteristics under all normal operating conditions. To access all six available gears, you must use the
Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift control, described
below.
When frequent transmission shifting occurs (such as
when operating the vehicle under heavy loading condi-
tions, in hilly terrain, traveling into strong head winds, or
while towing heavy trailers), use the Electronic Range
Select (ERS) shift control (refer to “Electronic Range
Select (ERS) Operation” in this section for further infor-
mation) to select a lower gear range. Under these condi-
tions, using a lower gear range will improve performance
and extend transmission life by reducing excessive shift-
ing and heat buildup.
If the transmission temperature exceeds normal operat-
ing limits, the powertrain controller will modify the
transmission shift schedule and expand the range of
torque converter clutch engagement. This is done to
prevent transmission damage due to overheating.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 469

If the transmission becomes extremely hot or is in danger
of overheating, the “Transmission Temperature Warning
Light” may illuminate and the transmission may operate
differently until the transmission cools down.
NOTE:Use caution when operating a heavily loaded
vehicle at low speeds (such as towing a trailer up a steep
grade, or in stop-and-go traffic) during hot weather. In
these conditions, torque converter slip can impose a
significant additional heat load on the cooling system.
Downshifting the transmission to the lowest possible
gear (when climbing a grade), or shifting to NEUTRAL
(when stopped in heavy traffic) can help to reduce this
excess heat generation.
During cold temperatures, transmission operation may
be modified depending on engine and transmission
temperature as well as vehicle speed. This feature im-
proves warm up time of the engine and transmission to
achieve maximum efficiency. Engagement of both the torque converter clutch and the top overdrive gear are
inhibited until the transmission fluid is warm (refer to the
“Note” under “Torque Converter Clutch” in this section).
During extremely cold temperatures (-16°F [-27°C] or
below), operation may briefly be limited to first and
direct gears only. Normal operation will resume once the
transmission temperature has risen to a suitable level.
Transmission Limp Home Mode
Transmission function is monitored electronically for
abnormal conditions. If a condition is detected that could
result in transmission damage, Transmission Limp Home
Mode is activated. In this mode, the transmission remains
in direct gear regardless of which forward gear is se-
lected. PARK, REVERSE, and NEUTRAL will continue to
operate. The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) may be
illuminated. Limp Home Mode allows the vehicle to be
driven to an authorized dealer for service without dam-
aging the transmission.
470 STARTING AND OPERATING

In the event of a momentary problem, the transmission
can be reset to regain all forward gears by performing the
following steps:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Shift the transmission into PARK.
3. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position.
4. Wait approximately 10 seconds.
5. Restart the engine.
6. Shift into the desired gear range. If the problem is nolonger detected, the transmission will return to normal
operation.
NOTE: Even if the transmission can be reset, we recom-
mend that you visit your authorized dealer at your
earliest possible convenience. Your authorized dealer has
diagnostic equipment to determine if the problem could
recur. If the transmission cannot be reset, authorized dealer
service is required.
Electronic Range Select (ERS) Operation —
Six-Speed Transmission (1500 Models Only)
The Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift control allows the
driver to limit the highest available gear when the
transmission is in DRIVE. For example, if you set the
transmission gear limit to 4 (fourth gear), the transmis-
sion will not shift above fourth gear, but will shift
through the lower gears normally.
Use of ERS (or TOW/HAUL mode) also enables an
additional underdrive gear which is not normally used
during through-gear accelerations. This additional gear
can improve vehicle performance and cooling capability
when towing a trailer on certain grades. In ERS mode,
gears 1 though 3 are underdrive gears, and ERS 4 is direct
drive. ERS 5 and 6 (Overdrive gears) are the same as the
normal fourth and fifth gears.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 471

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, •
the TOW/HAUL switch has not been activated, and
• the driver is not heavily pressing the accelerator.
When To Use TOW/HAUL Mode
When driving in hilly areas, towing a trailer, carrying a
heavy load, etc., and frequent transmission shifting oc-
curs, push the TOW/HAUL switch to activate TOW/
HAUL mode. This will improve performance and reduce
the potential for transmission overheating or failure due
to excessive shifting. When operating in TOW/HAUL
mode, transmission upshifts are delayed, and the trans-
mission will automatically downshift (for engine brak-
ing) when the throttle is closed and/or during steady
braking maneuvers.
474 STARTING AND OPERATING