four wheel drive Ram 3500 2016 Owner's Manual

Air Suspension Ride Height Lowering Indicator Light— If Equipped
Yellow TelltaleLight What It Means
Air Suspension Ride Height Lowering Indicator Light
This light will blink and alert the driver that the vehicle is changing to a lower ride height.
4WD Indicator Light — If Equipped
Yellow Telltale
Light What It Means
4WD Indicator Light
This light alerts the driver that the vehicle is in the four-wheel drive mode, and the front
and rear driveshafts are mechanically locked together forcing the front and rear wheels to
rotate at the same speed.
322 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

4 Low Indicator Light — If Equipped
Yellow TelltaleLight What It Means
4 Low Indicator Light
This light alerts the driver that the vehicle is in the four-wheel drive LOW mode. The front
and rear driveshafts are mechanically locked together forcing the front and rear wheels to
rotate at the same speed. Low range provides a greater gear reduction ratio to provide in-
creased torque at the wheels.
Refer to “Four-Wheel Drive Operation — If Equipped” in “Starting And Operating” for fur-
ther information on four-wheel drive operation and proper use.
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UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 323

4WD AUTO Indicator Light — If Equipped
Green TelltaleLight What It Means
4WD AUTO Indicator Light
This 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.”
328 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

•ParkView Backup Camera Delay
When this feature is enabled, it will allow the ParkView
Backup Camera display to remain on while in drive for
up to 10 seconds, or 8 mph. To make your selection, press
the “ParkView Backup Camera Delay” button on the
touchscreen to select from on or off.
• Rain Sensing Auto Wipers — If Equipped
When this feature is selected, the system will automati-
cally activate the windshield wipers if it senses moisture
on the windshield. To make your selection, press the
“Rain Sensing” button on the touchscreen to select from
on or off.
• Hill Start Assist — If Equipped
When this feature is selected, the Hill Start Assist (HSA)
system is active. Refer to “Electronic Brake Control
System” in “Starting And Operating” for system function and operating information. To make your selection, press
the “Hill Start Assist” button on the touchscreen to select
from on or off.
•
Two Or Four Corner Air Suspension Modes — If
Equipped
There are four air suspension modes designed to protect
the system in unique situations. Tire Jack Mode is se-
lected to assist in changing a spare tire. Transport Mode
is selected to assist when the vehicle is being flat bed
towed. Wheel Alignment Mode is selected before per-
forming a wheel alignment, refer to your authorized
dealer for information. Protection Mode will automati-
cally be selected to “protect” the air suspension system
when the payload has been exceeded or load leveling
cannot be achieved.
404 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

▫Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . .489
▫ Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission — If
Equipped .......................... .490
▫ Six-Speed Automatic Transmission — 1500 Models
Only (If Equipped) ....................499
▫ Six-Speed Automatic Transmission — 2500/3500
Models Only ........................511
 FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE OPERATION — IF
EQUIPPED .......................... .522
▫ Manually Shifted Transfer Case —
If Equipped ......................... .522
▫ Electronically Shifted Transfer Case (Four-Position
Switch) — If Equipped .................526
▫ Electronically Shifted Transfer Case (Five-Position
Switch) — If Equipped .................533 ▫
Five-Position Electronically Shifted Transfer Case
(Eight Speed Transmission Only ) — If
Equipped .......................... .538
 AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM (1500 MODELS) — IF
EQUIPPED .......................... .545
▫ Description ......................... .545
▫ Air Suspension Modes ..................550
▫ Electronic Vehicle Information Center
(EVIC)/Driver Information Display (DID) Display
Messages .......................... .552
▫ Operation .......................... .552
 AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM (2500/3500 MODELS)
— IF EQUIPPED ...................... .554
▫ Description ......................... .554
▫ Air Suspension Modes ..................556
470 STARTING AND OPERATING

RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.) ...................716
▫ Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle . .716 ▫
Recreational Towing — Two-Wheel Drive
Models ............................ .717
▫ Recreational Towing — Four-Wheel Drive
Models ............................ .718
476 STARTING AND OPERATING

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 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. As an added precau-
tion, turn the front wheels toward the curb on a downhill
grade and away from the curb on an uphill grade. 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.
• 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
(Continued)
492 STARTING AND OPERATING

If the transmission cannot be reset, authorized dealer
service is required.
Electronic Range Select (ERS) Operation —
Eight-Speed Transmission
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 (except to prevent
engine overspeed), but will shift through the lower gears
normally.
You can switch between DRIVE and ERS mode at any
vehicle speed. When the transmission gear selector is in
DRIVE, the transmission will operate automatically, shift-
ing between all available gears. Tapping the GEAR-
switch (on the steering wheel) will activate ERS mode,
display the current gear in the instrument cluster, and setthat gear as the top available gear. Once in ERS mode,
tapping the GEAR- or GEAR+ switch will change the top
available gear.
1 — ERS (-) Switch
2 — ERS (+) Switch
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STARTING AND OPERATING 497

with the Driver Information Display (DID) will display
both the selected gear limit, and the actual current gear,
while in ERS mode.
Gear Ranges
DO NOT race the engine 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 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.
NOTE:
On four-wheel drive vehicles be sure that the
transfer case is in a drive position.
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 gear selector 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.
WARNING!
• Never use the PARK position as a substitute for the
parking brake. Always apply the parking brake
(Continued)
500 STARTING AND OPERATING

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 gear selector 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.
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
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
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 gear selector out of PARK with the brake
pedal released. Make sure the transmission is in
PARK before leaving the vehicle.
• 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)
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 513