parking brake Ram 4500 Chassis Cab 2018 Owner's Manual

CAUTION!
• Then, during the first 500 miles(805 km) that a trailer is towed, do not
drive over 50 mph (80 km/h) and do not
make starts at full throttle. This helps
the engine and other parts of the vehicle
wear in at the heavier loads.
Perform the maintenance listed in the
“Scheduled Servicing”. Refer to “Scheduled
Servicing” in “Servicing And Maintenance”
for the proper maintenance intervals. When
towing a trailer, never exceed the GAWR or
GCWR ratings.
WARNING!
Improper towing can lead to a collision.
Follow these guidelines to make your
trailer towing as safe as possible:
• Make certain that the load is secured in the trailer and will not shift during travel.
When trailering cargo that is not fully
secured, dynamic load shifts can occur
that may be difficult for the driver to
WARNING!
control. You could lose control of your
vehicle and have a collision.
• When hauling cargo or towing a trailer,
do not overload your vehicle or trailer.
Overloading can cause a loss of control,
poor performance or damage to brakes,
axle, engine, transmission, steering,
suspension, chassis structure or tires.
• Safety chains must always be used be-
tween your vehicle and trailer. Always
connect the chains to the hook retainers
of the vehicle hitch. Cross the chains
under the trailer tongue and allow
enough slack for turning corners.
• Vehicles with trailers should not be
parked on a grade. When parking, apply
the parking brake on the tow vehicle. Put
the tow vehicle transmission in PARK.
For four-wheel drive vehicles, make sure
the transfer case is not in NEUTRAL.
Always, block or "chock" the trailer
wheels.
• GCWR must not be exceeded.
WARNING!
• Total weight must be distributed between
the tow vehicle and the trailer such that the
following four ratings are not exceeded:
1. GVWR
2. GTW
3. GAWR
4. Tongue weight rating for the trailer hitch utilized.
Towing Requirements — Trailer Brakes
•Do notinterconnect the hydraulic brake
system or vacuum system of your vehicle
with that of the trailer. This could cause
inadequate braking and possible personal
injury.
• An electronically actuated trailer brake controller is required when towing a trailer
with electronically actuated brakes. When
towing a trailer equipped with a hydraulic
surge actuated brake system, an electronic
brake controller is not required.
143

RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND MOTORHOME, ETC.)
Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle
Towing ConditionWheels OFF The
Ground Two-Wheel Drive
Models Four-Wheel Drive Models
Flat Tow NONENOT ALLOWED See Instructions
• Automatic transmission in PARK
• Manual transmission in gear (NOT in NEUTRAL)
• Transfer case in NEUTRAL (N)
• Tow in forward direction
Dolly Tow Front
NOT ALLOWED
NOT ALLOWED
Rear OK NOT ALLOWED
On Trailer ALLOK OK
NOTE:
• When towing your vehicle, always follow
applicable state and provincial laws. Con-
tact state and provincial Highway Safety
offices for additional details.
Recreational Towing —
Two-Wheel Drive Models
DO NOT flat tow this vehicle. Damage to the
drivetrain will result. Recreational towing (for two-wheel drive
models) is allowed
ONLYif the rear wheels are
OFF the ground. This may be accomplished
using a tow dolly or vehicle trailer. If using a
tow dolly, follow this procedure:
1. Properly secure the dolly to the tow ve- hicle, following the dolly manufacturer's
instructions.
2. Drive the rear wheels onto the tow dolly. 3. Firmly apply the parking brake. Place au-
tomatic transmission in PARK, manual
transmission in gear (not in NEUTRAL).
4. Properly secure the rear wheels to the dolly, following the dolly manufacturer's
instructions.
5. Turn the ignition OFF and remove the key fob.
6. Install a suitable clamping device, de- signed for towing, to secure the front
wheels in the straight position.
147

CAUTION!
• Towing with the rear wheels on theground will cause severe transmission
damage. Damage from improper towing
is not covered under the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty.
• Do not disconnect the driveshaft be-
cause fluid may leak from the transmis-
sion, causing damage to internal parts.
Recreational Towing —
Four-Wheel Drive Models
NOTE:
Both the manual shift and electronic shift
transfer cases must be shifted into NEUTRAL
(N) for recreational towing. Automatic trans-
missions must be shifted into PARK for rec-
reational towing. Manual transmissions must
be placed in gear (NOT in NEUTRAL) for
recreational towing. Refer to the following for
the proper transfer case NEUTRAL (N) shift-
ing procedure for your vehicle.
CAUTION!
• DO NOT dolly tow any 4WD vehicle.Towing with only one set of wheels on
the ground (front or rear) will cause
severe transmission and/or transfer case
damage. Tow with all four wheels either
ON the ground, or OFF the ground (using
a vehicle trailer).
• Tow only in the forward direction. Towing
this vehicle backwards can cause severe
damage to the transfer case.
• Before recreational towing, the transfer
case must be in NEUTRAL. To be certain
the transfer case is fully in NEUTRAL,
perform the procedure outlined under
“Shifting Into NEUTRAL”. Internal
transmission damage will result, if the
transfer case is not in NEUTRAL during
towing.
• Automatic transmissions must be
placed in PARK, and manual transmis-
sions must be placed in gear (not in
Neutral) for recreational towing.
• Towing this vehicle in violation of the
above requirements can cause severe
CAUTION!
transmission and/or transfer case dam-
age. Damage from improper towing is
not covered under the New Vehicle Lim-
ited Warranty.
• Do not disconnect the rear driveshaft
because fluid will leak from the transfer
case, causing damage to internal parts.
• Do not use a bumper-mounted clamp-on
tow bar on your vehicle. The bumper
face bar will be damaged.
Shifting Into NEUTRAL (N)
Use the following procedure to prepare your
vehicle for recreational towing.
WARNING!
You or others could be injured or killed if
you leave the vehicle unattended with the
transfer case in the NEUTRAL (N) position
without first fully engaging the parking
brake. The transfer case NEUTRAL (N)
position disengages both the front and rear
driveshafts from the powertrain, and will
allow the vehicle to roll, even if the auto-
STARTING AND OPERATING
148

WARNING!
matic transmission is in PARK (or manual
transmission is in gear). The parking brake
should always be applied when the driver
is not in the vehicle.
CAUTION!
It is necessary to follow these steps to be
certain that the transfer case is fully in
NEUTRAL (N) before recreational towing
to prevent damage to internal parts.
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop on level ground, with the engine running.
Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL.
3. Press and hold the brake pedal.
4. Depress the clutch pedal on a manual transmission.
5. Shift the transfer case into NEUTRAL: • With manual shift transfer case, shift
the transfer case lever into NEUTRAL
(N).
• With electronic shift transfer case, push and hold the transfer case NEU-
TRAL (N) button. Some models have a
small, recessed "N" button (at the cen-
ter of the transfer case switches) that
must be pressed using a ballpoint pen
or similar object. Other models have a
rectangular NEUTRAL switch, below
the rotary transfer case control knob.
The NEUTRAL (N) indicator light will
blink while the shift is in progress. The
light will stop blinking (stay on solid)
when the shift to NEUTRAL (N) is com-
plete. After the shift is completed and
the NEUTRAL (N) light stays on, re-
lease the NEUTRAL (N) button.
6. Release the parking brake.
7. Shift the transmission into REVERSE. 8. Release the brake pedal (and clutch pedal
on manual transmissions) for five seconds
and ensure that there is no vehicle
movement.
9. Repeat steps seven and eight with auto- matic transmission in DRIVE or manual
transmission in first gear.
10. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL. Firmly apply the parking brake. Turn OFF
the engine. For vehicles with Keyless
Enter-N-Go, push and hold the ENGINE
START/STOP button until the engine
shuts off.
11. Shift the transmission into PARK or place manual transmission in gear (NOT
in NEUTRAL).
12. Place the ignition in the OFF mode, and remove the key fob.
13. Attach the vehicle to the tow vehicle using a suitable tow bar.
14. Release the parking brake.
149

NOTE:
With electronic shift transfer case:
• Steps 2 through 4 are requirements thatmust be met before pushing the NEUTRAL
(N) button, and must continue to be met
until the shift has been completed. If any of
these requirements are not met before
pushing the NEUTRAL (N) button or are no
longer met during the shift, the NEUTRAL
(N) indicator light will flash continuously
until all requirements are met or until the
NEUTRAL (N) button is released.
• The ignition must be in the ON/RUN mode for a shift to take place and for the position
indicator lights to be operable. If the igni-
tion is not in the ON/RUN mode, the shift
will not take place and no position indicator
lights will be on or flashing.
• A flashing NEUTRAL (N) position indicator light indicates that shift requirements have
not been met.Shifting Out Of NEUTRAL (N)
Use the following procedure to prepare your
vehicle for normal usage:
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop,
leaving it connected to the tow vehicle.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake.
3. Turn the ignition to the ON/RUN mode, but do not start the engine.
4. Press and hold the brake pedal.
5. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL.
• With manual shift transfer case, shiftthe transfer case lever to the desired
position.
• With electronic shift transfer case with rotary selector switch, push and hold
the transfer case NEUTRAL (N) button
until the NEUTRAL (N) indicator light
turns off. After the NEUTRAL (N) indi-
cator light turns off, release the NEU-
TRAL (N) button. After the NEUTRAL
(N) button has been released, the
transfer case will shift to the position
indicated by the selector switch. • With electronic shift transfer case with
push-button selector switch, push and
hold the switch for the desired transfer
case position, until the NEUTRAL (N)
indicator light turns off and the desired
position indicator light turns on.
NOTE:
When shifting out of transfer case NEUTRAL
(N), the engine should remain OFF to avoid
gear clash.
6. Shift automatic transmission into PARK.
7. Release the brake pedal (and clutch pedal on a manual transmission).
8. Disconnect vehicle from the tow vehicle.
9. Start the engine.
10. Press and hold the brake pedal.
11. Release the parking brake.
12. Shift the transmission into gear, release the brake pedal (and clutch pedal on
manual transmissions), and check that
the vehicle operates normally.
STARTING AND OPERATING
150

4. Apply the parking brake.
5. Turn the ignition OFF.
6. Block both the front and rear of the wheeldiagonally opposite the jacking position.
For example, if the right front wheel is
being changed, block the left rear wheel.
NOTE:
Passengers should not remain in the vehicle
when the vehicle is being jacked.Jacking Instructions 4500 And
5500 Series
WARNING!
Carefully follow these tire changing warn-
ings to help prevent personal injury or
damage to your vehicle:
• Always park on a firm, level surface as far from the edge of the roadway as
possible before raising the vehicle.
• Turn on the Hazard Warning flasher.
• Block the wheel diagonally opposite the
wheel to be raised.
• Set the parking brake firmly and set the
transmission in PARK.
• Never start or run the engine with the
vehicle on a jack.
• Do not let anyone sit in the vehicle when
it is on a jack.
• Do not get under the vehicle when it is
on a jack. If you need to get under a
raised vehicle, take it to a service center
where it can be raised on a lift.
• Only use the jack in the positions indi-
cated and for lifting this vehicle during a
tire change.
WARNING!
• If working on or near a roadway, beextremely careful of motor traffic.
• To assure that spare tires, flat or in-
flated, are securely stowed, spares must
be stowed with the valve stem facing the
ground.
Wheel Blocked
Warning Label
161

NOTE:
The positive battery post may be covered with
a protective cap if equipped. Lift up on the
cap to gain access to the positive battery
post. Do not jump off fuses. Only jump di-
rectly off positive post which has a positive
(+)symbol on or around the post.
WARNING!
• Take care to avoid the radiator cooling
fan whenever the hood is raised. It can
start anytime the ignition switch is ON.
You can be injured by moving fan blades.
• Remove any metal jewelry such as rings,
watch bands and bracelets that could
make an inadvertent electrical contact.
You could be seriously injured.
• Batteries contain sulfuric acid that can
burn your skin or eyes and generate
hydrogen gas which is flammable and
explosive. Keep open flames or sparks
away from the battery.
1. Apply the parking brake, shift the auto- matic transmission into PARK and turn
the ignition to LOCK.
2. Turn off the heater, radio, and all unnec- essary electrical accessories.
3. If using another vehicle to jump start the battery, park the vehicle within the jumper
cables reach, apply the parking brake and
make sure the ignition is OFF.
WARNING!
Do not allow vehicles to touch each other
as this could establish a ground connec-
tion and personal injury could result.
Jump Starting Procedure
WARNING!
Failure to follow this jump starting proce-
dure could result in personal injury or
property damage due to battery explosion.
CAUTION!
Failure to follow these procedures could
result in damage to the charging system of
the booster vehicle or the discharged ve-
hicle.
Connecting The Jumper Cables
1. Connect the positive (+)end of the jumper
cable to the positive (+)post of the dis-
charged vehicle.
Positive Jumping Location
165

• In city traffic — while stopped, place thetransmission in NEUTRAL, but do not in-
crease the engine idle speed while prevent-
ing vehicle motion with the brakes.
NOTE:
There are steps that you can take to slow
down an impending overheat condition:
• If your air conditioner (A/C) is on, turn it off. The A/C system adds heat to the engine
cooling system and turning the A/C off can
help remove this heat.
• You can also turn the temperature control to maximum heat, the mode control to floor
and the blower control to high. This allows
the heater core to act as a supplement to
the radiator and aids in removing heat from
the engine cooling system.
WARNING!
You or others can be badly burned by hot
engine coolant (antifreeze) or steam from
your radiator. If you see or hear steam
coming from under the hood, do not open
the hood until the radiator has had time to
cool. Never try to open a cooling system
WARNING!
pressure cap when the radiator or coolant
bottle is hot.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could
damage your vehicle. If the temperature
gauge reads HOT (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 HOT (H), and you hear
continuous chimes, turn the engine off
immediately and call for service.
GEAR SELECTOR OVERRIDE
If a malfunction occurs and the gear selector
cannot be moved out of the PARK position,
you can use the following procedure to tem-
porarily move the gear selector: 1. Turn the engine OFF.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake.
3. Tilt the steering wheel to the full up
position.
4. Press and maintain firm pressure on the brake pedal.
5. Insert a screwdriver or similar tool into the access port (ringed circle) on the bottom
of the steering column, and push and hold
the override release lever up.
Gear Selector Override Access Port
167

Mileage or time passed (whichever comesfirst)
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
100,000
110,000
120,000
130,000
140,000
150,000
Or Years: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Or Kilometers:
32,000
48,000
64,000
80,000
96,000
112,000
128,000
144,000
160,000
176,000
192,000
208,000
224,000
240,000
Additional Inspections
Inspect the CV/Universal joints. X X X X X
Inspect front suspension, tie rod ends, and
replace if necessary. XXX X X X X
Inspect the front and rear axle surfaces. If
gear oil leakage is suspected, check the
fluid level. If using your vehicle for police,
taxi, fleet, off-road or frequent trailer tow-
ing, change axle fluid. XXX X X X X
Inspect the brake linings, parking brake
function. XXX X X X X
Additional Maintenance
Replace engine air filter. X X X X X
Replace spark plugs. ** X
Flush and replace the engine coolant at
10 years or 150,000 miles (240,000 km)
whichever comes first. XX
Change the automatic transmission fluid
(AS66RC Transmission Only). XX X
Change the automatic transmission fluid
and sump filter (AS66RC Transmission
Only). XX
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
176

Maintenance Plan — Cummins Diesel Engine
Mileage or time passed (whichever comes first):7,500
15,000
22,500
30,000
37,500
45,000
52,500
60,000
67,500
75,000
82,500
90,000
97,500
105,000
112,500
120,000
127,500
135,000
142,500
150,000
Or Months: 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90 96 102 108 114 120
Or Kilometers:
12,000
24,000
36,000
48,000
60,000
72,000
84,000
96,000
108,000
120,000
132,000
144,000
156,000
168,000
180,000
192,000
204,000
216,000
228,000
240,000
Change engine oil every 15,000 miles
(24 000 km) or six months or 500 Hours or
sooner if prompted by the oil change indica-
tor system, whichever comes first. ** XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX X XX
Additional Inspections
Check the Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) tank,
refill if necessary. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX X XX
Rotate the tires. X X X X X X X XXXXXXXXXX X XX
Lubricate front drive shaft fitting (4x4). X X X X X X X XXXXXXXXXX X XX
Inspect front end, and lubricate — If
equipped with serviceable fittings. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX X XX
Inspect engine air filter, replace if necessary.
**** XX XX X X XX X X
Inspect the front suspension, tie rod ends and
boot seals for cracks or leaks and all parts for
damage, wear, improper looseness or end
play; replace if necessary. XX XX X X XX X X
Inspect the brake linings. XXX XX X
Inspect and adjust parking brake. XXX XX X
Inspect drive belt; replace as necessary. XXX XX X
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
180