Ram 5500 Chassis Cab 2014 Owner's Manual

CAUTION!
Never use Non-Detergent Oil or Straight Mineral Oil
in the engine or damage may result.
NOTE: A new engine may consume some oil during its
first few thousand miles (kilometers) of operation. This
should be considered a normal part of the break-in and
not interpreted as a problem.
DIESEL ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS
The Cummins® turbocharged diesel engine does not
require a break-in period due to its construction. Normal
operation is allowed, providing the following recommen-
dations are followed:
• Warm up the engine before placing it under load.
• Do not operate the engine at idle for prolonged
periods. •
Use the appropriate transmission gear to prevent
engine lugging.
• Observe vehicle oil pressure and temperature indica-
tors.
• Check the coolant and oil levels frequently.
• Vary throttle position at highway speeds when carry-
ing or towing significant weight.
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 Operating” of the
Owners Manual.
Because of the construction of the Cummins® turbo-
charged diesel engine, engine run-in is enhanced by
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 109

loaded operating conditions which allow the engine
parts to achieve final finish and fit during the first 6,000
miles (10 000 km).
SAFETY TIPS
Transporting Passengers
NEVER TRANSPORT PASSENGERS IN THE CARGO
AREA.
WARNING!
•Do not leave children or animals inside parked
vehicles in hot weather. Interior heat build-up may
cause serious injury or death.
• It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people
riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously
injured or killed.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not allow people to ride in any area of your
vehicle that is not equipped with seats and seat
belts.
• Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and
using a seat belt properly.
Exhaust Gas
WARNING!
Exhaust gases can injure or kill. They contain carbon
monoxide (CO), which is colorless and odorless.
Breathing it can make you unconscious and can
eventually poison you. To avoid breathing (CO),
follow these safety tips:
(Continued)
110 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!(Continued)
•Do not run the engine in a closed garage or in
confined areas any longer than needed to move
your vehicle in or out of the area.
• If you are required to drive with the trunk/liftgate/
rear doors open, make sure that all windows are
closed and the climate control BLOWER switch is
set at high speed. DO NOT use the recirculation
mode.
• If it is necessary to sit in a parked vehicle with the
engine running, adjust your heating or cooling
controls to force outside air into the vehicle. Set the
blower at high speed.
The best protection against carbon monoxide entry into
the vehicle body is a properly maintained engine exhaust
system. Whenever a change is noticed in the sound of the exhaust
system, when exhaust fumes can be detected inside the
vehicle, or when the underside or rear of the vehicle is
damaged, have a competent mechanic inspect the com-
plete exhaust system and adjacent body areas for broken,
damaged, deteriorated, or mispositioned parts. Open
seams or loose connections could permit exhaust fumes
to seep into the passenger compartment. In addition,
inspect the exhaust system each time the vehicle is raised
for lubrication or oil change. Replace as required.
Safety Checks You Should Make Inside The
Vehicle
Seat Belts
Inspect the seat belt system periodically, checking for
cuts, frays, and loose parts. Damaged parts must be
replaced immediately. Do not disassemble or modify the
system.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 111

Front seat belt assemblies must be replaced after a
collision. Rear seat belt assemblies must be replaced after
a collision if they have been damaged (i.e., bent retractor,
torn webbing, etc.). If there is any question regarding seat
belt or retractor condition, replace the seat belt.
Air Bag Warning Light
The light should come on and remain on for
four to eight seconds as a bulb check when the
ignition switch is first turned ON. If the light is
not lit during starting, see your authorized
dealer. If the light stays on, flickers, or comes on while
driving, have the system checked by an authorized
dealer.
Defroster
Check operation by selecting the defrost mode and place
the blower control on high speed. You should be able to feel the air directed against the windshield. See your
authorized dealer for service if your defroster is inoper-
able.
Floor Mat Safety Information
Always use floor mats designed to fit the footwell of your
vehicle. Use only floor mats that leave the pedal area
unobstructed and that are firmly secured so that they
cannot slip out of position and interfere with the pedals
or impair safe operation of your vehicle in other ways.
WARNING!
Pedals that cannot move freely can cause loss of
vehicle control and increase the risk of serious per-
sonal injury.
•
Always make sure that floor mats are properly
attached to the floor mat fasteners.
(Continued)
112 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!(Continued)
•Never place or install floor mats or other floor
coverings in the vehicle that cannot be properly
secured to prevent them from moving and interfer-
ing with the pedals or the ability to control the
vehicle.
• Never put floor mats or other floor coverings on top
of already installed floor mats. Additional floor
mats and other coverings will reduce the size of the
pedal area and interfere with the pedals.
• Check mounting of mats on a regular basis. Always
properly reinstall and secure floor mats that have
been removed for cleaning.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Always make sure that objects cannot fall into the
driver footwell while the vehicle is moving. Ob-
jects can become trapped under the brake pedal
and accelerator pedal causing a loss of vehicle
control.
• If required, mounting posts must be properly in-
stalled, if not equipped from the factory.
Failure to properly follow floor mat installation or
mounting can cause interference with the brake
pedal and accelerator pedal operation causing loss of
control of the vehicle.
Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make Outside
The Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear and uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 113

lodged in the tread or sidewall. Inspect the tread for cuts
and cracks. Inspect sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
Check the wheel nuts for tightness. Check the tires
(including spare) for proper cold inflation pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of brake lights and
exterior lights while you work the controls. Check turn
signal and high beam indicator lights on the instrument
panel.
Door Latches
Check for positive closing, latching, and locking.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for fuel,
engine coolant, oil, or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline
fumes are detected or if fuel, power steering fluid (if
equipped), or brake fluid leaks are suspected, the cause
should be located and corrected immediately.
114 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE
CONTENTS
MIRRORS ............................119
▫ Inside Day/Night Mirror — If Equipped .....119
▫ Automatic Dimming Mirror — If Equipped . . .119
▫ Automatic Dimming Mirror With Rear View
Camera Display — If Equipped ...........125
▫ Outside Mirrors ..................... .126
▫ Outside Mirrors Folding Feature ...........127
▫ Power Mirrors — If Equipped ............128
▫ Heated Mirrors — If Equipped ...........129
▫ Illuminated Vanity Mirror — If Equipped . . . .130 ▫
“Slide-On-Rod” Features Of Sun Visor — If
Equipped .......................... .130
▫ Trailer Towing Mirrors — If Equipped ......131
 SEATS ............................. .132
▫ Driver’s Power Seat — If Equipped ........132
▫ Passenger ’s Power Seat — If Equipped ......135
▫ Power Lumbar — If Equipped ............136
▫ Heated Seats — If Equipped ..............136
▫ Ventilated Seats — If Equipped ............139
▫ Manual Seat Adjuster — If Equipped ........1403

▫40-20-40 Front Bench Seat — If Equipped . . . .141
▫ Head Restraints ..................... .141
 DRIVER MEMORY SEAT — IF EQUIPPED . . . .143
▫ Programming The Memory Feature .........144
▫ Linking And Unlinking The Remote Keyless Entry
Transmitter To Memory .................145
▫ Memory Position Recall .................146
▫ Easy Entry/Exit Seat ...................147
 TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE HOOD .........148
 LIGHTS ............................ .150
▫ Headlights ......................... .151
▫ Automatic Headlights — If Equipped .......151
▫ Headlights On With Wipers (Available With
Automatic Headlights Only) ..............152▫
Daytime Running Lights (DRL) —
If Equipped ........................ .152
▫ Headlight Delay ..................... .152
▫ Automatic High Beam Headlamp Control — If
Equipped .......................... .153
▫ Parking Lights And Panel Lights ...........155
▫ Fog Lights — If Equipped ...............155
▫ Lights-On Reminder ...................156
▫ Battery Saver ........................ .156
▫ Interior Lights ...................... .156
▫ Cargo Light ........................ .159
▫ Multifunction Lever ...................160
▫ Turn Signals ........................ .160
▫ Lane Change Assist ...................161
116 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

▫Flash-To-Pass ....................... .161
▫ High/Low Beam Switch ................161
 WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHERS ......162
▫ Windshield Wipers ....................162
▫ Windshield Wiper Operation .............162
▫ Intermittent Wiper System ...............162
▫ Windshield Washers ...................163
▫ Mist Feature ........................ .163
▫ Rain Sensing Wipers — If Equipped ........164
 TILT STEERING COLUMN ...............165
 DRIVER ADJUSTABLE PEDALS —
IF EQUIPPED ........................ .166

HEATED STEERING WHEEL — IF EQUIPPED . .168
 ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL ...........169
▫ To Activate ......................... .170
▫ To Set A Desired Speed .................171
▫ To Deactivate ....................... .171
▫ To Resume Speed .....................171
▫ To Vary The Speed Setting ...............171
▫ To Accelerate For Passing ................173
 OVERHEAD CONSOLE — IF EQUIPPED .....174
▫ Courtesy/Reading Lights ...............174
 ELECTRICAL POWER OUTLETS ...........176
 CIGAR LIGHTER AND ASH RECEIVER — IF
EQUIPPED .......................... .180
 POWER INVERTER — IF EQUIPPED ........181
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 117

CUPHOLDERS ....................... .182
▫ Front Seat Cupholders (40–20–40 Seats) ......182
▫ Front Instrument Panel Cupholders — Floor
Storage Bin ......................... .182
▫ Rear Cupholder — Crew Cab .............183
 STORAGE ........................... .184
▫ Glove Compartment ...................184
▫ Door Storage ........................ .186
▫ Center Storage Compartment — If Equipped . .187 ▫
Seatback Storage ..................... .189
▫ Storage (Regular Cab) ..................190
▫ Storage and Seats (Crew Cab) .............190
▫ Plastic Grocery Bag Retainers (Regular Cab
Models) ........................... .191
 REAR WINDOW FEATURES ..............192
▫ Rear Window Defroster .................192
▫ Power Sliding Rear Window — If Equipped . .193
▫
Manual Sliding Rear Window — If Equipped . .193
118 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE