Ram 5500 Chassis Cab 2015 Owner's Manual

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
CONTENTS
HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS ...........460
 IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS ............460
 WHEEL AND TIRE TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS ..................... .461
▫ Torque Specifications ..................461
 JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING ..........464
▫ 4500/5500 Models .....................464
▫ Preparations For Jacking .................465
▫ Jacking Instructions ....................466
 HOISTING .......................... .472
JUMP-STARTING PROCEDURES ...........472
▫ Preparations For Jump-Start ..............473
▫ Jump-Starting Procedure ................475
 FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE .............477
 EMERGENCY TOW HOOKS — IF EQUIPPED . .479
 SHIFT LEVER OVERRIDE ................480
 TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE ...........481
▫ Two-Wheel Drive Models ................482
▫ Four-Wheel Drive Models ................483
6

HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS
The Hazard Warning flasher switch is located on the
upper switch bank just below the radio.Press the switch to turn on the Hazard Warning
flasher. When the switch is activated, all direc-
tional turn signals will flash on and off to warn oncoming
traffic of an emergency. Press the switch a second time to
turn off the Hazard Warning flashers.
This is an emergency warning system and it should not
be used when the vehicle is in motion. Use it when your
vehicle is disabled and it is creating a safety hazard for
other motorists.
When you must leave the vehicle to seek assistance, the
Hazard Warning flashers will continue to operate even
though the ignition is placed in the OFF position.
NOTE: With extended use the Hazard Warning flashers
may wear down your battery.
IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS
In any of the following situations, you can reduce the
potential for overheating by taking the appropriate action.
• On the highways — slow down.
• In city traffic — while stopped, place the transmission
in NEUTRAL, but do not increase the engine idle
speed.
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.
460 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

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.
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 pressure
cap when the radiator or coolant bottle is hot.
WHEEL AND TIRE TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
Proper lug nut/bolt torque is very important to ensure
that the wheel is properly mounted to the vehicle. Any
time a wheel has been removed and reinstalled on the
vehicle the lug nuts/bolts should be torqued using a
properly calibrated torque wrench.
Torque Specifications
Lug Nut/BoltTorque Lug Nut/
Bolt
Type **Lug
Nut/Bolt Size Lug Nut/
Bolt
Socket Size
120-150 Ft-Lbs (160-200 N·m) Cone M14 x
1.5022 mm
130-160 Ft-Lbs (190-220 N·m) Flanged
**Use only Chrysler recommended lug nuts/bolts and
clean or remove any dirt or oil before tightening.6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 461

Inspect the wheel mounting surface prior to mounting
the tire and remove any corrosion or loose particles.
NOTE:Dual wheels are flat mounted, center piloted.
The lug nuts are a two-piece assembly. When the tires are
being rotated or replaced, clean these lug nuts and add
two drops of oil at the interface between the hex and the
washer. Do not oil wheel studs. For chrome wheels, do not
substitute with chrome plated wheel nuts.
Tighten the lug nuts/bolts in a star pattern until each
nut/bolt has been tightened twice.
Wheel Mounting Surface
462 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

After 25 miles (40 km) check the lug nut/bolt torque to be
sure that all the lug nuts/bolts are properly seated
against the wheel.
WARNING!
To avoid the risk of forcing the vehicle off the jack,
do not tighten the lug nuts fully until the vehicle has
been lowered. Failure to follow this warning may
result in personal injury.8 Lug Nuts/Bolts Torque Pattern
10 Lug Nuts/Bolts Torque Pattern
6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 463

JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING
WARNING!
•Do not attempt to change a tire on the side of the
vehicle close to moving traffic, pull far enough off
the road to avoid the danger of being hit when
operating the jack or changing the wheel.
• Being under a jacked-up vehicle is dangerous. The
vehicle could slip off the jack and fall on you. You
could be crushed. Never put any part of your body
under a vehicle that is on a jack.
• Never start or run the engine while the vehicle 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.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•The jack is designed to use as a tool for changing
tires only. The jack should not be used to lift the
vehicle for service purposes. The vehicle should be
jacked on a firm level surface only. Avoid ice or
slippery areas.
4500/5500 Models
These vehicles do not come equipped with a jack.
NOTE: Jacking and tire changing on 4500/5500 models
should be performed by an authorized dealer, or knowl-
edgeable service personnel with the appropriate heavy
duty equipment, like a tire service company.
464 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

Preparations For Jacking
1. Park the vehicle on a firm, level surface. Avoid ice orslippery areas.
WARNING!
Do not attempt to change a tire on the side of the
vehicle close to moving traffic, pull far enough off
the road to avoid the danger of being hit when
operating the jack or changing the wheel.
2. Turn on the Hazard Warning flasher.
3. Set the parking brake.
4. Place the shift lever into PARK (automatic transmis- sion) or REVERSE (manual transmission). On 4-Wheel
drive vehicles, shift the transfer case to the “4L”
position. 5. Turn OFF the ignition.
6. Block both the front and rear of the wheel diagonally
opposite of the jacking position. For
example, if changing the right front
tire, block the left rear wheel.
NOTE: Passengers should not remain in the vehicle
when the vehicle is being jacked.
6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 465

Jacking Instructions
Instructions
WARNING!
Carefully follow these tire changing warnings 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 an automatic
transmission in PARK; a manual transmission in
REVERSE.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•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 indicated and for
lifting this vehicle during a tire change.
• If working on or near a roadway, be extremely
careful of motor traffic.
• To assure that spare tires, flat or inflated, are
securely stowed, spares must be stowed with the
valve stem facing the ground.
466 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

CAUTION!
Do not attempt to raise the vehicle by jacking on
locations other than those indicated in the Jacking
Instructions for this vehicle.
1. If equipped, remove the spare wheel, jack, and tools from storage.
2. Using the wheel wrench, loosen, but do not remove, the wheel nuts by turning them counterclockwise one
turn while the wheel is still on the ground. 3. When changing the front wheel, assemble the jack
drive tube to the jack and connect the drive tube to the
extension tube. Place the jack under the axle as close to
the tire as possible with the drive tubes extending to
the front. Connect the jack tube extension and wheel
wrench.
Jack Warning Label
Front Jacking Locations
6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 467

When changing a rear wheel, assemble the jack drive
tube to the jack and connect the drive tube to the
extension tube. Securely place the jack under the sway
bar bracket (unless both tires are flat on one side, then
place jack under shock bracket) facing forward in vehicle.
Connect the jack tube extension and lug wrench.Before raising the wheel off the ground, make sure that
the jack will not damage surrounding truck parts and
adjust the jack position as required.
NOTE:
If the jack will not lower by turning the dial
(thumbwheel) by hand, it may be necessary to use the
jack drive tube in order to lower the jack.
4. By rotating the wheel wrench clockwise, raise the vehicle until the wheel just clears the surface.
WARNING!
Raising the vehicle higher than necessary can make
the vehicle unstable and cause a collision. It could
slip off the jack and hurt someone near it. Raise the
vehicle only enough to remove the tire.
5. Remove the wheel nuts and pull the wheel off. Install the spare wheel and wheel nuts with the cone shaped
end of the nuts toward the wheel on single rear wheel
Rear Jacking Location
468 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES