lock RAM CHASSIS CAB 2023 Owners Manual

314SAFETY
child restraint installation, instead of buckling it
behind the child restraint, route the seat belt
through the child restraint belt path and then
buckle it. Do not lock the seat belt. Remind all
children in the vehicle that the seat belts are not
toys and that they should not play with them.
Installing Child Restraints Using The
Vehicle Seat Belt
Child restraint systems are designed to be secured
in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion
of a lap/shoulder belt. Regular Cab
The seat belts in the passenger seating positions
are equipped with a Switchable Automatic Locking
Retractor (ALR) that is designed to keep the lap
portion of the seat belt tight around the child
restraint so that it is not necessary to use a locking
clip. The ALR retractor can be “switched” into a
locked mode by pulling all of the webbing out of the
retractor and then letting the webbing retract back
into the retractor. If it is locked, the ALR will make
a clicking noise while the webbing is pulled back
into the retractor.
See the “Automatic Locking Mode” description
Ú
page 295 for additional information on ALR.
WARNING!
Improper installation of a child restraint to the
LATCH anchorages can lead to failure of the
restraint. The child could be badly injured or
killed. Follow the child restraint manufac -
turer’s directions exactly when installing an
infant or child restraint.
Child restraint anchorages are designed to
withstand only those loads imposed by
correctly-fitted child restraints. Under no
circumstances are they to be used for adult
seat belts, harnesses, or for attaching other
items or equipment to the vehicle.
WARNING!
Improper installation or failure to properly
secure a child restraint can lead to failure of
the restraint. The child could be badly injured
or killed.
Follow the child restraint manufacturer’s
directions exactly when installing an infant or
child restraint.

23_DPF_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 314

SAFETY315
Crew Cab
The seat belts in the passenger seating positions
are equipped with either a Switchable Automatic
Locking Retractor (ALR) or a cinching latch plate or
both. Both types of seat belts are designed to keep
the lap portion of the seat belt tight around the
child restraint so that it is not necessary to use a
locking clip. The ALR retractor can be “switched”
into a locked mode by pulling all of the webbing out
of the retractor and then letting the webbing
retract back into the retractor. If it is locked, the
ALR will make a clicking noise while the webbing is
pulled back into the retractor. The cinching latch
plate is designed to hold the lap portion of the seat
belt tight when webbing is pulled tight and straight
through a child restraint’s belt path.
See the “Automatic Locking Mode” description
Ú page 295 for additional information on ALR.
Please see the table below and the following
sections for more information.
Lap/Shoulder Belt Systems For Installing
Child Restraints In This Vehicle

Regular Cab Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) Locations Crew Cab Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) Locations

ALR — Switchable Automatic Locking Retractor Top Tether Anchorage Symbol
Cinching Latch plate — Cinching Latch plate
ALR — Switchable Automatic Locking Retractor Top Tether Anchorage Symbol
6

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SAFETY317
Installing A Child Restraint With A
Switchable Automatic Locking Retractor
(ALR):
Child restraint systems are designed to be secured
in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion
of a lap/shoulder belt.

1.
For Crew Cab Models
Place the child seat in the center of the seating
position. If the second row seat can be re -
clined, you may recline the seat and/or raise
the head restraint (if adjustable) to get a better
fit. If the rear seat can be moved forward and
rearward in the vehicle, you may wish to move
it to its rear-most position to make room for the
child seat. You may also move the front seat
forward to allow more room for the child seat. For Regular Cab Models
Place the child seat in the center of the seating
position. Move the vehicle seat as far rearward
as possible to keep the child as far from the
passenger air bag as possible.
2. Pull enough of the seat belt webbing from the retractor to pass it through the belt path of the
child restraint. Do not twist the belt webbing in
the belt path.
3. Slide the latch plate into the buckle until you hear a “click.”
4. Pull on the webbing to make the lap portion tight against the child seat.
5. To lock the seat belt, pull down on the shoulder part of the belt until you have pulled all the
seat belt webbing out of the retractor. Then,
allow the webbing to retract back into the
retractor. As the webbing retracts, you will hear
a clicking sound. This means the seat belt is
now in the Automatic Locking mode.
6. Try to pull the webbing out of the retractor. If it is locked, you should not be able to pull out any
webbing. If the retractor is not
locked, repeat
step 5.
7. Finally, pull up on any excess webbing to tighten the lap portion around the child
restraint while you push the child restraint
rearward and downward into the vehicle seat. 8. If the child restraint has a top tether strap and
the seating position has a top tether
anchorage, connect the tether strap to the
anchorage and tighten the tether strap. See
Úpage 318 for directions to attach a tether
anchor.
9. Test that the child restraint is installed tightly by pulling back and forth on the child seat at
the belt path. It should not move more than
1 inch (25.4 mm) in any direction.
Any seat belt system will loosen with time, so check
the belt occasionally, and pull it tight if necessary.
Installing A Child Restraint With A Cinching
Latch Plate (CINCH) — If Equipped:
Child restraint systems are designed to be secured
in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion
of a lap/shoulder belt.
WARNING!
Improper installation or failure to properly
secure a child restraint can lead to failure of
the restraint. The child could be badly injured
or killed.
Follow the child restraint manufacturer’s
directions exactly when installing an infant or
child restraint.
WARNING!
Improper installation or failure to properly
secure a child restraint can lead to failure of
the restraint. The child could be badly injured
or killed.
Follow the child restraint manufacturer’s
directions exactly when installing an infant or
child restraint.
6

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324SAFETY
(Continued)
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 proper closing, latching, and locking.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under the vehicle after overnight
parking for fuel, coolant, oil, or other fluid leaks.
Also, if gasoline fumes are detected or if fuel or
brake fluid leaks are suspected, the cause should
be located and corrected immediately.
EXHAUST GAS
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 an
authorized dealer inspect the complete 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.
CARBON MONOXIDE WARNINGS
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:
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/lift -
gate/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.
WARNING!
WARNING!
Carbon monoxide (CO) in exhaust gases is
deadly. Follow the precautions below to prevent
carbon monoxide poisoning:
Do not inhale exhaust gases. They contain
carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless
gas, which can kill. Never run the engine in a
closed area, such as a garage, and never sit in
a parked vehicle with the engine running for
an extended period. If the vehicle is stopped in
an open area with the engine running for more
than a short period, adjust the ventilation
system to force fresh, outside air into the
vehicle.
Guard against carbon monoxide with proper
maintenance. Have the exhaust system
inspected every time the vehicle is raised.
Have any abnormal conditions repaired
promptly. Until repaired, drive with all side
windows fully open.

23_DPF_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 324

330IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
(Continued)
2. Place the gear selector into PARK. On
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles, shift the transfer
case to the 4WD Low position.
3. Turn on the Hazard Warning Flashers.
4. Apply the parking brake.
5. Turn the ignition OFF.
6. Block both front and rear of the wheel diagonally opposite of the jacking position. For
example, if the driver’s front wheel is being
changed, block the passenger’s rear wheel.

Wheel Blocked Example

NOTE:Passengers should not remain in the vehicle when
the vehicle is being jacked.
JACKING INSTRUCTIONS 4500 AND
5500 S
ERIES

Jack Warning Label

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 Flashers.
Apply the parking brake firmly and set the
transmission in PARK.
Block the wheel diagonally opposite the wheel
to be raised.
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.
CAUTION!
Do not attempt to raise the vehicle by jacking on
locations other than those indicated in the
Jacking Instructions for this vehicle.
WARNING!

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IN CASE OF EMERGENCY331

1. If equipped, remove the spare wheel and tools from storage.

2. Using the lug wrench, loosen, but do not remove, the lug nuts by turning them counter -
clockwise one turn while the wheel is still on
the ground.
3. When changing the front wheel, place the jack under the axle as close to the tire as possible.

Front Jacking Locations

When changing a rear wheel, 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.
Rear Jacking Location

Before raising the wheel off the ground, make
sure that the jack will not damage surrounding
truck parts and adjust the jack position as re -
quired.
4. Raise the vehicle until the wheel just clears the surface.
5. Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheel off. For Single Rear-Wheel (SRW) models, Install the
spare wheel and lug nuts with the cone shaped
end of the nuts toward the wheel. For Dual
Rear-Wheel (DRW) models, the lug nuts are a two-piece assembly with a flat face. Lightly
tighten the nuts. To avoid risk of forcing the
vehicle off the jack, do not fully tighten the
nuts until the vehicle has been lowered.
6. Using the lug wrench, finish tightening the nuts using a crisscross pattern Ú page 411. If in
doubt about the correct tightness, have them
checked with a torque wrench by an
authorized dealer or at a service station.
7. Install wheel center cap (if equipped) and remove wheel blocks. Do not install chrome or
aluminum wheel center caps on the spare
wheel. This may result in cap damage.
8. Lower the jack to its fully closed position. Stow the replaced tire and tools as previously
described.
9. Adjust the tire pressure when possible.
10. After 25 miles (40 km), check the lug nut torque Ú page 411 with a torque wrench to
ensure that all lug nuts are properly seated
against the wheel.
WARNING!
Raising the vehicle higher than necessary can
make the vehicle less stable. It could slip off the
jack and hurt someone near it. Raise the vehicle
only enough to remove the tire.
WARNING!
A loose tire or jack thrown forward in a collision
or hard stop, could endanger the occupants of
the vehicle. Always stow the jack parts and the
spare tire in the places provided.
7

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IN CASE OF EMERGENCY337
MANUAL PARK RELEASE
8–SPEED TRANSMISSION —
I
F EQUIPPED
In order to move the vehicle in cases where the
transmission will not shift out of PARK (P) (such as
a depleted battery), a Manual Park Release is
available. See the following steps to activate the Manual
Park Release:

1. Firmly apply the parking brake.

2. Using a small screwdriver or similar tool,
remove the Manual Park Release access
cover, which is just above the parking brake
release handle, below and to the left of the
steering column.

Manual Park Release Cover

3. Press and maintain firm pressure on the brake pedal.
4. Using the screwdriver or similar tool, push the Manual Park Release lever locking tab (just
below the middle of the lever) upwards.
Manual Park Release Pull Strap

5. While holding the locking tab in the disengaged position, pull the tether strap to
rotate the lever rearward, until it locks in place
pointing towards the driver's seat. Release the
locking tab and verify that the Manual Park
Release lever is locked in the released
position.
6. The vehicle is now out of PARK and can be towed. Release the parking brake only when
the vehicle is securely connected to a tow
vehicle.
WARNING!
Always secure your vehicle by fully applying the
parking brake before activating the Manual Park
Release. In addition, you should be seated in the
driver’s seat with your foot firmly on the brake
pedal when activating the Manual Park Release.
Activating the Manual Park Release will allow
your vehicle to roll away if it is not secured by the
parking brake, or by proper connection to a tow
vehicle. Activating the Manual Park Release on
an unsecured vehicle could lead to serious
injury or death for those in or around the vehicle.
7

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338IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
To Reset The Manual Park Release:

1. Push the locking tab to the right, to unlock the lever.

2. Rotate the Manual Park Release lever forward to its original position, until the locking tab
snaps into place to secure the lever.
3. Pull gently on the tether strap to confirm that the lever is locked in its stowed position.

Manual Park Release Tether In Stowed Position

4. Reinstall the access cover.
FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE
If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand, or
snow, it can often be moved using a rocking
motion. Turn the steering wheel right and left to
clear the area around the front wheels. Then shift
back and forth between DRIVE (D) and REVERSE
(R), while gently pressing the accelerator. Use the least amount of accelerator pedal pressure that
will maintain the rocking motion, without spinning
the wheels or racing the engine.
NOTE:
For trucks equipped with an 8–speed transmis
-
sion, shifts between DRIVE and REVERSE can
only be achieved at wheel speeds of 5 mph
(8 km/h) or less. Whenever the transmission
remains in NEUTRAL (N) for more than two
seconds, you must press the brake pedal to
engage DRIVE or REVERSE.
Push the ESC OFF button, to place the Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) system in “Partial Off”
mode, before rocking the vehicle Ú page 271.
Once the vehicle has been freed, push the ESC
OFF button again to restore ESC On mode.
WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces
generated by excessive wheel speeds may
cause damage, or even failure, of the axle and
tires. A tire could explode and injure someone.
Do not spin your vehicle's wheels faster than
30 mph (48 km/h) or for longer than 30
seconds continuously without stopping when
you are stuck and do not let anyone near a
spinning wheel, no matter what the speed.
CAUTION!
Racing the engine or spinning the wheels may
lead to transmission overheating and failure.
Allow the engine to idle with the transmission
in NEUTRAL for at least one minute after every
five rocking-motion cycles. This will minimize
overheating and reduce the risk of transmis -
sion failure during prolonged efforts to free a
stuck vehicle.
When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by shifting
between DRIVE and REVERSE, do not spin the
wheels faster than 15 mph (24 km/h), or
drivetrain damage may result.
Revving the engine or spinning the wheels too
fast may lead to transmission overheating and
failure. It can also damage the tires. Do not
spin the wheels above 30 mph (48 km/h)
while in gear (no transmission shifting occur -
ring).

23_DPF_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 338

SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE361
(Continued)
Upon proper draining of the water from both fuel
filters, the Water In Fuel Indicator Light will remain
illuminated for approximately 10 seconds. If the
water was drained while the engine was running,
the Water In Fuel Indicator Light may remain on for
approximately three minutes.
NOTE:Care should be taken in disposing of used fluids
from your vehicle. Used fluids, indiscriminately
discarded, can present a problem to the envi
-
ronment. Contact an authorized dealer, service
station, or government agency for advice on recy -
cling programs and for where used fluids and
filters can be properly disposed of in your area.
Drain the fuel/water separator filters when the
Water In Fuel Indicator Light is ON. Within
10 minutes of vehicle shutdown, turn the engine
mounted filter drain valve (located on the side of
the filter assembly) counterclockwise a quarter
turn, and turn the under body mounted filter drain
valve (located on the bottom of the filter assembly)
counterclockwise one full turn. Then turn the
ignition switch to the ON position, and allow any
accumulated water to drain. Leave the drain valve
open until all water and contaminants have been
removed. When clean fuel is visible, close the drain
valve following these guidelines:
1. Rotate the drain clockwise to close until you
feel resistance from the internal seal.

2. Continue turning the drain half of a turn to properly compress the seal.
NOTE:Over-compression of the seal due to overtightening
of the drain will damage the seal, cause a leak, and
require the entire sensor to be replaced.
3. Turn the ignition switch to OFF.
The sensor drain should not be overtightened
during normal service operations to avoid internal
damage and future fuel leaks. The drain should be
closed and secured without the use of tools.
If more than a couple ounces/milliliters of fuel
have been drained, follow the directions
Úpage 363
ENGINE MOUNTED FUEL FILTER
R
EPLACEMENT
NOTE:
Using a fuel filter that does not meet the manu -
facturer's filtration and water separating
requirements can severely impact fuel system
life and reliability.
The engine mounted filter housing is equipped
with a No-Filter-No-Run (NFNR) feature. Engine
will not run if:
No filter is installed.
Inferior/Non-approved filter is used. Use of
OEM filter is required to ensure vehicle will
run.

Engine Mounted Fuel Filter Assembly

1 — Drain Valve
CAUTION!
Diesel fuel will damage blacktop paving
surfaces. Drain the filter into an appropriate
container.
8

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362SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE

1. Ensure engine is turned off.

2. Place drain pan under the fuel filter drain hose.
3. Open the water drain valve a quarter turn counterclockwise and completely drain fuel
and water into the approved container.
4. Close the water drain valve.
5. Remove lid using a socket or strap wrench. Rotate counterclockwise for removal. Remove
used o-ring and discard it.
6. Remove the used filter cartridge from the housing and dispose of according to your local
regulations.
7. Wipe clean the sealing surfaces of the lid and housing.
8. Install new o-ring back into ring groove on the filter housing and lubricate with clean engine
oil. 9. Remove new filter cartridge from plastic bag
and install into housing.
NOTE:Do not remove cartridge from bag until you reach
this step in order to keep cartridge clean.
10. Push down on the cartridge to ensure it is properly seated. Do not pre-fill the filter
housing with fuel.
11. Install lid onto housing and tighten to 22.5 ft-lb (30.5 N.m). Do not overtighten the lid.
12. Prime the engine, then start the engine and confirm there are no leaks Ú page 363.
UNDERBODY MOUNTED FUEL FILTER
R
EPLACEMENT
NOTE:
Using a fuel filter that does not meet the manu -
facturer's filtration and water separating
requirements can severely impact fuel system
life and reliability.
The underbody mounted filter housing will
cause the engine not to run if there is no filter
installed.
Underbody Mounted Fuel Filter Assembly

Do not prefill the fuel filter when installing a
new fuel filter. There is a possibility debris
could be introduced into the fuel filter during
this action. It is best to install the filter dry and
allow the in-tank lift pump to prime the fuel
system.
CAUTION!
1 — Drain Valve
CAUTION!
Diesel fuel will damage blacktop paving
surfaces. Drain the filter into an appropriate
container.
Do not prefill the fuel filter when installing a
new fuel filter. There is a possibility debris
could be introduced into the fuel filter during
this action. It is best to install the filter dry and
allow the in-tank lift pump to prime the fuel
system.

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