RAM CHASSIS CAB 2023 Owners Manual

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY329
(Continued)
NOTE:
Your vehicle may be transmitting data as autho -
rized by the subscriber.
Never place anything on or near the vehicle’s
LTE (voice/data) or 4G (data) and GPS
antennas. You could prevent LTE (voice/data) or
4G (data) and GPS signal reception, which can
prevent your vehicle from placing an emergency
call. An operable LTE (voice/data) or 4G (data)
network connection and a GPS signal is
required for the SOS Call system to function
properly.
Changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the party responsible for compli -
ance could void the user's authority to operate
the equipment. Automatic SOS — If Equipped
Automatic SOS is a hands-free safety service that
can immediately connect you with help in the event
that your vehicle’s airbags deploy. Please refer to
your provided radio supplement for complete
information.
JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING
Use this QR code to access your
digital experience.
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
knowledgeable service personnel with the appro
-
priate heavy duty equipment, like a tire service
company.
PREPARATIONS FOR JACKING

1. Park the vehicle on a firm, level surface. Avoid ice or slippery areas.

WARNING!
ALWAYS obey traffic laws and pay attention to
the road. ALWAYS drive safely with your hands on
the steering wheel. You have full responsibility
and assume all risks related to the use of the
features and applications in this vehicle. Only
use the features and applications when it is safe
to do so. Failure to do so may result in an
accident involving serious injury or death.
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. If
you need to get under a raised vehicle, take it to
a service center where it can be raised on a lift.

Never start or run the engine while the vehicle
is on a jack.
The jack is designed to be used 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.
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 being hit when
operating the jack or changing the wheel.
WARNING!
7

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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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332IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
Dual Rear Wheels
Slots in the wheels will assist in properly orienting
the inner and outer wheels. Align these slots when
assembling the wheels for best access to the tire
valve on the inner wheel. The tires of both dual
wheels must be completely off the ground when
tightening to ensure wheel centering and
maximum wheel clamping.
Dual wheel models require a special heavy-duty lug
nut tightening adapter (included with the vehicle)
to correctly tighten the lug nuts. Also, when it is
necessary to remove and install dual rear wheels,
use a proper vehicle lifting device.
NOTE:When installing a spare tire (if equipped) as part of
a dual rear wheel end combination, the tire
diameter of the two individual tires must be
compared. If there is a significant difference, the
larger tire should be installed in a front location.
The correct direction of rotation for dual tire instal -
lations must also be observed.
It is recommended that wheel stud nuts be kept
torqued to specifications at all times. Torque wheel
stud nuts to specifications at each lubrication
interval Ú page 411.
Wheel Nuts
All wheel nuts should be tightened occasionally to
eliminate the possibility of wheel studs being
sheared or the bolt holes in the wheels becoming elongated. This is especially important during the
first few hundred miles/kilometers of operation to
allow the wheel nuts to become properly set. All
wheel nuts should first be firmly seated against the
wheel. The wheel nuts should then be tightened to
recommended torque. Tighten the wheel nuts to
final torque in increments. Progress around the
bolt circle, tightening the wheel nut opposite to the
wheel nut just previously tightened until final
torque is achieved Ú
page 411.
TO STOW THE FLAT OR SPARE —
I
F EQUIPPED
Refer to Upfitters Body Builder’s Guide for
information on stowing your spare tire (if
equipped).
HUB CAPS/WHEEL COVERS —
I
F EQUIPPED
The hub caps must be removed before raising the
vehicle off the ground. For 3500 Single Rear-Wheel (SRW) models, use
the flat end of the lug wrench to hook and pull off
the hub cap. Find the opening in the hub cap,
insert the lug wrench, and pull off the cap. If you
need to pry against the wheel, protect the wheel
surface.

Lug Wrench Insertion Location — Hub Cap

On 3500 models with Dual Rear-Wheels (DRW),
you must first remove the hub caps—use the
procedure noted for the single rear wheel. For the
wheel covers (wheel skins), insert the flat end of
the lug wrench between the outer edge of the
wheel cover and the wheel. Pry against the wheel
to remove the wheel cover. Repeat this procedure
around the wheel until the cover pops off.
CAUTION!
Use extreme caution when removing the front
and rear wheel covers. Damage can occur to the
center cap and/or the wheel if screwdriver type
tools are used. A pulling motion, not a pry off
motion, is recommended to remove the caps.

23_DPF_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 332

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY333

Lug Wrench Insertion Location — Wheel Cover

Replace the wheel covers using a rubber mallet to
ease the installation. Align the wheel cover vent
holes to the wheel vent holes. Tap on the wheel
cover as needed to firmly seat it evenly around the
wheel.
JUMP STARTING
If your vehicle has a discharged battery, it can be
jump started using a set of jumper cables and a
battery in another vehicle, or by using a portable
battery booster pack. Jump starting can be
dangerous if done improperly, so please follow the
procedures in this section carefully.
NOTE:When using a portable battery booster pack, follow
the manufacturer's operating instructions and
precautions.
PREPARATIONS FOR JUMP START
The battery in your vehicle is located on the left
hand side of the engine compartment, behind the
left headlight assembly.
Battery Location

If you have a diesel engine, you may have two
batteries, however jump start off the driver side
battery.
If equipped, the positive battery post may be
covered with a red protective cap. Lift up on the
cap to gain access to the positive battery post. Do
not jump off fuses. Only jump directly off the
positive post which has a positive (+) symbol on or
around the post.
CAUTION!
Use a pulling motion to remove the hub cap.
Do not use a twisting motion when removing
the hub cap, damage to the hub cap; finish
may occur.
The rear hub caps on the dual rear wheel has
two pull off notches. Make sure that the hook
of the jack handle driver is located squarely in
the cap notch before attempting to pull off.
WARNING!
Do not attempt jump starting if the battery is
frozen. It could rupture or explode and cause
personal injury.
CAUTION!
Do not use a portable battery booster pack or
any other booster source with a system voltage
greater than 12 Volts or damage to the battery,
starter motor, alternator or electrical system may
occur.
7

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334IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

1. Apply the parking brake, shift the automatic transmission into PARK and turn the ignition
OFF.

2. Turn off the heater, radio, and all 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.
JUMP STARTING PROCEDURE
NOTE:Make sure at all times that unused ends of jumper
cables are not contacting each other or either
vehicle while making connections.
Connecting The Jumper Cables

1. Connect the positive
(+) end of the jumper
cable to the positive (+)
post of the discharged
vehicle.

NOTE:Do not jump off the battery fuses. Only jump
directly off the positive post.
2. Connect the opposite end of the positive (+)
jumper cable to the positive (+) post of the
booster battery. 3. Connect the negative
(-) end of the jumper
cable to the negative (-) post of the booster
battery.
4. Connect the opposite end of the negative (-)
jumper cable to a good engine ground. A
“ground” is an exposed metallic/unpainted
part of the engine, frame or chassis, such as
an accessory bracket or large bolt. The ground
must be away from the battery and fuel
injection system.

Jump Starting Label

WARNING!
Do not allow vehicles to touch each other as
this could establish a ground connection and
personal injury could result.
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.
WARNING!
Failure to follow this jump starting procedure
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 vehicle.
WARNING!
Do not connect the jumper cable to the negative
(-) post of the discharged battery. The resulting
electrical spark could cause the battery to
explode and could result in personal injury.

23_DPF_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 334

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY335
5. Start the engine in the vehicle that has the booster battery, let the engine idle a few
minutes, and then start the engine in the
vehicle with the discharged battery.
6. Once the engine is started, follow the discon -
necting procedure.
Disconnecting The Jumper Cables

1. Disconnect the negative
(-)
end of the jumper
cable from the engine ground of the vehicle
with the discharged battery.

2. Disconnect the opposite end of the negative (-)
jumper cable from the negative (-) post of the
booster battery.
3. Disconnect the positive (+) end of the jumper
cable from the positive (+) post of the booster
battery.
4. Disconnect the opposite end of the positive (+)
jumper cable from the positive (+) post of the
vehicle with the discharged battery, and
reinstall the protective cap over the positive
(+) post. If frequent jump starting is required to start your
vehicle you should have the battery and charging
system inspected at an authorized dealer.
IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS
If the vehicle is overheating, it will need to be
serviced by an authorized dealer.
Potential signs of vehicle overheating:
Temperature gauge is at HOT (H)
Strong smell of coolant
White smoke coming from engine or exhaust
Coolant bottle coolant has bubbles present
In the event it is observed that the temperature
gauge is moving towards or close to the HOT (H)
position, you can reduce the potential for
overheating by taking the appropriate action.
On the highways — slow down.
In city traffic — while stopped, place the trans
-
mission in NEUTRAL (N), but do not increase the
engine idle speed while preventing vehicle
motion with the brakes.
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.
CAUTION!
Do not connect jumper cable to any of the fuses
on the positive battery terminal. The resulting
electrical current will blow the fuse.
CAUTION!
Accessories plugged into the vehicle power
outlets draw power from the vehicle’s battery,
even when not in use (i.e., cellular devices, etc.).
Eventually, if plugged in long enough without
engine operation, the vehicle’s battery will
discharge sufficiently to degrade battery life
and/or prevent the engine from starting.
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.
7

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336IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
GEAR SELECTOR OVERRIDE
6–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.

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 Location
Gear Selector Override Access Port Engaging The Access Port

6. Move the gear selector to the NEUTRAL position.
7. The vehicle may then be started in NEUTRAL.
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.

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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).

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