2005 DODGE RAM 2500 DIESEL flat tire

WARNING!
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, unless suitable sup-
ports are placed under the vehicle as a safety mea-
sure. The vehicle should be jacked on a firm level
surface only. Avoid ice or slippery areas.
WARNING!
After using the jack and tools, always reinstall them
in the original carrier and location. While driving
you may experience, abrupt stopping, rapid accelera-
tion, or sharp turns. A loose jack, tools, bracket or
other objects in the vehicle may move around with
force, resulting in serious injury.
CHANGING A FLAT TIRE
Removing The Spare Tire
Remove the spare tire before attempting to jack the truck.
Attach the wheel wrench to the jack extension tube. Insert
the tube through the access hole between the lower
tailgate and the top of the bumper and into the winch
mechanism tube. Rotate the wheel wrench handle coun-
terclockwise until the spare tire is on the ground with
enough cable slack to allow you to pull it out from under
the vehicle. When the spare is clear, tilt the retainer at the
end of the cable and pull it through the center of the
wheel.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 317
6

It is recommended that you stow the flat or spare to
avoid tangling the loose cable.
NOTE:The winch mechanism is designed for use with
the jack extension tube only. Use of an air wrench or other
power tools is not recommended and can damage the
winch.
Tire Changing Procedure
WARNING!
Getting under a jacked-up vehicle is dangerous. The
vehicle could slip off the jack and fall on you. You
could be crushed. Never get 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.
Do not raise this vehicle using a bumper jack. The jack is
designed as a tool for changing tires on this vehicle only.
It is not recommended that the jack be used for service
purposes or to lift more than one wheel at a time.
318 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

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 an accident. 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 2500/3500 single rear
wheel (SRW) models. On 3500 dual rear wheel models
(DRW) 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 wheel wrench, finish tightening the nuts
using a crisscross pattern. Correct nut tightness is 135 ft.
lbs. (183 N·m) torque for 2500/3500 single rear wheel
322 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

models use the blade on the end of the lug wrench to pry
the caps off. The wheel skin can now be removed.
You must use the flat end of the lug wrench to pry off the
wheel skins. Insert the flat tip completely and using a
back and forth motion, loosen the wheel skin. Repeat this
procedure around the tire until the skin pops off.
Replace the wheel skins first using a rubber mallet. When
replacing the hub caps, tilt the cap retainer over the
lugnut bolt circle and strike the high side down with a
rubber mallet. Be sure that the hub caps and wheel skins
are firmly seated around the wheel.
8-Stud — Dual Rear Wheels
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 2 drops
of oil at the interface between the hex and the washer.Slots in the wheels will assist in properly orienting the
inner and outer wheels. Align these slots when assem-
bling 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 insure
wheel centering and maximum wheel clamping.
324 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

1. Tighten the wheel nuts in the numbered sequence to a
snug fit.
2. Retighten the wheel nuts in the same sequence to the
torques listed in the table. Go through the sequence a
second time to verify that specific torque has been
achieved. Retighten to specifications at 100 miles (160
km) and after 500 miles (800 km).
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.
Wheel Nuts
All wheel nuts should be tightened occasionally to elimi-
nate 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
of operation to allow the wheel nuts to become properly
set. All nuts should first be firmly seated against thewheel. The nuts should then be tightened to recom-
mended torque. Tighten the nuts to final torque in
increments. Progress around the bolt circle, tightening
the nut opposite to the nut just previously tightened until
final torque is achieved. Recommended torques are
shown in the following chart.
Disc
WheelsType Nut Stud Size Torque
Ft. Lbs.Torque
Newton
Meters
Cone 9/16-18 120-150 160-200
Flanged 9/16-18 130-160 190-220
To Stow The Flat Or Spare
Turn the wheel so that the valve stem is down. Slide the
wheel retainer through the center of the wheel and
position it properly across the wheel opening.
For convenience in checking the spare tire inflation, stow
with the valve stem toward the rear of the vehicle.
326 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

Exterior Lighting........................ 116
Fan .................................. 365
Filters
Engine Oil.....................343,346,398
Flashers
Turn Signal.......................... 118
Flat Tire Stowage.....................317,326
Fluid, Brake........................... 399
Fluid Capacities......................... 397
Fluid Level Checks
Brake............................... 367
Manual Transmission................... 370
Power Steering........................ 356
Transfer Case......................... 370
Fog Lights.......................... 117,396
Fold Flat Load Floor..................... 148
Four Wheel Drive....................... 243
Four-Way Hazard Flasher.................. 314Freeing A Stuck Vehicle................... 331
Front Axle..........................358,369
Fuel..............................281,315
Diesel.........................281,315,398
Gauge.............................. 168
Requirements......................... 281
Specifications......................... 284
Tank Capacity........................ 397
Fuses................................ 383
Garage Door Opener..................... 134
Gauges............................... 169
Coolant Temperature.................... 165
Fuel................................ 168
Oil Pressure.......................... 164
Speedometer......................... 164
Tachometer.......................... 163
Voltmeter............................ 162
Gear Ranges........................... 237
436 INDEX

Glass Cleaning.......................... 382
GVWR............................... 286
Hands-Free Phone........................ 83
Hazard Warning Flasher................... 314
Head Restraints......................... 108
Headlights.......................... 116,385
High Beam........................... 119
High Beam/Low Beam Select Switch........ 119
Lights On Reminder.................... 117
Passing............................. 119
Switch.............................. 116
Heated Mirrors....................81,210,214
Heated Seats........................... 112
Heater............................... 207
High Beam/Low Beam Select (Dimmer) Switch . . 119
Hitches
Trailer Towing........................ 292
Hoisting.............................. 327Homelink Transmitter.................... 134
Hood Release.......................... 113
Hoses.............................366,368
Hub Caps............................. 323
Hydraulic Clutch Fluid.................... 369
Ignition.............................14,223
Key ............................... 11,14
Lock................................ 14
Infant Restraint.......................... 56
Inflation Pressure Tires.................... 276
Inside Rearview Mirror.................... 78
Instrument Cluster....................161,162
Instrument Panel and Controls.............. 160
Instrument Panel Lens Cleaning............. 382
Interior Appearance Care.................. 381
Intermittent Wipers...................... 120
Introduction............................. 4
INDEX 437
10

Tire Safety Information.................... 260
Tires ...............................70,268
Air Pressure.......................... 268
Alignment........................... 276
Chains.............................. 276
Changing............................ 317
Compact Spare........................ 272
Dual............................280,324
General Information.................... 268
High Speed.......................... 271
Inflation Pressures..................... 269
Jacking............................. 318
Load Capacity.....................264,265
Radial.............................. 271
Replacement......................... 275
Rotation............................. 279
Safety...........................260,268
Sizes............................... 261
Snow Tires........................... 278Spare Tire........................... 317
Spinning............................ 273
Tread Wear Indicators................... 274
Wheel Mounting....................... 318
Wheel Nut Torque..................... 322
Tongue Weight/Trailer Weight.............. 294
Torque Converter Clutch.................. 241
Tow Hooks, Emergency................... 331
Towing
Disabled Vehicle....................... 332
Guide.............................. 295
Recreational.......................... 302
Trailering............................ 291
Weight.............................. 295
Traction............................... 311
Traction Control......................... 370
Trailer Towing.......................... 289
Hitches............................. 292
Mirrors...........................81,296
444 INDEX