2009 DODGE RAM 3500 DIESEL Owners Manual

JACKING INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING!
•
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 an
authorized service center where it can be raised on
a lift.
•
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.
Jack LocationThe jack and jack tools are stored under the front
passenger seat. Lift the flap on the side of the seat for
access.
Remove the jack and tools by removing the wing bolt and
sliding the assembly from under the seat.
Jack LocationWHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 407
6

Removing The Spare TireRemove 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.
NOTE:Always stow the spare tire with the valve stem
facing the ground.
It is recommended that you stow the flat or spare to
avoid tangling the loose cable.
Removing the Spare Tire
1 — Lower
2 — Raise
408 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

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 an
authorized service center where it can be raised on
a lift.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•
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.
Preparations1. Park the vehicle on a firm, level surface. 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 the danger of being hit when
operating the jack or changing the wheel.
2. Set the parking brake.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 409
6

3. Place the shift lever into PARK. On four-wheel drive
vehicles, shift the transfer case to the 4L position.
4. Turn the ignition OFF.
5. Turn on the Hazard Warning flasher.6. Block both the front and rear of the
wheel diagonally opposite the jacking
position. For example, if the right front
wheel is being changed, block the left
rear wheel.
NOTE: Passengers should not remain in the vehicle
when the vehicle is being jacked.
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.
•
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.
•
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.
(Continued)
410 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

WARNING! (Continued)
•
Do not get under the vehicle when it is on a jack.
•
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.
•
Turn on the Hazard Warning flasher.
1. 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. Placement of the Jack:
•
For 2500/3500 4x2 series trucks, when changing a
front wheel, place the bottle jack under the frame
rail behind the wheel. Locate the jack as far forward
as possible on the straight part of the frame.
Jack Warning Label
4x2 Jacking Location
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 411
6

•
Operate the jack using the jack drive tube and the
wheel wrench. The tube extension, may be used, but
is not required.
•
For 2500/3500 4x4 series trucks, 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.
•
For all trucks, when changing a rear wheel, as-
semble the jack drive tube to the jack and connect
the drive tube to the extension tube. Place the jack
under the axle between the spring and the shock
absorber with the drive tubes extending to the rear.
4x4 Jacking Location
412 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

•
Connect the jack tube extension and wheel 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 2500/3500 bottle jack will not lower by
turning the dial (thumbwheel) by hand, it may be neces-
sary 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 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
Rear Jacking Location (All)
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 413
6

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. The correct nut tightness is
135 ft lbs (183 N·m) torque for 2500/3500 single-rear
wheel (SRW) models, and 145 ft lbs (197 N·m) for 3500
dual rear-wheel models. If in doubt about the correct
tightness, have them checked with a torque wrench by
your authorized dealer or at a service station.
WARNING!
A loose tire or jack thrown forward in a collision or
hard stop could injure someone in the vehicle. Al-
ways stow the jack parts and the extra tire and wheel
in the places provided.7. Install wheel center cap 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. If the bottle
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. Stow the replaced tire, jack, and
tools as previously described.
9. Adjust the tire pressure when possible.
NOTE:
Do not oil wheel studs. For chrome wheels, do
not substitute with chrome plated wheel nuts.
Hub Caps/Wheel CoversThe hub caps must be removed before raising the vehicle
off the ground.
For 2500/3500 single rear-wheel (SRW) models, use the
blade on the end of the lug wrench to pry the hub cap off.
414 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES