2011 Ram 1500 service

WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not attempt to modify any part of your airbag
system. The airbag may inflate accidentally or may
not function properly if modifications are made.
Take your vehicle to an authorized dealer for any
airbag system service. If your seat, including your
trim cover and cushion, needs to be serviced in any
way (including removal or loosening/tightening of
seat attachment bolts), take the vehicle to your
authorized dealer. Only manufacturer approved
seat accessories may be used. If it is necessary to
modify the airbag system for persons with dis-
abilities, contact your authorized dealer.
Airbag Warning Light
You will want to have the airbags ready to
inflate for your protection in a collision. The
Airbag Warning Light monitors the internal
circuits and interconnecting wiring associatedwith airbag system electrical components. While the
airbag system is designed to be maintenance free. If any
of the following occurs, have an authorized dealer ser-
vice the airbag system immediately.
•The Airbag Warning Light does not come on during
the four to eight seconds when the ignition switch is
first turned to the ON/RUN position.
•The Airbag Warning Light remains on after the four to
eight-second interval.
•The Airbag Warning Light comes on intermittently or
remains on while driving.
NOTE: If the speedometer, tachometer, or any engine
related gauges are not working, the Occupant Restraint
Controller (ORC) may also be disabled. The airbags may
not be ready to inflate for your protection. Promptly
check the fuse block for blown fuses. Refer to the label
2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 65

authorized dealer. If the light stays on, flickers, or comes
on while driving, have the system checked by an autho-
rized dealer.
Defroster
Check operation by selecting the defrost mode and place
the blower control on high speed. You should be able to
feel the air directed against the windshield. See your
authorized dealer for service if your defroster is
inoperable.
Floor Mat Safety Information
Always use floor mats designed to fit the footwell of your
vehicle. Use only floor mats that leave the pedal area
unobstructed and that are firmly secured so that they
cannot slip out of position and interfere with the pedals
or impair safe operation of your vehicle in other ways.
WARNING!
Pedals that cannot move freely can cause loss of
vehicle control and increase the risk of serious per-
sonal injury.
•Always make sure that floor mats are properly
attached to the floor mat fasteners.
•Never place or install floor mats or other floor
coverings in the vehicle that cannot be properly
secured to prevent them from moving and inter-
fering with the pedals or the ability to control the
vehicle.
•Never put floor mats or other floor coverings on
top of already installed floor mats. Additional
floor mats and other coverings will reduce the size
of the pedal area and interfere with the pedals.(Continued)
84 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

▫Daytime Running Lights (DRL) — If
Equipped .......................... 127
▫ Multifunction Lever .................. 127
 Windshield Wipers And Washers .......... 129
▫ Windshield Wipers ................... 129
▫ Windshield Washers .................. 130
▫ Mist Feature ........................ 131
 Tilt Steering Column ................... 131
 Heated Steering Wheel — If Equipped ...... 132
 Driver Adjustable Pedals — If Equipped ..... 133
 Electronic Speed Control — If Equipped ..... 134
▫ To Activate ......................... 135
▫ To Set A Desired Speed ................ 136 ▫
Deactivating Electronic Speed Control ...... 136
▫ To Resume Speed .................... 136
▫ Varying The Speed Setting .............. 136
▫ To Accelerate For Passing .............. 137
 Parksense Rear Park Assist — If Equipped . . . 138
▫ Parksense Sensors................... 138
▫ Parksense Warning Display ............ 138
▫ Parksense Display................... 139
▫ Enabling And Disabling Parksense ....... 142
▫ Service The Parksense Rear Park Assist
System ............................ 143
▫ Cleaning The Parksense System......... 144
▫ Parksense System Usage Precautions ...... 144
3
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 89

•The head restraints should only be removed by quali-
fied technicians, for service purposes only. If either of
the head restraints require removal, see your autho-
rized dealer.
DRIVER MEMORY SEAT — IF EQUIPPED
Driver memory seats allow the driver to recall settings
for the adjustable pedals, mirrors, seats and the radio
presets using the key fob.
The memory seat buttons are located on the outboard
side of the drivers seat cushion.The memory buttons 1 and 2 can be programmed to
recall the driver’s seat position, driver’s outside mirror
position, adjustable brake, accelerator pedals position,
Automatic Temperature Control (ATC) temperature set-
ting and radio station preset settings. Your Remote
Memory Seat Buttons
116 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

approximately five seconds. Refer to “Electronic Vehicle
Information Center (EVIC)” in “Understanding Your
Instrument Panel” for further information. When the
shift lever is moved to REVERSE and the system is
disabled, the EVIC will display the “PARK ASSIST OFF”
message for as long as the vehicle is in REVERSE.
The ParkSenseswitch LED will be ON when Park-
Sense is disabled or defective. The ParkSense switch
LED will be OFF when the system is enabled.
The ParkSense system uses four sensors located in the
rear bumper fascia to scan for obstacles up to 79 in
(200 cm) away from the rear bumper fascia. The warning
display located above in the Instrument Cluster ’s EVIC
provides both visual and audible warnings to indicate
the range of the object.
Service The ParkSense Rear Park Assist System
When the ParkSenseRear Park Assist System is mal-
functioning, the instrument cluster will actuate a single chime, once per ignition cycle, and it will display the
“CLEAN PARK ASSIST SENSORS” or the “SERVICE
PARK ASSIST SYSTEM” message. Refer to “Electronic
Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)” in “Understanding
Your Instrument Panel” for further information. When
the shift lever is moved to REVERSE and the system has
detected a faulted condition, the EVIC will display the
“CLEAN PARK ASSIST SENSORS” or the “SERVICE
PARK ASSIST SYSTEM” message for as long as the
vehicle is in REVERSE. Under this condition, ParkSense
will not operate.
If “CLEAN PARK ASSIST SENSORS” appears in the
Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) and the
rear fascia/bumper is clean and clear of snow, ice, mud,
dirt or other obstruction, see your authorized dealer.
If “SERVICE PARK ASSIST SYSTEM” appears in the
EVIC, see your authorized dealer.
3
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 143

object as a sensor problem, causing the “SERVICE
PARK ASSIST SYSTEM” message to be displayed in
the instrument cluster.
•On vehicles equipped with a tailgate, ParkSense
should be disabled when the tailgate is in the lowered
or open position and the vehicle is in REVERSE. A
lowered tailgate could provide a false indication that
an obstacle is behind the vehicle.
CAUTION!
•ParkSense is only a parking aid and it is unable
to recognize every obstacle, including small ob-
stacles. Parking curbs might be temporarily de-
tected or not detected at all. Obstacles located
above or below the sensors will not be detected
when they are in close proximity.
(Continued)
CAUTION! (Continued)
•The vehicle must be driven slowly when using
ParkSensein order to be able to stop in time
when an obstacle is detected. It is recommended
that the driver looks over his/her shoulder when
using ParkSense.
3
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 145

CAUTION!
Driving with a hot engine cooling system could
damage your vehicle. If the temperature gauge reads
“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 the “H” and you hear continuous chimes,
turn the engine off immediately and call an autho-
rized dealership for service.
WARNING!
A hot engine cooling system is dangerous. You or
others could be badly burned by steam or boiling
coolant. You may want to call an authorized dealer-
ship for service if your vehicle overheats. If you
decide to look under the hood yourself, see “Main-
taining Your Vehicle”. Follow the warnings under the
Cooling System Pressure Cap paragraph.
5. Speedometer
The speedometer shows the vehicle speed in miles per
hour and/or kilometers per hour (mph/km/h).
6. 4 LOW This light alerts the driver that the vehicle is in
the four-wheel drive LOW mode. The front and
rear driveshafts are mechanically locked to-
gether forcing the front and rear wheels to
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 211

rotate at the same speed. Low range provides a greater
gear reduction ratio to provide increased torque at the
wheels.
For further information on four-wheel drive operation
and proper use, refer to “Four-Wheel Drive Operation —
If Equipped” in “Starting And Operating”.
7. Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) LightThis light informs you of a problem with the
Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) system. The
light will come on when the ignition is first
turned to ON/RUN and remain on briefly as a
bulb check. If the light does not come on during starting,
have the system checked by an authorized dealer.
If a problem is detected, the light will come on while the
engine is running. Cycle the ignition key when the
vehicle has completely stopped and the shift lever is
placed in the PARK position, the light should turn off. If the light remains lit with the engine running, your
vehicle will usually be drivable; however, see an autho-
rized dealer for service as soon as possible. If the light is
flashing when the engine is running, immediate service is
required and you may experience reduced performance,
an elevated/rough idle or engine stall and your vehicle
may require towing.
For vehicles equipped with a premium cluster this indi-
cator will display in the Electronic Vehicle Information
Center (EVIC). Refer to ”Electronic Vehicle Information
Center (EVIC) — If Equipped” for further information.
8. 4WD Indicator
This light indicates the vehicle is in four-wheel
drive and 4LOCK. 4WD allows all four wheels
to receive torque from the engine simultane-
ously.
212 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL