2011 Ram 1500 battery

CAUTION!
•Many accessories that can be plugged in draw
power from the vehicle’s battery, even when not in
use (i.e., cellular phones, etc.). Eventually, if
plugged in long enough, the vehicle’s battery will
discharge sufficiently to degrade battery life
and/or prevent the engine from starting.
•Accessories that draw higher power (i.e., coolers,
vacuum cleaners, lights, etc.), will discharge the
battery even more quickly. Only use these inter-
mittently and with greater caution.
•After the use of high power draw accessories, or
long periods of the vehicle not being started (with
accessories still plugged in), the vehicle must be
driven a sufficient length of time to allow the
generator to recharge the vehicle’s battery.
CIGAR LIGHTER AND ASH RECEIVER — IF
EQUIPPED
A removable ash receiver and cigar lighter are available.
For vehicles with a bench seat the cupholder tray can be
used to hold the ash receiver.
Ash Receiver and Cigar Lighter (Bench Seat)
1 — Cigar Lighter
2 — Ash Receiver
166 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

REAR WINDOW FEATURES
Rear Window Defroster
The rear window defroster button is located on the
climate control panel. Press this button to turn on
the rear window defroster and the heated outside mirrors
(if equipped). An indicator in the button will illuminate
when the rear window defroster is on. The rear window
defroster automatically turns off after approximately
10 minutes. For an additional five minutes of operation,
press the button a second time.
NOTE: To prevent excessive battery drain, use the rear
window defroster only when the engine is operating.
CAUTION!
Failure to follow these cautions can cause damage to
the heating elements:
•Use care when washing the inside of the rear
window. Do not use abrasive window cleaners on
the interior surface of the window. Use a soft cloth
and a mild washing solution, wiping parallel to
the heating elements. Labels can be peeled off
after soaking with warm water.
•Do not use scrapers, sharp instruments, or abra-
sive window cleaners on the interior surface of the
window.
•Keep all objects a safe distance from the window.
180 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

The interior of the RamBoxwill automatically illumi-
nate when the lid is opened. In addition to the automatic
illumination switch, there is a manual on/off switch
located at the rear of each storage bin. Pushing the switch
once will turn off the bin lights, pushing the switch again
will turn the lights back on.CAUTION!
Leaving the lid open for extended periods of time
could cause the vehicle battery to discharge. If the lid
is required to stay open for extended periods of time,
it is recommended that the bin lights be turned off
manually using the on/off switch.
The RamBox storage bins can be locked using the
vehicle key. To lock the storage bin, insert the key into the
keyhole on the pushbutton and turn clockwise to lock.
CAUTION!
•Ensure cargo bin lids are closed and latched before
moving or driving vehicle.
(Continued)
RamBoxLight Switch
186 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Center (EVIC). Refer to ”Electronic Vehicle Information
Center (EVIC) — If Equipped” for further information.
20. High Beam IndicatorThis indicator shows that headlights are on high
beam. Push the multifunction lever forward to
switch the headlights to high beam, and pull toward
yourself (normal position) to return to low beam.
21. Voltmeter
When the engine is running, the gauge indicates the
electrical system voltage. The pointer should stay within
the normal range if the battery is charged. If the pointer
moves to either extreme left or right and remains there
during normal driving, the electrical system should be
serviced.
NOTE: The voltmeter may show a gauge fluctuation at
various engine temperatures. This cycling operation is
caused by the post-heat cycle of the intake manifold
heater system. The number of cycles and the length of the cycling operation is controlled by the engine control
module. Post-heat operation can run for several minutes,
and then the electrical system and voltmeter needle will
stabilize.
22. Cargo Light
The cargo light will illuminate when the cargo
light is activated by pressing the cargo light
button on the headlight switch.
23. Brake Warning Light This light monitors various brake functions,
including brake fluid level and parking brake
application. If the brake light turns on it may
indicate that the parking brake is applied, that
the brake fluid level is low, or that there is a problem with
the Anti-lock Brake System reservoir.
If the light remains on when the parking brake has been
disengaged, and the fluid level is at the full mark on the
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UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 219

•Lights On
•Keyfob Battery Low
•ECO (Fuel Saver Indicator) — If Equipped
•Door(s) Ajar (with a single chime, if vehicle is in
motion)
•Wrong Key
•Damaged Key
•Key not programmed
•Key In Ignition
•Turn Signal On
•RKE Battery Low
•LOW WASHER FLUID
•Oil Change Due > Dealer Info
•Park Assist On
•Park Assist Off
•Warning Object Detected
•Left Front Turn Signal Light Out
•Left Rear Turn Signal Light Out
•Right Front Turn Signal Light Out
•Right Rear Turn Signal Light Out
•Service Park Assist System
•Park Assist System Blinded
•Trailer Brake Disconnected — If Equipped
•Personal Settings Not Available — Vehicle Not in Park
•Remote start aborted — Door ajar
•Remote start aborted — Hood ajar
230 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

This feature allows an iPodto be plugged into the
vehicle’s sound system through a 16–pin connector, using
the provided interface cable.
iPod control supports Mini, 4G, Photo, Nano, 5G iPod
and iPhone devices. Some iPod software versions may
not fully support the iPod control features. Please visit
Apple’s website for software updates.
NOTE:
•If the radio has a USB port, refer to the appropriate
Uconnect Multimedia radio user ’s manual for iPod or
external USB device support capability.
•Connecting an iPod to the AUX port located in the
radio faceplate, plays media, but does not use the
iPod control feature to control the connected device.
Connecting The iPod
Use the provided connection cable to connect an iPod to
the vehicle’s 16–pin connector port (which is located in
the glove compartment on some vehicles). Once the
iPod is connected and synchronized to the vehicle’s
iPod control system (iPod may take a few seconds to
connect), the iPod starts charging and is ready for use
by pressing radio switches, as described below.
NOTE:
•It may be necessary to remove the connector pin
protection cap from the 16–pin connector port, prior to
connecting the cable.
•If the iPod battery is completely discharged, it may
not communicate with the iPod control system until
a minimum charge is attained. Leaving the iPod
connected to the iPod control system may charge it to
the required level.
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UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 275

Using This Feature
By using the provided connection cable to connect an
iPodto the vehicle’s iPod control 16–pin connector
port:
•The iPod audio can be played on the vehicle’s sound
system, providing metadata (artist, track title, album,
etc.) information on the radio display.
•The iPod can be controlled using the radio buttons to
Play, Browse, and List the iPod contents.
•The iPodbattery charges when plugged into the
iPod control connector (if supported by the specific
iPod device)
Controlling The iPod Using Radio Buttons
To get into the iPodcontrol mode and access a con-
nected iPod, press the “AUX” button on the radio faceplate. Once in the iPod
control mode, iPodaudio
tracks (if available from iPod) start playing over the
vehicle’s audio system.
Play Mode
When switched to iPod control mode, the iPodauto-
matically starts Play mode. In Play mode, use the follow-
ing buttons on the radio faceplate to control the iPod 
and display data:
•Use the TUNE control knob to select the next or
previous track.
•Turning it clockwise (forward) by one click, while
playing a track, skips to the next track.
•Turning it counterclockwise (backward) by one
click, during the first two seconds of the track, will
jump to the previous track in the list. Turning this
button at any other time in the track, will jump to
the beginning of the current track.
276 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

Once the audio device is connected and synchronized to
the vehicle’s iPod/USB/MP3 control system (iPodor
external USB device may take a few minutes to connect),
the audio device starts charging and is ready for use by
pressing radio switches, as described below. NOTE:
If the audio device battery is completely dis-
charged, it may not communicate with the iPod/USB/
MP3 control system until a minimum charge is attained.
Leaving the audio device connected to the iPod /USB/
MP3 control system may charge it to the required level.
Using This Feature
By using iPod cable or external USB device to connect to
USB port:
•The audio device can be played on the vehicle’s sound
system, providing metadata (artist, track title, album,
etc.) information on the radio display.
•The audio device can be controlled using the radio
buttons to Play, Browse, and List the iPod contents.
•The audio device battery charges when plugged into
the USB/AUX connector (if supported by the specific
audio device)
USB/AUX Connector Port
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UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 281