2013 Ram 2500 Owner's Manual

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
STARTING PROCEDURES ................342
▫ Normal Starting ...................... .342
▫ Automatic Transmission ................342
▫ Keyless Enter-N-Go™ ..................343
▫ Normal Starting ...................... .343
▫ Extreme Cold Weather (Below –20°F
Or 29°C) ......................... .345
▫ If Engine Fails To Start .................345
▫ After Starting ....................... .346
 STOP/START SYSTEM — IF EQUIPPED ......346▫
Automatic Mode ..................... .346
▫ Possible Reasons The Engine Does Not AUTO
STOP............................. .347
▫ To Start The Engine While In Autostop Mode . .348
▫ To Manually Turn Off The Start Stop System . .350
▫ To Manually Turn On The Start Stop System . .350
▫ System Malfunction ....................351
 ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED . . .351
 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ............352
▫ Key Ignition Park Interlock ...............354
5

▫Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . .354
▫ Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission – If
Equipped .......................... .355
▫ Six–Speed Automatic Transmission If Equipped —
1500 Models Only .....................364
▫ Six–Speed Automatic Transmission (5.7L Engine)
— 2500/3500 Models Only ..............377
 FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE OPERATION — IF
EQUIPPED .......................... .388
▫
Manually Shifted Transfer Case – If Equipped . . .388
▫ Electronically Shifted Transfer Case (Four-Position
Switch) – If Equipped ..................392
▫ Electronically Shifted Transfer Case (Five-Position
Switch) – If Equipped ..................398 ▫
Electronically Shifted Transfer Case (Five-Position
Switch) – If Equipped ..................404
 AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM — IF EQUIPPED . .410
▫ Description ......................... .410
▫ Air Suspension Modes ..................414
▫ Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)
Display Messages .....................416
▫ Operation .......................... .416
 AXLE LOCKER SYSTEM (POWER WAGON
MODELS ONLY) — IF EQUIPPED ...........418
 STABILIZER/SWAY BAR SYSTEM — POWER
WAGON ONLY ....................... .420
 SAFE OFF-ROAD DRIVING — POWER WAGON
ONLY.............................. .422
336 STARTING AND OPERATING

▫Off-Road Driving Tips And Vehicle
Characteristics ...................... .422
▫ Driving In Snow, Mud And Sand ..........425
▫ Crossing Obstacles (Rocks And Other High
Points) ............................ .427
▫ Hill Climbing ....................... .429
▫ Driving Through Water .................432
▫ Airing Down For Off-Road Driving .........435
▫ Vehicle Recovery ..................... .436
▫ After Driving Off-Road .................440
 LIMITED-SLIP DIFFERENTIAL .............441
 DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES .........442
▫ Acceleration ........................ .442
▫ Traction ........................... .442
DRIVING THROUGH WATER .............443
▫ Flowing/Rising Water ..................443
▫ Shallow Standing Water .................443
 OFF-ROAD DRIVING TIPS ...............445
▫ After Driving Off-Road .................445
 WINCH USAGE (POWER WAGON ONLY) — IF
EQUIPPED .......................... .446
▫ Things To Know Before Using Your Winch . . . .446
▫ Understanding The Features Of Your Winch . . .448
▫ Winch Accessories ....................450
▫ Operating Your Winch ..................451
▫ Rigging Techniques ....................464
 POWER STEERING .....................466
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 337

▫Power Steering Fluid Check ..............467
 FUEL SAVER TECHNOLOGY 5.7L ENGINE ONLY
– IF EQUIPPED ....................... .468
 PARKING BRAKE ..................... .468
 BRAKE SYSTEM ...................... .470
▫ Four-Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System ........471
▫ Hydraulic Brake Assist – 2500/3500 Models Only
– Except Power Wagon ..................472
 ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM . . . .473
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ............473
▫ Traction Control System (TCS) – If Equipped . .474
▫ Brake Assist System (BAS) – If Equipped . . . .474
▫ Hill Start Assist (HSA) – If Equipped ........475▫
Hill Descent Control (HDC) – If Equipped (Power
Wagon Only) ....................... .479
▫ Electronic Stability Control (ESC) – If
Equipped .......................... .480
▫ ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light
And ESC OFF Indicator Light ............484
▫ Trailer Sway Control (TSC) – If Equipped . . . .485
 TIRE SAFETY INFORMATION .............487
▫ Tire Markings ....................... .487
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ...........490
▫ Tire Terminology And Definitions ..........492
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure ...........493
 TIRES — GENERAL INFORMATION ........498
▫ Tire Pressure ....................... .498
338 STARTING AND OPERATING

▫Tire Inflation Pressures .................499
▫ Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation . . . .501
▫ Radial Ply Tires ..................... .501
▫ All Season Tires – If Equipped ............501
▫ Summer Or Three Season Tires – If Equipped. .502
▫ Snow Tires ......................... .502
▫ Spare Tire Matching Original Equipped Tire And
Wheel – If Equipped ...................503
▫ Compact Spare Tire – If Equipped .........503
▫ Full Size Spare – If Equipped .............504
▫ Limited-Use Spare – If Equipped ..........504
▫ Tire Spinning ....................... .505
▫ Tread Wear Indicators ..................505 ▫
Life Of Tire ........................ .506
▫ Replacement Tires .....................507
 SUPPLEMENTAL TIRE PRESSURE INFORMATION
— IF EQUIPPED ...................... .508
 TIRE CHAINS ........................ .509
 TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS .....511
▫ Directional Tires – If Equipped ............512
▫ Dual Rear Wheels – If Equipped ..........512
 TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM (TPMS) . .513
▫ Base System ........................ .516
▫ Premium System – If Equipped ............518
▫ Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) Tire Light
Load Inflation Switch Description (2500 Models) –
If Equipped ......................... .521
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 339

▫General Information ...................525
 FUEL REQUIREMENTS ..................526
▫ 3.6L And 4.7L Engine ...................526
▫ 5.7L Engine ......................... .526
▫ Reformulated Gasoline .................527
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ..............527
▫ E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles .......527
▫ MMT In Gasoline .....................528
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ................529
▫ Fuel System Cautions ...................529
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings .............530
 FLEXIBLE FUEL (4.7L ENGINE ONLY) — IF
EQUIPPED .......................... .530▫
E-85 General Information ...............530
▫ Ethanol Fuel (E-85) ....................531
▫ Fuel Requirements ....................532
▫ Selection Of Engine Oil For Flexible Fuel Vehicles
(E-85) And Gasoline Vehicles .............533
▫ Starting ........................... .533
▫ Cruising Range ...................... .533
▫ Replacement Parts ....................533
▫ Maintenance ....................... .534
 ADDING FUEL ....................... .534
▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message ............536
 VEHICLE LOADING ....................536
▫ Certification Label ....................536
340 STARTING AND OPERATING

TRAILER TOWING .....................539
▫ Common Towing Definitions .............539
▫ Trailer Hitch Type and Maximum Trailer
Weight ............................ .544
▫ Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer
Weight Ratings) ..................... .545
▫ Trailer And Tongue Weight ..............549
▫ Towing Requirements ..................550
▫ Towing Tips ........................ .560
SNOWPLOW ........................ .561
▫ 1500 Models Only .....................561
▫ 2500/3500 Models Only .................562
 RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.) ...................566
▫ Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle . .566
▫ Recreational Towing – Two-Wheel Drive
Models ............................ .567
▫ Recreational Towing – Four-Wheel Drive
Models ............................ .568
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 341

STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust both
inside and outside mirrors, and fasten your seat belt.
The starter should not be operated for more than 15-
second intervals. Waiting a few seconds between such
intervals will protect the starter from overheating.
WARNING!
Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with access to
an unlocked vehicle. Leaving children in a vehicle
unattended is dangerous for a number of reasons. A
child or others could be seriously or fatally injured.
Children should be warned not to touch the parking
brake, brake pedal or the shift lever. Do not leave the
key fob in or near the vehicle, or in a location accessible
to children. A child could operate power windows, other
controls, or move the vehicle.
Normal Starting
Normal starting of either a warm or cold engine is
obtained without pumping or pressing the accelerator
pedal. Turn the key fob to the START position and release
when the engine starts. If the engine fails to start within
10 seconds, turn the key fob to the OFF position, wait five
seconds, then repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.
Automatic Transmission
Start the engine with the shift lever in the NEUTRAL or
PARK position. Apply the brake before shifting into any
driving range.
NOTE: This vehicle is equipped with a transmission
shift interlocking system. The brake pedal must be
pressed to shift out of PARK.
342 STARTING AND OPERATING