2014 Ram 2500 heater

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
STARTING PROCEDURES.................59
▫Normal Starting.......................60
▫Automatic Transmission.................60
▫Keyless Enter-N-Go™...................61
▫Extreme Cold Weather...................62
▫Starting Fluids........................62
NORMAL OPERATION...................63
▫Cold Weather Precautions................64
▫Engine Idling.........................65
▫Stopping The Engine....................66▫Cooling System Tips — Automatic
Transmission..........................67
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED....68
FUEL REQUIREMENTS...................69
▫Fuel Specifications.....................70
▫Biodiesel Fuel Requirements...............71
TRAILER TOWING......................74
▫Common Towing Definitions..............74
▫Trailer Hitch Classification...............77
4

3. The system will automatically engage the starter to
crank the engine. If the vehicle fails to start, the starter
will disengage automatically after 30 seconds.
4. If you wish to stop the cranking of the engine prior to
the engine starting, press the button again.
5. Check that the oil pressure warning light has turned
off.
6. Release the parking brake.
Extreme Cold Weather
The engine block heater is a resistance heater installed in
the water jacket of the engine. It requires a 110–115 Volt
AC electrical outlet with a grounded, three-wire exten-
sion cord. Its use is recommended for environments that
routinely fall below -10°F (-23°C). It should be used when
the vehicle has not been running overnight or longerperiods and should be plugged in two hours prior to
start. Its use is required for cold starts with temperatures
under -20°F (-28°C).
NOTE: The engine block heater cord is a factory in-
stalled option. If your vehicle is not equipped, heater
cords are available from your authorized MOPAR®
dealer.
•A 12 Volt heater built into the fuel filter housing aids in
preventing fuel gelling. It is controlled by a built-in
thermostat.
•A Diesel Pre-Heat system both improves engine start-
ing and reduces the amount of white smoke generated
by a warming engine.
Starting Fluids
The engine is equipped with a glow plug preheating
system. If the instructions in this manual are followed,
62 STARTING AND OPERATING

•Voltmeter operation:
The voltmeter may show a gauge fluctuation at various
engine temperatures. This is caused by the glow plug
heating system. The number of cycles and the length of
the cycling operation is controlled by the engine control
module. Glow plug heater operation can run for several
minutes, once the heater operation is complete the volt-
meter needle will stabilize.
Cold Weather Precautions
Operation in ambient temperature below 32°F (0°C) may
require special considerations. The following charts sug-
gest these options:
Fuel Operating Range
NOTE:Use “Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuels”ONLY.*No. 1 Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel should only be used
where extended arctic conditions (-10°F/-23°C) exist.
NOTE:
•Use of Climatized Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel or
Number 1 Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel results in a
noticeable decrease in fuel economy.
Fuel Operating Range Chart
64 STARTING AND OPERATING

Do Not Operate The Engine With Failed Parts
All engine failures give some warning before the parts
fail. Be on the alert for changes in performance, sounds,
and visual evidence that the engine requires service.
Some important clues are:
•engine misfiring or vibrating severely
•sudden loss of power
•unusual engine noises
•fuel, oil or coolant leaks
•sudden change, outside the normal operating range, in
the engine operating temperature
•excessive smoke
•oil pressure drop
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED
The engine block heater warms engine coolant and
permits quicker starts in cold weather. Connect the heater
cord to a ground-fault interrupter protected 110–115 Volt
AC electrical outlet with a grounded, three-wire exten-
sion cord.
Its use is recommended for environments that routinely
fall below -10°F (-23°C). It should be used when the
vehicle has not been running for long periods of time and
should be plugged in two hours prior to start. Its use is
required for cold starts with temperatures under -20°F
(-28°C).
To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures, use of
an externally powered electric engine block heater (avail-
able from your authorized dealer) is recommended.
68 STARTING AND OPERATING

WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the cord before driving.
Damage to the 110–115 Volt electrical cord could
cause electrocution.
NOTE:The block heater will require 110 Volts AC and
6.5 Amps to activate the heater element.
FUEL REQUIREMENTS
Use good quality diesel fuel from a reputable supplier in
your vehicle. Federal law requires that you must fuel this
vehicle with Ultra Low Sulfur Highway Diesel fuel (15
ppm Sulfur maximum) and prohibits the use of Low
Sulfur Highway Diesel fuel (500 ppm Sulfur maximum)
to avoid damage to the emissions control system.
For most year-round service, No. 2 diesel fuel meeting
ASTM (formerly known as the American Society for
Testing and Materials) specification D-975 Grade S15 willprovide good performance. If the vehicle is exposed to
extreme cold (below 20°F or -7°C), or is required to
operate at colder-than-normal conditions for prolonged
periods, use climatized No. 2 diesel fuel or dilute the No.
2 diesel fuel with 50% No. 1 diesel fuel. This will provide
better protection from fuel gelling or wax-plugging of the
fuel filters.
WARNING!
Do not use alcohol or gasoline as a fuel blending
agent. They can be unstable under certain conditions
and hazardous or explosive when mixed with diesel
fuel.
Diesel fuel is seldom completely free of water. To prevent
fuel system trouble, drain the accumulated water from
the fuel/water separator using the fuel/water separator
drain provided on the fuel filter housing. If you buy good
quality fuel and follow the cold weather advice above,
4
STARTING AND OPERATING 69

2. Insert DEF fill adapter/nozzle into DEF tank filler
neck.NOTE:
•The DEF gauge may take up to five seconds to update
after adding a gallon or more of Diesel Exhaust Fluid
(DEF) to the DEF tank. If you have a fault related to the
DEF system, the gauge may not update to the new
level. See your authorized dealer for service.
•
The DEF gauge may also not immediately update after a
refill if the temperature of the DEF fluid is below 12F
(-11C). The DEF line heater will possibly warm up the DEF
fluid and allow the gauge to update after a period of run
time. Under very cold conditions, it is possible that the
gauge may not reflect the new fill level for several drives.
CAUTION!
•To avoid DEF spillage, and possible damage to the
DEF tank from overfilling, do not “top off” the DEF
tank after filling.
(Continued)
DEF Filler Cap And Fuel Fill 1500/2500/3500 Models
1 — Diesel Exhaust Fluid Fill Location
2 — Fuel Fill Location
4
STARTING AND OPERATING 97

REMOTE STARTING SYSTEM — IF EQUIPPED
This system uses the Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) transmitter to start the engine conve-
niently from outside the vehicle while still
maintaining security. The system has a range of
approximately 300 ft (91 m).
NOTE:
•The vehicle must be equipped with an automatic
transmission to be equipped with Remote Start.
•The remote start system will wait for the “Wait To
Start” telltale to extinguish before cranking the engine.
This allows time for the intake heater to pre-heat the
incoming air, and is normal operation in cold weather.
Refer to “Electronic Vehicle Information Center/EVICWarning Lights” in “Understanding Your Instrument
Panel” for further information on and “Wait To Start”
telltale and pre-heat cycle.
How To Use Remote Start
All of the following conditions must be met before the
engine will remote start:
•Shift lever in PARK
•Doors closed
•Hood closed
•HAZARD switch off
•BRAKE switch inactive (brake pedal not pressed)
•Ignition key removed from ignition switch
•Battery at an acceptable charge level
•RKE PANIC button not pressed
146 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

To Enter Remote Start Mode
Press and release the REMOTE START button
on the RKE transmitter twice, within five sec-
onds. The parking lights will flash and the horn
will chirp twice (if programmed). In cold am-
bient temperature conditions, the diesel vehicle may
delay crank up to 30 seconds for the fuel and grid heater.
Once the vehicle has started, the engine will run for 15
minutes.
NOTE:
•The park lamps will turn on and remain on during
Remote Start mode.
•For security, power window and power sunroof op-
eration (if equipped) are disabled when the vehicle is
in the Remote Start mode.•The engine can be started two consecutive times (two
15-minute cycles) with the RKE transmitter. However,
the ignition switch must be cycled to the ON position
before you can repeat the start sequence for a third
cycle.
To Exit Remote Start Mode Without Driving The
Vehicle
Press and release the REMOTE START button one time or
allow the engine to run for the entire fifteen minute cycle.
NOTE:To avoid unintentional shut downs, the system
will disable the one time press of the REMOTE START
button for two seconds after receiving a valid Remote
Start request.
To Exit Remote Start Mode And Drive The Vehicle
To exit Remote start Mode and Drive the vehicle Before
the end of the 15-minute cycle, press and release the
unlock button on the RKE transmitter to unlock the door
148 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE