2015 Ram 5500 Chassis Cab Owner's Manual

▫Tire Markings ....................... .382
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ...........386
▫ Tire Terminology And Definitions ..........387
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure ...........389
 TIRES — GENERAL INFORMATION ........394
▫ Tire Pressure ....................... .394
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures .................395
▫ Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation . . . .397
▫ Tire Maintenance and Replacement .........397
▫ Radial Ply Tires ..................... .398
▫ Tire Types .......................... .398
▫ Run Flat Tires — If Equipped .............400
▫ Spare Tires — If Equipped ...............400 ▫
Tire Spinning ....................... .403
▫ Tread Wear Indicators ..................403
▫ Life Of Tire ........................ .404
▫ Replacement Tires .....................405

SUPPLEMENTAL TIRE PRESSURE INFORMATION —
IF EQUIPPED ......................... .406
TIRE CHAINS (TRACTION DEVICES) .......407
 TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS .....409
▫ Dual Rear Wheels .....................410
 TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM (TPMS) . .411
▫ Base System — If Equipped ..............414
▫ Premium System ..................... .414
▫ Tire Pressure Information System (TPIS)
Chassis Cab — If Equipped ..............419
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 327

▫General Information ...................421
 FUEL REQUIREMENTS ..................421
▫ 5.7L/6.4L Engines .....................421
▫ Reformulated Gasoline .................422
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ..............422
▫ E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles .......423
▫ MMT In Gasoline .....................423
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ................424
▫ Fuel System Cautions ...................424
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings .............425
 ADDING FUEL ....................... .426
▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message ............427
 VEHICLE LOADING ....................427 ▫
Certification Label ....................427
 TRAILER TOWING .....................430
▫ Common Towing Definitions .............430
▫ Trailer Hitch Classification ...............435
▫ Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer
Weight Ratings) ..................... .436
▫ Trailer And Tongue Weight ..............436
▫ Towing Requirements ..................437
▫ Towing Tips ........................ .446
 SNOWPLOW ........................ .448
▫ Before Plowing ...................... .448
▫ Snowplow Prep Package Model Availability . . .449
▫ Over The Road Operation With Snowplow
Attached ........................... .449
328 STARTING AND OPERATING

▫Operating Tips ...................... .450
▫ General Maintenance ...................450
 RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.) ...................451
▫
Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle . . .451
▫ Recreational Towing — Two-Wheel Drive
Models ............................ .452
▫ Recreational Towing — Four-Wheel Drive
Models ............................ .453
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 329

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 10-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/transmission gear selector. Do not leave the Key
Fob in or near the vehicle, or in a location accessible
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
to children, and do not leave the ignition of a vehicle
equipped with keyless Enter-N-Go in the ACC or
ON/RUN mode. A child could operate power win-
dows, 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. Cycle the ignition to the START position and
release when the engine starts. If the engine fails to start
within 10 seconds, cycle the ignition to the OFF position,
wait five seconds, then repeat the “Normal Starting”
procedure.
330 STARTING AND OPERATING

Automatic Transmission
Start the engine with the shift lever in the NEUTRAL or
PARK. 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.
Tip Start Feature
Do notpress the accelerator. Cycle the ignition switch
briefly to the START position and release it. The starter
motor will continue to run but will automatically disen-
gage when the engine is running.
Extreme Cold Weather (Below –20°F or 29°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.
If Engine Fails To Start
If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
“Normal Starting” procedure, it may be flooded. Push
the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and hold it
there while cranking the engine. This should clear any
excess fuel in case the engine is flooded.
CAUTION!
To prevent damage to the starter, do not crank the
engine for more than 10 seconds at a time. Wait 10 to
15 seconds before trying again.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 331

WARNING!
•Never pour fuel or other flammable liquids into
the throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to
start the vehicle. This could result in a flash fire
causing serious personal injury.
• Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get it
started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic trans-
mission cannot be started this way. Unburned fuel
could enter the catalytic converter and once the
engine has started, ignite and damage the converter
and vehicle.
• If the vehicle has a discharged battery, booster
cables may be used to obtain a start from a booster
battery or the battery in another vehicle. This type
of start can be dangerous if done improperly. Refer
to “Jump Starting” in “What To Do In Emergen-
cies” for further information. If the engine has been flooded, it may start to run, but not
have enough power to continue running when the igni-
tion button/key is released. If this occurs, continue
cranking with the accelerator pedal pushed all the way to
the floor. Release the accelerator pedal and the ignition
button/key once the engine is running smoothly.
If the engine shows no sign of starting after two 10-second
periods of cranking with the accelerator pedal held to the
floor, the “Normal Starting” procedure should be repeated.
After Starting
The idle speed is automatically controlled and will de-
crease as the engine warms up.
332 STARTING AND OPERATING

ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED
The engine block heater warms the engine, and permits
quicker starts in cold weather. Connect the cord to a
standard 110-115 Volt AC electrical outlet with a
grounded, three-wire extension cord.
Gasoline Engine Only
The engine block heater cord is routed through the grille
by the right front tow hook.
It includes a removable cap that is secured by a tethered
strap. It also has a c-clip that is used for storage when not
in use for the winter months. During winter months,
remove the heater cord wiring assembly from itself on
the c-clip.
The engine block heater must be plugged in at least one
hour to have an adequate warming effect on the engine.
WARNING!
Remember to disconnect the engine block heater
cord before driving. Damage to the 110-115 Volt
electrical cord could cause electrocution.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the follow-
ing precautions are not observed:
•Shift into or out of PARK or REVERSE only after
the vehicle has come to a complete stop.
•
Do not shift between PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL,
or DRIVE when the engine is above idle speed.
• Before shifting into any gear, make sure your foot
is firmly pressing the brake pedal.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 333

NOTE:You must press and hold the brake pedal while
shifting out of PARK.
WARNING!
• It is dangerous to shift out of PARK or NEUTRAL
if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If
your foot is not firmly pressing the brake pedal, the
vehicle could accelerate quickly forward or in re-
verse. You could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear when
the engine is idling normally and your foot is
firmly pressing the brake pedal.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Unintended movement of a vehicle could injure
those in or near the vehicle. As with all vehicles,
you should never exit a vehicle while the engine is
running. Before exiting a vehicle, always apply the
parking brake, shift the transmission into PARK,
turn the engine OFF, and remove the Key Fob.
When the ignition is in the LOCK/OFF (key re-
moval) position, the transmission is locked in
PARK, securing the vehicle against unwanted
movement.
• When leaving the vehicle, always make sure the
ignition is in the OFF position, remove the Key Fob
from the vehicle, and lock the vehicle.
(Continued)
334 STARTING AND OPERATING