2016 Ram 1500 Understanding

ParkSense Sensors
The four ParkSense sensors, located in the rear fascia/
bumper, monitor the area behind the vehicle that is
within the sensors’ field of view. The sensors can detect
obstacles from approximately 18 in (45 cm) up to 79 in
(200 cm) from the rear fascia/bumper in the horizontal
direction, depending on the location, type and orienta-
tion of the obstacle.
The six ParkSense sensors, located in the front fascia/
bumper, monitor the area in front of the vehicle that is
within the sensors’ field of view. The sensors can detect
obstacles from approximately 12 in (30 cm) up to 47 in
(120 cm) from the front fascia/bumper in the horizontal
direction, depending on the location, type and orienta-
tion of the obstacle.
ParkSense Warning Display
The ParkSense Warning screen is located within the
Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) or Driver
Information Display (DID). It provides visual warnings
to indicate the distance between the rear fascia/bumper
and/or front fascia/bumper and the detected obstacle.
Refer to “Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) or
Driver Information Display (DID) Settings” in Under-
standing Your Instrument Panel” for further information.
The ParkSense Warning screen will only be displayed if
Sound and Display is selected.
NOTE:If your vehicle is equipped with a touchscreen,
this feature can be programmed through the Uconnect
system. Refer to “Uconnect Settings” in “Understanding
Your Instrument Panel” for further information.
206 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

If your vehicle is not equipped with a touchscreen, this
feature can be programmed through the Electronic Ve-
hicle Information Center (EVIC) or Driver Information
Display (DID). Refer to “Electronic Vehicle Information
Center (EVIC) or Driver Information Display (DID)” in
“Understanding Your Instrument Panel” for further in-
formation.
ParkSense Display
The warning display will turn ON indicating the system
status when the vehicle is in REVERSE or when the
vehicle is in DRIVE and an obstacle has been detected.The system will indicate a detected obstacle by showing
a single arc in the left and/or right rear regions based on
the obstacle’s distance and location relative to the vehicle.
If an obstacle is detected in the left and/or right rear
region, the display will show a single arc in the left
and/or right rear region and the system will produce a
tone. As the vehicle moves closer to the obstacle, the
display will show the single arc moving closer to the
vehicle and the tone will change from a single 1/2 second
tone to slow, to fast, to continuous.
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 207

The vehicle is close to the obstacle when the display
shows one flashing arc and sounds a continuous tone.
The following chart shows the warning alert operation
when the system is detecting an obstacle:
WARNING ALERTS
Rear Distance
(in/cm)Greater than 79
in (200 cm)79-45 in
(200-115 cm)45-31 in
(115-80 cm)31-18 in
(80-45 cm)Less than 18 in
(45 cm)
Front Distance
(in/cm)Greater than 47
in (120 cm)47-39 in
(120-100 cm)39-25 in
(100-65 cm)25-12 in
(65-30 cm)Less than 12 in
(30 cm)
Audible Alert
(Chime)None Single 1/2
Second Tone
(for rear only)Slow (for rear
only)Fast Continuous
Arcs None 4th Solid 3rd Solid 2nd Flashing 1st Flashing
Radio Volume
ReducedNo Yes Yes Yes Yes
NOTE:ParkSense will reduce the volume of the radio, if
on, when the system is sounding an audio tone.
208 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Front Park Assist Audible Alerts
ParkSense will turn off the Front Park Assist audible alert
(chime) after approximately three seconds when an ob-
stacle has been detected, the vehicle is stationary, and
brake pedal is applied.
Adjustable Chime Volume Settings
The Front and Rear chime volume settings are program-
mable.
•If your vehicle is equipped with a touchscreen, the
settings may be programmed through the Uconnect
System. Refer to “Uconnect Settings ” in “Understand-
ing Your Instrument Panel” for further information.
•If your vehicle is not equipped with a touchscreen, the
settings may be programmed through the ElectronicVehicle Information Center (EVIC) or Driver Informa-
tion Display (DID). Refer to “Electronic Vehicle Infor-
mation Center (EVIC)” or “Driver Information Display
(DID)” in “Understanding Your Instrument Panel” for
further information.
Enabling And Disabling Front And/Or Rear
ParkSense
Front ParkSense can be enabled and disabled with the
Front ParkSense switch.
Rear ParkSense can be enabled and disabled with the
Rear ParkSense switch.
When the Front or Rear ParkSense switch is
pushed to disable the system, the Electronic
Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) or Driver
Information Display (DID) will display the
“PARKSENSE OFF” message for approximately five sec-
onds. Refer to “Electronic Vehicle Information Center
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 209

(EVIC) or Driver Information Display (DID)” in “Under-
standing Your Instrument Panel” for further information.
When the shift lever is moved to REVERSE and the Front
or Rear system is disabled, the EVIC/DID will display
theFRONT PARKSENSE OFForREAR PARKSENSE
OFFmessage for five seconds, followed by a car graphic
withOFFin the corresponding side. This car graphic
will be displayed for as long as the vehicle is in RE-
VERSE.
NOTE:Arc alerts from the enabled ParkSense system,
will interrupt the five second messages, and the EVIC/
DID will display the car graphic with the corresponding
arcs andOFFmessage.
The Front or Rear ParkSense switch LED will be ON
when Front or Rear ParkSense is disabled or requires
service. The Front or Rear ParkSense switch LED will be
OFF when the Front or Rear system is enabled. If the
Front or Rear ParkSense switch is pushed, and the systemrequires service, the Front or Rear ParkSense switch LED
will blink momentarily, and then the LED will be ON.
Service The ParkSense Park Assist System
During vehicle start up, when the ParkSense System has
detected a faulted condition, the instrument cluster will
actuate a single chime, once per ignition cycle, and it will
display thePARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE WIPE REAR
SENSORS,PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE WIPE
FRONT SENSORS,orthePARKSENSE UNAVAIL-
ABLE SERVICE REQUIREDmessage for five seconds.
When the shift lever/gear selector is moved to Reverse
and the system has detected a faulted condition, the
Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) or Driver
Information Display (DID) will display aPARKSENSE
UNAVAILABLE WIPE REAR SENSORS,PARKSENSE
UNAVAILABLE WIPE FRONT SENSORSor
PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE SERVICE REQUIRED
pop up message for five seconds. After five seconds, a car
210 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

graphic will be displayed withUNAVAILABLEat ei-
ther the front or rear sensor location depending on where
the fault is detected. The system will continue to provide
arc alerts for the side that is functioning properly. These
arc alerts will interrupt thePARKSENSE UNAVAIL-
ABLE WIPE REAR SENSORS,PARKSENSE UNAVAIL-
ABLE WIPE FRONT SENSORS,orPARKSENSE UN-
AVAILABLE SERVICE REQUIREDmessages if an object
is detected within the five second pop-up duration. The
car graphic will remain displayed for as long as the
vehicle is in REVERSE. Refer to “Electronic Vehicle
Information Center (EVIC) orDriver Information Dis-
play (DID)” for further information.
IfPARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE WIPE REAR SENSORS
orPARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE WIPE FRONT SEN-
SORSappears in the Electronic Vehicle Information
Center (EVIC) or Driver Information Display (DID) make
sure the outer surface and the underside of the rear
fascia/bumper and/or front fascia/bumper is clean andclear of snow, ice, mud, dirt or other obstruction and then
cycle the ignition. If the message continues to appear see
an authorized dealer.
If thePARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE SERVICE RE-
QUIREDmessage appears in the EVIC/DID, see an
authorized dealer.
Cleaning The ParkSense System
Clean the ParkSense sensors with water, car wash soap
and a soft cloth. Do not use rough or hard cloths. Do not
scratch or poke the sensors. Otherwise, you could dam-
age the sensors.
ParkSense System Usage Precautions
NOTE:
•Ensure that the front and rear bumper are free of snow,
ice, mud, dirt and debris to keep the ParkSense system
operating properly.
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 211

•Jackhammers, large trucks, and other vibrations could
affect the performance of ParkSense.
•When you turn Front or Rear ParkSense off, the
instrument cluster will display “FRONT PARKSENSE
OFF” or “REAR PARKSENSE OFF.” Furthermore,
once you turn Front or Rear ParkSense off, it remains
off until you turn it on again, even if you cycle the
ignition key.
•When you move the shift lever to the REVERSE
position and Front or Rear ParkSense is turned off, the
instrument cluster will displayFRONT PARKSENSE
OFForREAR PARKSENSE OFFmessage for five
seconds, followed by a car graphic withOFFin the
corresponding side. This car graphic will be displayed
for as long as the vehicle is in REVERSE.
•ParkSense, when on, will reduce the volume of the
radio when it is sounding a tone.•Clean the ParkSense sensors regularly, taking care not
to scratch or damage them. The sensors must not be
covered with ice, snow, slush, mud, dirt or debris.
Failure to do so can result in the system not working
properly. The ParkSense system might not detect an
obstacle behind or in front of the fascia/bumper, or it
could provide a false indication that an obstacle is
behind or in front of the fascia/bumper.
•Use the ParkSense switch to turn the ParkSense system
off if obstacles such as bicycle carriers, trailer hitches,
etc. are placed within 18 in (45 cm) from the rear
fascia/bumper. Failure to do so can result in the
system misinterpreting a close obstacle as a sensor
problem, causing the “PARKSENSE UNAVAILABLE
SERVICE REQUIRED” 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
212 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

or open position. 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 obstacles.
Parking curbs might be temporarily detected or not
detected at all. Obstacles located above or below
the sensors will not be detected when they are in
close proximity.
•The vehicle must be driven slowly when using
ParkSense in 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.
WARNING!
•Drivers must be careful when backing up even
when using ParkSense. Always check carefully
behind your vehicle, look behind you, and be sure
to check for pedestrians, animals, other vehicles,
obstructions, and blind spots before backing up.
You are responsible for safety and must continue to
pay attention to your surroundings. Failure to do so
can result in serious injury or death.
•Before using ParkSense, it is strongly recom-
mended that the ball mount and hitch ball assem-
bly is disconnected from the vehicle when the
vehicle is not used for towing. Failure to do so can
result in injury or damage to vehicles or obstacles
because the hitch ball will be much closer to the
obstacle than the rear fascia when the loudspeaker
sounds the continuous tone. Also, the sensors
(Continued)
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