2016 Ram 1500 wheel

▫Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . .489
▫Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission — If
Equipped...........................490
▫Six-Speed Automatic Transmission — 1500 Models
Only (If Equipped)....................499
▫Six-Speed Automatic Transmission — 2500/3500
Models Only........................511
FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE OPERATION — IF
EQUIPPED...........................522
▫Manually Shifted Transfer Case — If
Equipped...........................522
▫Electronically Shifted Transfer Case (Four-Position
Switch) — If Equipped.................526
▫Electronically Shifted Transfer Case (Five-Position
Switch) — If Equipped.................533▫Electronically Shifted Transfer Case (Five-Position
Switch) — If Equipped.................538
AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM (1500 MODELS) — IF
EQUIPPED...........................545
▫Description..........................545
▫Air Suspension Modes..................549
▫Electronic Vehicle Information Center
(EVIC)/Driver Information Display (DID) Display
Messages...........................551
▫Operation...........................551
AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM (2500/3500 MODELS)
— IF EQUIPPED.......................553
▫Description..........................553
▫Air Suspension Modes..................554
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▫Life Of Tire.........................657
▫Replacement Tires.....................657
SUPPLEMENTAL TIRE PRESSURE INFORMATION
— IF EQUIPPED.......................659
TIRE CHAINS (TRACTION DEVICES).......659
TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS.....662
▫Directional Tires — If Equipped...........663
▫Dual Rear Wheels — If Equipped..........663
TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM (TPMS) . .665
▫Premium System......................667
▫Tire Pressure Information System (TPIS) 3500
Series Trucks.........................672
▫General Information...................674
FUEL REQUIREMENTS..................674▫3.6L Engine..........................674
▫5.7L Engine..........................675
▫6.4L Engine..........................675
▫Reformulated Gasoline.................676
▫Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends..............676
▫E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles.......677
▫MMT In Gasoline.....................677
▫Materials Added To Fuel................678
▫Fuel System Cautions...................678
▫Carbon Monoxide Warnings.............679
FLEXIBLE FUEL (3.6L ENGINE ONLY) — IF
EQUIPPED...........................680
▫E-85 General Information...............680
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RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.)...................714
▫Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle . .714▫Recreational Towing — Two-Wheel Drive
Models.............................715
▫Recreational Towing — Four-Wheel Drive
Models.............................716
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Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission — If
Equipped
The transmission is controlled using a rotary electronic
gear selector located on the instrument panel. The trans-
mission gear range (PRND) is displayed both above the
gear selector and in the Electronic Vehicle Information
Center (EVIC)/Driver Information Display (DID). To
select a gear range, simply rotate the gear selector. You
must press the brake pedal to shift the transmission out
of PARK, or to shift from NEUTRAL into DRIVE or
REVERSE, when the vehicle is stopped or moving at low
speeds (refer to “Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock Sys-
tem” in this section). To shift past multiple gear ranges at
once (such as Park to Drive), simply rotate the gear
selector to the appropriate detent. Select the DRIVE range
for normal driving.
The electronically-controlled transmission provides a
precise shift schedule. The transmission electronics are
self-calibrating; therefore, the first few shifts on a newvehicle may be somewhat abrupt. This is a normal
condition, and precision shifts will develop within a few
hundred miles (kilometers).
Only shift from DRIVE to PARK or REVERSE when the
accelerator pedal is released and the vehicle is stopped.
Be sure to keep your foot on the brake pedal when
shifting between these gears.
The transmission gear selector has only PARK, RE-
VERSE, NEUTRAL, and DRIVE positions. Manual down-
shifts can be made using the Electronic Range Select
(ERS) shift control (refer toElectronic Range Select (ERS)
Operationin this section for further information). Press-
ing the GEAR-/GEAR+ switches (on the steering wheel)
while in the DRIVE position will select the highest
available transmission gear, and will display that gear
limit in the instrument cluster as 1, 2, 3, etc. Models with
the Driver Information Display (DID) will display both
the selected gear limit, and the actual current gear, while
in ERS mode.
490 STARTING AND OPERATING

Gear Ranges
DO NOT race the engine when shifting from PARK or
NEUTRAL into another gear range.NOTE:After selecting any gear range, wait a moment to
allow the selected gear to engage before accelerating.
This is especially important when the engine is cold.
PARK (P)
This range supplements the parking brake by locking the
transmission. The engine can be started in this range.
Never attempt to use PARK while the vehicle is in
motion. Apply the parking brake when leaving the
vehicle in this range.
When parking on a level surface, you may shift the
transmission into PARK first, and then apply the parking
brake.
When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake before
shifting the transmission to PARK. As an added precau-
tion, turn the front wheels toward the curb on a downhill
grade and away from the curb on an uphill grade.
Electronic Transmission Gear Selector
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 491

NOTE:On four-wheel drive vehicles be sure that the
transfer case is in a drive position.
WARNING!
•Never use the PARK position as a substitute for the
parking brake. Always apply the parking brake
fully when parked to guard against vehicle move-
ment and possible injury or damage.
•Your vehicle could move and injure you and others
if it is not in PARK. Make sure the transmission is
in PARK before leaving the vehicle.
•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
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
the engine is idling normally and your foot is
firmly pressing the brake pedal.
•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. When the ignition is in the LOCK/OFF
(key removal) position, the transmission is locked
in PARK, securing the vehicle against unwanted
movement.
•Before exiting a vehicle, always apply the parking
brake, shift the automatic transmission into PARK
or the manual transmission into REVERSE, turn
the vehicle OFF, remove the key fob from the
ignition and lock your vehicle. If equipped with
Keyless Enter-N-Go, always make sure the keyless
ignition node is in “OFF” mode, remove the Key
Fob from the vehicle and lock the vehicle.
(Continued)
492 STARTING AND OPERATING

transmission gear limit to 4 (fourth gear), the transmis-
sion will not shift above fourth gear (except to prevent
engine overspeed), but will shift through the lower gears
normally.
You can switch between DRIVE and ERS mode at any
vehicle speed. When the transmission gear selector is in
DRIVE, the transmission will operate automatically, shift-
ing between all available gears. Tapping the GEAR-
switch (on the steering wheel) will activate ERS mode,
display the current gear in the instrument cluster, and set
that gear as the top available gear. Once in ERS mode,
tapping the GEAR- or GEAR+ switch will change the top
available gear.
To exit ERS mode, simply push and hold the GEAR+
switch until the gear limit display disappears from the
instrument cluster.
1 — ERS (-) Switch 2 — ERS (+) Switch
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STARTING AND OPERATING 497

WARNING!
Do not downshift for additional engine braking on a
slippery surface. The drive wheels could lose their
grip and the vehicle could skid, causing a collision or
personal injury.
When to Use TOW/HAUL Mode
When driving in hilly areas, towing a trailer, carrying a
heavy load, etc., and frequent transmission shifting oc-
curs, press the TOW/HAUL switch to activate TOW/
HAUL mode. This will improve performance and reduce
the potential for transmission overheating or failure due
to excessive shifting.The “TOW/HAUL Indicator Light” will illuminate in the
instrument cluster to indicate that TOW/HAUL mode
has been activated. Pushing the switch a second time
restores normal operation. Normal operation is always
TOW/HAUL Switch
498 STARTING AND OPERATING