2016 Ram 1500 Tow haul

Air Suspension Payload Protection Telltale — If Equipped
Yellow Telltale
LightWhat It Means
Air Suspension Payload Protection Telltale
This telltale will turn on to indicate that the maximum payload may have been exceeded or
load leveling cannot be achieved at its current ride height. Protection Mode will automati-
cally be selected in order to “protect” the air suspension system, air suspension adjustment
is limited due to payload.
TOW/HAUL Indicator Light
Yellow Telltale
LightWhat It Means
TOW/HAUL Indicator Light
This light will illuminate when TOW HAUL mode is selected.
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UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 321

•Air Suspension Temporarily Disabled For Jacking And
Tire Change
•Battery Low Start Engine To Change Ride Height
•Stop/Start Ready – If Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready – If Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready Hood Open – If Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready Battery Charging – If Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready Trailer Tow/Haul Selected – If
Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready 4WD/Low Range Selected – If
Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready Fuel Level Low – If Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready Steep Incline – If Equipped•Stop/Start Not Ready Extreme Outside Temperature –
If Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready Engine Temperature Too High –
If Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready Engine Temperature Too Low –
If Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready Driver Seatbelt Unbuckled – If
Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready Driver Door Open – If Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready Cabin Cooling Or Heating – If
Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready Not Ready Max Cooling Or
Heating – If Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready Max Cooling Or Heating Se-
lected – If Equipped
346 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

•Stop/Start Not Ready Hood Open – If Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready Battery Charging – If Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready Trailer Tow/Haul Selected – If
Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready 4WD/Low Range Selected – If
Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready Fuel Level Low – If Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready Steep Incline – If Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready Extreme Outside Temperature –
If Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready Engine Temperature Too High –
If Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready Engine Temperature Too Low –
If Equipped•Stop/Start Not Ready Driver Seatbelt Unbuckled – If
Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready Driver Door Open – If Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready Cabin Cooling Or Heating – If
Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready Not Ready Max Cooling Or
Heating – If Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready Max Cooling Or Heating Se-
lected – If Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready Front Defrost Selected – If
Equipped
•Stop/Start Not Ready Steering Wheel Turned – If
Equipped
•Stop/Start Autostop Active – If Equipped
364 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

When frequent transmission shifting occurs (such as
when operating the vehicle under heavy loading condi-
tions, in hilly terrain, traveling into strong head winds, or
while towing heavy trailers), select TOW/HAUL mode
or use the Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift control
(refer toElectronic Range Select (ERS) Operationin this
section for further information) to select a lower gear
range. Under these conditions, using a lower gear range
will improve performance and extend transmission life
by reducing excessive shifting and heat buildup.
During extremely cold temperatures (-22°F [-30°C] or
below), transmission operation may be modified depend-
ing on engine and transmission temperature as well as
vehicle speed. Normal operation will resume once the
transmission temperature has risen to a suitable level.Transmission Limp Home Mode
Transmission function is monitored electronically for
abnormal conditions. If a condition is detected that could
result in transmission damage, Transmission Limp Home
Mode is activated. In this mode, the transmission may
operate only in certain gears, or may not shift at all.
Vehicle performance may be severely degraded and the
engine may stall. In some situations, the transmission
may not re-engage if the engine is turned off and
restarted. The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) may be
illuminated. A message in the instrument cluster will
inform the driver of the more serious conditions, and
indicate what actions may be necessary.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 495

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

the default at engine start-up. If TOW/HAUL mode is
desired, the switch must be pushed each time the engine
is started.
Six-Speed Automatic Transmission — 1500
Models Only (If Equipped)
The transmission gear position display (located in the
instrument cluster) indicates the transmission gear range.
The shift lever is mounted either on the right side of the
steering column (if equipped) or on the console (if
equipped). You must press the brake pedal to move the
shift lever out of PARK (refer to “Brake/Transmission
Shift Interlock System” in this section). To drive, move
the shift lever from PARK or NEUTRAL to the DRIVE
position. Pull the shift lever toward you when shifting
into REVERSE or PARK, or when shifting out of PARK
(column shift only).
The electronically-controlled transmission provides a
precise shift schedule. The transmission electronics areself-calibrating; therefore, the first few shifts on a new
vehicle 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 shift lever has only PARK, REVERSE,
NEUTRAL, and DRIVE shift positions. Manual down-
shifts can be made using the Electronic Range Select
(ERS) shift control (refer to “Electronic Range Select (ERS)
Operation” in this section for further information). Press-
ing the ERS (-/+) switches (column shift) or moving the
shift lever to the left or right (-/+) (console shift) 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
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STARTING AND OPERATING 499

In the event of a momentary problem, the transmission
can be reset to regain all forward gears by performing the
following steps:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Shift the transmission into PARK.
3. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position.
4. Wait approximately 10 seconds.
5. Restart the engine.
6. Shift into the desired gear range. If the problem is no
longer detected, the transmission will return to normal
operation.
NOTE:Even if the transmission can be reset, we recom-
mend that you visit your authorized dealer at your
earliest possible convenience. Your authorized dealer has
diagnostic equipment to determine if the problem could
recur.If the transmission cannot be reset, authorized dealer
service is required.
Electronic Range Select (ERS) Operation —
Six-Speed Transmission (1500 Models Only)
The Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift control allows the
driver to limit the highest available gear when the
transmission is in DRIVE. For example, if you set the
transmission gear limit to 4 (fourth gear), the transmis-
sion will not shift above fourth gear, but will shift
through the lower gears normally.
Use of ERS (or TOW/HAUL mode) also enables an
additional underdrive gear which is not normally used
during through-gear accelerations. This additional gear
can improve vehicle performance and cooling capability
when towing a trailer on certain grades. In ERS mode,
gears 1 though 3 are underdrive gears, and ERS 4 is direct
drive. ERS 5 and 6 (Overdrive gears) are the same as the
normal fourth and fifth gears.
506 STARTING AND OPERATING

CAUTION!
When using ERS for engine braking while descend-
ing steep grades, be careful not to overspeed the
engine. Apply the brakes as needed to prevent en-
gine overspeed.
Overdrive Operation
The automatic transmission includes an electronically
controlled Overdrive (fourth and fifth gears). The trans-
mission will automatically shift into Overdrive if the
following conditions are present:
•the shift lever is in the DRIVE position,
•the transmission fluid has reached an adequate tem-
perature,
•the engine coolant (antifreeze) has reached an ad-
equate temperature,
•vehicle speed is sufficiently high,•the TOW/HAUL switch has not been activated, and
•the driver is not heavily pressing the accelerator.
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, push 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. When operating in TOW/HAUL
mode, transmission upshifts are delayed, and the trans-
mission will automatically downshift (for engine brak-
ing) when the throttle is closed and/or during steady
braking maneuvers.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 509