2017 Ram 2500 ECU

4. While holding the locking tab in the disengaged posi-tion, pull the tether strap to rotate the lever rearward,
until it locks in place pointing towards the driver’s seat.
Release the locking tab and verify that the Manual Park
Release lever is locked in the released position.
5. The vehicle is now out of PARK and can be towed. Release the parking brake only when the vehicle is
securely connected to a tow vehicle.
To Reset The Manual Park Release:
1. Push the locking tab to the right, to unlock the lever.
2. Rotate the Manual Park Release lever forward to its original position, until the locking tab snaps into place
to secure the lever.
3. Pull gently on the tether strap to confirm that the lever is locked in its stowed position.
4. Re-install the access cover.TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE
This section describes procedures for towing a disabled
vehicle using a commercial towing service. If the transmis-
sion and drivetrain are operable, disabled vehicles may
also be towed as described under “Recreational Towing” in
the “Starting And Operating” section.
NOTE: Vehicles equipped with air suspension must be
placed in Transport mode, before tying them down (from
the body) on a trailer or flatbed truck. Refer to Air
Suspension inStarting And Operating for more informa-
tion. If the vehicle cannot be placed in Transport mode (for
example, engine will not run), tie-downs must be fastened
to the axles (not to the body). Failure to follow these
instructions may cause fault codes to be set and/or cause
loss of proper tie-down tension.
626 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

Proper towing or lifting equipment is required to prevent
damage to your vehicle. Use only tow bars and other
equipment designed for this purpose, following equipment
manufacturer ’s instructions. Use of safety chains is man-
datory. Attach a tow bar or other towing device to main
structural members of the vehicle, not to bumpers or
associated brackets. State and local laws regarding vehicles
under tow must be observed.
If you must use the accessories (wipers, defrosters, etc.)
while being towed, the ignition must be in the ON/RUN
mode, not the ACC mode.
If the key fob is unavailable or the vehicle’s battery is
discharged, refer to ”Manual Park Release” or “Gear Selector
Override” in this section for instructions on shifting the
automatic transmission out of PARK for towing.
CAUTION!
•Do not use sling type equipment when towing.
Vehicle damage may occur.
• When securing the vehicle to a flat bed truck, do not
attach to front or rear suspension components. Dam-
age to your vehicle may result from improper towing.
Two-Wheel Drive Models
The manufacturer recommends towing your vehicle with
all four wheels OFFthe ground using a flatbed.
If flatbed equipment is not available, and the transmission
is operable, this vehicle may be towed (with rear wheels on
the ground) under the following conditions:
• The transmission must be in NEUTRAL.
• The towing speed must not exceed 30 mph (48 km/h).
• The towing distance must not exceed 15 miles (24 km)
for 6-speed transmission, or 30 miles (48 km) for 8-speed
transmission.
If the transmission is not operable, or the vehicle must be
towed faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) or farther than 15
miles (24 km) for 6-speed transmission, or 30 miles (48 km)
for 8-speed transmission, tow with the rear wheels OFFthe
ground. Acceptable methods are to tow the vehicle on a
flatbed, or with the front wheels raised and the rear wheels
on a towing dolly, or (when using a suitable steering wheel
stabilizer to hold the front wheels in the straight position)
with the rear wheels raised and the front wheels on the
ground.
628 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
CONTENTS
ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 3.6L ...........633
 ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 5.7L ...........634
 ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 6.4L ...........635
 ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM (OBD II) . . . .636
▫ Onboard Diagnostic System (OBD II)
Cybersecurity ........................ .636
▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message .............637
 EMISSIONS INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS ..............637
 REPLACEMENT PARTS ...................639
 DEALER SERVICE ...................... .639
 MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES .............639
▫ Engine Oil .......................... .640
▫ Engine Oil Filter ...................... .642
▫ Engine Air Cleaner Filter .................643 ▫
Accessory Drive Belt Inspection ............646
▫ Maintenance-Free Battery .................648
▫ Air Conditioner Maintenance ..............649
▫ Front Driveshaft Lubrication — 2500/3500
(Four-Wheel Drive Models Only) ............655
▫ Body Lubrication ..................... .656
▫ Windshield Wiper Blades .................656
▫ Adding Washer Fluid ...................659
▫ Exhaust System ....................... .660
▫ Cooling System ....................... .662
▫ Brake System ........................ .667
▫ Rear Axle And 4x4 Front Driving
Axle Fluid Level ...................... .668
▫ Transfer Case ........................ .669
▫ Automatic

Transmission ..................669
7

ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM (OBD II)
Your vehicle is equipped with a sophisticated onboard
diagnostic system called OBD II. This system monitors the
performance of the emissions, engine, and automatic trans-
mission control systems. When these systems are operating
properly, your vehicle will provide excellent performance
and fuel economy, as well as engine emissions well within
current government regulations.
If any of these systems require service, the OBD II system
will turn on the “Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL).” It
will also store diagnostic codes and other information to
assist your service technician in making repairs. Although
your vehicle will usually be drivable and not need towing,
see your authorized dealer for service as soon as possible.
CAUTION!
•Prolonged driving with the MIL on could cause
further damage to the emission control system. It
could also affect fuel economy and driveability. The
vehicle must be serviced before any emissions tests
can be performed.
(Continued)
CAUTION! (Continued)
•If the MIL is flashing, while the engine is running,
severe catalytic converter damage and power loss
will soon occur. Immediate service is required.
Onboard Diagnostic System (OBD II) Cybersecurity
Your vehicle is required to have an Onboard Diagnostic
system (OBD II) and a connection port to allow access to
information related to the performance of your emissions
controls. Authorized service technicians may need to ac-
cess this information to assist with the diagnosis and
service of your vehicle and emissions system.
WARNING!
• ONLY an authorized service technician should con-
nect equipment to the OBD II connection port in
order to diagnose or service your vehicle.
• If unauthorized equipment is connected to the OBD
II connection port, such as a driver-behavior tracking
device, it may:
• Be possible that vehicle systems, including safety
related systems, could be impaired or a loss of
(Continued)
636 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!(Continued)
vehicle control could occur that may result in an
accident involving serious injury or death.
• Access, or allow others to access, information
stored in your vehicle systems, including personal
information.
For further information, refer to “Privacy Practices — If
Equipped With Uconnect 8.4 Radio” and “Uconnect Cy-
berSecurity” in “All About Uconnect Access” in your
Owner ’s Manual Radio Supplement and “Cybersecurity”
in “Understanding Your Instrument Panel”.
Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message
If the vehicle diagnostic system determines that
the fuel filler cap is loose, improperly installed,
or damaged, a loose gascap indicator will dis-
play in the instrument cluster telltale display
area. Refer to “Instrument Cluster Display” in “Under-
standing Your Instrument Panel” for further information.
Tighten the fuel filler cap properly and push the SELECT
button to turn off the message. If the problem continues,
the message will appear the next time the vehicle is started. A loose, improperly installed, or damaged fuel filler cap
may also turn on the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL).
EMISSIONS INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
PROGRAMS
In some localities, it may be a legal requirement to pass an
inspection of your vehicle’s emissions control system.
Failure to pass could prevent vehicle registration.
For states that require an Inspection and Mainte-
nance (I/M), this check verifies the “Malfunction
Indicator Light (MIL)” is functioning and is not on
when the engine is running, and that the OBD II system is
ready for testing.
Normally, the OBD II system will be ready. The OBD II
system may notbe ready if your vehicle was recently
serviced, or recently had a dead battery or a battery
replacement. If the OBD II system should be determined
not ready for the I/M test, your vehicle may fail the test.
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 637

WARNING!(Continued)
•To avoid contamination from foreign matter or mois-
ture, use only new brake fluid or fluid that has been
in a tightly closed container. Keep the master cylin-
der reservoir cap secured at all times. Brake fluid in
a open container absorbs moisture from the air
resulting in a lower boiling point. This may cause it
to boil unexpectedly during hard or prolonged brak-
ing, resulting in sudden brake failure. This could
result in a collision.
• Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can result in
spilling brake fluid on hot engine parts, causing the
brake fluid to catch fire. Brake fluid can also damage
painted and vinyl surfaces, care should be taken to
avoid its contact with these surfaces.
• Do not allow petroleum based fluid to contaminate
the brake fluid. Brake seal components could be
damaged, causing partial or complete brake failure.
This could result in a collision.
Rear Axle And 4x4 Front Driving Axle Fluid Level
For normal service, periodic fluid level checks are not
required. When the vehicle is serviced for other reasons the
exterior surfaces of the axle assembly should be inspected.
If gear oil leakage is suspected inspect the fluid level. Refer
to “Fluids, Lubricants, And Genuine Parts” in “Maintain-
ing Your Vehicle” for further information. This inspection
should be made with the vehicle in a level position.
For 1500 Model axles, the fluid level should be even with
the bottom of the fill hole (within 1/4 in (6.4 mm) of edge
of hole) for the FDU215 HD front axle and C235FE rear
axle.
For all 2500/3500 Model axles, the fluid level should be
1/4 in ± 1/4 in (6.4 mm ± 6.4 mm) below the fill hole on the
9.25 in front and 3/4 in ± 1/4 in (19 mm ± 6.4 mm) on
10.5 in rear axles. The 11.5 in rear axle level should be
1/4 in ± 1/4 in (6.4 mm ± 6.4 mm) below the fill hole.
Drain And Refill
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” for the proper main-
tenance intervals.
668 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

BULB REPLACEMENT
NOTE:Lens fogging can occur under certain atmospheric
conditions. This will usually clear as atmospheric condi-
tions change to allow the condensation to change back into
a vapor. Turning the lamps on will usually accelerate the
clearing process.
Base Quad / Premium Bi-Halogen: Low Beam
Headlamp, High Beam Headlamp, Front Park And
Turn — If Equipped
1. Open the hood.
2. Disconnect and isolate the negative battery cable.
3. Remove the six plastic push-in fasteners that secure the upper radiator seal to the grille support and both fender
ledges.
4. Remove the two plastic push-in rivets that secure the upper radiator seal to the radiator.
5. Remove the upper radiator seal from the vehicle. 6. Remove the two headlamp assembly attachment screws.
7. Reach into the front wheel house ahead of the front
wheel, remove the fastener, and lift the cover over the
access hole in the front of the wheel house splash shield.
Access to the rear of the lamp can be gained through this
access hole.
Headlamp Assembly Attachment Screw Locations
690 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Adding Engine Coolant (Antifreeze).............663
Adding Fuel ............................. .548
Additives, Fuel ........................... .544
Adjust Down .................................119
Forward ............................119,120
Rearward ...........................119,120
Up ...................................119
Adjustable Pedals ......................... .152
Air Bag Air Bag Operation .........................60
Enhanced Accident Response ..............66, 630
Event Data Recorder (EDR) .................630
If A Deployment Occurs ....................65
Knee Impact Bolsters .......................60
Maintaining Your Air Bag System ..............67
Side Air Bags ............................61
Air Bag Light .......................... .96, 241
Air Bag Maintenance .........................67
Air Cleaner, Engine (Engine Air Cleaner Filter) ......643
Air Conditioner Maintenance ..................649
Air Conditioning .......................... .330
Air Conditioning Controls ....................330
Air Conditioning Filter ...................347, 650
Air Conditioning, Operating Tips ............346, 348Air Conditioning Refrigerant
...............649, 650
Air Conditioning System ...............330, 345, 649
Air Pressure, Tires ......................... .519
Air Suspension ........................ .438, 444
Alarm, Panic ...............................24
Alarm (Security Alarm) ....................19, 244
Alarm System (Security Alarm) .................19
Alterations/Modifications, Vehicle ................7
Antifreeze (Engine Coolant) ................662, 697
Disposal .............................. .664
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) .................495
Appearance Care .......................... .672
Ashtray ................................ .189
Assist, Hill Start .......................... .498
Auto Down Power Windows ...................40
Automatic Door Locks ........................
34
Automatic Headlights ...................... .139
Automatic High Beams ..................... .141
Automatic Temperature Control (ATC) ...........345
Automatic Transmission ..................388, 672
Adding Fluid ....................... .671, 672
Fluid And Filter Changes ...................672
Fluid Change .......................... .672
Fluid Level Check .................669, 670, 671
Fluid Type ......................... .669, 701
716 INDEX