2017 Ram 3500 Chassis Cab engine

Preparations For Jump-Start
The battery in your vehicle is located in the front of the
engine compartment, behind the left headlight assembly.
NOTE:The positive battery post may be covered with a
protective cap if equipped. Lift up on the cap to gain access
to the positive battery post. Do not jump off fuses. Only
jump directly off positive post which has a positive (+)
symbol on or around the post.
WARNING!
• Take care to avoid the radiator cooling fan whenever
the hood is raised. It can start anytime the ignition
switch is ON. You can be injured by moving fan
blades.
• Remove any metal jewelry such as rings, watch
bands and bracelets that could make an inadvertent
electrical contact. You could be seriously injured.
• Batteries contain sulfuric acid that can burn your
skin or eyes and generate hydrogen gas which is
flammable and explosive. Keep open flames or
sparks away from the battery.
1. Apply the parking brake, shift the automatic transmis- sion into PARK and turn the ignition to LOCK.
2. Turn off the heater, radio, and all unnecessary electrical accessories.
Correct Positive Jumping Location
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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 441

3. If using another vehicle to jump-start the battery, parkthe vehicle within the jumper cables reach, apply the
parking brake and make sure the ignition is OFF.
WARNING!
Do not allow vehicles to touch each other as this could
establish a ground connection and personal injury
could result.
Jump-Starting Procedure
WARNING!
Failure to follow this jump-starting procedure could
result in personal injury or property damage due to
battery explosion.
CAUTION!
Failure to follow these procedures could result in
damage to the charging system of the booster vehicle
or the discharged vehicle. Connecting The Jumper Cables
1. Connect the positive
(+)end of the jumper cable to the
positive (+)post of the discharged vehicle.
NOTE: Do not jump off fuses. Only jump directly off
positive post.
2. Connect the opposite end of the positive (+)jumper
cable to the positive (+)post of the booster battery.
3. Connect the negative (-)end of the jumper cable to the
negative (-)post of the booster battery.
4. Connect the opposite end of the negative (-)jumper
cable to a good engine ground (exposed metal part of
the discharged vehicle’s engine) away from the battery
and the fuel injection system.
WARNING!
Do not connect the jumper cable to the negative (-) post
of the discharged battery. The resulting electrical spark
could cause the battery to explode and could result in
personal injury. Only use the specific ground point, do
not use any other exposed metal parts.
442 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

5. Start the engine in the vehicle that has the boosterbattery, let the engine idle a few minutes, and then start
the engine in the vehicle with the discharged battery.
CAUTION!
Do not connect jumper cable to any of the fuses on the
positive battery terminal. The resulting electrical cur-
rent will blow the fuse.
6. Once the engine is started, remove the jumper cables in the reverse sequence:
Disconnecting The Jumper Cables
1. Disconnect the negative (-)end of the jumper cable from
the engine ground of the vehicle with the discharged
battery.
2. Disconnect the opposite end of the negative (-)jumper
cable from the negative (-)post of the booster battery.
3. Disconnect the positive (+)end of the jumper cable from
the positive (+)post of the booster battery.
4. Disconnect the opposite end of the positive (+)jumper
cable from the positive (+)post of the vehicle with the
discharged battery. If frequent jump-starting is required to start your vehicle
you should have the battery and charging system in-
spected at your authorized dealer.
CAUTION!
Accessories plugged into the vehicle power outlets
draw power from the vehicle’s battery, even when not
in use (i.e., cellular devices, etc.). Eventually, if plugged
in long enough without engine operation, the vehicle’s
battery will discharge sufficiently to degrade battery
life and/or prevent the engine from starting.
FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE
If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand, or snow, it can
often be moved using a rocking motion. Turn the steering
wheel right and left to clear the area around the front
wheels. Next, shift back and forth between DRIVE and
REVERSE (with automatic transmission) or SECOND
GEAR and REVERSE (with manual transmission) while
gently pressing the accelerator. Use the least amount of
accelerator pedal pressure that will maintain the rocking
motion, without spinning the wheels or racing the engine.
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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 443

CAUTION!
Racing the engine or spinning the wheels may lead to
transmission overheating and failure. Allow the en-
gine to idle with the transmission in NEUTRAL for at
least one minute after every five rocking-motion
cycles. This will minimize overheating and reduce the
risk of clutch or transmission failure during prolonged
efforts to free a stuck vehicle.
NOTE: Push the ESC Off switch, to place the Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) system in Partial Offmode, before
rocking the vehicle. Refer to “Electronic Brake Control
System” in “Starting And Operating” for further informa-
tion. Once the vehicle has been freed, push the ESC Off
switch again to restore ESC Onmode.
WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces generated
by excessive wheel speeds may cause damage, or even
failure, of the axle and tires. A tire could explode and
injure someone. Do not spin your vehicle’s wheels
faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) or for longer than 30
seconds continuously without stopping when you are
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
stuck and do not let anyone near a spinning wheel, no
matter what the speed.
CAUTION!
•When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by shifting between
DRIVE/SECOND GEAR and REVERSE, do not spin
the wheels faster than 15 mph (24 km/h), or drive-
train damage may result.
• Revving the engine or spinning the wheels too fast
may lead to transmission overheating and failure. It
can also damage the tires. Do not spin the wheels
above 30 mph (48 km/h) while in gear (no transmis-
sion shifting occurring).
EMERGENCY TOW HOOKS — IF EQUIPPED
Your vehicle may be equipped with emergency tow hooks.
NOTE: For off-road recovery, it is recommended to use
both of the front tow hooks to minimize the risk of damage
to the vehicle.
444 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

WARNING!
•Do not use a chain for freeing a stuck vehicle. Chains
may break, causing serious injury or death.
• Stand clear of vehicles when pulling with tow hooks.
Tow straps may become disengaged, causing serious
injury.
CAUTION!
Tow hooks are for emergency use only to rescue a
vehicle stranded off-road. Do not use tow hooks for
tow truck hookup or highway towing. You could
damage your vehicle.
GEAR SELECTOR OVERRIDE
If a malfunction occurs and the gear selector cannot be
moved out of the PARK position, you can use the following
procedure to temporarily move the gear selector:
1. Turn the engine OFF.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake.
3. Tilt the steering wheel to the full up position. 4. Press and maintain firm pressure on the brake pedal.
5. Insert a screwdriver or similar tool into the access port
(ringed circle) on the bottom of the steering column, and
push and hold the override release lever up.
6. Move the gear selector to the NEUTRAL position.
7. The vehicle may then be started in NEUTRAL.Gear Selector Override Access Port
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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 445

CAUTION!
Towing this vehicle in violation of the above require-
ments can cause severe engine and/or transmission
damage. Damage from improper towing is not covered
under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Four-Wheel Drive Models
The manufacturer recommends towing with all wheels
OFFthe ground. Acceptable methods are to tow the vehicle
on a flatbed or with one end of vehicle raised and the
opposite end on a towing dolly.
If flatbed equipment is not available, and the transfer case
is operable, the vehicle may be towed (in the forward
direction, with ALLwheels on the ground), IFthe transfer
case is in NEUTRAL and the transmission is in PARK (for
automatic transmissions) or in gear (NOT in NEUTRAL,
for manual transmissions). Refer to “Recreational Towing”
in “Starting And Operating” for further information and
detailed instructions.
CAUTION!
• Front or rear wheel lifts must not be used. Internal
damage to the transmission or transfer case will
occur if a front or rear wheel lift is used when
towing.
• Towing this vehicle in violation of the above require-
ments can cause severe transmission and/or transfer
case damage. Damage from improper towing is not
covered under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
ENHANCED ACCIDENT RESPONSE SYSTEM
(EARS)
This vehicle is equipped with an Enhanced Accident
Response System.
Please refer to “Occupant Restraint Systems” in “Things To
Know Before Starting Your Vehicle” for further information
on the Enhanced Accident Response System (EARS) func-
tion.
448 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
CONTENTS
ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 6.4L ...........453
 ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM (OBD II) . . . .454
▫ Onboard Diagnostic System (OBD II)
Cybersecurity ........................ .454
▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message .............455
 EMISSIONS INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
PROGRAMS .......................... .455
 REPLACEMENT PARTS ...................456
 DEALER SERVICE ...................... .456
 MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES .............457
▫ Engine Oil .......................... .457
▫ Engine Oil Filter ...................... .459
▫ Engine Air Cleaner Filter .................460
▫ Accessory Drive Belt Inspection ............462
▫ Maintenance-Free Battery .................463 ▫
Air Conditioner Maintenance ..............464
▫ Front Prop Shaft Lubrication — Four-Wheel Drive
Models ............................. .470
▫ Body Lubrication ..................... .471
▫ Windshield Wiper Blades .................471
▫ Adding Washer Fluid ...................474
▫ Exhaust System ....................... .475
▫ Cooling System ....................... .476
▫ Brake System ........................ .481
▫ Rear Axle And 4x4 Front Driving Axle Fluid
Level .............................. .482
▫ Transfer Case ........................ .483
▫ Automatic Transmission — If Equipped ......484
▫ Appearance Care And Protection From
Corrosion ........................... .486
7

FUSES ............................... .492
▫ Power Distribution Center ................493
 VEHICLE STORAGE .....................500
 REPLACEMENT BULBS ...................500
 BULB REPLACEMENT ....................501
▫ Base Quad / Premium Bi-Halogen: Low Beam
Headlamp, High Beam Headlamp, Front Park And
Turn — If Equipped ....................501
▫ Fog Lamps — If Equipped ................503 ▫
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) With
Cargo Lamp ......................... .504
▫ Cab Top Clearance Lamps — If Equipped .....505
 FLUID CAPACITIES ..................... .507
 FLUIDS, LUBRICANTS, AND GENUINE PARTS .508
▫ Engine ............................. .508
▫ Chassis ............................ .510
452 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE