2017 Ram ProMaster suspension

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE
CONTENTS
MIRRORS ..............................58
▫ Inside Day/Night Mirror — If Equipped ......58
▫ Outside Mirrors ........................58
▫ Outside Mirrors Folding Feature ............58
▫ Power Mirrors — If Equipped ..............59
▫ Heated Mirrors — If Equipped .............59
▫ Power Folding Mirrors — If Equipped .........59
 SEATS ................................61
▫ Manual Front Seat Adjustments ..............62
▫ Suspension Seat — If Equipped .............65
▫ Swivel Seat — If Equipped ................65
▫ Flap On Bench — If Equipped ..............67
▫ Underseat Storage Tray (Driver Side Only) — If
Equipped .............................68 ▫
Heated Seats — If Equipped ...............68
▫ Head Restraints ........................69
▫ Adjustable Armrests — If Equipped ..........71
 TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE HOOD ...........72
 LIGHTS ...............................74
▫ Multifunction Lever .....................74
▫ Headlights ............................74
▫ Dimmer Controls .......................75
▫ Ambient Light ..........................75
▫ Daytime Running Lights — If Equipped .......75
▫ Battery Saver ...........................75
▫ Fog Lights — If Equipped .................76
▫ Turn Signals ...........................76
▫ Parking Lights .........................763

WARNING!(Continued)
In a collision you could slide under the seat belt and
be seriously or even fatally injured. Use the recliner
only when the vehicle is parked.
Suspension Seat — If Equipped
The seat is equipped with a mechanical spring system and
hydraulic shock absorber to ensure maximum comfort and
safety. The system of springs also effectively absorbs im-
pact from uneven road surfaces.
Damper Weight Adjustment
Use the weight adjustment knob to set the required setting
based on body weight, with settings between 88 lbs (40 kg)
and 286 lbs (130 kg).
Swivel Seat — If Equipped
The swivel seat lever is located at the lower front inboard
side of the seat. The seat may be turned through 180°
toward the seat on the opposite side and approximately 35°
toward the door. The seat may be locked in the driving
position or at the 180° position. To swivel the seat, pull the
swivel seat inboard lever outward, turn the seat to the
desired position and release the lever.
Weight Adjustment Knob
3
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 65

It is recommended you contact your authorized tire dealer
or original equipment dealer with any questions you may
have on tire specifications or capability. Failure to use
equivalent replacement tires may adversely affect the
safety, handling, and ride of your vehicle.
WARNING!
•Do not use a tire, wheel size or rating other than that
specified for your vehicle. Some combinations of
unapproved tires and wheels may change suspen-
sion dimensions and performance characteristics,
resulting in changes to steering, handling, and brak-
ing of your vehicle. This can cause unpredictable
handling and stress to steering and suspension com-
ponents. You could lose control and have a collision
resulting in serious injury or death. Use only the tire
and wheel sizes with load ratings approved for your
vehicle.
• Never use a tire with a smaller load index or capacity,
other than what was originally equipped on your
vehicle. Using a tire with a smaller load index could
result in tire overloading and failure. You could lose
control and have a collision.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Failure to equip your vehicle with tires having ad-
equate speed capability can result in sudden tire
failure and loss of vehicle control.
CAUTION!
Replacing original tires with tires of a different size
may result in false speedometer and odometer read-
ings.
TIRE CHAINS (TRACTION DEVICES)
Use of traction devices require sufficient tire-to-body clear-
ance. Follow these recommendations to guard against
damage.
• Traction device must be of proper size for the tire, as
recommended by the traction device manufacturer.
• Install on front tires only.
• Tire chains for a 225/75R16 tire with a Quality Chain
Corp Light Truck Highway Service (Non-Cam) tire chain
or equivalent is recommended.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 217

WARNING!
Using tires of different size and type (M+S, Snow)
between front and rear axles can cause unpredictable
handling. You could lose control and have a collision.
CAUTION!
To avoid damage to your vehicle or tires, observe the
following precautions:
•Because of restricted traction device clearance be-
tween tires and other suspension components, it is
important that only traction devices in good condi-
tion are used. Broken devices can cause serious
damage. Stop the vehicle immediately if noise occurs
that could indicate device breakage. Remove the
damaged parts of the device before further use.
• Install device as tightly as possible and then re-
tighten after driving about ½ mile (0.8 km).
• Do not exceed 30 mph (48 km/h).
• Drive cautiously and avoid severe turns and large
bumps, especially with a loaded vehicle.
• Do not drive for a prolonged period on dry pave-
ment.
(Continued)
CAUTION! (Continued)
•Observe the traction device manufacturer ’s instruc-
tions on the method of installation, operating speed,
and conditions for use. Always use the suggested
operating speed of the device manufacturer ’s if it is
less than 30 mph (48 km/h).
• Do not use traction devices on a compact spare tire.
TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS
The tires on the front and rear of your vehicle operate at
different loads and perform different steering, driving, and
braking functions. For these reasons, they wear at unequal
rates.
These effects can be reduced by timely rotation of tires. The
benefits of rotation are especially worthwhile with aggres-
sive tread designs such as those on all season type tires.
Rotation will increase tread life, help to maintain mud,
snow and wet traction levels, and contribute to a smooth,
quiet ride.
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” for the proper main-
tenance intervals. The reasons for any rapid or unusual
wear should be corrected prior to rotation being per-
formed.
218 STARTING AND OPERATING

Figure out the weight on the front and rear of the vehicle
separately. It is important that you distribute the load
evenly over the front and rear axles.
Overloading can cause potential safety hazards and
shorten useful service life. Heavier axles or suspension
components do not necessarily increase the vehicle’s
GVWR.
Loading
To load your vehicle properly, first figure out its empty
weight, axle-by-axle and side-by-side. Store heavier items
down low and be sure you distribute their weight as
evenly as possible. Stow all loose items securely before
driving. If weighing the loaded vehicle shows that you
have exceeded either GAWR, but the total load is within
the specified GVWR, you must redistribute the weight.
Improper weight distribution can have an adverse effect on
the way your vehicle steers and handles and the way the
brakes operate.
NOTE:Refer to the “Vehicle Certification Label” affixed to
the rear of the driver’s door for your vehicle’s GVWR and
GAWRs.
TRAILER TOWING
In this section you will find safety tips and information on
limits to the type of towing you can reasonably do with
your vehicle. Before towing a trailer, carefully review this
information to tow your load as efficiently and safely as
possible.
To maintain the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage,
follow the requirements and recommendations in this
manual concerning vehicles used for trailer towing.
Common Towing Definitions
The following trailer towing related definitions will assist
you in understanding the following information:
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
The GVWR is the total allowable weight of your vehicle.
This includes driver, passengers, cargo and tongue weight.
The total load must be limited so that you do not exceed
the GVWR. Refer to “Vehicle Loading/Vehicle Certification
Label” in “Starting And Operating” for further informa-
tion.
230 STARTING AND OPERATING

Towing Condition Wheels OFF theGround ALL Models
Flat Tow NONEIf transmission is operable:
•Transmission in NEUTRAL
• 25 mph (40 km/h) max speed
• 15 miles (24 km) max distance
Wheel Lift or Dolly
To w Rear
Front OK
Flatbed ALL BEST METHOD
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.
NOTE: For vehicles equipped with diesel engine and
electric park brake, see important information in the Diesel
Supplement. If the key fob is unavailable or the vehicle’s battery is
discharged, refer to “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.
6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 273

Maintenance Chart
Refer to the Maintenance Schedules on the following pages
for the required maintenance intervals.
Mileage or time passed (which-ever comes first)
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
100,000
110,000
120,000
130,000
140,000
150,000
Or Years: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Or Kilometers:
32,000
48,000
64,000
80,000
96,000
112,000
128,000
144,000
160,000
176,000
192,000
208,000
224,000
240,000
Additional Inspections
Inspect the CV joints. XX X X X
Inspect front suspension, tie rod
ends, boot seals, and replace if
necessary. XXX X X X X
Inspect the brake pads, replace as
necessary. XXX X X X X
Additional Maintenance
Replace engine air filter. XX X X X
Replace cabin/air conditioning fil-
ter. XXX X X X X
Replace Brake Fluid every two
years. * XXX X X X X
Replace spark plugs. ** X
322 MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES