2018 Ram 1500 User Guide

EASY-OFF TAILGATE
To simplify mounting of a camper unit with an
overhang, the tailgate can be removed.
NOTE:
If your vehicle is equipped with a rear camera
or Remote Keyless Entry, the electrical con-
nector must be disconnected prior to remov-
ing the tailgate.
Removing The Tailgate
1. Disconnect the wiring harness for the rearcamera or Remote Keyless Entry (if
equipped).
2. Unlatch the tailgate and remove the sup- port cables by releasing the lock tang from
the pivot. 3. Raise the right side of the tailgate until
the right side pivot clears the hanger
bracket.
4. Slide the entire tailgate to the right to free the left side pivot.
5. Remove the tailgate from the vehicle.
NOTE:
Do not carry the tailgate loose in the truck
pickup box.Locking Tailgate
The lock is located next to the tailgate
handle. The tailgate can be locked using the
vehicle key or by locking the truck with the
key fob if equipped with remote keyless entry.
TRI-FOLD TONNEAU COVER
The Tonneau Cover can be removed and rein-
stalled by using the locking clamps located
underneath the Tonneau Cover. Refer to the
Owner’s Manual for further information.
NOTE:
Be sure that the Tonneau Cover is secured
before driving.
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY.....66
Instrument Cluster Display Controls ....66
Diesel Messages And Warnings — 3.0L
Diesel Engine .................67
Diesel Messages And Warnings — 6.7L
Cummins Diesel Engine ...........70
Oil Life Reset .................74
Instrument Cluster Display Programmable
Features ....................75
WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES ....76
Red Warning Lights..............76
Yellow Warning Lights ............78
Yellow Indicator Lights ............82
Green Indicator Lights ............83
White Indicator Lights ............84
Blue Indicator Lights .............84
ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM —
OBDII .....................84
Onboard Diagnostic System (OBD II)
Cybersecurity.................85
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
65

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY
Your vehicle may be equipped with an instru-
ment cluster display, which offers useful in-
formation to the driver. With the ignition in
the STOP/OFF mode, opening/closing of a
door will activate the display for viewing, and
display the total miles, or kilometers, in the
odometer. Your instrument cluster display is
designed to display important information
about your vehicle’s systems and features.
Using a driver interactive display located on
the instrument panel, your instrument clus-
ter display can show you how systems are
working and give you warnings when they are
not. The steering wheel mounted controls
allow you to scroll through the main menus
and submenus. You can access the specific
information you want and make selections
and adjustments.
Instrument Cluster Display
Controls
The instrument cluster display features a
driver-interactive display that is located in
the instrument cluster.
The instrument cluster display menu items
may consist of the following:
• Speedometer
• Vehicle Info
• Fuel Economy Info
• Trip A
• Trip B
• Audio
• Trailer Tow
• Stored Messages
• Screen Setup
• Vehicle Settings (Not Equipped with aUconnect touchscreen radio) The system allows the driver to select infor-
mation by pushing the following instrument
cluster display control buttons located on the
left side of the steering wheel:
• Push and release the
uparrow button to
scroll upward through the main menu
items, submenu screen, and vehicle set-
tings.
Instrument Cluster Display Controls
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
66

• Push and release thedownarrow button to
scroll downward through the main menu
items, submenu screen, and vehicle set-
tings.
• Push and release the rightarrow button to
access/select the information screens or
submenu screens of a main menu item.
Push and hold the RIGHT arrow button for
two seconds to reset displayed/selected
features that can be reset.
• Push and release the leftarrow button to
access/select the information screens, sub-
menu screens of a main menu item, or to
return to the main menu.
Diesel Messages And Warnings —
3.0L Diesel Engine
Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) Messages
WARNING!
A hot exhaust system can start a fire if you
park over materials that can burn. Such
materials might be grass or leaves coming
into contact with your exhaust system. Do
WARNING!
not park or operate your vehicle in areas
where your exhaust system can contact
anything that can burn.
Your vehicle has the ability to alert you to
additional maintenance required on your ve-
hicle or engine. Refer to the following mes-
sages that may be displayed on your instru-
ment cluster:
• Exhaust Filter XX% Full Safely Drive at High-
way Speeds to Remedy — This message will
be displayed in the instrument cluster if the
exhaust particulate filter reaches 80% of
its maximum storage capacity. Under con-
ditions of exclusive short duration and low
speed driving cycles, your diesel engine
and exhaust after-treatment system may
never reach the conditions required to
cleanse the filter to remove the trapped
PM. If this occurs, the “Exhaust Filter XX%
Full Safely Drive at Highway Speeds to
Remedy” message will be displayed in the
instrument cluster display. If this message
is displayed, you will hear one chime to
assist in alerting you of this condition. By simply driving your vehicle at highway
speeds for up to 20 minutes, you can rem-
edy the condition in the particulate filter
system and allow your diesel engine and
exhaust after-treatment system to cleanse
the filter to remove the trapped PM and
restore the system to normal operating con-
dition.
• Exhaust System — Regeneration In Process
Exhaust Filter XX% Full — This message
indicates that the Diesel Particulate Filter
(DPF) is self-cleaning. Maintain your cur-
rent driving condition until regeneration is
completed.
• Exhaust System — Regeneration Completed
— This message indicates that the Diesel
Particulate Filter (DPF) self-cleaning is
completed. If this message is displayed,
you will hear one chime to assist in alerting
you of this condition.
• Exhaust Service Required — See Dealer Now
— This messages indicates regeneration
has been disabled due to a system malfunc-
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tion. At this point the engine Powertrain
Control Module (PCM) will register a fault
code, the instrument panel will display a
MIL light.
CAUTION!
See your authorized dealer, as damage to
the exhaust system could occur soon with
continued operation.
• Exhaust Filter Full — Power Reduced See
Dealer — This message indicates the PCM
has derated the engine to limit the likeli-
hood of permanent damage to the after-
treatment system. If this condition is not
corrected and a dealer service is not per-
formed, extensive exhaust after-treatment
damage can occur. To correct this condition
it will be necessary to have your vehicle
serviced by your local authorized dealer. NOTE:
Failing to follow the oil change indicator,
changing your oil and resetting the oil change
indicator by 0 miles remaining will prevent
the diesel exhaust filter from performing it's
cleaning routine. This will shortly result in a
Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) and re-
duced engine power. Only an authorized
dealer will be able to correct this condition.
CAUTION!
See your authorized dealer, as damage to
the exhaust system could occur soon with
continued operation.
Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) Warning Mes-
sages
Your vehicle will begin displaying warning
messages when the DEF level reaches a driv-
ing range of approximately 500 miles
(800 km). If the following warning message
sequence is ignored, your vehicle may not
restart unless DEF is added with in the dis-
played mileage shown in the cluster mes-
sage. •
Engine Will Not Restart in XXXX mi DEF Low
Refill Soon — This message will display
when DEF driving range is less than
500 miles, DEF fluid top off is required
with in the displayed mileage. The message
will be displayed in the cluster during ve-
hicle start up with the current allowed mile-
age and accompanied by a single chime.
The remaining mileage can be pulled up
anytime by way of the “Messages” list
within the instrument cluster display.
• Engine Will Not Restart in XXXX mi Refill DEF
— This message will display when DEF
driving range is less than 200 miles. It is
also displayed at 150 miles and 100 miles.
DEF fluid top off is required with in the
displayed mileage. The message will be
displayed in the instrument cluster display
during vehicle start up with an updated
distance mileage, and it will be accompa-
nied by a single chime. Starting at
100 miles, remaining range will be con-
tinuously displayed while operating the ve-
hicle. Chimes will also accompany the 75,
50 and 25 mile remaining distances. The
DEF Low telltale will be on continuously
until DEF fluid is topped off.
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
68

•Engine Will Not Restart Refill DEF — This
message will display when the DEF driving
range is less than 1 mile, DEF fluid top off
is required or the engine will not restart.
The message will be displayed in the instru-
ment cluster display during vehicle start
up, and it will be accompanied by a single
chime. The DEF Low telltale will be illumi-
nated continuously until DEF fluid tank is
filled with a minimum of two gallons of
DEF.
Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) Fault Warning
Messages
There are different messages which are dis-
played if the vehicle detects that the DEF
system has been filled with a fluid other than
DEF, has experienced component failures, or
when tampering has been detected.
When the DEF system needs to be serviced
the following warnings will display:
• Service DEF System See Dealer — This mes-
sage will display when the fault is initially
detected and each time the vehicle is
started. The message will be accompanied
by a single chime and the Malfunction Indicator Light. We recommend you drive to
your nearest authorized dealer and have
your vehicle serviced immediately. If not
corrected in 50 miles, vehicle will enter the
“Engine Will not restart in XXXmi Service
DEF See dealer” warning stage and mes-
sage.
• Incorrect DEF Detected See Dealer — This
message will display if the DEF system has
detected the incorrect fluid has been intro-
duced to the DEF tank. The message will be
accompanied by a single chime. We recom-
mend you drive to your nearest authorized
dealer and have your vehicle serviced im-
mediately. If not corrected in 30 miles,
vehicle will enter the “Engine Will not re-
start in XXX mi Service DEF See dealer”
warning stage and message.
• Engine Will Not Restart in XXX mi Service DEF
See Dealer — This message is first dis-
played if the fault detected is not serviced
after 50 miles of operation. It is also dis-
played at 150 miles 125 miles and
100 miles. System service is required
within the displayed mileage. The message
will be displayed during vehicle start up
with an updated distance mileage, and it will be accompanied by a single chime.
Starting at 100 miles, remaining range will
be continuously displayed while operating
the vehicle. Chimes will also accompany
the 75, 50 and 25 mile remaining dis-
tances. We recommend you drive to your
nearest authorized dealer and have your
vehicle serviced immediately.
• Engine Will Not Restart Service DEF System
See Dealer — This message will display if
DEF system issue detected is not serviced
during the allowed period. Your engine will
not restart unless your vehicle is serviced by
your authorized dealer. This message will
be displayed when under 1 mile until en-
gine will not start and each time the vehicle
is started, and will be continuously dis-
played. The message will be accompanied
by a single chime. Your Malfunction Indi-
cator Light will be continuously illumined.
We highly recommend you drive to your
nearest authorized dealer if the message
appears while engine is running.
• Engine Will Not Start Service DEF System See
Dealer — This message will display when
the fault detected is not serviced after the
Engine will not restart Service DEF System
69

See Dealer message is displayed on the
next subsequent restart. Your engine will
not start unless your vehicle is serviced by
your authorized dealer. The message will be
accompanied by a single chime. Your Mal-
function Indicator Light will be continu-
ously illuminated. If the message appears
and you can not start the engine, we rec-
ommend you have your vehicle towed to
your nearest authorized dealer
immediately.
Diesel Messages And Warnings
— 6.7L Cummins Diesel Engine
Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) Messages
The Cummins diesel engine meets all diesel
emissions standards, resulting in one of the
lowest emitting diesel engines ever pro-
duced. To achieve these emissions stan-
dards, your vehicle is equipped with a state-
of-the-art engine and exhaust system. These
systems are seamlessly integrated into your
vehicle and managed by the Powertrain Con-
trol Module (PCM). The PCM manages enginecombustion to allow the exhaust system’s
catalyst to trap and burn Particulate Matter
(PM) pollutants, with no input or interaction
on your part.
WARNING!
A hot exhaust system can start a fire if you
park over materials that can burn. Such
materials might be grass or leaves coming
into contact with your exhaust system. Do
not park or operate your vehicle in areas
where your exhaust system can contact
anything that can burn.
Your vehicle has the ability to alert you to
additional maintenance required on your ve-
hicle or engine. The following messages may
display in your instrument cluster display:
• Perform Service — Your vehicle will require
emissions maintenance at a set interval. To
help remind you when this maintenance is
due, the instrument cluster display will
display “Perform Service”. When the “Per-
form Service” message is displayed in the
instrument cluster display it is necessary to
have the emissions maintenance per-
formed. Emissions maintenance may in- clude replacing the Closed Crankcase Ven-
tilation (CCV) filter element. The procedure
for clearing and resetting the "Perform Ser-
vice" indicator message is located in the
appropriate Service Information.
• Exhaust System — Regeneration Required
Now — "Exhaust Filter XX% Full Safely
Drive at Highway Speeds to Remedy" will
be displayed in the instrument cluster dis-
play if the exhaust particulate filter reaches
80% of its maximum storage capacity. Un-
der conditions of exclusive short duration
and low speed driving cycles, your Cum-
mins diesel engine and exhaust after-
treatment system may never reach the con-
ditions required to remove the trapped PM.
If this occurs, the “Exhaust Filter XX% Full
Safely Drive at Highway Speeds to Rem-
edy” message will be displayed in the in-
strument cluster display. If this message is
displayed, you will hear one chime to assist
in alerting you of this condition
By simply driving your vehicle at highway
speeds for as little as 45 minutes, you can
remedy the condition in the particulate filter
system and allow your Cummins diesel en-
gine and exhaust after-treatment system to
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
70