2018 Ram 2500 Owner's Manual

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
CONTENTS
BASE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ..............168
▫ Base Instrument Cluster Descriptions .........169
 PREMIUM INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ..........170
▫ Premium Instrument Cluster Descriptions .....171
 INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY ...........172
▫ Instrument Cluster Display Controls .........173
▫ Display Menu Screens ...................175
▫ Oil Life Reset ..........................177
▫ Display Messages .......................178
▫ Display Menu Items .....................180
▫ Battery Saver On/Battery Saver Mode Message —
Electrical Load Reduction Actions —
If Equipped ..........................187 
WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES .........189
▫ Red Warning Lights .....................189
▫ Yellow Warning Lights ...................192
▫ Yellow Indicator Lights ...................196
▫ Green Indicator Lights ...................198
▫ White Indicator Lights ...................199
▫ Blue Indicator Lights ....................199
 ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM — OBD II . . .200
▫ Onboard Diagnostic System (OBD II)
Cybersecurity ........................ .200
 EMISSIONS INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
PROGRAMS .......................... .2014

BASE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
Base Instrument Clusters
168 GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

Base Instrument Cluster Descriptions
1. Tachometer•Indicates the engine speed in revolutions per minute
(RPM x 1000).
2. Instrument Cluster Display •When the appropriate conditions exist, this display
shows the instrument cluster display messages. Refer
to “Instrument Cluster Display” in “Getting To Know
Your Instrument Panel” for further information.
3. Speedometer •Indicates vehicle speed.
4. Fuel Gauge •The pointer shows the level of fuel in the fuel tank
when the ignition is in the ON/RUN position.
•
The fuel pump symbol points to the side of the
vehicle where the fuel door is located.
5. Temperature Gauge
•The temperature gauge shows engine coolant tem-
perature. Any reading within the normal range indi-
cates that the engine cooling system is operating
satisfactorily. •
The gauge pointer will likely indicate a higher tem-
perature when driving in hot weather, up mountain
grades, or when towing a trailer. It should not be
allowed to exceed the upper limits of the normal
operating range.
WARNING!
A hot engine cooling system is dangerous. You or
others could be badly burned by steam or boiling
coolant. You may want to call an authorized dealer for
service if your vehicle overheats. If you decide to look
under the hood yourself, see “Servicing And Mainte-
nance.” Follow the warnings under the Cooling System
Pressure Cap paragraph.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot engine cooling system could dam-
age your vehicle. If the temperature gauge reads “H,”
pull over and stop the vehicle. Idle the vehicle with the
air conditioner turned off until the pointer drops back
into the normal range. If the pointer remains on the
“H,” turn the engine off immediately and call an
authorized dealer for service.
4
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 169

PREMIUM INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
Premium Instrument Clusters
170 GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

Premium Instrument Cluster Descriptions
1. Tachometer•Indicates the engine speed in revolutions per minute
(RPM x 1000).
2. Voltmeter •When the engine is running, the gauge indicates the
electrical system voltage. The pointer should stay
within the normal range if the battery is charged. If the
pointer moves to either extreme left or right and
remains there during normal driving, the electrical
system should be serviced.
NOTE: The voltmeter may show a gauge fluctuation at
various engine temperatures. This cycling operation is
caused by the post-heat cycle of the intake manifold heater
system. The number of cycles and the length of the cycling
operation is controlled by the engine control module.
Post-heat operation can run for several minutes, and then
the electrical system and voltmeter needle will stabilize.
3. Oil Pressure Gauge
•The pointer should always indicate some oil pressure
when the engine is running. A continuous high or low
reading under normal driving conditions may indicate a lubrication system malfunction. Immediate service
should be obtained from an authorized dealer.
4. Speedometer •Indicates vehicle speed.
5. Fuel Gauge •The pointer shows the level of fuel in the fuel tank
when the ignition is in the ON/RUN position.
•
The fuel pump symbol points to the side of the
vehicle where the fuel door is located.
6. Instrument Cluster Display
•When the appropriate conditions exist, this display
shows the instrument cluster display messages. Refer
to “Instrument Cluster Display” in “Getting To Know
Your Instrument Panel” for further information.
7. Temperature Gauge •The temperature gauge shows engine coolant tem-
perature. Any reading within the normal range indi-
cates that the engine cooling system is operating
satisfactorily.
• The gauge pointer will likely indicate a higher tem-
perature when driving in hot weather, up mountain
grades, or when towing a trailer. It should not be
4
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 171

allowed to exceed the upper limits of the normal
operating range.
WARNING!
A hot engine cooling system is dangerous. You or
others could be badly burned by steam or boiling
coolant. You may want to call an authorized dealer for
service if your vehicle overheats. If you decide to look
under the hood yourself, see “Servicing And Mainte-
nance.” Follow the warnings under the Cooling System
Pressure Cap paragraph.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot engine cooling system could dam-
age your vehicle. If the temperature gauge reads “H,”
pull over and stop the vehicle. Idle the vehicle with the
air conditioner turned off until the pointer drops back
into the normal range. If the pointer remains on the
“H,” turn the engine off immediately and call an
authorized dealer for service.
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY
Your vehicle may be equipped with an instrument cluster
display, which offers useful information 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 informa-
tion about your vehicle’s systems and features. Using a
driver interactive display located on the instrument panel,
your instrument cluster display can show you how sys-
tems 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 selec-
tions and adjustments.
172 GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

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
Base Instrument Cluster Display
Premium Instrument Cluster Display
4
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 173

•Stored Messages
• Screen Setup
• Vehicle Settings (Not Equipped with a Uconnect touch-
screen radio)
The system allows the driver to select information by
pushing the following instrument cluster display control
buttons located on the left side of the steering wheel: •
Up Arrow Button
Push and release the uparrow button to scroll
upward through the main menu items, submenu
screen, and vehicle settings.
• Down Arrow Button
Push and release the downarrow button to scroll
downward through the main menu items, sub-
menu screen, and vehicle settings.
• Right Arrow Button
Push and release the rightarrow button to
access/select the information screens or sub-
menu 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.
• Left Arrow Button
Push and release the leftarrow button to access/
select the information screens, submenu screens
of a main menu item, or to return to the main
menu.
Instrument Cluster Display Control Buttons
174 GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL