2018 Ram 4500 Chassis Cab service

The best protection against carbon monoxide
entry into the vehicle body is a properly
maintained engine exhaust system.
Whenever a change is noticed in the sound of
the exhaust system, when exhaust fumes can
be detected inside the vehicle, or when the
underside or rear of the vehicle is damaged,
have a competent mechanic inspect the com-
plete exhaust system and adjacent body ar-
eas for broken, damaged, deteriorated, or
mispositioned parts. Open seams or loose
connections could permit exhaust fumes to
seep into the passenger compartment. In
addition, inspect the exhaust system each
time the vehicle is raised for lubrication or oil
change. Replace as required.
Safety Checks You Should Make
Inside The Vehicle
Seat Belts
Inspect the seat belt system periodically,
checking for cuts, frays, and loose parts.
Damaged parts must be replaced immedi-
ately. Do not disassemble or modify the sys-
tem.Front seat belt assemblies must be replaced
after a collision. Rear seat belt assemblies
must be replaced after a collision if they have
been damaged (i.e., bent retractor, torn web-
bing, etc.). If there is any question regarding
seat belt or retractor condition, replace the
seat belt.
Air Bag Warning Light
The Air Bag warning lightwill turn on for
four to eight seconds as a bulb check when
the ignition switch is first turned to ON/RUN.
If the light is either not on during starting,
stays on, or turns on while driving, have the
system inspected at your authorized dealer as
soon as possible. After the bulb check, this
light will illuminate with a single chime when
a fault with the Air Bag System has been
detected. It will stay on until the fault is
cleared. If the light comes on intermittently
or remains on while driving, have your autho-
rized dealer service the vehicle immediately.
Refer to “Occupant Restraint Systems” in
“Safety” for further information.
Defroster
Check operation by selecting the defrost
mode and place the blower control on high
speed. You should be able to feel the air
directed against the windshield. See your
authorized dealer for service if your defroster
is inoperable.
Floor Mat Safety Information
Always use floor mats designed to fit your
vehicle. Only use a floor mat that does not
interfere with the operation of the accelera-
tor, brake or clutch pedals. Only use a floor
mat that is securely attached using the floor
mat fasteners so it cannot slip out of position
and interfere with the accelerator, brake or
clutch pedals or impair safe operation of your
vehicle in other ways.
WARNING!
An improperly attached, damaged, folded,
or stacked floor mat, or damaged floor mat
fasteners may cause your floor mat to
interfere with the accelerator, brake, or
clutch pedals and cause a loss of vehicle
SAFETY
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3. While the "Wait to Start" telltale is on, theinstrument cluster will additionally dis-
play a gauge or bar whose initial length
represents the full "Wait to Start" time
period. Its length will decrease until it
disappears when the "Wait to Start" time
has elapsed.
CAUTION!
If the “Water in Fuel Indicator Light” re-
mains on, DO NOT START engine before
you drain the water from the fuel filters to
avoid engine damage. Refer to “Draining
Fuel/Water Separator Filter” in “Dealer
Service” under “Servicing And Mainte-
nance” for further information.
4.
After the engine “Wait To Start” telltale goes
off, the engine will automatically crank.
CAUTION!
Do not crank engine for more than 15 seconds
at a time or starter motor damage may result.
Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position
and wait at least two minutes for the starter to
cool before repeating start procedure.
5. After engine start-up, check to see that there is oil pressure.
6. Allow the engine to idle about three min- utes until the manifold heaters have com-
pleted the post-heat cycle.
7. Release the parking brake and drive.
NOTE:
• Engine idle speed will automatically in- crease to 1,000 RPM and engage the Vari-
able Geometry Turbocharger at low coolant
temperatures to improve engine warm-up.
• The engine may not automatically crank after the engine "Wait To Start" telltale goes
off if a door or the hood is ajar.
• If the engine stalls, or if the ignition switch is left ON for more than two minutes after
the “Wait To Start Light” goes out, reset the
grid heaters by turning the ignition switch
to the OFF position for at least five seconds
and then back ON. Repeat steps 1 through
7 of “Keyless Enter-N-Go Starting Proce-
dure – Engine Manifold Air Temperature
Below 66° F (19° C).”Extreme Cold Weather
The Cummins diesel engine is equipped with
several features designed to assist cold
weather starting and operation:
• The engine block heater is a resistance
heater installed in the water jacket of the
engine just above and behind the oil filter.
It requires a 110–115 Volt AC electrical
outlet with a grounded, three-wire exten-
sion cord.
NOTE:
The engine block heater cord is a factory
installed option. If your vehicle is not
equipped, heater cords are available from
your authorized Mopar dealer.
• A 12 Volt heater built into the fuel filter housings aid in preventing fuel gelling. It is
controlled by a built-in thermostat.
• A heated intake air system both improves engine starting and reduces the amount of
white smoke generated by a warming
engine.
STARTING AND OPERATING
124

WARNING!
• Never leave children alone in a vehicle,or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Allowing children to be in a vehicle un-
attended is dangerous for a number of
reasons. A child or others could be seri-
ously or fatally injured. Children should
be warned not to touch the parking
brake, brake pedal or the transmission
gear selector.
•
Do not leave the key fob in or near the
vehicle (or in a location accessible to chil-
dren), and do not leave the ignition (in a
vehicle equipped with Keyless Enter-N-
Go) in the ACC or ON/RUN mode. A child
could operate power windows, other con-
trols, or move the vehicle.
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the
following precautions are not observed:
• Shift into or out of PARK or REVERSE
only after the vehicle has come to a
complete stop.
CAUTION!
• Do not shift between PARK, REVERSE,NEUTRAL, or DRIVE when the engine is
above idle speed.
• Before shifting into any gear, make sure
your foot is firmly pressing the brake
pedal.
NOTE:
You must press and hold the brake pedal
while shifting out of PARK.
Key Ignition Park Interlock
This vehicle is equipped with a Key Ignition
Park Interlock which requires the transmis-
sion to be in PARK before the ignition can be
turned to the LOCK/OFF (key removal) posi-
tion. The key fob can only be removed from
the ignition when the ignition is in the LOCK/
OFF position, and the transmission is locked
in PARK whenever the ignition is in the
LOCK/OFF position. NOTE:
If a malfunction occurs, the system will trap
the key fob in the ignition to warn you that
this safety feature is inoperable. The engine
can be started and stopped but the key fob
cannot be removed until you obtain service.
Brake/Transmission Shift
Interlock System
This vehicle is equipped with a Brake Trans-
mission Shift Interlock system (BTSI) that
holds the transmission gear selector in PARK
unless the brakes are applied. To shift the
transmission out of PARK, the ignition must
be in the ON/RUN mode (engine running or
not) and the brake pedal must be pressed.
Six–Speed Automatic
Transmission — If Equipped
Chassis Cab models (with automatic trans-
mission) may use either the AS66RC or
AS69RC transmission (which are equipped
with a Power Take-Off (PTO) access cover on
the side of the transmission case), or the
66RFE transmission (which has no PTO ac-
cess cover).
129

The transmission gear position display (lo-
cated in the instrument cluster) indicates the
transmission gear range. The gear selector is
mounted on the right side of the steering
column. You must press the brake pedal to
move the gear selector out of PARK (refer to
“Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System”
in this section). To drive, move the gear
selector from PARK or NEUTRAL to the
DRIVE position. Pull the gear selector toward
you when shifting into REVERSE or PARK, or
when shifting out of PARK.
The electronically-controlled transmission
provides a precise shift schedule. The trans-
mission electronics are self-calibrating;
therefore, the first few shifts on a new vehicle
may be somewhat abrupt. This is a normal
condition, and precision shifts will develop
within a few hundred miles (kilometers).
Only shift from DRIVE to PARK or REVERSE
when the accelerator pedal is released and
the vehicle is stopped. Be sure to keep your
foot on the brake pedal when shifting be-
tween these gears.The transmission gear selector has only
PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL, and DRIVE
shift positions. Manual downshifts can be
made using the Electronic Range Select
(ERS) shift control. Pushing the ERS (-/+)
switches (on the gear selector) while in the
DRIVE position will select the highest avail-
able transmission gear, and will display that
gear limit in the instrument cluster as 1, 2, 3,
etc. Refer to "Electronic Range Select (ERS)
Operation" in this section for further informa-
tion. Some models will display both the se-
lected gear limit, and the actual current gear,
while in ERS mode.
Transmission Limp Home Mode
Transmission function is monitored electroni-
cally for abnormal conditions. If a condition is
detected that could result in transmission dam-
age, Transmission Limp Home Mode is acti-
vated. In this mode, the transmission remains
in fourth gear (for 66RFE transmission) or third
gear (for AS66RC/AS69RC transmission) re-
gardless of which forward gear is selected. If an
AS66RC/AS69RC equipped truck enters Limp
Home Mode at highway speeds, it will initially
engage fifth gear, until the vehicle slows to a speed where third gear can be engaged. PARK,
REVERSE, and NEUTRAL will continue to op-
erate. The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
may be illuminated. Limp Home Mode allows
the vehicle to be driven to an authorized dealer
for service without damaging the transmission.
In the event of a momentary problem, the
transmission can be reset to regain all for-
ward gears by performing the following steps:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Shift the transmission into PARK.
3. Turn the ignition OFF.
4. Wait approximately 10 seconds.
5. Restart the engine.
6. Shift into the desired gear range. If the
problem is no longer detected, the trans-
mission will return to normal operation.
NOTE:
Even if the transmission can be reset, we
recommend that you visit your authorized
dealer at your earliest possible convenience.
Your authorized dealer has diagnostic equip-
ment to assess the condition of your trans-
mission.
STARTING AND OPERATING
130

If the transmission cannot be reset, autho-
rized dealer service is required.
Electronic Range Select (ERS) Operation
The Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift con-
trol allows the driver to limit the highest
available gear when the transmission is in
DRIVE. For example, if you set the transmis-
sion gear limit to 4 (fourth gear), the trans-
mission will not shift above fourth gear, but
will shift through the lower gears normally.
You can switch between DRIVE and ERS
mode at any vehicle speed. When the gear
selector is in the DRIVE position, the trans-
mission will operate automatically, shifting
between all available gears. Tapping the ERS
(-) switch will activate ERS mode, display the
current gear in the instrument cluster, and
set that gear as the top available gear. Once
in ERS mode, tapping (-) or (+) will change
the top available gear.To exit ERS mode, simply push and hold the
ERS (+) switch until the gear limit display
disappears from the instrument cluster.
WARNING!
Do not downshift for additional engine
braking on a slippery surface. The drive
wheels could lose their grip and the ve-
hicle could skid, causing a collision or
personal injury.
NOTE:
To select the proper gear position for maxi-
mum deceleration (engine braking), simply
push and hold the ERS (-) switch. The trans-
mission will shift to the range from which the
vehicle can best be slowed down.
CAUTION!
When using ERS for engine braking while
descending steep grades, be careful not to
overspeed the engine. Apply the brakes as
needed to prevent engine overspeed.
FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE OPERATION —
IF EQUIPPED
• Four-wheel drive trucks are equipped with either a manually shifted transfer case or an
electronically shifted transfer case. Refer to
the operating instructions for electronic
transfer case, located in this section for
further information.
• For further information on the manually shifted transfer case, refer to “Four Wheel
Drive Operation” in “Starting And Operat-
ing” in your Owner’s Manual located at
www.mopar.com/en-us/care/owners-manual.html
(U.S. Residents) or www.owners.mopar.ca
(Canadian Residents).
Column Gear Selector
131

DEF Fill Procedure
NOTE:
Refer to “Fluids And Lubricants” in “Techni-
cal Specifications” for the correct fluid type.
1. Remove cap from DEF tank (located ondrivers side of the vehicle or in fuel door). 2. Insert DEF fill adapter/nozzle into DEF
tank filler neck.
NOTE: • The DEF gauge may take up to five seconds to update after adding a gallon
or more of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)
to the DEF tank. If you have a fault
related to the DEF system, the gauge
may not update to the new level. See
your authorized dealer for service.
• The DEF gauge may also not immedi- ately update after a refill if the tempera-
ture of the DEF fluid is below 12F
(-11C). The DEF line heater will possi-
bly warm up the DEF fluid and allow the
gauge to update after a period of run
time. Under very cold conditions, it is
possible that the gauge may not reflect
the new fill level for several drives.
CAUTION!
•To avoid DEF spillage, and possible dam-
age to the DEF tank from overfilling, do
not “top off” the DEF tank after filling.
• DO NOT OVERFILL. DEF will freeze be- low 12ºF (-11ºC). The DEF system is
designed to work in temperatures below
the DEF freezing point, however, if the
tank is overfilled and freezes, the system
could be damaged.
• When DEF is spilled, clean the area immediately with water and use an ab-
sorbent material to soak up the spills on
the ground.
• Do not attempt to start your engine if DEF is accidentally added to the diesel
fuel tank as it can result in severe dam-
age to your engine, including but not
limited to failure of the fuel pump and
injectors.
Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) Filler Location
141

HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS
The Hazard Warning flasher switch is located
on the upper switch bank just below the
radio.
Push the switch to turn on the Hazard Warn-
ing flasher. When the switch is activated, all
directional turn signals will flash on and off to
warn oncoming traffic of an emergency. Push
the switch a second time to turn off the
Hazard Warning flashers.
This is an emergency warning system and it
should not be used when the vehicle is in
motion. Use it when your vehicle is disabled
and it is creating a safety hazard for other
motorists.
When you must leave the vehicle to seek
assistance, the Hazard Warning flashers will
continue to operate even though the ignition
is placed in the OFF position.
NOTE:
With extended use the Hazard Warning flash-
ers may wear down your battery.
BULB REPLACEMENT
Replacement Bulbs
LIGHT BULBS — Interior
Bulb Number
Overhead Console Lamps TS 212-2
Dome Lamp 7679
For lighted switches, see your authorized dealer for replacement instructions.
LIGHT BULBS — Exterior
Bulb Number
Quad Headlamp – Low Beam H11
Quad Headlamp – High Beam 9005
Quad Headlamp – Front Turn Signal Lamp 3157NA
Bulb Number
Premium Headlamp – Low Beam HIR2
Premium Headlamp – High Beam 9005
Premium Headlamp – Front Turn Signal Lamp LED (See authorized
dealer for service)
Horizontal Fog Lamp 9145 Vertical Fog Lamp 9006
Cab Roof Marker Lamps 194NA
Center High Mounted Stop Lamp 921
Rear Cargo Lamp 921
Box Off Tail Lamps – Stop/Turn/Tail/License Plate 1157
Box Off Tail Lamps – Back Up 1156
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
154

FUSES
WARNING!
• When replacing a blown fuse, always usean appropriate replacement fuse with
the same amp rating as the original fuse.
Never replace a fuse with another fuse of
higher amp rating. Never replace a
blown fuse with metal wires or any other
material. Do not place a fuse inside a
circuit breaker cavity or vice versa. Fail-
ure to use proper fuses may result in
serious personal injury, fire and/or prop-
erty damage.
WARNING!
• Before replacing a fuse, make sure thatthe ignition is off and that all the other
services are switched off and/or disen-
gaged.
• If the replaced fuse blows again, contact
an authorized dealer.
• If a general protection fuse for safety
systems (air bag system, braking sys-
tem), power unit systems (engine sys-
tem, transmission system) or steering
system blows, contact an authorized
dealer.
Power Distribution Center
The Power Distribution Center is located in
the engine compartment near the battery.
This center contains cartridge fuses, micro
fuses, relays, and circuit breakers. A descrip-
tion of each fuse and component may be
stamped on the inside cover, otherwise the
cavity number of each fuse is stamped on the
inside cover that corresponds to the following
chart.
Cavity Cartridge Fuse Micro Fuse Description
F01 80 Amp Black –Rad Fan Control Module – If Equipped
F03 60 Amp Yellow –Rad Fan – If Equipped
F05 40 Amp Green –Compressor for Air Suspension – If Equipped
F06 40 Amp Green –Antilock Brakes/Electronic Stability Control Pump
F07 40 Amp Green – Starter Solenoid
F08 20 Amp Blue (1500 LD/
Cummins Diesel) –
Emissions Diesel – If Equipped
155