2020 Ram 1500 manual transmission

336 STARTING AND OPERATING
Conditions That Force An Automatic Shift To Park While
In Autostop Mode
The engine will not start automatically and the transmission
will be placed in PARK if:
• The driver door is open and brake pedal released.
• The driver door is open and the driver seat belt isunbuckled.
• The engine hood has been opened.
• A STOP/START system error present.
The engine may then be restarted by moving the transmis -
sion shift selector out of PARK (e.g. to DRIVE) or, in some
cases, only by a KEY START. The instrument cluster will
display a SHIFT OUT OF PARK message, or a STOP/START
KEY START REQUIRED message, to indicate which action is
required.
Refer to “Instrument Cluster Display” in “Getting To Know
Your Instrument Panel” for further information.To Manually Turn Off The Stop Start System
1. Push the STOP/START Off switch (located near the gear selector). The light on the switch will illuminate.
STOP/START OFF Switch
2. The STOP/START OFF message will appear in the instrument cluster display. Refer to “Instrument Cluster
Display” in “Getting To Know Your Instrument Panel”
for further information.
3. At the next vehicle stop (after turning off the STOP/ START system) the engine will not be stopped.
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396 STARTING AND OPERATING
PARKVIEW REAR BACK UP CAMERA
The ParkView Rear Back Up Camera allows you to see an
image of the rear surroundings of your vehicle whenever the
gear selector is put into REVERSE or whenever it is manually
activated. When the gear selector is put into REVERSE, the
image will be displayed in the Uconnect screen along with a
caution note to “check entire surroundings” across the top of
the screen. After five seconds this note will disappear.
Manual Activation Of The Rear View Camera:
1. Press the "Controls" button located on the bottom of theUconnect display.
2. Press the "Backup Camera" button to turn the Rear View Camera system on.
When the vehicle is shifted out of REVERSE (with Camera
delay turned off), the rear Camera mode is exited and the
previous screen appears again.
When the vehicle is shifted out of REVERSE (with Camera
delay turned on), the rear Camera image will be displayed
for up to 10 seconds after shifting to another gear, unless the
vehicle speed exceeds 8 mph (13 km/h), the transmission is shifted into PARK, the ignition is placed in the OFF position,
or the touchscreen button “X” to disable display of the Rear
View Camera image is pressed.
Whenever the Rear View Camera image is activated through
the "Backup Camera" button in the "Controls" menu, and the
vehicle speed is greater than, or equal to, 8 mph (13 km/h), a
display timer for the image is initiated. The image will
continue to be displayed until the display timer exceeds 10
seconds.
NOTE:
• If the vehicle speed remains below 8 mph (13 km/h), the Rear View Camera image will be displayed continuously
until deactivated via the touchscreen button "X", the trans -
mission is shifted into PARK, or the ignition is placed in
the OFF position.
• The touchscreen button "X" to disable display of the camera image is made available ONLY when the vehicle is
not in REVERSE.
When enabled, active guide lines are overlaid on the image
to illustrate the width of the vehicle and its projected backup
path based on the steering wheel position. The active guide
lines will show separate zones that will help indicate the
distance to the rear of the vehicle.
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422 STARTING AND OPERATING
RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND MOTORHOME, ETC.)
Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle
NOTE:
• When towing your vehicle, always follow applicable stateand provincial laws. Contact state and provincial
Highway Safety offices for additional details. • Vehicles equipped with Active-Level Four Corner Air
Suspension must be placed in Transport mode before
tying them down (from the body) on a trailer or flatbed
truck. Refer to “Active-Level Four Corner Air Suspension
– If Equipped” for more information. If the vehicle cannot
WARNING!
Attaching a snowplow to this vehicle could adversely
affect performance of the airbag system in a collision. Do
not expect that the airbag will perform as described
earlier in this manual.CAUTION!
Using this vehicle for snowplow applications can cause
damage to the vehicle.
Towing Condition Wheels OFF The
Ground Two-Wheel Drive
Models Four-Wheel Drive Models
Flat Tow NONENOT ALLOWED See Instructions
• Transmission in PARK
• Transfer case in NEUTRAL (N)
• Tow in forward direction
Dolly Tow Front
NOT ALLOWED NOT ALLOWED
Rear OK NOT ALLOWED
On Trailer ALLOK OK
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STARTING AND OPERATING 429
Off-Road Driving Tips
Care should be taken when attempting to climb steep hills or
driving diagonally across a hill or slope. If natural obstacles
force you to travel diagonally up or down a hill, choose a
mild angle and keep as little side tilt as possible. Keep the
vehicle moving and make turns slowly and cautiously.
If you must back down a hill, back straight down using
REVERSE gear. Never back down in NEUTRAL or diago-
nally across the hill. When driving over sand, mud, and other soft terrain, shift to
low gear and drive steadily. Apply the accelerator slowly to
avoid spinning the wheels.
Do not reduce the tire pressures for this type of driving.
After Driving Off-Road
Off-road operation puts more stress on your vehicle than
does most on-road driving. After going off-road, it is always
a good idea to check for damage. That way you can get any
problems taken care of right away and have your vehicle
ready when you need it.
• Completely inspect the underbody of your vehicle. Check
tires, body structure, steering, suspension, and exhaust
system for damage.
• Inspect the radiator for mud and debris and clean as required.
• Check threaded fasteners for looseness, particularly on the chassis, drivetrain components, steering, and suspension.
Retighten them, if required, and torque to the values spec -
ified in the Service Manual.
• Check for accumulations of plants or brush. These things could be a fire hazard. They might hide damage to fuel
lines, brake hoses, axle pinion seals, and propeller shafts.
• Driving through standing water may cause damage to
your vehicle’s drivetrain components. Always inspect
your vehicle’s fluids (i.e., engine oil, transmission, axle,
etc.) for signs of contamination (i.e., fluid that is milky
or foamy in appearance) after driving through standing
water. Do not continue to operate the vehicle if any
fluid appears contaminated, as this may result in
further damage. Such damage is not covered by the
New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
• Getting water inside your vehicle’s engine can cause it to lock up and stall out, and cause serious internal
damage to the engine. Such damage is not covered by
the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. CAUTION!
(Continued)
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476 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
MANUAL PARK RELEASE
To push or tow the vehicle in cases where the transmission
will not shift out of PARK (P) (such as a dead battery), a
Manual Park Release is available.
Follow these steps to activate the Manual Park Release:
1. Apply firm pressure to the brake pedal while seated inthe driver’s seat.
2. Apply the parking brake if possible.
3. Using a small screwdriver or similar tool, remove the Manual Park Release cover, which is located to the lower
left of the steering column.
Manual Park Release Access Cover
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could damage your
vehicle. If the temperature gauge reads HOT (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 HOT (H),
and you hear continuous chimes, turn the engine off
immediately and call for service.
WARNING!
Always secure your vehicle by fully applying the
parking brake before activating the Manual Park
Release. In addition, you should be seated in the driver’s
seat with your foot firmly on the brake pedal when
activating the Manual Park Release. Activating the
Manual Park Release will allow your vehicle to roll away
if it is not secured by the parking brake, or by proper
connection to a tow vehicle. Activating the Manual Park
Release on an unsecured vehicle could lead to serious
injury or death for those in or around the vehicle.
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IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 477
NOTE:
When the lever is locked in the released position the access
cover cannot be reinstalled.
4. Behind the Manual Park Release access cover is theorange tether strap. Pull the tether strap out as far as it
will go, then release it. The tether and lever will remain
outside of the trim panel and the transmission should
now be in NEUTRAL, allowing the vehicle to be moved.
To Reset The Manual Park Release:
1. Apply firm pressure to the brake pedal while seated in the driver’s seat.
2. Pull the tether strap out again, then release it.
3. Allow the tether to retract with the lever back to its orig -
inal position.
4. Verify the transmission is in PARK.
5. Confirm that the tether has retracted fully and re-install the access cover. If the access cover cannot be reinstalled,
repeat steps 1 though 4.
6. Re-install the access cover.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.
Then shift back and forth between DRIVE (D) and REVERSE
(R), 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.
NOTE:
Shifts between DRIVE and REVERSE can only be achieved at
wheel speeds of 5 mph (8 km/h) or less. Whenever the trans -
mission remains in NEUTRAL (N) for more than two
seconds, you must press the brake pedal to engage DRIVE or
REVERSE.
NOTE:
Push the “ESC Off” switch, to place the Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) system in “Partial Off” mode, before rocking
the vehicle. Refer to “Electronic Brake Control” in “Safety”
for further information. Once the vehicle has been freed,
push the “ESC Off” switch again to restore “ESC On” mode.
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IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 479
Proper towing or lifting equipment is required to prevent
damage to your vehicle. Use only tow bars and other equip-
ment designed for this purpose, following equipment manu-
facturer’s instructions. Use of safety chains is mandatory.
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, not the ACC mode. If the key fob is unavailable or the vehicle's battery is
discharged, refer to ”Manual Park Release” in this section for
instructions on shifting the transmission out of PARK for
towing.
Towing
Condition Wheels OFF
The Ground 2WD Models
4WD Models
Flat Tow NONE If transmission is operable:
• Transmission in
NEUTRAL
• 30 mph (48 km/h) max speed
• 30 miles (48 km) max distance See instructions in “Recreational Towing”
under “Starting And Operating”
• Automatic Transmission in
PARK
• Transfer Case in NEUTRAL (N)
• Tow in forward direction
Wheel Lift Or Dolly Tow Front
NOT ALLOWED
Rear OK NOT ALLOWED
Flatbed ALL BEST METHOD BEST METHOD
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. Damage
to your vehicle may result from improper towing.
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480 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
(Continued)
Two-Wheel Drive Models
The manufacturer recommends towing your vehicle with all
four wheels OFF the ground using a flatbed.
If flatbed equipment is not available, and the transmission is
operable, the vehicle may be towed (with rear wheels on the
ground) under the following conditions:
• The transmission must be in NEUTRAL.
NOTE:
Refer to “Manual Park Release” in this section for instruc -
tions on shifting the transmission to NEUTRAL when the
engine is OFF.
• The towing speed must not exceed 30 mph (48 km/h).
• The towing distance must not exceed 30 miles (48 km).
If the transmission is not operable, or the vehicle must be
towed faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) or farther than 30 miles (48 km), tow with the rear wheels OFF the ground. Accept -
able methods are to tow the vehicle on a flatbed, or with the
front wheels raised and the rear wheels on a towing dolly, or
(when using a suitable steering wheel stabilizer to hold the
front wheels in the straight position) with the rear wheels
raised and the front wheels on the ground.
Four-Wheel Drive Models
The manufacturer recommends towing with all wheels OFF
the 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 ALL wheels on the ground), IF the transfer case is in
NEUTRAL (N) and the transmission is in PARK.
Refer to “Recreational Towing” in “Starting And Operating”
for further information and detailed instructions. CAUTION!
Towing this vehicle in violation of the above
requirements can cause severe transmission damage.
Damage from improper towing is not covered under the
New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
CAUTION!
• Front or rear wheel lifts must not be used (if the remaining wheels are on the ground). Internal damage
to the transmission or transfer case will occur if a front
or rear wheel lift is used when towing.
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