2020 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual

SAFETY 287
(Continued)
Air Bag Warning Light
The Air Bag warning light will 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 an 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 removed. If the light comes on
intermittently or remains on while driving, have an 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 an 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
accelerator, 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 control. To
prevent SERIOUS INJURY or DEATH:
• ALWAYS securely attach your floor mat using the floor mat fasteners. DO NOT install your floor mat
upside down or turn your floor mat over. Lightly pull to
confirm mat is secured using the floor mat fasteners on
a regular basis.
• ALWAYS REMOVE THE EXISTING FLOOR MAT FROM THE VEHICLE before installing any other
floor mat. NEVER install or stack an additional floor
mat on top of an existing floor mat.
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288 SAFETY
(Continued)
• ONLY install floor mats designed to fit your vehicle.NEVER install a floor mat that cannot be properly
attached and secured to your vehicle. If a floor mat
needs to be replaced, only use a FCA approved floor
mat for the specific make, model, and year of your
vehicle.
• ONLY use the driver’s side floor mat on the driver’s side floor area. To check for interference, with the
vehicle properly parked with the engine off, fully
depress the accelerator, the brake, and the clutch pedal
(if present) to check for interference. If your floor mat
interferes with the operation of any pedal, or is not
secure to the floor, remove the floor mat from the
vehicle and place the floor mat in your trunk.
• ONLY use the passenger’s side floor mat on the passenger’s side floor area.
• ALWAYS make sure objects cannot fall or slide into the driver’s side floor area when the vehicle is moving.
Objects can become trapped under accelerator, brake,
or clutch pedals and could cause a loss of vehicle
control.
WARNING! (Continued)
• NEVER place any objects under the floor mat (e.g.,
towels, keys, etc.). These objects could change the posi -
tion of the floor mat and may cause interference with
the accelerator, brake, or clutch pedals.
• If the vehicle carpet has been removed and re-installed, always properly attach carpet to the floor and check the
floor mat fasteners are secure to the vehicle carpet.
Fully depress each pedal to check for interference with
the accelerator, brake, or clutch pedals then re-install
the floor mats.
• It is recommended to only use mild soap and water to clean your floor mats. After cleaning, always check
your floor mat has been properly installed and is
secured to your vehicle using the floor mat fasteners by
lightly pulling mat.
WARNING! (Continued)
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Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make Outside
The Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear and uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread or sidewall. Inspect the tread for cuts and
cracks. Inspect sidewalls for cuts, cracks, and bulges. Check
the wheel bolts for tightness. Check the tires (including
spare) for proper cold inflation pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of brake lights and
exterior lights while you work the controls. Check turn
signal and high beam indicator lights on the instrument
panel.Door Latches
Check for proper closing, latching, and locking.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under the vehicle after overnight parking for
fuel, coolant, oil, or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline fumes
are detected or if fuel, or brake fluid leaks are suspected, the
cause should be located and corrected immediately.
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SAFETY 289

290
(Continued)
STARTING AND OPERATING
STARTING THE ENGINE
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust both
inside and outside mirrors, and fasten your seat belt.
The starter should not be operated for more than 10-second
intervals. Waiting a few seconds between such intervals will
protect the starter from overheating.
WARNING!
• When leaving the vehicle, always make sure the keyless ignition node is in the "OFF" mode, remove the
key fob from the vehicle and lock the vehicle.
• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. Allowing children to be in a
vehicle unattended is dangerous for a number of
reasons. A child or others could be seriously or fatally
injured. Children should be warned not to touch the
parking brake, brake pedal or the gear selector.
• Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle, or in alocation accessible to children, and do not leave the
ignition of a vehicle equipped with Keyless
Enter-N-Go in the ACC or ON/RUN mode. A child
could operate power windows, other controls, or move
the vehicle.
• Do not leave children or animals inside parked vehicles in hot weather. Interior heat build-up may cause
serious injury or death.
WARNING! (Continued)
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STARTING AND OPERATING 291
Automatic Transmission
Start the engine with the transmission in PARK position.
Apply the brake before shifting into any driving range.
NOTE:
• This vehicle is equipped with a transmission shift inter-
locking system. The brake pedal must be pressed to shift
out of PARK.
• If equipped with an 8-speed transmission, starting the vehicle in NEUTRAL is not possible unless the Manual
Park Release has been activated. For the Manual Park
Release operation refer to Manual Park Release in “In Case
Of Emergency”.
Tip Start Feature
Do not press the accelerator. Cycle the ignition switch briefly
to the START position and release it. The starter motor will
continue to run and will automatically disengage when the
engine is running.
Keyless Enter-N-Go — Ignition
Keyless Push Button Ignition
This feature allows the driver to operate the ignition switch
with the push of a button, as long as the Remote Start/
Keyless Enter-N-Go key fob is in the passenger compart -
ment.
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292 STARTING AND OPERATING
Normal Starting Using ENGINE START/STOP Button
To Turn On The Engine Using The ENGINE START/STOP
Button
1. The transmission must be in PARK.
2. Press and hold the brake pedal while pushing theENGINE START/STOP button once.
3. The system takes over and attempts to start the vehicle. If the vehicle fails to start, the starter will disengage auto -
matically after 10 seconds.
4. If you wish to stop the cranking of the engine prior to the engine starting, push the button again.
NOTE:
Normal starting of either a cold or a warm engine is obtained
without pumping or pressing the accelerator pedal.
To Turn Off The Engine Using ENGINE START/STOP
Button
1. Place the gear selector in PARK, then push and release the ENGINE START/STOP button.
2. The ignition will return to the OFF mode. 3. If the gear selector is not in PARK, the ENGINE START/
STOP button must be held for two seconds or three short
pushes in a row with the vehicle speed above 5 mph
(8 km/h) before the engine will shut off. The ignition will
remain in the ACC mode until the gear selector is in
PARK and the button is pushed twice to the OFF mode.
4. If the gear selector is not in PARK and the ENGINE START/STOP button is pushed once with the vehicle
speed above 5 mph (8 km/h), the instrument cluster will
display a “ Vehicle Not In Park ” message and the engine
will remain running. Never leave a vehicle out of the
PARK position, or it could roll.
NOTE:
If the gear selector is not in PARK, and the ENGINE START/
STOP button is pushed once with the vehicle speed below
5 mph (8 km/h), the engine will shut off and the ignition will
remain in the ACC position. If vehicle speed drops below
1.2 mph (1.9 km/h), the vehicle may AutoPark. See Auto -
Park section for further details.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 293
ENGINE START/STOP Button Functions — With Driver’s
Foot OFF The Brake Pedal (In PARK Or NEUTRAL Posi-
tion)
The ENGINE START/STOP button operates similar to an
ignition switch. It has three modes: OFF, ACC, and RUN. To
change the ignition modes without starting the vehicle and
use the accessories, follow these directions:
1. Start with the ignition in the OFF mode.
2. Push the ENGINE START/STOP button once to place the ignition to the ACC mode.
3. Push the ENGINE START/STOP button a second time to place the ignition to the RUN mode.
4. Push the ENGINE START/STOP button a third time to return the ignition to the OFF mode.
AutoPark — Rotary Shifter and 8-Speed Transmission
Only
AutoPark is a supplemental feature to assist in placing the
vehicle in PARK should the situations on the following
pages occur. It is a back up system and should not be relied
upon as the primary method by which the driver shifts the
vehicle into PARK. The conditions under which AutoPark will engage are
outlined on the following pages.
WARNING!
• Driver inattention could lead to failure to place the vehicle in PARK. ALWAYS DO A VISUAL CHECK
that your vehicle is in PARK by verifying that a solid
(not blinking) “P” is indicated in the Instrument
Cluster Display and near the gear selector. If the "P"
indicator is blinking, your vehicle is not in PARK. As
an added precaution, always apply the parking brake
when exiting the vehicle.
• AutoPark is a supplemental feature. It is not designed to replace the need to shift your vehicle into PARK. It is
a back up system and should not be relied upon as the
primary method by which the driver shifts the vehicle
into PARK.
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294 STARTING AND OPERATING
If the vehicle is not in PARK and the driver turns off the
engine, the vehicle may AutoPark.
AutoPark will engage when all of these conditions are met:
• Vehicle is equipped with a rotary shifter and an 8-speedtransmission
• Vehicle is not in PARK
• Vehicle Speed is 1.2 mph (1.9 km/h) or less
• Ignition switched from RUN to ACC
NOTE:
For Keyless Enter-N-Go equipped vehicles, The engine will
turn off and the ignition switch will change to ACC mode.
After 30 minutes the ignition switches to OFF automatically,
unless the driver turns the ignition switch OFF.
If the vehicle is not in PARK and the driver exits the
vehicle with the engine running, the vehicle may Auto -
Park.
AutoPark will engage when all of these conditions are met:
• Vehicle is equipped with a rotary shifter and an 8-speed transmission
• Vehicle is not in PARK
• Vehicle speed is 1.2 mph (1.9 km/h) or less
• Driver’s seat belt is unbuckled • Driver’s door is ajar
• Brake Pedal is not depressed
The MESSAGE “
AutoPark Engaged Shift to P then Shift to
Gear ” will display in the instrument cluster.
NOTE:
In some cases the ParkSense graphic will be displayed in the
instrument cluster, causing the “ AutoPark Engaged Shift to
P then Shift to Gear ” to not be seen. In these cases, the shifter
must be returned to “P” to select desired gear.
If the driver shifts into PARK while moving, the vehicle
may AutoPark.
AutoPark will engage ONLYwhen vehicle speed is 1.2 MPH
(1.9 km/h) or less.
The MESSAGE “ Vehicle Speed is Too High to Shift to
P ”will be displayed in the instrument cluster if vehicle speed
is above 1.2 mph (1.9 km/h).
WARNING!

If vehicle speed is above 1.2 mph (1.9 km/h), the transmission will default to NEUTRAL until the vehicle
speed drops below 1.2 mph (1.9 km). A vehicle left in the
NEUTRAL position can roll. As an added precaution,
always apply the parking brake when exiting the vehicle.

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