2020 Ram ProMaster towing

4

VEHICLE LOADING ................................................112
Vehicle Certification Label ............................... 112
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) .............. 112
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) .................. 112
Tire Size .............................................................112
Rim Size ............................................................ 112
Inflation Pressure ............................................. 112
Curb Weight ...................................................... 112
Overloading ....................................................... 112
Loading .............................................................113

TRAILER TOWING ..................................................113

Common Towing Definitions ............................113
Trailer Hitch Classification ............................... 114
Trailer Towing Weights
(Maximum Trailer Weight Ratings) ................. 115 Trailer And Tongue Weight ..............................115Towing Requirements ..................................... 116
Towing Tips ...................................................... 118

RECREATIONAL TOWING
(BEHIND MOTORHOME, ETC.) ............................120

Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle .. 120
Recreational Towing ......................................... 120

DRIVING TIPS.........................................................121

Driving On Slippery Surfaces ..........................121
Driving Through Water ....................................121

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS ..........................123 BULB REPLACEMENT ........................................... 123

Replacement Bulbs .......................................... 123
Replacing Exterior Bulbs .................................. 125
Replacing Interior Bulbs .................................. 127

FUSES..................................................................... 128

Underhood Fuses ............................................. 128
Interior Fuses.................................................... 131
Right Central Pillar Fuses ................................ 132

JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING .......................... 133

Jack Location .................................................... 133
Spare Tire Removal .......................................... 134
Preparations For Jacking ................................. 135
Jacking Instructions ......................................... 136Wheel Covers .................................................... 139

TIRE SERVICE KIT — IF EQUIPPED ...................... 139

Tire Service Kit Storage ................................... 139
Tire Service Kit Components And Operation .. 140Tire Service Kit Usage Precautions ................. 140
Sealing A Tire With Tire Service Kit ................. 142

JUMP STARTING ................................................... 145

Preparations For Jump Start ........................... 145
Jump Starting Procedure ................................. 146
Battery Location ............................................... 147

IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS ............................ 147
GEAR SELECTOR OVERRIDE .............................. 148FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE ............................... 149
TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE........................... 149
Automatic Transmission .................................. 150
ENHANCED ACCIDENT RESPONSE SYSTEM
(EARS) ....................................................................151
EVENT DATA RECORDER (EDR) .......................... 151

SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE

SCHEDULED SERVICING .....................................152

Maintenance Plan ............................................ 152
Heavy Duty Use Of The Vehicle ....................... 155

ENGINE COMPARTMENT...................................... 156

3.6L Engine ..................................................... 156
Checking Oil Level — Gas Engine ................... 157
Adding Washer Fluid ........................................ 157Maintenance-Free Battery .............................. 157
Pressure Washing ............................................ 158

DEALER SERVICE ................................................. 158

Engine Oil ......................................................... 158Engine Oil Filter ................................................ 159
Engine Air Cleaner Filter ................................. 159
Air Conditioner Maintenance ......................... 160
Body Lubrication .............................................. 161
Windshield Wiper Blades ................................ 162
Exhaust System ............................................... 162
Cooling System................................................. 163
Brake System .................................................. 166
Automatic Transmission
(3.6L Gasoline Engine Only) ............................ 167

RAISING THE VEHICLE..........................................168

20_VF_OM_EN_US_t.book Page 4

48GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Warning Light
This warning light will illuminate to
inform of a problem with the Elec -
tronic Throttle Control (ETC) system. If
a problem is detected while the
vehicle is running, the light will either stay on or
flash depending on the nature of the problem.
Cycle the ignition when the vehicle is safely and
completely stopped and the transmission is
placed in the PARK (P) position. The light should
turn off. If the light remains on with the vehicle
running, your vehicle will usually be drivable;
however, see an authorized dealer for service
as soon as possible.
If the light continues to flash when the vehicle is
running, immediate service is required and you
may experience reduced performance, an
elevated/rough idle, or engine stall and your
vehicle may require towing. The light will come
on when the ignition is placed in the ON/RUN or
MAR/ON/RUN position and remain on briefly as
a bulb check. If the light does not come on
during starting, have the system checked by an
authorized dealer.
Transmission Fault Warning Light
This light will illuminate (together with
a message in the instrument cluster
display and a buzzer) to indicate a
transmission fault. Contact an autho -
rized dealer if the message remains after
restarting the engine.
Engine Temperature Warning Light
This light warns of an overheated
engine condition. If the engine
coolant temperature is too high, this
indicator will illuminate and a single
chime will sound.
If the light turns on while driving, safely pull over
and stop the vehicle. If the A/C system is on,
turn it off. Also, shift the transmission into
NEUTRAL and idle the vehicle. If the tempera -
ture reading does not return to normal, turn the
engine off immediately and call for service.
Refer to “If Your Engine Overheats” in “In Case
Of Emergency” for further information.
Brake Warning Light
This warning light monitors various
brake functions, including brake
fluid level and parking brake appli -
cation. If the brake light turns on it
may indicate that the parking brake is
applied, that the brake fluid level is low, or
that there is a problem with the anti-lock
brake system reservoir.
If the light remains on when the parking brake
has been disengaged, and the fluid level is at
the full mark on the master cylinder reservoir, it
indicates a possible brake hydraulic system
malfunction or that a problem with the Brake
Booster has been detected by the Anti-Lock
Brake System (ABS) / Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) system. In this case, the light will
remain on until the condition has been
corrected. If the problem is related to the brake
booster, the ABS pump will run when applying
the brake, and a brake pedal pulsation may be
felt during each stop.

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52GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
Certain conditions, such as a loose or missing
gas cap, poor quality fuel, etc., may illuminate
the light after engine start. The vehicle should
be serviced if the light stays on through several
typical driving styles. In most situations, the
vehicle will drive normally and will not require
towing.
When the engine is running, the MIL may flash
to alert serious conditions that could lead to
immediate loss of power or severe catalytic
converter damage. The vehicle should be
serviced by an authorized dealer as soon as
possible if this occurs.
Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) Warning Light
This light monitors the Anti-Lock
Brake System (ABS). The light will turn
on when the ignition is placed in the
ON/RUN or MAR/ON/RUN position
and may stay on for as long as four seconds.
If the ABS light remains on or turns on while
driving, then the Anti-Lock portion of the brake
system is not functioning and service is
required. However, the conventional brake
system will continue to operate normally if the
brake warning light is not on.
If the ABS light is on, the brake system should
be serviced as soon as possible to restore the
benefits of Anti-Lock Brakes. If the ABS light
does not turn on when the ignition is placed in
the ON/RUN or MAR/ON/RUN position, have
the light inspected by an authorized dealer.
Generic Warning Light
The Generic Warning Light will illumi -
nate if any of the following conditions
occur: Engine Oil Pressure Sensor
Failure, External Light Failure, Fuel
Cut-Off intervention or fail, Parking Sensor
Failure, DST System Failure.
The telltale will remain on fixed in case of swivel
seat failure and on blinking in case of Air Bag
Warning Light Failure. Contact an authorized
dealer immediately for service.
Yellow Indicator Lights
Stop Light Failure Indicator Light
This light will illuminate if one or more
of the stop light bulb fails.
The failure relating to this light could be:
One or more blown bulbs.
A blown protection fuse.
A break in the electrical connection.
WARNING!
A malfunctioning catalytic converter, as
referenced above, can reach higher
temperatures than in normal operating
conditions. This can cause a fire if you drive
slowly or park over flammable substances
such as dry plants, wood, cardboard, etc. This
could result in death or serious injury to the
driver, occupants or others.
CAUTION!
Prolonged driving with the Malfunction
Indicator Light (MIL) on could cause damage
to the vehicle control system. It also could
affect fuel economy and driveability. If the
MIL is flashing, severe catalytic converter
damage and power loss will soon occur.
Immediate service is required.

20_VF_OM_EN_US_t.book Page 52

54GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM — OBD II
Your vehicle is equipped with a sophisticated
Onboard Diagnostic system called OBD II. This
system monitors the performance of the emis -
sions, engine, and transmission control
systems. When these systems are operating
properly, your vehicle will provide excellent
performance and fuel economy, as well as
engine emissions well within current govern -
ment regulations.
If any of these systems require service, the OBD
II system will turn on the Malfunction Indicator
Light (MIL). It will also store diagnostic codes
and other information to assist your service
technician in making repairs. Although your
vehicle will usually be drivable and not need
towing, see an authorized dealer for service as
soon as possible.
Onboard Diagnostic System (OBD II)
Cybersecurity
Your vehicle is required to have an Onboard
Diagnostic system (OBD II) and a connection
port to allow access to information related to
the performance of your emissions controls.
Authorized service technicians may need to
access this information to assist with the diag -
nosis and service of your vehicle and emissions
system. For further information, refer to “Cybersecurity”
in “Multimedia”.
CAUTION!
Prolonged driving with the MIL on could
cause further damage to the emission
control system. It could also affect fuel
economy and driveability. The vehicle must
be serviced before any emissions tests can
be performed.
If the MIL is flashing while the vehicle is
running, severe catalytic converter damage
and power loss will soon occur. Immediate
service is required.
WARNING!
ONLY an authorized service technician
should connect equipment to the OBD II
connection port in order to read the VIN,
diagnose, or service your vehicle.
If unauthorized equipment is connected to
the OBD II connection port, such as a
driver-behavior tracking device, it may:
Be possible that vehicle systems,
including safety related systems, could
be impaired or a loss of vehicle control
could occur that may result in an acci-
dent involving serious injury or death.
Access, or allow others to access, infor- mation stored in your vehicle systems,
including personal information.

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60SAFETY
(Continued)

Hill Start Assist (HSA)
The Hill Start Assist (HSA) system is designed to
assist the driver when starting a vehicle from a stop
on a hill. HSA will maintain the level of brake pres -
sure the driver applied for a short period of time
after the driver takes their foot off of the brake
pedal. If the driver does not apply the throttle during
this short period of time, the system will release
brake pressure and the vehicle will roll down the hill.
The system will release brake pressure in proportion
to the amount of throttle applied as the vehicle
starts to move in the intended direction of travel.
HSA Activation Criteria
The following criteria must be met in order for HSA
to activate:
Vehicle must be stopped
Vehicle must be on a 6% (approximate) grade or
greater hill
Gear selection matches vehicl e uphill direction
(i.e., vehicle facing uphill is in forward gear;
vehicle backing uphill is in REVERSE (R) gear)
HSA will work in REVERSE and all forward gears
when the activation criteria have been met. The
system will not activate if the vehicle is placed in
NEUTRAL (N) or PARK (P).

Towing With HSA
HSA will also provide assistance to mitigate roll
back while towing a trailer.
Traction Control System (TCS)
The Traction Control System (TCS) monitors the
amount of wheel spin of each of the driven
wheels. If wheel spin is detected, brake pressure
is applied to the slipping wheel(s) and engine
power is reduced, to provide enhanced accelera -
tion and stability. A feature of the TCS system,
Brake Limited Differential (BLD), functions
similar to a limited slip differential and controls
the wheel spin across a driven axle. If one wheel
on a driven axle is spinning faster than the other,
the system will apply the brake of the spinning
wheel. This will allow more engine torque to be
applied to the wheel that is not spinning. This
feature remains active even if the ESC is in the
“Partial Off” mode.

WARNING!
There may be situations on minor hills with
a loaded vehicle, or while pulling a trailer,
when the system will not activate and slight
rolling may occur. This could cause a
collision with another vehicle or object.
Always remember the driver is responsible
for braking the vehicle.
WARNING!
If you use a trailer brake controller with
your trailer, the trailer brakes may be acti -
vated and deactivated with the brake
switch. If so, there may not be enough
brake pressure to hold both the vehicle
and the trailer on a hill when the brake
pedal is released. In order to avoid rolling
down an incline while resuming accelera -
tion, manually activate the trailer brake
or apply more vehicle brake pressure
prior to releasing the brake pedal.
HSA is not a parking brake. Always apply
the parking brake fully when exiting your
vehicle. Also, be certain to place the trans -
mission in PARK.
Failure to follow these warnings can result
in a collision or serious personal injury.
WARNING!
(Continued)
20_VF_OM_EN_US_t.book Page 60

SAFETY61

The ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light
(in the instrument cluster) will start to flash as
soon as the tires lose traction and the wheels
begin to spin. This indicates that the TCS is
active. If the indicator light flashes during accel -
eration, ease up on the accelerator and apply as
little throttle as possible. Be sure to adapt your
speed and driving to the prevailing road condi -
tions, and do not switch off the ESC or TCS.

Trailer Sway Control (TSC) — If Equipped
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) uses sensors in the
vehicle to recognize an excessively swaying
trailer and will take the appropriate actions to
attempt to stop the sway. The system may reduce engine power and apply the brake of
the appropriate wheel(s) to counteract the
sway of the trailer. TSC will become active
automatically once an excessively swaying
trailer is recognized.
NOTE:
TSC cannot stop all trailers from swaying.
Always use caution when towing a trailer and
follow the trailer tongue weight recommenda
-
tions. Refer to “Trailer Towing” in “Starting And
Operating” for further information.
When TSC is functioning, the ESC Activation/
Malfunction Indicator Light will flash, the engine
power may be reduced, and you may feel the
brakes being applied to individual wheels to
attempt to stop the trailer from swaying. TSC is
disabled when the ESC system is in the “Partial
Off” mode.
AUXILIARY DRIVING SYSTEMS
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
will warn the driver of a low tire pressure based
on the vehicle recommended cold placard pres -
sure.
The tire pressure will vary with temperature by
about 1 psi (7 kPa) for every 12°F (6.5°C). This
means that when the outside temperature
decreases, the tire pressure will decrease. Tire
pressure should always be set based on cold
inflation tire pressure. This is defined as the tire
pressure after the vehicle has not been driven
for at least three hours, or driven less than
1 mile (1.6 km) after a three hour period. The
cold tire inflation pressure must not exceed the
maximum inflation pressure molded into the
tire sidewall. Refer to “Tires” in “Servicing And
Maintenance” for information on how to prop -
erly inflate the vehicle’s tires. The tire pressure
will also increase as the vehicle is driven - this is
normal and there should be no adjustment for
this increased pressure.
WARNING!
The TCS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase the traction afforded.
The TCS cannot prevent collisions,
including those resulting from excessive
speed in turns, or hydroplaning.
The capabilities of a TCS-equipped vehicle
must never be exploited in a reckless or
dangerous manner, which could jeopardize
the user's safety or the safety of others.
WARNING!
If TSC activates while driving, slow the
vehicle down, stop at the nearest safe
location, and adjust the trailer load to
eliminate trailer sway.
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STARTING AND OPERATING99
REVERSE (R)
This range is for moving the vehicle backward.
Shift into REVERSE only after the vehicle has
come to a complete stop.
NEUTRAL (N)
Use this range when the vehicle is standing for
prolonged periods with the engine running. The
engine may be started in this range. Apply the
parking brake and shift the transmission into
PARK if you must exit the vehicle.
DRIVE (D)
This range should be used for most city and
highway driving. It provides the smoothest
upshifts and downshifts, and the best fuel
economy. The transmission automatically
upshifts through all forward gears. The DRIVE
position provides optimum driving characteris -
tics under all normal operating conditions. When frequent transmission shifting occurs
(such as when operating the vehicle under
heavy loading conditions, in hilly terrain, trav
-
eling into strong head winds, or while towing a
heavy trailer), select TOW/HAUL mode or use
the Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift control
(refer to “Electronic Range Select (ERS) Opera -
tion” in this section for further information) to
select a lower gear range. Under these condi -
tions, using a lower gear range will improve
performance and extend transmission life by
reducing excessive shifting and heat buildup.
During cold temperatures, transmission opera -
tion may be modified depending on engine and
transmission temperature as well as vehicle
speed. This feature improves warm up time of
the engine and transmission to achieve
maximum efficiency. Engagement of the torque
converter clutch is inhibited until the transmis -
sion fluid is warm refer to the “Note” under
“Torque Converter Clutch” in this section.
During extremely cold temperatures (-16°F
[-27°C] or below), operation may briefly be
limited to third gear only. Normal operation will
resume once the transmission temperature has
risen to a suitable level.WARNING!

Do not coast in NEUTRAL and never turn off
the ignition to coast down a hill. These are
unsafe practices that limit your response to
changing traffic or road conditions. You might
lose control of the vehicle and have a collision.

CAUTION!

Towing the vehicle, coasting, or driving for any
other reason with the transmission in
NEUTRAL can cause severe transmission
damage.

Refer to “Recreational Towing” in “Starting
And Operating” and “Towing A Disabled
Vehicle” in “In Case Of Emergency” for further
information.
5

20_VF_OM_EN_US_t.book Page 99

STARTING AND OPERATING101
NOTE:
To select the proper gear position for maximum
deceleration (engine braking), move the gear
selector into the ERS position, then tap it
forward (-) repeatedly as the vehicle slows. The
transmission will shift to the range from which
the vehicle can best be slowed down.Overdrive Operation
The automatic transmission includes an elec -
tronically controlled Overdrive (sixth gear). The
transmission will automatically shift into Over -
drive if the following conditions are present:
The gear selector is in the DRIVE position.
The transmission fluid has reached an
adequate temperature.
The engine coolant has reached an adequate
temperature.
The vehicle speed is sufficiently high.

The driver is not heavily pressing the
accelerator.

When To Use TOW/HAUL Mode
When driving in hilly areas, towing a trailer,
carrying a heavy load, etc., and frequent trans -
mission shifting occurs, push the TOW/HAUL
switch to activate TOW/HAUL mode. This will
improve performance and reduce the potential
for transmission overheating or failure due to
excessive shifting. When operating in TOW/
HAUL mode, transmission upshifts are delayed,
and the transmission will automatically down -
shift (for engine braking) during steady braking
maneuvers.
The “TOW/HAUL Indicator Light” will illuminate
in the instrument cluster to indicate that TOW/
HAUL mode has been activated. Pushing the
switch a second time restores normal opera -
tion. Normal operation is always the default at
engine start-up. If TOW/HAUL mode is desired,
the switch must be pushed each time the
engine is started.
Instrument
Cluster Display 1
23456D
Actual Gear(s)
Allowed 1
1–21–31–41–51–61–6
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