2021 RAM 1500 lock

SAFETY365
(Continued)
Installing A Child Restraint With A
Switchable Automatic Locking Retractor
(ALR):
Child restraint systems are designed to be
secured in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap
belt portion of a lap/shoulder belt.
1. Place the child seat in the center of the
seating position. If the second row seat can
be reclined, you may recline the seat and/
or raise the head restraint (if adjustable) to
get a better fit. If the rear seat can be
moved forward and rearward in the
vehicle, you may wish to move it to its
rear-most position to make room for the child seat. You may also move the front
seat forward to allow more room for the
child seat.

2. Pull enough of the seat belt webbing from the retractor to pass it through the belt path
of the child restraint. Do not twist the belt
webbing in the belt path.
3. Slide the latch plate into the buckle until you hear a “click.”
4. Pull on the webbing to make the lap portion tight against the child seat.
Frequently Asked Questions About Installing Child Restraints With Seat Belts
What is the weight limit (child’s weight + weight of the child
restraint) for using the Tether Anchor with the seat belt to
attach a forward facing child restraint? Weight limit of the
Child Restraint Always use the tether anchor when using the seat belt to
install a forward facing child restraint, up to the
recommended weight limit of the child restraint.
Can the rear-facing child restraint touch the back of the front
passenger seat? YesContact between the front passenger seat and the child
restraint is allowed, if the child restraint manufacturer also
allows contact.
Can the rear head restraints be removed? No Head restraints may not be removed.
Can the buckle stalk be twisted to tighten the seat belt against
the belt path of the child restraint? NoDo not twist the buckle stalk in a seating position with an
ALR retractor.
WARNING!
Improper installation or failure to properly
secure a child restraint can lead to failure
of the restraint. The child could be badly
injured or killed.
Follow the child restraint manufacturer’s
directions exactly when installing an infant
or child restraint.
WARNING!
(Continued)6

21_DT_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 365

366SAFETY
5. To lock the seat belt, pull down on the
shoulder part of the belt until you have
pulled all the seat belt webbing out of the
retractor. Then, allow the webbing to retract
back into the retractor. As the webbing
retracts, you will hear a clicking sound. This
means the seat belt is now in the Automatic
Locking mode.
6. Try to pull the webbing out of the retractor. If it is locked, you should not be able to pull
out any webbing. If the retractor is not

locked, repeat step 5.
7. Finally, pull up on any excess webbing to tighten the lap portion around the child
restraint while you push the child restraint
rearward and downward into the vehicle
seat.
8. If the child restraint has a top tether strap and the seating position has a top tether
anchorage, connect the tether strap to the
anchorage and tighten the tether strap
Úpage 366.
9. Test that the child restraint is installed tightly by pulling back and forth on the child
seat at the belt path. It should not move
more than 1 inch (25.4 mm) in any
direction. Any seat belt system will loosen with time, so
check the belt occasionally, and pull it tight if
necessary.
Installing Child Restraints Using The Top
Tether Anchorage
The top tether anchorages in this
vehicle are tether strap loops located
between the rear glass and the back
of the rear seat. There is a tether
strap loop located behind each seating position.
Follow the steps below to attach the tether strap
of the child restraint.
Right Or Left Outboard Seats:

1. Reach between the rear seat and rear glass to access the tether strap loop.

2. Place a child restraint on the seat and adjust the tether strap so that it will reach
over the seat back, through the space
between the head restraint and the seat
back, through the tether strap loop behind
the seat and over to the tether strap loop
behind the center seat.
WARNING!
Do not attach a tether strap for a rear-facing
car seat to any location in front of the car
seat, including the seat frame or a tether
anchorage. Only attach the tether strap of a
rear-facing car seat to the tether anchorage
that is approved for that seating position,
located behind the top of the vehicle seat.
See the section “Lower Anchors and Tethers
for CHildren (LATCH) Restraint System” for the
location of approved tether anchorages in
your vehicle.
WARNING!
Never place a rear-facing child restraint in
front of an air bag. A deploying Passenger
Front Air Bag can cause death or serious
injury to a child 12 years or younger, including
a child in a rear-facing child restraint.

21_DT_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 366

SAFETY371
PERIODIC SAFETY CHECKS YOU SHOULD
M
AKE 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 lug nut/bolt torque 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.
EXHAUST GAS 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 an authorized dealer inspect the complete
exhaust system and adjacent body areas 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.
WARNING!
Exhaust gases can injure or kill. They contain
carbon monoxide (CO), which is colorless and
odorless. Breathing it can make you
unconscious and can eventually poison you.
To avoid breathing (CO), follow these safety
tips:
Do not run the engine in a closed garage or
in confined areas any longer than needed
to move your vehicle in or out of the area.
If you are required to drive with the trunk/
liftgate/rear doors open, make sure that all
windows are closed and the climate control
BLOWER switch is set at high speed. DO
NOT use the recirculation mode.
If it is necessary to sit in a parked vehicle
with the engine running, adjust your
heating or cooling controls to force outside
air into the vehicle. Set the blower at high
speed.
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378IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
6. Block both the front and rear wheel
diagonally opposite of each jacking
position. For example, if the driver’s front
wheel is being changed, block the
passenger’s rear wheel.

Wheel Blocked

NOTE:
Passengers should not remain in the vehicle
when the vehicle is being raised or lifted.
JACK LOCATION
The jack and tools are stored under the front
passenger seat.
REMOVAL OF JACK AND TOOLS
To access the jack and tools, you must remove
the plastic access cover located on the side of
the front passenger’s seat. To remove the
cover, pull the front part of the cover (closest to
the front of the seat) toward you to release a
locking tab. Once the front of the cover is loose,
slide the cover toward the front of the seat until
it is free from the seat frame.

Pull Jack Access Cover From Front

Remove the jack and tools by turning the wing
bolt counterclockwise, remove the wing bolt
and then slide the assembly out from under the
seat.
Jack And Tools

Release the tool bag straps from the jack and
remove tools from bag.

Jack And Tool Bag

21_DT_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 378

380IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
REMOVING THE SPARE TIRE

1. Remove the spare tire before attempting to
jack up the truck. Attach the lug wrench to
the extension tubes with the curved angle
facing away from the vehicle.

2. Remove the protective cover over the access hole for the winch mechanism by
sliding the cover upward.

Access Hole Cover Location

3. Insert the extension tube through the access hole between the lower tailgate and
the top of the fascia/bumper and into the
winch mechanism tube.
Winch Mechanism Tube
Inserting The Extension Tubes Into The Access Hole

4. Rotate the lug wrench handle counter -
clockwise until the spare tire is on the
ground with enough cable slack to allow you
to pull it out from under the vehicle.
Rotating The Lug Wrench Handle

5. Pull the spare tire out from under the vehicle to gain access to the spare tire
retainer.

Pulling The Spare Tire Out

21_DT_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 380

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY381
(Continued)
6. Lift the spare tire with one hand to give clearance to tilt the retainer at the end of
the cable.

Tilting The Retainer Through The Center Of The Wheel

7. Pull the retainer through the center of the wheel.

Pulling The Retainer Through The Center Of The Wheel
NOTE:
The winch mechanism is designed for use with
the extension tubes only. Use of an air wrench
or other power tools is not recommended and
can damage the winch.
JACKING INSTRUCTIONS

Jack Warning Label

WARNING!
Carefully follow these tire changing warnings
to help prevent personal injury or damage to
your vehicle:
Always park on a firm, level surface as far
from the edge of the roadway as possible
before raising the vehicle.
Turn on the Hazard Warning Flashers.
Apply the parking brake firmly and set the
transmission in PARK.
Block the wheel diagonally opposite the
wheel to be raised.
Never start or run the engine with the
vehicle on a jack.
Do not let anyone sit in the vehicle when it
is on a jack.
Do not get under the vehicle when it is on a
jack. If you need to get under a raised
vehicle, take it to a service center where it
can be raised on a lift.
Only use the jack in the positions indicated
and for lifting this vehicle during a tire
change.
If working on or near a roadway, be
extremely careful of motor traffic.
To assure that spare tires, flat or inflated,
are securely stowed, spares must be
stowed with the valve stem facing the
ground.
WARNING!
(Continued)
7

21_DT_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 381

382IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

1. Remove the spare tire, jack, and tools from
the stored location.

2. Using the lug wrench, loosen the wheel nuts (but do not remove), by turning them
counterclockwise one turn while the wheel
is still on the ground.
3. Assemble the jack and jacking tools. Connect the jack handle driver to the
extension, then to the lug wrench.

Assembled Jack And Tools
4. Placement for the front and rear jacking
locations are critical. See below images for
proper jacking locations.

Jack / Extensions Placement

Front Jacking Location
When changing a front wheel, place the
scissor jack under the rear portion of the
lower control arm as shown. Access the
front jacking location from behind the front
tire.
Front Lifting Point
Front Jacking Location

Rear Jacking Location
Operate the jack using the extension with
jack hook and the lug wrench. The exten -
sion tubes may be used but is not required.
CAUTION!
Do not attempt to raise the vehicle by jacking
on locations other than those indicated in the
Jacking Instructions for this vehicle.

21_DT_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 382

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY383
When changing a rear wheel, assemble the
extension with jack hook to the jack and
connect the extension tubes. Access the
rear jacking location from behind the rear
tire. Place the jack under the Jack Lifting
Point located on the rear axle lower control
arm bracket. Then locate the slot in the jack
lift plate onto the rear axle Jack Lifting Point.
Attach the extension with jack hook extend -
ing to the rear of the vehicle.

Rear Lifting Point Rear Jacking Location

Connect the long extensions to the lug
wrench.
5. By rotating the lug wrench clockwise, raise the vehicle until the wheel just clears the
ground surface. 6. Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheel off.
Install the spare wheel and lug nuts with the
cone shaped end of the lug nuts toward the
wheel. Hand tighten the lug nuts with the
vehicle lifted. To avoid the risk of forcing the
vehicle off the jack, do not fully tighten the
lug nuts until the vehicle has been
completely lowered.
7. Finish tightening the lug nuts. Push down on the wrench handle for increased leverage.
Tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern until
each lug nut has been tightened twice
Úpage 467. If in doubt about the correct
tightness, have them checked with a torque
wrench by an authorized dealer or at a
service station.
CAUTION!
Before raising the wheel off the ground, make
sure that the jack will not damage
surrounding truck parts and adjust the jack
position as required.
WARNING!
Raising the vehicle higher than necessary can
make the vehicle less stable. It could slip off
the jack and hurt someone near it. Raise the
vehicle only enough to remove the tire.
7

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