2021 RAM 1500 start stop button

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL133
Service Stop/Start System Warning Light —
If Equipped
This warning light will illuminate when
the Stop/Start system is not
functioning properly and service is
required. Contact an authorized
dealer for service.
Service 4WD Warning Light — If Equipped
This warning light will illuminate to
signal a fault with the 4WD system. If
the light stays on or comes on during
driving, it means that the 4WD system
is not functioning properly and that service is
required. We recommend you drive to the
nearest service center and have the vehicle
serviced immediately.
Cruise Control Fault Warning Light
This warning light will illuminate to
indicate the Cruise Control System is
not functioning properly and service is
required. Contact an authorized
dealer.
YELLOW INDICATOR LIGHTS
Forward Collision Warning Off Indicator
Light — If Equipped
This indicator light illuminates to
indicate that Forward Collision
Warning is off.
Air Suspension Payload Protection
Indicator Light — If Equipped
This indicator light will illuminate to
indicate that the maximum payload
may have been exceeded or load
leveling cannot be achieved at its
current ride height. Protection Mode will
automatically be selected to “protect” the air
suspension system, air suspension adjustment
is limited due to payload.
Trailer Merge Assist Indicator Light — If
Equipped
This indicator light will illuminate to
indicate when Trailer Merge Assist
has been activated Ú page 318.
TOW/HAUL Indicator Light
This indicator light will illuminate
when TOW/HAUL mode is selected.
Cargo Light — If Equipped
This indicator light will illuminate
when the cargo light is activated by
pushing the cargo light button on the
headlight switch.
Air Suspension Off-Road 1 Indicator Light
— If Equipped
This light will illuminate when the air
suspension system is set to the
Off-Road 1 setting Úpage 165.
Air Suspension Off-Road 2 Indicator Light
— If Equipped
This light will illuminate when the air
suspension system is set to the
Off-Road 2 setting Úpage 165.
3

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140 (Continued)
(Continued)
STARTING AND OPERATING
STARTING THE ENGINE
GASOLINE 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. DIESEL ENGINE
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat,
both inside and outside mirrors, and fasten your
seat belts.
The starter is allowed to crank for up to
25-second intervals. Waiting a few minutes
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 unat-
tended 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 a location accessible to chil-
dren, 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)WARNING!
Before exiting a vehicle, always come to a
complete stop, then shift the automatic
transmission into PARK and apply the
parking brake.
Always make sure the ENGINE START/STOP
button is in the OFF mode, key fob is
removed from the vehicle and vehicle is
locked.
Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Leaving
children 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.

21_DT_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 140

STARTING AND OPERATING143
ALWAYS DO A VISUAL CHECK that your vehicle
is in PARK by looking for the "P" in the
instrument cluster display and near the gear
selector. As an added precaution, always apply
the parking brake when exiting the vehicle.
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
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 compartment.
NORMAL STARTING USING ENGINE
START/S TOP B
UTTON — GASOLINE
E
NGINE
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 the ENGINE START/STOP button once.
3. The system starts the vehicle. If the vehicle
fails to start, the starter will disengage
automatically after 10 seconds.
4. If you wish to stop the cranking of the engine prior to the engine starting, push the
button again.
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. The ignition will return to the OFF
mode.

2. 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.
3. 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 Ú page 141.
ENGINE START/STOP Button Functions — With
Driver’s Foot OFF The Brake Pedal (In PARK Or
NEUTRAL Position)
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.
4

21_DT_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 143

144STARTING AND OPERATING
(Continued)
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.
If Engine Fails To Start
If the engine fails to start after you have
followed the “Normal Starting” procedure, it
may be flooded. Push the accelerator pedal all
the way to the floor and hold it there while the
engine is cranking. This should clear any excess
fuel in case the engine is flooded.
The starter motor will engage automatically, run
for 10 seconds, and then disengage. Once this
occurs, release the accelerator pedal and the
brake pedal, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat
the “Normal Starting” procedure.
If the engine has been flooded, it may start to
run, but not have enough power to continue
running when the ignition button/key is
released. If this occurs, continue cranking with
the accelerator pedal pushed all the way to the
floor. Release the accelerator pedal and the ignition button/key once the engine is running
smoothly.
If the engine shows no sign of starting after a
10 second period of engine cranking with the
accelerator pedal held to the floor, wait 10 to
15 seconds, then repeat the “Normal Starting”
procedure.NORMAL STARTING USING ENGINE
START/STOP B
UTTON — DIESEL
E
NGINE
Observe the instrument panel telltales when
starting the engine.
NOTE:
Normal starting of either a cold or a warm
engine is obtained without pumping or pressing
the accelerator pedal.
To Turn On The Engine Using The ENGINE
START/STOP Button

1. The transmission must be in PARK (P).

2. Press and hold the brake pedal while
pushing the ENGINE START/STOP button
once.
WARNING!
Never pour fuel or other flammable liquid
into the throttle body air inlet opening in an
attempt to start the vehicle. This could
result in flash fire causing serious personal
injury.
Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle
to get it started. Vehicles equipped with an
automatic transmission cannot be started
this way. Unburned fuel could enter the
catalytic converter and once the engine has
started, ignite and damage the converter
and vehicle.
If the vehicle has a discharged battery,
booster cables may be used to obtain a
start from a booster battery or the battery in
another vehicle. This type of start can be
dangerous if done improperly Úpage 386.
CAUTION!
To prevent damage to the starter, do not
crank the engine for more than 10 seconds at
a time. Wait 10 to 15 seconds before trying
again.
WARNING! (Continued)

21_DT_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 144

STARTING AND OPERATING145
NOTE:
A delay of the start, up to five seconds is
possible under very cold conditions. The "Wait
to Start" telltale will be illuminated during the
pre-heat process. When the engine “Wait To
Start” light goes off the engine will automati -
cally crank.
3. The system starts the vehicle. If the vehicle fails to start, the starter will disengage
automatically after 25 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. The ignition will return to the OFF
mode.

2. 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.
3. 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 Ú
page 141.
ENGINE START/STOP Button Functions — With
Driver’s Foot OFF The Brake Pedal (In PARK Or
NEUTRAL Position)
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.
CAUTION!
If the “Water in Fuel Indicator Light” remains
on, DO NOT START the engine before you
drain the water from the fuel filter to avoid
engine damage Ú page 412.4

21_DT_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 145

STARTING AND OPERATING159
During extremely cold temperatures (-22°F
[-30°C] or below), transmission operation may
be modified depending on engine and
transmission temperature as well as vehicle
speed. Normal operation will resume once the
transmission temperature has risen to a
suitable level.
Transmission Limp Home Mode
Transmission function is monitored
electronically for abnormal conditions. If a
condition is detected that could result in
transmission damage, Transmission Limp
Home Mode is activated. In this mode, the
transmission may operate only in certain gears,
or may not shift at all. Vehicle performance may
be severely degraded and the engine may stall.
In some situations, the transmission may not
re-engage if the engine is turned off and
restarted. The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
may be illuminated. A message in the
instrument cluster will inform the driver of the
more serious conditions, and indicate what
actions may be necessary. In the event of a momentary problem, the
transmission can be reset to regain all forward
gears by performing the following steps:
NOTE:
In cases where the instrument cluster message
indicates the transmission may not re-engage
after engine shutdown, perform this procedure
only in a desired location (preferably, at an
authorized dealer).

1. Stop the vehicle.

2. Shift the transmission into PARK, if
possible. If not, shift the transmission to
NEUTRAL.
3. Push and hold the ignition switch until the engine turns off.
4. Wait approximately 30 seconds.
5. Restart the engine.
6. Shift into the desired gear range. If the problem is no longer detected, the
transmission will return to normal
operation. NOTE:
Even if the transmission can be reset, we
recommend that you visit an authorized dealer
at your earliest possible convenience. An autho
-
rized dealer has diagnostic equipment to
assess the condition of your transmission. If the
transmission cannot be reset, an authorized
dealer service is required.Electronic Range Select (ERS) Operation
The Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift control
allows the driver to limit the highest available
gear when the transmission is in DRIVE and ERS
mode is not active. For example, if you set the
transmission gear limit to FOURTH gear, the
transmission will not shift above FOURTH gear
(except to prevent engine overspeed), but will
shift through the lower gears normally.
You can switch between DRIVE and ERS mode
at any vehicle speed. When the transmission
gear selector is in DRIVE, the transmission will
operate automatically, shifting between all
available gears. Tapping the - button (on the
steering wheel) 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 the - or + button will change
the top available gear.4

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162STARTING AND OPERATING
NOTE:
The 4WD High and 4WD Low positions are
designed for loose, slippery road surfaces
only. Driving in the 4WD High and 4WD Low
positions on dry, hard surfaced roads may
cause increased tire wear and damage to the
driveline components.
The transfer case N (Neutral) button is located
in the center of the 4WD Control Switch and is
pushed by using a ballpoint pen or similar
object. The transfer case N (Neutral) position
is to be used for recreational towing only
Úpage 231.
Transfer Case Position Indicator Lights
The Transfer Case Position Indicator Lights
(4WD High and 4WD Low) are located in the
instrument cluster and indicate the current and
desired transfer case selection. When you
select a different transfer case position, the
indicator lights will do the following:

1. The current position indicator light will turn off.

2. The selected position indicator light will flash until the transfer case completes the
shift. 3. When the shift is complete, the indicator
light for the selected position will stop
flashing and remain on.
If the transfer case does not shift into the
desired position, one or more of the following
events may occur:

1. The indicator light for the current position will remain on.

2. The newly selected position indicator light will continue to flash.
3. If the transfer case will not shift, a message
will appear on the cluster stating the 4WD
shift has canceled.
NOTE:
Before retrying a selection, make certain that all
the necessary requirements for selecting a new
transfer case position have been met. To retry
the selection, push the current position, wait
five seconds, and retry selection.
The “SVC 4WD Warning Light” monitors the
electronic shift four-wheel drive system. If this
light remains on after engine start up or
illuminates during driving, it means that the
four-wheel drive system is not functioning
properly and that service is required. NOTE:
Do not attempt to make a shift while only the
front or rear wheels are spinning. This could
cause damage to driveline components.
When operating your vehicle in 4WD Low, the
engine speed is approximately three times that
of the 2WD or 4WD High positions at a given
road speed. Take care not to overspeed the
engine and do not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h).
Proper operation of four-wheel drive vehicles
depends on tires of equal size, type and
circumference on each wheel. Any difference in
tire size can cause damage to the drivetrain.
Because four-wheel drive provides improved
traction, there is a tendency to exceed safe
turning and stopping speeds. Do not go faster
than road conditions permit.
WARNING!
Always engage the parking brake when
powering down the vehicle if the “SVC 4WD
Warning Light” is illuminated. Not engaging
the parking brake may allow the vehicle to roll
which may cause personal injury or death.

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164STARTING AND OPERATING
NOTE:
The 4WD High and 4WD Low positions are
designed for loose, slippery road surfaces
only. Driving in the 4WD High and 4WD Low positions on dry hard surfaced roads may
cause increased tire wear and damage to the
driveline components.
The transfer case N (Neutral) button is
located in the center of the 4WD Control
Switch and is pushed by using a ballpoint pen
or similar object. The transfer case N
(Neutral) position is to be used for recre
-
ational towing only Ú page 231.
Transfer Case Position Indicator Lights
The Transfer Case Position Indicator Lights
(4WD High, 4WD Low, and 4WD Auto) are
located in the instrument cluster and indicate
the current and desired transfer case selection.
When you select a different transfer case
position, the indicator lights will do the
following:

1. The current position indicator light will turn off.

2. The selected position indicator light will flash until the transfer case completes the
shift.
3. When the shift is complete, the indicator light for the selected position will stop
flashing and remain on. If the transfer case does not shift into the
desired position, one or more of the following
events may occur:

1. The indicator light for the current position
will remain on.

2. The newly selected position indicator light will continue to flash.
3. If the transfer case will not shift, there will
be a cluster message stating the 4WD shift
has canceled.
NOTE:
Before retrying a selection, make certain that all
the necessary requirements for selecting a new
transfer case position have been met. To retry
the selection, push the current position, wait
five seconds, and retry selection.
The “SVC 4WD Warning Light” monitors the
electronic shift four-wheel drive system. If this
light remains on after engine start up or
illuminates during driving, it means that the
four-wheel drive system is not functioning
properly and that service is required.
WARNING!
You or others could be injured or killed if
you leave the vehicle unattended with the
transfer case in the N (Neutral) position
without first fully engaging the parking
brake. The transfer case N (Neutral) posi -
tion disengages both the front and rear
drive shaft from the powertrain, and will
allow the vehicle to roll, even if the trans -
mission is in PARK. The parking brake
should always be applied when the driver is
not in the vehicle.
The transmission may not engage PARK if
the vehicle is moving. Always bring the
vehicle to a complete stop before shifting to
PARK, and verify that the transmission gear
position indicator solidly indicates PARK (P)
without blinking. Ensure that the vehicle is
completely stopped, and the PARK position
is properly indicated, before exiting the
vehicle.

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