2021 RAM 1500 instrument panel

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 10
2 GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE ..................................................................................17
3 GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL ..................................................... 104
4 STARTING AND OPERATING .............................................................................................. 140 5 MULTIMEDIA .............................................................................................................................. 236
6 SAFETY .........................................................................................................................................310 7 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY .................................................................................................... 373
8 SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE ...................................................................................... 395
9 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ............................................................................................ 467
10 CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE ..................................................................................................... 479 11 INDEX ............................................................................................................................................. 483

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4
SLIDE-IN CAMPERS .............................................97 Camper Applications ................................... 97
TRI-FOLD TONNEAU COVER — IF EQUIPPED .....97
Tonneau Cover Components....................... 97
Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover Folding For
Driving Or Removal ...................................... 98 Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover Installation ..........101
Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover Cleaning ..............103
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR
INSTRUMENT PANEL
BASE / MIDLINE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER —
GASOLINE ........................................................... 104
Base / Midline Instrument Cluster
Descriptions — Gasoline ............................105
PREMIUM INSTRUMENT CLUSTER —
GASOLINE ........................................................... 107
Premium Instrument Cluster
Descriptions — Gasoline ............................108
BASE / MIDLINE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER —
DIESEL ................................................................. 109
Base / Midline Instrument Cluster
Descriptions — Diesel ................................110
PREMIUM INSTRUMENT CLUSTER —
DIESEL ................................................................. 112
Premium Instrument Cluster
Descriptions — Diesel ...............................113 INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY..................... 114
Instrument Cluster Display Controls......... 114
Oil Life Reset .............................................. 115
Display Menu Items ................................... 116
Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)
Messages .................................................. 121 Displays ...................................................... 123
Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) Warning
Messages ................................................... 123 Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) Fault
Warning Messages .................................... 124 Battery Saver On/Battery Saver Mode
Message — Electrical Load Reduction
Actions — If Equipped ................................ 125
WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES ................126
Red Warning Lights ................................... 126
Yellow Warning Lights ............................... 129Yellow Indicator Lights .............................. 133
Green Indicator Lights ............................... 135White Indicator Lights ............................... 136Blue Indicator Lights.................................. 137
ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM — OBD II..... 137
Onboard Diagnostic System (OBD II)
Cybersecurity ............................................. 138
EMISSIONS INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS .............................138
STARTING AND OPERATING
STARTING THE ENGINE ..................................... 140
Automatic Transmission............................ 141AutoPark ..................................................... 141
Tip Start Feature ....................................... 143
Keyless Enter-N-Go — Ignition................... 143
Normal Starting Using ENGINE START/
STOP Button — Gasoline Engine .............. 143 Normal Starting Using ENGINE START/
STOP Button — Diesel Engine .................. 144 Cold Weather Operation (Below –22°F
Or −30°C) ................................................. 146 After Starting .............................................. 146Starting Fluids — Diesel Engine Only ........ 146
NORMAL OPERATION — DIESEL ENGINE ....... 146
Cold Weather Precautions ........................ 146
Engine Idling .............................................. 148Stopping The Engine ................................. 148
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF EQUIPPED ....... 150
ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS —
GASOLINE ENGINE ........................................... 150
ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS —
DIESEL ENGINE .................................................. 151
PARKING BRAKE ............................................... 151 Electric Park Brake (EPB) .......................... 151

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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE43
GET STARTED
The VR button is used to activate /deactivate
your Voice Recognition system.
Helpful hints for using Voice Recognition:
Reduce background noise. Wind noise and
passenger conversations are examples of
noise that may impact recognition.
Speak clearly at a normal pace and volume
while facing straight ahead.
Each time you give a Voice Command, first
push the VR button, wait until after the beep,
then say your Voice Command.
You can interrupt the help message or
system prompts by pushing the VR button
and saying a Voice Command from the
current category.
Uconnect Voice Command Buttons

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
© 2020 FCA US LLC. All rights reserved. Mopar
and Uconnect are registered trademarks and
Mopar Owner Connect is a trademark of FCA US
LLC. Android™ is a trademark of Google Inc.
SiriusXM® and all related marks and logos are
trademarks of SiriusXM® Radio Inc
Ú
page 482. For Uconnect system support, call
1-877-855-8400 (24 hours a day 7 days a
week) or visit DriveUconnect.com (US) or
DriveUconnect.ca (Canada).
DRIVER ADJUSTABLE PEDALS — IF
EQUIPPED
The adjustable pedals system is designed to
allow a greater range of driver comfort for
steering wheel tilt and seat position. This
feature allows the brake and accelerator pedals
to move toward or away from the driver to
provide improved position with the steering
wheel.
The adjustable pedal switch is located on the
instrument panel, below the headlight switch.
1 — Push To Start Or Answer A Phone Call And
Send Or Receive A Text
2 — Push The Voice Recognition Button To Begin
Radio, Media, Navigation, And Climate Functions
3 — Push The Hang-up Button To End A Call
2

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44GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

Adjustable Pedals Switch

The pedals can be adjusted with the ignition
placed in the OFF position.
The pedals cannot be adjusted when the
vehicle is in REVERSE or when the Cruise
Control system or Adaptive Cruise Control
system is on. The following messages will
appear in the instrument cluster display if the
pedals are attempted to be adjusted when
the system is locked out: “Adjustable Pedal
Disabled — Cruise Control Engaged” or
“Adjustable Pedal Disabled — Vehicle In
Reverse”.
NOTE:
Always adjust the pedals to a position that
allows full movement of the pedal.
Further small adjustments may be necessary
to find the best possible seat/pedal position.
For vehicles equipped with Driver Memory
Settings Úpage 32, you can use your key fob
or the memory switch on the driver’s door
trim panel to return the adjustable pedals to
pre-programmed positions.
MIRRORS
INSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR
Manual Mirror — If Equipped
The mirror head can be adjusted up, down, left,
and right. The mirror should be adjusted to
center on the view through the rear window.
Headlight glare from vehicles behind you can be
reduced by moving the small control under the
mirror to the night position (toward the rear of
the vehicle). The mirror should be adjusted
while set in the day position (toward the
windshield).

Adjusting Rearview Mirror

WARNING!
Do not adjust the pedals while the vehicle is
moving. You could lose control and have an
accident. Always adjust the pedals while the
vehicle is parked.
CAUTION!
Do not place any article under the adjustable
pedals or impede its ability to move, as it may
cause damage to the pedal controls. Pedal
travel may become limited if movement is
stopped by an obstruction in the adjustable
pedal's path.

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52GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
It may be helpful to unplug the device during the
cycling process to prevent possible overheating
of the garage door or gate motor.

1. Cycle the ignition to the ON/RUN position.

2. Place the hand-held transmitter 1 to
3 inches (3 to 8 cm) away from the
HomeLink button you wish to program while
keeping the HomeLink indicator light in
view.
3. Continue to press and hold the HomeLink button, while you press and release
(“cycle”) your hand-held transmitter every
two seconds until HomeLink has
successfully accepted the frequency signal.
The indicator light will flash slowly and then
rapidly when fully trained.
4. Watch for the HomeLink indicator to change flash rates. When it changes, it is
programmed. It may take up to 30 seconds
or longer in rare cases. The garage door
may open and close while you are
programming.
5. Press and hold the programmed HomeLink button and observe the indicator light. NOTE:
If the indicator light stays on constantly,
programming is complete and the garage
door/device should activate when the Home
-
Link button is pressed.
To program the two remaining HomeLink
buttons, repeat each step for each remaining
button. DO NOT erase the channels.
If you unplugged the garage door opener/
device for programming, plug it back in at this
time.
Reprogramming A Single HomeLink Button
(Canadian/Gate Operator)
To reprogram a channel that has been
previously trained, follow these steps:

1. Cycle the ignition to the ON/RUN position.

2. Press and hold the desired HomeLink button until the indicator light begins to
flash after 20 seconds. Do not release the
button.
3. Without releasing the button, proceed with “Canadian/Gate Operator Programming”
step 2 and follow all remaining steps
Úpage 482.
EXTERIOR LIGHTS
HEADLIGHT SWITCH
The headlight switch is located on the left side
of the instrument panel. This switch controls the
operation of the headlights, parking lights,
automatic headlights (if equipped), instrument
panel light dimming, cargo light/trailer spotter
lights (if equipped), and fog lights (if equipped).

Headlight Switch

1 — Rotate Headlight Control
2 — Ambient Light Dimmer Control
3 — Instrument Panel Dimmer Control
4 — Push Cargo Light Switch
5 — Push Fog Light Switch

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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE53
To turn on the headlights, rotate the headlight
switch clockwise. When the headlight switch is
on, the parking lights, taillights, license plate
light and instrument panel lights are also turned
on. To turn off the headlights, rotate the
headlight switch back to the O (off) position.
NOTE:
Your vehicle is equipped with plastic head -
light and fog light (if equipped) lenses that
are lighter and less susceptible to stone
breakage than glass lights. Plastic is not as
scratch resistant as glass and therefore
different lens cleaning procedures must be
followed.
To minimize the possibility of scratching the
lenses and reducing light output, avoid
wiping with a dry cloth. To remove road dirt,
wash with a mild soap solution followed by
rinsing.
MULTIFUNCTION LEVER
The multifunction lever is located on the left
side of the steering column.

Multifunction Lever

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRLS)
The Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) come on
whenever the engine is running, and the low
beams are not on. The lights will remain on until
the ignition is placed in the OFF or ACC position,
or the parking brake is engaged.
NOTE:
For vehicles sold in Canada, the Daytime
Running Lights will automatically deactivate
when the front fog lights are turned on.
If a turn signal is activated, the DRL lamp on
the same side of the vehicle will turn off for
the duration of the turn signal activation.
Once the turn signal is no longer active, the
DRL lamp will illuminate.
If allowed by law in the country in which the
vehicle was purchased, the Daytime Running
Lights can be turned on and off using the
Uconnect system Ú page 237.
HIGH/LOW BEAM SWITCH
Push the multifunction lever toward the
instrument panel to switch the headlights to
high beams. Pulling the multifunction lever
back will turn the low beams on.
AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAM HEADLAMP
C
ONTROL — IF EQUIPPED
The Automatic High Beam Headlamp Control
system provides increased forward lighting at
night by automating high beam control through
the use of a camera mounted on the inside
rearview mirror or a windshield mounted
camera. These cameras detect vehicle specific
light and automatically switch from high beams
to low beams until the approaching vehicle is
out of view.
CAUTION!
Do not use abrasive cleaning components,
solvents, steel wool or other abrasive
materials to clean the lenses.
2

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54GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
NOTE:
The Automatic High Beam Headlamp Control
can be turned on or off by selecting “ON”
under “Auto Dim High Beams” within your
Uconnect Settings Úpage 237, as well as
turning the headlight switch to the AUTO posi -
tion.
Broken, muddy, or obstructed headlights and
taillights of vehicles in the field of view will
cause headlights to remain on longer (closer
to the vehicle). Also, dirt, film, and other
obstructions on the windshield or camera
lens will cause the system to function improp -
erly.
If the windshield or Automatic High Beam
Headlamp Control mirror is replaced, the
mirror must be re-aimed to ensure proper
performance. See a local authorized dealer.
To opt out of the Advanced Auto High Beam
Sensitivity Control (default) and enter
Reduced High Beam Sensitivity Control (not
recommended), toggle the high beam lever
6 full on/off cycles within 10 seconds of
placing the ignition in the ON position. The
system will return to the default setting upon
placing the ignition in the OFF position.
FLASH-TO-PASS
You can signal another vehicle with your
headlights by lightly pulling the multifunction
lever toward you. This will cause the high beam
headlights to turn on, and remain on, until the
lever is released.
AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS — IF EQUIPPED
This system automatically turns the headlights
on or off according to ambient light levels. To
turn the system on, rotate the headlight switch
to the AUTO position.
When the system is on, the Headlight Delay
feature is also on. This means the headlights
will stay on for up to 90 seconds after you place
the ignition into the OFF position. To turn the
automatic headlights off, turn the headlight
switch out of the AUTO position.
NOTE:
The engine must be running before the head -
lights will turn on in the Automatic Mode.
PARKING LIGHTS AND PANEL LIGHTS
To turn on the parking lights and instrument
panel lights, rotate the headlight switch
clockwise. To turn off the parking lights, rotate
the headlight switch back to the O (off) position.
AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS WITH WIPERS
If your vehicle is equipped with Automatic
Headlights, it also has this
customer-programmable feature. When your
headlights are in the automatic mode and the
engine is running, they will automatically turn
on when the wiper system is on. This feature is
programmable through the Uconnect system
Ú page 237.
If your vehicle is equipped with the Rain Sensing
Wiper system Ú page 59, and it is activated,
the headlights will automatically turn on after
the wipers complete five wipe cycles within
approximately one minute, and they will turn off
approximately four minutes after the wipers
completely stop.
NOTE:
When your headlights come on during the
daytime, the instrument panel lights will auto -
matically dim to the lower nighttime intensity.

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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE57
BATTERY SAVER
Timers are set to both the interior and exterior
lights to protect the life of your vehicle’s battery.
After 10 minutes, if the ignition is OFF and any
door is left open or the dimmer control is
rotated all the way up to the dome light on
position, the interior lights will automatically
turn off.
NOTE:
Battery saver mode is canceled if the ignition is
ON.
If the headlights remain on while the ignition is
placed in the OFF position, the exterior lights will
automatically turn off after eight minutes. If the
headlights are turned on and left on for eight
minutes while the ignition is OFF, the exterior
lights will automatically turn off.
INTERIOR LIGHTS
COURTESY LIGHTS
Courtesy and dome lights are turned on when the
doors are opened or the Dome ON button is
pushed on the overhead console. If your vehicle
is equipped with Remote Keyless Entry and the
unlock button is pushed on the key fob, the courtesy and dome lights will turn on. When a
door is open and the interior lights are on, and
the Dome Defeat button on the overhead
console is pressed, the interior lights will turn off.
Front Map/Reading Lights
The overhead console lights can also be
operated individually as reading lights by
pushing the corresponding buttons.

Front Courtesy/Reading Lights

Three types of rear courtesy/reading lights are
available for your vehicle.
Push button on/off
Push lens on/off
Push round puck lens on/off (if equipped
with Dual Pane Sunroof)
NOTE:
The courtesy/reading lights will remain on until
the switch is pushed a second time, so be sure
they have been turned off before exiting the
vehicle. If the interior lights are left on after the
ignition is turned off, they will automatically turn
off after 10 minutes.
Dimmer Control
The dimmer controls are inboard and adjacent
to the headlight switch located on the left side
of the instrument panel.

Dimmer Controls

1 — Reading Light On/Off Buttons
2 — Dome Defeat Button
3 — Dome ON Button
1 — Ambient Light Control
2 — Instrument Panel Dimmer Control
2

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