2021 RAM CHASSIS CAB automatic transmission

110GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
Door Open Warning Light
This indicator will illuminate when a
door is ajar/open and not fully closed.
NOTE:
If the vehicle is moving there will also be a single
chime.
YELLOW WARNING LIGHTS
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Fault
Warning Light — If Equipped
This warning light will illuminate to
indicate a fault in the ACC system.
Contact a local authorized dealer for
service Ú page 166.
Engine Check/Malfunction Indicator
Warning Light (MIL)
The Engine Check/Malfunction
Indicator Light (MIL) is a part of an
Onboard Diagnostic System called
OBD II that monitors engine and
automatic transmission control systems. This
warning light will illuminate when the ignition
is in the ON/RUN position before engine start.
If the bulb does not come on when turning the
ignition switch from OFF to ON/RUN, have the
condition checked promptly.
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.
CAUTION!
Continuous driving with the Transmission
Temperature Warning Light illuminated will
eventually cause severe transmission
damage or transmission failure.
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.

21_DPF_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 110

118 (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.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Start the engine with the transmission in the
PARK position. Apply the brake before shifting
into any driving range. NOTE:
This vehicle is equipped with a transmission
shift interlocking system. The brake pedal
must be pressed to shift out of PARK.
If equipped with an eight-speed transmis
-
sion, starting the vehicle in NEUTRAL is not
possible unless the Manual Park Release has
been activated. For the Manual Park Release
operation information Ú page 348.
TIP START FEATURE
Do not press the accelerator. Place 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.
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 chil -
dren 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 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)

21_DPF_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 118

STARTING AND OPERATING119
NORMAL STARTING USING ENGINE
START/S TOP B
UTTON
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 takes over and attempts to start 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
ENGINE START/STOP 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 Ú
page 120.
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.
4

21_DPF_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 119

120STARTING AND OPERATING
(Continued)
AUTOPARK — ROTARY SHIFTER AND
E
IGHT 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. 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 eight speed transmission
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 igni -
tion 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 AutoPark.
AutoPark will engage when all of these
conditions are met:
Vehicle is equipped with a rotary shifter and
an eight 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 pressed
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.
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" indi -
cator 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.
WARNING! (Continued)

21_DPF_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 120

STARTING AND OPERATING121
If the driver shifts into PARK while moving, the
vehicle may AutoPark.
AutoPark will engage ONLY when 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).
4WD Low — If Equipped
AutoPark will be disabled when operating the
vehicle in 4WD LOW.
The message “ AutoPark Disabled ” will be
displayed in the instrument cluster. Additional customer warnings will be given
when all of these conditions are met:
Vehicle is not in PARK
Driver’s door is ajar
Vehicle is in 4WD Low range
The message “ AutoPark Not Engaged ” will be
displayed in the instrument cluster. A warning
chime will continue until you shift the vehicle
into PARK or the driver’s door is closed.
ALWAYS DO A VISUAL CHECK
that your vehicle
is in PARK by looking for the “P” in the
instrument cluster display and near the shifter.
As an added precaution, always apply the
parking brake when exiting the vehicle.
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.
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/h). A vehicle left in the NEUTRAL
position can roll. As an added precaution,
always apply the parking brake when exiting
the vehicle.
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 345.
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STARTING AND OPERATING123
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Start the engine with the transmission in the
NEUTRAL or PARK position. Apply the brake
before shifting to any driving range.
Tip Start Feature
Do not press the accelerator. Place 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 The ENGINE START/STOP Button

1. The transmission must be in PARK or NEUTRAL.

2. Press and hold the brake pedal while pushing the ENGINE 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 automatically after
25 seconds.
4. If you wish to stop the cranking of the engine prior to the engine starting, remove
your foot from the brake pedal and push the
ENGINE START/STOP button again.
NOTE:
Normal starting of either a cold or a warm
engine is obtained without pumping or
pressing the accelerator pedal.
Under cold weather conditions, the engine
may not immediately crank if the "Wait to
Start" telltale is illuminated. This is normal
operation. For vehicles equipped with
Keyless Enter-N-Go, the vehicle will automat -
ically crank when the "Wait to Start" time has
elapsed Ú page 126.
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 and the
ENGINE START/STOP button is pushed once,
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.

4. If the gear selector is in NEUTRAL, and the vehicle speed below 5 mph (8 km/h),
pushing the ENGINE START/STOP button
once will turn the engine off. The ignition will
remain in the ACC mode.

5. If the vehicle speed is above 5 mph (8 km/h), the ENGINE START/STOP button must be
held for two seconds (or three short pushes
in a row) to turn the engine off. The ignition
will remain in the ACC mode (NOT the OFF
mode) if the engine is turned off when the
transmission is not in PARK.

NOTE:
If the ignition is left in the ACC or ON/RUN
(engine not running) mode and the transmis -
sion is in PARK, the system will automatically
time out after 30 minutes of inactivity and the
ignition return to the OFF mode.
4

21_DPF_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 123

STARTING AND OPERATING125
NOTE:
Engine idle speed will automatically increase
to 1,000 RPM and engage the Variable
Geometry Turbocharger at low coolant
temperatures to improve engine warm-up.
The engine will not automatically crank after
the engine "Wait to Start" telltale goes off if a
door or the hood is ajar.

If the engine stalls, or if the ignition switch is
left ON for more than two minutes after the
“Wait to Start” telltale goes out, reset the
intake air heater by turning the ignition switch
to the OFF position for at least 5 seconds and
then back ON. Repeat steps 1 through 6 of
“Keyless Enter-N-Go Starting Procedure –
Engine Manifold Air Temperature 0°F To 66°F
(–18°C to 19°C).”

EXTREME COLD WEATHER
The Cummins Turbo Diesel engine is equipped
with several features designed to assist cold
weather starting and operation:

The engine block heater is a resistance heater
installed in the water jacket of the engine just
above and behind the oil filter. It requires a 110–115 Volt AC electrical outlet
with a grounded, three-wire extension cord.

NOTE:
The engine block heater cord is a factory
installed option. If your vehicle is not equipped,
heater cords are available from an authorized
Mopar dealer.
A 12 Volt heater built into the fuel filter hous -
ings aid in preventing fuel gelling. It is
controlled by a built-in thermostat.
An intake air heater system both improves
engine starting and reduces the amount of
white smoke generated by a warming engine.
NORMAL STARTING PROCEDURE —
E
NGINE MANIFOLD AIR TEMPERATURE
A
BOVE 66°F (19°C)
Observe the instrument panel cluster lights
when starting the engine.

1. Always apply the parking brake.

2. Shift into PARK for an automatic
transmission. 3. Place the ignition switch in the ON position
and watch the instrument panel cluster
lights.
4. Place the ignition switch in the START position and crank the engine. Do not press
the accelerator during starting.
5. Check that the oil pressure warning light has turned off.
6. Release the parking brake.
CAUTION!
If the “Water in Fuel Indicator Light” remains
on, DO NOT START the engine before you
drain the water from the fuel filters to avoid
engine damage Ú page 375.
CAUTION!

Do not crank engine for more than 25 seconds
at a time or starter motor damage may result.
Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position and
wait at least two minutes for the starter to cool
before repeating start procedure.

4

21_DPF_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 125

130STARTING AND OPERATING
NOTE:
Use of Climatized ULSD or Number 1 ULSD
Fuel results in a noticeable decrease in fuel
economy.

Climatized ULSD Fuel is a blend of Number 2
ULSD and Number 1 ULSD Fuels which
reduces the temperature at which wax crystals
form in fuel.

The fuel grade should be clearly marked on
the pump at the fuel station.
The engine requires the use of “ULSD Fuel”.
Use of incorrect fuel could result in engine
and exhaust system damage Ú page 433.
If climatized or diesel Number 1 ULSD Fuel is
not available, and you are operating below
(20°F/-6°C), in sustained arctic conditions,
Mopar Premium Diesel Fuel Treatment
(or equivalent) is recommended to avoid
gelling (see Fuel Operating Range Chart).
Under some circumstances increased engine
noise may be audible in the seconds
following a cold start. This is most likely to
occur when using fuel that isn't blended for
the ambient temperature present. This may
occur on an unseasonably cold day or when a truck is fueled in a warmer climate and driven
to a colder climate. The noise can typically be
prevented by using Mopar Premium Diesel
Fuel Treatment as recommended (see Fuel
Operating Range Chart).
Engine Oil Usage
For the correct engine oil viscosity
Úpage 367.
Winter Front Cover Usage

A Winter front or cold weather cover is to be used
in ambient temperatures below 32°F (0°C),
especially during extended idle conditions.
This cover is equipped with four flaps for
managing total grille opening in varying ambient
temperatures. If a Winter front or cold weather
cover is to be used the flaps should be left in
the full open position to allow air flow to the
charge air cooler and automatic transmission
oil cooler. When ambient temperatures drop
below 0°F (-17°C) the four flaps need to be
closed. A suitable cold weather cover is available
from a Mopar dealer.

Battery Blanket Usage
A battery loses 60% of its cranking power as the
battery temperature decreases to 0°F (-18°C).
For the same decrease in temperature, the
engine requires twice as much power to crank
at the same RPM. The use of 120 Volts AC
powered battery blankets will greatly increase
starting capability at low temperatures. Suitable
battery blankets are available from an
authorized Mopar dealer.
Engine Warm-Up
Avoid full throttle operation when the engine is
cold. When starting a cold engine, bring the
engine up to operating speed slowly to allow the
oil pressure to stabilize as the engine warms up.
NOTE:
High-speed, no-load running of a cold engine
can result in excessive white smoke and poor
engine performance. No-load engine speeds
should be kept under 1,000 RPM during the
warm-up period, especially in cold ambient
temperature conditions.

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