2023 RAM 1500 wiring

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE77
5. Remove the connector bracket from the sill by
pushing inward in the locking tab.

Connector Bracket Location
Locking Tab

6. Disconnect the wiring harness by pushing on the two release tabs, ensuring the connector bracket does
not fall into the sill.

Connected Wiring Harness
Disconnected Body Side Harness

7. Connect the body side plug (provided in the glove compartment) to the body side wiring harness and
insert the bracket back into the sill.

Body Side Plug (One Piece)

8. Connect the tailgate plugs (provided in the glove compartment) to the tailgate wiring harness to
ensure that the terminals do not corrode.

Tailgate Plugs (Two Pieces)

1 — First Release Tab
2 — Second Release Tab
1 — Large Plug
2 — Small Plug
2

23_DT_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 77

STARTING AND OPERATING177
Consider the following items when computing the weight
on the rear axle of the vehicle:
The tongue weight of the trailer.
 The weight of any other type of cargo or equipment put
in or on your vehicle.
 The weight of the driver and all passengers.
NOTE:Remember that everything put into or on the trailer adds
to the load on your vehicle. Also, additional
factory-installed options or dealer-installed options must
be considered as part of the total load on your vehicle.
Refer to the Tire And Loading Information Placard for the
maximum combined weight of occupants and cargo for
your vehicle.
TRAILER REVERSE STEERING
C
ONTROL — IF EQUIPPED
Feature Overview
Trailer Reverse Steering Control (TRSC) is a feature that
will assist the driver when backing up a trailer. By turning
the knob located on the center stack, you can more
accurately control the direction the trailer will go. The driver controls the accelerator and the brake while
steering with the use of the Trailer Reverse Steering
Control knob. The trailer is steered according to the
direction the knob is turned.
This feature will also allow the driver to back up a vehicle
and trailer in a straight line when the knob is rested in its
center position.
Minimal setup is required to use this feature.
Set Up:
To use the system, hitch your trailer to the truck and
ensure all electrical wiring is connected
Úpage 182.
The system will automatically calibrate an attached trailer
during normal forward driving with no additional action
needed from the driver. If the vehicle has not had enough
time to automatically calibrate after connecting a trailer,
you will see a “Calibrate Trailer” message in the
instrument cluster when pressing the TRSC button to
activate the system. If this is the case, perform the
following maneuver to calibrate the trailer:
Drive forward at least 100 ft (30 m), perform a 90 degree
turn and return to a straight position for at least another
100 ft (30 m). Perform another 90 degree turn, followed
by another straight drive of at least 100 ft (30 m). Check
that the system has calibrated by pushing the TRSC
button.
NOTE:The 90 degree turns could be in either the left or right
direction.

Trailer Reverse Steering Control Calibration

1 — Straight 100 ft (30 m) 2 — Intersection turn with radius 50-65 ft (15-20 m) in
either direction
3 — Straight 100 ft (30 m)4 — Intersection turn with radius 50-65 ft (15-20 m) in
either direction
5 — Straight 100 ft (30 m)6 — Straight 100 ft (30 m), making sure to align vehicle/trailer to path center line
7 — Feature is active, turn knob left or right to back the
trailer up
4

23_DT_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 177

STARTING AND OPERATING181
Trailer Brake Status Indicator Light
This light indicates the trailer electrical connection status.
If no electrical connection is detected after the ignition is
turned on, pushing the GAIN adjustment button or sliding
the manual brake control lever will display the GAIN
setting for 10 seconds and the Trailer Brake Status
Indicator Light will not be displayed.
If a fault is detected in the trailer wiring or the Integrated
Trailer Brake Module (ITBM), the Trailer Brake Status
Indicator Light will flash.
Adjusting GAIN
NOTE:This should only be performed in a traffic free environment
at speeds of approximately 20–25 mph (30–40 km/h).
1. Make sure the trailer brakes are in good working
condition, functioning normally and properly
adjusted. See your trailer dealer if necessary.

2. Hook up the trailer and make the electrical connections according to the trailer manufacturer's
instructions.
3. When a trailer is plugged in with electric or EOH brakes, the trailer connected message should appear
in the instrument cluster display (if the connection is
not recognized by the ITBM, braking functions will not
be available), the GAIN setting will illuminate and the
correct type of trailer must be selected from the
instrument cluster display options.
4. Push the UP or DOWN button on the steering wheel until “TRAILER TOW” appears on the screen.
5. Push the RIGHT arrow on the steering wheel to enter “TRAILER TOW”. 6. Push the UP or DOWN buttons until the Trailer Brake
Type appears on the screen.
7. Push the RIGHT arrow and then push the UP or DOWN buttons until the proper Trailer Brake Type appears
on the screen.
8. In a traffic-free environment, tow the trailer on a dry, level surface at a speed of 20–25 mph
(30–40 km/h) and squeeze the manual brake
control lever completely.
9. If the trailer wheels lockup (indicated by squealing tires), reduce the GAIN setting; if the trailer wheels
turn freely, increase the GAIN setting.
Repeat steps 8 and 9 until the GAIN setting is at a point
just below trailer wheel lockup. If towing a heavier trailer,
trailer wheel lockup may not be attainable even with the
maximum GAIN setting of 10.
*The suggested selection may change depending on the
customer preferences for braking performance. Condition
of the trailer brakes, driving and road state may also affect
the selection.
Light Electric Heavy Electric Light EOHHeavy EOH
Type of Trailer Brakes Electric Trailer BrakesElectric Trailer BrakesElectric Over Hydraulic Trailer
BrakesElectric Over Hydraulic Trailer
Brakes
Load *Under 10,000 lb*Above 10,000 lb*Under 10,000 lb*Above 10,000 lb
4

23_DT_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 181

182STARTING AND OPERATING
Display Messages
The trailer brake control interacts with the instrument
cluster display. Display messages, along with a single
chime, will be displayed when a malfunction is determined
in the trailer connection, trailer brake control, or on the
trailer
Úpage 98.
NOTE:
An aftermarket controller may be available for use with
trailers with air or EOH trailer brake systems. To deter -
mine the type of brakes on your trailer and the avail -
ability of controllers, check with your trailer
manufacturer or dealer.
 Removal of the ITBM will cause errors and it may cause
damage to the electrical system and electronic
modules of the vehicle. See an authorized dealer if an
aftermarket module is to be installed.
Towing Requirements — Trailer Lights
And Wiring
Whenever you pull a trailer, regardless of the trailer size,
stop lights and turn signals on the trailer are required for
motoring safety.
The Trailer Tow Package may include a four-pin and
seven-pin wiring harness. Use a factory approved trailer
harness and connector.
NOTE:Do not cut or splice wiring into the vehicle’s wiring
harness. The electrical connections are all complete to the vehicle
but you must connect the harness to a trailer connector.
Refer to the following illustrations.
NOTE:

Disconnect the trailer wiring connector from the vehicle
(or any other device plugged into vehicle’s electrical
connectors) before launching a boat into water.
 Be sure to reconnect once clear from water area.

Four-Pin Connector

WARNING!
Connecting a trailer that is not compatible with the
ITBM system may result in reduced or complete loss of
trailer braking. There may be a increase in stopping
distance or trailer instability which could result in
personal injury.
CAUTION!
Connecting a trailer that is not compatible with the
ITBM system may result in reduced or complete loss of
trailer braking. There may be a increase in stopping
distance or trailer instability which could result in
damage to your vehicle, trailer, or other property.
1 — Ground
2 — Park
3 — Left Stop/Turn
4 — Right Stop/Turn

23_DT_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 182

288SAFETY
In Automatic Locking Mode, the shoulder belt is
automatically pre-locked. The seat belt will still retract to
remove any slack in the shoulder belt. Use the Automatic
Locking Mode anytime a child restraint is installed in a
seating position that has a seat belt with this feature.
Children 12 years old and under should always be properly
restrained in the rear seat of a vehicle with a rear seat.
How To Engage The Automatic Locking Mode

1. Buckle the combination lap and shoulder belt.

2. Grab the shoulder portion and pull downward until
the entire seat belt is extracted.
3. Allow the seat belt to retract. As the seat belt retracts, you will hear a clicking sound. This indicates the seat
belt is now in the Automatic Locking Mode. How To Disengage The Automatic Locking Mode
Unbuckle the combination lap/shoulder belt and allow it
to retract completely to disengage the Automatic Locking
Mode and activate the vehicle sensitive (emergency)
locking mode.
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
(SRS)
Some of the safety features described in this section may
be standard equipment on some models, or may be
optional equipment on others. If you are not sure, ask an
authorized dealer. The air bag system must be ready to protect you in a
collision. The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
monitors the internal circuits and interconnecting wiring
associated with the electrical Air Bag System
Components. Your vehicle may be equipped with the
following Air Bag System Components:
Air Bag System Components

Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
 Air Bag Warning Light
 Steering Wheel and Column
 Instrument Panel
 Knee Impact Bolsters
 Driver and Front Passenger Air Bags
 Seat Belt Buckle Switch
 Supplemental Side Air Bags
 Front and Side Impact Sensors
 Seat Belt Pretensioners
 Seat Track Position Sensors
 Occupant Classification System
Air Bag Warning Light
The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
monitors the readiness of the electronic parts
of the air bag system whenever the ignition
switch is in the START or ON/RUN position.
If the ignition switch is in the OFF position or in the ACC
position, the air bag system is not on and the air bags will
not inflate.
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.
 Never install a rear-facing child restraint in the front
seat of a vehicle. Only use a rear-facing child
restraint in the rear seat. If the vehicle does not have
a rear seat, do not transport a rear-facing child
restraint in that vehicle.
WARNING!
The seat belt assembly must be replaced if the
switchable Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)
feature or any other seat belt function is not working
properly when checked according to the procedures
in the Service Manual.
 Failure to replace the seat belt assembly could
increase the risk of injury in collisions.
 Do not use the Automatic Locking Mode to restrain
occupants who are wearing the seat belt or children
who are using booster seats. The locked mode is only
used to install rear-facing or forward-facing child
restraints that have a harness for restraining the
child.

23_DT_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 288

296SAFETY
The Side Air Bags will not deploy in all side collisions,
including some collisions at certain angles, or some side
collisions that do not impact the area of the passenger
compartment. The Side Air Bags may deploy during angled
or offset frontal collisions where the front air bags deploy.
Side Air Bags are a supplement to the seat belt restraint
system. Side Air Bags deploy in less time than it takes to
blink your eyes.
NOTE:Air bag covers may not be obvious in the interior trim, but
they will open during air bag deployment.
Rollover Events
Side Air Bags and seat belt pretensioners are designed to
activate in certain rollover events. The Occupant Restraint
Controller (ORC) determines whether deployment in a
particular rollover event is appropriate, based on the
severity and type of collision. Vehicle damage by itself is
not a good indicator of whether or not Side Air Bags and
seat belt pretensioners should have deployed.
The Side Air Bags and seat belt pretensioners will not
deploy in all rollover events. The rollover sensing system
determines if a rollover event may be in progress and
whether deployment is appropriate. In the event the vehicle experiences a rollover or near
rollover event, and deployment is appropriate, the rollover
sensing system will deploy the side air bags and seat belt
pretensioners on both sides of the vehicle.
The SABICs may help reduce the risk of partial or complete
ejection of vehicle occupants through side windows in
certain rollover or side impact events.
Air Bag System Components
NOTE:The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) monitors the
internal circuits and interconnecting wiring associated
with electrical Air Bag System Components listed below:

Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
 Air Bag Warning Light
 Steering Wheel and Column
 Instrument Panel
 Knee Impact Bolsters
 Driver and Front Passenger Air Bags
 Seat Belt Buckle Switch
 Supplemental Side Air Bags
 Front and Side Impact Sensors
 Seat Belt Pretensioners
 Seat Track Position Sensors
 Occupant Classification SystemWARNING!
Occupants, including children, who are up against or
very close to Side Air Bags can be seriously injured or
killed. Occupants, including children, should never
lean on or sleep against the door, side windows, or
area where the side air bags inflate, even if they are
in an infant or child restraint.
 Seat belts (and child restraints where appropriate)
are necessary for your protection in all collisions.
They also help keep you in position, away from an
inflating Side Air Bag. To get the best protection from
the Side Air Bags, occupants must wear their seat
belts properly and sit upright with their backs against
the seats. Children must be properly restrained in a
child restraint or booster seat that is appropriate for
the size of the child.
WARNING!
Side Air Bags need room to inflate. Do not lean
against the door or window. Sit upright in the center
of the seat.
 Being too close to the Side Air Bags during deploy -
ment could cause you to be severely injured or killed.
 Relying on the Side Air Bags alone could lead to more
severe injuries in a collision. The Side Air Bags work
with your seat belt to restrain you properly. In some
collisions, Side Air Bags won’t deploy at all. Always
wear your seat belt even though you have Side
Air Bags.

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298SAFETY
(Continued)
Enhanced Accident Response System
Reset Procedure
In order to reset the Enhanced Accident Response System
functions after an event, the ignition switch must be
changed from ignition START or ON/RUN to ignition OFF.
Carefully check the vehicle for fuel leaks in the engine
compartment and on the ground near the engine
compartment and fuel tank before resetting the system
and starting the engine. After an accident, if the vehicle
will not start after performing the reset procedure, the
vehicle must be towed to an authorized dealer to be
inspected and to have the Enhanced Accident Response
System reset.
Maintaining Your Air Bag System
Event Data Recorder (EDR)
This vehicle is equipped with an event data recorder
(EDR). The main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain
crash or near crash-like situations, such as an air bag
deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data that will assist
in understanding how a vehicle’s systems performed. The
EDR is designed to record data related to vehicle
dynamics and safety systems for a short period of time,
typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in this vehicle is
designed to record such data as:
How various systems in your vehicle were operating;
 Whether or not the driver and passenger safety belts
were buckled/fastened;
 How far (if at all) the driver was depressing the acceler -
ator and/or brake pedal; and,
 How fast the vehicle was traveling. These data can help provide a better understanding of the
circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur.
NOTE:EDR data are recorded by your vehicle only if a non-trivial
crash situation occurs; no data are recorded by the EDR
under normal driving conditions and no personal data
(e.g., name, gender, age, and crash location) are recorded.
However, other parties, such as law enforcement, could
combine the EDR data with the type of personally identi
-
fying data routinely acquired during a crash investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR, special equipment is
required, and access to the vehicle or the EDR is needed.
In addition to the vehicle manufacturer, other parties,
such as law enforcement, that have the special
equipment, can read the information if they have access
to the vehicle or the EDR.
CHILD RESTRAINTS
Everyone in your vehicle needs to be buckled up at all
times, including babies and children. Every state in the
United States, and every Canadian province, requires that
small children ride in proper restraint systems. This is the
law, and you can be prosecuted for ignoring it.
Children 12 years or younger should ride properly buckled
up in a rear seat, if available. According to crash statistics,
children are safer when properly restrained in the rear
seats rather than in the front.
WARNING!
 Modifications to any part of the air bag system could
cause it to fail when you need it. You could be injured
if the air bag system is not there to protect you. Do
not modify the components or wiring, including
adding any kind of badges or stickers to the steering
wheel hub trim cover or the upper passenger side of
the instrument panel. Do not modify the front fascia/
bumper, vehicle body structure, or add aftermarket
side steps or running boards.
 It is dangerous to try to repair any part of the air bag
system yourself. Be sure to tell anyone who works on
your vehicle that it has an air bag system.
Do not attempt to modify any part of your air bag
system. The air bag may inflate accidentally or may
not function properly if modifications are made. Take
your vehicle to an authorized dealer for any air bag
system service. If your seat, including your trim cover
and cushion, needs to be serviced in any way
(including removal or loosening/tightening of seat
attachment bolts), take the vehicle to an authorized
dealer. Only manufacturer approved seat accesso -
ries may be used. If it is necessary to modify the air
bag system for persons with disabilities, contact an
authorized dealer.
WARNING!

23_DT_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 298

366SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
Replacing Exterior Bulbs
BASE QUAD: LOW BEAM HEADLAMP, HIGH
BEAM HEADLAMP, FRONT PARK AND TURN —
IF EQUIPPED
Low Beam
See the following steps to replace:

1. Open the hood.

2. Disconnect and isolate the negative battery cable.
3. Locate the low beam access cover, which can be
found on the back side of the headlamps.

Low Beam Headlight Cover
NOTE:
It may be necessary to remove/reposition Air Cleaner
Assembly to access passenger side headlamp/side
marker light bulbs.
4. Disengage the bulb access cover by rotating counter
-
clockwise.
5. Disconnect the internal lamp wiring harness connector from the low beam bulb.
Front Fog Lamps
LED
Side Indicators (Front And Side View Mirror – If Equipped) LED
Base Rear Tail/Turn and Stop Lamp 7440LL/W21WLL
Premium Rear Tail/Turn/Backup and Stop Lamp LED
Base Backup Lamp 7440/W21W
Center High Mounted Stop Lamp (CHMSL) 921
Cargo Lamp 921
Rear License Plate Lamp LED
Base Turn Lamp 7440NA / WY21W
Exterior Bulbs
Bulb Name Bulb Number

23_DT_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 366