2023 RAM PROMASTER spare wheel

5
SAFETY TIPS ........................................................ 189 Transporting Passengers .............................. 189Transporting Pets ......................................... 190
Connected Vehicles....................................... 190
Safety Checks You Should Make Inside The
Vehicle ........................................................... 190Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make
Outside The Vehicle ...................................... 191Exhaust Gas ................................................... 192Carbon Monoxide Warnings ......................... 192
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS ......................... 193
SOS AND ASSIST SYSTEM ................................. 193
JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING.......................... 196
Preparations For Jacking .............................. 197Jack And Tools Location................................ 197
Spare Tire Removal ....................................... 198
Jacking Instructions ...................................... 200Wheel Covers ................................................. 203
TIRE SERVICE KIT — IF EQUIPPED ..................... 203
Alternate Tire Service Kit —
If Equipped..................................................... 209
Tire Service Kit Components And
Operation ....................................................... 209
Tire Service Kit Usage Precautions .............. 210
Sealing A Tire With Tire Service Kit .............. 211 JUMP STARTING .................................................. 214
Preparations For Jump Start ........................ 214
Jump Starting Procedure .............................. 215Battery Location ............................................ 216
IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS .......................... 216
GEAR SELECTOR OVERRIDE ............................. 217
FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE .............................. 218
TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE ......................... 219 Automatic Transmission ............................... 220
ENHANCED ACCIDENT RESPONSE
SYSTEM (EARS) ................................................... 220
EVENT DATA RECORDER (EDR) ........................ 220SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
SCHEDULED SERVICING ................................... 221
Maintenance Plan ......................................... 222
ENGINE COMPARTMENT .................................... 225
3.6L Engine .................................................. 225
Checking Oil Level ......................................... 226
Adding Washer Fluid ..................................... 226
Maintenance-Free Battery ........................... 227Pressure Washing ......................................... 227
VEHICLE MAINTENANCE..................................... 227
Engine Oil ....................................................... 228
Engine Oil Filter ............................................ 228
Engine Air Cleaner Filter .............................. 228Air Conditioner Maintenance ....................... 229 Body Lubrication ........................................... 231
Windshield Wiper Blades ............................. 231
Exhaust System ............................................ 232
Cooling System.............................................. 233
Brake System ............................................... 235Automatic Transmission ............................... 236
Fuses.............................................................. 236
Bulb Replacement ....................................... 244
TIRES .................................................................... 249
Tire Safety Information ................................ 249Tires — General Information ......................... 256
Tire Types....................................................... 259Spare Tires — If Equipped ............................ 260
Wheel And Wheel Trim Care ........................ 262Snow Traction Devices ................................. 263
Tire Rotation Recommendations ................. 264
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNIFORM
TIRE QUALITY GRADES ...................................... 264
Treadwear...................................................... 264
Traction Grades ............................................. 264Temperature Grades..................................... 265
STORING THE VEHICLE ...................................... 265
BODYWORK .......................................................... 265
Protection From Atmospheric Agents .......... 265
Body And Underbody Maintenance ............. 266
Preserving The Bodywork ............................. 266

23_VF_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 5

128STARTING AND OPERATING
Towing Requirements — Tires
Do not attempt to tow a trailer while using a
compact spare tire.
Do not drive more than 50 mph (80 km/h) when
towing while using a full size spare tire.
Proper tire inflation pressures are essential to
the safe and satisfactory operation of your
vehicle.
Check the trailer tires for proper tire inflation
pressures before trailer usage.
Check for signs of tire wear or visible tire
damage before towing a trailer.
Replacing tires with a higher load carrying
capacity will not increase the vehicle's GVWR
and GAWR limits.
For further information Úpage 249.
Towing Requirements — Trailer Brakes
Do not interconnect the hydraulic brake system
or vacuum system of your vehicle with that of
the trailer. This could cause inadequate braking
and possible personal injury.
An electronically actuated trailer brake
controller is required when towing a trailer with
electronically actuated brakes. When towing a
trailer equipped with a hydraulic surge actuated
brake system, an electronic brake controller is
not required.
Trailer brakes are recommended for trailers
over 1,000 lb (453 kg) and may be required for
any trailer, for example trailers in excess of 2,
000 lb (907 kg). Trailer brake requirements vary
by local law, consult local legal requirements
where the trailer is to be towed for trailer brake
requirements.

Safety chains must always be used between your
vehicle and trailer. Always connect the chains to
the hook retainers of the vehicle hitch. Cross the
chains under the trailer tongue and allow enough
slack for turning corners.

Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on
a grade. When parking, apply the parking
brake on the tow vehicle. Put the tow vehicle
transmission in PARK. For four-wheel drive
vehicles, make sure the transfer case is not in
NEUTRAL. Always, block or "chock" the trailer
wheels.
GCWR must not be exceeded.
Total weight must be distributed between the
tow vehicle and the trailer such that the
following four ratings are not exceeded :
GVWR
GTW
GAWR
Tongue weight rating for the trailer hitch
utilized
WARNING!
WARNING!
Do not connect trailer brakes to your vehicle's
hydraulic brake lines. It can overload your
brake system and cause it to fail. You might
not have brakes when you need them and
could have an accident.
Towing any trailer will increase your stopping
distance. When towing, you should allow for
additional space between your vehicle and the
vehicle in front of you. Failure to do so could
result in an accident.
CAUTION!
If the trailer weighs more than 1,000 lb (453 kg)
loaded, it should have its own brakes and they
should be of adequate capacity. Failure to do
this could lead to accelerated brake lining wear,
higher brake pedal effort, and longer stopping
distances.

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170SAFETY
Check TPMS Warnings
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System Warning Light
will flash on and off for 75 seconds and remain on
solid when a system fault is detected, an audible
chime will be activated and the “Tire Pressure
Monitoring Unavailable” message will display.
If the ignition key is cycled, this sequence will
repeat providing the system fault still exists.
The TPMS Warning Light will turn off when the
fault condition no longer exists. A system fault can
occur with any of the following scenarios:
Jamming due to electronic devices or driving
next to facilities emitting the same radio
frequencies as the TPMS sensors
Installing some form of aftermarket window
tinting that affects radio wave signals
Snow or ice around the wheels or wheel
housings
Using tire chains on the vehicle
Using wheels/tires not equipped with TPMS
sensors
NOTE:Your vehicle is equipped with a regular size spare
wheel.

1. The spare tire does not have a TPMS sensor.
Therefore, the TPMS will not monitor the
pressure in the spare tire.
2. If a spare tire not equipped with the Tire
Pressure Monitoring System sensor is used,
the TPMS Warning Light will turn on, flashing
for 75 seconds and then remaining solid for
each subsequent ignition key cycle.
3. Once you repair or replace the original road tire and reinstall it on the vehicle in place of the
spare tire, the TPMS will update automatically
and the Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Warning Light will extinguish once the updated
tire pressures have been received. The vehicle
may need to be driven for up to 20 minutes
above 15 mph (24 km/h) to receive this
information.
NOTE:For correct Tire Pressure Monitoring System
behavior, please wait for about 20 minutes in
key-off during each tire substitution.
OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
Some of the most important safety features in your
vehicle are the restraint systems:
OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
F
EATURES
Seat Belt Systems
Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) Air Bags
Child Restraints 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.
IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Please pay close attention to the information in
this section. It tells you how to use your restraint
system properly, to keep you and your passengers
as safe as possible.
Here are some simple steps you can take to
minimize the risk of harm from a deploying air bag:

1. Children 12 years old and under should
always ride buckled up in the rear seat of a
vehicle with a rear seat.

2. A child who is not big enough to wear the vehicle seat belt properly must be secured in the
appropriate child restraint or belt-positioning
booster seat in a rear seating position

Ú
page 185.

3. If a child from 2 to 12 years old (not in a rear-facing child restraint) must ride in the
front passenger seat, move the seat as far
back as possible and use the proper child
restraint Ú page 185.
4. Never allow children to slide the shoulder belt behind them or under their arm.

23_VF_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 170

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY199

Winch Location

The winch mechanism is located under the
rear of the vehicle in between the right rear tire
and spare tire.

Winch Extension
2. Rotate the wheel 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.

Lowering Spare Tire

3. Pull the spare tire out from under the vehicle to gain access to the spare tire retainer.
Spare Tire

4. Lift the spare tire with one hand to give clearance to tilt the retainer at the end of the cable.

Lifting Spare Tire

CAUTION!
The winch mechanism is designed for use with
the jack wrench extension tool only. Use of air
wrench or power tool may damage the winch.
7

23_VF_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 199

200IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
(Continued)
5. Pull the retainer through the center of the
wheel.

Retainer

JACKING INSTRUCTIONS

Jack Warning Label
Assembled Jack

1. Loosen (but do not remove) the wheel lug bolts by turning them counterclockwise one
turn while the wheel is still on the ground.

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 place an
automatic transmission in PARK; a manual
transmission in REVERSE.
Block the wheel diagonally opposite of the
wheel that is 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!

23_VF_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 200

202IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
3. Place the wrench handle and lug bolt adapter on the jack screw and turn clockwise until the
jack head is properly engaged in the described
location. Do not raise the vehicle until you are
sure the jack is securely engaged.
4. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack screw clockwise, using the wrench handle and lug
bolt adapter. Raise the vehicle only until the
tire just clears the surface and enough
clearance is obtained to install the spare tire.
Minimum tire lift provides maximum stability. 5. Remove the wheel lug bolts. For vehicles with
wheel covers, remove the cover from the
wheel by hand. Do not pry the wheel cover off.
Then pull the wheel off the hub.
6. Install the spare tire. Lightly tighten the wheel lug bolts.

Mounting Spare Tire

NOTE:Do not install the wheel cover on the spare tire.
7. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack screw left, making sure it is securely on the ground.
Tighten the lug nuts/bolts in a star pattern
until each nut/bolt has been tightened twice.
Ensure that the socket is fully engaged on
the lug nut/bolt (do not insert it halfway)
Úpage 269.

Torque Patterns

8. Lower the jack to its fully-closed position.
9. Stow the damaged wheel/spare tire by reinstalling the wheel retainer and using the
cable winch mechanism to securely tighten
under the vehicle before driving.WARNING!
Being under a jacked-up vehicle is dangerous.
The vehicle could slip off the jack and fall on
you. You could be crushed. Never get any part of
your body under a vehicle that 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.
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.
WARNING!
To avoid the risk of forcing the vehicle off the
jack, do not tighten the wheel nuts fully until the
vehicle has been lowered. Failure to follow this
warning may result in serious injury.
CAUTION!
Be sure to mount the spare tire with the valve
stem facing outward. The vehicle could be
damaged if the spare tire is mounted incorrectly.

23_VF_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 202

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY203

Reinstalling The Retainer
Damaged Wheel Stowage

10. Install the winch extension and rotate the
wrench handle clockwise until the winch
mechanism operator hears “three clicks” from
the device to indicate the wheel is properly
stowed under the vehicle.
11. Stow the jack, jack handle and winch handle tools back in the storage compartment. 12. Check the spare tire pressure as soon as
possible. Correct the tire pressure, as
required.
For vehicles with aluminum wheels:
The center cap must be pushed out from the rear
to install the retainer and stow the tire.
WHEEL COVERS
The wheel covers on the vehicle are held in place
by the wheel lug bolts and can be removed after
the wheel lug bolts are taken off.
TIRE SERVICE KIT — IF EQUIPPED
Use this QR code to access your
digital experience.
Depending on vehicle trim level,
tire service kit models may vary.
Small punctures up to 1/4 inch
(6 mm) in the tire tread can be
sealed with the Tire Service Kit.
Foreign objects (e.g., screws or nails) should not
be removed from the tire. The Tire Service Kit
can be used in outside temperatures down to
approximately -4°F (-20°C).
This kit will provide a temporary tire seal, allowing
you to drive your vehicle up to 100 miles (160 km)
with a maximum speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).
WARNING!

A loose tire or jack thrown forward in a collision or
hard stop could endanger the occupants of the
vehicle. Always stow the jack parts and the spare tire
in the places provided. Have the deflated (flat) tire
repaired or replaced immediately.

CAUTION!
Use a back-and-forth motion to remove the
hub cap. Do not use a twisting motion when
removing the hub cap, damage to the hub cap
finish may occur.
7

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258SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
NOTE:TPMS sensor must be replaced after driving the
vehicle on a flat tire condition.
It is not recommended driving a vehicle loaded at
full capacity or to tow a trailer while a tire is in the
Run Flat mode.
See the Tire Pressure Monitoring System section
for more information Úpage 168.
Tire Spinning
When stuck in mud, sand, snow, or ice conditions,
do not spin your vehicle's wheels above 30 mph
(48 km/h) or for longer than 30 seconds
continuously without stopping.
Refer to “Freeing A Stuck Vehicle” for further
information Úpage 218.
Tread Wear Indicators
Tread wear indicators are in the original equipment
tires to help you in determining when your tires
should be replaced.

Tire Tread

These indicators are molded into the bottom of the
tread grooves. They will appear as bands when the
tread depth becomes 1/16 of an inch (1.6 mm).
When the tread is worn to the tread wear
indicators, the tire should be replaced.
Life Of Tire
The service life of a tire is dependent upon varying
factors including, but not limited to:
Driving style.
Tire pressure - Improper cold tire inflation pres -
sures can cause uneven wear patterns to
develop across the tire tread. These abnormal
wear patterns will reduce tread life, resulting in
the need for earlier tire replacement.
Distance driven.
Performance tires, tires with a speed rating of V
or higher, and Summer tires typically have a
reduced tread life. Rotation of these tires per
the vehicle scheduled maintenance is highly
recommended.
NOTE:Wheel Valve Stem must be replaced as well when
installing new tires due to wear and tear in existing
tires.
WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces
generated by excessive wheel speeds may
cause tire damage or failure. A tire could
explode and injure someone. Do not spin your
vehicle's wheels faster than 30 mph (48 km/h)
for more than 30 seconds continuously when
you are stuck, and do not let anyone near a
spinning wheel, no matter what the speed.
1 — Tread Wear IndicatorsWARNING!

Tires and the spare tire should be replaced after six
years, regardless of the remaining tread. Failure to
follow this warning can result in sudden tire failure.
You could lose control and have a collision resulting
in serious injury or death.

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