2023 RAM PROMASTER gas type

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

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STARTING AND OPERATING123
NOTE:
Tighten the fuel filler cap until you hear a
“clicking” sound. This is an indication that the
fuel filler cap is properly tightened.
If the gas cap is not tightened properly, the MIL
may come on. Be sure the gas cap is tightened
every time the vehicle is refueled.
LOOSE FUEL FILLER CAP MESSAGE

If the vehicle diagnostic system determines that
the fuel filler cap is loose, improperly installed, or
damaged, a “Check Fuel Cap” message will be
displayed in the instrument cluster display
Ú
page 56.
Tighten the fuel filler cap until a “clicking” sound is
heard. This is an indication that the fuel filler cap is
properly tightened.

If the problem continues, the message will appear
the next time the vehicle is started. See an
authorized dealer as soon as possible.
VEHICLE LOADING
As required by National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration regulations, your vehicle has a
certification label affixed to the driver's side door
or B-pillar.
If seats are removed for carrying cargo, do not
exceed the specified GVWR and GAWR.
VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL
Your vehicle has a Vehicle Certification Label
affixed to the driver’s side B-pillar or the rear of the
driver’s door.
The label contains the following information:
Name of manufacturer
Month and year of manufacture
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) front and rear
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Type of vehicle
Month, Day, and Hour (MDH) of manufacture
The bar code allows a computer scanner to read
the VIN.

GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR)

The GVWR is the total allowable weight of your
vehicle. This includes driver, passengers, and
cargo. The total load must be limited so that you do
not exceed the GVWR.
GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING (GAWR)
The GAWR is the maximum capacity of the front
and rear axles. Distribute the load over the front
and rear axles evenly. Make sure that you do not
exceed either front or rear GAWR.
TIRE SIZE
The tire size on the Vehicle Certification Label
represents the actual tire size on your vehicle.
Replacement tires must be equal to the load
capacity of this tire size.
A poorly fitting fuel filler cap may cause the
Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) to turn on.
To avoid fuel spillage and overfilling, do not
“top off” the fuel tank after filling. When the
fuel nozzle “clicks” or shuts off, the fuel tank
is full.
CAUTION!
WARNING!
Because the front wheels steer the vehicle,
it is important that you do not exceed the
maximum front or rear GAWR. A dangerous
driving condition can result if either rating is
exceeded. You could lose control of the vehicle
and have a collision.
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180SAFETY
Front Air Bag Operation

Front Air Bags are designed to provide additional
protection by supplementing the seat belts. Front air
bags are not expected to reduce the risk of injury in
rear, side, or rollover collisions. The front air bags
will not deploy in all frontal collisions, including some
that may produce substantial vehicle damage — for
example, some pole collisions, truck underrides, and
angle offset collisions.

On the other hand, depending on the type and
location of impact, front air bags may deploy in
crashes with little vehicle front-end damage but
that produce a severe initial deceleration.
Because air bag sensors measure vehicle
deceleration over time, vehicle speed and damage
by themselves are not good indicators of whether
or not an air bag should have deployed.
Seat belts are necessary for your protection in all
collisions, and also are needed to help keep you in
position, away from an inflating air bag.

When the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) detects
a collision requiring the front air bags, it signals the
inflator units. A large quantity of non-toxic gas is
generated to inflate the front air bags.
The steering wheel hub trim cover and the upper
passenger side of the instrument panel separate
and fold out of the way as the air bags inflate to
their full size. The front air bags fully inflate in less
time than it takes to blink your eyes. The front air
bags then quickly deflate while helping to restrain
the driver and front passenger.
Supplemental Side Air Bags
Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags (SABs)
This vehicle is equipped with Supplemental
Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags (SABs).
Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags (SABs)
are located in the outboard side of the front seats.
The SABs are marked with “SRS AIRBAG” or
“AIRBAG” on a label or on the seat trim on the
outboard side of the seats.
The SABs may help to reduce the risk of occupant
injury during certain side impacts, in addition to
the injury reduction potential provided by the seat
belts and body structure.

Front Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bag Label

When the SAB deploys, it opens the seam on
the outboard side of the seatback’s trim cover.
The inflating SAB deploys through the seat seam
into the space between the occupant and the door.
The SAB moves at a very high speed and with such
a high force that it could injure occupants if they
are not seated properly, or if items are positioned
in the area where the SAB inflates. Children are at
an even greater risk of injury from a deploying
air bag.
WARNING!
Do not use accessory seat covers or place
objects between you and the Side Air Bags; the
performance could be adversely affected and/or
objects could be pushed into you, causing
serious injury.

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226SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
(Continued)
CHECKING OIL LEVEL
To ensure proper engine lubrication, the engine oil
must be maintained at the correct level. Check the
oil level at regular intervals, such as every fuel
stop. The best time to check the engine oil level is
about five minutes after a fully warmed up engine
is shut off.
Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level ground
will improve the accuracy of the oil level readings.
There are four possible dipstick types:
Crosshatched zone.
Crosshatched zone marked SAFE.
Crosshatched zone marked with MIN at the low
end of the range and MAX at the high end of the
range.
Crosshatched zone marked with dimples at the
MIN and the MAX ends of the range.
NOTE:Always maintain the oil level within the crosshatch
markings on the dipstick.
Adding 1 qt (1 L) of oil when the reading is at the
low end of the dipstick range will raise the oil level
to the high end of the range marking.
ADDING WASHER FLUID
The fluid reservoir is located in the engine
compartment and should be checked at regular
intervals. Fill the reservoir with windshield washer
solvent (not radiator antifreeze) and operate the
system for a few seconds to flush out any residual
water.
The washer fluid reservoir will hold a full gallon of
fluid when the Low Washer Fluid Light illuminates.
WARNING!
Never smoke while working in the engine
compartment: gas and flammable vapors may
be present, with the risk of fire.
Be very careful when working in the engine
compartment when the engine is hot: you may
get burned. Do not get too close to the radiator
cooling fan: the electric fan may start; danger
of injury. Scarves, ties and other loose clothing
might be pulled by moving parts.
CAUTION!

Be careful not to confuse the various types of
fluids while topping up: they are not compatible
with each other! Topping up with an unsuitable
fluid could severely damage your car.

The oil level must never exceed the MAX mark.
Always top up using engine oil of the same
specifications as that already in the engine.
If the engine oil is being topped up, wait for the
engine to cool down before loosening the filler
cap, particularly for vehicles with aluminum
caps (if equipped). WARNING: risk of burns!
Overfilling or underfilling the crankcase will
cause aeration or loss of oil pressure. This
could damage your engine.
CAUTION!
CAUTION!
Overfilling or underfilling the crankcase will
cause aeration or loss of oil pressure. This could
damage your engine.
WARNING!
Commercially available windshield washer
solvents are flammable. They could ignite and
burn you. Care must be exercised when filling or
working around the washer solution.

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SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE235
If an examination of your engine compartment
shows no evidence of radiator or hose leaks, the
vehicle may be safely driven. The vapor will soon
dissipate.
Do not overfill the coolant expansion bottle.
Check the coolant freeze point in the radiator
and in the coolant expansion bottle. If engine
coolant needs to be added, the contents of the
coolant expansion bottle must also be protected
against freezing.
If frequent engine coolant additions are
required, the cooling system should be pressure
tested for leaks.
Maintain engine coolant concentration at a
minimum of 50% OAT coolant (conforming to
MS.90032) and distilled water for proper corro -
sion protection of your engine which contains
aluminum components.
Make sure that the coolant expansion bottle
overflow hoses are not kinked or obstructed.
Keep the front of the radiator clean. If your
vehicle is equipped with air conditioning, keep
the front of the condenser clean.
Do not change the thermostat for Summer or
Winter operation. If replacement is ever neces -
sary, install ONLY the correct type thermostat.
Other designs may result in unsatisfactory
engine cooling performance, poor gas mileage,
and increased emissions.
BRAKE SYSTEM
In order to ensure brake system performance, all
brake system components should be inspected
periodically Ú page 222.
Fluid Level Check — Brake Master Cylinder
The fluid level of the master cylinder should be
checked when performing under the hood service
or immediately if the Brake System Warning Light
indicates system failure. If necessary, add fluid to
bring level within the designated marks on the side
of the reservoir of the brake master cylinder. Be
sure to clean the top of the master cylinder area
before removing cap. With disc brakes the fluid
level can be expected to fall as the brake linings
wear. However, an unexpected drop in fluid level
may be caused by a leak and a system check
should be conducted Ú page 273.
WARNING!

Riding the brakes can lead to brake failure and
possibly a collision. Driving with your foot resting or
riding on the brake pedal can result in abnormally
high brake temperatures, excessive lining wear, and
possible brake damage. You would not have your full
braking capacity in an emergency.

WARNING!
Use only the manufacturer recommended
brake fluid Úpage 273. Using the wrong type
of brake fluid can severely damage your brake
system and/or impair its performance. The
proper type of brake fluid for your vehicle is
also identified on the original factory installed
hydraulic master cylinder reservoir.
To avoid contamination from foreign matter or
moisture, use only new brake fluid or fluid that
has been in a tightly closed container. Keep
the master cylinder reservoir cap secured at
all times. Brake fluid in an open container
absorbs moisture from the air resulting in a
lower boiling point. This may cause it to boil
unexpectedly during hard or prolonged
braking, resulting in sudden brake failure.
This could result in a collision.
Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can result
in spilling brake fluid on hot engine parts,
causing the brake fluid to catch fire. Brake
fluid can also damage painted and vinyl
surfaces, care should be taken to avoid its
contact with these surfaces.

Do not allow petroleum-based fluid to contami -
nate the brake fluid. Brake seal components could
be damaged, causing partial or complete brake
failure. This could result in a collision.

8

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SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE259
Keep dismounted tires in a cool, dry place with as
little exposure to light as possible. Protect tires
from contact with oil, grease, and gasoline.
Replacement Tires

The tires on your new vehicle provide a balance of
many characteristics. They should be inspected
regularly for wear and correct cold tire inflation
pressures. The manufacturer strongly recommends
using tires equivalent to the originals in size, quality
and performance when replacement is needed. Refer
to the paragraph on “Tread Wear Indicators” in this
section. Refer to the Tire And Loading Information
Placard or the Vehicle Certification Label for the size
designation of your tire. The Load Index and Speed
Symbol for your tire will be found on the original
equipment tire sidewall.

See the Tire Sizing Chart example found in the Tire
Safety Information section of this manual for more
information relating to the Load Index and Speed
Symbol of a tire Ú page 250.
It is recommended to replace the two front tires or
two rear tires as a pair. Replacing just one tire can
seriously affect your vehicle’s handling. If you ever
replace a wheel, make sure that the wheel’s
specifications match those of the original wheels.
It is recommended you contact an authorized tire
dealer or original equipment dealer with any
questions you may have on tire specifications or capability. Failure to use equivalent replacement
tires may adversely affect the safety, handling, and
ride of your vehicle.
TIRE TYPES
All Season Tires — If Equipped
All Season tires provide traction for all seasons
(Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter). Traction
levels may vary between different all season tires.
All season tires can be identified by the M+S, M&S,
M/S or MS designation on the tire sidewall. Use all
season tires only in sets of four; failure to do so
may adversely affect the safety and handling of
your vehicle.
Summer Or Three Season Tires —
If Equipped

Summer tires provide traction in both wet and dry
conditions, and are not intended to be driven in snow or
on ice. If your vehicle is equipped with Summer tires, be
aware these tires are not designed for Winter or cold
driving conditions. Install Winter tires on your vehicle
when ambient temperatures are less than 40°F (5°C)
or if roads are covered with ice or snow. For more
information, contact an authorized dealer.

WARNING!
Do not use a tire, wheel size, load rating, or
speed rating other than that specified for your
vehicle. Some combinations of unapproved
tires and wheels may change suspension
dimensions and performance characteristics,
resulting in changes to steering, handling, and
braking of your vehicle. This can cause unpre
-
dictable handling and stress to steering and
suspension components. You could lose
control and have a collision resulting in
serious injury or death. Use only the tire and
wheel sizes with load ratings approved for
your vehicle.
Never use a tire with a smaller load index or
capacity, other than what was originally
equipped on your vehicle. Using a tire with a
smaller load index could result in tire over -
loading and failure. You could lose control and
have a collision.
Failure to equip your vehicle with tires having
adequate speed capability can result in
sudden tire failure and loss of vehicle control.
CAUTION!
Replacing original tires with tires of a different
size may result in false speedometer and
odometer readings.
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