RAM 3500 Chassis Cab (2019 year). Instruction — part 12

188 SAFETY

(Continued)

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 (Refer to “Child Restraints” in this section for

further information) must be secured in the appropriate

child restraint or belt-positioning booster seat in a rear

seating position.

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 (Refer to “Child Restraints” in this section for

further information).

4. Never allow children to slide the shoulder belt behind

them or under their arm.

5. You should read the instructions provided with your

child restraint to make sure that you are using it properly.

6. All occupants should always wear their lap and shoulder

belts properly.

7. The driver and front passenger seats should be moved

back as far as practical to allow the front air bags room to

inflate.

8. Do not lean against the door or window. If your vehicle

has side air bags, and deployment occurs, the side air

bags will inflate forcefully into the space between occu-

pants and the door and occupants could be injured.

9. If the air bag system in this vehicle needs to be modified

to accommodate a disabled person, refer to the

“Customer Assistance” section for customer service

contact information.

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.

SAFETY

189

Seat Belt Systems

Buckle up even though you are an excellent driver, even on

short trips. Someone on the road may be a poor driver and

could cause a collision that includes you. This can happen far

away from home or on your own street.
Research has shown that seat belts save lives, and they can

reduce the seriousness of injuries in a collision. Some of the

worst injuries happen when people are thrown from the

vehicle. Seat belts reduce the possibility of ejection and the

risk of injury caused by striking the inside of the vehicle.

Everyone in a motor vehicle should be belted at all times.

Enhanced Seat Belt Use Reminder System (BeltAlert)

Driver And Passenger BeltAlert — If Equipped

BeltAlert is a feature intended to remind the driver and

outboard front seat passenger (if equipped with outboard

front passenger seat BeltAlert) to buckle their seat belts. The

Belt Alert feature is active whenever the ignition switch is in

the START or ON/RUN position.
Initial Indication
If the driver is unbuckled when the ignition switch is first in

the START or ON/RUN position, a chime will signal for a

few seconds. If the driver or outboard front seat passenger (if

equipped with outboard front passenger seat BeltAlert) is

unbuckled when the ignition switch is first in the START or

ON/RUN position the Seat Belt Reminder Light will turn on

and remain on until both outboard front seat belts are

buckled. The outboard front passenger seat BeltAlert is not

active when an outboard front passenger seat is unoccupied.

• 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! (Continued)

4

190 SAFETY

BeltAlert Warning Sequence
The BeltAlert warning sequence is activated when the

vehicle is moving above a specified vehicle speed range and

the driver or outboard front seat passenger is unbuckled (if

equipped with outboard front passenger seat BeltAlert) (the

outboard front passenger seat BeltAlert is not active when

the outboard front passenger seat is unoccupied). The

BeltAlert warning sequence starts by blinking the Seat Belt

Reminder Light and sounding an intermittent chime. Once

the BeltAlert warning sequence has completed, the Seat Belt

Reminder Light will remain on until the seat belts are

buckled. The BeltAlert warning sequence may repeat based

on vehicle speed until the driver and occupied outboard

front seat passenger seat belts are buckled. The driver should

instruct all occupants to buckle their seat belts.
Change Of Status
If the driver or outboard front seat passenger (if equipped

with outboard front passenger seat BeltAlert) unbuckles

their seat belt while the vehicle is traveling, the BeltAlert

warning sequence will begin until the seat belts are buckled

again.

The outboard front passenger seat BeltAlert is not active

when the outboard front passenger seat is unoccupied.

BeltAlert may be triggered when an animal or other items are

placed on the outboard front passenger seat or when the seat

is folded flat (if equipped). It is recommended that pets be

restrained in the rear seat (if equipped) in pet harnesses or

pet carriers that are secured by seat belts, and cargo is prop-

erly stowed.
BeltAlert can be activated or deactivated by an authorized

dealer. FCA US LLC does not recommend deactivating

BeltAlert.
NOTE:

If BeltAlert has been deactivated and the driver or outboard

front seat passenger (if equipped with outboard front

passenger seat BeltAlert) is unbuckled the Seat Belt

Reminder Light will turn on and remain on until the driver

and outboard front seat passenger seat belts are buckled.

SAFETY

191

(Continued)

Lap/Shoulder Belts

All seating positions except the Crew Cab front center

seating position have combination lap/shoulder belts.
The seat belt webbing retractor will lock only during very

sudden stops or collisions. This feature allows the shoulder

part of the seat belt to move freely with you under normal

conditions. However, in a collision the seat belt will lock and

reduce your risk of striking the inside of the vehicle or being

thrown out of the vehicle.

WARNING!

• Relying on the air bags alone could lead to more severe

injuries in a collision. The air bags work with your seat

belt to restrain you properly. In some collisions, the air

bags won’t deploy at all. Always wear your seat belt

even though you have air bags.

• In a collision, you and your passengers can suffer much

greater injuries if you are not properly buckled up. You

can strike the interior of your vehicle or other passen-

gers, or you can be thrown out of the vehicle. Always be

sure you and others in your vehicle are buckled up

properly.

• It is dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside

of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas

are more likely to be seriously injured or killed.

• Do not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle

that is not equipped with seats and seat belts.

• Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using

a seat belt properly. Occupants, including the driver,

should always wear their seat belts whether or not an

air bag is also provided at their seating position to

minimize the risk of severe injury or death in the event

of a crash.

• Wearing your seat belt incorrectly could make your

injuries in a collision much worse. You might suffer

internal injuries, or you could even slide out of the seat

belt. Follow these instructions to wear your seat belt

safely and to keep your passengers safe, too.

• Two people should never be belted into a single seat

belt. People belted together can crash into one another

in a collision, hurting one another badly. Never use a

lap/shoulder belt or a lap belt for more than one person,

no matter what their size.

WARNING! (Continued)

4

192 SAFETY

(Continued)

WARNING!

• A lap belt worn too high can increase the risk of injury

in a collision. The seat belt forces won’t be at the strong

hip and pelvic bones, but across your abdomen. Always

wear the lap part of your seat belt as low as possible and

keep it snug.

• A twisted seat belt may not protect you properly. In a

collision, it could even cut into you. Be sure the seat belt

is flat against your body, without twists. If you can’t

straighten a seat belt in your vehicle, take it to an autho-

rized dealer immediately and have it fixed.

• A seat belt that is buckled into the wrong buckle will

not protect you properly. The lap portion could ride too

high on your body, possibly causing internal injuries.

Always buckle your seat belt into the buckle nearest

you.

• A seat belt that is too loose will not protect you prop-

erly. In a sudden stop, you could move too far forward,

increasing the possibility of injury. Wear your seat belt

snugly.

• A seat belt that is worn under your arm is dangerous.

Your body could strike the inside surfaces of the

vehicle in a collision, increasing head and neck injury.

A seat belt worn under the arm can cause internal inju-

ries. Ribs aren’t as strong as shoulder bones. Wear the

seat belt over your shoulder so that your strongest

bones will take the force in a collision.

• A shoulder belt placed behind you will not protect you

from injury during a collision. You are more likely to

hit your head in a collision if you do not wear your

shoulder belt. The lap and shoulder belt are meant to be

used together.

• A frayed or torn seat belt could rip apart in a collision

and leave you with no protection. Inspect the seat belt

system periodically, checking for cuts, frays, or loose

parts. Damaged parts must be replaced immediately.

Do not disassemble or modify the seat belt system. Seat

belt assemblies must be replaced after a collision.

WARNING! (Continued)

SAFETY

193

Lap/Shoulder Belt Operating Instructions

1. Enter the vehicle and close the door. Sit back and adjust

the seat.

2. The seat belt latch plate is above the back of the front seat,

and next to your arm in the rear seat (for vehicles

equipped with a rear seat). Grasp the latch plate and pull

out the seat belt. Slide the latch plate up the webbing as

far as necessary to allow the seat belt to go around your

lap.

Pulling Out The Latch Plate

3. When the seat belt is long enough to fit, insert the latch

plate into the buckle until you hear a “click.”

Inserting Latch Plate Into Buckle

4. Position the lap belt so that it is snug and lies low across

your hips, below your abdomen. To remove slack in the

lap belt portion, pull up on the shoulder belt. To loosen

the lap belt if it is too tight, tilt the latch plate and pull on

the lap belt. A snug seat belt reduces the risk of sliding

under the seat belt in a collision.

4

194 SAFETY

Positioning The Lap Belt

5. Position the shoulder belt across the shoulder and chest

with minimal, if any slack so that it is comfortable and not

resting on your neck. The retractor will withdraw any

slack in the shoulder belt.

6. To release the seat belt, push the red button on the buckle.

The seat belt will automatically retract to its stowed posi-

tion. If necessary, slide the latch plate down the webbing

to allow the seat belt to retract fully.

Lap/Shoulder Belt Untwisting Procedure

Use the following procedure to untwist a twisted lap/

shoulder belt.
1. Position the latch plate as close as possible to the anchor

point.

2. At about 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) above the latch plate,

grasp and twist the seat belt webbing 180 degrees to

create a fold that begins immediately above the latch

plate.

3. Slide the latch plate upward over the folded webbing.

The folded webbing must enter the slot at the top of the

latch plate.

4. Continue to slide the latch plate up until it clears the

folded webbing and the seat belt is no longer twisted.

SAFETY

195

Adjustable Upper Shoulder Belt Anchorage

In the driver and outboard front passenger seats, the top of

the shoulder belt can be adjusted upward or downward to

position the seat belt away from your neck. Push or squeeze

the anchorage button to release the anchorage, and move it

up or down to the position that serves you best.

Adjustable Anchorage

As a guide, if you are shorter than average, you will prefer the

shoulder belt anchorage in a lower position, and if you are taller

than average, you will prefer the shoulder belt anchorage in a

higher position. After you release the anchorage button, try to

move it up or down to make sure that it is locked in position.

NOTE:

The adjustable upper shoulder belt anchorage is equipped

with an Easy Up feature. This feature allows the shoulder

belt anchorage to be adjusted in the upward position without

pushing or squeezing the release button. To verify the

shoulder belt anchorage is latched, pull downward on the

shoulder belt anchorage until it is locked into position.

WARNING!

• Wearing your seat belt incorrectly could make your

injuries in a collision much worse. You might suffer

internal injuries, or you could even slide out of the seat

belt. Follow these instructions to wear your seat belt

safely and to keep your passengers safe, too.

• Position the shoulder belt across the shoulder and chest

with minimal, if any slack so that it is comfortable and

not resting on your neck. The retractor will withdraw

any slack in the shoulder belt.

• Misadjustment of the seat belt could reduce the effec-

tiveness of the safety belt in a crash.

• Always make all seat belt height adjustments when the

vehicle is stationary.

4

196 SAFETY

First Row Center Seat Belt Operating Instructions
(Regular Cab Only)

The first row center seat belt (Regular Cab only) features a

seat belt with a mini-latch plate and buckle, which allows the

seat belt to detach from the lower anchor when the seat is

folded. The latch plate and regular latch plate can then be

stored out of the way in the seat for added convenience to

open up utilization of the storage areas behind the front seats

when the seat is not occupied.
1. Remove the mini-latch plate and regular latch plate from

its stowed position on the seat.

Connect Mini-Latch To Mini-Buckle

Mini-Latch And Mini-Buckle Connected

2. Grasp the mini-latch plate and pull the seat belt over the

seat.

3. Route the shoulder belt to the inside of the right head

restraint.

4. When the seat belt is long enough to fit, insert the

mini-latch plate into the mini-buckle until you hear a

“click.”

5. Sit back in seat. Slide the regular latch plate up the

webbing as far as necessary to allow the seat belt to go

around your lap.

SAFETY

197

6. When the seat belt is long enough to fit, insert the latch

plate into the buckle until you hear a “click.”

7. Position the lap belt so that it is snug and lies low across

your hips, below your abdomen. To remove slack in the

lap belt portion, pull up on the shoulder belt. To loosen

the lap belt if it is too tight, pull on the lap belt. A snug

seat belt reduces the risk of sliding under the seat belt in

a collision.

8. Position the shoulder belt on your chest so that it is

comfortable and not resting on your neck. The retractor

will withdraw any slack in the seat belt.

9. To release the seat belt, push the red button on the buckle.
10. To disengage the mini-latch plate from the mini-buckle

for storage, insert the regular latch plate into the center

red slot on the mini-buckle. The seat belt will automati-

cally retract to its stowed position. If necessary, slide the

latch plate down the webbing to allow the seat belt to

retract fully. Insert the mini-latch plate and regular latch

plate into its stowed position.

Detaching Mini-Buckle With Seat Belt Tongue

WARNING!

• If the mini-latch plate and mini-buckle are not properly

connected when the seat belt is used by an occupant,

the seat belt will not be able to provide proper restraint

and will increase the risk of injury in a collision.

• When reattaching the mini-latch plate and

mini-buckle, ensure the seat belt webbing is not

twisted. If the webbing is twisted, follow the preceding

procedure to detach the mini-latch plate and

mini-buckle, untwist the webbing, and reattach the

mini-latch plate and mini-buckle.

4

198 SAFETY

First Row Center Lap Belt Operating Instructions — If
Equipped

The center seating position for the Crew Cab front seat has a

lap belt only. To buckle the lap belt, slide the latch plate into

the buckle until you hear a "click." To lengthen the lap belt,

tilt the latch plate and pull.
To remove slack, pull the loose end of the webbing. Wear the

lap belt snug against the hips. Sit back and upright in the

seat, then adjust the seat belt as tightly as is comfortable.
Seat Belt Extender

If a seat belt is not long enough to fit properly, even when the

webbing is fully extended and the adjustable upper shoulder

belt anchorage (if equipped) is in its lowest position, an

authorized dealer can provide you with a Seat Belt Extender.

The Seat Belt Extender should be used only if the existing

seat belt is not long enough. When the Seat Belt Extender is

not required for a different occupant, it must be removed.

WARNING!

• ONLY use a Seat Belt Extender if it is physically

required in order to properly fit the original seat belt

system. DO NOT USE the Seat Belt Extender if, when

worn, the distance between the front edge of the Seat

Belt Extender buckle and the center of the occupant’s

body is LESS than 6 inches.

• Using a Seat Belt Extender when not needed can

increase the risk of serious injury or death in a colli-

sion. Only use the Seat Belt Extender when the lap belt

is not long enough and only use in the recommended

seating positions. Remove and store the Seat Belt

Extender when not needed.

SAFETY

199

Seat Belts And Pregnant Women

Pregnant Women And Seat Belts

Seat belts must be worn by all occupants including pregnant

women: the risk of injury in the event of an accident is

reduced for the mother and the unborn child if they are

wearing a seat belt.
Position the lap belt snug and low below the abdomen and

across the strong bones of the hips. Place the shoulder belt

across the chest and away from the neck. Never place the

shoulder belt behind the back or under the arm.

Seat Belt Pretensioner — If Equipped

3500 Models Only
The front outboard seat belt system may be equipped with

pretensioning devices that are designed to remove slack

from the seat belt in the event of a collision. These devices

may improve the performance of the seat belt by removing

slack from the seat belt early in a collision. Pretensioners

work for all size occupants, including those in child

restraints.
NOTE:

These devices are not a substitute for proper seat belt place-

ment by the occupant. The seat belt still must be worn snugly

and positioned properly.
The pretensioners are triggered by the Occupant Restraint

Controller (ORC). Like the air bags, the pretensioners are

single use items. A deployed pretensioner or a deployed air

bag must be replaced immediately.

4

200 SAFETY

Energy Management Feature — If Equipped

3500 Models Only
The front outboard seat belt system may be equipped with

an Energy Management feature that may help further reduce

the risk of injury in the event of a collision. The seat belt

system has a retractor assembly that is designed to release

webbing in a controlled manner.
Switchable Automatic Locking Retractors (ALR) — If
Equipped

The seat belts in the passenger seating positions may be

equipped with a Switchable Automatic Locking Retractor

(ALR) which is used to secure a child restraint system. For

additional information, refer to “Installing Child Restraints

Using The Vehicle Seat Belt” under the “Child Restraints”

section of this instruction. The figure below illustrates the

locking feature for each seating position.

Regular Cab Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) Locations

ALR = Switchable Automatic Locking Retractor

SAFETY

201

Crew Cab Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) Locations

If the passenger seating position is equipped with an ALR

and is being used for normal usage, only pull the seat belt

webbing out far enough to comfortably wrap around the

occupant’s mid-section so as to not activate the ALR. If the

ALR is activated, you will hear a clicking sound as the seat

belt retracts. Allow the webbing to retract completely in this

case and then carefully pull out only the amount of webbing

necessary to comfortably wrap around the occupant’s

mid-section. Slide the latch plate into the buckle until you

hear a "click."

In Automatic Locking Mode, the shoulder belt is automati-

cally 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. Grasp the shoulder portion and pull downward until the

entire seat belt is extracted.

ALR = Switchable Automatic Locking Retractor

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.

4

202 SAFETY

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 stan-

dard 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 — If Equipped
• Front and Side Impact Sensors — If Equipped
• Seat Belt Pretensioners — If Equipped

WARNING!

• The seat belt assembly must be replaced if the switch-

able Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) feature or any

other seat belt function is not working properly when

checked according to the procedures in the Service

Instruction.

• 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.

SAFETY

203

Air Bag Warning Light

The ORC monitors the readiness of the elec-

tronic 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 posi-

tion or in the ACC position, the air bag system is

not on and the air bags will not inflate.

The ORC contains a backup power supply system that may

deploy the air bag system even if the battery loses power or

it becomes disconnected prior to deployment.
The ORC turns on the Air Bag Warning Light in the instru-

ment panel for approximately four to eight seconds for a

self-check when the ignition switch is first in the ON/RUN

position. After the self-check, the Air Bag Warning Light will

turn off. If the ORC detects a malfunction in any part of the

system, it turns on the Air Bag Warning Light, either

momentarily or continuously. A single chime will sound to

alert you if the light comes on again after initial startup.
The ORC also includes diagnostics that will illuminate the

instrument panel Air Bag Warning Light if a malfunction is

detected that could affect the air bag system. The diagnostics

also record the nature of the malfunction. While the air bag

system is designed to be maintenance free, if any of the

following occurs, have an authorized dealer service the air

bag system immediately.
• The Air Bag Warning Light does not come on during the

four to eight seconds when the ignition switch is first in the

ON/RUN position.

• The Air Bag Warning Light remains on after the four to

eight-second interval.

• The Air Bag Warning Light comes on intermittently or

remains on while driving.

NOTE:

If the speedometer, tachometer, or any engine related gauges

are not working, the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)

may also be disabled. In this condition the air bags may not

be ready to inflate for your protection. Have an authorized

dealer service the air bag system immediately.

WARNING!

Ignoring the Air Bag Warning Light in your instrument

panel could mean you won’t have the air bag system to

protect you in a collision. If the light does not come on as

a bulb check when the ignition is first turned on, stays

on after you start the vehicle, or if it comes on as you

drive, have an authorized dealer service the air bag

system immediately.

4