RAM Promaster City (2020 year). Manual in english — page 12

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189

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.

Towing Requirements

To promote proper break-in of your new vehicle drivetrain

components, the following guidelines are recommended.

Perform the maintenance listed in “Scheduled Servicing”.

Refer to “Scheduled Servicing” in “Servicing And Mainte

-

nance” for the proper maintenance intervals. When towing a

trailer, never exceed the GAWR or GCWR ratings.

CAUTION!

Always load a trailer with 60% of the weight in the front

of the trailer. This places 10% of the GTW on the tow

hitch of your vehicle. Loads balanced over the wheels or

heavier in the rear can cause the trailer to sway severely

side to side which will cause loss of control of the vehicle

and trailer. Failure to load trailers heavier in front is the

cause of many trailer collisions.

CAUTION!

• Do not tow a trailer at all during the first 500 miles

(805 km) the new vehicle is driven. The engine, axle or

other parts could be damaged.

• Then, during the first 500 miles (805 km) that a trailer is

towed, do not drive over 50 mph (80 km/h) and do not

make starts at full throttle. This helps the engine and

other parts of the vehicle wear in at the heavier loads.

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190 STARTING AND OPERATING

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WARNING!

• Make certain that the load is secured in the trailer and

will not shift during travel. When trailering cargo that

is not fully secured, dynamic load shifts can occur that

may be difficult for the driver to control. You could lose

control of your vehicle and have a collision.

• When hauling cargo or towing a trailer, do not overload

your vehicle or trailer. Overloading can cause a loss of

control, poor performance or damage to brakes, axle,

engine, transmission, steering, suspension, chassis

structure or tires.

• 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!

(Continued)

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191

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. Refer to “Tires” in

“Servicing And Maintenance” for proper tire inflation

procedures.

• 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. Refer to “Tires” in “Servicing And Main

-

tenance” for the proper inspection procedure.

• When replacing tires, refer to “Tires” in “Servicing And

Maintenance” for the proper tire replacement procedures.

Replacing tires with a higher load carrying capacity will

not increase the vehicle's GVWR and GAWR limits.

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 actu

-

ated 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 lbs

(453 kg) and required for trailers in excess of 2,000 lbs (907 kg).

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 addi

-

tional space between your vehicle and the vehicle in

front of you. Failure to do so could result in an accident.

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192 STARTING AND OPERATING

Towing Requirements — Trailer Lights And Wiring

Whenever you pull a trailer, regardless of the trailer size,

stoplights and turn signals on the trailer are required for

motoring safety.
The Trailer Tow Package may include a four- 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 mate the harness to a trailer connector. Refer to the

following illustrations.

NOTE:

• Disconnect trailer wiring connector from the vehicle

before launching a boat (or any other device plugged into

vehicle’s electrical connect) into water.

• Be sure to reconnect once clear from water area.

Four-Pin Connector

CAUTION!

If the trailer weighs more than 1,000 lbs (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.

1 — Female Pins

2 — Male Pin

3 — Ground

4 — Park

5 — Left Stop/Turn

6 — Right Stop/Turn

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193

Seven-Pin Connector

Towing Tips

Before setting out on a trip, practice turning, stopping, and

backing up the trailer in an area located away from heavy

traffic.

Automatic Transmission

The DRIVE range can be selected when towing. The trans

-

mission controls include a drive strategy to avoid frequent

shifting when towing. However, if frequent shifting does

occur while in DRIVE, use the Electronic Range Select (ERS)

shift control to select a lower gear range.

NOTE:

Using a lower gear range while operating the vehicle under

heavy loading conditions will improve performance and

extend transmission life by reducing excessive shifting and

heat build up. This action will also provide better engine

braking.

1 — Battery

2 — Backup Lamps

3 — Right Stop/Turn

4 — Electric Brakes

5 — Ground

6 — Left Stop/Turn

7 — Running Lamps

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194 STARTING AND OPERATING

Electronic Range Select (ERS)

• When using the ERS shift control, select the highest gear

that allows for adequate performance and avoids frequent

downshifts. For example, choose “5” if the desired speed

can be maintained. Choose “4” or “3” if needed to main

-

tain the desired speed.

• To prevent excess heat generation, avoid continuous

driving at high RPM. Reduce vehicle speed as necessary to

avoid extended driving at high RPM. Return to a higher

gear range or vehicle speed when grade and road condi

-

tions allow.

Speed Control — If Equipped

• Do not use on hilly terrain or with heavy loads.
• When using the Speed Control, if you experience speed

drops greater than 10 mph (16 km/h), disengage until you

can get back to cruising speed.

• Use Speed Control in flat terrain and with light loads to

maximize fuel efficiency.

Cooling System

To reduce potential for engine and transmission over

-

heating, take the following actions:

City Driving

• In city traffic — while stopped, place the transmission in

NEUTRAL, but do not increase engine idle speed.

Highway Driving

• Reduce speed.
• Temporarily turn off air conditioning.

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195

RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND MOTORHOME, ETC.)

Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle

NOTE:

When towing your vehicle, always follow applicable state

and provincial laws. Contact state and provincial Highway

Safety offices for additional details.

Recreational Towing — Automatic Transmission

Recreational towing is allowed

ONLY

if the front wheels are

OFF

the ground. This may be accomplished using a tow

dolly or vehicle trailer. If using a tow dolly, follow this proce

-

dure:
1. Properly secure the dolly to the tow vehicle, following the

dolly manufacturer's instructions.

2. Drive the front wheels onto the tow dolly.

3. Firmly apply the parking brake. Place the transmission in

PARK.

4. Properly secure the front wheels to the dolly, following

the dolly manufacturer's instructions.

5. Release the parking brake.

Towing Condition

Wheels OFF The Ground

Automatic Transmission

Flat Tow

NONE

NOT ALLOWED

Dolly Tow

Front

OK

Rear

NOT ALLOWED

On Trailer

ALL

OK

CAUTION!

• DO NOT flat tow this vehicle. Damage to the drivetrain

will result. If this vehicle requires towing, make sure

the drive wheels are OFF the ground.

• Towing this vehicle in violation of the above require

-

ments can cause severe transmission damage. Damage

from improper towing is not covered under the New

Vehicle Limited Warranty.

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196 STARTING AND OPERATING

DRIVING TIPS

Driving On Slippery Surfaces

Acceleration

Rapid acceleration on snow covered, wet, or other slippery

surfaces may cause the driving wheels to pull erratically to

the right or left. This phenomenon occurs when there is a

difference in the surface traction under the front (driving)

wheels.

Traction

When driving on wet or slushy roads, it is possible for a

wedge of water to build up between the tire and road

surface. This is hydroplaning and may cause partial or

complete loss of vehicle control and stopping ability. To

reduce this possibility, the following precautions should be

observed:
• Slow down during rainstorms or when the roads are

slushy.

• Slow down if the road has standing water or puddles.
• Replace the tires when tread wear indicators first become

visible.

• Keep tires properly inflated.
• Maintain sufficient distance between your vehicle and the

vehicle in front of you to avoid a collision in a sudden stop.

WARNING!

Rapid acceleration on slippery surfaces is dangerous.

Unequal traction can cause sudden pulling of the front

wheels. You could lose control of the vehicle and

possibly have a collision. Accelerate slowly and carefully

whenever there is likely to be poor traction (ice, snow,

wet, mud, loose sand, etc.).

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197

Driving Through Water

Driving through water more than a few inches/centimeters

deep will require extra caution to ensure safety and prevent

damage to your vehicle.

Flowing/Rising Water

Shallow Standing Water

Although your vehicle is capable of driving through shallow

standing water, consider the following Cautions and Warn

-

ings before doing so.

WARNING!

Do not drive on or across a road or path where water is

flowing and/or rising (as in storm run-off). Flowing

water can wear away the road or path's surface and cause

your vehicle to sink into deeper water. Furthermore,

flowing and/or rising water can carry your vehicle away

swiftly. Failure to follow this warning may result in

injuries that are serious or fatal to you, your passengers,

and others around you.

WARNING!

• Driving through standing water limits your vehicle’s

traction capabilities. Do not exceed 5 mph (8 km/h)

when driving through standing water.

• Driving through standing water limits your vehicle’s

braking capabilities, which increases stopping

distances. Therefore, after driving through standing

water, drive slowly and lightly press on the brake pedal

several times to dry the brakes.

• Failure to follow these warnings may result in injuries

that are serious or fatal to you, your passengers, and

others around you.

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198 STARTING AND OPERATING

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CAUTION!

• Always check the depth of the standing water before

driving through it. Never drive through standing water

that is deeper than the bottom of the tire rims mounted

on the vehicle.

• Determine the condition of the road or the path that is

under water and if there are any obstacles in the way

before driving through the standing water.

• Do not exceed 5 mph (8 km/h) when driving through

standing water. This will minimize wave effects.

• Driving through standing water may cause damage to

your vehicle’s drivetrain components. Always inspect

your vehicle’s fluids (i.e., engine oil, transmission, axle,

etc.) for signs of contamination (i.e., fluid that is milky

or foamy in appearance) after driving through standing

water. Do not continue to operate the vehicle if any

fluid appears contaminated, as this may result in

further damage. Such damage is not covered by the

New Vehicle Limited Warranty.

• Getting water inside your vehicle’s engine can cause it

to lock up and stall out, and cause serious internal

damage to the engine. Such damage is not covered by

the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.

CAUTION!

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199

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS

The Hazard Warning flasher switch is located on the instru

-

ment panel below the climate controls.

Push the switch to turn on the Hazard Warning

flasher. When the switch is activated, all directional

turn signals will flash on and off to warn oncoming

traffic of an emergency. Push the switch a second time to

turn off the Hazard Warning flashers.
This is an emergency warning system and it should not be

used when the vehicle is in motion. Use it when your vehicle

is disabled and it is creating a safety hazard for other

motorists.

When you must leave the vehicle to seek assistance, the

Hazard Warning flashers will continue to operate even

though the ignition is placed in the OFF position.

NOTE:

With extended use, the Hazard Warning flashers may wear

down your battery.

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200 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

BULB REPLACEMENT

Replacement Bulbs

Interior Bulbs

Lamps

Bulb Number

Front Courtesy Lamps

C10W

Rear Courtesy Lamps

C10W

Luggage Lamp

C5W

Exterior Bulbs

Lamps

Bulb Number

Front Low Beam Headlamp

H11

Front High Beam Headlamps

HB3

Front Side Marker Lamps

LED (See an authorized dealer)

Front Parking/Daytime Running Lamps

W21W

Front Turn Signal Lamps

WY21W

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

201

Replacing Exterior Bulbs

Headlamps

To change the bulb, proceed as follows:
1. Remove the plastic cap from the back of the headlamp

housing.

2. Rotate the bulb counterclockwise.
3. Remove the bulb and replace as needed.

4. Install the bulb and rotate clockwise to lock in place.
5. Reinstall the plastic cap.

Front Turn Signal Lamps

To change the bulb, proceed as follows:
1. Remove the cap from the back of the outer upper head

-

lamp housing.

2. Rotate the bulb counterclockwise and remove.

Rear Stop Lamp

P21W

Rear Turn Signal Lamps

PY21W

Rear Tail Lamps

P21/5W

Rear Side Marker Lamps

LED (See an authorized dealer)

Center Mount Brake Lamp

W5W

Reverse Light

W16W

Front Fog Lamps

H11

NOTE:

Numbers refer to commercial bulb types that can be purchased from your authorized dealer. If a bulb needs to be replaced

visit an authorized dealer or refer to the applicable Service Manual.

Exterior Bulbs

Lamps

Bulb Number

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202 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

3. Install the bulb into socket.
4. Rotate the bulb/socket clockwise into the lamp locking it

in place.

5. Reinstall the plastic cap.

Parking And Daytime Running Lights

To change the bulb, proceed as follows:
1. Remove the cap from the back of the outer lower head

-

lamp housing.

2. Rotate the bulb counterclockwise and remove.
3. Install the bulb into socket, and rotate bulb/socket clock

-

wise into lamp locking it in place.

4. Reinstall the plastic cap.

Front/Rear Side Marker Lamps

To change the bulb, proceed as follows:
The front/rear side marker lamps are LED and not serviced

separately. See an authorized dealer for replacement of these

lights.

Rear Tail, Stop, Backup And Turn Signal Lamps

The rear light clusters contain taillight, brake light, direction

indicator and reverse/rear fog light bulbs. To access the light

clusters, proceed as follows:
1. Open the rear doors.
2. Remove the screws and remove the tail lamp assembly.
3. Remove the screws and separate the backplate from the

lamp housing.

4. Remove the tail, stop, or turn signal bulbs by pushing

them slightly and turning counterclockwise.

5. Remove the backup lamp bulb by pulling straight out.
6. Replace lamps as required and reinstall lamp.
The bulbs are arranged inside the light cluster as follows:

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

203

Third Brake Light (Center Mount)

To change the bulb, proceed as follows:
1. For versions with tailgate, loosen the two fastening

screws and extract the cluster.

2. For versions with swing doors, remove rubber plugs,

remove retaining tabs and extract the cluster.

3. For versions with high roof and swing doors, remove the

pressure-fit plastic guard and rubber cap using a screw

-

driver, release the retaining tags as shown in the figure

and remove the unit.

4. Remove the appropriate tabs and remove the bulb holder.
5. Remove the snap-fitted bulb and replace it.

License Plate Lights

Proceed as follows to replace the bulbs:
1. Disengage the holding tabs and remove the lens by lifting

to the left.

2. Remove the bulbs by releasing them from the side

contacts; insert the new bulbs and make sure they are

correctly clamped between these contacts.

Replacing Interior Bulbs

Dome Lamp With Spot Lights

To change the bulbs, proceed as follows:
1. Remove dome lamp by depressing the tabs, using a suit

-

able tool.

Dome Lamp Assembly

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204 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

2. Open protective cover.

Dome Lamp

3. Replace the bulbs releasing them from the side contacts

making sure that the new bulbs are correctly secured

between the contacts.

4. Close the protective cover and reposition it back into its

housing, making sure that it locks into place.

Rear Roof Lamp

To change the bulb, proceed as follows:
1. Remove roof lamp by depressing the tabs, using a suit

-

able tool.

Roof Lamp

1 — Protective Cover

2 — Bulbs