RAM Chassis Cab (2021 year). Manual in english — page 9

138

STARTING AND OPERATING

When additional traction is required, the 4H and 4L

positions can be used to lock the front and rear

driveshafts together and force the front and rear

wheels to rotate at the same speed. This is

accomplished by simply moving the gear selector

to the desired positions once the appropriate

speed and gear requirements are met

Ú

page 136.

The 4H and 4L positions are intended for loose,

slippery road surfaces only. Driving in the 4H and

4L positions on dry, hard surfaced roads may

cause increased tire wear and damage to the

driveline components.
The “Transfer Case Position Indicator Light” in the

instrument cluster will alert the driver that the

vehicle is in four-wheel drive and that the front and

rear driveshafts are locked together. This light will

illuminate when the transfer case is shifted into

either the 4H or 4L position. There is no light for the

2H or N (Neutral) positions on some models.
When operating your vehicle in 4WD Low, the

engine speed is approximately three times that of

the two-wheel drive or 4WD High positions at a

given road speed. Take care not to overspeed the

engine and do not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h).
Proper operation of four-wheel drive vehicles

depends on tires of equal size, type and

circumference on each wheel. Any difference will

adversely affect shifting and can cause damage to

the drivetrain.

NOTE:

Do not attempt to make a shift while only the front

or rear wheels are spinning, as this can cause

damage to driveline components.
Because four-wheel drive provides improved

traction, there is a tendency to exceed safe turning

and stopping speeds. Do not go faster than road

conditions permit.

NOTE:

Delayed shifts out of four-wheel drive may be expe

-

rienced due to uneven tire wear, low or uneven tire

pressures, excessive vehicle loading, or cold

temperatures.

Shifting Procedure — Manually Shifted

Transfer Case

2H TO 4H

Shifting between 2H and 4H can be made with the

vehicle stopped or in motion. If the vehicle is in

motion, shifts can be made up to 55 mph (88 km/h).

With the vehicle in motion, the transfer case will

engage/disengage faster if you momentarily release

the accelerator pedal after completing the shift.

Apply a constant force when shifting the transfer

case lever.

2WD HIGH OR 4WD HIGH TO 4WD LOW

NOTE:

When shifting into or out of 4L some gear noise

may be heard. This noise is normal and is not detri

-

mental to the vehicle or occupants.
With the vehicle rolling at 2 to 3 mph (3 to 5 km/h),

shift the transmission into NEUTRAL. While the

vehicle is coasting at 2 to 3 mph (3 to 5 km/h),

shift the transfer case lever firmly to the desired

position. Do not pause in transfer case Neutral.

NOTE:



Pausing in transfer case N (Neutral) in vehicles

equipped with an automatic transmission may

require shutting the engine OFF to avoid gear

clash while completing the shift. If difficulty

WARNING!

You or others could be injured or killed if you

leave the vehicle unattended with the transfer

case in the N (NEUTRAL) position without first

fully engaging the parking brake. The transfer

case N (NEUTRAL) position disengages both the

front and rear drive shafts from the powertrain

and will allow the vehicle to roll, even if the

transmission is in PARK. The parking brake

should always be applied when the driver is not

in the vehicle.

STARTING AND OPERATING

139

occurs, shift the transmission into Neutral, hold

your foot on the brake, and turn the engine OFF.

Complete the range shift to the desired mode.



Shifting into or out of 4L is possible with the

vehicle completely stopped, however difficulty

may occur due to the mating clutch teeth not

being properly aligned. Several attempts may be

required for clutch teeth alignment and shift

completion to occur. The preferred method is

with the vehicle rolling 2 to 3 mph (3 to 5 km/h).

Avoid attempting to engage or disengage 4L

with the vehicle moving faster than 2 to 3 mph

(3 to 5 km/h).



Do not attempt to shift into or out of 4L while the

transmission is in gear.

Transfer Case Position Indicator Light

The “Transfer Case Position Indicator Light” in the

instrument cluster is used to alert the driver that

the front axle is fully engaged and all four wheels

are driving.

LIMITED-SLIP DIFFERENTIAL

The limited-slip differential provides additional

traction on snow, ice, mud, sand and gravel,

particularly when there is a difference between the

traction characteristics of the surface under the

right and left rear wheels. During normal driving

and cornering, the limited-slip unit performs

similarly to a conventional differential. On slippery

surfaces, however, the differential delivers more of

the driving effort to the rear wheel having the

better traction.
The limited-slip differential is especially helpful

during slippery driving conditions. With both rear

wheels on a slippery surface, a slight application of

the accelerator will supply maximum traction.

When starting with only one rear wheel on an

excessively slippery surface, slight momentary

application of the parking brake may be necessary

to gain maximum traction.

Care should be taken to avoid sudden

accelerations when both rear wheels are on a

slippery surface. This could cause both rear wheels

to spin, and allow the vehicle to slide sideways on

the crowned surface of a road or in a turn.

POWER TAKE OFF (PTO) OPERATION —

IF EQUIPPED

This vehicle when equipped with PTO Prep and the

AS66RC/AS69RC automatic 6-speed, will allow for

an aftermarket upfit with a transmission driven

PTO (power take off). The customer will have the

ability to operate the PTO in either a “stationary”,

“mobile” or “remote” mode. The vehicles will be

factory set to the “stationary” mode. To select a

different mode, or to change any other PTO setting,

you will need to enter the commercial vehicle

menu on the instrument cluster screen. Details of

the PTO selection modes and further PTO

information is available at the Ram Truck

Bodybuilders web site: https://

www.ramtrucks.com/ram-commercial/

body-builders-guide.html

POWER STEERING

H

YDRAULIC

P

OWER

S

TEERING

The standard power steering system will provide

enhanced vehicle response and increased ease of

maneuverability in tight spaces. The system will

provide mechanical steering capability if power

assist is lost.

WARNING!

On vehicles equipped with a limited-slip

differential never run the engine with one rear

wheel off the ground since the vehicle may drive

through the rear wheel remaining on the ground.

You could lose control of the vehicle.

4

140

STARTING AND OPERATING

If for some reason the power assist is interrupted,

it will still be possible to steer your vehicle. Under

these conditions, you will observe a substantial

increase in steering effort, especially at very low

vehicle speeds and during parking maneuvers.

NOTE:



Increased noise levels at the end of the steering

wheel travel are considered normal and do not

indicate that there is a problem with the power

steering system.



Upon initial start-up in cold weather, the power

steering pump may make noise for a short

amount of time. This is due to the cold, thick

fluid in the steering system. This noise should

be considered normal, and it does not in any

way damage the steering system.

Power Steering Fluid Check

Checking the power steering fluid level at a defined

service interval is not required. The fluid should

only be checked if a leak is suspected, abnormal

noises are apparent, and/or the system is not

functioning as anticipated. Check fluid level when

the engine is cold and off. Coordinate inspection

efforts through an authorized dealer.

If necessary, add fluid to restore to the proper

indicated level. With a clean cloth, wipe any spilled

fluid from all surfaces

Ú

page 382.

CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEMS — IF EQUIPPED

Your vehicle may be equipped with the Cruise

Control system, or the Adaptive Cruise Control

(ACC) system:



Cruise Control will keep your vehicle at a

constant preset speed.



Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) will adjust the

vehicle speed up to the preset speed to main

-

tain a distance with the vehicle ahead.

NOTE:



In vehicles equipped with ACC, if ACC is not

enabled, Fixed Speed Cruise Control will not

detect vehicles directly ahead of you. Always be

aware of the feature selected.



Only one Cruise Control feature can operate at a

time. For example, if Fixed Speed Cruise Control

is enabled, Adaptive Cruise Control will be

unavailable, and vice versa.

C

RUISE

C

ONTROL

When engaged, the Cruise Control takes over

accelerator operations at speeds greater than

20 mph (32 km/h), or 25 mph (40 km/h),

depending on the powertrain equipped in the

vehicle.

CAUTION!

Prolonged operation of the steering system at

the end of the steering wheel travel will increase

the steering fluid temperature and it should be

avoided when possible. Damage to the power

steering pump may occur.

WARNING!

Fluid level should be checked on a level surface

and with the engine off to prevent injury from

moving parts and to ensure accurate fluid level

reading. Do not overfill. Use only manufacturer's

recommended power steering fluid.

CAUTION!

Do not use chemical flushes in your power

steering system as the chemicals can damage

your power steering components. Such damage

is not covered by the New Vehicle Limited

Warranty.

STARTING AND OPERATING

141

The Cruise Control buttons are located on the right

side of the steering wheel.

Cruise Control Buttons

To Activate

Push the on/off button to activate the Cruise

Control. The cruise indicator light in the instrument

cluster display will illuminate. To turn the system

off, push the on/off button a second time. The

cruise indicator light will turn off. The system

should be turned off when not in use.

To Set A Desired Speed

Turn the Cruise Control on. When the vehicle has

reached the desired speed, push the SET (-) button

and release. Release the accelerator and the

vehicle will operate at the selected speed. Once a

speed has been set, a message “CRUISE CONTROL

SET TO MPH (km/h)” will appear indicating the set

speed. A cruise indicator lamp, along with set

speed will also appear and stay on in the

instrument cluster display when the speed is set.

NOTE:

The vehicle should be traveling at a steady speed

and on level ground before pushing the SET (-)

button.

To Vary The Speed Setting

To Increase Or Decrease The Set Speed
When Cruise Control is set, you can increase the

speed by pushing the RES (+) button, or decrease

speed by pushing the SET (-) button.

U.S. Speed (mph)



Pushing the RES (+) button, or SET (-) button

once will result in a 1 mph speed adjustment.

Each subsequent tap of the button results in an

adjustment of 1 mph.



If the button is continually pushed, the set

speed will continue to adjust until the button is

released, then the new set speed will be estab

-

lished.

Metric Speed (km/h)



Pushing the RES (+), or SET (-) button once will

result in a 1 km/h speed adjustment. Each

subsequent tap of the button results in an

adjustment of 1 km/h.



If the button is continually pushed, the set

speed will continue to adjust until the button is

released, then the new set speed will be estab

-

lished.

To Accelerate For Passing

While the Cruise Controls is set, press the

accelerator as you would normally. When the pedal

is released, the vehicle will return to the set speed.

USING CRUISE CONTROL ON HILLS

The transmission may downshift on hills to

maintain the vehicle set speed.
The Cruise Control system maintains speed up and

down hills. A slight speed change on moderate hills

1 — On/Off Button
2 — CANCEL
3 — RES (+)
4 — SET (-)

WARNING!

Leaving the Cruise Control system on when not

in use is dangerous. You could accidentally set

the system or cause it to go faster than you

want. You could lose control and have an

accident. Always leave the system off when you

are not using it.

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142

STARTING AND OPERATING

(Continued)

is normal. On steep hills, a greater speed loss or

gain may occur so it may be preferable to drive

without Cruise Control.

To Resume Speed

To resume a previously set speed, push the RES (+)

button and release. Resume can be used at any

speed above 20 mph (32 km/h).

To Deactivate

A soft tap on the brake pedal, pushing the CANCEL

button, or normal brake pressure while slowing the

vehicle will deactivate the Cruise Control without

erasing the set speed from memory.
The following conditions will also deactivate the

Cruise Control without erasing the set speed from

memory:



Vehicle parking brake is applied



Stability event occurs



Gear selector is moved out of DRIVE



Engine overspeed occurs

Pushing the on/off button, or placing the ignition in

the OFF position, erases the set speed from

memory.

A

DAPTIVE

C

RUISE

C

ONTROL

(ACC)

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) increases the driving

convenience provided by Cruise Control while

traveling on highways and major roadways.

However, it is not a safety system and not designed

to prevent collisions. The Cruise Control function

performs differently if your vehicle is not equipped

with ACC

Ú

page 140.

ACC will allow you to keep Cruise Control engaged

in light to moderate traffic conditions without the

constant need to reset your speed. ACC utilizes a

radar sensor and a forward facing camera

designed to detect a vehicle directly ahead of you

to maintain a set speed.

NOTE:



If the ACC sensor detects a vehicle ahead, ACC

will apply limited braking or acceleration (not to

exceed the original set speed) automatically to

maintain a preset following distance, while

matching the speed of the vehicle ahead.



Any chassis/suspension or tire size modifica

-

tions to the vehicle will affect the performance

of the Adaptive Cruise Control and Forward Colli

-

sion Warning system.



Fixed Speed Cruise Control (ACC not enabled)

will not detect vehicles directly ahead of you.

Always be aware of the feature selected.

WARNING!

Cruise Control can be dangerous where the

system cannot maintain a constant speed. Your

vehicle could go too fast for the conditions, and

you could lose control and have an accident. Do

not use Cruise Control in heavy traffic or on

roads that are winding, icy, snow-covered or

slippery.

WARNING!



Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is a conve

-

nience system. It is not a substitute for active

driver involvement. It is always the driver’s

responsibility to be attentive of road, traffic,

and weather conditions, vehicle speed,

distance to the vehicle ahead; and, most

importantly, brake operation to ensure safe

operation of the vehicle under all road condi

-

tions. Your complete attention is always

required while driving to maintain safe control

of your vehicle. Failure to follow these warn

-

ings can result in a collision and death or

serious personal injury.



The ACC system:



Does not react to pedestrians, oncoming

vehicles, and stationary objects (e.g., a

stopped vehicle in a traffic jam or a

disabled vehicle).

STARTING AND OPERATING

143

(Continued)

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Operation

The buttons on the right side of the steering wheel

operate the ACC system.

Adaptive Cruise Control Buttons



Cannot take street, traffic, and weather

conditions into account, and may be

limited upon adverse sight distance condi

-

tions.



Does not always fully recognize complex

driving conditions, which can result in

wrong or missing distance warnings.



Will bring the vehicle to a complete stop

while following a target vehicle and hold

the vehicle for approximately two seconds

in the stop position. At this point, there will

be an “ACC may cancel soon” chime and

warning to the driver. When ACC is

cancelled, the system will release the

brakes and the driver must take over

braking. The system can be resumed

when the target vehicle drives off by

releasing the brake and pushing the

resume button on the steering wheel.

WARNING!

You should switch off the ACC system:



When driving in fog, heavy rain, heavy snow,

sleet, heavy traffic, and complex driving situa

-

tions (i.e., in highway construction zones).



When entering a turn lane or highway off

ramp; when driving on roads that are winding,

icy, snow-covered, slippery, or have steep

uphill or downhill slopes.



When towing a trailer up or down steep slopes.



When circumstances do not allow safe driving

at a constant speed.

WARNING!

1 — Adaptive Cruise Control On/Off Button
2 — Fixed Speed Cruise Control On/Off Button
3 — CANCEL
4 — Distance Button
5 — RES (+)
6 — SET (-)

4

144

STARTING AND OPERATING

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Menu

The instrument cluster display will show the

current ACC system settings. The information it

displays depends on ACC system status.
Push the ACC on/off button until one of the

following appears in the instrument cluster display:
Adaptive Cruise Control Off
When ACC is deactivated, the display will read

“Adaptive Cruise Control Off.”
Adaptive Cruise Control Ready
When ACC is activated, but the vehicle speed

setting has not been selected, the display will read

“Adaptive Cruise Control Ready.”
Adaptive Cruise Control Set
When the RES (+) or the SET(-) button is pushed,

the display will read “ACC SET.”
When ACC is set, the set speed will show in the

instrument cluster display.
The ACC screen may display once again if any of

the following ACC activity occurs:



System Cancel



Driver Override



System Off



ACC Proximity Warning



ACC Unavailable Warning

The instrument cluster display will return to the last

display selected after five seconds of no ACC

display activity.

Activating Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

The minimum set speed for the ACC system is

20 mph (32 km/h).
When the system is turned on and in the ready

state, the instrument cluster display will read “ACC

Ready.”
When the system is off, the instrument cluster

display will read “Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Off.”

NOTE:

You cannot engage ACC under the following condi

-

tions:



When in 4WD Low



When brakes are applied



When the parking brake is applied



When the automatic transmission is in PARK,

REVERSE or NEUTRAL



When the vehicle speed is below the minimum

speed range



When the brakes are overheated



When the driver’s door is open at low speeds



When the driver’s seat belt is unbuckled at low

speed



Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Full Off mode is

active

To Activate/Deactivate

Push and release the Adaptive Cruise Control

(ACC) on/off button. The ACC menu in the

instrument cluster displays “ACC Ready.”
To turn the system off, push and release the

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) on/off button again.

At this time, the system will turn off and the

instrument cluster display will show “Adaptive

Cruise Control (ACC) Off.”

To Set A Desired ACC Speed

When the vehicle reaches the speed desired, push

the SET (-) button and release. The instrument

cluster display will show the set speed.

NOTE:

Fixed Speed Cruise Control can be used without

ACC enabled. To change between the different

modes, push the ACC on/off button which turns

the ACC and the Fixed Speed Cruise Control off.

WARNING!

Leaving the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

system on when not in use is dangerous. You

could accidentally set the system or cause it to

go faster than you want. You could lose control

and have a collision. Always leave the system off

when you are not using it.

STARTING AND OPERATING

145

Pushing the Fixed Speed Cruise Control on/off

button will result in turning on (changing to) Fixed

Speed Cruise Control mode.

If ACC is set when the vehicle speed is below

20 mph (32 km/h), the set speed will default to

20 mph (32 km/h).

NOTE:

Fixed Speed Cruise Control cannot be set below

20 mph (32 km/h).
If either system is set when the vehicle speed is

above 20 mph (32 km/h), the set speed shall be

the current speed of the vehicle.

NOTE:



Keeping your foot on the accelerator pedal can

cause the vehicle to continue to accelerate

beyond the set speed. If this occurs, the

message “ACC DRIVER OVERRIDE” will display

in the instrument cluster display.



If you continue to accelerate beyond the set

speed while ACC is enabled, the system will not

be controlling the distance between your vehicle

and the vehicle ahead. The vehicle speed will

only be determined by the position of the accel

-

erator pedal.

To Cancel

The following conditions cancel the ACC or Fixed

Speed Cruise Control systems:



The brake pedal is applied.



The CANCEL button is pushed.



An Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) event occurs.



The gear selector is removed from the DRIVE

position.



The Electronic Stability Control/Traction Control

System (ESC/TCS) activates.



The vehicle parking brake is applied.



Driver seat belt is unbuckled at low speeds.



Driver door is opened at low speeds.



A Trailer Sway Control (TSC) event occurs.



The driver switches ESC to Full Off mode.



The braking temperature exceeds normal range

(overheated).



The trailer brake is applied manually (if

equipped).

The following conditions will only cancel the ACC

system:



Driver seat belt is unbuckled at low speeds



Driver door is opened at low speeds

To Turn Off

The system will turn off and clear the set speed in

memory if:



The Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) on/off button

is pushed



The Fixed Speed Cruise Control on/off button is

pushed



The ignition is placed in the OFF position



4WD Low is engaged

To Resume

If there is a set speed in memory push the RES (+)

button and then remove your foot from the

accelerator pedal. The instrument cluster display

will display the last set speed.
Resume can be used at any speed above 20 mph

(32 km/h) when only Fixed Speed Cruise Control is

being used.
Resume can be used at any speed above 0 mph

(0 km/h) when ACC is active.

WARNING!

In Fixed Speed Cruise Control mode, the system

will not react to vehicles ahead. In addition, the

proximity warning does not activate and no

alarm will sound even if you are too close to the

vehicle ahead since neither the presence of the

vehicle ahead nor the vehicle-to-vehicle distance

is detected. Be sure to maintain a safe distance

between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead.

Always be aware which mode is selected.

4

146

STARTING AND OPERATING

NOTE:



While in ACC mode, when the vehicle comes to

a complete stop longer than two seconds, the

system will cancel. The driver will have to apply

the brakes to keep the vehicle at a standstill.



ACC cannot be resumed if there is a stationary

vehicle in front of your vehicle in close proximity.

To Vary The Speed Setting

To Increase Or Decrease The Set Speed
After setting a speed, you can increase the set

speed by pushing the RES (+) button, or decrease

speed by pushing the SET (-) button.

U.S. Speed (mph)



Pushing the RES (+) button, or SET (-) button

once will result in a 1 mph speed adjustment.

Each subsequent tap of the button results in an

adjustment of 1 mph.



If the button is continually pushed, the set

speed will continue to adjust in 5 mph incre

-

ments until the button is released. The new set

speed is reflected in the instrument cluster

display.

Metric Speed (km/h)



Pushing the RES (+) button, or SET (-) button

once will result in a 1 km/h speed adjustment.

Each subsequent tap of the button results in an

adjustment of 1 km/h.



If the button is continually pushed, the set

speed will continue to adjust in 10 km/h incre

-

ments until the button is released. The new set

speed is reflected in the instrument cluster

display.

When ACC Is Active:



When you use the SET (-) button to decelerate, if

the engine’s braking power does not slow the

vehicle sufficiently to reach the set speed, the

brake system will automatically slow the

vehicle.



The ACC system applies the brake down to a full

stop when following the vehicle in front. If your

vehicle follows the vehicle in front to a standstill,

your vehicle will release the brakes two seconds

after coming to a full stop.



The ACC system maintains set speed when

driving uphill and downhill. However, a slight

speed change on moderate hills is normal. In

addition, downshifting may occur while climbing

uphill or descending downhill. This is normal

operation and necessary to maintain set speed.

When driving uphill and downhill, the ACC

system will cancel if the braking temperature

exceeds normal range (overheated).

Setting The Following Distance In ACC

The specified following distance for Adaptive

Cruise Control (ACC) can be set by varying the

distance setting between four bars (longest), three

bars (long), two bars (medium) and one bar (short).

Using this distance setting and the vehicle speed,

ACC calculates and sets the distance to the vehicle

ahead. This distance setting displays in the

instrument cluster display.

WARNING!

The Resume function should only be used if

traffic and road conditions permit. Resuming a

set speed that is too high or too low for

prevailing traffic and road conditions could

cause the vehicle to accelerate or decelerate too

sharply for safe operation. Failure to follow these

warnings can result in a collision and death or

serious personal injury.

STARTING AND OPERATING

147

Distance Settings

To adjust the distance setting, push the Distance

Button and release. Each time the button is

pushed, the distance setting increases by one bar

(longer). When the farthest distance is set, pushing

the distance button again will reset to the shortest

distance.
If there is no vehicle ahead, the vehicle will

maintain the set speed. If a slower moving vehicle

is detected in the same lane, the instrument

cluster displays the ACC Set With Target Detected

Indicator Light, and the system adjusts vehicle

speed automatically to maintain the distance

setting, regardless of the set speed.

The vehicle will then maintain the set distance

until:



The vehicle ahead accelerates to a speed above

the set speed.



The vehicle ahead moves out of your lane or

view of the sensor.



The distance setting is changed.



The system disengages.

The maximum braking applied by ACC is limited;

however, the driver can always apply the brakes

manually, if necessary.

NOTE:

The brake lights will illuminate whenever the ACC

system applies the brakes.
A Proximity Warning will alert the driver if ACC

predicts that its maximum braking level is not

sufficient to maintain the set distance. If this

occurs, a visual alert “BRAKE” will flash in the

instrument cluster display and a chime will sound

while ACC continues to apply its maximum braking

force.

NOTE:

The “BRAKE!” screen in the instrument cluster

display is a warning for the driver to take action

and does not necessarily mean that the Forward

Collision Warning system is applying the brakes

autonomously.

Trailer Detect — If Equipped
When a trailer is detected, the ACC system

automatically defaults to the longest setting (four

bars). The setting can be overridden by pushing the

Distance Button on the steering wheel.

Overtake Aid

When driving with ACC engaged and following a

vehicle, the system will provide an additional

acceleration up to the ACC set speed to assist in

passing the vehicle. This additional acceleration is

triggered when the driver utilizes the left turn

signal and will only be active when passing on the

left hand side.

ACC Operation At Stop

If the ACC system brings your vehicle to a standstill

while following a vehicle ahead, your vehicle will

resume motion, without any driver interaction, if

the vehicle ahead starts moving within two

seconds of your vehicle coming to a standstill.
If the vehicle in front does not start moving within

two seconds of your vehicle coming to a standstill,

the ACC with Stop system will cancel and the

brakes will release. A cancel message will display

on the instrument cluster display and produce a

warning chime. The driver must now manually

operate the vehicle’s accelerator and brakes.
While ACC with Stop is holding your vehicle at a

standstill, if the driver seat belt is unbuckled or the

driver door is opened, the ACC with Stop system

1 — Longest Distance Setting (Four Bars)
2 — Medium Distance Setting (Two Bars)
3 — Long Distance Setting (Three Bars)
4 — Short Distance Setting (One Bar)

4

148

STARTING AND OPERATING

will cancel and the brakes will release. A cancel

message will display on the instrument cluster

display and produce a warning chime. The driver

must now manually operate the vehicle’s

accelerator and brakes.

Display Warnings And Maintenance

“WIPE FRONT RADAR SENSOR IN FRONT OF

VEHICLE” WARNING

The “ACC/FCW Unavailable Wipe Front Radar

Sensor” warning will display and a chime will

sound when conditions temporarily limit system

performance.
This most often occurs at times of poor visibility,

such as in snow or heavy rain. The ACC system may

also become temporarily blinded due to

obstructions, such as mud, dirt or ice. In these

cases, the instrument cluster display will display

“ACC/FCW Unavailable Wipe Front Radar Sensor”

and the system will deactivate.

This message can sometimes be displayed while

driving in highly reflective areas (i.e. ice and snow,

or tunnels with reflective tiles). The ACC system will

recover after the vehicle has left these areas.

Under rare conditions, when the radar is not

tracking any vehicles or objects in its path this

warning may temporarily occur.

NOTE:

If the “ACC/FCW Unavailable Wipe Front Radar

Sensor” warning is active, Fixed Speed Cruise

Control is still available.
If weather conditions are not a factor, the driver

should examine the sensor. It may require cleaning

or removal of an obstruction. The sensor is located

in the camera in the center of the windshield, on

the forward side of the rearview mirror.
To keep the ACC system operating properly, it is

important to note the following maintenance

items:



Always keep the sensor clean. Carefully clear

the windshield.



Do not remove any screws from the sensor.

Doing so could cause an ACC system malfunc

-

tion or failure and require a sensor realignment.



Do not attach or install any accessories near the

sensor, including transparent material or after

-

market grilles. Doing so could cause an ACC

system failure or malfunction.

When the condition that deactivated the system is

no longer present, the system will return to the

“Adaptive Cruise Control Off” state and will resume

function by simply reactivating it.

NOTE:



If the “ACC/FCW Unavailable Wipe Front Radar

Sensor” message occurs frequently (e.g. more

than once on every trip) without any snow, rain,

mud, or other obstruction, have the radar

sensor realigned at an authorized dealer.



Installing a snow plow, front-end protector, an

aftermarket grille or modifying the grille is not

recommended. Doing so may block the sensor

and inhibit ACC/FCW operation.

“CLEAN FRONT WINDSHIELD” WARNING

The “ACC/FCW Limited Functionality Clean Front

Windshield” warning will display and a chime will

sound when conditions temporarily limit system

performance. This most often occurs at times of

poor visibility, such as in snow or heavy rain and

fog. The ACC system may also become temporarily

blinded due to obstructions, such as mud, dirt, or

ice on windshield, driving directly into the sun and

fog on the inside of glass. In these cases, the

instrument cluster display will show “ACC/FCW

Limited Functionality Clean Front Windshield” and

the system will have degraded performance.

WARNING!

When the ACC system is resumed, the driver

must ensure that there are no pedestrians,

vehicles or objects in the path of the vehicle.

Failure to follow these warnings can result in a

collision and death or serious personal injury.

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149

This message can sometimes be displayed while

driving in adverse weather conditions. The ACC/

FCW system will recover after the vehicle has left

these areas. Under rare conditions, when the

camera is not tracking any vehicles or objects in its

path this warning may temporarily occur.
If weather conditions are not a factor, the driver

should examine the windshield and the camera

located on the back side of the inside rearview

mirror. They may require cleaning or removal of an

obstruction.
When the condition that created limited

functionality is no longer present, the system will

return to full functionality.

NOTE:

If the “ACC/FCW Limited Functionality Clean Front

Windshield” message occurs frequently (e.g. more

than once on every trip) without any snow, rain,

mud, or other obstruction, have the windshield and

forward facing camera inspected at an authorized

dealer.

SERVICE ACC/FCW WARNING

If the system turns off, and the instrument cluster

displays “ACC/FCW Unavailable Service Required”

or “Cruise/FCW Unavailable Service Required”,

there may be an internal system fault or a

temporary malfunction that limits ACC

functionality. Although the vehicle is still drivable

under normal conditions, ACC will be temporarily

unavailable. If this occurs, try activating ACC again

later, following an ignition cycle. If the problem

persists, see an authorized dealer.

Precautions While Driving With ACC

NOTE:



Aftermarket add-ons such as snow plows, lift

kits, and brush/grille bars can hinder module

performance. Ensure the radar/camera has no

obstructions in the field of view.



Height modifications can limit module perfor

-

mance and functionality.



Do not put stickers or easy passes over the

camera/radar field of view.



Any modifications to the vehicle that may

obstruct the field of view of the radar/camera

are not recommended.

In certain driving situations, ACC may have

detection issues. In these cases, ACC may brake

late or unexpectedly. The driver needs to stay alert

and may need to intervene. The following are

examples of these types of situations:

TOWING A TRAILER

ACC while towing a trailer is recommended only

with an Integrated Trailer Brake Controller.

Aftermarket trailer brake controllers will not

activate the trailer brakes when ACC is braking.

OFFSET DRIVING

ACC may not detect a vehicle in the same lane that

is offset from your direct line of travel, or a vehicle

merging in from a side lane. There may not be

sufficient distance to the vehicle ahead. The offset

vehicle may move in and out of the line of travel,

which can cause your vehicle to brake or

accelerate unexpectedly.

Offset Driving Condition Example

TURNS AND BENDS

When driving on a curve with ACC engaged, the

system may decrease the vehicle speed and

acceleration for stability reasons, with no target

vehicle detected. Once the vehicle is out of the

curve the system will resume your original set

speed. This is a part of normal ACC system

functionality.

4

150

STARTING AND OPERATING

NOTE:

On tight turns ACC performance may be limited.

The driver must maintain control of the vehicle,

remain alert, and be ready to apply the brakes if

needed.

Turn Or Bend Example

USING ACC ON HILLS

When driving on hills, ACC may not detect a vehicle

in your lane. Depending on the speed, vehicle load,

traffic conditions, and the steepness of the hills,

ACC performance may be limited.

NOTE:

The driver must maintain control of the vehicle,

remain alert, and be ready to apply the brakes if

needed.

ACC Hill Example

LANE CHANGING

ACC may not detect a vehicle until it is completely

in the lane in which you are traveling. In the

illustration shown, ACC has not yet detected the

vehicle changing lanes and it may not detect the

vehicle until it's too late for the ACC system to take

action. ACC may not detect a vehicle until it is

completely in the lane. There may not be sufficient

distance to the lane-changing vehicle. Always be

attentive and ready to apply the brakes if

necessary.

Lane Changing Example

NARROW VEHICLES

Some narrow vehicles traveling near the outer

edges of the lane or edging into the lane are not

detected until they have moved fully into the lane.

There may not be sufficient distance to the vehicle

ahead.

Narrow Vehicle Example

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151

STATIONARY OBJECTS AND VEHICLES

ACC does not react to stationary objects and

stationary vehicles. For example, ACC will not react

in situations where the vehicle you are following

exits your lane and the vehicle ahead is stopped in

your lane. Always be attentive and ready to apply

the brakes if necessary

Ú

page 387.

Stationary Object And Stationary Vehicle Example

PARKSENSE FRONT/REAR PARK ASSIST —

IF EQUIPPED

The ParkSense Park Assist system provides visual

and audible indications of the distance between

the rear, and/or front fascia/bumper, and a

detected obstacle when backing up or moving

forward (e.g. during a parking maneuver). For

limitations of this system and recommendations,

see

Ú

page 155.

ParkSense will retain the system state (enabled or

disabled) from the previous ignition cycle when the

ignition is placed in the ON/RUN position.
ParkSense can be active only when the gear

selector is in REVERSE or DRIVE. If ParkSense is

enabled at one of these gear selector positions,

the system will remain active until the vehicle

speed is increased to approximately 7 mph

(11 km/h) or above. A warning will appear in the

instrument cluster display when the vehicle is in

REVERSE, indicating the vehicle is above

ParkSense operating speed. The system will

become active again if the vehicle speed is

decreased to speeds less than approximately

6 mph (9 km/h).

P

ARK

S

ENSE

S

ENSORS

For the 3500, 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cab

vehicles, the rear ParkSense sensors are shipped

loose. Please refer to the Ram Body Builders Guide

for more information.
The four ParkSense sensors are to be located in

the rear fascia/bumper, and monitor the area

behind the vehicle that is within the sensors’ field

of view.
The sensors can detect obstacles from

approximately 12 inches (30 cm) up to 79 inches

(200 cm) from the rear fascia/bumper in the

horizontal direction, depending on the location,

type and orientation of the obstacle.

NOTE:

If equipped as a dually, the ParkSense system has

six rear sensors to assist in detection around the

dually flares.
The six ParkSense sensors, located in the front

fascia/bumper, monitor the area in front of the

vehicle that is within the sensors’ field of view. The

sensors can detect obstacles from approximately

12 inches (30 cm) up to 47 inches (120 cm) from

the front fascia/bumper in the horizontal direction,

depending on the location, type and orientation of

the obstacle.

P

ARK

S

ENSE

W

ARNING

D

ISPLAY

The ParkSense Warning screen is located within

the instrument cluster display

Ú

page 78. It

provides visual warnings to indicate the distance

between the rear fascia/bumper and/or front

fascia/bumper and the detected obstacle.

P

ARK

S

ENSE

D

ISPLAY

The warning display will turn on indicating the

system status when the vehicle is in REVERSE or

when the vehicle is in DRIVE and an obstacle has

been detected.
The system will indicate a detected obstacle by

showing a single arc in the left and/or right rear

regions based on the obstacle’s distance and

location relative to the vehicle.

4

152

STARTING AND OPERATING

Front/Rear ParkSense Arcs

1 — No Tone/Solid Arc

6 — Fast Tone/Flashing Arc

2 — No Tone/Flashing Arc

7 — Fast Tone/Flashing Arc

3 — Fast Tone/Flashing Arc

8 — Slow Tone/Solid Arc

4 — Continuous Tone/Flashing Arc

9 — Slow Tone/Solid Arc

5 — Continuous Tone/Flashing Arc

10 — Single 1/2 Second Tone/Solid Arc

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153

If an obstacle is detected in the left and/or right rear region, the display will show a single arc in the left and/or right rear region and the system will produce a

tone. As the vehicle moves closer to the obstacle, the display will show the single arc moving closer to the vehicle and the tone will change from a single 1/2

second tone to slow, to fast, to continuous.
The vehicle is close to the obstacle when the display shows one flashing arc and sounds a continuous tone. The following chart shows the warning alert operation

when the system is detecting an obstacle:

WARNING ALERTS FOR REAR

Rear Distance

(inches/cm)

Greater than

79 inches

(200 cm)

79-59 inches

(200-150 cm)

59-47 inches

(150-120 cm)

47-39 inches

(120-100 cm)

39-25 inches

(100-65 cm)

25-12 inches

(65-30 cm)

Less than

12 inches

(30 cm)

Audible Alert

Chime

None

Single

1/2 Second Tone

Slow

Slow

Fast

Fast

Continuous

Arcs-Left

None

None

None

None

None

6th Flashing

5th Flashing

Arcs-Center

None

10th Solid

9th Solid

8th Solid

7th Flashing

6th Flashing

5th Flashing

Arcs-Right

None

None

None

None

None

6th Flashing

5th Flashing

Radio Volume

Reduced

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

WARNING ALERTS FOR FRONT

Front Distance

(inches/cm)

Greater than 47 inches

(120 cm)

47-39 inches

(120-100 cm)

39-25 inches

(100-65 cm)

25-12 inches (65-30 cm)

Less than 12 inches

(30 cm)

Audible Alert Chime

None

None

None

Fast

Continuous

Arcs-Left

None

None

None

3rd Flashing

4th Flashing

Arcs-Center

None

1st Solid

2nd Flashing

3rd Flashing

4th Flashing

4