2021 RAM 1500 Owners Manual - FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE OPERATION — IF EQUIPPED

FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE OPERATION — IF EQUIPPED

FOUR-POSITION ELECTRONICALLY SHIFTED TRANSFER CASE — IF EQUIPPED

This is an electronic shift transfer case and is operated by the 4WD Control Switch (Transfer Case Switch), located on the instrument panel.

This electronically shifted transfer case provides four mode positions:

Two-Wheel Drive High Range (2WD) — This range is for normal street and highway driving on dry hard surfaced roads. Driving

the vehicle in 2WD will have greater fuel economy benefits as the front axle is not engaged in 2WD.

Four-Wheel Drive High Range (4WD HIGH) — This range provides torque to the front drive- shaft (engages four-wheel drive) which allows front and rear wheels to spin at the same speed. This provides additional traction for loose or slippery road surfaces only.

Four-Wheel Drive Low Range (4WD LOW) — 4

This range provides low speed four-wheel drive. It maximizes torque (increased torque over 4WD HIGH) to the front driveshaft; allowing front and rear wheels to rotate at the same speed. This range provides additional traction and maximum pulling power for loose or slippery road surfaces only. Do not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h) in this range.

N (Neutral) — This range disengages both the front and rear driveshafts from the power- train. To be used for flat towing behind another vehicle page 231.

The 4WD High and 4WD Low positions are designed for loose, slippery road surfaces only. Driving in the 4WD High and 4WD Low positions on dry, hard surfaced roads may cause increased tire wear and damage to the driveline components.

The transfer case N (Neutral) button is located in the center of the 4WD Control Switch and is pushed by using a ballpoint pen or similar object. The transfer case N (Neutral) position is to be used for recreational towing only

page 231.

Transfer Case Position Indicator Lights The Transfer Case Position Indicator Lights

(4WD High and 4WD Low) are located in the instrument cluster and indicate the current and desired transfer case selection. When you select a different transfer case position, the indicator lights will do the following:

The current position indicator light will turn off.

The selected position indicator light will flash until the transfer case completes the shift.

When the shift is complete, the indicator light for the selected position will stop flashing and remain on.

The indicator light for the current position will remain on.

The newly selected position indicator light will continue to flash.

If the transfer case will not shift, a message will appear on the cluster stating the 4WD shift has canceled.

Before retrying a selection, make certain that all the necessary requirements for selecting a new transfer case position have been met. To retry the selection, push the current position, wait five seconds, and retry selection.

The “SVC 4WD Warning Light” monitors the electronic shift four-wheel drive system. If this light remains on after engine start up or illuminates during driving, it means that the four-wheel drive system is not functioning properly and that service is required.

Do not attempt to make a shift while only the front or rear wheels are spinning. This could cause damage to driveline components.

When operating your vehicle in 4WD Low, the engine speed is approximately three times that of the 2WD 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 in tire size can cause damage to the drivetrain.

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.

Shifting Procedure

If any of the requirements to select a new transfer case position have not been met, then the transfer case will not shift. The posi- tion indicator light for the previous position will remain on and the newly selected posi- tion indicator light will continue to flash until all the requirements for the selected position have been met.

If all the requirements to select a new transfer case position have been met, then the current position indicator light will turn off and the selected position indicator light will flash until the transfer case completes the shift. When the shift is complete, the position indicator light for the selected position will stop flashing and remain on.

FIVE-POSITION ELECTRONICALLY SHIFTED TRANSFER CASE — IF EQUIPPED

This is an electronic shift transfer case and is operated by the 4WD Control Switch (Transfer Case Switch), which is located on the instrument panel.

This electronically shifted transfer case provides five mode positions:

Two-Wheel Drive High Range (2WD) — This range is for normal street and highway driving on dry hard surfaced roads. Driving the vehicle in 2WD will have greater fuel economy benefits as the front axle is not engaged in 2WD.

Four-Wheel Drive Automatic High Range (4WD AUTO) — This range sends power to the front wheels automatically when the vehicle senses a loss of traction. This range may be used during varying road conditions.

Four-Wheel Drive High Range (4WD HIGH) — This range provides torque to the front drive- shaft (engages four-wheel drive) which allows front and rear wheels to spin at the same speed. This provides additional traction for loose or slippery road surfaces only.

Four-Wheel Drive Low Range (4WD LOW) — This range provides low speed four-wheel drive. It maximizes torque (increased torque

over 4WD HIGH) to the front driveshaft; 4

allowing front and rear wheels to rotate at the same speed. This range provides additional traction and maximum pulling power for loose or slippery road surfaces only. Do not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h) in this range.

N (Neutral) — This range disengages both the front and rear driveshafts from the power- train. To be used for flat towing behind another vehicle page 231.

The 4WD High and 4WD Low positions are designed for loose, slippery road surfaces only. Driving in the 4WD High and 4WD Low

positions on dry hard surfaced roads may cause increased tire wear and damage to the driveline components.

The transfer case N (Neutral) button is located in the center of the 4WD Control Switch and is pushed by using a ballpoint pen or similar object. The transfer case N (Neutral) position is to be used for recre- ational towing only page 231.

The Transfer Case Position Indicator Lights (4WD High, 4WD Low, and 4WD Auto) are located in the instrument cluster and indicate the current and desired transfer case selection. When you select a different transfer case position, the indicator lights will do the following:

The current position indicator light will turn off.

The selected position indicator light will flash until the transfer case completes the shift.

When the shift is complete, the indicator light for the selected position will stop flashing and remain on.

The indicator light for the current position will remain on.

The newly selected position indicator light will continue to flash.

If the transfer case will not shift, there will be a cluster message stating the 4WD shift has canceled.

Before retrying a selection, make certain that all the necessary requirements for selecting a new transfer case position have been met. To retry the selection, push the current position, wait five seconds, and retry selection.

The “SVC 4WD Warning Light” monitors the electronic shift four-wheel drive system. If this light remains on after engine start up or illuminates during driving, it means that the four-wheel drive system is not functioning properly and that service is required.

Do not attempt to make a shift while only the front or rear wheels are spinning. This could cause damage to driveline components.

When operating your vehicle in 4WD Low, the engine speed is approximately three times that of the 2WD, 4WD Auto 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 in tire size can cause damage to the drivetrain.

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.

If any of the requirements to select a new transfer case position have not been met, then the transfer case will not shift. The posi- tion indicator light for the previous position will remain on and the newly selected posi- tion indicator light will continue to flash until all the requirements for the selected position have been met.

If all the requirements to select a new transfer case position have been met, then the current position indicator light will turn off and the selected position indicator light will flash until the transfer case completes the shift. When the shift is complete, the position indicator light for the selected position will stop flashing and remain on.