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2021 RAM 2500 Owners Manual - INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY



INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY

Your vehicle is equipped with an instrument cluster display, which offers useful information to the driver. With the ignition in the OFF mode, opening/closing of a door will activate the display for viewing, and display the total miles, or kilometers, in the odometer. Your instrument cluster display is designed to display important information about your vehicle’s systems and features. Using a driver interactive display located on the instrument panel, your instrument cluster display can show you how systems are working and give you warnings when they are not. The steering wheel mounted controls allow you to scroll through the main menus and submenus. You can access the specific information you want and make selections and adjustments.

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY CONTROLS

The instrument cluster display features a driver interactive display that is located in the instrument cluster.

1 – Instrument Cluster Display Controls 2 – Instrument Cluster Display Screen

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1 – Instrument Cluster Display Controls 2 – Instrument Cluster Display Screen

The instrument cluster display menu items may consist of the following:

    Speedometer
    Vehicle Info
    Driver Assist — If Equipped
    Fuel Economy
    Trip Info
    Trailer Tow
    Audio
    Messages
    Screen Set Up
    Commercial Settings — If Equipped The system allows the driver to select

information by pushing the following instrument cluster display control buttons located on the left side of the steering wheel:

    Up Arrow Button

Push and release the up arrow button to scroll upward through the main menu items, submenu screen, and vehicle settings.

    Down Arrow Button

Push and release the down arrow button to scroll downward through the main menu items, submenu screen, and vehicle settings.

    Right Arrow Button

Push and release the right arrow button to access/select the information screens or submenu screens of a main menu item. Push

and hold the right arrow button for two seconds to reset displayed/selected features that can be reset.

    Left Arrow Button

Push and release the left arrow button to access/select the information screens, submenu screens of a main menu item, or to return to the main menu.

OIL LIFE RESET

Your vehicle is equipped with an engine oil change indicator system. The “Oil Change Required” message will display in the instrument cluster display after a single chime has sounded, to indicate the next scheduled oil change interval. The engine oil change indicator system is duty cycle based, which means the

engine oil change interval may fluctuate, dependent upon your personal driving style.

Use the steering wheel instrument cluster display controls for the following procedure.

    Without pushing the brake pedal, push the ENGINE START/STOP button and place the ignition to the ON/RUN position (do not start the engine).
    Push and release the down arrow button to scroll downward through the main menu to “Vehicle Info.”
    Push and release the right arrow button to access the ”Vehicle Info” screen, then scroll up or down to select “Oil Life.”
    Push and hold the right arrow button to select “Reset”.
    Push and release the down arrow button to select “Yes,” then push and release the right arrow button to reset the Oil Life to 100%.
    Push and release the up arrow button to exit the instrument cluster display screen.
    Without pressing the brake pedal, push the ENGINE START/STOP button and place the ignition to the ON/RUN position (do not start the engine).
    Fully press the accelerator pedal, slowly, three times within ten seconds.
    Without pushing the brake pedal, push the ENGINE START/STOP button once to return the ignition to the OFF/LOCK position.

If the indicator message illuminates when you start the vehicle, the oil change indicator system did not reset. If necessary, repeat this procedure.

DISPLAY MENU ITEMS

Push and release the up or down arrow button until the desired selectable menu icon is highlighted in the instrument cluster display.

Speedometer

Push and release the up or down arrow button until the speedometer menu item is highlighted in the instrument cluster display.

Push and release the right arrow button to cycle the display between mph and km/h.

Push and release the up or down arrow button until the Vehicle Info menu item is highlighted in the instrument cluster display.

Push and release the right arrow button to enter the submenus items of Vehicle Info.

Follow the directional prompts to access or reset any of the following Vehicle Info submenu items:

    Tire Pressure
    Coolant Temperature
    Transmission Temperature — If Equipped
    Oil Temperature
    Oil Pressure
    Exhaust Brake — If Equipped
    Turbo Boost — If Equipped
    Diesel Particulate Filter — If Equipped
    Oil Life
    Fuel Filter Life — If Equipped

    Battery Voltage
    Gauge Summary
    Engine Hours

The Driver Assist menu displays the status of

the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and 3

LaneSense systems.

Push and release the up or down arrow button until the Driver Assist menu is displayed in the instrument cluster display.

The instrument cluster display displays the current ACC system settings. The information displayed depends on ACC system status.

Push the ACC on/off button (located on the steering wheel) until one of the following displays in the instrument cluster display:

When ACC is deactivated, the display will read “Adaptive Cruise Control Off.”

When ACC is activated but the vehicle speed setting has not been selected, the display will read “Adaptive Cruise Control Ready.”

Push the SET + or the SET- button (located on the steering wheel) and the following will display in the instrument cluster display:

When ACC is set, the set speed will display in the instrument cluster page 123.

The ACC screen may display once again if any ACC activity occurs, which may include any of the following:

    Distance Setting Change
    System Cancel
    Driver Override
    System Off
    ACC Proximity Warning
    ACC Unavailable Warning LaneSense — If Equipped

The instrument cluster display displays the

current LaneSense system settings. The

information displayed depends on LaneSense system status and the conditions that need to be met.

Push and release the up or down arrow button until the Fuel Economy menu item is highlighted in the instrument cluster display.

Push and Hold the right arrow button to reset Average Fuel Economy.

    Current Fuel Economy Gauge
    Average Fuel Economy Value
    Range To Empty

Push and release the up or down arrow button until the Trip menu item is highlighted in the instrument cluster display. Push and

release the right arrow button to enter the submenus of Trip A and Trip B. The Trip A or Trip B information will display the following:

    Distance
    Average Fuel Economy
    Elapsed Time

Push and hold right arrow button to reset all information.

Push and release the up or down arrow button until the Trailer Tow menu item is highlighted in the instrument cluster display.

Push and release the right or left arrow button to cycle through the following trailer tow information:

    Trip (trailer specific) Distance: Push and hold the OK button to reset the distance.
    Integrated Trailer Brake Module (ITBM):
    Braking Output
    Trailer Type
    ITBM Gain
    Trailer Light Check: Push and hold the OK button to begin the Trailer Light Test sequence page 245.
    Trailer Tire Pressure Monitoring: The Instru- ment Cluster Display will display the Trailer Tire Pressure for a connected trailer with sensors that match the active trailer profile. When a low tire is present, the low tire value will be displayed in red, and the affected low

tire will have a red glow. “Trailer Tire Low“ will be displayed on the center bottom of the Instrument Cluster Display screen.

Push and release the up or down arrow button until the Audio Menu icon/title is highlighted in the instrument cluster display. This menu will display the audio source information, including the Song name, Artist name, and audio source with an accompanying graphic.

When a call is incoming, a Phone Call Status pop-up will display on the screen. The pop-up will remain until the phone is answered or ignored.

The call status will temporarily replace the previous media source information displayed on the screen. When the pop-up is no longer displayed, the display will return to the last used screen.

Push and release the up or down arrow button until the Messages Menu item is

highlighted. This feature shows the number of stored warning messages. Push and release the right or left arrow button to cycle through

stored messages.

Push and release the up or down arrow button until the Screen Setup menu item is highlighted in the instrument cluster display.

Push and release the right arrow button to enter the Screen Setup submenu. The Screen Setup feature allows you to change what information is displayed in the instrument cluster as well as the location that information is displayed.

    Off
    On Odometer
    Unit Without Decimal
    Unit With Decimal Favorite Menu
    Speedometer
    Vehicle Info

    Driver Assist (Show/Hide) — If Equipped
    Fuel Economy (Show/Hide)
    Trip Info (Show/Hide)
    Trailer Tow (Show/Hide)
    Audio (Show/Hide)

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    Messages
    Screen Setup
    Commercial Settings — If Equipped NOTE:

Menus with (Show/Hide) can push the right arrow button to choose whether to show or hide this menu in the instrument cluster display.

    None
    Compass — If Equipped
    Outside Temp — If Equipped
    Time
    Range To Empty
    Average MPG
    Current MPG
    Trip A Distance
    Trip B Distance
    Trailer Trip — If Equipped
    Trailer Brake — If Equipped
    Oil Pressure — If Equipped
    Coolant Temperature — If Equipped
    Oil Temperature — If Equipped
    Battery Voltage — If Equipped
    Transmission Temperature — If Equipped
    Oil Life — If Equipped
    Exhaust Brake — If Equipped
    Turbo Boost — If Equipped
    Fuel Filter Life — If Equipped Upper Center
    None
    Compass
    Outside Temp

    Time
    Range To Empty
    Average MPG
    Current MPG
    Trip A Distance
    Trip B Distance
    Trailer Trip
    Audio
    Speedometer
    Menu Title Upper Right
    None
    Compass — If Equipped
    Outside Temp — If Equipped
    Time
    Range To Empty
    Average MPG
    Current MPG

    Trip A Distance
    Trip B Distance
    Trailer Trip — If Equipped
    Trailer Brake — If Equipped
    Oil Pressure — If Equipped
    Coolant Temperature — If Equipped
    Oil Temperature — If Equipped
    Battery Voltage — If Equipped
    Transmission Temperature — If Equipped
    Oil Life — If Equipped
    Exhaust Brake — If Equipped
    Turbo Boost — If Equipped
    Fuel Filter Life — If Equipped Left Side — If Equipped
    None
    Range
    Average MPG
    Menu Icon
    Coolant Temperature
    Oil Temperature
    Transmission Temperature
    Oil Life
    Fuel Filter Life — If Equipped Right Side — If Equipped
    None
    Range
    Average MPG
    Menu Icon
    Coolant Temperature
    Oil Temperature
    Transmission Temperature
    Oil Life
    Fuel Filter Life — If Equipped Lower Left — If Equipped
    None
    Compass

    Outside Temp
    Time
    Range To Empty
    Average MPG
    Current MPG
    Trip A Distance
    Trip B Distance
    Trailer Trip
    Trailer Brake
    Oil Pressure
    Coolant Temperature
    Oil Temperature
    Battery Voltage
    Transmission Temperature
    Oil Life
    Exhaust Brake — If Equipped
    Turbo Boost — If Equipped
    Fuel Filter Life — If Equipped

    None
    Compass
    Outside Temp
    Time
    Range To Empty 3
    Average MPG
    Current MPG
    Trip A Distance
    Trip B Distance
    Trailer Trip
    Trailer Brake
    Oil Pressure
    Coolant Temperature
    Oil Temperature
    Battery Voltage
    Transmission Temperature
    Oil Life
    Exhaust Brake — If Equipped
    Turbo Boost — If Equipped
    Fuel Filter Life — If Equipped Restore Defaults
    Cancel
    Restore

Commercial Settings allows the driver to set and recall additional features when the transmission is in PARK (P).

Push and release the up or down arrow button until Commercial Settings displays in the instrument cluster display.

Follow the prompts to enter the required PIN and enter the Commercial Settings submenu.

Commercial Settings allows you to access the following features (if equipped):

    Backup Alarm
    ParkSense
    Aux Switches
    PIN Setup

If the vehicle’s PIN is forgotten or not known, see an authorized dealer to have the PIN reset.

DIESEL MESSAGES AND WARNINGS — 6.7L CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINE

The Cummins diesel engine meets all diesel emissions standards, resulting in one of the lowest emitting diesel engines ever produced. To achieve these emissions standards, your vehicle is equipped with a state-of-the-art engine and exhaust system. These systems are seamlessly integrated into your vehicle and managed by the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). The PCM manages engine combustion to allow the exhaust system’s catalyst to trap and burn Particulate Matter (PM) pollutants, with no input or interaction on your part.

Your vehicle has the ability to alert you to additional maintenance required on your vehicle or engine. The following messages may display in your instrument cluster display:

    Perform Service — Your vehicle will require emissions maintenance at a set interval. To help remind you when this maintenance is due, the instrument cluster display will display “Perform Service”. When the “Perform Service” message is displayed in the instrument cluster display it is necessary to have the emissions maintenance performed. Emissions maintenance may include replacing the Closed Crankcase Ventilation (CCV) filter element. The proce- dure for clearing and resetting the "Perform Service" indicator message is located in the appropriate Service Information.
    Exhaust System — Regeneration Required Now — "Exhaust Filter XX% Full Safely Drive at Highway Speeds to Remedy" will be displayed in the instrument cluster display if the exhaust particulate filter reaches 80% of its maximum storage capacity. Under conditions of exclusive short duration and low speed driving cycles, your Cummins diesel engine and exhaust after-treatment system may never reach the conditions required to

remove the trapped Particulate Matter (PM). If this occurs, the “Exhaust Filter XX% Full Safely Drive at Highway Speeds to Remedy” message will be displayed in the instrument cluster display. If this message is displayed, you will hear one chime to assist in alerting you of this condition

By simply driving your vehicle at highway speeds for as little as 45 minutes, you can remedy the condition in the particulate filter system and allow your Cummins diesel engine and exhaust after-treatment system to remove the trapped Particulate Matter (PM) and restore the system to normal oper- ating condition.

    Exhaust System — Regeneration In Process Exhaust Filter XX% Full — Indicates that the DPF is self-cleaning. Maintain your current driving condition until regeneration is completed.
    Exhaust System — Regeneration Completed
    This message indicates that the DPF

self-cleaning is completed. If this message is displayed, you will hear one chime to assist in alerting you of this condition.

    Exhaust Service Required — See Dealer Now — This message indicates regeneration has been disabled due to a system malfunc- tion. At this point the engine Powertrain Control Module (PCM) will register a fault code, the instrument panel will display a MIL light.

    Exhaust Filter Full — Power Reduced See Dealer — This message indicates the PCM has derated the engine to limit the likelihood of permanent damage to the after-treatment system. If this condition is not corrected and a dealer service is not performed, extensive exhaust after-treatment damage can occur. To correct this condition it will be necessary to have your vehicle serviced by your local authorized dealer.

Failing to follow the oil change indicator, changing your oil and resetting the oil change indicator by 0 miles remaining will prevent the

diesel exhaust filter from performing it's cleaning routine. This will shortly result in a Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) and reduced engine power. Only an authorized dealer will be able to correct this condition.

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The vehicle will display messages when a derate (engine power reduction) is activated to protect the engine during start up in cold ambient temperatures.

    Engine Power Reduced During Warm up — This message will display during start up when the ambient temperature is between 10°F (-12°C) and -10°F (-23°C).
    Engine Power Reduced Up To 30 Sec (Seconds) During Warm up — This message will display during start up when the ambient temperature is between -10°F (-23°C) and

-25°F (-32°C).

    Engine Power Reduced Up To 2 Min (Minutes) During Warm up — This message will display during start up when the ambient temperature is -25°F (-32°C) and below.

Your vehicle is equipped with an engine warm up protection feature that may limit engine performance after cold starting at low ambient temperatures. The length of time engine speed is limited is dependent upon engine coolant temperature. Engine speed may be briefly limited to 1,000 RPM after starting with coolant temperature below freezing conditions, and may be limited to 1,000 RPM for up to approximately two minutes under more severe cold conditions.

    Coolant Low — This telltale will turn on to indi- cate the vehicle coolant level is low

page 408.

There are four different messages which are displayed if the vehicle detects that the DEF system has been filled with a fluid other than DEF, has experienced component failures, or when tampering has been detected. The vehicle may be limited to a maximum speed of 5 mph

(8 km/h) if the DEF system is not serviced within less than 200 miles (322 km) of the fault being detected.

When the DEF system needs to be serviced the following warnings will display:

    DEF Low Refill Soon — This message will display when the low level is reached, during vehicle start up, and with increased frequency during vehicle operation. It will be accompanied by a single chime. Approxi- mately 5 gallons (19 Liters) of DEF is required to refill the tank when this message is initially displayed. on pickup applications, and approximately 7 gallons (26 Liters) are required on chassis-cab applications.
    Speed Limited to 5 MPH in XXX mi Refill DEF
    This message will continuously display if the “DEF Low Refill Soon” message is ignored, and the frequency of occurrence of the chime will increase unless up to 2 gallons (7.5 Liters) of DEF is added to the tank.
    5 MPH Max Speed on Restart, Long Idle or Refuel Refill DEF — This message will contin- uously display when the counter reaches zero, and will be accompanied by a periodic chime.

The vehicle will only be capable of a maximum speed of 5 mph upon the first of the following conditions to occur:

    If the vehicle is shutoff and restarted.
    If the vehicle is idled for an extended period of time, approximately one hour or greater.
    If the system detects that the level of fuel in the tank has increased.

Add a minimum of 2 gallons (7.5 Liters) of DEF to the tank in order to avoid vehicle oper- ation at a maximum speed of 5 mph

(8 km/h).

A minimum of 2 gallons (7.5 Liters) may be required to restore normal vehicle operation. Although the vehicle will start normally and can be placed in gear after this message has been initially displayed, extreme caution should be utilized since the vehicle will only be capable of maneuvering at a maximum speed of 5 mph (8 km/h).

There are five different messages which are displayed if the vehicle detects that the DEF system has been filled with a fluid other than DEF, has experienced component failures, or when tampering has been detected. The vehicle may be limited to a maximum speed of 5 mph (8 km/H) if the DEF system is not serviced within less than 200 miles (322 km) of the fault being detected.

When the DEF system needs to be serviced the following warnings will display:

    Service DEF System See Dealer — This message will display when the fault is initially detected, each time the vehicle is started, and periodically during driving. The message will be accompanied by a single chime. We recommend you drive to your nearest autho- rized dealer and have your vehicle serviced as soon as possible.
    5 MPH Max Speed in 150 mi Service DEF System See Dealer — This message will display if the DEF system has not been serviced after the “Service DEF System – See Dealer” message is displayed. This message will continuously display until the mileage

counter reaches zero, and will be accompa- nied by a periodic chime. The message will continue to countdown until it reaches zero unless the vehicle is serviced. We recom- mend you drive to your nearest authorized dealer and have your vehicle serviced imme- diately.

Under some circumstances this mileage counter may start with a value of less than 150 miles (241 km). For example, if recurring faults are detected in a time interval of less than 40 hours, the counter may restart at the value where it stopped when a previous fault was temporarily remedied, or at a minimum of 50 miles (80 km).

    5 MPH Max Speed on Restart, Long Idle or Refuel Service DEF See Dealer — This message will continuously display when the mileage counter reaches zero, and will be accompanied by a periodic chime.

The vehicle will only be capable of a maximum speed of 5 mph upon the first of the following conditions to occur:

    If the vehicle is shutoff and restarted.

    If the vehicle is idled for an extended period of time, approximately one hour or greater.
    If the system detects that the level of fuel in the tank has increased.
    5 MPH Max Speed Service DEF System See Dealer — This message will continuously display, and will be accompanied by a peri- odic chime. Although the vehicle can be started and placed in gear, the vehicle will only operate at a maximum speed of 5 mph. Your vehicle will require towing, see an authorized dealer for service.

When this message is displayed, the engine can still be started. However, the vehicle will only operate at a maximum speed of 5 mph.

    Incorrect DEF Detected See Dealer — This message will display when the fault is initially detected, each time the vehicle is started, and periodically during driving. The message will be accompanied by a single chime. We recommend you drive to your nearest autho- rized dealer and have your vehicle serviced as soon as possible.

Your vehicle is equipped with an advanced Ram Active Air system that provides enhanced performance, especially when towing under demanding hot or high altitude conditions. If the instrument cluster display displays the message “Active Airbox Service Required See Dealer”, vehicle performance may be reduced until service is performed by an authorized RAM dealer.

BATTERY SAVER ON/BATTERY SAVER MODE MESSAGE — ELECTRICAL LOAD REDUCTION ACTIONS — IF EQUIPPED

This vehicle is equipped with an Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) to perform additional monitoring of the electrical system and status of the vehicle battery.

In cases when the IBS detects charging system failure, or the vehicle battery conditions are deteriorating, electrical load reduction actions will take place to extend the driving time and distance of the vehicle. This is done by reducing power to or turning off non-essential electrical loads.

Load reduction is only active when the engine is running. It will display a message if there is a

risk of battery depletion to the point where the vehicle may stall due to lack of electrical supply, or will not restart after the current drive cycle.

When load reduction is activated, the message “Battery Saver On Some Systems May Have Reduced Power” will appear in the instrument cluster.

These messages indicate the vehicle battery has a low state of charge and continues to lose electrical charge at a rate that the charging system cannot sustain.

    The charging system is independent from load reduction. The charging system performs a diagnostic on the charging system continuously.
    If the Battery Charge Warning Light is on it may indicate a problem with the charging system page 125.

The electrical loads that may be switched off (if equipped), and vehicle functions which can be affected by load reduction:

    Heated Seats/Vented Seats/Heated Wheel
    Rear Defroster And Heated Mirrors

    HVAC System
    115 Volts AC Power Inverter System
    Audio and Telematics System

Loss of the battery charge may indicate one or more of the following conditions:

    The charging system cannot deliver enough electrical power to the vehicle system because the electrical loads are larger than the capability of charging system. The charging system is still functioning properly.
    Turning on all possible vehicle electrical loads (e.g. HVAC to max settings, exterior and interior lights, overloaded power outlets

+12 Volts, 115 Volts AC, USB ports) during certain driving conditions (city driving, towing, frequent stopping).

    Installing options like additional lights, upfitter electrical accessories, audio systems, alarms and similar devices.
    Unusual driving cycles (short trips separated by long parking periods).
    The vehicle was parked for an extended period of time (weeks, months).
    The battery was recently replaced and was not charged completely.
    The battery was discharged by an electrical load left on when the vehicle was parked.
    The battery was used for an extended period with the engine not running to supply radio, lights, chargers, +12 Volts portable appli- ances like vacuum cleaners, game consoles and similar devices.

During a trip:

    Reduce power to unnecessary loads if possible:
    Turn off redundant lights (interior or exte- rior).
    Check what may be plugged in to power outlets +12 Volts, 115 Volts AC, USB ports.
    Check HVAC settings (blower, tempera- ture).
    Check the audio settings (volume).

After a trip:

    Check if any aftermarket equipment was installed (additional lights, upfitter electrical accessories, audio systems, alarms) and review specifications if any (load and Ignition Off Draw currents).
    Evaluate the latest driving cycles (distance, driving time and parking time).
    The vehicle should have service performed if the message is still present during consecu- tive trips and the evaluation of the vehicle and driving pattern did not help to identify the cause.

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