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The unmatched power, efficiency, and reliability of your Ram's diesel engine are sustained with routine maintenance. Here are some core Ram diesel maintenance guidelines to follow for optimal long-term performance. Maintaining Your Ram's Diesel Engine: 5 Service Guidelines Change the Engine Oil on Time Your truck's engine relies on oil for lubrication and removal of contaminants. Engine oil also helps to control the enormous heat generated by the compression and ignition process. Your owner's manual gives guidance on how often your Ram requires an oil change. This will usually be every 10,000 to 15,000 miles. Many truck drivers change their oil every six months, which is a good rule of thumb. more Service the Coolant and Cooling System Keep an eye on your Ram's coolant with routine checks and have it flushed when the owner's manual or a trusted technician recommends it. Your coolant will probably need to be changed every two years or so. Also, have your truck's radiator and entire cooling system inspected once a year. Check and Replace the Air Filter Diesel engines compress air before injecting diesel fuel into the cylinder. This requires a great deal of oxygen to be drawn in from outside the truck. This inflow of air is kept clean by the air filter. Inspect your air filter routinely to monitor how dirty it's getting. You'll usually need to replace this filter once a year or so. Inspect and Change the Fuel Filter The engine is also protected by two fuel filters. A primary fuel filter and finer secondary fuel filter protect the fuel injectors from sediment and impurities. These filters become steadily clogged up by the contaminants they catch, including asphaltene and diesel paraffin wax. You'll need to replace your fuel filters once or twice a year. Fuel injectors must also be replaced periodically. Test and Replace the Battery There may be no spark plugs in a diesel engine, but the engine's starter motor and many other electronics in your high-tech Ram still require a strong battery. If you want your engine to keep starting reliably, test your battery at least once a year and replace it as soon as it shows signs of age. Schedule Regular Ram Diesel Maintenance For effective preventative engine maintenance, you'll need technicians that are experienced with Ram diesel pickups. Our Ram experts can keep your engine delivering outstanding torque and horsepower reliably and efficiently for many years to come. Bring your truck to Devils Lake Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Devils Lake, ND, for exceptional service.

Proper maintenance is crucial for keeping your Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, or RAM vehicle in great condition. It also prevents premature wear of components and costly repairs down the road. Get these car maintenance tasks done by your Chrysler dealer to enjoy smooth, reliable, and safe driving for years to come. 1. Change the Oil and Oil Filter You should change your oil and oil filter based on the recommendations in your owner's manual. Oil degrades over time and use, so regular changes keep the engine cool and properly lubricated. Use the specific oil grade in your owner's manual to ensure oil longevity and optimal performance. Also, look out for signs you need an oil change earlier, like dirty oil, low oil level, and a check engine light. 2. Check and Top Up Fluids It is important to periodically check other fluids in your CDJR vehicle, such as the transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and coolant. These fluids keep the car running smoothly and protect mechanical systems from premature wear and tear. Letting them get too low can cause sudden failure in critical systems like brakes and suspension. Top up the fluids to the proper levels and inspect the systems for leaks. 3. Check Brakes Regularly Brakes are crucial for safe driving, so check them regularly for worn pads and rotors. Listen for squealing or grinding noises, and look out for vibrations in the brake pedal. Check for pulling to one side when braking and increased stopping distance, which are all signs of worn brake components. Get OEM brake replacement parts from the dealer to ensure proper fit, performance, and safety. 4. Rotate and Inflate Tires You should rotate your tires every 5,000 to 7,500 miles to promote even tread wear. Tire rotation improves traction and handling and extends the lifespan of the tires. During your tire service, have the tires balanced and inflated to the recommended PSI. If your tires are severely worn out or have bald spots and bulges, replace them to increase your safety on the road. 5. Keep an Eye on the Battery An aging battery can fail unexpectedly and leave you stranded, so monitor it to catch signs of trouble. If you notice difficulty starting, dimming lights, or buildup on the terminals, have your CDJR dealer test and inspect the battery. Replace the failing battery with one that meets factory size, cold-ranking amps, and reserve capacity specs for optimal performance. Carry out these maintenance tasks regularly, and you will benefit from years of reliable performance. Contact Devils Lake Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM to schedule a comprehensive service for your vehicle.

The weight and pressures of a vehicle on its tires aren't distributed in a perfectly even manner. As a result, car tires always begin to wear down unevenly, which can cause various problems unless the tires are rotated once or twice a year. Let's look in detail at the many reasons to have regular tire rotation around at your local Chrysler dealership. Greater Tire Longevity Uneven tire wear can be significant. It's possible for the front or back tires to wear down 50% faster than the others. This rapidly leads to one or two tires that are far more worn down and susceptible to damage. When one or two tires become too worn out to safely use, you usually need to replace all four. Regular rotation keeps your tires wearing down at a more even rate, thereby helping all four tires last in good shape for a lot longer. Considerable Savings on New Tires If you can keep each new set of tires lasting a year or two longer with regular rotation, then you'll save a good deal of money on the cost of new tires. This might well amount to thousands of dollars over the lifespan of your car. Reduced Maintenance Costs When tires become uneven, they generate more vibrations, which puts greater stress on the suspension. The unevenness also makes the wheels unequal in size, which puts further strain on the suspension and any other connected car parts. In this way, uneven tires cause harm to connected components and lead to more frequent problems and repair jobs. Rotation helps protect not only your tires, but also your suspension, wheel axles, and your wallet. Increased Road Safety When tires wear unevenly, one or two of the tires become weaker with thinner treads. This makes them more susceptible to damage, losing traction, and blowouts. While you're on the road, all it takes is one tire to fail for an accident to ensue. By spreading wear and tear more evenly across all four tires, rotation reduces this risk and keeps you and your passengers safer. Better Handling and Smoothness Uneven tires generate more road noise and vibrations. Handling also steadily worsens as tires become unbalanced in size. So if you want to keep your car smoother, quieter, and easier to drive, make sure you don't miss a scheduled rotation at your local dealership. How Your Chrysler Dealer May Rotate Your Tires There are a variety of rotation patterns for tires, depending largely on whether the vehicle has front-wheel, rear-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive. Your technician might swap your tires in a rearward cross, forward cross, or X-cross pattern. Or they may do a simple front-to-back swap. Have your car's tires rotated today at Devils Lake Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. We're a local family-owned and operated dealership that's been helping out the region's drivers for an entire century, since 1923.

For vehicle owners, few issues can be as concerning as transmission problems. Transmission issues are some of the most expensive to fix, so recognizing when you might need a transmission repair from your Jeep dealer is crucial because the faster you deal with an issue, the more likely it is to stay small and prevent expensive repairs (or even replacement) later on. Are There Unusual Noises? One of the primary signs that your transmission may be in distress is unexpected noises. If you hear whining, clunking, or humming sounds when your vehicle is in neutral or while shifting gears, it's a potential red flag. These noises can be indicative of worn-out parts or lack of transmission fluid. Are Your Gears Slipping? Your vehicle should smoothly transition between gears. If you notice that your vehicle is unexpectedly changing gears without your input, or if it's struggling to stay in gear, this could be symptomatic of a transmission problem. Gear slipping can result from worn or broken bands that help control the gear action. Are You Experiencing Delayed or Rough Shifting? If there's a noticeable delay when shifting from park to drive or if your car jerks roughly when changing gears, these can be signs of transmission wear or low transmission fluid. A smooth transition is the hallmark of a healthy transmission, and any departure from this can warrant a closer look. Have Warning Lights Come On? Modern vehicles are equipped with sensors that monitor the health of various components. If the transmission temperature or check engine light illuminates on your dashboard, it could be related to transmission issues. While these lights can indicate various problems, it's essential not to ignore them. Again, if you catch a problem while it's small, it could be a really cheap fix. If you let it go on, you could have very expensive issues down the line. Are There Fluid Leaks or a Burning Smell? Transmission fluid is quintessential for the lubrication and cooling of your transmission components. If you find reddish-brown pools or spots under your vehicle, it's likely a transmission fluid leak. Additionally, if you detect a burnt odor while driving, it could be due to overheating of the transmission fluid due to friction. Either way, have the fluid checked by a professional. Addressing transmission issues promptly ensures that you enjoy optimal performance in your Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, or RAM and avoid high-cost repairs. Contact us at Devils Lake Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM when you notice any of these signs, and we'll keep your vehicle running smoothly.

Learn More about Alternator Repair Service in Devil's Lake If the electronics in your car are slowing down or failing, you may have a problem with the underlying electrical supply. The alternator is responsible for delivering voltage to every electrical car part, including the battery, so any electrical problem may indicate a bad alternator. Here are seven signs that your alternator is faltering, any of which should prompt you to visit your closest Chrysler dealership for alternator repair. Your Engine Is Misfiring and Stalling A car's alternator and battery both need to deliver a consistent flow of voltage to the engine's ignition coils, which allow the spark plugs to ignite the fuel inside the combustion chambers. If a bad alternator causes this flow of electricity to dry up, the spark plugs will start misfiring. This will cause your engine to sputter and struggle, and eventually, your car will stall. You Can't Start Your Car in the Morning When you turn your keys or press the engine starter in the morning, the battery needs to deliver a strong surge of electricity to get the engine going. If this fails to occur, then your battery has died for some reason. One cause for a dead battery may be that your alternator is malfunctioning, and it failed to recharge the battery while you were last on the road. If you jump-start your car, you'll quickly find out whether the alternator is bad. A faulty alternator won't be able to keep the engine's spark plugs going for long. Your Headlight Brightness Is Fluctuating When an alternator begins to falter, there's often a period where the electrical supply fluctuates. This may cause your headlights to brighten and dim or even start flickering. The other lights inside and outside of your vehicle may experience the same issue. Your Electrical Accessories Are Failing A bad alternator won't be able to power the other electrical accessories in your car either. Your infotainment system, stereo, heated seats, power windows, and other electronics will slow down and start to fail. You Can Smell Burning Rubber The drive belt that transmits the engine's power to the alternator can sometimes slip loose. This will stop the alternator from working, and you might also smell a burning rubber smell from the drive belt running over pulleys in the wrong position. Your Battery Warning Light Comes On Whenever the electrical current running through your car fluctuates unexpectedly, the battery warning light on your dashboard is likely to come on. This light may be triggered by a fault with the battery, the alternator, or something else in the electrical system. Your Chrysler Dealer Notices a Problem It's best to have your electronics periodically inspected and tested by an experienced technician at your local dealership. This preventative maintenance measure will help ensure that any nascent alternator problems are found and fixed early on. Have your alternator tested and repaired today at Devils Lake Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Our family-owned and operated dealership has been diligently serving the region's drivers for a hundred years now, since 1923.

Nothing is more fundamentally important to your road safety than the brake system, so know the signs that your Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, or RAM vehicle needs a brake repair. This is how you save yourself from a potential accident; but it can also prevent further damage and costly repairs, too. If you notice the issues explained below, head to your Chrysler dealer for a repair right away. Unresponsive Brake Pedal If you notice that your brake pedal is less responsive or feels spongy, it's a clear sign that something is amiss. An unresponsive brake pedal could indicate a leak in the braking system. The leak could be in the brake master cylinder or the brake lines, resulting in a reduction of hydraulic pressure, which makes the brake pedal feel soft. Grinding or Squealing Noise A grinding or squealing noise when you apply the brakes is not something to ignore. This noise usually signifies that the brake pads have worn down and are rubbing against the brake disc, causing the disturbing sound. This metal-on-metal contact not only produces a harsh noise but also damages the brake discs over time. Ignore it long enough and you won't just have the minor expense of replacing the pads but the major expense of replacing the rotors, as well. Vehicle Pulling to One Side If your vehicle pulls to one side when you apply the brakes, it could mean that the brake linings are wearing in an uneven way (regularly rotating your tires may help with this). You might also have some gunk in the brake fluid or even a stuck brake caliper. When a caliper sticks, the brake pad keeps making contact with the disc, causing the vehicle to pull to one side. Uneven brake pad wearing can cause exacerbate uneven wear on the tires, too and, if left untreated, can lead to a significant reduction in vehicle handling reliability. Unfortunately, you're likely to learn just how dangerous that can be at the worst possible moment. Vibrations When Braking Vibrations or pulsating through the brake pedal when braking often suggests that the brake discs have become warped due to excessive heat from aggressive braking. The uneven surface of the warped disc interacts with the brake pad and creates a pulsing sensation. This issue not only causes discomfort while driving but can also reduce braking efficiency. These telltale signs all point to the need for a prompt check-up. Addressing these signs immediately can ensure your Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, or RAM vehicle remains safe and enjoyable to drive. Remember, the health of your brake system is a non-negotiable for your safety on the road. Always prioritize it, and come see us at Devils Lake Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram to keep your vehicle in good shape.