This is just a what if question? Hasn't happened and hope it never does.
What if you jump in your fancy awesome '09 Ram, put the key in the ignition turn once and nothing happens?
Other than call roadside assistance, what would be the things to look for and how would you get it started? I guess the first thing I would do is try the remote start first ( if you have it). If that doesn't work then......

 

Well it would depend on the symptoms obviously. If you don't get dash lights or anything then your battery is obviously dead or your battery cable is not connected. If you get lights but it doesn't try to crank, it could be a number of things. First I would make sure you're all the way in park. If so, I would just call the dealer because it's too new to have anything like that wrong with it.

 

I would simply say.... I miss keys.

 

Yup, I'd have to agree. Hope it happens to no one. Sorry to have even brought it up.
I was just thinking about it.

 

mine came with two key fobs and two regular keys. If it's the fobs you're worried about then just use the regular keys. Unless of course you didn't get any...lol

 

Well, in the first place, it wouldnt be that simple.

Would the truck have been locked? If yes, and battery dead, you would have had to have used the metal part of the key, so you'd know it was all bad.

Having gained access, you put the key in and turn it through 2 positions to the "start" position. What happens at each of those stages? Does the dash come to life?

If there is no electrical power, this thing is a dead donkey. No chance whatsoever.

If there is bags of electrical power, then there's omething inhibiting the start, just need to find it, like in "D" or something similar.

Just a word on "perception". Wife has an Aspen with (almost) the same Hemi engine, but more "traditional" Chrysler keys. It has a remote start. Hit the button and off it goes. However, when manually starting the truck, it doesnt have the "tipstart" feature with the key like the RAM. Yet it obviously does have the capability, otherwise the remote start would fail. All in the software, and if there's no power, the software is not going to be executed.

On the positive side, if there is power, and a fault exists, the system will write a fault code to a log, which can be read, to show exactly where the issue is. How many carburetors write fault codes

 

The regular keys won't start the truck, they are for the locking tailgate. The fob has a chip in it that the computer detects and allows the truck to start. If I understand how it works correctly, it will even start with a dead battery in the fob.

 

my ignition has a slot for the regular key. Now I gotta go try it....brb!! haha

 

Ok well I was once again proved wrong...lol! That slot in the ignition isn't for the regular key. Good call jhedger. Well it might start with a dead fob, let's just hope you didn't lock it before it died!

 

Thats what the little key inside the fob is for...so you can get in if the battery dies.