USB connecting port in center arm rest

[TommyD]

Hello everyone, just picked up my 2015, 3500 Ram G56 Tradesman a few weeks ago. This last weekend I went to take it to the lake and discovered that the USB connecting port wasn't working... Any ideas? I've tried every cable i own trying to see if it were my cables possibly,, none of them work. Also i have the 3.0 radio,, the stock small one,, its got a media button, so i am guessing it should work? Any help appreciated.

 

[Ozymandias]

Does it charge?
Or nothing at all?

 

[SnoKing]

I believe that is only for loading updates into the truck. Does not play music or charge. I have a SD card slot that plays music on the 8.4 and have loaded updates a couple times with the USB port. I will not charge my phone.

 

[kthaxton]

I believe that is only for loading updates into the truck. Does not play music or charge. I have a SD card slot that plays music on the 8.4 and have loaded updates a couple times with the USB port. I will not charge my phone.

I'm not sure if the 3.0 radios are different, but the USB port on my 8.4 equipped 2015 plays music.

 

[SnoKing]

I'm not sure if the 3.0 radios are different, but the USB port on my 8.4 equipped 2015 plays music.

I will have to try that again. How do you switch between the music on the SD card and the USB.

 

[Newsa]

I also have a tradesman with the center console USB.

It charges and also plays music and displays the music (name of song and artist) on the radio display. At least it does play music and display song and artist with an apple iPod. But I haven't tried it with an android device.

Edit: With android it only charges. Doesn't recognize music on an android device.

With iPod it plays the song and displays song and artist and you can scroll through songs using the search buttons. Does all this while charging. You should have a 1/8 in jack (same as a headphone jack) right next to it which plays music from both android and Apple devices, but obviously doesn't charge.

If the USB jack isn't charging, check the fuses?

 

[kthaxton]

I will have to try that again. How do you switch between the music on the SD card and the USB.

On the left side of the Media display, you can choose SD, USB, AUX.....and maybe something else I am forgetting.

I used to use SD cards, but my PC had random issues recognizing when I inserted it. Then I came across these tiny USB drives and like them much better....seems less prone to damage while plugged in the console with other objects floating around.

Amazon product ASIN B07MDXBTL1

 

[Wiredawg]

Did your truck come with an OEM users manual? If you google 2015 Ram 3500 Owners Manual, one of the results is a free pdf download. That might help.

Cheers, Ron

 

[SnoKing]

On the left side of the Media display, you can choose SD, USB, AUX.....and maybe something else I am forgetting.

I used to use SD cards, but my PC had random issues recognizing when I inserted it. Then I came across these tiny USB drives and like them much better....seems less prone to damage while plugged in the console with other objects floating around.

Amazon product ASIN B07MDXBTL1

Saw that this morning on the way to the RC field. And yes it charged my phone. I will have to study up on the second USB next to the media hub.

 

[kthaxton]

Saw that this morning on the way to the RC field. And yes it charged my phone. I will have to study up on the second USB next to the media hub.

Really nothing new to learn, put music on it the same as you would your SD card, and select USB.

Iffins you have a reason to switch from SD to USB....

 

[SBettencourt]

I've found that the USB drive needs to be formatted FAT32. [I knew this from many system updates but forgot] I just tried a 64 GB exFAT drive and it did not work in the RAM or Challenger. My 8 GB FAT32 drive does work in both vehicles.

EDIT 052920 - I didn't feel like waiting until Sunday to receive the new SD card I ordered so, as an experiment I deleted the existing volume from my 64GB Samsung MicroSD card. Then created a new 16GB volume and formatted it to FAT32. Copied all music and playlist files into the new volume and it works in my 15 RAM center armrest USB without issue. I have one of those little Rocketek adapters to use the microSD. I left the remaining space on the card unallocated so it wouldn't possibly confuse my truck.

 

[kthaxton]

That's weird, I didn't need to do anything with my USB drive, I bought it, put music on it, and it worked.

 

[SnoKing]

One is never to old to learn. I listen to the XM radio most of the time. I did stick a SD card with music on it in the media center for areas where trees and mountains cancelled out XM reception. Well now I have two types of music in the media center. Easy listening on a SD card and Jim Buffet type music on a USB thumb drive. Motor on!

 

[SnoKing]

The manual shows a 12v outlet next the the media hub. My 2015 has a second USB port there. It appears the dash charger only USB port moved to the center console on trucks with the full center console.

 

[TommyD]

thanks everyone,, still trying to figure this out. will start with checking the fuses today. also to answer someones question. "it does not even charge"..."doesnt recognize being connected either by the factory 3.0 stereo."

 

[Newsa]

thanks everyone,, still trying to figure this out. will start with checking the fuses today. also to answer someones question. "it does not even charge"..."doesnt recognize being connected either by the factory 3.0 stereo."

If it doesn't charge, something is wrong.... probably with either the fuse or BCM. The interface won't likely recognize android unless the 2015 is different than the 2013. My 2013 recognizes apple ipod and does some basic controlling and reading.

 

[kthaxton]

The manual shows a 12v outlet next the the media hub. My 2015 has a second USB port there. It appears the dash charger only USB port moved to the center console on trucks with the full center console.

View attachment 121674

Yep, that's how mine is (in the pictures), I have the standard console/middle seat.

 

[SBettencourt]

Hello everyone, just picked up my 2015, 3500 Ram G56 Tradesman a few weeks ago. This last weekend I went to take it to the lake and discovered that the USB connecting port wasn't working... Any ideas? I've tried every cable i own trying to see if it were my cables possibly,, none of them work. Also i have the 3.0 radio,, the stock small one,, its got a media button, so i am guessing it should work? Any help appreciated.

TommyD, did you pull the radio to see if the usb cable is connected?

 

[Newsa]

Yep, that's how mine is (in the pictures), I have the standard console/middle seat.

No SD slot on my 2013. I guess that is why they say "if equipped"

 

[Cummins12V98]

" I listen to the XM radio most of the time."

Yep I have been exposed to it, the "LOVE" channel on Sirus XM. Two guys listening to the LOVE channel that didn't seem right.