steering DODGE STRATUS COUPE 2005 2.G Owners Manual

If this problem occurs¼
Problem Do this Ref. Page
Cannot turn the key
(1)ªLOCKº to ªACCº
Turn the key while slightly turning the steering wheel
right and left.
(2)ºACCº to ªLOCKº
Vehicle with automatic transaxle
Check the position of gear selector lever.
The key cannot be removed unless the gear selector
lever is set to the ªPº (PARK) position.
Vehicle with manual transaxle
Place the key at the ``ACC'' position. Push the key in
and turn it.P. 153
Cannot shift the gear selector lever
from the ªPº (PARK) positionShift the gear selector lever while depressing the brake
pedal. Check if the ignition key is in the ªONº position.P. 156, 161
The windows are fogged up.
1.Set the heater/air conditioning mode selection dial to
the ªºorªº position.
2.Turn on the blower.P. 246
16 INTRODUCTION

Your vehicle has seat belts and other features that help
protect you and your passengers in an accident.
Seat belts are the most important safety device. When
worn properly, seat belts can reduce the chance of serious
injury or death in various types of crashes. For added
protection during a severe frontal collision, your vehicle
has a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) with air bags
for the driver and front seat passenger. The seats, head
restraints, and door locks also are safety equipment,
which must be used correctly.
Always check the following before you drive:
7. Everyone in the vehicle is properly wearing their seat
belt.
8. Infants and small children are properly secured in
appropriate child restraints in the rear seat.
9. All doors are closed and locked.
10. Seat backs are fully upright, with head restraints
properly adjusted.No safety equipment can prevent all injuries or deaths
that can occur in severe collisions, but by making sure all
your passengers follow the instructions in this manual,
you can help reduce the risk of injury.
FRONT SEATS
Adjust the driver's seat as far back as possible to a
position that enables you to fully apply the pedals, easily
control the steering wheel, safely operate the vehicle and
also gives you a clear frontal view.
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SEATS, SEAT BELTS, CHILD RESTRAINTS AND AIR BAGS 57
3

SEAT BELTS
Seat belts are installed in your vehicle for the protection
of the driver and passengers.
Always use the seat belts. In an accident, injury to the
driver and passengers may be reduced if the seat belts are
properly used.
NOTE: Legislation in your state may require seat belt
usage; however, even if it is not required seat belts should
always be used.
WARNING!
²Lock all doors before driving to reduce the risk of
injury or ejection in a collision.
²Seat belts should always be worn by every adult who
drives or rides in this vehicle, and by all children
who are large enough to wear seat belts properly.
²Never use one seat belt for more than one occupant.
²Never carry more people in the vehicle than there
are seat belts.
²Always adjust the belt for a snug fit.
²Always route the shoulder belt over your shoulder
and across your chest. Never put it behind you or
under your arm.
²Always wear the lap belt as low as possible across
your hips, not around your waist.
²To reduce the risk of serious or fatal injury in a
collision, including from a deploying driver air
bag, the driver should adjust the driver's seat to
the rear most position that still allows good vis-
ibility and good control of the steering wheel, the
brake, accelerator, and vehicle controls.
68 SEATS, SEAT BELTS, CHILD RESTRAINTS AND AIR BAGS

UNIBELT instructions
1. Get in the vehicle and sit in a normal correct posture.
To reduce the risk of severe or fatal injury caused by an
inflating air bag, adjust the driver's seat to the rear most
position that still allows you to fully apply the pedals,
easily control the steering wheel and safely operate the
vehicle. The front passenger should also adjust their seat
as far back as possible. Refer to ªSupplemental Restraint
System (SRS) - air bagº on page 89.All vehicle occupant's should sit and remain seated all
the way back in their seat with their back resting straight
against the upright seat back.
WARNING!
To minimize the risk of personal injury in the event
of a collision or sudden stop, both the driver and
passenger seatbacks should always be in a nearly
upright position while the vehicle is in motion.
The protection provided by the seat belts may be
reduced significantly when the seatback is reclined.
There is greater risk that the driver or the passenger
will slide under the belt and be seriously injured
when the seatback is reclined.
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70 SEATS, SEAT BELTS, CHILD RESTRAINTS AND AIR BAGS

WARNING!
²IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS WEAR
YOUR SEAT BELT PROPERLY EVEN WITH
AN AIR BAG.
²Seat belts help keep the driver and front pas-
senger properly positioned. This reduces the
risk of injury in all collisions, and reduces the
risk of serious or fatal injuries when the air bags
inflate. During sudden braking just before a
collision, an unrestrained or improperly re-
strained driver or front passenger can move
forward into direct contact with, or within close
proximity to, the air bag when it begins to
inflate. The beginning stage of air bag inflation
is the most forceful and can cause serious or
fatal injuries if the occupant comes in contact
with the air bag at this time.
²Seat belts reduce the risk of injury in rollovers,
side or rear impact collisions, and in lower-
speed frontal collisions, because the air bags are
not designed to inflate in those situations.
²Seat belts reduce the risk of being thrown from
your vehicle in a collision or rollover.
WARNING!
²IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO BE PROPERLY
SEATED.
A driver or front passenger sitting too close to the
steering wheel or instrument panel during air bag
deployment can be killed or seriously injured
Air bags inflate very quickly and with great force. If
the driver and front passenger are not properly
seated and restrained, the air bag may not provide
proper protection, and could cause serious or fatal
injuries when it inflates.
²Before driving, adjust the driver 's seat as far back
as possible without affecting your ability to be in
complete control of the vehicle.
²Before driving, adjust the front passenger seat as
far back as possible.
²Make sure all vehicle occupants are always prop-
erly restrained using the available seat belts.
²With seat belts properly fastened, the driver and
front passenger should sit well back in their seats
and remain upright without leaning against the
window or door.
90 SEATS, SEAT BELTS, CHILD RESTRAINTS AND AIR BAGS

WARNING!
²Do not sit on the edge of the seat or lean your head
or chest close to the steering wheel or instrument
panel. Do not put your feet or legs on or against
the instrument panel.
²Seat all infants and children 12 years of age and
under in the rear seat properly restrained using an
appropriate child restraint system.
WARNING!
²Infants and small children should never ride
unrestrained, or lean against the instrument
panel. They should never ride held in your arms
or on your lap. They could be seriously injured or
killed in a collision, especially when the air bag
inflates. Children should be properly seated in
the rear seat in an appropriate child restraint
system. Refer to ``Child Restraints'' on page 76.
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SEATS, SEAT BELTS, CHILD RESTRAINTS AND AIR BAGS 91
3

Driver 's and passenger 's front air bag system
WARNING!
²Do not attach anything to the steering wheel's
padded cover, such as trim material, badges, etc.
These could strike and injure an occupant if the
air bag inflates.
Driver
Front passenger
96 SEATS, SEAT BELTS, CHILD RESTRAINTS AND AIR BAGS

working properly. The SRS warning light is shared by the
driver 's air bag, the front passenger 's air bag, and the
optional side air bags.
The air bags will operate only when the ignition switch is
in the ``ON'' or ``START'' position
WARNING!
²If any of the following conditions occur, the SRS
is not working properly and you should immedi-
ately have it inspected by an authorized dealer;
²The SRS warning light does not illuminate
when you start the vehicle.
²The SRS warning light does not go out after
several seconds.
²The SRS warning light comes on while driving.
SRS servicing
The entire SRS must be inspected by an authorized dealer
10 years after the vehicle's manufacture date as shown on
the certification label located on the center pillar of the
vehicle, on the driver's side.
WARNING!
²Any maintenance performed on or near the com-
ponents of the SRS should be performed only by
an authorized dealer. Do not permit anyone else to
do service, inspection, maintenance or repair on
any SRS components or wiring. Similarly, no part
of the SRS should ever be handled, removed or
disposed of by anyone except at an authorized
dealer.
Improper work on the SRS components or wiring
could result in an accidental air bag deployment
or could make the SRS inoperative. Either of these
situation could result in serious injury.
²Do not modify your steering wheel or any other SRS
components or related vehicle part. For example,
replacement of the steering wheel, or modifications
to the front bumper or body structure can negatively
affect SRS performance and may lead to possible
injury.
²If your vehicle has received any front-end dam-
age, you should have the SRS inspected by an
authorized dealer to make sure it is in proper
working order.
SEATS, SEAT BELTS, CHILD RESTRAINTS AND AIR BAGS 101
3

There may be occasions when the lever does not return
after cornering. This typically occurs when the steering
wheel is turned only slightly. In this case, return the lever
by hand.
The instrument cluster indicator will flash to indicate
proper operation of the front and rear turn signal lights.
If the indicator light flashes faster than usual, check for a
malfunctioning turn signal light bulb or faulty turn signal
system.
If the indicator fails to light when the lever is moved,
check for a faulty fuse or a burned out indicator bulb.
NOTE: Replace malfunctioning bulbs and fuses
promptly.
FOG LIGHT SWITCH (IF SO EQUIPPED)
The fog lights illuminate only when the headlights are
on. Press the switch to illuminate the fog lights and press
the switch again to turn the lights off.
The indicator light in the instrument cluster will illumi-
nate while the fog lights are on.
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INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS 125
4

REAR PERSONAL LIGHTS
ON - The light illuminates
OFF - The light illuminates when a door is opened and
goes out when it is closed.
HORN SWITCH
Pressing on or around themark on the steering wheel,
causes the horn to honk.
GARAGE DOOR OPENER (IF SO EQUIPPED)
The HomeLinkyUniversal Transceiver replaces up to
three remote controls that operate devices such as garage
door openers, motorized gates, or home lighting. It
triggers these devices at the push of a button, located on
your Electrochromic inside rearview mirror (if so
E19A1270E23A0020T
134 INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS