instrument panel DODGE CARAVAN 2006 4.G User Guide

Maintaining Your Airbag System
WARNING!
•Modifications to any part of the airbag system could cause
it to fail when you need it. You could be injured because the
airbags are not there to protect you. Do not modify the
components or wiring, including adding any kind of
badges or stickers to the steering wheel hub trim cover or
the upper right side of the instrument panel. Do not modify
the front bumper, vehicle body structure, or frame.
•Do not attempt to modify any part of your advanced airbag
system. The airbag may inflate accidentally or may not
function properly if modifications are made. Take your
vehicle to an authorized dealer for any advanced airbag
system service. If your seat including your trim cover and
cushion needs to be serviced in any way (including removal
or loosening/tightening of seat attachment bolts), take the
vehicle to your authorized dealer. Only manufacturer ap-
proved seat accessories may be used. If it is necessary to
modify an advanced airbag system for persons with dis-
abilities, contact your authorized dealer.
WARNING!
•You need proper knee impact protection in a
collision. Do not mount or locate any aftermarket
equipment on or behind the knee bolsters.
•It is dangerous to try to repair any part of the
airbag system yourself. Be sure to tell anyone who
works on your vehicle that it has airbags.
Airbag Light
You will want to have the airbags ready to
inflate for your protection in a collision. While
the airbag system is designed to be mainte-
nance free, if any of the following occurs, have
an authorized dealer service the system immediately.
•The AIRBAG light does not come on or flickers during
the 6 to 8 seconds when the ignition switch is first
turned on.
68 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Airbag Light
The light should come on and remain on for 6
to 8 seconds as a bulb check when the ignition
switch is first turned ON. If the LED is not lit
during starting, have it checked. If the light
stays on or comes on while driving, have the system
checked by an authorized dealer.
Defroster
Check operation by selecting the defrost mode and place
the blower control on high speed. You should be able to
feel the air directed against the windshield.
Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make Outside
The Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear or uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objectslodged in the tread. Inspect tread and sidewall for cuts or
cracks. Check wheel nuts for tightness, and tires (includ-
ing spare) for proper pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of exterior lights
while you work the controls. Check turn signal and high
beam indicator lights on the instrument panel.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for fuel,
engine coolant, oil or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline
fumes are detected or fuel, power steering fluid or brake
fluid leaks are suspected, the cause should be located and
corrected immediately.
84 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

▫Compass/Temperature Display...........159
▫Mini-Trip Computer...................162
▫Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)—
If Equipped.........................163
▫Customer Programmable Features—
If Equipped.........................164

Garage Door Opener—If Equipped.........167
▫Programming Homelink................169
▫Canadian Programming/Gate Programming . . 171
▫Using Homelink......................172
▫Erasing Homelink Buttons...............172
▫Reprogramming a Single Homelink Button . . . 172
▫Security............................173

Power Sunroof—If Equipped.............173▫Express Open Feature..................174
▫Wind Buffeting.......................175
▫Sunroof Maintenance...................175

Electrical Power Outlets—If Equipped.......175
▫Electrical Outlet Use With Engine Off.......177

Convenience Tray Drawer And Cup Holders . . . 177
▫Instrument Panel Cup Holders............177
▫Convenience Tray And Optional Smoker’s
Package Kit.........................178
▫Rear Cupholders......................179

Storage..............................180
▫Front Seat Storage Bin—If Equipped.......180
▫Second Row Seat Storage Bins—If Equipped . 181
88 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Outside Mirror—Driver’s Side
Adjust the outside mirror to center on the adjacent lane of
traffic, with a slight overlap of the view obtained on the
inside mirror.
Outside Mirror—Passenger’s Side
Adjust the convex outside mirror so you can just see the
side of your vehicle in the portion of the mirror closest to
the vehicle. This type of mirror will give a much wider
view to the rear, and especially of the lane next to your
vehicle.
WARNING!
Vehicles and other objects seen in the right side
convex mirror will look smaller and farther away
than they really are. Relying too much on your right
side mirror could cause you to collide with another
vehicle or other object.
Use your inside mirror when judging the size or
distance of a vehicle seen in this convex mirror.
Power Remote-Control Mirrors—If Equipped
Use the mirror select switch, located on the instrument
panel to the left of the steering column, to adjust the view
obtained in the outside mirrors. Press the rocker switch to
the L or R for Left or Right mirror selection. Use the
center off position to guard against accidentally moving
a mirror position.
92 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Turning Confirmation Prompts On/Off
Turning confirmation prompts off will stop the system
from confirming your choices (e.g. the UConnect™sys-
tem will not repeat a phone number before you dial it).
•Press the’Phone’button to begin.
•After theReadyprompt and the following beep, say
Setup Confirmations.The UConnect™system will
play the current confirmation prompt status and you
will be given the choice to change it.
Phone and Network Status Indicators
If available on the radio and/or on a premium display
such as the instrument panel cluster, and supported by
your cell phone, the UConnect™system will provide
notification to inform you of your phone and network
status when you are attempting to make a phone call
using UConnect™. The status is given for roaming net-
work signal strength, phone battery strength, etc.
Dialing Using the Cellular Phone Keypad
You can dial a phone number with your cellular phone
keypad and still use the UConnect™system (while
dialing via the cell phone keypad, the user must exercise
caution and take precautionary safety measures). By
dialing a number with your paired Bluetooth™cellular
phone, the audio will be played through your vehicle’s
audio system. The UConnect™system will work the
same as if you dial the number using voice recognition.
NOTE:Certain brands of mobile phones do not send the
dial ring to the UConnect™system to play it on the
vehicle audio system, so you will not hear it. Under this
situation, after successfully dialing a number, the user
may feel that the call did not go through even though the
call is in progress. Once your call is answered, you will
hear the audio.
108 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

CAUTION!
Do not place any article under a power seat or
impede its ability to move as it may cause damage to
the seat controls. Seat travel may become limited if
movement is stopped by an obstruction in the seat’s
path.
Adjustable Head Restraints—If Equipped
Head restraints can reduce the risk of whiplash injury in
the event of impact from the rear. Pull up or push down
on the head restraint so that the upper edge is as high as
practical. To raise the head restraint, pull up on the head
restraint. To lower the head restraint, depress the release
tab located at the base of the head restraint and push
down on the head restraint.
Heated Seats—If Equipped
This feature heats the front driver and passenger seats.
The controls for the heated seats are located on the
instrument panel above the radio. You may choose LOW,
Adjustable Head Restraints
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 119
3

WARNING!
•Not all head restraints in this vehicle are the same.
Head restraints from one seating position should not
be removed and installed in any other seating posi-
tion. In a collision, serious injury or death may result
if the proper head restraint is not installed on each
seat.
•The cargo area in the rear of the vehicle should not
be used as a play area by children. They could be
seriously injured in a collision. Children should be
seated and using the proper restraint system.
•It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people
riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously
injured or killed.
•Do not allow people to ride in any area of your
vehicle that is not equipped with seats and seat belts.
•Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and
using a seat belt properly.
TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE HOOD
To open the hood, two latches must be released. First pull
the hood release lever located under the left side of the
instrument panel.
Hood Release Lever
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 141
3

Next, push to the left the safety catch located under the
front edge of the hood, near the center.
Use the hood prop rod to secure the hood in the open
position.
To prevent possible damage, do not slam the hood to
close it. Lower the hood until it is open approximately 30cm (12 inches) and then drop it. This should secure both
latches. Never drive your vehicle unless the hood is fully
closed, with both latches engaged.
WARNING!
If the hood is not fully latched, it could fly up when
the vehicle is moving and block your forward vision.
You could have a collision. Be sure all hood latches
are fully latched before driving.
LIGHTS
All of the lights, except the hazard warning lights, are
controlled by switches to the left of the steering column
on the instrument panel.
Hood Safety Catch
142 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Interior Lights
Interior lights are turned on when a door or liftgate is
opened, the keyless entry transmitter is activated, or
when the dimmer control is moved to the extreme top.
The interior lights will automatically turn off in about 15
minutes if any of the following occur.
•A door, sliding door or the liftgate is left open.
•Any overhead reading light is left on.
•If the dimmer control is in the extreme top position.
NOTE:The key must be out of the ignition switch or the
ignition switch must be in the OFF position for this
feature to operate.
Park Lights
Turn this switch to the first detent to turn the park
lights on. This also turns on all instrument panel
lighting.
Headlights
Turn the headlight switch to the 2nd detent to
turn the headlights and park lights on. This
also turns on all instrument panel lighting.
To change the brightness of the instrument panel lights,
rotate the dimmer control up or down.
Headlight Switch
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 143
3

OVERHEAD CONSOLE—IF EQUIPPED
The overhead console can contain courtesy/reading
lights, an optional universal garage door opener
(HomeLink), storage for sunglasses, compass/
temperature display, a mini-trip computer, optional elec-
tronic vehicle information center (EVIC), power sliding
door switches and an optional power liftgate switch.
Courtesy/Reading Lights
At the forward end of the console are two courtesy/
reading lights.
Press the lens to turn these lights on. Press a second time
to turn the lights off.
The lights also turn on when a front door, a sliding door
or the liftgate is opened. If your vehicle is equipped with
Remote Keyless Entry, the lights will also turn on when
the unlock button on the transmitter is pressed.
The area around the instrument panel cupholders is also
illuminated from a light in the overhead console. This
light is turned on when the headlight switch is on and
will adjust in brightness when the dimmer control is
rotated up or down.
Overhead Console
158 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE