DODGE NITRO 2009 1.G Owner's Manual

ILLUMINATED ENTRY
The interior lights come on when you open any door.
They will remain on for about 30 seconds after all doors
are closed then fade to off.
The lights also will fade to off if you turn on the ignition
after you close all the doors.
REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY
This system allows you to lock or unlock the doors and
liftgate or activate the Panic Alarm from distances up to
23 ft (7 m) using your Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter. The RKE transmitter does not need to be
pointed at the vehicle to activate the system.
NOTE:
•For the remote starting feature (if equipped), refer to
“Remote Starting System” in this section.
•Your vehicle’s RKE transmitter may have three or four
buttons depending on the optional features purchased
with your vehicle.
Three Button RKE transmitter
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To Unlock the Doors and Liftgate
Press and release the UNLOCK button on the RKE
transmitter once to unlock the driver’s door, or twice to
unlock all doors and the liftgate. The parking lights will
flash to acknowledge the unlock signal. The illuminated
entry system will also turn on.
Remote Key Unlock, Driver Door/All Doors First
This feature lets you program the system to unlock either
the driver’s door or all doors and the liftgate on the first
press of the UNLOCK button on the RKE transmitter. To
change the current setting, proceed as follows:
On Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)
equipped vehicles, refer to “Remote Key Unlock,” under
“Personal Settings (Customer Programmable Features)”
under “Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)” in
Section 4.On non-EVIC equipped vehicles, perform the following
steps:
1. Press and hold the LOCK button on a programmed
(i.e., functional) RKE transmitter for at least four seconds,
but not longer than 10 seconds. Then, press and hold the
UNLOCK button while still holding the LOCK button.
2. Release both buttons at the same time.
3. Test the feature from outside the vehicle by pressing
the LOCK and UNLOCK buttons on the RKE transmitter.
4. Repeat these steps if you want to return this feature to
its previous setting.
NOTE:Pressing the LOCK button on the RKE transmit-
ter while you are inside the vehicle will activate the
Vehicle Security Alarm. Opening a door with the Vehicle
Security Alarm activated will cause the alarm to sound.
Press the UNLOCK button to deactivate the Vehicle
Security Alarm.
20 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

To Lock the Doors and Liftgate
Press and release the LOCK button on the RKE transmit-
ter to lock all doors and the liftgate. If the ignition is OFF
when the doors are locked, the parking lights will flash
once and the horn will sound a single chirp.
Sound Horn with Lock
This feature will cause the horn to chirp when the doors
are locked with the RKE transmitter. This feature can be
turned on or off. To change the current setting, proceed as
follows:
•On Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)
equipped vehicles, refer to “Sound Horn with Lock”
under “Personal Settings (Customer Programmable
Features)” under “Electronic Vehicle Information Cen-
ter (EVIC)” in Section 4.
•On non-EVIC equipped vehicles, perform the follow-
ing steps:1. Press the LOCK button on a programmed (i.e., func-
tional) RKE transmitter for at least four seconds, but not
longer than 10 seconds. Then, press the PANIC button
while still holding the LOCK button.
2. Release both buttons at the same time.
3. Test the feature from outside the vehicle by pressing
the LOCK button on the RKE transmitter.
4. Repeat these steps if you want to return this feature to
its previous setting.
NOTE:Pressing the LOCK button on the RKE transmit-
ter while you are inside the vehicle will activate the
Vehicle Security Alarm. Opening a door with the Vehicle
Security Alarm activated will cause the alarm to sound.
Press the UNLOCK button to deactivate the Vehicle
Security Alarm.
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Flash Lights with Lock
The feature will cause the parking lights to flash when
the doors are locked or unlocked with the RKE transmit-
ter. This feature can be turned on or off. To change the
current setting, proceed as follows:
•On Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)
equipped vehicles, refer to “Flash Lights with Lock,”
underPersonal Settings (Customer Programmable
Features)” under “Electronic Vehicle Information Cen-
ter (EVIC)” in Section 4.
•On non-EVIC equipped vehicles, perform the follow-
ing steps:
1. Press and hold the UNLOCK button on a programmed
(i.e., functional) RKE transmitter for at least four seconds,
but not longer than 10 seconds. Then, press and hold the
LOCK button while still holding the UNLOCK button.
2. Release both buttons at the same time.3. Test the feature from outside the vehicle by pressing
the LOCK and UNLOCK buttons on the RKE transmitter.
4. Repeat these steps if you want to return this feature to
its previous setting.
NOTE:Pressing the LOCK button on the RKE transmit-
ter while you are inside the vehicle will activate the
Vehicle Security Alarm. Opening a door with the Vehicle
Security Alarm activated will cause the alarm to sound.
Press the UNLOCK button to deactivate the Vehicle
Security Alarm.Express Down Window Feature — If Equipped
This feature allows you to remotely lower both front door
windows at the same time. To use this feature, press and
release the UNLOCK button on the RKE transmitter and
then immediately press and hold the UNLOCK button
until the windows lower to the level desired or until they
lower completely.
22 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Using the Panic Alarm
NOTE:The PANIC and SECURITY alarms are quite
different. Please take a moment to activate the PANIC
and SECURITY modes to hear the differences in the horn.
If one should sound in the future, you will need to know
which mode has been activated in order to deactivate it.
To turn the PANIC alarm feature on or off, press and hold
the PANIC button on the RKE transmitter for at least one
second and release. When the PANIC alarm is on, the
headlights and parking lights will flash, the horn will
pulse on and off, and the illuminated entry system will
turn on.
The PANIC alarm will stay on for three minutes unless
you turn it off by pressing the PANIC button a second
time or if the vehicle speed is 5 mph (8 km/h) or greater.During the PANIC mode, the door locks and RKE
systems will function normally. PANIC mode will not
disarm the Vehicle Security Alarm system on vehicles so
equipped.
Programming Additional Transmitters
Refer to Sentry Key“Customer Key Programming” in
this section.
NOTE:If you do not have a programmed RKE trans-
mitter, contact your authorized dealer for details.
Battery Replacement
The recommended replacement battery is CR2032.
NOTE:
Perchlorate Material – special handling may
apply. See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate
1. If the RKE transmitter is equipped with a screw,
remove the screw.
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2. With the RKE transmitter buttons facing down, use a
flat blade to pry the two halves of the RKE transmitter
case apart. Make sure not to damage the seal during
removal.3. Remove and replace the batteries. Avoid touching the
new batteries with your fingers. Skin oils may cause
battery deterioration. If you touch a battery, clean it with
rubbing alcohol.
4. To reassemble the RKE transmitter case, snap the two
halves together.
5. If the RKE transmitter is equipped with a screw,
reinstall and tighten until snug.
General Information
This device complies with part 15 of FCC rules and with
RS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the
following conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference.
2. This device must accept any interference that may be
received, including interference that may cause undes-
ired operation.
Separating Case Halves
24 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

NOTE:Changes or modifications not expressly ap-
proved by the party responsible for compliance could
void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
If your RKE transmitter fails to operate from a normal
distance, check for these two conditions:
1. Weak batteries in RKE transmitter. The expected life of
the batteries is from one to two years.
2. Closeness to a radio transmitter such as a radio station
tower, airport transmitter, and some mobile or CB radios.
REMOTE STARTING SYSTEM — IF EQUIPPED
Your vehicle may be equipped with a remote starting
system. This system allows the vehicle to be started from
distances up to 300 ft (91 m) using the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter, which is part of your ignition
key.
In order to start your vehicle remotely, the hood, liftgate,
and all of the doors must be closed.To start your vehicle remotely, press and release the
REMOTE START button on the RKE transmitter twice
within three seconds. To indicate that the vehicle is about
to start, the parking lights will flash and the horn will
sound briefly (if programmed).
Remote Start Button
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Once the engine starts it will run for 15 minutes. To
cancel remote start, press and release the REMOTE
START button once.
To enter the vehicle while the engine is running during a
remote start, you must first unlock the vehicle using the
UNLOCK button on the RKE transmitter. Once the
vehicle is unlocked, you have 60 seconds to enter the
vehicle, insert the key in the ignition, and turn it to the
ON position. Otherwise, the system will cancel the
remote start and automatically turn off.
Remote start will also cancel if any of the following occur:
•If the engine stalls or RPM exceeds 2500.
•Any engine warning lamps come on.
•The hood is opened.
•The hazard switch is pressed.
•The transmission is moved out of PARK.The vehicle can be started remotely a maximum of two
times consecutively. The vehicle is also allowed a maxi-
mum of one failed start, where the remote start sequence
was initiated but the engine stopped cranking without
starting. Following either of these conditions, or if the
Vehicle Security Alarm (if equipped) is sounding, or if the
PANIC button was pressed, the system must be reset
before remote starting the vehicle again. To reset the
system, insert a valid key into the ignition and turn it to
the ON position and then back to the LOCK position.
DOOR LOCKS
The vacuum fluorescent (VF) display, located in the
odometer area, displays the word DOOR as an indication
of a door ajar or door not completely closed. When the
vehicle is not moving and the door is ajar or not
completely closed, the VF display will show the word
DOOR.
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If any other active warnings including “GATE” or “GAS-
CAP” are present, they will be shown in the VF display
and will also continue to cycle. If the vehicle is moving,
three single chimes will occur (one chime for each
complete display cycle, three cycles total). Afterward, the
display will continue to cycle only (no chimes).
If the TRIP/RESET button is pressed while the VF
warnings are being displayed, the VF display will revert
back to only displaying the odometer/trip odometer
mileage.
Manual Door Locks
Use the manual door lock plunger to lock the doors from
inside the vehicle. If the plunger is down when the door
is closed, the door will lock. Make sure the keys are not
inside the vehicle before closing the door.
WARNING!
•For personal security and safety in the event of an
accident, lock the vehicle doors when you drive as
well as when you park and leave the vehicle.
(Continued)
Manual Lock Plunger
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WARNING! (Continued)
•When leaving the vehicle, always remove the key
from the ignition lock, and lock your vehicle. Do
not leave unattended children in the vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised
use of vehicle equipment may cause severe per-
sonal injuries and death.
Power Door Locks
A door lock switch is located on each of the front door
panels. Press this switch to lock or unlock the doors.
If you press the power door LOCK switch while the key
is in the ignition and either of the front doors is open, the
power locks will not operate. This prevents you from
accidentally locking your keys in the vehicle. Removing
the key or closing the door will allow the locks to operate.
A chime will sound if the key is in the ignition switch and
a door is open as a reminder to remove the key.
Power Door Lock Switch
28 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE