airbag DODGE AVENGER 2008 Owners Manual

N Seat Belt Pretensioners ...................48
N Enhanced Seat Belt Reminder System
(BeltAlert t ) ..........................48
N BeltAlert t Programming .................49
N Automatic Locking Mode ................50
N Seat Belts And Pregnant Women ............50
N Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) - Airbag . .51
N Airbag System Components ...............52
N Front Seat Airbag Features ................53
N Airbag Deployment Sensors And Controls .....59 N Event Data Recorder (EDR) ...............65
N Child Restraint ........................67
m Engine Break-In Recommendations ...........78
m Safety Tips ............................78
N Exhaust Gas ..........................78
N Safety Checks You Should Make Inside The
Vehicle ..............................79
N Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make
Outside The Vehicle ....................80THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 11
2

TRUNK INTERNAL EMERGENCY RELEASE
NOTE: As a security measure, a Trunk Internal Emer-
gency Release lever is built into the trunk latching
mechanism. In the event of an individual being locked
inside the trunk, the trunk can be simply opened by
pulling on the glow-in-the-dark handle attached to the
trunk latching mechanism. OCCUPANT RESTRAINTS
Some of the most important safety features in your
vehicle are the restraint systems. The following safety
features are standard on all vehicles:
² Three point lap and shoulder belts for all seating
positions
² Pretensioning and load-limiting retractors for the front
seat belts
² Advanced multistage driver and new active-vent front
passenger airbags
² New active-vent front passenger airbags.
² Knee Bolsters/Blockers for front seat occupants
² An energy absorbing steering column and steering
wheelInterior Trunk Emergency Release40 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

² Supplemental Side Airbag Inflatable Curtains (SABIC)
that span the front and second rows for sedans Ð if
equipped
² Supplemental seat side (Thorax) airbags Ð if
equipped
² Front seat belt retractors incorporate pretensioners to
enhance occupant protection by managing occupant
energy during an impact event.
² All seat belt systems (except the driver's) include
Automatic Locking Retractors (ALRs), which lock the
seat belt webbing into position by extending the belt
all the way out and then adjusting the belt to the
desired length to restrain a child seat or secure a large
item in a seat.
If you will be carrying children too small for adult-size
seat belts, your seat belts or the LATCH feature also can
be used to hold infant and child restraint systems. NOTE: The front airbags have a multi stage inflator
design. This allows the airbag to have different rates of
inflation that are based on collision severity.
Please pay close attention to the information in this
section. It tells you how to use your restraint system
properly to keep you and your passengers as safe as
possible.
WARNING!In a collision, you and your passengers can suffer
much greater injuries if you are not properly buckled
up. You can strike the interior of your vehicle or other
passengers, or you can be thrown out of the vehicle.
Always be sure you and others in your vehicle are
buckled up properly. THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 41
2

REAR SEAT BELTS
Three point belts are nonadjustable for outboard and
center rear passengers on sedans. The center belt is
mounted to the rear shelf panel and exits through a bezel
in the panel.
SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS
The seat belts for both front seating positions are
equipped with pretensioning devices that are designed to
remove slack from the seat belt in the event of a collision.
These devices improve the performance of the seat belt
by assuring that the belt is tight about the occupant early
in a collision. Pretensioners work for all size occupants,
including those in child restraints.
In addition, the front passenger seat belt includes a
two-stage load-limiting feature to enhance occupant pro-
tection for the same reason. NOTE: These devices are not a substitute for proper seat
belt placement by the occupant. The seat belt still must be
worn snugly and positioned properly.
The pretensioners are triggered by the Occupant Re-
straint Controller (ORC) (see Airbag Section). Like the
front airbags, the pretensioners are single use items. After
a collision that is severe enough to deploy the airbags and
pretensioners, both must be replaced.
ENHANCED SEAT BELT REMINDER SYSTEM
(BELTALERT T )
If the occupied driver's seat belt has not been buckled
within 60 seconds of starting the vehicle and if the vehicle
speed is greater than 5 mph (8 km/h), BeltAlert t will
alert the driver to buckle their seat belt. The driver
should also instruct all other occupants to buckle their
seat belts. Once the warning is triggered, BeltAlert t will
continue to chime and flash the Seat Belt Warning Light
for 96 seconds or until the driver's seat belt is buckled.48 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Seat Belt Extender
If a seat belt is too short, even when fully extended and
when the adjustable upper shoulder belt anchorage (if
equipped) is in its lowest position, your dealer can
provide you with a seat belt extender. This extender
should be used only if the existing belt is not long
enough. When it is not required, remove the extender,
and stow it.
WARNING!Using a seat belt extender when not needed can
increase the risk of injury in a collision. Only use
when the lap belt is not long enough when it is worn
low and snug, and in the recommended seating
positions. Remove and store the extender when not
needed. SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) -
AIRBAG
This vehicle has airbags for both the driver and front
passenger as a supplement to the seat belt restraint
systems. The driver's front airbag is mounted in the
center of the steering wheel. The passenger's front airbag
is mounted in the instrument panel, above the glove
compartment. The words SRS AIRBAG are embossed on
the airbag covers. THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 51
2

NOTE: The front airbags are certified to the Federal
regulations that allow less forceful deployment.
The front airbags have a multistage inflator design. This
may allow the airbag to have different rates of inflation
that are based on collision severity and occupant size. This vehicle may also be equipped with window bags to
protect the driver, front, and rear passengers sitting next
to a window. If the vehicle is equipped with window
bags, they are located above the side windows. Their
covers are also labeled SRS AIRBAG.
NOTE: Airbag covers may not be obvious in the interior
trim; but they will open to allow airbag deployment.
AIRBAG SYSTEM COMPONENTS
The airbag system consists of the following:
² Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
² Airbag Light
² Driver Airbag
² Front Passenger Airbag
² Supplemental Side Airbag Inflatable Curtains (SABIC)
Ð If EquippedFront Airbag Components52 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

² Front SeatÐ side mounted (Thorax) Airbags Ð If
Equipped
² Front Impact Sensors
² Side Impact Sensors (If Equipped)
² Steering Wheel and Column
² Instrument Panel
² Seat Belt Reminder Light
² Knee Impact Bolster
² Front Seat Belt Pretensioners
FRONT SEAT AIRBAG FEATURES
The front airbag system has dual-stage driver and front
passenger airbags. This system provides output appro-
priate to the level of crash severity as determined by the
Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) and the impact
sensors at the front of the car. The first stage inflator is triggered immediately during an
impact that requires airbag deployment. The timing of
the second stage determines whether the output force is
low, medium, or high. If a low output is sufficient to meet
the need, the second stage is expended later in the crash
event.
Driver Airbag Special Features
Driver airbag deployment and force level is controlled by
the driver's seat position as well as impact severity. Use
of special inflators, result in a very compact driver's side
airbag.
In addition to the small size, the inflating gasses exit
through strategically placed vents, which direct the gas
away from the occupant. THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 53
2

Front Passenger Airbag Special Features
A new active venting front-passenger airbag is designed
to reduce the risk of occupants who may be out of
position by the use of active vents positioned on each
side of the airbag.
Supplemental Front Seat-Mounted Thorax Side
Airbags Ð If Equipped
Front seat mounted side (Thorax) airbags provide en-
hanced protection and work together with supplemental
Side Airbag Inflatable Curtains (SABIC) to help protect
an occupant during a side impact. The seat-mounted side
airbag is marked with an airbag label sewn into the
outboard side of the seat.
When the bag deploys, it opens the seam between the
front and side of the seat's trim cover. Each bag deploys
independently, that is a left side impact deploys the left
bag only and a right-side impact deploys only the right
bag. seat-mounted Side Airbag Label54 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Supplemental Side Airbag Inflatable Curtain
(SABIC) Ð If Equipped
Supplemental Side Airbag Inflatable Curtain (SABIC)
Airbags offer side-impact protection to front and rear seat
outboard occupants in addition to that provided by the
body structure. Each airbag features inflated chambers
place adjacent to the head of each outboard occupant that
reduce the potential for side-impact head injuries. The
curtains deploy downward, covering both windows on
the impact side.
NOTE: Airbag covers may not be obvious in the interior
trim; but they will open to allow airbag deployment.
The system includes sensors adjacent to both front and
rear seat occupants that are calibrated to deploy the side
bags during an impact severe enough to require airbag
occupant protection. Side Airbag Inflatable Curtains (SABIC) Location THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 55
2

WARNING!² Do not put anything on or around the airbag
covers or attempt to open them manually. You may
damage the airbags and you could be injured
because the airbags are not there to protect you.
These protective covers for the airbag cushions are
designed to open only when the airbags are inflat-
ing.
² Do not use accessory seat covers or place objects
between you and the side airbags; the performance
could be adversely affected and/or objects could
be pushed into you, causing serious injury. WARNING!² If your vehicle is equipped with left and right
window bags, do not stack luggage or other cargo
up high enough to block the location of the Side
Airbag Inflatable Curtains (SABIC). The area
where the side curtain airbag is located should
remain free from any obstructions.
² Do not attach cup holders or any other objects on
or around the door. The inflating side airbag could
drive the object into occupants, causing serious
injury.
Airbags inflate in moderate to high speed impacts. Along
with seat belts and pretensioners, front airbags, and side
airbags work with the knee bolsters to provide improved
protection for the driver and front passenger.56 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE