steering DODGE CALIBER 2009 1.G Owners Manual

Driver And Front Passenger 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.NOTE:The front airbags are certified to the Federal
regulations that allow less forceful deployment.
Airbag and Knee Bolster Location
1 — Driver Airbag 2 — Passenger Airbag
3 — Knee Bolster 4 — Knee Bolster
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 49
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4.If your vehicle has side airbags, do not lean against
the door; airbags will inflate forcefully into the space
between you and the door.
5. If the airbag system in this vehicle needs to be
modified to accommodate a disabled person, contact
the Customer Center. Phone numbers are provided
under If You Need Assistance in Section 9 of this
manual.
WARNING!
•Relying on the airbags alone could lead to more
severe injuries in a collision. The airbags work
with your seat belt to restrain you properly. In
some collisions, the airbags won’t deploy at all.
Always wear your seat belt even though you have
airbags.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Being too close to the steering wheel or instrument
panel during front airbag deployment could cause
serious injury. Airbags need room to inflate. Sit
back, comfortably extending your arms to reach
the steering wheel or instrument panel.
•If the vehicle has side airbags, they also need room
to inflate. Do not lean against the door. Sit upright
in the center of the seat.
The front airbag system consists of the following:
•Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
•Side Remote Acceleration Sensors (If Equipped)
•Airbag Warning Light
•Driver Airbag
•Front Passenger Airbag
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•Supplemental Side Curtain Airbags Above Side Win-
dows (If Equipped)
•Steering Wheel and Column
•Instrument Panel
•Interconnecting Wiring
•Seat Belt Reminder Light
•Knee Impact Bolsters
•Driver Inflatable Knee Blocker
•Front Acceleration Sensors
•Driver and Front Passenger Seat Belt Pretensioners
How The Airbag System Works
•
The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) determines
if a frontal collision is severe enough to require the airbags to inflate. The front airbag inflators are de-
signed to provide different rates of airbag inflation
from direction provided by the ORC. This ORC will
detect roll over.
The ORC also monitors the readiness of the electronic
parts of the system whenever the ignition switch is in
the START or ON position. These include all of the
items listed above except the knee bolster, the instru-
ment panel, and the steering wheel and column. If the
key is in the LOCK position, in the ACC position, or
not in the ignition, the airbags are not on and will not
inflate.
•The ORC also turns on the Airbag Warning
Light in the instrument panel for six to eight
seconds as a self-check when the ignition is
first turned on. After the self-check, the
Airbag Warning Light will turn off. If the ORC detects
a malfunction in any part of the system, it turns on the
54 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Airbag Warning Light either momentarily or continu-
ously. A single chime will sound if the light comes on
again after initial start up.
WARNING!
Ignoring the AIRBAG Warning Light in your instru-
ment panel could mean you won’t have the airbags to
protect you in a collision. If the light does not come
on, stays on after you start the vehicle, or if it comes
on as you drive, have the airbag system checked right
away.
•TheDriver and Passenger Airbag/Inflator Units are
located in the center of the steering wheel and the right
side of the instrument panel. When the ORC detects a
collision requiring the airbags, it signals the inflator
units. A large quantity of nontoxic gas is generated to
inflate the front airbags. Different airbag inflation rates may be possible based on collision severity and occu-
pant size. The steering wheel hub trim cover and the
upper right side of the instrument panel separate and
fold out of the way as the bags inflate to their full size.
The bags fully inflate in about 50 - 70 milliseconds.
This is about half of the time it takes to blink your eyes.
The bags then quickly deflate while helping to restrain
the driver and front passenger. The driver’s front
airbag gas is vented through vent holes in the sides of
the airbag. The passenger’s front airbag gas is vented
through vent holes in the sides of the airbag. In this
way, the airbags do not interfere with your control of
the vehicle.
•The
Side Impact (SRS) Side Curtain Airbags (If
Equipped) are designed to activate only in certain side
collisions.
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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 passenger side of the instrument panel. Do
not modify the front bumper, vehicle body struc-
ture, or frame.
•You need proper knee impact protection in a
collision. Do not mount or locate any aftermarket
equipment on or behind the knee impact bolster.
•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 Warning Light
You will want to have the airbags ready to
inflate for your protection in an impact. While
the airbag system is designed to be mainte-
nance free, if any of the following occurs, have
an authorized dealer service the system promptly:
•The Airbag Warning Light does not come on or flickers
during the six to eight seconds when the ignition
switch is first turned on.
•The light remains on or flickers after the six to eight
second interval.
•The light flickers or comes on and remains on while
driving.
Event Data Recorder (EDR)
In the event of an accident, your vehicle is designed to
record up to five seconds of specific vehicle data param-
eters (see list below) in an event data recorder prior to the
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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.
Door Latches
Check for positive closing, latching, and locking.
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 if fuel, power steering fluid, or
brake fluid leaks are suspected, the cause should be
located and corrected immediately.
74 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

▫Daytime Running Lights (DRL) — If
Equipped .......................... 131
 Windshield Wipers And Washers .......... 131
▫ Windshield Wiper Operation ............ 131
▫ Intermittent Wiper System .............. 132
▫ Windshield Washers .................. 132
▫ Mist Feature ........................ 133
 Tilt Steering Column ................... 134
 Electronic Speed Control — If Equipped ..... 134
▫ To Activate ......................... 135
▫ To Set At A Desired Speed .............. 136
▫ To Deactivate ....................... 136
▫ To Resume Speed .................... 136 ▫
To Vary The Speed Setting .............. 136
▫ Manual Transaxle .................... 137
▫ To Accelerate For Passing .............. 137
 Garage Door Opener — If Equipped ........ 138
▫ Programming HomeLink .............. 139
▫ Gate Operator/Canadian Programming .... 142
▫ Using HomeLink ................... 142
▫ Reprogramming A Single HomeLink
Button ............................ 143
▫ Security ........................... 143
▫ Troubleshooting Tips .................. 143
▫ General Information .................. 144
 Power Sunroof — If Equipped ............ 144
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 77
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Phone ButtonThe rearview mirror contains the microphone
for the system (depending on the type of
mirror and radio equipped), and either the
radio or the mirror has the two control buttons
(PHONE Button and VOICE RECOGNITION button)
that will enable you to access the system.
Voice Recognition Button Actual button location may vary with the ra-
dio. The individual buttons are described in the
“Operation” section.
The uconnect phone can be used with any Hands-Free
Profile certified Bluetooth cellular phone. See the
uconnect website for supported phones. If your cellular
phone supports a different profile (e.g., Headset Profile)
you may not be able to use any uconnect phone
features. Refer to your cellular service provider or the
phone manufacturer for details. The uconnect
phone is fully integrated with the vehi-
cle’s audio system. The volume of the uconnect phone
can be adjusted either from the radio volume control
knob or from the steering wheel radio control (right
switch), if so equipped.
The radio display will be used for visual prompts from
the uconnect phone such as CELLor caller ID on
certain radios.
Operation
Voice commands can be used to operate the uconnect 
phone and to navigate through the uconnect phone
menu structure. Voice commands are required after most
uconnect phone prompts. You will be prompted for a
specific command and then guided through the available
options.
•Prior to giving a voice command, one must wait for
the beep, which follows the Readyprompt or another
prompt.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 85
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CAUTION!
To prevent possible damage, do not slam the hood to
close it. Lower the hood until it is open approxi-
mately 8 in (20 cm) 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
Multifunction Lever
The multifunction lever controls the operation of the
headlights, parking lights, turn signals, headlight beam
selection, instrument panel light dimming, interior lights,
the passing lights, and fog lights. The multifunction lever
is located on the left side of the steering column.
Headlights, Parking Lights and Instrument Panel
Lights
Turn the end of the multifunction lever to the first detent
for parking light operation. Turn the multifunction lever
to the second detent for headlight operation.
126 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Daytime Running Lights (DRL) — If Equipped
The high beam headlights will come on as Daytime
Running Lights (DRL) at DRL intensity, which is a lower
intensity then the normal high beams. The DRL’s will
come on whenever the ignition is ON, the engine is
running, the headlight switch is off, the parking brake is
off, the turn signal is off, and the shift lever is in any
position except for PARK.
NOTE:The DRLs will automatically turn off when the
turn signals or Hazard Warning flashers are in operation
and automatically turn back on when the turn signals
and Hazard Warning flashers are not operating.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHERS
The wipers and washers are operated by a switch
on the control lever. The lever is located on the
right side of the steering column.
Windshield Wiper Operation
Turn the end of the handle to select the desired wiper
speed.
Wiper Control
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 131
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