DODGE CARAVAN 2008 5.G Owner's Manual

Arming The System
Remove the key from the ignition switch and either press
a power door lock switch while the driver or passenger
door is open or press the LOCK button on the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter. After all the doors are
locked and closed the Vehicle Security Alarm Indicator
Light in the instrument cluster will flash rapidly to signal
that the system is arming. The Vehicle Security Alarm
Indicator Light in the instrument panel cluster will flash
rapidly for about 16 seconds to indicate that the alarm is
being set. After the alarm is set, the Vehicle Security
Alarm Indicator Light, located in the lower center section
of the instrument cluster, will flash at a slower rate to
indicate that the system is armed.
NOTE:If the Vehicle Security Alarm Indicator Light
stays on continuously during vehicle operation, have the
system checked by your authorized dealer.
Disarm The System
Either press the UNLOCK button on the RKE transmitter
or insert a valid ignition key into the ignition switch and
turn the key to the ON position.
NOTE:
²The driver's door key cylinder and the liftgate button
on the RKE transmitter cannot arm or disarm the
system.
²The system remains armed during liftgate entry. Press-
ing the liftgate button will not disarm the system. If
someone enters the vehicle through the liftgate and
opens any door the alarm will sound.
²When the system is armed, the interior power door
lock switches will not unlock the doors.
The Vehicle Security Alarm system is designed to protect
your vehicle; however, you can create conditions where
the system will give you a false alarm. If one of the
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 19
2

previously described arming sequences has occurred, the
system will arm regardless of whether you are in the
vehicle or not. If you remain in the vehicle and open a
door, the alarm will sound. If this occurs, disarm the
system.
If the Security Alarm System is armed and the battery
becomes disconnected, the system will remain armed
when the battery is reconnected; the exterior lights will
flash, the horn will sound, and the ignition will not start
the vehicle. If this occurs, disarm the system.
Tamper Alert
If something has triggered the system in your absence,
the horn will sound three times when you unlock the
doors and the security telltale light will flash for 30
seconds. Check the vehicle for tampering.
Security System Manual Override
The system will not arm if you lock the doors using the
manual door lock plunger.
ILLUMINATED ENTRY SYSTEM Ð IF EQUIPPED
The courtesy lights will turn on when you use the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter or open the
doors. This feature is only available if you have RKE.
The lights will fade to off after approximately 10 seconds
or they will immediately fade to off once the ignition
switch is turned ON.
NOTE:
²The front courtesy overhead console, door courtesy
and liftgate lights do not turn on if the dimmer control
is in the interior lights ON position (extreme top
position).
²The Illuminated Entry System will not operate if the
dimmer control is in the extreme downward position.
20 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE) Ð IF
EQUIPPED
This system allows you to lock or unlock the doors and
liftgate, and activate the PANIC alarm, optional power
liftgate, left power sliding door, and right power sliding
door from distances up to about 23 ft (7 m) using a
hand-held radio RKE transmitter. The RKE transmitter
need not be pointed at the vehicle to activate the system.
NOTE:If the key is in the ignition switch, then all
buttons on that RKE transmitter will be disabled. The
buttons on the remaining transmitters will work. If the
gear selector lever is out of PARK, all the RKE transmitter
buttons are disabled for all keys.
Two transmitters may be supplied with the vehicle.
Vehicles built without the powered options will be
equipped from the factory with three-button transmitters
and those built with power options will be equipped
with up to seven-buttons on the transmitter.
Using The RKE Transmitter
Three-button transmitters will provide basic UNLOCK,
LOCK and PANIC functions.
Three-Button RKE transmitter Fob With Integrated Key
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 21
2

Seven-button transmitters will provide functions that
allow the same basic operation as the three-button, but
may also be used to OPEN/CLOSE the optional power
liftgate, left power sliding door, or right power sliding
door. Other options of the system allow you to turn
ON/OFF the Sound Horn with Remote Lock and Flash
Lights with Remote Key LOCK features.To UNLOCK 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 liftgate. The illuminated entry
system also turns on.
Remote Key Unlock
This feature lets you program the system to unlock either
the driver's side door or all doors on the first press of the
UNLOCK button on the RKE transmitter.
²For vehicles equipped with the Electronic Vehicle
Information Center (EVIC), refer to ªRemote Key
Unlock,º under ªPersonal Settings (Customer Pro-
grammable Features)º under ªElectronic Vehicle Infor-
mation Center (EVIC)º in Section 4 of this manual for
details.
Seven-Button RKE transmitter Fob With Integrated Key
22 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

²For vehicles not equipped with the EVIC, the Remote
UNLOCK feature can be enabled or disabled by per-
forming the following procedure:
1. Perform this operation while standing outside the
vehicle.
2. Press the LOCK button for five to ten seconds.
3. While the LOCK button is pressed, (after five seconds)
press the UNLOCK button. Release both buttons.
The Remote Key Unlock feature can be reactivated by
repeating the above procedure or by performing the
procedure in the Electronic Vehicle Information Center
(EVIC), Customer Programmable Features section on
vehicles so equipped.
To LOCK Doors And Liftgate
Press and release the LOCK button on the RKE transmit-
ter to lock all doors and liftgate. The horn will chirp once
to acknowledge the signal.
Sound Horn With Remote Key Lock
This feature will cause the horn to chirp when the doors
are locked with the RKE transmitter.
If desired, the Sound Horn with Remote Key Lock feature
can be turned on and off by performing the following
procedure:
1. Perform this operation while standing outside the
vehicle.
2. Press the LOCK button for five to ten seconds.
3. While the LOCK button is pressed (after five seconds),
press the PANIC button. Release both buttons.
The Sound Horn with Remote Key Lock feature can be
reactivated by repeating this procedure or by performing
the procedure in the Electronic Vehicle Information Cen-
ter (EVIC), Customer Programmable Features section on
vehicles so equipped.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 23
2

Using The PANIC Alarm
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 park lights will flash, the horn will
pulse on and off and the interior lights 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 by turning the ignition switch to the ON position.
NOTE:When you turn off the PANIC Alarm by press-
ing the PANIC button a second time, you may have to be
closer to the vehicle due to the radio frequency noises of
the system.
Open/Close Power Liftgate Ð If Equipped
Press the LIFTGATE button twice on the RKE transmitter
within five seconds to Open/Close Power Liftgate. The
liftgate will beep for three seconds and then open/close.
If the button is pushed while the liftgate is being power
closed, the liftgate will reverse to the full open position.
If the liftgate is locked and is not equipped with a
powered liftgate, pressing the button twice will result in
the liftgate becoming unlocked for 30 seconds allowing
you to manually access the liftgate area.
The power liftgate may also be opened and closed by
pressing the button located on the overhead console.
If equipped with a rear interior switch on the left rear
pillar, pushing once will close the liftgate only. The
liftgate cannot be opened from this switch.
24 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Open/Close Power Left Power Sliding Door Ð If
Equipped
Press the Left Power Sliding Door button twice on the
RKE transmitter within five seconds to Open/Close
Power Left Power Sliding Door. If the button is pushed
while the door is being power-closed, the door will
reverse to the full open position.
Open/Close Power Right Power Sliding Door Ð If
Equipped
Press the Right Power Sliding Door button twice on the
RKE transmitter within five seconds to Open/Close
Power Right Power Sliding Door. If the button on the
RKE transmitter is pushed while the door is being power
closed, the door will reverse to the full open position.
Turn Off Flash Lights With Remote Key Lock Ð If
Equipped
If desired, the Flash Lights With Remote Key Lock feature
can be turned on and off by performing the following
procedure:
1. Perform this operation while standing outside the
vehicle.
2. Press the UNLOCK button on the RKE transmitter for
five to ten seconds.
3. While the UNLOCK button on the RKE transmitter is
pressed, (after five seconds) press the LOCK button.
Release both buttons.
The Flash Lights with Remote Key Lock feature can be
reactivated by repeating this procedure or by performing
the procedure in Section Four, ªElectronic Vehicle Infor-
mation Center (EVIC), Customer Programmable Fea-
turesº on vehicles so equipped.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 25
2

The table below explains the Lamp Flash options.
FunctionWhich Turn
Signal LampsNumber of
Flashes
Lock All 1
Unlock 1st Press Left Side 2
Unlock All
DoorsAll 2
Left Side Left Side 2
Right Side Right Side 2
Liftgate All 2
Programming Additional RKE Transmitters
Refer to Sentry KeytImmobilizer System ªCustomer
Key Programming.º
If you do not have a programmed RKE transmitter,
contact your authorized dealer for details.
Replacing the RKE Transmitter Battery
The recommended replacement battery is one CR2032
battery.
NOTE:
Perchlorate Material Ð special handling may ap-
ply. See: www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate.
NOTE:Do not touch the battery terminals that are on
the back housing or the printed circuit board.
1. Battery access is through a door located on the rear of
the RKE transmitter. Insert a small, flat bladed screw-
driver into the slot and gently pry open the access door.
26 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

2. Remove and replace the battery. Avoid touching the
new battery with your fingers. Skin oils may cause
battery deterioration. If you touch the battery, clean it
with rubbing alcohol.
3. Reposition the access door panel over the battery
opening and snap into place.
General Information
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules and
RSS 210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the
following conditions:
²This device may not cause harmful interference.
²This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired op-
eration.
If your RKE transmitter fails to operate from a normal
distance, check for these two conditions.
1. A weak battery in the RKE transmitter. The expected
life of the battery is a minimum of three years.
2. Closeness to a radio transmitter such as a radio station
tower, airport transmitter, and some mobile or CB radios.
Battery Replacement
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 27
2

REMOTE STARTING SYSTEM Ð IF EQUIPPED
Remote Starting conveniently starts the engine from
outside the vehicle by using the Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) transmitter while maintaining the Security Alarm
System. The Remote Starting System has a targeted range
of 328 ft (100 m). In order to Remote Start your vehicle,
the hood, liftgate, and all the doors must be closed and
the transmission gear selector lever in PARK.
NOTE:Remote Starting requires automatic transaxle-
equipped vehicles.
How To Use Remote Start
All of the following conditions must be met before the
engine will Remote Start:
²Gear shift lever in PARK
²Doors closed
²Hood closed
²Trunk closed
²HAZARD switch off
²BRAKE switch inactive (brake pedal not pressed)
²Ignition key removed from ignition switch
²Battery at an acceptable charge level, and
²RKE PANIC button not pressed.
28 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE