ECU DODGE DAKOTA 2009 3.G User Guide

²Cruise control status
²Traction/stability control status
²Tire pressure monitoring system status (if equipped).
Child Restraint
Everyone in your vehicle needs to be buckled up all the
time - babies and children, too. Every state in the United
States, and all Canadian provinces, require that small
children ride in proper restraint systems. This is the law,
and you can be prosecuted for ignoring it. Children
12 years and younger should ride properly buckled up in
a rear seat, if available. According to crash statistics,
children are safer when properly restrained in the rear
seats rather than in the front.
There are different sizes and types of restraints for
children from newborn size to the child almost large
enough for an adult seat belt. Always check the child seatowner's manual to ensure you have the right seat for
your child. Use the restraint that is correct for your child.
Infants and Small Children
²
Safety experts recommend that children ride
rearward-facing in the vehicle until they are at least
one year old and weigh at least 20 lbs (9 kg). Two types
of child restraints can be used rearward facing: infant
carriers and9convertible9child seats.
²The infant carrier is only used rearward-facing in the
vehicle. It is recommended for children who weigh up
to about 20 lbs (9 kg).9Convertible9child seats can be
used either rearward-facing or forward-facing in the
vehicle. Convertible child seats often have a higher
weight limit in the rearward-facing direction than
infant carriers do, so they can be used rearward-facing
by children who weigh more than 20 lbs (9 kg) but are
less than one year old. Both types of child restraints are
held in the vehicle by the seat belt or the LATCH child
58 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

²Carefully follow the instructions that come with the
restraint. If you install the restraint improperly, it may
not work when you need it.
²The Extended Cab first, and Club/Crew Cab second
row outside seating positions, have cinching latch
plates. These are designed to keep the lap portion tight
around the child restraint so that it is not necessary to
use a locking clip. If the seat belt has a cinching latch
plate, pulling up on the shoulder portion of the
lap/shoulder belt will tighten the belt. The cinching
latch plate will keep the belt tight, however, any seat
belt system will loosen with time, so check the belt
occasionally and pull it tight, if necessary.
²Buckle the child into the restraint exactly as the
manufacturer's instructions tell you.
²When your child restraint is not in use, secure it in the
vehicle with the seat belt or remove it from the vehicle.Do not leave it loose in the vehicle. In a sudden stop or
collision, it could strike the occupants or seatbacks and
cause serious personal injury.
LATCH - Child Seat Anchorage System (Lower
Anchors and Tether for CHildren) Ð if equipped
Each vehicle is equipped with the child restraint anchor-
age system called LATCH, which stands for Lower
Anchors and Tethers for CHildren. The LATCH system
provides for the installation of the child restraint without
using the vehicle's seat belts, instead securing the child
restraint using lower anchorages and upper tether straps
from the child restraint to the vehicle structure. LATCH-
compatible child restraint systems are now available.
However, because the lower anchorages are to be intro-
duced over a period of years, child restraint systems
having attachments for those anchorages will continue to
also have features for installation using the vehicle's seat
belts. Child restraints having tether straps and hooks for
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 61
2

locking retractor seat belts, refer to9Automatic Locking
Mode9in this section. If you have trouble tightening the
lap/shoulder belt on the child restraint because, the
buckle or latch plate is too close to the belt path opening
on the restraint, follow these steps. If the buckle is
webbing-mounted, disconnect the latch plate from the
buckle and twist the short buckle-end belt to shorten it.
Insert the latch plate into the buckle with the release
button facing out. If the belt still can't be tightened, the
buckle is not webbing-mounted, or if by pulling and
pushing on the restraint loosens the belt, you may need
to do something more. Disconnect the latch plate from
the buckle, turn the latch plate around, and insert the
latch plate into the buckle again. If you still can't make
the child restraint secure, try a different seating position
or use the locking clip provided with your child restraint.
To complete the child seat installation, refer to9Child
Restraint Tether Anchor9in this section.Child Restraint Tether Anchor
The Extended Cab model has one routing strap
located behind the passenger side, rear out-
board seating position. The tether anchor itself
is located in the center of vehicle, in between
the two seating positions. The front outboard passenger
seating position is also equipped with a child tether
anchorage, located at the base of the front seatback.
When there is a rear seat delete option, the tether
anchorage located on the cab back panel is designed to be
used for the front seat center seating position. The Crew
Cab model has three anchorages located behind each of
the rear seating positions (rear left, rear center, and rear
right).
66 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
An incorrectly anchored tether strap could lead to
seat failure and injury to the child. In a collision, the
seat could come loose and allow the child to crash
into the inside of the vehicle or other passengers, or
even be thrown from the vehicle. Use only the anchor
positions directly behind the child restraint to secure
a child restraint top tether strap. See your authorized
dealer for help, if necessary.
Transporting Pets
Airbags deploying in the front seat could harm your pet.
An unrestrained pet will be thrown about and possibly
injured, or injure a passenger during panic braking or in
a collision. Pets should be restrained in the rear seat in
pet harnesses or pet carriers that are secured by seat belts.
ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS
A long break-in period is not required for the engine in
your vehicle.
Drive moderately during the first 300 miles (500 km).
After the initial 60 miles (100 km), speeds up to 50 or
55 mph (80 or 90 km/h) are desirable.
While cruising, brief full-throttle acceleration within the
limits of local traffic laws, contributes to a good break-in.
Wide-open throttle acceleration in low gear can be detri-
mental and should be avoided.
The engine oil installed in the engine at the factory is a
high-quality energy conserving type lubricant. Oil
changes should be consistent with anticipated climate
conditions under which vehicle operations will occur.
The recommended viscosity and quality grades are
70 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

mGarage Door Opener Ð If Equipped........ 142
NProgramming HomeLinkt.............. 144
NGate Operator/Canadian Programming..... 146
NUsing HomeLinkt.................... 147
NReprogramming A Single HomeLinkt
Button............................ 147
NSecurity........................... 148
NTroubleshooting Tips.................. 148
NGeneral Information................... 148
mElectrical Power Outlets................. 149
NElectrical Outlet Use With Engine Off
(Battery Fed Configuration)............. 150
mCupholders.......................... 150
mRear Storage Ð If Equipped.............. 151NRear Convenience Storage Crates......... 151
NPlastic Grocery Bag Retainers............ 153
mFloor Console Ð If Equipped............. 154
NFloor Console Features................. 154
mRear Cargo Area Utility Rails............. 155
mRear Window Features.................. 156
NRear Window Defroster Ð If Equipped..... 156
NSliding Rear Window Ð If Equipped....... 157
mSlide-In Campers...................... 157
NCamper Applications.................. 157
NGeneral Information................... 158
NCarbon Monoxide Warning-Vehicles
Equipped With A Cap Or Slide-In Campers . . 158
78 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

To set the variance: Turn the ignition ON and set the
display to ªCompass/Temperature.º Press and hold the
RESET button approximately five seconds. The last vari-
ance zone number will be displayed. Press the STEP
button to select the new variance zone and press the
RESET button to resume normal operation.
Outside Temperature
Because the ambient temperature sensor is located under
the hood, engine temperature can influence the displayed
temperature; therefore, temperature readings are slowly
updated when the vehicle speed is below 20 mph
(30 km/h) or during stop-and-go driving.
GARAGE DOOR OPENER Ð IF EQUIPPED
HomeLinktreplaces up to three remote controls (hand-
held transmitters) that operate devices such as garage
door openers, motorized gates, lighting, or home security
systems. The HomeLinktunit operates off of your vehi-
cle's battery.
The HomeLinktbuttons are located in the overhead
console, and contain one, two, or three dots/lines desig-
nating the different HomeLinktchannels.
Compass Variance Map
142 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

transmission ± which may not be long enough for
HomeLinktto pick up the signal during programming.
Similar to this Canadian law, some U.S. gate operators are
designed to ªtime-outº in the same manner.
It may be helpful to unplug the device during the cycling
process, to prevent possible overheating of the garage
door or gate motor.
If you are having difficulties programming a garage door
opener or a gate operator, replace ªProgramming
HomeLink,º Step 3, with the following:
3. Continue to press and hold the HomeLinktbutton,
while you press and release - every two seconds
(ªcycleº), your hand-held transmitter until HomeLinkt
has successfully accepted the frequency signal. The
indicator(s) will change from a slow flash, to a rapid
flash when trained.If you unplugged the device for training, plug it back in
at this time.
Then proceed with Step 4 under, ªProgramming
HomeLinkt,º earlier in this section.
Using HomeLinkT
To operate, simply press and release the programmed
HomeLinktbutton. Activation will now occur for the
trained device (i.e., garage door opener, gate operator,
security system, entry door lock, home/office lighting,
etc.) The hand-held transmitter of the device may also be
used at any time.
Reprogramming A Single HomeLinkTButton
To reprogram a channel that has been previously trained,
follow these steps:
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 147
3

1. Turn the ignition switch to the ON/RUN position.
2. Press and hold the desired HomeLinktbutton, for
20 seconds, until the indicator(s) starts to flash.Do not
release the button.
3.Without releasing the button,proceed with PRO-
GRAMMING HOMELINKt, Step #2, and follow all
remaining steps.
Security
It is advised to erase all channels before you sell or turn
in your vehicle.
To do this, press and hold the two outside buttons, for
20 seconds, until the indicators begin to flash. Note that
all channels will be erased. Individual channels cannot be
erased.
The HomeLinktUniversal Transceiver is disabled when
the Vehicle Theft Alarm is active.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you are having trouble programming HomeLinkt, here
are some of the most common solutions:
²Replace the battery in the original transmitter.
²Press the ªLearnº button on the Garage Door Opener
to complete the training for Rolling Code.
²Did you unplug the device for training, and remember
to plug it back in?
If you have any problems, or require assistance, please
call toll-free 1±800±355±3515 or, on the Internet at
www.HomeLink.com, for information or assistance.
General Information
This device complies with FCC rules part 15 and Industry
Canada RSS-210. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference
148 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

inside of the armrest lid. A tissue holder is also provided
on the inside of the armrest lid, which holds a pocket-size
soft pack of tissue.
REAR CARGO AREA UTILITY RAILS
CAUTION!
The maximum load per cleat should not exceed
320 lbs (145 kg) and the angle of the load on each
cleat should not exceed 60 degrees above horizontal,
or damage to the cleat or cleat rail may occur.
There are four adjustable cleats that can be used to assist
in securing cargo. Each cleat must be located and tight-
ened down in one of the detentes, along either rail, in
order to keep cargo properly secure.
To move the cleat to any position on the rail, turn the nut
counterclockwise, approximately three turns. Then pullout on the cleat and slide it to the detent nearest the
desired location. Make sure the cleat is seated in the
detent and tighten the nut.
1 Ð Utility Rail Cleat
2 Ð Cleat Retainer Nut
3 Ð Utility Rail DetentUNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 155
3

2. Secure the tailgate in the partially-open position:
3. Open the tailgate slightly.4. Snap the tailgate support cable between the cable
guide and the tailgate bumper. Do this on both sides of
the tailgate.
1 Ð Bulkhead Divider Slot
2 Ð Wheel Housing Indentions
Tailgate Guide
160 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE