ignition DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 2005 User Guide

3. To reassemble the transmitter case snap two halves
together. Make sure there is an even “ gap ” between the
two halves. Test transmitter operation.
VEHICLE THEFT ALARM — IF EQUIPPED
This system monitors the vehicle doors and ignition
switch for unauthorized entry or operation. When the
alarm is activated, the system provides both audible and
visual signals. The horn will pulse, headlights/park
lights will flash, the Vehicle Theft Alarm/Immobilizer
light, located in the instrument cluster, will flash, and the
vehicle will not start. If the alarm is triggered and no
action is taken to disarm it, the system will turn off the
horn after three minutes and after 15 minutes of light
only operation the system will then rearm itself. To arm the system: Remove the key from the ignition
switch and either:
1. Press a power door lock button while the driver ’ sor
passenger ’ s door is open.
2. Press the LOCK button on the keyless entry transmit-
ter.
After the last door is closed, or if all doors are closed, the
system will arm itself in about 16 seconds. During that
time, the Vehicle Theft Alarm/Immobilizer light will
flash. If it does not illuminate, the system is not arming.
If you open a door during this arming period, the system
will cancel the arming process. You must repeat one of
the previously described arming sequences to rearm the
system. THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 27
2

To disarm the system: Press the UNLOCK button on the
keyless entry transmitter. Also, using a valid sentry key
and moving the ignition switch to the ON/START posi-
tion will disarm the system. If you disarm the system and
access the liftgate area, the system must be rearmed, as
described previously, when closing the liftgate. If some-
thing has triggered the system in your absence, the horn
will sound three times when you disarm the system.
Check the vehicle for tampering.
NOTE:
• The driver ’ s door and liftgate key cylinders cannot
arm or disarm the system.
• Once the alarm is set, and the liftgate button on the
keyless entry transmitter is pressed, on a non-power
liftgate vehicle, you have a 30 second one time access
into the liftgate area. If the liftgate is not opened within
30 seconds the liftgate will remain locked. • The 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.
• When the system is armed, the doors can not be
unlocked from the interior power door lock switches.
The Vehicle Theft 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
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.
The alarm system will be activated when the battery is
connected if the system was previously armed. The28 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

exterior lights will flash, the horn will sound, and the
ignition will not start the vehicle. If this occurs, disarm
the system.
SLIDING SIDE DOOR
The sliding door may be opened from the inside or the
outside. Pull out on the outside handle to open the
sliding door from the outside. To open the sliding door
from the inside, press the button on the grab handle and
open the door. Sliding Door HardwareTHINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 29
2

To keep your door operating properly, observe the fol-
lowing guidelines:
• Always open the door smoothly.
• Avoid high impacts against the door stop when open-
ing the door. This is very important when your vehicle
is parked on an incline as the door will slide faster in
the downhill direction.
• There is a hold-open latch that is activated when the
sliding door is fully opened. This latch will keep your
sliding door open on any incline. To close the sliding
door after the hold-open latch is activated, you must
push the button on the inside grab handle or pull out
on the outside sliding door handle.
• Use the grab handle on the inside of the sliding door to
assist you in closing and securing the door.
Always make sure that the sliding door is fully latched
any time the vehicle is in motion. NOTE: The driver ’ s side sliding door cannot be opened
while the fuel door is open. This feature operates only
when the sliding door is fully closed prior to opening the
fuel door.
Sliding Door Open Flash
When the sliding door(s) are opened, the left and right
exterior hazard lights will flash for 12 seconds to alert
other drivers in the area that passenger(s) could be
entering or exiting the vehicle.
The Sliding Door Open Flash can be enabled or disabled
by performing the following procedure:
1. Place the key in the ignition switch.
2. Cycle the ignition switch ON/OFF four times ending
in the OFF position. (do not start the engine)
3. Within 10 seconds of the final cycle, press the hazard
switch.30 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Power Windows — If Equipped
You can control either front window using switches on
the driver ’ s door trim panel. There is a single switch on
the passenger ’ s door trim panel which operates the passenger door window. The switches will operate only
when the ignition switch is in the ON or ACCESSORY
position.
Power Vent Window Switches
Power Window SwitchesTHINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 39
2

Auto Down Feature — If Equipped
The driver ’ s window switch has an auto down feature.
Press the window switch past the detent, release, and the
window will go down automatically.
To open the window part way, press the window switch
part way and release it when you want the window to
stop.
The power window switches remain active for up to 45
seconds after the ignition switch has been turned off.
Opening a vehicle front door will cancel this feature. Wind Buffeting
Wind buffeting can be described as the perception of
pressure on the ears or a helicopter type sound in the
ears. Your vehicle may exhibit wind buffeting with the
windows down, or the sunroof (if equipped) in certain
open or partially open positions. This is a normal occur-
rence and can be minimized. If the buffeting occurs with
the rear windows open, open the front and rear windows
together to minimize the buffeting. If the buffeting occurs
with the sunroof open, adjust the sunroof opening to
minimize the buffeting.40 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

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 front airbag con-
trol module (see Front Airbag Section). Like the front
airbags, the pretensioners are single use items. After a
collision that is severe enough to deploy the front airbags
and pretensioners, both must be replaced.
Enhanced Driver Seat Belt Use Reminder System
(BeltAlert)
If the 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), the Enhanced Warning
System (BeltAlert) 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, the
Enhanced Warning System (BeltAlert) will continue to chime and flash the Seat Belt Warning Light for 96
seconds or until the driver ’ s seat belt is buckled.
The Enhanced Warning System (BeltAlert) will be reacti-
vated if the driver ’ s seat belt is unbuckled for more than
10 seconds and the vehicle speed is greater than 5 mph (8
km/h).
The Enhanced Warning System (BeltAlert) can be en-
abled or disabled by your authorized dealer or by
following these steps:
NOTE: The following steps must occur within the first
60 seconds of the ignition switch being turned to the ON
or RUN position. DaimlerChrysler does not recommend
deactivating the Enhanced Warning System (BeltAlert).
1. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position, and
buckle the driver ’ s seat belt.THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 51
2

2. Turn the ignition key to the RUN position (engine
does not need to be running), and wait for the Seat Belt
Warning Light to turn off.
3. Within 60 seconds, unbuckle and then re-buckle the
driver ’ s seat belt at least three times, ending with the seat
belt buckled.
4. Turn the ignition key to the OFF position. A single
chime will sound to signify that you have successfully
completed the programming.
The Enhanced Warning System (BeltAlert) can be reacti-
vated by repeating this procedure.
NOTE: Although the Enhanced Warning System
(BeltAlert) has been deactivated, the Seat Belt Warning
Light will continue to illuminate while the driver ’ s seat
belt remains unfastened. Seat Belts and Pregnant Women
We recommend that pregnant women use the seat belts
throughout their pregnancies. Keeping the mother safe is
the best way to keep the baby safe.
Pregnant women should wear the lap part of the belt
across the thighs and as snug across the hips as possible.
Keep the belt low so that it does not come across the
abdomen. That way the strong bones of the hips will take
the force if there is a collision.
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.52 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

• Knee Impact Bolster
• Driver Inflatable Knee Blocker
• Front Passenger Seat Occupant Classification System
(OCS) — If Equipped
Occupant Classification Module
Passenger Airbag Disabled (PAD) Indicator Light
Interconnecting Wiring
Bladder Assembly
Belt Tension Sensor
How The Airbag System Works
• The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) determines
if a frontal collision is severe enough to require the
airbags to inflate. Based on the level of collision
severity, the front control module determines the proper rate of inflation. The front airbag inflators are
designed to provide different rates of airbag inflation.
• The ORC may modify the rate of inflation based on the
occupant size provided by the Occupant Classification
Module.
• The ORC will not detect side, roll over, or rear impacts.
• The ORC monitors the readiness of the electronic parts
of the system whenever the ignition switch is in the
START or RUN positions. These include all of the
items listed above except the steering wheel and
column, instrument panel and passenger knee bol-
sters. If the key is in the OFF position, in the ACC
position, or not in the ignition, the airbags are not on
and will not inflate.
• Also, the ORC turns on the AIRBAG warn-
ing light and PAD indicator light in the
center of the instrument panel for 6 to 8
seconds for a self-check when the ignition is58 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

• It is not advisable to drive your vehicle after the
airbags have deployed. If you are involved in another
collision, the airbags will not be in place to protect you.
WARNING!Deployed airbags, seat belt pretensioners and driver
inflatable knee blocker cannot protect you in an-
other collision. Have the airbags, seat belt preten-
sioners, driver inflatable knee blocker and the front
passenger seat belt retractor assembly, replaced by
an authorized dealer as soon as possible. Also, have
the Occupant Classification System serviced as well. Enhanced Accident Response
If the airbags and seat belt pertensioners deploy after an
impact and the electrical system remains functional,
vehicles equipped with power door locks will unlock
automatically. In addition, approximately 10 seconds
after the vehicle has stopped moving, the interior lights
will illuminate until the ignition switch is turned off.66 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE