child seat DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 2008 5.G Owners Manual

NPower Sliding Side Door Ð If Equipped......42
NSliding Side Door Child Protection Lock......46
mLiftgate...............................48
NPower Liftgate Ð If Equipped.............49
mStorage Bin Safety Warning.................52
NSafety Warnings.......................52
NStorage Bin Cover Emergency Release Strap Ð
If Equipped..........................54
NReinstalling Storage Bin Cover Emergency
Release Strap.........................54
mOccupant Restraints......................55
NLap/Shoulder Belts.....................57
NAutomatic Locking Retractors (ALR) Mode ±
If Equipped..........................63NSeat Belt Pretensioners...................64
NEnhanced Seat Belt Use Reminder System
(BeltAlertt) ..........................64
NSeat Belts And Pregnant Women............65
NSeat Belt Extender......................66
NSupplemental Restraint System (SRS) - Airbag . .66
NAirbag System Components...............67
NFront Seat Airbag Features................67
NAirbag Deployment Sensors And Controls.....72
NEvent Data Recorder (EDR)...............78
NIntegrated Child Seat Ð If Equipped........80
NChild Restraints.......................81
mRear Seat Delete Feature (Commercial Vehicles Only)
Ð If Equipped..........................89
10 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

NRestraining Infants And Small Children With Seat
Delete Feature (Commercial Vehicles Only)....90
mEngine Break-In Recommendations...........93
mSafety Tips............................93NSafety Checks You Should Make Inside The
Vehicle..............................93
NPeriodic Safety Checks You Should Make
Outside The Vehicle....................94
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 11
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You can turn the feature back on by repeating the above
mentioned procedure.
Power Sliding Side Door Master Lock Switch
The power sliding side doors may also be opened by
pressing the switches on the overhead console or the
switches located on the trim panel just in front of the
sliding door.
To provide a safer environment for small children riding
in the rear seats, the second row power sliding door
switches may be overridden by pressing the Master Lock
Out Switch located in the front overhead console to the
ON position.
Overhead Console Power Sliding Door Master Switch
1 Ð Left Door 3 Ð Right Door
2 Ð Liftgate 4 Ð Master LockTHINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 45
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Sliding Side Door Child Protection Lock
To provide a safer environment for small children riding
in the rear seats, the sliding doors are equipped with a
child protection door lock system.
NOTE:When the child lock system is engaged, the door
can be opened only by using the outside door handle
even though the inside door lock is in the unlocked
position.
To Engage The Child Protection Door Lock
1. Open the sliding side door.2. Slide the child lock control inward (toward the ve-
hicle) to engage the Child Protection Door Lock.
3. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 on the opposite sliding door.
Child Protection Door Lock
46 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

NOTE:
²After engaging the Child Protection Door Lock, al-
ways test the door from the inside to make certain it is
in the desired position.
²When the Child Protection Door Lock system is en-
gaged, (even if the inside door lock is in the unlocked
position) the door can be opened only by using the
outside door handle, the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter, the switches on the overhead console, or
the switches located on the trim panel just in front of
the power sliding door.
²The power sliding side door will operate from the
switches located on the trim panel just in front of the
power sliding door, regardless of the Child Protection
Door Lock lever position.To avoid unintentional
operation of the power sliding door from the rear
seats, press the Master Lock Out Switch located in
the front overhead console to the ON position.
WARNING!
Avoid trapping anyone in the vehicle in a collision.
Remember that the sliding doors can only be opened
from the outside door handle or the switches located
on the trim panel just in front of the power sliding
door when the child protection locks are engaged.
To Disengage The Child Protection Door Lock
1. Open the sliding side door.
2. Slide the child lock control outward (away from the
vehicle) to disengage the Child Protection Door Lock.
3. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 on the opposite sliding door (if
equipped).
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 47
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Gas props support the liftgate in the open position.
However, because the gas pressure drops with tempera-
ture, it may be necessary to assist the props when
opening the liftgate in cold weather.
STORAGE BIN SAFETY WARNING
Safety Warnings
WARNING!
Always close the storage bin covers when your ve-
hicle is unattended. Do not allow children to have
access to the second row seat storage bins. Once in
the storage bin, young children may not be able to
escape. If trapped in the storage bin, children can die
from suffocation or heat stroke.
WARNING!
In an accident, serious injury could result if the seat
storage bin covers are not properly latched.
²DO NOT drive the vehicle with the storage bin
covers open.
²Keep the storage bin covers closed and latched
while the vehicle is in motion.
²DO NOT use a storage bin latch as a tie down.
CAUTION!
The storage bin cover must be flat and locked to
avoid damage from contact with the front seat tracks,
which have minimal clearance to the cover.
52 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

²All seat belt systems (except the driver's, Swivel n' Go,
and third row center position) 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 Lower Anchors and
Tether for CHildren (LATCH) feature also can be used to
hold infant and child restraint systems.
NOTE:The front airbags have a multistage 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.
Buckle up even though you are an excellent driver, even
on short trips. Someone on the road may be a poor driver
and cause a collision that includes you. This can happen
far away from home or on your own street.
56 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

pushing anywhere on the anchorage. To move the an-
chorage downward, squeeze the actuation buttons while
simultaneously pushing down on the anchorage assem-
bly.
As a guide, if you are shorter than average you will
prefer a lower position, and if you are taller than average
you will prefer a higher position. When you release the
anchorage, try to move it up or down to make sure that
it is locked in position.
Automatic Locking Retractors (ALR) Mode ± If
Equipped
In this mode, the shoulder belt is automatically pre-
locked. The belt will still retract to remove any slack in
the shoulder belt. The automatic locking mode is avail-
able on all passenger-seating positions with a combina-
tion lap/shoulder belt.
When To Use The Automatic Locking Mode
Use The Automatic Locking Mode anytime a child safety
seat is installed in a passenger seating position. Children
12 years old and younger should be properly restrained
in the rear seat whenever possible.
How To Use The Automatic Locking Mode
1. Buckle the combination lap/shoulder belt.
2. Grasp the shoulder portion and pull downward until
the entire belt is extracted.
3. Allow the belt to retract. As the belt retracts, you will
hear a clicking sound. This indicates the safety belt is
now in the automatic locking mode.
How To Disengage The Automatic Locking Mode
Disconnect the combination lap/shoulder belt and allow
it to retract completely to disengage the automatic lock-
ing mode and activate the vehicle sensitive (emergency)
locking mode.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 63
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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.
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). 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 Use Reminder System
(BeltAlertT)
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), BeltAlerttwill
alert the driver to buckle the seat belt. The driver should
also instruct all other occupants to buckle their seat belts.
Once the warning is triggered, BeltAlerttwill continue to
chime and flash the Seat Belt Warning Light for 96
seconds or until the driver's seat belt is buckled.
BeltAlerttwill be reactivated 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).
BeltAlerttProgramming
BeltAlerttcan be enabled or disabled by your authorized
dealer or by following these steps:
64 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

moderate to severe side collisions. In certain types of
collisions, both the front and side airbags may be trig-
gered. However, even in collisions where the airbags
work, you need the seat belts to keep you in the right
position for the airbags to protect you properly.
Here are some simple steps you can take to minimize the
risk of harm from a deploying airbag.
1.Children 12 years old and younger should always
ride buckled up in a rear seat.
Infants in rear-facing child restraints shouldNEVERride
in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger front airbag.
An airbag deployment can cause severe injury or death to
infants in that position.
Children that are not big enough to wear the vehicle seat
belt properly (see Section on Child Restraints should be
secured in the rear seat in child restraints or belt-
positioning booster seats. Older children who do not usechild restraints or belt-positioning booster seats should
ride properly buckled up in the rear seat. Never allow
children to slide the shoulder belt behind them or under
their arm.
If a child from 1 to 12 years old must ride in the front
passenger seat because the vehicle is crowded, move the
seat as far back as possible, and use the proper child
restraint. Refer to the section on Child Restraints.
You should read the instructions provided with your
child restraint to make sure that you are using it properly.
2.All occupants should wear their lap and shoulder
belts properly.
3.The driver and front passenger seats should be
moved back as far as practical to allow the front airbags
room to inflate.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 71
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