child seat DODGE NEON 2004 2.G Owners Manual

NTo Unlock The Trunk....................18
NUsing The Panic Alarm..................18
NProgramming Additional Transmitters........19
NGeneral Information....................19
NTransmitter Battery Service...............19
mVehicle Theft Alarm Ð If Equipped..........20
NTo Set The Alarm......................20
NTo Disarm The System...................21
NSecurity System Manual Override...........21
mRemote Trunk Lid Release Ð If Equipped.....21
mInternal Emergency Trunk Lid Release.......22
mPower Windows Ð If Equipped............23
mOccupant Restraints.....................23
NLap/Shoulder Belts.....................24NAdjustable Upper Shoulder Belt Anchorage....28
NLap/Shoulder Belt Untwisting Procedure.....29
NSeat Belts And Pregnant Women............30
NSeat Belt Extender......................31
NDriver And Front Passenger Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS) - Airbags...........31
NChild Restraint........................39
NTransporting Pets......................46
mEngine Break-In Recommendations..........46
mSafety Tips............................47
NExhaust Gas..........................47
NSafety Checks You Should Make Inside
The Vehicle..........................47
NPeriodic Safety Checks You Should Make
Outside The Vehicle....................48
8 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

4. A single chime will sound to signify that you have
successfully disabled the double activation feature. You
can turn the feature back on by repeating the above
mentioned procedure.
You can turn the feature back on by repeating the above
mentioned procedure.
Automatic Door Locks Ð If Equipped
The doors will lock automatically if:
1. all doors are closed,
2. vehicle speed is above 15 mph (24 km/h),
3. the accelerator pedal is depressed.
The Automatic Door Locks can be enabled or disabled by
performing the following procedure:
NOTE:Steps 2 and 3 must be completed within 10
seconds.
1. Close all doors and place the key in the ignition
switch.
2. Cycle the ignition switch ON/OFF four times ending
in the OFF position.3. Press the interior door lock switch to the LOCK
position.
4. A single chime will sound to signify that you have
successfully completed the programming.
You can turn the feature back on by repeating the above
mentioned procedure.
Child-Protection Door Lock System (Rear Doors)
To provide a safer environment for children riding in the
rear seat, the rear doors of your vehicle have the child-
protection door lock system.
16 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

INTERNAL EMERGENCY TRUNK LID RELEASE
WARNING!
Do not allow children to have access to the trunk,
either by climbing into the trunk from outside, or
through the inside of the vehicle. Always close the
trunk lid when your vehicle is unattended. Once in
the trunk, young children may not be able to escape,
even if they entered through the rear seat. If trapped
in the trunk, children can die from suffocation or
heat stroke.
As a security measure, a Trunk Internal Emergency
Release lever is built into the trunk latching mechanism.
In the event of an individual being locked inside the
trunk, the trunk can be simply opened by pulling on the
glow-in-the-dark lever attached to the trunk latching
mechanism. See picture below.
22 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

POWER WINDOWS Ð IF EQUIPPED
The window switches on the driver's door panel control
both front windows. The switch on the passenger's door
panel controls the passenger's window.
OCCUPANT RESTRAINTS
Some of the most important safety features in your
vehicle are the restraint systems. These include the front
and rear seat belts for the driver and all passengers, front
airbags for both the driver and front passenger and side
airbags for both the driver and front passenger. If you
will be carrying children too small for adult-size belts,
your seat belts also can be used to hold infant and child
restraint systems.
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.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 23
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Airbags inflate in moderate to high speed impacts. Along
with the seat belts, front airbags work with the instru-
ment panel knee bolsters to provide improved protection
for the driver and front passenger. Side airbags also work
with seat belts to improve occupant protection.
The seat belts are designed to protect you in many types
of collisions. The front airbags deploy in moderate to
severe frontal collisions. If your vehicle is equipped, the
side airbag on the crash side of the vehicle is triggered in
moderate to severe side collisions. In certain types of
collisions, both the front and side airbags may be trig-
gered. But 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 under should always ride
buckled up in a rear seat.
Infants in rear facing child restraints (designed for chil-
dren up to 20 lbs (9 kg) and less than one year old) shouldNEVERride in the front seat of a vehicle with a passen-
ger front airbag. An airbag deployment could cause
severe injury or death to infants in that position.
Children that are not big enough to properly wear the
vehicle seat belt (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 use
child 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. See the section on Child Restraint.
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.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 33
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WARNING!
Deployed airbags can't protect you in another colli-
sion. Have the airbags replaced by an authorized
dealer as soon as possible.
Side Airbag System Ð If Equipped
²
The Side Impact Airbag Control Modules determine if
a side collision is severe enough to require the airbag
to inflate. The Side Impact Airbag Control Modules is
not designed to detect roll over, front, or rear impacts.
²The Side Impact Airbag Control Module monitors the
readiness of the electronic parts of the system when-
ever the ignition switch is in the START or ON/RUN
positions. These include all of the items listed above. If
the left or right SIACM detects a malfunction in any
part of the system, it will send a message to the frontal
ACM to turn the Airbag Light on. The Airbag Control
Module also turns on the AIRBAG light in the instru-
ment panel for 6 to 8 seconds when the ignition switch
is first turned on as a diagnostic or system check, then
turns the light off.
²In moderate to severe side collisions, the side airbag
inflator on the crash side of the vehicle is triggered by
the appropriate SIACM, releasing a quantity of non-
toxic gas. The inflating side airbag exits through the
seat seam into the space between the occupant and the
door. The side airbag moves at a very high speed and
with such a high force, that it could injure you if you
are not seated properly, or if items are positioned in
the area where the side airbag inflates. This especially
applies to children.
Enhanced Accident Response Time Ð If Equipped
If the airbags 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 light until the ignition
switch is turned off.
38 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Children 12 years and under should ride properly buck-
led 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.
WARNING!
In a collision, an unrestrained child, even a tiny
baby, can become a missile inside the vehicle. The
force required to hold even an infant on your lap
could become so great that you could not hold the
child, no matter how strong you are. The child and
others could be badly injured. Any child riding in
your vehicle should be in a proper restraint for the
child's size.
Infants And Small Children
There are different sizes and types of restraints for
children from newborn size to the child almost large
enough for an adult safety belt. Always check the child
seat Owner's Manual to ensure you have the right seat
for your child. Use the restraint that is correct for your
child:
²Safety experts recommend that children ride
rearward-facing in the vehicle until they are at least
one year oldandweigh at leas 20 lbs (9 kg). Two types
of child restraints can be used rearward-facing: infant
carriers and ªconvertibleº child seats. Both types of
child restraints are held in the vehicle by the lap/
shoulder belt or the LATCH child restraint anchorage
system.
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). ªConvertibleº child 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.
²Rearward-facing child seats mustNEVERbe used in
the front seat of a vehicle with the front passenger
airbag. An airbag deployment could cause severe
injury or death to infants in this position.
40 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

²Children who weigh more than 20 lbs (9 kg) and who
are older than one year can ride forward-facing in the
vehicle. Forward-facing child seats and convertible
child seats used in the forward-facing direction are for
children who weigh 20 to 40 lbs (9 to 18 kg) and who
are older than one year. These child seats are also held
in the vehicle by the lap/shoulder belt or the LATCH
child restraint anchorage system.
²The belt-positioning booster seat is for children weigh-
ing more than 18 kg (40 lbs), but who are still too small
to fit the vehicle's seat belts properly. If the child
cannot sit with knees bent over the vehicle's seat
cushion while the child's back is against the seat back;
they should use a Belt Positioning Booster Seat. The
child and booster seat are held in the vehicle by the
lap/shoulder belt. (Some booster seats are equipped
with a front shield and are held in the vehicle by the
lap portion.)
NOTE:For additional information refer to
www.seatcheck.org.
WARNING!
²Improper installation can lead to failure of an
infant or child restraint. It could come loose in a
collision. The child could be badly injured or
killed. Follow the manufacturer's directions ex-
actly when installing an infant or child restraint.
²A rearward facing infant restraint should only be
used in a rear seat. A rearward facing infant
restraint in the front seat may be struck by a
deploying passenger airbag which may cause se-
vere or fatal injury to the infant.
Here are some tips on getting the most out of your child
restraint:
²Before buying any restraint system, make sure that it
has a label certifying that it meets all applicable Safety
Standards. We also recommend that you make sure
that you can install the child restraint in the vehicle
where you will use it before you buy it.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 41
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²The restraint must be appropriate for your child's
weight and height. Check the label on the restraint for
weight and height limits.
²Carefully follow the instructions that come with the
restraint. If you install the restraint improperly, it may
not work when you need it.
The passenger seat belts are equipped with cinching latch
plates which are designed to keep the lap portion tight
around the child restraint so that it is not necessary to use
a locking clip. 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 occasion-
ally and pull it tight if necessary.
²In the rear seat, you may 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. Disconnect the latch plate
from the buckle and twist the short buckle-end belt
several times to shorten it. Insert the latch plate into
the buckle with the release button facing out.
²If the belt still can't be tightened, or if pulling and
pushing on the restraint loosens the belt, disconnect
the latch plate from the buckle, turn the buckle
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.
²Buckle the child into the seat according to the child
restraint manufacturer's directions.
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 seat backs
and cause serious personal injury.
LATCH ÐL ower Anchors and Tether for CHildren
Your vehicle's rear seat is equipped with the child
restraint anchorage system called LATCH, which stands
for Lower Anchors and Tether for Children. The LATCH
system provides for the installation of the child restraint
without using the vehicle seat belt. All three rear seating
positions have exclusive lower anchorages. These are
round bars, located at the rear of the seat cushion where
it meets the seat back, and just visible when you lean into
42 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

the rear seat to install the child restraint. You will easily
feel them if you run your finger along the intersection of
the surfaces. The lower strap hooks are passed over the
top of each bar, pushing aside the seat cover material.
In addition, there are tether strap anchorages
behind each rear seating position located in the
panel between the rear seat back and the rear
window Ð under a hinged plastic cover with
this symbol on it. (Shown to the left) In recent years, only
the tether anchorage has been provided in new vehicles.To attach a child restraint tether strap:
1. Lift the cover over the anchor directly behind the seat
where you are placing the child restraint.
2. Route the tether strap to provide the most direct path
for the strap between the anchor and the child seat. If
your vehicle is equipped with adjustable rear head
restraints, raise the head restraint and, where possible,
route the tether strap under the head restraint and
between the two posts. If not possible, lower the head
restraint and pass the tether strap around the outboard
side of the head restraint.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 43
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