transmission DODGE NITRO 2009 1.G Owners Manual

A WORD ABOUT YOUR KEYS
The keys for your vehicle are double-sided. You can
insert the keys into the locks with either side up.The keys for your new vehicle are enclosed in a plastic
bag with the key code number on it. If you received your
keys without the bag, ask your authorized dealer to give
you the number. The key code can also be obtained by an
authorized dealer from your vehicle invoice.
Ignition Key Removal
Automatic Transmission
•
Place the shift lever in PARK.
•Push the key and cylinder inward slightly and rotate
the key to the LOCK position.
•Remove the key.
Vehicle Key
12 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Once the engine starts it will run for 15 minutes. To
cancel remote start, press and release the REMOTE
START button once.
To enter the vehicle while the engine is running during a
remote start, you must first unlock the vehicle using the
UNLOCK button on the RKE transmitter. Once the
vehicle is unlocked, you have 60 seconds to enter the
vehicle, insert the key in the ignition, and turn it to the
ON position. Otherwise, the system will cancel the
remote start and automatically turn off.
Remote start will also cancel if any of the following occur:
•If the engine stalls or RPM exceeds 2500.
•Any engine warning lamps come on.
•The hood is opened.
•The hazard switch is pressed.
•The transmission is moved out of PARK.The vehicle can be started remotely a maximum of two
times consecutively. The vehicle is also allowed a maxi-
mum of one failed start, where the remote start sequence
was initiated but the engine stopped cranking without
starting. Following either of these conditions, or if the
Vehicle Security Alarm (if equipped) is sounding, or if the
PANIC button was pressed, the system must be reset
before remote starting the vehicle again. To reset the
system, insert a valid key into the ignition and turn it to
the ON position and then back to the LOCK position.
DOOR LOCKS
The vacuum fluorescent (VF) display, located in the
odometer area, displays the word DOOR as an indication
of a door ajar or door not completely closed. When the
vehicle is not moving and the door is ajar or not
completely closed, the VF display will show the word
DOOR.
26 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Automatic Door Locks
The doors will lock automatically on vehicles with power
door locks if all of the following conditions are met:
1. The automatic door locks feature is enabled.
2. The transmission is in gear.
3. All doors are closed.
4. The throttle is pressed.
5. The vehicle speed is above 15 mph (24 km/h).
6. The doors were not previously locked using the power
door lock switch or Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter.
Automatic Door Locks Programming
The automatic door locks feature can be enabled or
disabled as follows:
For vehicles equipped with an Electronic Vehicle Infor-
mation Center (EVIC), refer to “Personal Settings (Cus-
tomer Programmable Features)” under “Electronic Ve-
hicle Information Center (EVIC)” in Section 4.
For vehicles not equipped with the EVIC, perform the
following procedure:
1. Close all doors and place the key in the ignition.
2. Cycle the ignition switch between LOCK and ON and
then back to LOCK four times, ending up in the LOCK
position.
3. Depress the power door LOCK switch to lock the
doors.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 29
2

4. A single chime will indicate the completion of the
programming.
5. Repeat these steps if you want to return this feature to
its previous setting.
NOTE:Use the automatic door locks feature in accor-
dance with local laws.
Automatic Unlock Doors on Exit
The doors will unlock automatically on vehicles with
power door locks if:
1. The automatic unlock doors on exit feature is enabled.
2. The transmission was in gear and the vehicle speed
returned to 0 mph (0 km/h).
3. The transmission is in NEUTRAL or PARK.
4. The driver door is opened.
5. The doors were not previously unlocked.6. The vehicle speed is 0 mph (0 km/h).
Automatic Unlock Doors on Exit Programming
The automatic unlock doors on exit feature can be
enabled or disabled as follows:
For vehicles equipped with an Electronic Vehicle Infor-
mation Center (EVIC), refer to “Personal Settings (Cus-
tomer Programmable Features)” under “Electronic Ve-
hicle Information Center (EVIC)” in Section 4.
For vehicles not equipped with the EVIC, perform the
following procedure:
1. Close all doors and place the key in the ignition.
2. Cycle the ignition switch between LOCK and ON and
then back to LOCK four times, ending up in the LOCK
position.
3. Depress the power door UNLOCK switch to unlock
the doors.
30 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

•Brake status (service and parking brakes)
•Accelerator status (including vehicle speed)
•Engine control status (including engine speed)
•Transmission gear selection
•Cruise control status
•Traction/stability control status
•Tire Pressure Monitoring System status
Child Restraint
Everyone in your vehicle needs to be buckled up all the
time including babies and children. 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 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:
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 can 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.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 65
2

▫Mist Feature........................ 133
Tilt Steering Column................... 134
Electronic Speed Control — If Equipped...... 135
▫To Activate......................... 135
▫To Set At A Desired Speed.............. 135
▫To Deactivate....................... 136
▫To Resume Speed.................... 136
▫To Vary The Speed Setting.............. 136
▫Manual Transmission.................. 137
▫To Accelerate For Passing............... 137
Rear Park Assist System — If Equipped...... 137
▫System Usage Precautions.............. 138
▫Enabling And Disabling The System....... 140▫System Operation.................... 141
Garage Door Opener — If Equipped........ 144
▫Programming HomeLink.............. 145
▫Gate Operator/Canadian Programming..... 148
▫Using HomeLink.................... 148
▫Reprogramming A Single HomeLink
Button............................ 149
▫Security........................... 149
▫Troubleshooting Tips.................. 149
▫General Information................... 150
Power Sunroof — If Equipped............. 150
▫Opening Sunroof - Express.............. 151
▫Opening Sunroof - Manual Mode......... 151
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 81
3

Manual Transmission
Depressing the clutch pedal will disengage the Electronic
Speed Control. A slight increase in engine RPM before the
speed control disengages is normal.
Vehicles equipped with manual transmissions may need
to be shifted into a lower gear to climb hills without
speed loss.
WARNING!
Electronic Speed Control can be dangerous where the
system can’t maintain a constant speed. Your vehicle
could go too fast for the conditions, and you could
lose control. An accident could be the result. Don’t
use Electronic Speed Control in heavy traffic or on
roads that are winding, icy, snow-covered, or slip-
pery.
To Accelerate For Passing
Depress the accelerator as you would normally. When the
pedal is released, the vehicle will return to the set speed.
Using Electronic Speed Control On Hills
NOTE:The Electronic Speed Control system maintains
speed up and down hills. A slight speed change on
moderate hills is normal.
On steep hills a greater speed loss or gain may occur so
it may be preferable to drive without Electronic Speed
Control.
REAR PARK ASSIST SYSTEM — IF EQUIPPED
The Rear Park Assist System is a driver aid that senses for
obstacles behind the vehicle and provides both visible
and audible warnings to indicate the range of the object.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 137
3

The warning display contains two sets of yellow and red
LEDs, one set to warn of obstacles behind the left rear of
the vehicle and the other set to warn of obstacles behind
the right rear of the vehicle. The driver can view the LEDs
either through the rear view mirror or by looking at the
display above the rear window.
When the ignition is turned to the ON position, and the
system is enabled, the warning display will turn on all of
its LEDs for approximately one second. Then, the systemdimly illuminates the two inner most LEDs when it is
detecting no obstacles.
The Rear Park Assist System is active when the ignition is
in the ON position, and the system is enabled, and the
driver shifts the transmission into the REVERSE position,
and the vehicle speed is less than 11 mph (18 km/h). The
following chart shows the warning display operation
when the system is detecting an obstacle:
142 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
•Your motorized door or gate will open and close
while you are training the Universal Transceiver.
Do not train the transceiver if people or pets are in
the path of the door or gate. Only use this trans-
ceiver with a garage door opener that has a “stop
and reverse” feature as required by Federal safety
standards. This includes most garage door opener
models manufactured after 1982. Do not use a
garage door opener without these safety features.
Call toll-free 1–800–355–3515 or, on the Internet at
www.HomeLink.com for safety information or as-
sistance.
•Vehicle exhaust contains carbon monoxide, a dan-
gerous gas. Do not run your vehicle in the garage
while training the transceiver. Exhaust gas can
cause serious injury or death.
Programming HomeLink
Before You Begin
If you have not trained any of the HomeLinkbuttons,
erase all channels before you begin training.
To do this, press and hold the two outside buttons for
20 seconds until the red indicator flashes.
It is recommended that a new battery be placed in the
hand-held transmitter of the device being programmed
to HomeLinkfor more efficient training and accurate
transmission of the radio-frequency signal.
Your vehicle should be parked outside of the garage
when programming.
1. Turn the ignition switch to the ON/RUN position.
2. Hold the battery side of the hand-held transmitter
away from the HomeLinkbutton you wish to program.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 145
3

Gate Operator/Canadian Programming
Canadian radio-frequency laws require transmitter sig-
nals to “time-out” (or quit) after several seconds of
transmission – which may not be long enough for
HomeLinkto pick up the signal during programming.
Similar to this Canadian law, some U.S. gate operators are
designed to “time-out” 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 “Programming
HomeLink” Step 3 with the following:
3. Continue to press and hold the HomeLinkbutton
while you press and release - every two seconds
(“cycle”) your hand-held transmitter until HomeLinkhas successfully accepted the frequency signal. The
indicator light will flash slowly and then rapidly when
fully trained.
If you unplugged the device for training, plug it back in
at this time.
Then proceed with Step 4 under “Programming
HomeLink” earlier in this section.
Using HomeLink
To operate, simply press and release the programmed
HomeLinkbutton. 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.
148 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE