airbag off DODGE RAM 3500 DIESEL 2008 3.G Owners Manual

Here are some simple steps you can follow to minimize
the risk of harm from a deploying airbag.
1. Children 12 years and under should always ride
buckled up in a rear seat in an appropriate child restraint.
Infants in rear-facing child restraints shouldNEVERride
in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger front airbag,
unless the airbag is turned off(2500/3500 Regular Cab
Vehicles Only). An airbag deployment can cause severe
injury or death to infants in that position. See the
Passenger Airbag ON/OFF Switch section.
You should read the instructions provided with your
child restraint to make sure that you are using it properly.
2. If your vehicle does not have a rear seat, see the
Passenger Airbag ON/OFF Switch section.
3.
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-positioningbooster seats. Older children who do not use child restraints
or belt-positioning booster seats, should ride properly buck-
led up in the rear seat. Never allow children to slide the
shoulder belt behind them or under their arm.
4. All occupants should use their lap and shoulder belts
properly.
5. The driver and front passenger seats should be moved
back as far as practical to allow the airbag room to inflate.
6. If your vehicle has window bags, do not lean against
the door or window, airbags will inflate forcefully into
the space between you and the door.
7. If the airbag system in this vehicle needs to be
modified to accommodate a disabled person, contact the
Customer Center. Phone numbers are provided in the9If
You Need Customer Assistance9section later in this
owner's manual.
50 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

²Driver and Front Passenger Seat Belt Pretensioners (if
equipped)
²Driver Seat Track Position Sensor (if equipped)
²Passenger Side Frontal Airbag ON/OFF Switch (2500/
3500 Regular Cab Vehicles Only)
²Passenger Airbag Disable (PAD) Indicator Light
(2500/3500 Regular Cab Vehicles Only)
How the Airbag System Works
²
TheOccupant Restraint Controller (ORC)determines
if a frontal collision is severe enough to require the
airbags to inflate. The front airbag inflators are de-
signed to provide different rates of airbag inflation
from information provided by the ORC. The ORC will
not detect rollover or rear collisions.The ORC also 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, and knee bolsters. 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 in the instrument panel for six to
eight seconds for a self-check when the
ignition is first turned on. After the self-
check, the AIRBAG warning light will turn off. If the
ORC detects a malfunction in any part of the system, it
turns on the AIRBAG warning light either momen-
tarily or continuously. A single chime will sound if the
light comes on again after initial start up.
52 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
Ignoring the AIRBAG warning light in your instru-
ment panel could mean you won't have the airbags to
protect you in a collision. If the light does not come
on, stays on after you start the vehicle, or if it comes
on as you drive, have the airbag system checked right
away.
²ThePassenger Airbag Disable (PAD) Indicator Light
(if equipped)(an amber light located in the center of
the instrument panel), tells the driver and front pas-
senger when the front passenger airbag is turned off.
The PAD indicator light illuminates the words9PASS
AIR BAG OFF9to show that the passenger airbag will
not inflate during a collision requiring airbags. The
PAD light will illuminate when the passenger frontal
airbag has been turned off by using the manualON/OFF switch (2500/3500 Regular Cab Vehicles
Only). See Passenger Airbag ON/OFF Switch ± (2500/
3500 Regular Cab Vehicles Only) in this section for
additional information.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 53
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²TheKnee Impact Bolstershelp protect the knees of
the driver and the front passenger, and positions them
for the best interaction with the front airbag.
Passenger Airbag On/Off Switch ± (2500/3500
Regular Cab Vehicles Only)
The passenger front airbag is to be turned off only if the
passenger:
²is an infant (less than one-year old) who must ride in
the front seat because there is no rear seat, because the
rear seat is too small for a rear-facing infant restraint or
because the infant has a medical condition which
makes it necessary for the driver to be able to see the
infant;
²is a child, age 1 to 12 who must ride in the front seat
because there is no rear seat, because there is no rear
seat position available, or because the child has a
medical condition which makes it necessary for the
driver to be able to see the child;
²has a medical condition which makes passenger airbag
inflation (deployment) a greater risk for the passenger
than the risk of hitting the dashboard (instrument
panel) or windshield in a crash.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 55
2

WARNING!
Whenever an airbag is turned off, even a lap/
shoulder belted passenger may hit their head, neck,
or chest on the dashboard (instrument panel) or
windshield in a crash. This may result in serious
injury or death.
To Shut Off the Passenger Airbag (2500/3500 Regular
Cab Vehicles Only)
Place the ignition key in the Passenger Airbag ON/OFF
Switch, push the key in and turn clockwise, and remove
the key from the switch. This will shut off the passenger
side airbag. The OFF light near the switch will illuminate
when the ignition switch is turned to the ON position.To Turn On the Passenger Airbag (2500/3500 Regular
Cab Vehicles Only)
Place the ignition key in the Passenger Airbag ON/OFF
Switch, push the key in and turn counterclockwise, and
remove the key from the switch. This will turn ON the
passenger airbag. The OFF light near the switch will be
off when the ignition switch is turned to the ON position.
If A Deployment Occurs
The airbag system is designed to deploy the airbags
when the impact sensors detect a moderate-to-severe
frontal collision, to help restrain the driver and front
passenger, and then immediately deflate.
NOTE:A frontal collision that is not severe enough to
need airbag protection will not activate the system. This
does not mean something is wrong with the airbag
system.
56 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Maintaining Your Airbag System
WARNING!
²Modifications to any part of the airbag system
could cause it to fail when you need it. You could
be injured if the airbag system is not there to
protect you. Do not modify the components or
wiring, including adding any kind of badges or
stickers to the steering wheel hub trim cover or the
upper right side of the instrument panel. Do not
modify the front bumper, vehicle body structure,
or add aftermarket side steps or running boards.
²You need proper knee impact protection in a
collision. Do not mount or locate any aftermarket
equipment on or behind the knee bolsters.
²It is dangerous to try to repair any part of the
airbag system yourself. Be sure to tell anyone who
works on your vehicle that it has an airbag system.NOTE:
Perchlorate Material ± special handling may ap-
ply, see www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate
Enhanced Accident Response System
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 five seconds after the vehicle has stopped
moving, the interior lights will light until the ignition
switch is turned off.
Airbag Light
You will want to have the airbags ready to
inflate for your protection in an impact. While
the airbag system is designed to be mainte-
nance free, if any of the following occurs, have
an authorized dealer service the system promptly:
²The airbag light does not come on or flickers during
the six to eight seconds when the ignition switch is
first turned ON.
58 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

²The light remains on or flickers after the six to eight-
second interval.
²The light flickers or comes on and remains on while
driving.
NOTE:If the speedometer, tachometer or any engine-
related gauges are not working, the airbag control mod-
ule may also be disabled. The airbags may not be ready
to inflate for your protection. Promptly check fuse block
for blown fuses. Refer to the label located on the inside of
the fuse block cover for the proper airbag fuses. See your
authorized dealer if the fuse is good.
Event Data Recorder (EDR)
In the event of an accident, your vehicle is designed to
record up to five seconds of specific vehicle data param-
eters (see the following list) in an event data recorder
prior to the moment of airbag deployment and up to a
quarter-second of high-speed deceleration data duringand/or after airbag deployment. EDR data are ONLY
recorded if an airbag deploys and are otherwise unavail-
able.
NOTE:Under certain circumstances, EDR data may not
be recorded (e.g., loss of battery power).
In conjunction with other data gathered during a com-
plete accident investigation, the electronic data may be
used by DaimlerChrysler Corporation and others to learn
more about the possible causes of crashes and associated
injuries in order to assess and improve vehicle perfor-
mance. In addition to crash investigations initiated by
DaimlerChrysler Corporation, such investigations may
be requested by customers, insurance carriers, govern-
ment officials, and professional crash researchers, such as
those associated with universities, and with hospital and
insurance organizations.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 59
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unless the airbag is turned off. An airbag deployment
could cause severe injury or death to infants in this
position.
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.
²The belt-positioning booster seat is for children weigh-
ing more than 40 lbs (18 kg), 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 equippedwith a front shield and are held in the vehicle by the
lap portion.) For further 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 child restraint should only be
used in a rear seat, or in the front seat if the
passenger's front airbag is OFF. If the airbag is left
ON, a rearward facing child restraint in the front
seat may be struck by a deploying passenger
airbag which may cause severe or fatal injury to
the infant.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 63
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NOTE:For children riding in the front seat of a Regular
Cab model, refer to the ªPassenger Airbag ON/OFF
Switchº located in this section.
Regular Cab Passenger Seat
Quad CabtRear Outboard Seats
66 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
1 Ð Headlight Switch 6 Ð Passenger Airbag* 11 Ð TPMS ªLight Loadº Reset Switch* 16 Ð Transfer Case Control Switch*
2 Ð Air Outlets 7 Ð Glove Box 12 Ð Power Sliding Back Glass Switch* 17 Ð Parking Brake Release Lever
3 Ð Instrument Cluster 8 Ð Passenger Airbag On/Off Switch* 13 Ð Cupholders 18 Ð Adjustable Pedal Control Switch*
4 Ð Climate Controls 9 Ð Power Outlet 14 Ð Exhaust Brake Switch* * If Equipped
5 Ð Radio 10 Ð Heated Seat Switch 15 Ð Cigar Lighter
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 187
4