window DODGE STRATUS 2006 2.G Owners Manual

WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS
This manual containsWARNINGSagainst operating
procedures which could result in an accident or bodily
injury. It also containsCAUTIONSagainst procedures
which could result in damage to your vehicle. If you do
not read this entire manual you may miss important
information. Observe all Warnings and Cautions.
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
The vehicle identification number (VIN) is on a stamped
plate on the left front corner on the body of the vehicle,
visible through the windshield. This number also ap-
pears on the Automobile Information Disclosure Label
affixed to a window on your vehicle. Save this label as a
convenient record of your vehicle identification number
and optional equipment.
VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS / ALTERATIONS
WARNING!
Any modifications or alterations to this vehicle
could seriously affect its roadworthiness and safety
and may lead to an accident resulting in serious
injury or death.
Vehicle Identification Number
6 INTRODUCTION

▫Tamper Alert.........................19
▫Security System Manual Override...........19

Trunk Lock And Release..................20

Trunk Safety Warning....................20
▫Trunk Internal Emergency Release..........21

Windows.............................21
▫Power Windows.......................21

Occupant Restraints.....................22
▫Lap/Shoulder Belts.....................23
▫Seat Belt Pretensioners...................27
▫Enhanced Driver Seat Belt Reminder System
(BeltAlert)...........................28▫Seat Belts And Pregnant Women............29
▫Seat Belt Extender......................29
▫Driver And Right Front Passenger Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS) - Airbag............30

Engine Break-In Recommendations..........44

Safety Tips............................45
▫Exhaust Gas..........................45
▫Safety Checks You Should Make Inside
The Vehicle..........................45
▫Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make Outside
The Vehicle..........................46
8 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
Avoid trapping anyone in the vehicle in a collision.
Remember that the rear doors can only be opened
from the outside when the child protection locks are
engaged.
NOTE:For emergency exit with the system engaged,
move the lock plunger up (unlocked position), lower the
window and open the door with the outside door handle.
REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY—IF EQUIPPED
This system allows you to lock or unlock the doors or
open the trunk from distances up to 23 feet (7 meters)
using a transmitter. You don’t have to point the transmit-
ter at the vehicle to activate the system.
To unlock the doors:
Press and release the UNLOCK button once to unlock the
driver’s door. Press the button twice within 5 seconds to
unlock all doors. If your vehicle is equipped with Illumi-
nated Entry, the interior lights also come on and remain
on for about 30 seconds, when you unlock the doors.
NOTE:The system may be programmed to unlock all
the doors upon the first press of the Unlock button. To
toggle between the first press unlock of the driver’s door
to unlock of all doors, perform the following procedure:Child Lock Control
Keyless Entry Transmitter
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 15
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Trunk Internal Emergency Release
NOTE:
As a security measure, a Trunk Internal Emer-
gency 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 handle attached to the
trunk latching mechanism. See picture.
WINDOWS
POWER WINDOWS
Emergency Release
Power Window Switches
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 21
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WARNING!
Never leave children in a vehicle, with the keys in
the ignition switch. Occupants, particularly unat-
tended children, can become entrapped by the
power windows while operating the power window
switch. Such entrapment may result in serious injury
or death.
The window controls on the driver’s door operate all
windows.
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, pull the window switch
part way and release it when you want the window to
stop.
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 in certain open or partially open
positions. This is a normal occurrence and can be mini-
mized. If the buffeting occurs with the rear windows
open, open the front and rear windows together to
minimize the buffeting.
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, if so
equipped, left and right window bags for the driver and
passengers seated next to a window. 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.
22 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Driver and Right Front Passenger Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS) - Airbag
This vehicle has front airbags for both the driver and
front passenger as a supplement to the seat belt restraint
systems. The driver’s airbag is mounted in the center of
the steering wheel. The passenger’s front airbag is
mounted in the instrument panel, above the glove com-
partment. The words SRS AIRBAG are embossed on the
airbag covers.This vehicle may also be equipped with left and right
window bags to protect the driver and passengers sitting
next to a window. If the vehicle is equipped with window
bags, they are located above the side windows. Their
covers are also labeled SRS AIRBAG.
NOTE:Airbag covers may not be obvious in the
interior trim; but they will open to allow airbag deploy-
ment.
Front Airbag Components
Window Airbag
30 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
•Do not put anything on or around the front airbag
covers or attempt to manually open them. You may
damage the airbags and you could be injured be-
cause the airbags are not there to protect you. These
protective covers for the airbag cushions are de-
signed to open only when the airbags are inflating.
•If your vehicle is equipped with left and right
window bags, do not stack luggage or other cargo up
high enough to block the location of the window
bag. The area where the window bag is located
should remain free from any obstructions.
•If your vehicle is equipped with left and right
window bags, do not have any accessory items in-
stalled which will alter the roof, including adding a
sunroof to your vehicle. Do not add roof racks that
require permanent attachments (bolts or screws) for
installation on the vehicle roof. Do not drill into the
roof of the vehicle for any reason.
•Do not drill, cut or tamper with the knee bolster in
any way.
•Do not mount any accessories to the knee bolster
such as alarm lights, stereos, citizens band radios etc.
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. Left and right window
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 only in moderate
to severe frontal collisions. If your vehicle is so equipped,
the window bag on the crash side of the vehicle is
triggered in moderate to severe side collisions. In certain
types of collisions where the airbags deploy, 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 ride buckled
up in the rear seat. Infants in rear-facing child restraints
shouldNEVERride in the front seat of a vehicle with a
passenger front airbag. An airbag deployment could
cause severe injury or death to infants in that position.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 31
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Children that are not big enough to properly wear the
vehicle seat belt (see section on“Child Restraint”) 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”.
2. You should read the instructions provided with your
child restraint to make sure that you are using it properly.
3. All occupants should use their seat belts properly.
4. The driver and front passenger seats should be moved
back as far as practical to allow the airbags time to inflate.
5. If your vehicle has left and right window bags, do not
lean against the door, airbags will inflate forcefully into
the space between you and the door.WARNING!
•Relying on the airbags alone could lead to more
severe injuries in a collision. The airbags work
with your seat belt to restrain you properly. In
some collisions the airbags won’t deploy at all.
Always wear your seat belts even though you
have airbags.
•Being too close to the steering wheel or instru-
ment panel during airbag deployment could cause
serious injury. Airbags need room to inflate. Sit
back, comfortably extending your arms to reach
the steering wheel or instrument panel.
•If the vehicle has left and right window bags, they
also need room to inflate. Do not lean against the
door or window. Sit upright in the center of the
seat.
Airbag System Components
The front airbag system consists of the following:
•Airbag Control Module
32 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

•AIRBAGReadiness Light
•Driver Airbag
•Passenger Airbag
•Steering Wheel and Column
•Instrument Panel
•Interconnecting Wiring
•Knee Impact Bolsters
•Left and Right Window Bags Above Side Windows—
If Equipped
•Left and Right Side Impact Sensors—If Equipped
•Driver and Front Passenger Seat Belt Pretensioners
How The Airbag System Works
•
The airbag control module determines if a frontal
collision is severe enough to require the airbags to
inflate. The control module receives the level of colli-
sion severity, determines the proper level of airbag to
be deployed. The frontal airbag inflators are designed
to provide three different rates of air bag inflation.
•The airbag control module will not detect rollover or
rear collisions.
•The airbag control module 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
knee bolster, the instrument panel, and the steering
wheel and column. 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.
•The airbag control module also turns on the
AIRBAGlight in the instrument panel for 6 to
8 seconds when the ignition is first turned on,
then turns the light off. If it detects a malfunction in
any part of the system, it turns on the light either
momentarily or continuously.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 33
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They are not permanent and normally heal quickly.
However, if you haven’t healed significantly within a
few days, or if you have any blistering, see your doctor
immediately.
•As the airbags deflate you may see some smoke-like
particles. The particles are a normal by-product of the
process that generates the nontoxic gas used for airbag
inflation. These airborne particles may irritate the skin,
eyes, nose, or throat. If you have skin or eye irritation,
rinse the area with cool water. For nose or throat
irritation, move to fresh air. If the irritation continues,
see your doctor. If these particles settle on your
clothing, follow the garment manufacturer’s instruc-
tions for cleaning.
•It is not advisable to drive your vehicle after the
airbags have been deployed. If you are involved in
another collision, the airbags will not be in place to
protect you.
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
The airbag control module determines if a side collision is
severe enough to require the airbag to inflate. The control
module receives the level of collision severity from the
side impact sensors. The airbag control module will not
detect rollover or rear impacts.
The side impact SRS Airbags are designed to activate
only in certain side collisions. When the airbag control
module detects a collision requiring the window bags to
inflate, it signals the inflators on the crash side of the
vehicle. A quantity of nontoxic gas is generated to inflate
the window bag. The inflating window bag pushes the
outside edge of the headliner out of the way and inflates
(in about the same time it takes to blink your eyes) with
enough force to injure you if you are not belted and
seated properly, or if items are positioned in the area
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 35
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