DODGE VIPER 2005 ZB / 2.G Owner's Guide

WARNING!
A twisted belt can’t do its job as well. In a collision
it could even cut into you. Be sure the belt is straight.
If you can’t straighten a belt in your vehicle, take it
to your dealer and have it fixed.
8. To release the belt, push the red button marked PRESS
on the buckle. The belt will automatically retract to its
stowed position. If necessary, slide the latch plate down
the webbing to allow it to retract fully.
Enhanced Driver Seat Belt Reminder System
(BeltAlert)
If the 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), the Enhanced Warning
System (BeltAlert) will alert the driver to buckle their seat
belt. The driver should also instruct all other occupants tobuckle their seat belts. Once the warning is triggered, the
Enhanced Warning System (BeltAlert) will continue to
chime and flash the Seat Belt Warning Light for 96
seconds or until the driver’s seat belt is buckled. The
Enhanced Warning System (BeltAlert) will 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).
The Enhanced Warning System (BeltAlert) can be en-
abled or disabled by your authorized dealer or by
following these steps:
NOTE:The following steps must occur within the first
60 seconds of the ignition switch being turned to the ON
or START position. DaimlerChrysler does not recom-
mend deactivating the Enhanced Warning System
(BeltAlert).
1. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position and
buckle the driver’s seat belt.
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2. Start the engine and wait for the Seat Belt Warning
Light to turn off.
3. Within 60 seconds of starting the vehicle, unbuckle
and then re-buckle the driver’s seat belt at least three
times within 10 seconds, ending with the seat belt
buckled.
NOTE:Watch for the Seat Belt Warning Light to turn on
while unbuckling and off while re-buckling the seat belt.
It may be necessary to retract the seat belt.
4. Turn off the engine. A single chime will sound to
signify that you have successfully completed the pro-
gramming.
The Enhanced Warning System (BeltAlert) can be reacti-
vated by repeating this procedure.NOTE:Although the Enhanced Warning System
(BeltAlert) has been deactivated, the Seat Belt Warning
Light will continue to illuminate while the driver’s seat
belt remains unbuckled.
Six Point Belt System - If equipped
This six point belt system meets SCCA standards and
should be only used when engaged in related perfor-
mance driving events. The standard lap/shoulder belt
should be used whenever the vehicle is operated on the
street.
Six Point Belt Operating Instructions
With the anti-submarining belt placed on the seat point-
ing up, buckle the left and right lap belts and strap both
legs. Buckle the left and right shoulder belts. Adjust the
belts by pulling on the web ends and/or re-positioning
the web clips and straps as required. Release the belts by
turning the belt latch mechanism
1⁄4turn in either the
clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.
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NOTE:The anti-submarining belt and the shoulder belt
are attached to eye bolts at designated locations and
should be removed from the vehicle when not in use. The
lap belts and straps can be stored behind or to the sides
of the seat after removal.
Seat Belts and Pregnant Women
We recommend that pregnant women use the seat belts
throughout their pregnancy. Keeping the mother safe is
the best way to keep the baby safe.
Pregnant women should wear the lap part of the belt
across the thighs and as snug across the hips as possible.
Keep the belt low so that it does not come across the
abdomen. That way the strong bones of the hips will take
the force if there is a collision.
Seat Belt Extender
If a seat belt is too short, even when fully extended, your
dealer can provide you with a seat belt extender. This
extender should be used only if the existing belt is not
long enough.
WARNING!
A frayed or torn belt could rip apart in a collision
and leave you with no protection. Inspect the belt
system periodically, checking for cuts, frays, or loose
parts. Damaged parts must be replaced immediately.
Do not disassemble or modify the system. Seat belt
assemblies must be replaced after an accident if they
have been damaged (bent retractor, torn webbing,
etc.)
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Child Restraint
Everyone in your vehicle needs to be buckled up all the
time, babies and children, too.
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.
All states and Canadian provinces require small
children to ride in proper restraint systems. This is
the law, and you can be prosecuted for ignoring it.
Infants and Small Children
There are two different sizes and types of restraints for
children from newborn size to the bigger child almost
large enough for an adult seat belt. Always check the
child seat owner’s manual to ensure you have the right
seat for your child. Use the restraint system that is correct
for your child.
Two different child restraint systems are generally avail-
able:
•The infant carrier for babies weighing up to approxi-
mately 20 lbs. (9 kg).
•The child seat for small children over 20 lbs. (9kg).
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WARNING!
A rearward facing infant restraint must not be used
in your Viper unless the passenger airbag has been
shut off. A rearward facing infant restraint may be
struck by a deploying passenger airbag which may
cause severe or fatal injury to the infant.
In addition, some manufacturers make systems that can
be first used as an infant carrier, then converted to a child
seat as the child grows.
Here are some tips on getting the most out of your child
restraint.
Before buying any restraint system, make sure that it has
a label certifying that it meets Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213. The manufacturer also recommends that
before you buy a child restraint, you try it in the seat
where you will use it.The restraint must be appropriate for your child’s weight
and height. Check the label on the restraint for this too.
Carefully follow the instructions that came with the
restraint. If you install the restraint improperly, it may not
work when you need it.
WARNING!
Improper installation can lead to failure of a child
restraint. It could come loose in a collision. The child
could be badly injured or killed. Follow the manu-
facturer’s directions exactly when installing a child
restraint.
•Child restraints are secured in the passenger seat by
the lap part of the lap/shoulder belt.
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Buckle the child into the seat exactly as the child seat
manufacturer’s directions tell you. The latch plate on the
lap/shoulder belt will keep the belt tight.
When your infant carrier or child seat is not in use, secure
it with the seat belt or remove it from the vehicle. Don’t
leave it loose in the vehicle. In a sudden stop or collision,
it could strike occupants and injure them.LATCH—Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren
Your vehicle’s passenger seat is equipped with the child
restraint anchorage system called LATCH, which stands
for Lower Anchors and Tether for Children. The LATCH
LATCH Anchorages
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system provides for the installation of the child restraint
without using the vehicle seat belt. The passenger seat
has an exclusive lower anchorage.
These are round bars, located at the lower area of the seat
back, one on each side of the passenger seat. You will
easily feel them if you run your finger along the inter-
section of the surface. Install your child seat as per child
seat manufacturer recommendations.
NOTE:If your child restraint seat is not LATCH com-
patible, install the restraint using the vehicle seat belts.
Child Restraint Tether Anchor
Child restraints having tether straps and hooks for con-
nection to tether anchors have been available for some
time. In fact, many child restraint manufacturers will
provide add-on tether strap kits for some of their older
products. There is a tether strap anchor located in the
child tether access cover behind the passenger seat.Remove the child tether access cover by prying either
side with a screwdriver or similar tool, as shown in
illustration which follows. While the child tether is in
use, keep the access cover in a safe place so that it can be
replaced after use of the child tether.
Child Tether Access Cover
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To attach the tether strap to the anchor, move the
seatback fully forward. Pass the child restraint tether
hook through either opening in the seatback under the
head restraint. Attach the tether hook to the anchor loop,
recline the seatback full rearward and move the seat to its
most rearward position. Install the child restraint accord-
ing to the manufacturer’s directions. Return the seatback
to an upright position. Remove slack from the tether
strap according to the child restraint manufacturer’s
directions.
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WARNING!
An incorrectly anchored tether strap could lead to
increased head motion and possible injury to the
child. Use only the anchor position directly behind
the child seat to secure a child restraint top tether
strap.
Installing Child Restraints Using the Vehicle Seat
belt
The passenger side seat belt is equipped with an auto-
matic locking retractor for child restraint system installa-
tion. It is designed to keep the lap portion of the restraint
tightly held to the passenger seat. Seat belts equipped
with automatic locking retractors will have a distinctive
label on the webbing.
To restrain the child seat, pull enough webbing from the
retractor to allow the belt to pass through the childrestraint and slide the latch plate into the buckle. Then,
pull on the webbing from the retractor until all of it is
extracted. Retract some to the webbing back to the
retractor to activate the automatic locking retractor. (See
Seat Belt Locking Mode below). Tighten the lap portion
of the belt and allow the excess webbing to retract back to
the retractor. If it still does not make the child restraint
secure, try different seating positions in addition to
securing the child restraint with the LATCH restraint
system.Seat Belt Locking Mode
The seat belts for both occupants are equipped with
emergency locking retractors for normal use. They are
activated during very sudden stops or impacts and are
set in emergency locking mode. However, the passenger
side seat belt is also equipped with an automatic locking
retractor to secure child restraint systems. It can also be
converted to set the seat belt in the emergency locking
mode.
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To convert the emergency locking mode to automatic
locking mode for seat belts equipped with automatic
locking retractors, grasp on the shoulder belt portion of
the belt and pull all of the webbing out of the retractor. By
allowing some of the webbing to retract back into the
retractor, you will hear a clicking sound indicating that
the belt is now activated to automatic locking mode.
Once it is in the automatic locking mode you will not be
able to pull any more of the webbing out of the retractor,
but will only be able to feed back excess webbing to
secure the child restraint. To disengage the automatic
locking mode, simply allow all of the webbing to retract
back into the retractor which will switch the seat belt to
emergency locking mode for normal use.
Children Too Large For Child Seats
Children who are too large for child seats and who can sit
upright by themselves should use the lap/shoulder belt
for best protection.
•Make sure that the child is seated upright in the seat.
•The lap belt should be low on the hips and as snug as
possible.
•Check belt fit periodically. A child’s squirming or
slouching can move the belt out of position.
•If the shoulder belt contacts the face or neck, move the
child closer to the side of the vehicle.
Booster seats that may help overcome this problem are
also available for use with lap/shoulder belts. Before
buying a booster seat, make sure that it has a label
certifying that it meets applicable Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards. Make sure that it is satisfactory for use in this
vehicle.
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