belt DODGE VIPER 2006 ZB / 2.G User Guide

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:
•When using the LATCH attaching system to install a
child restraint, please ensure that all seat belts not
being used for occupant restraints are stowed and out
of reach of children. It is recommended that before
installing the child restraint, buckle the seat belt so the
seat belt is tucked behind the child restraint and out of
reach. If the buckled seat belt interferes with the child
restraint installation, instead of tucking the seat belt
behind the child restraint, route the seat belt throughthe child restraint belt path and then buckle it. This
should stow the seat belt out of the reach of an
inquisitive child. Remind all children in the vehicle
that the seat belts are not toys and should not be
played with, and never leave your child unattended in
the vehicle.
•If your child restraint seat is not LATCH compatible,
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
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 39
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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.
42 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) - Airbag
This vehicle has airbags for the driver and passenger as a
supplement to the seat belt restraint systems. The driver’s
airbag is mounted in the steering wheel. The passenger
side airbag is mounted in the instrument panel, under a
cover marked SRS/AIRBAG. These airbags inflate in
higher speed impacts. They work with the instrument
panel knee bolsters and the seat belts to provide im-
proved protection for the driver and right front passen-
ger.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.
Wear your seat belts even though you have air-
bags.
•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.
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The seat belts are designed to protect you in many types
of collisions. The airbags deploy only in frontal collisions
and will not deploy in collisions at slow speed. But even
in 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 four simple steps you can take to minimize the
risk of harm from a deploying airbag.
1.Infants in rear facing child safety seats designed for
children up to one year or approximately 20 pounds (9
kg) should never ride in the front seat of a vehicle with
a passenger side airbag unless the airbag is shut OFF.
See “Passenger Side Airbag On/Off Switch.” An airbag
deployment can cause severe injury or death to infants in
this position.
Children that are not big enough to properly wear the
vehicle seat belt (see section on “Child Restraint”) should
be secured in child safety seats or booster seats.Older children who do not use child safety seats or
booster seats should ride properly buckled.
Never allow children to place the shoulder belt behind
them or under the arm.
Infants up to 1 year or approximately 20 pounds (9 kg)
should never ride in the vehicle, because the rear facing
child seat places them too close to the passenger air bag
in the event of a crash.
Children from 1 to 12 years old: Move the passenger seat
as far back as possible. Children from 20 to 60 pounds (9
kg to 27 kg) should be secured in the appropriate child
safety seat or booster seat. If too large for a booster seat,
the child should wear the lap/shoulder belt properly.
Children should never be allowed to lean forward to-
ward the instrument panel as a passenger air bag deploy-
ment could cause severe injury or death to a child in this
position.
44 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

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.
3.The driver and passenger seats should be moved
back as far as practical to allow the airbags room to
inflate. Additionally, the pedals are power adjustable,
so the driver seat can be moved back and the pedals
moved closer as needed so the driver can be as far from
the airbag as possible. (See section on Power Adjust-
able Pedals for operation.)
4.You should read the instructions provided with your
child safety or booster seat to make sure that you are
using it properly.The airbag system consists of the following:
•Airbag control module and internal crash sensor
•AIRBAG Readiness Light
•Driver and Passenger Airbag/inflator Units
•Passenger Side Airbag On/Off Switch
•Passenger Airbag Off Indicator Light
•Unique Steering Wheel and Column
•Unique Instrument Panel
•Interconnecting Wiring
•Knee Impact Bolster
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Transporting Pets
Deploying airbags could harm your pet. An unrestrained
pet will be thrown about and possibly injured, or injure a
passenger during panic braking or in a collision.
Pets should be restrained in pet harnesses or pet carriers
that are secured by seat belts.
ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS
The engine in your new Viper does not require a long
break-in period. Following these few simple guidelines is
all that is necessary for a good break-in:
For the first 500 miles (800 km):
•Keep your vehicle speed below the legal, posted speed
limit and your engine speed below 4,000 rpm.
•Avoid driving at a constant speed, either fast or slow,
for long periods of time.
•Do not make any full throttle starts and avoid full
throttle acceleration.
•Use the proper gear for your speed range.
•Wait until the engine has reached normal operating
temperature before driving at the recommended maxi-
mum break-in speed.
•Avoid excessive idling.
•Check the engine oil level at every fuel fill.
NOTE:A new engine will consume some oil during the
first few thousand miles of operation. This should be
considered as a normal part of the break-in and not
interpreted as a sign of difficulty.
52 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

SAFETY TIPS
Exhaust Gas
WARNING!
Exhaust gases can injure or kill. They contain carbon
monoxide (CO) which is colorless and odorless.
Breathing it can make you unconscious and can
eventually poison you. To avoid breathing (CO)
follow the safety tips below.
•Do not run the engine in a closed garage or in confined
areas any longer than needed to move your vehicle in
or out of the area.
•If it is necessary to sit in a parked vehicle with the
engine running, adjust your heating or cooling con-
trols to force outside air into the vehicle. Set the blower
at high speed.
Safety Checks You Should Make Inside the
Vehicle
Seat Belts
•
Inspect the belt system periodically, checking for cuts,
frays and loose parts. Damaged parts must be replaced
immediately. Do not disassemble or modify the sys-
tem.
•Seat belt assemblies must be replaced after an accident
if they have been damaged (bent retractor, torn web-
bing, etc.). If there is any question regarding belt or
retractor condition, replace the belt.
Defrosters
Check operation by selecting the defrost mode and place
the blower control on high speed. You should be able to
feel the air directed against the windshield.
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CONVERTIBLE TOP OPERATION —
CONVERTIBLE MODELS ONLY
WARNING!
The convertible top does not provide the structural
protection that a reinforced metal roof does, and the
fabric top cannot be expected to prevent the ejection
of the occupants of a vehicle in a collision. Therefore
it is important that all occupants wear their seat belts
at all times when riding in a convertible. Studies
have shown that it is generally safer to remain inside
a vehicle during a collision, than to be ejected from
the vehicle.
CAUTION!
To fully insure that no damage occurs, be sure that
the vehicle is at a complete stop with the gear
selector in the Park position (automatic transaxle) or
in the Neutral position (manual transaxle) before
lowering or raising the top.
CAUTION!
Do not operate the convertible top with ice or snow
build-up on the top. Damage to the top may occur.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 57
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WARNING!
Adjusting a seat while the vehicle is moving is
dangerous. If you are driving, the sudden movement
of the seat could cause you to lose control. You could
be injured. Adjust any seat only while the vehicle is
parked. Do not ride with the seatback reclined so
that the shoulder belt is no longer riding against
your chest. In a collision you could slide under the
seat belt and be seriously or even fatally injured. Use
the recliner only when the vehicle is parked.
Manual Seat Controls
72 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE