child restraint Ram 1500 2009 User Guide

Child restraint systems having attachments designed to
connect to the lower anchorages are now available. Child
restraints having tether straps and hooks for connection
to the seat back tether anchorage have been available forsome time. In fact, many child restraint manufacturers
will provide add-on tether strap kits for some of their
older products.
Because the lower anchorages are to be introduced to
passenger carrying vehicles over a period of years, child
restraint systems having attachments for those anchor-
ages will continue to have features for installation in
vehicles using the lap or lap/shoulder belt. They will also
have tether straps, and you are urged to take advantage
of all of the available attachments provided with your
child restraint in any vehicle.
Quad Cab/Crew Cab Rear Outboard Seats Driver Side
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 73

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 through
the 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 belting.
Installing the Child Restraint System
WARNING!
Do not install child restraint systems equipped with
LATCH attachments in the center position of a Quad
Cabor Crew Cab model rear seat. The LATCH
anchorages in this seat are designed for the two
outboard seating positions only. A child may be
placed in the rear center seating position of a Quad
Cab or Crew Cab model using the seat belt and
child tether anchorage. Failure to follow this may
result in serious or fatal injury.
74 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

We urge you to carefully follow the directions of the
manufacturer when installing your child restraint. Many,
but not all, restraint systems will be equipped with
separate straps on each side, with each having a hook or
connector, and a means for adjusting the tension in the
strap. Forward-facing toddler restraints and some
rearward-facing infant restraints will also be equipped
with a tether strap, a hook and means for adjusting the
tension in the strap.
In general, you will first loosen the adjusters on the lower
straps and tether straps so that you can more easily attach
the hook or connector to the lower anchorages and tether
anchorages. Then tighten all three straps as you push the
child restraint rearward and downward into the seat.
Not all child restraint systems will be installed as we
have described here. Again, carefully follow the instruc-
tions that come with the child restraint system.WARNING!
Improper installation of a child restraint to the
LATCH anchorages can lead to failure of an infant or
child restraint. The child could be badly injured or
killed. Follow the manufacturer’s directions exactly
when installing an infant or child restraint.
Installing Child Restraints Using the Vehicle Seat
Belt
The seat belts in the passenger seating positions are
equipped with either an Automatic Locking Retractor
(ALR) or a cinching latch plate or both. Both types of seat
belts are designed to keep the lap portion of the seat belt
tight around the child restraint so that it is not necessary
to use a locking clip. The ALR will make a ratcheting
noise if you extract the entire belt from the retractor and
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 75

then allow the belt to retract into the retractor. For
additional information on ALR, refer to “Automatic
Locking Mode” in this section.
To install a child restraint, first, pull enough of the seat
belt webbing from the retractor to route it through the
belt path of the child restraint and slide the latch plate
into the buckle. Next, extract all the seat belt webbing out
of the retractor and then allow the belt to retract into the
retractor. Finally, pull on any excess webbing to tighten
the lap portion around the child restraint. Any seat belt
system will loosen with time, so check the belt occasion-
ally, and pull it tight if necessary.
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 their older products.
Regular Cab models have two tether anchorages, oneeach behind the front center and right seats. Quad Cab
and Crew Cab models have three anchorages, one behind
each of the rear seats.
WARNING!
An incorrectly anchored tether strap could lead to
seat failure and injury to the child. In a collision, the
seat could come loose and allow the child to crash
into the inside of the vehicle or other passengers, or
even be thrown from the vehicle. Use only the anchor
positions directly behind the child seat to secure a
child restraint top tether strap. Follow the instruc-
tions below. See your authorized dealer for help if
necessary.
76 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Tether Anchorage Points at the Right and Center
Front Seat (Regular Cab - All Seats)
1. Place the child restraint on the seat and adjust the
tether strap so that it will reach over the seat back under
the head restraint to the tether anchor directly behind the
seat.
2. Lift the cover (if so equipped), and attach the hook to
the square opening in the sheet metal.
3. Install the child restraint and remove the slack in the
tether strap according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Regular Cab Tether Strap Mounting
1 — Tether Strap Hook
2 — Tether Strap to Child Restraint
3 — Tether Anchor
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 77

Multiple Child Restraint Installation Sequence
(Quad Cab/Crew Cab - Rear Seats)
1. Obtain tether straps by raising the head restraints and
reaching between the rear glass and rear seat. The tether
strap may be retained with an elastic band. Accessibility
to the tether strap is greatly improved by raising the seat
cushion to the “up” position. Remove the elastic before
use.
78 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

2. Place a child restraint on each outboard rear seat and
adjust the tether strap so that it will reach under the head
restraint to the tether anchor directly behind the seat and
then to the anchor directly behind the center rear seat.
3. Pass each tether strap hook under the head restraint
and through the loop of webbing behind the child seat.
4. Route each tether strap to the anchor behind the center
seat, and attach the hooks to the anchor loop.5. Place a child restraint on the center rear seat and
adjust the tether strap so that it will reach under the head
restraint to the tether anchor directly behind the seat and
to the anchor directly behind the right seat.
6. Install each child restraint and remove the slack in the
tether strap according to the child restraint manufactur-
er’s instructions.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 79

Multiple Child Restraint Quad Cab/Crew Cab
1 — Inner Anchor Loops
2 — Snap Hook
3 — Tether Strap
4 — Passenger’s Side Rear Child Seat
5 — Rear Center Child Seat
6 — Driver’s Side Rear Child Seat
80 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Power Steering........................ 345
Radiator (Coolant Pressure) ............... 461
Car Washes ............................ 470
Carbon Monoxide Warning ...............83,390
Cargo Light ............................ 150
Cellular Phone .......................... 99
Center High Mounted Stop Light ............ 485
Center Lap Belts ......................... 49
Center Seat Storage Compartment ............ 194
Certification Label ....................... 396
Chart, Tire Sizing ........................ 364
Check Engine Light
(Malfunction Indicator Light) .............239,445
Checking Your Vehicle For Safety ............. 82
Checks, Safety ........................... 82
Child Restraint .......................... 69
Child Restraint Tether Anchors .............72,76
Child Seat ............................ 69,74
Cigar Lighter ........................... 187 Cleaning
Wheels ............................. 471
Climate Control ......................... 293
Clock ........................ 261,262,265,274
Compact Disc (CD) Maintenance ............. 292
Compass .............................. 253
Compass Calibration ..................... 254
Compass Variance ....................... 254
Computer, Trip/Travel .................... 252
Conserving Fuel ...................... 251,252
Console, Overhead ....................... 171
Contract, Service ........................ 515
Coolant Pressure Cap (Radiator Cap) .......... 461
Cooling System ......................... 458
Adding Coolant (Antifreeze) .............. 460
Coolant Capacity ...................... 488
Coolant Level ...................... 458,462
Disposal of Used Coolant ................ 462
Drain, Flush, and Refill .................. 459
524 INDEX

Rear Axle (Differential).................... 465
Rear Cargo Area Utility Rails ............... 214
Rear Park Sense System ................... 163
Rear Window Features .................... 199
Rear Window, Sliding ..................... 200
Reclining Front Seats ..................... 134
Recorder, Event Data ...................... 67
Recreational Towing ...................... 412
Shifting into Transfer Case Neutral (N) ....... 413
Shifting out of Transfer Case Neutral (N) ..... 415
Reformulated Gasoline .................... 387
Refrigerant ............................ 453
Reminder, Seat Belt ....................... 51
Remote Control Starting System ........................ 25
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) ................. 20
Remote Sound System (Radio) Controls ........ 291
Remote Starting System .................... 25
Replacement Keys ........................ 16 Replacement Parts
....................... 446
Replacement Tires ....................... 376
Reporting Safety Defects ................... 516
Resetting Oil Change Indicator ...........233,249
Restraint, Head ......................... 136
Restraints, Child ....................... 69,74
Restraints, Occupant ...................... 39
Rotation, Tires .......................... 379
Safety Checks Inside Vehicle ................. 84
Safety Checks Outside Vehicle ............... 84
Safety Defects, Reporting .................. 516
Safety, Exhaust Gas ....................... 83
Safety Information, Tire ................... 362
Safety Tips ............................. 82
Satellite Radio Antenna ................... 286
Satellite Radio (uconnect studios)........... 285
Schedule, Maintenance .................... 492
Seat Belt Maintenance .................... 474
534 INDEX