2004 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY Owners Manual

NOTE:These devices are not a substitute for proper seat
belt placement by the occupant. The seat belt still must be
worn snugly and positioned properly.
The pretensioners are triggered by the front airbag con-
trol module (see Front Airbag Section). Like the front
airbags, the pretensioners are single use items. After a
collision that is severe enough to deploy the front airbags
and pretensioners, both must be replaced.
Seat Belts and Pregnant Women
We recommend that pregnant women use the seat belts
throughout their pregnancies. 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 and
when the adjustable upper shoulder belt anchorage (if
equipped) is in its lowest position, your dealer can
provide you with a seat belt extender. This extender
should be used only if the existing belt is not long
enough. When it is not required, remove the extender
and stow it.
WARNING!
Using a seat belt extender when not needed can
increase the risk of injury in a collision. Only use
when the lap belt is not long enough when it is worn
low and snug, and in the recommended seating
positions. Remove and store the extender when not
needed.
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Driver and Front Passenger Supplemental
Restraint System - Airbag
This vehicle has airbags for both the driver and front
passenger as a supplement to the seat belt restraint
systems. The driver's front airbag is mounted in the
center of the steering wheel. The passenger's front airbag
is mounted in the instrument panel, above the glove
compartment. The words SRS AIRBAG are embossed on
the airbag covers.
NOTE:The front airbags are certified to the Federal
regulations that allow less forceful deployment in low
speed collisions.
The front airbags have a multi stage inflator design. This
allows the airbag to have different rates of inflation that
are based on collision severity.
50 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

If the vehicle is equipped with side airbags, they are
located inside the driver and front passenger seatbacks,
and their seatcovers are labeled SRS AIRBAG.WARNING!
²Do not put anything on or around the airbag covers
or attempt to manually open them. You may dam-
age the airbags and you could be injured because
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.
²If your vehicle is equipped with side airbags, do
not use accessory seat covers or place objects be-
tween you and the side airbags; the performance
could be adversely affected and/or objects could be
pushed into you, causing serious injury.
²If your vehicle is equipped with side airbags, do
not attach cup holders or any other objects on or
around the door. The inflating side airbag could
drive the object into occupants, causing serious
injury.
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Airbags inflate in moderate to high speed impacts. Along
with seat belts and pretensioners, front airbags work with
the instrument panel knee bolsters to provide improved
protection for the driver and front passenger. Side 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 in moderate to
severe frontal collisions. If your vehicle is equipped, the
side airbag on the crash side of the vehicle is triggered in
moderate to severe side collisions. In certain types of
collisions, both the front and side airbags may be trig-
gered. 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 some simple steps you can take to minimize the
risk of harm from a deploying airbag.
1.Children 12 years old and under should always ride
buckled up in a rear seat.Infants in rear facing child restraints shouldNEVERride
in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger front airbag.
An airbag deployment can cause severe injury or death to
infants in that position.
Children that are not big enough to properly wear the
vehicle seat belt (refer to section on Child Restraint)
should be secured in the rear seat, in a child restraint or
belt-positioning booster seat. Older children who do not
use child restraints or belt-positioning booster seats
should ride properly buckled up in the rear seat, and in
the outboard seat if possible. 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.
You should read the instructions provided with your
child restraint to make sure that you are using it properly.
52 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

2.All occupants should wear their lap and shoulder
belts properly.
3.The driver and front passenger seats should be
moved back as far as practical to allow the front airbags
room to inflate.
4.If your vehicle has side airbags, do not lean against
the door, airbags will inflate forcefully into the space
between you and the door.WARNING!
²Relying 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.
²Being too close to the steering wheel or instru-
ment panel during front 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.
²If the vehicle has side airbags, they also need
room to inflate. Do not lean against the door. Sit
upright in the center of the seat.
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The Front Airbag System consists of the following:
²Front Airbag Control Module (with integrated side
impact sensor - if equipped)
²AIRBAG Readiness Light
²Driver Airbag
²Front Passenger Airbag
²Steering Wheel and Column
²Instrument Panel
²Seat Belt Readiness Light
²Front Seat Belt Pretensioners
²Interconnecting Wiring
²Knee Impact Bolster
How The Front Airbag System Works
²
Thefrontairbag control module determines if a frontal
impact is severe enough to require the front airbags to
inflate. Based on the level of collision severity, the front
airbag control module determines the proper rate of
inflation. The front airbag inflators are designed to
provide different rates of airbag inflation. The front
airbag control module will not detect roll over, or rear
collisions.
The front airbag control module also monitors the
readiness of the electronic parts of the system when-
ever the ignition switch is in the START or ON
positions. These include all of the items listed above
except the knee bolster, 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
switch, the front airbags are not on and will not inflate.
54 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

The front airbag control module sends a
message to the instrument cluster to turn on
the AIRBAG light in the instrument panel
for 6 to 8 seconds when the ignition switch is
first turned ON, then turns the light off. If the front
control module detects a malfunction in any part of the
system, the airbag light will turn on either momen-
tarily or continuously.
WARNING!
Ignoring the AIRBAG light in your instrument 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.
²When the front airbag control module detects a colli-
sion requiring the front airbags, it signals the inflatorunits. A large quantity of nontoxic gas is generated to
inflate the front airbags. Different front airbag inflation
rates are possible, these rates are determined by the
front airbag control module based on collision severity.
The front airbag covers separate and fold out of the
way as the airbags inflate to their full size. The front
airbags fully inflate in about 50 milliseconds. This is
only about half of the time it takes you to blink your
eyes. The front airbags then quickly deflate while
helping to restrain the driver and front passenger. The
driver's and passenger's front airbag gas is vented
through the airbag material towards the instrument
panel. In this way the front airbags do not interfere
with your control of the vehicle.
²The Knee Impact Bolstershelp protect the knees and
position you for the best interaction with the front
airbags.
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Side Airbags Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) Ð If Equipped
The Side Airbag System, if equipped, consists of the
following:
²AIRBAG Readiness Light (shared with the front airbag
system)
²Side Airbag in the driver's seat
²Side Airbag in the passenger's seat
²Front Airbag Control Module (with integrated side
impact sensor - if equipped)
²Interconnecting Wiring
How The Side Airbag System Works
Thefrontairbag control modules determine if a side
collision is severe enough to require the side airbags to
inflate. The front airbag control modules will not detect
roll over, or rear collisions.The front airbag control module also monitors the readi-
ness of the electronic parts of the system whenever the
ignition switch is in the START or ON positions. These
include all of the items listed above except the knee
bolster, 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 switch, the side airbags are
not on and will not inflate.
In moderate to severe side collisions, the side airbag
inflator on the crash side of the vehicle is triggered,
releasing a quantity of nontoxic gas. The inflating side
airbag exits through the seat seam into the space between
the occupant and the door. The side airbag moves at a
very high speed and with such a high force that it could
injure you if you are not seated properly, or if items are
positioned in the area where the side airbag inflates. This
especially applies to children.
56 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE