2004 DODGE DURANGO instrument panel

The OCS classifies an occupant using weight sensors
mounted in the base of the front passenger seat. Any
weight on the seat will be sensed by the system. Objects
hanging on the seat or other passengers pushing down
on the seat will also be sensed. The weight of an adult
will cause the system to turn the airbag on. In this case,
the OCS has classified the occupant of the seat as an
adult. An adult occupant needs to sit in a normal position
(with their feet on or near the floor) in order to be
properly classified.
Drivers and adult passengers should verify that the PAD
Indicator Light is not illuminated when an adult is riding
in the front passenger seat. If an adult occupant's weight
is transferred to another part of the vehicle (like the door
or instrument panel), the weight sensors in the seat may
not properly classify the occupant. Objects lodged under
the seat or between the seat and the center console canprevent the occupant's weight from being measured
properly and may result in the occupant being improp-
erly classified.
If the front passenger seat is damaged in any way, it
should only be serviced by an authorized dealer. If the
seat is removed (or even if the seat attachment bolts are
loosened or tightened in any way), take the vehicle to an
authorized dealer.
If the is a fault present in the OCS, the Airbag Warning
Light (a red light located in the center of the instrument
cluster directly in front of the driver) will be turned on.
This indicates that you should take the vehicle to an
authorized dealer. The Airbag Warning Light is turned on
whenever there is fault that can affect the operation of the
airbag system. If there is a fault present in the OCS, both
the PAD Indicator Light and the Airbag Warning Light
are illuminated to show that the passenger airbag is
turned off until the fault is cleared. If an object is lodged
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 45
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under the seat and interferes with operation of the weight
sensors, a fault will occur which turns on both the PAD
Indicator Light and the Airbag Warning Light. Once the
lodged object is removed, the fault will be automatically
cleared after a short period of time.²TheDriver and Passenger Airbag/Inflator Unitsare
located in the center of the steering wheel and the right
side of the instrument panel. When the ORC detects a
collision requiring the airbags, it signals the inflator
units. A large quantity of nontoxic gas is generated to
inflate the front airbags. Different airbag inflation rates
may be possible based on collision severity and occu-
pant size. The steering wheel hub trim cover and the
upper right side of the instrument panel separate and
fold out of the way as the bags inflate to their full size.
The bags fully inflate in about 50 - 70 milliseconds.
This is about half of the time it takes to blink your eyes.
The bags then quickly deflate while helping to restrain
the driver and front passenger. The driver's front
airbag gas is vented through vent holes in the sides of
the airbag. The passenger's front airbag gas is vented
through vent holes in the sides of the airbag. In this
way the airbags do not interfere with your control of
the vehicle.
Passenger Airbag Off Indicator
46 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
Deployed airbags and seat belt pretensioners cannot
protect you in another collision. Have the airbags,
seat belt pretensioners, and the front passenger seat
belt retractor assembly, replaced by an authorized
dealer as soon as possible. Also, have the Occupant
Classification System serviced as well.
Maintaining Your Airbag System
WARNING!
²Modifications to any part of the airbag system could cause it to fail when you
need it. You could be injured if the airbag system is not there to protect you. Do
not modify the components or wiring, including adding any kind of badges or
stickers to the steering wheel hub trim cover or the upper right side of the
instrument panel. Do not modify the front bumper, vehicle body structure, or
add aftermarket side steps or running boards.
²Do not attempt to modify any part of your advanced airbag system. The airbag
may inflate accidentally or may not function properly if modifications are
made. Take your vehicle to an authorized dealer for any advanced airbag system
service. If your seat including your trim cover and cushion needs to be serviced
in any way (including removal or loosening/tightening of seat attachment
bolts), take the vehicle to your authorized dealer. Only manufacturer approved
seat accessories may be used. If it is necessary to modify an advanced airbag
system for persons with disabilities, contact your authorized dealer.
²Do not place or hang any items such as add-on video players on the right front
passenger seat back. The additional weight may cause the Occupant Classifi-
cation System to be unable to correctly classify the right front occupant. This
could allow the passenger frontal airbag to inflate when it is not desired.
²You need proper knee impact protection in a collision. Do not mount or locate
any aftermarket equipment on or behind the knee bolsters.
²It is dangerous to try to repair any part of the airbag system yourself. Be sure
to tell anyone who works on your vehicle that it has an airbag system.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 49
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Safety Checks You Should Make Outside The
Vehicle:
Tires
Examine tires for tread wear or uneven wear patterns.
Check for stones, nails, glass or other objects lodged in
the tread.
Inspect for tread cuts or sidewall cracks. Check wheel
nuts for tightness and tires for proper pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of exterior lights as
you turn them on. Check turn signal and high beam
indicator lights on the instrument panel.
Door Latches
Check for positive closing, latching and locking.
Fluid Leaks
Check the area under vehicle after overnight parking for
fuel, water, oil, or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline
fumes are detected, the cause should be located and
corrected.
64 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
Vehicles and other objects seen in the right side
convex mirror will look smaller and farther away
than they really are. Relying too much on your right
side mirror could cause you to collide with another
vehicle or other object. Use your inside mirror when
judging the size or distance of a vehicle seen in the
right side mirror.
Illuminated Vanity Mirrors Ð If Equipped
An illuminated vanity mirror is on each sun visor. To use
the mirror, rotate the sun visor down and swing the
mirror cover upward. The lights will turn on automati-
cally. Closing the mirror cover turns off the light.Heated Mirrors Ð If Equipped
Heated mirrors are automatically activated when you
depress the rear window defroster switch located on the
instrument panel. The light will illuminate to indicate
that the heating elements are ON. Turning OFF the
ignition will deactivate the heated mirrors.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 73
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Front Heated Seats Ð If Equipped
This feature heats the driver and front passenger seats.
The controls for the front heated seats are located on the
center of the instrument panel, below the climate con-
trols. The heated seat system allows the driver and frontpassenger to select from two different levels of supple-
mental electrical seat heating, or no seat heating to suit
their individual comfort requirements.
With the ignition switch in the RUN position, depressing
the heated seat switch rocker to its momentary High or
Low position provides power to the heated seat element
and maintains the requested temperature setting. If the
heated seat switch is depressed to a different position
(Low or High) than the currently selected state, the
requested temperature setting will change to a new
selection. If the heated seat switch is depressed a second
time to the same position as the currently selected state,
the seat heater will turn off.
NOTE:The high heat setting will operate for approxi-
mately a two hour duration. After two hours, the system
will automatically transition to the low heat setting. The
low heat setting will operate for a two hour duration,
90 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE HOOD
To open the hood, two latches must be released. First pull
the hood release lever located under the left side of the
instrument panel.
Then push the safety latch lever to the right. It is located
between the grille openings left of the center.To prevent possible damage, do not slam the hood to
close it. Use a firm downward push at the center of the
hood to ensure that both latches engage. Never drive
your vehicle unless the hood is fully closed, with both
latches engaged.
102 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

all the way down to the OFF detent will cause all the
interior lights to go out. This allows the doors to stay
open for extended periods of time without discharging
the vehicle's battery.
The brightness of the instrument panel lighting can be
regulated by rotating the dimmer control up (brighter) or
down (dimmer). When the headlights are ON you can
supplement the brightness of the odometer, trip odom-
eter, radio and overhead console by rotating the control
up until you hear a click. This feature is termed the
9Parade9mode and is useful when headlights are re-
quired during the day.
Battery Saver
To protect the life of your vehicle's battery, Load Shed-
ding is provided for both the interior and exterior lights.If the ignition is off and any door is left ajar for eight
minutes or the dimmer control is rotated upwards for
eight minutes, the interior lights will automatically turn
off.
If the headlights remain on while the ignition is cycled
off, the exterior lights will automatically turn off after 8
minutes. If the headlights are turned on and left on for 8
minutes while the ignition is off, the exterior lights will
automatically turn off.
NOTE:Battery Saver mode is cancelled if the ignition is
ON.
NOTE:While the engine is running, the system will
deactivate the Fog Lights and Heated seats if a low
battery system voltage is detected.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 105
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