2004 DODGE INTREPID ECU

Children Too Large For Booster Seats
Children who are large enough to wear the shoulder belt
comfortably, and whose legs are long enough to bend
over the front of the seat when their back is against the
seatback, should use the lap/shoulder belt in the rear
seat.
•Make sure that the child is upright in the seat.
•The lap portion 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 center of the vehicle. Never allow a
child to put the shoulder belt behind their back or
under their arm.
LATCH – Child Seat Anchorage System (Lower
Anchors and Tether for CH ildren)
Your vehicle’s rear seat is equipped with the child
restraint anchorage system called LATCH. The LATCH
system provides for the installation of the child restraints
without using the vehicle’s seat belts, instead securingthe child restraint using lower anchorages and upper
tether straps from the child restraint to the vehicle
structure.
LATCH-compatible child restraint systems are now avail-
able. However, because the lower anchorages are to be
introduced over a period of years, child restraint systems
having attachments for those achorages will continue to
also have features for installation using the vehicle’s seat
belts. Child restraints having tether straps and hooks for
connection tot he top tether anchorages have been avail-
able for some time. For some older child restraints, many
child restraint manufacturers offer add-on tether strap
kits or retro-fit kits. You are urged to take advantage of all
the available attachments provided with your child re-
straint in any vehicle.
All three rear seating positions have lower
anchorages that are capable of accomodating
LATCH-compatible child seats. These are
round bars, located at the lower area of the seat
back. Install your child seat as per child seat manufac-
turer recommendations.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 43
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plate into the buckle again. If you still can’t make the
child restraint secure, try a different seating position.
To attach a child restraint tether strap:
1. Lift the cover over the anchor directly behind the seat
where you are placing the child restraint.
2. Route the tether strap to provide the most direct path
for the strap between the anchor and the child seat. If
your vehicle is equipped with adjustable rear head
restraints, raise the head restraint and route the tether
strap under the head restraint and between the two posts.If not possible, lower the head restraint and pass the
tether strap around the outboard side of the head re-
straint.
3. Attach the tether strap hook (A) of the child restraint to
the anchor (B) and remove slack in the tether strap
according to the child restraint manufacturer’s instruc-
tions.
WARNING!
An incorrectly anchored tether strap could lead to
increased head motion and possible injury to the
child. Use only the anchor positions directly behind
the child seat to secure a child restraint top tether
strap.
Transporting Pets
Airbags deploying in the front seat 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.
46 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Pets should be restrained in the rear seat in pet harnesses
or pet carriers that are secured by seat belts.
ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS
The engine in your new vehicle does not require a long
break-in period.
Drive moderately during the first 300 miles (500 km).
After the initial 60 miles (100 km), speeds up to 50 or 55
mph (80 or 90 km/h) are desirable.
While cruising, brief full-throttle acceleration, within the
limits of local traffic laws, contributes to a good break-in.
Wide open throttle acceleration in low gear can be
detrimental and should be avoided.
The crankcase oil installed in the engine at the factory is
a high quality energy conserving type lubricant. Oil
changes should be consistent with expected climate con-
ditions under which vehicle operations will occur. The
recommended viscosity and quality grades are in Section
7 of this manual.
Do not use non-detergent or straight mineral oils.A new engine may consume some oil during its first few
thousand miles of operation. This is a normal part of the
break-in and not an indication of a problem.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.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 47
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Exterior Lights.........................62
▫Headlights And Parking Lights............62
▫Lights-On Reminder....................62
▫Headlight Time Delay...................62
▫Battery Saver Feature—Exterior Lights.......63
▫Fog Lights...........................63
▫Daytime Running Lights (Canada Only)......63
Multifunction Control Lever...............63
▫Turn Signals..........................64
▫Headlight Dimmer Switch................64
▫Passing Light.........................64
▫Windshield Wipers And Washers...........64
▫Speed Sensitive Intermittent Wipers System....65
Tilt Steering Column.....................65
Traction Control Switch — If Equipped.......66
Electronic Speed Control..................67▫To Activate...........................67
▫To Set At A Desired Speed................68
▫To Deactivate.........................68
▫To Resume Speed......................68
▫To Vary The Speed Setting................68
▫To Accelerate For Passing................68
▫Using Speed Control On Hills.............69
Overhead Console......................70
▫Dome/Reading Lights...................70
Garage Door Opener — If Equipped.........70
▫Programming The Universal Transceiver......71
▫“Rolling Code” Programming.............73
▫Canadian Programming/Gate Programming . . .74
▫Operation............................74
▫Reprogramming A Single Button...........75
▫Security.............................75
50 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Reprogramming A Single Button
1. Press and hold the Universal Transceiver button to be
reprogrammed. Do not release until step 4 has been
completed.
2. When the indicator light begins to flash slowly (after
20 seconds) position the hand held transmitter 1 to 3
inches (3 to 8 cm) away from the button to be trained.
3. Press and hold the hand held transmitter button.
4. The Universal Transceiver indicator light will begin to
flash, first slowly, then rapidly. When the indicator lights
begin to flash rapidly, release both buttons.
Security
If you sell your vehicle, be sure to erase the frequencies.
To erase all of the previously trained frequencies, hold
down both outside buttons until the green light begins to
flash.This device complies with part 15 of FCC rules and with
RS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the
following conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference.
2. This device must accept any interference that may be
received including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
NOTE:Changes or modifications not expressly ap-
proved by the party responsible for compliance could
void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
HomeLinkis a trademark owned by Johnson Controls,
Inc.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 75
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POWER SUN ROOF — IF EQUIPPED
The sun roof controls are located on the overhead con-
sole.
To Open the sunroof from the Closed position, press and
release the OPEN button. The sunroof will open fully,
then stop automatically.
To Close the sunroof from an open or vent position, press
andholdthe CLOSE button. The sunroof will close fully
and stop automatically. Release the CLOSE button to stop
sunroof travel at any point.If the sun roof is vented and you wish to open it, press
and hold the OPEN button. If the sun roof is open and
you wish to vent it, press and hold the VENT button.
The sunshade can be opened manually. It will also open
as the sun roof opens. The sunshade cannot be closed if
the sun roof is open.
WARNING!
In an accident, there is a greater risk of being thrown
from a vehicle with an open sun roof. You could also
be seriously injured or killed. Always fasten your
seatbelt properly and make sure all passengers are
properly secured too.
Do not allow small children to operate the sun roof.
Never allow fingers or other body parts, or any
object to project through the sun roof opening.
Injury may result.
76 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Transaxle Reset Mode
The transaxle is monitored for abnormal conditions. If a
condition is detected that could cause damage, the trans-
axle automatically shifts into second gear. The transaxle
remains in second gear despite the forward gear selected.
Park (P), Reverse (R), and Neutral (N) will continue to
operate. This Reset feature allows the vehicle to be driven
to a dealer for service without damaging the transaxle.
If the problem has been momentary, the transaxle can be
reset to regain all forward gears.
•Stop the vehicle and shift into PARK (P).
•Turn the key to OFF then start the engine.
•Shift into “D” and resume driving.
NOTE:Even if the transaxle can be reset, we recom-
mend that you visit a dealer at your earliest possible
convenience. Your dealer has diagnostic equipment to
determine if the problem could recur.
If the transaxle cannot be reset, dealer service is required.
Gear Ranges
“P” Park
NOTE:
If the key is in the RUN position, you must
press the brake pedal to shift out of the “P” Park position.
Supplements the parking brake by locking the transaxle.
Engine can be started in this range. Never attempt to use
PARK while vehicle is in motion.
Apply parking brake when leaving vehicle in this range.
WARNING!
Your vehicle could move and injure you and others if
it is not completely in Park (P). Check by trying to
move the gearshift lever back and forth without
depressing the shift button after you have set it in P.
Make sure it is in Park before leaving the vehicle.
130 STARTING AND OPERATING

unleaded gasoline having lower sulfur to determine if the
problem is fuel related prior to returning your vehicle to
an authorized dealer for service.
CAUTION!
If the Malfunction Indicator Light is flashing, imme-
diate service is required. See the On Board Diagnos-
tics paragraph in the Maintenance section of this
manual.
Materials Added to Fuel
All gasoline sold in the United States is required to
contain effective detergent additives. Use of additional
detergents or other additives is not needed under normal
conditions and would result in additional cost. Therefore
you should not have to add anything to the fuel.
Adding Fuel
NOTE:
The fuel tank filler tube has a restricting door
about 2 inches (50 mm) down from the opening. If fuel is
poured from a portable container, the container should
have a flexible nozzle long enough to force open the
restricting door.
CAUTION!
To avoid fuel spillage and overfilling, do not “top
off” the fuel tank after filling.
NOTE:When the fuel nozzle “clicks” or shuts off, the
fuel tank is full.
NOTE:Tighten the gas cap until you hear a “clicking”
sound. This is an indication that the gas cap is properly
tightened.
The Malfunction Indicator light will come on if the gas
cap is not properly secured. Make sure that the gas cap
is tightened each time the vehicle is refueled.
146 STARTING AND OPERATING