2004 DODGE STRATUS COUPE trunk

Locking and unlocking with key or inside lock
knob
Using the key to lock or unlock the driver 's or passen-
ger 's (if so equipped) door will automatically lock or
unlock all of the doors.
·Turn the key inserted in the driver 's door lock once in
the unlocking direction, and the front driver 's door
will be unlocked.
·Give another turn in the unlocking direction, and both
doors will be unlocked.
Locking by means of the inside lock knob
Place the inside lock knob of the driver's door in the
locked position, and both doors will be locked.
TRUNK LID
WARNING!
²It is dangerous to drive with the trunk lid open
since carbon monoxide (CO) gas can enter the
cabin. CO is an invisible, odorless gas that can
cause unconsciousness and even death.
²Do not allow children to have access to the trunk,
either by climbing into the trunk from outside or
through the inside of the vehicle. Always close the
trunk lid when your vehicle is unattended. If
trapped in the trunk, it is possible to escape from
the trunk by using the inside emergency trunk
release handle. (See ``Inside emergency trunk re-
lease'' on Page 37).
F12B0710
Lock Unlock
Lock
LOCKING AND UNLOCKING 35
2

CAUTION!
Do not stand behind the exhaust pipe when loading
and unloading luggage. Heat from the exhaust could
lead to burns.
To open the trunk lid
Vehicles with keyless entry system
Press the TRUNK switch twice within five seconds.
(Refer to ``Keyless entry system'' on page 29.) The trunk
lid will unlock and pop up slightly. Lift it to open the
trunk.
Vehicles without keyless entry system
Insert the ignition key and turn it clockwise. The trunk
lid will unlock and pop up slightly. Lift it to open the
trunk.To close the trunk lid
Lower the trunk lid and push down with both hands
until it locks.
Trunk-ajar warning chime
When the vehicle is moving at more than 5 mph (8 km/h)
and the trunk lid is open, a chime will sound to inform
the driver that the trunk lid is not properly shut.
F15A2670
36 LOCKING AND UNLOCKING

Remote trunk lid release
Pull the trunk lid release lever, located to the left of the
driver's seat, up to open the trunk lid.
CAUTION!
Do not operate the trunk lid release lever while the
vehicle is moving. If the trunk lid opened, luggage
could fall onto the road and cause an accident.
Inside emergency trunk release
The emergency trunk release is designed to provide a way to
open the trunk lid from inside the trunk. It was developed to
help prevent death and serious heat-related injuries, includ-
ing brain damage, especially for children who might become
locked inside a vehicle trunk.
The illuminated9T9shaped yellow emergency trunk release
handle (see illustration) is mounted near the latch inside the
trunk lid. Velcro keeps the handle secure in its holder.
F15A1770F15A2350
LOCKING AND UNLOCKING 37
2

The handle glows in the dark after exposure to sunlight.
You and your family should familiarize yourselves with the
location and operation of the emergency trunk release
handle. Children should be taught not to play in or around
vehicles.
WARNING!
²Children should never be left unsupervised in or
around vehicles.
²Unsupervised children could lock themselves in
an open vehicle or trunk.
²People trapped inside a vehicle, or trunk, even if
only for a short period of time, can quickly die
from suffocation or heat stroke, especially on hot
days. Interior temperatures in vehicles can rise in
minutes.
²Keep your vehicle doors locked and the trunk
closed when not in use. Keep your vehicle keys
away from children.
To open the trunk from inside the trunk, tear off the
illuminated9T9handle from its holder by pulling in the
direction of the arrow (1). Then pull the handle in the
direction of the arrow (2). Push up on the trunk to exit.
F15A2180
1. Tear off
2. PullHandle
Holder
38 LOCKING AND UNLOCKING

CAUTION!
²When loading objects in the trunk, position them
so that they will not contact the emergency trunk
release handle when closing the trunk. This will
prevent damage to the handle that could render it
inoperable.
²Always keep the handle in its holder when oper-
ating the vehicle to prevent trunk cargo from
moving the handle that might result in the open-
ing of the trunk lid.
FUEL FILLER
WARNING!
Turn off the engine while refueling.
Do not smoke and do not operate other ignition
sources while refueling.
C20A1520
LOCKING AND UNLOCKING 39
2

Armed stage
Park the vehicle and stop the engine. Arm the system as
described below.
1. Remove the key from the ignition switch.
2. Make sure the trunk lid is locked.3. Lock the driver's and the passenger's door by using
the key, power door lock switch, or the remote keyless
transmitter (if equipped).
After completion of the steps above, the theft-alarm
indicator (located in the instrument cluster) will illumi-
nate for approximately 20 seconds and then go out,
indicating that the system is armed.
F30A0010
Arm the system and leave.
F30A0210
LOCKING AND UNLOCKING 49
2

NOTE
1. The system will be armed even if the trunk lid is
opened, but when the system is set, be sure that the trunk
lid is latched.
2. The system will be disarmed if, while the theft-alarm
indicator is illuminated, the driver's door, the passenger's
door is unlocked by using the key or keyless transmitter
(if equipped).
3. The system will be disarmed if, while the theft-alarm
indicator is illuminated, the ignition key is turned to the
ªONº or ªACCº.
4. The system will not be armed if a door is not com-
pletely closed. If this happens, rearm the system as
described above.
5.
The trunk lid can only be unlocked by using the key or
the remote keyless transmitter (if equipped) without trig-
gering or disarming the system even after the system has
been armed. When it is locked, the system will be rearmed.
6. The system will be armed even if the trunk lid is open,
but when the system is set, be sure that the trunk lid is
latched.7. The driver should not arm the system until first
confirming that all passengers have left the vehicle. If the
driver arms the system while a passenger(s) in the
vehicle, the alarm may be activated when the passen-
ger(s) leave the vehicle.
Alarm stage
The alarm will be activated if any of the following occur
while the vehicle is parked and the system is armed.
1. The driver's or passenger 's door is opened without
using the key or the remote keyless transmitter (if
equipped).
2. The trunk lid is opened without using the key or the
remote keyless transmitter (if equipped).
TYPE OF ALARM
When the alarm is activated:
50 LOCKING AND UNLOCKING

1. The headlights blink on and off for 3 minutes. After 3
minutes the headlights automatically shut off.
2. The horn will sound intermittently for 3 minutes.
NOTE: The alarm will continue to operate for 3 minutes.
At the end of that period, the alarm will automatically
shut off to save battery power. The system will then be
rearmed until the proper disarming step is taken.
Alarm deactivation
The alarm can be deactivated in the following ways.
1. By turning the key (in the driver's or the trunk lid) in
either direction (toward lock or unlock).
2. By using the remote keyless transmitter (if equipped)
to lock or unlock the door or trunk lid.
F30A0020
Horn sounds!
Headlights blink on and off!
LOCKING AND UNLOCKING 51
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