2004 DODGE STRATUS COUPE wheel

WARNING!
²Do not sit on the edge of the seat or lean your head
or chest close to the steering wheel or instrument
panel. Do not put your feet or legs on or against
the instrument panel.
²Seat all infants and children 12 years of age and
under in the rear seat properly restrained using an
appropriate child restraint system.
WARNING!
²Infants and small children should never ride
unrestrained, or lean against the instrument
panel. They should never ride held in your arms
or on your lap. They could be seriously injured or
killed in a collision, especially when the air bag
inflates. Children should be properly seated in
the rear seat in an appropriate child restraint
system. Refer to ``Child Restraints'' on page 76.
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SEATS, SEAT BELTS, CHILD RESTRAINTS AND AIR BAGS 91
3

WARNING!
²Do not attach anything to the steering wheel's
padded cover, such as trim material, badges, etc.
These could strike and injure an occupant if the
air bag inflates.
WARNING!
²Do not set anything on, or attach anything to, the
instrument panel above the glove compartment. Such
items could strike and injure an occupant if the air
bag inflates.
²Do not mount or locate any aftermarket equipment
on or behind the knee bolsters.
²Do not attach accessories to, or put them in front of,
the windshield. They could restrict the air bag infla-
tion, or strike and injure an occupant, when the air
bag inflates.
²Do not put packages, pets or other objects between the
air bags and either the driver or the front passenger.
This could affect air bag performance, or could cause
severe or even fatal injury when the air bag inflates.
²Right after air bag inflation, several parts of the air
bag system will be hot. Do not touch them. You could
be burned.
²The air bag system is designed to work only once.
After the air bags deploy, they will not work again.
They must promptly be replaced and the entire air
bag system inspected by an authorized dealer.
96 SEATS, SEAT BELTS, CHILD RESTRAINTS AND AIR BAGS

WARNING!
²Any maintenance performed on or near the com-
ponents of the SRS should be performed only by
an authorized dealer. Do not permit anyone else to
do service, inspection, maintenance or repair on
any SRS components or wiring. Similarly, no part
of the SRS should ever be handled, removed or
disposed of by anyone except at an authorized
dealer.
Improper work on the SRS components or wiring
could result in an accidental air bag deployment
or could make the SRS inoperative. Either of these
situation could result in serious injury.
²Do not modify your steering wheel or any other SRS
components or related vehicle part. For example,
replacement of the steering wheel, or modifications
to the front bumper or body structure can negatively
affect SRS performance and may lead to possible
injury.
²If your vehicle has received any front-end dam-
age, you should have the SRS inspected by an
authorized dealer to make sure it is in proper
working order.
WARNING!
²On vehicles with side air bags, do not modify
your front seats, center pillar or center console.
Such modifications can adversely affect SRS per-
formance and may lead to possible injury.
Also, if you discover any tear or open seam in the
seat fabric near the side air bag, have the seat
inspected by an authorized dealer.
²On vehicles with side air bags, if your vehicle has
received any damage on either side, you should
have the SRS inspected by an authorized dealer to
make sure it is in proper working order.
NOTE:
²
When you transfer ownership of the vehicle to another
person, we urge you to alert the new owner that it is
equipped with the SRS and refer that owner to the
applicable sections in this owner 's manual.
SEATS, SEAT BELTS, CHILD RESTRAINTS AND AIR BAGS 101
3

driving, take your vehicle to your authorized dealer and
have the system checked.
[See ªSupplemental Restraint System (SRS)º on page
116.]
Brake warning light
This light illuminates when the ignition key
is turned to the ªONº position (engine off).
When the engine is started, the light should go off. But
when the parking brake is applied or the brake fluid falls
below the prescribed level, the light illuminates.
Before driving your vehicle, release the parking brake
fully and make certain that the brake warning light has
gone out.
CAUTION!
If the brake warning light does not go on when you
pull the parking brake lever, or if it does not go out
when you release the lever, contact an authorized
dealer immediately.
If the brake warning light illuminates while driving, it
could mean braking performance deterioration. Park
your vehicle in a safe place using the following proce-
dures:
1. If, when pressing the brake pedal, braking is poor,
press your foot harder against the brake pedal.
2. Should the braking deteriorate, use engine braking by
shifting the transaxle into a lower gear (Manual transaxle
or Automatic transaxle autostick) or into the ``3'' (THIRD)
or the ``2'' (SECOND) or the ``L'' (LOW) position (Auto-
matic transaxle) to reduce the speed and slowly pull the
parking brake lever, while applying pressure against the
brake pedal.
Depress the brake pedal to turn on the stop light (brake
light) to alert the vehicles behind you.
CAUTION!
Suddenly applying the parking brake is dangerous,
the wheels may lock.
INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS 117
4

There may be occasions when the lever does not return
after cornering. This typically occurs when the steering
wheel is turned only slightly. In this case, return the lever
by hand.
The instrument cluster indicator will flash to indicate
proper operation of the front and rear turn signal lights.
If the indicator light flashes faster than usual, check for a
malfunctioning turn signal light bulb or faulty turn signal
system.
If the indicator fails to light when the lever is moved,
check for a faulty fuse or a burned out indicator bulb.
NOTE: Replace malfunctioning bulbs and fuses
promptly.
FOG LIGHT SWITCH (IF SO EQUIPPED)
The fog lights illuminate only when the headlights are
on. Press the switch to illuminate the fog lights and press
the switch again to turn the lights off.
The indicator light in the instrument cluster will illumi-
nate while the fog lights are on.
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INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS 123
4

REAR PERSONAL LIGHTS
ON - The light illuminates
OFF - The light illuminates when a door is opened and
goes out when it is closed.
HORN SWITCH
Pressing on or around themark on the steering wheel,
causes the horn to honk.
GARAGE DOOR OPENER (IF SO EQUIPPED)
The HomeLinkyUniversal Transceiver replaces up to
three remote controls that operate devices such as garage
door openers, motorized gates, or home lighting. It
triggers these devices at the push of a button, located on
your Electrochromic inside rearview mirror (if so
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132 INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS

NGear positions........................156
NDriving speed
(Vehicles with automatic transaxle).........157
NHolding on an upgrade.................157
NTransaxle reset mode...................158
mAutomatic transaxle Autostick
(if so equipped)
........................158
NSelector lever operation.................159
NIndicator lights.......................161
NSelector positions (Main gate).............162
NSelector positions Manual gate Autostick.....163
NHolding on an upgrade.................165
NTransaxle reset mode...................166
mManual transaxle (if so equipped)..........166
NTo start.............................167
NProper shift points.....................167NRecommended downshifting speed.........169
NDriving precautions....................169
mParking brake.........................169
mBrake pedal...........................171
mPower brakes.........................172
mBrake pad wear alarm...................172
mAnti-lock braking (ABS) system
(if so equipped)
........................173
NGeneral driving hints
(standard/anti-lock brakes)...............173
mSteering wheel tilt lock lever..............175
mPower steering........................176
mInside Day/Night rearview mirrors.........177
NElectrochromic inside rearview mirror
(if so equipped.......................178
NElectrochromic mirror operation
(if so equipped).......................179
142 STARTING AND DRIVING

NOTE: For vehicles with an automatic transaxle, the key
cannot be removed unless the selector lever is set to the
ªPº (PARK) position.
ACC
Allows operation of electrical accessories with the engine
off.
START
Engages the starter. After the engine starts, release the
key and it will return automatically to the ªONº position.
ON
The engine runs and all accessories can be used.
NOTE:Do not use the ªONº position to operate acces-
sories.
CAUTION!
²Do not remove the ignition key from the ignition
switch while driving. The steering wheel will
lock, causing loss of control.
²If the engine is turned off while driving, the
power brake servomechanism will cease to func-
tion and braking efficiency will deteriorate. Also,
the power steering system will not function and it
will require greater effort to operate the steering.
²Do not leave the key in the ªONº position for a
long time when the engine is not running; doing
so will cause the battery to discharge.
²Do not turn the key to the ªSTARTº position
when the engine is running; doing so could dam-
age the starter motor.
KEY REMINDER CHIME
If the driver's door is opened while the ignition key is in
the ªLOCKº or ªACCº position, a warning chime
sounds.
150 STARTING AND DRIVING