2004 DODGE STRATUS light

Defrosters
Check operation by selecting the defrost mode and place
the blower control on high speed. You should be able to
feel the air directed against the windshield.
Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make Outside
the Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive 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 (includ-
ing spare) for proper pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of exterior lights
while you work the controls. Check turn signal and high
beam indicator lights on the instrument panel.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for fuel,
water, oil, or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline fumes are
present, the cause should be corrected immediately.
50 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE
CONTENTS
mConsole Features.......................53
NConsole Features Ð Without Heated Seats....53
NConsole Features Ð With Heated Seats.......54
mMirrors..............................55
NInside Day/Night MirrorÐ If Equipped......55
NElectric Remote-Control MirrorsÐ If
Equipped............................55
NOutside Mirror Ð Driver's Side............56
NOutside Mirror Ð Passenger's Side..........56
NIlluminated Vanity Mirrors Ð If Equipped....56
mSeats................................57
NManual Front Seat Adjustments............57NPower Seats Ð If Equipped...............58
NAdjustable Head Restraints...............58
NFolding Rear Seat......................59
mTo Open And Close The Hood.............60
mLights...............................61
NInterior Lights........................61
NFront Map/Reading Lights Ð If Equipped....62
NMulti-Function Control Lever..............63
NHeadlights, Parking Lights, Instrument Panel
Lights..............................63
NDaytime Running Lights (Canada Only)......63
NLights-On Reminder....................64
3

NFog Lights Ð If Equipped................64
NTurn Signals..........................64
NHeadlight Beam Select Switch.............64
NPassing Light.........................64
NHeadlight Time Delay...................64
mWindshield Wipers And Washers...........65
NMist................................65
NSpeed Sensitive Intermittent Wiper System....66
mTilt Steering Column.....................66
mTraction ControlÐ If Equipped.............67
mElectronic Speed ControlÐ If Equipped......67
NTo Activate...........................68
NTo Set At A Desired Speed................68
NTo Deactivate.........................68
NTo Resume Speed......................68NTo Vary The Speed Setting................68
NTo Accelerate For Passing................69
NUsing Speed Control On Hills.............69
mGarage Door Opener Ð If Equipped.........70
NProgramming The Universal Transceiver......71
NªRolling Codeº Programming.............72
NCanadian Programming/Gate Programming . . .74
NOperation............................74
NReprogramming A Single Button...........74
NSecurity.............................74
mPower Sunroof Ð If Equipped.............75
NSunroof Maintenance....................76
NWind Buffeting........................77
mElectrical Power Outlet...................77
52 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

MIRRORS
Inside Day/Night MirrorÐ If Equipped
Adjust the mirror to center on the view through the rear
window. A two point pivot system allows for horizontal
and vertical mirror adjustment.
Annoying headlight glare can be reduced by moving the
small control under the mirror to the night position
(toward rear of vehicle). The mirror should be adjusted
while set in the day position (toward windshield).
Electric Remote-Control MirrorsÐ If Equipped
Both of the outside mirrors can be adjusted by using the
remote controls mounted on the instrument panel to the
left of the steering wheel.
NOTE:Place the mirror selector switch in the center
(neutral) position to prevent accidental movement of the
mirrors.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 55
3

Outside Mirror Ð Driver's Side
Adjust the outside mirror to center on the adjacent lane of
traffic, with a slight overlap of the view obtained on the
inside mirror.
Outside Mirror Ð Passenger's Side
Adjust the convex outside mirror so you can just see the
side of your vehicle in the part of the mirror closest to the
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 this
convex 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 lights.
56 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

SEATS
Manual Front Seat Adjustments
Forward/Rearward
The adjusting bar is at the front of the seats, near the
floor. Pull the bar up to move the seat to the desired
position.
After releasing the adjusting bar, apply forward and
rearward body pressure to be sure the seat is latched.
Reclining Bucket Seats
The recliner control is on the side of the seat. To recline,
lean forward slightly before lifting the lever, then lean
back to the desired position and release the lever. Lean
forward and lift the lever to return the seatback to its
normal position.
WARNING!
²Adjusting a seat while the vehicle is moving is
dangerous. The sudden movement of the seat
could cause you to lose control. The seat belt
might not be properly adjusted and you could be
injured. Adjust the seat only while the vehicle is
parked.
²Do not ride with the seatback reclined so that the
shoulder belt is no longer resting against your
chest. In a collision you could slide under the seat
belt and be seriously or even fatally injured. Use
the recliner only when the vehicle is parked.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 57
3

WARNING!
If the hood is not fully latched it could fly up when
the vehicle is moving and block your forward vision.
You could have a collision. Be sure all hood latches
are fully latched before driving.
LIGHTS
Interior Lights
The map/courtesy lights come on when a door is opened
and the panel lamp dimmer switch (located on the turn
signal control stalk) is in any detent except fully counter-
clockwise (dome lamp ON position) or fully clockwise
(dome lamp OFF position). Rotating the panel dimmer
switch fully counter-clockwise will turn on the lights.
Turn the panel dimmer switch fully clockwise to prevent
the lights from coming on when a door is opened.
NOTE:The interior lights have a ªfade to offº feature.
When the lights are turned off, they gradually ªfadeº off.
Dimmer Control
With the parking lights or headlights
on, rotating the dimmer control for the
interior lights on the Multi-Function
Control Lever upward will increase
the brightness of the instrument panel
lights.
Dome Light Position
Rotate the dimmer control completely
upward to the second detent to turn
on the interior lights. The interior
lights will remain on when the dim-
mer control is in this position.
Interior Light Defeat (OFF)
Rotate the dimmer control to the ex-
treme bottom full-circle position. The
interior lights will remain off when the
doors are open.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 61
3

Daytime Mode (Daytime Brightness Feature)
Rotate the dimmer control to the first
detent (full-circle). This feature bright-
ens the odometer and radio display
when the parking lights or headlights
are on during daylight conditions.
Front Map/Reading Lights Ð If Equipped
These lights are mounted between the sun visors. Each
light has a push-on push-off switch.
NOTE:The lights will remain on until the switch is
pressed a second time, so be sure that they have been
turned off before leaving the vehicle.
The following two types of front map/reading lights may
be equipped on this vehicle:
62 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE