2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE Owners Manual

units. A large quantity of nontoxic gas is generated to
inflate the front airbags. Different airbag inflation rates
are possible, these rates are determined by the front
airbag control module based on collision severity. 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 30±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 front airbag gas is vented through the
airbag material towards the instrument panel. The
passenger front airbag gas is vented through the
airbag material on the sides of the airbag. In this way,
the airbags do not interfere with your control of the
vehicle.²TheSide Impact SRS Window Bagsare designed to
activate only in certain side collisions. When the airbag
control module (ACM), along with the remote side
impact sensors detects a side impact collision requir-
ing the window bags to inflate, it signals the inflators
on the crash side of the vehicle. A quantity of nontoxic
gas is generated to inflate the window bag. The
inflating window bag pushes the outside edge of the
headliner out of the way and covers the window. The
airbag inflates in about 30 milliseconds (about one
quarter of the time it takes to blink your eyes) with
enough force to injure you if you are not belted and
seated properly, or if items are positioned in the area
where the window bag inflates. This especially applies
to children. The window bag is only about 3
1¤2inches
(9 cm) thick when it is inflated.
²TheKnee Impact Bolstershelp protect the knees of
the driver and the front passenger's, and position
everyone for the best interaction with the front airbag.
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If A Deployment Occurs
The airbag system is designed to deploy the airbags
when the impact sensors detect a moderate-to-severe
frontal collision, to help restrain the driver and front
passenger, and then immediately deflate.
NOTE:A frontal collision that is not severe enough to
need airbag protection will not activate the system. This
does not mean something is wrong with the airbag
system.
If you do have a collision which deploys the airbags, any
or all of the following may occur:
²The nylon airbag material may sometimes cause abra-
sions and/or skin reddening to the driver and front
passenger as the airbags deploy and unfold. The
abrasions are similar to friction rope burns or those
you might get sliding along a carpet or gymnasium
floor. They are not caused by contact with chemicals.
They are not permanent and normally heal quickly.However, if you haven't healed significantly within a
few days, or if you have any blistering, see your doctor
immediately.
²As the airbags deflate you may see some smoke-like
particles. The particles are a normal by-product of the
process that generates the nontoxic gas used for airbag
inflation. These airborne particles may irritate the skin,
eyes, nose, or throat. If you have skin or eye irritation,
rinse the area with cool water. For nose or throat
irritation, move to fresh air. If the irritation continues,
see your doctor. If these particles settle on your
clothing, follow the garment manufacturer's instruc-
tions for cleaning.
²It is not advisable to drive your vehicle after the
airbags have deployed. If you are involved in another
collision, the airbags will not be in place to protect you.
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WARNING!
Deployed airbags can't protect you in another colli-
sion. Have the airbags replaced by an authorized
dealer as soon as possible.
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 or vehicle body structure.
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.
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Airbag Warning Light
You will want to have the airbag system ready to inflate
for your protection in an impact. The airbag system is
designed to be maintenance free. If any of the following
occurs, have an authorized dealer service the system
promptly:
²Does not come on during the 6 to 8 seconds after the
ignition switch is first turned on.
²Remains on after the 6 to 8 second interval.
²Comes on for any period of time while driving.
Child Restraint
Everyone in your vehicle needs to be buckled up all the
time Ð babies and children, too. Every state in the United
States and all Canadian provinces require that small
children ride in proper restraint systems. This is the law,
and you can be prosecuted for ignoring it.Children 12 years and under should ride properly buck-
led up in a rear seat, if available. According to crash
statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in
the rear seats rather than in the front.
WARNING!
In a collision, an unrestrained child, even a tiny
baby, can become a missile inside the vehicle. The
force required to hold even an infant on your lap can
become so great that you could not hold the child, no
matter how strong you are. The child and others
could be badly injured. Any child riding in your
vehicle should be in a proper restraint for the child's
size.
Infants and Small Children
There are different sizes and types of restraints for
children from newborn size to the child almost large
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enough for an adult seat belt. Always check the child seat
owner's manual to ensure you have the right seat for
your child. Use the restraint that is correct for your child:
²The rearward-facing infant restraint is for babies
weighing up to about 20 lbs (9 kg), and one year old or
more. The infant restraint mustNEVERbe used in the
front seat of a vehicle with a passenger side airbag
unless the airbag is turned off. An airbag deployment
could cause severe injury or death to infants in this
position. The infant restraint is held in the vehicle by
the lap belt, lap/shoulder belt, or the LATCH child
restraint anchorage system. Refer to ªLower Anchors
and Tether for CHildren (LATCH)º in this section.
²Children under one year of age should continue to ride
in a rear-facing infant seat, even if they weigh more
than 20 lbs (9 kg). A ªconvertibleº child seat, one that
is designed to be used either rearward-facing orforward-facing, should be used for children who are
too heavy for the infant carrier, but who are too young
to face forward in the vehicle.
²The forward-facing child seat is for children from
about 20 lbs (9 kg) to 40 lbs (18 kg), and more than one
year old. The child seat is held in the vehicle by the lap
belt, lap/shoulder belt, or the LATCH child restraint
anchorage system. Refer to ªLower Anchors and
Tether for CHildren (LATCH)º in this section.
²The belt-positioning booster seat is for children weigh-
ing more than 40 lbs (18 kg). If the child cannot sit with
knees bent over the seat cushion while the child's back
is against the seat back, they should use a belt-
positioning booster seat. The child and booster seat are
held in the vehicle by the lap/shoulder belt. (Some
booster seats are equipped with a front shield and are
held in the vehicle by the lap portion or lap belt.)
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²For additional information, refer towww.seatcheck.org.
WARNING!
²Improper installation can lead to failure of an
infant or child restraint. It could come loose in a
collision. The child could be badly injured or
killed. Follow the manufacturer's directions ex-
actly when installing an infant or child restraint.
²A rearward facing infant restraint should only be
used in a rear seat. A rearward facing infant
restraint in the front seat may be struck by a
deploying passenger airbag which may cause se-
vere or fatal injury to the infant.
Here are some tips for getting the most out of your child
restraint:
²Before buying any restraint system, make sure that it
has a label certifying that it meets all applicable Safety
Standards. The manufacturer also recommends that
you try a child restraint in the vehicle seats where you
will use it before you buy it.
²The restraint must be appropriate for your child's
weight and height. Check the label on the restraint for
weight and height limits.
²Carefully follow the instructions that come with the
restraint. If you install the restraint improperly, it may
not work when you need it.
46 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

²The passenger seat belts are equipped with cinching
latch plates, which are designed to keep the latch
portion tight around the child restraint so that it is not
necessary to use a locking clip. Pulling up on the
shoulder portion of the lap/shoulder belt will tighten
the belt. The cinching latch plate will keep the belt
tight, however, any seat belt system will loosen with
time, so check the belt occasionally and pull it tight if
necessary.
²In the rear seat, you may have trouble tightening the
lap/shoulder belt on the child restraint because the
buckle or latch plate is too close to the belt path
opening on the restraint. Disconnect the latch plate
from the buckle and twist the short buckle-end belt
several times to shorten it. Insert the latch plate into
the buckle with the release button facing out.
²If the belt still cannot be tightened, or if pulling and
pushing on the restraint loosens the belt, disconnect
the latch plate from the buckle, turn the buckle
around, and insert the latch plate into the buckle
again. If you still cannot make the child restraint
secure, try a different seating position.
²Buckle the child into the restraint exactly as the
manufacturer's instructions tell you.
²When your child restraint is not in use, secure it in the
vehicle with the seat belt or remove it from the vehicle.
Do not leave it loose in the vehicle. In a sudden stop or
collision, it could strike the occupants or seat backs
and cause serious personal injury.
Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH)
Your vehicle is equipped with the child restraint anchor-
age system called LATCH, which stands for Lower
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Anchors and Tethers for CHildren. The LATCH system
provides for the installation of the child restraint without
using the vehicle seat belt. The two rear outboard seating
positions have exclusive lower anchorages located at the
rear of the seat cushion. They are round bars, part of the
seat and body structure, and are readily visible.In addition, there are tether anchors above the rear
liftgate opening behind each rear outboard seat. The
anchors are covered by hinged plastic caps.
To attach a child restraint tether strap hook, pull down on
the cover of the anchor directly behind the seat where
you are placing the child restraint. Raise the head re-
straint and route the tether strap under the head restraint
48 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE