2005 CHRYSLER 300 warning

WARNING!
²Do not put anything on or around the front airbag
covers or attempt to manually open them. You may
damage the airbags and you could be injured be-
cause the airbags are not there to protect you. These
protective covers for the airbag cushions are de-
signed to open only when the airbags are inflating.
²If your vehicle is equipped with left and right side
curtain airbags, do not stack luggage or other cargo
up high enough to block the location of the side
curtain airbag. The area where the side curtain airbag
is located should remain free from any obstructions.
²If your vehicle is equipped with left and right side
curtain airbags, do not have any accessory items
installed which will alter the roof, including adding
a sunroof to your vehicle. Do not add roof racks that
require permanent attachments (bolts or screws) for
installation on the vehicle roof. Do not drill into the
roof of the vehicle for any reason.
²Do not drill, cut or tamper with the knee bolster in
any way.
²Do not mount any accessories to the knee bolster
such as alarm lights, stereos, citizens band radios etc.
Airbags inflate in moderate to high speed impacts. Along
with the seat belts, front airbags work with the instru-
ment panel knee bolsters to provide improved protection
for the driver and front passenger. Left and right side
curtain airbags also work with seat belts to improve
occupant protection.
The seat belts are designed to protect you in many types
of collisions. The front airbags deploy only in moderate
to severe frontal collisions. If your vehicle is so equipped,
the side curtain airbag on the crash side of the vehicle is
triggered in moderate to severe side collisions. In certain
types of collisions where the airbags deploy, you need the
seat belts to keep you in the right position for the airbags
to protect you properly.
38 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
²Relying on the airbags alone could lead to more
severe injuries in a collision. The airbags work
with your seat belt to restrain you properly. In
some collisions the airbags won't deploy at all.
Always wear your seat belts even though you
have airbags.
²Being too close to the steering wheel or instru-
ment panel during airbag deployment could cause
serious injury. Airbags need room to inflate. Sit
back, comfortably extending your arms to reach
the steering wheel or instrument panel.
²If the vehicle has left and right side curtain
airbags, they also need room to inflate. Do not
lean against the door or window. Sit upright in the
center of the seat.
Airbag System Components
The front airbag system consists of the following:
²Airbag Control Module
²AIRBAGReadiness Light
²PASS AIRBAG OFFReadiness Light
²Front Impact Accelerometer sensors
²Side Impact Accelerometer sensors
²Driver Airbag
²Passenger Airbag
²Steering Wheel and Column
²Instrument Panel
²Interconnecting Wiring
²Knee Impact Bolsters
40 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

The side curtain airbag system, on vehicles so equipped,
consists of the following:
²Airbag Control Module
²AIRBAGReadiness Light
²Left and Right Side Curtain Airbags Above Side
Windows
²Left and Right Side Impact Sensors
²Interconnection Wiring
How The Airbag System Works
²
The airbag control module determines if a frontal
collision is severe enough to require the airbags to
inflate. The control module receives the level of colli-
sion severity, determines the proper level of airbag to
be deployed. The frontal airbag inflators are designed
to provide three different rates of airbag inflation.
²The airbag control module will not detect a rollover.
²The airbag control module also monitors the readiness
of the electronic parts of the system whenever the
ignition switch is in the START or ON positions. Theseinclude all of the items listed above except the knee
bolster, the instrument panel, and the steering wheel
and column. If the key is in the ªLOCKº position, in
the ACC position, or not in the ignition, the airbags are
not on and will not inflate.
²The airbag control module also turns on the
AIRBAGlight, and thePassenger Airbag
Disable (PAD) Indicator Lightin the instru-
ment panel for 6 to 8 seconds when the
ignition is first turned on, then turns the light off. If it
detects a malfunction in any part of the system, it turns
on the light either momentarily or continuously.
WARNING!
Ignoring the AIRBAG light in your instrument panel
could mean you won't have the airbags to protect
you in a collision. If the light does not come on, stays
on after you start the vehicle, or if it comes on as you
drive, have the airbag system checked right away.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 41
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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 been deployed. If you are involved in
another collision, the airbags will not be in place to
protect you.
WARNING!
Deployed airbags can't protect you in another colli-
sion. Have the airbags replaced by an authorized
dealer as soon as possible.
Enhanced Accident Response Feature
If the airbags deploy after an impact and the electrical
system remains functional, vehicles equipped with
power door locks will unlock automatically. In addition,
approximately 5 seconds after the vehicle has stopped
moving, the interior lights will illuminate to aid visibility.
NOTE:The interior lights can only be deactivated if the
key is removed from the ignition switch or the vehicle is
driven.
Side Airbag System
The airbag control module determines if a side collision is
severe enough to require the airbag to inflate. The control
module receives the level of collision severity from the
side impact sensors. The airbag control module will not
detect rollover or rear impacts.
The side impact SRS Airbags are designed to activate
only in certain side collisions. When the airbag control
module detects a collision requiring the side curtain
airbags to inflate, it signals the inflators on the crash side
of the vehicle. A quantity of nontoxic gas is generated to
inflate the side curtain airbags. The inflating side curtain
airbag pushes the outside edge of the headliner out of the
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 43
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way and inflates (in about the same 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 side curtain airbag inflates. This
especially applies to children. The side curtain airbag is
only about 3
1¤2inches (83¤4cm) thick when it is inflated.
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 because the airbags are 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, vehicle body struc-
ture, or frame.
²You need proper knee impact protection in a
collision. Do not mount or locate any aftermarket
equipment on or behind the knee impact bolster.
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 airbags.
44 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

If the front passenger seat is damaged in any way, it
should only be serviced by an authorized dealer. If the
seat is removed (or even if the seat attachment bolts are
loosened or tightened in any way), take the vehicle to an
authorized dealer.
If the is a fault present in the OCS, the Airbag Warning
Light (a red light located in the center of the instrument
cluster directly in front of the driver) will be turned on.
This indicates that you should take the vehicle to an
authorized dealer. The Airbag Warning Light is turned on
whenever there is fault that can affect the operation of the
airbag system. If there is a fault present in the OCS, both
the PAD Indicator Light and the Airbag Warning Light
are illuminated to show that the passenger airbag is
turned off until the fault is cleared. If an object is lodged
under the seat and interferes with operation of the weight
sensors, a fault will occur which turns on both the PAD
Indicator Light and the Airbag Warning Light. Once the
lodged object is removed, the fault will be automatically
cleared after a short period of time.²TheDriver and Passenger Airbag/Inflator Unitsare
located in the center of the steering wheel and the right
side of the instrument panel. When the ORC detects a
collision requiring the airbags, it signals the inflator
units. A large quantity of nontoxic gas is generated to
inflate the front airbags. Different airbag inflation rates
may be possible based on collision severity and occu-
pant size. 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 50 - 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's front
airbag gas is vented through vent holes in the sides of
the airbag. The passenger's front airbag gas is vented
through vent holes in the sides of the airbag. In this
way the airbags do not interfere with your control of
the vehicle.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 47
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others to learn more about the possible causes of crashes
and associated injuries in order to assess and improve
vehicle performance. In addition to crash investigations
initiated by DaimlerChrysler, such investigations may be
requested by customers, insurance carriers, government
officials, and professional crash researchers, such as those
associated with universities, and with hospital and insur-
ance organizations.
In the event that an investigation is undertaken by
DaimlerChrysler (regardless of initiative), the company
or its designated representative will first obtain permis-
sion of the appropriate custodial entity for the vehicle
(usually the vehicle owner or lessee) before accessing the
electronic data stored, unless ordered to download data
by a court with legal jurisdiction (i.e., pursuant to a
warrant). A copy of the data will be provided to the
custodial entity upon request. General data that does not
identify particular vehicles or crashes may be released for
incorporation in aggregate crash databases, such as those
maintained by the US government and various states.
Data of a potentially sensitive nature, such as would
identify a particular driver, vehicle, or crash, will betreated confidentially. Confidential data will not be dis-
closed by DaimlerChrysler to any third party except
when:
1. Used for research purposes, such as to match data
with a particular crash record in an aggregate database,
provided confidentiality of personal data is thereafter
preserved
2. Used in defense of litigation involving a
DaimlerChrysler product
3. Requested by police under a legal warrant
4. Otherwise required by law
Data Parameters that May Be Recorded:
²Diagnostic trouble code(s) and warning lamp status
for electronically-controlled safety systems, including
the airbag system
²Airbag disable lamp status (if equipped)
²9Time9of airbag deployment (in terms of ignition
cycles and vehicle mileage)
²Airbag deployment level (if applicable)
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 49
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²Seatbelt status
²Brake status (service and parking brakes)
²Accelerator status (including vehicle speed)
²Engine control status (including engine speed)
²Cruise control status
²Traction/stability control status
Child Restraint
Everyone in your vehicle needs to be buckled up all the
time, 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
could 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.
There are different sizes and types of restraints for
children from newborn size to the child almost large
enough for an adult safety 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:
Infants and Child Restraints
²
Safety experts recommend that children ride
rearward-facing in the vehicle until they are at least
50 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE