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than one year. These child seats are also held in the
vehicle by the lap/shoulder belt or the LATCH child
restraint anchorage system. (See LATCH - Child Seat
Anchorage System section.)
The belt-positioning booster seat is for children weighing
more than 40 lbs. (18 kg), but who are still too small to fit
the vehicle’s seat belts properly. If the child cannot sit
with knees bent over the vehicle’s seat cushion while the
child’s back is against the seat back, they should use a
belt-positioning booster seat. The child and belt-
positioning booster seat are held in the vehicle by the
lap/shoulder belt.
Children Too Large For Booster Seats
Children who are large enough to wear the shoulder belt
comfortably, and whose legs are long enough to bend
over the front of the seat when their back is against the
seat back, should use the lap/shoulder belt.
•Make sure that the child is upright in the seat.
•The lap portion should be low on the hips and as snug
as possible.
•Check belt fit periodically. A child’s squirming or
slouching can move the belt out of position.
•If the shoulder belt contacts the face or neck, move the
child closer to the center of the vehicle. Never allow a
child to put the shoulder belt under an arm or behind
their back.
LATCH - Child Seat Anchorage System (Lower
Anchors and Tether for Children)
Your vehicle’s passenger seat is equipped with the child
restraint anchorage system called LATCH. The LATCH
system provides for the installation of the child restraint
without using the vehicle’s belts, instead securing the
child restraint using lower anchorages and upper tether
straps from the child restraint to the vehicle structure.
LATCH-compatible child restraints are now available.
Installing the LATCH-Compatible Child Restraint
System
We urge that you carefully follow the directions of the
manufacturer when installing your child restraint. These
42 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
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equipped with a tether strap, a hook for attachment to the
tether strap anchorage and a means of adjusting the
tension of the strap.
You will first loosen the adjusters on the lower straps and
on the tether strap so that you can more easily attach the
hooks or connectors to the vehicle anchorages. Next, you
can attach the tether strap to the anchor by moving the
passenger seat forward. Route the child restraint tether
directly over the top of the seat, through the strap near
the top of the seat back, and attach the hook to the anchor
bar. Recline the seat back and move the passenger seat as
far rearward as possible. Next, attach the lower hooks to
the passenger seat lower anchor bars by pushing aside
the seat cover material. Finally, tighten all three straps as
you push the child restraint rearward and downward
into the seat, removing slack in the straps according to
the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions.WARNING!
Improper installation of a child restraint to the
LATCH anchorages can lead to failure of an infant or
child restraint. The child could be badly injured or
killed. Follow the manufacturer’s directions exactly
when installing an infant or child restraint.
Installing Child Restraints Using the Vehicle Seat
Belt
Child restraints can be securely fastened in the passenger
seat using the seat belts. For this purpose, the passenger
seat belt retractor provides two modes of operation -
normal emergency locking and automatic locking. For
child restraint installation, the retractor switches to auto-
matic locking when the belt is pulled out to the full extent
of its travel. As the belt retracts, the retractor locks to
prevent the belt from being pulled out again. Pulling the
belt snugly over the child restraint toward the retractor
secures the restraint in place. When the belt retracts fully
after child restraint removal, normal (emergency locking)
44 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
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retractor action is restored. Any seat belt system will
loosen with time, so check the belt occasionally and pull
it tight if necessary.
If your child restraint is equipped with a tether strap,
attach it to the vehicle by first moving the seat back fully
forward. Next, route the child restraint tether directly
over the top of the seat, through the strap near the top of
the seat back, and attach the hook to the anchor bar.
Recline the seat back and move the passenger seat as far
rearward as possible. Remove slack in the tether strap as
you push the child restraint downward and rearward,
following the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions.
Child Restraint Tether Anchor - General
Information
Child restraints having tether straps and hooks for con-
nection to tether anchors have been available for some
time. In fact, many child restraint manufacturers will
provide add-on tether strap kits for certain of their older
products. There is a tether strap anchor behind the
passenger seat.To attach the tether strap to the anchor, move the
seatback fully forward. Pass the child restraint tether
hook over the top of the seat, through the strap near the
top of the seat back, and attach it to the anchor bar behind
the passenger seat, below the seatback. After securing the
tether hook to the bar, recline the seatback fully rearward
and move the seat to its most rearward position.
Install the child restraint and return the seatback to an
upright position. Remove slack from the tether strap
according to the child restraint manufacturer’s directions.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 45
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WARNING!
An incorrectly anchored tether strap could lead to
increased head motion and possible injury to the
child. Use only the anchor position directly behind
the child seat to secure a child restraint top tether
strap.
Transporting Pets
Deploying airbags could harm your pet. An unrestrained
pet will be thrown about and possibly injured, or injure a
passenger during panic braking or in a collision.
Pets should be restrained in pet harnesses or pet carriers
that are secured by seat belts.
ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS
The engine in your new Crossfire does not require a long
break-in period. Following these few simple guidelines is
all that is necessary for a good break-in.
•Drive your vehicle at moderate vehicle and engine
speeds during the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km).
•Do not make any full throttle starts and avoid full
throttle acceleration.
•Use the proper transmission gear for your speed
range.
•Avoid excessive idling.
•Check the engine oil level at every fuel fill.
NOTE:A new engine may consume some oil during the
first few thousand miles of operation. This should be
considered as a normal part of the break-in and not an
indication of a problem.
46 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
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To Open And Close The Hood.............71
Interior Lights.........................72
▫Front Map/Reading Lights...............73
▫Battery Saver Feature...................73
▫Instrument Panel Lighting................73
▫Night Security Illumination...............73
Exterior Lights.........................74
▫Headlights And Parking Lights............74
▫Daytime Running Lights (Where Applicable) . . .74
▫Fog Lights...........................74
▫Standing Lights.......................75
Multifunction Control Lever...............75
▫Turn Signals..........................75
▫Headlight Dimmer Switch................76
▫Passing Light.........................77
▫Windshield Wipers And Washer............77▫Mist Function.........................78
Telescoping Steering Column..............79
Tire Pressure Monitor System..............80
Brake Assist System (BAS)................82
Electronic Stability Program (ESP)...........83
▫Synchronizing ESP.....................85
Electronic Speed Control..................86
▫To Vary The Speed Setting................87
▫To Deactivate.........................88
▫To Resume Speed......................88
▫Using Speed Control On Hills.............89
Garage Door Opener....................89
▫Programming The Universal Transceiver......90
▫Gate Operator/Canadian Programming......92
▫Using The Universal Transceiver...........93
▫Erasing Universal Transceiver Buttons........93
50 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE
Page 51 of 280
▫Reprogramming a Single Button............93
▫Security.............................93Umbrella Hook........................94
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 51
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CAUTION!
To avoid possible damage to the tonneau cover and
convertible top, do not allow the convertible top to
remain in the suspended position. After approxi-
mately 10 minutes in the suspended position an
audible beep will be heard and the hydraulic pres-
sure will be released which will allow the top and
the tonneau cover to lower. The convertible top
switch can be pressed to cancel this operation.
CAUTION!
To avoid damage to either the top or the rear win-
dow, check the tonneau cover area at the rear of the
vehicle interior to be sure that it is clear of debris or
other items. Do not use the tonneau cover area for
other storage purposes.
CAUTION!
To fully insure that no damage occurs, be sure that
the vehicle is at a complete stop before attempting to
lower or raise the top.
NOTE:If the top does not operate or stops during the
raising or lowering procedure, start the engine and
continue operation.
1. Make sure the rear cargo compartment divider is
unfolded and secured in the vertical position. A slow
audible information signal will be heard and the convert-
ible top switch lamp will flash slowly if the cargo
compartment divider is not in the vertical position. If the
divider is in its stowed position, first unfold the panels
towards the rear of the vehicle. Pull up on the vertical
panel using the center cutout shown, and hook the pins
at the top into the brackets mounted to the cargo com-
partment trim on each side near the forward edge of the
decklid opening. The pins must be hooked in these
brackets in order for the top to operate.
NOTE:See label attached to underside of decklid.
54 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE
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NOTE:Once the top is lowered and the audible signal
is heard, you can continue to push the convertible top
switch down or push it within 2 seconds to raise the
windows.
The windows can also be closed/opened later using the
power window switches.CAUTION!
To prevent mildew, the convertible top must be dry
before lowering it into the storage compartment.
Do not lower a frozen convertible top until thawed
and dry. Doing so may result in damage not covered
by the DaimlerChrysler Limited Warranty.
CAUTION!
Do not place anything on the tonneau cover.
The tonneau cover must never be used as a seating
area.
To Raise The Top:
1. Make sure the rear cargo compartment divider is still
secured in the vertical position.
2. Make sure the decklid is closed.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 57
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