2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER instrument panel

TABLE OF CONTENTSSECTIONPAGE
1INTRODUCTION.............................................................3
2THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE..............................9
3UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE..............................59
4UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL...................................119
5STARTING AND OPERATING.................................................179
6WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES..............................................231
7MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE...............................................249
8MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES..................................................305
9IF YOU NEED CONSUMER ASSISTANCE.........................................329
10INDEX....................................................................339
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WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS
This manual containsWARNINGSagainst operating
procedures which could result in an accident or bodily
injury. It also containsCAUTIONSagainst procedures
which could result in damage to your vehicle. If you do
not read this entire manual you may miss important
information. Observe all Warnings and Cautions.
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is found on the
driver’s front corner of the instrument panel, visible
through the windshield. This number also appears on the
vehicle registration or title.
Vehicle Identification Number
6 INTRODUCTION

NOTE:If you try to remove the key before you place the
lever in PARK, the key may become trapped temporarily
in the ignition cylinder. If this occurs, rotate the key to the
right slightly, then remove the key as described. If a
malfunction occurs, the system will trap the key in the
ignition cylinder to warn you that this safety feature is
inoperable. The engine can be started and stopped but
the key cannot be removed until you obtain service.
Manual Transaxle
Depress and hold the release button located between the
ignition switch and the instrument panel. Turn the igni-
tion switch to the LOCK position and remove the key.
Ignition Key Positions
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 13
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Driver and Front Passenger Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS) - Airbag
This vehicle has airbags for both the driver and front
passenger as a supplement to the seat belt restraint
systems. The driver’s front airbag is mounted in the
center of the steering wheel. The passenger’s front airbag
is mounted in the instrument panel, above the glove
compartment. The words SRS AIRBAG are embossed on
the airbag covers.
NOTE:The front airbags are certified to the Federal
regulations that allow less forceful deployment.
Front Airbag Components
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Airbags inflate in moderate to high speed impacts. Along
with seat belts and pretensioners, front airbags work with
the instrument panel knee bolsters to provide improved
protection for the driver and front passenger. Side 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 in moderate to
severe frontal collisions. If your vehicle is equipped, the
side airbag on the crash side of the vehicle is triggered in
moderate to severe side collisions. In certain types of
collisions, both the front and side airbags may be trig-
gered. But even in collisions where the airbags work, you
need the seat belts to keep you in the right position for
the airbags to protect you properly.
Here are some simple steps you can take to minimize the
risk of harm from a deploying airbag.
1.Children 12 years old and under should always ride
buckled up in a rear seat.Infants in rear facing child restraints shouldNEVERride
in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger front airbag.
An airbag deployment can cause severe injury or death to
infants in that position.
Children that are not big enough to properly wear the
vehicle seat belt (see Section on Child Restraints) should
be secured in the rear seat in child restraints or belt-
positioning booster seats. Older children who do not use
child restraints or belt-positioning booster seats should
ride properly buckled up in the rear seat. Never allow
children to slide the shoulder belt behind them or under
their arm.
If a child from 1 to 12 years old must ride in the front
passenger seat because the vehicle is crowded, move the
seat as far back as possible, and use the proper child
restraint. Refer to the section on Child Restraint.
You should read the instructions provided with your
child restraint to make sure that you are using it properly.
42 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

2.All occupants should wear their lap and shoulder
belts properly.
3.The driver and front passenger seats should be
moved back as far as practical to allow the front airbags
room to inflate.
4.If your vehicle has side airbags, do not lean against
the door, airbags will inflate forcefully into the space
between you and the door.WARNING!
•Relying 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.
•Being too close to the steering wheel or instru-
ment panel during front 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.
•If the vehicle has side airbags, they also need
room to inflate. Do not lean against the door. Sit
upright in the center of the seat.
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The front airbag system consists of the following:
•Airbag Control Module (ACM)
•AIRBAG Readiness Light
•Driver and Passenger Front Airbag/Inflator Units
•Unique Steering Wheel and Column
•Unique Instrument Panel
•Interconnecting Wiring
•Seat Belt Pretensioners
•Knee Impact Bolster
The Side Airbag System, on vehicles equipped, consists
of the following:
•AIRBAG Readiness Light (shared with the front airbag
system)
•Side Airbag in the driver’s seat
•Side Airbag in the passenger’s seat
•Airbag Control Module (shared with the front airbag
system)
•Side impact sensors
•Interconnecting Wiring
How The Front Airbag System Works
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The airbag control module determines if a frontal
impact is severe enough to require the airbags to
inflate. The control module will not detect, roll over, or
rear collisions. The airbag control module will only
detect side collisions if the vehicle is so equipped with
side airbags.
The 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. These
include all of the items listed above except the knee
44 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

bolster, instrument panel and the steering wheel and
column. If the key is in the OFF position, in the ACC
position, or not in the ignition switch, the airbags are
not on and will not inflate.
The airbag control module also turns on the
AIRBAG light in the instrument panel for 6 to
8 seconds when the ignition switch is first
turned ON, then turns the light off. If the front or side
airbag control modules detect a malfunction in any
part of the system, the airbag light will turn on 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.
•When the airbag control module detects a collision
requiring the front airbags, it signals the inflator units.
A large quantity of nontoxic gas is generated to inflate
the front airbags. The front airbag covers separate and
fold out of the way as the front airbags inflate to their
full size. The front airbags fully inflate in about 50
milliseconds. This is only about half of the time it takes
you to blink your eyes. The front airbags then quickly
deflate while helping to restrain the driver and front
passenger. The driver’s front airbag gas is vented
through the airbag material towards the instrument
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