2005 DODGE DAKOTA Owners Manual

of the seat cushion where it meets the seat back, and are
just visible when you lean into the vehicle to install the
child restraint. You will easily feel them if you run your
finger along the intersection of the seatback and seat
cushion surfaces. In addition, there are tether strap an-
chorages each LATCH seating position (see section on
Child Restraint Tether Anchor). Many, but not all restraint
systems will be equipped with separate straps on each
side, with each having a hook or connector for attachment
to the lower anchorage and a means of adjusting the
tension in the strap. Forward-facing toddler restraints and
some rear-facing infant restraints will also be 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 attach the lower hooks or connectors over the top of
the anchorage bars, pushing aside the seat cover material.
Then attach the tether strap to the anchorage located onthe back of the seat, being careful to route the tether strap
to provide the most direct path between the anchor and
the child restraint. If your vehicle is equipped with
adjustable rear head restraints, raise the head restraint
and, route the tether strap under the head restraint and
between the two posts. 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.
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Installing Child Restraints Using the Vehicle Seat
Belt
The passenger seat belts are equipped with either cinch-
ing latch plates or automatic locking retractors, which are
designed to keep the lap portion tight around the child
restraint so that it should not be necessary to use a
locking clip. If the seat belt has a cinching latch plate,
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. If the seat belt has an automatic
locking retractor, it will have a distinctive label. Pull the
belt from the retractor until there is enough to allow you
to pass through the child restraint and slide the latch
plate into the buckle. Then, pull the belt until it is all
extracted from the retractor. Allow the belt to return to
the retractor, pulling on the excess webbing to tighten the
lap portion about the child restraint. For automaticlocking retractor seat belts, refer toAutomatic Locking
Modeearlier in this section. If you have trouble tighten-
ing 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, follow these steps. If the buckle
is webbing mounted, disconnect the latch plate from the
buckle and twist the short buckle-end belt to shorten it.
Insert the latch plate into the buckle with the release
button facing out. If the belt still can’t be tightened, the
buckle is not webbing mounted, or if by pulling and
pushing on the restraint loosens the belt, you may need
to do something more. Disconnect the latch plate from
the buckle, turn the latch plate around, and insert the
latch plate into the buckle again. If you still can’t make
the child restraint secure, try a different seating position
or use the locking clip provided with your child restraint.
See the sectionChild Restraint Tether Anchorto com-
plete the child seat installation.
66 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Child Restraint Tether Anchor
The Club Cab model has two routing straps
located behind each of the rear outboard seat-
ing positions. The tether anchor itself is located
in the center of vehicle, in between the two
seating positions. The front outboard passenger seating
position is also equipped with a child tether anchorage,
located at the base of the front seat back. When there is a
rear seat delete option, the tether anchorage located on
the cab back panel is designed to be used for the front
seat center seating position. The Quad cab model has
three anchorages located behind each of the rear seating
positions (rear left, rear center, and rear right).WARNING!
With a child restraint installed in the rear driver or
passenger side locations, use care when adjusting
the front seat(s) rearward, to avoid the front seat
back coming in contact with the belted child directly
behind the seat. The child could be injured.
WARNING!
Improper installation can lead to failure of an infant
or child restraint. It could come loose in a collision.
The child could be seriously injured or killed. Make
sure the child restraint tether strap is always routed
through the proper anchor strap inner loop.
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Tether Strap at the Front Passenger Seat (Club Cab)
1. Route the child restraint tether strap up and over the
front passenger seat back and under the head restraint.
2. Connect the tether strap to the lower anchor.
3. Remove the slack in the tether strap so that it is pulled
tight.
68 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Tether Straps at the Rear Passenger Seat (Club Cab)
1. Route the child restraint tether strap through the
routing loop, located directly behind the child restraint.
The routing loops are located behind the flip-down door
on the cab back panel (padded bolster).
2. Route the tether strap across to the center tether
anchorage. The center tether is located behind the slide
door in the center of the vehicle, between the two seating
positions.
3. Remove the slack in the tether strap so that the anchor
strap is pulled tight.
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Tether Straps at the Rear Passenger Seat (Quad Cab)
1. Route the child restraint tether strap under the head
restraint for the outboard seating positions, and thenthrough the anchor strap outer loop (webbing material
loop), located directly behind the child restraint.
2. Route the tether strap across to the nearest installed
anchor strap, and attach the tether strap hook to the
anchor strap inner metal ring.
3. Remove the slack in the tether strap so that both
anchor straps are pulled tight.
NOTE:Two Anchors must be used for any of the three
seating positions.
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Multiple Child Restraint Quad Cab
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WARNING!
An incorrectly anchored tether strap could lead to
seat failure and injury to the child. In a collision, the
seat could come loose and allow the child to crash
into the inside of the vehicle or other passengers, or
even be thrown from the vehicle. Use only the
anchor positions directly behind the child restraint
to secure a child restraint top tether strap. See your
dealer for help if necessary.
Transporting Pets
Airbags deploying in the front seat 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 the rear seat in
pet harnesses or pet carriers that are secured by seat belts.
ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS
A long break-in period is not required for the engine in
your new vehicle. Drive moderately during the first 300
miles (500 km). After the initial 60 miles (100 km), speeds
up to 50 or 55 mph (80 or 90 km/h) are desirable. While
cruising, brief full-throttle acceleration, within the limits
of local traffic laws, contributes to a good break-in.
Avoid wide open throttle acceleration in low gear.
The engine oil installed in the engine at the factory is a
high-quality, energy-conserving type lubricant. Oil
changes should be consistent with anticipated climate
conditions under which vehicle operations will occur.
The recommended viscosity and quality grades are
shown in Section 7.
NON-DETERGENT OR STRAIGHT MINERAL OILS
MUST NEVER BE USED.
72 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE