2005 DODGE STRATUS SEDAN Owners Manual

Front Map/Reading Lights—If Equipped
These lights are mounted between the sun visors. Each
light has a push-on push-off switch.
NOTE:The lights will remain on until the switch is
pressed a second time, so be sure that they have been
turned off before leaving the vehicle.
Multi-Function Control Lever
The Multi-Function lever controls the operation of the
headlights, turn signals, headlight beam select switch,
instrument panel light dimming, courtesy lights, passing
lights, dome light and fog lights.
Front Map/Reading Light Switches
Multi-Function Lever
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Headlights, Parking Lights, Instrument Panel
Lights
Turn the end of the control lever to the first detent for
parking light operation. Turn to the second detent for
headlight operation.
To change the brightness of the instrument panel lights,
turn the center portion of the lever up or down. Turning
the dimmer control to the full up position also turns onthe courtesy lights. Turning the dimmer control to the full
down position prevents the courtesy lights from coming
on when a door is opened.
Automatic Headlights—If Equipped
This system automatically turns your headlights on at a
preset level of outdoor lighting. Turn the end of the
control lever to the third detent to turn the system on.
When the system is on, the headlight delay feature is also
on. This means that your headlights will stay on for about
90 seconds after you turn the ignition switch off. To turn
the Automatic system off, turn the control lever clock-
wise, to the off position.
NOTE:The engine must be running before the head-
lights will come on in the automatic mode.
NOTE:The Automatic Headlight System will turn on
the headlights if it detects that the windshield wipers
have been in operation for more than 10 seconds.
Multi-Function Lever
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Daytime Running Lights (Canada Only)
The headlights come on at a low intensity level whenever
the ignition switch is turned on. The lights remain on
until the ignition switch is turned OFF or the parking
brake is engaged. The headlight switch must be used for
normal night time driving.
Lights-on Reminder
If the headlights or parking lights are on after the ignition
is turned off, a chime will sound when the driver’s door
is opened.
Fog Lights—If Equipped
The fog light switch is in the multi-function lever.
To activate the fog lights, turn on the low beam
headlights and pull out the end of the control
lever. A light in the instrument cluster shows when the
fog lights are on.
NOTE:The switch will turn on the fog lights only if the
low beam headlights are on. Turning on the high beam
headlights turns off the fog lights.
Turn Signals
Move the turn signal lever up or down and the arrows in
the instrument cluster flash to show proper operation of
the front and rear turn signal lights. You can signal a lane
change by moving the lever partially up or down.
Headlight Beam Select Switch
Pull the turn signal lever towards you to switch the
headlights to HIGH beam. Pull the turn signal lever a
second time to switch the headlights to LOW beam.
Flash to Pass
You can signal another vehicle with your headlights by
lightly pulling the turn signal lever toward the steering
wheel. This will cause the headlights to turn on at high
beam and remain on until the lever is released.
Headlight Time Delay
This feature provides the safety of headlight illumination
for about 90 seconds when leaving your vehicle in an
unlighted area.
To activate the delay, turn off the ignition while the
headlights are still on. Then turn off the headlights. The
delay interval begins when the ignition is turned off.
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If the headlights are turned off before the ignition, they
will turn off in the normal manner.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHERS
The wipers and washers are operated by a switch in the
right side control lever. Turn the end of the control lever
to select the desired wiper speed.
NOTE:Always remove any build-up of snow that
prevents the windshield wiper blades from returning to
the OFF position. If the windshield wiper switch isturned OFF and the blades cannot return to the OFF
position, damage to the wiper motor may occur.
To use the washer, pull the lever toward you and hold
while spray is desired. If the lever is pulled while in the
delay range, the wiper will operate for several cycles
after the lever is released, and then resume the intermit-
tent interval previously selected.
If the lever is pulled while in the OFF position, the wipers
will operate for several cycles, then turn OFF.
WARNING!
Sudden loss of visibility through the windshield
could lead to an accident. You might not see other
vehicles or other obstacles. To avoid sudden icing of
the windshield during freezing weather, warm the
windshield with defroster before and during wind-
shield washer use.
Windshield Wiper/Washer Control
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Mist
Use this feature when weather conditions make occa-
sional usage of the wipers necessary. Pull down and
release the control lever for a single wiping cycle.
Speed Sensitive Intermittent Wiper System
Use the intermittent wiper when weather conditions
make a single wiping cycle, with a variable pause be-
tween cycles, desirable. Turn the lever to the delay
position, then select the delay interval. The delay can be
regulated from a maximum of approximately 18 seconds
between cycles, to a cycle every 1/2 second.
NOTE:The wiper delay times depend on vehicle speed.
If the vehicle is moving less than 16 km/h (10 mph),
delay times will be doubled.
TILT STEERING COLUMN
To tilt the column, push down on the lever below the turn
signal control and move the wheel up or down, as
desired. Push the lever back up to lock the column firmly
in place.
Tilt Steering Column Control
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WARNING!
Tilting the steering column while the vehicle is
moving is dangerous. Without a stable steering col-
umn, you could lose control of the vehicle and have
an accident. Adjust the column only while the ve-
hicle is stopped. Be sure it is locked before driving.
TRACTION CONTROL—IF EQUIPPED
To turn the Traction Control System Off, press
the switch located on the top of the steering
column, to the right of the hazard switch, until
the Traction Control indicator in the instrument
cluster lights up.To turn the Traction Control System On, press the switch
until the Traction Control indicator in the instrument
cluster turns off.
NOTE:The Traction Control System is enabled each
time the ignition switch is turned On. This will occur
even if you used the switch to turn the system off before
powering down or turning the ignition to Lock.
Traction Control Switch
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ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL—IF EQUIPPED
When engaged, this device will control the throttle op-
eration to maintain a constant vehicle speed between 30
mph (48 km/h) and 85 mph (137 km/h). The controls are
on the steering wheel.
To Activate:
Press the ON/OFF switch to turn the speed control
system ON. To turn the system OFF, press the ON/OFF
switch again. The system should be turned OFF when notin use. The CRUISE Indicator in the instrument cluster
will light up when the Speed Control is ON.
NOTE:You must press the ON button to activate the
system each time the engine is started.
WARNING!
Leaving the Electronic Speed Control system ON
when not in use is dangerous. You could accidentally
set the system or cause it to go faster than you want.
You could lose control and have an accident. Always
leave the system OFF when you aren’t using it.
To Set At A Desired Speed:
When the vehicle has reached the desired speed and the
system is ON, press and release the SET button. Release
the accelerator and the vehicle will operate at the selected
speed. The speed control is now Engaged.
Speed Control Switches
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To Deactivate:
A soft tap on the brake pedal, pushing the CANCEL
button, or normal brake or clutch pressure will deactivate
speed control without erasing the memory. Pushing the
ON/OFF button or turning off the ignition turns the
speed control system off and erases the memory.
To Resume Speed:
To resume a previously set speed, push and release the
RESUME/ACCEL button. Resume can be used at any
speed above 25 mph (40 km/h).
To Vary The Speed Setting:
When the speed control is Engaged (actively controlling
to a SET speed), speed can be increased by pressing and
holding the RESUME/ACCEL button. When the button
is released, a new set speed will be established.
Tapping the RESUME/ACCEL button once will result in
a 2 mph (3 km/h) increase in the SET speed. Each time
the button is tapped, the SET speed increases. For ex-
ample tapping the button three times will increase speed
by 6 mph (10 km/h), etc.To decrease speed while speed control is Engaged, press
and hold the COAST button. Releasing the button when
the desired speed is reached, will establish a new SET
speed.
Tapping the COAST button once will result ina1mph
(1.6 km/h) decrease in the SET speed. Each time the
button is tapped, the SET speed decreases. For example,
tapping the button three times will decrease speed by 3
mph (5 km/h).
To Accelerate For Passing:
NOTE:
If the set speed is exceeded by 20 mph (32
km/h) or more during the acceleration, the set speed will
have to manually re-engaged.
Depress the accelerator as you would normally. When the
pedal is released, the vehicle will return to the SET speed.
Using Speed Control On Hills
Vehicles with automatic transmissions are equipped with
Interactive Speed Control. This feature operates when
travelling up or down hills with the Speed Control
engaged and the driver’s foot off of the accelerator.
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