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SAFETY TIPS
Exhaust Gas
WARNING!
Exhaust gases can injure or kill. They contain carbon
monoxide (CO) which is colorless and odorless.
Breathing it can make you unconscious and can
eventually poison you. To avoid breathing (CO)
follow the safety tips below.
•Do not run the engine in a closed garage or in confined
areas any longer than needed to move your vehicle in
or out of the area.
•If it is necessary to sit in a parked vehicle with the
engine running, adjust your heating or cooling con-
trols to force outside air into the vehicle. Set the blower
at high speed.
Safety Checks You Should Make Inside the
Vehicle
Seat Belts
•
Inspect the belt system periodically, checking for cuts,
frays and loose parts. Damaged parts must be replaced
immediately. Do not disassemble or modify the sys-
tem.
•Seat belt assemblies must be replaced after an accident
if they have been damaged (bent retractor, torn web-
bing, etc.). If there is any question regarding belt or
retractor condition, replace the belt.
Defrosters
Check operation by selecting the defrost mode and place
the blower control on high speed. You should be able to
feel the air directed against the windshield.
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CONVERTIBLE TOP OPERATION
WARNING!
The convertible top does not provide the structural
protection that a reinforced metal roof does, and the
fabric top cannot be expected to prevent the ejection
of the occupants of a vehicle in a collision. Therefore
it is important that all occupants wear their seat belts
at all times when riding in a convertible. Studies
have shown that it is generally safer to remain inside
a vehicle during a collision, than to be ejected from
the vehicle.
CAUTION!
To fully insure that no damage occurs, be sure that
the vehicle is at a complete stop with the gear
selector in the Park position (automatic transaxle) or
in the Neutral position (manual transaxle) before
lowering or raising the top.
CAUTION!
Do not operate the convertible top with ice or snow
build-up on the top. Damage to the top may occur.
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WARNING!
Vehicles and other objects seen in the right side
convex mirror will look smaller and farther away
than they really are. Relying too much on your right
side mirror could cause you to collide with another
vehicle or other object. Use your inside mirror when
judging the size or distance of a vehicle seen in this
convex mirror.
SEATS
Manual Front Seat Adjustments
The adjusting bar is at the front of the seats, near the
floor. Pull the bar up to move the seat to the desired
position.
Using body pressure, move forward and rearward on the
seat to be sure the seat adjusters have latched.
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WARNING!
Adjusting a seat while the vehicle is moving is
dangerous. If you are driving, the sudden movement
of the seat could cause you to lose control. You could
be injured. Adjust any seat only while the vehicle is
parked. Do not ride with the seatback reclined so
that the shoulder belt is no longer riding against
your chest. In a collision you could slide under the
seat belt and be seriously or even fatally injured. Use
the recliner only when the vehicle is parked.
Manual Seat Controls
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WARNING!
If the hood is not fully latched, it could open when
the vehicle is moving and block your forward vision.
Be sure the hood latches are fully latched before
driving.
LIGHTS
Courtesy/Reading Lights
These lights, located under the rearview mirror, come on
whenever a door is opened or the illuminated entry
system is activated. The lights can also be turned on with
the doors closed by means of switches located on the
bottom of the rearview mirror. These lights also function
by rotating the dimmer control in the multi-function
control lever.There are also courtesy lights located in both the driver
and passenger footwell areas. They will turn on as part of
the illuminated entry system by either opening a door,
unlocking the door from the remote keyless entry, or by
the multi-function control lever dimmer control.
Courtesy/Reading Light Switches
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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.
ADJUSTABLE PEDALS
Your Viper is equipped with an adjustable pedal system
that allows about 4 inches (100 mm) of fore and aft pedal
adjustment. The pedals are adjusted using a switch
recessed into the knee bolster beneath the steering col-
umn.
Adjustable Pedal Switch
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To adjust the pedals:
•Adjust the seat to a comfortable driving position.
•Adjust the pedals to a position that allows full pedal
travel.
•It may be necessary to make further small adjustments
to find the best possible seat/pedal position.
WARNING!
Do not adjust the pedals while the vehicle is moving.
You could lose control and have an accident. Always
adjust the pedals while the vehicle is parked.
Adjustable Left Foot Rest
The left foot rest can be manually adjusted fore and aft
and rotated up and down to a comfortable position.
Adjustable Foot Rest
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INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DESCRIPTION
Speedometer
Shows the vehicle speed in miles-per-
hour and kilometers-per-hour.
Odometer/Trip Odometer
The odometer shows the total distance the vehicle has
been driven.
U.S. federal regulations require that upon transfer of
vehicle ownership, the seller certify to the purchaser the
correct mileage that the vehicle has been driven. There-
fore, if the odometer reading is changed, during repair orreplacement, be sure to keep a record of the reading
before and after the service so that the correct mileage can
be determined.
The trip odometer shows individual trip mileage. To
switch from odometer to trip odometer, press and release
the Trip Odometer button. Press and release the Trip
button a second time to return to the odometer. While in
trip mode, press and hold the button for at least 1 second
to reset the trip odometer to zero.Door Unlocked, Door Ajar, Low Tire Warnings
If you move the vehicle and a door is not completely
closed, the words DOOR AJAR will appear in the display
and a chime will sound once. If the door is not locked,
DOOR UNLOCK will appear in the display. If the tire
pressure is low, the words LOW TIRE will appear in the
display and a chime will sound once.
86 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL