2005 DODGE VIPER Owners Manual

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) - Airbag
This vehicle has airbags for the driver and passenger as a
supplement to the seat belt restraint systems. The driver’s
airbag is mounted in the steering wheel. The passenger
side airbag is mounted in the instrument panel, under a
cover marked SRS/AIRBAG. These airbags inflate in
higher speed impacts. They work with the instrument
panel knee bolsters and the seat belts to provide im-
proved protection for the driver and right front passen-
ger.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.
Wear your seat belts even though you have air-
bags.
•Being too close to the steering wheel or instru-
ment panel during 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.
The seat belts are designed to protect you in many types
of collisions. The airbags deploy only in frontal collisions
and will not deploy in collisions at slow speed. But even
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 41
2

in collisions where the airbags deploy, you need the seat
belts to keep you in the right position for the airbags to
protect you properly.
Here are four simple steps you can take to minimize the
risk of harm from a deploying airbag.
1.Infants in rear facing child safety seats designed for
children up to one year or approximately 20 pounds (9
kg) should never ride in the front seat of a vehicle with
a passenger side airbag unless the airbag is shut OFF.
See“Passenger Side Airbag On/Off Switch.”An airbag
deployment can cause severe injury or death to infants in
this position.
Children that are not big enough to properly wear the
vehicle seat belt (see section on“Child Restraint”) should
be secured in child safety seats or booster seats.
Older children who do not use child safety seats or
booster seats should ride properly buckled.Never allow children to place the shoulder belt behind
them or under the arm.
Infants up to 1 year or approximately 20 pounds (9 kg)
should never ride in the vehicle, because the rear facing
child seat places them too close to the passenger air bag
in the event of a crash.
Children from 1 to 12 years old: Move the passenger seat
as far back as possible. Children from 20 to 60 pounds (9
kg to 27 kg) should be secured in the appropriate child
safety seat or booster seat. If too large for a booster seat,
the child should wear the lap/shoulder belt properly.
Children should never be allowed to lean forward to-
ward the instrument panel as a passenger air bag deploy-
ment could cause severe injury or death to a child in this
position.
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 passenger seats should be moved
back as far as practical to allow the airbags room to
inflate. Additionally, the pedals are power adjustable,
so the driver seat can be moved back and the pedals
moved closer as needed so the driver can be as far from
the airbag as possible. (See section on Power Adjust-
able Pedals for operation.)
4.You should read the instructions provided with your
child safety or booster seat to make sure that you are
using it properly.The airbag system consists of the following:
•Airbag control module and internal crash sensor
•AIRBAG Readiness Light
•Driver and Passenger Airbag/inflator Units
•Passenger Side Airbag On/Off Switch
•Passenger Airbag Off Indicator Light
•Unique Steering Wheel and Column
•Unique Instrument Panel
•Interconnecting Wiring
•Knee Impact Bolster
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 43
2

How The Airbag System Works
•
A crash sensor in the occupant compartment deter-
mines if a frontal impact is severe enough to require
the airbag. The sensor will not detect side, roll over, or
rear impacts. The crash sensor is connected to the
diagnostic unit and to the airbag/inflator unit.
•The Diagnostic Unit monitors the readiness of the
electronic parts of the system whenever the ignition
switch is in the START or RUN position. These include
all of the items listed above except the knee bolster, the
instrument panel, and the steering wheel and column.
The Diagnostic Unit also turns on the AIRBAG light in
the instrument panel for 6 to 8 seconds when the
ignition is first turned on, then turns the light off. If it
detects a malfunction in any part of the system, it turns
on the light either momentarily or continuously.
•The Airbag/Inflator Units are in the center of the
steering wheel and in the instrument panel. The words
SRS/AIRBAG are embossed on the airbag covers.
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.
44 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
Do not put anything on or around the airbag covers
or attempt to manually open them. You may damage
the airbags and you could be injured because the
airbags are not there to protect you. These protective
covers for the airbag cushions are designed to open
only when the airbags are inflating.
•When the crash sensors detect an impact requiring the
airbags, they signal the inflator units. A large quantity
of non toxic nitrogen gas is generated to inflate the
airbags. The airbag covers separate and fold out of the
way as the airbags inflate to their full size. The airbags
fully inflate in about 50 milliseconds. This is only
about half of the time it takes you to blink your eyes.
The airbags then quickly deflate while helping to
restrain the driver and right front passenger. The
airbag gas is vented through the airbag materialtowards the instrument panel. In this way the airbags
do not interfere with your control of the vehicle.
•The Knee Impact Bolsters help protect the knees and
position you for the best interaction with the airbags.
If A Deployment Occurs
The airbag system is designed to deploy when the impact
sensors detect a moderate to severe frontal collision, to
help restrain the driver and right front passenger, and
then to immediately deflate.
NOTE:A frontal collision that is not severe enough to
need airbag protection will not activate the system. This
does not mean something is wrong with the airbag
system.
If you do have a collision which deploys the airbags, any
or all of the following may occur:
•The nylon airbag material may sometimes cause abra-
sions and/or skin reddening to the driver and right
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 45
2

front passenger as the airbags deploy and unfold. The
abrasions are similar to friction rope burns or those
you might get sliding along a carpet or gymnasium
floor. They are not caused by contact with chemicals.
They are not permanent and normally heal quickly.
However, if you haven’t healed significantly within a
few days, or if you have any blistering, see your doctor
immediately.
•As the airbags deflate you may see some smoke-like
particles. The particles are a normal by-product of the
process that generates the non toxic nitrogen gas used
for airbag inflation. These airborne particles may irri-
tate the skin, eyes, nose, or throat. If you have skin or
eye irritation, rinse the area with cool water. For nose
or throat irritation, move to fresh air. If the irritation
continues, see your doctor. If these particles settle on
your clothing, follow the garment manufacturer’s in-
structions for cleaning.
•Your vehicle may be safely driveable after the airbags
deploy. If so, you can tuck the deployed airbags inside
the opening in the steering wheel hub and instrument
panel trim covers to make driving somewhat easier.
WARNING!
Deployed airbags can’t protect you in another colli-
sion. Have the airbags replaced by an authorized
dealer as soon as possible.
Passenger Side AirBag On/Off Switch
The passenger airbag is to be turned off only if the
passenger:
•is an infant (less than 1 year old) who must ride in the
front seat because there is no rear seat, because the rear
seat is too small for a rear-facing infant restraint or
46 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

because the infant has a medical condition which
makes it necessary for the driver to be able to see the
infant,
•is a child, age 1 to 12 who must ride in the front seat
because there is no rear seat, because there is no rear
seat position available, or because the child has a
medical condition which makes it necessary for the
driver to be able to see the child,
•has a medical condition which makes passenger airbag
inflation (deployment) a greater risk for the passenger
than the risk of hitting the dashboard (instrument
panel) or windshield in a crash.
If the airbag is turned off when there is any other
occupant at that position, the supplemental restraint
provided by the airbag will not be available.To turn OFF the passenger side airbag, use the on/off
switch located in the center console.
Passenger Airbag ON/OFF Switch
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 47
2

NOTE:When the passenger airbag is turned off the
airbag off light will illuminate
To Shut Off the Passenger Airbag:
•Place only the tip of the ignition key in the on/off
switch, turn the key clockwise, and remove the key
from the switch. This will shut off the passenger sideairbag. The PASS AIRBAG OFF light on the instrument
panel will illuminate when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position.
To Turn On The Passenger Airbag:
•Place the ignition key in the on/off switch, turn the
key counterclockwise, and remove the key from the
switch. This will turn on the passenger side airbag.
The light on the instrument panel will be off when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON position.
WARNING!
The airbag may malfunction and serious injury
could result if key is left in the airbag shut off
switch. Always remove the key.
Passenger Airbag Off Light
48 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE