2005 DODGE VIPER tow

WARNING!
A twisted belt can’t do its job as well. In a collision
it could even cut into you. Be sure the belt is straight.
If you can’t straighten a belt in your vehicle, take it
to your dealer and have it fixed.
8. To release the belt, push the red button marked PRESS
on the buckle. The belt will automatically retract to its
stowed position. If necessary, slide the latch plate down
the webbing to allow it to retract fully.
Enhanced Driver Seat Belt Reminder System
(BeltAlert)
If the driver’s seat belt has not been buckled within 60
seconds of starting the vehicle and if the vehicle speed is
greater than 5 mph (8 km/h), the Enhanced Warning
System (BeltAlert) will alert the driver to buckle their seat
belt. The driver should also instruct all other occupants tobuckle their seat belts. Once the warning is triggered, the
Enhanced Warning System (BeltAlert) will continue to
chime and flash the Seat Belt Warning Light for 96
seconds or until the driver’s seat belt is buckled. The
Enhanced Warning System (BeltAlert) will be reactivated
if the driver’s seat belt is unbuckled for more than 10
seconds and the vehicle speed is greater than 5 mph (8
km/h).
The Enhanced Warning System (BeltAlert) can be en-
abled or disabled by your authorized dealer or by
following these steps:
NOTE:The following steps must occur within the first
60 seconds of the ignition switch being turned to the ON
or START position. DaimlerChrysler does not recom-
mend deactivating the Enhanced Warning System
(BeltAlert).
1. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position and
buckle the driver’s seat belt.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 31
2

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

To Lower the Top:
1. To lower the top, first ensure that the door windows
are lowered at least an inch.
2. Depress the button at the top of the latch upwards and
then pull the handle down and rearward, towards you.
(See the picture shown)3. Disengage the latch hook from the windshield rod
making sure to pull the latch all the way back to the
detent stow position and pull the top away from the
windshield header.
4. Open the trunk.
5. Pull the convertible top back away from the wind-
shield and all the way back to the folded position into the
storage well to the back of the seating positions. Push the
leading edge of the top down to engage the downstack
latch.
6. Finally lower and close the trunk.
To Raise the Top:
1. To raise the convertible top, first ensure that the door
windows are lowered at least an inch.
2. Then open the trunk.
Unlatching Convertible Top
56 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

6. While sitting inside the vehicle, hold onto the handles
and pull the top towards the windshield header. Push the
latch handle forward and engage the latch hook to the
windshield receiver rod.7. Ensure the outboard locating pins are in their respec-
tive receiving holes in the windshield header. Push the
latch handle forward all the way to close the latch.
NOTE:Until the convertible top system has had ad-
equate time to break in, it may take greater effort to
Aligning Convertible Top
Engaging Convertible Top
58 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

engage the latch hook and close the latch. Several weeks
of normal convertible top usage will reduce these efforts.
Convertible Top Boot Cover Installation–If
Equipped
1. Open the trunk.
2. Lower the convertible top and make sure that the
convertible top latch handle is placed in the stowed
position.
3. lay the unfolded boot cover across the convertible top.
Unfolded Boot Cover
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 59
3

MIRRORS
Inside Day/Night Mirror
Adjust the mirror to center on the view through the rear
window. A pivot system allows for horizontal and verti-
cal mirror adjustment.Annoying headlight glare can be reduced by moving the
small control under the mirror to the night position
(toward rear of vehicle). The mirror should be adjusted
while set in the day position (toward windshield).
Adjusting Rearview Mirror
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 67
3

Then push the safety catch handle located under the front
edge of the hood toward the right. Raise the front of the
hood.NOTE:Assist props will raise the hood to a normal
customer usage position. If greater access is required, the
hood may be pushed up at the front, raising the hood
beyond the initial opening height. Simply pull the hood
down to close it.
CAUTION!
Do not leave the hood open in areas where strong
gusts of wind are likely. Such a place might be by the
side of the road where large trucks pass by. Strong
gusts of wind may damage your hood. Always close
the hood in such situations.
Hood Safety Catch
72 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

If either light remains on and does not flash, or there is a
very fast flash rate, check for a defective outside light
bulb. If an indicator fails to light when the lever is
moved, it would suggest that the fuse or indicator bulb is
defective.
Highbeam/Lowbeam Select Switch
Pull the Multi-Function Control Lever towards you to
switch the headlights to HIGH beam. Pull the control
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 multi-function lever toward the steer-
ing wheel. This will cause the headlights to turn on at
high beam and remain on until the lever is released.
Tilt Steering Column
To tilt the column, simply pull down the small lever
below the turn signal control and move the wheel up or
down, as desired. Return the lever to the up position to
lock the wheel firmly in place.
Tilt Steering Column Control
78 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE