
•Check belt fit periodically. A child’s squirming or
slouching can move the belt out of position.
•If the shoulder belt contacts the face or neck, move the
child closer to the center of the vehicle. Never allow a
child to put the shoulder belt under an arm or behind
their back.
LATCH - Child Seat Anchorage System (Lower
Anchors and Tether for Children)
Your vehicle’s passenger seat is equipped with the child
restraint anchorage system called LATCH. The LATCH
system provides for the installation of the child restraint
without using the vehicle’s belts, instead securing the
child restraint using lower anchorages and upper tether
straps from the child restraint to the vehicle structure.
LATCH-compatible child restraints are now available.
Installing the LATCH-Compatible Child Restraint
System
We urge that you carefully follow the directions of the
manufacturer when installing your child restraint. Theseare general instructions, and not all child restraint sys-
tems will be installed exactly as described here. Again,
carefully follow the installation instructions that were
provided with the child restraint system.
The passenger seat lower anchorages are round bars,
located at the rear of the seat cushion where it meets the
seat back, and are just visible when you lean in to install
the child restraint. You will easily feel them if you run
your finger along the intersection of the seat back and
seat cushion surfaces.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 43
2

The passenger seat tether anchorage is located on the
back of the seat cushion frame. It is visible by moving the
passenger seat forward in the vehicle.
Many, but not all LATCH-Compatible child restraint
systems will be equipped with separate straps on each
side, with each having a hook or connector for attach-
ment 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 beequipped 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, you
can attach the tether strap to the anchor by moving the
passenger seat forward. Route the child restraint tether
directly over the top of the seat, through the strap near
the top of the seat back, and attach the hook to the anchor
bar. Recline the seat back and move the passenger seat as
far rearward as possible. Next, attach the lower hooks to
the passenger seat lower anchor bars by pushing aside
the seat cover material. 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.
44 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

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.
Installing Child Restraints Using the Vehicle Seat
Belt
Child restraints can be securely fastened in the passenger
seat using the seat belts. For this purpose, the passenger
seat belt retractor provides two modes of operation -
normal emergency locking and automatic locking. For
child restraint installation, the retractor switches to auto-
matic locking when the belt is pulled out to the full extent
of its travel. As the belt retracts, the retractor locks to
prevent the belt from being pulled out again. Pulling the
belt snugly over the child restraint toward the retractor
secures the restraint in place. When the belt retracts fully
after child restraint removal, normal (emergency locking)retractor action is restored. Any seat belt system will
loosen with time, so check the belt occasionally and pull
it tight if necessary.
If your child restraint is equipped with a tether strap,
attach it to the vehicle by first moving the seat back fully
forward. Next, route the child restraint tether directly
over the top of the seat, through the strap near the top of
the seat back, and attach the hook to the anchor bar.
Recline the seat back and move the passenger seat as far
rearward as possible. Remove slack in the tether strap as
you push the child restraint downward and rearward,
following the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions.
Child Restraint Tether Anchor - General
Information
Child restraints having tether straps and hooks for con-
nection to tether anchors have been available for some
time. In fact, many child restraint manufacturers will
provide add-on tether strap kits for certain of their older
products. There is a tether strap anchor behind the
passenger seat.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 45
2

To attach the tether strap to the anchor, move the
seatback fully forward. Pass the child restraint tether
hook over the top of the seat, through the strap near the
top of the seat back, and attach it to the anchor bar behind
the passenger seat, below the seatback. After securing the
tether hook to the bar, recline the seatback fully rearward
and move the seat to its most rearward position.Install the child restraint and return the seatback to an
upright position. Remove slack from the tether strap
according to the child restraint manufacturer’s directions.
WARNING!
An incorrectly anchored tether strap could lead to
increased head motion and possible injury to the
child. Use only the anchor position directly behind
the child seat to secure a child restraint top tether
strap.
Transporting Pets
Deploying airbags 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 pet harnesses or pet carriers
that are secured by seat belts.
46 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Carbon Monoxide Warning................ 47
Cargo Compartment
Capacity............................ 175
Catalytic Converter..................... 214
CD Player......................... 119,123
Chains, Tire........................... 167
Changing A Flat Tire.................... 180
Charging System Light................... 112
Checks, Safety.......................... 47
Child Restraint......................... 40
Child Restraint Tether Anchors............. 45
Cigar Lighter........................... 65
Circuit Breakers........................ 237
Clean Air Gasoline...................... 171
Cleaning
Glass.............................. 233
Headlights.......................... 233
Climate Control........................ 128
Coin Holder........................... 65
Compact Disc Maintenance............... 127
Console............................... 62
Contract, Service....................... 268
Converter, Catalytic..................... 183Convertible............................ 52
Convertible Top......................... 52
Convertible Top Maintenance.............. 234
Convertible Top Manual Override.......... 195
Coolant (Antifreeze)..................223,264
Cooling System........................ 222
Adding Coolant (Antifreeze)............. 223
Coolant Level........................ 222
Disposal of Used Coolant............... 223
Drain, Flush, and Refill................. 222
Points to Remember................... 224
Pressure Cap........................ 224
Rubber and Plastic Components.......... 225
Selection of Coolant (Antifreeze).......... 223
Corrosion Protection.................... 230
Crankcase Emission Control System......... 215
Cup Holder............................ 66
Customer Assistance.................... 266
Cylinders, Lock........................ 218
Dealer Service......................... 208
Deck Lid.............................. 19
Defroster, Windshield..................... 48
INDEX 283
10

Mopar Parts........................208,269
Multi-Function Control Lever............... 78
Occupant Restraints...................... 22
Oil, Engine........................... 209
Change Interval...................... 211
Checking........................... 209
Disposal............................ 212
Filter.............................. 212
Materials Added to.................... 212
Recommendation..................... 212
Oil Filter, Selection...................... 212
Onboard Diagnostic System............206,207
Overheating, Engine..................... 178
Owner’s Manual....................... 270
Paint Care............................ 230
Parking Brake......................... 148
Passing Light........................... 80
Pets.................................. 46
Pets, Transporting....................... 46
Power
Outlet.............................. 65Steering.........................158,217
Steering, Checking.................... 217
Windows............................ 21
Pregnant Women and Seat Belts............. 28
Program Mode Selector Switch............. 147
Programming Transmitters.............100,101
Radial Ply Tires........................ 162
Radio Antenna......................... 127
Radio Operation....................... 128
Radio (Sound Systems)................... 119
Rear Liftgate........................... 22
Rear Spoiler............................ 87
Reformulated Gasoline................... 171
Refrigerant............................ 216
Remote Keyless Entry.................... 14
Replacement Tires...................... 163
Reporting Safety Defects................. 269
Residual Engine Heat Utilization (REST) . . . 132,133
Restraints, Child........................ 40
Restraints, Infant........................ 40
Restraints, Occupant..................... 22
Rotation, Tires......................... 169
INDEX 287
10