2006 DODGE CALIBER instrument panel

TABLE OF CONTENTSSECTIONPAGE
1
INTRODUCTION.............................................................3
2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE...........................7
3
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE............................63
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL.................................105
5
STARTING AND OPERATING................................................171
6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES.............................................227
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE..............................................239
8
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES................................................281
9
IF YOU NEED CONSUMER ASSISTANCE.......................................299
10
INDEX...................................................................307
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS
This manual containsWARNINGSagainst operating
procedures which could result in an accident or bodily
injury. It also containsCAUTIONSagainst procedures
which could result in damage to your vehicle. If you do
not read this entire manual you may miss important
information. Observe all Warnings and Cautions.
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is found on the
driver's front corner of the instrument panel, visible
through the windshield. This number also appears on the
vehicle registration or title.
VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS / ALTERATIONS
WARNING!
Any modifications or alterations to this vehicle
could seriously affect its roadworthiness and safety
and may lead to an accident resulting in serious
injury or death.
Vehicle Identification Number
6 INTRODUCTION

OCCUPANT RESTRAINTS
Some of the most important safety features in your
vehicle are the restraint systems. These include the front
and rear seat belts for the driver and all passengers, front
airbags for both the driver and front passenger and if
equipped, side airbags for both the driver and front
passenger. If you will be carrying children too small for
adult-size seat belts, your seat belts or the LATCH feature
also, can be used to hold infant and child restraint
systems.If your vehicle is equipped with the Occupant Classifi-
cation System (OCS) there will be a Passenger Airbag
Disabled (PAD) Indicator Light located on the center of
the instrument panel.
Please pay close attention to the information in this
section. It tells you how to use your restraint system
properly to keep you and your passengers as safe as
possible.
WARNING!
In a collision, you and your passengers can suffer
much greater injuries if you are not properly buck-
led up. You can strike the interior of your vehicle or
other passengers, or you can be thrown out of the
vehicle. Always be sure you and others in your
vehicle are buckled up properly.
Buckle up even though you are an excellent driver, even
on short trips. Someone on the road may be a poor driver
and cause a collision that includes you. This can happen
far away from home or on your own street.
Lock Out Switch
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 29
2

Driver and Front Passenger Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS) - Airbag
This vehicle has airbags for both the driver and front
passenger as a supplement to the seat belt restraint
systems. The driver's front airbag is mounted in the
center of the steering wheel. The passenger's front airbag
is mounted in the instrument panel, above the glove
compartment. The words SRS AIRBAG are embossed on
the airbag covers.
NOTE:The front airbags are certified to the Federal
regulations that allow less forceful deployment.
The front airbags have a multistage inflator design. This
may allow the airbag to have different rates of inflation
that are based on collision severity and occupant size.
Also, the front passenger airbag is certified to the Federal
regulations that define Occupant Classification (Refer to
9Occupant Classification System9in this section).
Inflatable Knee BlockerSide Curtain Airbag Location
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 39
2

WARNING!
²Relying 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.
Always wear your seat belts even though you
have airbags.
²Being too close to the steering wheel or instru-
ment panel during front 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.
²If the vehicle has side airbags, they also need
room to inflate. Do not lean against the door. Sit
upright in the center of the seat.
The front airbag system consists of the following:
²Occupant Restraint Controller
²Side Remote Acceleration Sensors (If equipped)
²Airbag Warning Light
²Driver Airbag
²Passenger Airbag
²Front Seat Mounted Side Airbags (If equipped)
²Side Curtain Airbags
²Steering Wheel and Column
²Instrument Panel
²Interconnecting Wiring
²Knee Impact Bolsters
²Driver Inflatable Knee Blocker
²Front Acceleration Sensors
²Driver and Front Passenger Seat Belt Pretensioners
²Occupant Classification System (OCS) for the Front
Passenger Seat
þOccupant Classification Module
þPassenger Airbag Disable (PAD) Indicator Light
þWeight Sensors
42 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

How The Airbag System Works
²
TheOccupant Restraint Controller (ORC)determines
if a frontal collision is severe enough to require the
airbags to inflate. The front airbag inflators are de-
signed to provide different rates of airbag inflation
from direction provided by the ORC. The ORC may
also modify the rate of inflation based on the occupant
size provided by the Occupant Classification Module.
The ORC will not detect roll over.
The ORC also monitors the readiness of the electronic
parts of the system whenever the ignition switch is in
the START or RUN positions. These include all of the
items listed above except the steering wheel and
column, and knee bolsters. If the key is in the OFF
position, in the ACC position, or not in the ignition,
the airbags are not on and will not inflate.
During a moderate-to-severe rear impact the ORC
may deploy the seat belt pretensioners alone.
Also, the ORC turns on the AIRBAG warn-
ing light and PAD indicator light in the
instrument panel for 6 to 8 seconds for a
self-check when the ignition is first turnedon. After the self-check, the AIRBAG warning light
will turn off. The PAD indicator light will function
normally (Refer to9Passenger Airbag Disable (PAD)
Indicator Light9in this section). If the ORC detects a
malfunction in any part of the system, it turns on the
AIRBAG warning light either momentarily or continu-
ously. A single chime will sound if the light comes on
again after initial start up.
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.
²TheOccupant Classification System (OCS)is part of
a Federally regulated safety system required for this
vehicle. It is designed to turn off the front passenger
airbag for occupants that weigh less than a very small
adult.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 43
2

NOTE:Children 12 years and under should always ride
buckled up in a rear seat in an appropriate child restraint.
²The OCS classifies an occupant using weight sensors
mounted in the base of the front passenger seat. Any
weight on the seat will be sensed by the system.
Objects hanging on the seat or other passengers push-
ing down on the seat will also be sensed. The weight of
an adult will cause the system to turn the airbag on. In
this case, the OCS has classified the occupant of the
seat as an adult. An adult occupant needs to sit in a
normal position (with their feet on or near the floor) in
order to be properly classified. Reclining the seat back
too far may change how an occupant is classified by
the OCS.
²ThePassenger Airbag Disabled (PAD) Indicator
Light(an amber light located in the center of the
instrument panel) tells the driver and front passenger
when the front passenger airbag is turned off. The
PAD Indicator lamp illuminates the words9PASS AIR
BAG OFF9to show that the front passenger airbag will
not inflate during a collision requiring airbags. When
the right front passenger seat is empty or when verylight objects are placed on the seat, the passenger air
bag will not inflate even though the Passenger Airbag
Disable (PAD) indicator lamp is not illuminated.
The PAD indictor light should not be illuminated
when an adult passenger is properly seated in the
front passenger seat. In this case, the air bag is ready to
be inflated if a collision requiring an airbag occurs.
For all other occupants, the PAD indicator light will be
illuminated indicating that the front passenger airbag
is turned off and will not inflate.Passenger Airbag Disabled Light
44 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

NOTE:Even though this vehicle is equipped with an
occupant classification system, children 12 years and under
should always ride buckled up in a rear seat in an
appropriate child restraint (see section on child restraints).
WARNING!
Never place a rear facing infant seat in front of an
airbag. A deploying passenger airbag can cause death
or serious injury to a child in a rear facing infant seat.
Front Passenger Seat
OccupantPassenger Airbag
Disable (PAD)
Indicator LightAirbag
Status
Adult OFF ON
Child ON OFF
Grocery Bags, Heavy
Briefcases and Other
Relatively Light ObjectsON OFF
Empty or Very Small
ObjectsOFF* OFF
* Since the system senses weight, some small objects
will turn the PAD Indicator Light on.Drivers and adult passengers should verify that the PAD
Indicator Light is not illuminated when an adult is riding
in the front passenger seat. If an adult occupant's weight
is transferred to another part of the vehicle (like the door
or instrument panel), the weight sensors in the seat may
not properly classify the occupant. Objects lodged under
the seat or between the seat and the center console can
prevent the occupant's weight from being measured
properly and may result in the occupant being improp-
erly classified. Ensure that the front passenger seat back
does not touch anything placed on the second row of
seats because this can also affect occupant classification.
Also, if you fold down the seats in the second row check
to be sure they don't touch the front passenger seat.
If the front passenger seat is damaged in any way, it
should only be serviced by an authorized dealer. If the
seat is removed (or even if the seat attachment bolts are
loosened or tightened in any way), take the vehicle to an
authorized dealer.
If there is a fault present in the OCS, the Airbag Warning
Light (a red light located in the center of the instrument
cluster directly in front of the driver) will be turned on.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 45
2