2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN weight

• When the ORC and the side impact sensors (with side
impact option) detects a collision requiring the Driver
Inflatable Knee Blocker , it signals the inflator unit. A
quantity of nontoxic gas is generated to inflate the
Driver Inflatable Knee Blocker. The Driver Inflatable
Knee Blocker inflates rearward towards the driver ’ s
knees to help protect the knees and position you for
the best interaction with the front airbag. The Driver
Inflatable Knee Blocker fully inflates in about 50
milliseconds, this is only about half of the time it takes
you to blink your eyes. It then quickly deflates while
helping to protect the driver ’ s knees.
• The Knee Impact Bolsters help protect the knees, and
position everyone for the best interaction with the
front airbag.
• If your vehicle contains a Passenger Airbag Disable
indicator light, it will be equipped with the Occupant
Classification System (OCS). The OCS system will classify an occupant into a size category based on
sensor readings from within the seat cushion. Occu-
pants should try to remain in a normally seated
position. If the occupant ’ s weight is transferred to
another object in the vehicle (i.e. feet on the dash-
board), the OCS may not be able to properly approxi-
mate occupant size. Furthermore, the occupant size
may appear to increase or decrease due to objects
hanging on the seat, other passengers pushing on the
seat, or objects lodged underneath the seat. Ensure
that the front passenger seat back does not touch
anything placed on the back seat because this can also
affect occupant classification. Also, if you fold down
the rear seat, check to be sure it doesn ’ t touch the front
passenger seat.
If there is a rapid change in temperature or humidity,
the OCS may not be able to properly approximate
occupant size. If your seat including your trim cover
and cushion needs to be serviced in any way (including62 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Remember, if the PAD indicator light is illuminated the
passenger front airbag will not inflate. For almost all
properly installed child restraints, the “ PAD Indicator
Light ” will be illuminated indicating that the front pas-
senger airbag is turned off and will not inflate. If the
“ PAD Indicator Light ” is not illuminated, DO NOT
assume the airbag is turned off and move the child
restraint to the rear seat. A deploying passenger airbag
can cause death or serious injury to a child in a rear
facing infant seat.
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.
• The Occupant Classification Module (OCM) — If
Equipped is located beneath the front passenger seat.
The OCM classifies the occupant into one of three size categories based on the input from the Bladder Assem-
bly and Belt Tension Sensor. The size categories in-
clude empty, child, and adult. The OCM sends the
Occupant Classification to the ORC to identify if a
front passenger airbag is allowed. If a fault is present,
the AIRBAG warning light is illuminated.
• The Passenger Airbag Disabled (PAD) Indicator
Light — If Equipped indicates to the driver and
passenger when the airbag is turned OFF in the
presence of a properly seated occupant. When the PAD
indicator light is illuminated, the airbag is OFF. Also,
when the Occupant Classification System detects ei-
ther an empty seat or a weight less than the predeter-
mined occupant threshold, the ORC will not illumi-
nate the PAD indicator light even though the airbag is
turned OFF. When the ocs system detects an adult the
PAD indicator light will be off, and the airbag will be
enabled.64 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!In a collision, an unrestrained child, even a tiny
baby, can become a missile inside the vehicle. The
force required to hold even an infant on your lap
could become so great that you could not hold the
child, no matter how strong you are. The child and
others could be badly injured. Any child riding in
your vehicle should be in a proper restraint for the
child ’ s size.
There are different sizes and types of restraints for
children from newborn size to the child almost large
enough for an adult safety belt. Always check the child
seat owner ’ s manual to ensure you have the right seat for
your child. Use the restraint that is correct for your child. Infants and Child Restraints
• Safety experts recommend that children ride
rearward-facing in the vehicle until they are at least
one year old and weigh at least 20 lbs (9 kg). Two types
of child restraints can be used rearward-facing: infant
carriers and  convertible  child seats. Both types of
child restraints are held in the vehicle by the lap/
shoulder belt or the LATCH child restraint anchorage
system. Refer to “ Lower Anchors and Tether for CHil-
dren (LATCH) ” later in this section.
• The infant carrier is only used rearward-facing in the
vehicle. It is recommended for children who weigh up
to about 20 lbs (9 kg).  Convertible  child seats can be
used either rearward-facing or forward-facing in the
vehicle. Convertible child seats often have a higher
weight limit in the rearward-facing direction than70 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

that you can install the child restraint in the vehicle
where you will use it, before you buy it.
• The restraint must be appropriate for your child ’ s
weight and height. Check the label on the restraint for
weight and height limits.
• Carefully follow the instructions that come with the
restraint. If you install the restraint improperly, it may
not work when you need it.
The passenger seat belts are equipped with cinching
latch plates, which are designed to keep the lap
portion tight around the child restraint so that it is not
necessary to use a locking clip. Pulling up on the
shoulder portion of the lap/shoulder belt will tighten
the belt. The cinching latch plate will keep the belt
tight, however, any seat belt system will loosen with
time, so check the belt occasionally and pull it tight if
necessary. • In the rear seat, you may have trouble tightening the
lap/shoulder belt on the child restraint because the
buckle or latch plate is too close to the belt path
opening on the restraint. Disconnect the latch plate
from the buckle and twist the short buckle end of the
belt several times to shorten it. Insert the latch plate
into the buckle with the release button facing out.
• If the belt still can ’ t be tightened, or if pulling and
pushing on the restraint loosens the belt, disconnect
the latch plate from the buckle, turn the buckle
around, and insert the latch plate into the buckle
again. If you still can ’ t make the child restraint secure,
try a different seating position.
• Buckle the child into the seat according to the child
restraint manufacturer ’ s directions.
• When your child restraint is not in use, secure it in the
vehicle with the seat belt or remove it from the vehicle. THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 73
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Transporting Pets
Airbags deploying in the front seat could harm your pet.
An unrestrained pet could be thrown about and possibly
injured, or injure a passenger during panic braking or in
a collision.
Pets should be restrained in the rear seat in pet harnesses
or pet carriers that are secured by seat belts.
REAR SEAT DELETE FEATURE (COMMERCIAL
VEHICLES ONLY) — IF EQUIPPED
Commercial cargo vehicles are not designed for use as a
family vehicle and are not intended for carrying children
in the front passenger seat. However, if you must carry a
child in a vehicle without a rear seat, the passenger seat
should be moved to the full rearward position and the
child must be in a proper restraint system based on it ’ s
age, size and weight. NEVER carry a child in a rear facing infant carrier in a vehicle without rear seats. In an
accident, serious injury or death may occur from the
deploying passenger air bag.
This vehicle is equipped with a child restraint tether
anchor located on the floor, behind the front passenger
seat. Use this tether anchor to secure only forward
facing child restraints equipped with an upper tether
strap.
WARNING!Rear Facing Infant restraints must never be secured
in the passenger seat of a vehicle with a passenger
airbag. In an accident a passenger airbag may deploy
causing severe injury or death to infants riding in
rear facing infant restraints.78 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

To reinstall the seat, align the seat into the detent posi-
tions on the floor. Squeeze the release handle and rotate
upward until the lock indicator button returns into the
handle.
WARNING!If not properly latched, the bench seats could be-
come loose. Personal injuries could result. After
reinstalling these seats, be sure the red indicator
button on the release handles return into the
handles. Plastic Grocery Bag Retainer
Retainer hooks which will hold plastic grocery bag
handles are built into the seatbacks of all rear seats and
some front seats. The floor supports the partial weight of
the bagged goods.
Grocery Bag Holders136 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

The liftgate sill plate has a raised line with the statement
“ Load To This Line ” . This line indicates how far rearward
cargo can be placed without interfering with liftgate
closing. ROOF LUGGAGE RACK — IF EQUIPPED
The crossbars and siderails are designed to carry the
weight on vehicles equipped with a luggage rack. The
load must not exceed 68 kg (150 lbs), and should be
uniformly distributed over the luggage rack crossbars.
Loading Limit
Roof Rack190 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Distribute cargo weight evenly on the roof rack crossbars.
The roof rack does not increase the total load carrying
capacity of the vehicle. Be sure the total load of cargo
inside the vehicle plus that on the external rack does not
exceed the maximum vehicle load capacity.
To move the cross bars, loosen the thumb screws located
at the upper edge of each cross bar approximately six
turns, then move the cross bar to the desired position,
keeping the crossbars parallel to the rack frame. Once the
cross bar is in place, retighten the thumb screws to lock
the cross bar into position.
Attempt to move the crossbar again to ensure that it has
properly locked into position. NOTE: To help control wind noise when installing the
cross bars make sure that the arrows marked on the front
side of the cross bars are facing the front of the vehicle.
Also, when the cross bars are not in use the notch on the
cross bars should be aligned with the arrows on the side
rails. This will help reduce the amount of wind noise
when the crossbars are not in use.
The tie down holes on the cross bar ends should always
be used to tie down the load. Check the straps frequently
to be sure that the load remains securely attached. UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 191
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