
Infants and Child Restraints
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:
²Safety experts recommend that children ride
rearward-facing in the vehicle until they are at least
one year old and weigh at least 9 kg (20 lbs.). Two
types of child restraints can be used rearward-facing:
infant carriers and ªconvertibleº child seats.
²The infant carrier is only used rearward-facing in the
vehicle. It is recommended for children who weigh up
to about 20 lbs. (9 kg). ªConvertibleº 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 than
infant carriers do, so they can be used rearward-facing
by children who weigh more than 20 lbs. (9 kg) but are
less than one year old. Both types of child restraints are
held in the vehicle by the lap/shoulder belt or theLATCH child restraint anchorage system. (See the
LATCH - Child Seat Anchorage System section.)
²Rearward-facing child seats mustNEVERbe used in
the front seat of a vehicle with the front passenger
airbag unless the airbag is turned off. An airbag
deployment could cause severe injury or death to
infants in this position.
WARNING!
²A rearward facing infant restraint must not be
used unless the passenger airbag has been shut
off. A rearward facing infant restraint may be
struck by a deploying passenger airbag which may
cause severe or fatal injury to the infant.
²Improper installation can lead to failure of a child
restraint. It could come loose in a collision. The
child could be badly injured or killed. Follow the
manufacturer's directions exactly when installing
a child restraint.
48 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

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.WARNING!
After installing a child safety seat or booster seat on
the passenger seat, do not adjust the back rest for-
ward. This could cause a higher load being perceived
by the OCS system which in turn could lead to the
passenger airbag being turned on. Failure to follow
this warning could result in serious or fatal injury. It
is always recommended to turn off the passenger
front air bags using the passenger front airbags
on/off switch located at the right end of the instru-
ment panel when the passenger is:
²an infant (less than 1 year old),
²a child, age 1 to 12,
²an adult with a medical condition which makes
passenger airbags inflation (deployment) a greater
risk for the passenger than the risk of hitting the
dashboard (instrument panel) or windshield in a
crash.
The on/off switch is accessible by opening the pas-
senger door.
52 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 53
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.
54 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS
The engine in your new Crossfire does not require a long
break-in period. Following these few simple guidelines is
all that is necessary for a good break-in.
²Drive your vehicle at moderate vehicle and engine
speeds during the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km).
²Do not make any full throttle starts and avoid full
throttle acceleration.
²Use the proper transmission gear for your speed
range.
²Avoid excessive idling.
²Check the engine oil level at every fuel fill.
NOTE:A new engine may consume some oil during the
first few thousand miles of operation. This should be
considered as a normal part of the break-in and not an
indication of a problem.
SAFETY TIPS
Exhaust Gas
WARNING!
Exhaust gases can injure or kill. They contain carbon
monoxide (CO) which is colorless and odorless.
Breathing it can make you unconscious and can
eventually poison you. To avoid breathing (CO)
follow the safety tips below.
²Do not run the engine in a closed garage or in confined
areas any longer than needed to move your vehicle in
or out of the area.
²If it is necessary to sit in a parked vehicle with the
engine running, adjust your heating or cooling con-
trols to force outside air into the vehicle. Set the blower
at high speed.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 55
2

CONVERTIBLE TOP OPERATION
WARNING!
The convertible top does not provide the structural
protection that a reinforced metal roof does and the
fabric top cannot be expected to prevent the ejection
of the occupants of a vehicle in a collision. Therefore,
it is important that all occupants wear their seat belts
at all times when riding in a convertible. Studies
have shown that it is generally safer to remain inside
a vehicle during a collision than to be ejected from
the vehicle.
For safety reasons, the convertible top should only be
opened and closed when the vehicle is standing still. Top
operation is allowed up to a maximum of 9 mph (15
km/h). Above this speed, top operation will cease and an
audible warning will sound. The top operation can be
resumed after the vehicle is below the maximum speed
by pressing the convertible top switch again.
WARNING!
Before operating the switch for the convertible top,
make sure that no persons can be injured by the
moving parts (convertible top frame and tonneau
cover).
Hands must never be placed near the sport bar,
convertible top frame, upper windshield area, shelf
behind sport bar, or convertible top storage compart-
ment while the convertible top is being raised or
lowered. Serious personal injury may occur.
If potential danger exists, release the convertible top
switch. This immediately interrupts the raising or
lowering procedure. You then can operate the con-
vertible top switch to raise or lower the convertible
top away from the danger zone.
62 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

CAUTION!
When opening and closing the convertible top, make
sure that:
²There is sufficient clearance of at least 6 ft. (1.8m)
for the convertible top to move up.
²Nothing is placed on the tonneau cover.
²The outside temperature is above 32ÉF (0ÉC).
Otherwise the convertible top and other parts of the
vehicle could be damaged.
CAUTION!
Use caution when putting items into the storage
compartment with the top in the closed position. The
tonneau cover extensions are exposed and can be
damaged if luggage or other items are pushed too far
into the storage compartment.
To Lower The Top:
WARNING!
Top operation can be suspended for a maximum of 10
minutes. Thirty seconds before the end of this period
an audible warning will begin to sound continu-
ously. At the end of this period, hydraulic pressure
will be released and the top and tonneau cover will
slowly collapse. In order to re-initialize the top cycle,
the tonneau cover must first be moved and held in its
full open position manually. The convertible top
should then be carefully lowered into its storage
compartment, and the tonneau closed. Hands should
be kept away from moving parts of the top and top
compartment mechanisms to avoid injury during this
operation and as hydraulic pressure is reestablished.
The hydraulic pressure can be reestablished by turn-
ing the ignition to the ON/RUN position and push-
ing down on the convertible top switch twice. Refer
to Convertible Top Emergency Operation in the What
To Do In Emergencies section of this manual.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 63
3

3. Turn the ignition key to the ON/RUN position and
press down on the front of the convertible top switch.
4. If the windows are raised, they will lower as soon as
the convertible switch is pressed down. The tonneau
cover will open, and the top will then close until it
reaches approximately 8 inches (200 mm) from the
header. The tonneau cover will then close and the rear of
the top will close and latch. At the completion of this
cycle, a single audible signal will sound.NOTE:If the top is latched to the windshield header
before the rear of the top is properly latched, an audible
warning will sound and the top raising operation will
stop.
5. Pull the latch handle down from the storage position
and turn it clockwise just over one quarter turn.
6. Pull the latch handle and convertible top down to
engage the top with the header.
68 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE