2007 DODGE CALIBER child restraint

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.
•Rearward-facing child seats mustNEVERbe used in
the front seat of a vehicle with a front passenger
airbag. An airbag deployment could cause severe
injury or death to infants in this position.
•Children who weigh more than 20 lbs. (9 kg) and who
are older than one year can ride forward-facing in the
vehicle. Forward-facing child seats and convertible
child seats used in the forward-facing direction are for
children who weigh 20 to 40 lbs. (9 to 18 kg) and who
are older than one year. These child seats are also held
in the vehicle by the lap/shoulder belt or the LATCH
child restraint anchorage system.
•The belt-positioning booster seat is for children weigh-
ing more than 40 lbs. (18 kg), but who are still too
small to fit the vehicle’s seat belts properly. If the child
cannot sit with knees bent over the vehicle’s cushion
while the child’s back is against the seat back; they
should use a Belt Positioning Booster Seat. The child
and booster seat are held in the vehicle by the lap/shoulder belt. (Some booster seats are equipped with a
front shield and are held in the vehicle by the lap
portion.)
NOTE:For additional information refer to
www.seatcheck.org.
WARNING!
•Improper installation can lead to failure of an
infant or child restraint. It could come loose in a
collision. The child could be badly injured or
killed. Follow the manufacturer’s directions ex-
actly when installing an infant or child restraint.
•A rearward facing child restraint should only be
used in a rear seat. A rearward facing child re-
straint in the front seat may be struck by a
deploying passenger airbag which may cause se-
vere or fatal injury to the infant.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 55
2

Here are some tips on getting the most out of your child
restraint:
•Before buying any restraint system, make sure that it
has a label certifying that it meets all applicable Safety
Standards. We also recommend that you make sure
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 either
cinching latch plates or seat belt retractors that can be
switched to an automatic locking mode, which are
designed to keep the lap portion tight around the child
restraint so that it is not necessary to use a locking clip.
If the seat belt has a cinching latch plate, pulling up on
the shoulder portion of the lap/shoulder belt will
tighten the belt. The cinching latch plate will keep thebelt tight, however, any seat belt system will loosen
with time, so check the belt occasionally and pull it
tight if necessary.
If the seat belt has a switchable retractor, it will have a
distinctive label. To operate the switchable retractor,
please refer to Automatic-Locking Retractor (ALR) in
this section.
•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 by pulling and
pushing on the restraint loosens the belt, disconnect
the latch plate from the buckle, turn the latch plate
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.
56 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

•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.
Don’t leave it loose in the vehicle. In a sudden stop or
collision, it could strike the occupants or seat backs
and cause serious personal injury.
Automatic-Locking Retractor (ALR)
To operate the switchable retractor, pull the belt from the
retractor until there is enough to allow you to pass
through the child restraint and slide the latch plate into
the buckle. Then pull on the belt until it is all removed
from the retractor. Allow the belt to return into the
retractor, pulling on the excess webbing to tighten the lap
portion about the child restraint. Follow the instructions
of the child restraint manufacture.
NOTE:To reset this feature you must let all of the belt
webbing return into the retractor. You will not be able to
pull out more webbing until all of the webbing has been
returned back into the retractor.
Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren (LATCH)
WARNING!
Child restraint anchorages are designed to withstand
only those loads imposed by correctly fitted child
restraints. Under no circumstances are they to be
used for adult seat belts, harnesses, or for attaching
other items or equipment to the vehicle.
Your vehicle is equipped with the child restraint anchor-
age system called LATCH, which stands for Lower
Anchors and Tether for CHildren. The LATCH system
provides for the installation of the child restraint without
using the vehicle seat belt. All three rear seating positions
have lower anchorages that are capable of accommodat-
ing LATCH-compatible child seats having flexible,
webbing-mounted lower attachments. Child seats with
fixed lower attachments must be installed in the out-
board positions only. Regardless of the specific type of
lower attachment,NEVERinstall LATCH-compatible
child seats such that two seats share a common lower
anchorage. If you are installing LATCH-compatible child
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 57
2

restraints in adjacent rear seating positions, you can use
the LATCH anchors or the vehicle’s seat belt for the
outboard position, but you must use the vehicle’s seat
belt at the center position. If your child restraints are not
LATCH-compatible, you can only install the child re-
straints using the vehicle’s seat belts. Please refer to,
Installing the Child Restraint System for typical installa-
tion instructions.Child restraints systems having attachments designed to
connect to the lower anchorages are now available. Child
restraints having tether straps and hooks for connection
to the top tether anchorage have been available for some
time. In fact, many child restraint manufacturers will
provide add-on tether strap kits for some of their older
products. Tether anchorage kits are also available for
most older vehicles.
Because the lower anchorages are to be introduced to
passenger carrying vehicles over a period of years, child
restraint systems having attachments for those anchor-
ages will continue to have features for installation in
vehicles using the lap or lap/shoulder belt. They will also
have tether straps, and you are urged to take advantage
of all of the available attachments provided with your
child restraint in any vehicle.
NOTE:When using the LATCH attaching system to
install a child restraint, please ensure that all seat belts
not being used for occupant restraints are stowed and out
of reach of children. It is recommended that before
installing the child restraint, buckle the seat belt so the
seat belt is tucked behind the child restraint and out of
Rear Seat LATCH
58 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

reach. If the buckled seat belt interferes with the child
restraint installation, instead of tucking the seat belt
behind the child restraint, route the seat belt through the
child restraint belt path and then buckle it. This should
stow the seat belt out of the reach of an inquisitive child.
Remind all children in the vehicle that the seat belts are
not toys and should not be played with, and never leave
your child unattended in the vehicle.
Installing the Child Restraint System
We urge that you carefully follow the directions of the
manufacturer when installing your child restraint. Many,
but not all, restraint systems will be equipped with
separate straps on each side, with each having a hook or
connector and a means for adjusting the tension in the
strap. Forward-facing toddler restraints and some
rearward-facing infant restraints will also be equipped
with a tether strap with a hook and means for adjusting
the tension in the strap.
In general, you will first loosen the adjusters on the lower
and tether straps so that you can more easily attach the
hook or connector to the lower and tether anchorages.
The tether strap should be routed under the center of thehead restraint and attached to the tether anchor on the
rear of the seat back. Then tighten all three straps as you
push the child restraint rearward and downward into the
seat.
Not all child restraint systems will be installed as we
have described here. Again, carefully follow the instruc-
tions that come with the child restraint system.
NOTE:If your child restraint seat is not LATCH
compatible, install the restraint using the vehicle seat
belts.
Rear Seat Tether Anchors
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 59
2

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.
Children Too Large For Booster Seats
Children who are large enough to wear the shoulder belt
comfortably, and whose legs are long enough to bend
over the front of the seat when their back is against the
seat back, should use the lap/shoulder belt in a rear seat.
•Make sure that the child is upright in the seat.
•The lap portion should be low on the hips and as snug
as possible.
•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.
Transporting Pets
Airbags deploying in the front seat 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 the rear seat in pet harnesses
or pet carriers that are secured by seat belts.
60 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

B-Pillar Location....................... 229
Brake Assist System..................... 118
Brake Control System, Electronic........... 118
BrakeFluid ........................... 318
Brake, Parking......................... 218
Brake System.......................219,298
Anti-Lock (ABS)................... 117,220
Hoses.............................. 299
Master Cylinder...................... 300
Parking............................ 218
Warning Light....................... 150
Brakes............................219,298
Brake/Transmission Interlock.............. 211
Break-In Recommendations, New Vehicle...... 61
Bulb Replacement....................310,311
Bulbs,Light ........................... 310
Calibration, Compass.................... 160
Capacities, Antifreeze (Engine Coolant)...... 316
Capacities, Fluid....................... 316
Caps, Filler
Fuel............................... 252
Oil (Engine)......................279,285Car Washes........................... 304
Carbon Monoxide Warning............... 251
Cargo Area Cover...................... 130
Cargo Area Features..................... 128
Cargo Compartment
Light .............................. 128
Luggage Carrier...................... 134
CargoLight ........................... 128
Cargo Load Floor....................... 130
Cargo Tie-Downs....................... 130
Carrier, Luggage....................... 134
Catalytic Converter..................... 287
Caution, Exhaust Gas..................... 61
CD (Compact Disc) Player..........162,169,180
CD (Compact Disc) Player Maintenance...... 197
Cellular Phone....................... 72,198
Center High Mounted Stop Light........... 315
Chains, Tire........................... 247
Changing A Flat Tire.................... 268
Chart,TireSizing ....................... 226
Check Engine Light
(MalfunctionIndicatorLight) .............. 281
Child Restraint......................... 54
INDEX 347
10

Child Restraint Tether Anchors............. 57
Child Restraint with Automatic Belts......... 56
Child Safety Locks....................... 18
Child Seat............................. 59
Clean Air Gasoline...................... 249
Cleaning
Wheels............................. 305
Climate Control........................ 198
Clock ....................161,164,170,181,192
Clutch ............................... 300
ClutchFluid ........................... 300
CoinHolder ........................... 127
Compact Disc (CD) Maintenance........... 197
Compact Spare Tire..................... 236
Compass............................. 160
Compass Calibration.................... 160
Compass Variance...................... 158
Console.............................. 127
Contract, Service....................... 340
Coolant (Antifreeze)..................316,317
Cooler, Beverage....................... 134
Cooling System........................ 294
Adding Coolant (Antifreeze)............. 295Coolant Level.....................294,297
Disposal of Used Coolant............... 296
Drain, Flush, and Refill................. 294
Inspection........................... 297
Points to Remember................296,297
Pressure Cap........................ 296
Selection of Coolant (Antifreeze).......... 294
CorrosionProtection .................... 303
Crankcase Emission Control System......... 288
CruiseLight ........................... 148
CupHolder ........................... 127
Customer Assistance.................... 338
Data Recorder, Event..................... 52
Dealer Service......................... 282
Defroster, Rear Window.................. 134
Defroster, Windshield............... 62,199,200
Delay(Intermittent)Wipers ............... 108
Detent ............................... 213
Diagnostic System, Onboard............... 280
Dimmer Switch, Headlight................ 105
Disposal
Antifreeze (Engine Coolant)............. 296
348 INDEX