2008 CHRYSLER 300 instrument panel

TABLE OF CONTENTSSECTIONPAGE
1INTRODUCTION.............................................................3
2THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE...............................9
3UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE...............................81
4UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL................................... 195
5STARTING AND OPERATING................................................. 295
6WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES...............................................391
7MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE............................................... 411
8MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES.................................................. 477
9IF YOU NEED CONSUMER ASSISTANCE..........................................485
10INDEX....................................................................495
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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
The vehicle identification number (VIN) is on the left
front corner of the instrument panel. The VIN is visible
from outside of the vehicle through the windshield. This
number also appears on the Automobile Information
Disclosure Label affixed to a window on your vehicle, the
vehicle registration, and the title.NOTE:It is illegal to remove the VIN.
VIN LOCATION
6 INTRODUCTION

TRUNK LOCK AND RELEASE
The trunk lid can be released from inside the vehicle by
pressing the Trunk Release Button located on the instru-
ment panel to the left of the steering wheel.
NOTE:The transmission must be in “P” (Park) before
the switch will operate.The trunk lid can be released from outside the vehicle by
pressing the trunk button on the Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) transmitter twice within 5 seconds.
With the ignition switch in the ON position, the trunk
open symbol will display in the instrument cluster indi-
cating that the trunk is open. The odometer display will
reappear once the trunk is closed.
With the ignition switch in the LOCK position or the key
removed from the ignition switch, the trunk open symbol
will display until the trunk is closed.
Trunk Release Button
40 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Driver and Front Passenger Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS) - Airbag
This vehicle has front airbags for both the driver and
front passenger as a supplement to the seat belt restraint
systems. The driver’s airbag is mounted in the center of
the steering wheel. The passenger’s front airbag is
mounted in the instrument panel, above the glove com-
partment. 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.
Front Airbag Components
52 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
•If your vehicle is equipped with supplemental front-seat-
mounted side airbags, do not use accessory seat covers or
place objects between you and the seat airbags; the perfor-
mance could be adversely affected and/or objects could be
pushed into you, causing serious injury.
•
If your vehicle is equipped with supplemental front-seat-
mounted side airbags, do not attach cup holders or any other
objects on or around the door. The inflating seat airbag could
drive the object into occupants, causing serious injury.
•If your vehicle is equipped with supplemental side curtain
airbags, do not stack luggage or other cargo up high
enough to block the location of the side curtain airbag. The
area where the side curtain airbag is located should remain
free from any obstructions.
•If your vehicle is equipped with supplemental side curtain
airbags, do not have any accessory items installed which
will alter the roof, including adding a sunroof to your
vehicle. Do not add roof racks that require permanent
attachments (bolts or screws) for installation on the vehicle
roof. Do not drill into the roof of the vehicle for any reason.
NOTE:Do not use a clothing bar mounted to the coat
hooks in this vehicle. A clothing bar will impede the
proper performance of the curtain airbags.
Along with the seat belts, front airbags work with the
instrument panel knee bolsters to provide improved
protection for the driver and front passenger. Side curtain
and seat airbags also work with seat belts to improve
occupant protection.
While the seat belts are designed to protect you in many
types of collisions, the front airbags will deploy in
moderate to severe frontal collisions. For vehicles so
equipped, the supplemental side curtain airbag and
front-seat-mounted side airbag on the crash side of the
vehicle will also trigger in moderate to severe side
collisions. However, even in collisions where the airbags
deploy, you need the seat belts to keep you in the correct
position for the airbags to protect you properly.
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10. If the airbag system in this vehicle needs to be
modified to accommodate a disabled person, contact the
Customer Center. Phone numbers are provided in theIf
You Need Customer Assistancesection in this manual.WARNING!
•Relying 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.
•Being too close to the steering wheel or instrument
panel during airbag deployment could cause seri-
ous injury. Airbags need room to inflate. Sit back,
comfortably extending your arms to reach the
steering wheel or instrument panel.
•If the vehicle has supplemental side curtain air-
bags and/or supplemental front-seat-mounted side
airbags, they also need room to inflate. Do not lean
against the door or window. Sit upright in the
center of the seat.
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Air Bag System Components
The airbag system consists of the following:
•Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
•Side Remote Acceleration Sensors (if equipped)
•Airbag Warning Light
•Driver Airbag
•Front Passenger Airbag
•Supplemental Side Curtain Airbags above Side Win-
dows (if equipped)
•Supplemental Front-Seat-Mounted Side Airbags (if
equipped)
•Steering Wheel and Column
•Instrument Panel
•Interconnecting Wiring
•Seat Belt Reminder Light
•Knee Impact Bolsters
•Front Acceleration Sensors
•Driver and Front Passenger Seat Belt Pretensioners
How The Airbag System Works
•
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 will not
detect roll over.
58 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

•For vehicles so equipped, The ORC also determines if
a side impact is severe enough to deploy the supple-
mental side curtain airbag and/or supplemental front-
seat-mounted side airbag as required for each type of
impact.
•The ORC also monitors the readiness of the electronic
parts of the system whenever the ignition switch is in
the START or ON positions. These include all of the
items listed above except the knee bolster, the instru-
ment panel, and the steering wheel and column. If the
key is in the LOCK position, in the ACC position, or
not in the ignition, the airbags are not on and they will
not inflate.
•The ORC also turns on the Airbag Warning
Light in the instrument panel for 6 to 8
seconds as a self-check when the ignition is
first turned on. After the self-check, the
Airbag Warning Light will turn off. If the ORC detects
a malfunction in any part of the system, it turns on theAirbag 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 Warning Light in your instru-
ment 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.
•TheDriver and Front Passenger Airbag/Inflator
Unitsare located in the center of the steering wheel
and the passenger side of the instrument panel. When
the ORC detects a collision requiring the airbags, it
signals the inflator units. A large quantity of nontoxic
gas is generated to inflate the front airbags. Different
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