2008 CHRYSLER 300 SRT warning

6. To release the belt, push the red button on the buckle.
The belt will automatically retract to its stowed position.
If necessary, slide the latch plate down the webbing to
allow the belt to retract fully.
WARNING!
A frayed or torn belt could rip apart in a collision and
leave you with no protection. Inspect the belt system
periodically, checking for cuts, frays, or loose parts.
Damaged parts must be replaced immediately. Do
not disassemble or modify the system. Seat belt
assemblies must be replaced after a collision if they
have been damaged (bent retractor, torn webbing,
etc.).
Adjustable Upper Shoulder Belt Anchorage
In the driver and front passenger seats, the shoulder belt
can be adjusted upward or downward to position the belt
away from your neck. Push and fully depress the button
above the webbing to release the anchorage, then move it
up or down to the position that fits you best.
NOTE:When the shoulder belt is adjusted to the full
downward position, it will not be at the bottom of the slot
in the Trim Panel. This is normal and the intended lowest
position.
44 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Seat Belt Pretensioners
The seat belts for both front seating positions are
equipped with pretensioning devices that are designed to
remove any slack from the seat belts in the event of a
collision. These devices improve the performance of the
seat belt system by assuring that the belt is tight around
the occupant in a collision. Pretensioners work for all size
occupants, including those in child restraints.
NOTE:These devices are not a substitute for proper seat
belt placement by the occupant. The seat belt still must be
worn snugly and positioned properly.
The pretensioners are triggered by the Occupant Re-
straint Controller (ORC). (Refer to information on Air-
bags in this section). Like the front airbags, the preten-
sioners are single use items. After a collision that is severe
enough to deploy the airbags and pretensioners, both
must be replaced.
Enhanced Seat Belt Reminder System (BeltAlert)
If the driver’s seat belt has not been buckled within 60
seconds of starting the vehicle and if the vehicle speed is
greater than 5 mph (8 km/h), the Enhanced Warning
System (BeltAlert) will alert the driver to buckle the seat
belt. The driver should also instruct all other occupants to
buckle their seat belts. Once the warning is triggered, the
BeltAlertwill continue to chime and flash the Seat Belt
Reminder Light for 96 seconds or until the driver’s seat
belt is buckled. The BeltAlertwill be reactivated if the
driver’s seat belt is unbuckled for more than 10 seconds
and the vehicle speed is greater than 5 mph (8 km/h).
BeltAlertProgramming
The BeltAlertcan be enabled or disabled by your
authorized dealer or by performing the following steps:
NOTE:DaimlerChrysler does not recommend deacti-
vating the BeltAlert.
46 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
Using a seat belt extender when not needed can
increase the risk of injury in a collision. Only use
when the seat belt is not long enough when it is worn
low and snug and in the recommended seating posi-
tions. Remove and store the extender when not
needed.
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 ismounted 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
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 49
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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.
WARNING!
•Do not put anything on or around the front airbag
covers or attempt to open them. You may damage
the airbags and you could be injured because the
airbags are no longer functional. These protective
covers for the airbag cushions are designed to
open only when the airbags are inflating.
•Do not drill, cut or tamper with the knee bolster in
any way.
•Do not mount any accessories to the knee bolster
such as alarm lights, stereos, citizens band radios
etc.This vehicle may also be equipped with supplemental
side curtain airbags to protect the driver and passengers
sitting next to a window and/or supplemental front seat
mounted side airbags.
If the vehicle is equipped with supplemental side curtain
airbags, they are located above the side windows. Their
covers are also labeled SRS AIRBAG.
50 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 cupholders 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.
52 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Here are some simple steps you can take to minimize
the risk of harm from a deploying airbag.
1. Children 12 years old and younger should ride buck-
led up in the rear seat.
WARNING!
Infants in rear-facing child restraints should NEVER
ride in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger
front airbag. An airbag deployment could cause
severe injury or death to infants in that position.
2. Children who are not big enough to wear the vehicle
seat belt properly should be secured in the rear seat in
child restraints or belt-positioning booster seats. (Refer to
information on Child Restraint in this section.)3. Older children who do not use child restraints or
belt-positioning booster seats should ride properly buck-
led up in the rear seat. Never allow children to slide the
shoulder belt behind them or under their arm.
4. If a child from 1 to 12 years old must ride in the front
passenger seat because the vehicle is crowded, move the
seat as far back as possible and use the proper child
restraint. (Refer to information on Child Restraint in this
section.)
5. You should read the instructions provided with your
child restraint to make sure that you are using it properly.
6. All occupants should use their seat belts properly.
7. The driver and front passenger seats should be moved
back as far as practical to allow the airbags time to inflate.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 53
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8. If your vehicle has supplemental side curtain airbags
and/or supplemental front seat mounted side airbags, do
not lean against the door, as the airbags will inflate
forcefully into the space between you and the door.
9. 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.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.
54 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Airbag 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 rollover.
•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.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 55
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