2008 CHRYSLER CROSSFIRE warning

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 the
Lower Anchors and Tether for Children (LATCH)
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.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 53
2

WARNING!
After installing a child safety seat or booster seat on the
passenger seat, do not adjust the back rest forward. 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 recom-
mended to turn off the passenger front air bags using
the passenger front airbags on/off switch located at the
right end of the instrument 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 passen-
ger door.
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
58 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

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.
60 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS
The engine in your new vehicle 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 mi (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 61
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.
68 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

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 continuously. 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 turning the ignition to
the ON/RUN position and pushing down on the con-
vertible top switch twice. Refer to Convertible Top
Emergency Operation in the What To Do In Emergen-
cies section of this manual.
CAUTION!
To avoid possible damage to the tonneau cover and
convertible top, do not allow the convertible top to
remain in the suspended position. After approxi-
mately 10 minutes in the suspended position, the
hydraulic pressure will be released which will allow
the top and the tonneau cover to lower. The convert-
ible top switch can be pressed to cancel this
operation.
70 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

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 in (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.7. When the top engages to the header, turn the latch
handle counterclockwise just over one quarter turn to the
lock position and push the latch handle up to the stored
position. The top is now secured in the closed position.
76 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

NOTE:The convertible top switch indicator will light
up and an audible warning will be heard if you start
driving the vehicle without the top fully locked in the
closed position.WARNING!
To prevent possible accidents, drive the vehicle only
with the convertible top either completely closed and
locked, or fully lowered into its storage
compartment.
8. Once the top has been raised and locked, the cargo
compartment divider can be unhooked and folded for-
ward to increase the cargo compartment capacity. Follow
the steps shown on the label affixed to the decklid trim.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 77
3