2008 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE Top

NOTE:The following conditions must be met in order
for this switch to operate:
²The gear selector lever must be in PARK.
²The convertible top must be either closed and latched
or open and latched.To unlatch the trunk lid from outside the vehicle, press
and release the TRUNK button on the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter two times.
With the ignition ON, the word ªdeckº will display in the
odometer indicating the trunk is open. The odometer
display will reappear once the trunk is closed or if the
trip button is pressed.
With the key in the lock position or with the key out, the
word ªdeckº will display until the trunk is closed.
On vehicles equipped with the Electronic Vehicle Infor-
mation Center (EVIC), the words ªTrunk Ajarº will
display.
Trunk Release Button
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 37
2

NOTE:The front airbags have a dual-stage inflator
design. This allows the airbag to have different rates of
inflation that are based on collision severity.
Please pay close attention to the information in this section.
It tells you how to use your restraint system properly to
keep you and your passengers as safe as possible.
WARNING!
In a collision, you and your passengers can suffer
much greater injuries if you are not properly buckled
up. You can strike the interior of your vehicle or other
passengers, or you can be thrown out of the vehicle.
Always be sure you and others in your vehicle are
buckled up properly.
Buckle up even though you are an excellent driver, even
on short trips. Someone on the road may be a poor driverand cause a collision that includes you. This can happen
far away from home or on your own street.
Research has shown that seat belts save lives, and they
can reduce the seriousness of injuries in a collision. Some
of the worst injuries happen when people are thrown
from the vehicle. Seat belts reduce the possibility of
ejection and the risk of injury caused by striking the
inside of the vehicle.Everyone in a motor vehicle should
be belted at all times.Lap/Shoulder Belts
All the seats in your vehicle are equipped with Lap/
Shoulder Belts.
The belt webbing retractor is designed to lock during
very sudden stops or collisions. This feature allows the
shoulder part of the belt to move freely with you under
normal conditions. However, in a collision, the belt will
lock and reduce the risk of your striking the inside of the
vehicle or being thrown out.
40 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

3. When the belt is long enough to fit, insert the latch
plate into the buckle until you hear a ªclick.ºWARNING!
²A belt that is buckled into the wrong buckle will not
protect you properly. The lap portion could ride too high
on your body, possibly causing internal injuries. Always
buckle your belt into the buckle nearest you.
²A belt that is too loose will not protect you as well. In
a sudden stop, you could move too far forward, increas-
ing the possibility of injury. Wear your seat belt snugly.
²A belt that is worn under your arm is very dangerous.
Your body could strike the inside surfaces of the vehicle
in a collision, increasing head and neck injury. A belt
worn under the arm can cause internal injuries. Ribs
aren't as strong as shoulder bones. Wear the belt over
your shoulder so that your strongest bones will take the
force in a collision.
²A shoulder belt placed behind you will not protect
you from injury during a collision. You are more likely
to hit your head in a collision if you do not wear your
shoulder belt. The lap and shoulder belt are meant to be
used together.
Inserting Latch Plate Into Buckle
42 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

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.).
Lap/Shoulder Belt Untwisting Procedure
Use the following procedure to untwist a twisted lap/
shoulder belt.
1. Position the latch plate as close as possible to the
anchor point.
2. At about 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) above the latch
plate, grasp and twist the belt webbing 180É to create a
fold that begins immediately above the latch plate.
3. Slide the latch plate upward over the folded webbing.
The folded webbing must enter the slot at the top of the
latch plate.
4. Continue to slide the latch plate up until it clears the
folded webbing.
44 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Enhanced Accident Response System
In the event of an impact that causes airbag deployment,
with the vehicle stopped, and the vehicle communication
network intact, and the power intact, the Enhanced
Accident Response System performs the following func-
tions:
²Cuts off fuel to the engine.
²Flashes hazard lights.
²Turns on the interior lights, which remain on as long as
the battery has power or until the ignition key is
removed.
²Unlocks the doors automatically.
Maintaining Your Airbag System
WARNING!
²Modifications to any part of the airbag system
could cause it to fail when you need it. You could
be injured if the airbag system is not there to
protect you. Do not modify the components or
wiring, including adding any kind of badges or
stickers to the steering wheel hub trim cover or the
upper right side of the instrument panel. Do not
modify the front bumper, vehicle body structure,
or add aftermarket side steps or running boards.
²It is dangerous to try to repair any part of the
airbag system yourself. Be sure to tell anyone who
works on your vehicle that it has an airbag system.
58 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

²All passenger seating positions contain automatic
locking retractors. However, any seat belt system will
loosen with time, so check the belt occasionally and
pull it tight if necessary.
²Buckle the child into the seat according to the child
restraint manufacturer's directions.
²When your child restraint is not in use, secure it in the
vehicle with the seat belt or remove it from the vehicle.
Do not 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.
LATCH Ð Child Seat Anchorage System (Lower
Anchors and Tether for CHildren)
Your vehicle is equipped with the child restraint anchor-
age system called LATCH. The LATCH system provides
for the installation of the child restraint without using the
vehicle's seat belts. The two rear seating positions have
lower anchorages that are capable of accommodatingLATCH-compatible child seats having flexible, webbing-
mounted lower attachments or fixed lower attachments.
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 restraints in adjacent
rear seating positions, you can use the LATCH anchors or
the vehicle's seat belts. 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
ªInstalling the Child Restraint Systemº for typical instal-
lation instructions.
Rear Seat LATCH Anchors
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
66 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

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 LATCH-Compatible Child Restraint
System
We urge that you carefully follow the directions of the
manufacturer when installing your child restraint. Not all
child restraint systems will be installed as described here.
Again, carefully follow the installation instructions that
were provided with the child restraint system.
The rear seat lower anchorages are round bars,
located at the rear of the seat cushion where it
meets the seat back, and are just visible when
you lean into the rear seat to install the child
restraint. You will easily feel them if you run your finger
along the intersection of the seatback and seat cushion
surfaces.In addition, there are tether strap anchorages
behind each rear seating position. Access ports
to the tether anchors are located in the panel
between the rear seat and the rear window. The
tether anchors are underneath access covers in the carpet
covering the back of the seat where you see this symbol.
Many, but not all restraint systems will be equipped with
separate straps on each side, with each having a hook or
connector for attachment to the lower anchorage and a
means of adjusting the tension in the strap. Forward-
facing toddler restraints and some rear-facing infant
restraints will also be equipped with a tether strap, a
hook for attachment to the tether strap anchorage and a
means of adjusting the tension of the strap.
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,
attach the lower hooks or connectors over the top of the
68 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

The seat belt must be in the Automatic Locking Mode in
order to enable a child restraint to be tightly installed.
Refer to ªAutomatic Locking Modeº in this section for
details. A locking clip should not be necessary once the
automatic locking feature is enabled. Position the shoul-
der and lap belt on the child restraint. The Automatic
Locking Retractor (ALR) is activated by first attaching
the child seat, then pulling all of the webbing out of the
retractor, then allowing the webbing to retract. As the
webbing retracts, you will hear a clicking sound. This
indicates the safety belt is now in the Automatic Locking
Mode. To release, simply unbuckle the seat belt by
depressing the button, and allow the webbing to retract
into the retractor.
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 thebuckle and twist the short buckle-end 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, you may need
to do something more. Disconnect the latch plate from
the buckle, turn the buckle 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.
To attach a child restraint tether strap:
1. If lowered, raise the convertible top.
NOTE:The convertible top must be in the up position to
access the tether anchor.
2. Open the access port cover (A) behind the seat where
you are placing the child restraint.
70 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE