2008 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE Owners Manual

NOTE:The front airbags are certified to the Federal
regulations that allow less forceful deployment.
The front airbags have a dual-stage inflator design. This
may allow the airbag to have different rates of inflation
that are based on collision severity and occupant size.
WARNING!
²Do not put anything on or around the front airbag
covers or attempt to open them manually. 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.
²Do not use accessory seat covers or place objects
between you and the seat airbags; the performance
could be adversely affected and/or objects could be
pushed into you, causing serious injury.
²Do 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.
²Do not drill, cut or tamper with the knee bolster in
any way.
²Do not mount any accessories to the knee bolster such
as alarm lights, stereos, citizens band radios etc.
Front Airbag Components
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Along with seat belts and pretensioners, front airbags
work with the knee bolsters to provide improved protec-
tion for the driver and front passenger. 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. In certain types of
collisions, both the front and seat airbags may be trig-
gered. However, even in collisions where the airbags
work, you need the seat belts to keep you in the right
position for the airbags to protect you properly.
Here are some simple steps you can take to minimize the
risk of harm from a deploying airbag.
1.Children 12 years old and under should always ride
buckled up in a rear seat.Infants in rear facing child restraints shouldNEVERride
in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger front airbag.
An airbag deployment can cause severe injury or death to
infants in that position.
Children that are not big enough to wear the vehicle seat
belt properly (Refer to information on Child Restraint in
this section) should be secured in the rear seat in child
restraints or belt-positioning booster seats. Older chil-
dren who do not use child restraints or belt-positioning
booster seats should ride properly buckled up in the rear
seat. Never allow children to slide the shoulder belt
behind them or under their arm.
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.
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You should read the instructions provided with your
child restraint to make sure that you are using it properly.
2.All occupants should wear their lap and shoulder
belts properly.
3.The driver and front passenger seats should be
moved back as far as practical to allow the front airbags
room to inflate.
4.If your vehicle has seat airbags, do not lean against
the door, airbags will inflate forcefully into the space
between you and the door.
5.If the airbag system in this vehicle needs to be
modified to accommodate a disabled person, contact
the Customer Center. Phone numbers are provided
under(If You Need Assistance(in Section 9 of this
manual.WARNING!
²Relying 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.
²Being too close to the steering wheel or instrument
panel during front airbag deployment could cause
serious injury. Airbags need room to inflate. Sit
back, comfortably extending your arms to reach
the steering wheel or instrument panel.
²Seat airbags also need room to inflate. Do not lean
against the door. Sit upright in the center of the
seat.
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Airbag System Components
The airbag system consists of the following:
²Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
²AIRBAG Warning Light
²Driver Airbag
²Front Passenger Airbag
²Supplemental seat side (Thorax) and head airbags.
²Front Impact Sensors
²Side Impact Sensors (If Equipped)
²Steering Wheel and Column
²Instrument Panel
²Seat Belt Reminder Light
²Knee Impact Bolsters
²Driver and Front Passenger Seat Belt Pretensioners
How the Airbag System Works
²
Front Airbag Features
The front airbag system has dual-stage driver and front
passenger airbags. This system provides output appro-
priate to the level of crash severity as determined by the
Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) and the impact
sensors at the front of the vehicle.
The first stage inflator is triggered immediately during an
impact that requires airbag deployment. The timing of
the second stage determines whether the output force is
low, medium, or high. If a low output is sufficient to meet
the need, the second stage is expended later in the crash
event.
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²Driver Airbag Special Features
Driver airbag deployment and force level is controlled by
the driver's seat position as well as impact severity. Use
of special inflators, result in a very compact driver's
airbag.
In addition to the small size, the inflating gasses exit
through strategically placed vents, which direct the gas
away from the occupant.
²Front Passenger Airbag Special Features
A new active venting front-passenger airbag is designed
to reduce the risk of occupants who may be out of
position by the use of active vents positioned on each
side of the airbag.
²Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) is part of a
Federally regulated safety system required for this ve-
hicle.The ORC determines if a frontal collision is severe
enough to require the airbags to inflate. Based on the
sensor signals, a central electronic ORC deploys the front
airbags, front seat mounted side and head airbags, and
front seat belt pretensioners as required for each type of
impact.
The ORC monitors the readiness of the electronic parts of
the system whenever the ignition switch is in the START
or ON position. These include all of the items listed
above except the steering wheel and column, instrument
panel, and passenger knee bolsters. If the key is in the
LOCK position, in the ACC position, or not in the
ignition, the airbags are not on and will not inflate.
The ORC contains a backup power supply system that
will deploy the airbags even if the battery loses power or
it becomes disconnected prior to deployment.
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The ORC also turns on the AIRBAG warning
light in the instrument panel for six to eight
seconds for 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 the AIRBAG warning
light either momentarily or continuously. A single chime
will sound if the light comes on again after initial start up.
It also includes diagnostics that will illuminate the instru-
ment cluster airbag warning light if a malfunction is noted.
The diagnostics also record the nature of the malfunction.
WARNING!
Ignoring the AIRBAG light in your instrument 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.
²Impact Sensors
Two sensors, located on the front body structure, trigger
airbag deployment in direct frontal impacts and aid the
ORC in determining appropriate response to frontal
impact events. Additional sensors in the ORC determine
the level of airbag deployment and provide verification.
²Supplemental Front-Seat-Mounted Side and Head
Airbags
Front-seat-mounted side and head airbags provide en-
hanced protection to help protect an occupant during a
side impact. The seat-mounted side and head airbags are
marked with an SRS label sewn into the outboard side of
the seat.
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The ORC System deploys the seat-mounted airbags dur-
ing a collision with other vehicles and during a collision
where the impact is confined to a particular area of the
vehicle Ð such as a collision with poles, trees or similar
objects.When the bag deploys, it opens the seam between the
front and side of the seat's trim cover.
Each bag deploys independently, that is a left side impact
deploys the left bag only and a right-side impact deploys
only the right bag.
The following requirements must be strictly adhered to:
²Do not make any modifications to the front seat
components, assembly, or to the seat cover in any way.
²Do not use prior or future model year seat covers not
designated for the specific model being repaired. Al-
ways use the correct seat cover specified for the
vehicle.
²Do not replace the seat cover with an aftermarket seat
cover.
Seat-mounted Side Airbag Label
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²Do not add a secondary seat cover other than those
approved by DaimlerChrysler/Mopar.t
²At no time should any Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) component or SRS related component or fas-
tener be modified or replaced with any part except
those which are approved by DaimlerChrysler/
Mopar.t
WARNING!
Unapproved modifications or service procedures to
the front seat assembly, its related components, or
seat cover may inadvertently change the airbag de-
ployment in case of a frontal crash. This could result
in death or serious injury to the driver or front seat
passenger if the vehicle is involved in an accident. A
modified vehicle may not comply with required
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).
If A Deployment Occurs
The airbag systems are designed to deploy when the
Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) detects a moderate-
to-severe collision, to help restrain the driver and front
passenger, and then immediately deflate.
NOTE:A frontal collision that is not severe enough to
need airbag protection will not activate the system. This
does not mean something is wrong with the airbag
system.
If you do have a collision, which deploys the airbags, any
or all of the following may occur:
²The nylon airbag material may sometimes cause abra-
sions and/or skin reddening to the driver and front
passenger as the airbags deploy and unfold. The
abrasions are similar to friction rope burns or those
you might get sliding along a carpet or gymnasium
floor. They are not caused by contact with chemicals.
They are not permanent and normally heal quickly.
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