²When the system is armed, the interior power door
lock switches will not unlock the doors.
The VSA system is designed to protect your vehicle;
however, you can create conditions where the system will
give you a false alarm. If one of the previously described
arming sequences has occurred, the system will arm
regardless of whether you are in the vehicle or not. If you
remain in the vehicle and open a door, the alarm will
sound. If this occurs, disarm the system.
If the alarm system is armed and the battery becomes
disconnected the system will remain armed when the
battery is reconnected. The exterior lights will flash, the
horn will sound, and the ignition will not start the
vehicle. If this occurs, disarm the system.Tamper Alert
If something has triggered the alarm in your absence, and
the warning signals have timed out, the park and tail-
lights will flash three times when unlocking the vehicle
with a valid RKE transmitter.
ILLUMINATED ENTRY SYSTEM Ð IF EQUIPPED
The courtesy/reading lights will turn on when you use
the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter or open
either door.
This feature also turns on the approach lighting (if so
equipped). For details, refer to ªIlluminated Approach,º
under ªPersonal Settings (Customer Programmable Fea-
tures),º under ªElectronic Vehicle Information Center
(EVIC)º in Section 4 of this manual.
20 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
There is a single window control on the passenger's door
trim panel, which operates the passenger door window.
The window controls will operate when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON or ACC position, and when
the accessory delay feature is active.
NOTE:
²The door window will lower slightly if it is closed
completely when opening the door. The window will
return to its fully closed position after closing the door.
This action allows the door to open without resistance
and prevents window and top seal damage.
²If a fluttering noise is heard from the rear seat belts
while driving with the windows down, safely bring
the vehicle to a stop and buckle the rear seat belts over
the empty seats. This will keep tension on the seat
belts and remove the fluttering condition.
WARNING!
Never leave children in a vehicle, with the keys in
the ignition switch. Occupants, particularly unat-
tended children, can become entrapped by the win-
dows while operating the power window switches.
Such entrapment may result in serious injury or
death.
Auto Window Down Ð If Equipped
The front window controls on the driver and passenger
door trim panels have an Auto Down feature. These
switches are labeled AUTO to indicate this capability.
Push the window switch past the first detent, release, and
the window will go down automatically.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 33
2
NOTE:ANTI-PINCH PROTECTION
²If the window runs into any obstacle during auto-
closure, it will reverse direction and then stop. Remove
the obstacle and use the window switch again to close
the window.
²Any impact due to rough road conditions may trigger
the auto reverse function unexpectedly during auto-
closure. If this happens, pull the switch lightly to the
first detent and hold to close window manually.
WARNING!
There is no anti-pinch protection when the window
is almost closed. To avoid personal injury, be sure to
clear your arms, hands, fingers and all objects from
the window path before closing.
Reset Auto Up
If the vehicle battery goes dead, the auto feature will be
disabled. To reactivate the auto feature, perform the
following steps after vehicle power is restored:
1. Make sure the convertible top is closed (raised and
latched).
2. Pull the window switch up to close window com-
pletely and continue to hold the switch up for an
additional two seconds after the window is closed.
3. Push the window switch down firmly to open the
window completely and continue to hold the switch
down for an additional two seconds after the window is
fully open.
Window Lockout Switch
The window lockout switch on the driver's door trim
panel allows you to disable the window control on the
passenger door. To disable the window control on the
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 35
2
Seat Belt Pretensioners
The seat belts for both front seating positions are
equipped with pretensioning devices that are designed to
remove slack from the seat belt in the event of a collision.
These devices improve the performance of the seat belt
by assuring that the belt is tight about the occupant early
in a collision. Pretensioners work for all size occupants,
including those in child restraints.
In addition, the front passenger seat belt includes a
two-stage load-limiting feature to enhance occupant pro-
tection for the same reason.
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 Airbags
in this section). Like the front airbags, the pretensionersare 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 (BeltAlertT)
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 (BeltAlertt) will alert the driver to buckle their
seat belt. The driver should also instruct all other occu-
pants to buckle their seat belts. Once the warning is
triggered, the Enhanced Warning System (BeltAlertt)
will continue to chime and flash the Seat Belt Reminder
Light for 96 seconds or until the driver's seat belt is
buckled.
The Enhanced Warning System (BeltAlertt) will be reac-
tivated 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).
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 45
2
BeltAlerttProgramming
The Enhanced Warning System (BeltAlertt) can be en-
abled or disabled by your authorized dealer or by
performing the following steps:
NOTE:DaimlerChrysler does not recommend deacti-
vating the Enhanced Warning System (BeltAlertt).
1. With all doors closed, and the ignition switch in any
position except ON or START, buckle the driver's seat
belt.
2. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position, but do not
start the engine. Wait for the Seat Belt Reminder Light to
turn off and then proceed to the next step.
NOTE:You must perform the following steps within 60
seconds of turning the ignition switch to the ON position.3. Within 60 seconds of turning the ignition switch to the
ON position, unbuckle and then re-buckle the driver's
seat belt at least three times within 10 seconds, ending
with the seat belt buckled.
NOTE:Watch for the Seat Belt Reminder Light to turn
on while unbuckling and turn off while re-buckling the
seat belt. It may be necessary to retract the seat belt
partially after unbuckling it.
4. Turn the ignition switch to the LOCK position. A
single chime will sound to signify that you have success-
fully completed the programming.
The Enhanced Warning System (BeltAlertt) can be reac-
tivated by repeating this procedure.
NOTE:Although BeltAlerttis deactivated, the Seat Belt
Reminder Light will continue to illuminate as long as the
driver's seat belt is unbuckled.
46 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
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
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 49
2
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.
52 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
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.
54 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE