
Illuminated Approach Ð If Equipped
This feature activates the headlights for up to 90 seconds
when the doors are unlocked with the transmitter. The
time for this feature is programmable on vehicles
equipped with EVIC. For details, refer to ªIlluminated
Approach,º under ªPersonal Settings (Customer Pro-
grammable Features), under ªElectronic Vehicle Informa-
tion Center (EVIC)º in Section 4 of this manual.
TO LOCK THE DOORS
Press and release the LOCK button on the transmitter to
lock all doors. The turn signal lights will flash and the
horn will chirp once to acknowledge the lock signal.
Sound Horn with Lock
This feature will cause the horn to chirp when the doors
are locked with the transmitter. This feature can be
turned on or off. To change the current setting, proceed as
follows: ² For vehicles equipped with EVIC, refer to ªSound
Horn with Lock,º under ªPersonal Settings (Customer
Programmable Features)º under ªElectronic Vehicle
Information Center (EVIC)º in Section 4 of this manual
for details.
² For vehicles not equipped with the EVIC, perform the
following steps:
1. Press the LOCK button on a programmed transmitter
for at least four seconds, but not longer than ten seconds.
Then, press the PANIC button while still holding the
LOCK button.
2. Release both buttons at the same time.
3. Test the feature while outside of the vehicle, by
pressing the LOCK button on the transmitter with the
ignition in the LOCK position, and the key removed.
4. Repeat these steps if you want to return this feature to
its previous setting.24 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

NOTE: Pressing the LOCK button on the transmitter
while you are in the vehicle will activate the Security
Alarm. Opening a door with the Security Alarm activated
will cause the alarm to sound. Press the UNLOCK button
to deactivate the Security Alarm.
TO UNLATCH THE TRUNK
Press the TRUNK button on the transmitter two times to
unlatch the trunk.
USING THE EXPRESS DOWN WINDOWS
FEATURE Ð IF EQUIPPED
This feature allows you to remotely lower both front door
windows at the same time. To use this feature, press and
release the UNLOCK button on the transmitter and then
immediately press and hold the UNLOCK button until
the windows lower to the level desired or until they
lower completely. USING THE PANIC ALARM
To turn the PANIC alarm feature ON or OFF, press and
hold the PANIC button on the transmitter for at least one
second and release. When the PANIC alarm is on, the
headlights and park lights will flash, the horn will pulse
on and off, and the illuminated entry system (if
equipped) will turn on.
The PANIC alarm will stay on for three minutes unless
you turn it off by pressing the PANIC button a second
time or if the vehicle speed is 5 mph (8 km/h) or greater.
NOTE: You may need to be close to the vehicle when
using the transmitter to turn off the PANIC alarm due to
the radio frequency noises emitted by the system. THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 25
2

AUTO WINDOW UP Ð IF EQUIPPED
Lift the window switch to the second detent, release, and
the window will go up automatically.
To cancel the Auto Up movement, operate the switch
either in the up or down direction and release the switch.
To close the window part way, lift the window switch to
the first detent and release it when you want the window
to stop.
NOTE: ANTI-PINCH PROTECTION
² If the window runs into an obstacle during auto-
closure, it will reverse direction and then stop. Remove
the obstacle and use the window switch again to close
the window.
² Any 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!When the window is almost closed, there is no
anti-pinch protection. To avoid personal injury, be
sure to clear your arms, hands, fingers and all objects
from the window path before closing.
RESET AUTO UP
Any time the vehicle battery goes dead, the auto-up
function will be disabled. To reactivate the auto-up
feature, pull the window switch up to close the window
completely and continue to hold the switch up for an
additional two seconds after the window is closed. THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 37
2

REAR SEAT BELTS
Three point belts are nonadjustable for outboard and
center rear passengers on sedans. The center belt is
mounted to the rear shelf panel and exits through a bezel
in the panel.
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) (see Airbag Section). Like the
front airbags, the pretensioners 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 T )
If the occupied 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), BeltAlert t will
alert the driver to buckle their seat belt. The driver
should also instruct all other occupants to buckle their
seat belts. Once the warning is triggered, BeltAlert t will
continue to chime and flash the Seat Belt Warning Light
for 96 seconds or until the driver's seat belt is buckled.48 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

BeltAlert t will 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).
BELTALERT T PROGRAMMING
BeltAlert t can be enabled or disabled by your authorized
dealer or by following these steps:
NOTE: The following steps must occur within the first
60 seconds of the ignition switch being turned to the ON
or START position. DaimlerChrysler does not recom-
mend deactivating BeltAlert t .
1. Turn the ignition switch to the LOCK position and
buckle the driver's seat belt.
2. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position and wait
for the Seat Belt Warning Light to turn off. 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 Warning Light to turn on
while unbuckling and off while re-buckling the seat belt.
It may be necessary to retract the seat belt partially each
time when unbuckling.
4. Turn the ignition switch to the LOCK position. A
single chime will sound to signify that you have success-
fully completed the programming.
BeltAlert t can be reactivated by repeating this procedure.
NOTE: Although BeltAlert t has been deactivated, the
Seat Belt Warning Light will continue to illuminate while
the driver's seat belt remains unbuckled. THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 49
2

NOTE: The front airbags are certified to the Federal
regulations that allow less forceful deployment.
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 and occupant size. This vehicle may also be equipped with window bags to
protect the driver, front, and rear passengers sitting next
to a window. If the vehicle is equipped with window
bags, they are located above the side windows. Their
covers are also labeled SRS AIRBAG.
NOTE: Airbag covers may not be obvious in the interior
trim; but they will open to allow airbag deployment.
AIRBAG SYSTEM COMPONENTS
The airbag system consists of the following:
² Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
² Airbag Light
² Driver Airbag
² Front Passenger Airbag
² Supplemental Side Airbag Inflatable Curtains (SABIC)
Ð If EquippedFront Airbag Components52 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

² Front SeatÐ side mounted (Thorax) Airbags Ð If
Equipped
² Front Impact Sensors
² Side Impact Sensors (If Equipped)
² Steering Wheel and Column
² Instrument Panel
² Seat Belt Reminder Light
² Knee Impact Bolster
² Front Seat Belt Pretensioners
FRONT SEAT 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 car. 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.
Driver 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 side
airbag.
In addition to the small size, the inflating gasses exit
through strategically placed vents, which direct the gas
away from the occupant. THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 53
2

AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SENSORS AND
CONTROLS
Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
The Occupant Restraint Controller System (ORC) is
part of a Federally regulated safety system required for
this vehicle.
The ORC determines if a frontal collision is severe
enough to require the airbags to inflate. Based on the
sensor signals, a central electronic Occupant Restraint
Controller (ORC) deploys the front airbags, side inflat-
able airbag curtains (if equipped), seat-mounted side
(Thorax) airbags (if equipped), and front seat belt preten-
sioners 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 RUN positions. 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 OFF 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.
Also, the ORC turns on the Airbag Warning
Light in the instrument panel for 6 to 8 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. THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 59
2