2008 DODGE AVENGER warning

ªCHILD-PROTECTIONº DOOR LOCK SYSTEM
(REAR DOORS)
The Rear Door Child-Protection Locks are located inside
the rear edge of the door. Insert the tip of the ignition key
or similar flat-bladed object into the lock and rotate
approximately oneÐquarter turn to the lock or unlock
position (as indicated by the stamped icons).
WARNING!Avoid trapping anyone in a vehicle in a collision.
Remember that the rear doors can only be opened from
the outside when the child protection locks are engaged. Child Lock Control34 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

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.
To open the window part way, push the window switch
to the first detent and release it when you want the
window to stop. To cancel the Auto Down movement, operate the switch
either in the up or down direction and release the switch.
For vehicles not equipped with the Electronic Vehicle
Information Center (EVIC), the power window switches
will remain active for approximately 45 seconds after the
ignition switch is turned to the LOCK position. Opening
either door will cancel this feature.
For vehicles equipped with the Electronic Vehicle Infor-
mation Center (EVIC), the power window switches will
remain active for up to 10 minutes after the ignition
switch is turned off. Opening either door will cancel this
feature. The time for this feature is programmable. For
details, refer to ªKey-Off Power Delay,º under ªPersonal
Settings (Customer Programmable Features)º under
ªElectronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)º in Sec-
tion 4 of this manual.36 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

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

TRUNK RELEASE
From inside the car the trunk lid
can be released by depressing the
Trunk Release Button located on
the instrument panel to the left of
the steering wheel. The transmis-
sion must be in Park before the
switch will operate.
NOTE: The gear selector lever must be in PARK for this
switch to operate.
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
place of the odometer display indicating that the trunk is
open. The odometer display will reappear once the trunk
is closed or if the trip button is depressed. With the key in the lock position or with the key out, the
word ªdeckº will display until the trunk is closed.
On EVIC equipped vehicles, the words ªTrunk Ajarº will
display.
TRUNK SAFETY WARNING
WARNING!Do not allow children to have access to the trunk,
either by climbing into the trunk from outside, or
through the inside of the vehicle. Always close the
trunk lid when your vehicle is unattended. Once in
the trunk, young children may not be able to escape,
even if they entered through the rear seat. If trapped
in the trunk, children can die from suffocation or
heat stroke. THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 39
2

² Supplemental Side Airbag Inflatable Curtains (SABIC)
that span the front and second rows for sedans Ð if
equipped
² Supplemental seat side (Thorax) airbags Ð if
equipped
² Front seat belt retractors incorporate pretensioners to
enhance occupant protection by managing occupant
energy during an impact event.
² All seat belt systems (except the driver's) include
Automatic Locking Retractors (ALRs), which lock the
seat belt webbing into position by extending the belt
all the way out and then adjusting the belt to the
desired length to restrain a child seat or secure a large
item in a seat.
If you will be carrying children too small for adult-size
seat belts, your seat belts or the LATCH feature also can
be used to hold infant and child restraint systems. NOTE: The front airbags have a multi 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. THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 41
2

Buckle up even though you are an excellent driver, even
on short trips. Someone on the road may be a poor driver
and 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 seating positions in your vehicle are equipped with
Lap/Shoulder Belts.
The belt webbing retractor will lock only during very
sudden stops or collisions. This feature allows the shoul-
der part of the belt to move freely with you under normal conditions. But in a collision, the belt will lock and reduce
your risk of striking the inside of the vehicle or being
thrown out.
WARNING!² Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and
using a seat belt properly.
² It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people
riding in these areas are more likely to be seri-
ously injured or killed.
² Wearing a seat belt incorrectly is dangerous. Seat
belts are designed to go around the large bones of
your body. These are the strongest parts of your
body and can take the forces of a collision the best.42 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!² Wearing your belt in the wrong place could make
your injuries in a collision much worse. You might
suffer internal injuries, or you could even slide out
of part of the belt. Follow these instructions to
wear your seat belt safely and to keep your pas-
sengers safe, too.
² Two people should never be belted into a single
seat belt. People belted together can crash into one
another in an accident, hurting one another badly.
Never use a lap/shoulder belt or lap belt for more
than one person, no matter what their size.
Lap/Shoulder Belt Operating Instructions
1. Enter the vehicle and close the door. Sit back and
adjust the seat. 2. The seat belt latch plate is above the back of the front
seat, next to your arm. Grasp the latch plate and pull out
the belt. Slide the latch plate up the webbing as far as
necessary to allow the belt to go around your lap.
Pulling Out the Latch PlateTHINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 43
2

3. When the belt is long enough to fit, insert the latch
plate into the buckle until you hear a ªclick.º
WARNING!² A 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.
² A belt that is too loose will not protect you as well.
In a sudden stop, you could move too far forward,
increasing the possibility of injury. Wear your seat
belt snugly. Inserting Latch Plate Into Buckle44 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE