2008 DODGE CHARGER airbag

NDriver And Front Passenger Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS) - Airbag............50
NEvent Data Recorder (EDR)...............63
NChild Restraint........................65
mEngine Break-In Recommendations...........74
mSafety Tips............................75
NTransporting Passengers.................75NLock Your Vehicle......................75
NExhaust Gas..........................75
NSafety Checks You Should Make Inside The
Vehicle..............................77
NPeriodic Safety Checks You Should Make
Outside The Vehicle....................78
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 11
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Trunk Emergency Release
The trunk of your vehicle is equipped with an emergency
release handle. It is located on the inside of the trunk lid,
near the latch, and is coated so that it glows in a darkened
trunk. Pull on the handle to open the trunk.
OCCUPANT RESTRAINTS
Some of the most important safety features in your
vehicle are the restraint systems. These include the front
and rear seat belts for the driver and all passengers, the
front airbags for both the driver and front passenger, the
optional supplemental side curtain airbags for the driver
and passengers seated next to a window, and the optional
supplemental front-seat-mounted side airbags. If you
will be carrying children too small for adult-size belts,
your seat belts also can be used to hold infant and child
restraint systems.
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.
Emergency Release
40 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

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.
Seat Belt Pretensioners
The seat belts for both front seating positions are
equipped with pretensioning devices that are designed to
remove any slack from the seat belts in the event of a
collision. These devices improve the performance of the
seat belt system by assuring that the belt is tight about the
occupant in a collision. Pretensioners work for all size
occupants, including those in child restraints.
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 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 (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
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 47
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Seat Belt Extender
If a seat belt is too short, even when fully extended, and
when the adjustable upper shoulder belt anchorage (if so
equipped) is in its lowest position, your dealer can
provide you with a seat belt extender. This extender
should be used only if the existing belt is not long
enough. When it is not required, remove the extender,
and store it.
WARNING!
Using a seat belt extender when not needed can
increase the risk of injury in a collision. Only use
when the seat belt is not long enough when it is worn
low and snug, and in the recommended seating
positions. Remove and store the extender when not
needed.
Driver and Front Passenger Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS) - Airbag
This vehicle has front airbags for both the driver and front
passenger as a supplement to the seat belt restraint systems.
The driver's airbag is mounted in the center of the steering
wheel. The passenger's front airbag is mounted in the
instrument panel, above the glove compartment. The words
SRS AIRBAG are embossed on the airbag covers.
Front Airbag Components
50 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 multistage inflator design. This
may allow the airbag to have different rates of inflation
that are based on collision severity.WARNING!
²Do not put anything on or around the front airbag
covers or attempt to manually open them. 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 inflat-
ing.
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.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 51
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This vehicle may also be equipped with supplemental
side curtain airbags to protect the driver and passengers
sitting next to a window and/or supplemental front-seat-
mounted side airbags.
If the vehicle is equipped with supplemental side curtain
airbags, 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.
If the vehicle is equipped with supplemental front-seat-
mounted side airbags, they are marked with an SRS label
sewn into the outboard side of the seat.
Window Airbag
52 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
²If your vehicle is equipped with supplemental front-seat-
mounted side airbags, do 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.
²If your vehicle is equipped with supplemental front-seat-
mounted side airbags, do 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.
²If your vehicle is equipped with supplemental side
curtain airbags, do not stack luggage or other cargo up
high enough to block the location of the side curtain
airbag. The area where the side curtain airbag is located
should remain free from any obstructions.
²If your vehicle is equipped with supplemental side
curtain airbags, do not have any accessory items installed
which will alter the roof, including adding a sunroof to
your vehicle. Do not add roof racks that require perma-
nent attachments (bolts or screws) for installation on the
vehicle roof. Do not drill into the roof of the vehicle for
any reason.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 53
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NOTE:Do not use a clothing bar mounted to the coat
hooks in this vehicle. A clothing bar will impede the
proper performance of the curtain airbags.
Along with the seat belts, front airbags work with the
instrument panel knee bolsters to provide improved
protection for the driver and front passenger. Side curtain
and 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. For vehicles so
equipped, the supplemental side curtain airbag and
front-seat-mounted side airbag on the crash side of the
vehicle will also trigger in moderate to severe side
collisions. However, even in collisions where the airbags
deploy, you need the seat belts to keep you in the correct
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 ride buckled
up in the rear seat.
2. Infants in rear-facing child restraints shouldNEVER
ride in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger front
airbag. An airbag deployment could cause severe injury
or death to infants in that position.
3. 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.
4. Older children who do not use child restraints or
belt-positioning booster seats should ride properly buck-
led up in the rear seat. Never allow children to slide the
shoulder belt behind them or under their arm.
54 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE