2008 DODGE DURANGO child restraint

around the child restraint so that it is not necessary to
use a locking clip. If the seat belt has a cinching latch
plate, pulling up on the shoulder portion of the
lap/shoulder belt will tighten the belt. The cinching
latch plate will keep the belt tight, however, any seat
belt system will loosen with time, so check the belt
occasionally and pull it tight if necessary. If the seat
belt has a automatic locking retractor, it will have a
distinctive label. Pull the belt from the retractor until
there is enough to allow you to pass through the child
restraint and slide the latch plate into the buckle. Then,
pull the belt until it is all extracted from the retractor.Allow the belt to return to the retractor, pulling on the
excess webbing to tighten the lap portion about the
child restraint. Refer to9Automatic Locking Mode9
earlier in this section.
²Buckle the child into the restraint exactly as the
manufacturer's instructions tell you.
²When your child restraint is not in use, secure it in the
vehicle with the seat belt or remove it from the vehicle.
Do not leave it loose in the vehicle. In a sudden stop or
collision, it could strike the occupants or seat backs
and cause serious personal injury.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 67
2

LATCH - Child Seat Anchorage System (Lower
Anchors and Tether for CHildren)
Your vehicle's second row seat is equipped with the child
restraint anchorage system called LATCH. The LATCH
system provides for the installation of the child restraint
without using the vehicle's seat belts, instead securing
the child restraint using lower anchorages and upper
tether straps from the child restraint to the vehicle
structure. LATCH-compatible child restraint systems are
now available. However, because the lower anchorages
are to be introduced over a period of years, child restraint
systems having attachments for those anchorages will
continue to also have features for installation using the
vehicle's seat belts. Child restraints having tether straps
and hooks for connection to the top tether anchorages
have been available for some time. For some older child
restraints, many child restraint manufacturers offeradd-on tether strap kits or retro-fit kits. You are urged to
take advantage of all the available attachments provided
with your child restraint in any vehicle.
All three second row seating positions have lower an-
chorages that are capable of accommodating LATCH-
compatible child seats having flexible, webbing-mounted
lower attachments. Child seats with fixed lower attach-
ments must be installed in the outboard positions only.
Regardless of the specific type of lower attachment,
NEVERinstall LATCH-compatible child seats such that
two seats share a common lower anchorage. If you are
installing LATCH-compatible child restraints in adjacent
rear seating positions, you can use the LATCH anchors or
the vehicle's seat belt for the outboard position, but you
must use the vehicle's seat belt at the center position. If
your child restraints are not LATCH-compatible, you can
68 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

only install the child restraints using the vehicle's seat
belts. Please refer to the next section for typical installa-
tion instructions.
Second Row Seat Left Side
Second Row Seat Right Side
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 69
2

Installing the LATCH-Compatible Child Restraint
System
We urge that you carefully follow the directions of the
manufacturer when installing your child restraint. Not all
child restraint systems will be installed as described here.
Again, carefully follow the installation instructions that
were provided with the child restraint system. The rear
seat lower anchorages are round bars, located at the rear
of the seat cushion where it meets the seat back, and are
just visible when you lean into the rear seat to install the
child restraint. You will easily feel them if you run your
finger along the intersection of the seatback and seat
cushion surfaces. In addition, there are tether strap
anchorages behind each second row seating position
located on the back of the seat. Many, but not all restraint
systems will be equipped with separate straps on each
side, with each having a hook or connector for attach-
ment to the lower anchorage and a means of adjusting
the tension in the strap. Forward-facing toddler restraintsand some rear-facing infant restraints will also be
equipped with a tether strap, a hook for attachment to the
tether strap anchorage and a means of adjusting the
tension of the strap. You will first loosen the adjusters on
the lower straps and on the tether strap so that you can
more easily attach the hooks or connectors to the vehicle
anchorages. Next attach the lower hooks or connectors
over the top of the anchorage bars, pushing aside the seat
cover material. Then attach the tether strap to the anchor-
age located on the back of the seat, being careful to route
the tether strap to provide the most direct path between
the anchor and the child restraint. If your vehicle is
equipped with adjustable rear head restraints, raise the
head restraint and, route the tether strap under the head
restraint and between the two posts. Finally, tighten all
three straps as you push the child restraint rearward and
downward into the seat, removing slack in the straps
according to the child restraint manufacturer's instruc-
tions.
70 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

NOTE:When using the LATCH attaching system to
install a child restraint, please ensure that all seat belts
not being used for occupant restraints are stowed and out
of reach of children. It is recommended that before
installing the child restraint, buckle the seat belt so the
seat belt is tucked behind the child restraint and out of
reach. If the buckled seat belt interferes with the child
restraint installation, instead of tucking the seat belt
behind the child restraint, route the seat belt through the
child restraint belt path and then buckle it. This should
stow the seat belt out of the reach of an inquisitive child.
Remind all children in the vehicle that the seat belts are
not toys and should not be played with, and never leave
your child unattended in the vehicle.WARNING!
Improper installation of a child restraint to the
LATCH anchorages can lead to failure of an infant or
child restraint. The child could be badly injured or
killed. Follow the manufacturer's directions exactly
when installing an infant or child restraint.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 71
2

Installing Child Restraints Using the Vehicle Seat
Belt
The second and third row seats have either cinching latch
plates or automatic locking retractors which are designed
to keep the lap portion tight around the child restraint so
that it is not necessary to use a locking clip. If the seat belt
has a cinching latch plate, pulling up on the shoulder
portion of the lap/shoulder belt will tighten the belt. The
cinching latch plate will keep the belt tight, however, any
seat belt system will loosen with time, so check the belt
occasionally and pull it tight if necessary. If the seat belt
has a automatic locking retractor, it will have a distinctive
label. Pull the belt from the retractor until there is enough
to allow you to pass through the child restraint and slide
the latch plate into the buckle. Then, pull the belt until it
is all extracted from the retractor. Allow the belt to return
to the retractor, pulling on the excess webbing to tighten
the lap portion about the child restraint. Refer to9Auto-
matic Locking Mode9earlier in this section.
Child Restraints in Third Row Seating (If
Equipped)
For vehicles equipped with third row split bench (60/40)
seating, the tether strap anchorage is located on the seat
Second Row Seat Tether Anchors
72 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

back behind the center seating position. The hooks in the
rear floor areNOTdesigned to withstand the forces that
may occur during a crash.
WARNING!
An incorrectly anchored tether strap could lead to
increased head motion and possible injury to the
child. Use only the anchor positions directly behind
the child seat to secure a child restraint top tether
strap. Children and infants are safer when properly
restrained in a child restraint system secured in a rear
seating position.
Child Restraint Tether Anchor
There are tether strap anchorages behind each seating
position in the second row and behind the center seatingposition in the case of the third row seat (60/40) split
bench, if equipped. To install child restraint tether follow
these instructions.
1. Place the child restraint in the center seating position
of the third row of seats.
Third Row Seat Tether Anchor
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 73
2

2. Route the tether strap under the head restraint and
between the two headrest posts.
3. Attach the tether strap hook of the child restraint to
the tether anchor located on the seat back and remove the
slack in the tether strap according to the manufacturer 's
instructions.
WARNING!
An incorrectly anchored tether strap could lead to
seat failure and injury to the child. In a collision, the
seat could come loose and allow the child to crash
into the inside of the vehicle or other passengers, or
even be thrown from the vehicle. Use only the anchor
positions directly behind the child seat to secure a
child restraint top tether strap. Follow the instruc-
tions for Child Restraint Tether Anchor in this sec-
tion. See your dealer for help if necessary.
Transporting Pets
Airbags deploying in the front seat could harm your pet.
An unrestrained pet will be thrown about and possibly
injured, or injure a passenger during panic braking or in
a collision. Pets should be restrained in the rear seat in
pet harnesses or pet carriers that are secured by seat belts.
ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS
A long break-in period is not required for the engine in
your new vehicle. Drive moderately during the first 300
miles (500 km). After the initial 60 miles (100 km), speeds
up to 50 or 55 mph (80 or 90 km/h) are desirable. While
cruising, brief full-throttle acceleration, within the limits
of local traffic laws, contributes to a good break-in.
Avoid wide open throttle acceleration in low gear.
The engine oil installed in the engine at the factory is a
high-quality, energy-conserving type lubricant. Oil
changes should be consistent with anticipated climate
74 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE