2008 DODGE NITRO Owners Manual

The new Sentry Key is programmed.The Keyless Entry
Transmitter will also be programmed during this pro-
cedure.
Repeat this procedure to program up to 8 keys. If you do
not have a programmed sentry key, contact your dealer
for details.
NOTE:If a programmed key is lost, see your dealer to
have all remaining keys erased from the systems
memory. This will prevent the lost key from starting your
vehicle. The remaining keys must then be repro-
grammed. All vehicle keys must be taken to the dealer at
the time of service to be reprogrammed.
General Information
The Sentry Key system complies with FCC rules part 15
and with RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is
subject to the following conditions:
²This device may not cause harmful interference.
²This device must accept any interference that may be
received, including interference that may cause undes-
ired operation.
STEERING WHEEL LOCK Ð IF EQUIPPED
Your vehicle may be equipped with a passive steering
wheel lock (manual transmission only). This lock pre-
vents steering the vehicle without the ignition key. If the
steering wheel is moved a half turn in either direction
and the key is not in the ignition, the steering wheel will
lock.
To Manually Lock the Steering Wheel
With the engine running, rotate the steering wheel 1/2
revolution from straight ahead position, turn off the
engine, and remove the key. Rotate the steering wheel
slightly in both directions until the lock engages.
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To Release the Steering Wheel Lock
Insert the key in the ignition and turn the wheel slightly
to the right or left to disengage the lock.
NOTE:If you turned the wheel to the right to engage
the lock, you must turn the wheel slightly to the right to
disengage it. If you turned the wheel to the left to engage
the lock, turn the wheel slightly to the left to disengage it.
SECURITY ALARM SYSTEM Ð IF EQUIPPED
This system monitors the vehicle doors, liftgate, and
ignition for unauthorized operation. When the alarm is
activated, the system provides both audible and visual
signals. The horn will sound repeatedly for three minutes
and the headlights and taillights will flash for an addi-
tional 15 minutes.
NOTE:The ªPanicº and ªSecurityº alarms are quite
different. Please take a moment to activate the ªPanicº
and the ªSecurityº modes to hear the differences in thehorn. In case one should go off in the future, you will
need to know which mode has been activated in order to
deactivate it.
To Arm the System:
Remove the keys from the ignition switch and exit the
vehicle. Lock the doors and liftgate by pressing the
power door lock switch or the Lock button on the remote
keyless entry transmitter. Close all doors. The ªVehicle
Security Alarm Indicator Lightº (located in the instru-
ment cluster) will flash rapidly for about 16 seconds to
signal that the system is arming. During this 16-second
pre-arm period, opening any door or the liftgate will
cancel the arming process. If the system arms success-
fully, the ªVehicle Security Alarm Indicator Lightº will
flash at a slower rate to indicate the alarm is set.
Manually locking the doors with the door lock plunger
(located on the inside of the doors) or the driver's door
key lock cylinder will not arm the system.
18 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

To Disarm the System:
Either press the Unlock button on the remote keyless
entry transmitter or insert a valid sentry key into the
ignition lock cylinder and turn the key to the ON
position.
The Security Alarm System is designed to protect your
vehicle; however, you can create conditions where the
system will give you a false alarm. If the previously
described arming sequence has occurred, the system will
arm regardless of whether you are inside or outside the
vehicle. If you remain inside the vehicle and open a door,
the alarm will sound. If this occurs, disarm the system.
Manually unlocking the doors with the door lock plunger
(located on the inside of the doors) or the driver's door
key lock cylinder will not disarm the system.
Tamper Alert
If something has triggered the alarm in your absence, the
horn will sound three times when you unlock the doors.
Check the vehicle for tampering.
ILLUMINATED ENTRY
The interior lights come on when you open any door.
They will remain on for about 30 seconds after all doors
are closed then fade to off.
The lights also will fade to off if you turn on the ignition
after you close all the doors.
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REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY
This system allows you to lock or unlock the doors and
liftgate or activate the panic alarm from distances up to
23 feet (7 meters) using your key fob. The key fob does
not need to be pointed at the vehicle to activate the
system.NOTE:²For the remote starting feature (if equipped), refer to
ªRemote Starting Systemº in this section.
²Your vehicle's key fob may have three or four buttons
depending on the optional features purchased with
your vehicle.
To Unlock the Doors and Liftgate
Press and release the ªUnlockº button on the key fob
once to unlock the driver's door, or twice to unlock all
doors and the liftgate. The parking lights will flash to
acknowledge the unlock signal. The illuminated entry
system will also turn on.
Remote Key Unlock, Driver Door/All Doors First
This feature lets you program the system to unlock either
the driver's door or all doors and the liftgate on the first
press of the ªUnlockº button on the key fob. To change
the current setting, proceed as follows:
Three Button Key Fob
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On electronic vehicle information center (EVIC)
equipped vehicles, refer to ªRemote Key Unlock,º under
ªPersonal Settings (Customer Programmable Features),º
under ªElectronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)º in
Section 4 of this manual
On non-EVIC equipped vehicles, perform the following
steps:
1. Press and hold the ªLockº button on a programmed
(i.e. functional) key fob for at least 4 seconds, but not
longer than 10 seconds. Then, press and hold the ªUn-
lockº button while still holding the ªLockº button.
2. Release both buttons at the same time.
3. Test the feature from outside the vehicle by pressing
the ªLockº and ªUnlockº buttons on the key fob.
4. Repeat these steps if you want to return this feature to
its previous setting.NOTE:Pressing the ªLockº button on the key fob while
you are inside the vehicle will activate the Security
Alarm. Opening a door with the Security Alarm activated
will cause the alarm to sound. Press the ªUnlockº button
to deactivate the Security Alarm.
To Lock the Doors and Liftgate
Press and release the ªLockº button on the key fob to lock
all doors and the liftgate. If the ignition is OFF when the
doors are locked, the parking lights will flash once and
the horn will chirp once.
Sound Horn with Lock
This feature will cause the horn to chirp when the doors
are locked with the key fob. This feature can be turned on
or off. To change the current setting, proceed as follows:
²On electronic vehicle information center (EVIC)
equipped vehicles, refer to ªSound Horn with Lock,º
under ªPersonal Settings (Customer Programmable
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Features),º under ªElectronic Vehicle Information
Center (EVIC)º in Section 4 of this manual.
²On non-EVIC equipped vehicles, perform the follow-
ing steps:
1. Press the ªLockº button on a programmed (i.e. func-
tional) key fob for at least 4 seconds, but not longer than
10 seconds. Then, press the ªPanicº button while still
holding the ªLockº button.
2. Release both buttons at the same time.
3. Test the feature from outside the vehicle by pressing
the ªLockº button on the key fob.
4. Repeat these steps if you want to return this feature to
its previous setting.
NOTE:Pressing the ªLockº button on the key fob while
you are inside the vehicle will activate the SecurityAlarm. Opening a door with the Security Alarm activated
will cause the alarm to sound. Press the ªUnlockº button
to deactivate the Security Alarm.
Flash Lights with Lock
The feature will cause the parking lights to flash when
the doors are locked or unlocked with the key fob. This
feature can be turned on or turned off. To change the
current setting, proceed as follows:
²On electronic vehicle information center (EVIC)
equipped vehicles, refer to ªFlash Lights with Lock,º
under9Personal Settings (Customer Programmable
Features),º under ªElectronic Vehicle Information
Center (EVIC)º in Section 4 of this manual.
²On non-EVIC equipped vehicles, perform the follow-
ing steps:
22 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

1. Press and hold the ªUnlockº button on a programmed
(i.e. functional) key fob for at least 4 seconds, but not
longer than 10 seconds. Then, press and hold the ªLockº
button while still holding the ªUnlockº button.
2. Release both buttons at the same time.
3. Test the feature from outside the vehicle by pressing
the ªLockº and ªUnlockº buttons on the key fob.
4. Repeat these steps if you want to return this feature to
its previous setting.
NOTE:Pressing the ªLockº button on the key fob while
you are inside the vehicle will activate the Security
Alarm. Opening a door with the Security Alarm activated
will cause the alarm to sound. Press the ªUnlockº button
to deactivate the Security Alarm.Using the Panic Alarm
NOTE:The ªPanicº and ªSecurityº alarms are quite
different. Please take a moment to activate the ªPanicº
and the ªSecurityº modes to hear the differences in the
horn. In case one should go off in the future, you will
need to know which mode has been activated in order to
deactivate it.
To turn the panic alarm feature ON or OFF, press and
hold the ªPanicº button on the key fob for at least one
second and release. When the panic alarm is on, the
headlights and parking lights will flash, the horn will
pulse on and off, and the illuminated entry system will
turn on.
The panic alarm will stay on for 3 minutes unless you
turn it off by pressing the ªPanicº button a second time or
if the vehicle speed is 5 mph (8 km/h) or greater.
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During the Panic Mode, the door locks and remote
keyless entry systems will function normally. Panic mode
will not disarm the security system on vehicles so
equipped.
Programming Additional Transmitters
Refer to SENTRY KEY ªCustomer Key Programming.º
in this section.
NOTE:If you do not have a programmed transmitter
(key fob), contact your dealer for details.
Battery Replacement
The recommended replacement battery is CR2032.
NOTE:
Perchlorate Material ± special handling may
apply, See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate
1. If the key fob is equipped with a screw, remove the
screw. With the key fob buttons facing down, use a flat
blade to pry the two halves of the key fob case apart.
Make sure not to damage the seal during removal.
Separating Case Halves
24 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE