2008 DODGE NITRO instrument panel

TABLE OF CONTENTSSECTIONPAGE
1INTRODUCTION.............................................................3
2THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE...............................9
3UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE...............................79
4INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS......................................... 163
5STARTING AND OPERATING................................................. 241
6WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES...............................................333
7MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE............................................... 345
8MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES.................................................. 397
9IF YOU NEED CONSUMER ASSISTANCE..........................................405
10INDEX....................................................................415
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WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS
This manual containsWARNINGSagainst operating
procedures, which could result in an accident or bodily
injury. It also containsCAUTIONSagainst procedures,
which could result in damage to your vehicle. If you do
not read this entire manual, you may miss important
information. Observe all Warnings and Cautions.
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
The vehicle identification number (VIN) is found on the
left front corner of the instrument panel. The VIN is
visible from outside of the vehicle through the wind-
shield. This number also appears on the Automobile
Information Disclosure Label affixed to a window on
your vehicle, the vehicle registration, and the title.NOTE:It is illegal to remove the VIN.
Vehicle Identification Number
INTRODUCTION 7
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Driver And Front Passenger Supplemental
Restraint Systems (SRS)This vehicle has airbags for both the driver and right
front passenger as a supplement to the seat belt restraint
systems. The driver's front airbag is mounted in the
steering wheel. The passenger side airbag is mounted in
the instrument panel, above the glove compartment. The
words SRS/AIRBAG are embossed on the airbag covers.
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.
Also, the front passenger airbag is certified to the Federal
regulations that define Occupant Classification (Refer to
9Occupant Classification System9in this section).
Front Airbag Components
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WARNING!
²Relying on the airbags alone could lead to more
severe injuries in a collision. The airbags work
with your seat belt to restrain you properly. In
some collisions the airbags won't deploy at all.
Always wear your seat belts even though you have
airbags.
²Being too close to the steering wheel or instrument
panel during airbag deployment could cause seri-
ous injury. Airbags need room to inflate. Sit back,
comfortably extending your arms to reach the
steering wheel or instrument panel.
²The side curtain airbags need room to inflate. Do
not lean against the door or window. Sit upright in
the center of the seat.
Airbag System Components
The airbag system consists of the following:
²Occupant Restraint Control Module
²Airbag Warning Light
²Driver Airbag
²Passenger Airbag
²Side Curtain Airbags above Side Windows
²Side Remote Acceleration Sensors
²Steering Wheel and Column
²Instrument Panel
²Interconnecting Wiring
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 53
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²Front Remote Acceleration Sensors
²Seat Track Position Sensors (STPS) Ð If Present
²Driver and Front Passenger Seat Belt Pretensioner
²Driver and Front Passenger Seat Belt Retractors
²Occupant Classification System (OCS) Ð Front Pas-
senger Seat Only
þOccupant Classification Module
þPassenger Airbag Disable (PAD) Indicator Light
þWeight Sensors
How The Airbag System Works
²
TheOccupant Restraint Control (ORC) Modulede-
termines if a frontal, side, or rollover collision is severe
enough to require the airbags to inflate. The front
airbag inflators are designed to provide different rates
of airbag inflation from direction provided by the
ORC. The ORC may also modify the rate of inflation
based on the occupant size provided by the Occupant
Classification Module. The ORC will detect roll over,
but not rear impacts.
The ORC also monitors the readiness of the electronic
parts of the system whenever the ignition switch is in
the START or ON positions. These include all of the
items listed above except the instrument panel, and
the steering wheel and column. If the key is in the
LOCK position, in the ACC position, or not in the
ignition, the airbags are not on and will not inflate.
54 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

NOTE:Children 12 years and under should always ride
buckled up in a rear seat in an appropriate child restraint.
²ThePassenger Airbag Disable (PAD) Indicator Light
(an amber light located in the center of the instrument
panel) tells the driver and front passenger when the
front passenger airbag is turned off. The ªPAD Indi-
cator Lightº illuminates the words9PASS AIR BAG
OFF9to show that the passenger airbag will not inflate
during a collision requiring airbags. When the right
front passenger seat is empty or when very light
objects are placed on the seat, the passenger airbag
will not inflate even though the ªPAD Indicator Lightº
is not illuminated.
The ªPAD Indicator Lightº should not be illuminated
when a adult passenger is properly seated in the front
passenger seat. In this case, the airbag is ready to be
inflated if a collision requiring an airbag occurs.
Indicator Light Location
56 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

the OCS has classified the occupant of the seat as an
adult. An adult occupant needs to sit in a normal position
(with their feet on or near the floor) in order to be
properly classified. Reclining the seat back too far may
change how an occupant is classified by the OCS.
Drivers and adult passengers should verify that the
ªPAD Indicator Lightº is not illuminated when an adult
is riding in the front passenger seat. If an adult occu-
pant's weight is transferred to another part of the vehicle
(like the door or instrument panel), the weight sensors in
the seat may not properly classify the occupant. Objects
lodged under the seat or between the seat and the center
console can prevent the occupant's weight from being
measured properly and may result in the occupant being
improperly classified. Ensure that the front passenger
seat back does not touch anything placed on the back seat
because this can also affect occupant classification. Also,
if you fold down the rear seat check to be sure it doesn't
touch the front passenger seat.If the front passenger seat is damaged in any way, it
should only be serviced by an authorized dealer. If the
seat is removed (or even if the seat attachment bolts are
loosened or tightened in any way), take the vehicle to an
authorized dealer.
If there is a fault present in the OCS, the ªAirbag Warning
Lightº (a red light located in the center of the instrument
cluster directly in front of the driver) will be turned on.
This indicates that you should take the vehicle to an
authorized dealer. The ªAirbag Warning Lightº is turned
on whenever there is a fault that can affect the operation
of the airbag system. If there is a fault present in the OCS,
both the ªPAD Indicator Lightº and the ªAirbag Warning
Lightº are illuminated to show that the passenger airbag
is turned off until the fault is cleared. If an object is
lodged under the seat and interferes with operation of
the weight sensors, a fault will occur which turns on both
the ªPAD Indicator Lightº and the ªAirbag Warning
Light.º Once the lodged object is removed, the fault will
be automatically cleared after a short period of time.
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²TheDriver and Passenger Airbag/Inflator Unitsare
located in the center of the steering wheel and the right
side of the instrument panel. When the ORC detects a
collision requiring the airbags, it signals the inflator
units. A large quantity of nontoxic gas is generated to
inflate the front airbags. Different airbag inflation rates
are possible, based on collision severity and occupant
size. The steering wheel hub trim cover and the upper
right side of the instrument panel separate and fold
out of the way as the bags inflate to their full size. The
bags fully inflate in about 50±70 milliseconds. This is
about half of the time it takes to blink your eyes. The
bags then quickly deflate while helping to restrain the
driver and front passenger.
The driver front airbag gas is vented through the vent
holes in the sides of the airbag. The passenger front
airbag gas is vented through the vent holes in the sides
of the airbag. In this way, the airbags do not interfere
with your control of the vehicle.²TheOccupant Classification Module (OCM)is lo-
cated beneath the front passenger seat. The OCM
classifies the occupant into categories based on the
measurements made by the seat weight sensors. The
OCM communicates with the Occupant Restraint Con-
trol (ORC) Module. The ORC uses the occupant cat-
egory to determine whether the front passenger airbag
should be turned off. It also determines the rate of
airbag inflation during a collision.
²Your vehicle has fourWeight Sensorslocated between
the seat and the floor pan. The weight sensors measure
applied weight and transfers that information to the
OCM.
²TheSide Impact SRS Side Curtain Airbagsare de-
signed to activate only in certain side collisions and
rollover events. When the ORC detects a collision
requiring the side curtain airbag to inflate, it signals
the inflators on the crash side of the vehicle. A quantity
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