2008 DODGE RAM 2500 POWER WAGON child restraint

mSecurity Alarm System Ð If Equipped.........19
NRearming Of The System.................20
NTo Set The Alarm......................20
NTo Disarm The System...................20
mIlluminated Entry System Ð If Equipped.......21
mRemote Keyless Entry Ð If Equipped.........21
NTo Unlock The Doors...................22
NTo Lock The Doors.....................22
NUsing The Panic Alarm..................23
NGeneral Information....................24
NTransmitter Battery Service...............24
mRemote Starting System Ð If Equipped........25
mDoor Locks............................27NManual Door Locks.....................27
NPower Door Locks Ð If Equipped..........28
NChild Protection Door Lock...............31
mWindows.............................32
NPower WindowsÐIf Equipped.............32
NWind Buffeting........................34
mOccupant Restraints......................34
NLap/Shoulder Belts.....................35
NAdjustable Upper Shoulder Belt Anchorage....43
NAutomatic Locking Retractors (ALR) Mode ±
If Equipped..........................43
NCenter Lap Belts.......................44
NSeat Belt Pretensioners Ð If Equipped.......45
10 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

NEnhanced Seat Belt Reminder System
(BeltAlert)...........................45
NSeat Belts And Pregnant Women............46
NSeat Belt Extender......................47
NDriver And Right Front Passenger Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS)ÐAirbags...........47
NEvent Data Recorder (EDR)...............59
NChild Restraint........................61
mEngine Break-In Recommendations...........74mSafety Tips............................75
NTransporting Passengers.................75
NLock Your Vehicle......................76
NExhaust Gas..........................76
NSafety Checks You Should Make Inside The
Vehicle..............................77
NSafety Checks You Should Make Outside The
Vehicle..............................78
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Window Lockout Switch (4 Door Models Only)
The window lockout switch on the driver's door allows
you to disable the window control on the other doors. To
disable the window controls on the other doors, press the
window lock button. To enable the window controls,
press the window control button again.
Wind Buffeting
Wind buffeting can be described as the perception of
pressure on the ears or a helicopter type sound in the
ears. Your vehicle may exhibit wind buffeting with the
windows down or partially open positions. This is a
normal occurrence and can be minimized. If the buffeting
occurs with the rear windows open, open the front and
rear windows together to minimize the buffeting.
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, front
airbags for both the driver and front passenger and, if so
equipped, window bags for the driver and passengers
seated next to a window. 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.
Window Lockout Switch
34 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Seat Belt Pretensioners Ð If Equipped
The seat belts for both front seating positions are
equipped with pretensioning devices that are designed to
remove slack from the seat belt system in the event of a
collision. These devices improve the performance of the
seat belt by assuring that the belt is tight about the
occupant early 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 airbag control
module. Like the 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 (BeltAlert)
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 (BeltAlert) will alert the driver to buckle their seat
belt. The driver should also instruct all other occupants to
buckle their seat belts. If the driver unbuckles the seat
belt while the vehicle is in motion an immediate chime
will be heard and, the Enhanced Warning System
(BeltAlert) will continue to chime and flash the Seat Belt
Warning Light for 96 seconds or until the driver's seat
belt is buckled. The Enhanced Warning System
(BeltAlert) will be reactivated if the ignition is cycled,
driver's seat belt is unbuckled for more than 10 seconds
and the vehicle speed is greater than 5 mph (8 km/h).
The Enhanced Warning System (BeltAlert) can be en-
abled or disabled by your authorized dealer or by
following these steps:
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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 window bags.
Along with the seat belts, front airbags work with the
instrument panel knee bolsters to provide improved
protection for the driver and front passenger. Window
bags also work with seat belts to improve occupant
protection.
The seat belts are designed to protect you in many types
of collisions. The front airbags deploy in moderate to
severe frontal collisions.
If your vehicle is so equipped, the window bag on the
crash side of the vehicle is triggered in moderate to
severe side collisions. But even in collisions where the
airbags work, you need the seat belts to keep you in the
right position for the airbags to protect you properly.Here are some simple steps you can follow to minimize
the risk of harm from a deploying airbag.
1. Children 12 years and under should always ride
buckled up in a rear seat in an appropriate child restraint.
Infants in rear-facing child restraints shouldNEVERride
in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger front airbag,
unless the airbag is turned off(2500/3500 Standard Cab
Vehicles Only). An airbag deployment can cause severe
injury or death to infants in that position. See the
Passenger Airbag On/Off Switch section.
You should read the instructions provided with your
child restraint to make sure that you are using it properly.
2. If your vehicle does not have a rear seat, see the
Passenger Airbag On/Off Switch section.
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3. Children that are not big enough to properly wear the
vehicle seat belt (see section on Child Restraints) should
be secured in the rear seat in child restraints or belt-
positioning booster seats. Older children who do not use
child restraints or belt-positioning booster seats should
ride properly buckled up in the rear seat. Never allow
children to slide the shoulder belt behind them or under
their arm.
4. All occupants should use their lap and shoulder belts
properly.5. The driver and front passenger seats should be moved
back as far as practical to allow the airbag room to inflate.
6. If your vehicle has window bags, do not lean against
the door or window, airbags will inflate forcefully into
the space between you and the door.
7. If the airbag system in this vehicle needs to be
modified to accommodate a disabled person, contact the
Customer Center. Phone numbers are provided in the9If
You Need Customer Assistance9section later in this
owner's manual.
50 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

²TheKnee Impact Bolstershelp protect the knees of
the driver and the front passenger, and position every-
one for the best interaction with the front airbag.
Passenger Airbag On/Off Switch ± (2500/3500
Standard Cab Vehicles Only)
The passenger front airbag is to be turned off only if the
passenger:
²is an infant (less than 1 year old) who must ride in the
front seat because there is no rear seat, because the rear
seat is too small for a rear-facing infant restraint or
because the infant has a medical condition which
makes it necessary for the driver to be able to see the
infant,
²is a child, age 1 to 12 who must ride in the front seat
because there is no rear seat, because there is no rear
seat position available, or because the child has a
medical condition which makes it necessary for the
driver to be able to see the child,
²has a medical condition which makes passenger airbag
inflation (deployment) a greater risk for the passenger
than the risk of hitting the dashboard (instrument
panel) or windshield in a crash.
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²9Time9of airbag deployment (in terms of ignition
cycles and vehicle mileage)
²Airbag deployment level (if applicable)
²Impact acceleration and angle
²Seatbelt status
²Brake status (service and parking brakes)
²Accelerator status (including vehicle speed)
²Engine control status (including engine speed)
²Transmission gear selection
²Cruise control status
²Traction/stability control status
²Tire pressure monitoring system status (if equipped)
Child Restraint
Everyone in your vehicle needs to be buckled up all the
time Ð babies and children, too. Every state in the United
States and all Canadian provinces require that small
children ride in proper restraint systems. This is the law,
and you can be prosecuted for ignoring it.
Children 12 years and under should ride properly buck-
led up in a rear seat, if available. According to crash
statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in
the rear seats rather than in the front.
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