2008 DODGE VIPER Owners Manual

Driver and Passenger Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS) - Airbag
This vehicle is equipped with airbags for the driver and
passenger as a supplement to the seat belt restraint
systems. The driver airbag is mounted in the steering
wheel. The passenger airbag is mounted underneath a
cover in the passenger's side of the instrument panel. The
words SRS/AIRBAG is embossed on the airbag covers.
NOTE:The airbags are certified to the Federal regula-
tions that allow less forceful deployment. The passenger
airbag is certified to the Federal regulations that define
Occupant Classification (Refer to ªHow The Airbag Sys-
tem Worksº in this section).
The airbags have a multi stage inflator design. This may
allow the airbag to have different rates of inflation that
are based on collision severity and occupant size.
WARNING!
²Do not put anything on or around the airbag covers or
attempt to open them manually. 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 inflating.
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.
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 serious injury.
Airbags need room to inflate. Sit back, extending your
arms comfortably to reach the steering wheel or instru-
ment panel.
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The airbags work with the instrument panel knee bolsters
and the seat belts to provide improved protection for the
driver and passenger. While the seat belts are designed to
protect the driver and passenger in many types of
collisions, the airbags will deploy in moderate to severe
frontal collisions. However, even in collisions where the
airbags deploy, all occupants need the seat belts to keep
them in the right position for the airbags to protect
properly.
NOTE:The passenger airbag may not deploy if the
Occupant Classification System (refer to ªHow The Air-
bag System Worksº in this section) determines the seat is
empty or is occupied by someone that is classified in the
ªchildº category. This could be a child, a teenager, or
even a small adult. Therefore, even if the driver airbag
deploys, the passenger airbag may not deploy.
Here are some simple steps you can take to minimize
the risk of harm from a deploying airbag.1. An infant up to 1 year or approximately 20 pounds (9
kg) should never ride in the vehicle, because in the event
of a crash the rear facing child seat places them too close
to the passenger airbag.
2. An infant in rear facing child safety seat, designed for
a child up to one year or approximately 20 pounds (9 kg),
shouldNEVERride in the front seat of a vehicle
equipped with a passenger airbag, unless the airbag is
shut OFF. An airbag deployment can cause severe injury
or death to an infant in this position. Refer to ªPassenger
Airbag Disabled (PAD) Indicator Lightº in this section.
3. A child that is not big enough to wear the vehicle seat
belt properly (refer to information on Child Restraint in
this section) should be secured in a child safety seat or
booster seat.
4. An older child who does not use a child safety seat or
booster seat should ride buckled properly in their seat.
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5. Never allow a child to place the shoulder belt behind
them or under the arm.
6. Never allow a child to lean forward toward the
instrument panel as a passenger airbag deployment
could cause severe injury or death to a child in this
position.
7. For a child from 1 to 12 years old: Move the passenger
seat as far back as possible. For a child from 20 to 60
pounds (9 kg to 27 kg): Secure them in the appropriate
child safety seat or booster seat. If too large for a booster
seat, the child should wear the lap/shoulder belt prop-
erly.
8. Read the instructions provided with your child re-
straint to make sure that you are using it properly.
9. Read the instructions provided with your child safety
seat or booster seat to make sure that you are using it
properly.10. All occupants should wear their lap and shoulder
belts properly.
11. Position the driver seat and passenger seat as far
away from the instrument panel as practical to allow the
airbags room to inflate. Note that the power adjustable
pedals allow for more driver's seat adjustment options.
Refer to ªAdjustable Pedalsº in Section 3 of this manual
for details.
Airbag System Components
The airbag system consists of the following:
²Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
²Airbag Warning Light
²Driver Airbag
²Passenger Airbag
²Passenger Airbag Off Light
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²Steering Wheel and Column
²Instrument Panel
²Seat Track Position Sensors
²Interconnecting Wiring
²Seat Belt Reminder Light
²Knee Impact Bolsters
²Front Acceleration Sensors
²Passenger Seat Occupant Classification System (OCS)
þOccupant Classification Module (OCM)
þPassenger Airbag Disabled (PAD) Indicator Light
þFlex Mat
þInterconnecting Wiring
þSeat Track Position Sensors
How The Airbag System Works
²
TheOccupant Restraint Controller (ORC)determines
if a frontal collision is severe enough to require the
airbags to inflate. The airbag inflators are designed to
provide different rates of inflation. Based on the level
of collision severity, the ORC determines the proper
rate of inflation. The ORC may modify the rate of
passenger airbag inflation or prevent passenger airbag
deployment based on input from the Occupant Clas-
sification System (OCS). The ORC will not detect roll
over or rear impacts. Furthermore, the airbags are not
on and will not inflate if the key is in the OFF/LOCK
position, in the ACC position, or not in the ignition.
The ORC also monitors the readiness of the electronic
parts of the system whenever the ignition switch is in
the ON/RUN position. These include all of the items
listed under ªAirbag System Componentsº except the
steering wheel and column and the knee bolsters.
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The ORC turns on the Airbag warning light
and Passenger Airbag Disable (PAD) indica-
tor light for 6 to 8 seconds as a self-check
when the ignition is first turned on. After the
self-check, the Airbag warning light will turn off and
the PAD indicator light will function normally (Refer to
ªPassenger Airbag Disable (PAD) Indicator Lightº in
this section). If the ORC detects a malfunction in any
part of the system, it turns on the Airbag warning light
either momentarily or continuously. A single chime will
sound if the light comes on again after initial start up.
WARNING!
Ignoring the Airbag Warning Light in your instrument
panel could mean you won't have the airbags to protect
you in a collision. If the light does not come on, stays
on after you start the vehicle, or if it comes on as you
drive, have the airbag system checked right away.
²TheDriver Airbag/Inflator Unitis mounted in the
steering wheel. ThePassenger Airbag/Inflator Unitis
mounted underneath a cover in the passenger side of
the instrument panel. When the ORC detects a colli-
sion requiring the airbags, it signals the inflator units.
A large quantity of non-toxic gas is generated to inflate
the airbags. Different airbag inflation rates may be
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 then fold out
of the way, as the bags inflate to their full size. The
bags inflate fully in about 50±70 milliseconds. This is
about half of the time it takes to blink your eyes. The
bags then deflate quickly while helping to restrain the
driver and passenger. The airbag gas is vented toward
the instrument panel through vent holes in the airbag
material. In this way, the airbags do not interfere with
your control of the vehicle.
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²TheKnee Impact Bolstershelp protect the knees of
the driver and the passenger, and position everyone
for the best interaction with the airbags.
²TheOccupant Classification Module (OCM)is lo-
cated underneath the passenger seat. The OCM uses
input from the Flex Mat to classify the occupant in the
passenger seat into a size category. The OCM commu-
nicates this information to the ORC. The ORC may
modify the rate of passenger airbag inflation or pre-
vent passenger airbag deployment based on occupant
classification.
If there is a fault present in the OCS, the Airbag
warning light will turn on. This indicates that you
should take the vehicle to an authorized dealer for
service. The Airbag warning light will turn on when-
ever there is fault present, which can affect the opera-
tion of the airbag system. If there is a fault present in
the OCS, both the PAD indicator light and the Airbagwarning light will illuminate to show that the passen-
ger airbag is turned off. Should this occur the passen-
ger airbag would remain off until the fault is cleared.
If an object is lodged under the seat and interferes with
operation of the Flex Mat, a fault will occur which
turns on both the PAD indicator light and the Airbag
warning light. Once the lodged object is removed, the
fault will be cleared automatically after a short period.
²ThePassenger Airbag Disabled (PAD) Indicator
Lightindicates to the driver and passenger when the
passenger airbag is turned OFF. In the presence of an
occupant seated properly in the passenger seat, when
the PAD indicator light is illuminated, the passenger
airbag is turned OFF.
The passenger airbag will be enabled for most any size
adult who is seated properly in the passenger seat. The
passenger airbag may or may not be enabled for
(depending on size) a small teenager or a small adult
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who is seated properly in the passenger seat. The
driver and passenger should always use the PAD
indicator light as an indication that the passenger is
positioned properly in their seat. If the PAD indicator
light comes on when an adult or teenager is in the
passenger seat, have the passenger reposition their self
in the seat until the light goes out. Remember, if the
PAD indicator light is illuminated the passenger air-
bag will not inflate in the event of a collision.
The passenger airbag will not be enabled for most any
size child who is seated properly in the passenger seat
and for most properly installed child restraint systems.
However, under certain conditions, even with a properly
installed child restraint system, the PAD indicator light
may not be on, even though the airbag is disabled. This
can occur if the child restraint is lighter than the thresh-
old weight necessary to turn the PAD indicator light on.
In any case,DO NOTassume the airbag is turned off if
the PAD indicator light is not illuminated.WARNING!
An infant in rear facing child safety seat, designed
for a child up to one year or approximately 20 pounds
(9 kg), should NEVER ride in the front seat of a
vehicle equipped with a passenger airbag, unless the
airbag is shut OFF. An airbag deployment can cause
severe injury or death to an infant in this position.
²TheFlex Matis located beneath the passenger seat
cushion foam. The Flex Mat sends signals to the OCM
for classifying the occupant in the passenger seat.
Any weight on the seat will be sensed by the Flex Mat.
Therefore, the occupant in the passenger seat needs to
sit in a normal position (with their feet on or near the
floor) in order to be classified properly. If an occu-
pant's weight is transferred to another part of the
vehicle (like the door or instrument panel), the system
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may not classify the occupant properly. Furthermore,
objects lodged under the seat can prevent the occu-
pant's weight from being measured properly and may
result in the occupant being classified improperly.
The passenger seat assembly contains critical compo-
nents that affect passenger airbag deployment. Correctly
functioning passenger seat components are critical for the
OCS to classify the passenger properly and calculate the
proper airbag deployment. Do not make any modifica-
tions to the passenger seat components, assembly, or to
the seat cover. If the seat, trim cover, or cushion needs
service for any reason, take the vehicle to your autho-
rized dealer. Only manufacturer approved seat accesso-
ries may be used.
The following requirements must be strictly adhered to:
²Do not modify the passenger seat assembly or compo-
nents in any way.
²Do not use prior or future model year seat covers not
designated for the specific model being repaired. Al-
ways use the correct seat cover specified for the
vehicle.
²Do not replace the seat cover with an aftermarket seat
cover.
²Do not add a secondary seat cover other than those
approved by DaimlerChrysler/Mopar.
²At no time should any supplemental restraint system
(SRS) component or SRS related component or fas-
tener be modified or replaced with any part except
those which are approved by DaimlerChrysler/
Mopar.
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