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If the seat belt has an 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 fully extended 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 to “Automatic Locking Mode”
earlier in this section.
In the rear seat, you may have trouble tightening the
lap/shoulder belt on the child restraint because the
buckle or latch plate is too close to the belt path opening
on the restraint. Disconnect the latch plate from the
buckle and twist the short buckle-end belt several times
to shorten it. Insert the latch plate into the buckle with the
release button facing out.
If the belt still can’t be tightened, or if by pulling and
pushing on the restraint loosens the belt, you may needto do something more. Disconnect the latch plate from
the buckle, turn the buckle around, and insert the latch
plate into the buckle again. If you still can’t make the
child restraint secure, try a different seating position.
To attach a child restraint tether strap:
Tether Strap Mounting (Two-Door Models)
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Route the tether strap over the seatback and attach the
hook to the tether anchor located on the back of the seat.
For the outboard seating positions, route the tether under
the head rest, and attach the hook to the tether anchor
located on the back of the seat.
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.
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.
Tether Strap Mounting (Four-Door Models)
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To Raise the Rear Seat
1. Raise the seatback and lock it into place. If interference
from the cargo area prevents the seatback from fully
locking, you will have difficulty returning the seat to its
proper position.
NOTE:If the rear seatback is not fully latched, the
center shoulder belt will not be able to be extended for
use. If you cannot extend the center shoulder belt, please
make sure your seatback is fully latched.
WARNING!
Be certain that the seatback is securely locked into
position. If the seatback in not securely locked into
position the seat will not provide the proper stability
for child seats and/or passengers. An improperly
latched seat could cause serious injury.
TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE HOOD
To open the hood, first release both hood latches.
Hood Latch
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Next, locate handle in middle of the front end of the
hood. Insert hand into gap between hood and top of
grille, and push handle to the side to raise hood. You may
have to push down slightly on the hood before pushing
the handle. Insert the support rod into the slot on the
hood panel.
To close the hood, remove the support rod from the hood
panel and place it in the retaining clip. Lower the hood
slowly. Secure both of the hood latches.
WARNING!
If the hood is not fully latched, it could fly up when
the vehicle is moving and block your forward vision.
Be sure all hood latches are latched fully before
driving.
LIGHTS
Interior Lights
The overhead light will come on when a door is opened.
It may also be turned on by rotating the control for the
dimmer switch on the multifunction control lever fully
upward.
The overhead light will automatically turn off in about 20
minutes if a door is left open or the dimmer control is left
in the dome light position. Turn the ignition switch ON to
restore the overhead light operation.
Cargo Lamp
The courtesy and dome lights will turn on when the front
doors are opened, when the dimmer control (rotating
wheel on the right side of the switch) is rotated to the
upward detent position, or if equipped, when the UN-
LOCK button is pressed on the RKE key fob.
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DUAL TOP — IF EQUIPPED
If your vehicle is equipped with a Dual Top,you must
remove one of the tops from the vehicle. If the soft top
is removed, the pivot brackets must also be removed
from the sport bar. The soft top was installed at the
factory for shipping purposes only. The soft top and the
hard top are to be used independently. Removal is
mandatory to prevent any possible wear and tear on the
soft top. Your vehicle warranty will not cover damage
resulting from both tops remaining on the vehicle at the
same time for extended periods of time.
Removing The Soft Top
1. Locate and remove the two boxes that contain the
following items:
•Right and left door frames
•Door frame attachment knobs (four for two-door
models, six for four-door models)
•Right and left quarter windows
•Rear window
•Two rear window roll up straps
•Two Sunrider secure straps (If Equipped)
•Two rear swing gate brackets
2. Remove the hard top. Refer to “Freedom Top Three-
Piece Modular Hard Top — Front/Rear Panel Removal”
later in this section.
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c. Tap the knuckles on the side with a rubber mallet to
reattach them to the metal pivot brackets.
d. Screw the pivot screws back into place using a #T30
Torxhead driver. Secure them until they are snug
being careful not to cross-thread the screws or over-
tighten.
CAUTION!
Do not overtighten the screws. You can strip the
screws if they are overtightened.
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3. Reinstall panel(s) using the same steps for removal in
reverse order.
Rear Hard Top Removal
1. Remove both front panels. Refer to “Front Panel(s)
Removal” in this section.
2. Open both doors.
3. Remove the two Torxhead screws that secure the
hard top at the B-pillar (near top of door) using a #40
Torx head driver (4–Door Only).
4. Remove the six Torx head screws that secure the hard
top to the vehicle (along the interior bodyside) using a
#40 Torx head driver. 5. Open swing gate all the way to ensure clearance of the
rear window glass. Lift rear window glass.
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2. Place one hand on the upper rear and one hand on the
front of the door frame.
3. Pull the frame towards you with your rearward hand
to remove the frame from the vehicle.
4. Screw the knobs back into the door frame and fold for
storage. Store in a secure location.
WARNING!
Never store the door frames in your vehicle. In an
event of an accident, a loose door frame many cause
personal injury. If removed, always store the door
frames outside of the vehicle.
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