2009 CHRYSLER 300 SRT instrument panel

NOTE:The interior lights can only be deactivated if the
key is removed from the ignition switch or the vehicle is
driven.
Maintaining Your Airbag System
WARNING!
•Modifications to any part of the airbag system
could cause it to fail when you need it. You could
be injured because the airbags are not there to
protect you. Do not modify the components or
wiring, including adding any kind of badges or
stickers to the steering wheel hub trim cover or the
upper passenger side of the instrument panel. Do
not modify the front bumper, vehicle body struc-
ture, or frame.
•You need proper knee impact protection in a
collision. Do not mount or locate any aftermarket
equipment on or behind the knee impact bolster.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•It is dangerous to try to repair any part of the
airbag system yourself. Be sure to tell anyone who
works on your vehicle that it has airbags.
NOTE:
Perchlorate Material — special handling may
apply. See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate.
Airbag Warning Light
You will want to have the airbags ready to
inflate for your protection in an impact. While
the airbag system is designed to be mainte-
nance free, if any of the following occurs, have
an authorized dealer service the system promptly:
•The Airbag Warning Light does not come on or flickers
during the six to eight seconds when the ignition
switch is first turned ON.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 63
2

Defroster
Check operation by selecting the defrost mode and place
the blower control on high speed. You should be able to
feel the air directed against the windshield. See your
authorized dealer for service if your defroster is
inoperable.
Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make Outside
The Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear and uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread. Inspect the tread and sidewall for
cuts and cracks. Check the wheel nuts for tightness.
Check the tires (including spare) for proper pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of exterior lights
while you work the controls. Check turn signal and high
beam indicator lights on the instrument panel.
Door Latches
Check for positive closing, latching, and locking.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for fuel,
engine coolant, oil, or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline
fumes are detected or if fuel, power steering fluid, or
brake fluid leaks are suspected, the cause should be
located and corrected immediately.
78 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

NOTE:
•You may not hear all of the tones due to cellular phone
network configurations. This is normal.
•Some paging and voice mail systems have system time
out settings that are too short and may not allow the
use of this feature.
Barge In - Overriding Prompts
The “Voice Recognition” button can be used when you
wish to skip part of a prompt and issue your voice
recognition command immediately. For example, if a
prompt is askingWould you like to pair a phone, clear
a...,you could press the VOICE RECOGNITION button
and say,Pair a Phoneto select that option without
having to listen to the rest of the voice prompt.
Turning Confirmation Prompts ON/OFF
Turning confirmation prompts off will stop the system
from confirming your choices (e.g., the UConnectsys-
tem will not repeat a phone number before you dial it).
•Press the PHONE button to begin.
•After theReadyprompt and the following beep, say
Setup Confirmations.The UConnectsystem will
play the current confirmation prompt status and you
will be given the choice to change it.
Phone and Network Status Indicators
If available on the radio and/or on a premium display
such as the instrument panel cluster, and supported by
your cellular phone, the UConnectsystem will provide
notification to inform you of your phone and network
status when you are attempting to make a phone call
using UConnect. The status is given for roaming, net-
work signal strength, phone battery strength, etc.
Dialing Using the Cellular Phone Keypad
You can dial a phone number with your cellular phone
keypad and still use the UConnectsystem (while dial-
ing via the cellular phone keypad, the user must exercise
caution and take precautionary safety measures). By
104 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Heated Seats
This feature heats the front driver, passenger, and second
row seats. The controls for each heater are located near
the bottom center of the instrument panel.After turning the ignition ON, Press the switch once to
select High level heating. Press the switch a second time
to select Low level heating. Press the switch a third time
to shut Off the heating elements. Amber indicators in the
switch indicate the level of heat in use. Two indicators
will illuminate for High, one for Low, and none for Off.
If High level heating is selected, the system will auto-
matically switch to the Low level after 30 minutes of
continuous operation. At that time, the number of indi-
cators illuminated changes from two to one, indicating
the change. Operation on the low setting also turns off
automatically after 30 minutes.
NOTE:Once a heat setting is selected, heat will be felt
within two to five minutes.
Front Heated Seat Switch
126 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

seat will return to its previously set position when you
insert the key into the ignition switch and turn it out of
the LOCK position.
•When you remove the key from the ignition switch,
the driver seat will move to a position 0.3 in (7.7 mm)
forward of the rear stop if the driver seat position is
between 0.9 in and 2.7 in (22.7 mm and 67.7 mm)
forward of the rear stop. The seat will return to its
previously set position when you insert the key into
the ignition switch and turn it out of the LOCK
position.
•The Easy Entry/Easy Exit feature is disabled when the
driver seat position is less than 0.9 in (22.7 mm)
forward of the rear stop. At this position, there is no
benefit to the driver by moving the seat for Easy Exit
or Easy Entry.
Each stored memory setting will have an associated Easy
Entry and Easy Exit position.NOTE:The Easy Entry/Easy Exit feature can be en-
abled or disabled. Refer to “Automatically Move Seat
Back on Exit,” under “Personal Settings (Customer-
Programmable Features)” under “Electronic Vehicle In-
formation Center (EVIC)” in Section 4.
TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE HOOD
Two latches must be released to open the hood.
1. Pull the hood release lever located under the left side
of the instrument panel.
132 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

To prevent possible damage, do not slam the hood to
close it. Lower the hood, until it is open approximately
6 in (15 cm), and then drop it. This should secure both
latches. Never drive your vehicle unless the hood is fully
closed, with both latches engaged.
WARNING!
If the hood is not fully latched, it could fly up when
the vehicle is moving and block your forward vision.
You could have a collision. Be sure all hood latches
are fully latched before driving.
LIGHTS
Headlight Switch
The headlight switch is located on the left side of
the instrument panel. This switch controls theoperation of the headlights, parking lights, instrument
panel lights, instrument panel light dimming, interior
lights, and fog lights.Headlight Switch
134 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Rotate the headlight switch clockwise to the first detent
for parking light and instrument panel light operation.
Turn it to the second detent for headlight, parking light,
and instrument panel light operation.
Automatic Headlights
This system automatically turns the headlights on or off
according to ambient light levels. To turn the system on,
rotate the headlight switch counterclockwise to the
AUTO (A) position. When the system is on, the headlight
time delay feature is also on. This means the headlights
will stay on for up to 90 seconds after you turn the
ignition switch OFF. To turn the automatic system off,
move the headlight switch out of the AUTO (A) position.
NOTE:The engine must be running before the head-
lights will come on in the automatic mode.
Headlights On with Wipers
When this feature is active, the headlights will turn on
approximately 10 seconds after the wipers are turned on
if the headlight switch is placed in the AUTO position. In
addition, the headlights will turn off when the wipers are
turned off if they were turned on by this feature.
The Headlights On with Wipers feature can be enabled or
disabled. Refer to ”Headlights On with Wipers,” under
“Personal Settings (Customer-Programmable Features)”
under “Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)” in
Section 4.
SmartBeams — If Equipped
The SmartBeam system provides increased forward light-
ing at night by automating high beam control through
the use of a digital camera mounted on the inside
rearview mirror. This camera detects vehicle specific light
and automatically switches from high beams to low
beams until the approaching vehicle is out of view.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 135
3

because a door is open. This includes the glove box light,
but not the trunk light. To restore interior light operation,
either turn the ignition switch ON or cycle the light
switch.
Dimmer Control
The dimmer control is part of the
headlight switch and is located on the
left side of the instrument panel. With
the parking lights or headlights on,
rotating the dimmer control upward
will increase the brightness of the in-
strument panel lights and, if so
equipped, the lighting in the door map pockets and
cupholders.
Dome Light Position
Rotate the dimmer control completely upward to the
second detent to turn on the interior lights. The interior
lights will remain on when the dimmer control is in this
position.
Interior Light Defeat (OFF)
Rotate the dimmer control to the extreme bottom off
position. The interior lights will remain off when the
doors are open.
Parade Mode (Daytime Brightness Feature)
Rotate the dimmer control upward to the first detent.
This feature brightens all text displays such as the
odometer, EVIC, and radio when the parking lights or
headlights are on.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 141
3