2009 DODGE AVENGER instrument panel

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 if the airbag system is 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 right side of the instrument panel. Do not
modify the front bumper, vehicle body structure,
or add aftermarket side steps or running boards.
•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 an airbag system.NOTE:
Perchlorate Material — special handling may ap-
ply. See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate
WARNING!
Do not attempt to modify any part of your advanced
airbag system. The airbag may inflate accidentally or
may not function properly if modifications are made.
Take your vehicle to an authorized dealer for any
advanced airbag system service. If your seat includ-
ing your trim cover and cushion needs to be serviced
in any way (including removal or loosening/
tightening of seat attachment bolts), take the vehicle
to your authorized dealer. Only manufacturer ap-
proved seat accessories may be used. If it is necessary
to modify an advanced airbag system for persons
with disabilities, contact your authorized dealer.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 65
2

Airbag Warning Light
The Airbag Warning Light should come on and remain
on for six to eight seconds as a bulb check when the
ignition switch is first turned ON. If the LED is not lit
during starting, have it checked. If the light stays on or
comes on while driving, have the system checked by an
authorized dealer.
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.
NOTE:If the defrost feature is not functioning, the
cause should be located and corrected immediately by an
authorized service center. The windshield could fog up
while driving and obscure your visibility.
Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make Outside
the Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear or uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread. Inspect tread and sidewall for cuts or
cracks. Check 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.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for fuel,
engine coolant, oil, or other fluid leaks. In addition, if
gasoline fumes are detected or fuel, power steering fluid,
transmission fluid, or brake fluid leaks are suspected, the
cause should be located and corrected immediately.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 81
2

▫Voice Training....................... 124
Seats............................... 124
▫Manual Front Seat Adjustments.......... 124
▫Power Seats — If Equipped............. 127
▫Heated Seats — If Equipped............. 128
▫Fold-Flat Front Passenger Seat........... 129
▫Adjustable Head Restraints.............. 130
▫Folding Rear Seat.................... 131
▫Folding Rear Seat Center Armrest......... 132
To Open And Close The Hood............. 132
Lights.............................. 134
▫Map/Reading/Interior Lights............ 134▫Headlights, Parking Lights And Instrument
Panel Lights........................ 135
▫Automatic Headlight System —
If Equipped......................... 136
▫Headlight Time Delay................. 136
▫Flash-To-Pass....................... 137
▫Daytime Running Lights (DRL) —
If Equipped......................... 137
▫Lights On Reminder.................. 137
▫Fog Lights — If Equipped.............. 137
▫Turn Signals........................ 138
▫High Beam/Low Beam Select Switch....... 139
84 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

•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
dialing a number with your paired Bluetoothcellularphone, the audio will be played through your vehicle’s
audio system. The UConnectsystem will work the same
as if you dial the number using voice recognition.
NOTE:Certain brands of cellular phones do not send
the dial ring to the UConnectsystem to play it on the
vehicle audio system, so you will not hear it. Under this
situation, after successfully dialing a number the user
may feel that the call did not go through even though the
call is in progress. Once your call is answered, you will
hear the audio.
Mute/Un-Mute (Mute OFF)
When you mute the UConnectsystem, you will still be
able to hear the conversation coming from the other
party, but the other party will not be able to hear you. In
order to mute the UConnectsystem:
•Press the VOICE RECOGNITION button.
•Following the beep, sayMute.
108 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Folding Rear Seat Center Armrest
The rear seat is equipped with a folding armrest with cup
holders.
TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE HOOD
To open the hood, two latches must be released.
1. Pull the hood release lever located under the left side
of the instrument panel.
Folding Rear Seat Armrest
Hood Release Lever
132 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

To protect the battery, the interior lights will turn off
automatically 10 minutes after the ignition switch is
moved to the LOCK position. This will occur if the
interior lights were switched on manually or are on
because a door is open. To restore interior light operation,
either turn the ignition switch ON or cycle the light
switch.
Headlights, Parking Lights and Instrument Panel
Lights
Turn the end of the multifunction lever to the first detent
for parking light operation. Turn to the second detent for
headlight operation. Turn to the third detent AUTO
headlight operation (if equipped).
Headlight Switch
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 135
3

To change the brightness of the instrument panel lights,
rotate the center portion of the multifunction lever up or
down.Automatic Headlight System — If Equipped
Turning the end of the multifunction lever to the third
detent (AUTO), will activate the automatic headlight
system.
With the engine running and the multifunction lever in
the AUTO position, the headlights will turn on and turn
off based on the surrounding light levels.
Headlight Time Delay
There is also a feature that delays turning off the vehicle
lights for 30, 60, or 90 seconds after the ignition switch is
turned OFF. To activate the headlight delay, the multi-
function lever must be rotated to the off position after the
ignition switch is turned OFF. Only the headlights will
illuminate during this time. Refer to “Electronic Vehicle
Information Center (EVIC)” under “Customer-
Programmable Features” in Section 4 to turn this feature
“On/Off” or set the time interval.
Dimmer Control
136 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Ignition Off Operation
For vehicles not equipped with the Electronic Vehicle
Information Center (EVIC), the power sunroof switch
will remain active for 45 seconds after the ignition switch
is turned OFF. Opening either front door will cancel this
feature.
For vehicles equipped with the EVIC, the power sunroof
switch will remain active for up to 10 minutes after the
ignition switch is turned OFF. Opening either front door
will cancel this feature. The time is programmable. For
details, refer to “Key-Off Power Delay,” under “Personal
Settings (Customer-Programmable Features)” under
“Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)” in Sec-
tion 4 of this manual.
ELECTRICAL POWER OUTLETS
There are two 12-Volt electrical outlets on this vehicle.
Both of the outlets are protected by a fuse.
The instrument panel power outlet, located below the
climate control knobs, has power available only when the
ignition is ON. This outlet will also operate a conven-
tional cigar lighter unit.
156 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE