2009 DODGE DAKOTA Owners Manual

plate and pull out the belt. Slide the latch plate up the
webbing as far as necessary to allow the belt to go around
your lap.3. When the belt is long enough to fit, insert the latch
plate into the buckle until you hear a ªclick.º
WARNING!
²A belt buckled into the wrong buckle will not
protect you properly. The lap portion could ride
too high on your body, possibly causing internal
injuries. Always buckle your belt into the buckle
nearest you.
²A belt that is too loose will not protect you as well.
In a sudden stop you could move too far forward,
increasing the possibility of injury. Wear your seat
belt snugly.
(Continued)
Latch Plate To Buckle
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 39
2

WARNING! (Continued)
²A belt that is worn under your arm is very danger-
ous. Your body could strike the inside surfaces of
the vehicle in a collision, increasing head and neck
injury and a belt worn under the arm can cause
internal injuries. Ribs aren't as strong as shoulder
bones. Wear the belt over your shoulder so that
your strongest bones will take the force in a
collision.
²A shoulder belt placed behind will not protect you
from injury during a collision. You are more likely
to hit your head in a collision if you do not wear
your shoulder belt. The lap and shoulder belt are
meant to be used together.4. Position the lap belt across your thighs, below your
abdomen. To remove slack in the lap belt portion, pull up
on the shoulder belt. To loosen the lap belt if it is too tight,
tilt the latch plate and pull on the lap belt. A snug belt
reduces the risk of sliding under the belt in a collision.
Removing Slack From Belt
40 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
²A lap belt worn too high can increase the risk of
internal injury in a collision. The belt forces won't
be at the strong hip and pelvic bones, but across
your abdomen. Always wear the lap belt as low as
possible and keep it snug.
²A twisted belt can't do its job as well. In a collision
it could even cut into you. Be sure the belt is
straight. If you can't straighten a belt in your
vehicle, take it to your authorized dealer and have
it fixed.
5. Position the shoulder belt on your chest so that it is
comfortable and not resting on your neck. The retractor
will withdraw any slack in the belt.6. To release the belt, push the red button on the buckle.
The belt will automatically retract to its stowed position.
If necessary, slide the latch plate down the webbing to
allow the belt to retract fully.
WARNING!
A frayed or torn belt could rip apart in a collision and
leave you with no protection. Inspect the belt system
periodically, checking for cuts, frays, or loose parts.
Damaged parts must be replaced immediately. Do
not disassemble or modify the system. Seat belt
assemblies must be replaced after a collision if they
have been damaged (bent retractor, torn webbing,
etc.).
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 41
2

Adjustable Upper Shoulder Belt Anchorage
In the front and second row outboard seats, the shoulder
belt can be adjusted upward or downward to help
position the belt away from your neck. Push in on the
anchorage release button to release the anchorage, and
then move it up or down to the position that fits you best.
As a guide, if you are shorter than average, you will
prefer a lower position, and if you are taller than average,
you'll prefer a higher position. When you release the
anchorage, try to move it up or down to make sure that
it is locked in the desired position.
Adjustable Upper Shoulder Belt Anchorage
Adjusting Upper Shoulder Belt
42 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

The adjuster has an easy up (EZ Up) feature, which will
allow it to be moved up without engaging the button.
Automatic Locking Retractors (ALR) Mode ± If
Equipped
In this mode, the shoulder belt is automatically pre-
locked. The belt will still retract to remove any slack in
the shoulder belt. The automatic locking mode is avail-
able on all passenger seating positions with a combina-
tion lap/shoulder belt.
When to Use the Automatic Locking Mode
Use the Automatic Locking Mode anytime a child safety
seat is installed in a passenger seating position. Children
12 years old, and younger, should be properly restrained
in the rear seat, whenever possible.
How to Use the Automatic Locking Mode
1. Buckle the combination lap/shoulder belt.2. Grasp the shoulder portion and pull downward until
the entire belt is fully extended.
3. Allow the belt to retract. As the belt retracts, you will
hear a clicking sound. This indicates the safety belt is
now in the Automatic Locking mode.
How to Disengage the Automatic Locking Mode
To disengage the Automatic Locking Mode, disconnect
the combination lap/shoulder belt and allow it to retract
completely. The vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking
mode is automatically activated.
Center Lap Belts
The center seat position on the front seat bench has a lap
belt only. To fasten the lap belt, slide the latch plate into
the buckle until you hear a ªclick.º To lengthen the lap
belt, tilt the latch plate and pull. To remove slack, pull the
loose end of the webbing. Wear the lap belt snug against
the hips. Sit back and erect in the seat, then adjust the belt
as tightly as is comfortable.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 43
2

Seat Belt Pretensioners
The seat belts for front outboard seating positions are
equipped with pretensioning devices that are designed to
remove any 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 Occupant Re-
straint Controller (ORC). Like the airbags, the pretension-
ers are single-use items. After a collision that is severe
enough to deploy the airbags and pretensioners, both
must be replaced.
Enhanced Driver Seat Belt Reminder System
(BeltAlertT)
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 (BeltAlertt) will alert the driver to buckle their
seat belt. The driver should also instruct all other occu-
pants 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, BeltAlerttwill continue to
chime and flash the Seat Belt Warning Light for 96 sec-
onds or until the driver's seat belt is buckled. BeltAlertt
will be reactivated if the driver's seat belt is unbuckled
for more than 10 seconds, and the vehicle speed is greater
than 5 mph (8 km/h).
BeltAlerttcan be enabled or disabled by your authorized
dealer, or by following these steps:
44 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

NOTE:The following steps must occur within the first
60 seconds of the ignition switch being turned to the ON
or START position. Chrylser LLC does not recommend
deactivating BeltAlertt.
1. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position and
buckle the driver's seat belt.
2. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position and wait
for the Seat Belt Warning Light to turn off.
3. Within 60 seconds of starting the vehicle, unbuckle
and then re-buckle the driver's seat belt at least three
times within 10 seconds, ending with the seat belt
buckled.
4. Turn off the engine. A single chime will sound to
signify that you have successfully completed the
programming.
BeltAlerttcan be reactivated by repeating this procedure.NOTE:Although the BeltAlertthas been deactivated,
the Seat Belt Warning Light will continue to illuminate
while the driver's seat belt remains unbuckled.
Seat Belts And Pregnant Women
We recommend that pregnant women use seat belts
throughout their pregnancies. Keeping the mother safe is
the best way to keep the baby safe.
Pregnant women should wear the lap part of the belt
across the thighs and as snug against the hips as possible.
Keep the belt low so that it does not come across the
abdomen. That way the strong bones of the hips will take
the force if there is a collision.
Seat Belt Extender
If a seat belt is too short, even when fully extended, your
authorized dealer can provide you with a seat belt
extender. This extender should be used only if the
existing belt is not long enough. When it is not required,
remove the extender and store it.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 45
2

WARNING!
Using a seat belt extender when not needed can
increase the risk of injury in a collision. Only use the
seat belt extender when the lap belt is not long
enough when it is worn low and snug, and in the
recommended seating positions. Remove and store
the extender when not needed.
Driver And Right Front Passenger Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS) ± Airbags
This vehicle has airbags for both the driver and right
front passenger as a supplement to the seat belt restraint
systems. The driver's front airbag is mounted in the
steering wheel. The passenger's front airbag is mounted
in the instrument panel, above the glove compartment.
The words SRS/AIRBAG are embossed on the airbag
covers.NOTE:The front airbags are certified to the Federal
regulations that allow less forceful deployment.
1 Ð Airbags
2 Ð Knee Bolsters 46 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE