2009 DODGE NITRO service

WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not attempt to modify any part of your ad-
vanced airbag system. The airbag may inflate
accidentally or may not function properly if modi-
fications are made. Take your vehicle to an autho-
rized dealer for any advanced airbag system ser-
vice. If your seat including your trim cover and
cushion needs to be serviced in any way (includ-
ing removal or loosening/tightening of seat attach-
ment bolts), take the vehicle to your authorized
dealer. Only manufacturer approved seat accesso-
ries may be used. If it is necessary to modify an
advanced airbag system for persons with disabili-
ties, contact your authorized dealer.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not place or hang any items such as add-on
video players on the right front passenger seat-
back. The additional weight may cause the Occu-
pant Classification System to be unable to cor-
rectly classify the right front occupant. This could
allow the passenger frontal airbag to inflate when
it is not desired.
•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 apply.
See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate
62 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Airbag Warning Light
You will want to have the airbag system ready to inflate for
your protection in an impact. The airbag system is designed
to be maintenance free. If any of the following occurs, have
an authorized dealer service the system promptly:
•Does not come on during the six to eight seconds after
the ignition switch is first turned ON.
•Remains on after the six to eight second interval.
•Comes on for any period of time while driving.
Event Data Recorder (EDR)
In the event of an accident, your vehicle is designed to
record up to five seconds of specific vehicle data param-
eters (see the following list) in an event data recorder
prior to the moment of airbag deployment, or near
deployment, and up to a quarter second of high-speed
deceleration data during and/or after airbag deploy-
ment. EDR data are ONLY recorded if an airbag deploys,
or nearly deploys, and are otherwise unavailable.NOTE:
1.
A near-deployment event occurs when the airbag sensor
detects severe vehicle deceleration usually indicative of a
crash, but not severe enough to warrant airbag deployment.
2. Under certain circumstances, EDR data may not be
recorded (e.g., loss of battery power).
In conjunction with other data gathered during a com-
plete accident investigation, the electronic data may be
used by Chrysler LLC and others to learn more about the
possible causes of crashes and associated injuries in order
to assess and improve vehicle performance. In addition
to crash investigations initiated by Chrysler LLC, such
investigations may be requested by customers, insurance
carriers, government officials, and professional crash
researchers, such as those associated with universities,
and with hospital and insurance organizations.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 63
2

•Brake status (service and parking brakes)
•Accelerator status (including vehicle speed)
•Engine control status (including engine speed)
•Transmission gear selection
•Cruise control status
•Traction/stability control status
•Tire Pressure Monitoring System status
Child Restraint
Everyone in your vehicle needs to be buckled up all the
time including babies and children. Every state in the
United States and all Canadian provinces require that
small children ride in proper restraint systems. This is the
law, and you can be prosecuted for ignoring it.Children 12 years and younger should ride properly
buckled up in a rear seat, if available. According to crash
statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in
the rear seats rather than in the front.
There are different sizes and types of restraints for children
from newborn size to the child almost large enough for an
adult safety belt. Always check the child seat Owner’s
Manual to ensure you have the right seat for your child. Use
the restraint that is correct for your child:
WARNING!
In a collision, an unrestrained child, even a tiny baby,
can become a missile inside the vehicle. The force
required to hold even an infant on your lap can become
so great that you could not hold the child, no matter how
strong you are. The child and others could be badly
injured. Any child riding in your vehicle should be in a
proper restraint for the child’s size.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 65
2

Seat belt assemblies must be replaced after an accident if
they have been damaged i.e., (bent retractor, torn web-
bing, etc.). If there is any question regarding belt or
retractor condition, replace the belt.
Airbag Warning Light
The 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 bulb is not lit during starting, have it
replaced. If the light stays on or comes on while driving,
have the system checked by an authorized dealer.
Defrosters
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.
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 for tread cuts or sidewall
cracks. Check wheel nuts for tightness. Check the tires
(including spare) for proper pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of all exterior lights
while you work the controls. Check turn signal and high
beam indicator lights on the instrument panel.
Fluid Leaks
Check the area under the vehicle after overnight parking
for fuel, coolant, oil or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline
fumes are detected, the cause should be located and
corrected immediately.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 77
2

Phone Button
The rearview mirror contains the microphone
for the system (depending on the type of
mirror and radio equipped), and either the
radio or the mirror has the two control buttons
(PHONE Button and VOICE RECOGNITION button)
that will enable you to access the system.
Voice Recognition Button
Actual button location may vary with the ra-
dio. The individual buttons are described in the
“Operation” section.
The UConnectsystem can be used with any Hands-Free
Profile certified Bluetoothcellular phone. See the
UConnectwebsite for supported phones. If your cellu-
lar phone supports a different profile (e.g., Headset
Profile) you may not be able to use any UConnect
features. Refer to your cellular service provider or the
phone manufacturer for details.The UConnectsystem is fully integrated with the vehi-
cle’s audio system. The volume of the UConnectsystem
can be adjusted either from the radio volume control
knob or from the steering wheel radio control (right
switch), if so equipped.
The radio display will be used for visual prompts from
the UConnectsystem such asCELLor caller ID on
certain radios.
Operation
Voice commands can be used to operate the UConnect
system and to navigate through the UConnectmenu
structure. Voice commands are required after most
UConnectsystem prompts. You will be prompted for a
specific command and then guided through the available
options.
•Prior to giving a voice command, one must wait for
the beep, which follows theReadyprompt or another
prompt.
88 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

•The UConnectsystem will then prompt you as to the
number designation you wish to call.
•The selected number will be dialed.
Phone Call Features
The following features can be accessed through the
UConnectsystem if the feature(s) are available on your
cellular service plan. For example, if your cellular service
plan provides three-way calling, this feature can be
accessed through the UConnectsystem. Check with
your cellular service provider for the features that you
have.
Answer or Reject an Incoming Call - No Call
Currently in Progress
When you receive a call on your cellular phone, the
UConnectsystem will interrupt the vehicle audio sys-
tem, if on, and will ask if you would like to answer the
call. Press the PHONE button to accept the call. To rejectthe call, press and hold the PHONE button until you hear
a single beep, indicating that the incoming call was
rejected.
Answer or Reject an Incoming Call - Call
Currently in Progress
If a call is currently in progress and you have another
incoming call, you will hear the same network tones for
call waiting that you normally hear when using your
cellular phone. Press the PHONE button to place the
current call on hold and answer the incoming call.
NOTE:The UConnectsystem compatible phones in
the market today do not support rejecting an incoming
call when another call is in progress. Therefore, the user
can only answer an incoming call or ignore it.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 97
3

Canada and 060 for Mexico). The number dialed may
not be applicable with the available cellular service
and area.
•If supported, this number may be programmable on
some systems. To do this, press the PHONE button
and say ‘Setup’, followed by ‘Emergency’.
•The UConnectsystem does slightly lower your
chances of successfully making a phone call as to that
for the cell phone directly.
WARNING!
Your phone must be turned on and paired to the
UConnectsystem to allow use of this vehicle feature
in emergency situations, when the cell phone has
network coverage and stays paired to the UConnect
system.
Towing Assistance
If you need towing assistance:
•Press the PHONE button to begin.
•After theReadyprompt and the following beep, say
Towing Assistance.
NOTE:
•The towing assistance number dialed is based on the
country where the vehicle is purchased (1-800-528-
2069 for the U.S., 1-877-213-4525 for Canada, 55-14-
3454 for Mexico City and 1-800-712-3040 for outside
Mexico City in Mexico).
•If supported, this number may be programmable on
some systems. To do this, press the PHONE button
and say “Setup”’, followed by “Towing Assistance”.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 101
3

Paging
To learn how to page, refer toWorking with Automated
Systems.Paging works properly except for pagers of
certain companies, which time out a little too soon to
work properly with the UConnectsystem.
Voice Mail Calling
To learn how to access your voice mail, refer toWorking
with Automated Systems.
Working with Automated Systems
This method is used in instances where one generally has
to press numbers on the cellular phone keypad while
navigating through an automated telephone system.
You can use your UConnectsystem to access a voice mail
system or an automated service, such as a paging service or
automated customer service line. Some services require
immediate response selection. In some instances, that may
be too quick for use of the UConnectsystem.When calling a number with your UConnectsystem that
normally requires you to enter in a touch-tone sequence on
your cellular phone keypad, you can press the VOICE
RECOGNITION button and say the sequence you wish to
enter, followed by the wordSend.For example, if required
to enter your PIN followed with a pound, (3746#),youcan
press the VOICE RECOGNITION button and say,3746#
Send.Saying a number, or sequence of numbers, followed
bySend,is also to be used for navigating through an
automated customer service center menu structure, and to
leave a number on a pager.
You can also send stored UConnectphonebook entries
as tones for fast and easy access to voice mail and pager
entries. To use this feature, dial the number you wish to
call and then press the VOICE RECOGNITION button
and say, “Send.” The system will prompt you to enter the
name or number and say the name of the phonebook
entry you wish to send. The UConnectsystem will then
send the corresponding phone number associated with
the phonebook entry, as tones over the phone.
102 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE