2009 DODGE NITRO tow

To Raise Rear Seat
If locked in the folded position, pull the release strap
(toward the front of the vehicle).
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.
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, there are two latches that must be
released.
1. Pull the hood release lever located under the left side
of the instrument panel.
Hood Release Lever
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 127
3

Parking Lights, Instrument Panel Lights and
Headlights
Turn the end of the multifunction lever to the first detent
for parking lights and instrument panel lights. Turn to
the second detent for headlight operation.To change the brightness of the instrument panel lights,
rotate the center portion of the multifunction lever up or
down.
NOTE:If the driver’s door is left open, and the head-
lights or parking lights are left on, a chime will sound.
Lights-On Reminder
If the headlights or parking lights are on after the ignition
is turned OFF, a chime will sound when the driver’s door
is opened.
High Beam Headlights
Push the multifunction lever away from you to switch
the headlights to high beams. Pull the lever towards you
to switch the headlights back to low beams.
Headlight Switch
130 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Flash-to-Pass
You can signal another vehicle with your headlights by
lightly pulling the multifunction lever toward the steer-
ing wheel. This will cause the headlights to turn on at
high beam and remain on until the lever is released.
Front Fog Lights — If Equipped
The front fog light switch is in the multifunction
lever. To activate the front fog lights, turn on the
parking or Low beam headlights and pull out the
end of the lever.
NOTE:The fog lights will only operate with the parking
lights or the headlights on Low beam. Selecting High
beam headlights will turn off the fog lights.
Turn Signals
Move the multifunction lever up or down and the arrows
on each side of the instrument cluster flash to show
proper operation of the front and rear turn signal lights.You can signal a lane change by moving the lever
partially up or down without moving beyond the detent.
If either light remains on and does not flash, or there is a
very fast flash rate, check for a defective outside light
bulb. If an indicator fails to light when the lever is
moved, it would suggest that the indicator bulb is
defective.
NOTE:A tone will chime if the turn signals are left on
for more than 1 mile (2 km).
Daytime Running Lights — If Equipped
The headlights come on at a low intensity level after the
vehicle has been driven approximately 3 ft (1 m). They
will turn off when the vehicle is turned off or when the
headlights are switched on.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 131
3

CAUTION!
In cold weather, always turn off the wiper switch and
allow the wipers to return to the park position before
turning off the engine. If the wiper switch is left on
and the wipers freeze to the windshield, damage to
the wiper motor may occur when the vehicle is
restarted.
Intermittent Wiper System
Use the intermittent wiper when weather conditions
make a single wiping cycle with a variable pause be-
tween cycles desirable. Move the lever to the delay
position, then select the delay interval by turning the end
of the lever. The delay can be regulated from a maximum
of approximately 18 seconds between cycles, to a cycle
every second, if the vehicle speed is greater than 10 mph
(16 km/h). If the vehicle speed is less than 10 mph(16 km/h), the delay can be regulated from a maximum
of approximately 36 seconds between cycles, to a cycle
every two seconds.
Windshield Washers
To use the washer, pull the lever toward you and hold
while spray is desired. If the lever is pulled while in the
delay range, the wiper will operate for two wipe cycles
after the lever is released, and then resume the intermit-
tent interval previously selected.
If the lever is pulled while in the OFF position, the wipers
will operate for as long as the lever is held, plus two wipe
cycles, then turn off.
Mist Feature
Push down on the wiper lever to activate a single wipe to
clear off road mist or spray from a passing vehicle. As
long as the lever is held down, the wipers will continue
to operate.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 133
3

NOTE:The vehicle should be traveling at a steady
speed and on level ground before pressing the SET lever.
To Deactivate
A soft tap on the brake pedal, pulling the Electronic
Speed Control lever toward you, “CANCEL”, or normal
brake or clutch pressure while slowing the vehicle will
deactivate speed control without erasing the set speed
memory. Pressing the ON/OFF button or turning off the
ignition switch erases the set speed memory.
To Resume Speed
To resume a previously set speed, push the RESUME
ACCEL lever up and release. Resume can be used at any
speed above 25 mph (40 km/h).
To Vary The Speed Setting
When the Electronic Speed Control is on, speed can be
increased by pushing up and holding RESUME ACCEL.
Release the lever when the desired speed is reached, and
the new speed will be set.Tapping RESUME ACCEL once will result ina1mph
(2 km/h) speed increase. Each time the lever is tapped,
speed increases so that tapping the lever three times will
increase speed by 3 mph (6 km/h), etc.
To decrease speed while Electronic Speed Control is on,
push down and hold SET DECEL. Release the lever when
the desired speed is reached, and the new speed will be
set.
Tapping the SET DECEL lever once will result ina1mph
(2 km/h) speed decrease. Each time the lever is tapped,
speed decreases.
NOTE:The Electronic Speed Control system has been
designed to shut down if multiple speed control switch
functions are operated simultaneously in order to ensure
proper operation. If this occurs, the system can be
reactivated by pushing the Electronic Speed Control lever
ON/OFF button and resetting the desired vehicle set
speed.
136 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING! (Continued)
•Before using the Rear Park Assist System, it is
strongly recommended that the ball mount and
hitch ball assembly is disconnected from the ve-
hicle when the vehicle is not used for towing.
Failure to do so can result in injury or damage to
vehicles or obstacles because the hitch ball will be
much closer to the obstacle than the rear fascia
when the warning display turns the red LEDs ON.
Also, the sensors could detect the ball mount and
hitch ball assembly, depending on its size and
shape, giving a false indication that an obstacle is
behind the vehicle.
Enabling and Disabling the System
There are times when you may want to disable the Rear
Park Assist System, such as when towing a trailer.
Vehicles Equipped With the Electronic Vehicle
Information Center (EVIC)
You can turn the Rear Park Assist System on or off
through the EVIC. For details, refer to “Personal Settings
(Customer-Programmable Features)” under “Electronic
Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)” in Section 4 of this
manual.
140 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

position. The sunroof will close fully and stop automati-
cally. This is called Express Close. During Express Close
operation, any movement of the switch will stop the
sunroof.
NOTE:To ensure the sunroof is fully closed, press and
hold the switch until the sunroof has completely stopped
moving.
Closing Sunroof - Manual Mode
To close the sunroof, press and hold the switch in the
forward position. Any release of the switch will stop the
movement and the sunroof will remain in a partially
closed condition until the switch is pushed and held
forward again.
Pinch Protect Feature
This feature will detect an obstruction in the opening of
the sunroof during Express Close operation. If an ob-
struction in the path of the sunroof is detected, thesunroof will automatically retract. Remove the obstruc-
tion if this occurs. Next, press the switch forward and
release to Express Close.
Pinch Protect Override
If a known obstruction (ice, debris, etc.) prevents closing,
press the switch forward and hold. This allows the
sunroof to move towards the closed position.
NOTE:Pinch protection is disabled while the switch is
pressed.
Venting Sunroof - Express
Press and release theVbutton within one-half second
and the sunroof will open to the vent position. This is
called Express Vent, and it will occur regardless of
sunroof position. During Express Vent operation, any
movement of the switch will stop the sunroof.
152 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Cargo Load Floor — If Equipped
The panel in the load floor is reversible for added utility.
One side features a plastic lined tray which can hold a
variety of items. The maximum load capacity of the load
floor is 400 lbs (181 kg).
The cargo load floor is held by spring loaded latches. In
order to use the cargo load floor, use the following
procedure:
1. Push the side mounted release handles (toward the
center of the vehicle) to release cover.
Floor Panel
162 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE