2009 DODGE NITRO Owners Manual

Using the Panic Alarm
NOTE:The PANIC and SECURITY alarms are quite
different. Please take a moment to activate the PANIC
and SECURITY modes to hear the differences in the horn.
If one should sound in the future, you will need to know
which mode has been activated in order to deactivate it.
To turn the PANIC alarm feature on or off, press and hold
the PANIC button on the RKE transmitter for at least one
second and release. When the PANIC alarm is on, the
headlights and parking lights will flash, the horn will
pulse on and off, and the illuminated entry system will
turn on.
The PANIC alarm will stay on for three minutes unless
you turn it off by pressing the PANIC button a second
time or if the vehicle speed is 5 mph (8 km/h) or greater.During the PANIC mode, the door locks and RKE
systems will function normally. PANIC mode will not
disarm the Vehicle Security Alarm system on vehicles so
equipped.
Programming Additional Transmitters
Refer to Sentry Key“Customer Key Programming” in
this section.
NOTE:If you do not have a programmed RKE trans-
mitter, contact your authorized dealer for details.
Battery Replacement
The recommended replacement battery is CR2032.
NOTE:
Perchlorate Material – special handling may
apply. See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate
1. If the RKE transmitter is equipped with a screw,
remove the screw.
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2. With the RKE transmitter buttons facing down, use a
flat blade to pry the two halves of the RKE transmitter
case apart. Make sure not to damage the seal during
removal.3. Remove and replace the batteries. Avoid touching the
new batteries with your fingers. Skin oils may cause
battery deterioration. If you touch a battery, clean it with
rubbing alcohol.
4. To reassemble the RKE transmitter case, snap the two
halves together.
5. If the RKE transmitter is equipped with a screw,
reinstall and tighten until snug.
General Information
This device complies with part 15 of FCC rules and with
RS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the
following conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference.
2. This device must accept any interference that may be
received, including interference that may cause undes-
ired operation.
Separating Case Halves
24 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

NOTE:Changes or modifications not expressly ap-
proved by the party responsible for compliance could
void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
If your RKE transmitter fails to operate from a normal
distance, check for these two conditions:
1. Weak batteries in RKE transmitter. The expected life of
the batteries is from one to two years.
2. Closeness to a radio transmitter such as a radio station
tower, airport transmitter, and some mobile or CB radios.
REMOTE STARTING SYSTEM — IF EQUIPPED
Your vehicle may be equipped with a remote starting
system. This system allows the vehicle to be started from
distances up to 300 ft (91 m) using the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter, which is part of your ignition
key.
In order to start your vehicle remotely, the hood, liftgate,
and all of the doors must be closed.To start your vehicle remotely, press and release the
REMOTE START button on the RKE transmitter twice
within three seconds. To indicate that the vehicle is about
to start, the parking lights will flash and the horn will
sound briefly (if programmed).
Remote Start Button
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Once the engine starts it will run for 15 minutes. To
cancel remote start, press and release the REMOTE
START button once.
To enter the vehicle while the engine is running during a
remote start, you must first unlock the vehicle using the
UNLOCK button on the RKE transmitter. Once the
vehicle is unlocked, you have 60 seconds to enter the
vehicle, insert the key in the ignition, and turn it to the
ON position. Otherwise, the system will cancel the
remote start and automatically turn off.
Remote start will also cancel if any of the following occur:
•If the engine stalls or RPM exceeds 2500.
•Any engine warning lamps come on.
•The hood is opened.
•The hazard switch is pressed.
•The transmission is moved out of PARK.The vehicle can be started remotely a maximum of two
times consecutively. The vehicle is also allowed a maxi-
mum of one failed start, where the remote start sequence
was initiated but the engine stopped cranking without
starting. Following either of these conditions, or if the
Vehicle Security Alarm (if equipped) is sounding, or if the
PANIC button was pressed, the system must be reset
before remote starting the vehicle again. To reset the
system, insert a valid key into the ignition and turn it to
the ON position and then back to the LOCK position.
DOOR LOCKS
The vacuum fluorescent (VF) display, located in the
odometer area, displays the word DOOR as an indication
of a door ajar or door not completely closed. When the
vehicle is not moving and the door is ajar or not
completely closed, the VF display will show the word
DOOR.
26 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

If any other active warnings including “GATE” or “GAS-
CAP” are present, they will be shown in the VF display
and will also continue to cycle. If the vehicle is moving,
three single chimes will occur (one chime for each
complete display cycle, three cycles total). Afterward, the
display will continue to cycle only (no chimes).
If the TRIP/RESET button is pressed while the VF
warnings are being displayed, the VF display will revert
back to only displaying the odometer/trip odometer
mileage.
Manual Door Locks
Use the manual door lock plunger to lock the doors from
inside the vehicle. If the plunger is down when the door
is closed, the door will lock. Make sure the keys are not
inside the vehicle before closing the door.
WARNING!
•For personal security and safety in the event of an
accident, lock the vehicle doors when you drive as
well as when you park and leave the vehicle.
(Continued)
Manual Lock Plunger
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WARNING! (Continued)
•When leaving the vehicle, always remove the key
from the ignition lock, and lock your vehicle. Do
not leave unattended children in the vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised
use of vehicle equipment may cause severe per-
sonal injuries and death.
Power Door Locks
A door lock switch is located on each of the front door
panels. Press this switch to lock or unlock the doors.
If you press the power door LOCK switch while the key
is in the ignition and either of the front doors is open, the
power locks will not operate. This prevents you from
accidentally locking your keys in the vehicle. Removing
the key or closing the door will allow the locks to operate.
A chime will sound if the key is in the ignition switch and
a door is open as a reminder to remove the key.
Power Door Lock Switch
28 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Automatic Door Locks
The doors will lock automatically on vehicles with power
door locks if all of the following conditions are met:
1. The automatic door locks feature is enabled.
2. The transmission is in gear.
3. All doors are closed.
4. The throttle is pressed.
5. The vehicle speed is above 15 mph (24 km/h).
6. The doors were not previously locked using the power
door lock switch or Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter.
Automatic Door Locks Programming
The automatic door locks feature can be enabled or
disabled as follows:
For vehicles equipped with an Electronic Vehicle Infor-
mation Center (EVIC), refer to “Personal Settings (Cus-
tomer Programmable Features)” under “Electronic Ve-
hicle Information Center (EVIC)” in Section 4.
For vehicles not equipped with the EVIC, perform the
following procedure:
1. Close all doors and place the key in the ignition.
2. Cycle the ignition switch between LOCK and ON and
then back to LOCK four times, ending up in the LOCK
position.
3. Depress the power door LOCK switch to lock the
doors.
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4. A single chime will indicate the completion of the
programming.
5. Repeat these steps if you want to return this feature to
its previous setting.
NOTE:Use the automatic door locks feature in accor-
dance with local laws.
Automatic Unlock Doors on Exit
The doors will unlock automatically on vehicles with
power door locks if:
1. The automatic unlock doors on exit feature is enabled.
2. The transmission was in gear and the vehicle speed
returned to 0 mph (0 km/h).
3. The transmission is in NEUTRAL or PARK.
4. The driver door is opened.
5. The doors were not previously unlocked.6. The vehicle speed is 0 mph (0 km/h).
Automatic Unlock Doors on Exit Programming
The automatic unlock doors on exit feature can be
enabled or disabled as follows:
For vehicles equipped with an Electronic Vehicle Infor-
mation Center (EVIC), refer to “Personal Settings (Cus-
tomer Programmable Features)” under “Electronic Ve-
hicle Information Center (EVIC)” in Section 4.
For vehicles not equipped with the EVIC, perform the
following procedure:
1. Close all doors and place the key in the ignition.
2. Cycle the ignition switch between LOCK and ON and
then back to LOCK four times, ending up in the LOCK
position.
3. Depress the power door UNLOCK switch to unlock
the doors.
30 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE