2009 DODGE VIPER airbag

Door Locks........................... 25
▫Manual Door Lock..................... 26
▫Power Door Locks..................... 26
Windows............................. 28
▫Power Windows...................... 28
▫Auto Down Feature.................... 30
▫Wind Buffeting....................... 30
Liftgate — Coupe Models Only............. 30
Trunk Lock And Release — Convertible Models
Only................................. 32
Trunk Safety Warning — Convertible Models
Only................................. 32
▫Trunk Emergency Release................ 33Occupant Restraints..................... 33
▫Lap/Shoulder Belts.................... 34
▫Lap/Shoulder Belt Untwisting Procedure..... 39
▫Enhanced Seat Belt Reminder System
(BeltAlert).......................... 39
▫Automatic Locking Mode................ 40
▫Seat Belts And Pregnant Women........... 41
▫Seat Belt Extender..................... 41
▫Driver And Passenger Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS) - Airbag............ 42
▫Child Restraint....................... 53
Break-In Recommendations................ 59
10 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Trunk Emergency Release
The trunk of your vehicle is equipped with an emergency
release handle. It is located on the inside of the trunk lid,
near the latch, and is coated so that it glows in a darkened
trunk. Pull on the handle to open the trunk.
OCCUPANT RESTRAINTS
Some of the most important safety features in your
vehicle are the restraint systems. These include the seat
belts and the airbags for the driver and passenger.
Please pay close attention to the information in this
section. It explains how to use your restraint system
properly to keep you and your passenger as safe as
possible. Note that all of the warnings in this section
apply no matter which system you have.
WARNING!
In a collision, you and your passenger can suffer
much greater injuries if you are not buckled up
properly. You can strike the interior of your vehicle or
your passenger, or you can be thrown out of the
vehicle. Always be sure you and your passenger are
buckled up properly.
Emergency Release
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WARNING!
Using a seat belt extender when not needed can
increase the risk of injury in a collision. Only use a
seat belt extender when the seat belt is not long
enough when worn low and snug and in the recom-
mended seating positions. Remove and store the
extender when not needed.
Driver and Passenger Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS) - Airbag
This vehicle is equipped with airbags for the driver and
passenger as a supplement to the seat belt restraint
systems. The driver’s airbag is mounted in the steering
wheel. The passenger’s airbag is mounted underneath a
cover in the passenger’s side of the instrument panel. The
words SRS/AIRBAG is embossed on the airbag covers.NOTE:The airbags are certified to the Federal regula-
tions that allow less forceful deployment. The passen-
ger’s airbag is certified to the Federal regulations that
define Occupant Classification (Refer to “How The Air-
bag System Works” in this section).
The airbags have a multistage inflator design. This may
allow the airbag to have different rates of inflation that
are based on collision severity and occupant size.
WARNING!
•Do not put anything on or around the airbag
covers or attempt to open them manually. You may
damage the airbags and you could be injured
because the airbags are no longer functional.
These protective covers for the airbag cushions are
designed to open only when the airbags are inflat-
ing.
(Continued)
42 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not drill, cut, or tamper with the knee bolster
in any way.
•Do not mount any accessories to the knee bolster
such as alarm lights, stereos, citizens band radios,
etc.
•Relying on the airbags alone could lead to more
severe injuries in a collision. The airbags work
with your seat belt to restrain you properly. In
some collisions, the airbags won’t deploy at all.
Always wear your seat belts even though you have
airbags.
•Being too close to the steering wheel or instrument
panel during airbag deployment could cause seri-
ous injury. Airbags need room to inflate. Sit back,
extending your arms comfortably to reach the
steering wheel or instrument panel.The airbags work with the instrument panel knee bolsters
and the seat belts to provide improved protection for the
driver and passenger. While the seat belts are designed to
protect the driver and passenger in many types of
collisions, the airbags will deploy in moderate to severe
frontal collisions. However, even in collisions where the
airbags deploy, all occupants need the seat belts to keep
them in the right position for the airbags to protect
properly.
NOTE:The passenger airbag may not deploy if the
Occupant Classification System (refer to “How The Air-
bag System Works” in this section) determines the seat is
empty or is occupied by someone that is classified in the
“child” category. This could be a child, a teenager, or
even a small adult. Therefore, even if the driver’s airbag
deploys, the passenger’s airbag may not deploy.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 43
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Here are some simple steps you can take to minimize
the risk of harm from a deploying airbag.
1. An infant up to one year or approximately 20 lbs (9 kg)
should never ride in the vehicle because in the event of a
crash, the rear-facing child seat places them too close to
the passenger airbag.
2. An infant in a rear-facing child safety seat, designed
for a child up to one year or approximately 20 lbs (9 kg),
shouldNEVERride in the front seat of a vehicle
equipped with a passenger airbag, unless the airbag is
shut OFF. An airbag deployment can cause severe injury
or death to an infant in this position. Refer to “Passenger
Airbag Disabled (PAD) Indicator Light” in this section.
3. A child who is not big enough to wear the vehicle seat
belt properly (refer to information on Child Restraint in
this section) should be secured in a child safety seat or
booster seat.4. An older child who does not use a child safety seat or
booster seat should ride buckled properly in their seat.
5. Never allow a child to place the shoulder belt behind
them or under the arm.
6. Never allow a child to lean forward toward the
instrument panel as a passenger airbag deployment
could cause severe injury or death to a child in this
position.
7. For a child from 1 to 12 years old: Move the passenger
seat as far back as possible. For a child from 20 to 60 lbs
(9 kg to 27 kg): Secure them in the appropriate child
safety seat or booster seat. If too large for a booster seat,
the child should wear the lap/shoulder belt properly.
8. Read the instructions provided with your child re-
straint to make sure that you are using it properly.
44 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

9. Read the instructions provided with your child safety
seat or booster seat to make sure that you are using it
properly.
10. All occupants should wear their lap and shoulder
belts properly.
11. Position the driver seat and passenger seat as far
away from the instrument panel as practical to allow the
airbags room to inflate. Note that the power adjustable
pedals allow for more driver’s seat adjustment options.
Refer to “Adjustable Pedals” in Section 3 of this manual
for details.
Airbag System Components
The Airbag System consists of the following:
•Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
•Airbag Warning Light
•Driver Airbag
•Passenger Airbag
•Passenger Airbag Off Light
•Steering Wheel and Column
•Instrument Panel
•Seat Track Position Sensors
•Interconnecting Wiring
•Seat Belt Reminder Light
•Knee Impact Bolsters
•Front Acceleration Sensors
•Passenger Seat Occupant Classification System (OCS)
Occupant Classification Module (OCM)
Passenger Airbag Disabled (PAD) Indicator Light
Flex Mat
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 45
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Interconnecting Wiring
Seat Track Position Sensors
How the Airbag System Works
•
TheOccupant Restraint Controller (ORC)determines
if a frontal collision is severe enough to require the
airbags to inflate. The airbag inflators are designed to
provide different rates of inflation. Based on the level
of collision severity, the ORC determines the proper
rate of inflation. The ORC may modify the rate of
passenger airbag inflation or prevent passenger airbag
deployment based on input from the Occupant Clas-
sification System (OCS). The ORC will not detect
roll-over or rear impacts. Furthermore, the airbags are
not on and will not inflate if the key is in the
OFF/LOCK position, in the ACC position, or not in
the ignition.The ORC also monitors the readiness of the electronic
parts of the system whenever the ignition switch is in
the ON/RUN position. These include all of the items
listed under “Airbag System Components,” except the
steering wheel and column and the knee bolsters.
•The ORC turns on the Airbag Warning
Light and Passenger Airbag Disable (PAD)
Indicator Light for six to eight seconds as a
self-check when the ignition is first turned
ON. After the self-check, the Airbag Warning Light
will turn off and the PAD Indicator Light will function
normally (Refer to “Passenger Airbag Disable (PAD)
Indicator Light” in this section). If the ORC detects a
malfunction in any part of the system, it turns on the
Airbag Warning Light either momentarily or continu-
ously. A single chime will sound if the light comes on
again after initial start up.
46 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
Ignoring the Airbag Warning Light in your instrument
panel could mean you won’t have the airbags to protect
you in a collision. If the light does not come on, stays
on after you start the vehicle, or if it comes on as you
drive, have the airbag system checked right away.
•TheDriver Airbag/Inflator Unitis mounted in the
steering wheel. ThePassenger Airbag/Inflator Unitis
mounted underneath a cover in the passenger side of
the instrument panel. When the ORC detects a colli-
sion requiring the airbags, it signals the inflator units.
A large quantity of non-toxic gas is generated to inflate
the airbags. Different airbag inflation rates may be
possible based on collision severity and occupant size.
The steering wheel hub trim cover and the upper right
side of the instrument panel separate and then fold out
of the way, as the bags inflate to their full size. Thebags inflate fully in about 50 to 70 ms. This is about
half of the time it takes to blink your eyes. The bags
then deflate quickly while helping to restrain the
driver and passenger. The airbag gas is vented toward
the instrument panel through vent holes in the airbag
material. In this way, the airbags do not interfere with
your control of the vehicle.•TheKnee Impact Bolstershelp protect the knees of
the driver and the passenger, and position everyone
for the best interaction with the airbags.
•TheOccupant Classification Module (OCM)is lo-
cated underneath the passenger seat. The OCM uses
input from the Flex Mat to classify the occupant in the
passenger seat into a size category. The OCM commu-
nicates this information to the ORC. The ORC may
modify the rate of passenger airbag inflation or pre-
vent passenger airbag deployment based on occupant
classification.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 47
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