2010 DODGE NITRO Owners Manual

System Usage Precautions
NOTE:
•Ensure that the rear bumper is free of snow, ice, mud,
dirt and debris to keep ParkSenseoperating properly.
•Jackhammers, large trucks, and other vibrations could
affect the performance of ParkSense.
•When you turn ParkSenseoff, the instrument cluster
will display “PARK ASSIST DISABLED.” Further-
more, once you turn ParkSense off, it remains off
until you turn it on again, even if you cycle the ignition
key.
•When you move the shift lever to the REVERSE
position and ParkSense is turned off, a single chime
will sound once per ignition cycle and the instrument
cluster will display “PARK ASSIST DISABLED.”
•ParkSense, when on, will MUTE the radio when it is
sounding a tone.
•If a ParkSense system malfunction occurs, a single
chime will sound once per ignition cycle. In addition,
the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) will
display “SERVICE PARK ASSIST SYSTEM” and the
LED in the ParkSense Rear Park Assist switch will
illuminate. If this occurs after making sure the rear
bumper is free of snow, ice, mud, dirt and debris, see
your authorized dealer for service.
CAUTION!
•ParkSense is only a parking aid and it is unable
to recognize every obstacle, including small ob-
stacles. Parking curbs might be temporarily de-
tected or not detected at all. Obstacles located
above or below the sensors will not be detected
when they are in close proximity.
(Continued)
160 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

CAUTION! (Continued)
•The vehicle must be driven slowly when using
ParkSenseto be able to stop in time when the
obstacle is detected. It is recommended that the
driver looks over his/her shoulder when using
ParkSense.
•Clean the ParkSense sensors with water, car wash
soap, and a soft cloth. Do not use rough or hard
cloths. Do not scratch or poke the sensors. Other-
wise, you could damage the sensors.
WARNING!
•Drivers must be careful when backing up even
when using the ParkSense Rear Park Assist Sys-
tem. Always check carefully behind your vehicle,
look behind you, and be sure to check for pedes-
trians, animals, other vehicles, obstructions, and
blind spots before backing up. You are responsible
for safety and must continue to pay attention to
your surroundings. Failure to do so can result in
serious injury or death.
(Continued)
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 161

WARNING! (Continued)
•Before using the ParkSenseRear Park Assist
System, it is strongly recommended that the ball
mount and hitch ball assembly is disconnected
from the vehicle 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 ParkSense
There are times when you may want to disable Park-
Sense, such as when towing a trailer.
Vehicles Equipped With the Electronic Vehicle
Information Center (EVIC)
You can turn ParkSense on or off through the EVIC.
Refer to “Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)/
Personal Settings (Customer-Programmable Features)” in
“Understanding Your Instrument Panel” for further
information.
Vehicles Equipped with ParkSense Rear Park
Assist Switch
You can turn ParkSense on or off by pressing
the ParkSense Rear Park Assist switch located
on the lower switch bank below the climate
controls.
162 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

ParkSenseOperation
ParkSenseuses four sensors located in the rear bumper
fascia to scan for obstacles up to 79 in (200 cm) away from
the rear bumper fascia. The warning display located
above the rear window provides both visible and audible
warnings to indicate the range of the object. The warning display contains two sets of yellow and red
LEDs, one set to warn of obstacles behind the left rear of
the vehicle and the other set to warn of obstacles behind
the right rear of the vehicle. The driver can view the LEDs
either through the rear view mirror or by looking at the
display above the rear window.
When the ignition is turned to the ON position, and the
system is enabled, the warning display will turn on all of
its LEDs for approximately one second. Then, the system
dimly illuminates the two inner most LEDs when it is
detecting no obstacles.
ParkSense
is active when the ignition is in the ON
position, and the system is enabled, and the driver shifts
the transmission into the REVERSE position, and the
vehicle speed is less than 11 mph (18 km/h). The
following chart shows the warning display operation
when the system is detecting an obstacle:
ParkSense LED Display
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 163

WARNING DISPLAY DISTANCES
DISPLAY LED OBSTACLE DISTANCE FROM: LED COLOR AUDIBLE SIGNALREAR CORNERS REAR CENTER
Inner LED 79 in (200 cm)Yellow Sounds for
12second
1st LED 51 in (130 cm) Yellow None
2nd LED 45 in (115 cm) Yellow None 3rd LED 31.5 in (80 cm) 39 in (100 cm) Yellow None4th LED 25.5 in (65 cm) 33.5 in (85 cm) Yellow None
5th LED 20 in (50 cm) 28 in (70 cm) Yellow None
6th LED 16 in (40 cm) 20 in (50 cm) Red Intermittent
7th LED 6 in (15 cm) 12 in (30 cm) Red Continuous
Service ParkSense Rear Park Assist
When the ParkSense Rear Park Assist System is defec-
tive, the instrument cluster will actuate a single chime,
once per ignition cycle, and it will display the “SERVICE
PARK ASSIST SYSTEM” message. Refer to “Electronic
Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)” in “Understanding
Your Instrument Panel” for further information. When the shift lever is moved to REVERSE and the system has
detected a faulted condition, the EVIC will display the
“SERVICE PARK ASSIST SYSTEM” message for as long
as the vehicle is in REVERSE. Under this condition
ParkSense
will not operate.
164 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

If “SERVICE PARK ASSIST SYSTEM” appears in the
Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) after mak-
ing sure the rear fascia/bumper is clean and clear of
snow, ice, mud, dirt, or other obstruction, see your
authorized dealer.
GARAGE DOOR OPENER — IF EQUIPPED
HomeLinkreplaces up to three remote controls (hand-
held transmitters) that operate devices such as garage
door openers, motorized gates, lighting or home security
systems. The HomeLink unit operates off your vehicle’s
battery.
The HomeLink buttons that are located in the headliner
or sun visor designate the three different HomeLink
channels. NOTE:
HomeLink is disabled when the Vehicle Secu-
rity Alarm is active.
HomeLink Buttons
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 165

WARNING!
•Your motorized door or gate will open and close
while you are training the Universal Transceiver.
Do not train the transceiver if people, pets or other
objects are in the path of the door or gate. Only use
this transceiver with a garage door opener that has
a “stop and reverse” feature as required by Federal
safety standards. This includes most garage door
opener models manufactured after 1982. Do not
use a garage door opener without these safety
features. Call toll-free 1–800–355–3515 or, on the
Internet at www.HomeLink.com for safety infor-
mation or assistance.
•Vehicle exhaust contains carbon monoxide, a dan-
gerous gas. Do not run your vehicle in the garage
while training the transceiver. Exhaust gas can
cause serious injury or death.
Programming HomeLink
Before You Begin
If you have not trained any of the HomeLinkbuttons,
erase all channels before you begin training.
To do this, press and hold the two outside buttons for
20 seconds until the red indicator flashes.
It is recommended that a new battery be placed in the
handheld transmitter of the device that is being copied to
HomeLink for more efficient training and accurate
transmission of the radio-frequency signal.
Your vehicle should be parked outside of the garage
when programming.
1. Turn the ignition switch to the ON/RUN position.
2. Hold the battery side of the handheld transmitter
away from the HomeLink button you wish to program.
166 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Place the handheld transmitter 1–3 in (3-8 cm) away from
the HomeLinkbutton you wish to program while
keeping the indicator light in view.
3. Simultaneously press and hold both the chosen
HomeLink button and the handheld transmitter button
until the HomeLink indicator changes from a slow to a
rapidly blinking light, then release both the HomeLink
and handheld transmitter buttons.
Watch for the HomeLink indicator to change flash rates.
When it changes, it is programmed. It may take up to
30 seconds or longer in rare cases. The garage door may
open and close while you train.
NOTE:
•Some gate operators and garage door openers may
require you to replace Step 3 with procedures noted in
the “Gate Operator/Canadian Programming” section.
•After training a HomeLink channel, if the garage
door does not operate with HomeLink and the ga-
rage door opener was manufactured after 1995, the
garage door opener may have a rolling code. If so,
proceed to the heading “Programming A Rolling Code
System.”
4. Press and hold the just-trained HomeLink button
and observe the indicator light.
If the indicator light stays on constantly, programming is
complete and the garage door (or device) should activate
when the HomeLink button is pressed.
If the indicator light blinks rapidly for two seconds, and
then turns to a constant light, continue with program-
ming for a Rolling Code.
5. PROGRAMMING A ROLLING CODE SYSTEM
At the garage door opener motor (in the garage), locate
the “Learn” or “Training” button.
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 167