2010 DODGE NITRO Owners Manual

procedure. This procedure consists of programming a
blank key to the vehicle electronics. A blank key is one
that has never been programmed.
NOTE:When having the Sentry Key Immobilizer
System serviced, bring all vehicle keys with you to an
authorized dealer.
Customer Key Programming
If you have two valid Sentry Keys, you can program
new Sentry Keys to the system by performing the
following procedure:
1. Cut the additional Sentry Key Transponder blank(s)
to match the ignition switch lock cylinder key code.
2. Insert the first valid key into the ignition switch. Turn
the ignition switch to the ON position for at least three
seconds, but no longer than 15 seconds. Then, turn the
ignition switch to the LOCK position and remove the first
key. 3. Insert the second valid key into the ignition switch.
Turn the ignition switch to the ON position within
15 seconds. After 10 seconds, a chime will sound. In
addition, the Vehicle Security Light will begin to flash.
Turn the ignition switch to the LOCK position and
remove the second key.
4. Insert a blank Sentry Key
into the ignition switch.
Turn the ignition switch to the ON position within
60 seconds. After 10 seconds, a single chime will sound.
In addition, the Vehicle Security Light will stop flashing.
To indicate that programming is complete, the Vehicle
Security Light will turn on again for three seconds and
then turn off.
The new Sentry Key is programmed.The Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter will also be pro-
grammed during this procedure.
16 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Repeat this procedure to program up to eight keys. If you
do not have a programmed Sentry Key, contact your
authorized dealer for details.
NOTE:If a programmed key is lost, see your authorized
dealer to have all remaining keys erased from the sys-
tem’s memory. This will prevent the lost key from
starting your vehicle. The remaining keys must then be
reprogrammed. All vehicle keys must be taken to an
authorized dealer at the time of service to be
reprogrammed.
General Information
The Sentry Key system complies with FCC rules Part 15
and with RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is
subject to the following conditions:
•This device may not cause harmful interference.
•This device must accept any interference that may be
received, including interference that may cause undes-
ired operation.
VEHICLE SECURITY ALARM — IF EQUIPPED
The Vehicle Security Alarm monitors the vehicle doors,
liftgate, and ignition for unauthorized operation. When
the Vehicle Security Alarm is activated, the alarm pro-
vides both audible and visual signals. The horn will
sound repeatedly for three minutes, while the headlights,
park lamps and/or turn signals will flash for an addi-
tional 15 minutes.
NOTE: The Panic and Security alarms are quite differ-
ent. Please take a moment to activate the Panic and
Security modes to hear the differences in the horn. In case
one should go off in the future, you will need to know
which mode has been activated in order to deactivate it.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 17

To Arm the System
Remove the keys from the ignition switch and exit the
vehicle. Lock the doors and liftgate by pressing the
power door LOCK switch or the LOCK button on the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter. Close all the
doors.
The Vehicle Security Light (located in the instrument
cluster) will flash rapidly for about 16 seconds to signal
that the Vehicle Security Alarm is arming. During this
16 second pre-arm period, opening any door or the
liftgate will cancel the arming process. If the Vehicle
Security Alarm arms successfully, the Vehicle Security
Light will flash at a slower rate to indicate the alarm is
set. Manually locking the doors with the door lock
plunger (located on the inside of the doors) or the
driver’s door key lock cylinder will not arm the Vehicle
Security Alarm.
To Disarm the System
Either press the UNLOCK button on the RKE transmitter
or insert a valid Sentry Keyinto the ignition lock
cylinder and turn the key to the ON position.
The Vehicle Security Alarm is designed to protect your
vehicle; however, you can create conditions where the
Vehicle Security Alarm will give you a false alarm. If the
previously described arming sequence has occurred, the
Vehicle Security Alarm will arm regardless of whether
you are inside or outside the vehicle. If you remain inside
the vehicle and open a door, the alarm will sound. If this
occurs, disarm the Vehicle Security Alarm. Manually
unlocking the doors with the door lock plunger (located
on the inside of the doors) or the driver’s door key lock
cylinder will not disarm the Vehicle Security Alarm.
18 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Tamper Alert
If something has triggered the Vehicle Security Alarm in
your absence, the horn will sound three times when you
unlock the doors. Check the vehicle for tampering.
ILLUMINATED ENTRY
The interior lights come on when you open any door or
use the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter to un-
lock any door. They will remain on for approximately
30 seconds after all doors are closed then fade to off.
The lights also will fade to off if you turn on the ignition
after you close all the doors. Refer to “Electronic Vehicle
Information Center (EVIC)/Personal Settings (Customer-
Programmable Features)” in “Understanding Your In-
strument Panel” for further information.
NOTE:None of the courtesy lights will operate if the
dimmer control is in the “defeat” position (extreme
downward position), unless the overhead map/reading
lights are turned on manually.
REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE)
This system allows you to lock or unlock the doors and
liftgate or activate the Panic Alarm from distances up to
approximately 66 ft (20 m) using your Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter. The RKE transmitter does not
need to be pointed at the vehicle to activate the system.
Three Button RKE transmitter
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 19

NOTE:
•For the remote starting feature (if equipped), refer to
“Remote Starting System” for further information.
•Your vehicle’s RKE transmitter may have three or four
buttons depending on the optional features purchased
with your vehicle.
To Unlock the Doors and Liftgate
Press and release the UNLOCK button on the RKE
transmitter once to unlock the driver’s door or twice to
unlock all doors and the liftgate. The parking lights will
flash to acknowledge the unlock signal. The illuminated
entry system will also turn on.
Remote Key Unlock, Driver Door/All Doors First
This feature lets you program the system to unlock either
the driver’s door or all doors and the liftgate on the first
press of the UNLOCK button on the RKE transmitter. To
change the current setting, proceed as follows:On Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)
equipped vehicles, refer to “Electronic Vehicle Informa-
tion Center (EVIC)/Personal Settings (Customer-
Programmable Features)” in “Understanding Your In-
strument Panel” for further information.
On non-EVIC equipped vehicles, perform the following
steps:
1. Press and hold the LOCK button on a programmed
(i.e., functional) RKE transmitter for at least four seconds,
but not longer than 10 seconds. Then, press and hold the
UNLOCK button while still holding the LOCK button.
2. Release both buttons at the same time.
3. Test the feature from outside the vehicle by pressing
the LOCK and UNLOCK buttons on the RKE transmitter.
4. Repeat these steps if you want to return this feature to
its previous setting.
20 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

NOTE:Pressing the LOCK button on the RKE transmit-
ter while you are inside the vehicle will activate the
Vehicle Security Alarm. Opening a door with the Vehicle
Security Alarm activated will cause the alarm to sound.
Press the UNLOCK button to deactivate the Vehicle
Security Alarm.
To Lock the Doors and Liftgate
Press and release the LOCK button on the RKE transmit-
ter to lock all doors and the liftgate. If the ignition is OFF
when the doors are locked, the parking lights will flash
once and the horn will sound a single chirp.
Sound Horn with Lock
This feature will cause the horn to chirp when the doors
are locked with the RKE transmitter. This feature can be
turned on or off. To change the current setting, proceed as
follows:
•On Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)
equipped vehicles, refer to “Electronic Vehicle Infor-
mation Center (EVIC)/Personal Settings (Customer-
Programmable Features)” in “Understanding Your In-
strument Panel” for further information.
•On non-EVIC equipped vehicles, perform the follow-
ing steps:
1. Press the LOCK button on a programmed (i.e., func-
tional) RKE transmitter for at least four seconds, but not
longer than 10 seconds. Then, press the PANIC button
while still holding the LOCK button.
2. Release both buttons at the same time.
3. Test the feature from outside the vehicle by pressing
the LOCK button on the RKE transmitter.
4. Repeat these steps if you want to return this feature to
its previous setting.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 21

NOTE:Pressing the LOCK button on the RKE transmit-
ter while you are inside the vehicle will activate the
Vehicle Security Alarm. Opening a door with the Vehicle
Security Alarm activated will cause the alarm to sound.
Press the UNLOCK button to deactivate the Vehicle
Security Alarm.
Flash Lights with Lock
The feature will cause the parking lights to flash when
the doors are locked or unlocked with the RKE transmit-
ter. This feature can be turned on or off. To change the
current setting, proceed as follows:
•On Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)
equipped vehicles, refer to “Electronic Vehicle Infor-
mation Center (EVIC)/Personal Settings (Customer-
Programmable Features)” in “Understanding Your In-
strument Panel” for further information.
•On non-EVIC equipped vehicles, perform the follow-
ing steps: 1. Press and hold the UNLOCK button on a programmed
(i.e., functional) RKE transmitter for at least four seconds,
but not longer than 10 seconds. Then, press and hold the
LOCK button while still holding the UNLOCK button.
2. Release both buttons at the same time.
3. Test the feature from outside the vehicle by pressing
the LOCK and UNLOCK buttons on the RKE transmitter.
4. Repeat these steps if you want to return this feature to
its previous setting.
NOTE:
Pressing the LOCK button on the RKE transmit-
ter while you are inside the vehicle will activate the
Vehicle Security Alarm. Opening a door with the Vehicle
Security Alarm activated will cause the alarm to sound.
Press the UNLOCK button to deactivate the Vehicle
Security Alarm.
22 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Remote Open Window Feature — If Equipped
This feature allows you to remotely lower both front door
windows at the same time. To use this feature, press and
release the UNLOCK button on the RKE transmitter and
then immediately press and hold the UNLOCK button
until the windows lower to the level desired or until they
lower completely.
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.”
If you do not have a programmed RKE transmitter,
contact your authorized dealer for details.
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