2010 DODGE NITRO child restraint

The rear seat lower anchorages are round bars located at
the rear of the seat cushion where it meets the seatback,
and are just visible when you lean into the rear seat to
install the child restraint. You will easily feel them if you
run your finger along the intersection of the seatback and
seat cushion surfaces.In addition, there are tether strap anchorages behind each
rear seating position located on the back of the seat.
Many, but not all restraint systems will be equipped with
separate straps on each side, with each having a hook or
connector for attachment to the lower anchorage and a
Latch Anchorages
Tether Strap Mounting
82 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

means of adjusting the tension in the strap. Forward-
facing toddler restraints and some rear-facing infant
restraints will also be equipped with a tether strap, a
hook for attachment to the tether strap anchorage and a
means of adjusting the tension of the strap.
You will first loosen the adjusters on the lower straps and
on the tether strap so that you can more easily attach the
hooks or connectors to the vehicle anchorages. Next,
attach the lower hooks or connectors over the top of the
anchorage bars, pushing aside the seat cover material.
Then, locate the tether anchorage directly behind the seat
where you are placing the child restraint and attach the
tether strap to the anchorage, being careful to route the
tether strap to provide the most direct path between the
anchor and the child restraint. For the outboard seating
positions, route the tether underneath the head rest and
attach the hook to the tether anchor located on the back
of the seat. Finally, tighten all three straps as you push thechild restraint rearward and downward into the seat,
removing slack in the straps according to the child
restraint manufacturer’s instructions.
WARNING!
Improper installation of a child restraint to the
LATCH anchorages can lead to failure of an infant or
child restraint. The child could be badly injured or
killed. Follow the manufacturer’s directions exactly
when installing an infant or child restraint.
Installing Child Restraints Using the Vehicle Seat
Belt
The passenger seat belts are equipped with either cinch-
ing latch plates or automatic locking retractors, which are
designed to keep the lap portion tight around the child
restraint so that it is not necessary to use a locking clip. If
the seat belt has a cinching latch plate, pulling up on the
shoulder portion of the lap/shoulder belt will tighten the
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 83

belt. However, any seat belt system may loosen with
time, so check the belt occasionally and pull it tight if
necessary.
Pull the belt from the retractor until there is enough to
allow it to pass through the child restraint and slide the
latch plate into the buckle. Then, pull the belt until it is
completely extracted from the retractor. Allow the belt to
return to the retractor, pulling on the excess webbing to
tighten the lap portion around the child restraint. Refer to
“Automatic Locking Mode”.
In the rear seat, you may have trouble tightening the
lap/shoulder belt on the child restraint because the
buckle or latch plate is too close to the belt path opening
on the restraint. Disconnect the latch plate from the
buckle and twist the short buckle-end belt several times
to shorten it. Insert the latch plate into the buckle with the
release button facing out.If the belt still can’t be tightened, or if pulling and
pushing on the restraint loosens the belt, you may need
to do something more. Disconnect the latch plate from
the buckle, turn the buckle around, and insert the latch
plate into the buckle again. If you still can’t make the
child restraint secure, try a different seating position.
To attach a child restraint tether strap:
Route the tether strap over the seatback and attach the
hook to the tether anchor located on the back of the seat.
For the outboard seating positions, route the tether under
the head rests, and attach the hook to the tether anchor
located on the back of the seat.
84 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
An incorrectly anchored tether strap could lead to
increased head motion and possible injury to the
child. Use only the anchor positions directly behind
the child seat to secure a child restraint top tether
strap.
Transporting Pets
Airbags deploying in the front seat could harm your pet.
An unrestrained pet will be thrown about and possibly
injured, or injure a passenger during panic braking or in
a collision. Pets should be restrained in the rear seat in
pet harnesses or pet carriers that are secured by seat belts.
Tether Strap Mounting
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 85

Cargo Load Floor........................ 182
Cargo Tie-Downs ........................ 180
Cargo (Vehicle Loading) ................... 366
Cellular Phone ....................... 100,275
Center High Mounted Stop Light ............ 444
Certification Label ....................... 366
Changing A Flat Tire ..................... 388
Chart, Tire Sizing ........................ 330
Check Engine Light
(Malfunction Indicator Light) .............205,404
Checking Your Vehicle For Safety ............. 86
Checks, Safety ........................... 86
Child Restraint .................... 76,77,81,83
Child Restraint Tether Anchors .............80,81
Child Safety Locks ........................ 31
Climate Control ......................... 275
Clock ..................... 223,238,240,243,253
Coin Holder ........................... 179
Compact Disc (CD) Maintenance ............. 274Compact Spare Tire
...................... 341
Compass ........................ 207,210,216
Compass Calibration .................. 210,217
Compass Variance .................... 209,218
Computer, Trip/Travel .................... 215
Console .............................. 179
Console, Floor .......................... 179
Contract, Service ........................ 473
Cooling System ......................... 417
Adding Coolant (Antifreeze) .............. 419
Coolant Capacity ...................... 445
Coolant Level ......................... 421
Disposal of Used Coolant ................ 421
Drain, Flush, and Refill .................. 418
Inspection ........................... 417
Points to Remember .................... 422
Pressure Cap ......................... 420
Selection of Coolant (Antifreeze) ......418,445,446
Corrosion Protection ..................... 428
482 INDEX

Immobilizer (Sentry Key)................... 14
Infant Restraint ........................ 76,77
Inflation Pressure Tires .................... 339
Information Center, Vehicle ................. 211
Inside Rearview Mirror .................... 97
Instrument Cluster .................... 191,192
Instrument Panel and Controls .............. 190
Instrument Panel Lens Cleaning ............. 432
Integrated Power Module (Fuses) ............ 432
Interior Appearance Care .................. 431
Interior Lights .......................... 151
Intermittent Wipers (Delay Wipers) ........... 154
Introduction ............................. 4
Jack Location ........................... 388
Jack Operation ....................... 388,390
Jacking Instructions ...................... 390
Jump Starting .......................... 393 Key, Programming
........................ 16
Key, Replacement ........................ 15
Key, Sentry (Immobilizer) ................... 14
Key-In Reminder ......................... 14
Keyless Entry System ...................... 19
Keys ................................. 12
Lane Change Assist ...................... 151
Lap/Shoulder Belts ....................... 39
LATCH (Lower Anchors and
Tether for CHildren) .................... 80,81
Latches ................................ 91
Lead Free Gasoline ...................... 358
Leaks, Fluid ............................ 91
Life of Tires ............................ 344
Liftgate ................................ 37
Light Bulbs ............................. 90
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INDEX 487

Reporting Safety Defects................... 474
Restraint, Head ......................... 138
Restraints, Child ......................... 76
Restraints, Occupant ...................... 38
Roll Over Warning ........................ 4
Roof Type Carrier ....................... 185
Rotation, Tires .......................... 347
Safety Checks Inside Vehicle ................. 88
Safety Checks Outside Vehicle ............... 90
Safety Defects, Reporting .................. 474
Safety, Exhaust Gas ....................... 87
Safety Information, Tire ................... 329
Safety Tips ............................. 86
Satellite Radio Antenna .................265,270
Satellite Radio (Uconnect studios)........... 268
Schedule, Maintenance .................... 450
Seat Belt Reminder ....................... 52
Seat Belts ............................ 39,88Adjustable Upper Shoulder Anchorage
........ 45
And Pregnant Women ................... 53
Child Restraint ....................... 76,83
Extender ............................. 54
Front Seat ............................ 39
Inspection ............................ 88
Maintenance ......................... 432
Shoulder Belt Anchorage ................. 45
Seats ................................. 134
Adjustment .......................... 135
Head Restraints ....................... 138
Heated ............................. 141
Rear Folding ......................... 142
Reclining ............................ 136
Security Alarm (Theft Alarm) ................ 17
Selection of Coolant (Antifreeze) ............. 446
Selection of Oil ......................... 408
Sentry Key (Immobilizer) ................... 14
Sentry Key Programming ................... 16
492 INDEX

Supplemental Restraint System - Airbag........ 54
Synthetic Engine Oil ...................... 409
System, Remote Starting .................... 25
Tachometer ............................ 200
Temperature Control, Automatic (ATC) ........ 279
Temperature Gauge, Engine Coolant .......... 192
Tether Anchor, Child Restraint ............... 80
Tie Down Hooks, Cargo ................... 180
Tilt Steering Column ..................... 155
Tip Start .............................. 293
Tire and Loading Information Placard ......... 334
Tire Identification Number (TIN) ............. 332
Tire Markings .......................... 329
Tire Safety Information .................... 329
Tires ............................ 90,338,477
Air Pressure .......................... 339
Chains .............................. 346
Changing ............................ 388 Compact Spare
........................ 341
General Information .................... 338
High Speed .......................... 341
Inflation Pressures ..................... 339
Jacking ............................. 388
Life of Tires .......................... 344
Load Capacity ..................... 334,335
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) ........... 348
Pressure Warning Light .................. 200
Quality Grading ....................... 477
Radial .............................. 341
Replacement ......................... 345
Rotation ............................ 347
Safety .............................. 329
Sizes ............................... 330
Spare Tire ........................... 388
Spinning ............................ 342
Tread Wear Indicators ................... 343
Tongue Weight/Trailer Weight .............. 376
494 INDEX