2010 DODGE NITRO light

•Supplemental Side Airbag Inflatable Curtains (SABIC)
•Front and Side Impact Sensors
•Front Seat Belt Pretensioners, Seat Belt Buckle Switch,
and Seat Track Position Sensors
•Supplemental Active Head Restraint for Driver and
Front Passenger
•Occupant Classification System (OCS)
•Occupant Classification Module (OCM)
•Passenger Airbag Disable (PAD) Indicator Light
•Weight Sensors
Advanced Front Airbag Features
The Advanced Front Airbag system has multistage driver
and front passenger airbags. This system provides output
appropriate to the severity and type of collision asdetermined by the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC),
which may receive information from the front impact
sensors.
The first stage inflator is triggered immediately during an
impact that requires airbag deployment. The timing of
the second stage determines whether the output force is
low, medium, or high. If a low output is sufficient to meet
the need, the remaining gas in the inflator is expended.
NOTE:
The passenger Advanced Front Airbag may not
deploy, even when the driver Advanced Front Airbag
has, if the Occupant Classification System (refer to Oc-
cupant Classification System”) has determined the pas-
senger seat is empty or is occupied by someone that is
classified in the childsize category. This could be a
child, teenager, or even an adult.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 57

WARNING!
•No objects should be placed over or near the
airbag on the instrument panel, because any such
objects could cause harm if the vehicle is in a
collision severe enough to cause the airbag to
inflate.
•Do not put anything on or around the Advanced
Front Airbag covers or attempt to manually open
them. You may damage the airbags and you could
be injured because the airbags may no longer be
functional. These protective covers for the airbag
cushions are designed to open only when the
airbags are inflating.
•Do not use accessory seat covers or place objects
between you and the side airbags; the performance
could be adversely affected and/or objects could
be pushed into you, causing serious injury.(Continued)
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, citizen band radios,
etc.
•Do not have any accessory items installed which
will alter the roof, including adding a sunroof to
your vehicle. Do not add roof racks that require
permanent attachments (bolts or screws) for instal-
lation on the vehicle roof. Do not drill into the roof
of the vehicle for any reason.
58 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Advanced Front Airbags may deploy in crashes with
little vehicle front-end damage but that produce a severe
initial deceleration.
The SABIC will not deploy in all side collisions. SABIC
deployment will depend on the severity and type of
collision.
Because airbag sensors measure vehicle deceleration over
time, vehicle speed and damage by themselves are not
good indicators of whether or not an airbag should have
deployed.
Seat belts are necessary for your protection in all crashes,
and also are needed to help keep you in position, away
from an inflating airbag.
The ORC also monitors the readiness of the electronic
parts of the airbag system whenever the ignition switch is
in the START or ON positions. If the key is in the LOCKposition, in the ACC position, or not in the ignition, the
airbag system is not on and the airbags will not inflate.
The ORC contains a backup power supply system that
may deploy the airbags even if the battery loses power or
it becomes disconnected prior to deployment.
Also, the ORC turns on the “Airbag Warning
Light” for four to eight seconds for a self-check
when the ignition is first turned ON. After the
self-check, the “Airbag Warning Light” will
turn off. If the ORC detects a malfunction in any part of
the system, it turns on the “Airbag Warning Light” either
momentarily or continuously. A single chime will sound
if the light comes on again after initial startup.
It also includes diagnostics that will illuminate the instru-
ment cluster Airbag Warning Light if a malfunction is
noted that could affect the airbag system. The diagnostics
also record the nature of the malfunction.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 63

WARNING!
Ignoring the “Airbag Warning Light” in your instru-
ment 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 an authorized dealer service the
airbag system immediately.
Occupant Classification System (OCS)
The OCS is part of a Federally regulated safety system
required for this vehicle. It is designed to turn off the
passenger Advanced Front Airbag for an empty seat and
for occupants classified in a category other than an adult.
This could be a child, teenager, or even an adult.
NOTE:Children 12 years and younger should always
ride buckled up in a rear seat in an appropriate child
restraint.
•Occupant Classification System (OCS)
The OCS is part of a Federally regulated safety system
required for this vehicle. It is designed to turn off the
passenger Advanced Front Airbag for an empty seat and
for occupants classified in a category other than an adult.
This could be a child, teenager, or even an adult.
NOTE: Children 12 years and younger should always
ride buckled up in a rear seat in an appropriate child
restraint.
•Occupant Classification Module (OCM)
The OCM is located beneath the front passenger seat. The
OCM classifies the occupant into categories based on the
measurements made by the seat weight sensors. The
OCM communicates with the ORC. The ORC uses the
occupant category to determine whether the passenger
Advanced Front Airbag should be turned off. It also
determines the rate of airbag inflation during a collision.
64 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

•Weight Sensors
Your vehicle has four Weight Sensors located between the
seat and the floor pan. The weight sensors measure
applied weight and transfers that information to the
OCM.
•Passenger Airbag Disable (PAD) Indicator Light
The PAD Indicator Light (an amber light located in the
center of the instrument panel) tells the driver and front
passenger when the passenger Advanced Front Airbag is
turned off. The PAD Indicator light illuminates the words
“PASS AIR BAG OFF” to show that the passenger
Advanced Front Airbag will not inflate during a collision
requiring airbag deployment. When the right front pas-
senger seat is empty or when very light objects are placed
on the seat, the passenger airbag will not inflate even
though the PAD indicator light is not illuminated. The PAD indicator light should not be illuminated when
an adult passenger is properly seated in the front passen-
ger seat. In this case, the passenger Advanced Front
Airbag is ready to be inflated if a collision requires an
airbag deployment.
Indicator Light Location
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For all other occupants, the PAD indicator light will be
illuminated indicating that the passenger Advanced
Front Airbag is turned off and will not inflate.
NOTE:Even though this vehicle is equipped with an
occupant classification system, children 12 years and
younger should always ride buckled up in a rear seat in
an appropriate child restraint (refer to “Child Re-
straints”).
WARNING!
Never place a rear facing infant seat in front of an
airbag. A deploying passenger Advanced Front Air-
bag can cause death or serious injury to a child in a
rear-facing infant seat.
Passenger Airbag Disable (PAD) System
Front Passenger Indicator Light Airbag Status Adult OFFON
Child ONOFF
Grocery Bags,
Heavy Briefcases and Other Rela-
tively Light Ob- jects ON
OFF
Empty or Very Light Objects OFF*
OFF
* Since the system senses weight, some small objects will turn the PAD Indicator Light on.
Drivers and adult passengers should verify that the PAD
Indicator Light is not illuminated when an adult is riding
in the front passenger seat. If an adult occupant’s weight
is transferred to another part of the vehicle (like the door
or instrument panel), the weight sensors in the seat may
66 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

not properly classify the occupant. Objects lodged under
the seat or between the seat and the center console can
prevent the occupant’s weight from being measured
properly and may result in the occupant being improp-
erly classified. Ensure that the front passenger seatback
does not touch anything placed on the second row of
seats because this can also affect occupant classification.
Also, if you fold down the seats in the second row check
to be sure they don’t touch the front passenger seat.
If the front passenger seat is damaged in any way, it
should only be serviced by an authorized dealer. If the
seat is removed (or even if the seat attachment bolts are
loosened or tightened in any way), take the vehicle to an
authorized dealer.If there is a fault present in the airbag system, the Airbag
Warning Light (a red light located in the center of the
instrument cluster directly in front of the driver) will be
turned on. This indicates that you should have an autho-
rized dealer service the system immediately. The Airbag
Warning Light is turned on whenever there is a fault that
can affect the operation of the airbag system. If there is a
fault present in the PAD Indicator Light, the Airbag
Warning Light will be illuminated to show that the
passenger Advanced Front Airbag may be turned off
until the fault is cleared. If the Airbag Warning Light is
illuminated, have an authorized dealer service the airbag
system immediately. If an object is lodged under the seat
and interferes with operation of the weight sensors, a
fault will occur which turns on both the PAD Indicator
Light and the Airbag Warning Light. Once the lodged
object is removed, the fault will be automatically cleared
after a short period of time.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 67

Enhanced Accident Response System
In the event of an impact causing airbag deployment, if
the communication network remains intact, and the
power remains intact, depending on the nature of the
event the ORC will determine whether to have the
Enhanced Accident Response System perform the follow-
ing functions:
•Cut off fuel to the engine.
•Flash hazard lights as long as the battery has power or
until the ignition key is turned off.
•Turn on the interior lights, which remain on as long as
the battery has power or until the ignition key is
removed.
•Unlock the doors automatically.
If a Deployment Occurs
The front airbags are designed to deflate immediately
after deployment.NOTE:
Front and/or side airbags will not deploy in all
collisions. This does not mean something is wrong with
the airbag system.
If you do have a collision which deploys the airbags, any
or all of the following may occur:
•The nylon airbag material may sometimes cause abra-
sions and/or skin reddening to the driver and front
passenger as the airbags deploy and unfold. The
abrasions are similar to friction rope burns or those
you might get sliding along a carpet or gymnasium
floor. They are not caused by contact with chemicals.
They are not permanent and normally heal quickly.
However, if you haven’t healed significantly within a
few days, or if you have any blistering, see your doctor
immediately.
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