2011 DODGE DURANGO ECU

restraint and slide the latch plate into the buckle. Then,
pull the shoulder belt until it is fully extended from the
retractor. Allow the belt to return into the retractor,
pulling on the excess webbing to tighten the lap
portion around the child restraint. For additional
information, refer toAutomatic Locking Retractors
Mode earlier in the Occupant Restraints Section of the
owners’ manual.
•Buckle the child into the restraint exactly as the
manufacturer’s instructions tell you.
WARNING!
When your child restraint is not in use, secure it in
the vehicle with the seat belt or remove it from the
vehicle. Do not leave it loose in the vehicle. In a
sudden stop or accident, it could strike the occupants
or seatbacks and cause serious personal injury. NOTE: For additional information, refer to
www.seatcheck.org or call 1–866–SEATCHECK. Cana-
dian residents should refer to Transport Canada’s web-
site for additional information: http://www.tc.gc.ca/
roadsafety/safedrivers/childsafety/index.htm
Older Children And Child Restraints
Children who weigh more than 20 lbs (9 kg), and who are
older than one year, can ride forward-facing in the
vehicle. Forward-facing child seats and convertible child
seats used in the forward-facing direction are for children
who weigh 20 to 40 lbs (9 to 18 kg), and who are older
than one year. These child seats are also held in the
vehicle by the lap/shoulder belt or the LATCH child
restraint anchorage system. Refer to Lower Anchors and
Tether for CHildren (LATCH).
The belt-positioning booster seat is for children weighing
more than 40 lbs (18 kg), but who are still too small to fit
the vehicle’s seat belts properly. If the child cannot sit
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 85

with knees bent over the vehicle’s seat cushion while the
child’s back is against the seatback, they should use a
belt-positioning booster seat. The child and belt-
positioning booster seat are held in the vehicle by the
lap/shoulder belt.
Children Too Large For Booster Seats
Children who are large enough to wear the shoulder belt
comfortably, and whose legs are long enough to bend
over the front of the seat when their back is against the
seatback, should use the lap/shoulder belt in a rear seat.
•Make sure that the child is upright in the seat.
•The lap portion should be low on the hips and as snug
as possible.
•Check belt fit periodically. A child’s squirming or
slouching can move the belt out of position.
•If the shoulder belt contacts the face or neck, move the
child closer to the center of the vehicle. Never allow a
child to put the shoulder belt under an arm or behind
the back.
Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren (LATCH)
Your vehicle’s rear seat is equipped with the child
restraint anchorage system called LATCH. The LATCH
system provides for the installation of the child restraint
without using the vehicle’s seat belts, instead securing
the child restraint using lower anchorages and upper
tether straps from the child restraint to the vehicle
structure.
LATCH-compatible child restraint systems are now avail-
able. However, because the lower anchorages are to be
introduced over a period of years, child restraint systems
having attachments for those anchorages will continue to
also have features for installation using the vehicle’s seat
belts. Child restraints having tether straps and hooks for
86 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

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
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.
First, loosen the child seat child seat 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.There are
three top tether anchorages located on the back of the seat, behind the gap panel. They are not visible until
you fold the gap panel down. Do not use the cargo tie
down hooks located on the floor behind the seat.
Finally, tighten all three straps as you push the child
restraint rearward and downward into the seat, remov-
ing 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
Belts
The seat belts in the passenger seating positions are
equipped with an Automatic Locking Retractor to secure
90 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

to shorten it. Insert the latch plate into the buckle with the
release button facing out. If the belt still can’t be tight-
ened, or if pulling and pushing on the restraint loosens
the belt, 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:
For rearward facing infant seats secured in the center seat
position with the vehicle seat belts, the rear center seat
position has an armrest tether that secures the arm rest in
the upward position. To access the center seat arm rest
tether first lower the arm rest. The tether is located
behind the armrest and hooked onto the plastic seat
backing.Pull down on the tether to unhook it from the plastic seat
backing, then raise the armrest and attach the tether hook
to the strap located on the front of the arm rest.
Center Seat Position Arm Rest Tether
92 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 be-
hind the child seat to secure a child restraint top
tether strap.
•Do not use the cargo tie downs located on the load
floor. Improper usage of the tether can lead to a
failure of an infant or child restraint. The child
could be badly injured or killed.
Top Tether Strap Attachment
For the center seating position route the tether strap over
the seatback and headrest then attach the hook to thetop
tether anchorage located on the back of the seat behind
the gap panel. For the outboard seating positions, route
the tether strap under the headrests and attach the hook
to the top tether anchorage located on the back of the seat behind the gap panel. Please note the top tether anchor-
ages are not visible until you fold the gap panel down.
Do not use the cargo tie down hooks located on the
floor behind the seats.
Transporting Pets
Air Bags 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
an accident. Pets should be restrained in the rear seat in
pet harnesses or pet carriers that are secured by seat belts.
ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS
A long break-in period is not required for the engine and
drivetrain (transmission and axle) in your vehicle.
Drive moderately during the first 300 miles (500 km).
After the initial 60 miles (100 km), speeds up to 50 or
55 mph (80 or 90 km/h) are desirable.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 95

Safety Checks You Should Make Inside The
Vehicle
Seat Belts
Inspect the belt system periodically, checking for cuts,
frays, and loose parts. Damaged parts must be replaced
immediately. Do not disassemble or modify the system.
Front seat belt assemblies must be replaced after a
collision. Rear seat belt assemblies must be replaced after
a collision if they have been damaged (i.e., bent retractor,
torn webbing, etc.). If there is any question regarding belt
or retractor condition, replace the belt.
Airbag Warning Light
The light should come on and remain on for four to eight
seconds as a bulb check when the ignition switch is first
turned ON. If the light is not lit during starting, see your
authorized dealer. If the light stays on, flickers, or comes
on while driving, have the system checked by an autho-
rized dealer.
Defroster
Check operation by selecting the defrost mode and place
the blower control on high speed. You should be able to
feel the air directed against the windshield. See your
authorized dealer for service if your defroster is
inoperable.
Floor Mat Safety Information
Always use floor mats designed to fit the footwell of your
vehicle. Use only floor mats that leave the pedal area
unobstructed and that are firmly secured so that they
cannot slip out of position and interfere with the pedals
or impair safe operation of your vehicle in other ways.
WARNING!
Pedals that cannot move freely can cause loss of
vehicle control and increase the risk of serious per-
sonal injury.(Continued)
98 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING! (Continued)
•Always make sure that floor mats are properly
attached to the floor mat fasteners.
•Never place or install floor mats or other floor
coverings in the vehicle that cannot be properly
secured to prevent them from moving and inter-
fering with the pedals or the ability to control the
vehicle.
•Never put floor mats or other floor coverings on
top of already installed floor mats. Additional
floor mats and other coverings will reduce the size
of the pedal area and interfere with the pedals.
•Check mounting of mats on a regular basis. Al-
ways properly reinstall and secure floor mats that
have been removed for cleaning.(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Always make sure that objects cannot fall into the
driver footwell while the vehicle is moving. Ob-
jects can become trapped under the brake pedal
and accelerator pedal causing a loss of vehicle
control.
•If required, mounting posts must be properly
installed, if not equipped from the factory.
Failure to properly follow floor mat installation or
mounting can cause interference with the brake
pedal and accelerator pedal operation causing loss
of control of the vehicle.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 99

▫Enabling And Disabling Parksense ....... 197
▫ Service The Parksense Rear Park Assist
System ............................ 198
▫ Cleaning The Parksense System......... 199
▫ Parksense System Usage Precautions ...... 199
 Parkview Rear Back Up Camera —
If Equipped .......................... 202
▫ Turning Parkview On Or Off — With
Navigation/Multimedia Radio ........... 203
▫ Turning Parkview On Or Off — Without
Navigation/Multimedia Radio ........... 204
 Overhead Console ..................... 204
▫ Front Map/Reading Lights ............. 204
▫ Sunglass Bin Door ................... 205 
Garage Door Opener — If Equipped ........ 206
▫ Programming HomeLink .............. 207
▫ Gate Operator/Canadian Programming .... 210
▫ Using HomeLink ................... 210
▫ Reprogramming A Single
HomeLink Button................... 211
▫ Security ........................... 211
▫ Troubleshooting Tips .................. 211
▫ General Information .................. 212
 Power Sunroof — If Equipped ............ 212
▫ Opening Sunroof — Express ............ 213
▫ Opening Sunroof — Manual Mode ........ 213
▫ Closing Sunroof — Express ............. 214
▫ Closing Sunroof — Manual Mode ........ 214
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 105