2011 DODGE NITRO instrument panel

Air Bag System Components
Your vehicle may be equipped with the following air bag
system components:
•Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
•Air Bag Warning Light
•Steering Wheel and Column
•Instrument Panel
•Knee Impact Bolster
•Driver Advanced Front Air Bag
•Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag
•Supplemental Side Air Bag 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 Air Bag Disable (PAD) Indicator Light
•Weight Sensors
Advanced Front Air Bag Features
The Advanced Front Air Bag system has multistage
driver and front passenger air bags. This system provides
output appropriate to the severity and type of collision as
determined by the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC),
which may receive information from the front impact
sensors.
60 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

The first stage inflator is triggered immediately during an
impact that requires air bag deployment. This low output
is used in less severe collisions. A higher energy output is
used for more severe collisions.
NOTE:The passenger Advanced Front Air Bag may not
deploy, even when the driver Advanced Front Air Bag
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.
WARNING!
•No objects should be placed over or near the air bag
on the instrument panel, because any such objects
could cause harm if the vehicle is in a collision
severe enough to cause the air bag to inflate.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not put anything on or around the air bag
covers or attempt to manually open them. You may
damage the air bags and you could be injured
because the air bags may no longer be functional.
These protective covers for the air bag cushions
are designed to open only when the air bags are
inflating.
•Do not use accessory seat covers or place objects
between you and the side air bags; the perfor-
mance could be adversely affected and/or objects
could be pushed into you, causing serious injury.
•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.
(Continued)
2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 61

WARNING!
Ignoring the Air Bag Warning Light in your instru-
ment panel could mean you won’t have the air bags
to protect you in a collision. If the light does not come
on as a bulb check when the ignition is first turned
on, stays on after you start the vehicle, or if it comes
on as you drive, have an authorized dealer service the
air bag 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 Air Bag 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 or 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 Air Bag should be turned off. It also
determines the rate of air bag inflation during a collision.
•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 Air Bag 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 Air Bag is
turned off. The PAD Indicator light illuminates the words
66 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
Never place a rear facing infant seat in front of an air
bag. A deploying passenger Advanced Front Air Bag
can cause death or serious injury to a child in a
rear-facing infant seat.
Passenger Air Bag Disable (PAD) System
Front Passenger Indicator
Light Air Bag
Status
Adult OFF ON
Child ON OFF
Grocery Bags, Heavy Briefcases and Other
Relatively Light Objects 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
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.
68 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

If there is a fault present in the air bag system, the Air Bag
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 Air Bag
Warning Light is turned on whenever there is a fault that
can affect the operation of the air bag system. If there is a
fault present in the PAD Indicator Light, the Air Bag
Warning Light will be illuminated to show that the
passenger Advanced Front Air Bag may be turned off
until the fault is cleared. If the Air Bag Warning Light is
illuminated, have an authorized dealer service the air bag
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 Air Bag Warning Light. Once the lodged
object is removed, the fault will be automatically cleared
after a short period of time.Driver And Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag
Inflator Units
TheDriver And Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag
Inflator Units are located in the center of the steering
wheel and on the right side of the instrument panel.
When the ORC detects a collision requiring the Ad-
vanced Front Air Bags, it signals the inflator units. A large
quantity of non-toxic gas is generated to inflate the
Advanced Front Air Bags. Different air bag inflation rates
are possible based on collision severity and type. The
steering wheel hub trim cover and the upper right side of
the instrument panel separate and fold out of the way as
the air bags inflate to their full size. The air bags fully
inflate in about 50 to 70 milliseconds. This is about half of
the time it takes to blink your eyes. The air bags then
quickly deflate while helping to restrain the driver and
front passenger.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 69

Maintaining Your Air Bag System
WARNING!
•Modifications to any part of the air bag system
could cause it to fail when you need it. You could
be injured if the air bag system is not there to
protect you. Do not modify the components or
wiring, including adding any kind of badges or
stickers to the steering wheel hub trim cover or the
upper right side of the instrument panel. Do not
modify the front bumper or vehicle body structure
or add aftermarket side steps or running boards.(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not attempt to modify any part of your air bag
system. The air bag may inflate accidentally or
may not function properly if modifications are
made. Take your vehicle to an authorized dealer
for any air bag system service. If your seat includ-
ing your trim cover and cushion needs to be
serviced in any way (including removal or
loosening/tightening of seat attachment bolts),
take the vehicle to your authorized dealer. Only
manufacturer approved seat accessories may be
used. If it is necessary to modify the air bag system
for persons with disabilities, contact your autho-
rized dealer.
•It is dangerous to try to repair any part of the air
bag system yourself. Be sure to tell anyone who
works on your vehicle that it has an air bag system.
74 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make Outside
The Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear and uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread or sidewall. Inspect the tread for cuts
and cracks. Inspect sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
Check the wheel nuts for tightness. Check the tires
(including spare) for proper cold inflation pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of exterior lights
while you work the controls. Check turn signal and high
beam indicator lights on the instrument panel.
Door Latches
Check for positive closing, latching, and locking.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for fuel,
engine coolant, oil, or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline
fumes are detected or if fuel, power steering fluid, or
brake fluid leaks are suspected, the cause should be
located and corrected immediately.2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 91

▫Voice Training ...................... 135
 Seats .............................. 135
▫ Driver’s Power Seat — If Equipped ....... 136
▫ Heated Seats — If Equipped ............ 137
▫ Front Manual Seat Adjustment ........... 139
▫ Front Seat — Manual Recline ............ 140
▫ Fold-Flat Front Passenger Seat ........... 140
▫ Head Restraints ..................... 141
▫ 60/40 Split Folding Rear Seat With Fold-Flat
Feature ........................... 146
 To Open And Close The Hood ............ 149
 Lights ............................. 151
▫ Multifunction Lever .................. 151 ▫
Headlights And Parking Lights .......... 151
▫ Daytime Running Lights — If Equipped .... 152
▫ Lights-On Reminder .................. 152
▫ High/Low Beam Switch ............... 152
▫ Flash-To-Pass ....................... 152
▫ Front Fog Lights — If Equipped .......... 152
▫ Turn Signals ........................ 153
▫ Instrument Panel Dimmer .............. 154
▫ Interior Lights ...................... 155
 Windshield Wipers And Washers .......... 156
▫ Windshield Wiper Operation ............ 156
▫ Intermittent Wiper System .............. 158
▫ Windshield Washers .................. 158
94 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE