2013 DODGE VIPER Owners Manual

WARNING!
Using a seat belt extender when not needed can
increase the risk of injury in a collision. Only use the
seat belt extender when the lap belt is not long
enough when it is worn low and snug, and in the
recommended seating positions. Remove and store
the extender when not needed.
Driver And Passenger Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS) - Airbags
This vehicle is equipped with airbags for the driver and
passenger as a supplement to the seat belt restraint
systems. The driver’s Advanced Front Airbag is mounted
in the steering wheel. The passenger’s Advanced Front
Airbag is mounted underneath a cover in the passenger’s
side of the instrument panel. The words SRS/AIRBAG is
embossed on the airbag covers.NOTE:
These airbags are certified to the new Federal
regulations for Advanced Airbags. The passenger’s Ad-
vanced Front Airbag is certified to the Federal regulations
that define Occupant Classification (Refer to “Airbag
Deployment Sensors And Controls”).Advanced Front Air Bag And Knee Bolster Locations
1 — Driver And Passenger Advanced Front Airbag
2 — Knee Bolster
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 39

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.
• Do not put anything on or around the air bag
covers or attempt to open them manually. You may
damage the air bags and you could be injured
because the air bags may no longer be functional.
The protective covers for the air bag cushions are
designed to open only when the air bags are
inflating.
• Do not drill, cut or tamper with the knee bolster in
any way.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not mount any accessories to the knee bolster
such as alarm lights, stereos, citizen band radios,
etc.
• Relying on the airbags alone could lead to more
severe injuries in a collision. The airbags work
with your seat belt to restrain you properly. In
some collisions, airbags won’t deploy at all. Al-
ways wear your seat belts even though you have
airbags.
• Being too close to the steering wheel or instrument
panel during airbag deployment could cause seri-
ous injury. Airbags need room to inflate. Sit back,
extending your arms comfortably to reach the steer-
ing wheel or instrument panel.
40 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

The airbags have a multistage inflator design. This allows
the airbag to have different rates of inflation that are
based on several factors, including collision severity and
occupant size.
While the seat belts are designed to protect the driver and
passenger in many types of collisions, the airbags will
deploy in certain frontal collisions depending on several
factors, including the severity and type of collision.
However, even in collisions where the airbags deploy, all
occupants need the seat belts to keep them in the right
position for the airbags to protect properly.
NOTE:
•The passenger airbag may not deploy if the Occupant
Classification System (refer to “Airbag Deployment
Sensors And Controls”) determines the seat is empty
or is occupied by someone that is classified in the
“child” category. This could be a child, a teenager, or even a small adult. Therefore, even if the driver’s
Advanced Front Airbag deploys, the passenger’s Ad-
vanced Front Airbag may not deploy.
• Airbag covers may not be obvious in the interior trim;
but they will open during airbag deployment.
• After any collision, the vehicle should be taken to an
authorized dealer immediately.
Here are some simple steps you can take to minimize
the risk of harm from a deploying airbag:
1. An infant up to one year or approximately 20 lbs (9 kg) should never ride in the vehicle because in the event of
a crash, the rear-facing child seat places them too close
to the passenger airbag.
2. An infant in a rear-facing child safety seat, designed for a child up to one year or approximately 20 lbs
(9 kg), should never ride in the front seat of a vehicle
equipped with a passenger airbag, unless the airbag is
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 41

shut OFF. An airbag deployment can cause severe
injury or death to an infant in this position. Refer to
“Passenger Airbag Disabled (PAD) Indicator Light”.
3. A child who is not big enough to wear the vehicle seat belt properly should be secured in a child safety seat
or booster seat. (Refer to “Child Restraints”)
4. An older child who does not use a child safety seat or booster seat should ride buckled properly in their seat.
5. Never allow a child to place the shoulder belt behind them or under the arm.
6. Never allow a child to lean forward toward the instrument panel as a passenger airbag deployment
could cause severe injury or death to a child in this
position.
7. For a child from 1 to 12 years old: Move the passenger seat as far back as possible. For a child from 20 to
60 lbs (9 kg to 27 kg): Secure them in the appropriate child safety seat or booster seat. If too large for a
booster seat, the child should wear the lap/shoulder
belt properly.
8. Read the instructions provided with your child re- straint to make sure that you are using it properly.
9. Read the instructions provided with your child safety seat or booster seat to make sure that you are using it
properly.
10. All occupants should always wear their lap and shoulder belts properly.
11. Position the driver seat and passenger seat as far away from the instrument panel as practical to allow
the airbags room to inflate. Note that the power
adjustable pedals allow for more driver’s seat adjust-
ment options. Refer to “Adjustable Pedals” in “Un-
derstanding The Features Of Your Vehicle” for de-
tails.
42 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Knee Impact Bolsters
The Knee Impact Bolsters help protect the knees of the
driver and the passenger, and position front occupants
for the best interaction with the airbags.
Airbag System Components
Your vehicle may be equipped with the following airbag
system components:
•Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
• Airbag Warning Light
• Steering Wheel and Column
• Instrument Panel
• Knee Impact Bolster
• Driver Advanced Front Airbag
• Passenger Advanced Front Airbag
• Front and Side Impact Sensors •
Front Seat Belt Pretensioners, Seat Belt Buckle Switch,
and Seat Track Position Sensors
• Occupant Classification System (OCS)
• Occupant Classification Module (OCM)
• Passenger Airbag Disable (PAD) Indicator Light
• Flex Mat
Airbag Deployment Sensors And Controls
The following requirements must be strictly adhered to:
• Do not modify the passenger seat assembly or compo-
nents in any way.
• Do not use prior or future model year seat covers not
designated for the specific model being repaired. Al-
ways use the correct seat cover specified for the
vehicle.
• Do not replace the seat cover with an aftermarket seat
cover.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 43

•Do not add a secondary seat cover other than those
approved by Chrysler Group LLC/Mopar.
•
At no time should any supplemental restraint system
(SRS) component or SRS related component or fastener
be modified or replaced with any part except those
which are approved by Chrysler Group LLC/Mopar .
Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
The ORC is part of a Federally regulated safety system
required for this vehicle.
The ORC determines if deployment of the front airbags in
a frontal or side collision is required. Based on the impact
sensors signals, a central electronic ORC deploys the
Advanced Front Airbags, as required, depending on
several factors, including the severity and type of impact.
The airbag inflators are designed to provide different
rates of inflation. Based on the level of collision severity,
the ORC determines the proper rate of inflation. The ORC may modify the rate of passenger airbag inflation or
prevent passenger airbag deployment based on input
from the Occupant Classification System (OCS). The ORC
will not detect roll-over or rear impacts.
Advanced Front Airbags are designed to provide addi-
tional protection by supplementing the seat belts in
certain frontal collisions depending on the severity and
type of collision. Advanced Front Airbags are not ex-
pected to reduce the risk of injury in rear, side, or rollover
collisions.
The Advanced Front Airbags will not deploy in all frontal
collisions, including some that may produce substantial
vehicle damage — for example, some pole collisions,
truck underrides, and angle offset collisions. On the other
hand, depending on the type and location of impact,
Advanced Front Airbags may deploy in crashes with
little vehicle front-end damage but that produce a severe
initial deceleration.
44 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

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 colli-
sions, and also are needed to help keep you in position,
away from an inflating airbag.
The ORC monitors the readiness of the electronic parts of
the airbag system whenever the ignition is in the START
or ON/RUN position. If the ignition is in the OFF
position, 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.The ORC turns on the Airbag Warning Light
and Passenger Airbag Disable (PAD) Indicator
Light for four to eight seconds as a self-check
when the ignition is first turned to ON/RUN.
After the self-check, the Airbag Warning Light will turn
off and the PAD Indicator Light will function normally
(Refer to “Passenger Airbag Disable (PAD) Indicator
Light”). 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 45

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.
Driver Airbag/Passenger Airbag Inflator Units
The Driver Airbag Inflator Unit is mounted in the steer-
ing wheel. The Passenger Airbag Inflator Unit is
mounted underneath a cover in the passenger side of the
instrument panel. When the ORC detects a collision
requiring the Advanced Front Airbags, it signals the
inflator units. A large quantity of non-toxic gas is gener-
ated to inflate the airbags. Different airbag inflation rates
may be possible based on several factors, includingcollision severity and occupant size. The steering wheel
hub trim cover and the upper right side of the instrument
panel separate and then fold out of the way, as the
airbags inflate to their full size. The airbags inflate fully in
about 50 to 70 ms. This is about half of the time it takes
to blink your eyes. The airbags then deflate quickly while
helping to restrain the driver and passenger. The airbag
gas is vented toward the instrument panel through vent
holes in the airbag material. In this way, the airbags do
not interfere with your control of the vehicle.Occupant Classification Module (OCM)
The Occupant Classification Module (OCM) is located
underneath the passenger seat. The OCM uses input
from the Flex Mat to classify the occupant in the passen-
ger seat into a size category. The OCM communicates this
information to the ORC. The ORC may modify the rate of
passenger airbag inflation or prevent passenger airbag
deployment based on occupant classification.
46 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE