2016 DODGE VIPER Owners Manual

* When the front passenger seat is empty or when very
light objects are placed on the seat, the Passenger Ad-
vanced Front Air Bag will not deploy even though the
PAD System Indicator Light is NOT illuminated.
** It is possible for a child to be classified as an adult,
allowing the deployment of the Passenger Advanced
Front Air Bag. Never allow children to ride in the front
passenger seat and never install a child restraint system,
including a rear-facing child restraint, in this vehicle.
WARNING!
•Never place a rear-facing child restraint in front of
an air bag. A deploying Passenger Advanced Front
Air Bag can cause death or serious injury to a child
12 years or younger, including a child in a rear-
facing child restraint.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Only use a rear-facing child restraint in a vehicle
with a rear seat.
• Children 12 years or younger should always ride
buckled up in a rear seat.
Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag Disabled (PAD)
Indicator Light
The Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag (PAD) Indicator
Light (an amber light located in the center of the instru-
ment panel) tells the driver and front passenger when the
Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag is deactivated. The
PAD Indicator light illuminates the words “PASSENGER
AIR BAG OFF” to show that the Passenger Advanced
Front Air Bag will not deploy during a collision. When
the front passenger seat is empty or when very light
objects are placed on the seat, the Passenger Advanced
Front Air Bag will not deploy even though the PAD
indicator light is NOT illuminated.2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 55

The PAD indicator light should not be illuminated when
an adult passenger is properly seated in the front passen-
ger seat. The driver and adult passenger should verify
that the PAD Indicator Light is not illuminated when an
adult is riding in the front passenger seat. If an adult is
not seated properly, the Passenger Advanced Front Air
Bag may deactivate and the PAD Indicator Light will be
illuminated.
The PAD Indicator Light should be illuminated and the
Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag should be deactivated
for most properly seated and restrained children in the
passenger seat and for most properly installed child
restraint systems. However, under certain conditions,
even with a properly installed child restraint system, the
PAD Indicator Light may not be illuminated, even
though the Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag is deacti-
vated. This can occur if the child restraint is lighter than
the lightest weight necessary to illuminate the PAD
Indicator Light.NEVERassume the Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag is deactivated unless the PAD Indicator
Light is illuminated with the words “PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF.”
If the PAD Indicator Light is Illuminated for an Adult
Passenger:
If an adult passenger is seated in the front passenger seat
and the PAD Indicator Light is illuminated, the passenger
may be sitting improperly. Follow the steps below to
allow the OCS to detect the adult passenger ’s seated
weight to activate the Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag:
1. Turn off the vehicle and have the adult passenger step
out of the vehicle.
2. Remove any extra materials from the passenger seat, such as cushions, pads, seat covers, seat massagers,
blankets, extra clothing, etc.
3. Place the seatback in the full upright position.
56 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

4. Have the adult passenger sit in the center of the seat,with the passenger ’s feet comfortably on or near the
floor, and with their back against the seatback.
5. Restart the vehicle and have the passenger remain in this seated position for two to three minutes after
restarting the vehicle.
WARNING!
If the PAD Indicator Light remains illuminated for
an adult passenger, have an authorized dealer service
the air bag system immediately. Failure to do so may
cause serious injury or death. If the PAD Indicator
Light is illuminated with the words “PASSENGER
AIR BAG OFF” the Passenger Advanced Front Air
Bag will not inflate in the event of a collision.
WARNING!
•Never place a rear-facing child restraint in front of
an air bag. A deploying Passenger Advanced Front
Air Bag can cause death or serious injury to a child
12 years or younger, including a child in a rear-
facing child restraint.
• Only use a rear-facing child restraint in a vehicle
with a rear seat.
• Children 12 years or younger should always ride
buckled up in a rear seat.
Lighter Weight Passengers (Including Small Adults)
When a lighter weight passenger, including a small adult
occupies the passenger seat, the Passenger Advanced
Front Air Bag may be deactivated. Therefore, the Passen-
ger Advanced Front Air Bag may or may not be activated
for a lighter weight passenger, including a small adult2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 57

(depending on size) who is seated in the passenger seat.
This does not mean that the OCS is working improperly.
The driver and passenger must always use the PAD
Indicator Light as a determination of whether the Pas-
senger Advanced Front Air Bag is activated or deacti-
vated. If the PAD Indicator Light is illuminated with the
words “PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF” when an adult is in
the front passenger seat, have the passenger reposition
his or her body in the seat until the PAD Indicator Light
goes out.
If the PAD Indicator Light is illuminated with the words
“PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF” the Passenger Advanced
Front Air Bag will not inflate in the event of a collision.
Do not decrease OR increase the front passenger ’s
seated weight on the front passenger seat
The front passenger ’s seated weight must be properly
positioned on the front passenger seat. Failure to do somay result in serious injury or death. The OCS deter-
mines the most probable classification of the occupant
that it detects. The OCS will detect the front passenger ’s
decreased or increased seated weight, which may result
in deactivation or activation of the Passenger Advanced
Front Air Bag in a collision. This does not mean that the
OCS is working improperly. Decreasing the front passen-
ger ’s seated weight on the front passenger seat may
result in deactivation of the Passenger Advanced Front
Air Bag causing serious injury or death. Increasing the
front passenger ’s seated weight on the front passenger
seat may result in activation of the Passenger Advanced
Front Air Bag. Examples of improper front passenger
seating include:
•
The front passenger ’s weight is transferred to another
part of the vehicle (like the door, arm rest or instru-
ment panel).
58 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

•The front passenger leans forward, sideways or turns
to face the rear of the vehicle.
• The front passenger ’s seatback is not in the full upright
position.
• The front passenger carries or holds an object while
seated (e.g., backpack, box, etc.).
• Objects are lodged under the front passenger seat.
• Objects are lodged between the front passenger seat
and center console.
• Accessories that may change the seated weight on the
front passenger seat are attached to the front passenger
seat.
• Anything that may decrease or increase the front
passenger ’s seated weight.The OCS determines the front passenger ’s most probable
classification. If an occupant in the front passenger seat is
seated improperly, the occupant may provide an output
signal to the OCS that is different from the occupant’s
properly seated weight input, for example:
Not Seated Properly
2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 59

Not Seated ProperlyNot Seated Properly
60 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
•If an occupant in the front passenger seat is seated
improperly, the occupant may provide an output
signal to the OCS that is different from the occu-
pant’s properly seated weight input. This may
result in serious injury or death in a collision.
• Always wear your seat belt and sit properly, with
the seatback in an upright position, your back
against the seatback, sitting upright, facing for-
ward, in the center of the seat, with your feet
comfortably on or near the floor.
• Do not carry or hold any objects (e.g., backpacks,
boxes, etc.) while seated in the front passenger seat.
Holding an object may provide an output signal to
the OCS that is different than the occupant’s prop-
erly seated weight input, which may result in
serious injury or death in a collision. The Air Bag Warning Light
will illuminate whenever
the OCS is unable to classify the front passenger seat
status. A malfunction in the OCS may affect the
operation of the air bag system.
If the Air Bag Warning Lightdoes not come on, or
stays on after you start the vehicle, or it comes on as
you drive, take the vehicle to an authorized dealer for
service immediately.
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.
(Continued)
2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 61

WARNING!(Continued)
Placing an object on the floor under the front pas-
senger seat may prevent the OCS from working
properly, which may result in serious injury or death
in a collision. Do not place any objects on the floor
under the front passenger seat.
If there is a fault present in the OCS, both the PAD
Indicator Light and the Air Bag Warning Light will
illuminate to show that the Passenger Advanced
Front Air Bag is deactivated. Should this occur, the
Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag will remain deac-
tivated until the fault is cleared. This indicates that
you should take the vehicle to an authorized dealer
for service immediately.
The passenger seat assembly contains critical OCS com-
ponents that may affect Passenger Advanced Front Air
Bag inflation. In order for the OCS to properly classify the seated weight of a front seat passenger, the OCS compo-
nents must function as designed. Do not make any
modifications to the front passenger seat components,
assembly, or to the seat cover. If the seat, trim cover, or
cushion needs service for any reason, take the vehicle to
your authorized dealer. Only FCA US LLC approved seat
accessories may be used.
The following requirements must be strictly followed:
•
Do not modify the front passenger seat assembly or
components in any way.
• Do not use prior or future model year seat covers or
cushions not designated by FCA US LLC for the
specific model being repaired. Always use the correct
seat cover and cushion specified for the vehicle.
• Do not replace the seat cover or cushion with an
aftermarket seat cover or cushion.
• Do not add a secondary seat cover or mat.
62 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE