Dodge Stratus Sedan (2005 year). Manual - part 4

CONSOLE FEATURES

Console Features — Without Heated Seats

The front console has two cup holders in the front and a
storage bin. An optional removable ashtray may be
located in the driver’s side cup holder.

The center console/armrest has a pencil /tire gage holder
and a tissue holder mounted on the underside of the
cover. The bottom of the console bin also has built in
holders for compact discs or cassette tapes. There are also
two cup holders for rear seat passengers located directly
in the back of the center console.

Two coin holders are located toward the front of the
inside of the console bin. The right side coin holder can
accommodate dimes, nickels or pennies, while the left
side coin holder can hold quarters, dimes, nickels, or
pennies. Both can also accommodate various combina-
tions of different types of coins, including some interna-
tional currencies. The slot on the far left side is not for
coins, but for an optional power outlet, if so equipped.

Console

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Console Features — With Heated Seats

The front console has two cup holders. An optional
removable ashtray may be located in the driver’s side cup
holder.

The center console/armrest has a pencil /tire gage holder
and a tissue holder mounted on the underside of the
cover. The bottom of the console bin also has built in
holders for compact discs or cassette tapes. The power
outlet is also mounted inside the center console (if
equipped). There are also two cup holders for rear seat
passengers and a rear courtesy lamp located directly in
back of the center console.

Console

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

MIRRORS

Inside Day/Night Mirror— If Equipped
Adjust the mirror to center on the view through the rear
window. A two point pivot system allows for horizontal
and vertical mirror adjustment.

Annoying headlight glare can be reduced by moving the
small control under the mirror to the night position
(toward rear of vehicle). The mirror should be adjusted
while set in the day position (toward windshield).

Automatic Dimming Mirror— If Equipped
This mirror will automatically adjust for annoying head-
light glare from vehicles behind you. Push in the button
on the face of the mirror to activate the dimming feature.

Adjusting Rearview Mirror

Automatic Dimming Mirror

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

CAUTION!

To avoid damage to the mirror during cleaning,
never spray any cleaning solution directly onto the
mirror. Apply the solution onto a clean cloth and
wipe the mirror clean.

Electric Remote-Control Mirrors— If Equipped
Both of the outside mirrors can be adjusted by using the
remote controls mounted on the instrument panel to the
left of the steering wheel.

NOTE:

Place the mirror selector switch in the center

(neutral) position to prevent accidental movement of the
mirrors.

Power Mirror Controls

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Outside Mirror — Driver’s Side
Adjust the outside mirror to center on the adjacent lane of
traffic, with a slight overlap of the view obtained on the
inside mirror.

Outside Mirror — Passenger’s Side
Adjust the convex outside mirror so you can just see the
side of your vehicle in the part of the mirror closest to the
vehicle.

WARNING!

Vehicles and other objects seen in the right side
convex mirror will look smaller and farther away
than they really are. Relying too much on your right
side mirror could cause you to collide with another
vehicle or other object. Use your inside mirror when
judging the size or distance of a vehicle seen in this
convex mirror.

Illuminated Vanity Mirrors — If Equipped
An illuminated vanity mirror is on each sun visor. To use
the mirror, rotate the sun visor down and swing the
mirror cover upward. The lights will turn on automati-
cally. Closing the mirror cover turns off the lights.

Illuminated Vanity Mirror

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

SEATS

Manual Front Seat Adjustments

Forward/Rearward
The adjusting bar is at the front of the seats, near the
floor. Pull the bar up to move the seat to the desired
position.

After releasing the adjusting bar, apply forward and
rearward body pressure to be sure the seat is latched.

Reclining Bucket Seats
The recliner control is on the side of the seat. To recline,
lean forward slightly before lifting the lever, then lean
back to the desired position and release the lever. Lean
forward and lift the lever to return the seatback to its
normal position.

WARNING!

• Adjusting a seat while the vehicle is moving is

dangerous. The sudden movement of the seat
could cause you to lose control. The seat belt
might not be properly adjusted and you could be
injured. Adjust the seat only while the vehicle is
parked.

• Do not ride with the seatback reclined so that the

shoulder belt is no longer resting against your
chest. In a collision you could slide under the seat
belt and be seriously or even fatally injured. Use
the recliner only when the vehicle is parked.

Manual Seat Adjuster

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Lumbar Support — If Equipped
This feature allows you to increase or decrease the
amount of lumbar support. The control lever is located
on the inboard side of the driver’s seatback. Turn the
control lever forward to increase and rearward to de-
crease the desired amount of lumbar support.

Power Seats — If Equipped
The power seat switches are on the outboard side of the
seat near the floor. Use the front switch to move the seat
up, down, forward, rearward, or to tilt the seat. The rear
switch controls the seatback recliner.

CAUTION!

Do not place any article under a power seat as it may
cause damage to the seat controls.

Power Seat Switches

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Adjustable Head Restraints
Head restraints can reduce the risk of whiplash injury in
the event of impact from the rear. Adjust the restraints so
that the upper edge is as high as practical. To raise, pull
up on the head restraint. To lower, depress the button on
the post guide and push down on the head restraint.

Folding Rear Seat
To provide additional storage area, the rear seatback can
be folded forward. Pull on the loops shown in the picture
to fold down either or both seatbacks.

When returning the rear seat back to the upright position
be sure the seat back is latched.

Adjustable Head Restraint

Folding Rear Seats

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!

The cargo area in the rear of the vehicle (with the
rear seatbacks in the locked-up or folded down
position) should not be used as a play area by
children when the vehicle is in motion. They could
be seriously injured in an accident. Children should
be seated and using the proper restraint system.

TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE HOOD
To open the hood, two latches must be released. First pull
the hood release lever located under the left side of the
instrument panel.

Hood Release Lever

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Then lift the secondary latch located under the front edge
of the hood, near the center and raise the hood.

Use the hood prop rod to secure the hood in the open
position. Place the upper end of the prop rod in the hole
marked “prop” on the underside of the hood.

To prevent possible damage, do not slam the hood to
close it. Use a firm downward push at the center of the
hood to ensure that both latches engage.

WARNING!

If the hood is not fully latched it could fly up when
the vehicle is moving and block your forward vision.
You could have a collision. Be sure all hood latches
are fully latched before driving.

LIGHTS

Interior Lights
The map/courtesy lights come on when a door is opened
and the panel lamp dimmer switch (located on the turn
signal control stalk) is in any detent except fully counter-
clockwise (dome lamp ON position) or fully clockwise
(dome lamp OFF position). Rotating the panel dimmer
switch fully counter-clockwise will turn on the lights.
Turn the panel dimmer switch fully clockwise to prevent
the lights from coming on when a door is opened.

NOTE:

The interior lights have a “fade to off” feature.

When the lights are turned off, they gradually “fade” off.

Hood Safety Catch

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Dimmer Control

With the parking lights or headlights
on, rotating the dimmer control for the
interior lights on the Multi-Function
Control Lever upward will increase
the brightness of the instrument panel
lights.

Dome Light Position

Rotate the dimmer control completely
upward to the second detent to turn
on the interior lights. The interior
lights will remain on when the dim-
mer control is in this position.

Interior Light Defeat (OFF)

Rotate the dimmer control to the ex-
treme bottom full-circle position. The
interior lights will remain off when the
doors are open.

Daytime Mode (Daytime Brightness Feature)

Rotate the dimmer control to the first
detent (full-circle). This feature bright-
ens the odometer and radio display
when the parking lights or headlights
are on during daylight conditions.

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Front Map/Reading Lights — If Equipped
These lights are mounted between the sun visors. Each
light has a push-on push-off switch.

NOTE:

The lights will remain on until the switch is

pressed a second time, so be sure that they have been
turned off before leaving the vehicle.

Multi-Function Control Lever

The Multi-Function lever controls the operation of the
headlights, turn signals, headlight beam select switch,
instrument panel light dimming, courtesy lights, passing
lights, dome light and fog lights.

Front Map/Reading Light Switches

Multi-Function Lever

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Headlights, Parking Lights, Instrument Panel
Lights
Turn the end of the control lever to the first detent for
parking light operation. Turn to the second detent for
headlight operation.

To change the brightness of the instrument panel lights,
turn the center portion of the lever up or down. Turning
the dimmer control to the full up position also turns on

the courtesy lights. Turning the dimmer control to the full
down position prevents the courtesy lights from coming
on when a door is opened.

Automatic Headlights—If Equipped
This system automatically turns your headlights on at a
preset level of outdoor lighting. Turn the end of the
control lever to the third detent to turn the system on.
When the system is on, the headlight delay feature is also
on. This means that your headlights will stay on for about
90 seconds after you turn the ignition switch off. To turn
the Automatic system off, turn the control lever clock-
wise, to the off position.

NOTE:

The engine must be running before the head-

lights will come on in the automatic mode.

NOTE:

The Automatic Headlight System will turn on

the headlights if it detects that the windshield wipers
have been in operation for more than 10 seconds.

Multi-Function Lever

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Daytime Running Lights (Canada Only)
The headlights come on at a low intensity level whenever
the ignition switch is turned on. The lights remain on
until the ignition switch is turned OFF or the parking
brake is engaged. The headlight switch must be used for
normal night time driving.

Lights-on Reminder
If the headlights or parking lights are on after the ignition
is turned off, a chime will sound when the driver’s door
is opened.

Fog Lights — If Equipped

The fog light switch is in the multi-function lever.
To activate the fog lights, turn on the low beam
headlights and pull out the end of the control

lever. A light in the instrument cluster shows when the
fog lights are on.

NOTE:

The switch will turn on the fog lights only if the

low beam headlights are on. Turning on the high beam
headlights turns off the fog lights.

Turn Signals
Move the turn signal lever up or down and the arrows in
the instrument cluster flash to show proper operation of
the front and rear turn signal lights. You can signal a lane
change by moving the lever partially up or down.

Headlight Beam Select Switch
Pull the turn signal lever towards you to switch the
headlights to HIGH beam. Pull the turn signal lever a
second time to switch the headlights to LOW beam.

Flash to Pass
You can signal another vehicle with your headlights by
lightly pulling the turn signal lever toward the steering
wheel. This will cause the headlights to turn on at high
beam and remain on until the lever is released.

Headlight Time Delay
This feature provides the safety of headlight illumination
for about 90 seconds when leaving your vehicle in an
unlighted area.

To activate the delay, turn off the ignition while the
headlights are still on. Then turn off the headlights. The
delay interval begins when the ignition is turned off.

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

If the headlights are turned off before the ignition, they
will turn off in the normal manner.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHERS
The wipers and washers are operated by a switch in the
right side control lever. Turn the end of the control lever
to select the desired wiper speed.

NOTE:

Always remove any build-up of snow that

prevents the windshield wiper blades from returning to
the OFF position. If the windshield wiper switch is

turned OFF and the blades cannot return to the OFF
position, damage to the wiper motor may occur.

To use the washer, pull the lever toward you and hold
while spray is desired. If the lever is pulled while in the
delay range, the wiper will operate for several cycles
after the lever is released, and then resume the intermit-
tent interval previously selected.

If the lever is pulled while in the OFF position, the wipers
will operate for several cycles, then turn OFF.

WARNING!

Sudden loss of visibility through the windshield
could lead to an accident. You might not see other
vehicles or other obstacles. To avoid sudden icing of
the windshield during freezing weather, warm the
windshield with defroster before and during wind-
shield washer use.

Windshield Wiper/Washer Control

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Mist
Use this feature when weather conditions make occa-
sional usage of the wipers necessary. Pull down and
release the control lever for a single wiping cycle.

Speed Sensitive Intermittent Wiper System
Use the intermittent wiper when weather conditions
make a single wiping cycle, with a variable pause be-
tween cycles, desirable. Turn the lever to the delay
position, then select the delay interval. The delay can be
regulated from a maximum of approximately 18 seconds
between cycles, to a cycle every 1/2 second.

NOTE:

The wiper delay times depend on vehicle speed.

If the vehicle is moving less than 16 km/h (10 mph),
delay times will be doubled.

TILT STEERING COLUMN
To tilt the column, push down on the lever below the turn
signal control and move the wheel up or down, as
desired. Push the lever back up to lock the column firmly
in place.

Tilt Steering Column Control

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

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