Dodge Caliber SRT (2009 year). Manual

6. When the belt is long enough to fit, insert the latch
plate into the buckle until you hear a “click.”

7. Position the lap belt across your thighs, below your
abdomen. To remove slack in the lap belt portion, pull up

on the shoulder belt. To loosen the lap belt if it is too tight,
pull on the lap belt. A snug belt reduces the risk of sliding
under the belt in a collision.

8. Position the shoulder belt on your chest so that it is
comfortable and not resting on your neck. The retractor
will withdraw any slack in the belt.

Connecting Mini-Latch to Buckle

Rear Center Seat Belt Buckled

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

9. To release the belt, push the red button on the buckle.

10. To disengage the mini-latch from the mini-buckle for
storage, insert the regular latch plate into the black
button on the top of the mini-buckle. The belt will
automatically retract to its stowed position. If necessary,

slide the latch plate down the webbing to allow the belt
to retract fully. Insert the mini-latch plate into the slot
provided in the trim panel.

Seat Belt Pretensioners
The seat belts for both front seating positions are
equipped with pretensioning devices that are designed to
remove slack from the seat belt in the event of a collision.
These devices improve the performance of the seat belt
by assuring that the belt is tight about the occupant early
in a collision. Pretensioners work for all size occupants,
including those in child restraints.

NOTE:

These devices are not a substitute for proper seat

belt placement by the occupant. The seat belt still must be
worn snugly and positioned properly.

The pretensioners are triggered by the front airbag con-
trol module (see Airbag Section). Like the front airbags,

Detaching Mini-Latch And Buckle

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

the pretensioners are single use items. After a collision
that is severe enough to deploy the airbags and preten-
sioners, both must be replaced.

Enhanced Driver And Seat Belt Reminder System
(BeltAlert

姞)

If the driver’s seat belt has not been buckled within
60 seconds of starting the vehicle and if the vehicle speed
is greater than 5 mph (8 km/h), the Enhanced Warning
System (BeltAlert

威) will alert the driver to buckle their

seat belt. The driver should also instruct all other occu-
pants to buckle their seat belts. Once the warning is
triggered, BeltAlert

威 will continue to chime and flash the

Seat Belt Warning Light for 96 seconds or until the
driver’s seat belt is buckled. BeltAlert

威 will be reactivated

if the driver’s seat belt is unbuckled for more than
10 seconds and the vehicle speed is greater than 5 mph
(8 km/h).

BeltAlert

威 can be enabled or disabled by your authorized

dealer or by following these steps.

NOTE:

The following steps must occur within the first

60 seconds of the ignition switch being turned to the ON
or START position. Chrysler LLC does not recommend
deactivating BeltAlert

威.

1. Turn the ignition switch to the LOCK position and
buckle the driver or front passenger seat belt.

2. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position and wait
for the Seat Belt Warning Light to turn off.

3. Within 60 seconds of turning the ignition switch to the
ON position, unbuckle and then re-buckle the driver or
front passenger seat belt at least three times within
10 seconds, ending with the seat belt buckled.

NOTE:

Watch for the Seat Belt Warning Light to turn on

while unbuckling and off while re-buckling the seat belt.
It may be necessary to retract the seat belt.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

4. Turn the ignition switch to the LOCK position. A
single chime will sound to signify that you have success-
fully completed the programming.

BeltAlert

威 can be reactivated by repeating this procedure.

NOTE:

Although BeltAlert

威 has been deactivated, the

Seat Belt Warning Light will continue to illuminate while
the driver or front passenger seat belt remains
unbuckled.

Seat Belts And Pregnant Women
We recommend that pregnant women use the seat belts
throughout their pregnancy. Keeping the mother safe is
the best way to keep the baby safe.

Pregnant women should wear the lap part of the belt
across the thighs and as snug across the hips as possible.
Keep the belt low so that it does not come across the
abdomen. That way the strong bones of the hips will take
the force if there is a collision.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Driver And Front Passenger Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS) - Airbag
This vehicle has airbags for both the driver and front
passenger as a supplement to the seat belt restraint
systems. The driver’s front airbag is mounted in the
center of the steering wheel. The passenger’s front airbag
is mounted in the instrument panel, above the glove
compartment. The words SRS AIRBAG are embossed on
the airbag covers.

NOTE:

The front airbags are certified to the Federal

regulations that allow less forceful deployment.

Airbag and Knee Bolster Location

1 — Driver Airbag

2 — Passenger Airbag

3 — Knee Bolster

4 — Knee Bolster

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

The front airbags have a multistage inflator design. This
may allow the airbag to have different rates of inflation
that are based on collision severity.

This vehicle may also be equipped with side curtain
airbags to protect the driver and passengers sitting next
to a window. If the vehicle is equipped with side curtain
airbags, they are located above the side windows. Their
covers are also labeled SRS AIRBAG.

Side Curtain Airbag Location

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!

• Do not put anything on or around the airbag

covers or attempt to manually open them. You may
damage the airbags and you could be injured
because the airbags are not there to protect you.
These protective covers for the airbag cushions are
designed to open only when the airbags are inflat-
ing.

• If your vehicle is equipped with side airbags, do

not use accessory seat covers or place objects
between you and the side airbags; the performance
could be adversely affected and/or objects could
be pushed into you, causing serious injury.

(Continued)

WARNING! (Continued)

• If your vehicle is equipped with side airbags, do

not attach cup holders or any other objects on or
around the door. The inflating side airbag could
drive the object into occupants, causing serious
injury.

Airbags inflate in moderate-to-high speed impacts.
Along with seat belts and pretensioners, front airbags
work with the driver’s inflatable knee blocker and the
integrated passenger knee blocker (non-inflatable) to
provide improved protection for the driver and front
passenger. Side airbags also work with seat belts to
improve occupant protection.

The seat belts are designed to protect you in many types
of collisions. The front airbags deploy in moderate-to-
severe frontal collisions. If your vehicle is equipped, the
side airbag on the crash side of the vehicle is triggered in

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

moderate-to-severe side collisions. In certain types of
collisions, both the front and side airbags may be trig-
gered. But even in collisions where the airbags work, you
need the seat belts to keep you in the right position for
the airbags to protect you properly.

Here are some simple steps you can take to minimize the
risk of harm from a deploying airbag.

1. Children 12 years old and younger should always
ride buckled up in a rear seat.

Infants in rear-facing child restraints should NEVER ride
in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger front airbag.
An airbag deployment can cause severe injury or death to
infants in that position.

Children that are not big enough to properly wear the
vehicle seat belt (see Section on Child Restraints) should
be secured in the rear seat in child restraints or belt-
positioning booster seats. Older children who do not use

child restraints or belt-positioning booster seats should
ride properly buckled up in the rear seat. Never allow
children to slide the shoulder belt behind them or under
their arm.

If a child from 1 to 12 years old must ride in the front
passenger seat because the vehicle is crowded, move the
seat as far back as possible, and use the proper child
restraint. Refer to the section on Child Restraint.

You should read the instructions provided with your
child restraint to make sure that you are using it properly.

2. All occupants should wear their lap and shoulder
belts properly.

3. The driver and front passenger seats should be
moved back as far as practical to allow the front airbags
room to inflate.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

4. If your vehicle has side airbags, do not lean against
the door. Airbags will inflate forcefully into the space
between you and the door.

5. If the airbag system in this vehicle needs to be
modified to accommodate a disabled person, contact the
Customer Center. Phone numbers are provided under

⬙If

You Need Assistance

⬙ in Section 9 of this manual.

WARNING!

• 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 the airbags won’t deploy at all.
Always wear your seat belts even though you have
airbags.

(Continued)

WARNING! (Continued)

• Being too close to the steering wheel or instrument

panel during front airbag deployment could cause
serious injury. Airbags need room to inflate. Sit
back, comfortably extending your arms to reach
the steering wheel or instrument panel.

• If the vehicle has side airbags, they also need room

to inflate. Do not lean against the door. Sit upright
in the center of the seat.

The front airbag system consists of the following:

• Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
• Side Remote Acceleration Sensors (if equipped)
• Airbag Warning Light
• Driver Airbag
• Front Passenger Airbag

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

• Supplemental Side Curtain Airbags above side win-

dows (if equipped)

• Steering Wheel and Column
• Instrument Panel
• Interconnecting Wiring
• Seatbelt Reminder Light
• Knee Impact Bolsters
• Driver Inflatable Knee Bolster
• Front Acceleration Sensors
• Driver and Front Passenger Seat Belt Pretensioners

How The Airbag System Works

• The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) determines

if a frontal collision is severe enough to require the
airbags to inflate. The front airbag inflators are de-
signed to provide different rates of airbag inflation
from direction provided by the ORC. This ORC will
detect rollover.

The ORC also monitors the readiness of the electronic
parts of the system whenever the ignition switch is in
the START or ON positions. These include all of the
items listed above except the knee bolster, the instru-
ment panel, and the steering wheel and column. If the
key is in the LOCK position, in the ACC position, or
not in the ignition, the airbags are not on and will not
inflate.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

• The ORC also turns on the Airbag Warning

Light in the instrument panel for six to eight
seconds as a self-check when the ignition is
first turned ON. After the self-check, the

Airbag Warning Light will turn off. If the ORC detects
a malfunction in any part of the system, it turns on the
Airbag Warning Light either momentarily or continu-
ously. A single chime will sound if the light comes on
again after initial start-up.

WARNING!

Ignoring the AIRBAG light in your instrument panel
could mean you won’t have the airbags to protect you
in a collision. If the light does not come on, stays on
after you start the vehicle, or if it comes on as you
drive, have the airbag system checked right away.

• The Driver and Passenger Airbag/Inflator Units are

located in the center of the steering wheel and the right
side of the instrument panel. When the ORC detects a
collision requiring the airbags, it signals the inflator
units. A large quantity of nontoxic gas is generated to
inflate the front airbags. Different airbag inflation rates
may be possible based on collision severity and occu-
pant size. The steering wheel hub trim cover and the
upper right side of the instrument panel separate and
fold out of the way as the bags inflate to their full size.
The bags fully inflate in about 50 to 70 milliseconds.
This is about half of the time it takes to blink your eyes.
The bags then quickly deflate while helping to restrain
the driver and front passenger. The driver’s front
airbag gas is vented through vent holes in the sides of
the airbag. The passenger’s front airbag gas is vented
through vent holes in the sides of the airbag. In this
way the airbags do not interfere with your control of
the vehicle.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

• The Side Impact (SRS) Side Curtain Airbags (If

equipped)

are designed to activate only in certain side

collisions.

The ORC module determines if a side collision is
severe enough to require the side airbags to inflate.
The side airbag control module will not detect rollover,
front or rear collisions.

The ORC Module monitors the readiness of the electronic
parts of the system whenever the ignition switch is in the
START or ON positions. These include all of the items
previously mentioned.

In moderate-to-severe side collisions, the side airbag
inflator on the crash side of the vehicle is triggered,
releasing a quantity of nontoxic gas. The side curtain
airbag moves at a very high speed and with such a high
force, that it could injure you if you are not seated

properly, or if items are positioned in the area where the
side curtain airbag inflates. This especially applies to
children.

NOTE:

If your vehicle is equipped with left and right

side curtain air bags, do not install a clothing bar mounted
to the coat hooks (or similarly mounted). A clothing bar
will impede the proper performance of the bags.

• When the ORC and the impact sensors detect a

collision requiring the Driver Inflatable Knee Bolster,
it signals the inflator unit. A quantity of nontoxic gas is
generated to inflate the Driver Inflatable Knee Bolster.
The Driver Inflatable Knee Bolster inflates rearward
towards the driver’s knees to help protect the knees
and position you for the best interaction with the front
airbag. The Driver Inflatable Knee Bolster fully inflates
in about 50 milliseconds, this is only about half the
time it takes to blink your eyes. It then quickly deflates
while helping to protect the driver’s knees.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

• The Knee Impact Bolsters help protect the knees, and

position everyone for the best interaction with the
front airbag.

WARNING!

Unapproved modifications or service procedures to
the front passenger seat assembly, its related compo-
nents, or seat cover may inadvertently change the
airbag deployment in case of a frontal crash. This
could result in death or serious injury to the front
seat passenger if the vehicle is involved in an acci-
dent. A modified vehicle may not comply with re-
quired Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FM-
VSS).

If Deployment Occurs
The airbag systems are designed to deploy when the
airbag control modules detect a moderate-to-severe col-
lision, to help restrain the driver and front passenger, and
then immediately deflate.

NOTE:

A frontal collision that is not severe enough to

need airbag protection will not activate the system. This
does not mean something is wrong with the airbag
system.

If you do have a collision which deploys the airbags, any
or all of the following may occur:

• The nylon airbag material may sometimes cause abra-

sions and/or skin reddening to the driver and front
passenger as the airbags deploy and unfold. The
abrasions are similar to friction rope burns or those
you might get sliding along a carpet or gymnasium
floor. They are not caused by contact with chemicals.
They are not permanent and normally heal quickly.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

However, if you haven’t healed significantly within a
few days, or if you have any blistering, see your doctor
immediately. As the airbags deflate you may see some
smoke-like particles. The particles are a normal by-
product of the process that generates the nontoxic gas
used for airbag inflation. These airborne particles may
irritate the skin, eyes, nose, or throat. If you have skin
or eye irritation, rinse the area with cool water. For
nose or throat irritation, move to fresh air. If the
irritation continues, see your doctor. If these particles
settle on your clothing, follow the garment manufac-
turer’s instructions for cleaning.

• It is not advisable to drive your vehicle after the

airbags have deployed. If you are involved in another
collision, the airbags will not be in place to protect you.

WARNING!

Deployed airbags can’t protect you in another colli-
sion. Have the airbags replaced by an authorized
dealer as soon as possible.

Enhanced Accident Response System
In the event of an impact that causes airbag deployment,
with the vehicle stopped, and the vehicle communication
network intact, and the power intact, the Enhanced
Accident Response System performs the following func-
tions:
• Cuts off fuel to the engine.
• Flashes hazard lights.
• Turns on the interior lamps which remain on as long as

the battery has power or until the ignition key is
removed.

• Unlocks the doors automatically.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Maintaining Your Airbag System

WARNING!

• Modifications to any part of the airbag system

could cause it to fail when you need it. You could
be injured because the airbags are 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 passenger side of the instrument panel. Do
not modify the front bumper, vehicle body struc-
ture, or frame.

• You need proper knee impact protection in a

collision. Do not mount or locate any aftermarket
equipment on or behind the knee impact bolster.

• It is dangerous to try to repair any part of the

airbag system yourself. Be sure to tell anyone who
works on your vehicle that it has airbags.

Airbag Warning Light

You will want to have the airbags ready to
inflate for your protection in an impact. While
the airbag system is designed to be mainte-
nance free, if any of the following occurs, have

an authorized dealer service the system promptly:

• The Airbag Warning Light does not come on or flickers

during the six to eight seconds when the ignition
switch is first turned on.

• The light remains on or flickers after the six to eight

second interval.

• The light flickers or comes on and remains on while

driving.

Event Data Recorder (EDR)
In the event of an accident, your vehicle is designed to
record up to five seconds of specific vehicle data param-
eters (see list below) in an event data recorder prior to the

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

moment of airbag deployment, or near-deployment, and
up to a quarter second of high-speed deceleration data
during and/or after air bag deployment or near-
deployment. EDR data are ONLY recorded if an airbag
deploys, or nearly deploys, and are otherwise unavail-
able.

NOTE:
1. A near-deployment event occurs when the airbag
sensor detects severe vehicle deceleration usually indica-
tive of a crash, but not severe enough to warrant airbag
deployment.

2. Under certain circumstances, EDR data may not be
recorded (e.g., loss of battery power).

In conjunction with other data gathered during a com-
plete accident investigation, the electronic data may be
used by Chrysler LLC and others to learn more about the
possible causes of crashes and associated injuries in order
to assess and improve vehicle performance. In addition

to crash investigations initiated by Chrysler LLC, such
investigations may be requested by customers, insurance
carriers, government officials, and professional crash
researchers, such as those associated with universities,
and with hospital and insurance organizations.

In the event that an investigation is undertaken by
Chrysler LLC (regardless of initiative), the company or its
designated representative will first obtain permission of
the appropriate custodial entity for the vehicle (usually
the vehicle owner or lessee) before accessing the elec-
tronic data stored, unless ordered to download data by a
court with legal jurisdiction (i.e., pursuant to a warrant).
A copy of the data will be provided to the custodial entity
upon request. General data that does not identify par-
ticular vehicles or crashes may be released for incorpo-
ration in aggregate crash databases, such as those main-
tained by the U.S. government and various states. Data of
a potentially sensitive nature, such as would identify a

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Dodge Caliber SRT (2009 year). Manual - part 3