Dodge Caliber SRT (2009 year). Manual

particular driver, vehicle, or crash, will be treated confi-
dentially. Confidential data will not be disclosed by
Chrysler LLC to any third party except when:

1. Used for research purposes, such as to match data
with a particular crash record in an aggregate database,
provided confidentiality of personal data is thereafter
preserved

2. Used in defense of litigation involving a Chrysler LLC
product

3. Requested by police under a legal warrant

4. Otherwise required by law

Data Parameters that May Be Recorded:

• Diagnostic trouble code(s) and warning lamp status

for electronically-controlled safety systems, including
the airbag system

• Airbag disable lamp status (if equipped)

• ⬙Time⬙ of airbag deployment (in terms of ignition

cycles and vehicle mileage)

• Airbag deployment level (if applicable)
• Impact acceleration and angle
• Seat Belt status
• Brake status (service and parking brakes)
• Accelerator status (including vehicle speed)
• Engine control status (including engine speed)
• Transmission gear selection
• Cruise control status
• Traction/stability control status
• Tire pressure monitoring system status

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Child Restraint
Everyone in your vehicle needs to be buckled up at all
times — babies and children, too. Every state in the
United States and all Canadian provinces require that
small children ride in proper restraint systems. This is the
law, and you can be prosecuted for ignoring it.

Children 12 years and younger should ride properly
buckled up in a rear seat, if available. According to crash
statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in
the rear seats, rather than in the front.

WARNING!

In a collision, an unrestrained child, even a tiny baby,
can become a missile inside the vehicle. The force
required to hold even an infant on your lap could
become so great that you could not hold the child, no
matter how strong you are. The child and others
could be badly injured. Any child riding in your
vehicle should be in a proper restraint for the child’s
size.

Infants And Small Children
There are different sizes and types of restraints for
children from newborn size to the child almost large
enough for an adult safety belt. Always check the child
seat owner’s manual to ensure you have the correct seat
for your child. Use the restraint that is correct for your
child.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

• Safety experts recommend that children ride

rearward-facing in the vehicle until they are at least
one-year old and weigh at least 20 lbs. (9 kg). Two
types of child restraints can be used rearward-facing:
infant carriers and

⬙convertible⬙ child seats. Both types

of child restraints are held in the vehicle by the
lap/shoulder belt or the LATCH child restraint an-
chorage system.

• The infant carrier is only used rearward-facing in the

vehicle. It is recommended for children who weigh up
to about 20 lbs (9 kg).

⬙Convertible⬙ child seats can be

used either rearward-facing or forward-facing in the
vehicle. Convertible child seats often have a higher
weight limit in the rearward-facing direction than
infant carriers do, so they can be used rearward-facing
by children who weigh more than 20 lbs (9 kg) but are
less than one-year old.

• Rearward-facing child seats must NEVER be used in

the front seat of a vehicle with a front passenger
airbag. An airbag deployment could cause severe
injury or death to infants in this position.

• Children who weigh more than 20 lbs (9 kg) and who

are older than one year can ride forward-facing in the
vehicle. Forward-facing child seats and convertible
child seats used in the forward-facing direction are for
children who weigh 20 to 40 lbs (9 to 18 kg) and who
are older than one year. These child seats are also held
in the vehicle by the lap/shoulder belt or the LATCH
child restraint anchorage system.

• The belt-positioning booster seat is for children weigh-

ing more than 40 lbs (18 kg), but who are still too small
to fit the vehicle’s seat belts properly. If a child cannot
sit with knees bent over the vehicle’s cushion while the
child’s back is against the seatback; they should use a
Belt Positioning Booster Seat. The child and booster

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

seat are held in the vehicle by the lap/shoulder belt.
(Some booster seats are equipped with a front shield
and are held in the vehicle by the lap portion.)

NOTE:

For

additional

information

refer

www.seatcheck.org.

WARNING!

• Improper installation can lead to failure of an

infant or child restraint. It could come loose in a
collision. The child could be badly injured or
killed. Follow the manufacturer’s directions ex-
actly when installing an infant or child restraint.

• A rearward facing child restraint should only be

used in a rear seat. A rearward facing child re-
straint in the front seat may be struck by a deploy-
ing passenger airbag which may cause severe or
fatal injury to the infant.

Here are some tips on getting the most out of your child
restraint:

• Before buying any restraint system, make sure that it

has a label certifying that it meets all applicable Safety
Standards. We also recommend that you make sure
that you can install the child restraint in the vehicle
where you will use it, before you buy it.

• The restraint must be appropriate for your child’s

weight and height. Check the label on the restraint for
weight and height limits.

• Carefully follow the instructions that come with the

restraint. If you install the restraint improperly, it may
not work when you need it.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

The passenger seat belts are equipped with either
cinching latch plates or seat belt retractors that can be
switched to an automatic locking mode, which are
designed to keep the lap portion tight around the child
restraint so that it is not necessary to use a locking clip.
If the seat belt has a cinching latch plate, pulling up on
the shoulder portion of the lap/shoulder belt will
tighten the belt. The cinching latch plate will keep the
belt tight, however, any seat belt system will loosen
with time, so check the belt occasionally and pull it
tight if necessary.

If the seat belt has a switchable retractor, it will have a
distinctive label. To operate the switchable retractor,
please refer to Automatic-Locking Retractor (ALR) in this
section.

• In the rear seat, you may have trouble tightening the

lap/shoulder belt on the child restraint because the
buckle or latch plate is too close to the belt path

opening on the restraint. Disconnect the latch plate
from the buckle and twist the short buckle end of the
belt several times to shorten it. Insert the latch plate
into the buckle with the release button facing out.

• If the belt still can’t be tightened, or if by pulling and

pushing on the restraint loosens the belt, disconnect
the latch plate from the buckle, turn the latch plate
around, and insert the latch plate into the buckle
again. If you still can’t make the child restraint secure,
try a different seating position.

• Buckle the child into the seat according to the child

restraint manufacturer’s directions.

• When your child restraint is not in use, secure it in the

vehicle with the seat belt or remove it from the vehicle.
Don’t leave it loose in the vehicle. In a sudden stop or
collision, it could strike the occupants or seatbacks and
cause serious personal injury.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Automatic-Locking Retractor (ALR)
To operate the switchable retractor, pull the belt from the
retractor until there is enough to allow it to pass through
the child restraint and slide the latch plate into the
buckle. Then pull on the belt until it is fully extended
from the retractor. Allow the belt to return into the
retractor, pulling on the excess webbing to tighten the lap
portion about the child restraint. Follow the instructions
of the child restraint manufacture.

NOTE:

To reset this feature you must let all of the belt

webbing return into the retractor. You will not be able to
pull out more webbing until all of the webbing has been
returned back into the retractor.

Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren (LATCH)

WARNING!

Child restraint anchorages are designed to withstand
only those loads imposed by correctly fitted child
restraints. Under no circumstances are they to be
used for adult seat belts, harnesses, or for attaching
other items or equipment to the vehicle.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Your vehicle is equipped with the child restraint anchor-
age system called LATCH, which stands for Lower
Anchors and Tether for CHildren. The LATCH system
provides for the installation of the child restraint without
using the vehicle seat belt. All three rear seating positions
have lower anchorages that are capable of accommodat-
ing LATCH-compatible child seats having flexible,
webbing-mounted lower attachments. Child seats with
fixed lower attachments must be installed in the out-
board positions only. Regardless of the specific type of
lower attachment, NEVER install LATCH-compatible
child seats such that two seats share a common lower
anchorage. If you are installing LATCH-compatible child
restraints in adjacent rear seating positions, you can use
the LATCH anchors or the vehicle’s seat belt for the
outboard position, but you must use the vehicle’s seat
belt at the center position. If your child restraints are not
LATCH-compatible, you can only install the child re-
straints using the vehicle’s seat belts. Please refer to,

Installing the Child Restraint System for typical installa-
tion instructions.

Rear Seat LATCH

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Child restraints systems having attachments designed to
connect to the lower anchorages are now available. Child
restraints having tether straps and hooks for connection
to the top tether anchorage have been available for some
time. In fact, many child restraint manufacturers will
provide add-on tether strap kits for some of their older
products. Tether anchorage kits are also available for
most older vehicles.

Because the lower anchorages are to be introduced to
passenger carrying vehicles over a period of years, child
restraint systems having attachments for those anchor-
ages will continue to have features for installation in
vehicles using the lap or lap/shoulder belt. They will also
have tether straps, and you are urged to take advantage
of all of the available attachments provided with your
child restraint in any vehicle.

NOTE:

When using the LATCH attaching system to

install a child restraint, please ensure that all seat belts
not being used for occupant restraints are stowed and out
of reach of children. It is recommended that before
installing the child restraint, buckle the seat belt so the
seat belt is tucked behind the child restraint and out of
reach. If the buckled seat belt interferes with the child
restraint installation, instead of tucking the seat belt
behind the child restraint, route the seat belt through the
child restraint belt path and then buckle it. This should
stow the seat belt out of the reach of an inquisitive child.
Remind all children in the vehicle that the seat belts are
not toys and should not be played with, and never leave
your child unattended in the vehicle.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Installing the Child Restraint System
We urge you to carefully follow the directions of the
manufacturer when installing your child restraint. Many,
but not all, restraint systems will be equipped with
separate straps on each side, with each having a hook or
connector and a means for adjusting the tension in the
strap. Forward-facing toddler restraints and some
rearward-facing infant restraints will also be equipped
with a tether strap with a hook and means for adjusting
the tension in the strap.

In general, you will first loosen the adjusters on the lower
and tether straps so that you can more easily attach the
hook or connector to the lower and tether anchorages.
The tether strap should be routed under the center of the
head restraint and attached to the tether anchor on the
rear of the seatback. Then tighten all three straps as you
push the child restraint rearward and downward into the
seat.

Not all child restraint systems will be installed as we
have described here. Again, carefully follow the instruc-
tions that come with the child restraint system.

NOTE:

If your child restraint seat is not LATCH com-

patible, install the restraint using the vehicle seat belts.

Rear Seat Tether Anchors

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!

An incorrectly anchored tether strap could lead to
increased head motion and possible injury to the
child. Use only the anchor position directly behind
the child seat to secure a child restraint top tether
strap.

Children Too Large For Booster Seats
Children who are large enough to wear the shoulder belt
comfortably, and whose legs are long enough to bend
over the front of the seat when their back is against the
seatback, should use the lap/shoulder belt in a rear seat.

• Make sure that the child is upright in the seat.
• The lap portion should be low on the hips and as snug

as possible.

• Check belt fit periodically. A child’s squirming or

slouching can move the belt out of position.

• If the shoulder belt contacts the face or neck, move the

child closer to the center of the vehicle. Never allow a
child to put the shoulder belt under an arm or behind
their back.

Transporting Pets
Airbags deploying in the front seat could harm your pet.
An unrestrained pet will be thrown about and possibly
injured, or injure a passenger during panic braking or in
a collision.

Pets should be restrained in the rear seat in pet harnesses
or pet carriers that are secured by seat belts.

ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS
A long break-in period is not required for the engine in
your vehicle.

Drive moderately during the first 300 miles (500 km).
After the initial 60 miles (100 km), speeds up to 50 or
55 mph (80 or 90 km/h) are desirable.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

While cruising, brief full-throttle acceleration within the
limits of local traffic laws, contributes to a good break-in.
Wide-open throttle acceleration in low gear can be detri-
mental and should be avoided.

The engine oil installed in the engine at the factory is a
high-quality energy conserving type lubricant. Oil
changes should be consistent with anticipated climate
conditions under which vehicle operations will occur. The
recommended viscosity and quality grades are shown
under “Engine Oil”, under “Maintenance Procedures” in
section 7 of this manual. NON-DETERGENT OR
STRAIGHT MINERAL OILS MUST NEVER BE USED.

A new engine may consume some oil during its first few
thousand miles (kilometers) of operation. This should be
considered as a normal part of the break-in and not
interpreted as an indication of difficulty.

SAFETY TIPS

Exhaust Gas

WARNING!

Exhaust gases can injure or kill. They contain carbon
monoxide (CO) which is colorless and odorless.
Breathing it can make you unconscious and can
eventually poison you. To avoid breathing CO, fol-
low these safety tips:

Do not run the engine in a closed garage or in confined
areas any longer than needed to move your vehicle in or
out of the area.

If it is necessary to sit in a parked vehicle with the engine
running, adjust your heating or cooling controls to force
outside air into the vehicle. Set the blower at high speed.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!

If you are required to drive with the deck lid/liftgate
open, make sure that all windows are closed, and the
climate control blower switch is set at high speed.
DO NOT use the recirculation mode.

Safety Checks You Should Make Inside The
Vehicle

Seat Belts
Inspect the belt system periodically, checking for cuts,
frays and loose parts. Damaged parts must be replaced
immediately. Do not disassemble or modify the system.

Front seat belt assemblies must be replaced after a
collision. Rear seat belt assemblies must be replaced after
a collision if they have been damaged (i.e., bent retractor,
torn webbing, etc.). If there is any question regarding belt
or retractor condition, replace the belt.

Airbag Warning Light
The light should come on and remain on for six to eight
seconds as a bulb check when the ignition switch is first
turned ON. If the LED is not lit during starting, have it
checked. If the light stays on, flickers, or comes on while
driving, have the system checked by an authorized
dealer.

Defroster
Check operation by selecting the defrost mode and place
the blower control on high speed. You should be able to
feel the air directed against the windshield. See your
authorized dealer for service if your defroster is
inoperable.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make Outside
The Vehicle

Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear or uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread. Inspect tread and sidewall for cuts or
cracks. Check the wheel nuts for tightness. Check the
tires (including spare) for proper 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.

Fluid Leaks
Check the area under the vehicle after overnight parking
for fuel, engine coolant, oil or other fluid leaks. Also, if
gasoline fumes are detected or fuel, power steering fluid,
transmission fluid or brake fluid leaks are suspected, the
cause should be located and corrected immediately.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

CONTENTS

䡵 Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

▫ Inside Day/Night Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
▫ Automatic Dimming Inside Mirror —

If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

▫ Outside Mirror — Driver’s Side . . . . . . . . . . . 78
▫ Outside Mirror — Passenger’s Side . . . . . . . . . 78
▫ Power Mirrors — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
▫ Vanity Mirrors — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
▫ Sun Visor Sliding Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

䡵 Hands-Free Communication (UConnect威) —

If Equipped. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

▫ Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
▫ Phone Call Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
▫ UConnect威 System Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
▫ Advanced Phone Connectivity . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
▫ Things You Should Know About Your

UConnect

威 System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

▫ General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

䡵 Voice Recognition System (VR) —

If Equipped. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

▫ Voice Recognition System (VR) Operation . . . 109
▫ Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
▫ Voice Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

䡵 Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

▫ Front Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
▫ Manual Seat Height Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . 115
▫ Manual Lumbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
▫ Driver’s Seatback Recline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
▫ Heated Seats — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
▫ Adjustable Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
▫ Folding Rear Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

▫ Reclining Rear Seat — If Equipped . . . . . . . . 120

䡵 To Open And Close The Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
䡵 Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

▫ Multifunction Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
▫ Headlights, Parking Lights And Instrument

Panel Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

▫ Lights-On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
▫ Fog Lights — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
▫ Turn Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
▫ High Beam/Low Beam Select Switch . . . . . . . 125
▫ Flash-To-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
▫ Map/Reading Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
▫ Daytime Running Lights (DRL) — If

Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

䡵 Windshield Wipers And Washers . . . . . . . . . . 127

▫ Windshield Wiper Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
▫ Intermittent Wiper System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
▫ Windshield Washers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
▫ Mist Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

䡵 Tilt Steering Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
䡵 Electronic Speed Control — If Equipped . . . . . . 131

▫ To Activate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
▫ To Set At A Desired Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
▫ To Deactivate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
▫ To Resume Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
▫ To Vary The Speed Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
▫ Manual Transaxle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133

▫ To Accelerate For Passing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133

䡵 Garage Door Opener — If Equipped . . . . . . . . 134

▫ Programming HomeLink威 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
▫ Gate Operator/Canadian Programming . . . . . 138
▫ Using HomeLink威 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
▫ Reprogramming A Single HomeLink威

Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

▫ Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
▫ Troubleshooting Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
▫ General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140

䡵 Power Sunroof — If Equipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140

▫ Opening The Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
▫ Closing The Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Dodge Caliber SRT (2009 year). Manual - part 4