Dodge Magnum (2008 year). Manual

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

WARNING!

• A belt that is buckled into the wrong buckle will not

protect you properly. The lap portion could ride too
high on your body, possibly causing internal injuries.
Always buckle your belt into the buckle nearest you.
• A belt that is too loose will not protect you as well. In

a sudden stop, you could move too far forward, in-
creasing the possibility of injury. Wear your seat belt
snugly.
• A belt that is worn under your arm is very dangerous.

Your body could strike the inside surfaces of the
vehicle in a collision, increasing head and neck injury.
A belt worn under the arm can cause internal injuries.
Ribs aren’t as strong as shoulder bones. Wear the belt
over your shoulder so that your strongest bones will
take the force in a collision.
• A shoulder belt placed behind you will not protect

you from injury during a collision. You are more likely
to hit your head in a collision if you do not wear your
shoulder belt. The lap and shoulder belt are meant to
be used together.

Connecting Latch Plate To Buckle

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

4. Position the lap belt across your thighs, below your
abdomen. To remove slack in the lap belt portion, pull up
a bit on the shoulder belt. To loosen the lap belt if it is too
tight, tilt the latch plate and pull on the lap belt. A snug
belt reduces the risk of sliding under the belt in a
collision.

WARNING!

• A lap belt worn too high can increase the risk of
internal injury in a collision. The belt forces won’t be
at the strong hip and pelvic bones, but across your
abdomen. Always wear the lap belt as low as pos-
sible and keep it snug.
• A twisted belt can’t do its job as well. In a collision,
it could even cut into you. Be sure the belt is straight.
If you can’t straighten a belt in your vehicle, take it to
your dealer and have it fixed.

5. 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.

Removing Slack From Belt

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

6. To release the belt, push the red button on the 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.

WARNING!

A frayed or torn belt could rip apart in a collision and
leave you with no protection. Inspect the belt system
periodically, checking for cuts, frays, or loose parts.
Damaged parts must be replaced immediately. Do
not disassemble or modify the system. Seat belt
assemblies must be replaced after a collision if they
have been damaged (bent retractor, torn webbing,
etc.).

Rear Center Lap/Shoulder Belt Retractor Lock-Out
This feature is designed to lock the retractor whenever
the 60% rear seat back is not fully latched. This prevents
someone from wearing the rear center lap/shoulder belt
when the rear seat back is not fully latched.

NOTE:

• If the rear center lap/shoulder belt cannot be pulled

out, check that the rear seat back is fully latched.

• If the rear seat back is properly latched and the rear

center lap/shoulder belt still cannot be pulled out, the
Automatic-Locking Retractor (ALR) system may be
activated. 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.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!

The rear center lap/shoulder belt is equipped with a
lock-out feature to ensure that the rear seat back is in
the fully upright and locked position when occupied.
If the rear seat back is not fully upright and locked
and the rear center lap/shoulder belt can be pulled
out of the retractor, the vehicle should immediately
be taken to your dealer for service. Failure to follow
this warning could result in serious or fatal injury.

Adjustable Upper Shoulder Belt Anchorage
In the driver and front passenger seats, the shoulder belt
can be adjusted upward or downward to position the belt
away from your neck. Push and fully depress the button
above the webbing to release the anchorage, and then
move it up or down to the position that serves you best.

As a guide, if you are shorter than average, you will
prefer a lower position, and if you are taller than average,
you will prefer a higher position. When you release the
anchorage, try to move it up and down to make sure that
it is locked in position.

Adjusting Upper Shoulder Belt

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

In the rear seat, move toward the center of the seat to
position the belt away from your neck.

Lap/Shoulder Belt Untwisting Procedure

Use the following procedure to untwist a twisted lap/
shoulder belt.

1. Position the latch plate as close as possible to the
anchor point.

2. At about 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) above the latch
plate, grasp and twist the belt webbing 180° to create a
fold that begins immediately above the latch plate.

3. Slide the latch plate upward over the folded webbing.
The folded webbing must enter the slot at the top of the
latch plate.

4. Continue to slide the latch plate up until it clears the
folded webbing.

Seat Belt Pretensioners

The seat belts for both front seating positions are
equipped with pretensioning devices that are designed to
remove any slack from the seat belts in the event of a
collision. These devices improve the performance of the
seat belt system by assuring that the belt is tight about the
occupant 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 Occupant Re-
straint Controller (ORC) (refer to information on Airbags
in this section). Like the front airbags, the pretensioners
are single use items. After a collision that is severe
enough to deploy the airbags and pretensioners, both
must be replaced.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Enhanced Seat Belt Reminder System (BeltAlert

)

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

t) 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, the Enhanced Warning System (BeltAlert

will continue to chime and flash the Seat Belt Reminder
Light for 96 seconds or until the driver’s seat belt is
buckled. The Enhanced Warning System (BeltAlert

t) 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

t Programming

The Enhanced Warning System (BeltAlert

t) can be en-

abled or disabled by your authorized dealer or by
performing the following steps:

NOTE:

DaimlerChrysler does not recommend deacti-

vating the Enhanced Warning System (BeltAlert

t).

1. With all doors closed, and the ignition switch in any
position except ON or START, buckle the driver’s seat
belt.

2. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position, but do not
start the engine. Wait for the Seat Belt Reminder Light to
turn off and then proceed to the next step.

NOTE:

You must perform the following steps within 60

seconds of turning the ignition switch to the ON position.

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

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

NOTE:

Watch for the Seat Belt Reminder Light to turn

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

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

The Enhanced Warning System (BeltAlert

t) can be reac-

tivated by repeating this procedure.

NOTE:

When

the

Enhanced

Warning

System

(BeltAlert

t) is deactivated, the Seat Belt Reminder Light

will continue to illuminate as long as the driver’s seat belt
is unbuckled.

Automatic Locking Mode — If Equipped

In this mode, the shoulder belt is automatically pre-
locked. However, the belt will still retract to remove slack
in the shoulder belt. Use The Automatic Locking Mode
any time a child safety seat is installed in a seating
position that has a seat belt with this feature. Seat belts
that have the Automatic Locking Mode feature have a
distinctive label on the webbing. Children 12 years old
and under should be properly restrained in the rear seat
whenever possible.

How To Engage The Automatic Locking Mode

1. Buckle the combination lap and shoulder belt.

2. Grasp the shoulder portion and pull downward until
the entire belt is extracted.

3. Allow the belt to retract. As the belt retracts, you will
here a clicking sound. This indicates the safety belt is
now in the automatic locking mode.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

How To Disengage The Automatic Locking Mode
Unbuckle the combination lap and shoulder belt and
allow it to retract completely to disengage the automatic
locking mode and activate the vehicle sensitive (emer-
gency) locking mode.

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.

Seat Belt Extender

If a seat belt is too short, even when fully extended, and
when the adjustable upper shoulder belt anchorage (if so
equipped) is in its lowest position, your dealer can
provide you with a seat belt extender. This extender
should be used only if the existing belt is not long
enough. When it is not required, remove the extender,
and store it.

WARNING!

Using a seat belt extender when not needed can
increase the risk of injury in a collision. Only use
when the seat 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.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Driver and Front Passenger Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS) - Airbag

This vehicle has front airbags for both the driver and
front passenger as a supplement to the seat belt restraint
systems. The driver’s airbag is mounted in the center of
the steering wheel. The passenger’s front airbag is
mounted in the instrument panel, above the glove com-
partment. 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.

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.

Front Airbag Components

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!

• Do not put anything on or around the front airbag

covers or attempt to manually open them. You may
damage the airbags and you could be injured because
the airbags are no longer functional. These protective
covers for the airbag cushions are designed to open
only when the airbags are inflating.

• Do not drill, cut or tamper with the knee bolster in

any way.

• Do not mount any accessories to the knee bolster

such as alarm lights, stereos, citizens band radios etc.

This vehicle may also be equipped with supplemental
side curtain airbags to protect the driver and passengers
sitting next to a window and/or supplemental front-seat-
mounted side airbags.

If the vehicle is equipped with supplemental side curtain
airbags, they are located above the side windows. Their
covers are also labeled SRS AIRBAG.

NOTE:

Airbag covers may not be obvious in the interior

trim; but they will open to allow airbag deployment.

Window Airbag

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

If the vehicle is equipped with supplemental front-seat-
mounted side airbags, they are marked with an SRS label
sewn into the outboard side of the seat.

WARNING!

• If your vehicle is equipped with supplemental front-seat-

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

• If your vehicle is equipped with supplemental front-seat-

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

• If your vehicle is equipped with supplemental side curtain

airbags, do not stack luggage or other cargo up high
enough to block the location of the side curtain airbag.
The area where the side curtain airbag is located should
remain free from any obstructions.

• If your vehicle is equipped with supplemental side curtain

airbags, do not have any accessory items installed which
will alter the roof, including adding a sunroof to your
vehicle. Do not add roof racks that require permanent
attachments (bolts or screws) for installation on the ve-
hicle roof. Do not drill into the roof of the vehicle for any
reason.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

NOTE:

Do not use a clothing bar mounted to the coat

hooks in this vehicle. A clothing bar will impede the
proper performance of the curtain airbags.

Along with the seat belts, front airbags work with the
instrument panel knee bolsters to provide improved
protection for the driver and front passenger. Side curtain
and seat airbags also work with seat belts to improve
occupant protection.

While the seat belts are designed to protect you in many
types of collisions, the front airbags will deploy in
moderate to severe frontal collisions. For vehicles so
equipped, the supplemental side curtain airbag and
front-seat-mounted side airbag on the crash side of the
vehicle will also trigger in moderate to severe side
collisions. However, even in collisions where the airbags
deploy, you need the seat belts to keep you in the correct
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 under should ride buckled
up in the rear seat.

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

3. Children that are not big enough to wear the vehicle
seat belt properly (refer to information on Child Restraint
in this section) should be secured in the rear seat in child
restraints or belt-positioning booster seats.

4. Older children who do not use child restraints or
belt-positioning booster seats should ride properly buck-
led up in the rear seat. Never allow children to slide the
shoulder belt behind them or under their arm.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

5. 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 information on Child Restraint in this section).

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

7. All occupants should use their seat belts properly.

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

9. If your vehicle has supplemental side curtain airbags
and/or supplemental front-seat-mounted side airbags,
do not lean against the door, airbags will inflate forcefully
into the space between you and the door.

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

9If

You Need Customer Assistance

9 section in 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.

• 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,
comfortably extending your arms to reach the
steering wheel or instrument panel.

• If the vehicle has side curtain airbags, they also

need room to inflate. Do not lean against the door
or window. Sit upright in the center of the seat.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Air Bag System Components
The airbag system consists of the following:

• Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
• Side Remote Acceleration Sensors (if equipped)
• Airbag Warning Light
• Driver Airbag
• Front Passenger Airbag
• Supplemental Side Curtain Airbags above Side Win-

dows (if equipped)

• Supplemental Front-Seat-Mounted Side Airbags (if

equipped)

• Steering Wheel and Column
• Instrument Panel
• Interconnecting Wiring

• Seat Belt Reminder Light
• Knee Impact Bolsters
• 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. The ORC will not
detect roll over.

• For vehicles so equipped, The ORC also determines if

a side impact is severe enough to deploy the supple-
mental side curtain airbag and/or supplemental front-
seat-mounted side airbag as required for each type of
impact.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

• 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 they will
not inflate.

• The ORC also turns on the Airbag Warning

Light in the instrument panel for 6 to 8
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 Warning Light in your instru-
ment 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 Front Passenger Airbag/Inflator

Units

are located in the center of the steering wheel

and the passenger 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 colli-
sion severity. The steering wheel hub trim cover, and
the upper passenger side of the instrument panel

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

separate and fold out of the way, as the bags inflate to
their full size. The bags fully inflate in about 50 - 70
milliseconds. This is about half of the time that 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.

• The Knee Impact Bolsters help protect the knees of

the driver and the front passenger, and position every-
one for the best interaction with the front airbag.

• The Supplemental Side Impact SRS Side Curtain

Airbags

are designed to activate only in certain side

collisions. When the ORC (with side impact option)
detects a collision requiring the side curtain airbag to
inflate, it signals the inflators on the crash side of the

vehicle. A quantity of nontoxic gas is generated to
inflate the side curtain airbag. The inflating side cur-
tain airbag pushes the outside edge of the headliner
out of the way and covers the window. The airbag
inflates in about 30 milliseconds (about one quarter of
the time that it takes to blink your eyes) with enough
force to injure you if you are not belted and seated
properly, or if items are positioned in the area where
the side curtain airbag inflates. This especially applies
to children. The side curtain airbag is only about 3-1/2
inches (9 cm) thick when it is inflated.

• The Supplemental Front-Seat-Mounted Side Airbags

are designed to activate only in certain side collisions.
When the ORC (with side impact option) detects a
collision requiring the front-seat-mounted side airbag
to inflate, it signals the inflators on the crash side of the
vehicle. A quantity of nontoxic gas is generated to
inflate the front-seat-mounted side airbag. The inflat-
ing front-seat-mounted side airbag pushes through the

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Dodge Magnum (2008 year). Manual - part 3