2007 Dodge Nitro Owner's Manual - Page 44

44 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE WARNING! • The belt and retractor assembly must be replaced if the seat belt assembly "automatic locking retractor" feature or any other seat belt function is not working properly when checked according to the procedures in the Service Manual. • Failure to replace the belt and retractor assembly could increase the risk of injury in collisions. Seat Belt Pretensioners The driver and front passenger seat belts are equipped with pretensioning devices that are designed to remove any slack from the seat belt systems in the event of a collision. These devices improve the performance of the seat belt by assuring that the belt is tight around 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 must still be worn snugly and positioned properly. The pretensioners are triggered by the Occupant Restraint Control (ORC) Module. Like the front airbags, the pretensioners are a single use item. After a collision that is severe enough to deploy the airbags and pretensioners, they must be replaced. Enhanced Seat Belt Use Reminder System (BeltAlert) If the driver 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) will alert the driver to buckle their seat belt. The driver should also instruct all other occupants to buckle their seat belts. Once the warning is triggered, the Enhanced Warning System (BeltAlert) will continue to chime and flash the Seat Belt Warning Light for 96