2008 Dodge Caliber Owner Manual - Page 17

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 15 STEERING WHEEL LOCK - MANUAL TRANSMISSION ONLY Your manual transmission vehicle is equipped with a passive steering wheel lock. This lock prevents steering the vehicle without the ignition key. If the steering wheel is moved no more than one-half turn in either direction and the key is not in the ignition switch, the steering wheel will lock. To Manually Lock The Steering Wheel With the engine running, turn the steering wheel upside down, turn off the engine and remove the key. Turn the steering wheel slightly in either direction until the lock engages. To Release The Steering Wheel Lock Insert the key in the ignition switch and start the engine. If the key is difficult to turn, move the wheel slightly to the right or left to disengage the lock. NOTE: If you turned the wheel to the right to engage the lock, you must turn the wheel slightly to the right to disengage it. If you turned the wheel to the left to engage the lock, turn the wheel slightly to the left to disengage it. SENTRY KEYா The Sentry Key௡ Immobilizer System prevents unauthorized vehicle operation by disabling the engine. The system does not need to be armed or activated. Operation is automatic, regardless of whether the vehicle is locked or unlocked. The system uses ignition keys that have an embedded electronic chip (transponder) to prevent unauthorized vehicle operation. Therefore, only keys that are programmed to the vehicle can be used to start and operate the vehicle. The system will shut the engine off in two seconds if someone uses an invalid key to try to start the engine. 2