2010 Dodge Avenger Owner Manual - Page 48

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 47 Seat Belt Pretensioners - If Equipped The seat belts for both front seating positions may be 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. readily identified by any markings, only through visual inspection of the head restraint. The head restraint will be split in two halves, with the front half being soft foam and trim, the back half being decorative plastic. 2 How the Active Head Restraints (AHR) Work The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) determines whether the severity, or type of rear impact will require the Active Head Restraints (AHR) to deploy. If a rear NOTE: These devices are not a substitute for proper seat impact requires deployment, both the driver and front belt placement by the occupant. The seat belt still must be passenger seat AHRs will be deployed. worn snugly and positioned properly. When AHRs deploy during a rear impact, the front half The pretensioners are triggered by the Occupant Re- of the head restraint extends forward to minimize the gap straint Controller (ORC). Like the airbags, the pretension- between the back of the occupant's head and the AHR. ers are single use items. A deployed pretensioner or a This system is designed to help prevent or reduce the extent of injuries to the driver and front passenger in deployed airbag must be replaced immediately. certain types of rear impacts. Supplemental Active Head Restraints (AHR) These head restraints are passive, deployable compo- NOTE: The Active Head Restraints (AHR) may or may nents, and vehicles with this equipment can not be not deploy in the event of a front or side impact.