Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 2-33. Position the release button on the buckle so that the safety belt could be quickly unbuckled if necessary.
4. If equipped with a shoulder belt height adjuster,
move it to the height that is right for you. See “Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment” later in this section for instructions on use and important safety information.
5. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the
shoulder belt. It may be necessary to pull stitching on the safety belt through the latch plate to fully tighten the lap belt on smaller occupants.
To unlatch the belt, push the button on the buckle. The belt should return to its stowed position. Slide the latch plate up the safety belt webbing when the safety belt is not in use. The latch plate should rest on the stitching on the safety belt, near the guide loop on the side wall. Before a door is closed, be sure the belt is out of the way. If a door is slammed against a safety belt, damage can occur to both the belt and the vehicle.
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Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster The vehicle has a shoulder belt height adjuster for the driver and right front passenger seating position. Adjust the height so that the shoulder portion of the belt is centered on the shoulder. The belt should be away from the face and neck, but not falling off the shoulder. Improper shoulder belt height adjustment could reduce the effectiveness of the safety belt in a crash.
To move it up or down, squeeze the release buttons (A) together and move the height adjuster to the desired position.
After the adjuster is set to the desired position, try to move it down without squeezing the release buttons to make sure it has locked into position.
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Safety Belt Pretensioners This vehicle has safety belt pretensioners for front outboard occupants. Although the safety belt pretensioners cannot be seen, they are part of the safety belt assembly. They can help tighten the safety belts during the early stages of a moderate to severe frontal or near frontal crash if the threshold conditions for pretensioner activation are met. Pretensioners work only once. If the pretensioners activate in a crash, they will need to be replaced, and probably other new parts for the vehicle’s safety belt system. See Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash on page 2-79. Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides This vehicle may have rear shoulder belt comfort guides for the rear outside positions. If not, they are available through your dealer/retailer. Rear shoulder belt comfort guides may provide added safety belt comfort for older children who have outgrown booster seats and for some adults. When installed and properly adjusted, the comfort guide positions the belt away from the neck and head.
Here is how to install a comfort guide to the shoulder belt.
1. Slide the guide off of its storage clip located between the interior body and the seatback.
2-29
2. Place the guide over the belt and insert the two
edges of the belt into the slots of the guide.
3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies flat.
The elastic cord must be under the belt and the guide on top.
2-30
{ WARNING:
A safety belt that is not properly worn may not provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces.
4. Buckle, position, and release the safety belt as described previously in this section. Make sure that the shoulder belt crosses the shoulder.
To remove and store the comfort guide, squeeze the belt edges together so that the safety belt can be removed from the guide. Slide the guide back on its storage clip located between the interior body and the seatback.
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Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be seriously injured if they do not wear safety belts.
Lap Belt This section is only for the lap belt. To learn how to wear a lap-shoulder belt, see Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 2-26. The vehicle may have a center seating position. When you sit in the center front seating position, you have a lap safety belt, which has no retractor.
A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and the lap portion should be worn as low as possible, below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy. The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it is more likely that the fetus will not be hurt in a crash. For pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making safety belts effective is wearing them properly.
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To make the belt longer, tilt the latch plate and pull it along the belt. Buckle, position, and release it the same way as the lap part of a lap-shoulder belt.
To make the belt shorter, pull its free end as shown until the belt is snug. If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 2-33. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if necessary.
Safety Belt Extender If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you should use it. But if a safety belt is not long enough, your dealer/retailer will order you an extender. When you go in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the extender will be long enough for you. To help avoid personal injury, do not let someone else use it, and use it only for the seat it is made to fit. The extender has been designed for adults. Never use it for securing child seats. To wear it, attach it to the regular safety belt. For more information, see the instruction sheet that comes with the extender.
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Child Restraints
Older Children
Older children who have outgrown booster seats should wear the vehicle’s safety belts.
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The manufacturer’s instructions that come with the booster seat, state the weight and height limitations for that booster. Use a booster seat with a lap-shoulder belt until the child passes the below fit test: • Sit all the way back on the seat. Do the knees bend
at the seat edge? If yes, continue. If no, return to the booster seat.
• Buckle the lap-shoulder belt. Does the shoulder belt
rest on the shoulder? If yes, continue. If no, try using the rear safety belt comfort guide. See “Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides” under Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 2-26 for more information. If the shoulder belt still does not rest on the shoulder, then return to the booster seat.
• Does the lap belt fit low and snug on the hips,
touching the thighs? If yes, continue. If no, return to the booster seat.
• Can proper safety belt fit be maintained for
length of trip? If yes, continue. If no, return to the booster seat.
If you have the choice, a child should sit in a position with a lap-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide.
{ WARNING:
Never do this. Never allow two children to wear the same safety belt. The safety belt can not properly spread the impact forces. In a crash, the two children can be crushed together and seriously injured. A safety belt must be used by only one person at a time.
Q: What is the proper way to wear safety belts? A: An older child should wear a lap-shoulder belt and
get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide. The shoulder belt should not cross the face or neck. The lap belt should fit snugly below the hips, just touching the top of the thighs. This applies belt force to the child’s pelvic bones in a crash. It should never be worn over the abdomen, which could cause severe or even fatal internal injuries in a crash.
Also see “Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides” under Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 2-26. According to accident statistics, children and infants are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating positions. In a crash, children who are not buckled up can strike other people who are buckled up, or can be thrown out of the vehicle. Older children need to use safety belts properly.
2-35
{ WARNING:
Never do this. Never allow a child to wear the safety belt with the shoulder belt behind their back. A child can be seriously injured by not wearing the lap-shoulder belt properly. In a crash, the child would not be restrained by the shoulder belt. The child could move too far forward increasing the chance of head and neck injury. The child might also slide under the lap belt. The belt force would then be applied right on the abdomen. That could cause serious or fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest.
2-36
Infants and Young Children Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! This includes infants and all other children. Neither the distance traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes the need, for everyone, to use safety restraints. In fact, the law in every state in the United States and in every Canadian province says children up to some age must be restrained while in a vehicle.
Airbags plus lap-shoulder belts offer protection for adults and older children, but not for young children and infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety belt system nor its airbag system is designed for them. Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles, they should have the protection provided by appropriate child restraints. Children who are not restrained properly can strike other people, or can be thrown out of the vehicle.
{ WARNING:
Children can be seriously injured or strangled if a shoulder belt is wrapped around their neck and the safety belt continues to tighten. Never leave children unattended in a vehicle and never allow children to play with the safety belts.
2-37
{ WARNING:
Never do this. Never hold an infant or a child while riding in a vehicle. Due to crash forces, an infant or a child will become so heavy it is not possible to hold it during a crash. For example, in a crash at only 40 km/h (25 mph), a 5.5 kg (12 lb) infant will suddenly become a 110 kg (240 lb) force on a person’s arms. An infant should be secured in an appropriate restraint.
2-38
{ WARNING:
Never do this. Children who are up against, or very close to, any airbag when it inflates can be seriously injured or killed. Never put a rear-facing child restraint in the right front seat. Secure a rear-facing child restraint in a rear seat. It is also better to secure a forward-facing child restraint in a rear seat. If you must secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go.
2-39
{ WARNING:
To reduce the risk of neck and head injury during a crash, infants need complete support. This is because an infant’s neck is not fully developed and its head weighs so much compared with the rest of its body. In a crash, an infant in a rear-facing child restraint settles into the restraint, so the crash forces can be distributed across the strongest part of an infant’s body, the back and shoulders. Infants should always be secured in rear-facing child restraints.
Q: What are the different types of add-on child
restraints?
A: Add-on child restraints, which are purchased by the
vehicle’s owner, are available in four basic types. Selection of a particular restraint should take into consideration not only the child’s weight, height, and age but also whether or not the restraint will be compatible with the motor vehicle in which it will be used. For most basic types of child restraints, there are many different models available. When purchasing a child restraint, be sure it is designed to be used in a motor vehicle. If it is, the restraint will have a label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. The restraint manufacturer’s instructions that come with the restraint state the weight and height limitations for a particular child restraint. In addition, there are many kinds of restraints available for children with special needs.
2-40
{ WARNING:
A young child’s hip bones are still so small that the vehicle’s regular safety belt may not remain low on the hip bones, as it should. Instead, it may settle up around the child’s abdomen. In a crash, the belt would apply force on a body area that is unprotected by any bony structure. This alone could cause serious or fatal injuries. To reduce the risk of serious or fatal injuries during a crash, young children should always be secured in appropriate child restraints.
Child Restraint Systems
A rear-facing infant seat (A) provides restraint with the seating surface against the back of the infant.
The harness system holds the infant in place and, in a crash, acts to keep the infant positioned in the restraint.
A forward-facing child seat (B) provides restraint for the child’s body with the harness.
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Securing an Add-On Child Restraint in the Vehicle
{ WARNING:
A child can be seriously injured or killed in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle. Secure the child restraint properly in the vehicle using the vehicle’s safety belt or LATCH system, following the instructions that came with that child restraint and the instructions in this manual.
A booster seat (C-D) is a child restraint designed to improve the fit of the vehicle’s safety belt system. A booster seat can also help a child to see out the window.
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To help reduce the chance of injury, the child restraint must be secured in the vehicle. Child restraint systems must be secured in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a lap-shoulder belt, or by the LATCH system. See Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 2-45 for more information. A child can be endangered in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle. When securing an add-on child restraint, refer to the instructions that come with the restraint which may be on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both, and to this manual. The child restraint instructions are important, so if they are not available, obtain a replacement copy from the manufacturer. Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child restraint in the vehicle — even when no child is in it.
Securing the Child Within the Child Restraint
{ WARNING:
A child can be seriously injured or killed in a crash if the child is not properly secured in the child restraint. Secure the child properly following the instructions that came with that child restraint.
Where to Put the Restraint Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. We recommend that children and child restraints be secured in a rear seat, including: an infant or a child riding in a rear-facing child restraint; a child riding in a forward-facing child seat; an older child riding in a booster seat; and children, who are large enough, using safety belts.
2-43
A label on your sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.
WARNING:
(Continued)
{ WARNING:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger airbag inflates. This is because the back of the rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the inflating airbag. A child in a forward-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger airbag inflates and the passenger seat is in a forward position. The vehicle may have a passenger sensing system which is designed to turn off the right front passenger frontal airbag under certain conditions. Even if the passenger sensing system, if equipped, has turned off the right front passenger frontal airbag, no system is fail-safe. No one can guarantee that an airbag will not deploy under some unusual circumstance, even though it is turned off.
WARNING:
(Continued)
2-44
Secure rear-facing child restraints in a rear seat, even if the airbag is off. If you secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go. It is better to secure the child restraint in a rear seat. See Passenger Sensing System on page 2-71 for additional information.
{ WARNING:
A child in a child restraint in the center front seat can be badly injured or killed by the frontal airbags if they inflate. Never secure a child restraint in the center front seat. It is always better to secure a child restraint in a rear seat.
Do not use child restraints in the center front seat position. When securing a child restraint in a rear seating position, study the instructions that came with your child restraint to make sure it is compatible with this vehicle. If your vehicle does not have a rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing child restraint, we recommend that rear-facing child restraints not be transported in your vehicle, even if the airbag is off. Wherever you install a child restraint, be sure to secure the child restraint properly. Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child restraint in your vehicle — even when no child is in it.
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) The LATCH system holds a child restraint during driving or in a crash. This system is designed to make installation of a child restraint easier. The LATCH system uses anchors in the vehicle and attachments on the child restraint that are made for use with the LATCH system. Make sure that a LATCH-compatible child restraint is properly installed using the anchors, or use the vehicle’s safety belts to secure the restraint, following the instructions that came with that restraint, and also the instructions in this manual. When installing a child restraint with a top tether, you must also use either the lower anchors or the safety belts to properly secure the child restraint. A child restraint must never be installed using only the top tether and anchor. In order to use the LATCH system in your vehicle, you need a child restraint that has LATCH attachments. The child restraint manufacturer will provide you with instructions on how to use the child restraint and its attachments. The following explains how to attach a child restraint with these attachments in your vehicle. Not all vehicle seating positions or child restraints have lower anchors and attachments or top tether anchors and attachments.
2-45
Lower Anchors
Top Tether Anchor
Lower anchors (A) are metal bars built into the vehicle. There are two lower anchors for each LATCH seating position that will accommodate a child restraint with lower attachments (B).
A top tether (A, C) anchors the top of the child restraint to the vehicle. A top tether anchor is built into the vehicle. The top tether attachment (B) on the child restraint connects to the top tether anchor in the vehicle in order to reduce the forward movement and rotation of the child restraint during driving or in a crash.
2-46
Your child restraint may have a single tether (A) or a dual tether (C). Either will have a single attachment (B) to secure the top tether to the anchor. Some child restraints that have a top tether are designed for use with or without the top tether being attached. Others require the top tether always to be attached. In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be attached. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for your child restraint. If the child restraint does not have a top tether, one can be obtained, in kit form, for many child restraints. Ask the child restraint manufacturer whether or not a kit is available.
Lower Anchor and Top Tether Anchor Locations
i (Top Tether Anchor): Seating positions with top tether anchors.
j (Lower Anchor): Seating positions with two lower anchors.
Crew Cab — Rear Seat
2-47
i (Top Tether Anchor): Seating positions with top tether anchors.
j (Lower Anchor): Seating positions with two lower anchors.
For crew cab models, there are exposed metal lower anchors for each rear outboard seating position, located where the seatback meets the back of the seat cushion. For extended cab models with rear seats, there are exposed metal lower anchors for each rear seating position, attached to the back wall, near the seat cushion. To assist you in locating the lower anchors, place your hand in a palm-up position and reach up between the seat cushion and the seatback.
Extended Cab — Rear
Seat
i (Top Tether Anchor): Seating positions with top tether anchors.
To assist you in locating the top tether anchors, the top tether anchor symbol is located on the cover.
Front Seat — Regular
and Extended Cab without Rear Seats
2-48
Crew Cab
Extended Cab — Rear Seat
The top tether anchors in a crew cab model are located on the back wall behind each rear seating position. Be sure to use an anchor located on the same side of the vehicle as the seating position where the child restraint will be placed.
The top tether anchors in an extended cab model are located on the center of the back wall behind a removable cover for the rear seating positions. Be sure to use an anchor located nearest to the seating position where the child restraint will be placed.
2-49
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. See Where to Put the Restraint on page 2-43 for additional information. Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System
{ WARNING:
If a LATCH-type child restraint is not attached to anchors, the child restraint will not be able to protect the child correctly. In a crash, the child could be seriously injured or killed. Install a LATCH-type child restraint properly using the anchors, or use the vehicle’s safety belts to secure the restraint, following the instructions that came with the child restraint and the instructions in this manual.
Regular and Extended Cab without Rear Seats
For regular and extended cab models without rear seats, there is a top tether anchor located behind a removable cover on the back wall behind the right front passenger seat. You may have to pull the seatback forward to access the anchor. Do not secure a child restraint in a position without a top tether anchor if a national or local law requires that the top tether be attached, or if the instructions that come with the child restraint say that the top tether must be attached.
2-50
{ WARNING:
Do not attach more than one child restraint to a single anchor. Attaching more than one child restraint to a single anchor could cause the anchor or attachment to come loose or even break during a crash. A child or others could be injured. To reduce the risk of serious or fatal injuries during a crash, attach only one child restraint per anchor.
{ WARNING:
Children can be seriously injured or strangled if a shoulder belt is wrapped around their neck and the safety belt continues to tighten. Buckle any unused
WARNING:
(Continued)
WARNING:
(Continued)
safety belts behind the child restraint so children cannot reach them. Pull the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock, if your vehicle has one, after the child restraint has been installed.
Notice: Do not let the LATCH attachments rub against the vehicle’s safety belts. This may damage these parts. If necessary, move buckled safety belts to avoid rubbing the LATCH attachments. Do not fold the empty rear seat with a safety belt buckled. This could damage the safety belt or the seat. Unbuckle and return the safety belt to its stowed position, before folding the seat.
2-51
Crew Cab — Rear Seat
1. Put the child restraint on the seat. 2. If the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions
recommends that the top tether be attached, attach the top tether to the top tether anchor (A). Refer to the child restraint instructions and the following steps:
2.1. Pull the seatback forward to access the top
tether anchors (A). See Rear Seat Operation (Extended Cab) on page 2-9 or Rear Seat Operation (Crew Cab) on page 2-10.
2-52
2.2. Route the top tether according to your child
restraint instructions and the following instructions:
If the position you are using has a fixed headrest or head restraint and you are using a single tether, route the tether over the head restraint.
If the position you are using has an adjustable headrest or head restraint and you are using a single tether, raise the headrest or head restraint and route the tether under the headrest or head restraint and in between the headrest or head restraint posts.
If the position you are using has a fixed or adjustable headrest or head restraint and you are using a dual tether, route the tether around the headrest or head restraint.
3. Attach and tighten the lower attachments to the
lower anchors. If the child restraint does not have lower attachments or the desired seating position does not have lower anchors, secure the child restraint with the top tether and the safety belts. Refer to your child restraint manufacturer instructions and the instructions in this manual.
3.1. Find the lower anchors for the desired
seating position.
3.2. Attach and tighten the lower attachments on
the child restraint to the lower anchors.
4. Tighten the top tether. 5. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
2.3. Attach the top tether to the anchor (A). Make sure that you secure the top tether to the top tether anchor and not to the seatback latch (B).
2.4. Push rearward on the seatback until it locks into its upright position. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is secured properly.
2-53
Extended Cab — Rear Seat
1.3. Attach the lower attachments on the child
restraint to the lower anchors (D) in the vehicle. The child restraint instructions will show you how.
2. If the child restraint manufacturer recommends that
the top tether be attached, attach and tighten the top tether to the top tether anchor (C). Refer to the child restraint instructions and the following steps:
1. Attach and tighten the lower attachments to the
lower anchors. If the child restraint does not have lower attachments or the desired seating position does not have lower anchors, secure the child restraint with the top tether and the safety belts. Refer to your child restraint manufacturer instructions and the instructions in this manual.
1.1. Find the lower anchors (D) for the desired
seating position.
1.2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
2-54
2.1. Pull on the finger access tab to remove the cover to access the top tether anchors (C).
2.2. Route the top tether (A) through the loop (B)
at the top of the seatback to attach the top tether to the nearest top tether anchor (C).
3. Tighten the lower anchor attachments and the
top tether. The child restraint instructions will show you how.
4. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
Front Seat — Regular/Extended Cab without Rear Seats The vehicle has a right front passenger airbag and may also have a passenger sensing system. If the vehicle has a passenger sensing system it is designed to turn off the right front passenger frontal airbag when an infant in a rear-facing infant seat or a small child in a forward-facing child restraint or booster seat is detected. See Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position on page 2-59 and Passenger Sensing System on page 2-71 for important safety information and additional information on installing a child restraint in the right front seat position. 1. See Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position on page 2-59 for instructions on installing the child restraint using the safety belts.
2. If the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions
recommends that the top tether be attached, attach and tighten the top tether to the top tether anchor. Refer to the child restraint instructions and the following steps:
2.1. Pull the seatback forward to access the
top tether anchor. See Seatback Latches on page 2-8.
2.2. Pull on the finger access tab to remove the
cover to access the top tether anchor.
2.3. Route the top tether according to your child
restraint instructions and the following instructions:
If the position you are using has a fixed headrest or head restraint and you are using a single tether, route the tether over the headrest or head restraint.
2-55
If the position you are using has an adjustable headrest or head restraint and you are using a single tether, raise the headrest or head restraint and route the tether under the headrest or head restraint and in between the headrest or head restraint posts.
If the position you are using has a fixed or adjustable headrest or head restraint and you are using a dual tether, route the tether around the headrest or head restraint.
3. Attach and tighten the top tether according to your
child restraint instructions.
4. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
2-56
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position When securing a child restraint in a rear seating position, study the instructions that came with your child restraint to make sure it is compatible with this vehicle. If your child restraint has the LATCH system, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 2-45 for how to install your child restraint using LATCH. If you secure a child restraint using a safety belt and it uses a top tether, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 2-45 for top tether anchor locations. Do not secure a child restraint in a position without a top tether anchor if a national or local law requires that the top tether be anchored, or if the instructions that come with the child restraint say that the top strap must be anchored. In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be attached. If your child restraint does not have the LATCH system, you will be using the safety belt to secure the child restraint in this position. Be sure to follow the instructions that came with the child restraint. Secure the child in the child restraint when and as the instructions say.
If you need to install more than one child restraint in the rear seat, be sure to read Where to Put the Restraint on page 2-43. 1. Put the child restraint on the seat. 2. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder
portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how.
4. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of
the retractor to set the lock.
5. If your child restraint has a top tether, attach the top tether to the top tether anchor. See Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 2-45.
3. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Make sure the release button is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if necessary.
2-57
7. Tighten the top tether. See Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 2-45. 8. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
To remove the child restraint, unbuckle the vehicle’s safety belt and let it go back all the way. If the top tether is attached to a top tether anchor, disconnect it.
6. To tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint,
pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten the lap portion of the belt, and feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor. If you are using a forward-facing child restraint, you may find it helpful to use your knee to push down on the child restraint as you tighten the belt.
2-58
Securing a Child Restraint in the Center Front Seat Position
{ WARNING:
A child in a child restraint in the center front seat can be badly injured or killed by the frontal airbags if they inflate. Never secure a child restraint in the center front seat. It is always better to secure a child restraint in a rear seat.
Do not use child restraints in the center front seat position.
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position
This vehicle has airbags. A rear seat is a safer place to
secure a forward-facing child restraint. See Where to
Put the Restraint on page 2-43.
In addition, the vehicle may have a passenger sensing
system which is designed to turn off the right front
passenger’s frontal airbag under certain conditions.
See Passenger Sensing System on page 2-71
and Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 4-23 for
more information on this, including important safety
information.
2-59
A label on the sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.
WARNING:
(Continued)
{ WARNING:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger airbag inflates. This is because the back of the rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the inflating airbag. A child in a forward-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger airbag inflates and the passenger seat is in a forward position. The vehicle may have a passenger sensing system which is designed to turn off the right front passenger frontal airbag under certain conditions. Even if the passenger sensing system, if equipped, has turned off the right front passenger frontal airbag, no system is fail-safe. No one can guarantee that an airbag will not deploy under some unusual circumstance, even though it is turned off.
WARNING:
(Continued)
2-60
Secure rear-facing child restraints in a rear seat, even if the airbag is off. If you secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go. It is better to secure the child restraint in a rear seat. See Passenger Sensing System on page 2-71 for additional information.
If the vehicle does not have a rear seat that will
accommodate a rear-facing child restraint, a child
restraint should not be installed in your vehicle, even if
the airbag is off.
If your child restraint has the LATCH system, see
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on
page 2-45 for how and where to install your child
restraint using LATCH. If a child restraint is secured
using a safety belt and it uses a top tether, see Lower
Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 2-45
for top tether anchor locations.
Do not secure a child seat in a position without a top tether anchor if a national or local law requires that the top tether be anchored, or if the instructions that come with the child restraint say that the top strap must be anchored. In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be attached. You will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the child restraint in this position. Follow the instructions that came with the child restraint. 1. Move the seat as far back as it will go before
securing the forward-facing child restraint.
2. Put the child restraint on the seat. 3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder
portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how.
4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Position the release button on the buckle so that the safety belt could be quickly unbuckled if necessary.
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5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of
the retractor to set the lock.
6. If the vehicle does not have a rear seat and the child restraint manufacturer recommends using a top tether anchor, attach the top tether to the top tether anchor. Refer to the instructions that came with the child restraint and to Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 2-45.
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7. To tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint,
pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten the lap portion of the belt and feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor. When installing a forward-facing child restraint, it might be helpful to use your knee to push down on the child restraint as you tighten the belt.
8. Tighten the top tether. See Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 2-45. 9. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
If the vehicle is equipped with the passenger sensing
system, and when the passenger sensing system
has turned off the right front passenger frontal airbag,
the off indicator on the passenger airbag status indicator
should light and stay lit when you start the vehicle.
See Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 4-23.
If a child restraint has been installed and on indicator is
lit, see “If the On Indicator is Lit for a Child Restraint”
under Passenger Sensing System on page 2-71
for more information.
To remove the child restraint, unbuckle the vehicle
safety belt and let it return to the stowed position.
Airbag System
The vehicle has the following airbags:
• A frontal airbag for the driver.
• A frontal airbag for the right front passenger
Your vehicle may also have the following airbags: • A roof-rail airbag for the driver and the passenger
seated directly behind the driver.
• A roof-rail airbag for the right front passenger and
the passenger seated directly behind the right front passenger.
All of the airbags in your vehicle will have the word AIRBAG embossed in the trim or on an attached label near the deployment opening. For frontal airbags, the word AIRBAG will appear on the middle part of the steering wheel for the driver and on the instrument panel for the right front passenger. With roof-rail airbags, the word AIRBAG will appear along the headliner or trim. Airbags are designed to supplement the protection provided by safety belts. Even though today’s airbags are also designed to help reduce the risk of injury from the force of an inflating bag, all airbags must inflate very quickly to do their job.
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Here are the most important things to know about the airbag system:
{ WARNING:
{ WARNING:
You can be severely injured or killed in a crash if you are not wearing your safety belt — even if you have airbags. Airbags are designed to work with safety belts, but do not replace them. Also, airbags are not designed to deploy in every crash. In some crashes safety belts are your only restraint. See When Should an Airbag Inflate? on page 2-67. Wearing your safety belt during a crash helps reduce your chance of hitting things inside the vehicle or being ejected from it. Airbags are “supplemental restraints” to the safety belts. Everyone in your vehicle should wear a safety belt properly — whether or not there is an airbag for that person.
Airbags inflate with great force, faster than the blink of an eye. Anyone who is up against, or very close to, any airbag when it inflates can be seriously injured or killed. Do not sit unnecessarily close to the airbag, as you would be if you were sitting on the edge of your seat or leaning forward. Safety belts help keep you in position before and during a crash. Always wear your safety belt, even with airbags. The driver should sit as far back as possible while still maintaining control of the vehicle. Occupants should not lean on or sleep against the door or side windows in seating positions with roof-rail airbags.
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{ WARNING:
Children who are up against, or very close to, any airbag when it inflates can be seriously injured or killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder belts offer protection for adults and older children, but not for young children and infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety belt system nor its airbag system is designed for them. Young children and infants need the protection that a child restraint system can provide. Always secure children properly in your vehicle. To read how, see Older Children on page 2-34 or Infants and Young Children on page 2-37.
There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument panel, which shows the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 4-22
for more information.
Where Are the Airbags?
The driver’s airbag is in the middle of the steering wheel.
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The right front passenger’s airbag is in the instrument panel on the passenger’s side.
Driver Side shown, Passenger Side similar
If your vehicle has roof-rail airbags for the driver, right front passenger, and second row outboard passengers, they are in the ceiling above the side windows.
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{ WARNING:
If something is between an occupant and an airbag, the airbag might not inflate properly or it might force the object into that person causing severe injury or even death. The path of an inflating airbag must be kept clear. Do not put anything between an occupant and an airbag, and do not attach or put anything on the steering wheel hub or on or near any other airbag covering. Never secure anything to the roof of a vehicle with roof-rail airbags by routing a rope or tie down through any door or window opening. If you do, the path of an inflating roof-rail airbag will be blocked.
When Should an Airbag Inflate? Frontal airbags are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal crashes to help reduce the potential for severe injuries mainly to the driver’s or right front passenger’s head and chest. However, they are only designed to inflate if the impact exceeds a predetermined deployment threshold. Deployment thresholds are used to predict how severe a crash is likely to be in time for the airbags to inflate and help restrain the occupants. Whether your frontal airbags will or should deploy is not based on how fast your vehicle is traveling. It depends largely on what you hit, the direction of the impact, and how quickly your vehicle slows down. Frontal airbags may inflate at different crash speeds. For example: • If the vehicle hits a stationary object, the airbags could inflate at a different crash speed than if the vehicle hits a moving object.
• If the vehicle hits an object that deforms, the
airbags could inflate at a different crash speed than if the vehicle hits an object that does not deform. • If the vehicle hits a narrow object (like a pole), the
airbags could inflate at a different crash speed than if the vehicle hits a wide object (like a wall). • If the vehicle goes into an object at an angle, the
airbags could inflate at a different crash speed than if the vehicle goes straight into the object.
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Thresholds can also vary with specific vehicle design. Frontal airbags are not intended to inflate during vehicle rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts. Your vehicle has seat position sensors which enables the sensing system to monitor the position of the driver’s seat and the right front passenger’s seat. Seat position sensors provide information that is used to determine if the airbags should deploy at a reduced level or at full deployment. In addition, your vehicle has dual-stage frontal airbags. Dual-stage airbags adjust the restraint according to crash severity. Your vehicle has electronic frontal sensors, which help the sensing system distinguish between a moderate frontal impact and a more severe frontal impact. For moderate frontal impacts, dual-stage airbags inflate at a level less than full deployment. For more severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs.
Your vehicle may or may not have roof-rail airbags. See Airbag System on page 2-63. Roof-rail airbags are intended to inflate in moderate to severe side crashes. Roof-rail airbags will inflate if the crash severity is above the system’s designed threshold level. The threshold level can vary with specific vehicle design. Roof-rail airbags are not intended to inflate in frontal impacts, near-frontal impacts, rollovers, or rear impacts. Both roof-rail airbags will deploy when either side of the vehicle is struck. In any particular crash, no one can say whether an airbag should have inflated simply because of the damage to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were. For frontal airbags, inflation is determined by what the vehicle hits, the angle of the impact, and how quickly the vehicle slows down. For roof-rail airbags, deployment is determined by the location and severity of the side impact.
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What Makes an Airbag Inflate? In a deployment event, the sensing system sends an electrical signal triggering a release of gas from the inflator. Gas from the inflator fills the airbag causing the bag to break out of the cover and deploy. The inflator, the airbag, and related hardware are all part of the airbag module. Frontal airbag modules are located inside the steering wheel and instrument panel. For vehicles with roof-rail airbags, there are airbag modules in the ceiling of the vehicle, near the side windows that have occupant seating positions.
How Does an Airbag Restrain? In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside of the vehicle. Airbags supplement the protection provided by safety belts. Frontal airbags distribute the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually. Roof-rail airbags distribute the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body. But airbags would not help in many types of collisions, primarily because the occupant’s motion is not toward those airbags. See When Should an Airbag Inflate? on page 2-67 for more information. Airbags should never be regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety belts.
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What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? After the frontal airbags inflate, they quickly deflate, so quickly that some people may not even realize the airbags inflated. Roof-rail airbags may still be at least partially inflated for some time after they deploy. Some components of the airbag module may be hot for several minutes. For location of the airbag modules, see What Makes an Airbag Inflate? on page 2-69. The parts of the airbag that come into contact with you may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There may be some smoke and dust coming from the vents in the deflated airbags. Airbag inflation does not prevent the driver from seeing out of the windshield or being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it prevent people from leaving the vehicle.
{ WARNING:
When an airbag inflates, there may be dust in the air. This dust could cause breathing problems for people with a history of asthma or other breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe to do so. If you have breathing problems but cannot get out of the vehicle after an airbag inflates, then get fresh air by opening a window or a door. If you experience breathing problems following an airbag deployment, you should seek medical attention.
Your vehicle has a feature that may automatically unlock the doors (if equipped with power door locks), turn the interior lamps on, flash the hazard warning flashers, and turn off the radio when the airbag inflates. You can lock the doors again by using the door lock. The interior lamps and hazard warning flashers will deactivate after approximately 15 minutes.
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In many crashes severe enough to inflate the airbag, windshields are broken by vehicle deformation. Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the right front passenger airbag. • Airbags are designed to inflate only once. After an
airbag inflates, you will need some new parts for the airbag system. If you do not get them, the airbag system will not be there to help protect you in another crash. A new system will include airbag modules and possibly other parts. The service manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace other parts.
• Your vehicle has a crash sensing and diagnostic module which records information after a crash. See Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy on page 8-17 and Event Data Recorders on page 8-18.
• Let only qualified technicians work on the airbag
system. Improper service can mean that the airbag system will not work properly. See your dealer/retailer for service.
Passenger Sensing System If the vehicle has one of the passenger airbag status indicators pictured in the following illustrations, then the vehicle has a passenger sensing system for the right front passenger position. The passenger airbag status indicator, If equipped, is visible on the instrument panel when the vehicle is started. In addition, if the vehicle has a passenger sensing system for the right front passenger position, the label on the vehicle’s sun visors refer to “ADVANCED AIRBAGS”.
United States
Canada
The words ON and OFF, or the symbol for on and off, will be visible during the system check. When the system check is complete, either the word ON or OFF, or the symbol for on or off will be visible. See Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 4-23.
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The passenger sensing system will turn off the right front passenger frontal airbag under certain conditions. The driver airbag is not affected by the passenger sensing system. The passenger sensing system works with sensors that are part of the right front passenger seat. The sensors are designed to detect the presence of a properly-seated occupant and determine if the right front passenger frontal airbag should be enabled (may inflate) or not. According to accident statistics, children and infants are safer when properly restrained in a child restraint system or infant restraint system secured in a rear seating position. We recommend that children be secured in a rear seat, including: an infant or a child riding in a rear-facing child restraint; a child riding in a forward-facing child seat; an older child riding in a booster seat; and children, who are large enough, using safety belts. We recommend that rear-facing child restraints not be transported in the vehicle, even if the airbag is off. A label on your sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.
{ WARNING:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger airbag inflates. This is because the back of the rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the inflating airbag. A child in a forward-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger airbag inflates and the passenger seat is in a forward position. Even if the passenger sensing system has turned off the right front passenger frontal airbag, no system is fail-safe. No one can guarantee that an airbag will not deploy under some unusual circumstance, even though the airbag is turned off. Secure rear-facing child restraints in a rear seat, even if the airbag is off. If you secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go. It is better to secure the child restraint in a rear seat.
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If your vehicle does not have a rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing child restraint, a rear-facing child restraint should not be installed in the vehicle, even if the airbag is off. The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the right front passenger airbag if: • The right front passenger seat is unoccupied. • The system determines that an infant is present in
a rear-facing infant seat.
• The system determines that a small child is present
in a child restraint.
• The system determines that a small child is present
in a booster seat.
• A right front passenger takes his/her weight off of
the seat for a period of time.
• The right front passenger seat is occupied by a
smaller person, such as a child who has outgrown child restraints.
• Or, if there is a critical problem with the airbag
system or the passenger sensing system.
When the passenger sensing system has turned off the right front passenger frontal airbag, the off indicator will light and stay lit to remind you that the airbag is off. See Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 4-23.
The passenger sensing system is designed to turn on (may inflate) the right front passenger frontal airbag anytime the system senses that a person of adult size is sitting properly in the right front passenger seat. When the passenger sensing system has allowed the airbag to be enabled, the on indicator will light and stay lit to remind you that the airbag is active. For some children who have outgrown child restraints and for very small adults, the passenger sensing system may or may not turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag, depending upon the person’s seating posture and body build. Everyone in your vehicle who has outgrown child restraints should wear a safety belt properly — whether or not there is an airbag for that person.
{ WARNING:
If the airbag readiness light ever comes on and
stays on, it means that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help avoid injury to
yourself or others, have the vehicle serviced right
away. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 4-22
for more information, including important safety
information.
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If the On Indicator is Lit for a Child Restraint If a child restraint has been installed and the on indicator is lit: 1. Turn the vehicle off. 2. Remove the child restraint from the vehicle. 3. Remove any additional items from the seat such as
blankets, cushions, seat covers, seat heaters, or seat massagers.
4. Reinstall the child restraint following the directions
provided by the child restraint manufacturer and refer to Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position on page 2-59.
5. If, after reinstalling the child restraint and restarting
the vehicle, the on indicator is still lit, turn the vehicle off. Then slightly recline the vehicle seatback and adjust the seat cushion, if adjustable, to make sure that the vehicle seatback is not pushing the child restraint into the seat cushion. Also make sure the child restraint is not trapped under the vehicle head restraint. If this happens, adjust the head restraint. See Head Restraints on page 2-7.
6. Restart the vehicle.
If the on indicator is still lit, secure the child in the child restraint in a rear seat position in the vehicle and check with your dealer/retailer. If no rear seat is available, do not install a child restraint in this vehicle and check with your dealer/retailer.
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If the Off Indicator is Lit for an Adult-Size Occupant
If this happens, use the following steps to allow the system to detect that person and enable the right front passenger frontal airbag: 1. Turn the vehicle off. 2. Remove any additional material from the seat, such as blankets, cushions, seat covers, seat heaters, or seat massagers.
3. Place the seatback in the fully upright position. 4. Have the person sit upright in the seat, centered on
the seat cushion, with legs comfortably extended. 5. Restart the vehicle and have the person remain in
this position for two to three minutes after the on indicator is lit.
If a person of adult-size is sitting in the right front passenger seat, but the off indicator is lit, it could be because that person is not sitting properly in the seat.
Additional Factors Affecting System Operation Safety belts help keep the passenger in position on the seat during vehicle maneuvers and braking, which helps the passenger sensing system maintain the passenger airbag status. See “Safety Belts” and “Child Restraints” in the Index for additional information about the importance of proper restraint use.
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If the shoulder portion of the belt is pulled out all the way, the child restraint locking feature will be engaged. This may unintentionally cause the passenger sensing system to turn the airbag off for some adult size occupants. If this happens, let the belt go back all the way and start again. A thick layer of additional material, such as a blanket or cushion, or aftermarket equipment such as seat covers, seat heaters, and seat massagers can affect how well the passenger sensing system operates. We recommend that you not use seat covers or other aftermarket equipment except when approved by GM for your specific vehicle. See Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 2-77 for more information about modifications that can affect how the system operates.
{ WARNING:
Stowing of articles under the passenger seat or between the passenger seat cushion and seatback may interfere with the proper operation of the passenger sensing system.
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle Airbags affect how the vehicle should be serviced. There are parts of the airbag system in several places around the vehicle. Your dealer/retailer and the service manual have information about servicing the vehicle and the airbag system. To purchase a service manual, see Service Publications Ordering Information on page 8-16.
{ WARNING:
For up to 10 seconds after the ignition is turned off and the battery is disconnected, an airbag can still inflate during improper service. You can be injured if you are close to an airbag when it inflates. Avoid yellow connectors. They are probably part of the airbag system. Be sure to follow proper service procedures, and make sure the person performing work for you is qualified to do so.
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Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q: Is there anything I might add to or change
about the vehicle that could keep the airbags from working properly?
A: Yes. If you add things that change the vehicle’s frame, bumper system, height, front end or side sheet metal, they may keep the airbag system from working properly. Changing or moving any parts of the front seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing and diagnostic module, steering wheel, instrument panel, roof-rail airbag modules, ceiling headliner or pillar garnish trim, front sensors, or airbag wiring can affect the operation of the airbag system. In addition, the vehicle may have a passenger sensing system for the right front passenger position, which includes sensors that are part of the passenger seat. The passenger sensing system may not operate properly if the original seat trim is replaced with non-GM covers, upholstery or trim, or with GM covers, upholstery or trim designed for a different vehicle. Any object, such as an aftermarket seat heater or a comfort enhancing pad or device, installed under or on top of the seat
fabric, could also interfere with the operation of the passenger sensing system. This could either prevent proper deployment of the passenger airbag(s) or prevent the passenger sensing system from properly turning off the passenger airbag(s). See Passenger Sensing System on page 2-71. If you have any questions, call Customer Assistance. The phone numbers and addresses for Customer Assistance are in Step Two of the Customer Satisfaction Procedure in this manual. See Customer Satisfaction Procedure on page 8-2.
Q: Because I have a disability, I have to get
my vehicle modified. How can I find out whether this will affect my airbag system?
A: If you have questions, call Customer Assistance. The phone numbers and addresses for Customer Assistance are in Step Two of the Customer Satisfaction Procedure in this manual. See Customer Satisfaction Procedure on page 8-2.
In addition, your dealer/retailer and the service manual have information about the location of the airbag sensors, sensing and diagnostic module and airbag wiring.
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Airbags The airbag system does not need regularly scheduled maintenance or replacement. Make sure the airbag readiness light is working. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 4-22 for more information. Notice: broken, the airbag may not work properly. Do not open or break the airbag coverings. If there are any opened or broken airbag covers, have the airbag covering and/or airbag module replaced. For the location of the airbag modules, see What Makes an Airbag Inflate? on page 2-69. See your dealer/retailer for service.
If an airbag covering is damaged, opened, or
Restraint System Check
Checking the Restraint Systems Safety Belts Now and then, check that the safety belt reminder light, safety belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors, and anchorages are all working properly. Look for any other loose or damaged safety belt system parts that might keep a safety belt system from doing its job. See your dealer/retailer to have it repaired. Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt is torn or frayed, get a new one right away. Make sure the safety belt reminder light is working. See Safety Belt Reminders on page 4-21 for more information. Keep safety belts clean and dry. See Care of Safety Belts on page 6-103.
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Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash
{ WARNING:
A crash can damage the restraint systems in your vehicle. A damaged restraint system may not properly protect the person using it, resulting in serious injury or even death in a crash. To help make sure your restraint systems are working properly after a crash, have them inspected and any necessary replacements made as soon as possible.
If the vehicle has been in a crash, do you need new safety belts or LATCH system (if equipped) parts? After a very minor crash, nothing may be necessary. But the safety belt assemblies that were used during any crash may have been stressed or damaged. See your dealer/retailer to have the safety belt assemblies inspected or replaced. If the vehicle has the LATCH system and it was being used during a crash, you may need new LATCH system parts. New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the safety belt or LATCH system (if equipped), was not being used at the time of the crash. If an airbag inflates, you will need to replace airbag system parts. See the part on the airbag system earlier in this section. Have the safety belt pretensioners checked if the vehicle has been in a crash, if the airbag readiness light stays on after the vehicle is started, or while you are driving. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 4-22.
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✍ NOTES
2-80
Section 3
Features and Controls
Keys ...............................................................3-2
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System ................3-3
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation ...................................................3-3
Doors and Locks .............................................3-5
Door Locks ....................................................3-5
Power Door Locks ..........................................3-6
Programmable Automatic Door Locks ................3-6
Rear Door Security Locks (Crew Cab) ...............3-7
Lockout Protection ..........................................3-7
Rear Doors (Extended Cab) .............................3-7
Tailgate ........................................................3-8
Windows ........................................................3-10
Manual Windows ..........................................3-11
Power Windows ............................................3-11
Sun Visors ...................................................3-12
Theft-Deterrent Systems ..................................3-12
.................................3-12
Content Theft-Deterrent
Passlock® (U. S. Only) ..................................3-13
PASS-Key® III+ Electronic Immobilizer .............3-14
PASS-Key® III+ Electronic Immobilizer
Operation (Canada Only) ............................3-14
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ................3-16
New Vehicle Break-In ....................................3-16
Ignition Positions ..........................................3-16
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) ...................3-17
Starting the Engine .......................................3-18
Engine Coolant Heater ..................................3-19
Automatic Transmission Operation ...................3-20
Manual Transmission Operation ......................3-23
Four-Wheel Drive ..........................................3-25
Parking Brake ..............................................3-29
Shifting Into Park (Automatic Transmission) ......3-30
Shifting Out of Park (Automatic Transmission) ....3-32
Parking the Vehicle (Manual Transmission) .......3-33
Parking Over Things That Burn .......................3-33
Engine Exhaust ............................................3-34
Running the Vehicle While Parked ..................3-35
Mirrors ...........................................................3-36
Manual Rearview Mirror .................................3-36
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror ................3-36
Compass .....................................................3-37
Outside Manual Mirrors ..................................3-39
Outside Power Mirrors ...................................3-39
Outside Convex Mirror ...................................3-39
Storage Areas ................................................3-40
Glove Box ...................................................3-40
Cupholders ..................................................3-40
Center Console Storage .................................3-40
Assist Handles .............................................3-40
Rear Storage Area ........................................3-41
Sunroof .........................................................3-42
3-1
Keys
{ WARNING:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition key is dangerous for many reasons, children or others could be badly injured or even killed. They could operate the power windows or other controls or even make the vehicle move. The windows will function with the keys in the ignition and children could be seriously injured or killed if caught in the path of a closing window. Do not leave the keys in a vehicle with children.
3-2
The key can be used for the ignition, all door locks, and the tailgate. The key has a bar-coded key tag that the dealer/retailer or qualified locksmith can use to make new keys. Store this information in a safe place, not in your vehicle. Notice: you may have to damage the vehicle to get in. Be sure you have spare keys. If you are locked out of your vehicle, call the Roadside Assistance Center. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 8-8.
If you ever lock your keys in the vehicle,
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System See Radio Frequency Statement on page 8-19 for information regarding Part 15 of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules and RSS-210/211 of Industry and Science Canada. Changes or modifications to this system by other than an authorized service facility could void authorization to use this equipment. If there is a decrease in the RKE operating range, try this: • Check the distance. The transmitter may be too far
from the vehicle. Stand closer during rainy or snowy weather.
• Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may
be blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the left or right, hold the transmitter higher, and try again.
• Check the transmitter’s battery. See “Battery
Replacement” later in this section.
• If the transmitter is still not working correctly, see
your dealer/retailer or a qualified technician for service.
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation Vehicles with Remote Keyless Entry (RKE), transmitter functions work up to 30 feet (9 m) away from the vehicle. There are other conditions which can affect the performance of the transmitter. See Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System on page 3-3.
UNLOCK: Press to unlock the driver door and turn on the interior lamps. The parking lamps may flash and the horn may sound.
Press UNLOCK again within three seconds and all of the doors unlock.
LOCK: Press to lock all the doors. The parking lamps may flash and the horn may sound.
3-3
If a door is open or ajar when LOCK is pressed, the horn sounds several times to let you know the doors did not lock and the content theft-deterrent system is not armed. Pressing LOCK again while the horn is sounding or within three seconds after the horn stops sounding, the doors lock but the content theft-deterrent system does not arm until the opened door is closed. Different feedback modes can be programmed through the Driver Information Center (DIC). See “Remote Keyless Entry Feedback” under DIC Operation and Displays on page 4-33. L (Panic): Press to make the horn sound and the headlamps and taillamps flash for up to 30 seconds. To turn them off wait for 30 seconds, or press L again, or start the vehicle. Programming Transmitters to the Vehicle Only RKE transmitters programmed to the vehicle will work. If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can be purchased and programmed through your dealer/retailer. When the replacement transmitter is programmed to the vehicle, all remaining transmitters must also be programmed. Any lost or stolen transmitters no longer work once the new transmitter is programmed. Each vehicle can have up to four transmitters programmed to it.
3-4
Battery Replacement Notice: When replacing the battery, do not touch any of the circuitry on the transmitter. Static from your body could damage the transmitter. To replace the battery:
1. Separate the transmitter with a flat, thin object inserted in the slot between the covers of the transmitter housing.
2. Remove the old battery. Do not use a metal object.
3. Insert the new battery. Replace with a CR2032
or equivalent battery.
4. Put the transmitter back together.
Doors and Locks
Door Locks
{ WARNING:
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
• Passengers, especially children, can easily
open the doors and fall out of a moving vehicle. When a door is locked, the handle will not open it. The chance of being thrown out of the vehicle in a crash is increased if the doors are not locked. So, all passengers should wear safety belts properly and the doors should be locked whenever the vehicle is driven.
WARNING:
(Continued)
WARNING:
(Continued)
• Young children who get into unlocked vehicles
may be unable to get out. A child can be overcome by extreme heat and can suffer permanent injuries or even death from heat stroke. Always lock the vehicle whenever leaving it.
• Outsiders can easily enter through an
unlocked door when you slow down or stop your vehicle. Locking your doors can help prevent this from happening.
To lock or unlock the door from the outside, use the key in the driver or front passenger door or press the LOCK or UNLOCK button on the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter. To lock a door from the inside, move the manual lever on the door forward. To unlock a door from the inside, move the lever on the door rearward. You will see a colored area on the lever when the door is unlocked.
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Power Door Locks
On vehicles with power door locks, the switches are located on the driver and the front passenger armrests.
Driver Switch shown
Press L to lock all the doors at once. To unlock all the doors, press U. On crew cab models, use the manual door lock lever on each rear door to lock or unlock the doors from the rear seating areas.
Programmable Automatic Door Locks If the vehicle has power door locks and the remote keyless entry system, it has an automatic lock/unlock feature. If the vehicle has an automatic transmission, it is programmed from the factory to lock all doors automatically when the shift lever is moved out of P (Park). All the doors will unlock when the shift lever is moved back into P (Park). If the vehicle has a manual transmission, it is programmed from the factory to lock all the doors when the vehicle speed is greater than 15 mph (24 km/h). The doors will unlock when the key is removed from the ignition. To change the automatic door lock and unlock settings, see “Automatic Door Locks” under DIC Operation and Displays on page 4-33.
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Rear Door Security Locks (Crew Cab) If the vehicle is a crew cab model, it may have rear door security locks. With this feature, the rear doors are locked so they cannot be opened from the inside.
The rear door security lock is located on the inside edge of each rear door below the security lock label.
To engage the security locks:
1. Open one of the rear doors. 2. Using the ignition key, turn the lock to the horizontal
position.
3. Close the door. 4. Repeat these steps on the other rear door.
To open a rear door when the security lock is on, unlock the door and open the door from the outside. To disengage the security locks: 1. Open one of the rear doors. 2. Using the ignition key, turn the lock to the vertical
position.
3. Close the door. 4. Repeat these steps on the other rear door.
Lockout Protection If the vehicle has power door locks, this feature protects you from locking the key in the vehicle when the key is in the ignition and a door is open. If the power door lock switch is pressed when a door is open and the key is in the ignition, all of the doors will lock and then the driver door will unlock.
Rear Doors (Extended Cab) To open a rear door, open the front door. Then, use the handle located on the front edge of the rear door panel to open it. The rear doors must be closed before closing the front door.
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Tailgate
{ WARNING:
It is extremely dangerous to ride on the tailgate, even when the vehicle is operated at low speeds. People riding on the tailgate can easily lose their balance and fall in response to vehicle maneuvers. Falling from a moving vehicle may result in serious injuries or death. Do not allow people to ride on the tailgate. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly.
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Open the tailgate by pulling up on the outside handle while pulling the tailgate down. When the tailgate is shut, be sure it is latched securely. On vehicles with a locking tailgate, use the ignition key. Turn the key counterclockwise to lock the tailgate. Turn the key clockwise to unlock the tailgate.
Removing the Tailgate To remove the tailgate: 1. With the tailgate fully open, lift up slightly on the
entire tailgate assembly.
Remove the retaining cables from both sides of the tailgate by pulling the clips away from the bolt heads while pushing the cable bracket forward. When the larger part of the hole on the bracket is over the bolt, slide the bracket off of the bolt.
2. With the tailgate partially down, lift up on the passenger side and pull the tailgate toward you, then move the tailgate to the right to release the driver side. You can then remove the entire tailgate assembly.
Reverse the procedure to reinstall the tailgate. Make sure it is secure.
To partially lower the tailgate: 1. With the tailgate fully open, lift up slightly on the
entire tailgate assembly.
2. Remove the retaining
cable from the passenger side of the tailgate by pulling the clip away from the bolt head while pushing the cable bracket forward.
Tailgate Partially Down
When the larger part of the hole on the bracket is over the bolt, slide the bracket off the bolt.
3. Slide the lower end fitting onto the top bolt.
The tailgate will now stay in the partially opened position.
4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 for the driver side. If you would like to close the tailgate, the bracket cannot be in the partially opened position. Use the top position on the bracket to anchor it on the bottom bolt.
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Windows
{ WARNING:
Leaving children, helpless adults, or pets in a vehicle with the windows closed is dangerous. They can be overcome by the extreme heat and suffer permanent injuries or even death from heat stroke. Never leave a child, a helpless adult, or a pet alone in a vehicle, especially with the windows closed in warm or hot weather.
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Manual Windows
On vehicles with manual windows, use the window crank to open and close each window.
WARNING:
(Continued)
function and they could be seriously injured or killed if caught in the path of a closing window. Do not leave keys in a vehicle with children. When there are children in the rear seat use the window lockout button to prevent unintentional operation of the windows.
Power Windows
{ WARNING:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the keys is dangerous for many reasons, children or others could be badly injured or even killed. They could operate the power windows or other controls or even make the vehicle move. The windows will
WARNING:
(Continued)
On vehicles with power windows, the switches on the driver’s door armrest control both windows.
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The passenger’s door has a window switch that controls that window. Press the front of the switch to open the window. Pull the switch up to close it. Express-Down Window Windows with an express-down feature allow the window to be lowered fully without pressing and holding the switch. Press the front of the switch to the first position, and the window opens a small amount. Press the switch down fully and the window goes all the way down. To stop the window while it is lowering, pull up the front of the switch.
Sun Visors To use the sun visor(s), pull the edge of the visor nearest to the windshield toward you. Visor Vanity Mirror Your vehicle may have a driver’s side vanity mirror. Swing down the sun visor and slide the cover to expose the mirror.
Theft-Deterrent Systems Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities. This vehicle has theft-deterrent features, however, they do not make it impossible to steal.
Content Theft-Deterrent
If your vehicle has the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) system, the vehicle has a content theft-deterrent alarm system.
To activate the content theft-deterrent system: 1. Close all the doors. 2. Lock the doors with the RKE transmitter.
The security light, located on the instrument panel cluster, will flash.
If the lock button on the RKE transmitter is pressed, but a door is open, the horn will chirp six times. Press the lock button again, within three seconds, and the doors will lock. Close the open door and the system will be activated.
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If a locked door is not opened using the RKE transmitter, or by OnStar®, the pre-alarm will go off. If the engine is not started or unlock not pressed within 10 seconds, the front turn signal lamps will flash for two minutes, and the horn will sound for two minutes, then will turn off to save the battery power. Remember, the theft-deterrent system will not activate if you lock the doors with a key, the manual door lock, or power door lock switch. The system can only be activated using the RKE transmitter, or by OnStar®. See the OnStar Owner’s Guide for additional information. You should also remember that you can start your vehicle with the correct ignition key if the alarm has been set off. Here is how to avoid setting off the alarm by accident: • If you do not want to activate the theft-deterrent
system, the vehicle should be locked with the door key after the doors are closed.
• Always unlock a door with the RKE transmitter. Unlocking a door any other way will set off the alarm.
If you set off the alarm by accident, you can turn off the alarm by pressing unlock on the RKE transmitter. The alarm will not stop if you try to unlock a door any other way.
Testing the Alarm To test the alarm: 1. From inside the vehicle, activate the system by
locking the doors with the RKE transmitter.
2. Unlock the door with the manual door lock and
open the door. This should set off the alarm.
3. To turn the alarm off, press the unlock button on
the RKE transmitter or start the engine.
If the alarm does not sound when it should but the lights flash, check to see if the horn works. The horn fuse may be blown. To replace the fuse, see Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 6-108. If the alarm does not sound or the front turn signal lamps do not flash, see your dealer/retailer for service.
Passlock® (U. S. Only) Passlock® is a passive theft-deterrent system that enables fuel if the vehicle is started with a valid key. If an incorrect key is used or the ignition lock cylinder is tampered with, the fuel system is disabled and the vehicle does not start. The security light turns off approximately five seconds after the engine is started. See Security Light on page 4-31.
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If the engine stalls and the security light flashes, wait about 10 minutes until the light stops flashing before trying to restart the engine. Release the key from START as soon as the engine starts. If the engine does not start after three tries, the vehicle needs service. If the engine is running and the security light comes on, the engine restarts if you turn the engine off. However, the Passlock® system is not working properly and must be serviced by your dealer/retailer. The vehicle is not protected by Passlock® at this time. See your dealer/retailer for service. In an emergency, call the Roadside Assistance Center. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 8-8. Do not leave the key or device that disarms or deactivates the theft deterrent system in the vehicle.
PASS-Key® III+ Electronic Immobilizer See Radio Frequency Statement on page 8-19 for information regarding Part 15 of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules and RSS-210/211 of Industry and Science Canada.
PASS-Key® III+ Electronic Immobilizer Operation (Canada Only) This vehicle has a passive theft-deterrent system. The system is automatically armed when the key is removed from the ignition. The system is automatically disarmed when the key is turned to ON/RUN. You do not have to manually arm or disarm the system. The security light comes on if there is a problem with arming or disarming the theft-deterrent system. The key uses a transponder that matches an immobilizer control unit in the vehicle. Only the correct key starts the vehicle. If the key is ever damaged, the vehicle may not start. When trying to start the vehicle, if the engine does not start and the security light comes on, there may be a problem with the theft-deterrent system. Turn the ignition off and try again. If the engine still does not start, and the key appears to be undamaged, try another ignition key. Check the fuse. See Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 6-108.
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If the engine still does not start with the other key, the vehicle needs service. If the vehicle does start, the first key may be faulty. See your dealer/retailer who can service the theft-deterrent system and have a new key made. It is possible for the theft-deterrent system decoder to learn the transponder value of a new or replacement key. Up to 10 keys can be programmed for the vehicle. The following procedure is for programming additional keys only.
Canadian Owners: If the keys are lost or damaged, only a dealer/retailer can service the theft-deterrent system to have new ones made. Two current driver’s keys are required to program additional keys. To program a new key: 1. Verify that the new key has PK3+ stamped on it.