2008 Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual M
Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Safety Belts
.............................................. 1-9
Child Restraints
....................................... 1-25
Airbag System ......................................... 1-44
Restraint System Check
............................ 1-59
Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
...................................... 2-10
Windows
................................................. 2-16
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................ 2-18
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
........... 2-21
Mirrors
.................................................... 2-39
OnStar® System
...................................... 2-45
Universal Home Remote System ................ 2-48
Storage Areas
......................................... 2-55
Roof Panel
.............................................. 2-58
Convertible Top
....................................... 2-63
Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1
.......................... 3-4
...................................... 3-25
........ 3-32
.................. 3-49
....................................... 3-81
Instrument Panel Overview Climate Controls Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators Driver Information Center (DIC) Audio System(s)
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle Towing
Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1
..... 4-2
................................................... 4-29
Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
............... 5-12
Rear Axle
............................................... 5-51
Headlamp Aiming
..................................... 5-51
Bulb Replacement
.................................... 5-52
Windshield Replacement
........................... 5-55
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
......... 5-55
Tires
...................................................... 5-58
Appearance Care
..................................... 5-85
Vehicle Identification
................................. 5-95
Electrical System ...................................... 5-95
Capacities and Specifications
................... 5-103
Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information .................... 7-1
........... 7-2
........................... 7-15
........... 7-18
Index ................................................................ 1
Customer Assistance and Information Reporting Safety Defects Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy
Maintenance Schedule
Canadian Owners A French language copy of this manual can be obtained from your dealer/retailer or from:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
1-800-551-4123
www.helminc.com
Propriétaires Canadiens On peut obtenir un exemplaire de ce guide en français auprès de concessionnaire ou à l’adresse suivante:
Helm Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
1-800-551-4123
www.helminc.com
GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, CHEVROLET, the CHEVROLET Emblem, the names CORVETTE and Z06 and the CORVETTE Emblem are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation. This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada Limited” for Chevrolet Motor Division whenever it appears in this manual. This manual describes features that may be available in this model, but your vehicle may not have all of them. For example, more than one entertainment system may be offered or your vehicle may have been ordered without a front passenger or rear seats. Keep this manual the vehicle for quick reference.
Litho in U.S.A. Part No. 15865985 A First Printing
©2007 General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
ii
Using this Manual Many people read the owner manual from beginning to end when they first receive their new vehicle to learn about the vehicle’s features and controls. Pictures and words work together to explain things.
Index A good place to quickly locate information about the vehicle is the Index in the back of the manual. It is an alphabetical list of what is in the manual and the page number where it can be found.
Safety Warnings and Symbols There are a number of safety cautions in this book. A box with the word CAUTION is used to tell about things that could hurt you or others if you were to ignore the warning.
{CAUTION:
These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people.
We tell you what the hazard is and what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you do not, you or others could be hurt.
A circle with a slash through it is a safety symbol which means “Do Not,” “Do Not do this” or “Do Not let this happen.”
iii
Vehicle Symbols The vehicle has components and labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along with the text describing the operation or information relating to a specific component, control, message, gage, or indicator.
Vehicle Damage Warnings You will also find notices in this manual. Notice: These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle. A notice tells about something that can damage the vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. The notice tells what to do to help avoid the damage. When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words. There are also warning labels on the vehicle which use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
iv
Section 1
Seats and Restraint Systems
Front Seats ......................................................1-2
Manual Seats ................................................1-2
Power Seats ..................................................1-3
Power Lumbar and Side Bolsters ......................1-3
Heated Seats .................................................1-4
Memory Seat, Mirrors and Steering Wheel .........1-4
Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-6
Seatback Latches ...........................................1-8
Safety Belts .....................................................1-9
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone .................1-9
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-14
Lap-Shoulder Belt .........................................1-22
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-24
Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-25
Child Restraints .............................................1-25
Older Children ..............................................1-25
Infants and Young Children ............................1-29
Child Restraint Systems .................................1-33
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH) (Z06 Models Only) ........................1-35
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH) (Coupe and Convertible
Models Only) ............................................1-39
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position ............................................1-40
Airbag System ...............................................1-44
Where Are the Airbags? ................................1-47
When Should an Airbag Inflate? .....................1-49
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? .......................1-50
How Does an Airbag Restrain? .......................1-50
What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? .....1-51
Passenger Sensing System ............................1-52
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...........1-57
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle ....................................................1-58
Restraint System Check ..................................1-59
Checking the Restraint Systems ......................1-59
Replacing Restraint System Parts After
a Crash ...................................................1-60
1-1
Front Seats
Manual Seats
{CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you do not want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when the vehicle is not moving.
To move a manual seat forward or rearward:
1. Lift the bar to unlock
the seat.
2. Slide the seat to the desired position and release the bar.
Try to move the seat with your body to be sure the seat is locked in place.
1-2
Power Seats
Power Lumbar and Side Bolsters
To adjust a power seat: (cid:129) Move the control forward or rearward to adjust the
seat forward or rearward.
(cid:129) Move the front or rear of the control up or down to
adjust the height of the seat cushion.
Your seat position can be stored and recalled if you have the memory option. See Memory Seat, Mirrors and Steering Wheel on page 1-4.
On vehicles with power lumbar and side bolsters: (A) Move forward or rearward to adjust lumbar support. (B) Move up or down to adjust the side bolsters.
1-3
To save seating positions in the memory: 1. Adjust the driver’s seat, both outside mirrors, and
the telescopic steering column to a comfortable driving position.
2. Press and hold button 1 until two beeps let you
know that the position has been stored in the memory.
A second seating, mirror, and telescopic steering column position can be set by repeating the above steps and pressing button 2. To recall a memory position: (cid:129) On vehicles with an automatic transmission, press
and release the desired button. If the vehicle is in PARK (P), a single beep sounds and the memory position is recalled after a brief delay. If the vehicle is not in PARK (P), three beeps sound and the memory position is not recalled.
Heated Seats On vehicles with heated seats, the buttons are located on the center console. The ignition must be on for this feature to work.
L: Press to turn the seat on at the high setting, and twice to turn it to the low setting. 9: Press to turn the system off.
Memory Seat, Mirrors and Steering Wheel On vehicles with the memory package, the controls are located on the driver’s door.
1: Saves the seating position for driver 1.
2: Saves the seating position for driver 2.
B: Recalls the easy exit position. The numbers on the back of the keyless access transmitters correspond to the numbers on the memory buttons.
1-4
3. Press and hold the exit button until two beeps sound to let you know that the exit position is now programmed.
A second exit position can be programmed by repeating the above steps and pressing button 2. To recall an exit position: (cid:129) On vehicles with an automatic transmission, the
vehicle needs to be in PARK (P).
(cid:129) On vehicles with a manual transmission, the
parking brake needs to be set.
B: Press to recall an exit position.
One beep will sound and the exit position for the
currently identified driver will be recalled.
For vehicles with the Auto Exit Recall, see “Auto Exit
Recall” under DIC Vehicle Personalization on page 3-72
for more information.
(cid:129) On vehicles with a manual transmission, when the vehicle is on, the parking brake needs to be set to recall the memory position. Press and release the desired button. A single beep sounds and the memory position is recalled after a brief delay. If the vehicle is on and the parking brake is not set, three beeps sound and the memory position is not recalled.
For vehicles with the Auto Memory Recall, see “Auto Memory Recall” under DIC Vehicle Personalization on page 3-72 for more information. To stop recall movement of the memory feature at any time, press one of the power seat controls, power mirror or memory buttons, or the telescopic steering column switch. Easy Exit Seat
B(Easy Exit Seat): This button is used to program and recall the desired driver’s seat exit position. To program an exit position: 1. Recall the desired driving position by pressing
button 1.
2. Adjust the seat and the telescopic steering column
position to a comfortable exit position.
1-5
The seats have manual reclining seatbacks. The lever used to operate them is located on the outboard side of the seats.
Reclining Seatbacks
{CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you do not want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when the vehicle is not moving.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked.
To adjust the seatback, lean slightly forward to lift your weight off the seatback. Pull completely up on the lever until it stops, and lean back to position the seatback to where you want it. Release the lever to lock the seatback into place.
1-6
{CAUTION:
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts cannot do their job when you are reclined like this. The shoulder belt cannot do its job. In a crash, you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries. The lap belt cannot do its job either. In a crash the belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. For proper protection when the vehicle is in motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly.
Do not have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving.
1-7
Seatback Latches
To unlock, lift up on the latch and push the seatback rearward. When you return the seatback to its original position, make sure the seatback is locked in place.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked.
Both seatbacks fold forward to give you access to the rear area. To fold a seatback forward, lift this latch, which is located on top of the backside of the seat, and pull the seatback forward. The seatback will lock down in this position.
1-8
Safety Belts
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts properly. It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts.
{CAUTION:
Do not let anyone ride where he or she cannot wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and you are not wearing a safety belt, your injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the vehicle harder or be ejected from it and be seriously injured or killed. In the same crash, you might not be, if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt, and check that your passenger(s) are restrained properly too.
{CAUTION:
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly.
Your vehicle has indicators as a reminder to buckle your safety belts. See Safety Belt Reminders on page 3-34. In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law requires wearing safety belts. Here is why: You never know if you will be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you do not know if it will be a serious one. A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up, a person would not survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed.
1-9
After more than 40 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter... a lot! Why Safety Belts Work When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes.
Put someone on it.
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it is just a seat on wheels.
1-10
Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider does not stop.
The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield...
1-11
or the instrument panel...
1-12
or the safety belts! With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does. You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance, and your strongest bones take the forces. That is why safety belts make such good sense.
Q: If I am a good driver, and I never drive far from
home, why should I wear safety belts?
A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you are in a crash — even one that is not your fault — you and your passenger(s) can be hurt. Being a good driver does not protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers. Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of home. And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h). Safety belts are for everyone.
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after a crash if I
am wearing a safety belt?
A: You could be — whether you are wearing a safety
belt or not. But your chance of being conscious during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted. And you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you are upside down.
Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I have to
wear safety belts?
A: Airbags are supplemental systems only; so they
work with safety belts — not instead of them. Whether or not an airbag is provided, all occupants still have to buckle up to get the most protection. That is true not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions.
1-13
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
This section is only for people of adult size.
Be aware that there are special things to know about
safety belts and children. And there are different
rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be
riding in your vehicle, see Older Children on page 1-25
or Infants and Young Children on page 1-29. Follow
those rules for everyone’s protection.
It is very important for all occupants to buckle up.
Statistics show that unbelted people are hurt more often
in crashes than those who are wearing safety belts.
Occupants who are not buckled up can be thrown out of
the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike others in
the vehicle who are wearing safety belts.
First, before you or your passenger(s) wear a safety
belt, there is important information you should know.
1-14
Sit up straight and always keep your feet on the floor in front of you. The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones and you would be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force on your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. 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. The shoulder belt locks if there is a sudden stop or crash.
Q: What is wrong with this?
{CAUTION:
You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should fit snugly against your body.
A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It will not give nearly
as much protection this way.
1-15
Q: What is wrong with this?
{CAUTION:
You can be seriously hurt if your lap belt is too loose. In a crash, you could slide under the lap belt and apply force on your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The lap belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs.
A: The lap belt is too loose. It will not give as much
protection this way.
1-16
Q: What is wrong with this?
{CAUTION:
You can be seriously injured if your belt is buckled in the wrong place like this. In a crash, the belt would go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not on the pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. Always buckle your belt into the buckle nearest you.
A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place.
1-17
{CAUTION:
You can be seriously injured if your belt goes over an armrest like this. The belt would be much too high. In a crash, you can slide under the belt. The belt force would then be applied on the abdomen, not on the pelvic bones, and that could cause serious or fatal injuries. Be sure the belt goes under the armrests.
Q: What is wrong with this?
A: The belt is over an armrest.
1-18
Q: What is wrong with this?
A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should
be worn over the shoulder at all times.
{CAUTION:
You can be seriously injured if you wear the shoulder belt under your arm. In a crash, your body would move too far forward, which would increase the chance of head and neck injury. Also, the belt would apply too much force to the ribs, which are not as strong as shoulder bones. You could also severely injure internal organs like your liver or spleen. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest.
1-19
{CAUTION:
You can be seriously injured by not wearing the lap-shoulder belt properly. In a crash, you would not be restrained by the shoulder belt. Your body could move too far forward increasing the chance of head and neck injury. You 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.
Q: What is wrong with this?
A: The belt is behind the body.
1-20
Q: What is wrong with this?
{CAUTION:
You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt. In a crash, you would not have the full width of the belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is twisted, make it straight so it can work properly, or ask your dealer/retailer to fix it.
A: The belt is twisted across the body.
1-21
Lap-Shoulder Belt All seating positions in your vehicle have a lap-shoulder belt. Here is how to wear a lap-shoulder belt properly. 1. Adjust the seat, if the seat is adjustable, so you can
sit up straight. To see how, see “Seats” in the Index.
2. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Do not let it get twisted. The lap-shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly. If you ever pull the shoulder portion of a passenger belt out all the way, you may engage the child restraint locking feature. If this happens, just let the belt go back all the way and start again. Engaging the child restraint locking feature may affect the passenger sensing system. See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-52.
1-22
3. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
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 1-25. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if necessary.
4. 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 go back out of the way. Before you close a door, be sure the belt is out of the way. If you slam the door on it, you can damage both the belt and your vehicle.
1-23
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.
Safety Belt Pretensioners Your vehicle has safety belt pretensioners for front outboard occupants. Although you cannot see them, 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 and near frontal crash if the threshold conditions for pretensioner activation are met. And, if your vehicle has side impact airbags, safety belt pretensioners can help tighten the safety belts in a side crash. Pretensioners work only once. If they activate in a crash, you will need to get new ones, and probably other new parts for your safety belt system. See Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash on page 1-60.
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.
1-24
Child Restraints
Older Children
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.
Older children who have outgrown booster seats should wear the vehicle’s safety belts.
1-25
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: (cid:129) 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.
(cid:129) Buckle the lap-shoulder belt. Does the shoulder belt
rest on the shoulder? If yes, continue. If no, then return to the booster seat.
(cid:129) Does the lap belt fit low and snug on the hips,
touching the thighs? If yes, continue. If no, return to the booster seat.
(cid:129) Can proper safety belt fit be maintained for the length of the trip? If yes, continue. If no, return to the booster seat.
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.
According to accident statistics, children and infants are safer when properly restrained in 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.
1-26
{CAUTION:
Never do this. Here two children are wearing the same belt. The belt cannot properly spread the impact forces. In a crash, the two children can be crushed together and seriously injured. A belt must be used by only one person at a time.
1-27
{CAUTION:
Never do this. Here a child is sitting in a seat that has a lap-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part is behind the child. In a crash, the child would not be restrained by the shoulder belt. The child might slide under the lap belt. The belt force would then be applied right on the abdomen. That could cause serious or fatal injuries. The child could also move too far forward increasing the chance of head and neck injury. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest.
1-28
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.
{CAUTION:
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.
Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles, they should have the protection provided by appropriate restraints. Children who are not restrained properly can strike other people, or can be thrown out of the vehicle. In addition, young children should not use the vehicle’s adult safety belts alone; they need to use a child restraint.
1-29
{CAUTION:
People should never hold an infant in their arms while riding in a vehicle. An infant does not weigh much — until a crash. During a crash an infant will become so heavy it is not possible to hold it. For example, in a crash at only 25 mph (40 km/h), a 12 lb (5.5 kg) infant will suddenly become a 240 lb (110 kg) force on a person’s arms. An infant should be secured in an appropriate restraint.
1-30
{CAUTION:
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.
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.
1-31
{CAUTION:
The body structure of a young child is quite unlike that of an adult or older child, for whom the safety belts are designed. 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. Young children should always be secured in appropriate child restraints.
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.
{CAUTION:
Newborn infants need complete support, including support for the head and neck. This is necessary because a newborn infant’s neck is weak and its head weighs so much compared with the rest of its body. In a crash, an infant in a rear-facing seat 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 appropriate infant restraints.
1-32
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.
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.
1-33
Securing an Add-On Child Restraint in the Vehicle
{CAUTION:
A child can be seriously injured or killed in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle. Make sure the child restraint is properly installed in the vehicle using the vehicle’s safety belt or LATCH system, following the instructions that came with that restraint, and also the instructions in this manual.
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) (Z06 Models Only) on page 1-35 or Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) (Coupe and Convertible Models Only) on page 1-39 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 your vehicle — even when no child is in it.
1-34
Securing the Child Within the Child Restraint
{CAUTION:
A child can be seriously injured or killed in a crash if the child is not properly secured in the child restraint. Because there are different systems, it is important to refer to the instructions that come with the restraint. Make sure the child is properly secured, following the instructions that came with that restraint.
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) (Z06 Models Only) Some child restraints have a LATCH system. As part of the LATCH system, your child restraint may have lower attachments and/or a top tether. The LATCH system can help hold the child restraint in place during
driving or in a crash. Some vehicles have lower and/or
top tether anchors designed to secure a child restraint
with lower attachments and/or a top tether.
Your vehicle does not have lower anchors to
accommodate lower attachments. Your vehicle does
have a top tether anchor. If your child restraint has a top
tether, make sure your child restraint is properly
installed using the top tether anchor and the vehicle’s
safety belt. A child restraint must never be installed
using only the top tether and anchor. Refer to your child
restraint instructions and see Securing a Child
Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position on page 1-40
for instructions on securing your child restraint using
the vehicle’s safety belts.
In order to use the top tether anchors in your vehicle,
you need a child restraint equipped with a top tether.
The child restraint manufacturer will provide you
with instructions on how to use the child restraint and its
top tether. The following explains how to attach a
child restraint with the top tether in your vehicle.
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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 top tether-equipped child restraints 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.
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.
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Top Tether Anchor Locations
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 trim cover.
The top tether anchor is located behind the passenger seat.
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2. If the child restraint manufacturer recommends that
the top tether be attached, attach and tighten the top tether to the top tether anchor, if equipped. Refer to the child restraint instructions and the following steps:
2.1. Find the top tether anchor. 2.2. Press the ribbed area of the trim cover to
open the cover and expose the anchor. 2.3. Route, attach and tighten 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.
Securing a Child Restraint with a Top Tether
{CAUTION:
If a LATCH-type child restraint is not attached to anchors, the restraint will not be able to protect the child correctly. In a crash, the child could be seriously injured or killed. Make sure that a LATCH-type 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.
1. Secure the child restraint using the vehicle’s safety
belt. See Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position on page 1-40.
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If the position you are using has a fixed headrest or head restraint and you are using a dual tether, route the tether around the headrest or head restraint.
3. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) (Coupe and Convertible Models Only) Some child restraints have a LATCH system. As part of the LATCH system, your child restraint may have lower attachments and/or a top tether. The LATCH system can help hold the child restraint in place during driving or in a crash. Some vehicles have lower and/or top tether anchors designed to secure a child restraint with lower attachments and/or a top tether.
Some child restraints with a top tether are designed to be used whether the top tether is anchored or not. Other child restraints require that the top tether be anchored. A national or local law may require that the top tether be anchored. In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be attached. Your vehicle does not have lower anchors or top tether anchors to secure a child restraint with the LATCH system. If a national or local law requires that your top tether be anchored, do not use a child restraint in this vehicle because a top tether cannot be properly anchored. You must use the safety belts to secure your child restraint in this vehicle, unless a national or local law requires that the top tether be anchored. Refer to your child restraint instructions and instructions in this manual for securing a child restraint using the vehicle’s safety belts. See Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position on page 1-40.
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Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position Your vehicle has airbags. In addition, your vehicle has a passenger sensing system which is designed to turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped) under certain conditions. See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-52 and Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-36 for more information on this, including important safety information. 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.
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{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger’s airbag inflates. This is because
the back of the rear-facing child restraint
would be very close to the inflating airbag.
Even though the passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the right front passenger’s
frontal airbag if the system detects a
rear-facing child restraint, no system is
fail-safe, and no one can guarantee that an
airbag will not deploy under some unusual
circumstance, even though it is turned off. We
recommend that rear-facing child restraints be
secured 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 1-52
for additional information.
If your child restraint has the LATCH system, see Lower
Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) (Z06
Models Only) on page 1-35 or Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children (LATCH) (Coupe and Convertible
Models Only) on page 1-39 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)
(Z06 Models Only) on page 1-35 or Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children (LATCH) (Coupe and Convertible
Models Only) on page 1-39 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. When the passenger sensing system has turned off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped), 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 3-36.
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.
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4. 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.
5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of
the retractor to set the lock.
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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.
7. If your child restraint manufacturer recommends using a top tether anchor, attach and tighten 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) (Z06 Models Only) on page 1-35 or Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) (Coupe and Convertible Models Only) on page 1-39.
8. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
If the airbag or airbags are off, the off indicator in the passenger airbag status indicator will come on and stay on when the vehicle is started. If a child restraint has been installed and the on indicator is lit, turn the vehicle off. Remove the child restraint from the vehicle and reinstall the child restraint. If, after reinstalling the child restraint and restarting the vehicle, the on indicator is still lit, check to make sure that the vehicle’s seatback is not pressing the child restraint into the seat cushion. If this happens, slightly recline the vehicle’s seatback and adjust the seat cushion if possible.
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Remove any additional material from the seat such as blankets, cushions, seat covers, seat heaters or seat massagers before reinstalling or securing the child restraint. If the on indicator is still lit, do not install a child restraint in this vehicle and check with your dealer/retailer. To remove the child restraint, unbuckle the vehicle’s safety belt and let it go back all the way. Airbag System Your vehicle has the following airbags: (cid:129) A frontal airbag for the driver. (cid:129) A frontal airbag for the right front passenger. Your vehicle may have the following airbags: (cid:129) A seat-mounted side impact airbag for the driver. (cid:129) A seat-mounted side impact airbag for 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 seat-mounted side impact airbags, the word AIRBAG will appear on the side of the seatback closest to the door. 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:
{CAUTION:
{CAUTION:
You can be severely injured or killed in a crash if you are not wearing your safety belt — even if you have airbags. 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. All airbags are designed to work with safety belts, but do not replace them.
Frontal airbags are designed to deploy in moderate to severe frontal and near frontal crashes. They are not designed to inflate in rollover, rear crashes, or in many side crashes. Seat-mounted side impact airbags are designed to inflate in moderate to severe crashes where something hits the side of your vehicle. They are not designed to inflate in frontal, in rollover, or in rear crashes. Everyone in your vehicle should wear a safety belt properly — whether or not there is an airbag for that person.
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{CAUTION:
{CAUTION:
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 seat-mounted airbags.
Airbags plus lap-shoulder belts offer the best protection for adults, 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 1-25 or Infants and Young Children on page 1-29.
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 3-35
for more information.
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Where Are the Airbags?
The driver’s frontal airbag is in the middle of the steering wheel.
The passenger’s frontal airbag is in the instrument panel on the passenger’s side.
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{CAUTION:
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. Do not use seat accessories that block the inflation path of a seat-mounted side impact airbag.
Driver Side shown, Passenger Side similar
If your vehicle has seat-mounted side impact airbags for the driver and right front passenger, they are in the side of the seatbacks closest to the door.
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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.
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. 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 have one or two seat position sensors, depending on what model you have. The seat position sensor(s) enable the sensing system to monitor the position of the driver’s seat (all models except Z06) and the right front passenger’s seat (all models). Seat position sensor(s) provide information that is used to determine if the airbags should deploy at a reduced level or at full deployment. Your vehicle may or may not have seat-mounted side impact airbags. See Airbag System on page 1-44. Seat-mounted side impact airbags are intended to inflate in moderate to severe side crashes. Seat-mounted side
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(cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) 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. Seat-mounted side impact 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 1-49 for more information. Airbags should never be regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety belts.
impact airbags will inflate if the crash severity is above the system’s designed threshold level. The threshold level can vary with specific vehicle design. Seat-mounted side impact airbags are not intended to inflate in frontal impacts, near-frontal impacts, rollovers, or rear impacts. A seat-mounted side impact airbag is intended to deploy on the side of the vehicle that 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 seat-mounted side impact airbags, deployment is determined by the location and severity of the side impact.
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 seat-mounted side impact airbags, there are airbag modules in the side of the front seatbacks closest to the door.
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What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? After the frontal and seat-mounted side impact airbags inflate, they quickly deflate, so quickly that some people may not even realize the airbags inflated. 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 1-50. 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.
{CAUTION:
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, turn the interior lamps on, and turn on the hazard warning flashers when the airbags inflate. You can lock the doors, turn the interior lamps off, and turn the hazard warning flashers off by using the controls for those features.
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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. (cid:129) 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.
(cid:129) Your vehicle has a crash sensing and diagnostic module which records information after a crash. See Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy on page 7-18 and Event Data Recorders on page 7-18. 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 Your vehicle has a passenger sensing system for the right front passenger’s position. The passenger airbag status indicator will be visible in the rearview mirror when you start your vehicle.
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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 the word OFF, or the symbol for on or the symbol for off, will be visible. See Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-36.
(cid:129) The passenger sensing system will turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped) under certain conditions. The driver’s airbags are not part of the passenger sensing system. The passenger sensing system works with sensors that are part of the right front passenger’s seat. The sensors are designed to detect the presence of a properly-seated occupant and determine if the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag should be enabled (may inflate) or not. Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. We recommend that rear-facing child restraints not be transported in your vehicle, even if the airbags are 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.
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger’s airbag inflates. This is because the back of the rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the inflating airbag. Even though the passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the right front passenger’s frontal and seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped) if the system detects a rear-facing child restraint, no system is fail-safe, and no one can guarantee that an airbag will not deploy under some unusual circumstance, even though it is turned off. We recommend that rear-facing child restraints be secured in a rear seat, even if the airbag(s) are 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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The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped) 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.
(cid:129) 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.
(cid:129) 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’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped), the off indicator will light and stay lit to remind you that the airbags are off. See Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-36. If a child restraint has been installed and the on indicator is lit, turn the vehicle off. Remove the child restraint from the vehicle and reinstall the child restraint following
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the child restraint manufacturer’s directions and refer to Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position on page 1-40. If, after reinstalling the child restraint and restarting the vehicle, the on indicator is still lit, check to make sure that the vehicle’s seatback is not pressing the child restraint into the seat cushion. If this happens, slightly recline the vehicle’s seatback and adjust the seat cushion if possible. Remove any additional material from the seat such as blankets, cushions, seat covers, seat heaters, or seat massagers before reinstalling or securing the child restraint. If the on indicator is still lit, do not install a child restraint in this vehicle and check with your dealer/retailer. The passenger sensing system is designed to enable (may inflate) the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped) anytime the system senses that a person of adult size is sitting properly in the right front passenger’s seat. When the passenger sensing system has allowed the airbags to be enabled, the on indicator will light and stay lit to remind you that the airbags are active.
(cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) 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 and seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped), 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. If a person of adult-size is sitting in the right front passenger’s seat, but the off indicator is lit, it could be because that person is not sitting properly in the seat. If this happens, turn the vehicle off, remove any additional material from the seat, such as blankets, cushions, seat covers, seat heaters or seat massagers and ask the person to place the seatback in the fully upright position, then sit upright in the seat, centered on the seat cushion, with the person’s legs comfortably extended. Restart the vehicle and have the person remain in this position for two to three minutes. This will allow the system to detect that person and then enable the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped).
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 you ever pull the shoulder portion of the belt out all the way, you will engage the child restraint locking feature. This may unintentionally cause the passenger sensing system to turn the airbag(s) off for some adult size occupants. If this happens, just let the belt go back all the way and start again.
{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light in the instrument panel cluster ever comes on and stays on, it means that something may be wrong with the airbag system. If this ever happens, have the vehicle serviced promptly, because an adult-size person sitting in the right front passenger’s seat may not have the protection of the airbag(s). See Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-35 for more on this, including important safety information.
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 other than any that GM has approved for your specific vehicle. See Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-58 for more information about modifications that can affect how the system operates.
{CAUTION:
Stowing of articles under the passenger’s seat or between the passenger’s seat cushion and seatback may interfere with the proper operation of the passenger sensing system.
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Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle Airbags affect how your vehicle should be serviced. There are parts of the airbag system in several places around your vehicle. Your dealer/retailer and the service manual have information about servicing your vehicle and the airbag system. To purchase a service manual, see Service Publications Ordering Information on page 7-16.
{CAUTION:
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 your 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, the inside review mirror, front sensors, or airbag wiring can affect the operation of the airbag system. In addition, your vehicle has a passenger sensing system for the right front passenger’s position, which includes sensors that are part of the passenger’s 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
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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 1-52. If you have any questions about this, you should contact Customer Assistance before you modify your vehicle. 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 7-2.
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 7-2.
Your dealer/retailer and the service manual have information about the location of the airbag sensors, sensing and diagnostic module and airbag wiring.
Restraint System Check
Checking the Restraint Systems Safety Belts Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and anchorages are working properly. Look for any other loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see anything that might keep a safety belt system from doing its job, 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 3-34 for more information. Keep safety belts clean and dry. See Care of Safety Belts on page 5-88.
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 3-35 for more information. Notice: or 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 1-50. See your dealer/retailer for service.
If an airbag covering is damaged, opened,
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If your 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 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 your safety belt pretensioners checked if your vehicle has been in a crash, if your airbag readiness light stays on after you start your vehicle, or while you are driving. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-35.
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash
{CAUTION:
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 you have had a crash, do you need new belts or LATCH system (if equipped) parts? After a very minor crash, nothing may be necessary. But the belt assemblies that were used during any crash may have been stressed or damaged. See your dealer/retailer to have your safety belt assemblies inspected or replaced.
1-60
Section 2
Features and Controls
Keys ...............................................................2-3
Keyless Access System ...................................2-4
Keyless Access System Operation ....................2-5
Doors and Locks ............................................2-10
Door Locks ..................................................2-10
Power Door Locks ........................................2-12
Automatic Door Lock .....................................2-13
Programmable Automatic Door Unlock .............2-13
Lockout Protection ........................................2-13
Hatch ..........................................................2-14
Windows ........................................................2-16
Power Windows ............................................2-17
Sun Visors ...................................................2-18
Theft-Deterrent Systems ..................................2-18
Theft-Deterrent System ..................................2-18
Immobilizer ..................................................2-20
Immobilizer Operation ....................................2-20
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ................2-21
New Vehicle Break-In ....................................2-21
Front Air Dam ..............................................2-22
Ignition Positions ..........................................2-22
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) ...................2-23
Starting the Engine .......................................2-23
Engine Coolant Heater ..................................2-25
Automatic Transmission Operation ...................2-26
Manual Transmission Operation ......................2-31
Parking Brake ..............................................2-34
Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission) ............................2-35
Shifting Out of PARK (P) ...............................2-36
Parking Your Vehicle (Manual Transmission) .....2-37
Parking Over Things That Burn .......................2-37
Engine Exhaust ............................................2-37
Running the Engine While Parked ...................2-38
Mirrors ...........................................................2-39
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with
OnStar® and Compass ...............................2-39
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with
Compass .................................................2-41
Outside Power Heated Mirrors ........................2-43
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror ..................2-44
Outside Convex Mirror ...................................2-44
OnStar® System .............................................2-45
Universal Home Remote System ......................2-48
Universal Home Remote System .....................2-48
Universal Home Remote System Operation
(With Three Round LED) ............................2-48
2-1
Section 2
Features and Controls
Storage Areas ................................................2-55
Glove Box ...................................................2-55
Cupholder(s) ................................................2-55
Center Console Storage .................................2-55
Floor Mats ...................................................2-55
Rear Storage Area ........................................2-56
Convenience Net ..........................................2-57
Cargo Cover ................................................2-57
Roof Panel .....................................................2-58
Removing the Roof Panel ..............................2-59
Storing the Roof Panel ..................................2-61
Installing the Roof Panel ................................2-62
Convertible Top ..............................................2-63
Convertible Top (Manual) ...............................2-63
Convertible Top (Power) ................................2-70
2-2
Keys
{CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the keyless access transmitter 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 keyless access transmitter in the vehicle and they could be seriously injured or killed if caught in the path of a closing window. Do not leave the keyless access transmitter in a vehicle with children.
2-3
The key, located inside the keyless access transmitter, can be used for the glove box and can open the hatch/trunk lid if vehicle power is lost. See Hatch on page 2-14 for more information.
To remove the key, press the button (A) near the bottom of the keyless access transmitter, and pull the key out. Never pull the key out without pressing the button.
2-4
If you ever lose your transmitter(s) and/or
Your vehicle has a keyless access system with
pushbutton start. See Ignition Positions on page 2-22
for information on starting the vehicle.
Notice:
key, it could be difficult to get into your vehicle. You
may even have to damage your vehicle to get in.
Be sure you have a spare transmitter and/or key.
If you are locked out of your vehicle, contact Roadside
Assistance. See Roadside Assistance Program on
page 7-8.
Keyless Access System
Your vehicle has a Keyless Access System that
operates on a radio frequency subject to Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) Rules and with
Industry Canada.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation.
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: 1. This device may not cause interference. 2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than an authorized service facility could void authorization to use this equipment. If you ever notice a decrease in the keyless access transmitter range, try doing one of the following: (cid:129) Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle. You may need to stand closer during rainy or snowy weather.
(cid:129) 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.
(cid:129) Check to determine if battery replacement is necessary. See “Battery Replacement” under Keyless Access System Operation on page 2-5.
(cid:129) Check to make sure that an electronic device such
as a cellular phone or lap top computer is not causing interference. If you are still having trouble, see your dealer/retailer or a qualified technician for service.
Keyless Access System Operation Your vehicle has a keyless access system that allows you to lock and unlock your doors, unlock your hatch/trunk lid and disarm or arm your theft-deterrent system. The range distance is as much as 100 feet (30 m) away.
Your vehicle comes standard with two transmitters, and up to four can be matched to your vehicle. See “Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle” later in this section. Q(Lock): Press this button to lock the doors. The light on the door will flash once. If this button is pressed two times, the doors will lock, the light will flash and the horn will sound.
2-5
(cid:129) K(Unlock): Press this button to unlock the driver’s door. The light on the door will flash two times. Press the button two times within 10 seconds to unlock both doors. If it is dark enough outside, your interior lamps will come on.
Your memory settings may also be recalled when you press the unlock button on the keyless access transmitter. See Memory Seat, Mirrors and Steering Wheel on page 1-4 for more information.
}(Hatch/Trunk): Press and hold this button for about one second to open the hatch/trunk lid while the engine is turned off. If the engine is running the shift lever needs to be in PARK (P) for an automatic transmission or NEUTRAL with the parking brake set for a manual transmission. See Parking Brake on page 2-34. L(Panic): Press this button to sound the vehicle alarm. Press any other button on the keyless access transmitter to stop the vehicle alarm.
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle Each keyless access transmitter is coded to allow only transmitters programmed to your vehicle, to work. If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can be purchased and programmed through your dealer/retailer. Your dealer/retailer can reprogram your vehicle so lost or stolen transmitters no longer work with your vehicle. Each vehicle can have a maximum of four transmitters matched to it. To match a new transmitter to your vehicle when you have a recognized transmitter (two recognized transmitters are required for Canadian owners): 1. The vehicle must be off. 2. Have the recognized and new, unrecognized
transmitters on your person.
3. Go to the rear of the vehicle and insert the vehicle key into the key cylinder located above the license plate. See Hatch on page 2-14 for more information on the key cylinder.
4. Open the trunk. 5. Turn the key five times within five seconds. 6. The DIC will display READY FOR FOB #X, where
X can be 2, 3 or 4.
2-6
The Canadian immobilizer standard requires Canadian owners to see their dealer/retailer for matching new transmitters when two recognized transmitters are not available. United States owners are permitted to match a new transmitter to their vehicle when a recognized transmitter is not available. The procedure will require three ten minutes cycles to complete the matching process. 1. The vehicle must be off.
2. Place the new, unrecognized transmitter in the
glove box transmitter pocket with the buttons facing towards the passenger side.
2-7
7. Place the new, unrecognized transmitter in the
glove box transmitter pocket with the buttons facing towards the passenger’s side.
8. Once the transmitter is programmed, a beep will
sound. The DIC will display READY FOR #X, where X can be 3 or 4, or MAXIMUM NUMBER OF FOBS LEARNED.
9. Press the Acc. button (ignition switch).
3. Go to the rear of the vehicle and insert the vehicle key into the key cylinder located above the license plate. See Hatch on page 2-14 for more information on the key cylinder.
4. Open the trunk. 5. Turn the key five times within five seconds. 6. The DIC message will display OFF-ACCESSORY
TO LEARN.
7. Press the Acc. button (ignition switch). 8. The DIC will read WAIT 10 MINUTES and will
count down to zero, one minute at a time.
9. The DIC will display OFF-ACCESSORY TO LEARN
again.
10. Press the Acc. button (ignition switch). 11. The DIC will read WAIT 10 MINUTES and will
count down to zero, one minute at a time.
12. The DIC will display OFF-ACCESSORY TO LEARN
again.
13. Press the Acc. button (ignition switch). 14. The DIC will read WAIT 10 MINUTES and will
count down to zero, one minute at a time.
15. A beep will sound and the DIC will read READY FOR FOB #1. At this time, all previously known transmitters have been erased.
16. Once the transmitter is recognized and
programmed, a beep will sound and the DIC will display READY FOR FOB #2.
If you have additional transmitters to program, take transmitter 1 out of the transmitter pocket and place transmitter 2 in the pocket. This can be done repeatedly until up to four transmitters have be programmed. The DIC will then display MAXIMUM NUMBER OF FOBS LEARNED and will exit the programming mode. When you are done programming transmitters, press the Acc. button (ignition switch). Battery Replacement Under normal use, the battery in your keyless access transmitter should last about three years. The battery is weak if the transmitter will not work at the normal range in any location. If you have to get close to your vehicle before the transmitter works, it is probably time to change the battery.
2-8
A weak battery may also cause the DIC to display NO FOBS DETECTED when you try to start the vehicle. If this happens, place the transmitter in the glove box transmitter pocket with the buttons facing towards the passenger’s side. Then, with the vehicle in PARK (P) for an automatic transmission, press the brake pedal and the START button. If your vehicle has a manual transmission, press the clutch and the START button. Although this will start the vehicle, it is recommended that you replace the transmitter battery as soon as possible. The DIC may display FOB BATTERY LOW. Notice: When replacing the battery, use care not to touch any of the circuitry. Static from your body transferred to these surfaces may damage the transmitter.
1. Insert a flat object with a thin edge into the slot on the side or back of the transmitter and separate the bottom half from the top half.
2. Gently pull the battery out of the transmitter. 3. Put the new battery in the transmitter, positive (+)
side down. Use a battery, type CR2032, or equivalent.
4. Reassemble the transmitter. Make sure to put it
together so water will not get in.
5. Test the transmitter.
2-9
CAUTION:
(Continued)
(cid:129) 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 your vehicle whenever you leave it.
(cid:129) 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.
There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle. From the outside, press the lock or unlock button on the keyless access transmitter.
Doors and Locks
Door Locks
{CAUTION:
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
(cid:129) Passengers — especially children — can
easily open the doors and fall out of a moving vehicle. When a door is locked it will not open. You increase the chance of being thrown out of the vehicle in a crash if the doors are not locked. So, wear safety belts properly and lock the doors whenever you drive.
CAUTION:
(Continued)
2-10
To open a door from the inside, press the button (B) in