the head restraint, slide the edge of the belt webbing through the opening on the guide. Be sure the belt is not twisted.
1-18
3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Do not let it get twisted. The 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.
4. 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 1-30. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
5. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the
shoulder belt.
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 at 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 safety belt locks if there is a sudden stop or crash, or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.
1-19
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 against your body.
A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It will not give nearly
as much protection this way.
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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 at 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.
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Q: What is wrong with this?
{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.
A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should
be worn over the shoulder at all times.
1-22
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 to fix it.
A: The belt is twisted across the body.
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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.
To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. The belt should go back out of the way. Before you close the 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.
1-24
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.
Right Front Passenger Position To learn how to wear the right front passenger’s safety belt properly, see Driver Position on page 1-18. The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same way as the driver’s safety belt — except for one thing. If you ever pull the shoulder portion of the belt out all the way, you will engage the child restraint locking feature. If this happens, just let the belt go back all the way and start again.
Rear Seat Passengers It is very important for rear seat passengers to buckle up! Accident statistics show that unbelted people in the rear seat are hurt more often in crashes than those who are wearing safety belts. Rear passengers who are not safety belted can be thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts.
Lap-Shoulder Belt All rear seat positions have lap-shoulder belts. Here is how to wear one properly.
1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Do not let it get twisted. The 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.
1-25
2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. When the shoulder belt is pulled out all the way, it will lock. If it does, let it go back all the way and start again. If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 1-30. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
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 at 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 safety belt locks if there is a sudden stop or a crash, or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.
3. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the
shoulder part.
1-26
{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 against your body.
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides 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 on a shoulder belt, the comfort guide positions the belt away from the neck and head. There is one guide for each outside passenger position in the rear seat. Here is how to install a comfort guide and use the safety belt:
To unlatch the belt, push the button on the buckle.
1. Pull the elastic cord out from between the edge of the seatback and the interior body to remove the guide from its storage clip.
1-27
2. Slide the guide under and past the belt. The elastic cord must be under the belt. Then, 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.
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4. Buckle, position, and release the safety belt as
described in Rear Seat Passengers on page 1-25. Make sure that the shoulder belt crosses the shoulder.
To remove and store the comfort guides, squeeze the belt edges together so that you can take them out of the guides. Pull the guide upward to expose its storage clip, and then slide the guide onto the clip. Turn the guide and clip inward and in between the seatback and interior body, leaving only the loop of elastic cord exposed.
Safety Belt Pretensioners Your vehicle has safety belt pretensioners for the driver and right front passenger. Although you cannot see them, they are located on the retractor part of the safety belts. They help the safety belts reduce a person’s forward movement in a moderate to severe frontal or near frontal 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 1-68.
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{CAUTION:
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.
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 will order you an extender. It is free. 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, just 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.
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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. It should never be worn over the abdomen, which could cause severe or even fatal internal injuries in a crash.
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear seat. 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.
{CAUTION:
Never do this. Here two children are wearing the same belt. The belt can not 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.
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Q: What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt, but the child is so small that the shoulder belt is very close to the child’s face or neck?
A: If the child is sitting in a seat next to a window, move the child toward the center of the vehicle. Also see Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides on page 1-27. If the child is sitting in the center rear seat passenger position, move the child toward the safety belt buckle. In either case, be sure that the shoulder belt still is on the child’s shoulder, so that in a crash the child’s upper body would have the restraint the belts provide.
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{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. If the child wears the belt in this way, in a crash the child might slide under the belt. The belt’s force would then be applied right on the child’s abdomen. That could cause serious or fatal injuries.
Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the child’s thighs. This applies belt force to the child’s pelvic bones in a crash.
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.
Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles, they should have the protection provided by appropriate restraints. Young children should not use the vehicle’s adult safety belts alone, unless there is no other choice. Instead, they need to use a child restraint.
{CAUTION:
People should never hold a baby in their arms while riding in a vehicle. A baby does not weigh much — until a crash. During a crash a baby 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) baby will suddenly become a 240 lb (110 kg) force on a person’s arms. A baby should be secured in an appropriate restraint.
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{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.
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{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 always should 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 always should be secured in appropriate infant restraints.
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Child Restraint Systems
An infant car bed (A), a special bed made for use in a motor vehicle, is an infant restraint system designed to restrain or position a child on a continuous flat surface. Make sure that the infant’s head rests toward the center of the vehicle.
A rear-facing infant seat (B) 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.
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A forward-facing child seat (C-E) provides restraint for the child’s body with the harness and also sometimes with surfaces such as T-shaped or shelf-like shields.
A booster seat (F-G) is a child restraint designed to improve the fit of the vehicle’s safety belt system. Some booster seats have a shoulder belt positioner, and some high-back booster seats have a five-point harness. A booster seat can also help a child to see out the window.
1-37
Q: How Should I Use a Child Restraint? A: A child restraint system is any device designed for use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat, or position children. A built-in child restraint system is a permanent part of the motor vehicle. An add-on child restraint system is a portable one, which is purchased by the vehicle’s owner. To help reduce injuries, an add-on child restraint must be secured in the vehicle. With built-in or add-on child restraints, the child has to be secured within the child restraint. When choosing an add-on child restraint, be sure the child restraint is designed to be used in a vehicle. If it is, it will have a label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. Then follow the instructions for the restraint. You may find these instructions on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both.
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) on page 1-41 for more information. A child can be endangered in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle.
1-38
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. Securing the Child Within the Child Restraint There are several systems for securing the child within the child restraint. One system, the three-point harness, has straps that come down over each of the infant’s shoulders and buckle together at the crotch. The five-point harness system has two shoulder straps, two hip straps, and a crotch strap. A shield may take the place of hip straps. A T-shaped shield has shoulder straps that are attached to a flat pad which rests low against the child’s body. A shelf- or armrest-type shield has straps that are attached to a wide, shelf-like shield that swings up or to the side.
{CAUTION:
A child can be seriously injured or killed in a crash if the child is not properly secured in the child restraint. Make sure the child is properly secured, following the instructions that came with that restraint.
Because there are different systems, it is important to refer to the instructions that come with the restraint. A child can be endangered in a crash if the child is not properly secured in the 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, therefore, recommend that child restraints be secured in a rear seat, including an infant riding in a rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a forward-facing child seat and an older child riding in a booster seat.
1-39
Your vehicle has a rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing child restraint. 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 passenger’s frontal airbag and side 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. General Motors recommends that
CAUTION:
(Continued)
CAUTION:
(Continued)
rear-facing child restraints be secured in the rear seat, even if the airbag or airbags are off. If you need to 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.
{CAUTION:
A child in a child restraint in the center front seat can be badly injured or killed by the right front passenger’s airbag if it inflates. Never secure a child restraint in the center front seat. It is always better to secure a child restraint in the rear seat.
Wherever you install a child restraint, be sure to secure the child restraint properly.
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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) Your vehicle has the LATCH system. 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 equipped with 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. Your vehicle has lower anchors and top tether anchors. Your child restraint may have lower attachments and a top tether. Not all vehicle seating positions or child restraints have lower anchors and attachments or top tether anchors and attachments.
1-41
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. 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.
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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. In the United States, some child restraints also have a top tether. 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.
Rear Seat
Each rear seating position has exposed metal lower anchors in the crease between the seatback and the seat cushion.
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Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System
{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.
The top tether anchors are located on the rear seatback filler panel. 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. Do not secure a child restraint in the right front passenger’s position 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. There is no place to attach the top tether in this position. 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 1-39 for additional information.
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{CAUTION:
Each top tether anchor and lower anchor in the vehicle is designed to hold only one child restraint. 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 if this happens. To help prevent injury to people and damage to your vehicle, attach only one child restraint per anchor.
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 for the desired
seating position.
1.2. Put the child restraint on the seat. 1.3. Attach and tighten the lower attachments on
the child restraint to the lower anchors.
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. Route, attach, and tighten the top tether
according to your child restraint instructions and the following instructions:
If the position you are using does not have a head restraint and you are using a single tether, route the tether over the seatback.
If the position you are using does not have a head restraint and you are using a dual tether, route the tether over the seatback.
3. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
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Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH system, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-41. If your child restraint does not have the LATCH system, you will be using the lap-shoulder 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. 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.
1-46
3. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
4. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of
the retractor to set the lock.
5. 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.
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6. If your child restraint manufacturer recommends
using a top tether, attach and tighten the top tether to the top tether anchor. Refer to the instructions that came with the child restraint and see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-41.
7. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
To remove the child restraint, if the top tether is attached to the top tether anchor, disconnect it. Unbuckle the vehicle’s safety belt and let it go back all the way. The safety belt will move freely again and be ready to work for an adult or larger child passenger.
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position
Your 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 1-39.
In addition, your vehicle has the passenger sensing
system. The passenger sensing system is designed to
turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and
side impact airbag (if equipped) 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 Passenger Sensing System on page 1-60 and
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-28
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 airbags deploy.
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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 passenger’s frontal airbag and side 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 or airbags will not deploy under some unusual circumstance, even though it is turned off. General Motors recommends that rear-facing child restraints be secured in the rear seat, even if the airbag or airbags are off.
If you need to secure a forward-facing child restraint in
the right front seat position, move the seat as far
back as it will go before securing the forward-facing
child restraint. See Manual Passenger Seat on page 1-2
or Power Seat on page 1-2.
If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH
system, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH) on page 1-41.
There is no top tether anchor in the right front
passenger’s position. Do not secure a child seat in this
position 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 tether must
be anchored. See Lower Anchors and Tethers
for Children (LATCH) on page 1-41 if the child restraint
has a top tether.
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4. 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.
5. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
You will be using the lap-shoulder 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. 1. Your vehicle has airbags. See Passenger Sensing
System on page 1-60. General Motors recommends that rear-facing child restraints be secured in a rear seat, even if the airbag or airbags are off. If your child restraint is forward-facing, move the seat as far back as it will go before securing the child restraint in this seat. See Manual Passenger Seat on page 1-2 or Power Seat on page 1-2. When the passenger sensing system has turned off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and side impact airbag (if equipped), the off indicator in the passenger airbag status indicator should light and stay lit when you turn the ignition to RUN or START. See Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-28.
2. Put the child restraint on the seat. 3. Remove the safety belt from the guide on the head restraint by sliding the webbing through the opening on the guide. Do not secure the child restraint with the safety belt routed through the guide.
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6. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of
the retractor to set the lock.
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. 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. You should not be able to pull more of the belt from the retractor once the lock has been set.
8. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
9. If the airbag or airbags are off, the off indicator on the overhead console will be lit and stay lit when the key is turned to RUN or START.
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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. Also make sure the child restraint is not trapped under the vehicle head restraint. If this happens, adjust the head restraint. 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. To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’s safety belt and let it go back all the way. The safety belt will move freely again and be ready to work for an adult or larger child passenger. Insert the safety belt into the guide on the head restraint by sliding the webbing through the opening on the guide.
Airbag System Your vehicle has a frontal airbag for the driver and a frontal airbag for the right front passenger. Your vehicle may also have side impact airbags. Side impact airbags are available for the driver and right front passenger. If your vehicle has a side impact airbag for the driver and the right front passenger, the word AIRBAG will appear on the airbag covering on the side of the seatback closest to the door. Frontal airbags are designed to help reduce the risk of injury from the force of an inflating frontal airbag. But these airbags must inflate very quickly to do their job and comply with federal regulations.
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Here are the most important things to know about the airbag system:
CAUTION:
(Continued)
{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. Airbags are designed to work with safety belts but do not replace them.
CAUTION:
(Continued)
Frontal airbags for the driver and right front passenger 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. And, for some unrestrained occupants, frontal airbags may provide less protection in frontal crashes than more forceful airbags have provided in the past. 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.
1-53
{CAUTION:
Both frontal and side impact airbags inflate with great force, faster than the blink of an eye. If you are too close to an inflating airbag, as you would be if you were leaning forward, it could seriously injure you. Safety belts help keep you in position for airbag inflation before and during a crash. Always wear your safety belt, even with frontal airbags. The driver should sit as far back as possible while still maintaining control of the vehicle. Front occupants should not lean on or sleep against the door.
{CAUTION:
CAUTION:
(Continued)
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 1-30 or Infants and Young Children on page 1-32.
There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument panel cluster, which shows the airbag symbol.
Anyone who is up against, or very close to, any airbag when it inflates can be seriously injured or killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder
CAUTION:
(Continued)
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 3-27
for more information.
1-54
Where Are the Airbags?
The driver’s frontal airbag is in the middle of the steering wheel.
The right front passenger’s frontal airbag is in the instrument panel on the passenger’s side.
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If your vehicle has one, the driver’s side impact airbag is in the side of the driver’s seatback closest to the door.
If your vehicle has one, the right front passenger’s side impact airbag is in the side of the passenger’s seatback closest to the door.
1-56
{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 let seat covers block the inflation path of a side impact airbag.
When Should an Airbag Inflate? The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal airbags are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to inflate only if the impact exceeds a predetermined deployment threshold. Deployment thresholds take into account a variety of desired deployment and non-deployment events and 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. In addition, your vehicle has “dual-stage” frontal airbags, which adjust the restraint according to crash severity. Your vehicle is equipped with electronic frontal sensors which help the sensing system distinguish between a moderate frontal impact and a more severe frontal impact. For moderate frontal impacts, these airbags inflate at a level less than full deployment. For more severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs. If the front of your vehicle goes straight into a wall that does not move or deform, the threshold level for the reduced deployment is about 12 to 18 mph (19 to 29 km/h), and the threshold level for a full deployment is about 18 to 22 mph (29 to 35.4 km/h). The threshold level can vary, however, with specific vehicle design, so that it can be somewhat above or below this range. 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.
1-57
(cid:127) (cid:127) 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.
Frontal airbags (driver and right front passenger) are not intended to inflate during vehicle rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts. Your vehicle may or may not have side impact airbags. See Airbag System on page 1-52. Side impact airbags are intended to inflate in moderate to severe side crashes. A side impact airbag will inflate if the crash severity is above the system’s designed threshold level. The threshold level can vary with specific vehicle design. Side impact airbags are not intended to inflate in frontal or near-frontal impacts, rollovers or rear impacts. 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 in frontal or near-frontal impacts. For side impact airbags, inflation is determined by the location and severity of the impact.
1-58
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? In an impact of sufficient severity, the airbag sensing system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. The sensing system triggers a release of gas from the inflator, which inflates the airbag. The inflator, the airbag and related hardware are all part of the airbag modules. Frontal airbag modules are located inside the steering wheel and instrument panel. For seating positions with side impact airbags, there are also airbag modules in the side of the seatbacks closest to the door.
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. The airbag supplements the protection provided by safety belts. Airbags distribute the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But the frontal airbags would not help you in many types of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts, and many side impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward the airbag. Side impact airbags would not help you in many types of collisions, including many frontal or near frontal collisions, and rear impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward those airbags.
(cid:127) (cid:127) Airbags should never be regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety belts, and then only in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions for the driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal airbags, and only in moderate to severe side collisions for side impact airbags.
What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? After an inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly that some people may not even realize the airbag inflated. Some components of the airbag module may be hot for a short time. These components include the steering wheel hub for the driver’s frontal airbag and the instrument panel for the right front passenger’s frontal airbag. For seating positions with side impact airbags, the side of the seatback closest to the door may be warm. The parts of the airbag that come into contact with you may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There will 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 stop people from leaving the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
When an airbag inflates, there is 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.
In many crashes severe enough to inflate an airbag, windshields are broken by vehicle deformation. Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the right front passenger airbag.
1-59
Your vehicle has a feature that may automatically unlock the doors and turn on the interior lamps and hazard warning flashers when the airbags inflate. You can lock the doors again and turn the interior lamps and hazard warning flashers off by using the door lock and interior lamp control and hazard warning flasher control. (cid:127) Airbags are designed to inflate only once. After an
airbag inflates, you will need some new parts for your 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:127) Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module which records information after a
crash. See Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data
Recorders on page 7-9
Let only qualified technicians work on your airbag
system. Improper service can mean that your airbag
system will not work properly. See your dealer for
service.
1-60
Passenger Sensing System Your vehicle has a passenger sensing system. The passenger airbag status indicator on the overhead console will be visible when you turn your ignition key to RUN or START. The words ON and OFF or the symbol for on and off, will be visible during the system check. If you use remote start to start your vehicle from a distance, if equipped, you may not see 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 3-28.
Passenger
Airbag Status
Indicator – United
States
Passenger
Airbag Status
Indicator – Canada
(cid:127) The passenger sensing system will turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and side impact airbag (if equipped) under certain conditions. The driver’s frontal airbag and side impact airbag (if equipped) 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 passenger’s airbag or airbags 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. General Motors recommends that child restraints be secured in a rear seat, including an infant riding in a rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a forward-facing child seat, and an older child riding in a booster seat. Your vehicle has a rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing child restraint. 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 airbags deploy.
{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 passenger’s frontal airbag and side 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. General Motors recommends that rear-facing child restraints be secured in the rear seat, even if the airbag or airbags are off. If you need to 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 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 forward-facing 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’s airbag or airbags, the off indicator in the overhead console will light and stay lit to remind you that the airbag or airbags are off. 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 the child restraint manufacturer’s directions and refer to Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position on page 1-48. 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. Also make sure the child restraint is not trapped under the vehicle head restraint. If this happens, adjust the head restraint.
1-62
(cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) 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. The passenger sensing system is designed to enable (may inflate) the right front passenger’s airbag or airbags 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 airbag or airbags to be enabled, the on indicator will light and stay lit to remind you that the airbag or airbags are 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 airbag or airbags, 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 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 about two minutes. This will allow the system to detect that person and then enable the passenger’s airbag or airbags.
1-63
{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 an airbag. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-27 for more on this, including important safety information.
Aftermarket equipment, such as seat covers, can affect how well the passenger sensing system operates. You may want to consider not using seat covers or other aftermarket equipment if your vehicle has the passenger sensing system. See Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-66.
1-64
{CAUTION:
{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.
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. You do not want the system to inflate while someone is working on your vehicle. Your dealer 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 7-15.
For up to 10 seconds after the ignition key 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.
The airbag system does not need regular maintenance.
1-65
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q: Is there anything I might add to the front or
sides of the vehicle that could keep the airbags from working properly?
A: Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle’s
frame, bumper system, front end or side sheet metal or height, they may keep the airbag system from working properly. Also, the airbag system may not work properly if you relocate any of the airbag sensors. If you have any questions about this, you should contact Customer Service 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: Changing or moving any parts of the front seats,
safety belts, the airbag sensing and diagnostic module (located under the right front passenger’s seat), or the overhead console can affect the operation of the airbag system. 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.
1-66
Restraint System Check
Checking the Restraint Systems 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. Also look for any opened or broken airbag covers, and have them repaired or replaced. (The airbag system does not need regular maintenance.)
If you damage the covering for the driver’s
Notice: or the right front passenger’s frontal airbag, or an airbag covering (if equipped) on a seatback, the airbag may not work properly. You may have to replace the airbag module in the steering wheel, both the airbag module and the instrument panel for the right front passenger’s frontal airbag, or both the airbag module and the seatback for seating positions with a side impact airbag (if equipped.) Do not open or break the airbag coverings.
1-67
If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision damage also may mean you will need to have LATCH system, safety belt or seat parts repaired or replaced. New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the belt or LATCH system was not being used at the time of the collision. If an airbag inflates, you will need to replace airbag system parts. See the part on the airbag system earlier in this section. If an airbag inflates you will also need to replace the driver and front passenger’s safety belt retractor assembly. Be sure to do so. Then the new retractor assembly will be there to help protect you in a collision. After a crash you may need to replace the driver and front passenger’s safety belt retractor assemblies, even if an airbag has not deployed. The driver and front passenger’s safety belt retractor assemblies contain the safety belt pretensioners. Have your safety belt pretensioners checked if your vehicle has been in a collision, or if your airbag readiness light stays on after you start your vehicle or while you are driving. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-27.
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 parts? After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary. But if the belts were stretched, as they would be if worn during a more severe crash, then you need new parts. If the LATCH system was being used during a more severe crash, you may need new LATCH system parts.
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Section 2
Features and Controls
Keys ...............................................................2-2
Remote Keyless Entry System .........................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation ...........2-4
Doors and Locks .............................................2-9
Door Locks ....................................................2-9
Power Door Locks ........................................2-10
Automatic Door Lock .....................................2-10
Programmable Automatic Door Unlock .............2-11
Lockout Protection ........................................2-11
Trunk ..........................................................2-11
Windows ........................................................2-13
Power Windows ............................................2-14
Sun Visors ...................................................2-14
Theft-Deterrent Systems ..................................2-15
Content Theft-Deterrent
.................................2-15
PASS-Key® III+ ............................................2-16
PASS-Key® III+ Operation ..............................2-16
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ................2-18
New Vehicle Break-In ....................................2-18
Ignition Positions ..........................................2-18
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) ...................2-19
Starting the Engine .......................................2-19
Engine Coolant Heater ..................................2-20
Displacement on Demand™ (DoD™)
(5.3L V8 Engine) .......................................2-21
Automatic Transaxle Operation .......................2-22
Parking Brake ..............................................2-25
Shifting Into Park (P) .....................................2-26
Shifting Out of Park (P) .................................2-27
Parking Over Things That Burn .......................2-28
Engine Exhaust ............................................2-28
Running the Engine While Parked ...................2-29
Mirrors ...........................................................2-30
Manual Rearview Mirror .................................2-30
Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar® ..............2-30
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror ................2-30
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with
OnStar® ...................................................2-31
Outside Power Mirrors ...................................2-31
Outside Convex Mirror ...................................2-32
Outside Heated Mirrors ..................................2-32
OnStar® System .............................................2-32
Universal Home Remote System ......................2-34
Universal Home Remote System Operation ......2-35
Storage Areas ................................................2-39
Glove Box ...................................................2-39
Cupholder(s) ................................................2-39
Center Console Storage Area .........................2-39
Rear Seat Armrest ........................................2-39
Convenience Net ..........................................2-39
Sunroof .........................................................2-40
2-1
Keys
{CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition key is dangerous for many reasons. They could operate the power windows or other controls or even make the vehicle move. The children or others could be badly injured or even killed. Do not leave the keys in a vehicle with children.
2-2
One key is used for the ignition and the driver’s door.
If you ever lock your keys in your vehicle,
If you need a new key, contact your dealer for assistance. In an emergency, contact Roadside Assistance. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-5 for more information. Notice: you may have to damage the vehicle to get in. Be sure you have spare keys. If your vehicle is equipped with the OnStar® system, with an active subscription and you lock your keys inside the vehicle, OnStar® may be able to send a command to unlock your vehicle. See OnStar® System on page 2-32 for more information.
Remote Keyless Entry System The remote keyless entry system 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:
This device may not cause interference. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
This device may not cause interference. 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.
2-3
(cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) At times you may notice a decrease in range. This is normal for any remote keyless entry system. If the transmitter does not work or if you have to stand closer to your vehicle for the transmitter to work, try this: (cid:127) Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle. You may need to stand closer during rainy or snowy weather.
(cid:127) 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:127) Check to determine if battery replacement is necessary. See “Battery Replacement” under Remote Keyless Entry System Operation on page 2-4. If you are still having trouble, see your dealer or a qualified technician for service.
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation The vehicle’s doors can be locked and unlocked, and the trunk can be unlatched from about 3 feet (1 m) up to 65 feet (20 m) away with the remote keyless entry transmitter. If your vehicle has the remote start feature you can also start your vehicle with the remote keyless entry transmitter. Your remote keyless entry transmitter, with the remote start button, provides an increased range of 195 feet (60 m) away. However, the range may be less while the vehicle is running. As a result, you may need to be closer to your vehicle to turn it off than you were to turn it on. There are other conditions which can affect the performance of the transmitter. See Remote Keyless Entry System on page 2-3.
2-4
(cid:127) See DIC Vehicle Customization on page 3-53 for additional information. Pressing the lock button may arm the content theft-deterrent system. See Content Theft-Deterrent on page 2-15.
" (Unlock): Press the unlock button to unlock the driver’s door. If the button is pressed again within five seconds, all remaining doors will unlock. The interior lamps will come on and stay on for 20 seconds or until the ignition is turned on. If enabled through the DIC, the parking lamps will flash once to indicate unlocking has occurred. See DIC Vehicle Customization on page 3-53. Pressing the unlock button on the remote keyless entry transmitter will disarm the content theft-deterrent system. See Content Theft-Deterrent on page 2-15. V (Remote Trunk Release): Press and hold this button for approximately one second to release the trunk lid. The transaxle must be in PARK (P) for this feature to operate. L (Vehicle Locator/Panic Alarm): Press and release this button to locate your vehicle. The turn signal lamps will flash and the horn will sound three times. Press and hold this button for more than two seconds to activate the panic alarm. The turn signal lamps will flash and the horn will sound repeatedly for 30 seconds. The alarm will turn off when the ignition is moved to RUN or the alarm button is pressed again. The ignition must be in OFF for the panic alarm to work.
2-5
Remote Keyless Entry
with Remote Start
Remote Keyless Entry without Remote Start
The following functions may be available if your vehicle has the remote keyless entry system: / (Remote Vehicle Start): If your vehicle has this feature, it may be started from outside the vehicle using the remote keyless entry transmitter. See “Remote Vehicle Start” following for more detailed information. Q (Lock): Press the lock button to lock all the doors. If enabled through the Driver Information Center (DIC), the parking lamps will flash once to indicate locking has occurred. If enabled through the DIC, the horn will chirp when the lock button is pressed again within five seconds of the previous press of the lock button.
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to prevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle. If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can be purchased through your GM dealer. Remember to bring any additional transmitters so they can also be re-coded to match the new transmitter. Once your dealer has coded the new transmitter, the lost transmitter will not unlock your vehicle. The vehicle can have a maximum of eight transmitters matched to it. See Remote Key under DIC Operation and Displays on page 3-40. Battery Replacement Under normal use, the battery in your remote keyless entry transmitter should last about four years. You can tell 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. The REPLACE BATTERY IN REMOTE KEY message in the vehicle’s DIC will display if the remote keyless entry transmitter battery is low. See “REPLACE BATTERY IN REMOTE KEY” under DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-46 for additional information.
2-6
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.
To replace the battery in the remote keyless entry transmitter do the following: 1. Use a flat object with a thin edge into the notch,
located below the trunk release button, and separate the bottom half from the top half of the transmitter.
2. Remove the old battery, but do not use a metal
object to do this.
3. Slide the new battery into the transmitter with the
positive side of the battery facing down. Use a type CR2032 battery, or equivalent type. Make sure the cover is on tightly, so water will not get in. 4. Snap the front and the back of the transmitter
together.
5. Test the operation of the transmitter with the
vehicle.
Remote Vehicle Start Your vehicle may have a remote starting feature. This feature allows you to start the engine from outside of the vehicle. If your vehicle has an outside temperature display, during remote start this feature allows the climate control system to default to a heating mode during colder outside temperatures and a cooling mode during warmer outside temperatures. If your vehicle does not have an outside temperature display, during remote start the climate control system will turn on at the setting the vehicle was set to when the vehicle was last turned off. Laws in some communities may restrict the use of remote starters. For example, requiring a person using remote start to have the vehicle in view when doing so. Check local regulations for any requirements on remote starting of vehicles.
Do not use the remote start feature if your vehicle is low on fuel. Your vehicle may run out of fuel. Your remote keyless entry transmitter, with the remote start button, provides an increased range of operation. However, the range may be less while the vehicle is running. As a result, you may need to be closer to your vehicle to turn it off, than you were to turn it on. There are other conditions which can affect the performance of the transmitter, see Remote Keyless Entry System on page 2-3 for additional information. / (Remote Start): Press and release the lock button and then press and hold this button to use the remote start feature. To start the vehicle using the remote start feature, do the following: 1. Aim the transmitter at the vehicle. 2. Press and release the transmitter’s lock button,
then immediately press and hold the transmitter’s remote start button until the turn signal lights flash or if the vehicle’s lights are not visible, press and hold the remote start button for at least four seconds. The vehicle’s doors will lock. Pressing the remote start button again after the vehicle has started will turn off the ignition.
2-7
10 minutes are added to the remaining minutes. For example, if the lock button and then the remote start buttons are pressed again after five minutes of the engine run time, 10 minutes are added and you now have 15 minutes of engine running. The added ten minutes are considered a second remote vehicle start. Once two remote starts or a single start with a time extension have been provided, the vehicle must be started normally with the ignition key to get more remote vehicle starts. The remote vehicle start feature will not operate if the key is in the ignition, the hood is not closed or if there is an emission control system malfunction. Also, the engine will turn off during a remote vehicle start if the coolant temperature gets too high or if the oil pressure gets low. Vehicles equipped with the remote vehicle start feature are shipped from the factory with the remote vehicle start system enabled. The system may be enabled or disabled through the DIC. See “REMOTE START” under DIC Vehicle Customization on page 3-53 for additional information.
3. When the vehicle starts, the parking lamps will turn
on and remain on while the vehicle is running. 4. If it is your first remote start since last driving,
repeat these steps while the engine is still running for a 10 minute time extension.
When you enter the vehicle during a remote start, and the engine is still running, turn the key to the RUN position to drive the vehicle. If the vehicle is left running it will automatically shut off after 10 minutes unless a time extension has been done. To manually shut off a remote start, do any of the following: (cid:127) Aim the remote keyless entry transmitter at the vehicle and press the remote start button until the parking lamps turn off. Turn on the hazards warning flashers. Turn the ignition switch on and then off.
The remote vehicle start feature provides two separate starts, each with 10 minutes of engine running, or it provides one start with 10 minutes of engine running that may be extended with 10 more minutes. If you press and release the transmitter lock button and then press and hold the remote start button, on the remote keyless entry transmitter, again before the first 10 minutes of engine running time has expired,
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(cid:127) (cid:127) Remote Start Ready If your vehicle does not have the remote vehicle start feature, it may have the remote start ready feature. This feature allows your dealer to add the manufacturer’s remote vehicle start feature. If your vehicle has the remote start ready feature, your remote keyless entry transmitter will have extended range that will allow you to lock or unlock your vehicle from approximately 195 feet (60 m) away. See your dealer if you would like to add the manufacturer’s remote vehicle start feature to your vehicle.
Doors and Locks Door Locks
{CAUTION:
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
(cid:127) 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. 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.
(cid:127) 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:127) 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 the vehicle.
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From the outside, use your key in the driver’s door or the remote keyless entry transmitter, if equipped. See Remote Keyless Entry System Operation on page 2-4. From the inside, use the manual or power door locks. To manually unlock the driver’s door from the outside, insert the key and turn it toward the front of the vehicle. To manually lock the driver’s door from the outside, insert the key and turn it toward the rear of the vehicle.
To lock a door from the inside, push the manual lock lever forward. To unlock a door, push the lever rearward.
Power Door Locks
A power door lock switch is located on each door above the armrest.
Press the top of the switch to unlock both doors, or press the bottom of the switch to lock both doors. If your vehicle has the optional content theft-deterrent system and it is armed, the power door lock switches will be disabled. You must use your remote keyless entry transmitter, if equipped, or your key to unlock the doors while the system is armed. Automatic Door Lock The doors will automatically lock when the shift lever is moved out of PARK (P). The automatic door locking feature cannot be disabled.
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Programmable Automatic Door Unlock Your vehicle is programmed so that when the shift lever is moved into PARK (P) all doors will unlock. With the vehicle stopped and the engine running, door unlocking can be programmed through prompts displayed on the Driver Information Center (DIC). These prompts allow the driver to choose various unlock settings. For programming information, see DIC Vehicle Customization on page 3-53.
Lockout Protection To protect you from locking your key in the vehicle, this feature stops the power door locks from locking while the key is in the ignition and a door is open. If a power lock switch is pressed while a door is open and the key is in the ignition, both doors will lock and then the driver’s door will unlock. A chime will sound continuously until both doors are closed.
Trunk
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk lid open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can come into your vehicle. You cannot see or smell CO. It can cause unconsciousness and even death. If you must drive with the trunk lid open or if electrical wiring or other cable connections must pass through the seal between the body and the trunk lid:
(cid:127) Make sure all other windows are shut. (cid:127) Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed and select the control setting that will force outside air into your vehicle. See Climate Control System. If you have air outlets on or under the instrument panel, open them all the way.
See Engine Exhaust on page 2-28.
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(cid:127) Trunk Release To open the trunk from the outside, press the open trunk button on the remote keyless entry transmitter, if equipped. Remote Trunk Release You can also open the trunk from inside the vehicle.
G (Remote Trunk Release): Press the button with the open trunk symbol on it. The button is located next to the exterior lamps control on the left side of the instrument panel. The shift lever must be in PARK (P) for the remote trunk release button to work. If your vehicle ever loses power, you can open the trunk by lowering the rear seat and pulling the emergency trunk release handle located inside the trunk. See Split Folding Rear Seat on page 1-10 and “Emergency Trunk Release Handle” following. Emergency Trunk Release Handle Notice: Do not use the emergency trunk release handle as a tie-down or anchor point when securing items in the trunk as it could damage the handle. The emergency trunk release handle is only intended to aid a person trapped in a latched trunk, enabling them to open the trunk from the inside.
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There is a glow-in-the-dark trunk release handle located on the latch inside the trunk. This handle will glow following exposure to light. Pull the release handle to open the trunk from the inside.
Windows
{CAUTION:
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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Express-Down Window The driver’s window switch has an express-down feature labeled AUTO. This allows you to lower the window completely without holding the switch. Press the front of the switch all the way down and release. To stop the window while it is lowering, briefly pull up on the switch.
Sun Visors To block out glare, swing down the sun visors. They can be detached from the center retainer and slid along the rod to cover different areas of the front window and rotated to cover the side windows. Visor Vanity Mirror Swing down the sun visors and lift the cover to expose the vanity mirror. If your vehicle has lighted vanity mirrors, the lamps come on when you open the cover. Do not drive with the cover lifted due to possible glare to other drivers behind or to the side of the vehicle.
Power Windows
The switches on the driver’s door are used to control both windows. The passenger’s window has a switch also.
Driver’s Switches
shown
The power window switches work while the ignition is in RUN, ACCESSORY, or while Retained Accessory Power (RAP) is active. See Retained Accessory Power (RAP) on page 2-19. To lower the window, press and hold the front of the switch to the first position until the window is at the desired level. To raise the window, pull up and hold the front of the switch.
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Theft-Deterrent Systems Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities. Although your vehicle has a number of theft-deterrent features, we know that nothing we put on it can make it impossible to steal.
Content Theft-Deterrent Your vehicle may have the optional content theft-deterrent alarm system. To activate the theft-deterrent system: 1. Open the door. 2. Lock the door with the power door lock switch or the remote keyless entry transmitter. If you are using the remote keyless entry transmitter, the door does not need to be open. 3. Close all doors. Once armed, the alarm will go off if someone tries to enter the vehicle without using the remote keyless entry transmitter or a key or turns the ignition on with an incorrect key. The horn will sound and the turn signal lamps will flash for approximately two minutes. When the alarm is armed, the trunk may be opened with the remote keyless entry transmitter. The power door lock switches are disabled and the doors remain locked. You must use your remote keyless entry transmitter or your key to unlock the doors when the system is armed.
Arming with the Power Lock Switch The alarm system will arm when you use either power lock switch to lock the doors while any door or the trunk is open and the key is removed from the ignition. Arming with the Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter The alarm system will arm when you use your remote keyless entry transmitter to lock the doors, if the key is not in the ignition. Disarming with the Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter The alarm system will disarm when you use your remote keyless entry transmitter to unlock the doors. The first time a remote UNLOCK command is received, three flashes will be seen and three horn chirps heard to indicate an alarm condition has occurred since last arming. Disarming with Your Key The alarm system will disarm when you use your key to unlock the doors or insert your key in ignition and turn it from the OFF position.
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PASS-Key® III+ The PASS-Key® III+ system 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. PASS-Key® III+ uses a radio frequency transponder in the key that matches a decoder in your vehicle.
PASS-Key® III+ Operation Your vehicle has PASS-Key® III+ (Personalized Automotive Security System) theft-deterrent system. PASS-Key® III+ is a passive theft-deterrent system. This means you do not have to do anything special to arm or disarm the system. It works when you transition the key to RUN, ACCESSORY or START from the OFF position. When the PASS-Key® III+ system senses that someone is using the wrong key, it prevents the vehicle from starting. Anyone using a trial-and-error method to start the vehicle will be discouraged because of the high number of electrical key codes. If the engine does not start and the security light on the instrument panel comes on when trying to start the vehicle, the key may have a damaged transponder. 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. At this time, you may also want to check the fuse, see Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-95. If the engine still does not start with the other key, your vehicle needs service. If your vehicle does start, the first key may be faulty. See your dealer who can service the PASS-Key® III+ to have a new key made. In an emergency, contact Roadside Assistance.
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It is possible for the PASS-Key® III+ decoder to “learn” the transponder value of a new or replacement key. Up to nine additional keys may be programmed for the vehicle. The following procedure is for programming additional keys only. If all the currently programmed keys are lost or do not operate, you must see your dealer or a locksmith who can service PASS-Key® III+ to have keys made and programmed to the system. See your dealer or a locksmith who can service PASS-Key® III+ to get a new key blank that is cut exactly as the ignition key that operates the system. To program the new additional key do the following: 1. Verify that the new key has a + stamped on it. 2. Insert the original, already programmed, key in the ignition and start the engine. If the engine will not start, see your dealer for service.
3. After the engine has started, turn the key to OFF,
and remove the key.
4. Insert the new key to be programmed and turn it to
the RUN position within five seconds of removing the original key.
5. The security light will turn off once the key has
been programmed.
6. Repeat Steps 1 through 5 if additional keys are to
be programmed.
If you are driving and the security light comes on and stays on, you may be able to restart your engine. Your PASS-Key® III+ system, however, may not be working properly and must be serviced by your dealer. If you lose or damage your PASS-Key® III+ key, see your dealer or a locksmith who can service PASS-Key® III+ to have a new key made.
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Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In Notice: Your vehicle does not need an elaborate break-in. But it will perform better in the long run if you follow these guidelines: (cid:127) Do not drive at any one constant speed, fast or
slow, for the first 500 miles (805 km). Do not make full-throttle starts. Avoid downshifting to brake, or slow, the vehicle.
(cid:127) Avoid making hard stops for the first 200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time your new brake linings are not yet broken in. Hard stops with new linings can mean premature wear and earlier replacement. Follow this breaking-in guideline every time you get new brake linings.
(cid:127) Do not tow a trailer during break-in. See Towing a
Trailer on page 4-36 for the trailer towing capabilities of your vehicle and more information.
Following break-in, engine speed and load can be gradually increased.
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Ignition Positions With the ignition key in the ignition, the key can be turned to four different positions:
Notice: Using a tool to force the key from the ignition switch could cause damage or break the key. Use the correct key and turn the key only with your hand. Make sure the key is in all the way. If none of this works, then your vehicle needs service.
A (OFF): This is the only position in which the ignition key can be inserted or removed. This position locks the ignition and transaxle. It is a theft-deterrent feature.
B (ACCESSORY): This position lets the radio and windshield wipers operate while the engine is off. To use ACCESSORY, turn the key clockwise.
C (RUN): This position is where the key returns to after the vehicle is started. This position displays some of the warning and indicator lights.
D (START): This position starts the engine.
A warning chime will sound and the Driver Information Center (DIC) will display DRIVER’S DOOR OPEN when the driver’s door is opened if the ignition is in OFF, ACCESSORY and the key is in the ignition. See DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-46 for more information.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) The vehicle has Retained Accessory Power (RAP), which will allow your vehicle’s radio to work when the ignition key is in the RUN or ACCESSORY position. Once the key is turned from RUN to OFF the radio will continue to work 10 minutes or until the driver’s door is opened. Also, the power windows will continue to work for up to 10 minutes or until any door is opened.
Starting the Engine Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). Your engine will not start in any other position — that is a safety feature. To restart when you are already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Notice: Shifting into PARK (P) with the vehicle moving could damage the transaxle. Shift into PARK (P) only when your vehicle is stopped. Starting Your Engine 1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn your ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your engine gets warm.
Notice: Holding your key in START for longer than 15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat can damage your starter motor. Wait about