2007 Buick Lucerne Owners Manual

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tether, route the tether over the head restraint. 61 If the position you are using has a ﬁxed head restraint and you are using a dual tether, route the tether around the head restraint. 3. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure. Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position If your child restraint has the LATCH system, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 55. 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. 62 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. 63 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 55. 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. 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. 64 Securing a Child Restraint in the Center Front Seat Position {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. Do not secure a child restraint in the center front seat position. Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position Your vehicle has a right front passenger’s airbag. A rear seat is a safer place to secure a forward-facing child restraint. See Where to Put the Restraint on page 53. In addition, your vehicle has a passenger sensing system. The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag when an infant in a rear-facing infant seat or a small child in a forward-facing child restraint or booster seat is detected. See Passenger Sensing System on page 81 and Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 198 for more information on this, including important safety information. 65 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 the system detects a rear-facing child restraint, no system is fail-safe, and no CAUTION: (Continued) CAUTION: (Continued) 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 the rear seat, even if the 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. 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 9 or Power Seats on page 9. 66 If your child restraint has the LATCH system, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 55. There is no top tether anchor at the right front seating 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 55 if the child restraint has a top tether. 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 a right front passenger’s frontal airbag. See Passenger Sensing System on page 81. We recommend that rear-facing child restraints be secured in a rear seat, even if the airbag is 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 9 or Power Seats on page 9. When the passenger sensing system has turned off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag, the off indicator on 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 198. 67 2. Put the child restraint on the seat. 3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how. 4. 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. 68 5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock. 8. If the airbag is off, the off indicator on the overhead console will be lit and stay lit when the key is turned to RUN or START. 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. 69 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. You should not be able to pull more of the belt from the retractor once the lock has been set. 7. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure. Airbag System Your vehicle has six airbags: (cid:127) A frontal airbag for the driver and another frontal airbag for the right front passenger. (cid:127) A seat-mounted side impact airbag for the driver and another for the right front passenger. (cid:127) A roof-mounted side impact airbag for the driver and passenger directly behind the driver. (cid:127) A roof-mounted side impact airbag for the right front passenger and the person seated directly behind that passenger. 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. Here are the most important things to know about the airbag system: {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. CAUTION: (Continued) 70 CAUTION: (Continued) {CAUTION: 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. Seat-mounted side impact airbags and roof-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. 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. Occupants should not lean on or sleep against the door. 71 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 197 for more information. Where Are the Airbags? {CAUTION: Anyone who is up against, or very close to, any airbag when it inﬂates can be seriously injured or killed. 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 43 or Infants and Young Children on page 46. There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument panel cluster, which shows the airbag symbol. The driver’s frontal airbag is in the middle of the steering wheel. 72 The right front passenger’s frontal airbag is in the instrument panel on the passenger’s side. The seat-mounted side impact airbag for the driver is in the side of the driver’s seatback closest to the door. 73 The seat-mounted side impact airbag for the right front passenger is in the side of the passenger’s seatback closest to the door. The roof-mounted side impact airbag for the driver and the person seated directly behind the driver is in the ceiling above the side windows. 74 The roof-mounted side impact airbag for the right front passenger and the person seated directly behind that passenger is in the ceiling above the side windows. {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. Never secure anything to the roof of your vehicle by routing the rope or tie-down through any door or window opening. If you do, the path of an inﬂating airbag will be blocked. Do not let seat covers block the inﬂation path of a side impact airbag. The path of an inﬂating airbag must be kept clear. 75 Your vehicle also has a “dual depth” passenger airbag that adjusts the restraint according to crash severity, seat location, and safety belt status using electronic frontal sensor(s) and other special sensors which enable the sensing system to monitor the status of the front passenger safety belt and the position of the front passenger seat. The passenger airbag inﬂates to a reduced depth when the passenger seat is in a forward position. For more rearward front seating positions, the passenger airbag may inﬂate to an increased depth (a full deployment), based on safety belt status and the crash severity measured early in the event. (Always wear your safety belt, even with frontal airbags.) 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. Your vehicle has a “dual stage” driver airbag, which adjusts the restraint according to crash severity using electronic frontal sensor(s) which help the sensing system distinguish between a moderate frontal impact and a more severe frontal impact. The “dual stage” driver airbag inﬂates to a level less than full deployment for moderate frontal impacts and to a full deployment for more severe frontal impacts. 76 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 16 mph (19 to 26 km/h), and the threshold level for a full deployment is about 17 to 22 mph (27 to 35 km/h) if the other sensors do not over-ride this. 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: (cid:127) 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. (cid:127) (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 has sensors which enable the sensing system to monitor the position of the right front passenger’s seat, whether the occupant is buckled or unbuckled. The passenger seat position sensor and passenger safety belt buckle switch provide information which is used to determine if the airbags should deploy at a reduced level or full deployment. 77 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. Both roof-mounted side impact airbags will deploy when either side of the vehicle is struck. In any particular crash, no one can say whether an airbag should have inﬂated simply because of the damage to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were. For frontal airbags, inﬂation is determined by what the vehicle hits, the angle of the impact, and how quickly the vehicle slows down. For side impact airbags, inﬂation is determined by the location and severity of the impact. 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, airbag and related hardware are all part of the airbag modules. Frontal airbag modules are located inside the steering wheel and the instrument panel. For vehicles with seat-mounted side impact airbags, there are also airbag modules in the side of the front seatbacks closest to the door. For vehicles with roof-mounted side impact airbags, there are also airbag modules in the ceiling of the vehicle, near the side window. 78 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. 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, rollovers, and rear impacts. 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 vehicles with side impact airbags. What Will You See After an Airbag Inﬂates? After frontal airbags and seat-mounted side impact airbags inﬂate, they quickly deﬂate, so quickly that some people may not even realize an airbag inﬂated. Roof-mounted side impact airbags may still be at least partially inﬂated minutes after the vehicle comes to rest. Some components of the airbag module — the steering wheel hub for the driver’s airbag, the instrument panel for the right front passenger’s bag, the side of the seatback closest to the door for the seat-mounted side impact airbags, and the area along the ceiling of your vehicle near the side windows for roof-mounted side impact airbags — may be hot for a short time. The parts of the airbag that come into contact with you may be warm, but not too hot to touch. 79 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 the hazard warning ﬂashers on 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. 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:127) 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:127) Your vehicle has a crash sensing and diagnostic module which records information after a crash. See Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data Recorders on page 471. 80 (cid:127) Let only qualiﬁed technicians work on the airbag systems. Improper service can mean that an airbag system will not work properly. See your dealer for service. 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. 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 198. The passenger sensing system will turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag 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 and safety belt. 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 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. 81 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. CAUTION: (Continued) CAUTION: (Continued) Even though the passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the right front passenger’s frontal and seat-mounted side impact 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 the rear seat, even if the 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. 82 The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag if: (cid:127) The right front passenger seat is unoccupied. (cid:127) The system determines that an infant is present in a rear-facing infant seat. (cid:127) The system determines that a small child is present in a forward-facing child restraint. (cid:127) The system determines that a small child is present in a booster seat. (cid:127) A right front passenger takes his/her weight off of the seat for a period of time. (cid:127) The right front passenger seat is occupied by a smaller person, such as a child who has outgrown child restraints. (cid:127) 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, the off indicator will light and stay lit to remind you that the 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 65. 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. 83 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 right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag. The passenger sensing system is designed to enable (may inﬂate) the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag 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. 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, 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. 84 {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 frontal airbag. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 197 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 87 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. 85 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 478. {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. The airbag system does not need regular maintenance. 86 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, height, front end or side sheet metal, 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 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 460. 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, steering wheel, instrument panel, ceiling headliner, ceiling and pillar garnish trim, roof-mounted airbag modules, or airbag wiring 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 460. 87 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. Keep safety belts clean and dry. See Care of Safety Belts on page 422 for more information. 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 Notice: driver’s or the right front passenger’s airbag, or the airbag covering on the driver’s and right front passenger’s seatback, or the side impact airbag covering on the ceiling near the side windows, the bag 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 airbag, the airbag module and seatback for the driver’s and right front passenger’s seat-mounted side impact airbags, or side impact airbag module and ceiling covering for the roof-mounted side impact airbag. Do not open or break the airbag coverings. 88 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. 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 the frontal airbags inﬂate 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 the frontal airbags have 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 197. 89 ✍ NOTES 90 Section 2 Features and Controls Keys .............................................................. 93 Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System .......... 94 Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation ................................................. 95 Doors and Locks ........................................ 102 Door Locks ................................................ 102 Power Door Locks ..................................... 103 Delayed Locking ........................................ 103 Programmable Automatic Door Locks ........ 104 Rear Door Security Locks ......................... 104 Lockout Protection ..................................... 105 Trunk ........................................................ 106 Windows ...................................................... 108 Power Windows ........................................ 109 Sun Visors ................................................ 109 Theft-Deterrent Systems ............................. 110 Content Theft-Deterrent ............................. 110 PASS-Key® III+ ......................................... 111 PASS-Key® III+ Operation ......................... 112 Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ......... 113 New Vehicle Break-In ................................ 113 Ignition Positions ....................................... 114 Retained Accessory Power (RAP) ............. 115 Starting the Engine .................................... 116 Engine Coolant Heater .............................. 117 Automatic Transaxle Operation .................. 119 Parking Brake ........................................... 122 Shifting Into Park (P) ................................. 123 Shifting Out of Park (P) ............................. 125 Parking Over Things That Burn ................. 126 Engine Exhaust ......................................... 127 Running the Engine While Parked ............. 128 Mirrors ......................................................... 129 Manual Rearview Mirror ............................. 129 Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar® ....... 129 Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with OnStar® .......................................... 129 Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with OnStar® and Compass ........................... 130 Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with Compass ........................................ 132 Outside Power Mirrors ............................... 133 Outside Curb View Assist Mirror ................ 134 Outside Convex Mirror ............................... 134 Outside Automatic Dimming Heated Mirror ......................................... 135 OnStar® System .......................................... 135 91 Section 2 Features and Controls Universal Home Remote System ................ 139 Universal Home Remote System (With One Triangular LED) ..................... 139 Universal Home Remote System (With Three Round LED) ....................... 140 Universal Home Remote System Operation (With Three Round LED) ....... 141 Universal Home Remote System Operation (With One Triangular LED) ..... 147 Storage Areas ............................................. 151 Glove Box ................................................. 151 Cupholder(s) .............................................. 151 Front Storage Area .................................... 151 Center Console Storage Area .................... 151 Center Flex Storage Unit ........................... 152 Rear Seat Armrest .................................... 152 Convenience Net ....................................... 152 Sunroof ....................................................... 153 92 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. 93 One key is used for the ignition, the driver’s door and the glovebox lock. When a new vehicle is delivered, the dealer removes the key tag from the key and gives it to the ﬁrst owner. Each tag has a code on it that tells your dealer or a qualiﬁed locksmith how to make extra keys. Keep the tag in a safe place. If you lose your key, you will be able to have a new one made easily using the tag. If you need a new key, contact your dealer who can obtain the correct key code. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 466 for more information. Notice: vehicle, you may have to damage the vehicle to get in. Be sure you have spare keys. If you ever lock your keys in your 94 Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Your Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) 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 interference. 2. 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: 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. At times you may notice a decrease in operating range. This is normal for any RKE 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 (RKE) System Operation on page 95. If you are still having trouble, see your dealer or a qualiﬁed technician for service. (cid:127) Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) 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 60 feet (18 m) away with the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter. If your vehicle has the remote start feature you can also start your vehicle with the RKE transmitter. Your RKE 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 (RKE) System on page 94. 95 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. See DIC Vehicle Customization on page 231 for additional information. Pressing the lock button may arm the content theft-deterrent system. See Content Theft-Deterrent on page 110. " (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 231. Pressing the unlock button on the RKE transmitter will disarm the content theft-deterrent system. See Content Theft-Deterrent on page 110. RKE with Remote Start RKE without Remote Start The following functions may be available if your vehicle has the RKE system: / (Remote Vehicle Start): If your vehicle has this feature, it may be started from outside the vehicle using the RKE transmitter. See “Remote Vehicle Start” following for more detailed information. 96 V(Remote Trunk Release): Press and hold this button for about 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. Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle Each RKE 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 Controls and Displays on page 212. 97 Battery Replacement Under normal use, the battery in your RKE 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 RKE transmitter battery is low. See “REPLACE BATTERY IN REMOTE KEY” under DIC Warnings and Messages on page 221 for additional information. 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. 98 To replace the battery in the RKE transmitter do the following: 1. Insert 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 the vehicle. It may also start the vehicle’s heating or air conditioning systems, rear window defogger, and heated seats. See Heated Seats on page 11 and Heated and Cooled Seats on page 12 for additional information. When the remote start system is active, the climate control system will heat or cool the inside of the vehicle at the setting the vehicle was set to when the vehicle was last turned off. The rear window defogger will be turned on by the climate control system when it is cold outside. If the vehicle has heated seats, they may also turn on. Cooled seats are not activated during a remote start. Normal operation of the system will return after the key is turned to the RUN position. Laws in some communities may restrict the use of remote starters. For example, some laws may require a person using the 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. If your vehicle has remote start, the RKE transmitter 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 (RKE) System on page 94 for additional information. /(Remote Start): If your vehicle has the remote start feature, the RKE transmitter will have a button with this symbol on it. 99 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. When the vehicle starts, the parking lamps will turn on and remain on while the vehicle is running. 3. 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. Remote start can be extended one time. 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 RKE transmitter at the vehicle and press the remote start button until the parking lamps turn off. (cid:127) Turn on the hazard warning ﬂashers. (cid:127) Turn the ignition switch on and then off. The vehicle can be started remotely two separate times between driving sequences. The engine will run for 10 minutes after each remote start. Or, you can extend the engine run time by another 10 minutes within the ﬁrst 10 minute remote start time frame, and before the engine stops. For example, if the lock button and then the remote start buttons are pressed again after the vehicle has been running for ﬁve minutes, 10 minutes are added, allowing the engine to run for 15 minutes. The additional 10 minutes are considered a second remote vehicle start. 100 Once two remote starts, or a single remote start with one time extension have been done, the vehicle must be started with the key. After the key is removed from the ignition, another remote start can be performed. The vehicle cannot be started remotely if the key is in the ignition, the hood is not closed, or if there is an emission control system malfunction. 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 RKE transmitter will have extended range that will allow you to lock or unlock your vehicle from about 195 feet (60 m) away. See your dealer if you would like to add the manufacturer’s remote vehicle start feature to your vehicle. 101 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. CAUTION: (Continued) 102 CAUTION: (Continued) (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 your vehicle. From the outside, use either the key or the remote keyless entry (RKE) transmitter. From the inside, use the power door lock switches or manual lock knobs. The manual lock knobs are located at the top of the door panel near the window. Push the manual lock knob down to lock the door. To unlock the door, pull up on the knob. Power Door Locks The power door lock switches are located on the armrest on the front doors. K (Unlock): Press the side of the switch with the unlock symbol to unlock the doors. Q (Lock): Press the side of the switch with the lock symbol to lock the doors. Delayed Locking This feature allows the driver to delay the actual locking of the doors. When the driver’s power door lock switch or remote keyless entry transmitter lock button is pressed with the key removed from the ignition, and the driver’s door open, a chime will sound three times to signal that the delayed locking system is active. When all doors have been closed, the doors will lock automatically after several seconds. If any door is opened before this, the timer will reset itself once all the doors have been closed again. Pressing the driver’s or passenger’s power door lock switch or the remote keyless entry transmitter button again will override this feature. 103 Rear Door Security Locks Your vehicle has rear door security locks, that prevent passengers from opening the rear doors from the inside. The rear door security locks are located on the inside edge of each rear door. You must open the rear doors to access them. To assist you in ﬁnding the lock, your vehicle will have one of the following: Personal Choice Programming The delayed locking feature can be turned on or off, using the Driver Information Center (DIC) to program this feature. See “DELAY DOOR LOCK” under DIC Vehicle Customization on page 231. Programmable Automatic Door Locks Your vehicle is programmed so that, when the doors are closed, the ignition is on, and the shift lever is moved out of PARK (P), all the doors will lock. The doors will unlock every time you stop the vehicle and move the shift lever into PARK (P). If someone needs to get out while your vehicle is not in PARK (P), have the person use the manual lock knob or power door lock switch. When the door is closed again, it will not lock automatically. Use the manual lock knob or power door lock switch to lock the door. If your vehicle has a Driver Information Center (DIC), you can choose various lock and unlock settings. For programming information, see DIC Vehicle Customization on page 231. 104 Lockout Protection If the key is in the ignition and the power door lock switch is used to lock the doors, all doors will lock and then the driver’s door will unlock. It is always recommended that you remove the ignition key when locking your vehicle. The lockout protection feature can be overridden by holding the power door lock switch for three seconds or longer. To use these locks, do the following: 1. Insert the key into the security lock slot and turn it so the slot is in the horizontal position. 2. Close the door. 3. Do the same for the other rear door. When you want to open a rear door when the security lock is on, do the following: 1. Unlock the door using the remote keyless entry transmitter, if the vehicle has one, the power door lock switch, or by lifting the rear door manual lock. 2. Open the door from the outside. To cancel the rear door security lock, do the following: 1. Unlock the door and open it from the outside. 2. Insert the key into the security lock slot and turn it so the slot is in the vertical position. 3. Do the same for the other rear door. 105 Trunk {CAUTION: Remote Trunk Release The remote trunk release button is located in the glovebox. 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. (cid:127) If you have air outlets on or under the instrument panel, open them all the way. See Engine Exhaust on page 127. 106 Press the button to open the trunk. To use this feature, your vehicle must be in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). You can also press the remote trunk release button on the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter to open the trunk. See Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation on page 95. 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. There is a glow-in-the-dark emergency trunk release handle located inside the trunk near the latch. This handle will glow following exposure to light. Pull the release handle to open the trunk from the inside. Rear Seat Pass-Through Your vehicle has a small door in the rear seat. This door allows you to access the trunk from inside the vehicle. The rear seat armrest must be down for the pass-through door to open. To release the pass-through door, move the release lever up with your ﬁngers. To close the door, raise it and push it until it latches. 107 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. 108 Power Windows The power window switches are located on the driver’s door armrest. In addition, each door has a switch for its own window. Driver’s Side shown The front power window switches operate with one position for up and two positions for down movement and the rear power window switches operate with one position for up and one for down movement. Your vehicle has Retained Accessory Power (RAP) that allows you to use the power windows once the ignition has been turned off. For more information, see Retained Accessory Power (RAP) on page 115. Express-Down Window This feature is on the front windows. Press the switch to the second position to activate the express-down feature. To stop the window as it is lowering, press down brieﬂy on the switch again. Window Lockout o (Window Lockout): The rear window lockout button is located on the driver’s door armrest near the window switches. Press the right side of this button to disable the rear window controls. The light on the button will come on, indicating the feature is in use. The rear windows still can be raised or lowered using the driver’s window switches when the lockout feature is active. To restore power to the rear windows, press the button again. The light on the button will go out. Sun Visors To block out glare, swing down the visor. The visors can also be removed from the center mount and moved to the side to block glare from the side. 109 Lighted Visor Vanity Mirror Your sun visors may have lighted vanity mirrors. When you open the cover to the visor vanity mirror, the lamp will turn on. 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 (RKE) transmitter. If you are using the RKE transmitter, the door does not need to be open. 3. Close all doors. 110 Once armed, the alarm will go off if someone tries to enter the vehicle without using the RKE 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 about two minutes. When the alarm is armed, the trunk may be opened with the RKE transmitter. The power door lock switches are disabled and the doors remain locked. You must use your RKE 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 RKE Transmitter The alarm system will arm when you use your RKE transmitter to lock the doors, if the key is not in the ignition. Disarming with the RKE Transmitter The alarm system will disarm when you use your RKE 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. 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. 111 PASS-Key® III+ Operation Your vehicle is equipped with 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 insert or remove the key from the ignition. 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. When trying to start the vehicle if the engine does not start and the security light on the instrument panel cluster comes on, 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 not damaged, try another ignition key. At this time, you may also want to check the fuse, see Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 428. 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. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 466. It is possible for the PASS-Key® III+ decoder to “learn” the transponder value of a new or replacement key. Up to 10 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. 112 To program the new key do the following: 1. Verify that the new key has a 1 stamped on it. 2. Insert the 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 key to be programmed and turn it to the RUN position within ﬁve seconds of the original key being turned to the OFF position. 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 ever driving and the security light comes on and stays on, you may be able to restart your engine if you turn it off. Your PASS-Key® III+ system, however, is not working properly and must be serviced by your dealer. Your vehicle is not protected by the PASS-Key® III+ system at this time. 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. 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 315 for the trailer towing capabilities of your vehicle and more information. Following break-in, engine speed and load can be gradually increased. 113 Ignition Positions With the ignition key in the ignition, the key can be turned to four different positions: 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. The battery could be drained if you leave the key in the ACCESSORY or RUN position with the engine off. You may not be able to start your vehicle if the battery is allowed to drain for an extended period of time. D (START): This position starts the engine. A warning chime will sound and the Driver Information Center (DIC) will display DRIVER 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 221 for more information. 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. 114 Key In the Ignition Never leave your vehicle with the keys inside, as it is an easy target for joy riders or thieves. If you leave the key in the ignition and park your vehicle, a chime will sound, when you open the driver’s door. Always remember to remove your key from the ignition and take it with you. This will lock your ignition and transaxle. Also, always remember to lock the doors. The battery could be drained if you leave the key in the ignition while your vehicle is parked. You may not be able to start your vehicle after it has been parked for an extended period of time. Retained Accessory Power (RAP) After you turn the ignition off and remove the key, you will still have power to such accessories as the power windows, clock, radio, and if equipped, audio steering wheel controls and sunroof. The power to the accessories can last up to 10 minutes. The instrument panel cluster lights will stay on for a few seconds, then will go out. Once you open the driver’s door, the power will shut off. Your vehicle has a feature designed to protect the battery against drainage. For more information see Inadvertent Power Battery Saver on page 177 and Electric Power Management on page 176. 115 Starting the Engine Place the transaxle in the proper gear. Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). Your engine will not start in any other position — this 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 Procedure 1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your engine gets warm. Do not race the engine immediately after starting it. Operate the engine and transaxle gently to allow the oil to warm up and lubricate all moving parts. Your vehicle has a Computer-Controlled Cranking System. This feature assists in starting the engine and protects components. If the ignition key is turned to the START position, and then released when the engine begins cranking, the engine will continue cranking for a few seconds or until the vehicle starts. If the engine does not start and the key is held in START for many seconds, cranking will be stopped after 15 seconds to prevent cranking motor damage. To prevent gear damage, this system also prevents cranking if the engine is already running. Engine cranking can be stopped by turning the ignition switch to the ACCESSORY or OFF position. Notice: Cranking the engine for long periods of time, by returning the key to the START position immediately after cranking has ended, can overheat and damage the cranking motor, and drain the battery. Wait at least 15 seconds between each try, to allow the cranking motor to cool down. 116 2. If the engine does not start after 5-10 seconds, especially in very cold weather (below 0°F or −18°C), it could be ﬂooded with too much gasoline. Try pushing the accelerator pedal all the way to the ﬂoor and holding it there as you hold the key in START for up to a maximum of 15 seconds. Wait at least 15 seconds between each try, to allow the cranking motor to cool down. When the engine starts, let go of the key and accelerator. If the vehicle starts brieﬂy but then stops again, do the same thing. This clears the extra gasoline from the engine. Do not race the engine immediately after starting it. Operate the engine and transaxle gently until the oil warms up and lubricates all moving parts. Notice: Your engine is designed to work with the electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical parts or accessories, you could change the way the engine operates. Before adding electrical equipment, check with your dealer. If you do not, your engine might not perform properly. Any resulting damage would not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty. Engine Coolant Heater If your vehicle has this feature, in very cold weather, 0°F (−18°C) or colder, the engine coolant heater can help. You’ll get easier starting and better fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually, the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of four hours prior to starting your vehicle. At temperatures above 32°F (0°C), use of the coolant heater is not required. 117 3. Plug the cord into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet. 4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store the cord as it was before to keep it away from moving engine parts. If you do not, it could be damaged. How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact your dealer in the area where you will be parking your vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for that particular area. To Use the Engine Coolant Heater 1. Turn off the engine. 2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord. On vehicles with the 3.8L V6 engine, the coolant heater cord is located on the passenger’s side of the vehicle, above the headlamp assembly. On vehicles with the 4.6L V8 engine, the cord is located on the driver’s side of the vehicle on the right side of the engine air cleaner. It is between the engine cover and the engine air cleaner. {CAUTION: Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong kind of extension cord could overheat and cause a ﬁre. You could be seriously injured. Plug the cord into a properly grounded three-prong 110-volt AC outlet. If the cord will not reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for at least 15 amps. 118 Automatic Transaxle Operation Your vehicle may have a shift lever located either on the steering column or on the console between the seats. PARK (P): This position locks your front wheels. It is the best position to use when you start your engine because your vehicle cannot move easily. {CAUTION: It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake ﬁrmly set. Your vehicle can roll. CAUTION: (Continued) CAUTION: (Continued) Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is running unless you have to. If you have left the engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be sure your vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly level ground, always set your parking brake and move the shift lever to PARK (P). See Shifting Into Park (P) on page 123. If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer on page 315. Make sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift lock control system. You have to fully apply your regular brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) while the ignition is in RUN. If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever and push the shift lever all the way into PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then move the shift lever into the gear you want. See Shifting Out of Park (P) on page 125. 119 REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up. Notice: Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is moving forward could damage the transaxle. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is stopped. To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow, ice, or sand without damaging your transaxle, see If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 306. NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine does not connect with the wheels. To restart when you are already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed. {CAUTION: Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is running at high speed is dangerous. Unless your foot is ﬁrmly on the brake pedal, your vehicle could move very rapidly. You could lose control and hit people or objects. Do not shift into a drive gear while your engine is running at high speed. Notice: Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) while the engine is running at high speed may damage the transaxle. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Be sure the engine is not running at high speeds when shifting your vehicle. 120 DRIVE (D): This position is for normal driving. It provides the best fuel economy for your vehicle. If you need more power for passing, and you are: (cid:127) Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your accelerator pedal about halfway down. (cid:127) Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the accelerator all the way down. You will shift down to the next gear and have more power. Downshifting the transaxle in slippery road conditions could result in skidding, see “Skidding” under Loss of Control on page 290. THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving. It reduces vehicle speed more than DRIVE (D) without using your brakes. You might choose THIRD (3) instead of DRIVE (D) when driving on hilly, winding roads, when towing a trailer, so there is less shifting between gears and when going down a steep hill. SECOND (2): This position reduces vehicle speed even more than THIRD (3) without using your brakes. You can use SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your speed as you go down steep mountain roads, but then you would also want to use your brakes off and on. Notice: Driving in SECOND (2) for more than 25 miles (40 km) or at speeds over 55 mph (90 km/h) may damage the transaxle. Also, shifting into SECOND (2) at speeds above 65 mph (105 km/h) can cause damage. Drive in THIRD (3) or DRIVE (D) instead of SECOND (2). FIRST (1): This position reduces vehicle speed even more than SECOND (2) without using your brakes. You can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the shift lever is put in FIRST (1) while going forward, the transaxle will not shift into ﬁrst gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough. Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in one place on a hill using only the accelerator pedal may damage the transaxle. If you are stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the brakes, or parking brake to hold the vehicle in place. 121 Parking Brake The parking brake pedal is located to the left of the regular brake pedal, near the driver’s door. To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal down with your right foot and push the parking brake pedal down with your left foot. If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light on the instrument panel cluster should come on. If it does not, you need to have your vehicle serviced. A warning chime will sound if the parking brake is set, the ignition is on, and the vehicle speed is greater than 5 mph (8 km/h). The brake light will come on and stay on until the parking brake is released. See Brake System Warning Light on page 201 for more information. To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal down with your right foot and push the parking brake pedal down with your left foot. When you lift your left foot, the parking brake pedal will follow it to the released position. Notice: Driving with the parking brake on can overheat the brake system and cause premature wear or damage to brake system parts. Verify that the parking brake is fully released and the brake warning light is off before driving. If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill, see Towing a Trailer on page 315. 122 Shifting Into Park (P) {CAUTION: It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake ﬁrmly set. Your vehicle can roll. If you have left the engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be sure your vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly level ground, use the steps that follow. If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer on page 315. Steering Column Shift Lever If your vehicle has a steering column shift lever, use the following procedure to shift the vehicle into PARK (P): 1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot. 2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by pulling the shift lever toward you and moving it up as far as it will go. 3. With your right foot still holding the brake pedal down, set the parking brake. See Parking Brake on page 122 for more information. 4. Turn the ignition key to OFF. 5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P). 123 Console Shift Lever If your vehicle is equipped with a console shift lever, use the following procedure to shift the vehicle into PARK (P): 1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot. 2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by pushing the lever all the way toward the front of your vehicle and then to the left. 3. With your right foot still holding the brake pedal down, set the parking brake. See Parking Brake on page 122 for more information. 4. Turn the ignition key to OFF. 5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P). Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine Running {CAUTION: It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the engine running. Your vehicle could move suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake ﬁrmly set. And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could overheat and even catch ﬁre. You or others could be injured. Do not leave your vehicle with the engine running. If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your parking brake is ﬁrmly set before you leave it. See Parking Brake on page 122 for more information. 124 Torque Lock If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift your transaxle into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in the transaxle. You may ﬁnd it difficult to pull the shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called torque lock. To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave the driver’s seat. To ﬁnd out how, see Shifting Into Park (P) on page 123. If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the pressure from the parking pawl in the transaxle, so you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P). Shifting Out of Park (P) Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift lock control system. You have to fully apply your regular brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is RUN. See Automatic Transaxle Operation on page 119. The shift lock control system is designed to do the following: (cid:127) Prevent the ignition key from being removed unless the shift lever is in PARK (P). (cid:127) Prevent movement of the console shift lever out of PARK (P) unless the ignition is in a position other than OFF. The shift lock control system is always functional except in the case of a dead battery or low voltage (less than 9 V) battery. If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease the pressure on the shift lever. Push the shift lever all the way into PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then move the shift lever into the gear you want. If you are still having a problem shifting, then have your vehicle serviced soon. 125 Parking Over Things That Burn {CAUTION: Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust parts under your vehicle and ignite. Do not park over papers, leaves, dry grass, or other things that can burn. 126 Engine Exhaust {CAUTION: Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas carbon monoxide (CO), which you cannot see or smell. It can cause unconsciousness and death.

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2007 Buick Lucerne Owners Manual