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2007 Buick Terraza Owner Manual M


Seats and Restraint Systems ....................... 7
Front Seats .............................................. 9
Rear Seats ............................................. 16
Safety Belts ............................................ 26
Child Restraints ...................................... 49
Airbag System ........................................ 76
Restraint System Check ......................... 93
Features and Controls ................................ 95
Keys ....................................................... 97
Doors and Locks .................................. 106
Windows ............................................... 121
Theft-Deterrent Systems ....................... 123
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ..... 128
Mirrors .................................................. 143
OnStar® System ................................... 145
Universal Home Remote System .......... 147
Storage Areas ...................................... 158
Instrument Panel ....................................... 167
................... 170
................................... 193


Instrument Panel Overview Climate Controls


Warning Lights, Gages, and


Indicators


.......................................... 207
............ 223
................................... 258
Driving Your Vehicle ................................. 345


Driver Information Center (DIC) Audio System(s)


Your Driving, the Road, and Your


Vehicle


Towing


.............................................. 346
................................................. 384
Service and Appearance Care .................. 397
Service ................................................. 400
Fuel ...................................................... 402
Checking Things Under the Hood ......... 408
Bulb Replacement ................................ 443
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ... 447
Tires ..................................................... 449
Appearance Care .................................. 487
Vehicle Identification ............................. 496
Electrical System .................................. 496
Capacities and Specifications ................ 503


Maintenance Schedule .............................. 505
.......................... 506


Maintenance Schedule


Customer Assistance Information ............. 525
... 526
...................... 543
Index .......................................................... 547


Customer Assistance and Information Reporting Safety Defects


This manual describes features that may be available in this model, but your vehicle may not be equipped with all of them. For example, more than one entertainment system may be offered or your vehicle may have been ordered without a front passenger or rear seats. Keep this manual in the vehicle, so it will be there if it is needed while you are on the road. If the vehicle is sold, leave this manual in the vehicle.


Canadian Owners A French language copy of this manual can be obtained from your dealer or from:


Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207


GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, BUICK, and the BUICK Emblem and the name TERRAZA are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation. This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after that time without notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada Limited” for Buick Motor Division whenever it appears in this manual.


Litho in U.S.A. Part No. 15869249 A First Printing


©2006 General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.


How to Use This Manual Many people read the owner manual from beginning to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If this is done, it can help you learn about the features and controls for the vehicle. Pictures and words work together in the owner manual to explain things.


Index A good place to quickly locate information about the vehicle is the Index in the back of the manual. It is an alphabetical list of what is in the manual and the page number where it can be found.


Safety Warnings and Symbols There are a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning.


{CAUTION:


These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people.


In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you do not, you or others could be hurt.


You will also find a circle with a slash through it in this book. This safety symbol means “Do Not,” “Do Not do this” or “Do Not let this happen.”


Vehicle Damage Warnings Also, in this manual you will find these notices: Notice: These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle. A notice tells about something that can damage the vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. But the notice will tell what to do to help avoid the damage. When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words. There are also warning labels on the vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.


Vehicle Symbols The vehicle has components and labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along with the text describing the operation or information relating to a specific component, control, message, gage, or indicator. If you need help figuring out a specific name of a component, gage, or indicator, reference the following topics: (cid:127) Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1
(cid:127) Features and Controls in Section 2
(cid:127) (cid:127) Climate Controls in Section 3
(cid:127) Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators in


Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3


Section 3


(cid:127) Audio System(s) in Section 3
(cid:127) Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5


These are some examples of symbols that may be found on the vehicle:


Section 1


Seats and Restraint Systems


Front Seats ..................................................... 9
Manual Passenger Seat ................................ 9
Power Seats ................................................. 9
Heated Seats .............................................. 10
Memory Seat .............................................. 10
Reclining Seatbacks .................................... 12
Head Restraints .......................................... 15
Rear Seats .................................................... 16
Rear Seat Operation ................................... 16
Captain Chairs ............................................ 16
Third Row Seat ........................................... 21
Safety Belts .................................................. 26
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ........... 26
Questions and Answers About


Safety Belts ............................................. 30
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ............. 31
Driver Position ............................................. 31
Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment ................. 40
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy .............. 41
Right Front Passenger Position ................... 41
Rear Seat Passengers ................................ 42


Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides ................ 45
Safety Belt Pretensioners ............................ 48
Safety Belt Extender ................................... 48
Child Restraints ............................................ 49
Older Children ............................................. 49
Infants and Young Children ......................... 52
Child Restraint Systems .............................. 55
Where to Put the Restraint .......................... 60
Lower Anchors and Tethers for


Children (LATCH) .................................... 61


Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear


Seat Position ........................................... 69


Securing a Child Restraint in the Right


Front Seat Position .................................. 72
Airbag System .............................................. 76
Where Are the Airbags? .............................. 79
When Should an Airbag Inflate? .................. 81
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? ................... 83
How Does an Airbag Restrain? ................... 84
What Will You See After an Airbag


Inflates? ................................................... 84


Section 1


Seats and Restraint Systems


Passenger Sensing System ......................... 86
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...... 91
Adding Equipment to Your


Airbag-Equipped Vehicle .......................... 92


Restraint System Check ............................... 93
Checking the Restraint Systems .................. 93
Replacing Restraint System Parts


After a Crash ........................................... 94


Front Seats


Manual Passenger Seat


Power Seats


If the vehicle has power seats, the controls used to operate them are located on the outboard side of the seats.


Use the lever located on the front of the seat to adjust the seat forward or rearward. Pull up on the lever to unlock the seat. Slide the seat to where you want it and release the lever.


To make sure the seat is locked into place, try to move the seat back and forth with your body.


To adjust the seat, do any of the following: (cid:127) Move the seat forward or rearward by sliding


the control forward or rearward.


(cid:127) Raise or lower the front part of the seat


cushion by moving the front of the control up or down.


(cid:127) Raise or lower the rear part of the seat


cushion by moving the rear of the control up or down.


Heated Seats Your vehicle may have this feature. If it does, the heated seat buttons are located on the climate control panel. This feature will heat the lower cushions of the driver’s and front passenger’s seats.


Press this button once to turn the heated seat on to the high setting.


This feature will turn off automatically when the ignition is turned off. Memory Seat


If your vehicle has this feature, the controls for the memory function are located on the driver’s door.


Driver’s Side Button shown, Passenger’s


Side similar


Both indicator lights next to the heated seat symbol will be lit to indicate that it is on the high setting. Press the button a second time to go to the low setting. One indicator will be lit. Press the button a third time to turn the heated seat off.


10


These buttons are used to program and recall memory settings for the driver’s seating position. The settings for these features can be personalized for both driver 1 and driver 2. Driver 1 or driver 2 corresponds to the memory buttons labeled 1 and 2 on the driver’s door and to the numbers, 1 or 2, on the back of the remote keyless entry transmitters.


To store the memory settings, do the following:


1. Adjust the driver’s seat to your preference. 2. Press and hold the 1 or 2 button of the


memory control for three seconds. A double chime will sound to let you know that the position has been stored.


To repeat the procedure for a second driver, follow the preceding steps, but press the other numbered memory control button. To recall the memory settings, press and release button 1 or 2 while the vehicle is in PARK (P). A single chime will sound and the memory position will be recalled. To stop recall movement of the memory seat feature at any time, press one of the memory buttons or power seat controls. Easy Exit Seat The control for the easy exit seat function is located on the driver’s door below the memory buttons 1 and 2. The easy exit seat button is used to program and recall the desired driver’s seat position when exiting/entering the vehicle. The seat position can be personalized for both driver 1
and driver 2.


To store the easy exit seat position for driver 1 or 2, do the following: 1. Press and release the 1 or 2 button of the memory control. The seat will move to the stored memory position.


2. Adjust the seat to the desired exit position. 3. Press and hold the easy exit seat button


for three seconds. A double chime will sound to let you know that the position has been stored for the identified driver 1 or 2.


To repeat the procedure for a second driver, follow the preceding steps, but press the other numbered memory control button. To recall the easy exit seat position, press the easy exit seat button on the memory control while the vehicle is in PARK (P). A single chime will sound and the seat will move to the stored exit position. If an easy exit seat position has not been stored, the default position is all the way rearward.


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Reclining Seatbacks Manual Reclining Seatbacks


{CAUTION:


You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you do not want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when the vehicle is not moving.


{CAUTION:


If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked.


If your seats have manual reclining seatbacks, the lever used to operate them is located on the outboard side of the seat(s).


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To recline the seatback, do the following: 1. Lift the recline lever. 2. Move the seatback to the desired position, then release the lever to lock the seatback in place.


3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it


is locked.


To return the seatback to an upright position, do the following: 1. Lift the lever fully without applying pressure to


the seatback and the seatback will return to the upright position.


2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it


is locked.


13


Power Reclining Seatbacks


If your seats have power reclining seatbacks, use the vertical power seat control located on the outboard side of the seat(s).


(cid:127) To recline the seatback, press the control


toward the rear of the vehicle.


(cid:127) To raise the seatback, press the control


toward the front of the vehicle.


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{CAUTION:


Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts cannot do their job when you are reclined like this. The shoulder belt cannot do its job because it will not be against your body. Instead, it will be in front of you. In a crash, you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries. The lap belt cannot do its job either. In a crash, the belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. For proper protection when the vehicle is in motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly.


Do not have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving.


Head Restraints


Adjust the head restraint so that the top of the restraint is at the same height as the top of the occupant’s head. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash. The height of the head restraints can be adjusted on the first and second row seats. Pull the head restraint up or push it down to adjust it. The head restraints on the third row seat cannot be adjusted.


15


Rear Seats


Rear Seat Operation The rear seats in your vehicle have levers and straps used to adjust, remove, and reinstall the seats. By using the levers and straps in the correct order, you can easily remove the seats from the vehicle. If your vehicle has second row captain chairs with airbags, the seats cannot be removed. When you put the seats back in the vehicle, follow the label on the back of the seat for proper location.


Captain Chairs Your vehicle has second row captain chairs that can be adjusted forward or rearward as well as seatbacks that can be adjusted.


Adjusting the Captain Chairs Forward or Rearward There are two manual adjustment bars on each seat. One is located under the front of the seat cushion. The other one is located under the rear of the seat cushion. Lift either bar to slide the seat forward or rearward. Release the lever. Push and pull on the seat to make sure it is locked into place. Folding or Reclining the Seatbacks


{CAUTION:


If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked.


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To recline the seatback, lift up on the recliner lever located on the outboard side of the seat, then move the seatback to the desired position.


To raise the seatback, lift up on the recliner lever without applying pressure to the seatback. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked in place. Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts and return them to their normal stowed position before folding a rear seat. To fold the seatback forward, lift up fully on the recliner lever. Push the seatback forward until it is flat. The armrests can be lowered or raised for easier entry or exit of the vehicle.


17


Removing a Captain Chair (without a Side Impact Airbag) If your vehicle has captain chairs with side impact airbags, the seats cannot be removed. To remove a captain chair, do the following:


1. Pull the nylon strap behind the seat to release


the rear hooks from the floor pins.


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2. The seat can then be lifted off the front floor


pins and removed from the vehicle.


Installing a Captain Chair (without a Side Impact Airbag)


{CAUTION:


{CAUTION:


If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked.


A safety belt that is improperly routed, not properly attached, or twisted will not provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. After installing the seat, always check to be sure that the safety belts are properly routed and attached, and are not twisted.


{CAUTION:


A seat that is not locked into place properly can move around in a collision or sudden stop. People in the vehicle could be injured. Be sure to lock the seat into place properly when installing it.


Do not put the seats in so they face rearward because they will not latch that way. For the second row, if you want more storage room behind the seat, adjust the seat by sliding it forward. Make sure the seatbacks are in the upright position, the seat belts are on the correct side of the seats and the seats are in the full rear position before beginning this procedure.


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To install a captain chair, do the following:


1. Hook the front latches over the front floor pins.


2. Push the rear of the seat down to lock the rear latches onto the rear set of floor pins.


3. Push and pull on the seat to be sure it is


properly attached.


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Third Row Seat Your vehicle may have a third row seat. It is a full bench seat and may come with the convenience center. See Convenience Center on page 164
for more information. The third row seat can be removed and replaced, or with the seatback folded, it will lie flat with the convenience center. Folding the Seatback(s) Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts and return them to their normal stowed position before folding a rear seat.


To fold down either side of the 50/50 split bench seat, lift the lever located on the back of the seat you want to fold, and push the seatback down.


21


Returning the Seatback to an Upright Position


{CAUTION:


If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked.


To raise the seatback, do the following: 1. Move the second row seat completely forward


by using the manual adjustment bar under either the front or rear of the seat cushion.


2. Open the liftgate.


3. From the rear of the vehicle, locate the


pullstrap attached to the lever on the back of the seat and pull it to raise the seat.


4. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure


that it is locked into place.


22


Removing the Third Row Seat 1. Remove the convenience center, if equipped.


See Convenience Center on page 164 for more information.


2. Make sure all items are off the seat. Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts and return them to their normal stowed position before folding a rear seat. 3. Put the seatback in its folded position before


removing the seat. See “Folding the Seatback(s)” earlier in this section.


4. From behind the seat, squeeze the release handle until the pin indicators are fully out. This indicates that the rear latches are released from the floor. For ease of removing the seat, squeeze the handle with the palm of your hand up.


5. Lift the seat slightly from the floor to ensure


the latches are clear of the floor pins.


6. Pull the seat rearward and out of the vehicle.


The release handle can be used to carry the seat.


23


For ease of installing the seat, put the seat in the folded position before beginning this procedure. 1. From the rear of the vehicle, place the


front hooks of the seat onto the front floor pins in the third row. To do this, the seat will need to be angled approximately 8-10 inches (20-25 cm) from the floor so the front hooks clear the rear floor pins and rear floor cups. Use the release handle to guide the seat into place. If the front hooks are not attached correctly, the rear latches will not attach to the rear set of floor pins.


2. Firmly push the rear latches into the rear floor pins by pushing down on the rear of the seat.


Installing the Third Row Seat


{CAUTION:


A safety belt that is improperly routed, not properly attached, or twisted will not provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. After installing the seat, always check to be sure that the safety belts are properly routed and attached, and are not twisted.


Do not put the third row seat in so it faces rearward because it will not latch that way. The seat needs to be installed before the convenience center. See Convenience Center on page 164
for more information. Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts and return them to their normal stowed position before folding a rear seat.


24


{CAUTION:


{CAUTION:


A seat that is not locked into place properly can move around in a collision or sudden stop. People in the vehicle could be injured. Be sure to lock the seat into place properly when installing it.


If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked.


3. Try to raise the seat to make sure that it is


locked down. The indicator pins will no longer stick out when the seat is properly latched into place.


4. Return the seatback to its upright position. See “Returning the Seatback to an Upright Position” earlier in this section.


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Safety Belts


Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts properly. It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts.


{CAUTION:


Do not let anyone ride where he or she cannot wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and you are not wearing a safety belt, your injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously injured or killed. In the same crash, you might not be, if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt, and check that your passengers’ belts are fastened properly too.


{CAUTION:


It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly.


Your vehicle has indicators to remind you and your passengers to buckle your safety belts. See Safety Belt Reminder Light on page 209 and Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light on page 210. In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here is why: They work.


26


Why Safety Belts Work When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes.


You never know if you will be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you do not know if it will be a bad one. A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up, a person would not survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed. After more than 40 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter... a lot!


Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it is just a seat on wheels.


27


Put someone on it.


Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider does not stop.


28


The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield...


or the instrument panel...


29


Questions and Answers About Safety Belts


Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after an accident if I am wearing a safety belt?


A: You could be — whether you are wearing a


safety belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you are upside down. And your chance of being conscious during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted.


Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I


have to wear safety belts?


A: Airbags are in many vehicles today and will be


in most of them in the future. But they are supplemental systems only; so they work with safety belts — not instead of them. Every airbag system ever offered for sale has required the use of safety belts. Even if you are in a vehicle that has airbags, you still have to buckle up to get the most protection. That is true not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions.


or the safety belts! With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does. You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance, and your strongest bones take the forces. That is why safety belts make such good sense.


30


Q: If I am a good driver, and I never drive far


from home, why should I wear safety belts?


A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you are


in an accident — even one that is not your fault — you and your passengers can be hurt. Being a good driver does not protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers. Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of home. And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h). Safety belts are for everyone.


How to Wear Safety Belts Properly This part is only for people of adult size. Be aware that there are special things to know about safety belts and children. And there are different rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be riding in your vehicle, see Older Children on page 49 or Infants and Young Children on page 52. Follow those rules for everyone’s protection. First, you will want to know which restraint systems your vehicle has. We will start with the driver position.


Driver Position Lap-Shoulder Belt The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here is how to wear it properly. 1. Close and lock the door. 2. Adjust the seat so you can sit up straight. To


see how, see “Seats” in the Index.


31


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. Move the shoulder belt height adjuster to the height that is right for you. Improper shoulder belt height adjustment could reduce the effectiveness of the safety belt in a crash. See Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment on page 40.


6. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the


shoulder belt.


3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across


you. Do not let it get twisted. The lap-shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly. 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 48.


32


It may be necessary to pull stitching on the safety belt through the latch plate to fully tighten the lap belt on smaller occupants.


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.


33


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.


34


Q: What is wrong with this?


{CAUTION:


You can be seriously hurt if your lap belt is too loose. In a crash, you could slide under the lap belt and apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The lap belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs.


A: The lap belt is too loose. It will not give nearly


as much protection this way.


35


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.


36


Q: What is wrong with this?


A: The belt is over an armrest.


{CAUTION:


You can be seriously injured if your belt goes over an armrest like this. The belt would be much too high. In a crash, you can slide under the belt. The belt force would then be applied at the abdomen, not at the pelvic bones, and that could cause serious or fatal injuries. Be sure the belt goes under the armrests.


37


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.


38


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.


39


Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt height adjuster to the height that is right for you. Adjust the height so that the shoulder portion of the belt is centered on your shoulder. The belt should be away from your face and neck, but not falling off your shoulder. Incorrect positioning of the shoulder belt can reduce the effectiveness of the safety belt.


To move it down, push down on the button (A) and move the height adjuster to the desired position. You can move the height adjuster up by pushing up on the shoulder belt guide.


After you move the height adjuster to where you want it, try to move it down without pushing the button down to make sure it has locked into position.


To unlatch the belt, 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.


40


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.


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 31. 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 which may turn off the passenger’s frontal airbag. If this happens, just let the belt go back all the way and start again.


41


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.


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.


2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it


clicks.


42


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 48. 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.


3. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the


shoulder part.


43


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.


{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.


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.


44


There is one guide for each second row passenger position. If your vehicle has a third row, there is one guide for each outboard position. Here is how to install a comfort guide to the shoulder belt:


To unlatch the belt, push the button on the buckle.


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.


1. Remove the guide from its storage pocket on


the side of the seatback.


45


2. Place the guide over the belt and insert the


two edges of the belt into the slots of the guide.


3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies flat. The elastic cord must be under the belt and the guide on top.


46


{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.


4. Buckle, position, and release the safety belt


as described in Rear Seat Passengers on page 42. Make sure that the shoulder belt crosses the shoulder.


To remove and store the comfort guide, squeeze the belt edges together so that you can take them out of the guide. Slide the guide into the storage pocket.


47


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 94.


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. 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.


48


Child Restraints


Older Children


Older children who have outgrown booster seats should wear the vehicle’s safety belts.


Q: What is the proper way to wear safety


belts?


A: If possible, 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.


49


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. If the child is sitting in a center rear seat 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 that belts provide. If the child is sitting in a rear outboard position, see Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides on page 45.


{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.


50


{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.


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Infants and Young Children Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! This includes infants and all other children. Neither the distance traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes the need, for everyone, to use safety restraints. In fact, the law in every state in the United States and in every Canadian province says children up to some age must be restrained while in a vehicle.


{CAUTION:


Children can be seriously injured or strangled if a shoulder belt is wrapped around their neck and the safety belt continues to tighten. Never leave children unattended in a vehicle and never allow children to play with the safety belts.


Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles, they should have the protection provided by appropriate restraints. 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.


52


CAUTION:


(Continued)


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.


{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


CAUTION:


(Continued)


53


{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.


Q: What are the different types of add-on


child restraints?


A: Add-on child restraints, which are purchased by the vehicle’s owner, are available in four basic types. Selection of a particular restraint should take into consideration not only the child’s weight, height, and age but also whether or not the restraint will be compatible with the motor vehicle in which it will be used. For most basic types of child restraints, there are many different models available. When purchasing a child restraint, be sure it is designed to be used in a motor vehicle. If it is, the restraint will have a label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. The restraint manufacturer’s instructions that come with the restraint state the weight and height limitations for a particular child restraint. In addition, there are many kinds of restraints available for children with special needs.


54


{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.


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.


55


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.


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.


56


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.


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.


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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 61 for more information. A child can be endangered in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle. When securing an add-on child restraint, refer to the instructions that come with the restraint which may be on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both, and to this manual. The child restraint instructions are important, so if they are not available, obtain a replacement copy from the manufacturer. Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child restraint in your vehicle — even when no child is in it.


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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.


59


Where to Put the Restraint Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. We recommend that 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 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


CAUTION:


(Continued)


CAUTION:


(Continued)


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 seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped) under certain conditions, 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 airbag is 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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Wherever you install a child restraint, be sure to secure the child restraint properly. Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child restraint in your vehicle — even when no child is in it.


Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) The LATCH system holds a child restraint during driving or in a crash. This system is designed to make installation of a child restraint easier. The LATCH system uses anchors in the vehicle and attachments on the child restraint that are made for use with the LATCH system


Make sure that a LATCH-compatible child restraint is properly installed using the anchors, or use the vehicle’s safety belts to secure the restraint, following the instructions that came with that restraint, and also the instructions in this manual. When installing a child restraint with a top tether, you must also use either the lower anchors or the safety belts to properly secure the child restraint. A child restraint must never be installed using only the top tether and anchor. In order to use the LATCH system in your vehicle, you need a child restraint that has LATCH attachments. The child restraint manufacturer will provide you with instructions on how to use the child restraint and its attachments. The following explains how to attach a child restraint with these attachments in your vehicle. Not all vehicle seating positions or child restraints have lower anchors and attachments or top tether anchors and attachments.


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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 child restraints that have a top tether are designed for use with or without the top tether being attached. Others require the top tether always to be attached. In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be attached. 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.


Second Row


63


i (Top Tether Anchor): Seating positions with top tether anchors.


Each seating position with lower anchors has two labels, near the crease between the seatback and the seat cushion, showing where the anchors are located.


For the second row seating positions, the top tether anchors are located on the seatback, near the base of each seat. 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.


Third Row


64


Second Row


For the center third row position, if your vehicle has one, the top tether anchor is located on the seatback, near the center of the third row seating position. This anchor can accommodate only one top tether.


Third Row


Do not secure a child restraint in the right front passenger’s position or in the third row outboard positions, if your vehicle has one, 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 60
for additional information.


65


Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System


{CAUTION:


{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.


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.


66


{CAUTION:


Children can be seriously injured or strangled if a shoulder belt is wrapped around their neck and the safety belt continues to tighten. Secure any unused safety belts behind the child restraint so children cannot reach them. Pull the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock, if your vehicle has one, after the child restraint has been installed. Be sure to follow the instructions of the child restraint manufacturer.


Notice: Contact between the child restraint or the LATCH attachment parts and the vehicle’s safety belt assembly may cause damage to these parts. Make sure when securing unused safety belts behind the child restraint that there is no contact between the child restraint or the LATCH attachment parts and the vehicle’s safety belt assembly.


Folding an empty rear seat with the safety belts secured may cause damage to the safety belt or the seat. When removing the child restraint, always remember to return the safety belts to their normal, stowed position before folding the rear seat.


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.


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2. If the child restraint manufacturer recommends


that the top tether be attached, attach and tighten the top tether to the top tether anchor, if equipped. Refer to the child restraint instructions and the following steps:


2.1. Find the top tether anchor. 2.2. 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.


If the position you are using has an adjustable head restraint and you are using a dual tether, route the tether around the head restraint.


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If the position you are using has an adjustable head restraint and you are using a single tether, raise the head restraint and route the tether under the head restraint and in between the head restraint posts.


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 61. For vehicles with a third row, there are no top tether anchors in the outboard seating positions. Do not secure a child seat in these positions if a national or local law requires that the top tether be anchored, or if the instructions that come with the child restraint say that the top strap must be anchored. If your child restraint does not have the LATCH system, you will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the child restraint. 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.


69


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.


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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.


6. If your child restraint has a top tether, and the


position that you are using has a top tether anchor, attach and tighten the top tether to the top tether anchor. Refer to the instructions that came with the child restraint and to Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 61.


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.


71


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 60. 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 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 86 and Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 211 for more information on this including important safety information. A label on your sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.


{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 seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped) under certain conditions, 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 is off.


72


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 Power Seats on page 9. If your child restraint has the LATCH system, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 61. 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 61 if your 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 airbags. See Passenger Sensing System on page 86. We recommend 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 Power Seats on page 9. When the passenger sensing system has turned off the right front passenger’s airbag or airbags, 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 211.


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.


73


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.


5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way


out of the retractor to set the lock.


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7. Push and pull the child restraint in different


directions to be sure it is secure.


8. If the airbag or airbags are off, the off indicator


on the instrument panel 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.


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6. To tighten the belt, push down on the child


restraint, pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten the lap portion of the belt and feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor. If you are using a forward-facing child restraint, you may find it helpful to use your knee to push down on the child restraint as you tighten the belt. You should not be able to pull more of the belt from the retractor once the lock has been set.


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, the right front passenger and the second row captain’s chairs (if equipped). If your vehicle has a side impact airbag, 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.


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. 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


CAUTION:


(Continued)


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CAUTION:


(Continued)


{CAUTION:


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.


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.


77


There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument panel cluster, which shows the airbag symbol.


The system checks the airbag electrical system for malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 210 for more information.


{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 49 or Infants and Young Children on page 52.


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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 a side impact airbag for the driver, it is in the side of the driver’s seatback closest to the door.


If your vehicle has a side impact airbag for the right front passenger and/or the second row captain’s chairs (if equipped), it is in the side of the seatback closest to the door.


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{CAUTION:


If something is between an occupant and an airbag, the airbag might not inflate properly or it might force the object into that person causing severe injury or even death. The path of an inflating airbag must be kept clear. Do not put anything between an occupant and an airbag, and do not attach or put anything on the steering wheel hub or on or near any other airbag covering. Do not 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.


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In addition, your vehicle has “dual stage” frontal airbags, which adjust the restraint according to crash severity. For moderate frontal impacts, these airbags inflate at a level less than full deployment. Your vehicle has electronic frontal sensors, which help the sensing system distinguish between a moderate frontal impact and a more severe frontal impact. 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 25 mph (29 to 40.2 km/h). The threshold level can vary, however, with specific vehicle design, so that it can be somewhat above or below this range.


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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. 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.


(cid:127)


(cid:127)


(cid:127)


The frontal airbags (driver and right front passenger) are not intended to inflate during vehicle rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts.


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.


Your vehicle may or may not have side impact airbags. See Airbag System on page 76. 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. A side impact airbag is intended to deploy on the side of the vehicle that is struck. In any particular crash, no one can say whether an airbag should have inflated simply because of the damage to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were. For 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.


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What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? After an airbag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly that some people may not even realize the airbag inflated. Some components of the airbag module — the steering wheel hub for the driver’s frontal airbag, the instrument panel for the right front passenger’s frontal airbag, and for seating positions with side impact airbags, the side of the seatback closest to the door — 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. 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.


How Does an Airbag Restrain? In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the

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