2003 Chevrolet Avalanche Owners Manual

The 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual a

Seats and Restraint Systems

Front Seats Rear Seats Safety Belts Child Restraints Air Bag Systems Restraint System Check

Features and Controls ..................................... ........................................................ .......................................

........................... ............................................... ............................................... ............................................. ....................................... ...................................... ............................

1 -i 1-2 1-8 1-10 1-32 1-52 1-66 2-1 2-3 2-7 ................................................. 2-23 2-25 ........... 2-27 2-45 2-53 2-55 2-59 .................................................. 2-84 2-85 3-1 3-4 3-20 ......... 3-30 .................. 3-46 3-64

.................................................... ...................................... ............................. .........................................

.......................................

Keys Doors and Locks Windows Theft-Deterrent Systems Starting and Operating Your Mirrors Onstar@ System HomeLinkO Transmitter Storage Areas Sunroof Vehicle Personalization

Instrument Panel Overview Climate Controls Warning Lights, Gages and Driver Information Center (DIC) Audio System(s)

............................. Instrument Panel ............................................. .......................... ......................................

............................

Indicators

Vehicle

Driving your vehicle .......................................

the Hood

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Towing

................................................... Service and Appearance Care .......................... ..................................................... .........................................................

............................................... ..................................... ....................................

Service Fuel Checking Things Under Rear Axle Four-wheel Drive Bulb Replacement Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement Tires Appearance Care Vehicle Identification Electrical System Capacities and Specifications Normal Maintenance Replacement

...................................................... ..................................... ................................. ......................................

Parts

Maintenance Schedule ..................................... ................................ ....................

Customer Assistance Information

Maintenance Schedule

Customer Assistance Information Reporting Safety Defects

...........................

Vehicle

4-1 ..... 4-2 4-48 5-1 5-3 5-5 ............... 5-10 5-49 5-50 5-52 ......... 5-57 5-58 5-85 5-93 5-94 ................... 5-1 04 .... 5-106 6-1 6-2 7-1 .................. 7-2 7-10 -1

Index ................................................................

Canadian Owners

You can obtain a French copy of this manual from your dealer or from: Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207

How to Use This Manual ManV people read their owner’s manual from b ‘eginnin to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you do this, it will help you learn about the features and controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find that pictures and words work together to explain things.

Index

A good place to look for what you need is the Index in back of the manual. It’s an alphabetical list of what’s in the manual, and the page number where you’ll find it.

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, CHEVROLET, the CHEVROLET Emblem are registered trademarks and the name AVALANCHE is a trademark of General Motors Corporation. This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada Limited for Chevrolet Motor Division whenever it appears in this manual. Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be there if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If you sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the new owner can use it.

Litho in U.S.A. Part No. C2318A First Edition

‘Copyright General Motors Corporation 06/24/02 All Rights Reserved

ii

Safety Warnings and Symbols

You will find a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning.

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

These mean ti

I you or other people.

s somet _ _ _ _ lg L i t could hurt

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 don’t, you or others could be hurt.

iii

Vehicle Damage Warnings

Also, in this book you will find these notices:

Notice: These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle. A notice will tell you about something that can damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But the notice will tell you 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. You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.

Vehicle Symbols Your vehicle has components and labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols, used on your vehicle, 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:

Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1 Features and Controls in Section 2 Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3 Climate Controls in Section 3 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators in Section 3 Audio System(s) in Section 3 Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5

iv

These are some examples of vehicle symbols you may find on your vehicle:

LATCH BOTH LAP AND SHOULDER BELTS TO PROTECT OCCUPANT

DO NOT TWIST SAFETY BELT WHEN AlTACHlNG

CAUTION POSSIBLE INJURY

PROTECT (""",

EYES BY SHIELDING

CAUSTIC

ACID COULD CAUSE BURNS

AVO ID SPARKS OR FLAMES

SPARK OR FLAME COULD EXPLODE BAlTERY

'\I/'

FASTEN SEAT BELTS

MOVE SEAT FULLY REARWARD+ SECURE CHILD SEAT

PULL BELT

COMPLETELY rHEN SECURE CHILD SEAT

POWER WINDOW

AIR BAG

\$& /z

DO NOT INSTALL A REAR-FACING CHILD RESTRAINT IN THIS SEATING POSITION

DO NOT INSTALL A 'ORWARD-FACING CHILD RESTRAINT IN THIS SEATING POSITION

HAZARD WARNING FLASHER

DOOR UNLOCK LOCK

LAMPS FOG

MASTER \

TURN SIGNALS

PARKING LAMPS

ENGINE

COOLANT rh

TEMP

BAlTERY CHARGING SYSTEM

ENGINE COOLANT FAN

COOLANT d

OWNERS MANUAL

SERVICE

ENGINE OIL PRESSURE W

$0

ANTI-LOCK (@)

BRAKES

SERVICE MANUAL

Section

Seats and Restraint Systems

Safety Belts

..................................

.................................................

Front Seats ...................................................... 1-2 .................................. 1-2 Manual Passenger Seat Power -1 -2 ...... 1-3 Power Lumbar Heated Seats ................................................. 1-4 Reclining Seatbacks ........................................ 1-5 Head Restraints ............................................. 1-7 Rear Seats ....................................................... 1-8 Rear Seat Operation ....................................... 1-8 ................................................... 1-10 Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................ 1-10 Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ...... 1-14 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ................. 1-16 Driver Position .............................................. 1-1 6 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy .................. 1-23 Right Front Passenger Position ....................... 1-24 Center Passenger Position ............................. 1-24 .................................. 1-26 Rear Seat Passengers Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children

Safety Belt Extender ..

and Small Adults ....................................... 1-29 ............................ 1-31 Child Restraints ............................................. 1-32 Older Children .............................................. 1-32 Infants and Young Children ............................ 1-34 Child Restraint Systems ................................. 1-38

Where to Put the Restraint ............................. 1-41 Top Strap .................................................... 1-42 Top Strap Anchor Location ............................. 1-43 Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for

Children (LATCH System) ........................... 1-43

Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat

...................................................

Securing a Child Restraint in the Center

Position Front Seat Position ....................................

1-45

1-47

Securing a Child Restraint in the Right

Front Seat Position ....................................

1-48 Air Bag Systems ............................................ 1-52 Where Are the Air Bags? ............................... 1-54 Inflate? .................... 1-57 When Should an Air Bag Inflate? ..................... 1-58 What Makes an Air Bag ..................... 1-58 How Does an Air Bag Restrain? What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates? ... 1-59 Passenger Sensing System ............................ 1-61 Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle ......... 1-65 Adding Equipment to Your Air Bag-Equipped ....................................................

1-65 Restraint System Check .................................. 1-66 Checking Your Restraint Systems ................... 1-66 Replacing Restraint System Parts After a

Vehicle

Crash ......................................................

1-66

1-1

Front Seats

Manual Passenger Seat

Power Seats

Horizontal Control: If your vehicle has a power seat, you can adjust it with the horizontal control located on the outboard edge of the seat(s).

Raise or lower the front of the seat by raising or lowering the forward edge of the control. Raise or lower the rear of the seat by raising or lowering the rear edge of the control.

If your vehicle has a manual front passenger split bench seat, you can adjust it with this lever located at the front of the seat. Lift the lever at the front of the seat to unlock it. Using your body, slide the seat to where you want it. Then, release the lever and try to move the seat with your body to make sure that the seat is locked into place.

1-2

Move the seat forward or rearward by moving the whole control toward the front or toward the rear of the vehicle.

* Moving the whole control up or down raises or

lowers the entire seat cushion.

Vertical Control: If your vehicle has power reclining seats, you can use the vertical control to adjust the angle of the seatback. Move the reclining front seatback rearward or forward by moving the control toward the rear or toward the front of the vehicle. See Reclining Seatbacks on page 1-5 for further information.

Power Lumbar

t .

_" _l", . . . ... " , ..

... I.

:.~ . .

, ""

., ._^. , ,- .,". I

If you have power lumbar adjustment, -you can increase or decrease lumbar support in the lower seatback. The control is located on the outboard side of the seat cushion.

To increase support in the lower back area, press and hold the front of the control. Let go of the control when the lower seatback reaches the desired level of support.

* To decrease support in the lower back area, press

and hold the rear of the control. Let go of the control when the lower seatback reaches the desired level of support.

I -3

You can also reshape the back wing area of the lower seatback.

To increase support in the wing area of the lower seatback, press and hold the top of the control. Let go of the control when the lower seatback reaches the desired level of support. To decrease support in the wing area of the lower seatback, press and hold the bottom of the control. Let go of the control when the lower seatback reaches the desired level of support.

Heated Seats a - - Your vehicle may have

heated front seats. The buttons used to control this feature are located on the front doors. The engine must be running for the heated seat feature to work.

To heat the entire seat, press the horizontal button with the heated seat symbol. Press the button to cycle through the temperature settings of high, medium and low and to turn the heated seat off. Indicator lights will glow to designate the level of heat selected, three for high, two for medium, and one for low.

1 -4

Reclining Seatbacks

The low setting warms the seatback and cushion until the seat temperature is near body temperature. The medium and high settings heat the seatback and seat cushion to a slightly higher temperature. You will be able to feel heat in about two minutes. To heat only the seatback, press the vertical button with the heated seatback symbol. An indicator light on the seatback button will glow to designate that only the seatback is being heated. Additional presses of the seatback button will cycle through the heat levels for the seatback only. Press the horizontal button again to heat the whole seat. The heated front seats will shut off automatically when the ignition is turned off.

To adjust the front seatback, lift the lever. The lever is located on the outboard side of the seat cushion. Release the lever to lock the seatback where you want it. Lift the lever without pushing on the seatback and the seatback will go to an upright position. If your vehicle has power seats with a power recliner, see Power Seats on page 1-2 for further information on how to operate the reclining seatback feature.

1 -5

Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts can’t do their job when you’re reclined like this. The shoulder belt can’t do its job. In a crash, you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries. The lap belt can’t 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.

But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving.

1 -6

Head Restraints

Adjust your head restraint so that the top of the restraint is closest to the top of your head. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash. The rear seat head restraints in your vehicle are adjustable. They work the same as the front seat head restraints.

Rear Seats

Rear Seat Operation

The rear seat is a 60/40 split rear seat that can be folded to give you more cargo space and access to the folding midgate. See Midgate on page 2-12 for more information on operation of the folding midgate. To fold either side of the seat do the following: 1. Push the rear head restraints all the way down. 2. Pull the seat loop located where the seatback and seat cushion meet. The seat will release and allow you to tilt it toward the front of the vehicle.

1-8

3. Grasp the seatback and pull it toward the front of the vehicle. Push it down until it is flat. You may have to move the front seats forward slightly to do this.

4. Repeat the procedure for the other side. To return the seats to the normal position, pull the seatback up and fold the seat cushion down.

If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is locked.

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

1-9

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.

Dc.. t let a--= one ride wher - .le or -..e can’t wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and you’re 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.

1-10

to - -Ae in a cargo

It is extremely da. .,erous 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 a light that comes on as a reminder to buckle up. See Safety Belt Reminder Light on page 3-32.

In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here’s why: They work.

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

You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you don’t 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 wouldn’t 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 30 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’s just a seat on wheels.

1-1 1

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

or the instrument panel ...

1-13

accident if I’m wearing a safety belt?

0: Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle after an A: You could be - whether you’re wearing a safety belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you’re 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.

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’s why safety belts make such good sense.

1-14

Q: If my vehicle has air bags, why should I have to A: Air bags are in many vehicles today and will be in

wear safety belts?

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

home, why should I wear safety belts?

Q: If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far from A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you’re in an accident - even one that isn’t your fault - you and your passengers can be hurt. Being a good driver doesn’t 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.

1-15

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 1-32 or lnfants and Young Children on page 1-34. Follow those rules for everyone’s protection. First, you’ll want to know which restraint systems your vehicle has. We’ll start with the driver position. Driver Position This part describes the driver’s restraint system. Lap-Shoulder Belt The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s 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.

1-16

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

Don’t let it get twisted.

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 isn’t long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 1-3 1. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.

5. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder belt.

The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you’d 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’s a sudden stop or a crash.

1 - 1 i

I

You ca,. 3e serioL,,y 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.

Q: What’s wrong with this?

-r c

1- t

-1..

A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It won’t give nearly

as much protection this way.

1-18

Q: What’s wrong with this?

A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place.

You can be seriously injured if your be s 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.

1-19

Q: What’s wrong with this?

You ca.. Je 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.

A: The belt is over an armrest.

1-20

Q: What’s wrong with this?

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 aren’t 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.

Q: What’s wrong with this?

You can be seriousl, mjured by a twisted belt. In a crash, you wouldn’t 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.

1-22

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 don't wear safety belts.

To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. The belt should go back out of the way. Before you close the door, be sure the belt is out of the way. If you slam the door on it, you can damage both the belt and your vehicle.

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.

1-23

The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it’s more likely that the fetus won’t 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 7-16. The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same way as the driver’s safety belt-except 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 air bag- If this happens unintentionally, just let the belt go back all the way and start again.

for one thing.

Center Passenger Position

If your vehicle has front and rear bench seats, someone can sit

in the center positions.

When you sit in the center rear seat position, you have a lap-shoulder belt which works the same way as the rear outside seat positions. To learn how to wear this belt see “Lap-Shoulder Belt” under Rear Seat Passengers on page 1-26.

1-24

Lap Belt

in a center front seating position, you

When you sit have a lap safety belt, which has no retractor. To make the belt longer, tilt the the belt.

latch plate and pull it along

To make the belt shorter, pull its free end as shown until the belt is snug. Buckle, position and release it the same way as the lap part of a lap-shoulder belt, If the belt isn’t enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page

1-31.

long

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.

~~

1-25

Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions

Rear Seat Passengers It’s very important for rear seat passengers to buckle up! Accident statistics show that unbeited people in the rear seat are hurt more often in crashes than those who are wearing safety belts. Rear passengers who aren’t 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.

The positions next to the windows have lap-shoulder belts.

1-26

Lap-Shoulder Belt Here's how to wear a lap-shoulder belt properly.

If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 1-3 1. 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.

1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.

Don't let it get twisted.

2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.

Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. When the shoulder belt is pulled out all the way, it will lock. If it does, let it go back all the way and start again.

3. TO make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder part.

1-27

I

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’d 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’s a sudden stop or a crash.

1-28

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

Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults

Your vehicle may have this feature already. If it doesn’t, you can get it from any GM dealer. Rear shoulder belt comfort guides will provide added safety belt comfort for older children who have outgrown booster seats and for small adults. When installed on a shoulder belt, the comfort guide better positions the belt away from the neck and head. There is one guide available for each outside passenger position in the rear seat. Here’s how to install a comfort guide and use the safety belt:

1. Remove the guide from the storage clip on the side

of the rear seatback.

1-29

O€- c

Safety Belt Extender If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you should use it. But if a safety belt isn’t long enough to fasten, your dealer will order you an extender. It’s free. When you go in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the extender will be long enough for you. The extender will be just for you, and just for the seat in your vehicle that you choose. Don’t let someone else use it, and use it only for the seat it is made to fit. To wear it, just attach it to the regular safety belt.

1-31

4. Buckle, position and release the safety belt as

described in Rear Seat Passengers on page 1-26. Make sure that the shoulder belt crosses the shoulder.

To remove and store the comfort guides, squeeze the belt edges together so that you can take them out of the guides. Attach the guide onto the storage clip.

Child Restraints

Older Children

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.

Older children who have outgrown booster seats should wear the vehicle’s safety belts. If you have the choice, a child should sit in a seat that has a lap-shoulder belt to get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide.

1-32

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 rear seat outside position,

move the child toward the center of the vehicle. See Rear Safety Belt Comfot? Guides for Children and Small Adults on page 7-29. If the child is sitting in the center 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 so small that the shoulder belt is still very close to the child's face or neck, you might want to place the child in a seat that has a lap belt, if your vehicle has one.

1 -33

Never do this. Here two children are wearing the same belt. The belt can't 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.

this way, in a crash the child might A d e under the belt. The belt’s force would then be applied right on the child’s abdomen. That could cause serious or fatal injuries.

Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the child’s thighs. This applies belt force to the child’s pelvic bones in a crash.

Infants and Young Children

Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! This includes infants and all other children. Neither the distance traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes the need, for everyone, to use safety restraints. In fact, the law in every state in the United States and in every Canadian province says children up to some age must be restrained while in a vehicle. Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles, they should have the protection provided by appropriate restraints. Young children should not use the vehicle’s adult safety belts alone, unless there is no other choice. Instead, they need to use a child restraint.

111 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 (Continued)

CAUTION:

1-34

People should never hold a baby in their arms while riding in a vehicle. A baby doesn’t weigh much -- until a crash. During a crash a baby will become so heavy it is not possible to holdit. 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.

1-35

Children who are up against, or very close to, any air bag when it inflates can be seriously injured or killed. Air bags plus lap-shoulder belts offer outstanding protection for adults and older children, but not for young children and infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety belt system nor its air bag system is designed for them. Young children and infants need the protection that a child restraint system can provide.

Q: What are the different types of add-on child

restraints?

A: Add-on child restraints, which are purchased by the vehicle’s owner, are available in four basic types. Selection of a particular restraint should take into consideration not only the child’s weight, height, and age but also whether or not the restraint will be compatible with the motor vehicle in which it will be used.

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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.

, te support,

Newborn in.-.lts ne -~ cc 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.

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’s unprotected by any bony structure. This alone could cause serious or fatal injuries. Young children always should be secured in appropriate child restraints.

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Child Restraint Systems

A rear-facing infant seat (8) 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.

An infant car bed (A), a special bed made for use 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.

in a

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A forward-facing child seat (C-E) provides restraint for the child’s body with the harness and also sometimes with surfaces such as T-shaped or shelf-like shields.

A booster seat (F-G) is a child restraint designed to improve the fit of the vehicle’s safety belt system. Some booster seats have a shoulder belt positioner, and some high-back booster seats have a five-point harness. A booster seat can also help a child to see out the window.

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When choosing a 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. These restraints use the belt system in your vehicle, but the child also has to be secured within the restraint to help reduce the chance of personal injury. 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.

Q: How do child restraints work? 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. For many years, add-on child restraints have used the adult belt system in the vehicle. To help reduce the chance of injury, the child also has to be secured within the restraint. The vehicle’s belt system secures the add-on child restraint in the vehicle, and the add-on child restraint’s harness system holds the child in place within the 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.

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Where to Put the Restraint Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. General Motors, therefore, recommends that chiid 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. Never put a child in a rear-facing child restraint in the right front passenger seat unless your vehicle has the passenger sensing system and the passenger air bag status indicator shows off. Never put a rear facing child restraint passenger seat unless the air bag is off. Here’s why:

in the right front

ca.. >e

3 rear-facing child restraint

A ( seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger’s air bag inflates. This back of the rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the inflating air bag. Be sure the air bag is off before using a rear-facing child restraint in the right front seat position.

is because the

CAUTION:

(Continued)

Even though the passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal air bag if the system detects a rear-facing child restraint, no system is fail-safe, and no one can guarantee that an air bag will not deploy under some unusual circumstance, even though it is turned off. General Motors therefore recommends that rear-facing child restraints be secured in the rear seat whenever possible, even if the air bag is off. If you secure a forward-facing child restraint the right front seat, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go. It is

in

If your vehicle has the passenger sensing system and you need to secure a rear-facing child restraint in the right front passenger’s seat, the passengers frontal air bag must be off. See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-61 and Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position on page 1-48 for more on this including important safety information.

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Wherever you install it, 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.

Top Strap

Some child restraints have a top strap, or “top tether”. It can help restrain the child restraint during a collision. For it to work, a top strap must be properly anchored to the vehicle. Some top strap-equipped child restraints are designed for use with or without the top strap being anchored. Others require the top strap always to be anchored. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for your child restraint. If yours requires that the top strap be anchored, don’t use the restraint unless it is anchored properly. If the child restraint does not have a top strap, one can be obtained, in kit form, for many child restraints. Ask the child restraint manufacturer whether or not a kit is available.

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In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child restraints have a top strap, and that the strap be anchored. In the United States, some child restraints also have a top strap. If your child restraint has a top strap, it should be anchored. Anchor the top strap to one of the following anchor points. Be sure to use an anchor point located on the same side of the vehicle as the seating position where the child restraint will be placed. If you have an adjustable head restraint, route the top strap under it.

Once you have the top strap anchored, you’ll be ready to secure the child restraint itself. Tighten the top strap when and as the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions say. Top Strap Anchor Location

60/40 Split Rear Seat Folded

An anchor loop bracket for a top strap is located on the back of the rear seat frame above the floor for each rear seating position. In order to get to the brackets, you’ll have to fold the rear seatback(s). See Rear Seat Operation on page 7-8 for information on folding the rear seatbacks. Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System) Your vehicle may have the LATCH system. If it does, you’ll find anchors (A) in the second row seats, where the seatback meets the seat cushion. To assist you in locating the lower anchors for this child restraint system, each seating position with the LATCH system will have a visible metal anchorage point in the seat where the seatback meets the seat cushion.

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In order to use the system, you need either a forward-facing child restraint that has attaching points (B) at its base and a top tether anchor (C), or a rear-facing child restraint that has attaching points (El), as shown here.

With this system, use the LATCH system instead of the vehicle’s safety belts to secure a child restraint.

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i

If a LATCH-type child restraint isn’t attached to its anchorage points, the restraint won’t 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 anchorage points, or use the vehicle’s safety belts to secure the restraint. See “Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System”, “Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position”, or “Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position”in the Index for information on how to secure a child restraint in your vehicle.

Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position

if your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH system see Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System) on page 1-43. You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See Top Strap on page 1-42 if the child restraint has one. 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 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.

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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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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. Securing a Child Restraint in the Center Front Seat Position

5. To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt back into

the retractor while you push down on the child restraint. If you’re 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. Push and pull the child restraint in different

directions to be sure it is secure.

Don’t use child restraints in this position. The restraints won’t work properly.

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Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position

Your vehicle has a right front passenger air bag. A rear seat is a safer place to secure a forward-facing child restraint. Unless your vehicle has the passenger sensing system, never put a rear-facing child restraint in this seat. Here’s why:

A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger’s air bag inflates. This is because the back of the rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the inflating air bag. Always secure a rear-facing child restraint in a rear seat unless the air bag is off.

If your vehicle has the passenger sensing system and you need to secure a rear-facing child restraint in the right front passenger’s seat, the passenger’s air bag must be off. See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-61 or Passenger Air Bag Status indicator on page 3-33 for more information on this including important safety information.

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A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger’s air bag inflates. This is because the back of the rear facing child restraint would be very close to the inflating air bag. Be sure the air bag is off before using a rear-facing child restraint in the right front seat position. Even though the passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal air bag if the system detects a rear-facing child restraint, no system is fail-safe, and no one can guarantee that an air bag will not deploy under some unusual circumstance, even though it is turned off. General Motors therefore recommends that rear-facing child restraints be secured in the rear seat whenever possible, even if the air bag is off.

You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See Top Strap on page 7-42 if the child restraint has one. 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. Because your vehicle has a right front passenger

air bag, always move the seat as far back as it will go before securing a child restraint, if you need to secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat position. See Power Seats on page 1-2 or Manual Passenger Seat on page 1-2. If your vehicle has the passenger sensing system and you are using a rear-facing child restraint in this seat, make sure the frontal air bag is off. See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-6 1. When the passenger sensing system has turned off the right front passenger’s frontal air bag, the off indicator on the inside rearview mirror will light and stay lit when you turn the ignition to RUN or START.

2. Put the 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.

1-49

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 your vehicle has the passenger sensing system and you’re using a rear-facing child restraint in this seat, check to be sure the right front passenger’s frontal air bag is off before you begin to drive. If the air bag has been turned off the off indicator will light and stay lit when the key is turned to RUN or START. If the on indicator is lit, the passenger‘s frontal air bag has not been turned off. If this ever happens, turn the vehicle off, unbuckle the safety belt and perform the steps to install the rear-facing restraint again. After restarting the vehicle, if the air bag still doesn’t turn off, install the infant restraint in a rear seat position of the vehicle and have your vehicle serviced as soon as possible.

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, feed the shoulder belt back into

the retractor while you push down on the child restraint. 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.

If your vehicle has a side impact air bag for the right front passenger, the words AIR BAG will appear on the air bag covering on the side of the right front passenger’s seatback closest to the door.

Air Bag Systems This part explains the frontal and side impact air bag systems. Your vehicle has air bags - a frontal air bag for the driver and another frontal air bag for the right front passenger. Your vehicle may also have a side impact air bag. Side impact air bags are available for the driver and right front passenger. If your vehicle has a side impact air bag for the driver, the words AIR BAG will appear on the air bag covering on the side of the driver’s seatback closest to the door.

Frontal air bags are designed to help reduce the risk of injury from the force of an inflating frontal air bag. But these air bags must inflate very quickly to do their job and comply with federal regulations.

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Here are the most important things to know about the air bag systems:

red or killed in a crash You can be severely il if you aren’t wearing your safety belt - even if you have air bags. Wearing your safety belt during a crash helps reduce your chance of hitting things inside the vehicle or being ejected from it. Air bags are designed to work with safety belts but don’t replace them. Frontal air bags for the driver and right front passenger are designed to deploy only in moderate to severe frontal and near frontal crashes. They aren’t designed to inflate at all in rollover, rear or low-speed frontal crashes, or in many side crashes. And, for some unrestrained occupants, frontal air bags may provide less protection in frontal crashes than more forceful air bags have provided in the past. The side impact air bags for the driver and right front passenger are designed to inflate

CAUTION:

(Continued)

in model e to severe crashes where

on something hits the side of your vehicle. They aren’t 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’s an air bag for that person.

eye. If

Both frontal an side impact air bags inflate with great force, faster than the blink of an you’re too close to an inflating air bag, as you would be if you were leaning forward, seriously injure you. Safety belts help keep you in position for air bag inflation before and during a crash. Always wear your safety belt, even with frontal air bags. The driver should sit as far back as possible while still maintaining control of the vehicle. Front occupants should not lean on or sleep against the door.

it could

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The system checks the air bag electrical system for malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. See Air Bag Readiness Light on page 3-32 for more information. Where Are the Air Bags?

The driver’s frontal air bag is in the middle of the steering wheel.

Anyone who is up against, or very close to, any air bag when it inflates can be seriously injured or killed. Air bags 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 air bag 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 the part of this manual called “Older Children” or “Infants and Young Children”.

There is a air bag readiness light on the instrument panel cluster, which shows the air bag symbol.

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If something is between an occub-.rt a,.- an air bag, the bag might not inflate properly or it might force the object into that person causing severe injury or even death. The path of an inflating air bag must be kept clear. Don’t put anything between an occupant and an air bag, and don’t attach or put anything on the steering wheel hub or on or near any other air bag covering. Don’t let seat covers block the inflation path of a side impact air bag.

If your vehicle has one, the right front passenger’s side impact air bag is in the side of the passenger’s seatback closest to the door.

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When Should an Air Bag Inflate? Frontal Air Bags The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal air bags are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to inflate only if the impact speed is above the system’s designed “threshold level.” In addition, your vehicle has “dual stage” frontal air bags, which adjust the amount of restraint according to crash severity. For moderate frontal impacts, these air bags inflate at a level less than full deployment. For more severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs. If the front of your vehicle goes straight into a wall that doesn’t move or deform, the threshold level for the reduced deployment is about 10 to 16 mph (16 to 25 km/h), and the threshold level for a full deployment is about 20 to 25 mph (32 to 40 km/h). The threshold level can vary, however, with specific vehicle design, so that it can be somewhat above or below this range. If your vehicle strikes something that will move or deform, such as a parked car, the threshold level will be higher. The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal air bags are not designed to inflate in rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts because inflation would not help the occupant.

Seat Position Sensors Vehicles with dual stage air bags are also equipped with special sensors which enable the sensing system to monitor the position of both the driver and passenger front seats. The seat position sensor provides information which is used to determine if the air bags should deploy at a reduced level or at full depoyment. Side Impact Air Bags Your vehicle may or may not have a side impact air bag. See Air Bag Systems on page 1-52. Side impact air bags are designed to inflate in moderate to severe side crashes. A side impact air bag 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 air bags are not designed to inflate in frontal or near-frontal impacts, rollovers or rear impacts, because inflation would not help the occupant. A side impact air bag will only deploy on the side of the vehicle that is struck.

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Air Bag Systems In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air bag should have inflated simply because of the damage to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were. For frontal air bags, inflation is determined by the angle of the impact and how quickly the vehicle slows down in frontal and near-frontal impacts. For side impact air bags, inflation is determined by the location and severity of the impact. The air bag system is designed to work properly under a wide range of conditions, including off-road usage. Observe safe driving speeds, especially on rough terrain. As always, wear your safety belt. See Off-Road Driving with Your Four-wheel Drive Vehicle in the Index for tips on off-road driving. What Makes an Air Bag Inflate? In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. For both frontal and side impact air bags, the sensing system triggers a release of gas from the inflator, which inflates the air bag. The inflator, the air bag and related hardware are all part of the air bag modules. Frontal air bag modules are located inside the steering wheel and instrument panel. For vehicles with side impact air bags, the air bag modules are located in the seatback closest to the driver’s and/or right front passenger’s door.

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How Does an Air Bag Restrain?

~.

of

In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside of the vehicle. The air bag supplements the protection provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But the frontal air bags 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 air bag. Side impact air bags would not help you in many types of collisions, including frontal or near frontal collisions, rollovers, and rear impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward those air bags. Air bags 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 air bags, and only in moderate to severe side collisions for vehicles with a driver’s and right front passenger’s side impact air bag.

What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates? After the air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly that some people may not even realize the air bag inflated. Some components of the air bag module will be hot for a short time. These components include the steering wheel hub for the driver’s frontal air bag and the instrument panel for the right front passenger’s frontal air bag. For vehicles with side impact air bags, the side of the seatback closest to the driver’s and/or right front passenger’s door will be hot. The parts of the bag that come into contact with you may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There will be some smoke and dust coming from the vents in the deflated air bags. Air bag inflation doesn’t prevent the driver from seeing or being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle.

When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air. This dust could cause breathing problems for people with a history of asthma or otherbreathing 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 can’t get out of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get fresh air by opening a window or a door. If you experience breathing problems following an air bag deployment, you should seek medical attention.

1-59

Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag systems. Improper service can mean that an air bag system won’t work properly. See your dealer for service.

Notice: If you damage the covering for the driver’s or the right front passenger’s air bag, or the air bag covering on the driver’s and right front passenger’s seatback, the bag may not work properly. You may have to replace the air bag module in the steering wheel, both the air bag module and the instrument panel for the right front passenger’s air bag, or both the air bag module and seatback for the driver’s and right front passenger’s side impact air bag. Do not open or break the air bag coverings.

In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag, windshields are broken by vehicle deformation. Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the right front passenger air bag.

Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After an air bag inflates, you’ll need some new parts for your air bag system. If you don’t get them, the air bag system won’t be there to help protect you in another crash. A new system will include air bag modules and possibly other parts. The service manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace other parts. Your vehicle is equipped with electronic frontal sensors which help the sensing system distinguish between a moderate and a more severe frontal impact. Your vehicle is also equipped with a crash sensing and diagnostic module, which records information about the frontal air bag system. The module records information about the readiness of the system and when the system commands are bag inflation. It records the status of the driver’s safety belt usage in a crash in which the air bag deploys or a crash in which the air bag nearly deploys. The module also records speed, engine RPM, brake and throttle data.

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Passenger Sensing System If your rearview mirror has one of the indicators pictured in the following illustrations, your vehicle has a passenger sensing system. The indicator will be visibie when you turn your ignition key to START or RUN. The words ON and OFF or the symbol for on and off, will be visible on the rearview mirror 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 Air Bag Status lndicator on page 3-33. If your rearview mirror doesn’t have either of the indicators pictured, then your vehicle doesn’t have the passenger sensing system.

Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator - United States

Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator

- Canada

The passenger sensing system will turn off the right front passenger’s frontal air bag under certain conditions. The driver’s air bag and the side air bags 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 passenger’s frontal air bag should be enabled (may inflate) or not. Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. General Motors, therefore, recommends that child restraints be secured in a rear seat including an infant riding in a rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a forward-facing child seat and an older child riding in a booster seat.

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The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the right front passenger’s frontal air bag if:

the right front passenger seat is unoccupied, the system determines that an infant is present in 3 rear-facing infant seat, the system determines that a small child is present in a forward-facing child restraint, the system determines that a small child is present in a booster seat, a right front passenger takes hidher weight off of the seat for a period of time. the right front passenger seat is occupied by a smaller person, such as a child who has outgrown child restraints. or if there is a critical problem with the air bag system or the passenger sensing system.

When the passenger sensing system has turned off the passenger’s frontal air bag, the off indicator will light and stay lit to remind you that the air bag is off.

Never put a child in a rear facing child restraint in the right front passenger seat unless your vehicle has the passenger sensing system and the passenger air bag status indicator shows off. Never put a rear facing child restraint in the ri! ’ ’ front passsenger seat unless the air bag i- -=

is beacuse the

A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger’s air bag inflates. This back of the rear facing child restraint would be very close to the inflating air bag. Be sure the air bag is off before using a rear-facing child restraint in the right front seat position. Even though the passenger sensing system designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal air bag if the system detects a rear-facing child restraint, no system is fail-safe, and no one can guarantee that an air bag will not deploy under it is some unusual circumstance, even though turned off. General Motors therefore recommends that rear-facing child retraints be secured in the rear seat whenever possible, even if the air bag

is off.

is

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The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal air bag when a rear facing infant seat, a forward-facing child restraint or a booster seat is detected. If the child restraint has been installed and the on indicator is lit, turn the vehicie off, remove the child restraint from the vehicle and reinstall the restraint following the child restraint manufacturer’s directions and refer to Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position on page 1-48 of this manual. If after reinstalling the child restraint and restarting the vehicle, the on indicator is still lit, secure the child in the child restraint in a rear seat position in the vehicle and check with your dealer. The passenger sensing system is designed to enable (may inflate) the right front passenger’s frontal air bag 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 air bag to be enabled, the on indicator will light and stay lit to remind you that the air bag is active.

For some children who have outgrown child restraints and for very small adults, the passenger sensing system may or may not turn off the right front passenger’s frontal air bag, depending upon the person’s seating posture and body build. Everyone in your vehicie who has outgrown child retraints should wear a safety belt properly - whether or not there is an air bag 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 isn’t sitting properly in the seat. If this happens, turn the vehicle off and ask the person to place the seatback in the full upright position, then sit upright in the seat, centered on the seat cushion, with the person’s legs comfortably extended. Restart the vehicle and have the person remain in this position for about two minutes. This will allow the system to detect that person and then enable the passenger’s air bag.

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P9- L

Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle

Adding Equipment to Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle

Q: Is there anything I might add to the front or sides of the vehicle that could keep the air bags from working properly? A: Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle’s frame, bumper system, front end or side sheet metal or height, they may keep the air bag system from working properly. Also, the air bag system may not work properly if you relocate any of the air bag 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 7-2.

Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced. There air bag system parts in several places around your vehicle. You don’t 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 air bag system. To purchase a service manual, see Service Publications Ordering In forma tion on page 7- 1 1.

For up to 10 minutes after the ignition key is turned off and the battery is disconnected, an air bag can still inflate during improper service. You can be injured if you are close to an air bag when it inflates. Avoid yellow connectors. They are probably part of the air bag system. Be sure to follow proper service procedures, and make sure the person performing work for you is qualified to do so.

Air bag systems do not need regular maintenance.

1-65

Restraint System Check Checking Your Restraint Systems Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and anchorages are working properly. Look for any other loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see anything that might keep a safety belt system from doing its job, have it repaired. Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt is torn or frayed, get a new one right away. Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.) Replacing Restraint System Parts After a CY-sh

A crash can dar..,ge the restraint systems inyour vehicle. A damaged restraint system

CAUTION: (Continued)

1-66

~~~

3 person u< - t, may not properly protr 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’ve 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 wasn’t being used at the time of the collision. If an air bag inflates, you’ll need to replace air bag system parts. See the part on the air bag system earlier in this section.

Section 2

Features and Controls

.... -2-3

Keys ..................................................

....................

Remote Keyless Entry System ..................... 2.4 Remote Keyless Entry System Operation ........... 2.5 Doors and Locks ............................................. 2.7 ................. 2.7 Door Locks Power Door Locks .......................................... 2.8 Delayed Locking ............................................. 2.8 ................ 2.8 Programmable Automatic Door Locks Rear Door Security Locks .............................. 2-1 1 Lockout Protection ........................................ 2-12 Midgate ....................................................... 2-12 Tailgate ....................................................... 2-21 2.23 Power Windows ............................................ 2-24 Sun Visors ................................................... 2-24 .................... 2.25 ... .................... 2.25 Content Theft-Deterrent . . Passlock@ .................................................... 2.26 ................ 2.27 ........ 2-27 .... 2-27 .... 2-28

Starting and Operating Your Vehicle New Vehicle Break-In .................... Ignition Positions ................... .............. Your Starting Engine

Windows ........................................................

Theft-Deterrent Systems

Mirrors

Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal .... ..... 2.29 Engine Coolant Heater ............................... 2.30 Automatic Transmission Operation ................... 2.31 Four-wheel Drive .......................................... 2.34 Parking Brake .............................................. 2.38 Shifting Into Park (P) ..................................... 2-39 Shifting Out of Park (P) ................................. 2-41 Parking Over Things That Burn ....................... 2-42 Engine Exhaust ............................................ 2-43 .... 2-43 Running Your Engine While You Are Parked 2-45

...........................................................

Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with

Onstar@, Compass and Temperature Display .................................................... 2-45

Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with Compass and Temperature Display .............. 2-47 Outside Camper-Type Mirrors ......................... 2-50 Outside Power Mirrors ................................... 2-50 Outside Convex Mirror ................................... 2-51 Outside Heated Mirrors .................................. 2-51 Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror with Curb View Assist ..............................................

2-52 ............. 2-53

Onstar@ System .................

2- 1

Section 2

Features and Controls

HomeLink@ Transmitter ................................

Programming the HomeLink Transmitter ........ .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .. ..........

Storage Areas ................................ Glove Box ................................... .............. Center Overhead Console Front Armrest Storage Area ........... Center Console Storage Area ......... Luggage Carrier ...........................

. -2-55 . . 2.55 . . 2.59 . -2-59 . . 2.59 . . 2.59 . . 2.59 . . 2.60

Rear Storage Area .................................... 2.61 Cargo Cover Panels ...................................... 2.61 All-Weather Cargo Area ................................. 2.72 .......................... 2.77 Top-Box Storage ........ ...................... 2.77 Tonneau Cover ...................... 2.84 Sunroof ........................... Vehicle Personalization ................................... 2.85 Memory Seat ............................................... 2-85

..............

2-2

Keys

Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition