2005 Chevrolet Equinox Owners Manual

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2005 Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual M Front Seats Rear Seats Safety Belts Child Restraints Air Bag System Restraint System Check Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1 ............................................... 1-2 ............................................... 1-9 ............................................. 1-11 ....................................... 1-31 ....................................... 1-52 ............................ 1-62 Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1 ........................................................ 2-2 ....................................... 2-6 ................................................. 2-10 ............................ 2-12 ........... 2-14 .................................................... 2-25 ...................................... 2-32 ......................................... 2-33 .................................................. 2-37 Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1 .......................... 3-4 ...................................... 3-18 ........ 3-21 ....................................... 3-36 Keys Doors and Locks Windows Theft-Deterrent Systems Starting and Operating Your Vehicle Mirrors OnStar® System Storage Areas Sunroof Instrument Panel Overview Climate Controls Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators Audio System(s) Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle Towing Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1 ..... 4-2 ................................................... 4-33 Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1 Service ..................................................... 5-3 Fuel ......................................................... 5-4 Checking Things Under the Hood ............... 5-10 All-Wheel Drive ........................................ 5-39 Bulb Replacement .................................... 5-41 Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-45 Tires ...................................................... 5-47 Appearance Care ..................................... 5-72 Vehicle Identiﬁcation ................................. 5-79 Electrical System ...................................... 5-80 Capacities and Speciﬁcations ..................... 5-84 Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1 ................................ 6-2 Customer Assistance and Information .............. 7-1 ........... 7-2 ........................... 7-10 Index .................................................................1 Customer Assistance and Information Reporting Safety Defects Maintenance Schedule 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, CHEVROLET, and the CHEVROLET Emblem are registered trademarks and the name EQUINOX 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 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. Keep this manual in the vehicle, so it will be there if you ever need it while you are on the road. If you sell the vehicle, leave this manual in the vehicle. About Driving Your Vehicle As with other vehicles of this type, failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or an accident. See Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle on page 4-2. 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. Litho in U.S.A. Part No. 05EQUINOX A First Edition ©Copyright General Motors Corporation 02/19/04 All Rights Reserved ii 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.” iii 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 Features and Controls in Section 2 Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3 (cid:127) Climate Controls in Section 3 (cid:127) Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators in Section 3 (cid:127) Audio System(s) in Section 3 (cid:127) Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5 iv (cid:127) (cid:127) These are some examples of symbols that may be found on the vehicle: ✍ NOTES vi Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems Front Seats ......................................................1-2 Manual Seats ................................................1-2 Driver Seat Height Adjuster ..............................1-2 Power Seats ..................................................1-3 Manual Lumbar ..............................................1-3 Heated Seats .................................................1-4 Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-4 Head Restraints .............................................1-6 Passenger Folding Seatback ............................1-7 Rear Seats .......................................................1-9 Split Folding Rear Seat ...................................1-9 Safety Belts ...................................................1-11 Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................1-11 Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......1-15 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-16 Driver Position ..............................................1-16 Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment .....................1-23 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-24 Right Front Passenger Position .......................1-24 Rear Seat Passengers ..................................1-24 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults ..........................1-28 Safety Belt Pretensioners ...............................1-30 Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-30 Child Restraints .............................................1-31 Older Children ..............................................1-31 Infants and Young Children ............................1-34 Child Restraint Systems .................................1-37 Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-40 Top Strap ....................................................1-41 Top Strap Anchor Location .............................1-43 Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System) ...........................1-44 Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System ....................................1-46 Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position ....................................1-47 Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position ....................................1-49 Air Bag System ..............................................1-52 Where Are the Air Bags? ...............................1-55 When Should an Air Bag Inﬂate? ....................1-57 What Makes an Air Bag Inﬂate? .....................1-59 How Does an Air Bag Restrain? .....................1-59 What Will You See After an Air Bag Inﬂates? .......................................1-60 Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle .........1-62 Restraint System Check ..................................1-62 Checking Your Restraint Systems ...................1-62 Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash ............................................1-63 1-1 Driver Seat Height Adjuster If your vehicle is equipped with a manual driver seat height adjuster, it is located on the outboard side of the seat toward the front of the seat cushion. To raise the seat, ratchet the lever upward until the seat is at the desired height. To lower the seat, ratchet the lever downward until the seat is at the desired height. Front Seats Manual Seats {CAUTION: You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you do not want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when the vehicle is not moving. Lift the bar located under the front of the seat to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it and release the bar. Try to move the seat with your body to be sure the seat is locked in place. 1-2 Power Seats Manual Lumbar If your vehicle has this feature, the control is located on the outboard side of the seat. To adjust the seat: (cid:127) Slide the entire control forward or rearward to move the seat forward or rearward. Lift or push down the front of the control to raise or lower the front portion of the seat. Lift or push down the rear of the control to raise or lower the rear portion of the seat. Lift or push down the entire control to raise or lower the entire seat. If your vehicle has this feature, the knob is located on the inboard side of the driver’s seat cushion. Turn the knob clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the lumbar support. 1-3 (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) Heated Seats Reclining Seatbacks The switches for the heated seats, if equipped, are located on the outboard sides of the front seats. Press the forward part of the switch to turn the heated seat to high. Press the forward part of the switch again to turn the setting to low. Press the rearward part of the switch to turn the heated seat feature off. To adjust the seatback, lift the lever on the outboard side of the seat toward the back of the seat cushion and move the seatback to where you want it. Then release the lever to lock the seatback in place. 1-4 Do not have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving. {CAUTION: Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts can not do their job when you are reclined like this. The shoulder belt can not 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 can not 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. 1-5 Head Restraints Press the button on the side of the head restraint to adjust it. 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. 1-6 Passenger Folding Seatback To fold the seatback, do the following: 1. Lift the release bar located under the front of the seat cushion. 2. Slide the seat as far back as it will go and release the bar. 3. Push and pull on the seat to ensure it is locked in place. The front passenger’s seatback may fold ﬂat. 1-7 {CAUTION: If you fold the seatback forward to carry longer objects, such as skis, be sure any such cargo is not near an airbag. In a crash, an inﬂating airbag might force that object toward a person. This could cause severe injury or even death. Secure objects away from the area in which an airbag would inﬂate. For more information, see “Where Are the airbags?” and “Loading Your Vehicle,” in the Index. 4. Lift the recliner lever located on the outside of the seat cushion and fold the seatback forward until it locks in the folded position. Pull up on the seat to ensure it is locked in place. {CAUTION: Things you put on this seatback can strike and injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or in a crash. Remove or secure all items before driving. 1-8 Rear Seats Split Folding Rear Seat The rear split bench seatbacks have three available positions — folded forward, upright, or partially reclined. Both of the seatbacks can be moved to any of the three positions independent of the other seatback position. The rear bench seat can also be moved forward and rearward. {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 press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is locked. {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 raising the rear seatback, always check to be sure that the safety belts are properly routed and attached, and are not twisted. 1-9 To fold the seatback down, do the following: 1. Ensure all three of the safety belts are unbuckled and the front seatbacks are not reclined. To recline the seatback, do the following: 1. Ensure all three of the safety belts are unbuckled and the front seatbacks are not reclined. 2. Lift and hold the lever located on top of the seatback. 3. Tilt the seatback rearward, then release the lever when the seatback is in the desired position. To slide the entire seat forward or rearward, do the following: 1. Lift and hold the release bar located under the front of the seat cushion to unlock the seat. 2. Slide the seat to the desired position. 3. Release the bar. 4. Try to move the seat back and forth to ensure the seat is locked in place. 2. Lift the lever located on the top of the seatback to release the seatback. 3. Fold the seatback forward to the desired position. 1-10 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 can not 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 a light that comes on as a reminder to buckle up. See Safety Belt Reminder Light on page 3-24. 1-11 Why Safety Belts Work When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes. In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here’s why: They work. 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. 1-12 Put someone on it. Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider doesn’t stop. 1-13 The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield... or the instrument panel... 1-14 Questions and Answers About Safety Belts Q: Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle after an accident if I’m wearing a safety belt? 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. Q: If my vehicle has air bags, why should I have to wear safety belts? A: Air bags 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 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. 1-15 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. Q: If I’m 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’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. 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 1-31 or Infants 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 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. 1-16 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. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Do not let it get twisted. The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly. 4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 1-30. 5. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder belt. 6. Move the shoulder belt height adjuster to the height that is right for you. See Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment on page 1-23. 1-17 The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you would be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. The safety belt locks if there is a sudden stop or crash, or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor. 1-18 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. 1-19 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. 1-20 Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously injured if you wear the shoulder belt under your arm. In a crash, your body would move too far forward, which would increase the chance of head and neck injury. Also, the belt would apply too much force to the ribs, which are not as strong as shoulder bones. You could also severely injure internal organs like your liver or spleen. A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should be worn over the shoulder at all times. 1-21 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 retailer to ﬁx it. A: The belt is twisted across the body. 1-22 Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment The driver’s and right front passenger’s safety belts have a shoulder belt height adjuster. Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt 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. To move it up or down, squeeze the release button and move the height adjuster to the desired position. After you move the adjuster to where you want it, try to move it down without squeezing the release button to make sure it has locked into position. 1-23 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. 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 1-16. The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same way as the driver’s safety belt – except for one thing. If you ever pull the shoulder portion of the belt out all the way, you will engage the child restraint locking feature. If this happens, just let the belt go back all the way and start again. Rear Seat Passengers It is very important for rear seat passengers to buckle up! Accident statistics show that unbelted people in the rear seat are hurt more often in crashes than those who are wearing safety belts. Rear passengers who are not safety belted can be thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts. 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. 1-24 Lap-Shoulder Belt All rear seating positions have lap-shoulder belts. Here is how to wear one properly. 2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. If the belt stops before it reaches the buckle, tilt the latch plate and keep pulling until you can buckle it. 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. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 1-30. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. 1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Do not let it get twisted. The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly. 1-25 3. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder part. 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. 1-26 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. To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. 1-27 Here is how to install a comfort guide and use the safety belt: 1. Remove the guide from its storage clip on the back of the seatback. Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults 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 passenger position in the rear seat. To provide added safety belt comfort for children who have outgrown child restraints and booster seats and for smaller adults, the comfort guides may be installed on the shoulder belts. 2. Slide the guide under and past the belt. The elastic cord must be under the belt. Then, place the guide over the belt, and insert the two edges of the belt into the slots of the guide. 1-28 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. 4. Buckle, position and release the safety belt as described in Rear Seat Passengers on page 1-24. Make sure that the shoulder belt crosses the shoulder. To remove and store the comfort guides, squeeze the belt edges together so that you can take them out of the guides. Pull the guide upward to expose its storage clip, and then slide the guide onto the clip. Turn the guide and clip inward and slide them in between the seatback and the interior body, leaving only the loop of elastic cord exposed. 1-29 Safety Belt Pretensioners Your vehicle has safety belt pretensioners. Although you cannot see them, they are located on the retractor part of the safety belts for the driver and right front passenger. They help the safety belts reduce a person’s forward movement in a moderate to severe crash in which the front of the vehicle hits something. Pretensioners work only once. If they activate in a crash, you will need to get new ones, and probably other new parts for your safety belt system. See Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash on page 1-63. 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 to fasten, your retailer will order you an extender. When you go in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the extender will be long enough for you. The extender will be just for you, and just for the seat in your vehicle that you choose. Do not 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. 1-30 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. 1-31 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 the center rear seat passenger position, move the child toward the safety belt buckle. In either case, be sure that the shoulder belt still is on the child’s shoulder, so that in a crash the child’s upper body would have the restraint 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. {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. 1-32 {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. 1-33 Infants and Young Children Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! This includes infants and all other children. Neither the distance traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes the need, for everyone, to use safety restraints. In fact, the law in every state in the United States and in every Canadian province says children up to some age must be restrained while in a vehicle. Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles, they should have the protection provided by appropriate restraints. Young children should not use the vehicle’s adult safety belts alone, unless there is no other choice. Instead, they need to use a child restraint. {CAUTION: People should never hold a baby in their arms while riding in a vehicle. A baby does not weigh much -- until a crash. During a crash a baby will become so heavy it is not possible to (Continued) CAUTION: 1-34 CAUTION: (Continued) {CAUTION: 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. 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 outstanding protection for adults and older children, but not for young children and infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety belt system nor its airbag system is designed for them. Young children and infants need the protection that a child restraint system can provide. 1-35 {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. 1-36 Child Restraint Systems {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. 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. 1-37 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. 1-38 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. 1-39 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. 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 or the LATCH 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. Where to Put the Restraint Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. We, therefore, recommend that child restraints be secured in a rear seat, including an infant riding in a rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a forward-facing child seat and an older child riding in a booster seat. Never put a rear-facing child restraint in the front passenger seat. Here’s why: {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. Always secure a rear-facing child restraint in a rear seat. CAUTION: (Continued) 1-40 CAUTION: (Continued) If you secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go. It is better to secure the child restraint in a rear seat. 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. 1-41 Anchor the top strap to an anchor point speciﬁed in Top Strap Anchor Location on page 1-43. 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. 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. Once you have the top strap anchored, you will be ready to secure the child restraint itself. Tighten the top strap when and as the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions say. 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. 1-42 Top Strap Anchor Location Your vehicle has top strap anchors in the rear seating positions. Do not secure a child restraint with a top strap in the right front passenger’s position if a national or local law requires that the top strap be anchored, or if the instructions that come with the child restraint say that the top strap must be anchored. There is no place to anchor the top strap in this position. 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, raise the head restraint and route the top strap under it. {CAUTION: Each top tether bracket is designed to anchor only one child restraint. Attaching more than one child restraint to a single bracket could cause the anchor 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 bracket. Anchor the top strap to one of the anchor points shown. 1-43 Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System) Your vehicle has the LATCH system. You will ﬁnd anchors for all three rear seating positions. The anchors are visible between the seatback and the seat cushion. There is a speciﬁc way to attach a child restraint to the anchors in the three possible positions. In the second row, there is not room for three LATCH child restraints, but you can install two of them. If you want to do this, install one LATCH child restraint at the passenger side position, and install the other one either on the driver’s side or the center position. 1-44 A. Passenger’s Side Rear Seat B. Center Rear Seat C. Driver’s Side Rear Seat Make sure to attach the child restraint at the proper anchor location. This system, designed to make installation of child restraints easier, does not use the vehicle’s safety belts. Instead, it uses vehicle anchors and child restraint attachments to secure the restraints. Some restraints also use another vehicle anchor to secure a top tether strap. A. Lower Anchorage B. Lower Anchorage C. Top Tether A. Lower Anchorage B. Lower Anchorage In order to use the LATCH system in your vehicle, you need a child restraint designed for that system. 1-45 LATCH anchorages are located near the base of all three rear seating positions, where the bottom of the seatback meets the back of the seat cushion. {CAUTION: If a LATCH-type child restraint is not attached to its anchorage points, 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 anchorage points, 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. Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System 1. Find the LATCH anchorages for the seating position you want to use, where the bottom of the seatback meets the back of the seat cushion. See Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System) on page 1-44. 2. Put the child restraint on the seat. 3. Attach and tighten the LATCH attachments on the child restraint to the LATCH anchorages in the vehicle. The child restraint instructions will show you how. 4. If the child restraint is forward-facing, attach and tighten the top tether to the top tether anchorage. The child restraint instructions will show you how. Also see Top Strap on page 1-41. 5. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure. To remove the child restraint, simply unhook the top tether from the top tether anchorage and then disconnect the LATCH attachments from the LATCH anchorages. 1-46 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 1-44. See Top Strap on page 1-41 if the child restraint has one. If your child restraint does not have the LATCH system, you will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the child restraint in this position. Be sure to follow the instructions that came with the child restraint. Secure the child in the child restraint when and as the instructions say. 1. Put the child restraint on the seat. 2. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how. 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. 1-47 4. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock. 5. To tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint, pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten the lap portion of the belt and feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor. If you are using a forward-facing child restraint, you may ﬁnd it helpful to use your knee to push down on the child restraint as you tighten the belt. 6. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure. 1-48 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. Your vehicle has a right front passenger air bag. Never put a rear-facing child restraint in this seat. Here is why: Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH system, see Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System) on page 1-44. There is no top strap anchor in the right front passenger’s position. Do not secure a child seat in this position if a national or local law requires that the top strap be anchored, or if the instructions that come with the child restraint say that the top strap must be anchored. See Top Strap on page 1-41 if the child restraint has one. {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. Always secure a rear-facing child restraint in a rear seat. 1-49 A rear seat is a safer place to secure a forward-facing child restraint. If you need to secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, 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. Because your vehicle has a right front passenger air bag, always move the seat as far back as it will go before securing a forward-facing child restraint. See Manual Seats on page 1-2. 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. 1-50 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. 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. You may ﬁnd it helpful to use your knee to push down on the child restraint as you tighten the belt. 7. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure. 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. 1-51 Air Bag System This part explains the air bag systems. Your vehicle has a frontal air bag for the driver and another frontal air bag for the right front passenger. Your vehicle may also have roof mounted side impact air bags. Roof mounted side impact air bags are available for the driver and the passenger seated directly behind the driver and for the right front passenger and the passenger seated directly behind that passenger. If your vehicle has side impact air bags, the words AIR BAG will appear on the air bag covering on the ceiling near the driver’s and right front passenger’s window. 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. Here are the most important things to know about the air bag systems: {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 only in moderate to severe frontal and near frontal crashes. They are not designed to inﬂate in CAUTION: (Continued) 1-52 CAUTION: (Continued) {CAUTION: rollover, rear or low-speed frontal crashes, or in many side crashes. And, for some unrestrained occupants, frontal airbags may provide less protection in frontal crashes than more forceful airbags have provided in the past. The roof-mounted side impact airbags are designed to inﬂate only 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. 1-53 {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 the part of this manual called “Older Children” or “Infants and Young Children.” There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument panel cluster, which shows the air bag symbol. 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 3-24 for more information. 1-54 Where Are the Air Bags? The driver’s frontal air bag is in the middle of the steering wheel. The right front passenger’s frontal air bag is in the instrument panel on the passenger’s side. 1-55 If your vehicle has a side impact air bag for the driver and the person seated directly behind the driver, it is in the ceiling above the side windows. If your vehicle has a side impact air bag for the right front passenger and the person seated directly behind that passenger, it is in the ceiling above the side windows. 1-56 {CAUTION: If something is between an occupant and an airbag, 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 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. And, because your vehicle has side impact airbags, never secure anything to the roof of your vehicle by routing the rope or tiedown through any door or window opening. If you do, the path of an inﬂating side impact airbag will be blocked. The path of an inﬂating airbag must be kept clear. When Should an Air Bag 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. If the front of your vehicle goes straight into a wall that does not move or deform, the threshold level is about 9 to 14 mph (14 to 23 km/h). (The threshold level can vary, however, with speciﬁc vehicle design, so that it can be somewhat above or below this range.) 1-57 Airbags may inﬂate at different crash speeds. For example: If the vehicle hits a stationary object, the airbag could inﬂate at a different crash speed than if the object were moving. If the object deforms, the airbag could inﬂate at a different crash speed than if the object does not deform. If the vehicle hits a narrow object (like a pole) the airbag 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 airbag could inﬂate at a different crash speed than if the vehicle goes straight into the object. The frontal airbags (driver and right front passenger) are not intended to inﬂate during vehicle rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts because inﬂation would not likely help the occupants. Side impact airbags are designed 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 designed to inﬂate in frontal or near-frontal impacts, rollovers or rear impacts, because inﬂation would not likely help the occupant. A side impact airbag will only 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 the angle of the impact and how quickly the vehicle slows down in frontal and near-frontal impacts. For side impact airbags, inﬂation is determined by the location and severity of the impact. 1-58 (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) 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, air bag, and related hardware are all part of the air bag modules inside the steering wheel and in the instrument panel in front of the right front passenger. For vehicles with side impact air bags, the air bag modules are located in the ceiling of the vehicle, near the side windows. How Does an Air Bag Restrain? In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside of the vehicle. The airbag supplements the protection provided by safety belts. Airbags distribute the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But the frontal airbags would not help you in many types of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts, and many side impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward the airbag. Side impact airbags would not help you in many types of collisions, including frontal or near frontal collisions, rollovers, and rear impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward those airbags. Airbags should never be regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety belts, and then only in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions for the driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal airbags, and only in moderate to severe side collisions for the side impact airbags. 1-59 What Will You See After an Air Bag Inﬂates? After an 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 — the steering wheel hub for the driver’s frontal air bag, the instrument panel for the right front passenger’s frontal air bag or the ceiling of your vehicle near the side windows — will be hot for a short time. 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 does not prevent the driver from seeing or being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle. {CAUTION: When an airbag inﬂates, there is dust in the air. This dust could cause breathing problems for people with a history of asthma or other breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe to do so. If you have breathing problems but can not get out of the vehicle after an airbag inﬂates, then get fresh air by opening a window or a door. If you experience breathing problems following an airbag deployment, you should seek medical attention. In many crashes severe enough to inﬂate an air bag, windshields are broken by vehicle deformation. Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the right front passenger air bag. 1-60 Your vehicle has a feature that will automatically unlock the doors and turn the interior dome lamp on and ﬂash the parklamps on and off when the air bags inﬂate (if battery power is available.) You can lock the doors again and turn the interior lamps off by using the door lock and interior lamp controls. (cid:127) Air bags are designed to inﬂate only once. After an air bag inﬂates, you will need some new parts for your air bag system. If you do not get them, the air bag system will not 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. (cid:127) Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and diagnostic module which records information after a crash. See Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data Recorders on page 7-9. Let only qualiﬁed technicians work on your air bag system. Improper service can mean that your air bag system will not work properly. See your dealer for service. If you damage the covering for the driver’s Notice: or the right front passenger’s air bag, or the side impact airbag covering on the ceiling near the side windows, the bag may not work properly. You may have to replace the airbag module in the steering wheel, both the airbag module and the instrument panel for the right front passenger’s airbag, or side impact airbag module and ceiling covering for the roof-mounted side impact airbag. Do not open or break the airbag coverings. 1-61 (cid:127) 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 airbag covers, and have them repaired or replaced. (The airbag system does not need regular maintenance.) Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced. There are 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 Saturn retailer and the Saturn Service Manual have information about servicing your vehicle and the air bag systems. To purchase a service manual, see Service Publications Ordering Information on page 7-11. {CAUTION: For up to 10 minutes after the ignition key is turned off and the battery is disconnected, an airbag can still inﬂate during improper service. You can be injured if you are close to an airbag when it inﬂates. Avoid yellow connectors. They are probably part of the airbag system. Be sure to follow proper service procedures, and make sure the person performing work for you is qualiﬁed to do so. Air bag systems do not need regular maintenance. 1-62 Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash {CAUTION: A crash can damage the restraint systems in your vehicle. A damaged restraint system may not properly protect the person using it, resulting in serious injury or even death in a crash. To help make sure your restraint systems are working properly after a crash, have them inspected and any necessary replacements made as soon as possible. If you have had a crash, do you need new belts or LATCH system parts? After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary. But if the belts were stretched, as they would be if worn during a more severe crash, then you need new parts. If the LATCH system was being used during a more severe crash, you may need new LATCH system parts. If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision damage also may mean you will need to have LATCH system, safety belt or seat parts repaired or replaced. New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the belt or LATCH system was not being used at the time of the collision. If an air bag inﬂates, you will need to replace air bag system parts. See the part on the air bag system earlier in this section. If the frontal air bags inﬂate you will also need to replace the driver and front passenger’s safety belt retractor assembly. Be sure to do so. Then the new retractor assembly will be there to help protect you in a collision. After a crash you may need to replace the driver and front passenger’s safety belt retractor assemblies, even if the frontal air bags have not deployed. The driver and front passenger’s safety belt retractor assemblies contain the safety belt pretensioners. Have your safety belt pretensioners checked if your vehicle has been in a collision, or if your air bag readiness light stays on after you start your vehicle or while you are driving. See Air Bag Readiness Light on page 3-24. 1-63 ✍ NOTES 1-64 Section 2 Features and Controls Keys ...............................................................2-2 Remote Keyless Entry System .........................2-3 Remote Keyless Entry System Operation ...........2-4 Doors and Locks .............................................2-6 Door Locks ....................................................2-6 Power Door Locks ..........................................2-7 Programmable Automatic Door Locks ................2-7 Rear Door Security Locks ................................2-8 Lockout Protection ..........................................2-8 Leaving Your Vehicle ......................................2-9 Liftgate .........................................................2-9 Windows ........................................................2-10 Power Windows ............................................2-11 Sun Visors ...................................................2-11 Theft-Deterrent Systems ..................................2-12 Content Theft-Deterrent .................................2-12 Passlock® ....................................................2-13 Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ................2-14 New Vehicle Break-In ....................................2-14 Ignition Positions ..........................................2-14 Retained Accessory Power (RAP) ...................2-15 Starting Your Engine .....................................2-15 Engine Coolant Heater ..................................2-16 Automatic Transaxle Operation .......................2-18 Parking Brake ..............................................2-20 Shifting Into Park (P) .....................................2-21 Shifting Out of Park (P) .................................2-23 Parking Over Things That Burn .......................2-23 Engine Exhaust ............................................2-24 Running Your Engine While You Are Parked ....2-24 Mirrors ...........................................................2-25 Manual Rearview Mirror .................................2-25 Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with OnStar®, Compass and Temperature Display ....................................................2-26 Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with Compass and Temperature Display ..............2-28 Outside Power Mirrors ...................................2-31 Outside Convex Mirrors .................................2-31 OnStar® System .............................................2-32 Storage Areas ................................................2-33 Glove Box ...................................................2-33 Cupholder(s) ................................................2-33 Center Console Storage Area .........................2-33 Luggage Carrier ...........................................2-34 Rear Compartment Storage Panel/Cover ..........2-35 Table ..........................................................2-36 Convenience Net ..........................................2-37 Sunroof .........................................................2-37 2-1 Keys {CAUTION: Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition key is dangerous for many reasons. They could operate the power windows or other controls or even make the vehicle move. The children or others could be badly injured or even killed. Do not leave the keys in a vehicle with children. 2-2 One key is used for the ignition and all of the locks. Key code information can be obtained by your dealer. These code numbers can be used to make new keys. Additional keys that are needed can be made at any retail service facility provided you have the key code information. Store this information in a safe place, but not in your vehicle. If you ever lock your keys in your vehicle, Have extra keys made. Your service parts department can make extra keys for you. Notice: you may have to damage the vehicle to get in. Be sure you have spare keys. If your vehicle is equipped with the OnStar® system with an active subscription and you lock your keys inside the vehicle, OnStar® may be able to send a command to unlock your vehicle. See OnStar® System on page 2-32 for more information. Remote Keyless Entry System The remote keyless entry system operates on a radio frequency subject to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry Canada. This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: This device may not cause interference, and This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device. This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: This device may not cause interference, and This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device. Changes or modiﬁcations to this system by other than an authorized service facility could void authorization to use this equipment. At times you may notice a decrease in range. This is normal for any remote keyless entry system. If the transmitter does not work or if you have to stand closer to your vehicle for the transmitter to work, try this: (cid:127) Check the distance. You may be too far from your vehicle. You may need to stand closer during rainy or snowy weather. (cid:127) Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may be blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the left or right, hold the transmitter higher, and try again. (cid:127) Check to determine if battery replacement or resynchronization is necessary. See “Battery Replacement” and “Resynchronization” under “Remote Keyless Entry System Operation” following this section. If you are still having trouble, see your dealer or a qualiﬁed technician for service. 2-3 (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) Remote Keyless Entry System Operation With this feature, you can lock and unlock the doors from about 26 feet (8 m) away using the remote keyless entry transmitter supplied with your vehicle. Q (Lock): Press this button on the remote keyless entry transmitter one time to lock the doors. The headlamps will ﬂash once. This also arms the content theft-deterrent system. Pressing the lock button two times within three seconds will lock the doors. The headlamps will ﬂash twice and the horn chirps. K (Unlock): Press this button on the remote keyless entry transmitter one time to unlock the driver’s door. The interior lights will go on and the headlamps will ﬂash three times. The interior lights will stay on for 20 seconds or until the key is turned in the ignition. Press the button again within ﬁve seconds to unlock the rest of the doors. The unlock button also disarms the content theft-deterrent system. L(Panic Alarm): Press the button with the horn symbol when the ignition is turned off. The horn will sound and the parking lamps and dome lamp will ﬂash for up to two minutes. To stop the panic alarm, press this button again. The remote keyless entry transmitter is used to arm/disarm the content theft-deterrent system. Your vehicle’s theft-deterrent system can be programmed to three different modes. See Content Theft-Deterrent on page 2-12 If you accidentally set off the alarm when entering or exiting the vehicle, you can shut it off by pressing the lock or unlock button once or the panic alarm button twice. 2-4 Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to prevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle. If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can be purchased through your dealer. Remember to bring any remaining transmitters with you when you go to your dealer. When the dealer matches the replacement transmitter to your vehicle, any remaining transmitters must also be matched. Once your dealer has coded the new transmitter, the lost transmitter will not unlock your vehicle. Each vehicle can have a maximum of four transmitters matched to it. Battery Replacement Under normal use, the battery in your remote keyless entry transmitter should last about four years. You can tell the battery is weak if the transmitter won’t work at the normal range in any location. If you have to get close to your vehicle before the transmitter works, it’s probably time to change the battery. Notice: When replacing the battery, use care not to touch any of the circuitry. Static from your body transferred to these surfaces may damage the transmitter. 1. Use a ﬂat thin object to pry open the transmitter. 2. Once the transmitter is separated, use a pencil or similar object to remove the old battery. Do not use a metal object. 3. Insert the new battery as the instructions under the cover indicate. 4. Snap the transmitter back together tightly to be sure no moisture can enter. 5. Check the operation of the transmitter. If the transmitter does not work, try synchronizing your transmitter with your receiver. See “Resynchronization” for more information. 2-5 Resynchronization This is used to keep the transmitter of the vehicle communicating with the receiver of the vehicle. Resynchronization may be required due to the security method used by this system. Your vehicle has an automatic resynchronization function built into the system. If your transmitter is not working properly and you have to manually resynchronize, press the lock and unlock buttons at the same time for seven seconds while you are near your vehicle. The doors will lock or unlock, depending on their starting position. If they do not, contact your dealer for service. 2-6 Doors and Locks Door Locks {CAUTION: Unlocked doors can be dangerous. (cid:127) Passengers — especially children — can easily open the doors and fall out of a moving vehicle. When a door is locked, the handle will not open it. You increase the chance of being thrown out of the vehicle in a crash if the doors are not locked. So, wear safety belts properly and lock the doors whenever you drive. (cid:127) Young children who get into unlocked vehicles may be unable to get out. A child can be overcome by extreme heat and can suffer permanent injuries or even death from heat stroke. Always lock your vehicle whenever you leave it. (cid:127) Outsiders can easily enter through an unlocked door when you slow down or stop your vehicle. Locking your doors can help prevent this from happening. There are a couple of ways to manually lock or unlock your vehicle. From the outside, use your key. From the inside, use the lock control on the door. Power Door Locks The power door lock switches are located on the driver’s and front passenger’s doors. K (Unlock): To unlock the doors, press the unlock symbol. Q (Lock): Remove the ignition key and press the lock symbol to lock all of the doors. Programmable Automatic Door Locks With this feature, all the doors will lock as the transaxle is shifted out of PARK (P) if the ignition key is in the run position and all doors are closed. The doors will automatically lock if the vehicle is going faster than 3 mph (5 km/h). In the following two situations, when a door is opened, all doors will lock again: The brake pedal is applied, a door is opened and then closed, and the brake pedal is released. (cid:127) A door is opened and closed without the brake pedal applied while the vehicle is moving faster than 3 mph (5 km/h). The programmable unlocking feature can be programmed on or off by turning the ignition key to RUN and pressing the unlock power door lock switch for eight seconds. The horn will chirp once when this feature is on and will chirp twice when it is off. When programmed, all doors will unlock when the transaxle is shifted into PARK (P). 2-7 (cid:127) Rear Door Security Locks Your vehicle has rear door security locks that prevent passengers from opening the rear doors from the inside. The rear door security locks are located on the inside edge of each rear door. You must open the rear doors to access them. To set the security locks, do the following: 1. Insert the key into the lock above the rear door security lock label and turn it clockwise. 2. Close the door. 3. Repeat the steps for the other rear door. 2-8 To open a rear door while the security lock is on, do the following: 1. Unlock the door using the remote keyless entry transmitter, the front door power lock switch, or by lifting the rear door manual lock. 2. Open the door from the outside. To cancel the rear door security lock, do the following: 1. Unlock the door and open it from the outside. 2. Insert the key into the slot next to the rear door security lock label and turn it counterclockwise. 3. Repeat the steps for the other lock. Lockout Protection If you press the power door lock switch when the key is in the ignition and any door is open, all the doors will lock and only the driver’s door will unlock. Be sure to remove the key from the ignition when locking your vehicle. If the keyless entry transmitter is used to lock the doors and the key is in the ignition, a chime will sound three times. All passenger doors will lock, but the driver’s door will remain unlocked. Leaving Your Vehicle If you are leaving the vehicle, open your door and set the locks from the inside. Then get out and close the door. Liftgate {CAUTION: It can be dangerous to drive with the liftgate or liftglass open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can come into your vehicle. You can not see or smell CO. It can cause unconsciousness and even death. If you must drive with the liftgate open or if electrical wiring or other cable connections must pass through the seal between the body and the liftgate or liftglass: (cid:127) Make sure all other windows are shut. (cid:127) Turn the fan on your heating or cooling system to its highest speed and select the control setting that will force outside air into your vehicle. See Climate Control System in the Index. CAUTION: (Continued) If you have air outlets on or under the instrument panel, open them all the way. See Engine Exhaust on page 2-24. To unlock the liftgate, press the unlock button on the remote keyless entry transmitter twice or use the power door lock switch. To lock the liftgate, press the lock button on the remote keyless entry transmitter or use the power door lock switch. The liftgate does not have a key lock cylinder. To open the liftgate, pull up on the handle located in the center of the liftgate When closing the liftgate, use the molded handles to pull the liftgate down. Push the liftgate closed until it latches. CAUTION: (Continued) 2-9 (cid:127) Windows {CAUTION: Leaving children, helpless adults, or pets in a vehicle with the windows closed is dangerous. They can be overcome by the extreme heat and suffer permanent injuries or even death from heat stroke. Never leave a child, a helpless adult, or a pet alone in a vehicle, especially with the windows closed in warm or hot weather. 2-10 Power Windows The window switches are located below the shift lever on the center console. To open a window, press the bottom of the switch. To close a window, press the top of that window switch. The power windows can operate only when the ignition key is in the run or the ACC position or while in the Retained Accessory Power (RAP) mode. RAP mode is active when the driver has turned the vehicle off but none of the doors have yet been opened. A rear window switch is located on each rear door. Express-Down Window The driver’s window switch has an express-down feature that allows the windows to be lowered without holding the switch. The switch is labeled AUTO. Press the bottom of the switch part way, and the driver’s window will open a small amount. If the bottom of the switch is pressed all the way down and released, the window will go all the way down automatically. To stop the window while it is lowering, press the top of the switch momentarily. To raise the window, press and hold the top of the switch. Window Lockout Your vehicle has a lockout feature to prevent rear seat passengers from operating the power windows. Press the switch labeled with an X located with the power window switches to turn the feature on. Press the window lockout switch again to return to normal operation. Sun Visors To block out glare, swing the visor down. You can also slide the visor along the rod from side-to-side for greater coverage. 2-11 Active Arming: The system will arm when the lock button on the remote keyless entry transmitter is pressed. The security system light will come on steady for thirty seconds. During this time you can still get back into the vehicle without triggering the alarm. Once the light starts ﬂashing the system is armed. The system will disarm when the unlock button on the transmitter is pressed. Passive Arming: The system will arm itself one minute after the ignition is turned off and the driver’s door has been opened and closed. If the lock button on the transmitter is pressed before the minute has passed, the system will arm immediately. The system will disarm when the unlock button is pressed. Security System Disable: The system will not arm. To change the mode that your vehicle is programmed to, do the following: 1. Turn the ignition to RUN or ACC. 2. Press the panic alarm button on the transmitter slowly four times within ﬁve seconds. Visor Vanity Mirrors Your vehicle has covered visor vanity mirrors on both the driver’s and passenger’s side. Theft-Deterrent Systems Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities. Although your vehicle has a number of theft-deterrent features, we know that nothing we put on it can make it impossible to steal. Content Theft-Deterrent Your vehicle is equipped with a content theft-deterrent alarm system. The remote keyless entry transmitter is used to arm/disarm the content theft-deterrent system. See Remote Keyless Entry System Operation on page 2-4. Your vehicle’s theft-deterrent system can be programmed to three different modes. 2-12 3. You must complete one of the following within three seconds to change the mode. To select the active arming mode, press the lock button on the transmitter once within three seconds. A chime will sound two times to acknowledge that the active arming mode has been selected. To select the passive arming mode, press the lock button on the transmitter twice within three seconds. A chime will sound three times to acknowledge that the passive arming mode has been selected. To select the security system disable mode, press the unlock button on the transmitter once within three seconds. A chime will sound one time to acknowledge that the security system disabled mode has been selected. If you accidentally set off the alarm when entering or exiting the vehicle, you can shut it off by pressing either the lock or unlock button once on the remote keyless entry transmitter. The panic alarm button needs to be pressed twice to turn off the alarm. There is a ten second pre-alarm “grace” period indicated by a rapid beeping. By

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2005 Chevrolet Equinox Owners Manual