2007 Chevrolet Equinox Owners Manual

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Door Driver Ajar Light ................................................. 190 Delayed Locking ...................................... 105 Locks ....................................................... 104 Power Door Locks ................................... 105 Programmable Automatic Door Locks ....... 105 Rear Door Security Locks ........................ 106 Position, Safety Belt ................................... 25 Seat Height Adjuster .................................... 9 Driver Information Center (DIC) ................... 192 DIC Operation and Displays ..................... 193 DIC Vehicle Personalization ..................... 207 DIC Warnings and Messages ................... 198 Driving At Night ................................................... 300 City .......................................................... 305 Defensive ................................................. 284 Drunken ................................................... 285 Freeway ................................................... 306 Hill and Mountain Roads .......................... 308 In Rain and on Wet Roads ...................... 302 Driving (cont.) DVD Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out .......... 315 Winter ...................................................... 310 Rear Seat Entertainment System ............. 269 Electric Power Management ........................ 162 Electrical System Add-On Equipment ................................... 428 Engine Compartment Fuse Block ............. 431 Fuses and Circuit Breakers ...................... 429 Instrument Panel Fuse Block ................... 429 Windshield Wiper Fuses ........................... 429 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter ...................................... 349 Battery ..................................................... 368 Change Engine Oil Light .......................... 187 Check and Service Engine Soon Light ..... 183 Coolant .................................................... 352 Coolant Heater ......................................... 118 481 Engine (cont.) Coolant Temperature Gage ...................... 182 Coolant Temperature Warning Light .......... 181 Drive Belt Routing .................................... 450 Engine Compartment Overview ................ 342 Exhaust ................................................... 127 Oil ........................................................... 344 Oil Life System ........................................ 347 Overheated Protection Operating Mode .... 357 Overheating ............................................. 355 Reduced Power Light ............................... 188 Starting .................................................... 116 Entry Lighting .............................................. 161 Event Data Recorders (EDR) ...................... 469 Extender, Safety Belt ..................................... 42 Filter Engine Air Cleaner ................................... 349 Finish Damage ............................................ 425 Flashers, Hazard Warning ........................... 150 Flash-to-Pass .............................................. 153 Flat Tire ...................................................... 404 482 Flat Tire, Changing ...................................... 404 Flat Tire, Storing ......................................... 414 Fluid Automatic Transaxle ................................. 352 Windshield Washer .................................. 364 Fog Lamp Light ........................................... 188 Fog Lamps .................................................. 160 Folding Rear Seat ......................................... 17 Folding Seatback, Passenger ........................ 14 Fuel ............................................................ 335 Additives .................................................. 336 California Fuel .......................................... 336 Filling a Portable Fuel Container .............. 339 Filling Your Tank ...................................... 337 Fuels in Foreign Countries ....................... 337 Gage ....................................................... 191 Gasoline Octane ...................................... 335 Gasoline Speciﬁcations ............................ 335 Low Warning Light ................................... 192 Fuses Engine Compartment Fuse Block ............. 431 Fuses and Circuit Breakers ...................... 429 Instrument Panel Fuse Block ................... 429 Windshield Wiper ..................................... 429 G Gage Engine Coolant Temperature .................... 182 Fuel ......................................................... 191 Speedometer ........................................... 173 Tachometer .............................................. 173 Garment Hooks ........................................... 137 Gasoline Octane ..................................................... 335 Speciﬁcations ........................................... 335 Gate Ajar Light ............................................ 190 Glove Box ................................................... 137 GM Mobility Reimbursement Program .......... 461 Hazard Warning Flashers ............................ 150 Head Restraints ............................................ 13 Headlamps .................................................. 158 Automatic Headlamp System .................... 160 Bulb Replacement .................................... 375 Daytime Running Lamps .......................... 159 Flash-to-Pass ........................................... 153 Headlamps (cont.) Halogen Bulbs ......................................... 376 Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps ........... 376 High/Low Beam Changer ......................... 152 On Reminder ........................................... 159 Heated Seats ................................................ 10 Heater ......................................................... 165 Height Adjuster, Driver Seat ............................ 9 Highbeam On Light ..................................... 189 Highway Hypnosis ....................................... 308 Hill and Mountain Roads ............................. 308 Hood Checking Things Under ............................ 340 Release ................................................... 340 Horn ............................................................ 150 How to Use This Manual ................................ 4 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ............... 24 Ignition Positions ......................................... 115 Infants and Young Children, Restraints .......... 46 Inﬂation - Tire Pressure ............................... 390 483 Instrument Panel Instrument Panel (I/P) Overview .................................................. 148 Lamps (cont.) Brightness ................................................ 161 Cluster ..................................................... 172 LATCH System Jump Starting .............................................. 368 Keyless Entry System ................................... 96 Keys ............................................................. 95 Labeling, Tire Sidewall ................................. 383 Lamps Battery Run-Down Protection ................... 163 Cargo ...................................................... 162 Dome ....................................................... 161 Electric Power Management ..................... 162 484 Fog .......................................................... 160 Map ......................................................... 162 Child Restraints ......................................... 57 License Plate Lamps ................................... 380 Liftgate ........................................................ 107 Light Airbag Readiness ..................................... 174 Anti-Lock Brake System Warning ............. 180 Battery Warning ....................................... 178 Brake System Warning ............................. 178 Change Engine Oil ................................... 187 Cruise Control .......................................... 188 Door Ajar ................................................. 190 Engine Coolant Temperature Warning ....... 181 Fog Lamp ................................................ 188 Gate Ajar ................................................. 190 Highbeam On .......................................... 189 Low Fuel Warning .................................... 192 Malfunction Indicator ................................ 183 Oil Pressure ............................................. 186 Passenger Airbag Status Indicator ............ 175 Light (cont.) Passenger Safety Belt Reminder .............. 174 Reduced Engine Power ............................ 188 Safety Belt Reminder ............................... 173 Security ................................................... 188 Service All-Wheel-Drive ............................ 189 Service Vehicle Soon ............................... 191 TCS Warning Light .................................. 181 Tire Pressure ........................................... 182 Traction Control System (TCS) Warning ... 181 Lighting Entry ........................................................ 161 Loading Your Vehicle ................................... 315 Lockout Protection ....................................... 106 Locks Delayed Locking ...................................... 105 Door ........................................................ 104 Lockout Protection ................................... 106 Power Door ............................................. 105 Programmable Automatic Door Locks ....... 105 Rear Door Security Locks ........................ 106 ........................................... 299 Loss of Control Low Fuel Warning Light ............................... 192 Luggage Carrier .......................................... 138 Lumbar Manual Controls ......................................... 10 Maintenance Schedule Additional Required Services .................... 442 At Each Fuel Fill ...................................... 445 At Least Once a Month ............................ 445 At Least Once a Year .............................. 446 Introduction .............................................. 436 Maintenance Footnotes ............................ 443 Maintenance Record ................................ 451 Maintenance Requirements ...................... 436 Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts .... 449 Owner Checks and Services .................... 444 Recommended Fluids and Lubricants ....... 448 Scheduled Maintenance ........................... 439 Using ....................................................... 437 Your Vehicle and the Environment ............ 437 485 Malfunction Indicator Light ........................... 183 Manual Lumbar Controls ............................... 10 Manual Reclining Seatbacks .......................... 11 Manual Seats .................................................. 8 Map Lamps ................................................. 162 Message DIC Warnings and Messages ................... 198 Mirrors Automatic Dimming Rearview with Compass .............................................. 131 Automatic Dimming Rearview with OnStar® and Compass ......................... 129 Manual Rearview Mirror ........................... 129 Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar® ...... 129 Outside Convex Mirrors ............................ 132 Outside Power Mirrors ............................. 132 MP3 ................................................... 253, 260 MyGMLink.com ............................................ 459 Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation Manual ..................................................... 269 New Vehicle Break-In .................................. 114 Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts ..... 449 486 Odometer .................................................... 173 Odometer, Trip ............................................ 173 Off-Road Recovery ...................................... 297 Oil Change Engine Oil Light .......................... 187 Engine ..................................................... 344 Pressure Light .......................................... 186 Oil, Engine Oil Life System ......................... 347 Older Children, Restraints ............................. 43 Online Owner Center ................................... 459 OnStar® System, see OnStar® Manual ........ 133 Other Warning Devices ................................ 150 Outlet Adjustment ........................................ 169 Outlet(s), Accessory Power .......................... 164 Outside Convex Mirrors ........................................ 132 Power Mirrors .......................................... 132 Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode ....................................... 357 Owner Checks and Services ....................... 444 Owners, Canadian .......................................... 3 P Paint, Damage ............................................ 425 Park (P) Shifting Into ............................................. 123 Shifting Out of ......................................... 125 Parking Brake ....................................................... 122 Over Things That Burn ............................ 126 Passenger Airbag Status Indicator ............... 175 Passenger Compartment Air Filter ............... 169 Passenger Sensing System ........................... 82 Passing ....................................................... 297 PASS-Key® III+ ........................................... 112 PASS-Key® III+ Operation ........................... 113 Power Accessory Outlet(s) .................................. 164 Door Locks .............................................. 105 Reduced Engine Light .............................. 188 Retained Accessory (RAP) ....................... 116 Seat ............................................................ 9 Windows .................................................. 110 Pretensioners, Safety Belt ............................. 42 Programmable Automatic Door Locks .......... 105 Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ... 23 Radios ........................................................ 215 Care of Your CD and DVD Player ............ 282 Care of Your CDs and DVDs ................... 282 Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation Manual ................................ 269 Radio with CD ................................ 219, 224 Radio with CD and DVD .......................... 235 Setting the Time .............................. 216, 217 Theft-Deterrent ......................................... 279 Understanding Reception ......................... 281 Rear Compartment Storage Panel/Cover ..... 140 Rear Door Security Locks ........................... 106 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides .................. 39 Rear Seat Armrest ...................................... 142 Rear Seat Entertainment System ................. 269 Rear Seat Passengers, Safety Belts .............. 36 Rear Windshield Washer/Wiper .................... 155 487 Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming with Compass .......................................... 131 Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming with OnStar® and Compass ..................... 129 Rearview Mirror with OnStar® ...................... 129 Rearview Mirrors ......................................... 129 Reclining Seatbacks, Manual ......................... 11 Recommended Fluids and Lubricants .......... 448 Recreational Vehicle Towing ........................ 320 Reduced Engine Power Light ...................... 188 Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System ............ 96 Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System, Operation ................................................... 97 Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire ................................................ 407 Removing the Spare Tire and Tools ............ 406 Replacement Bulbs ..................................... 380 Reporting Safety Defects Canadian Government ............................. 474 General Motors ........................................ 474 United States Government ....................... 474 488 Restraint System Check Checking the Restraint Systems ................. 90 Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash .................................................. 91 Retained Accessory Power (RAP) ................ 116 Right Front Passenger Position, Safety Belts .......................................................... 35 Roadside Assistance Program ................................. 462 Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out .............. 315 Routing, Engine Drive Belt .......................... 450 Running the Engine While Parked ............... 128 Safety Belt Safety Belts Passenger Reminder Light ....................... 174 Pretensioners ............................................. 42 Reminder Light ........................................ 173 Care of .................................................... 421 Driver Position ........................................... 25 Safety Belts (cont.) How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ............ 24 Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ....................................................... 23 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides ............... 39 Rear Seat Passengers ............................... 36 Right Front Passenger Position .................. 35 Safety Belt Extender .................................. 42 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ............. 35 Safety Belts Are for Everyone .................... 19 Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster .................... 34 Safety Warnings and Symbols ......................... 4 Scheduled Maintenance ............................... 439 Seatback, Folding Passenger ........................ 14 Seats Driver Seat Height Adjuster .......................... 9 Head Restraints ......................................... 13 Heated Seats ............................................. 10 Manual ........................................................ 8 Manual Lumbar .......................................... 10 Manual Reclining Seatbacks ...................... 11 Passenger Folding Seatback ...................... 14 Power Seat ................................................. 9 Split Folding Rear Seat .............................. 17 Securing a Child Restraint Rear Seat Position ..................................... 64 Right Front Seat Position ........................... 66 Security Light .............................................. 188 Service ........................................................ 333 Accessories and Modiﬁcations .................. 333 Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle ......................................... 335 All-Wheel-Drive Light ................................ 189 California Proposition 65 Warning ............. 334 Doing Your Own Work ............................. 334 Engine Soon Light ................................... 183 Publications Ordering Information ............. 475 Vehicle Soon Light ................................... 191 Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ......... 88 Setting the Time ................................. 216, 217 Sheet Metal Damage ................................... 425 Shifting Into Park (P) ................................... 123 Shifting Out of Park (P) ............................... 125 Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster ........................ 34 Signals, Turn and Lane-Change .................. 152 Spare Tire Compact .................................................. 416 Installing .................................................. 407 489 Spare Tire (cont.) Removing ................................................ 406 Storing ..................................................... 414 Speciﬁcations, Capacities ............................ 434 Speedometer ............................................... 173 Split Folding Rear Seat ................................. 17 StabiliTrak® System ..................................... 292 Starting Your Engine ................................... 116 Steering ...................................................... 294 Steering Wheel Controls, Audio ................... 280 Steering Wheel, Tilt Wheel .......................... 151 Storage Garment Hooks ........................................ 137 Storage Areas Center Console Storage Area ................... 137 Convenience Net ..................................... 143 Cupholder(s) ............................................ 137 Glove Box ................................................ 137 Luggage Carrier ....................................... 138 Rear Compartment Storage Panel/Cover .......................................... 140 Rear Seat Armrest ................................... 142 Table ....................................................... 142 Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow ............... 314 Sun Visors .................................................. 110 Sunroof ....................................................... 144 Table ........................................................... 142 Tachometer ................................................. 173 Taillamps Turn Signal, Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps .................................................. 378 TCS Warning Light ...................................... 181 Theft-Deterrent, Radio ................................. 279 Theft-Deterrent Systems .............................. 111 Content Theft-Deterrent ............................ 111 PASS-Key® III+ ........................................ 112 PASS-Key® III+ Operation ........................ 113 Tilt Wheel .................................................... 151 Tire Pressure Light .......................................... 182 Tires ........................................................... 382 Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels, Cleaning ............................................... 424 490 Tires (cont.) Buying New Tires ..................................... 398 Chains ..................................................... 403 Changing a Flat Tire ................................ 404 Cleaning .................................................. 425 Compact Spare Tire ................................. 416 Different Size ........................................... 400 If a Tire Goes Flat ................................... 404 Inﬂation - Tire Pressure ............................ 390 Inspection and Rotation ............................ 396 Installing the Spare Tire ........................... 407 Pressure Monitor System ......................... 391 Removing the Flat Tire ............................. 407 Removing the Spare Tire and Tools ......... 406 Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools ..... 414 Tire Sidewall Labeling .............................. 383 Tire Terminology and Deﬁnitions ............... 387 Uniform Tire Quality Grading .................... 400 Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance ........... 402 Wheel Replacement ................................. 402 When It Is Time for New Tires ................. 397 Recreational Vehicle ................................. 320 Towing a Trailer ....................................... 322 Your Vehicle ............................................. 320 Towing Traction Transaxle Control System (TCS) .............................. 291 Control System Warning Light .................. 181 StabiliTrak® System ................................. 292 Fluid, Automatic ....................................... 352 Transaxle Operation, Automatic ................... 119 Trip Odometer ............................................. 173 Turn and Lane-Change Signals ................... 152 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever .................... 151 Understanding Radio Reception ................... 281 Uniform Tire Quality Grading ....................... 400 Vehicle Control ..................................................... 288 Damage Warnings ....................................... 5 Loading .................................................... 315 Service Soon Light ................................... 191 Symbols ...................................................... 5 491 Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data Recorders ................................................ 469 Vehicle Identiﬁcation Where to Put the Restraint ............................ 53 Windows ..................................................... 109 Power ...................................................... 110 Number (VIN) .......................................... 427 Service Parts Identiﬁcation Label .............. 428 Windshield Washer .................................................... 154 Washer Fluid ........................................... 364 Wiper Blade Replacement ........................ 380 Wiper Blades, Cleaning ............................ 423 Wiper Fuses ............................................ 429 Wipers ..................................................... 153 Windshield, Rear Washer/Wiper ................... 155 Winter Driving ............................................. 310 XM Radio Messages ................................... 267 Your Vehicle and the Environment ............... 437 Vehicle Personalization DIC .......................................................... 207 Ventilation Adjustment .................................. 169 Visors .......................................................... 110 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators ......... 171 Warnings DIC Warnings and Messages ................... 198 Hazard Warning Flashers ......................... 150 Other Warning Devices ............................ 150 Safety and Symbols ..................................... 4 Vehicle Damage .......................................... 5 Wheels Alignment and Tire Balance ..................... 402 Different Size ........................................... 400 Replacement ............................................ 402 492 2007 Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual M Seats and Restraint Systems ....................... 7 Front Seats .............................................. 8 Rear Seats ............................................. 17 Safety Belts ............................................ 19 Child Restraints ...................................... 43 Airbag System ........................................ 72 Restraint System Check ......................... 90 Features and Controls ................................ 93 ....................................................... 95 .................................. 104 ............................................... 109 ....................... 111 Keys Doors and Locks Windows Theft-Deterrent Systems Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ..................................... 114 Mirrors .................................................. 129 OnStar® System ................................... 133 Storage Areas ...................................... 137 Sunroof ................................................ 144 Instrument Panel Overview Climate Controls Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators Driver Information Center (DIC) Audio System(s) Instrument Panel ....................................... 145 ................... 148 ................................... 165 .... 171 ............ 192 ................................... 215 Driving Your Vehicle ................................. 283 Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle Towing .............................................. 284 ................................................. 320 Service and Appearance Care .................. 331 ................................................. 333 ...................................................... 335 ......... 340 ..................................... 374 ................................ 375 ... 380 Service Fuel Checking Things Under the Hood All-Wheel Drive Bulb Replacement Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement Tires ..................................................... 382 Appearance Care .................................. 417 Vehicle Identiﬁcation ............................. 427 Electrical System .................................. 428 Capacities and Speciﬁcations ................ 434 Maintenance Schedule .............................. 435 .......................... 436 Maintenance Schedule Customer Assistance and Information Reporting Safety Defects Customer Assistance Information ............. 455 ... 456 ...................... 474 Index .......................................................... 477 This manual describes features that may be available in this model, but your vehicle may not be have all of them. For example, more than one entertainment system may be offered or your vehicle may have been ordered without a front passenger or rear seats. Keep this manual in the vehicle, so it will be there if it is needed while you are on the road. If the vehicle is sold, leave this manual in the vehicle. Canadian Owners A French language copy of this manual can be obtained from your dealer or from: Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207 GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, CHEVROLET, the CHEVROLET Emblem, and the name EQUINOX are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation. This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after that time without notice. For vehicles ﬁrst sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada Limited” for Chevrolet Motor Division whenever it appears in this manual. Litho in U.S.A. Part No. 15860877 A First Printing ©2006 General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved. How to Use This Manual Many people read the owner manual from beginning to end when they ﬁrst receive their new vehicle. If this is done, it can help you learn about the features and controls for the vehicle. Pictures and words work together in the owner manual to explain things. Index A good place to quickly locate information about the vehicle is the Index in the back of the manual. It is an alphabetical list of what is in the manual and the page number where it can be found. Safety Warnings and Symbols There are a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning. {CAUTION: These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people. In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you do not, you or others could be hurt. You will also ﬁnd a circle with a slash through it in this book. This safety symbol means “Do Not,” “Do Not do this” or “Do Not let this happen.” Vehicle Damage Warnings Also, in this manual you will ﬁnd these notices: Notice: These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle. A notice tells about something that can damage the vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. But the notice will tell what to do to help avoid the damage. When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words. There are also warning labels on the vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE. Vehicle Symbols The vehicle has components and labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along with the text describing the operation or information relating to a speciﬁc component, control, message, gage, or indicator. If you need help ﬁguring out a speciﬁc name of a component, gage, or indicator, reference the following topics: (cid:127) Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1 (cid:127) Features and Controls in Section 2 (cid:127) (cid:127) Climate Controls in Section 3 (cid:127) Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators in Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3 Section 3 (cid:127) Audio System(s) in Section 3 (cid:127) Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5 These are some examples of symbols that may be found on the vehicle: Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems Front Seats ..................................................... 8 Manual Seats ................................................ 8 Driver Seat Height Adjuster ........................... 9 Power Seat ................................................... 9 Manual Lumbar ........................................... 10 Heated Seats .............................................. 10 Manual Reclining Seatbacks ........................ 11 Head Restraints .......................................... 13 Passenger Folding Seatback ....................... 14 Rear Seats .................................................... 17 Split Folding Rear Seat ............................... 17 Safety Belts .................................................. 19 Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ........... 19 Questions and Answers About Safety Belts .... 23 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ............. 24 Driver Position ............................................. 25 Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment ................. 34 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy .............. 35 Right Front Passenger Position ................... 35 Rear Seat Passengers ................................ 36 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides ................ 39 Safety Belt Pretensioners ............................ 42 Safety Belt Extender ................................... 42 Child Restraints ............................................ 43 Older Children ............................................. 43 Infants and Young Children ......................... 46 Child Restraint Systems .............................. 49 Where to Put the Restraint .......................... 53 Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) .................................... 57 Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position ................................... 64 Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position ......................... 66 Airbag System .............................................. 72 Where Are the Airbags? .............................. 75 When Should an Airbag Inﬂate? .................. 78 What Makes an Airbag Inﬂate? ................... 79 How Does an Airbag Restrain? ................... 80 What Will You See After an Airbag Inﬂates? ... 80 Passenger Sensing System ......................... 82 Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...... 88 Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle .......................... 89 Restraint System Check ............................... 90 Checking the Restraint Systems .................. 90 Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash ........................................... 91 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. Driver Seat Height Adjuster Power Seat If your vehicle has a manual driver seat height adjuster, it is located on the outboard side of the seat near the front of the seat cushion. To raise the seat, move the lever upward repeatedly until the seat is at the desired height. To lower the seat, move the lever downward repeatedly until the seat is at the desired height. If the vehicle has a power seat, the control used to operate it is located on the outboard side of the driver’s seat. To adjust the seat do any of the following: (cid:127) Move the seat forward or rearward by sliding the control forward or rearward. (cid:127) Raise or lower the front part of the seat cushion by moving the front of the control up or down. (cid:127) Raise or lower the rear part of the seat cushion by moving the rear of the control up or down. Manual Lumbar Heated Seats If your vehicle has this feature, the knob is located on the front of the driver seat lower cushion on the inboard side. If your vehicle has heated seats, the switches are located on the center console of the instrument panel above the shift lever. Turn the knob clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the lumbar support. The ignition must be on for the heated seats to operate. Press the switch, nearest to the seat, once to turn the heated seat on to the high setting. Both indicator lights will be lit. Press the switch a second time to turn the heated seat to the low setting. One indicator light will be lit. Press the switch a third time to turn the heated seat off. 10 Manual Reclining Seatbacks {CAUTION: You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you do not want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when the vehicle is not moving. {CAUTION: If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked. Driver’s Seat with Manual Recline and Manual Height Adjuster shown To adjust the seatback on the driver’s seat, lift the lever on the rear outboard side of the seat and move the seatback to the desired position. Then release the lever to lock the seatback in place. 11 Passenger Seat with Folding Seatback Option shown To adjust the seatback on the front passenger’s seat, lift the lever on the outboard side of the seat and move the seatback to the desired position. Then release the lever to lock the seatback in place. If your front passenger’s seat is a ﬂat folding seat, you must fully raise the lever to disengage the seatback. 12 {CAUTION: Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts cannot do their job when you are reclined like this. The shoulder belt cannot do its job because it will not be against your body. Instead, it will be in front of you. In a crash, you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries. The lap belt cannot do its job either. In a crash, the belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. For proper protection when the vehicle is in motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly. Do not have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving. Head Restraints Adjust the head restraint so that the top of the restraint is at the same height as the top of the occupant’s head. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash. 13 Pull the head restraint up to raise it. To lower the head restraint, press the button, located on the top of the seatback, and push the restraint down. Passenger Folding Seatback The front passenger’s seatback may fold ﬂat. {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? on page 75 and Loading Your Vehicle on page 315. 14 {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. To fold the seatback, do the following: 1. Lower the head restraint all the way. 2. Lift the bar under the front of the seat to unlock it. Slide the seat as far back as it will go and release the bar. Try to move the seat back and forth to make sure it is locked into place. 3. Lift the recliner lever, located on the outboard side of the seat, up fully and fold the seatback forward until it disengages. 15 {CAUTION: If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked. 3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked in place. The recliner lever is also used to recline the seatback while a passenger is seated. See Manual Reclining Seatbacks on page 11. 4. Continue to fold the seat forward until it locks in the folded position. 5. Pull up on the seatback to be sure it is locked. To raise the seatback, do the following: 1. Lift the recliner lever, located on the outboard side of the seat, up fully and push up on the seatback. 2. Continue raising the seatback until the seatback re-engages. 16 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 push and pull 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. To fold the seatback down, do the following: Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts and return them to their normal stowed position before folding a rear seat. 1. Ensure all three of the safety belts are unbuckled and the front seatbacks are not reclined. 17 To recline the seatback, do the following: 1. Lift and hold the lever located on top of the seatback. 2. 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. 18 Safety Belts Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts properly. It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts. {CAUTION: Do not let anyone ride where he or she cannot wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and you are not wearing a safety belt, your injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously injured or killed. In the same crash, you might not be, if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt, and check that your passengers’ belts are fastened properly too. {CAUTION: It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly. Your vehicle has a light that comes on as a reminder to buckle up. See Safety Belt Reminder Light on page 173. 19 In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here is why: They work. You never know if you will be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you do not know if it will be a bad one. A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up, a person would not survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed. After more than 40 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter... a lot! 20 Why Safety Belts Work When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes. Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it is just a seat on wheels. Put someone on it. Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider does not stop. 21 The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield... or the instrument panel... 22 Questions and Answers About Safety Belts Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after an accident if I am wearing a safety belt? A: You could be — whether you are wearing a safety belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you are upside down. And your chance of being conscious during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted. Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I have to wear safety belts? A: Airbags are supplemental systems only; so they work with safety belts — not instead of them. Every airbag system ever offered for sale has required the use of safety belts. Even if you are in a vehicle that has airbags, you still have to buckle up to get the most protection. That is true not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions. 23 or the safety belts! With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does. You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance, and your strongest bones take the forces. That is why safety belts make such good sense. Q: If I am a good driver, and I never drive far from home, why should I wear safety belts? A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you are in an accident — even one that is not your fault — you and your passengers can be hurt. Being a good driver does not protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers. Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of home. And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h). Safety belts are for everyone. How to Wear Safety Belts Properly This part is only for people of adult size. Be aware that there are special things to know about safety belts and children. And there are different rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be riding in your vehicle, see Older Children on page 43 or Infants and Young Children on page 46. Follow those rules for everyone’s protection. First, you will want to know which restraint systems your vehicle has. We will start with the driver position. 24 Driver Position Lap-Shoulder Belt The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here is how to wear it properly. 1. Close and lock the door. 2. Adjust the seat so you can sit up straight. To see how, see “Seats” in the Index. 3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Do not let it get twisted. The lap-shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly. 25 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 42. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. 5. Move the shoulder belt height adjuster to the height that is right for you. Improper shoulder belt height adjustment could reduce the effectiveness of the safety belt in a crash. See Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment on page 34. 26 6. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the shoulder belt. It may be necessary to pull stitching on the safety belt through the latch plate to fully tighten the lap belt on smaller occupants. The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you would be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. The safety belt locks if there is a sudden stop or crash. 27 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. 28 Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously hurt if your lap belt is too loose. In a crash, you could slide under the lap belt and apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The lap belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. A: The lap belt is too loose. It will not give nearly as much protection this way. 29 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. 30 Q: What is wrong with this? A: The belt is over an armrest. {CAUTION: You can be seriously injured if your belt goes over an armrest like this. The belt would be much too high. In a crash, you can slide under the belt. The belt force would then be applied at the abdomen, not at the pelvic bones, and that could cause serious or fatal injuries. Be sure the belt goes under the armrests. 31 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. 32 Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt. In a crash, you would not have the full width of the belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is twisted, make it straight so it can work properly, or ask your dealer to ﬁx it. A: The belt is twisted across the body. 33 Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt height adjuster to the height that is right for you. Adjust the height so that the shoulder portion of the belt is centered on your shoulder. The belt should be away from your face and neck, but not falling off your shoulder. Improper shoulder belt height adjustment could reduce the effectiveness of the safety belt in a crash. To move it up or down, squeeze the release buttons (A) together and move the height adjuster to the desired position. To unlatch the belt, push the button on the buckle. The belt should go back out of the way. Before you close the door, be sure the belt is out of the way. If you slam the door on it, you can damage both the belt and your vehicle. 34 After you move the height adjuster to where you want it, try to move it up or down without squeezing the release buttons to make sure it has locked into position. 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 25. The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same way as the driver’s safety belt — except for the following. 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. When the safety belt is not in use, slide the latch plate up the safety belt webbing. The latch plate should rest on the stitching on the safety belt, near the guide loop. 35 A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and the lap portion should be worn as low as possible, below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy. Rear Seat Passengers It is very important for rear seat passengers to buckle up! Accident statistics show that unbelted people in the rear seat are hurt more often in crashes than those who are wearing safety belts. Rear passengers who are not safety belted can be thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts. Lap-Shoulder Belt All rear seating positions have lap-shoulder belts. Here is how to wear one properly. 1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Do not let it get twisted. The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly. 36 2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. When the shoulder belt is pulled out all the way, it will lock. If it does, let it go back all the way and start again. If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 42. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. 3. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the shoulder part. 37 The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. The safety belt locks if there is a sudden stop or a crash. {CAUTION: You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should ﬁt against your body. The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you would be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. 38 To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. For outboard seating positions, when the safety belt is not in use, slide the latch plate up the safety belt webbing. The latch plate should rest on the stitching on the safety belt, near the guide loop on the side wall. Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides Rear shoulder belt comfort guides may provide added safety belt comfort for older children who have outgrown booster seats and for some adults. When installed on a shoulder belt, the comfort guide positions the belt away from the neck and head. There is one guide available for each outboard passenger position in the rear seat. Here is how to install a comfort guide to the safety belt: 1. Remove the guide from its storage clip on the back of the seatback. 39 2. Slide the guide under and past the belt. The elastic cord must be under the belt. Then, place the guide over the belt, and insert the two edges of the belt into the slots of the guide. 3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies ﬂat. The elastic cord must be under the belt and the guide on top. 40 {CAUTION: A safety belt that is not properly worn may not provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. 4. Buckle, position, and release the safety belt as described in Rear Seat Passengers on page 36. Make sure that the shoulder belt crosses the shoulder. To remove and store the comfort guide, squeeze the belt edges together so that you can take them out of the guide. Slide the guide back onto its storage clip located on the seatback. 41 Safety Belt Pretensioners Your vehicle has safety belt pretensioners for the driver and right front passenger. Although you cannot see them, they are part of the safety belt assembly. They help tighten the safety belts during the early stages of a moderate to severe frontal or near frontal crash if the threshold conditions for pretensioner activation are met. 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 91. Safety Belt Extender If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you should use it. But if a safety belt is not long enough, your dealer will order you an extender. When you go in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the extender will be long enough for you. To help avoid personal injury, do not let someone else use it, and use it only for the seat it is made to ﬁt. The extender has been designed for adults. Never use it for securing child seats. To wear it, just attach it to the regular safety belt. For more information see the instruction sheet that comes with the extender. 42 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: 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. According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating positions. 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. 43 Q: What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt, but the child is so small that the shoulder belt is very close to the child’s face or neck? A: If the child is sitting in a seat next to a window, move the child toward the center of the vehicle. Also see Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides on page 39. 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. {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. 44 {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. 45 Infants and Young Children Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! This includes infants and all other children. Neither the distance traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes the need, for everyone, to use safety restraints. In fact, the law in every state in the United States and in every Canadian province says children up to some age must be restrained while in a vehicle. {CAUTION: Children can be seriously injured or strangled if a shoulder belt is wrapped around their neck and the safety belt continues to tighten. Never leave children unattended in a vehicle and never allow children to play with the safety belts. Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles, they should have the protection provided by appropriate restraints. Young children should not use the vehicle’s adult safety belts alone, unless there is no other choice. Instead, they need to use a child restraint. {CAUTION: People should never hold a baby in their arms while riding in a vehicle. A baby does not weigh much — until a crash. During a crash a baby will become so heavy it is not possible to hold it. For example, in a crash at only 25 mph (40 km/h), a 12 lb (5.5 kg) baby will suddenly become a 240 lb (110 kg) force on a person’s arms. A baby should be secured in an appropriate restraint. 46 CAUTION: (Continued) young children and infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety belt system nor its airbag system is designed for them. Young children and infants need the protection that a child restraint system can provide. {CAUTION: Children who are up against, or very close to, any airbag when it inﬂates can be seriously injured or killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder belts offer protection for adults and older children, but not for CAUTION: (Continued) 47 {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. 48 {CAUTION: The body structure of a young child is quite unlike that of an adult or older child, for whom the safety belts are designed. A young child’s hip bones are still so small that the vehicle’s regular safety belt may not remain low on the hip bones, as it should. Instead, it may settle up around the child’s abdomen. In a crash, the belt would apply force on a body area that is unprotected by any bony structure. This alone could cause serious or fatal injuries. Young children always should be secured in appropriate child restraints. Child Restraint Systems An infant car bed (A), a special bed made for use in a motor vehicle, is an infant restraint system designed to restrain or position a child on a continuous ﬂat surface. Make sure that the infant’s head rests toward the center of the vehicle. 49 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. 50 A booster seat (F-G) is a child restraint designed to improve the ﬁt of the vehicle’s safety belt system. Some booster seats have a shoulder belt positioner, and some high-back booster seats have a ﬁve-point harness. A booster seat can also help a child to see out the window. Q: How Should I Use a Child Restraint? A: A child restraint system is any device designed for use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat, or position children. A built-in child restraint system is a permanent part of the motor vehicle. An add-on child restraint system is a portable one, which is purchased by the vehicle’s owner. To help reduce injuries, an add-on child restraint must be secured in the vehicle. With built-in or add-on child restraints, the child has to be secured within the child restraint. When choosing an add-on child restraint, be sure the child restraint is designed to be used in a vehicle. If it is, it will have a label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. Then follow the instructions for the restraint. You may ﬁnd these instructions on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both. 51 See Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 57 for more information. A child can be endangered in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle. When securing an add-on child restraint, refer to the instructions that come with the restraint which may be on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both, and to this manual. The child restraint instructions are important, so if they are not available, obtain a replacement copy from the manufacturer. Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child restraint in your vehicle — even when no child is in it. Securing an Add-on Child Restraint in the Vehicle {CAUTION: A child can be seriously injured or killed in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle. Make sure the child restraint is properly installed in the vehicle using the vehicle’s safety belt or LATCH system, following the instructions that came with that restraint, and also the instructions in this manual. To help reduce the chance of injury, the child restraint must be secured in the vehicle. Child restraint systems must be secured in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a lap-shoulder belt, or by the LATCH system. 52 Securing the Child Within the Child Restraint There are several systems for securing the child within the child restraint. One system, the three-point harness, has straps that come down over each of the infant’s shoulders and buckle together at the crotch. The ﬁve-point harness system has two shoulder straps, two hip straps, and a crotch strap. A shield may take the place of hip straps. A T-shaped shield has shoulder straps that are attached to a ﬂat pad which rests low against the child’s body. A shelf- or armrest-type shield has straps that are attached to a wide, shelf-like shield that swings up or to the side. Because there are different systems, it is important to refer to the instructions that come with the restraint. A child can be endangered in a crash if the child is not properly secured in the child restraint. Where to Put the Restraint Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. We 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. {CAUTION: A child can be seriously injured or killed in a crash if the child is not properly secured in the child restraint. Make sure the child is properly secured, following the instructions that came with that restraint. 53 If your vehicle has a rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing child restraint, a label on your sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys. {CAUTION: A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger’s airbag inﬂates. This is because the back of the rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the inﬂating airbag. CAUTION: (Continued) CAUTION: (Continued) Even though the passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal airbag if the system detects a rear-facing child restraint, no system is fail-safe, and no one can guarantee that an airbag will not deploy under some unusual circumstance, even though it is turned off. We recommend that rear-facing child restraints be secured in the rear seat, even if the airbag is off. If you need to secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go. It is better to secure the child restraint in a rear seat. 54 If your vehicle does not have a rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing child restraint, never put a child in a rear-facing child restraint in the right front passenger seat unless the passenger airbag status indicator shows off and the airbag is off. Here is 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. Be sure the airbag 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 airbag if the system detects a rear-facing child restraint, no system is fail-safe, and no one can CAUTION: (Continued) CAUTION: (Continued) guarantee that an airbag will not deploy under some unusual circumstance, even though it is turned off. We recommend that rear-facing child restraints be transported in vehicles with a rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing child restraint, whenever possible. If you need to secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go. It is better to secure the child restraint in a rear seat. If you need to secure more than one child restraint in the rear seat, review the following illustrations. Depending on where you place the child restraint or the size of the child restraint, you may not be able to access certain safety belt assemblies or LATCH anchors for additional passengers or child restraints. 55 Conﬁgurations for Use of Two Child Restraints Conﬁgurations for Use of Three Child Restraints A. Child restraint using LATCH B. Occupant prohibited A. Occupant prohibited B. Child restraint using LATCH A. Child restraint or occupant using safety belt A. Child restraint or occupant using safety belt B. Child restraint using LATCH A. Child restraint using LATCH B. No occupant recommended C. Child restraint or occupant using safety belt Wherever you install a child restraint, be sure to secure the child restraint properly. Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child restraint in your vehicle — even when no child is in it. 56 Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) The LATCH system holds a child restraint during driving or in a crash. This system is designed to make installation of a child restraint easier. The LATCH system uses anchors in the vehicle and attachments on the child restraint that are made for use with the LATCH system Make sure that a LATCH-compatible child restraint is properly installed using the anchors, or use the vehicle’s safety belts to secure the restraint, following the instructions that came with that restraint, and also the instructions in this manual. When installing a child restraint with a top tether, you must also use either the lower anchors or the safety belts to properly secure the child restraint. A child restraint must never be installed using only the top tether and anchor. In order to use the LATCH system in your vehicle, you need a child restraint that has LATCH attachments. The child restraint manufacturer will provide you with instructions on how to use the child restraint and its attachments. The following explains how to attach a child restraint with these attachments in your vehicle. Not all vehicle seating positions or child restraints have lower anchors and attachments or top tether anchors and attachments. Lower Anchors Lower anchors (A) are metal bars built into the vehicle. There are two lower anchors for each LATCH seating position that will accommodate a child restraint with lower attachments (B). 57 Your child restraint may have a single tether (A) or a dual tether (C). Either will have a single attachment (B) to secure the top tether to the anchor. Some child restraints that have a top tether are designed for use with or without the top tether being attached. Others require the top tether always to be attached. In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be attached. In the United States, some child restraints also have a top tether. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for your child restraint. If the child restraint does not have a top tether, one can be obtained, in kit form, for many child restraints. Ask the child restraint manufacturer whether or not a kit is available. Top Tether Anchor A top tether (A, C) anchors the top of the child restraint to the vehicle. A top tether anchor is built into the vehicle. The top tether attachment (B) on the child restraint connects to the top tether anchor in the vehicle in order to reduce the forward movement and rotation of the child restraint during driving or in a crash. 58 Lower Anchor and Top Tether Anchor Locations i (Top Tether Anchor): Seating positions with top tether anchors. j (Lower Anchor): Seating positions with two lower anchors. Rear Seat Each rear seating position has exposed metal anchors located in the crease between the seatback and the seat cushion. The top tether anchors for each rear seating position are located on the back of the rear seatback. You may need to adjust the rear compartment storage panel/cover in the rear cargo area to access the anchors. Be sure to use an anchor located on the same side of the vehicle as the seating position where the child restraint will be placed. Do not secure a child restraint in the right front passenger’s position if a national or local law requires that the top tether be attached, or if the instructions that come with the child restraint say that the top tether must be attached. 59 {CAUTION: Each top tether anchor and lower anchor in the vehicle is designed to hold only one child restraint. Attaching more than one child restraint to a single anchor could cause the anchor or attachment to come loose or even break during a crash. A child or others could be injured if this happens. To help prevent injury to people and damage to your vehicle, attach only one child restraint per anchor. There is no place to attach the top tether in this position. Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. See Where to Put the Restraint on page 53 for additional information. Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System {CAUTION: If a LATCH-type child restraint is not attached to anchors, the restraint will not be able to protect the child correctly. In a crash, the child could be seriously injured or killed. Make sure that a LATCH-type child restraint is properly installed using the anchors, or use the vehicle’s safety belts to secure the restraint, following the instructions that came with that restraint, and also the instructions in this manual. 60 {CAUTION: Children can be seriously injured or strangled if a shoulder belt is wrapped around their neck and the safety belt continues to tighten. Secure any unused safety belts behind the child restraint so children cannot reach them. Pull the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock, if your vehicle has one, after the child restraint has been installed. Be sure to follow the instructions of the child restraint manufacturer. Notice: Contact between the child restraint or the LATCH attachment parts and the vehicle’s safety belt assembly may cause damage to these parts. Make sure when securing unused safety belts behind the child restraint that there is no contact between the child restraint or the LATCH attachment parts and the vehicle’s safety belt assembly. Folding an empty rear seat with the safety belts secured may cause damage to the safety belt or the seat. When removing the child restraint, always remember to return the safety belts to their normal, stowed position before folding the rear seat. A. Passenger’s Side Rear Seat Lower Anchors B. Center Rear Seat Lower Anchors C. Driver’s Side Rear Seat Lower Anchors 61 Make sure to attach the child restraint at the proper anchor location. This system is designed to make installation of child restraints easier. When using lower anchors, do not use the vehicle’s safety belts. Instead

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2007 Chevrolet Equinox Owners Manual