2005 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual M
Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-8
Safety Belts
............................................. 1-10
Child Restraints
....................................... 1-32
Airbag System ......................................... 1-51
Restraint System Check
............................ 1-62
Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1
........................................................ 2-3
...................................... 2-10
................................................. 2-15
............................ 2-16
........... 2-21
.................................................... 2-32
...................................... 2-34
............................. 2-36
......................................... 2-39
.................................................. 2-42
Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1
.......................... 3-4
...................................... 3-22
........ 3-31
Keys Doors and Locks Windows Theft-Deterrent Systems Starting and Operating Your Vehicle Mirrors OnStar® System HomeLink® Transmitter Storage Areas Sunroof
Instrument Panel Overview Climate Controls Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
Driver Information Center (DIC) Audio System(s)
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle Towing
.................. 3-45
....................................... 3-52
Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1
..... 4-2
................................................... 4-35
Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
............... 5-10
Bulb Replacement
.................................... 5-40
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
......... 5-44
Tires
...................................................... 5-46
Appearance Care
..................................... 5-74
Vehicle Identification
................................. 5-83
Electrical System ...................................... 5-84
Capacities and Specifications
..................... 5-93
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
Information Provided by: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, the MALIBU Emblem, and the name MALIBU are registered trademarks; and the name MALIBU MAXX is a trademark of General Motors Corporation. This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada Limited” for Chevrolet Motor Division whenever it appears in this manual. 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.
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.
Litho in U.S.A. Part No. 05MALIBU A First Edition
©2004 General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
ii
Information Provided by: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
Information Provided by: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
Information Provided by:(cid:127) (cid:127) These are some examples of symbols that may be found on the vehicle:
Information Provided by:✍ NOTES
vi
Information Provided by:Section 1
Seats and Restraint Systems
Front Seats ......................................................1-2
Manual Seats ................................................1-2
Six-Way Power Driver Seat ..............................1-3
Manual Lumbar ..............................................1-3
Heated Seats .................................................1-4
Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-4
Head Restraints .............................................1-6
Passenger Folding Seatback ............................1-6
Rear Seats .......................................................1-8
Rear Seat Operation .......................................1-8
Safety Belts ...................................................1-10
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................1-10
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 .......................................1-27
Safety Belt Pretensioners ...............................1-31
Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-31
Child Restraints .............................................1-32
Older Children ..............................................1-32
Infants and Young Children ............................1-34
Child Restraint Systems .................................1-38
Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-41
Top Strap ....................................................1-41
Top Strap Anchor Location .............................1-43
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) ...........................1-43
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System .........................................1-46
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Seat Position ............................................1-46
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position ............................................1-49
Airbag System ...............................................1-51
Where Are the Airbags? ................................1-54
When Should an Airbag Inflate? .....................1-58
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? .......................1-59
How Does an Airbag Restrain? .......................1-59
What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? .....1-60
Servicing Your Airbag-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
Information Provided by: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.
1-2
If your vehicle has a manual seat adjustment, 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 back and forth to be sure the seat is locked in place. Power Lift Seat If your vehicle has this feature, to move the power lift seat forward or rearward, pull up on the lever located under the front of the driver’s seat to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it and release the lever. Try to move the seat with your body to make sure the seat is locked into place. To raise or lower the power lift seat, hold the switch located on the outboard side of the driver’s seat up or down.
Information Provided by:Six-Way Power Driver Seat
Manual Lumbar
If your vehicle has this feature, the power seat control is located on the outboard side of the driver’s seat. To adjust the power seat, do the following: (cid:127) Move the seat forward or rearward by pushing the
control toward the front or back of the vehicle.
(cid:127) Raise or lower the entire seat cushion by holding
the center of the control up or down.
(cid:127) Raise or lower the front of the seat cushion by
holding the front of the control up or down.
(cid:127) Raise or lower the rear of the seat cushion by
holding the rear of the control up or down.
If your vehicle has this feature, the handle is located on the outboard side of the driver’s seat. Ratchet the handle down to increase lumbar support. Ratchet the handle up to decrease lumbar support.
1-3
Information Provided by:Heated Seats Your vehicle may have heated front seats.
Reclining Seatbacks
The buttons are located on the outboard corner of the driver and front passenger seat.
To adjust the seatback, lift the lever located on the outboard side of the seat and move the seatback to the desired position. Release the lever to lock the seatback. Pull up on the lever without pushing on the seatback, and the seatback will return to the upright position.
Press the top of the switch to turn the feature on. The seat will heat to the high setting. The indicator light above the switch will be lit next to the number 2. Press the top of the switch again to go to the low heat setting. The indicator light will be lit next to the number 1. Press the bottom of the switch to turn the feature off.
1-4
Information Provided by:But 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
Information Provided by:Head Restraints
Passenger Folding Seatback
{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 1-54 and Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-29.
The head restraints on both the front and rear seats are adjustable. Press the button on the side of the post to adjust the head restraint. Slide the head restraint up or down 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.
{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.
1-6
Information Provided by:You can fold the front passenger’s seatback down to allow for more cargo space or as a temporary table while the vehicle is stopped. To fold the seatback down, do the following: 1. Make sure the seatback is at the most upright
position and locked.
2. Push forward on one of
the levers located on either side of the back of the passenger’s seatback.
3. Fold the seatback down. To raise the seatback, do the following: 1. Push down on one of the levers and pull the seatback up to lock it into place. Make sure the safety belt is not twisted or caught in the seatback.
2. Push and pull the top of the seatback to be sure it
is locked into position.
3. Use the reclining front seatback lever to adjust the
seatback to a comfortable position.
1-7
Information Provided by:Rear Seats
To fold down the rear seatback on the MAXX, do the following:
Rear Seat Operation Folding the Seatback Your vehicle may have a split folding rear seatback. To fold down the rear seatback on the sedan, do the following: 1. Open the trunk and pull one or both of the gray
handles located on the upper part of the trunk opening. The driver’s side handle will open the larger side of the seatback. The passenger’s side handle will open the smaller side of the seatback.
2. Once a handle is pulled, the seatback can be pushed open through the trunk, or pulled open from inside the vehicle.
1-8
1. Pull up on and hold the lever located on the side of
either rear seat.
Information Provided by:2. Once a lever is pulled, the seatback can be pushed
into the down position.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always 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.
To return the seatback to the upright position, push the seatback up until you hear a click. Then pull on the seatback to make sure it is secure.
1-9
Information Provided by:Rear Sliding Seat (MAXX Only) If your vehicle is the MAXX model your rear seat will slide forward or rearward to allow more cargo space in the rear. Lift the bar located under the front of the seat to unlock the seat. Slide the seat to where you want it and release the bar. Try to move the seat back and forth to be sure the seat is locked in place. If your vehicle has the rear seat entertainment system, the rear seat should only be moved forward to a certain point in order to use the DVD player properly. Slide the rear seat up so the front edge of the seat cushion is lined up with the mark on the carpet retainer trim on the floor of the driver’s side rear seat. If the rear seat is up past the mark, you will not be able to open the DVD screen.
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.
1-10
Information Provided by:{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.
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 30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter...a lot!
Your vehicle has a light that comes on as a reminder to buckle up. See Safety Belt Reminder Light on page 3-34.
1-11
Information Provided by:Why Safety Belts Work When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes.
Put someone on it.
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it is just a seat on wheels.
1-12
Information Provided by:Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider does not stop.
The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield...
1-13
Information Provided by:or the instrument panel...
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.
1-14
Information Provided by: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.
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after an accident
if I am wearing a safety belt?
A: You could be — whether you are wearing a safety
belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you are upside down. And your chance of being conscious during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted.
Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I have to
wear safety belts?
A: Airbags are in many vehicles today and will be in
most of them in the future. But they are supplemental systems only; so they work with safety belts — not instead of them. Every airbag system ever offered for sale has required the use of safety belts. Even if you are in a vehicle that has airbags, you still have to buckle up to get the most protection. That is true not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions.
1-15
Information Provided by:How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
This part is only for people of adult size.
Be aware that there are special things to know about
safety belts and children. And there are different
rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be
riding in your vehicle, see Older Children on page 1-32
or Infants and Young Children on page 1-34. Follow
those rules for everyone’s protection.
First, you will want to know which restraint systems your
vehicle has.
We will start with the driver position.
Driver Position Lap-Shoulder Belt The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here is how to wear it properly. 1. Close and lock the door. 2. Adjust the seat so you can sit up straight. To see
how, see “Seats” in the Index.
1-16
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.
Information Provided by:If the belt stops before it reaches the buckle, tilt the latch plate and keep pulling until you can buckle the belt. 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 1-31. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
5. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder belt.
1-17
Information Provided by: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
Information Provided by: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
Information Provided by: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
Information Provided by: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
Information Provided by: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.
1-22
Information Provided by: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.
Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt adjuster to the height that is right for you.
To move it down, push down the release button (A) and move the height adjuster to the desired position. You can move the adjuster up by pushing the release button up. After you move the adjuster to where you want it, try to move it without pushing the release button to make sure it has locked into position.
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.
1-23
Information Provided by: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.
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.
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. 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.
1-24
Information Provided by: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.
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. 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 1-31. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
1-25
Information Provided by:3. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder part.
1-26
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 a crash, or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.
Information Provided by:{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.
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.
To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle.
1-27
Information Provided by:Malibu Sedan There is one guide for each outside 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. Here is how to install a comfort guide and use the safety belt:
1. Pull the elastic cord out from between the edge of the seatback and the interior body to remove the guide from its storage clip.
1-28
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.
Information Provided by: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 between the seatback and the interior body, leaving only the loop of the elastic cord exposed.
1-29
Information Provided by:Malibu MAXX There is a safety belt routing guide attached to each outside passenger position in the rear seat of the Malibu MAXX. Here is how to use the safety belt routing guide:
1. Slide the edge of the safety belt (D) through the
opening at the top of the guide (B).
2. Adjust the safety belt so that it lies flat against the lower level (C) or the upper level (A) of the guide. Be sure the safety belt lies flat against the guide.
3. 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 the safety belt from the guide, slide the edge of the safety belt through the opening at the top of the guide.
1-30
Information Provided by: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 frontal or near frontal crash. Pretensioners work only once. If they activate in a crash, you will need to get new ones, and probably other new parts for your safety belt system. See Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash on page 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, your dealer will order you an extender. It is free. 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.
1-31
Information Provided by:Child Restraints
Older Children
Q: What is the proper way to wear safety belts? A: If possible, an older child should wear a
lap-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide. The shoulder belt should not cross the face or neck. The lap belt should fit snugly below the hips, just touching the top of the thighs. It should never be worn over the abdomen, which could cause severe or even fatal internal injuries in a crash.
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear seat. In a crash, children who are not buckled up can strike other people who are buckled up, or can be thrown out of the vehicle. Older children need to use safety belts properly.
Older children who have outgrown booster seats should wear the vehicle’s safety belts.
1-32
Information Provided by: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 for Children and Small Adults on page 1-27. 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.
1-33
{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.
Information Provided by:Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the child’s thighs. This applies belt force to the child’s pelvic bones in a crash.
Infants and Young Children Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! This includes infants and all other children. Neither the distance traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes the need, for everyone, to use safety restraints. In fact, the law in every state in the United States and in every Canadian province says children up to some age must be restrained while in a vehicle. Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles, they should have the protection provided by appropriate restraints. Young children should not use the vehicle’s adult safety belts alone, unless there is no other choice. Instead, they need to use a child restraint.
{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.
1-34
Information Provided by:{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.
1-35
Information Provided by:CAUTION:
(Continued)
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.
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.
{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
CAUTION:
(Continued)
1-36
Information Provided by: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.
{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.
{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.
1-37
Information Provided by: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.
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.
1-38
Information Provided by:A forward-facing child seat (C-E) provides restraint for the child’s body with the harness and also sometimes with surfaces such as T-shaped or shelf-like shields.
A booster seat (F-G) is a child restraint designed to improve the fit of the vehicle’s safety belt system. Some booster seats have a shoulder belt positioner, and some high-back booster seats have a five-point harness. A booster seat can also help a child to see out the window.
1-39
Information Provided by: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.
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.
1-40
Information Provided by: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 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. Always secure a rear-facing child restraint in a rear seat. 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.
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, do not 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
Information Provided by:{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.
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. 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.
1-42
Information Provided by:Top Strap Anchor Location Your vehicle has top strap anchors already installed for the rear seating positions. For the sedan you will find them behind the rear seat on the filler panel. For the MAXX, you will find them on the back of the rear seatback. 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.
MAXX
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.
Sedan
1-43
Information Provided by:A. Lower Anchorage B. Lower Anchorage C. Top Tether
A. Passenger’s Side
C. Driver’s Side
Rear Seat
B. Center Rear Seat
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.
1-44
Information Provided by: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.
{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.
1-45
Information Provided by:Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH system, see Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System) on page 1-43. 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.
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 1-43.
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
Information Provided by:Tilt the latch plate to adjust the belt if needed.
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
Information Provided by: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.
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.
1-48
Information Provided by: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 1-43. 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. Your vehicle has a right front passenger airbag. Never put a rear-facing child restraint in this seat. 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. Always secure a rear-facing child restraint in a rear seat.
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 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. Because your vehicle has a right front passenger airbag, 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.
1-49
Information Provided by:3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder
portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how.
4. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
1-50
5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of
the retractor to set the lock.
Information Provided by:Airbag System Your vehicle has a frontal airbag for the driver and another frontal airbag for the right front passenger. Your vehicle may also have a seat-mounted side impact airbag for the driver and for the right front passenger. Your vehicle may also have roof mounted side impact airbags. Roof mounted side impact airbags 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 seat-mounted side impact airbags, the words AIR BAG will appear on the airbag covering on the side of the front seatback closest to the door. If your vehicle has roof-mounted side impact airbags, the words AIR BAG will appear on the airbag covering on the ceiling near the driver’s and right front passenger’s window. Frontal airbags are designed to help reduce the risk of injury from the force of an inflating frontal airbag. But these airbags must inflate very quickly to do their job and comply with federal regulations.
1-51
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.
Information Provided by:Here are the most important things to know about the airbag system:
CAUTION:
(Continued)
{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 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 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. Side impact airbags are designed to inflate only in moderate to severe crashes where something (Continued)
CAUTION:
1-52
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.
{CAUTION:
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.
Information Provided by:{CAUTION:
Anyone who is up against, or very close to, any airbag when it inflates can be seriously injured or killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder belts offer the best protection for adults, but not for young children and infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety belt system nor its airbag system is designed for them. Young children and infants need the protection that a child restraint system can provide. Always secure children properly in your vehicle. To read how, see Older Children on page 1-32 or Infants and Young Children on page 1-34.
There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument panel cluster, which shows the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-34
for more information.
1-53
Information Provided by:Where Are the Airbags?
The driver’s frontal airbag is in the middle of the steering wheel.
The right front passenger’s frontal airbag is in the instrument panel on the passenger’s side.
1-54
Information Provided by:If your vehicle has a seat-mounted side impact airbag for the driver, it is in the side of the driver’s seatback closest to the door.
If your vehicle has a seat-mounted side impact airbag for the right front passenger, it is in the side of the passenger’s seatback closest to the door.
1-55
Information Provided by:If your vehicle has a roof-mounted side impact airbag 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 roof-mounted side impact airbag for the right front passenger and the person seated directly behind that passenger, it is in the ceiling above the side windows.
1-56
Information Provided by:{CAUTION:
{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, if 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.
If something is between an occupant and an airbag, the airbag might not inflate properly or it might force the object into that person causing severe injury or even death. The path of an inflating airbag must be kept clear. Do not put anything between an occupant and an airbag, and do not attach or put anything on the steering wheel hub or on or near any other airbag covering. Do not let seat covers block the inflation path of a side impact airbag.
1-57
Information Provided by:When Should an Airbag Inflate? The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal airbags are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to inflate only if the impact exceeds a predetermined deployment threshold. Deployment thresholds take into account a variety of desired deployment and non-deployment events and are used to predict how severe a crash is likely to be in time for the airbags to inflate and help restrain the occupants. Whether your frontal airbags will or should deploy is not based on how fast your vehicle is traveling. It depends largely on what you hit, the direction of the impact and how quickly your vehicle slows down. In addition, your vehicle has “dual stage” frontal airbags, which adjust the restraint according to crash severity. Your vehicle is equipped with electronic frontal sensors which help the sensing system distinguish between a moderate frontal impact and a more severe frontal impact. For moderate frontal impacts, these airbags inflate at a level less than full deployment. For more severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs. If the front of your vehicle goes straight into a wall that does not move or deform, the threshold level for the reduced deployment is about 12 to 16 mph
(19 to 26 km/h), and the threshold level for a full deployment is about 18 to 24 mph (29 to 38.5 km/h). (The threshold level can vary, however, with specific vehicle design, so that it can be somewhat above or below this range.) 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.
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.
1-58
Information Provided by:(cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) 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 or near-frontal impacts. For side impact airbags, inflation is determined by the location and severity of the impact.
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? In an impact of sufficient severity, the airbag sensing system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. For both frontal and side impact airbags, the sensing system triggers a release of gas from the inflator, which inflates the airbag. The inflator, airbag and related hardware are all part of the airbag modules inside the steering wheel, instrument panel, the side of the front seatbacks closest to the door and the ceiling of the vehicle, near the side windows.
How Does an Airbag Restrain? In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside of the vehicle. 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 side impact airbags.
1-59
Information Provided by:What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? After the airbag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly that some people may not even realize the airbag inflated. Some components of the airbag module — the steering wheel hub for the driver’s airbag, the instrument panel for the right front passenger’s bag, the side of the seatback closest to the door for the seat-mounted side impact airbags (if equipped) and the area along the ceiling of your vehicle near the side windows for the roof–mounted side impact airbags (if equipped) — 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 airbags. Airbag 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.
1-60
Information Provided by:In many crashes severe enough to inflate the airbag, windshields are broken by vehicle deformation. Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the right front passenger airbag. (cid:127) Airbags are designed to inflate only once. After an
airbag inflates, you will need some new parts for your airbag system. If you do not get them, the airbag system will not be there to help protect you in another crash. A new system will include airbag modules and possibly other parts. The service manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace other parts.
(cid:127) Your vehicle 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 airbag
system. Improper service can mean that the
airbag 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 airbag, or the airbag covering on the driver’s and right front passenger’s seatback (if equipped), or the side impact airbag covering on the ceiling near the side windows (if equipped), the bag may not work properly. You may have to replace the airbag module in the steering wheel, both the airbag module and the instrument panel for the right front passenger’s airbag, the airbag module and seatback for the driver’s and right front passenger’s seat-mounted side impact airbags (if equipped), or side impact airbag module and ceiling covering for the roof-mounted side impact airbags (if equipped). Do not open or break the airbag coverings.
1-61
Information Provided by:(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 Airbag-Equipped Vehicle Airbags affect how your vehicle should be serviced. There are parts of the airbag system in several places around your vehicle. You do not want the system to inflate while someone is working on your vehicle. Your dealer and the service manual have information about servicing your vehicle and the airbag system. To purchase a service manual, see Service Publications Ordering Information on page 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.
The airbag system does not need regular maintenance.
1-62
Information Provided by: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 your seat adjuster will not work after a crash, the special part of the safety belt that goes through the seat to the adjuster may need to be replaced. If an airbag inflates, you will need to replace airbag system parts. See the part about the airbag system earlier in this section. If the frontal airbags inflate, you will also need to replace the driver’s and right front passenger’s safety belt retractor assembly. Be sure to do so. Then the new buckle assembly will be there to help protect you in a collision. After a crash you may need to replace the driver and front passenger’s safety belt retractor assemblies, even if the frontal airbags have not deployed. The driver and front passenger’s safety belt retractor assemblies contain the safety belt pretensioners. Have your safety belt pretensioners checked if your vehicle has been in a collision, or if your airbag readiness light stays on after you start your vehicle or while you are driving. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-34.
1-63
Information Provided by:✍ NOTES
1-64
Information Provided by:Section 2
Features and Controls
Keys ...............................................................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System .........................2-4
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation ...........2-5
Doors and Locks ............................................2-10
Door Locks ..................................................2-10
Power Door Locks ........................................2-10
Door Ajar Reminder ......................................2-11
Delayed Locking ...........................................2-11
Programmable Automatic Door Locks ..............2-12
Lockout Protection ........................................2-12
Trunk (Sedan) ..............................................2-13
Liftgate (MAXX) ............................................2-14
Windows ........................................................2-15
Power Windows ............................................2-16
Sun Visors ...................................................2-16
Theft-Deterrent Systems ..................................2-16
Content Theft-Deterrent
.................................2-17
PASS-Key® III+ ............................................2-19
PASS-Key® III+ Operation ..............................2-19
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ................2-21
New Vehicle Break-In ....................................2-21
Ignition Positions ..........................................2-21
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) ...................2-22
Starting Your Engine .....................................2-22
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal ................2-23
Engine Coolant Heater ..................................2-24
Automatic Transaxle Operation .......................2-25
Parking Brake ..............................................2-27
Shifting Into Park (P) .....................................2-28
Shifting Out of Park (P) .................................2-29
Parking Over Things That Burn .......................2-30
Engine Exhaust ............................................2-30
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked ....2-31
Mirrors ...........................................................2-32
Manual Rearview Mirror .................................2-32
Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar® ..............2-32
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror ................2-32
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with OnStar® ............................................2-33
Outside Power Mirrors ...................................2-33
Outside Power Heated Mirrors ........................2-34
Outside Convex Mirror ...................................2-34
2-1
Information Provided by:Section 2
Features and Controls
OnStar® System .............................................2-34
HomeLink® Transmitter ...................................2-36
Programming the HomeLink® Transmitter .........2-36
Storage Areas ................................................2-39
Glove Box ...................................................2-39
Cupholder(s) ................................................2-39
Center Console Storage Area .........................2-40
Map Pocket .................................................2-40
Rear Compartment Storage Panel/Cover ..........2-40
Table ..........................................................2-41
Sunroof .........................................................2-42
2-2
Information Provided by: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.
2-3
Information Provided by:Remote Keyless Entry System If equipped, the 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: 1. This device may not cause interference. 2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: 1. This device may not cause interference. 2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than an authorized service facility could void authorization to use this equipment.
One key is used for the ignition and all locks.
When a new vehicle is delivered, the key has a bar-coded key tag. This tag may be removed by your dealer before it is delivered. Each tag has a key code on it that tells your dealer or a qualified locksmith how to make extra keys. Keep the tag in a safe place. If you lose your keys, you’ll be able to have one made easily using this tag. If you need a new key, go to your dealer for the correct key code. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-6 for more information. Notice: you may have to damage the vehicle to get in. Be sure you have spare keys.
If you ever lock your keys in your vehicle,
2-4
Information Provided by: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 is necessary. See “Battery Replacement” under Remote Keyless Entry System Operation on page 2-5. If you are still having trouble, see your dealer or a qualified technician for service.
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation
The following functions may be available if your vehicle has the remote keyless entry system:
Remote Keyless Entry
with Remote Start
Shown, without Remote
Start Similar
/ (Remote Vehicle Start): If your vehicle has this feature, it may be started remotely. See “Remote Vehicle Start” following for more detailed information.
2-5
Information Provided by:(cid:127) Programmable Horn Chirp Through the Driver Information Center (DIC), you may choose whether or not to have a horn sound when you use the remote keyless entry transmitter to lock or unlock the doors. See DIC Operation and Displays on page 3-46 for more information. 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.
Q (Lock): Press the lock button to lock all the doors. The interior lamps will turn off after all of the doors are closed. If enabled through the Driver Information Center (DIC), the parking lamps will flash once to indicate locking has occurred. If enabled through the DIC, the horn will also chirp to indicate locking has occurred. K (Unlock): Press the unlock button to unlock the driver’s door. If the button is pressed again within five seconds, all remaining doors, and liftgate will unlock. The interior lamps will come on and stay on for 20 seconds or until the ignition is turned on. If enabled through the DIC, the parking lamps will flash twice to indicate unlocking has occurred. V (Remote Trunk/Liftgate Release): The trunk or liftgate will unlatch when this button on the transmitter is pressed and held for approximately one second. You can open the sedan trunk with the transmitter when the vehicle is stationary. You can open the liftgate on the MAXX only when the vehicle is in PARK (P). L (Vehicle Locator/Panic Alarm): Press this button to locate your vehicle. The horn will sound three times and the headlamps and parking lamps will flash three times. Press and hold the button for three seconds to sound the panic alarm. The horn will sound and the headlamps and parking lamps will flash for 30 seconds. Press the button again to cancel the panic alarm.
2-6
Information Provided by: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 will not 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. The Key FOB Batt Low message in the vehicle’s DIC will display if the remote keyless entry transmitter battery is low. 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.
To replace the battery in the remote keyless entry transmitter do the following: 1. Use a flat thin object to separate the bottom half
from the top half of the transmitter.
2. Remove the battery and replace it with the new one. Make sure the positive side of the battery faces up. Use one three-volt, CR2032, or equivalent, type battery.
3. Put the two halves back together. Make sure the
cover is on tightly, so water will not get in.
2-7
Information Provided by:Remote Vehicle Start Your vehicle may have a remote starting feature. This feature allows you to start the engine from outside of the vehicle. It may also start up the vehicle’s heating or air conditioning systems and rear window defogger. When the remote start system is active and the vehicle has an automatic climate control system, it will automatically regulate the inside temperature. Normal operation of the system will return after the key is turned to the ON position. Laws in some communities may restrict the use of remote starters, for example, requiring a person using remote start to have the vehicle in view when doing so. Check local regulations for any requirements on remote starting of vehicles. Do not use the remote start feature if your vehicle is low on fuel. Your vehicle may run out of fuel.
The remote start feature will not operate if the key is in the ignition, a door is open, the hazard warning flashers are on, the hood is not closed or two remote vehicle starts have been provided. Once two remote vehicle starts have been provided, the remote start feature will not start the engine again until the engine has been started with the key. Your remote keyless entry transmitter, with the remote start button, provides an increased range of operation. However, the range may be less while the vehicle is running. As a result, you may need to be closer to your vehicle to turn it off, than you were to turn it on. There are other conditions which can affect the performance of the transmitter, see Remote Keyless Entry System on page 2-4 for additional information.
2-8
Information Provided by:/ (Remote Start): Press and release the lock button and then press and hold this button to use the remote start feature. To start the vehicle using the remote start feature, do the following: 1. Aim the transmitter at the vehicle. 2. Press and release the transmitter’s lock button,
then immediately press and hold the transmitter’s remote start button until the vehicle’s turn signal lights flash or for two seconds if the lights are not visible. The vehicle’s doors will lock. Pressing the remote start button again after the vehicle has started will turn off the ignition.
3. When the vehicle starts, the parking lamps will turn
on and remain on while the vehicle is running. 4. If it is your first remote start since last driving,
repeat these steps while the engine is still running for a 10 minute time extension.
When you enter the vehicle during a remote start, turn the key to the ON position to start the engine and drive.
If the vehicle is left running it will automatically shut off after 10 minutes unless a time extension has been done. To manually shut off a remote start, do any of the following: (cid:127) Aim the remote keyless entry transmitter at the vehicle and press the remote start button until the parking lamps turn off. Turn on the hazards warning flashers. Turn the ignition switch on and then off.
The remote start feature provides two separate starts, each with 10 minutes of engine running. If you press the remote start button on the keyless access transmitter again before the first 10 minutes of engine running time has expired, 10 minutes is added to the remaining minutes. For example, if the remote start button is pressed again after five minutes of the engine run time, 10 minutes is added and you now have 15 minutes of engine running. Once two remote starts or 20 minutes of the engine running have been provided, the vehicle must be started normally with the ignition key to get more remote starts.
2-9
Information Provided by:(cid:127) (cid:127) There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle. From the outside, use your key or remote keyless entry transmitter, if equipped. Turn the key counterclockwise to unlock the door. Turn the key counterclockwise a second time to unlock all doors at the same time and a third time to open the trunk or liftgate. From the inside, lock and unlock the door by moving the manual lock knob down and up, or by using the power door lock switches.
Power Door Locks
The power door lock switches are located on the driver’s and front passenger’s door.
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.
2-10
Information Provided by:Press the top of the switch to unlock all doors and liftgate, if equipped. Press the bottom of the switch to lock all doors and liftgate, if equipped. The rear doors do not have power door lock switches. Rear seat passengers must use the manual lock knob on their doors. Door Ajar Reminder If one of the doors is not fully closed while the ignition is on and the shift lever is moved out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) the following will occur:
a chime will sound the DOOR AJAR message will display through the Driver Information Center (DIC) until the door is closed. See DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-50.
Delayed Locking This feature allows the driver to delay the locking of the vehicle. It will not operate with the key in the ignition. See Lockout Protection on page 2-12.
Press the driver’s power door lock switch or the remote keyless entry transmitter lock button once. With the key removed from the ignition and the driver’s door open, the following will occur:
three chimes will sound to signal the delay all doors will lock and the parking lamps will flash once five seconds after the last door has been closed the horn will chirp if the horn chirp feature is enabled. See DIC Operation and Displays on page 3-46.
If a door is opened before the five seconds has elapsed, the doors will not lock until five seconds after all doors are closed. If the power door lock switch or the transmitter lock button is pressed twice when leaving the vehicle, the doors will lock immediately. If the power door unlock switch or the transmitter unlock button is pressed, the doors will unlock immediately and not lock automatically after the doors are closed. This feature is turned on at the factory but may be turned off through the Driver Information Center (DIC).
2-11
Information Provided by:(cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) Lockout Protection This feature prevents the driver’s door from being locked using the power door locks, if the key is left in the ignition and a door is open. Pressing the power door lock switch will lock all the doors and then unlock the driver’s door. Pressing and holding the power door lock switch for more than three seconds will override this feature. If you remove the key from the ignition, or if you use the manual door lock or the remote keyless entry transmitter, you could still lock your key inside your vehicle. Always remember to take your key with you.
Programmable Automatic Door Locks Your vehicle is programmed at the factory to lock all doors automatically when the following are met:
all doors are closed the ignition is on the shift lever is moved out of PARK (P).
This feature cannot be disabled. When the shift lever is moved back to PARK (P), all doors will unlock. If someone needs to exit the vehicle once the doors are locked, have that person use the manual lock knob or power door unlock switch.