2008 Hummer H3 Owners Manual

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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. If the position you are using has a ﬁxed headrest or head restraint and you are using a dual tether, route the tether around the headrest or head restraint. 3. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure. Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside Seat Position When securing a child restraint in a rear seating position, study the instructions that came with your child restraint to make sure it is compatible with this vehicle. If your child restraint has the LATCH system, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-42 for how to install your child restraint using LATCH. If you secure a child restraint using a safety belt and it uses a top tether, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-42 for top tether anchor locations. 1-48 3. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Make sure the release button is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if necessary. 4. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock. 1-49 6. If your child restraint has a top tether, follow the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions regarding the use of the top tether. See Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-42 for more information. 7. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure. To remove the child restraint, unbuckle the vehicle’s safety belt and let it go back all the way. If the top tether is attached to a top tether anchor, disconnect it. Securing a Child Restraint in the Center Rear Seat Position Many child restraints are too wide to be correctly secured in the center rear seat, although some of them will ﬁt there. If the center seat position is too narrow for your child restraint, secure it in a rear outside seat position. If you secure a child restraint in the center seat position, follow the instructions in Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside Seat Position on page 1-48. 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. 1-50 Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position Your vehicle has airbags. A rear seat is a safer place to secure a forward-facing child restraint. See Where to Put the Restraint on page 1-40. In addition, your vehicle has a passenger sensing system which is designed to turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag under certain conditions. See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-62 and Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-30 for more information on this, including important safety information. A label on your sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys. {CAUTION: A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger’s airbag inﬂates. This is because the back of the rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the inﬂating airbag. CAUTION: (Continued) CAUTION: (Continued) Even though the passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the right front 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 a rear seat, even if the airbag is off. If you secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go. It is better to secure the child restraint in a rear seat. See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-62 for additional information. If your child restraint has the LATCH system, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-42 for how to install your child restraint using LATCH. If you secure a child restraint using a safety belt and it uses a top tether, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-42 for top tether anchor locations. 1-51 Do not secure a child seat in a position without a top tether anchor if a national or local law requires that the top tether be anchored, or if the instructions that come with the child restraint say that the top strap must be anchored. In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be attached. You will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the child restraint in this position. Follow the instructions that came with the child restraint. 1. Move the seat as far back as it will go before securing the forward-facing child restraint. When the passenger sensing system has turned off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag, the off indicator on the passenger airbag status indicator should light and stay lit when you start the vehicle. See Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-30. 2. Put the child restraint on the seat. 3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how. 1-52 4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Make sure the release button is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if necessary. 5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock. 6. To tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint, pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten the lap portion of the belt and feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor. 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. 7. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure. If the airbag is off, the off indicator in the passenger airbag status indicator will come on and stay on when the vehicle is started. 1-53 If a child restraint has been installed and the on indicator is lit, turn the vehicle off. Remove the child restraint from the vehicle and reinstall the child restraint. If, after reinstalling the child restraint and restarting the vehicle, the on indicator is still lit, check to make sure that the vehicle’s seatback is not pressing the child restraint into the seat cushion. If this happens, slightly recline the vehicle’s seatback and adjust the seat cushion if possible. Also make sure the child restraint is not trapped under the vehicle head restraint. If this happens, adjust the head restraint. Remove any additional material from the seat such as blankets, cushions, seat covers, seat heaters or seat massagers before reinstalling or securing the child restraint. If the on indicator is still lit, secure the child in the child restraint in a rear seat position in the vehicle and check with your dealer/retailer. To remove the child restraint, unbuckle the vehicle’s safety belt and let it go back all the way. Airbag System Your vehicle has the following airbags: (cid:129) A frontal airbag for the driver. (cid:129) A frontal airbag for the right front passenger. (cid:129) A roof-rail airbag for the driver and the passenger seated directly behind the driver. (cid:129) A roof-rail airbag for the right front passenger and the passenger seated directly behind the right front passenger. All of the airbags in your vehicle will have the word AIRBAG embossed in the trim or on an attached label near the deployment opening. For frontal airbags, the word AIRBAG will appear on the middle part of the steering wheel for the driver and on the instrument panel for the right front passenger. With roof-rail airbags, the word AIRBAG will appear along the headliner or trim. Airbags are designed to supplement the protection provided by safety belts. Even though today’s airbags are also designed to help reduce the risk of injury from the force of an inﬂating bag, all airbags must inﬂate very quickly to do their job. 1-54 Here are the most important things to know about the airbag system: {CAUTION: {CAUTION: You can be severely injured or killed in a crash if you are not wearing your safety belt — even if you have airbags. Wearing your safety belt during a crash helps reduce your chance of hitting things inside the vehicle or being ejected from it. Airbags are “supplemental restraints” to the safety belts. All airbags are designed to work with safety belts, but do not replace them. Frontal airbags are designed to deploy in moderate to severe frontal and near frontal crashes. They are not designed to inﬂate in rollover, rear crashes, or in many side crashes. Rollover capable roof-rail airbags are designed to inﬂate in moderate to severe crashes where something hits the side of your vehicle and in the event of a vehicle rollover. They are not designed to inﬂate in frontal or in rear crashes. Everyone in your vehicle should wear a safety belt properly — whether or not there is an airbag for that person. 1-55 {CAUTION: {CAUTION: Airbags inﬂate with great force, faster than the blink of an eye. Anyone who is up against, or very close to, any airbag when it inﬂates can be seriously injured or killed. Do not sit unnecessarily close to the airbag, as you would be if you were sitting on the edge of your seat or leaning forward. Safety belts help keep you in position before and during a crash. Always wear your safety belt, even with 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 or side windows in seating positions with roof-rail airbags. 1-56 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 1-30 or Infants and Young Children on page 1-33. 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 3-29 for more information. 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. 1-57 {CAUTION: If something is between an occupant and an airbag, the airbag might not inﬂate properly or it might force the object into that person causing severe injury or even death. The path of an inﬂating airbag must be kept clear. Do not put anything between an occupant and an airbag, and do not attach or put anything on the steering wheel hub or on or near any other airbag covering. If your vehicle has roof-rail airbags, never secure anything to the roof of your vehicle by routing the rope or tie down through any door or window opening. If you do, the path of an inﬂating roof-rail airbag will be blocked. Driver Side shown, Passenger Side similar The roof-rail airbags for the driver, right front passenger, and second row outboard passengers are in the ceiling above the side windows. 1-58 When Should an Airbag Inﬂate? Frontal airbags are designed to inﬂate in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal crashes to help reduce the potential for severe injuries mainly to the driver’s or right front passenger’s head and chest. However, they are only designed to inﬂate if the impact exceeds a predetermined deployment threshold. Deployment thresholds 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. Frontal airbags may inﬂate at different crash speeds. For example: If the vehicle hits a stationary object, the airbags could inﬂate at a different crash speed than if the vehicle hits a moving object. If the vehicle hits an object that deforms, the airbags could inﬂate at a different crash speed than if the vehicle hits an object that does not deform. If the vehicle hits a narrow object (like a pole), the airbags could inﬂate at a different crash speed than if the vehicle hits a wide object (like a wall). If the vehicle goes into an object at an angle, the airbags could inﬂate at a different crash speed than if the vehicle goes straight into the object. Thresholds can also vary with speciﬁc vehicle design. Frontal airbags are not intended to inﬂate during vehicle rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts. In addition, your vehicle has dual-stage frontal airbags. Dual-stage airbags adjust the restraint according to crash severity. Your vehicle has electronic frontal sensors, which help the sensing system distinguish between a moderate frontal impact and a more severe frontal impact. For moderate frontal impacts, dual-stage airbags inﬂate at a level less than full deployment. For more severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs. 1-59 (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) Your vehicle has roof-rail airbags. See Airbag System on page 1-54. Roof-rail airbags are intended to inﬂate in moderate to severe side crashes. In addition, these roof-rail airbags are intended to inﬂate during a rollover. Roof-rail airbags will inﬂate if the crash severity is above the system’s designed threshold level. The threshold level can vary with speciﬁc vehicle design. Roof-rail airbags are not intended to inﬂate in frontal impacts, near-frontal impacts, or rear impacts. Both roof-rail airbags will deploy when either side of the vehicle is struck or if the sensing system predicts that the vehicle is about to roll over. Your vehicle has a seat position sensor which enables the sensing system to monitor the position of the driver’s seat. The sensor provides information that is used to determine if the airbags should deploy at a reduced level or at full deployment. In any particular crash, no one can say whether an airbag should have inﬂated simply because of the damage to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were. For frontal airbags, inﬂation is determined by what the vehicle hits, the angle of the impact, and how quickly the vehicle slows down. For roof-rail airbags, deployment is determined by the location and severity of the side impact. In a rollover event, roof-rail airbag deployment is determined by the direction of the roll. What Makes an Airbag Inﬂate? In a deployment event, the sensing system sends an electrical signal triggering a release of gas from the inﬂator. Gas from the inﬂator ﬁlls the airbag causing the bag to break out of the cover and deploy. The inﬂator, the airbag, and related hardware are all part of the airbag module. Frontal airbag modules are located inside the steering wheel and instrument panel. For vehicles with roof-rail airbags, there are airbag modules in the ceiling of the vehicle, near the side windows that have occupant seating positions. 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. Airbags supplement the protection provided by safety belts. Frontal airbags distribute the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually. Roof-rail airbags distribute the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body. 1-60 Rollover capable roof-rail airbags are designed to help contain the head and chest of occupants in the outboard seating positions in the ﬁrst and second rows. The rollover capable roof-rail airbags are designed to help reduce the risk of full or partial ejection in rollover events, although no system can prevent all such ejections. But airbags would not help in many types of collisions, primarily because the occupant’s motion is not toward those airbags. See When Should an Airbag Inﬂate? on page 1-59 for more information. Airbags should never be regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety belts. What Will You See After an Airbag Inﬂates? After the frontal airbags inﬂate, they quickly deﬂate, so quickly that some people may not even realize an airbag inﬂated. Roof-rail airbags may still be at least partially inﬂated for some time after they deploy. Some components of the airbag module may be hot for several minutes. For location of the airbag modules, see What Makes an Airbag Inﬂate? on page 1-60. The parts of the airbag that come into contact with you may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There may be some smoke and dust coming from the vents in the deﬂated airbags. Airbag inﬂation does not prevent the driver from seeing out of the windshield or being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it prevent people from leaving the vehicle. {CAUTION: When an airbag inﬂates, there may be 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 cannot 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. Your vehicle has a feature that may automatically unlock the doors, turn the interior lamps on, and turn the hazard warning ﬂashers on when the airbags inﬂate. You can lock the doors, turn the interior lamps off, and turn the hazard warning ﬂashers off by using the controls for those features. 1-61 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:129) Airbags are designed to inﬂate only once. After an airbag inﬂates, you will need some new parts for the 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:129) Your vehicle has a crash sensing and diagnostic module which records information after a crash. See Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy on page 7-16 and Event Data Recorders on page 7-17. Let only qualiﬁed technicians work on the airbag systems. Improper service can mean that an airbag system will not work properly. See your dealer/retailer for service. Passenger Sensing System Your vehicle has a passenger sensing system for the right front passenger’s position. The passenger airbag status indicator will be visible in the instrument panel when you start your vehicle. United States Canada The words ON and OFF, or the symbol for on and off, will be visible during the system check. When the system check is complete, either the word ON or the word OFF, or the symbol for on or the symbol for off, will be visible. See Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-30. 1-62 (cid:129) The passenger sensing system will turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag under certain conditions. The driver’s airbags are not part of the passenger sensing system. The passenger sensing system works with sensors that are part of the right front passenger’s seat and safety belt. The sensors are designed to detect the presence of a properly-seated occupant and determine if the right front passenger’s frontal airbag should be enabled (may inﬂate) or not. Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. We recommend that children be secured in a rear seat, including: an infant or a child riding in a rear-facing child restraint; a child riding in a forward-facing child seat; an older child riding in a booster seat; and children, who are large enough, using safety belts. A label on your sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys. {CAUTION: A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger’s airbag inﬂates. This is because the back of the rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the inﬂating airbag. Even though the passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the right front 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 a rear seat, even if the airbag is off. If you secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go. It is better to secure the child restraint in a rear seat. 1-63 The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag if: The right front passenger seat is unoccupied. The system determines that an infant is present in a rear-facing infant seat. The system determines that a small child is present in a child restraint. The system determines that a small child is present in a booster seat. (cid:129) A right front passenger takes his/her weight off of the seat for a period of time. The right front passenger seat is occupied by a smaller person, such as a child who has outgrown child restraints. (cid:129) Or, if there is a critical problem with the airbag system or the passenger sensing system. When the passenger sensing system has turned off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag, the off indicator will light and stay lit to remind you that the airbag is off. See Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-30. If a child restraint has been installed and the on indicator is lit, turn the vehicle off. Remove the child restraint from the vehicle and reinstall the child restraint following the child restraint manufacturer’s directions and refer to Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position on page 1-51. If, after reinstalling the child restraint and restarting the vehicle, the on indicator is still lit, check to make sure that the vehicle’s seatback is not pressing the child restraint into the seat cushion. If this happens, slightly recline the vehicle’s seatback and adjust the seat cushion if possible. Also make sure the child restraint is not trapped under the vehicle head restraint. If this happens, adjust the head restraint. See Head Restraints on page 1-7. 1-64 (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) Remove any additional material from the seat such as blankets, cushions, seat covers, seat heaters, or seat massagers before reinstalling or securing the child restraint. If the on indicator is still lit, secure the child in the child restraint in a rear seat position in the vehicle, and check with your dealer/retailer. The passenger sensing system is designed to enable (may inﬂate) the right front passenger’s frontal airbag anytime the system senses that a person of adult size is sitting properly in the right front passenger’s seat. When the passenger sensing system has allowed the airbag to be enabled, the on indicator will light and stay lit to remind you that the airbag is active. For some children who have outgrown child restraints and for very small adults, the passenger sensing system may or may not turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag, depending upon the person’s seating posture and body build. Everyone in your vehicle who has outgrown child restraints should wear a safety belt properly — whether or not there is an airbag for that person. If a person of adult-size is sitting in the right front passenger’s seat, but the off indicator is lit, it could be because that person is not sitting properly in the seat. If this happens, turn the vehicle off, remove any additional material from the seat, such as blankets, cushions, seat covers, seat heaters or seat massagers and ask the person to place the seatback in the fully upright position, then sit upright in the seat, centered on the seat cushion, with the person’s legs comfortably extended. Restart the vehicle and have the person remain in this position for two to three minutes. This will allow the system to detect that person and then enable the right front passenger’s frontal airbag. 1-65 If you ever pull the shoulder portion of the belt out all the way, you will engage the child restraint locking feature. This may unintentionally cause the passenger sensing system to turn the airbag(s) off for some adult size occupants. If this happens, just let the belt go back all the way and start again. {CAUTION: If the airbag readiness light in the instrument panel cluster ever comes on and stays on, it means that something may be wrong with the airbag system. If this ever happens, have the vehicle serviced promptly, because an adult-size person sitting in the right front passenger’s seat may not have the protection of the airbag(s). See Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-29 for more on this, including important safety information. Safety belts help keep the passenger in position on the seat during vehicle maneuvers and braking, which helps the passenger sensing system maintain the passenger airbag status. See “Safety Belts” and “Child Restraints” in the Index for additional information about the importance of proper restraint use. 1-66 A thick layer of additional material, such as a blanket or cushion, or aftermarket equipment such as seat covers, seat heaters, and seat massagers can affect how well the passenger sensing system operates. We recommend that you not use seat covers or other aftermarket equipment other than any that GM has approved for your speciﬁc vehicle. See Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-68 for more information about modiﬁcations that can affect how the system operates. {CAUTION: Stowing of articles under the passenger’s seat or between the passenger’s seat cushion and seatback may interfere with the proper operation of the passenger sensing system. 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. Your dealer/retailer 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 7-15. {CAUTION: For up to 10 seconds after the ignition 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. 1-67 Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle Q: Is there anything I might add to or change about the vehicle that could keep the airbags from working properly? A: Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle’s frame, bumper system, height, front end or side sheet metal, they may keep the airbag system from working properly. Changing or moving any parts of the front seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing and diagnostic module, steering wheel, instrument panel, roof-rail airbag modules, ceiling headliner or pillar garnish trim, overhead console, front sensors, side impact sensors, rollover sensor module, or airbag wiring can affect the operation of the airbag system. In addition, your vehicle has a passenger sensing system for the right front passenger’s position, which includes sensors that are part of the passenger’s seat. The passenger sensing system may not operate properly if the original seat trim is replaced with non-GM covers, upholstery or trim, or with GM covers, upholstery or trim designed for a different vehicle. Any object, such as an aftermarket seat heater or a comfort enhancing pad or device, installed under or on top of the seat fabric, could 1-68 also interfere with the operation of the passenger sensing system. This could either prevent proper deployment of the passenger airbag(s) or prevent the passenger sensing system from properly turning off the passenger airbag(s). See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-62. If you have any questions about this, you should contact Customer Assistance before you modify your vehicle. The phone numbers and addresses for Customer Assistance are in Step Two of the Customer Satisfaction Procedure in this manual. See Customer Satisfaction Procedure on page 7-2. If your vehicle has rollover roof-rail airbags, see Different Size Tires and Wheels on page 5-73 for additional important information. Q: Because I have a disability, I have to get my vehicle modiﬁed. How can I ﬁnd out whether this will affect my airbag system? A: If you have questions, call Customer Assistance. The phone numbers and addresses for Customer Assistance are in Step Two of the Customer Satisfaction Procedure in this manual. See Customer Satisfaction Procedure on page 7-2. In addition, your dealer/retailer and the service manual have information about the location of the airbag sensors, sensing and diagnostic module and airbag wiring. Restraint System Check Checking the Restraint Systems Safety Belts 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. Make sure the safety belt reminder light is working. See Safety Belt Reminders on page 3-28 for more information. Keep safety belts clean and dry. See Care of Safety Belts on page 5-94. Airbags The airbag system does not need regularly scheduled maintenance or replacement. Make sure the airbag readiness light is working. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-29 for more information. Notice: or broken, the airbag may not work properly. Do not open or break the airbag coverings. If there are any opened or broken airbag covers, have the airbag covering and/or airbag module replaced. For the location of the airbag modules, see What Makes an Airbag Inﬂate? on page 1-60. See your dealer/retailer for service. If an airbag covering is damaged, opened, 1-69 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 (if equipped) parts? After a very minor crash, nothing may be necessary. But the belt assemblies that were used during any crash may have been stressed or damaged. See your dealer/retailer to have your safety belt assemblies inspected or replaced. If your vehicle has the LATCH system and it was being used during a crash, you may need new LATCH system parts. New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the belt or LATCH system (if equipped), was not being used at the time of the crash. If an airbag inﬂates, you will need to replace airbag system parts. See the part on the airbag system earlier in this section. Have your safety belt pretensioners checked if your vehicle has been in a crash, if your airbag readiness light stays on after you start your vehicle, or while you are driving. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-29. 1-70 Section 2 Features and Controls Keys ...............................................................2-3 Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System ................2-4 Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation ...................................................2-5 Doors and Locks .............................................2-7 Door Locks ....................................................2-7 Power Door Locks ..........................................2-8 Programmable Automatic Door Locks ................2-8 Rear Door Security Locks ................................2-9 Lockout Protection ..........................................2-9 Swing-gate ..................................................2-10 Windows ........................................................2-11 Power Windows ............................................2-12 Sun Visors ...................................................2-13 Theft-Deterrent Systems ..................................2-14 Content Theft-Deterrent .................................2-14 Passlock® (U. S. Only) ..................................2-15 PASS-Key® III+ ............................................2-16 PASS-Key® III+ Operation (Canada Only) .........2-16 Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ................2-18 New Vehicle Break-In ....................................2-18 Ignition Positions ..........................................2-18 Retained Accessory Power (RAP) ...................2-20 Starting the Engine .......................................2-20 Engine Coolant Heater ..................................2-22 Automatic Transmission Operation ...................2-23 Manual Transmission Operation ......................2-26 Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive ............................2-27 Parking Brake ..............................................2-32 Shifting Into PARK (P) (Automatic Transmission) ............................2-33 Shifting Out of PARK (P) (Automatic Transmission) ............................2-35 Parking Your Vehicle (Manual Transmission) .....2-35 Parking Over Things That Burn .......................2-36 Engine Exhaust ............................................2-36 Running the Engine While Parked ...................2-37 2-1 Section 2 Features and Controls Mirrors ...........................................................2-38 Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with OnStar®, Compass and Temperature Display ..................................2-38 Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with Compass and Temperature Display ..............2-41 Outside Power Mirrors ...................................2-43 Outside Convex Mirror ...................................2-44 Object Detection Systems ...............................2-44 Rear Vision Camera ......................................2-44 OnStar® System .............................................2-48 Universal Home Remote System ......................2-51 Universal Home Remote System Operation (With One Triangular LED) ...........................2-52 Storage Areas ................................................2-56 Glove Box ...................................................2-56 Cupholder(s) ................................................2-56 Front Seat Storage Net .................................2-57 Front Armrest Storage Area ...........................2-57 Luggage Carrier ...........................................2-57 Rear Storage Area ........................................2-59 Convenience Net ..........................................2-59 Cargo Cover ................................................2-59 Cargo Tie Downs ..........................................2-59 Sunroof .........................................................2-60 2-2 Keys {CAUTION: Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition key is dangerous for many reasons, children or others could be badly injured or even killed. They could operate the power windows or other controls or even make the vehicle move. The windows will function with the keys in the ignition and they could be seriously injured or killed if caught in the path of a closing window. Do not leave the keys in a vehicle with children. Use the double-sided key for the ignition and driver’s door lock. When a new vehicle is delivered, the dealer/retailer provides the owner with a pair of identical keys and a key code number. 2-3 The key code number tells your dealer/retailer or a qualiﬁed locksmith how to make extra keys. Keep this number in a safe place. If you keys are lost, new keys can be made using this number. Your dealer/retailer should also have this number. Notice: you may have to damage the vehicle to get in. Be sure you have spare keys. If you are locked out of your vehicle, call the Roadside Assistance Center. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-6. If you ever lock your keys in your vehicle, Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Your Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) 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. At times you may notice a decrease in operating range. This is normal for any RKE 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:129) Check the distance. You may be too far from your vehicle. You may need to stand closer during rainy or snowy weather. (cid:129) 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:129) Check to determine if battery replacement is necessary. See “Battery Replacement” later in this section. If you are still having trouble, see your dealer/retailer or a qualiﬁed technician for service. 2-4 (cid:129) Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation You can lock and unlock the vehicle’s doors and disarm or arm the theft-deterrent system from about 3 feet (1 m) up to 30 feet (9 m) away using the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter. See Content Theft-Deterrent on page 2-14 for additional information. UNLOCK: Press this button to unlock the driver’s door and turn on the interior lamps. The parking lamps may also ﬂash, and the horn may chirp, when this button is pressed. LOCK: Press this button to lock all the doors. The parking lamps may also ﬂash and the horn may chirp when this button is pressed. If a door is open or ajar when the lock button is pressed, the doors will lock, but the theft-deterrent system will not arm until the open door is closed. Different feedback modes can be programmed through the Driver Information Center (DIC). See “Remote Keyless Entry Feedback” under DIC Operation and Displays on page 3-40. L(Panic): Press this button to make the horn sound and the headlamps and taillamps ﬂash for up to 30 seconds. To turn them off, do one of these three things: wait for 30 seconds; press the panic button again; or start the vehicle. Press the unlock button again within three seconds and all of the doors will unlock. 2-5 Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle Each RKE 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/retailer. Remember to bring any remaining transmitters with you when you go to your dealer/retailer. When the dealer/retailer matches the replacement transmitter to your vehicle, any remaining transmitters must also be matched. Once your dealer/retailer has coded the new transmitter, the lost transmitter will not unlock your vehicle. Each vehicle can have a maximum of four transmitters matched to it. Battery Replacement Under normal use, the battery in the RKE transmitter should last about two years. 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 is probably time to change the battery. Notice: When replacing the battery, use care not to touch any of the circuitry. Static from your body transferred to these surfaces may damage the transmitter. 2-6 To replace the battery: 1. Insert a coin, or similar object, in the slot between the covers of the transmitter housing. Gently pry the transmitter apart. 2. Remove and replace the battery with a three-volt CR2032 or equivalent battery. 3. Align the covers and snap them together. 4. Check the operation of the transmitter. Doors and Locks Door Locks {CAUTION: There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle. From the outside, use the key in the driver’s door or use the remote keyless entry transmitter. Unlocked doors can be dangerous. (cid:129) 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:129) 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:129) 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. From the inside, use the manual lock levers or power door lock switch. 2-7 Programmable Automatic Door Locks If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, it is programmed from the factory to lock the doors automatically when the shift lever is moved out of PARK (P). All the doors will unlock when the shift lever is moved back into PARK (P). If your vehicle has a manual transmission, it is programmed from the factory to lock the doors automatically when the vehicle speed is greater than 15 mph (24 km/h). The doors will unlock when the key is removed from the ignition. To personalize the automatic door locks, see “Automatic Door Locks” under DIC Operation and Displays on page 3-40. Power Door Locks The power door lock switches are located on the driver’s and the front passenger’s doors. Driver’s side shown Press L (lock) to lock all the doors at once. To unlock all the doors, press U (unlock). 2-8 Rear Door Security Locks With this feature, you can lock the rear doors so they cannot be opened from the inside. The rear door security lock is located on the inside edge of each rear door. To engage the security locks, do the following: 1. Open one of the rear doors. 2. Using your ignition key, turn the lock toward the front of the vehicle. 3. Close the door. 4. Repeat these steps on the other rear door. If you want to open a rear door when the security lock is on, unlock the door and open the door from the outside. To disengage the security locks, do the following: 1. Open one of the rear doors. 2. Using your ignition key, turn the lock to the vertical position. 3. Close the door. 4. Repeat these steps on the other rear door. Lockout Protection This feature protects you from locking your key in the vehicle when the key is in the ignition and a door is open. If the power door lock switch is pressed when a door is open and the key is in the ignition, all of the doors will lock and then the driver’s door will unlock. A chime will sound to indicate that the key has been left in the ignition. 2-9 Swing-gate To lock or unlock the swing-gate, use the power door lock switch or the remote keyless entry transmitter. {CAUTION: Make sure the swing-gate is completely closed. Driving with the swing-gate open could injure pedestrians or damage the vehicle. 2-10 To open the swing-gate, pull the door handle. Pull the swing-gate rearward slightly and it will automatically open. Windows {CAUTION: Leaving children, helpless adults, or pets in a vehicle with the windows closed is dangerous. They can be overcome by the extreme heat and suffer permanent injuries or even death from heat stroke. Never leave a child, a helpless adult, or a pet alone in a vehicle, especially with the windows closed in warm or hot weather. 2-11 Power Windows {CAUTION: Leaving children, helpless adults, or pets in a vehicle with the windows closed is dangerous. They can be overcome from extreme heat in warm or hot weather and suffer permanent injuries or even death from heat stroke. Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition key is dangerous for many reasons, children or others could be badly injured or even killed. They could operate the power windows or other controls or even make the vehicle move. The windows will function with the keys in the ignition and they could be seriously injured or killed if caught in the path of a closing window. Do not leave keys in a vehicle with children. When there are children in the rear seat use the window lockout button to prevent unintentional operation of the windows. 2-12 The power window controls are located on each door. The driver’s door has switches for the passenger windows as well. Your power windows will work when the ignition is in ACC (Accessory) or ON, or when Retained Accessory Power (RAP) is active. See Retained Accessory Power (RAP) on page 2-20. Pull up the front edge of the control to raise the window. Press the front edge of the control down to lower the window. Express-Down Window The driver’s window has an express-down feature that allows you to lower the window without holding the switch. Press the front edge of the switch past the ﬁrst position to activate the express-down mode. The express-down mode can be canceled at any time by pulling up on the switch. To open the window partway, press the front of the switch to the ﬁrst position until the window is at the desired level. Window Lockout o (Window Lockout): The window lockout button is located forward of the window switches. This feature disables the passenger’s window switches when the button is pressed. Press the button again to turn the lockout off. A red band on the side of the button can be seen when the windows are not locked out. Sun Visors To block glare, pull the visor down. It can also be detached from the center mount and moved to the side to block glare from that direction. There are extenders that can be pulled out for further coverage. Visor Vanity Mirror Your vehicle has a vanity mirror located on the driver’s and passenger’s visor. Illuminated Visor Vanity Mirror Your vehicle may have an illuminated vanity mirror on both visors. Lift the cover on the mirror and the lights will automatically come on. 2-13 Theft-Deterrent Systems Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities. Although your vehicle has a number of theft-deterrent features, we know that nothing we put on it can make it impossible to steal. Content Theft-Deterrent Your vehicle has a content theft-deterrent alarm system. To activate the content theft-deterrent system: 1. Close all the doors. 2. Lock the doors with the remote keyless entry transmitter. The security light, located on the instrument panel cluster, will ﬂash. If the lock button on the remote keyless entry transmitter is pressed, but a door is open, the doors will lock, the lights may ﬂash and the horn may sound. Close the open door and the alarm system will arm. 2-14 If a locked door is not opened using the remote keyless entry transmitter, or by OnStar®, the alarm will go off. First, a pre-alarm will sound the horn at reduced intensity for 10 seconds. Then, the front turn signal lamps will ﬂash for two minutes, and the horn will sound for two minutes. The alarm will then turn off to save battery power. Starting the engine with the correct key will shut off the pre-alarm or alarm at any time. Remember, the theft-deterrent system will not activate if you lock the doors with the key, the manual door lock, or power door lock switch. The system can only be activated using the remote keyless entry transmitter, or by OnStar®. See OnStar® System on page 2-48 for additional information. You should also remember that you can start your vehicle with the correct key if the alarm has been set off. Here is how to avoid setting off the alarm by accident: If you do not want to arm the theft-deterrent system, the vehicle should be locked with the manual door lock lever, the power door lock switch, or the key, after the doors are closed. If the content theft-deterrent system is armed, unlock the doors by pressing the unlock button on the remote keyless entry transmitter or by OnStar®. Unlocking a door any other way will activate the alarm. (cid:129) (cid:129) If you set off the alarm by accident, you can turn it off by pressing unlock on the remote keyless entry transmitter, starting the vehicle with the correct key, or by having OnStar® unlock the doors. The alarm will not stop if you try to unlock a door any other way. Testing the Alarm To test the alarm: 1. From inside the vehicle, activate the system by locking the doors with the remote keyless entry transmitter. 2. Unlock the door with the manual door lock and open the door. This should set off the pre-alarm. Wait 10 seconds for the full alarm to activate. 3. To turn the alarm off, press the unlock button on the remote keyless entry transmitter or start the engine. If the alarm does not sound when it should but the lights ﬂash, check to see if the horn works. The horn fuse may be blown. To replace the fuse, see Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-102. If the alarm does not sound or the front turn signal lamps do not ﬂash, see your dealer/retailer for service. Passlock® (U. S. Only) Your vehicle has the Passlock® theft-deterrent system. Passlock® is a passive theft-deterrent system. Passlock® enables fuel if the ignition lock cylinder is turned with a valid key. If an incorrect key is used or the ignition lock cylinder is tampered with, the fuel system is disabled and the vehicle will not start. During normal operation, the security light will turn off approximately ﬁve seconds after the engine is started. See Security Light on page 3-39. If the engine stalls and the security light ﬂashes, wait about 10 minutes until the light stops ﬂashing before trying to restart the engine. Remember to release the key from START as soon as the engine starts. If the engine does not start after three tries, the vehicle needs service. If the engine is running and the security light comes on, you will be able to restart the engine if you turn the engine off. However, your Passlock® system is not working properly and must be serviced by your dealer/retailer. Your vehicle is not protected by Passlock® at this time. See your dealer/retailer for service. In an emergency, call the Roadside Assistance Center. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-6. Do not leave the key or device that disarms or deactivates the theft deterrent system in the vehicle. 2-15 PASS-Key® III+ The PASS-Key® III+ 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 harmful interference. 2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. 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. PASS-Key® III+ uses a radio frequency transponder in the key that matches a decoder in your vehicle. PASS-Key® III+ Operation (Canada Only) Your vehicle has a passive theft-deterrent system. The system is automatically armed when the key is removed from the ignition. The system is automatically disarmed when the key is turned to ON/RUN. You do not have to manually arm or disarm the system. The security light will come on if there is a problem with arming or disarming the theft-deterrent system. The key uses a transponder that matches an immobilizer control unit in your vehicle. Only the correct key will start the vehicle. If the key is ever damaged, you may not be able to start your vehicle. When trying to start the vehicle, if the engine does not start and the security light comes on, there may be a problem with your theft-deterrent system. Turn the ignition off and try again. If the engine still does not start, and the key appears to be undamaged, try another ignition key. At this time, you may also want to check the fuse. See Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-102. 2-16 If the engine still does not start with the other key, your vehicle needs service. If your vehicle does start, the ﬁrst key may be faulty. See your dealer/retailer who can service the theft-deterrent system and have a new key made. It is possible for the theft-deterrent system decoder to learn the transponder value of a new or replacement key. Up to 10 keys can be programmed for the vehicle. The following procedure is for programming additional keys only. Canadian Owners: If you lose or damage your keys, only a dealer/retailer can service the theft-deterrent system to have new keys made. To program additional keys you will require two current driver’s keys. To program a new key do the following: 1. Verify that the new key has PK3+ stamped on it. 2. Insert the current driver’s key in the ignition and start the engine. If the engine will not start see your dealer/retailer for service. 3. After the engine has started, turn the key to LOCK/OFF, and remove the key. 4. Insert the second current driver’s key in the ignition and start the engine within ten seconds of removing the previous key. If the engine will not start see your dealer/retailer for service. 5. After the engine has started, turn the key to LOCK/OFF, and remove the key. Insert the key to be programmed and turn it to ON/RUN within ten seconds of removing the previous key. The security light will turn off once the key has been programmed. 6. Repeat the Steps 1 through 5 if additional keys are to be programmed. If the security light comes on and stays on while driving, you will be able to restart the engine if you turn it off. The theft-deterrent system, however, is not working properly and must be serviced by your dealer/retailer. Your vehicle is not protected by the theft-deterrent system at this time. In an emergency, contact Roadside Assistance. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-6. Do not leave the key or device that disarms or deactivates the theft deterrent system in the vehicle. 2-17 Starting and Operating Your Vehicle New Vehicle Break-In Notice: Your vehicle does not need an elaborate break-in. But it will perform better in the long run if you follow these guidelines: (cid:129) Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or less for the ﬁrst 500 miles (805 km). (cid:129) Do not drive at any one constant speed, fast or slow, for the ﬁrst 500 miles (805 km). Do not make full-throttle starts. Avoid downshifting to brake or slow the vehicle. (cid:129) Avoid making hard stops for the ﬁrst 200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time the new brake linings are not yet broken in. Hard stops with new linings can mean premature wear and earlier replacement. Follow this breaking-in guideline every time you get new brake linings. (cid:129) Do not tow a trailer during break-in. See Towing a Trailer on page 4-50 for the trailer towing capabilities of your vehicle and more information. Following break-in, engine speed and load can be gradually increased. 2-18 Ignition Positions With the key in the ignition switch, you can turn to four different positions. To shift out of PARK (P), the ignition must be in ON/RUN and the regular brake pedal must be applied. Notice: Using a tool to force the key from the ignition switch could cause damage or break the key. Use the correct key and turn the key only with your hand. Make sure the key is all the way in. If none of this works, then your vehicle needs service. (A) LOCK/OFF: This position locks the ignition. It also locks the transmission on automatic transmission vehicles. It locks the steering wheel on manual transmission vehicles when the key is removed. It is a theft-deterrent feature. You will only be able to remove your key when the ignition is turned to LOCK/OFF. If you have an automatic transmission, the ignition switch cannot be turned to LOCK/OFF unless the shift lever is in PARK (P). If the steering wheel is locked, move it from right to left and turn the key to ACC/ACCESSORY. If none of this works, then your vehicle needs service. (B) ACC/ACCESSORY: This is the position in which you can operate your electrical accessories or items plugged into the accessory power outlets. On automatic transmission vehicles, this position unlocks the ignition. On manual transmission vehicles, it unlocks the ignition and steering wheel. Use this position if your vehicle must be pushed or towed. (C) ON/RUN: This is the position that the switch returns to after you start your engine and release the switch. The switch stays in ON when the engine is running. But even when the engine is not running, you can use ON/RUN to operate the electrical accessories and to display some instrument panel cluster warning and indicator lights. The transmission is also unlocked in this position on automatic transmission vehicles. The battery could be drained if you leave the key in the ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN position with the engine off. You may not be able to start your vehicle if the battery is allowed to drain for an extended period of time. START (D): This is the position that starts the engine. When the engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch returns to ON/RUN for driving. When the engine is not running, ACC/ACCESSORY and ON/RUN allows you to operate the electrical accessories, such as the radio or items plugged into the accessory power outlets. A warning tone will sound if you open the driver’s door when the ignition is in ACC/ACCESSORY or LOCK/OFF and the key is in the ignition. Key In the Ignition Never leave your vehicle with the keys inside, as it is an easy target for joy riders or thieves. If you leave the key in the ignition and park your vehicle, a chime will sound, when you open the driver’s door. Always remember to remove your key from the ignition and take it with you. This will lock your ignition and transmission. Also, always remember to lock the doors. The battery could be drained if you leave the key in the ignition while your vehicle is parked. You may not be able to start your vehicle after it has been parked for an extended period of time. 2-19 Retained Accessory Power (RAP) These vehicle accessories can be used for up to 20 minutes after the engine is turned off: (cid:129) Audio System Front Wipers (cid:129) Power Windows (cid:129) Sunroof (if equipped) These features will work when the key is in ON/RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY. Once the key is turned from ON/RUN to LOCK/OFF, these features continue working for up to 20 minutes or until a door is opened. Starting the Engine Place the transmission in the proper gear. Automatic Transmission Move the shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). The engine will not start in any other position -- this is a safety feature. To restart when you are already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Notice: Do not try to shift to PARK (P) if your vehicle is moving. If you do, you could damage the transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only when your vehicle is stopped. Manual Transmission The shift lever should be in neutral position and the parking brake engaged. Hold the clutch pedal down to the ﬂoor and start the engine. Your vehicle will not start if the clutch pedal is not all the way down. That is a safety feature. 2-20 (cid:129) Starting Procedure 1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your engine gets warm. Do not race the engine immediately after starting it. Operate the engine and transmission gently to allow the oil to warm up and lubricate all moving parts. Your vehicle has a Computer-Controlled Cranking System. This feature assists in starting the engine and protects components. If the ignition key is turned to the START position, and then released when the engine begins cranking, the engine will continue cranking for a few seconds or until the vehicle starts. If the engine does not start and the key is held in START for many seconds, cranking will be stopped after 15 seconds to prevent cranking motor damage. To prevent gear damage, this system also prevents cranking if the engine is already running. Engine cranking can be stopped by turning the ignition switch to ACC/ACCESSORY or LOCK/OFF. Notice: Cranking the engine for long periods of time, by returning the key to the START position immediately after cranking has ended, can overheat and damage the cranking motor, and drain the battery. Wait at least 15 seconds between each try, to let the cranking motor cool down. 2. If the engine does not start after 5-10 seconds, especially in very cold weather (below 0°F or −18°C), it could be ﬂooded with too much gasoline. Try pushing the accelerator pedal all the way to the ﬂoor and holding it there as you hold the key in START for up to a maximum of 15 seconds. Wait at least 15 seconds between each try, to allow the cranking motor to cool down. When the engine starts, let go of the key and accelerator. If the vehicle starts brieﬂy but then stops again, do the same thing. This clears the extra gasoline from the engine. Do not race the engine immediately after starting it. Operate the engine and transmission gently until the oil warms up and lubricates all moving parts. Notice: The engine is designed to work with the electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical parts or accessories, you could change the way the engine operates. Before adding electrical equipment, check with your dealer/retailer. If you do not, your engine might not perform properly. Any resulting damage would not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty. 2-21 Engine Coolant Heater The engine coolant heater, if available, can help in cold weather conditions at or below 0°F (−18°C) for easier starting and better fuel economy during engine warm-up. Plug in the coolant heater at least four hours before starting your vehicle. An internal thermostat in the plug-end of the cord may exist which will prevent engine coolant heater operation at temperatures above 0° F (−18°C). To Use the Engine Coolant Heater 1. Turn off the engine. 2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord. The cord is located in the engine compartment behind the underhood fuse block on the driver’s side of the vehicle. 3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet. {CAUTION: Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong kind of extension cord could overheat and cause a ﬁre. You could be seriously injured. Plug the cord into a properly grounded three-prong 110-volt AC outlet. If the cord will not reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for at least 15 amps. 4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store the cord as it was before to keep it away from moving engine parts. If you do not, it could be damaged. How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact your dealer/retailer in the area where you will be parking your vehicle. The dealer/retailer can give you the best advice for that particular area. 2-22 Automatic Transmission Operation PARK (P): This position locks your rear wheels. It is the best position to use when you start the engine because your vehicle cannot move easily. {CAUTION: It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake ﬁrmly set. Your vehicle can roll. Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is running unless you have to. If you have left the engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be sure your vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly level ground, always set your parking brake and move the shift lever to PARK (P). See Shifting Into PARK (P) (Automatic Transmission) on page 2-33. If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer on page 4-50. Make sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock control system. You must fully apply your regular brakes ﬁrst and then press the shift lever button before you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition key is in ON. 2-23 The automatic transmission has a shift lever on the console. It features an electronic shift position indicator within the instrument cluster. This display must be powered anytime the shift lever is capable of being moved out of PARK (P). This means that if your key is turned off, but not in LOCK, there will be a small current drain on your battery which could discharge your battery over a period of time. If you need to leave your key in the ignition but not in LOCK for an extended period, it is recommended that you disconnect the battery cable from the battery to prevent discharging your battery. There are several different positions for your shift lever. If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever and push the shift lever all the way into PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then press the shift lever button and move the shift lever into another gear. See Shifting Out of PARK (P) (Automatic Transmission) on page 2-35 REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up. Notice: Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is moving forward could damage the transmission. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is stopped. To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow, ice, or sand without damaging your transmission, see If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 4-39 NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine does not connect with the wheels. To restart when you are already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. {CAUTION: Shifting into a drive gear while the engine is running at high speed is dangerous. Unless your foot is ﬁrmly on the brake pedal, your vehicle could move very rapidly. You could lose control and hit people or objects. Do not shift into a drive gear while your engine is running at high speed. Notice: Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the engine running at high speed may damage the transmission. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Be sure the engine is not running at high speed when shifting your vehicle. 2-24 DRIVE (D): This position is for normal driving. It provides the best fuel economy for your vehicle. If you need more power for passing, and you are: (cid:129) Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your accelerator pedal about halfway down. (cid:129) Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the accelerator all the way down. Downshifting the transmission in slippery road conditions could result in skidding, see “Skidding” under Loss of Control on page 4-10. DRIVE (D) can be used when towing a trailer. You may want to shift the transmission to THIRD (3) or, if necessary, a lower gear if the transmission shifts too often under heavy loads and/or hilly conditions. THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving. However it reduces vehicle speed more than DRIVE (D) without using your brakes. You might choose THIRD (3) instead of DRIVE (D) when driving on hilly, winding roads, when towing a trailer, so there is less shifting between gears and when going down a steep hill. SECOND (2): This position reduces vehicle speed even more than THIRD (3) without using your brakes. You can use SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your speed as you go down steep mountain roads, but then you would also want to use your brakes off and on. FIRST (1): This position reduces vehicle speed even more than SECOND (2) without using your brakes. You can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the shift lever is put in FIRST (1) while the vehicle is moving forward, the transmission will not shift into ﬁrst gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough. Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in one place on a hill using only the accelerator pedal may damage the transmission. The repair will not be covered by your warranty. If you are stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place. 2-25 Manual Transmission Operation This is your shift pattern. Here is how to operate your manual transmission: FIRST (1): Press the clutch pedal and shift into FIRST (1). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you slowly press down on the accelerator pedal. You can shift into FIRST (1) when you are going less than 20 mph (30 km/h). If you have come to a complete stop and it is hard to shift into FIRST (1), put the shift lever in NEUTRAL and let up on the clutch. Then press the clutch pedal back down and shift into FIRST (1). SECOND (2): Press the clutch pedal as you let up on the accelerator pedal and shift into SECOND (2). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal. 2-26 THIRD, FOURTH AND FIFTH (3, 4 and 5): Shift into THIRD (3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5) the same way you do for SECOND (2). Slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal. To stop, let up on the accelerator pedal and press the brake pedal. Just before the vehicle stops, press the clutch pedal and the brake pedal, and shift to NEUTRAL. NEUTRAL: Use this position when you start or idle your engine. REVERSE (R): To back up, press the clutch pedal. After the vehicle stops, shift into REVERSE (R). Slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal. If it is hard to shift, let the shift lever return to NEUTRAL and release the clutch pedal. Then press the clutch again and shift into REVERSE (R). Do not attempt to shift into the ﬁfth gear position prior to shifting into REVERSE (R). Your transmission has a lock out feature which prevents a ﬁfth gear to reverse gear shift. Notice: Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is moving forward could damage the transmission. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is stopped. Use REVERSE (R), along with the parking brake, for parking your vehicle. Up-Shift Light This light will show you when to shift to the next higher gear for best fuel economy. When this light comes on, you can shift to the next higher gear if weather, road and traffic conditions permit. For the best fuel economy, accelerate slowly and shift when the light comes on. While you accelerate, it is normal for the light to go on and off if you quickly change the position of the accelerator. Ignore the shift light when you downshift. If your vehicle has four-wheel drive and has a manual transmission, disregard the shift light when the transfer case is in four-wheel low. For more information, see Up-Shift Light on page 3-32. Shift Speeds {CAUTION: If you skip a gear when you downshift, you could lose control of your vehicle. You could injure yourself or others. Do not shift down more than one gear at a time when you downshift. Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive sends your engine’s driving power to all four wheels for extra traction. To get the most out of Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive, you must be familiar with its operation. 2-27 Transfer Case Buttons The transfer case buttons are located to the right of the instrument panel cluster. Use these switches to shift into and out of the different Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive modes. You can choose between four modes: 4 m(Four-Wheel High): This setting is used for driving in most street and highway situations. You can also use this setting for light or variable off-road conditions. N (NEUTRAL): Shift the vehicle’s transfer case to NEUTRAL only when towing your vehicle. See Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-48 or Towing Your Vehicle on page 4-48 for more information. 2-28 Notice: Driving on pavement in Four-Wheel High Lock or Four Wheel Low Lock for extended periods may cause premature wear on your vehicle’s powertrain and tires. Do not drive in Four-Wheel High Lock or Four-Wheel Low Lock on pavement for extended periods. 4 mQ (Four-Wheel-High Lock): Use this mode when you need extra traction in most off-road situations such as sand, mud, snow or level, rocky trails. Notice: Operating your vehicle in Four-Wheel-Low Lock above 30 mph (48 km/h) for any extended period of time could cause damage to the transfer case. Do not operate your vehicle in Four-Wheel-Low Lock above 30 mph (48 km/h) for extended periods. 4 nQ (Four-Wheel-Low Lock): This mode delivers extra torque to all four wheels and is used for extreme off-road conditions. You might choose 4-Wheel-Low Lock if you are driving in off-road situations, such as, deep sand, mud, or snow and climbing or descending steep hills. If the vehicle has a locking rear axle, when in this mode you can also choose to lock the rear axle for additional traction in extreme off-road situations. See Locking Rear Axle on page 4-6. Indicator lights in the buttons show which mode you are in. The indicator lights will come on brieﬂy when you turn on the ignition the mode the vehicle is in will stay on. If the lights do not come on, you should take your vehicle to your dealer for service. An indicator light will ﬂash while shifting the transfer case. It will remain lit when the shift is complete. If for some reason the transfer case cannot make a requested shift, it will return to the last chosen setting. If the SERV 4WD message on the Driver Information Center (DIC) stays on, you should take your vehicle to your dealer for service. See Service 4WD message under DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-43. Shifting between Four-Wheel High and Four-Wheel-High Lock With the vehicle traveling less than 45 mph (72 km/h), press and release the Four-Wheel High or Four-Wheel-High Lock button. The indicator light will ﬂash while shifting. It will remain lit when the shift is complete. It may be necessary to drive backwards while turning for a distance of 25 feet (7.5 m) to get the lock feature to disengage. Shifting into Four-Wheel Low Lock Notice: Shifting the transmission into gear before the indicator light stops ﬂashing could cause damage to the transfer case. Always wait until the indicator light stops ﬂashing before putting the transmission back in gear. To shift into Four-Wheel-Low Lock, the ignition must be in ON and the vehicle must be stopped or moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with the transmission in NEUTRAL (N). The preferred method for shifting into Four-Wheel Low is to have your vehicle moving 1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Press and release the Four-Wheel-Low Lock button. If your vehicle has a manual transmission, the clutch pedal must be pressed to the ﬂoor while you press the Four-Wheel-Low Lock button, or the shift will not be completed. You must wait for the Four-Wheel-Low Lock indicator light to stop ﬂashing and remain lit before shifting your transmission in gear. It is normal for your vehicle to have engagement noise and bump when shifting between Four-Wheel Low and Four-Wheel High ranges or from NEUTRAL with the engine running. If the Four-Wheel-Low Lock button is pressed when your vehicle is in gear and/or moving too fast, the Four-Wheel-Low Lock indicator light will ﬂash for 15 seconds and not complete the shift unless your vehicle is moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) and the transmission is in NEUTRAL (N). After 15 seconds the transfer case will return to the last chosen setting. 2-29 Shifting Out of Four-Wheel-Low Lock Notice: Shifting the transmission into gear before the indicator light stops ﬂashing could cause damage to the transfer case. Always wait until the indicator light stops ﬂashing before putting the transmission back in gear. To shift out of Four-Wheel-Low Lock, your vehicle must be stopped or moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with the transmission in NEUTRAL (N) and the ignition in ON. The preferred method for shifting out of Four-Wheel-Low Lock is to have your vehicle moving 1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Press and release the Four-Wheel High or Four-Wheel-High Lock button. If your vehicle has a manual transmission, the clutch pedal must be pressed to the ﬂoor while you press the Four-Wheel High or Four-Wheel-High Lock button, or the shift will not be completed. You must wait for the Four-Wheel High or Four-Wheel-High Lock indicator light to stop ﬂashing and remain lit before shifting your transmission into gear. It is normal for your vehicle to have engagement noise and bump when shifting between Four-Wheel Low and Four-Wheel High ranges or from NEUTRAL with the engine running. If the Four-Wheel High or Four-Wheel-High Lock button is pressed when your vehicle is in gear and/or moving too fast, the Four-Wheel High or Four-Wheel-High Lock indicator light will ﬂash for 15 seconds but will not complete the shift unless your vehicle is moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) and the transmission is in NEUTRAL (N). Shifting Into NEUTRAL To shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL, do the following: 1. Set the parking brake. 2. Start the vehicle by turning the ignition to START. 3. Put the transmission in NEUTRAL (N). If your vehicle has a manual transmission, press and hold the clutch pedal down while you perform Steps 5 through 9. 4. Shift the transfer case to Four-Wheel High. 2-30 {CAUTION: Shifting an all-wheel-drive vehicle’s transfer case into NEUTRAL can cause your vehicle to roll even if the automatic transmission is in PARK (P) or the manual transmission is in any gear. You or others could be injured. Make sure the parking brake is ﬁrmly set before you shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL. 5. Simultaneously press and hold the Four-Wheel High and Four-Wheel-Low Lock buttons for 10 seconds. The NEUTRAL light will come on when the transfer case shift to NEUTRAL is complete. 6. Press and hold the regular brake pedal and Shift the transmission to REVERSE (R) for one second, then shift the transmission for one second to DRIVE (D) for an automatic transmission, or FIRST (1) for vehicles have a manual transmission and then let out the clutch. This is to ensure the transfer case is in NEUTRAL. If not, repeat this procedure starting at Step 3. 7. Turn the engine off, by turning the key to ACC. 8. Place the transmission shift lever in PARK (P) for an automatic transmission, or FIRST (1) for vehicles that have a manual transmission. 9. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF. Shifting Out of NEUTRAL To shift out of NEUTRAL: 1. Set the parking brake and apply the regular brake pedal. 2. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N) for an automatic transmission, or press the clutch pedal for vehicles that have a manual transmission. Then turn the ignition to ON with the engine off. 3. Press the button for the desired transfer case shift position (Four-Wheel High, Four-Wheel-High Lock or Four-Wheel-Low Lock). After the transfer case has shifted out of NEUTRAL the light will go out. 4. Release the parking brake. Notice: Shifting the transmission into gear before the indicator light stops ﬂashing could cause damage to the transfer case. Always wait until the indicator light stops ﬂashing before putting the transmission back in gear. 5. You may start the engine and shift the transmission to the desired position. 2-31 Parking Brake The parking brake pedal is located to the left of the regular brake pedal, near the driver’s door. To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal down with your right foot. Push the parking brake pedal down to its fully-applied position with your left foot. A chime will activate and the brake warning light, located on the instrument panel, will ﬂash when the parking brake is applied and the vehicle is moving at least 3 mph (5 km/h) for at least three seconds. The chime will deactivate and the light will turn off when the parking brake is set and the vehicle is moving below 3 mph (5 km/h). See Brake System Warning Light on page 3-33. 2-32 To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal down. Pull the bottom edge of the lever, located above the parking brake pedal, with the parking brake symbol, directly rearward to release the parking brake. If the ignition is on when the parking brake is released, the brake system warning light will go off. Notice: Driving with the parking brake on can overheat the brake system and cause premature wear or damage to brake system parts. Make sure that the parking brake is fully released and the brake warning light is off before driving. If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill, see Towing a Trailer on page 4-50. Shifting Into PARK (P) (Automatic Transmission) {CAUTION: {CAUTION: It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake ﬁrmly set. Your vehicle can roll. If you have left the engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be sure your vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly level ground, use the steps that follow. If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer on page 4-50. 1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and set the parking brake. See Parking Brake on page 2-32 for more information. With all-wheel drive, your vehicle will be free to roll — even if your shift lever is in PARK (P) — if your transfer case is in NEUTRAL. So, be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear, four-wheel high (4H) or four-wheel low (4L) — not in NEUTRAL. 2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by pressing the shift lever button and moving the lever as far forward as it will go. 3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK/OFF. 4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can leave your vehicle with the key, your vehicle is in PARK (P). 2-33 Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission) If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift your transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in the transmission. You may ﬁnd it difficult to pull the shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.” To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave the driver’s seat. To ﬁnd out how, see Shifting Into PARK (P) (Automatic Transmission) on page 2-33. When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of PARK (P) before you release the parking brake. If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission, so you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P). Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine Running (Automatic Transmission) {CAUTION: It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the engine running. Your vehicle could move suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake ﬁrmly set. And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could overheat and even catch ﬁre. You or others could be injured. Do not leave your vehicle with the engine running. If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your parking brake is ﬁrmly set before you leave it. After you have moved the shift lever into PARK (P), hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move the shift lever away from PARK (P) without ﬁrst pressing the shift lever button. If you can, it means that the shift lever was not fully locked into PARK (P). 2-34 Shifting Out of PARK (P) (Automatic Transmission) Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift lock control system. You have to fully apply your regular brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is RUN. See Automatic Transmission Operation on page 2-23. The shift lock control system is designed to do the following: (cid:129) Prevent the ignition key from being removed unless the shift lever is in PARK (P). (cid:129) Prevent movement of the shift lever out of PARK (P), unless the ignition is in ON/RUN and the regular brake pedal is applied. The shift lock control system is always functional except in the case of a dead battery or low voltage (less than 9 V) battery. If your vehicle has an uncharged battery or a battery with low voltage, try charging or jump starting the battery. See Jump Starting on page 5-42 for more information. To shift out of PARK (P) use the following: 1. Apply the brake pedal. 2. Move the shift lever to the desired position. If you still are unable to shift out of PARK (P): 1. Ease the pressure on the shift lever. 2. While holding down the brake pedal, push the shift lever all the way into PARK (P) 3. Move the shift lever to the desired position. If you are still having a problem shifting, then have your vehicle serviced soon. Parking Your Vehicle (Manual Transmission) Your vehicle has a manual transmission. Before you get out of your vehicle, move the shift lever into REVERSE (R), and ﬁrmly apply the parking brake. Once the shift lever has been placed into REVERSE (R) with the clutch pedal pressed in, turn the ignition key to LOCK, remove the key and release the clutch. If you are parking on a hill, or if your vehicle is pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer on page 4-50. 2-35 Parking Over Things That Burn Engine Exhaust {CAUTION: {CAUTION: Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust parts under your vehicle and ignite. Do not park over papers, leaves, dry grass, or other things that can burn. 2-36 Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas carbon monoxide (CO), which you cannot see or smell. It can cause unconsciousness and death. You might have exhaust coming in if: (cid:129) The exhaust system sounds strange or different. (cid:129) Your vehicle gets rusty underneath. (cid:129) Your vehicle was damaged in a collision. (cid:129) Your vehicle was damaged when driving over high points on the road or over road debris. (cid:129) Repairs were not done correctly. (cid:129) Your vehicle or the exhaust system has been modiﬁed improperly. If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into your vehicle: (cid:129) Drive it only with all the windows down to blow out any CO; and (cid:129) Have your vehicle ﬁxed immediately. Running the Engine While Parked It is better not to park with the engine running. But if you ever have to, here are some things to know. {CAUTION: {CAUTION: Idling the engine with the climate control system off could allow dangerous exhaust into your vehicle. See the earlier caution under Engine Exhaust on page 2-36. Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if the climate control fan is at the highest setting. One place this can happen is a garage. Exhaust — with CO — can come in easily. NEVER park in a garage with the engine running. Another closed-in place can be a blizzard. See Winter Driving on page 4-35. It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the automatic transmission shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake ﬁrmly

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2008 Hummer H3 Owners Manual