2006 Pontiac VIBE Owners Manual

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belts offer protection for adults and older children, but not for young children and infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety belt system nor its airbag system is designed for them. Young children and infants need the protection that a child restraint system can provide. 1-29 {CAUTION: Newborn infants need complete support, including support for the head and neck. This is necessary because a newborn infant’s neck is weak and its head weighs so much compared with the rest of its body. In a crash, an infant in a rear-facing seat settles into the restraint, so the crash forces can be distributed across the strongest part of an infant’s body, the back and shoulders. Infants always should be secured in appropriate infant restraints. Q: What are the different types of add-on child restraints? A: Add-on child restraints, which are purchased by the vehicle’s owner, are available in four basic types. Selection of a particular restraint should take into consideration not only the child’s weight, height and age but also whether or not the restraint will be compatible with the motor vehicle in which it will be used. For most basic types of child restraints, there are many different models available. When purchasing a child restraint, be sure it is designed to be used in a motor vehicle. If it is, the restraint will have a label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. The restraint manufacturer’s instructions that come with the restraint, state the weight and height limitations for a particular child restraint. In addition, there are many kinds of restraints available for children with special needs. 1-30 Child Restraint Systems {CAUTION: The body structure of a young child is quite unlike that of an adult or older child, for whom the safety belts are designed. A young child’s hip bones are still so small that the vehicle’s regular safety belt may not remain low on the hip bones, as it should. Instead, it may settle up around the child’s abdomen. In a crash, the belt would apply force on a body area that is unprotected by any bony structure. This alone could cause serious or fatal injuries. Young children always should be secured in appropriate child restraints. An infant car bed (A), a special bed made for use in a motor vehicle, is an infant restraint system designed to restrain or position a child on a continuous ﬂat surface. Make sure that the infant’s head rests toward the center of the vehicle. 1-31 A rear-facing infant seat (B) provides restraint with the seating surface against the back of the infant. The harness system holds the infant in place and, in a crash, acts to keep the infant positioned in the restraint. A forward-facing child seat (C-E) provides restraint for the child’s body with the harness and also sometimes with surfaces such as T-shaped or shelf-like shields. 1-32 A booster seat (F-G) is a child restraint designed to improve the ﬁt of the vehicle’s safety belt system. Some booster seats have a shoulder belt positioner, and some high-back booster seats have a ﬁve-point harness. A booster seat can also help a child to see out the window. Q: How Should I Use a Child Restraint? A: A child restraint system is any device designed for use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat, or position children. A built-in child restraint system is a permanent part of the motor vehicle. An add-on child restraint system is a portable one, which is purchased by the vehicle’s owner. To help reduce injuries, an add-on child restraint must be secured in the vehicle. With built-in or add-on child restraints, the child has to be secured within the child restraint. When choosing an add-on child restraint, be sure the child restraint is designed to be used in a vehicle. If it is, it will have a label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. Then follow the instructions for the restraint. You may ﬁnd these instructions on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both. 1-33 Securing an Add-on Child Restraint in the Vehicle {CAUTION: A child can be seriously injured or killed in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle. Make sure the child restraint is properly installed in the vehicle using the vehicle’s safety belt or LATCH system, following the instructions that came with that restraint, and also the instructions in this manual. To help reduce the chance of injury, the child restraint must be secured in the vehicle. Child restraint systems must be secured in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a lap-shoulder belt, or by the LATCH system. See Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-37 for more information. A child can be endangered in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle. When securing an add-on child restraint, refer to the instructions that come with the restraint which may be on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both, and to this manual. The child restraint instructions are important, so if they are not available, obtain a replacement copy from the manufacturer. Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child restraint in your vehicle — even when no child is in it. 1-34 Securing the Child Within the Child Restraint There are several systems for securing the child within the child restraint. One system, the three-point harness, has straps that come down over each of the infant’s shoulders and buckle together at the crotch. The ﬁve-point harness system has two shoulder straps, two hip straps, and a crotch strap. A shield may take the place of hip straps. A T-shaped shield has shoulder straps that are attached to a ﬂat pad which rests low against the child’s body. A shelf- or armrest-type shield has straps that are attached to a wide, shelf-like shield that swings up or to the side. {CAUTION: A child can be seriously injured or killed in a crash if the child is not properly secured in the child restraint. Make sure the child is properly secured, following the instructions that came with that restraint. Because there are different systems, it is important to refer to the instructions that come with the restraint. A child can be endangered in a crash if the child is not properly secured in the child restraint. 1-35 Where to Put the Restraint Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. General Motors recommends that child restraints be secured in a rear seat, including an infant riding in a rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a forward-facing child seat and an older child riding in a booster seat. Your vehicle has a rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing child restraint. A label on your sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys. 1-36 {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 passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped) under certain conditions, 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. General Motors recommends that rear-facing child restraints be secured in the rear seat, even if the airbag is off. If you need to secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go. It is better to secure the child restraint in a rear seat. Wherever you install a child restraint, be sure to secure the child restraint properly. Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child restraint in your vehicle – even when no child is in it. Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) Your vehicle has the LATCH system. The LATCH system holds a child restraint during driving or in a crash. This system is designed to make installation of a child restraint easier. The LATCH system uses anchors in the vehicle and attachments on the child restraint that are made for use with the LATCH system. Make sure that a LATCH-compatible child restraint is properly installed using the anchors, or use the vehicle’s safety belts to secure the restraint, following the instructions that came with that restraint, and also the instructions in this manual. When installing a child restraint with a top tether, you must also use either the lower anchors or the safety belts to properly secure the child restraint. A child restraint must never be installed using only the top tether and anchor. In order to use the LATCH system in your vehicle, you need a child restraint equipped with LATCH attachments. The child restraint manufacturer will provide you with instructions on how to use the child restraint and its attachments. The following explains how to attach a child restraint with these attachments in your vehicle. Your vehicle has lower anchors and top tether anchors. Your child restraint may have lower attachments and a top tether. Not all vehicle seating positions or child restraints have lower anchors and attachments or top tether anchors and attachments. 1-37 Lower Anchors Top Tether Anchor Lower anchors (A) are metal bars built into the vehicle. There are two lower anchors for each LATCH seating position that will accommodate a child restraint with lower attachments (B). A top tether (A, C) anchors the top of the child restraint to the vehicle. A top tether anchor is built into the vehicle. The top tether attachment (B) on the child restraint connects to the top tether anchor in the vehicle in order to reduce the forward movement and rotation of the child restraint during driving or in a crash. Your child restraint may have a single tether (A) or a dual tether (C). Either will have a single attachment (B) to secure the top tether to the anchor. 1-38 Some top tether-equipped child restraints are designed for use with or without the top tether being attached. Others require the top tether always to be attached. In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be attached. In the United States, some child restraints also have a top tether. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for your child restraint. If the child restraint does not have a top tether, one can be obtained, in kit form, for many child restraints. Ask the child restraint manufacturer whether or not a kit is available. Lower Anchor and Top Tether Anchor Locations i (Top Tether Anchor): Seating positions with top tether anchors. j (Lower Anchor): Seating positions with two lower anchors. Rear Seat To assist you in locating the lower anchors, each seating position with lower anchors has two labels, near the crease between the seatback and the seat cushion, showing where the anchors are located. To assist you in locating the top tether anchors, the top tether anchor symbol is located on the trim cover. 1-39 Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System {CAUTION: If a LATCH-type child restraint is not attached to anchors, the restraint will not be able to protect the child correctly. In a crash, the child could be seriously injured or killed. Make sure that a LATCH-type child restraint is properly installed using the anchors, or use the vehicle’s safety belts to secure the restraint, following the instructions that came with that restraint, and also the instructions in this manual. The top tether anchors are located on the ﬂoor of the rear cargo area. Flip open the trim cover to access the anchors. Be sure to use an anchor located on the same side of the vehicle as the seating position where the child restraint will be placed. Do not secure a child restraint in the right front passenger’s position if a national or local law requires that the top tether be attached, or if the instructions that come with the child restraint say that the top tether must be attached. There is no place to attach the top tether in this position. Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. See Where to Put the Restraint on page 1-36 for additional information. 1-40 {CAUTION: Each top tether anchor and lower anchor in the vehicle is designed to hold only one child restraint. Attaching more than one child restraint to a single anchor could cause the anchor or attachment to come loose or even break during a crash. A child or others could be injured if this happens. To help prevent injury to people and damage to your vehicle, attach only one child restraint per anchor. 1. Attach and tighten the lower attachments to the lower anchors. If the child restraint does not have lower attachments or the desired seating position does not have lower anchors, secure the child restraint with the top tether and the safety belts. Refer to your child restraint manufacturer instructions and the instructions in this manual. 1.1. Find the lower anchors for the desired seating position. 1.2. Put the child restraint on the seat. 1.3. Attach and tighten the lower attachments on the child restraint to the lower anchors. 2. If the child restraint manufacturer recommends that the top tether be attached, attach and tighten the top tether to the top tether anchor, if equipped. Refer to the child restraint instructions and the following steps: 2.1. Find the top tether anchor. 2.2. Flip open the top tether anchor trim cover to expose the anchor. 2.3. Route, attach, and tighten the top tether according to your child restraint instructions and the following instructions: If the position you are using does not have a head restraint and you are using a single tether, route the tether over the seatback. If the position you are using does not have a head restraint and you are using a dual tether, route the tether over the seatback. 1-41 If the position you are using has an adjustable head restraint and you are using a dual tether, route the tether around the head restraint. If the position you are using has an adjustable head restraint and you are using a single tether, route the tether under the head restraint and in between the head restraint posts. 3. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure. Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH system, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-37. 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. 1-42 3. Buckle the belt. If the buckle does not click, check to be sure that you are using the correct buckle. The buckle for the center rear passenger position has the word CENTER on it. Make sure the release button is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. 4. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock. 1-43 6. If your child restraint manufacturer recommends using a top tether, attach and tighten the top tether to the top tether anchor. Refer to the instructions that came with the child restraint and to Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-37. 7. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure. To remove the child restraint, if your child restraint has a top tether, disconnect the top tether from the top tether anchor. 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. 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. 1-44 Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position Your vehicle has a right front passenger’s airbag. A rear seat is a safer place to secure a forward-facing child restraint. See Where to Put the Restraint on page 1-36. In addition, your vehicle has the passenger sensing system. The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped) when a child in a child restraint or booster seat is detected. See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-59 and Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-29 for more information about the conditions that could affect the passenger sensing system and other 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. Even though the passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped) under certain conditions, 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. General Motors recommends that rear-facing child restraints be secured in the rear seat, even if the airbag is off. 1-45 If you need to secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat position, move the seat as far back as it will go before securing the forward-facing child restraint. See Manual Seats on page 1-2. If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH system, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-37. There is no top tether anchor at the right front seating position. Do not secure a child seat in this position 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 tether must be anchored. See Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-37 if the child restraint has a top tether. 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. Your vehicle has airbags. See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-59. General Motors recommends that rear-facing child restraints be secured in a rear seat, even if the airbag is off. If your child restraint is forward-facing, move the seat as far back as it will go before securing the child restraint in this seat. See Manual Seats on page 1-2. When the passenger sensing system has turned off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped), the off indicator in the passenger airbag status indicator should light and stay lit when you turn the ignition to ON. See Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-29. 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. 1-46 4. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. 5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock. 1-47 7. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure. 8. If the passenger sensing system has turned off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped), the off indicator in the passenger airbag status indicator will be lit and stay lit when the key is turned to ON. 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 with the ignition key in the ACC or LOCK position. 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. 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. You should not be able to pull more of the belt from the retractor once the lock has been set. 1-48 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. If the airbag readiness light and the OFF light in the passenger airbag status indicator come on together, it may mean there is a malfunction in the passenger sensing system. Secure the child in the child restraint in a rear seat position in the vehicle and check with your dealer. 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. Airbag System Your vehicle has a frontal airbag for the driver and a frontal airbag for the right front passenger. Your vehicle may also have the following airbags: (cid:127) A seat-mounted side impact airbag for the driver (cid:127) A seat-mounted side impact airbag for the right front passenger (cid:127) A roof-mounted side impact airbag for the driver and the passenger seated directly behind the driver (cid:127) A roof-mounted side impact airbag for the right front passenger and the passenger seated directly behind that passenger If your vehicle has seat-mounted side impact airbags, it will say SRS-SIDE AIRBAG on a label on the side of the driver’s and right front passenger’s seat closest to the door. If your vehicle has roof-mounted side impact airbags, it will say SRS CURTAIN AIRBAG on the trim on the side of the windshield. 1-49 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. Here are the most important things to know about the airbag system: {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. Airbags are designed to work with safety belts but do not replace them. CAUTION: (Continued) CAUTION: (Continued) Frontal airbags for the driver and right front passenger 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. 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 in moderate to severe crashes where something hits the side of your vehicle. They are not designed to inﬂate in frontal, in rollover or in rear crashes. Everyone in your vehicle should wear a safety belt properly, whether or not there is an airbag for that person. 1-50 {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. {CAUTION: CAUTION: (Continued) 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 1-26 or Infants and Young Children on page 1-28. There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument panel, which shows the airbag symbol. 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, 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 3-28 for more information. CAUTION: (Continued) 1-51 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. 1-52 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. 1-53 If your vehicle has a roof-mounted side impact airbag for the driver and the passenger 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 passenger seated directly behind that passenger, it is in the ceiling above the side windows. 1-54 {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-mounted side impact 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 airbag will be blocked. Do not let seat covers block the inﬂation path of a side impact airbag. The path of an inﬂating airbag must be kept clear. 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. 1-55 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. The frontal airbags for the driver and right front passenger may also deploy if a serious impact occurs to the underside of your vehicle such as hitting a curb, falling into a deep hole, or landing hard. The frontal airbags (driver and right front passenger) are not intended to inﬂate during vehicle rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts. The side impact airbags are intended 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 intended to inﬂate in frontal or near-frontal impacts, rollovers or rear impacts. Your vehicle has sensors which detect side impacts. These sensors signal the appropriate side airbag to inﬂate. A side impact airbag is intended to deploy on the side of the vehicle that is struck. It is possible that, in a crash involving the front of your vehicle, only one of the two frontal airbags in your vehicle will deploy. This is rare, but it can happen in a crash just severe enough to make a frontal airbag inﬂate. 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 in frontal and near-frontal impacts. For side impact airbags, inﬂation is determined by the location and severity of the impact. 1-56 (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) What Makes an Airbag Inﬂate? In an impact of sufficient severity, the airbag sensing system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. 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. Frontal airbag modules are located inside the steering wheel and the instrument panel. For vehicles with seat-mounted side impact airbags, there are also airbag modules in the side of the front seatbacks closest to the door. For vehicles with roof-mounted side impact airbags, there are also airbag modules in the ceiling of the vehicle, near the side window. 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. Airbags distribute the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But a frontal airbag 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 a frontal airbag. A side impact airbag would not help you in many types of collisions, including many frontal or near frontal collisions, and rear impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward a side airbag. 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 frontal airbags, and only in moderate to severe side collisions for side impact airbags. 1-57 {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 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. What Will You See After an Airbag Inﬂates? After the frontal airbags and seat-mounted side impact airbags inﬂate, they quickly deﬂate, so quickly that some people may not even realize the airbags inﬂated. Roof-mounted side impact airbags deﬂate more slowly and may still be at least partially inﬂated minutes after the vehicle comes to rest. 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) — may 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 out of the windshield or being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle. 1-58 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. Passenger Sensing System Your vehicle has a passenger sensing system. A passenger airbag status indicator on the instrument panel will be visible when you turn your ignition key to ON. The words ON and OFF will be visible in the passenger airbag status indicator during the system check. When the system check is complete, either the word ON or the word OFF will be visible if there is weight on the seat or the safety belt is buckled. See Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-29. The passenger sensing system will turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped) under certain conditions. The passenger sensing system will also turn off the right front passenger’s safety belt pretensioner if it detects that there is no occupant in that position. The driver’s airbags and the roof-mounted side impact airbags are not part of the passenger sensing system. 1-59 (cid:127) The passenger sensing system works with sensors that are part of the right front passenger’s seat assembly and safety belt assembly. The sensors are designed to detect the presence of a properly-seated occupant and determine if the passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped) and safety belt pretensioner should be enabled (may inﬂate) or not. Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. General Motors recommends that child restraints be secured in a rear seat, including an infant riding in a rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a forward-facing child seat and an older child riding in a booster seat. Your vehicle has a rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing child restraint. A label on your sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys. 1-60 {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 passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped) under certain conditions, 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. General Motors recommends that rear-facing child restraints be secured in the rear seat, even if the airbag is off. If you need to secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go. It is better to secure the child restraint in a rear seat. The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped) if: the right front passenger seat is unoccupied 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 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 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 passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped), the off indicator will light and stay lit to remind you that the airbag is off. 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 with the ignition key in the ACC or LOCK position, following the child restraint manufacturer’s directions and refer to Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position on page 1-45. 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. 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. An object, person or child in the rear seat contacting or pressing the right front passenger’s seatback, or objects stowed under the right front passenger’s seat, may affect the proper functioning of the passenger sensing system. When you use a safety belt extender in the right front passenger’s seat, make sure the passenger airbag status indicator shows “ON”. If the indicator shows “OFF”, disconnect the extender’s latch from the buckle then reconnect the safety belt. Make sure the indicator light shows “ON”, then reconnect the safety belt extender. If you use the safety belt extender while the indicator light shows “OFF”, the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped) may not activate correctly. See Airbag System on page 1-49 for important safety information about your airbags. 1-61 (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) The passenger sensing system is designed to enable (may inﬂate) the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped) and safety belt pretensioner 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 airbags and pretensioner to be enabled, the on indicator will light and stay lit to remind you that the airbags and pretensioners are 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 and seat-mounted side impact airbag (if equipped), 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 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 about two minutes. This will allow the system to detect that person and then enable the passenger’s airbag. 1-62 If the airbag readiness light and the OFF light in the passenger airbag status indicator come on together, it may mean there is a malfunction in the passenger sensing system. All front passengers should move to a rear seat position in the vehicle and check with your dealer. {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 frontal airbag. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-28 for more on this, including important safety information. Aftermarket equipment, such as seat covers or seat backpacks can affect how well the passenger sensing system operates. You may want to consider not using seat covers, seat backpacks or other aftermarket equipment if your vehicle has the passenger sensing system. See Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-64 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. 1-63 Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle Q: Is there anything I might add to the vehicle that could keep the airbags from working properly? A: Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle’s frame, bumper system, front end or side sheet metal or height, they may keep the airbag system from working properly. Also, the airbag system may not work properly if you relocate any of the airbag sensors. If you have any questions about this, you should contact Customer Assistance before you modify your vehicle. The phone numbers and addresses for Customer Assistance are in Step Two of the Customer Satisfaction Procedure in this manual. See Customer Satisfaction Procedure on page 7-2. 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 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 7-14. {CAUTION: For up to two 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 wires wrapped with yellow tape or yellow connectors. They are probably part of the airbag systems. 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. 1-64 Q: Because I have a disability, I have to get my vehicle modiﬁed. How can I ﬁnd out whether this will affect my advanced airbag system? A: Changing or moving any parts of the front seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing and diagnostic module (located under the driver’s seat), or the instrument panel can affect the operation of the advanced airbag system. 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. Do not perform any of the following changes without consulting your dealer. Such changes can interfere with the proper operation of the airbag system, passenger sensing system and/or safety belt pretensioners. (cid:127) Repairs on or near the front seat belt retractor assemblies (cid:127) Modiﬁcation of the suspension system (cid:127) Attachment of a grille guard (bull bar, kangaroo bar, etc.), snowplow, winches or any other equipment to the front end (cid:127) Repairs made on or near the front fenders, front end structure or console Installation of electronic devises such as a mobile two-way radio, cassette tape player or compact disc player (cid:127) Modiﬁcation of the suspension system (cid:127) Modiﬁcation of the front end structure or the side structure of the passenger compartment (cid:127) Repairs made on or near the console of the front seat 1-65 (cid:127) Restraint System Check Checking the 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.) 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. 1-66 Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash {CAUTION: A crash can damage the restraint systems in your vehicle. A damaged restraint system may not properly protect the person using it, resulting in serious injury or even death in a crash. To help make sure your restraint systems are working properly after a crash, have them inspected and any necessary replacements made as soon as possible. If you have had a crash, do you need new belts or LATCH system parts? After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary. But if the belts were stretched, as they would be if worn during a more severe crash, then you need new parts. If the LATCH system was being used during a more severe crash, you may need new LATCH system parts. If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision damage also may mean you will need to have LATCH system, safety belt or seat parts repaired or replaced. New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the belt or LATCH system was not being used at the time of the collision. If an airbag inﬂates, you will need to replace airbag system parts. See the part on the airbag system earlier in this section. If the frontal airbags inﬂate you will also need to replace the driver and front passenger’s safety belt retractor assembly. Be sure to do so. Then the new retractor assembly will be there to help protect you in a collision. After a crash you may need to replace the driver and front passenger’s safety belt retractor assemblies, even if the frontal 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 3-28. 1-67 ✍ NOTES 1-68 Section 2 Features and Controls Keys ...............................................................2-2 Remote Keyless Entry System .........................2-3 Remote Keyless Entry System Operation ...........2-4 Doors and Locks .............................................2-6 Door Locks ....................................................2-6 Power Door Locks ..........................................2-7 Rear Door Security Locks ................................2-8 Liftgate/Liftglass .............................................2-9 Windows ........................................................2-10 Manual Windows ..........................................2-11 Power Windows ............................................2-11 Sun Visors ...................................................2-12 Theft-Deterrent Systems ..................................2-12 .................................2-12 Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ................2-14 New Vehicle Break-In ....................................2-14 Ignition Positions ..........................................2-15 Starting the Engine .......................................2-16 Engine Coolant Heater ..................................2-17 Automatic Transaxle Operation .......................2-18 Overdrive Off ...............................................2-21 Manual Transaxle Operation ...........................2-21 Parking Brake ..............................................2-24 Shifting Into Park (P) (Automatic Transaxle) ......2-25 Content Theft-Deterrent Shifting Out of Park (P) (Automatic Transaxle) ................................2-26 Parking Your Vehicle (Manual Transaxle) .........2-27 Parking Over Things That Burn .......................2-28 Engine Exhaust ............................................2-28 Running the Engine While Parked ...................2-29 Mirrors ...........................................................2-30 Manual Rearview Mirror .................................2-30 Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar® ..............2-30 Outside Remote Control Mirrors ......................2-31 Outside Convex Mirror ...................................2-31 OnStar® System .............................................2-32 Storage Areas ................................................2-34 Glove Box ...................................................2-34 Cupholder(s) ................................................2-34 Coinholder(s) ................................................2-34 Instrument Panel Storage Area .......................2-34 Center Console Storage Area .........................2-34 Floor Mats ...................................................2-34 Rear Storage Area ........................................2-35 Rear Cargo Accessory Track System ...............2-36 Cargo Cover ................................................2-36 Cargo Tie Downs ..........................................2-37 Sunroof .........................................................2-37 2-1 Keys {CAUTION: Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition key is dangerous for many reasons. They could operate the power windows or other controls or even make the vehicle move. The children or others could be badly injured or even killed. Do not leave the keys in a vehicle with children. 2-2 One key is used for the ignition, the doors and all other locks. When a new vehicle is delivered, the dealer removes the key tag from the key and gives it to the ﬁrst owner. Each tag has a 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 key, you’ll be able to have a new one made easily using this code. If you need a new key, contact your dealership to obtain 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, Remote Keyless Entry System If the vehicle has the keyless entry system, it 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. 2-3 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 2-4. If you are still having trouble, see your dealer or a qualiﬁed technician for service. Remote Keyless Entry System Operation If your vehicle has this feature, you can lock and unlock your doors from about 3 feet (1 m) up to 30 feet (9 m) away using the remote keyless entry transmitter supplied with your vehicle. The remote keyless entry transmitter will look different if your vehicle was purchased in Canada, however it will operate the same. 2-4 LOCK: Press this button to lock all of the doors. The turn signal lights will ﬂash once to conﬁrm that the doors have locked. The remote keyless entry system will not operate while the doors are open, the key is in the ignition, or if the liftglass or hatch are not completely closed and latched. UNLOCK: Press this button once to unlock the driver’s door. The turn signal lights will ﬂash twice and the interior lamps will come on to conﬁrm that the door has unlocked. If the UNLOCK button is pressed again within three seconds, all remaining doors will unlock. The interior lamps will stay on for 15 seconds or until the ignition is turned on. HATCH/GLASS: Press and hold this button for approximately one second to open the rear liftglass. If the ignition key is in the ON position, the liftglass cannot be opened by the HATCH/GLASS button on the transmitter. (cid:127) Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to prevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle. If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can be purchased through your dealer. Remember to bring any remaining transmitters with you when you go to your dealer. When the dealer matches the replacement transmitter to your vehicle, any remaining transmitters must also be matched. Once your dealer has coded the new transmitter, the lost transmitter will not unlock your vehicle. Each vehicle can have a maximum of four transmitters matched to it. Battery Replacement Under normal use, the battery in your remote keyless entry transmitter should last about three 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 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. To replace the battery, do the following: 1. Insert a small coin or similar 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 upward. For battery replacement, use a three-volt battery, type CR2032, or equivalent. 3. Snap the transmitter back together tightly to be sure no moisture can enter. 2-5 There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle. From the outside, use your key or the remote keyless entry transmitter, if equipped. See Remote Keyless Entry System Operation on page 2-4 for more information. If your vehicle has power door locks, open the driver’s door by turning the key in the lock toward the rear of the vehicle. Turning the key back toward the center, then toward the rear again will unlock all of the doors. Using the key in the passenger’s door will also unlock all of the doors. Lock a door by turning the key toward the front of the vehicle. If you have power door locks, all the doors will lock. 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. 2-6 Power Door Locks If your vehicle has this feature, the power door lock switch is located on the armrest of the driver’s and front passenger’s door. To manually lock the door from the inside, press the knob on the door forward. To unlock the door, press the knob rearward. With manual locks, you must use the key to lock and unlock the liftgate. e (Power Door Lock): Press the top of the switch to lock all the doors. Press the bottom of the switch to unlock all the doors. 2-7 The rear doors on your vehicle cannot be opened from the inside when this feature is in use. To open a rear door with the security lock, do the following: 1. Unlock the door from the inside. 2. Then open the door from the outside. If you don’t cancel the security lock feature, adults and older children who ride in the rear won’t be able to open the rear door from the inside. You should let adults and older children know how these security locks work, and how to cancel the locks. To cancel the rear door security lock, do the following: 1. Unlock the door from the inside and open the door from the outside. 2. Slide the lever up. 3. Do the same for the other rear door. The rear door locks will now work normally. Rear Door Security Locks Your vehicle is equipped with rear door security locks that help prevent passengers from opening the rear doors on your vehicle from the inside. The security locks are located on the inside of the rear door trim. To use these locks, do the following: 1. Slide the lever down. 2. Close the door. 3. Do the same thing to the other rear door lock. 2-8 Liftgate/Liftglass {CAUTION: Liftgate/Liftglass Release To unlock and open the liftgate using the key, insert the key into the keyhole and turn counterclockwise. Raise the liftgate by hand. It can be dangerous to drive with the liftgate or liftglass open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can come into your vehicle. You cannot see or smell CO. It can cause unconsciousness and even death. If you must drive with the liftgate open or if electrical wiring or other cable connections must pass through the seal between the body and the liftgate or liftglass: (cid:127) Make sure all other windows are shut. (cid:127) Turn the fan on your climate control system to its highest speed and select the control setting that will force outside air into your vehicle. See “Climate Control System” in the Index. If you have air outlets on or under the instrument panel, open them all the way. See Engine Exhaust on page 2-28. When closing the liftgate, use the handle to pull it down. To lock the liftgate, turn the key clockwise to the ﬁrst position. 2-9 (cid:127) To open the liftglass using the key, insert the key into the keyhole and turn clockwise to the second position. Use the handle in the center of the liftglass to help in lifting the glass. Your vehicle may have a liftglass release button which is located on the instrument panel to the left of the steering wheel. Press this button to release the liftglass. Windows {CAUTION: Leaving children, helpless adults, or pets in a vehicle with the windows closed is dangerous. They can be overcome by the extreme heat and suffer permanent injuries or even death from heat stroke. Never leave a child, a helpless adult, or a pet alone in a vehicle, especially with the windows closed in warm or hot weather. 2-10 Power Windows If your vehicle has this feature, the switches controlling the driver’s and passenger’s windows are located on the driver’s door. The power window switch on each passenger door controls that window only. These switches work while the ignition is turned to ON. Press the front of a switch to lower a window and lift the front of the switch to raise a window. AUTO (Express-Down): Press this switch all the way down and release it to lower the driver’s window quickly. o (Lock-Out): Press the window lock-out button, located near the driver’s power door lock switches, to disable the passenger’s power window switches. Press the button again to enable the window switches. Only the driver’s window will operate with the lock-out button pressed. 2-11 Manual Windows Use the window crank to open and close each window. Sun Visors To block out glare, swing down the sun visors. You can also swing them to the side. The visors can be slid along the rod for extended coverage for the side windows unless your vehicle has roof-mounted side impact airbags. Visor Vanity Mirror Swing down the sun visor to expose the vanity mirror. The vanity mirror may have a cover. Lift the cover to expose the mirror. 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 If your vehicle has this feature, the theft-deterrent system is designed to activate an alarm if any of the side doors or the liftgate is forcibly unlocked or if the battery terminal is disconnected and then reconnected while the system is set. 2-12 The alarm will sound the horn intermittently and ﬂash the headlamps, turn signal lamps and interior lights. If the driver’s or front passenger’s side doors are unlocked forcibly, the other side doors and the liftgate will be locked automatically. Arming the System To arm the system, do the following: 1. Turn the ignition key to the LOCK position and remove it. 2. Close and lock all doors and liftgate with the key or remote keyless entry transmitter. The indicator light located on the instrument panel to the left of the steering wheel will come on when all doors and liftgate are closed and locked. The system will be automatically set after 30 seconds. When the system is set, the indicator light will start ﬂashing. 3. After the indicator light starts ﬂashing, you may leave the vehicle. Do not leave anyone in the vehicle when you set the system, because unlocking the vehicle from the inside will activate the system. Testing the Alarm To test the alarm, do the following: 1. Open all the windows. 2. Set the system as described in the previous procedure. The doors and liftgate should be locked with the key or remote keyless entry transmitter. Be sure to wait until the indicator light starts ﬂashing. 3. Unlock the driver’s door from the inside. The system should activate the alarm. 4. Stop the alarm as described in the disarming procedure following. 5. Repeat this operation for the other doors. Also check that the system is activated when the battery terminal is disconnected and then reconnected. If the system does not work properly, have it checked by your dealer. How the System Alarm is Activated The system will activate the alarm under the following conditions: If the driver’s or front passenger’s door is unlocked or if any of the other doors or the liftgate is forcibly opened without the key or remote keyless entry transmitter. If the battery terminal is disconnected and then reconnected. If the ignition is hot-wired. If the side window glass is broken or damaged. The indicator light will come on when the system is activated. If the driver’s or front passenger’s doors are unlocked without using the key or remote keyless entry transmitter, the other doors and the liftgate will be automatically locked again. After one minute the alarm will automatically stop and the indicator light will start ﬂashing again. 2-13 (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) Reactivating the System Once the system is set, it will automatically reset the alarm after the alarm stops. The alarm will activate again under the same conditions as described earlier. Disarming the System The alarm can be disarmed by doing one of the following: Turn the ignition key from LOCK to ON. (cid:127) Unlock any of the doors with the key or with the remote keyless entry transmitter. If the liftgate or liftglass is opened with the key, the system will still be activated. 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:127) 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:127) Avoid making hard stops for the ﬁrst 200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time your 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:127) Do not tow a trailer during break-in. See Towing a Trailer on page 4-40 for the trailer towing capabilities of your vehicle and more information. Following break-in, engine speed and load can be gradually increased. 2-14 (cid:127) Ignition Positions With the key in the ignition switch, you can turn it to four different positions. If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you Notice: cannot turn it, be sure you are using the correct key; if so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the steering wheel left and right while you turn the key hard. Turn the key only with your hand. Using a tool to force it could break the key or the ignition switch. If none of these work, then your vehicle needs service. (A) LOCK: This is the only position from which you can remove the key. This locks your steering wheel, ignition and automatic transaxle. Push in the ignition switch as you turn the key toward you. If you have an automatic transaxle, the ignition switch cannot be turned to LOCK unless the shift lever is in PARK (P). {CAUTION: On manual transaxle vehicles, turning the key to LOCK and removing it will lock the steering column and result in a loss of ability to steer the vehicle. This could cause a collision. If you need to turn the engine off while the vehicle is moving, turn the key only to ACC. Do not push the key in while the vehicle is moving. (B) ACC (ACCESSORY): This position operates some of your electrical accessories, such as the radio, but not the ventilation fan. It unlocks the steering wheel and ignition. To move the key from ACC to LOCK, push in the key and then turn it to LOCK. 2-15 (C) ON: This is the position the switch returns to after you start your engine and release the switch. The switch stays in the ON position when the engine is running. But even when the ignition is not running, you can use ON to operate your electrical accessories, including the ventilation fan and 115 volt power outlet, and to display some warning and indicator lights. (D) START: This position starts the engine. When the engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch will return to ON for normal driving. When the engine is not running, ACC and ON allow you to operate some of your electrical accessories. A warning tone will sound if you open the driver’s door when the ignition is still in ACC or LOCK and the key is in the ignition. Starting the Engine Automatic Transaxle Move the shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). The engine will not start in any other position — that is a safety feature. To restart when you are already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Notice: Shifting into PARK (P) with the vehicle moving could damage the transaxle. Shift into PARK (P) only when your vehicle is stopped. Manual Transaxle The shift lever should be in NEUTRAL and the parking brake engaged. Hold the clutch pedal 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. 2-16 Starting Procedure 1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition to START. When the engine starts, let go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your engine gets warm. Notice: Holding your key in START for longer than 15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat can damage your starter motor. Wait about 15 seconds between each try to help avoid draining your battery or damaging your starter. 2. If it does not start, wait about 15 seconds and try again to start the engine by turning the ignition to START. Wait about 15 seconds between each try. When the engine has run about 10 seconds to warm up, your vehicle is ready to be driven. Do not run your engine at high speed when it is cold. If the weather is below freezing (32°F or 0°C), let the engine run for a few minutes to warm up. 3. If the engine still will not start, or starts but then stops, it could be ﬂooded with too much gasoline. Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the ﬂoor and holding it there as you hold the key in START for about three seconds. If the vehicle starts brieﬂy but then stops again, do the same thing, but this time keep the pedal down for ﬁve or six seconds. This clears the extra gasoline from the engine. Notice: Your 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. If you do not, your engine might not perform properly. Any resulting damage would not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty. Engine Coolant Heater Your vehicle may have an engine coolant heater. In very cold weather, 0°F (−18°C) or colder, the engine coolant heater can help. You will get easier starting and better fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually, the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of four hours prior to starting your vehicle. At temperatures above 32°F (0°C), use of the coolant heater is not required. To Use the Engine Coolant Heater 1. Turn off the engine. 2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord. The electrical cord is located on the driver’s side of the engine compartment. 2-17 3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet. Automatic Transaxle Operation There are several different positions for your shift lever. PARK (P): This position locks your front wheels. It is the best position to use when you start your engine because your vehicle cannot move easily. {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 in the area where you will be parking your vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for that particular area. 2-18 {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 Transaxle) on page 2-25. If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer on page 4-40. Ensure that the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting the engine. 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 key is in ON. If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever, push the shift lever all the way into PARK (P) and release the shift lever button as you maintain brake application. Then press the shift lever button and move the shift lever into the gear you wish. See Shifting Out of Park (P) (Automatic Transaxle) on page 2-26. REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up. Notice: Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is moving forward could damage the transaxle. 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 transaxle, see If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on page 4-30. 2-19 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 your 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) while the engine is running at high speed may damage the transaxle. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Be sure the engine is not running at high speeds when shifting your vehicle. DRIVE (D): This position is for normal driving. If you need more power for passing, and you are: (cid:127) Going less than about 27 mph (43 km/h), push your accelerator pedal about halfway down. (cid:127) Going about 29 mph (47 km/h) or more, push your accelerator pedal all the way down. You will shift down to the next gear and have more power. SECOND (2): This position gives you more power than DRIVE (D) but lower fuel economy. 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. LOW (L): This position gives you even more power than SECOND (2) but lower fuel economy. You can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the shift lever is put in LOW (L), the transaxle will not shift into low gear until the vehicle is going slow enough. Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in one place on a hill using only the accelerator pedal may damage the transaxle. If you are stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the brakes, or parking brake to hold the vehicle in place. 2-20 Overdrive Off Your automatic transaxle has an O/D (overdrive off) button located on the left side of the shift lever. Manual Transaxle Operation Five-Speed Transaxle FIRST (1): Press the clutch pedal and shift into FIRST (1). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal. Press the O/D button to turn off overdrive. A light on the instrument panel cluster will come on when this feature is used. Press the button again to turn overdrive back on. Then the light on the instrument panel cluster will go off. See Overdrive Off Light on page 3-40. When you turn on your vehicle the overdrive will automatically be on until you turn it off. You can shift into FIRST (1) when you are going less than 20 mph (32 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. Press the clutch pedal back down. Then 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. 2-21 THIRD (3), FOURTH (4), FIFTH (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 down on the clutch pedal and shift into REVERSE (R). Let up on the clutch pedal slowly while pressing the accelerator pedal. Notice: Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is moving forward could damage the transaxle. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is stopped. Also, use REVERSE (R) along with the parking brake for parking your vehicle. Six-Speed Transaxle FIRST (1): Press the clutch pedal and shift into FIRST (1). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal. You can shift into FIRST (1) when you are going less than 20 mph (32 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. Press the clutch pedal back down. Then 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. THIRD (3): Press the clutch pedal and upshift into THIRD (3). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal. 2-22 FOURTH (4), FIFTH (5), SIXTH (6): Shift into FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5) and SIXTH (6) the same way you do for THIRD (3). 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 down on the clutch pedal and shift into REVERSE (R). Let up on the clutch pedal slowly while pressing the accelerator pedal. Notice: Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is moving forward could damage the transaxle. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is stopped. Also, use REVERSE (R) along with the parking brake for parking your vehicle. There is an audible beep when the vehicle is in REVERSE (R) to ensure that FIRST (1) gear and REVERSE (R) are not confused. 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. This chart shows when to shift to the next gear for the best fuel economy. Manual Transmission Recommended Shift Speeds Engine 1 to 2 or 2 to 3 or 3 to 4 or 4 to 5 or 5 to 6 or 1.8 L (Code 8) 1.8 L (Code L) 2 to 1 15 mph 24 km/h 15 mph 24 km/h 3 to 2 25 mph 40 km/h 25 mph 40 km/h 4 to 3 40 mph 64 km/h 40 mph 64 km/h 5 to 4 45 mph 72 km/h 45 mph 72 km/h 6 to 5 — 50 mph 80 km/h If your speed drops below 20 mph (32 km/h), or if the engine is not running smoothly, you should downshift to the next lower gear. You may have to downshift two or more gears to keep the engine running smoothly or for good performance. 2-23 Parking Brake To set the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down and pull up on the parking brake lever. If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will come on. Notice: Driving with the parking brake on can overheat the brake system and cause premature wear or damage to brake system parts. Verify that the parking brake is fully released and the brake warning light is off before driving. If you are towing a trailer, see Towing a Trailer on page 4-40. To release the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down. Pull the parking brake lever up until you can press the release button. Hold the release button in as you move the lever all the way down. 2-24 Shifting Into Park (P) (Automatic Transaxle) Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine Running (Automatic Transaxle) {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 4-40. To shift into PARK (P), do the following: 1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and set the parking brake by pulling up on the parking brake lever. 2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by holding in the button on the shift lever and pushing the lever all the way toward the front of the vehicle. 3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK. 4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can leave your vehicle with the key in your hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P). 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 automatic transaxle 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 pulling it toward you. If you can, it means that the shift lever was not fully locked into PARK (P). 2-25 Torque Lock (Automatic Transaxle) If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in the transaxle. 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 Transaxle) on page 2-25. 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 transaxle, so you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).

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2006 Pontiac VIBE Owners Manual