Buick Automobile, 2008 LaCrosse User Manual

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Seats and Restraint Systems

........................... 1-1

Front Seats

............................................... 1-2

Rear Seats

............................................... 1-8

Safety Belts

.............................................. 1-9

Child Restraints

....................................... 1-29

Airbag System

......................................... 1-54

Restraint System Check

............................ 1-68

Features and Controls

..................................... 2-1

Keys

........................................................ 2-3

Doors and Locks

...................................... 2-11

Windows

................................................. 2-17

Theft-Deterrent Systems

............................ 2-20

Starting and Operating Your Vehicle

........... 2-24

Mirrors

.................................................... 2-38

Object Detection Systems

.......................... 2-41

OnStar

System

...................................... 2-43

Universal Home Remote System

................ 2-47

Storage Areas

......................................... 2-52

Sunroof

.................................................. 2-54

Instrument Panel

............................................. 3-1

Instrument Panel Overview

.......................... 3-4

Climate Controls

...................................... 3-20

Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators

........ 3-30

Driver Information Center (DIC)

.................. 3-49

Audio System(s)

....................................... 3-84

Driving Your Vehicle

....................................... 4-1

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle

..... 4-2

Towing

................................................... 4-27

Service and Appearance Care

.......................... 5-1

Service

..................................................... 5-3

Fuel

......................................................... 5-5

Checking Things Under the Hood

............... 5-10

Headlamp Aiming

..................................... 5-56

Bulb Replacement

.................................... 5-58

Windshield Replacement

........................... 5-62

Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement

......... 5-62

Tires

...................................................... 5-63

Appearance Care

..................................... 5-99

Vehicle Identiﬁcation

............................... 5-107

Electrical System

.................................... 5-108

Capacities and Speciﬁcations

................... 5-116

Maintenance Schedule

..................................... 6-1

Maintenance Schedule

................................ 6-2

Customer Assistance Information

.................... 7-1

Customer Assistance and Information

........... 7-2

Reporting Safety Defects

........................... 7-15

Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy

........... 7-17

Index

................................................................ 1

2008 Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual M

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, BUICK, the BUICK Emblem, and the name LACROSSE are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation.

This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after that time without notice. For vehicles ﬁrst sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada Limited” for Buick Motor Division whenever it appears in this manual.

This manual describes features that may be available in this model, but your vehicle may not have all of them. For example, more than one entertainment system may be offered or your vehicle may have been ordered without a front passenger or rear seats.

Keep this manual in the vehicle for quick reference.

Canadian Owners

A French language copy of this manual can be obtained from your dealer/retailer or from:

Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207

1-800-551-4123 www.helminc.com

Propriétaires Canadiens

On peut obtenir un exemplaire de ce guide en français auprès de concessionnaire ou à l’adresse suivante:

Helm Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207

1-800-551-4123 www.helminc.com

Litho in U.S.A. Part No. 15864654 A First Printing

Using this Manual

Many people read the owner manual from beginning to end when they ﬁrst receive their new vehicle to learn about the vehicle’s features and controls. Pictures and words work together to explain things.

Index

A good place to quickly locate information about the vehicle is the Index in the back of the manual. It is an alphabetical list of what is in the manual and the page number where it can be found.

Safety Warnings and Symbols

There are a number of safety cautions in this book. A box with the word CAUTION is used to tell about things that could hurt you or others if you were to ignore the warning.

{CAUTION:

These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people.

We tell you what the hazard is and what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you do not, you or others could be hurt.

A circle with a slash through it is a safety symbol which means “Do Not,” “Do Not do this” or “Do Not let this happen.”

iii

Vehicle Damage Warnings

You will also ﬁnd notices in this manual.

Notice: These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle.

A notice tells about something that can damage the vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. The notice tells what to do to help avoid the damage.

When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words.

There are also warning labels on the vehicle which use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.

Vehicle Symbols

The vehicle has components and labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along with the text describing the operation or information relating to a speciﬁc component, control, message, gage, or indicator.

Front Seats ......................................................1-2

Power Seats ..................................................1-2

Power Lumbar ...............................................1-3

Heated Seats .................................................1-3

Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-4

Head Restraints .............................................1-6

Center Seat ...................................................1-7

Rear Seats .......................................................1-8

Split Folding Rear Seat ...................................1-8

Safety Belts .....................................................1-9

Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone .................1-9

How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-14

Lap-Shoulder Belt .........................................1-22

Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-27

Lap Belt ......................................................1-28

Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-29

Child Restraints .............................................1-29

Older Children ..............................................1-29

Infants and Young Children ............................1-33

Child Restraint Systems .................................1-37

Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-39

Lower Anchors and Tethers for

Children (LATCH) ......................................1-41

Securing a Child Restraint in a

Rear Seat Position ....................................1-47

Securing a Child Restraint in the Center

Front Seat Position ....................................1-50

Securing a Child Restraint in the Right

Front Seat Position ....................................1-50

Airbag System ...............................................1-54

Where Are the Airbags? ................................1-57

When Should an Airbag Inﬂate? .....................1-59

What Makes an Airbag Inﬂate? .......................1-60

How Does an Airbag Restrain? .......................1-60

What Will You See After an Airbag Inﬂates? .....1-60

Passenger Sensing System ............................1-62

Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...........1-66

Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped

Vehicle ....................................................1-67

Restraint System Check ..................................1-68

Checking the Restraint Systems ......................1-68

Replacing Restraint System Parts After

a Crash ...................................................1-69

Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems

1-1

Front Seats

Power Seats

If the vehicle has power seats, the controls used to operate them are located on the outboard side of the seats. To adjust the seat, do any of the following:

• Move the seat forward or rearward by sliding the

control forward or rearward.

• Raise or lower the front part of the seat cushion by

moving the front of the control up or down.

• Raise or lower the rear part of the seat cushion by

moving the rear of the control up or down.

• Raise or lower the entire seat by moving the entire

control up or down.

Driver Side shown, Passenger Side similar

1-2

Power Lumbar

On seats with power lumbar, the control is located on the outboard side of the seat cushion.

Press the front of the control to increase lumbar support. Press the rear of the control to decrease lumbar support.

Keep in mind that as your seating position changes, as it may during long trips, so should the position of your lumbar support. Adjust the seat as needed.

Heated Seats

On vehicles with this feature, the buttons are located on the climate control panel.

Press the button once to activate the high heat setting. Both indicator lights on the button will come on. Press the button again to select the lower temperature setting. Only one indicator light will come on. Press the button a third time to turn the heat off.

This feature only works when the ignition is on.

1-3

Reclining Seatbacks

{CAUTION:

You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you do not want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when the vehicle is not moving.

{CAUTION:

If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked.

Your seats have manual reclining seatbacks. The lever used to operate them is located on the outboard side of the seats.

To recline the seatback, do the following:

1. Lift the recline lever.

2. Move the seatback to the desired position, then release the lever to lock the seatback in place.

3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked.

1-4

To return the seatback to an upright position, do the following:

1. Lift the lever fully without applying pressure to the seatback and the seatback will return to the upright position.

2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked.

{CAUTION:

Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts cannot do their job when you are reclined like this.

The shoulder belt cannot do its job because it will not be against your body. Instead, it will be in front of you. In a crash, you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries.

The lap belt cannot do its job either. In a crash, the belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries.

For proper protection when the vehicle is in motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly.

Do not have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving.

1-5

Head Restraints

Adjust the head restraint so that the top of the restraint is at the same height as the top of the occupant’s head. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.

Pull the head restraint up to raise it.

To lower the head restraint, press the button, located on the top of the seatback, and push the head restraint down.

1-6

Center Seat

Your vehicle may have a front center seat. There are cupholders on the underside of the seat cushion. To use them, raise the seat cushion. This seat can also be converted to a storage area by lowering the armrest. See Center Console Storage on page 2-53.

1-7

Rear Seats

Split Folding Rear Seat

If your vehicle has this feature, both sides of the rear seatback can be folded down. This gives direct access to the trunk. Make sure the front seats are not reclined. If they are, the rear seatback(s) may not fold down all the way.

Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts and return them to their normal stowed position before folding a rear seat.

To lower the rear seatback, pull the tab located on the outboard side of the seatback and fold the seatback forward.

{CAUTION:

If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked.

To raise the rear seatback, lift the seatback up until it latches. Push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked in position.

The seatbacks should be kept in the upright, locked position when they are not being used to extend the cargo area.

1-8

Safety Belts

Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone

This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts properly. It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts.

{CAUTION:

Do not let anyone ride where he or she cannot wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and you are not wearing a safety belt, your injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the vehicle harder or be ejected from it and be seriously injured or killed. In the same crash, you might not be, if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt, and check that your passenger(s) are restrained properly too.

{CAUTION:

It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly.

Your vehicle has indicators as a reminder to buckle your safety belts. See Safety Belt Reminders on page 3-32.

In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law requires wearing safety belts. Here is why:

You never know if you will be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you do not know if it will be a serious one.

A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up, a person would not survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed.

After more than 40 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter... a lot!

1-9

Why Safety Belts Work

When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes.

Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it is just a seat on wheels.

Put someone on it.

1-10

Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider does not stop.

The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield...

1-11

or the instrument panel... or the safety belts!

With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does. You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance, and your strongest bones take the forces. That is why safety belts make such good sense.

1-12

Questions and Answers About Safety Belts

Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after a crash if I

am wearing a safety belt?

A: You could be — whether you are wearing a safety

belt or not. But your chance of being conscious during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted. And you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you are upside down.

Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I have to

wear safety belts?

A: Airbags are supplemental systems only; so they

work with safety belts — not instead of them. Whether or not an airbag is provided, all occupants still have to buckle up to get the most protection. That is true not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions.

Q: If I am a good driver, and I never drive far from

home, why should I wear safety belts?

A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you are in a

crash — even one that is not your fault — you and your passenger(s) can be hurt. Being a good driver does not protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers.

Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of home. And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h).

Safety belts are for everyone.

1-13

How to Wear Safety Belts Properly

This section is only for people of adult size. Be aware that there are special things to know about

safety belts and children. And there are different rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be riding in your vehicle, see Older Children on page 1-29 or Infants and Young Children on page 1-33. Follow those rules for everyone’s protection.

It is very important for all occupants to buckle up. Statistics show that unbelted people are hurt more often in crashes than those who are wearing safety belts.

Occupants who are not buckled up can be thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts.

First, before you or your passenger(s) wear a safety belt, there is important information you should know.

Sit up straight and always keep your feet on the ﬂoor in front of you. The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones and you would be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force on your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces.

The shoulder belt locks if there is a sudden stop or crash.

1-14

Q: What is wrong with this?

A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It will not give as

much protection this way.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should ﬁt snugly against your body.

1-15

Q: What is wrong with this?

A: The lap belt is too loose. It will not give nearly as

much protection this way.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously hurt if your lap belt is too loose. In a crash, you could slide under the lap belt and apply force on your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The lap belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs.

1-16

Q: What is wrong with this?

A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured if your belt is buckled in the wrong place like this. In a crash, the belt would go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not on the pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. Always buckle your belt into the buckle nearest you.

1-17

Q: What is wrong with this?

A: The belt is over an armrest.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured if your belt goes over an armrest like this. The belt would be much too high. In a crash, you can slide under the belt. The belt force would then be applied on the abdomen, not on the pelvic bones, and that could cause serious or fatal injuries. Be sure the belt goes under the armrests.

1-18

Q: What is wrong with this?

A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should

be worn over the shoulder at all times.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured if you wear the shoulder belt under your arm. In a crash, your body would move too far forward, which would increase the chance of head and neck injury. Also, the belt would apply too much force to the ribs, which are not as strong as shoulder bones. You could also severely injure internal organs like your liver or spleen. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest.

1-19

Q: What is wrong with this?

A: The belt is behind the body.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured by not wearing the lap-shoulder belt properly. In a crash, you would not be restrained by the shoulder belt. Your body could move too far forward increasing the chance of head and neck injury. You might also slide under the lap belt. The belt force would then be applied right on the abdomen. That could cause serious or fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest.

1-20

Q: What is wrong with this?

A: The belt is twisted across the body.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt. In a crash, you would not have the full width of the belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is twisted, make it straight so it can work properly, or ask your dealer/retailer to ﬁx it.

1-21

Lap-Shoulder Belt

All seating positions in your vehicle have a lap-shoulder except for the center front passenger position, if your vehicle has one, which has a lap belt. See Lap Belt on page 1-28 for more information.

Here is how to wear a lap-shoulder belt properly.

1. Adjust the seat, if the seat is adjustable, so you can sit up straight. To see how, see “Seats” in the Index.

2. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Do not let it get twisted.

The lap-shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly.

If you ever pull the shoulder portion of a passenger belt out all the way, you may engage the child restraint locking feature. If this happens, just let the belt go back all the way and start again.

3. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. If you ﬁnd that the latch plate will not go fully into

the buckle, see if you are using the correct buckle. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is

secure. If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 1-29.

Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if necessary.

1-22

4. If equipped with a shoulder belt height adjuster, move it to the height that is right for you. Improper shoulder belt height adjustment could reduce the effectiveness of the safety belt in a crash. See “Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment” later in this section.

5. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the shoulder belt.

It may be necessary to pull stitching on the safety belt through the latch plate to fully tighten the lap belt on smaller occupants.

To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. The belt should go back out of the way. When the safety belt is not in use, slide the latch plate up the safety belt webbing. The latch plate should rest on the stitching on the safety belt, near the guide loop on the side wall.

Before you close a door, be sure the belt is out of the way. If you slam the door on it, you can damage both the belt and your vehicle.

1-23

Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster

Your vehicle has a shoulder belt height adjuster for the driver and right front passenger position.

Adjust the height so that the shoulder portion of the belt is centered on your shoulder. The belt should be away from your face and neck, but not falling off your shoulder. Improper shoulder belt height adjustment could reduce the effectiveness of the safety belt in a crash.

To move it down, press down on the release lever (A) and move the height adjuster to the desired position. You can move the height adjuster up just by pressing up on the shoulder belt guide.

After you move the adjuster to where you want it, try to move it down without squeezing the release lever to make sure it has locked into position.

Safety Belt Pretensioners

Your vehicle has safety belt pretensioners for front outboard occupants. Although you cannot see them, they are part of the safety belt assembly. They can help tighten the safety belts during the early stages of a moderate to severe frontal or near frontal crash if the threshold conditions for pretensioner activation are met.

Pretensioners work only once. If they activate in a crash, you will need to get new ones, and probably other new parts for your safety belt system. See Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash on page 1-69.

Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides

Rear shoulder belt comfort guides may provide added safety belt comfort for older children who have outgrown booster seats and for some adults. When installed on a shoulder belt, the comfort guide positions the belt away from the neck and head.

There is one guide for each outboard passenger position in the rear seat. Here is how to install a comfort guide to the safety belt:

1-24

1. Pull the elastic cord out from between the edge of the seatback and the interior body to remove the guide from its storage clip.

2. Place the guide over the belt and insert the two edges of the belt into the slots of the guide.

1-25

3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies ﬂat. The elastic cord must be under the belt and the guide on top.

{CAUTION:

A safety belt that is not properly worn may not provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces.

1-26

4. Buckle, position, and release the safety belt as described previously in this section. Make sure that the shoulder belt crosses the shoulder.

To remove and store the comfort guide, squeeze the belt edges together so that you can take them out of the guide. Pull the guide upward to expose its storage clip, and then slide the guide onto the clip. Turn the guide and clip inward and slide them in between the seatback and the interior body, leaving only the loop of the elastic cord exposed.

Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy

Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be seriously injured if they do not wear safety belts.

A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and the lap portion should be worn as low as possible, below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy.

The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it is more likely that the fetus will not be hurt in a crash. For pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making safety belts effective is wearing them properly.

1-27

Lap Belt

This part is only for the lap belt. To learn how to wear a lap-shoulder belt, see Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 1-22.

You vehicle may have a center seating position. When you sit in the center front seating position, you have a lap safety belt, which has no retractor.

To make the belt longer, tilt the latch plate and pull it along the belt.

Buckle, position and release it the same way as the lap part of a lap-shoulder belt.

To make the belt shorter, pull its free end as shown until the belt is snug.

If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 1-29.

Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if necessary.

If you ﬁnd that the latch plate will not go fully into the buckle, see if you are using the correct buckle. Be sure that the latch plate clicks when inserted into the buckle.

1-28

Safety Belt Extender

If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you should use it.

But if a safety belt is not long enough, your dealer/ retailer will order you an extender. When you go in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the extender will be long enough for you. To help avoid personal injury, do not let someone else use it, and use it only for the seat it is made to ﬁt. The extender has been designed for adults. Never use it for securing child seats. To wear it, attach it to the regular safety belt. For more information, see the instruction sheet that comes with the extender.

Child Restraints

Older Children

Older children who have outgrown booster seats should wear the vehicle’s safety belts.

The manufacturer’s instructions that come with the booster seat, state the weight and height limitations for that booster.

1-29

Use a booster seat with a lap-shoulder belt until the child passes the below ﬁt test:

• Sit all the way back on the seat. Do the knees bend

at the seat edge? If yes, continue. If no, return to the booster seat.

• Buckle the lap-shoulder belt. Does the shoulder belt

rest on the shoulder? If yes, continue. If no, try using the rear safety belt comfort guide. See “Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides” under Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 1-22 for more information. If the shoulder belt still does not rest on the shoulder, then return to the booster seat.

• Does the lap belt ﬁt low and snug on the hips,

touching the thighs? If yes, continue. If no, return to the booster seat.

• Can proper safety belt ﬁt be maintained for length of

trip? If yes, continue. If no, return to the booster seat.

If you have the choice, a child should sit in a position with a lap-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide.

Q: What is the proper way to wear safety belts? A: An older child should wear a lap-shoulder belt

and get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide. The shoulder belt should not cross the face or neck. The lap belt should ﬁt snugly below the hips, just touching the top of the thighs. This applies belt force to the child’s pelvic bones in a crash. It should never be worn over the abdomen, which could cause severe or even fatal internal injuries in a crash.

Also see “Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides” under Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 1-22.

According to accident statistics, children and infants are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating positions.

In a crash, children who are not buckled up can strike other people who are buckled up, or can be thrown out of the vehicle. Older children need to use safety belts properly.

1-30

{CAUTION:

Never do this. Here two children are wearing the same belt.

The belt cannot properly spread the impact forces. In a crash, the two children can be crushed together and seriously injured. A belt must be used by only one person at a time.

1-31

{CAUTION:

Never do this. Here a child is sitting in a seat that has a

lap-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part is behind the child. In a crash, the child would not be restrained by the shoulder belt. The child might slide under the lap belt. The belt force would then be applied right on the abdomen. That could cause serious or fatal injuries. The child could also move too far forward increasing the chance of head and neck injury. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest.

1-32

Infants and Young Children

Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! This includes infants and all other children. Neither the distance traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes the need, for everyone, to use safety restraints. In fact, the law in every state in the United States and in every Canadian province says children up to some age must be restrained while in a vehicle.

{CAUTION:

Children can be seriously injured or strangled if a shoulder belt is wrapped around their neck and the safety belt continues to tighten. Never leave children unattended in a vehicle and never allow children to play with the safety belts.

Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles, they should have the protection provided by appropriate restraints. Children who are not restrained properly can strike other people, or can be thrown out of the vehicle. In addition, young children should not use the vehicle’s adult safety belts alone; they need to use a child restraint.

1-33

{CAUTION:

People should never hold an infant in their arms while riding in a vehicle. An infant does not weigh much — until a crash. During a crash an infant will become so heavy it is not possible to hold it. For example, in a crash at only 25 mph (40 km/h), a 12 lb (5.5 kg) infant will suddenly become a 240 lb (110 kg) force on a person’s arms. An infant should be secured in an appropriate restraint.

1-34

{CAUTION:

Children who are up against, or very close to, any airbag when it inﬂates can be seriously injured or killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder belts offer protection for adults and older children, but not for young children and infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety belt system nor its airbag system is designed for them. Young children and infants need the protection that a child restraint system can provide.

1-35

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.

{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 should always be secured in appropriate infant restraints.

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{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 should always be secured in appropriate child restraints.

Child Restraint Systems

A rear-facing infant seat (A) 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 (B) provides restraint for the child’s body with the harness.

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A booster seat (C-D) is a child restraint designed to improve the ﬁt of the vehicle’s safety belt system. A booster seat can also help a child to see out the window.

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 1-41 for more information. A child can be endangered in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle.

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When securing an add-on child restraint, refer to the instructions that come with the restraint which may be on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both, and to this manual. The child restraint instructions are important, so if they are not available, obtain a replacement copy from the manufacturer.

Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child restraint in your vehicle — even when no child is in it.

Securing the Child Within the Child Restraint

{CAUTION:

A child can be seriously injured or killed in a crash if the child is not properly secured in the child restraint. Because there are different systems, it is important to refer to the instructions that come with the restraint. Make sure the child is properly secured, following the instructions that came with that restraint.

Where to Put the Restraint

Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat.

We recommend that children and child restraints 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.

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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.

CAUTION: (Continued)

If you secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go. It is better to secure the child restraint in a rear seat.

See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-62 for additional information.

{CAUTION:

A child in a child restraint in the center front seat can be badly injured or killed by the frontal airbags if they inﬂate. Never secure a child restraint in the center front seat. It is always better to secure a child restraint in a rear seat.

Do not use child restraints in the center front seat position.

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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.

Wherever you install a child restraint, be sure to secure the child restraint properly.

Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)

The LATCH system holds a child restraint during driving or in a crash. This system is designed to make installation of a child restraint easier. The LATCH system uses anchors in the vehicle and attachments on the child restraint that are made for use with the LATCH system.

Make sure that a LATCH-compatible child restraint is properly installed using the anchors, or use the vehicle’s safety belts to secure the restraint, following the instructions that came with that restraint, and also the instructions in this manual. When installing a child restraint with a top tether, you must also use either the lower anchors or the safety belts to properly secure the child restraint. A child restraint must never be installed using only the top tether and anchor.

In order to use the LATCH system in your vehicle, you need a child restraint that has LATCH attachments. The child restraint manufacturer will provide you with instructions on how to use the child restraint and its attachments. The following explains how to attach a child restraint with these attachments in your vehicle.

Not all vehicle seating positions or child restraints have lower anchors and attachments or top tether anchors and attachments.

Lower Anchors

Lower anchors (A) are metal bars built into the vehicle. There are two lower anchors for each LATCH seating position that will accommodate a child restraint with lower attachments (B).

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Top Tether Anchor

A top tether (A, C) anchors the top of the child restraint to the vehicle. A top tether anchor is built into the vehicle. The top tether attachment (B) on the child restraint connects to the top tether anchor in the vehicle in order to reduce the forward movement and rotation of the child restraint during driving or in a crash.

Your child restraint may have a single tether (A) or a dual tether (C). Either will have a single attachment (B) to secure the top tether to the anchor.

Some child restraints that have top tethers 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. 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.

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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.

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.

To assist you in locating the top tether anchors, the top tether anchor symbol is located on the cover.

The top tether anchors are located under the covers on the rear seatback ﬁller panel. Flip open the 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.

Rear Seat

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Do not secure a child restraint in a position without a top tether anchor 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.

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 1-39 for additional information.

Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System

{CAUTION:

If a LATCH-type child restraint is not attached to anchors, the restraint will not be able to protect the child correctly. In a crash, the child could be seriously injured or killed. Make sure that a LATCH-type child restraint is properly installed using the anchors, or use the vehicle’s safety belts to secure the restraint, following the instructions that came with that restraint, and also the instructions in this manual.

{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

CAUTION: (Continued)

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CAUTION: (Continued)

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.

{CAUTION:

Children can be seriously injured or strangled if a shoulder belt is wrapped around their neck and the safety belt continues to tighten. Secure any unused safety belts behind the child restraint so children cannot reach them. Pull the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock, if your vehicle has one, after the child restraint has been installed. Be sure to follow the instructions of the child restraint manufacturer.

Notice: Contact between the child restraint LATCH attachment parts and the vehicle’s safety belt assembly may cause damage to these parts. Make sure when securing unused safety belts behind the child restraint that there is no contact between the child restraint LATCH attachment parts and the vehicle’s safety belt assembly.

Folding an empty rear seat with the safety belts secured may cause damage to the safety belt or the seat. When removing the child restraint, always remember to return the safety belts to their normal, stowed position before folding the rear seat.

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.

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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. Open the top tether anchor 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 headrest or 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 headrest or head restraint and you are using a dual tether, route the tether over the seatback.

If the position you are using has a ﬁxed headrest or head restraint and you are using a single tether, route the tether over the headrest or head restraint.

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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 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 1-41

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 1-41 for top tether anchor locations.

Do not secure a child restraint 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.

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If your child restraint does not have the LATCH system, you will be using the safety 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.

If you need to install more than one child restraint in the rear seat, be sure to read Where to Put the Restraint on page 1-39.

1. Put the child restraint on the seat.

2. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how.

3. 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.

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4. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock.

5. To tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint, pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten the lap portion of the belt, and feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor. If you are using a forward-facing child restraint, you may ﬁnd it helpful to use your knee to push down on the child restraint as you tighten the belt.

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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 1-41

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 Front Seat Position

{CAUTION:

Do not use child restraints in the center front seat position.

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 1-39.

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 3-34 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.

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{CAUTION:

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 1-41 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 1-41 for top tether anchor locations.

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 3-34.

2. Put the child restraint on the seat.

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3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how.

4. 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.

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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.

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.

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Airbag System

Your vehicle has the following airbags:

• A frontal airbag for the driver.

• A frontal airbag for the right front passenger

Your vehicle may also have the following airbags:

• A roof-rail airbag for the driver and the passenger

seated directly behind the driver.

• 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.

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. All airbags are designed to work with safety belts, but do not replace them.

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{CAUTION:

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.

Roof-rail 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.

{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.

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{CAUTION:

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 1-29 or Infants and Young Children on page 1-33.

There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument panel, 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 3-33 for more information.

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Where Are the Airbags?

The driver’s frontal airbag is in the middle of the steering wheel.

The right front passenger’s airbag is in the instrument panel on the passenger’s side.

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If your vehicle has roof-rail airbags for the driver, right front passenger, and second row outboard passengers, they are in the ceiling above the side windows.

{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

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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.

Your vehicle may or may not have roof-rail airbags. See Airbag System on page 1-54. Roof-rail airbags are intended to inﬂate in moderate to severe side crashes. 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, rollovers, or rear impacts. A roof-rail airbag is intended to deploy on the side of the vehicle that is struck.

In any particular crash, no one can say whether an airbag should have inﬂated simply because of the damage to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were. For frontal airbags, inﬂation is determined by 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.

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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.

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.

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{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.

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.

• 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.

• Your vehicle has a crash sensing and diagnostic

module which records information after a crash. See Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy on page 7-17 and Event Data Recorders on page 7-18.

• 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.

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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 on the instrument panel when you start your vehicle.

The words ON and OFF will be visible during the system check.

If you are using remote start to start your vehicle from a distance, if equipped, you may not see the system check. When the system check is complete, either the word ON or the word OFF will be visible. See Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-34.

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. 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.

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{CAUTION:

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.

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.

• 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 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 3-34.

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 1-50.

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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.

1-64

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.

{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 3-33 for more on this, including important safety information.

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 1-67 for more information about modiﬁcations that can affect how the system operates.

1-65

The passenger sensing system may suppress the airbag deployment when liquid soaks into the seat. If this happens, the off indicator in the passenger airbag status indicator and the airbag readiness light on the instrument panel will be lit. The system should resume normal operation after the seat is allowed to dry. If the system operates incorrectly after the seat has dried, have your dealer/retailer check the system.

{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 7-16.

{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.

1-66

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, front sensors, 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 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.

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.

1-67

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 3-32 for more information.

Keep safety belts clean and dry. See Care of Safety Belts on page 5-102.

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 3-33 for more information.

Notice: If an airbag covering is damaged, opened, 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.

1-68

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 3-33.

1-69

✍ NOTES

1-70

Keys ...............................................................2-3

Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System ................2-4

Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System

Operation ...................................................2-5

Remote Vehicle Start ......................................2-8

Doors and Locks ............................................2-11

Door Locks ..................................................2-11

Power Door Locks ........................................2-11

Delayed Locking ...........................................2-12

Automatic Door Lock .....................................2-12

Programmable Automatic Door Unlock .............2-12

Rear Door Security Locks ..............................2-12

Lockout Protection ........................................2-13

Trunk ..........................................................2-14

Windows ........................................................2-17

Power Windows ............................................2-18

Sun Visors ...................................................2-19

Theft-Deterrent Systems ..................................2-20

Content Theft-Deterrent .................................2-20

PASS-Key

III ..............................................2-22

PASS-Key®III Operation ...............................2-22

Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ................2-24

New Vehicle Break-In ....................................2-24

Ignition Positions ..........................................2-24

Retained Accessory Power (RAP) ...................2-25

Starting the Engine .......................................2-26

Engine Coolant Heater ..................................2-27

Active Fuel Management™ .............................2-28

Automatic Transmission Operation ...................2-29

Parking Brake ..............................................2-32

Shifting Into PARK (P) ...................................2-33

Shifting Out of PARK (P) ...............................2-35

Parking Over Things That Burn .......................2-36

Engine Exhaust ............................................2-37

Running the Vehicle While Parked ..................2-37

Mirrors ...........................................................2-38

Manual Rearview Mirror .................................2-38

Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar

..............2-38

Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror ................2-39

Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror

with OnStar

............................................2-39

Outside Power Mirrors ...................................2-40

Outside Power Heated Mirrors ........................2-40

Outside Convex Mirror ...................................2-40

Section 2 Features and Controls

2-1

Object Detection Systems ...............................2-41

Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA) ............2-41

OnStar

System .............................................2-43

Universal Home Remote System ......................2-47

Universal Home Remote System .....................2-47

Universal Home Remote System Operation ......2-48

Storage Areas ................................................2-52

Glove Box ...................................................2-52

Cupholder(s) ................................................2-52

Center Console Storage .................................2-53

Convenience Net ..........................................2-54

Sunroof .........................................................2-54

Section 2 Features and Controls

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.

The key can be used for the ignition and all locks. The key has a bar-coded key tag that the dealer/retailer

or qualiﬁed locksmith can use to make new keys. Store this information in a safe place, not in your vehicle.

The vehicle has the PASS-Key

III vehicle theft system. The key has a transponder in the key head that matches a decoder in the vehicle’s instrument panel. The key will have PK3 stamped on it. If a replacement key or an additional key is needed, it must be purchased from your dealer/retailer or certiﬁed locksmith.

2-3

Any new PASS-Key®III key must be programmed before it will start the vehicle. See PASS-Key®III Operation on page 2-22 for more information on programming a new key.

Notice: If you ever lock your keys in your vehicle, you may have to damage the vehicle to get in. Be sure you have spare keys.

In an emergency, contact Roadside Assistance. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-8 for more information.

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:

• Check the distance. You may be too far from your

vehicle. You may need to stand closer during rainy or snowy weather.

• 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.

• 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

Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation

The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter functions will work up to 195 feet (60 m) away, however, the operating range may be less while the vehicle is running.

There are other conditions which can affect the performance of the transmitter. See Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System on page 2-4.

/(Remote Vehicle Start): If your vehicle has this

feature, press

/ to start the engine from outside the

vehicle using the RKE transmitter. See Remote Vehicle Start on page 2-8 for additional information.

Q(Lock): Press Q to lock all the doors. If enabled

through the Driver Information Center (DIC), the parking lamps may ﬂash once to indicate locking has occurred,

or the horn may chirp when

Q is pressed again

within ﬁve seconds from the previous press of the lock button. See “FOB LOCK FEEDBACK” under DIC Vehicle Personalization on page 3-76 for additional information. If the vehicle has the content theft-deterrent

system, pressing

Q may also arm it. See Content

Theft-Deterrent on page 2-20.

" (Unlock): Press " to unlock the driver’s door. If " is

pressed again within ﬁve seconds, all remaining doors will unlock. The interior lamps will come on and stay on for 20 seconds or until the ignition is turned on. If enabled through the DIC, the parking lamps can be programmed to come on for a set amount of time when the vehicle is unlocked using the RKE transmitter. See “EXT (Exterior) LIGHT DELAY” under DIC Vehicle Personalization on page 3-76. If the vehicle has

the content theft-deterrent system, pressing

" on the

RKE transmitter may disarm it. See Content Theft-Deterrent on page 2-20.

With Remote Start

Shown, Without Remote

Start Similar

2-5

V(Remote Trunk Release): Press and hold V for

about one second to release the trunk lid. The transmission must be in PARK (P) for this feature to operate.

L(Panic Alarm): Press L to activate the alarm. The

headlamps will ﬂash and the horn will sound repeatedly for two minutes. The alarm will turn off when the

ignition is moved to ON/RUN or

L is pressed again.

The ignition must be in LOCK/OFF or ACC/ACCESSORY for the alarm to work.

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. All transmitters need to be re-coded to match the new transmitter. The lost transmitter will no longer work after the new transmitters are re-coded. The vehicle can have a maximum of four transmitters matched to it.

2-6

Battery Replacement

Replace the battery if the KEY FOB BATT LOW message displays in the DIC. See “KEY FOB BATTERY LOW” under DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-58 for additional information.

Notice: When replacing the battery, use care not to touch any of the circuitry. Static from your body transferred to these surfaces may damage the transmitter.

To replace the battery in the RKE transmitter:

1. Separate the halves of the transmitter with a ﬂat, thin object inserted into the notch on the side.

2. Remove the old battery. Do not use a metal object.

3. Insert the new battery, positive side facing up. Replace with a CR2032 or equivalent battery.

4. Put the transmitter back together tightly.

2-7

Remote Vehicle Start

Your vehicle may have a remote starting feature that allows you to start the engine from outside the vehicle. It may also start the vehicle’s heating or air conditioning systems and rear window defogger. When the remote start system is active and the vehicle has an automatic climate control system, it will automatically regulate the inside temperature. Normal operation of these systems will return after the ignition key is turned to ON/RUN.

Laws in some communities may restrict the use of remote starters. For example, some laws may require a person using remote start to have the vehicle in view when doing so. Check local regulations for any requirements on remote starting of vehicles.

Do not use the remote start feature if your vehicle is low on fuel. Your vehicle may run out of fuel.

There are other conditions which can affect the performance of the transmitter, see Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System on page 2-4 for additional information.

/(Remote Start): This button will be on the RKE

transmitter if you have remote start. To start the vehicle using the remote start feature:

1. Aim the transmitter at the vehicle.

2. Press and release the transmitter’s lock button, then immediately press and hold the transmitter’s remote start button for about four seconds or until the vehicle’s turn signal lamps ﬂash. The doors will lock.

When the vehicle starts, the parking lamps turn on and remain on while the engine is running.

The remote start feature provides two separate starts per ignition cycle, each with 10 minutes of engine running time, or one start with a time extension. The ﬁrst start must expire or be canceled to get two separate 10 minute starts.

If it is the ﬁrst remote start since the vehicle has been driven, repeat the previous steps, while the engine is still running, to extend the engine running time by 10 minutes from the time you repeat the steps for remote starting. The remote start running time can be extended one time and only after the ﬁrst remote start.

2-8

After entering the vehicle during a remote start, insert and turn the key to ON/RUN to drive the vehicle.

The engine will shut off automatically after 10 minutes, unless a time extension has been done or the vehicle’s key is inserted into the ignition switch and turned to ON/RUN.

To manually shut off a remote start, do any of the following.

• Aim the RKE transmitter at the vehicle and press

and release the remote start button.

• Turn on the hazard warning ﬂashers.

• Turn the ignition switch out of LOCK/OFF position

and then back to LOCK/OFF.

The parking lamps turn off to indicate the engine is off.

After the engine has been started two times, or one time with a time extension, the vehicle’s ignition must be turned to ON/RUN using the key before the remote start procedure can be used again. See Ignition Positions on page 2-24 for information regarding the ignition positions on your vehicle.

The remote vehicle start feature will not operate if any of the follow occur:

• The remote start system is disabled through the DIC.

• The vehicle’s key is in the ignition.

• A door on the vehicle is open.

• The vehicle’s hood is open.

• The hazard warning ﬂashers are on.

• The check engine light is on. See Malfunction

Indicator Lamp on page 3-42

2-9

• The engine coolant temperature is too high.

• The oil pressure is low.

• Two remote vehicle starts, or one start with a time

extension, have already been provided for that ignition cycle.

If a remote start is attempted and is unsuccessful, the Driver Information Center (DIC) will display REMOTE START DISABLED.

Vehicles that have the remote start feature are shipped from the factory with the remote vehicle start system enabled. The system may be enabled or disabled through the DIC. See “REMOTE START” under DIC Vehicle Personalization on page 3-76 for additional

information. If your vehicle does not have the DIC feature, and remote vehicle start was installed at the dealer/retailer, you will need to have the dealer/retailer enable or disable the system.

Remote Start Ready

If your vehicle does not have the remote vehicle start feature, it may have the remote start ready feature. This feature allows your dealer/retailer to add the manufacturer’s remote vehicle start feature.

See your dealer/retailer if you would like to add the manufacturer’s remote vehicle start feature to your vehicle.

2-10

Doors and Locks

Door Locks

{CAUTION:

Unlocked doors can be dangerous.

• 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.

• 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.

• Outsiders can easily enter through an

unlocked door when you slow down or stop your vehicle. Locking your doors can help prevent this from happening.

There are several ways to lock and unlock the vehicle. From the outside, turn the key in the driver’s door

lock cylinder brieﬂy counterclockwise to unlock the driver’s door. Turn and hold it to unlock all the doors. You can also use the remote keyless entry transmitter. From the inside use the manual or power door locks.

Power Door Locks

To lock or unlock all doors from inside the vehicle, use the power door lock switch located on either front door armrest.

Driver’s side shown

2-11

Press the bottom of the switch to lock all doors. Press the top of the switch to unlock all doors.

If the vehicle has the content theft-deterrent system, the vehicle is programmed to arm the system with the power door lock switch. If your vehicle has a Driver Information Center (DIC) this feature can be turned off. See “Content Theft” under DIC Vehicle Personalization on page 3-76.

Delayed Locking

Your vehicle may have this feature. It delays the locking of the vehicle’s doors for ﬁve seconds after the last door is closed. Two chimes will sound when the power door lock switch or the LOCK button on the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter is pressed when a door is open. If your vehicle has a Driver Information Center (DIC), a Delayed Locking warning will be displayed.

The doors can be locked immediately by pressing the power door lock switch or the LOCK button on the transmitter a second time.

The delayed locking feature will not activate when the ignition is in ON/RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY.

You can program this feature on or off through the Driver Information Center (DIC), if equipped. See “Delayed Locking” under DIC Vehicle Personalization on page 3-76.

Automatic Door Lock

The vehicle’s doors are programmed to lock when the shift lever is moved into a forward gear.

If someone needs to get in or out of the vehicle after the doors have been locked, place the shift lever into PARK (P). You may also unlock all doors using the power door lock switch or unlock one door using the inside manual door lock.

The automatic door lock feature cannot be disabled.

Programmable Automatic Door Unlock

The vehicle’s doors are programmed from the factory to unlock when the shift lever is moved into PARK (P).

On vehicles with a Driver Information Center (DIC), there are different programming options for unlocking the doors automatically. See DIC Vehicle Personalization on page 3-76.

Rear Door Security Locks

Your vehicle has rear door security locks, that prevent passengers from opening the rear doors from the inside.

2-12

The rear door security locks are located on the inside edge of each rear door. You must open the rear doors to access them.

To assist you in ﬁnding the lock, your vehicle will have one of the following:

To use these locks, do the following:

1. Insert the key into the security lock slot and turn it so the slot is in the horizontal position.

2. Close the door.

3. Do the same for the other rear door.

When you want to open a rear door when the security lock is on, do the following:

1. Unlock the door using the remote keyless entry transmitter, if the vehicle has one, the power door lock switch, or by lifting the rear door manual lock.

2. Open the door from the outside.

To cancel the rear door security lock, do the following:

1. Unlock the door and open it from the outside.

2. Insert the key into the security lock slot and turn it so the slot is in the vertical position.

3. Do the same for the other rear door.

Lockout Protection

The lockout protection feature makes it more difficult to lock the key in the vehicle. If the driver’s door is open while the key is in the ignition, the door cannot be locked with the power door lock switch.

This feature cannot guarantee that you will never be locked out of the vehicle. If the key is not left in the ignition, or, if the manual door lock is used, the key could still be locked inside the vehicle. Always remember to take the key with you.

2-13

Trunk

{CAUTION:

It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk lid 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 trunk lid open or if electrical wiring or other cable connections must pass through the seal between the body and the trunk lid:

• Make sure all other windows are shut.

• Turn the fan on your heating or cooling

system to its highest speed and select the control setting that will force outside air into your vehicle. See Climate Control System.

• If you have air outlets on or under the

instrument panel, open them all the way.

See Engine Exhaust on page 2-37.

Opening the Trunk

To open the trunk from the outside, use the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter. See Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation on page 2-5 for more information.

The ignition must be off, or the transmission must be in PARK (P) to open the trunk.

2-14

Remote Trunk Release

This feature is used to unlock the trunk from inside the vehicle using the power door lock switch.

Press and hold the top of the driver’s power door lock switch to unlock the trunk.

The vehicle must be in PARK (P) to unlock the trunk.

Emergency Trunk Release Handle

Notice: Do not use the emergency trunk release handle as a tie-down or anchor point when securing items in the trunk as it could damage the handle. The emergency trunk release handle is only intended to aid a person trapped in a latched trunk, enabling them to open the trunk from the inside.

There is a glow-in-the-dark emergency trunk release handle located on the trunk latch of the trunk lid. This handle will glow following exposure to light. If ever needed, pull the emergency trunk release handle to open the trunk from the inside.

2-15

Trunk Lid Pull Down Handle and Tie-Down Features

Your vehicle has a trunk lid pull down handle (A) located on the inside of the trunk lid on the driver’s side of the vehicle. Use the handle to pull down the trunk lid when closing it.

On vehicles with a tie-down feature (B), it is located inside the trunk lid on the passenger’s side of the vehicle and can be used to secure the trunk lid when large items are stored in the trunk.

2-16

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.

2-17

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.

When there are children in the rear seat use the window lockout button to prevent unintentional operation of the windows.

The switches on the driver’s door armrest are used to control each of the windows. The power window switches work while the ignition is in ON/RUN, ACC/ACCESSORY, or while Retained Accessory Power (RAP) is active. See Retained Accessory Power (RAP) on page 2-25. Each passenger door has its own window switch.

To lower the window, press and hold the front of the switch to the ﬁrst position until the window is at the desired level. To raise the window, pull up and hold the front of the switch.

2-18

Express-Down Window

The driver’s window switch has an express-down feature labeled AUTO. This lets you lower the window completely without holding the switch. Press the front of the switch to the second position and release.

To stop the window while it is lowering, brieﬂy pull up on the switch.

Window Lockout

(Window Lockout): The driver’s window switches

also include a lockout switch. Press the right side of the switch to prevent the rear passengers from using their window switches. The driver can still control all the windows and the front passenger can control their own window with the lockout on. Press the left side of the switch to return to normal window operation. A red bar on the right side of the switch indicates that the lockout is off.

Sun Visors

To block out glare, swing down the sun visors. They can be detached from the center retainer and slid along the rod to cover different areas of the front window and turned to cover the side windows.

Visor Vanity Mirror

Swing down the sun visors and lift the cover to expose the vanity mirror. Do not drive with the cover lifted due to possible glare impeding other drivers behind or to the side of the vehicle.

2-19

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 may have a content theft-deterrent alarm system.

Your vehicle may have a red light located on top of the instrument panel, toward the center of the vehicle and near the windshield, that will ﬂash slowly when the system is armed.

The theft-deterrent alarm system needs to be activated through the Driver Information Center (DIC). See “CONTENT THEFT” under “Customization Menu Items” in DIC Vehicle Personalization on page 3-76. While armed, the doors will not unlock with the power door lock switch. The remote alarm will sound if someone tampers with the trunk or enters the vehicle without using the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter or key to unlock the doors. The horn will sound and the headlamps will ﬂash for up to two minutes. The system will also cut off the fuel supply, preventing the vehicle from being driven.

Arming with the Power Lock Switch

The vehicle’s content theft-deterrent alarm system can be activated when the key is removed from the ignition and the power door lock switch of either the driver’s or front passenger’s door is used to lock the vehicle. The door needs to be in the open position when pressing the power door lock switch. The system will not arm if the door is closed when the power door lock switch is pressed. This system can be activated through the Driver Information Center (DIC). See “CONTENT THEFT” under “Customization Menu Items” in DIC Vehicle Personalization on page 3-76.

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When the doors are locked using the power door lock switch of either front door, the red light, if your vehicle has one, will start ﬂashing at a fast rate, indicating that the system is arming. After all the doors are locked there will be a time delay and then the red light, if your vehicle has one, will begin to ﬂash at a very slow rate, indicating the system is armed.

Arming with the RKE Transmitter

The alarm system will arm when the RKE transmitter is used to lock the doors after the key is removed from the ignition. The red light, if your vehicle has one, will come on to indicate that the system is arming. After all doors are closed and locked, and after a time delay, the red light, if your vehicle has one, will begin ﬂashing at a very slow rate to show the system is armed.

Arming Conﬁrmation

Your vehicle may have a red light located on top of the instrument panel, towards the center of the vehicle and near the windshield, that will ﬂash slowly to conﬁrm when the system is armed.

Disarming with the RKE Transmitter

The alarm system will disarm when the RKE transmitter is used to unlock the doors. The red light, if your vehicle has one, will go out to show that the system is disarmed.

Disarming with Your Key

The alarm system will disarm when the key is used to unlock the doors. The red light, if your vehicle has one, will stop ﬂashing when the system is disarmed. If you would like the key to disarm the alarm system, see “CONTENT THEFT” under DIC Vehicle Personalization on page 3-76 for more information.

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PASS-Key®III

Your 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

Your vehicle is equipped with PASS-Key®III (Personalized Automotive Security System) theft-deterrent system. PASS-Key

III is a passive

theft-deterrent system. The system is automatically armed when the key is

removed from the ignition. 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. PASS-Key III

uses a transponder in the ignition

key that matches a decoder in the vehicle. When the PASS-Key

III system senses that the wrong key has been inserted into the ignition, it shuts down the vehicle’s starter and fuel systems. The starter will not work and fuel will stop ﬂowing to the engine. If someone tries to start the vehicle again with the wrong key, the vehicle will not start. Anyone using a trial-and-error method to start the vehicle will be discouraged to do so because of the high number of electrical key codes.

When trying to start the vehicle, if the engine does not start and the STARTING DISABLED warning message on the Driver Information Center (DIC) comes on, there may be a problem with your theft-deterrent system. Turn the ignition off and try again.

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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 5-109. If the engine still does not start with the other key, the vehicle needs service. If the vehicle does start, the ﬁrst key may be faulty. See your dealer/retailer who can service the PASS-Key

III to have a new key made. In an emergency, contact Roadside Assistance. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-8 for more information.

It is possible for the PASS-Key

III decoder to accept the transponder value of a new or replacement key. Up to 10 keys may be programmed for the vehicle. The following procedure is for programming additional keys only. If all the programmed keys are lost or do not operate, see your dealer/retailer or a locksmith who can service PASS-Key

III to have keys made and

programmed to the system. To program the new key do the following:

1. Verify that the new key has PK3 stamped on it.

2. Insert the master 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 key to be programmed and turn it to ON/RUN within ﬁve seconds of removing the original key.

5. The SERVICE THEFT SYSTEM warning message on the DIC will turn off, once the key has been programmed. It may not be apparent that the SERVICE THEFT SYSTEM warning message went on due to how quickly the key is programmed.

6. Repeat Steps 1 through 5 if additional keys are to be programmed.

If the SERVICE THEFT SYSTEM warning message appears and stays on the DIC while the vehicle is being driven, the engine will be able to be restarted if it is turned off. Your PASS-Key

III system, however, is not working properly and must be serviced by your dealer/retailer. The vehicle is not protected by the PASS-Key

III system

at this time. If the PASS-Key

III key is lost or stolen, see your dealer/retailer or a locksmith who can service PASS-Key

III to have a new key made.

Do not leave the key or device that disarms or deactivates the theft deterrent system in the vehicle.

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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:

• 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.

• 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.

• Do not tow a trailer during break-in. See Towing

a Trailer on page 4-28 for the trailer towing capabilities of your vehicle and more information.

Following break-in, engine speed and load can be gradually increased.

Ignition Positions

With the ignition key in the ignition, the key can be turned to four different positions.

In order 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 in all the way. If none of this works, then your vehicle needs service.

A (LOCK/OFF): This is the only position in which the

ignition key can be inserted or removed. This position locks the ignition and transmission. It is a theft-deterrent feature.

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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 position lets the radio and windshield wipers operate while the engine is off. To use ACC/ACCESSORY, turn the key clockwise.

C (ON/RUN): This position is where the key returns to after the vehicle is started. This position displays some of the warning and indicator lights.

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.

D (START): This position starts the engine. A warning chime will sound and the Driver Information

Center (DIC) will display DRIVER’S DOOR AJAR when the driver’s door is opened if the ignition is in LOCK/OFF, ACC/ACCESSORY and the key is in the ignition. See DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-58 for more information.

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.

Retained Accessory Power (RAP)

These vehicle accessories can be used for up to 10 minutes after the engine is turned off:

• Audio System

• Power Windows

Power to these accessories continues to work for 10 minutes or until a door is opened.

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Starting the Engine

Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). Your 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.

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 the ACC/ACCESSORY or LOCK/OFF position.

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Buick Automobile, 2008 LaCrosse User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual