Buick LUCERNE 2008 Owner Manual

Page 1

2008 Buick Lucerne Owner Manual M

Seats and Restraint Systems

Front Seats Rear Seats Safety Belts Child Restraints Airbag System Restraint System Check

Features and Controls

Keys Doors and Locks Windows Theft-Deterrent Systems Starting and Operating Your Vehicle Mirrors Object Detection Systems

OnStar Universal Home Remote System Storage Areas Sunroof

Instrument Panel

Instrument Panel Overview Climate Controls Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators Driver Information Center (DIC) Audio System(s)

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

.............................................. 1-11

............................................. 1-12

....................................... 1-33

......................................... 1-58

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

...................................... 2-10

................................................. 2-15

.................................................... 2-34

System

.................................................. 2-58

...................................... 2-46

......................................... 2-56

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

...................................... 3-21

....................................... 3-75

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

............................ 1-74

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

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

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

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

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

................ 2-49

........ 3-32

.................. 3-48

Driving Your Vehicle

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle Towing

Service and Appearance Care

Service Fuel Checking Things Under the Hood Headlamp Aiming Bulb Replacement Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement Tires Appearance Care Vehicle Identiﬁcation Electrical System Capacities and Speciﬁcations

Maintenance Schedule

Customer Assistance Information

Customer Assistance and Information Reporting Safety Defects Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy

Index

................................................... 4-25

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

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

...................................................... 5-60

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

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

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

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

..................................... 5-53

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

..................................... 5-94

............................... 5-104

.................................... 5-105

................... 5-113

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

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

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

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

..... 4-2

......... 5-59

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

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

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GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, BUICK, the BUICK Emblem, and the name LUCERNE 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 further 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. 15862328 A First Printing

Page 3

Using this Manual

Safety Warnings and Symbols

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.

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

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Vehicle Damage Warnings

Vehicle Symbols

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.

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.

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Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems

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

Manual Seats ................................................1-2

Power Seats ..................................................1-3

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

Heated Seats .................................................1-4

Heated and Cooled Seats ................................1-5

Memory Seat and Mirrors ................................1-6

Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-7

Head Restraints ............................................1-10

Center Seat .................................................1-11

Rear Seats .....................................................1-11

Rear Seat Pass-Through Door ........................1-11

Safety Belts ...................................................1-12

Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................1-12

How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-17

Lap-Shoulder Belt .........................................1-25

Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-31

Lap Belt ......................................................1-31

Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-32

Child Restraints .............................................1-33

Older Children ..............................................1-33

Infants and Young Children ............................1-36

Child Restraint Systems .................................1-40

Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-42

Lower Anchors and Tethers for

Children (LATCH) ......................................1-43

Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat

Position ...................................................1-50

Securing a Child Restraint in the Center Front

Seat Position ............................................1-53

Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front

Seat Position ............................................1-54

Airbag System ...............................................1-58

Where Are the Airbags? ................................1-60

When Should an Airbag Inﬂate? .....................1-63

What Makes an Airbag Inﬂate? .......................1-65

How Does an Airbag Restrain?

What Will You See After an Airbag Inﬂates? .....1-66

Passenger Sensing System ............................1-67

Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...........1-72

Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped

Vehicle ....................................................1-72

Restraint System Check ..................................1-74

Checking the Restraint Systems ......................1-74

Replacing Restraint System Parts

After a Crash ............................................1-75

.......................1-65

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Front Seats

Manual Seats

{CAUTION:

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

To move a manual seat forward or rearward:

1. Lift the bar to unlock the seat.

2. Slide the seat to the desired position and release the bar.

Try to move the seat with your body to be sure the seat is locked in place.

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Power Seats

Power Lumbar

To adjust a power 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.

On vehicles with power reclining seatbacks, see “Power Reclining Seatbacks” under Reclining Seatbacks on page 1-7.

If your vehicle has this feature, the power lumbar control is located on the outboard side of the front seats.

Press the lumbar control forward to increase support and rearward to decrease support in the lower seatback. Press the control up or down to raise or lower the support mechanism.

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.

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Heated Seats

Your vehicle may have heated front seats. To operate the heated seats, the ignition must be on.

The buttons are located on the front doors.

Driver’s Side Buttons

shown

J(Heated Seat Cushion and Seatback): Press this

button to turn on the heated seat cushion and seatback.

I(Heated Seatback): Press this button to turn on the

heated seatback. Press the button to turn on the desired feature. A light

on that button will display to show which feature is on.

There are three temperature settings for each feature. A column of three lights next to the buttons will display which setting the feature is in: high, medium or low. Three lights indicate the highest setting, two lights indicate medium and one light indicates the lowest setting.

When you press a button, the feature will turn on at the highest setting. Each time you press the button, the feature will decrease one temperature setting.

To turn the feature off, keep pressing the button until the display lights turn off.

If your vehicle has remote vehicle start and is started using the remote keyless entry transmitter, the front heated seats will be turned on to the high setting if it is cold outside. See “Remote Vehicle Start” under

Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation on page 2-5. When the key is inserted into the ignition and

the ignition is turned on, the heated seat feature will turn off. To turn the heated seat feature back on, press the desired button.

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Heated and Cooled Seats

The front seats may have the heated and cooled seat feature. To heat or cool the seats, the ignition must be on.

The buttons are located on the front doors.

Driver’s Side Buttons

shown

J(Heated Seat Cushion and Seatback): Press this

button to heat the seat cushion and seatback.

I(Heated Seatback): Press this button to heat the

seatback.

H(Cooled Seat Cushion and Seatback): Press this

button to cool the seat cushion and seatback.

Press each button to turn on the desired feature. A light on that button will display indicating which feature is on.

When you press a button, the feature will turn on at the highest setting. Each time you press the button, the feature will decrease one temperature setting.

To turn the feature off, keep pressing the button until the display lights turn off.

Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation on page 2-5. When the key is inserted into the ignition and

the ignition is turned on, the heated seat feature will turn off. To turn the heated seat feature back on, press the desired button.

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Memory Seat and Mirrors

On vehicles with the memory feature the buttons are located on the driver’s door.

1: Saves the seating position for driver 1. 2: Saves the seating position for driver 2.

B: Recalls the easy exit position.

For more programming information, see DIC Vehicle Customization on page 3-66.

To save your positions in memory:

1. Adjust the driver’s seat, including the seatback recliner and lumbar, and both outside mirrors to your preferred position.

2. Press and hold button 1 until two beeps sound to let you know that the position has been stored.

3. Repeat the procedure for a second driver using button 2.

The vehicle must be in PARK (P) to recall your memory positions.

Press and release either button to recall the stored setting. Each time a memory button is pressed, a single beep sounds.

If you use the remote keyless entry transmitter to enter your vehicle and the remote recall memory feature is on, automatic seat and mirror movement occurs.

To stop recall movement of the memory feature, press one of the power seat controls, memory buttons, or power mirror buttons.

If something has blocked the driver’s seat while recalling a memory position, the driver’s seat recall may stop working. If this happens, press the control for the area that is not recalling for two seconds, after the obstruction is removed. Try recalling the memory position again by pressing the appropriate memory button. If the memory position is still not recalling, see your dealer/retailer for service.

Easy Exit Seat

: With the vehicle in PARK (P), press to recall the

exit position. You will hear a single beep and the driver’s seat

moves back.

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Reclining Seatbacks

Manual Reclining Seatbacks

{CAUTION:

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

{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.

Passenger’s Seat shown

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.

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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.

Power Reclining Seatbacks

Driver’s Seat with Power Seat Control, Power

Recline, and Power Lumbar shown

If the seats have power reclining seatbacks, the controls used to operate them are located on the outboard side of the seats.

• Tilt the top of the control rearward to recline the

seatback.

• Tilt the top of the control forward to raise the

seatback.

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{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. 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 the seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving.

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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.

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Center Seat

Your vehicle may have a front center seat. This seat can be converted to a storage area by lowering the seatback. See Center Flex Storage Unit on page 2-57.

Rear Seats

Rear Seat Pass-Through Door

Your vehicle has a pass-through door that provides access to the trunk from the rear seats. See “Rear Seat Pass-Through Door” under Trunk on page 2-13.

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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 3-34.

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 inbetween.Inmanyofthem,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!

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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.

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

1-14

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

Page 19

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.

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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.

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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 1-33 or Infants and Young Children on page 1-36. 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.

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Q: What is wrong with this?

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

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.

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Q: What is wrong with this?

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Lap-Shoulder Belt

All seating positions in your vehicle have a lap-shoulder except for the center front passenger position (if equipped), which has a lap belt. See Lap Belt on page 1-31 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.

Engaging the child restraint locking feature may affect the passenger sensing system. See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-67.

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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 1-32.

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

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.

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To unlatch the belt, 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 so that it is stored on the safety belt stitching, near the guide loop.

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.

Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster

Your vehicle has shoulder belt height adjusters 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. Incorrect positioning of the shoulder belt can reduce the effectiveness of the safety belt.

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

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

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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 and near frontal crash if the threshold conditions for pretensioner activation are met. And, if your vehicle has side impact airbags, safety belt pretensioners can help tighten the safety belts in a side crash.

Pretensioners work only once. If they activate in a crash, you will need to get new ones, and probably other new parts for your safety belt system. See Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash on page 1-75.

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 outside passenger position in the rear seat. Here is how to install a comfort guide to the safety belt:

1. Remove the guide from its storage pocket on the rear side of the seatback.

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

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

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{CAUTION:

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

4. Buckle, position, and release the safety belt as described earlier 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. Slide the guide into its storage pocket on the side of the seatback.

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Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy

Lap Belt

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.

This part is only for the lap belt. To learn how to wear a lap-shoulder belt, see Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 1-25.

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.

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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 1-32.

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.

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.

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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. 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 1-25 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.

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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 1-25.

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.

{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.

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{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.

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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.

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{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.

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{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.

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.

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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.

{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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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

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 1-43 for more information. A child can be endangered in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle.

{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.

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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.

A label on your sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.

{CAUTION:

A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger’s airbag inﬂates. This is because the back of the rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the inﬂating airbag.

Even though the passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag if the system detects a rear-facing child restraint, no system is fail-safe, and no one can guarantee that an airbag will not deploy under some unusual circumstance, even though it is turned off. We recommend that rear-facing child restraints be secured in a rear seat, even if the airbag is off.

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

See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-67 for additional information.

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{CAUTION:

Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)

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.

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.

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.

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Lower Anchors

Top Tether Anchor

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

1-44

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.

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Some child restraints that have a top tether are designed for use with or without the top tether being attached. Others require the top tether always to be attached. In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be attached. 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.

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.

Lower Anchor and Top Tether Anchor Locations

i (Top Tether Anchor):

Seating positions with top tether anchors.

j (Lower Anchor):

Seating positions with two lower anchors.

Rear Seat

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

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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.

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 1-42 for additional information.

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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.

Each top tether anchor and lower anchor in the vehicle is designed to hold only one child restraint. Attaching more than one child restraint to a single anchor could cause the anchor or attachment to come loose or even break during a crash. A child or others could be injured if this happens. To help prevent injury to people and damage to your vehicle, attach only one child restraint per anchor.

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{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. Flip 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 1-43 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 1-43 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.

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In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be attached.

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 1-42.

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.

1-52

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 1-43 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.

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Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position

{CAUTION:

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 1-42.

In addition, your vehicle has a passenger sensing system which is designed to turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag under certain conditions. See Passenger

Sensing System on page 1-67 and Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-36 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.

1-54

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 1-67 for additional information.

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If your child restraint has the LATCH system, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-43 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 1-43 for top tether anchor locations.

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 and seat-mounted side impact 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 3-36.

2. Put the child restraint on the seat.

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

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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.

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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 airbags are 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.

• A seat-mounted side impact airbag for the driver.

• A seat-mounted side impact airbag for the right front

passenger.

• 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 seat-mounted side impact airbags, the word AIRBAG will appear on the side of the seatback closest to the door.

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.

Seat-mounted side impact airbags and 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.

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 seat-mounted side impact airbags and/or 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 1-33 or Infants and Young Children on page 1-36.

There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument panel cluster, which shows the airbag symbol.

The system checks the airbag electrical system for malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-35 for more information.

Where Are the Airbags?

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

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

Driver Side shown, Passenger Side similar

The seat-mounted side impact airbags for the driver and right front passenger are in the side of the seatbacks closest to the door.

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Driver Side shown, Passenger Side similar

The roof-rail airbags for the driver, right front passenger, and second row outboard passengers are in the ceiling above the side windows.

{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.

Do not use seat accessories that block the inﬂation path of a seat-mounted side impact airbag.

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.

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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. Your vehicle has a seat position sensor which enables

the sensing system to monitor the position of the right front passenger’s seat. The passenger seat position sensor and passenger safety belt buckle switch provide information that is used to determine if the airbags should deploy at a reduced level or at full deployment.

In addition, your vehicle has a dual-stage driver airbag. 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.

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Your vehicle also has a dual-depth passenger airbag that adjusts the restraint according to crash severity, seat location, and safety belt status using electronic frontal sensor(s) and other special sensors which enable the sensing system to monitor the position of the front passenger seat. The passenger airbag inﬂates to a reduced depth when the passenger seat is in a forward position. For more rearward front seating positions, the passenger airbag may inﬂate to an increased depth (a full deployment), based on safety belt status and the crash severity measured early in the event. (Always wear your safety belt, even with frontal airbags.)

Your vehicle has seat-mounted side impact and roof-rail airbags. See Airbag System on page 1-58. Seat-mounted side impact and roof-rail airbags are intended to inﬂate in moderate to severe side crashes. Seat-mounted side impact and 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.

Seat-mounted side impact and roof-rail airbags are not intended to inﬂate in frontal impacts, near-frontal impacts, rollovers, or rear impacts. A seat-mounted side impact airbag is intended to deploy on the side of the vehicle that is struck. Both roof-rail airbags will deploy when either side of the vehicle 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 seat-mounted side impact and roof-rail airbags, deployment is determined by the location and severity of the side impact.

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What Makes an Airbag Inﬂate?

How Does an Airbag Restrain?

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 seat-mounted side impact airbags, there are airbag modules in the side of the front seatbacks closest to the door. 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.

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. Seat-mounted side impact and 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 1-63 for more information.

Airbags should never be regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety belts.

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What Will You See After an Airbag Inﬂates?

{CAUTION:

After the frontal airbags and seat-mounted side impact 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 1-65.

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.

1-66

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.

Page 71

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.

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 overhead console when you start your vehicle.

United States

The words ON and OFF, or the symbol for 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, or the symbol for on or the symbol for off, will be visible. See Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-36.

Canada

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The passenger sensing system will turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag under certain conditions. The driver’s airbags are not part of the passenger sensing system.

The passenger sensing system works with sensors that are part of the right front passenger’s seat and safety belt. The sensors are designed to detect the presence of a properly-seated occupant and determine if the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag should be enabled (may inﬂate) or not.

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

We recommend that children be secured in a rear seat, including: an infant or a child riding in a rear-facing child restraint; a child riding in a forward-facing child seat; an older child riding in a booster seat; and children, who are large enough, using safety belts.

A label on your sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.

{CAUTION:

Even though the passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the right front passenger’s frontal and seat-mounted side impact 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 airbags are off.

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

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The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact 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 and seat-mounted side impact airbag, the off indicator will light and stay lit to remind you that the airbags are off. See Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-36.

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 1-54.

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 and seat-mounted side impact 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 airbags to be enabled, the on indicator will light and stay lit to remind you that the airbags are active.

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For some children who have outgrown child restraints and for very small adults, the passenger sensing system may or may not turn offthe right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact 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 and seat-mounted side impact airbag.

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.

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If you ever pull the shoulder portion of the belt out all the way, you will engage the child restraint locking feature. This may unintentionally cause the passenger sensing system to turn the airbag(s) off for some adult size occupants. If this happens, just let the belt go back all the way and start again.

{CAUTION:

If the airbag readiness light in the instrument panel cluster ever comes on and stays on, it means that something may be wrong with the airbag system. If this ever happens, have the vehicle serviced promptly, because an adult-size person sitting in the right front passenger’s seat may not have the protection of the airbag(s). See Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-35 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 1-72 for more information about modiﬁcations that

can affect how the system operates.

{CAUTION:

Stowing of articles under the passenger’s seat or between the passenger’s seat cushion and seatback may interfere with the proper operation of the passenger sensing system.

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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.

Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle

Q: Is there anything I might add to or change

about the vehicle that could keep the airbags from working properly?

A: Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle’s

frame, bumper system, height, front end or side sheet metal, they may keep the airbag system from working properly. Changing or moving any parts of the front seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing and diagnostic module, steering wheel, instrument panel, roof-rail airbag modules, ceiling headliner or pillar garnish trim, overhead console, front sensors, side impact sensors, or airbag wiring can affect the operation of the airbag system.

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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 1-67.

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.

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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 3-34 for more information.

Keep safety belts clean and dry. See Care of Safety Belts on page 5-97.

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 3-35 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 1-65. See your dealer/retailer for service.

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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 3-35.

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✍ NOTES

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Section 2 Features and Controls

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 ............................................2-10

Door Locks ..................................................2-10

Power Door Locks ........................................2-10

Delayed Locking ...........................................2-11

Programmable Automatic Door Locks ..............2-11

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

Lockout Protection ........................................2-12

Trunk ..........................................................2-13

Windows ........................................................2-15

Power Windows ............................................2-16

Sun Visors ...................................................2-17

Theft-Deterrent Systems ..................................2-17

Content Theft-Deterrent .................................2-17

PASS-Key PASS-Key

III+ ............................................2-18

III+ Operation ..............................2-19

Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ................2-20

New Vehicle Break-In ....................................2-20

Ignition Positions ..........................................2-21

Retained Accessory Power (RAP) ...................2-22

Starting the Engine .......................................2-22

Engine Coolant Heater ..................................2-24

Automatic Transmission Operation ...................2-25

Parking Brake ..............................................2-27

Shifting Into PARK (P) ...................................2-28

Shifting Out of PARK (P) ...............................2-31

Parking Over Things That Burn .......................2-32

Engine Exhaust ............................................2-32

Running the Engine While Parked ...................2-33

Mirrors ...........................................................2-34

Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with

OnStar

and Compass ...............................2-34

Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with

Compass .................................................2-36

Outside Power Mirrors ...................................2-37

Park Tilt Mirrors ............................................2-38

Outside Convex Mirror ...................................2-38

Outside Automatic Dimming Heated Mirror ........2-38

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Section 2 Features and Controls

Object Detection Systems ...............................2-39

Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA) ............2-39

Side Blind Zone Alert ....................................2-41

Lane Departure Warning ................................2-44

OnStar

Universal Home Remote System ......................2-49

2-2

System .............................................2-46

Universal Home Remote System .....................2-49

Universal Home Remote System Operation

(With Three Round LED) ............................2-50

Storage Areas ................................................2-56

Glove Box ...................................................2-56

Cupholder(s) ................................................2-56

Front Storage Area .......................................2-56

Center Console Storage .................................2-56

Center Flex Storage Unit ...............................2-57

Floor Mats ...................................................2-57

Rear Seat Armrest ........................................2-57

Convenience Net ..........................................2-57

Sunroof .........................................................2-58

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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, the driver’s door, and the glovebox lock.

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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.

See your dealer/retailer if a replacement key or additional key is needed.

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.

If you are locked out of your vehicle, 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.

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Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation

The vehicle’s doors can be locked and unlocked, and the trunk can be unlatched from about 3 feet (1 m) up to 60 feet (18 m) away with the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter.

If your vehicle has the remote start feature you can also start your vehicle with the RKE transmitter. Your RKE transmitter, with the remote start button, provides an increased range of 195 feet (60 m) away. However, the range may be less while the vehicle is running. As a result, you may need to be closer to your vehicle to turn it off than you were to turn it on.

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

The following functions may be available if your vehicle has the RKE system:

With Remote Start

Shown, Without Remote

Start Similar

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

feature, it may be started from outside the vehicle using the RKE transmitter. See Remote Vehicle Start on page 2-8 for additional information.

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

If enabled through the Driver Information Center (DIC), the parking lamps will ﬂash once to indicate locking has occurred. If enabled through the DIC, the horn will chirp when the lock button is pressed again within ﬁve seconds of the previous press of the lock button. See DIC Vehicle Customization on page 3-66 for additional information. Pressing the lock button may arm the content theft-deterrent system. See Content Theft-Deterrent on page 2-17.

" (Unlock): Press the unlock button to unlock the

driver’s door. If the button 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 will ﬂash once to indicate unlocking has occurred. See DIC Vehicle Customization on page 3-66. Pressing the unlock button on the RKE transmitter will disarm the content theft-deterrent system. See Content Theft-Deterrent on page 2-17.

V(Remote Trunk Release): Press and hold this

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

L(Vehicle Locator/Panic Alarm): Press and release

this button to locate your vehicle. The turn signal lamps will ﬂash and the horn will sound three times. Press and hold this button for more than two seconds to activate the panic alarm. The turn signal lamps will ﬂash and the horn will sound repeatedly for 30 seconds. The alarm will turn off when the ignition is moved to ON/RUN or the alarm button is pressed again. The ignition must be in LOCK/OFF for the panic 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. Remember to bring any additional transmitters so they can also be re-coded to match the new transmitter. Once your dealer/retailer has coded the new transmitter, the lost transmitter will not unlock your vehicle. The vehicle can have a maximum of eight transmitters matched to it. See “Remote Key” under DIC Operation and Displays on page 3-49.

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Battery Replacement

Under normal use, the battery in your RKE transmitter should last about four years.

The battery is weak if the transmitter will not work at the normal range in any location. If you have to get close to your vehicle before the transmitter works, it is probably time to change the battery.

The REPLACE BATTERY IN REMOTE KEY message in the vehicle’s DIC will display if the RKE transmitter battery is low. See “REPLACE BATTERY IN REMOTE KEY” under DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-56 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. Insert a ﬂat object with a thin edge into the notch, located below the trunk release button, and separate the bottom half from the top half of the transmitter.

2. Remove the old battery, but do not use a metal object to do this.

3. Slide the new battery into the transmitter with the positive side of the battery facing down. Use a type CR2032 battery, or equivalent type. Make sure the cover is on tightly, so water will not get in.

4. Snap the front and the back of the transmitter together.

5. Test the operation of the transmitter with the vehicle.

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Remote Vehicle Start

Your vehicle may have a remote starting feature. This feature allows you to start the engine from outside the vehicle. It may also start the vehicle’s heating or air conditioning systems, rear window defogger, and heated seats. See Heated Seats on page 1-4 and Heated and Cooled Seats on page 1-5 for additional information. When the remote start system is active, the climate control system will heat or cool the inside of the vehicle at the setting the vehicle was set to when the vehicle was last turned off. The rear window defogger will be turned on by the climate control system when it is cold outside. If the vehicle has heated seats, they may also turn on when it is cold outside. Cooled seats are not activated during a remote start. Normal operation of the system will return after the key is turned to the ON/RUN position.

Laws in some communities may restrict the use of remote starters. For example, some laws may require a person using the 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.

If your vehicle has remote start, the RKE transmitter provides an increased range of operation. However, the range may be less while the vehicle is running. As a result, you may need to be closer to your vehicle to turn it off than you were to turn it on.

There are other conditions which can affect the performance of the transmitter, see Remote Keyless Entry (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 until the turn signal lights ﬂash or if the vehicle’s lights are not visible, press and hold the remote start button for at least four seconds. The vehicle’s doors will lock.

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

3. If it is the ﬁrst remote start since the vehicle has been driven, repeat these steps, while the engine is still running, to extend the engine running time by 10 minutes. Remote start can be extended one time.

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

If the vehicle is left running it will automatically shut off after 10 minutes unless a time extension has been done.

To manually shut off a remote start:

• Aim the RKE transmitter at the vehicle and press

the remote start button until the parking lamps turn off.

• Turn on the hazard warning ﬂashers.

• Turn the ignition switch on and then off.

The vehicle can be started remotely two separate times between driving sequences. The engine will run for 10 minutes after each remote start.

Or, you can extend the engine run time by another 10 minutes within the ﬁrst 10 minute remote start time frame, and before the engine stops.

For example, if the lock button and then the remote start buttons are pressed again after the vehicle has been running for ﬁve minutes, 10 minutes are added, allowing the engine to run for 15 minutes.

The additional 10 minutes are considered a second remote vehicle start.

Once two remote starts, or a single remote start with one time extension have been done, the vehicle must be started with the key.

After the key is removed from the ignition, another remote start can be performed.

The vehicle cannot be started remotely if the key is in the ignition, the hood is not closed, or if there is an emission control system malfunction.

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.

If your vehicle has the remote start ready feature, your RKE transmitter will have extended range that will allow you to lock or unlock your vehicle from about 195 feet (60 m) away.

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

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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 your vehicle. From the outside, use either the key or the remote

keyless entry (RKE) transmitter. From the inside, use the power door lock switches or

manual lock knobs. The manual lock knobs are located at the top of the door panel near the window.

Push the manual lock knob down to lock the door. To unlock the door, pull up on the knob.

Power Door Locks

The power door lock switches are located on the front doors.

K(Unlock): Press to unlock the doors. Q(Lock): Press to lock the doors.

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Delayed Locking

This feature allows the driver to delay the actual locking of the doors. When the driver’s power door lock switch is pressed with the key removed from the ignition, and the driver’s door open, a chime will sound three times to signal that the delayed locking system is active. When all doors have been closed, the doors will lock automatically after several seconds. If any door is opened before this, the timer will reset itself once all the doors have been closed again.

Pressing the driver’s or passenger’s power door lock switch again or the remote keyless entry transmitter button will override this feature.

Personal Choice Programming

The delayed locking feature can be turned on or off, using the Driver Information Center (DIC) to program this feature. See “DELAY DOOR LOCK” under DIC Vehicle Customization on page 3-66.

Programmable Automatic Door Locks

Your vehicle is programmed so that, when the doors are closed, the ignition is on, and the shift lever is moved out of PARK (P), all the doors will lock. The doors will unlock every time you stop the vehicle and move the shift lever into PARK (P).

If someone needs to get out while your vehicle is not in PARK (P), have the person use the manual lock knob or power door lock switch. When the door is closed again, it will not lock automatically. Use the manual lock knob or power door lock switch to lock the door.

If your vehicle has a Driver Information Center (DIC), you can choose various lock and unlock settings. For programming information, see DIC Vehicle Customization on page 3-66.

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Rear Door Security Locks

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

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

If the key is in the ignition and the power door lock switch is used to lock the doors, all doors will lock and then the driver’s door will unlock. It is always recommended that you remove the ignition key when locking your vehicle.

The lockout protection feature can be overridden by holding the power door lock switch for three seconds or longer.

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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 2-32.

Remote Trunk Release

The remote trunk release button is located in the glovebox.

Press the button to open the trunk. To use this feature, your vehicle must be in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).

You can also press the remote trunk release button on the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter to open the trunk. See Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation on page 2-5.

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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 inside the trunk near the latch. This handle will glow following exposure to light. Pull the release handle to open the trunk from the inside.

Rear Seat Pass-Through

Your vehicle has a small door in the rear seat. This door allows you to access the trunk from inside the vehicle.

The rear seat armrest must be down for the pass-through door to open. To release the pass-through door, move the release lever up with your ﬁngers. To close the door, raise it and push it until it latches.

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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.

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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 power window switches are located on the driver’s door armrest. In addition, each door has a switch for its own window.

Driver’s Side shown

The front power window switches operate with one position for up and two positions for down movement and the rear power window switches operate with one position for up and one for down movement.

Your vehicle has Retained Accessory Power (RAP) that allows you to use the power windows once the ignition has been turned off. For more information, see Retained Accessory Power (RAP) on page 2-22.

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Express-Down Window

This feature is on the front windows. Press the switch to the second position to activate the express-down feature. To stop the window as it is lowering, press down brieﬂy on the switch again.

Window Lockout

(Window Lockout): The rear window lockout button is located on the driver’s door armrest near the window switches.

Press the right side of this button to disable the rear window controls. The light on the button will come on, indicating the feature is in use. The rear windows still can be raised or lowered using the driver’s window switches when the lockout feature is active.

To restore power to the rear windows, press the button again. The light on the button will go out.

Sun Visors

Pull the visor toward you, or move to the side to help reduce glare.

On vehicles with a lighted vanity mirror, lift the attached cover to use.

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 the optional content theft-deterrent alarm system.

To activate the theft-deterrent system:

1. Open the door.

2. Lock the door with the power door lock switch or the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter. If you are using the RKE transmitter, the door does not need to be open.

3. Close all doors.

Once armed, the alarm will go off if someone tries to enter the vehicle without using the RKE transmitter or a key or turns the ignition on with an incorrect key. The horn will sound and the turn signal lamps will ﬂash for about two minutes.

When the alarm is armed, the trunk may be opened with the RKE transmitter. The power door lock switches are disabled and the doors remain locked. You must use your RKE transmitter or your key to unlock the doors when the system is armed.

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Arming with the Power Lock Switch

The alarm system will arm when you use either power lock switch to lock the doors while any door or the trunk is open and the key is removed from the ignition.

Arming with the RKE Transmitter

The alarm system will arm when you use your RKE transmitter to lock the doors, if the key is not in the ignition.

Disarming with the RKE Transmitter

The alarm system will disarm when you use your RKE transmitter to unlock the doors.

The ﬁrst time a remote unlock command is received, three ﬂashes will be seen and three horn chirps heard to indicate an alarm condition has occurred since last arming.

Disarming with Your Key

The alarm system will disarm when you use your key to unlock the doors or insert your key in the ignition and turn it from the LOCK/OFF position.

PASS-Key®III+

The PASS-Key®III+ system operates on a radio frequency subject to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry Canada.

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

1. This device may not cause harmful interference.

2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

1. This device may not cause interference.

2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.

Changes or modiﬁcations to this system by other than an authorized service facility could void authorization to use this equipment.

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

III+ uses a radio frequency transponder in

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PASS-Key®III+ Operation

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

III+ system senses that someone is using the wrong key, it prevents the vehicle from starting. Anyone using a trial-and-error method to start the vehicle will be discouraged because of the high number of electrical key codes.

When trying to start the vehicle if the engine does not start and the security light on the instrument panel cluster comes on, there may be a problem with your theft-deterrent system. Turn the ignition off and try again.

III+ is a passive

If the engine still does not start, and the key appears to be not damaged, try another ignition key. At this time, you may also want to check the fuse, see Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-105. If the engine still does not start with the other key, your vehicle needs service. If your vehicle does start, the ﬁrst key may be faulty. See your dealer/retailer who can service the PASS-Key

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

It is possible for the PASS-Key

III+ decoder to “learn” 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 currently programmed keys are lost or do not operate, you must see your dealer/retailer or a locksmith who can service PASS-Key

III+ to have

keys made and programmed to the system. See your dealer/retailer or a locksmith who can service

PASS-Key

III+ to get a new key blank that is cut

exactly as the ignition key that operates the system.

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To program the new key:

1. Verify that the new key has a

2. Insert the already programmed 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 the ON/RUN position within ﬁve seconds of the original key being turned to the LOCK/OFF position.

The security light will turn off once the key has been programmed.

5. Repeat Steps 1 through 4 if additional keys are to be programmed.

If you lose or damage your PASS-Key your dealer/retailer or a locksmith who can service PASS-Key

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

III+ to have a new key made.

1 stamped on it.

III+ key, see

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 4-26 for the trailer towing capabilities of your vehicle and more information.

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

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Buick LUCERNE 2008 Owner Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems

Front Seats

Manual Seats

Power Seats

Power Lumbar

Heated Seats

Heated and Cooled Seats

Memory Seat and Mirrors

Reclining Seatbacks

Head Restraints

Center Seat

Rear Seats

Rear Seat Pass-Through Door

Safety Belts

Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone

How to Wear Safety Belts Properly

Lap-Shoulder Belt

Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy

Lap Belt

Safety Belt Extender

Child Restraints

Older Children

Infants and Young Children

Child Restraint Systems

Where to Put the Restraint

Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)

Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position

Securing a Child Restraint in the Center Front Seat Position

Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position

Airbag System

Where Are the Airbags?

How Does an Airbag Restrain?

Passenger Sensing System

Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle

Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle

Restraint System Check

Checking the Restraint Systems

Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash

Section 2 Features and Controls

Keys

Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System

Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation

Remote Vehicle Start

Doors and Locks

Door Locks

Power Door Locks

Delayed Locking

Programmable Automatic Door Locks

Rear Door Security Locks

Lockout Protection

Trunk

Windows

Power Windows

Sun Visors

Theft-Deterrent Systems

Content Theft-Deterrent

PASS-Key®III+

PASS-Key®III+ Operation

Starting and Operating Your Vehicle

New Vehicle Break-In