Buick Rainier 2006 User Manual

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2006 Buick Rainier 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

OnStar Universal Home Remote System Storage Areas Sunroof Vehicle Personalization

Instrument Panel

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

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

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

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

....................................... 1-26

......................................... 1-48

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

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

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

.................................................... 2-29

System

.................................................. 2-50

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

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

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

...................................... 3-19

....................................... 3-58

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

............................ 1-62

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

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

............................. 2-51

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

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

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

........ 3-25

.................. 3-43

Driving Your Vehicle

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle Towing

Service and Appearance Care

Service Fuel Checking Things Under the Hood All-Wheel Drive Rear Axle Front Axle Bulb Replacement Windshield Replacement Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement Tires Appearance Care Vehicle Identiﬁcation Electrical System Capacities and Speciﬁcations

Maintenance Schedule

Customer Assistance and Information

Customer Assistance and Information Reporting Safety Defects

Index

................................................... 4-50

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

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

...................................................... 5-52

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

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

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

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

........................................ 5-45

............................................... 5-45

............................................... 5-46

.................................... 5-47

........................... 5-50

..................................... 5-85

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

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

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

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

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

........................... 7-13

..... 4-2

......... 5-50

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

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

Canadian Owners

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

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

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

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

Keep this manual in the vehicle, so it will be there if it is needed while you are on the road. If the vehicle is sold, leave this manual in the vehicle.

Litho in U.S.A. Part No. 06RAINIER A First Printing

How to Use This Manual

Many people read the owner manual from beginning to end when they ﬁrst receive their new vehicle. If this is done, it can help you learn about the features and controls for the vehicle. Pictures and words work together in the owner manual to explain things.

Index

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

Safety Warnings and Symbols

There are a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning.

{CAUTION:

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

In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you do not, you or others could be hurt.

You will also ﬁnd a circle with a slash through it in this book. This safety symbol means “Do Not,” “Do Not do this” or “Do Not let this happen.”

iii

Vehicle Damage Warnings

Vehicle Symbols

Also, in this manual you will ﬁnd these notices:

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

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

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

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

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

If you need help ﬁguring out a speciﬁc name of a component, gage, or indicator, reference the following topics:

• Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1

• Features and Controls in Section 2

• Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3

• Climate Controls in Section 3

• Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators in Section 3

• Audio System(s) in Section 3

• Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5

These are some examples of symbols that may be found on the vehicle:

✍ NOTES

Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems

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

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

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

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

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

Head Restraints .............................................1-5

Rear Seats .......................................................1-6

Rear Seat Operation .......................................1-6

Safety Belts .....................................................1-8

Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone .................1-8

Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......1-12

How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-13

Driver Position ..............................................1-13

Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-19

Right Front Passenger Position .......................1-20

Rear Seat Passengers ..................................1-20

Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides ....................1-23

Safety Belt Pretensioners ...............................1-25

Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-25

Child Restraints .............................................1-26

Older Children ..............................................1-26

Infants and Young Children ............................1-29

Child Restraint Systems .................................1-32

Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-36

Lower Anchors and Tethers for

Children (LATCH) ......................................1-37

Securing a Child Restraint in a

Rear Outside Seat Position .........................1-42

Securing a Child Restraint in the

Center Rear Seat Position ..........................1-44

Securing a Child Restraint in the

Right Front Seat Position ............................1-44

Airbag System ...............................................1-48

Where Are the Airbags? ................................1-50

When Should an Airbag Inﬂate? .....................1-53

What Makes an Airbag Inﬂate? .......................1-54

How Does an Airbag Restrain? .......................1-54

What Will You See After an

Airbag Inﬂates? .........................................1-55

Passenger Sensing System ............................1-56

Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...........1-60

Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped

Vehicle ....................................................1-61

Restraint System Check ..................................1-62

Checking the Restraint Systems ......................1-62

Replacing Restraint System Parts

After a Crash ............................................1-62

1-1

Front Seats

Power Seats

The power seat controls are located on the outboard side of the front seat cushions. The horizontal control adjusts the seat cushion and the vertical control adjusts the seatback.

• Move the front of the horizontal seat control up or

down to adjust the front portion of the cushion.

• Move the rear of the horizontal seat control up or

down to adjust the rear portion of the cushion.

• Lift up or push down on the center of the horizontal

seat control to move the entire seat up or down.

• To move the seat forward or rearward, slide the

horizontal seat control forward or rearward.

• To recline the seatback, press the vertical control

rearward. To raise the seatback, press the vertical control forward. See Power Reclining Seatbacks on page 1-4 for more information.

1-2

Power Lumbar

Heated Seats

Your vehicle has power lumbar on the driver’s and front passenger’s seats.

The seatback lumbar support can be adjusted by moving the control located on the outboard side of the seat cushions.

To increase or decrease support, hold the control forward or rearward.

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.

Your vehicle may have heated front seats. The buttons used to control this feature are located on the front door armrests. The engine must be running for the heated seat feature to work.

To heat the entire seat, press the horizontal button with the heated seat symbol. Press the button repeatedly to cycle through the temperature settings of high, medium, low and off. The indicator lights above the button will glow to designate the level of heat selected: three for high, two for medium, and one for low. The low setting warms the seatback and seat cushion until the seat temperature is near body temperature. The medium and high settings heat the seatback and seat cushion to a slightly higher temperature. You will be able to feel heat in about two minutes.

1-3

To heat only the seatback, press the button with the words BACK ONLY. An indicator light on the switch will glow to designate that only the seatback is being heated. Additional presses will cycle through the heat levels for the seatback only.

The feature will shut off automatically when the ignition is turned off.

Power Reclining Seatbacks

Your vehicle may have this feature. The vertical power seat control described earlier allows the seatback to recline. See Power Seats on page 1-2 for more information.

But do not have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving.

1-4

{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.

Head Restraints

Pull the head restraint up to raise it. Press the release button, located at the base of the head restraint, and push the head restraint down to lower it.

1-5

Adjust the head restraint so that the top of the restraint is closest to the top of the occupant’s head. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.

Rear Seats

Rear Seat Operation

Your vehicle has a 60/40 folding rear seat which lets you fold the seatbacks down for more cargo space.

Pull up on the loop located where the seat cushion meets the seatback to fold the seat cushion up and out of the way. This will allow the seatbacks to fold ﬂat and increase the cargo area.

1-6

The rear seatback levers are located on the outboard side of each rear seatback.

Pull the seatback toward you as you lift up on the lever. The head restraint will automatically fold out of the

way when the seatback is folded down. To raise the seatback, lift up the seatback and push

until it locks into the upright position. Push and pull on each seatback to make sure they are latched securely. Then fold the bottom seat cushion back into place.

To return the head restraint to the upright position, reach behind the seat and pull the restraint up until it locks into place. Push and pull on the head restraint to make sure that it is latched securely.

1-7

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 or be ejected from it. You can be seriously injured or killed. In the same crash, you might not be, if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt, and check that your passengers’ belts are fastened properly too.

{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.

1-8

Your vehicle has a light that comes on as a reminder to buckle up. See Safety Belt Reminder Light on page 3-28.

In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here is why: They work.

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

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

After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter...a lot!

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.

1-9

Put someone on it. Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle.

1-10

The rider does not stop.

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

or the instrument panel...

1-11

Questions and Answers About Safety Belts

Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after an accident

if I am wearing a safety belt?

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

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

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

wear safety belts?

or the safety belts! With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does.

You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance, and your strongest bones take the forces. That is why safety belts make such good sense.

1-12

A: Airbags are in many vehicles today and will be

in most of them in the future. But they are supplemental systems only; so they work with safety belts — not instead of them. Every airbag system ever offered for sale has required the use of safety belts. Even if you are in a vehicle that has airbags, you still have to buckle up to get the most protection. That is true not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions.

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

home, why should I wear safety belts?

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

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

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

Safety belts are for everyone.

How to Wear Safety Belts Properly

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

safety belts and children. And there are different rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be riding in your vehicle, see Older Children on page 1-26 or Infants and Young Children on page 1-29. Follow those rules for everyone’s protection.

First, you will want to know which restraint systems your vehicle has.

We will start with the driver position.

Driver Position

Lap-Shoulder Belt

The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here is how to wear it properly.

1. Close and lock the door.

2. Adjust the seat so you can sit up straight. To see how, see “Seats” in the Index.

3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Do not let it get twisted. The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly.

1-13

4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. 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 1-25.

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

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

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

The safety belt locks if there is a sudden stop or crash, or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.

1-14

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 against your body.

1-15

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 at the pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. Always buckle your belt into the buckle nearest you.

1-16

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.

1-17

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 to ﬁx it.

1-18

To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. The belt should go back out of the way.

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

Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy

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

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

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

1-19

Right Front Passenger Position

To learn how to wear the right front passenger’s safety belt properly, see Driver Position on page 1-13.

The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same way as the driver’s safety belt — except for one thing. If you ever pull the shoulder portion of the belt out all the way, you will engage the child restraint locking feature. If this happens, just let the belt go back all the way and start again.

Rear Seat Passengers

It is very important for rear seat passengers to buckle up! Accident statistics show that unbelted people in the rear seat are hurt more often in crashes than those who are wearing safety belts.

Rear passengers who are not safety belted can be thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts.

Lap-Shoulder Belt

All rear seat positions have lap-shoulder belts. Here is how to wear one properly.

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

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

1-20

2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. When the shoulder belt is pulled out all the way,

it will lock. If it does, let it go back all the way and start again.

If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 1-25.

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

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

1-21

The safety belt locks if there is a sudden stop or a crash, or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.

{CAUTION:

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

1-22

To unlatch the belt, push the button on the buckle.

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 attached to 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 attach the comfort guide to the shoulder belt.

1. Slide the guide off of its storage clip located between the interior body and the seatback.

2. Slide the guide under and past the belt. The elastic cord must be under the belt. Then, place the guide over the belt and insert the two edges of the belt into the slots of the guide.

1-23

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.

1-24

{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 in Rear Seat Passengers on page 1-20. Make sure that the shoulder belt crosses the shoulder.

To remove and store the comfort guides, squeeze the belt edges together so that you can take them out of the guides. Slide the guide back onto its storage clip located between the interior body and the seatback.

Safety Belt Pretensioners

Your vehicle has safety belt pretensioners for the driver and right front passenger. Although you cannot see them, they are located on the retractor part of the safety belts. They help the safety belts reduce a person’s forward movement in a moderate to severe frontal, near frontal or side crash or a rollover.

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 1-62.

Safety Belt Extender

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

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

1-25

Child Restraints

Older Children

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

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. It should never be worn over the abdomen, which could cause severe or even fatal internal injuries in a crash.

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

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

1-26

{CAUTION:

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

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

Q: What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt,

but the child is so small that the shoulder belt is very close to the child’s face or neck?

A: If the child is sitting in a seat next to a window,

move the child toward the center of the vehicle. Also see Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides on page 1-23. If the child is sitting in the center rear seat passenger position, move the child toward the safety belt buckle. In either case, be sure that the shoulder belt still is on the child’s shoulder, so that in a crash the child’s upper body would have the restraint the belts provide.

1-27

{CAUTION:

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

lap-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part is behind the child. If the child wears the belt in this way, in a crash the child might slide under the belt. The belt’s force would then be applied right on the child’s abdomen. That could cause serious or fatal injuries.

Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the child’s thighs. This applies belt force to the child’s pelvic bones in a crash.

1-28

Infants and Young Children

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

Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles, they should have the protection provided by appropriate restraints. Young children should not use the vehicle’s adult safety belts alone, unless there is no other choice. Instead, they need to use a child restraint.

{CAUTION:

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

1-29

{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.

For most basic types of child restraints, there are many different models available. When purchasing a child restraint, be sure it is designed to be used in a motor vehicle. If it is, the restraint will have a label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle safety standards.

The restraint manufacturer’s instructions that come with the restraint, state the weight and height limitations for a particular child restraint. In addition, there are many kinds of restraints available for children with special needs.

1-30

{CAUTION:

Newborn infants need complete support, including support for the head and neck. This is necessary because a newborn infant’s neck is weak and its head weighs so much compared with the rest of its body. In a crash, an infant in a rear-facing seat settles into the restraint, so the crash forces can be distributed across the strongest part of an infant’s body, the back and shoulders. Infants always should be secured in appropriate infant restraints.

The body structure of a young child is quite unlike that of an adult or older child, for whom the safety belts are designed. A young child’s hip bones are still so small that the vehicle’s regular safety belt may not remain low on the hip bones, as it should. Instead, it may settle up around the child’s abdomen. In a crash, the belt would apply force on a body area that is unprotected by any bony structure. This alone could cause serious or fatal injuries. Young children always should be secured in appropriate child restraints.

1-31

Child Restraint Systems

An infant car bed (A), a special bed made for use in a motor vehicle, is an infant restraint system designed to restrain or position a child on a continuous ﬂat surface. Make sure that the infant’s head rests toward the center of the vehicle.

A rear-facing infant seat (B) provides restraint with the seating surface against the back of the infant. The harness system holds the infant in place and, in a crash, acts to keep the infant positioned in the restraint.

1-32

A forward-facing child seat (C-E) provides restraint for the child’s body with the harness and also sometimes with surfaces such as T-shaped or shelf-like shields.

A booster seat (F-G) is a child restraint designed to improve the ﬁt of the vehicle’s safety belt system. Some booster seats have a shoulder belt positioner, and some high-back booster seats have a ﬁve-point harness. A booster seat can also help a child to see out the window.

1-33

Q: How Should I Use a Child Restraint? A: A child restraint system is any device designed for

use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat, or position children. A built-in child restraint system is a permanent part of the motor vehicle. An add-on child restraint system is a portable one, which is purchased by the vehicle’s owner. To help reduce injuries, an add-on child restraint must be secured in the vehicle. With built-in or add-on child restraints, the child has to be secured within the child restraint.

When choosing an add-on child restraint, be sure the child restraint is designed to be used in a vehicle. If it is, it will have a label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. Then follow the instructions for the restraint. You may ﬁnd these instructions on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both.

Securing an Add-on Child Restraint in the Vehicle

{CAUTION:

A child can be seriously injured or killed in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle. Make sure the child restraint is properly installed in the vehicle using the vehicle’s safety belt or LATCH system, following the instructions that came with that restraint, and also the instructions in this manual.

To help reduce the chance of injury, the child restraint must be secured in the vehicle. Child restraint systems must be secured in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a lap-shoulder belt, or by the LATCH system. See Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-37 for more information. A child can be endangered in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle.

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

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

Securing the Child Within the Child Restraint

There are several systems for securing the child within the child restraint. One system, the three-point harness, has straps that come down over each of the infant’s shoulders and buckle together at the crotch. The ﬁve-point harness system has two shoulder straps, two hip straps, and a crotch strap. A shield may take the place of hip straps. A T-shaped shield has shoulder straps that are attached to a ﬂat pad which rests low against the child’s body. A shelf- or armrest-type shield has straps that are attached to a wide, shelf-like shield that swings up or to the side.

{CAUTION:

A child can be seriously injured or killed in a crash if the child is not properly secured in the child restraint. Make sure the child is properly secured, following the instructions that came with that restraint.

Because there are different systems, it is important to refer to the instructions that come with the restraint. A child can be endangered in a crash if the child is not properly secured in the child restraint.

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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 child restraints be secured in a rear seat, including an infant riding in a rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a forward-facing child seat and an older child riding in a booster seat.

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

{CAUTION:

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

CAUTION: (Continued)

Even though the passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the 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 the rear seat, even if the airbag is off.

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

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

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Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)

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

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

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

Your vehicle has lower anchors and top tether anchors. Your child restraint may have lower attachments and a top tether.

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

Lower Anchors

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

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Top Tether Anchor

Some top tether-equipped child restraints are designed for use with or without the top tether being attached. Others require the top tether always to be attached. In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be attached. In the United States, some child restraints also have a top tether. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for your child restraint.

If the child restraint does not have a top tether, one can be obtained, in kit form, for many child restraints. Ask the child restraint manufacturer whether or not a kit is available.

Lower Anchor and Top Tether Anchor Locations

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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i (Top Tether Anchor):

Seating positions with top tether anchors.

j (Lower Anchor):

Seating positions with two lower anchors.

Second Row

To assist you in locating the lower anchors, each seating position with lower anchors has two labels, near the crease between the seatback and the seat cushion, showing where the anchors are located.

The labels are located above a ﬂap, at the base of the seatback, in the rear outside seating positions. The anchors are located under the ﬂap. In order to get to the anchors you will need to pull the strap at the center of the seat where the seat cushion meets the seatback. This will allow you to fold the seat cushion up and out of the way. Lift the ﬂap to expose the anchors and then lower the seat cushion. Be sure the cushion is locked into place.

The top tether anchors for each rear seating position are located on the ﬂoor in the cargo area of your vehicle. Do not use the rear tie-down brackets near the liftgate for top tethers. Be sure to use an anchor located on the same side of the vehicle as the seating position where the child restraint will be placed.

Do not secure a child restraint in the right front passenger’s position or in the third row seating position, if the vehicle has one, if a national or local law requires that the top tether be attached, or if the instructions that come with the child restraint say that the top tether must be attached. There is no place to attach the top tether in this position.

Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. See Where to Put the Restraint on page 1-36 for additional information.

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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.

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

1. Attach and tighten the lower attachments to the lower anchors. If the child restraint does not have lower attachments or the desired seating position does not have lower anchors, secure the child restraint with the top tether and the safety belts.

Refer to your child restraint manufacturer instructions and the instructions in this manual.

1.1. Find the lower anchors for the desired seating position.

1.2. Pull the strap at the center of the seat where the seat cushion meets the seatback. This will allow you to fold the seat cushion up and out of the way. Lift the ﬂap to expose the anchors and then lower the seat cushion. See Rear Seat Operation on page 1-6 for additional information. Be sure the cushion is locked into place.

1.3. Put the child restraint on the seat.

1.4. Attach and tighten the lower attachments on the child restraint to the lower anchors.

2. If the child restraint manufacturer recommends that the top tether be attached, attach and tighten the top tether to the top tether anchor, if equipped. Refer to the child restraint instructions and the following steps:

2.1. Find the top tether anchor.

2.2. Route and tighten the top tether according to your child restraint instructions and the following instructions. If your vehicle is equipped with a cargo shade, route the top tether between the seatback and the cargo shade.

Fold down the head restraint and route the single tether under the head restraint and in between the head restraint posts. See Rear Seat Operation on page 1-6.

Fold down the head restraint and route the dual tether around the head restraint. See

Rear Seat Operation on page 1-6.

3. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure.

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Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside Seat Position

If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH system, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-37.

If your child restraint does not have the LATCH system, you will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the child restraint in this position. Be sure to follow the instructions that came with the child restraint. Secure the child in the child restraint when and as the instructions say.

1. Put the child restraint on the seat.

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

3. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.

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

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

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6. If your child restraint manufacturer recommends using a top tether, attach and tighten the top tether to the top tether anchor. Refer to the instructions that came with the child restraint and to

Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-37.

7. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure.

To remove the child restraint, if the top tether is attached to the top tether anchor, disconnect it. Unbuckle the vehicle’s safety belt and let it go back all the way. The safety belt will move freely again and be ready to work for an adult or larger child passenger.

Securing a Child Restraint in the Center Rear Seat Position

Many child restraints are too wide to be correctly secured in the center rear seat, although some of them will ﬁt there. If the center seat position is too narrow for your child restraint, secure it in a rear outside seat position.

If you secure a child restraint in the center seat position, follow the instructions in Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside Seat Position on page 1-42.

Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position

Your vehicle has a right front passenger’s airbag. A rear seat is a safer place to secure a forward-facing child restraint. See Where to Put the Restraint on page 1-36.

In addition, your vehicle has a passenger sensing system. The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag when an infant in a rear-facing infant seat or a small child in a forward-facing child restraint or booster seat is detected. See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-56 and Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-30 for more information on this including important safety information.

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

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{CAUTION:

If you need to secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat position, move the seat as far back as it will go before securing the forward-facing child restraint. See Power Seats on page 1-2.

If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH system, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-37.

There is no top tether anchor at the right front seating position. Do not secure a child seat in this position if a national or local law requires that the top tether be anchored or if the instructions that come with the child restraint say that the top tether must be anchored. See Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-37 if the child restraint has a top tether.

You will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the child restraint in this position. Be sure to follow the instructions that came with the child restraint. Secure the child in the child restraint when and as the instructions say.

1. Your vehicle has a right front passenger’s frontal airbag. See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-56. We recommend that rear-facing child restraints be secured in a rear seat, even if the airbag is off. If your child restraint is forward-facing, move the seat as far back as it will go before securing the child restraint in this seat. See Power Seats on page 1-2. When the passenger sensing system has turned off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag, the off indicator on the passenger airbag status indicator should light and stay lit when you turn the ignition to RUN or START. See Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-30.

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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.

4. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.

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

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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. You should not be able to pull more of the belt from the retractor once the lock has been set.

7. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure.

8. If the airbag is off, the off indicator in the inside rearview mirror will be lit and stay lit when the key is turned to RUN or START.

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.

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.

To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’s safety belt and let it go back all the way. The safety belt will move freely again and be ready to work for an adult or larger child passenger.

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Airbag System

Your vehicle has a frontal airbag for the driver and a frontal airbag for the right front passenger. Your vehicle may also have roof-mounted side impact airbags designed for either side impact or rollover deployment. Roof-mounted side impact airbags are available for the driver and the passenger seated directly behind the driver and for the right front passenger and the passenger seated directly behind that passenger.

If your vehicle has roof-mounted side impact airbags, the word AIRBAG will appear on the airbag covering on the sidewall trim near the driver’s and right front passenger’s window.

Frontal airbags are designed to help reduce the risk of injury from the force of an inﬂating frontal airbag. But these airbags must inﬂate very quickly to do their job and comply with federal regulations.

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.

Frontal airbags for the driver and right front passenger are designed to deploy in moderate to severe frontal and near frontal crashes. They are not designed to inﬂate in rollover, rear crashes, or in many side crashes. And, for some unrestrained occupants, frontal airbags may provide less protection in frontal crashes than more forceful airbags have provided in the past.

CAUTION: (Continued)

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CAUTION: (Continued)

{CAUTION:

Roof-mounted side impact airbags are designed to inﬂate in moderate to severe crashes where something hits the side of your vehicle. They are not designed to inﬂate in frontal or in rear crashes. If the vehicle is equipped with rollover capable airbags, it has been designed to deploy the roof-mounted side impact airbags in the event of a vehicle rollover. Everyone in your vehicle should wear a safety belt properly — whether or not there is an airbag for that person.

Both frontal and roof-mounted side impact airbags inﬂate with great force, faster than the blink of an eye. If you are too close to an inﬂating airbag, as you would be if you were leaning forward, it could seriously injure you. Safety belts help keep you in position for airbag inﬂation before and during a crash. Always wear your safety belt even with frontal airbags. The driver should sit as far back as possible while still maintaining control of the vehicle. Occupants should not lean on or sleep against the door.

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{CAUTION:

Anyone who is up against, or very close to, any airbag when it inﬂates can be seriously injured or killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder belts offer the best protection for adults, but not for young children and infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety belt system nor its airbag system is designed for them. Young children and infants need the protection that a child restraint system can provide. Always secure children properly in your vehicle. To read how, see Older Children on page 1-26 or Infants and Young Children on page 1-29.

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

The system checks the airbag electrical system for malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-29 for more information.

Where Are the Airbags?

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

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

If your vehicle has a roof-mounted airbag for the driver and the person seated directly behind the driver, it is located in the ceiling above the side windows.

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If your vehicle has a roof-mounted airbag for the right front passenger and the person directly behind that passenger, it is located in the ceiling above the side windows.

{CAUTION:

If something is between an occupant and an airbag, the bag might not inﬂate properly or it might force the object into that person causing severe injury or even death. The path of an inﬂating airbag must be kept clear. Do not put anything between an occupant and an airbag, and do not attach or put anything on the steering wheel hub or on or near any other airbag covering. And, if your vehicle has roof-mounted side impact airbags, never secure anything to the roof of your vehicle by routing the rope or tiedown through any door or window opening. If you do, the path of an inﬂating side impact airbag will be blocked. The path of an inﬂating airbag must be kept clear.

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When Should an Airbag Inﬂate?

The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal airbags are designed to inﬂate in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to inﬂate only if the impact exceeds a predetermined deployment threshold. Deployment thresholds take into account a variety of desired deployment and non-deployment events and are used to predict how severe a crash is likely to be in time for the airbags to inﬂate and help restrain the occupants. Whether your frontal airbags will or should deploy is not based on how fast your vehicle is traveling. It depends largely on what you hit, the direction of the impact and how quickly your vehicle slows down.

In addition, your vehicle has “dual stage” frontal airbags, which adjust the restraint according to crash severity. Your vehicle is equipped with electronic frontal sensors, which help the sensing system distinguish between a moderate frontal impact and a more severe frontal impact. For moderate frontal impacts, these airbags inﬂate at a level less than full deployment. For more severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs. If the front of your vehicle goes straight into a wall that does not move or deform, the threshold level for the reduced deployment is about 9 to 16 mph (14 to 26 km/h), and the threshold level for a full deployment is about 18 to 25 mph (29 to 40 km/h). (The threshold level can vary, however, with speciﬁc vehicle design, so that it can be somewhat above or below this range.)

Frontal airbags may inﬂate at different crash speeds. For example:

• If the vehicle hits a stationary object, the airbags

could inﬂate at a different crash speed than if the vehicle hits a moving object.

• If the vehicle hits an object that deforms, the

airbags could inﬂate at a different crash speed than if the vehicle hits an object that does not deform.

• If the vehicle hits a narrow object (like a pole) the

airbags could inﬂate at a different crash speed than if the vehicle hits a wide object (like a wall).

• If the vehicle goes into an object at an angle the

airbags could inﬂate at a different crash speed than if the vehicle goes straight into the object.

The frontal airbags (driver and right front passenger) are not intended to inﬂate during vehicle rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts.

Your vehicle has seat position sensors which enable the sensing system to monitor the position of the driver’s seat and the right front passenger’s seat. Seat position sensors provide information that is used to determine if the airbags should deploy at a reduced level or at full deployment.

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Your vehicle may or may not have a roof-mounted airbag and a rollover sensor. See Airbag System on page 1-48. These “rollover capable” airbags are intended to inﬂate in moderate to severe side crashes or during a rollover. A roof-mounted airbag will inﬂate if the crash severity is above the system’s designed “threshold level.” The threshold level can vary with speciﬁc vehicle design. Roof-mounted airbags are not intended to inﬂate in frontal or near-frontal impacts, or rear impacts. Both roof-mounted airbags will deploy when either side of the vehicle is struck or during a rollover.

In any particular crash, no one can say whether an airbag should have inﬂated simply because of the damage to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were. For frontal airbags, inﬂation is determined by what the vehicle hits, the angle of the impact, and how quickly the vehicle slows down. For roof-mounted airbags, inﬂation is determined by the location and severity of the impact.

The airbag system is designed to work properly under a wide range of conditions, including off-road usage. Observe safe driving speeds, especially on rough terrain. As always, wear your safety belt. See Off-Road Driving on page 4-18 for tips on off-road driving.

What Makes an Airbag Inﬂate?

In an impact of sufficient severity, the airbag sensing system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. In the case of a “rollover capable” roof-mounted side impact airbag, the sensing system detects that the vehicle is about to roll over. The sensing system triggers a release of gas from the inﬂator, which inﬂates the airbag. The inﬂator, airbag, and related hardware are all part of the airbag modules inside the steering wheel and in the instrument panel in front of the right front passenger. For vehicles with roof-mounted side impact airbags, the airbag modules are located in the ceiling of the vehicle, near the side windows.

How Does an Airbag Restrain?

In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside of the vehicle. The airbag supplements the protection provided by safety belts. Airbags distribute the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But the frontal airbags would not help you in many types of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts, and many side impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward the airbag.

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Roof-mounted side impact airbags would not help you in many types of collisions, including many frontal or near frontal collisions, and rear impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward those airbags. Airbags should never be regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety belts, and then only in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions for the driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal airbags, and only in moderate to severe side collisions or rollovers for the roof-mounted side impact airbags.

What Will You See After an Airbag Inﬂates?

After a frontal airbag inﬂates, it quickly deﬂates, so quickly that some people may not even realize the airbag inﬂated. Roof-mounted side impact airbags deﬂate more slowly and may still be at least partially inﬂated minutes after the vehicle comes to rest. Some components of the airbag module may be hot for a short time. These components include the steering wheel hub for the driver’s frontal airbag and the instrument panel for the right front passenger’s frontal airbag. For vehicles with side impact airbags, the ceiling of your vehicle near the side windows may be hot. The parts of the bag that come into contact with you may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There will be some smoke and dust coming from the vents in the deﬂated airbags.

Airbag inﬂation does not prevent the driver from seeing out of the windshield or being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle.

{CAUTION:

When an airbag inﬂates, there is dust in the air. This dust could cause breathing problems for people with a history of asthma or other breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe to do so. If you have breathing problems but cannot get out of the vehicle after an airbag inﬂates, then get fresh air by opening a window or a door. If you experience breathing problems following an airbag deployment, you should seek medical attention.

Your vehicle has a feature that may automatically unlock the doors and turn the interior lamps on when the airbags inﬂate (if battery power is available). You can lock the doors again and turn the interior lamps off by using the door lock and interior lamp controls.

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In many crashes severe enough to inﬂate an 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 your airbag system. If you do not get them, the airbag system will not be there to help protect you in another crash. A new system will include airbag modules and possibly other parts. The service manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace other parts.

• Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and

diagnostic module which records information after a crash. See Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data Recorders on page 7-9.

• Let only qualiﬁed technicians work on your airbag

system. Improper service can mean that your airbag system will not work properly. See your dealer for service.

Passenger Sensing System

Your vehicle has a passenger sensing system for the right front passenger’s position. A passenger airbag status indicator in the rearview mirror will be visible when you turn your ignition key to START or RUN. The words ON and OFF or the symbol for on and off, will be visible during the system check. When the system check is complete, either the word ON or the word OFF, or the symbol for on or the symbol for off will be visible. See Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-30.

Passenger Airbag Status Indicator – United States

Passenger Airbag Status Indicator – Canada

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The passenger sensing system will turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag under certain conditions. The driver’s airbag and the side 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 passenger’s frontal airbag should be enabled (may inﬂate) or not.

{CAUTION:

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The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag if:

• the right front passenger seat is unoccupied

• the system determines that an infant is present in

a rear-facing infant seat

• the system determines that a small child is present

in a forward-facing child restraint

• the system determines that a small child is present

in a booster seat

• a right front passenger takes his/her weight off of

the seat for a period of time

• the right front passenger seat is occupied by a

smaller person, such as a child who has outgrown child restraints

• or if there is a critical problem with the airbag

system or the passenger sensing system.

When the passenger sensing system has turned off the passenger’s frontal airbag, the off indicator in the rearview mirror will light and stay lit to remind you that the airbag is off.

If a child restraint has been installed and the on indicator is lit, turn the vehicle off. Remove the child restraint from the vehicle and reinstall the child restraint following the child restraint manufacturer’s directions and refer to Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position on page 1-44.

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.

The passenger sensing system is designed to enable (may inﬂate) the right front passenger’s frontal airbag anytime the system senses that a person of adult size is sitting properly in the right front passenger’s seat. When the passenger sensing system has allowed the airbag to be enabled, the on indicator will light and stay lit to remind you that the airbag is active.

For some children who have outgrown child restraints and for very small adults, the passenger sensing system may or may not turn offthe right front passenger’s frontal airbag, depending upon the person’s seating posture and body build. Everyone in your vehicle who has outgrown child restraints should wear a safety belt properly — whether or not there is an airbag for that person.

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If a person of adult-size is sitting in the right front passenger’s seat, but the off indicator is lit, it could be because that person is not sitting properly in the seat. If this happens, turn the vehicle off and ask the person to place the seatback in the fully upright position, then sit upright in the seat, centered on the seat cushion, with the person’s legs comfortably extended. Restart the vehicle and have the person remain in this position for about two minutes. This will allow the system to detect that person and then enable the passenger’s airbag.

{CAUTION:

If the airbag readiness light in the instrument panel cluster ever comes on and stays on, it means that something may be wrong with the airbag system. If this ever happens, have the vehicle serviced promptly, because an adult-size person sitting in the right front passenger’s seat may not have the protection of the frontal airbag. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-29 for more on this, including important safety information.

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Aftermarket equipment, such as seat covers, can affect how well the passenger sensing system operates. You may want to consider not using seat covers or other aftermarket equipment if your vehicle has the passenger sensing system. See Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-61 for more information about modiﬁcations that can affect how the system operates.

{CAUTION:

Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle

Airbags affect how your vehicle should be serviced. There are airbag system parts in several places around your vehicle. You do not want the system to inﬂate while someone is working on your vehicle. Your dealer and the service manual have information about servicing your vehicle and the airbag system. To purchase a service manual, see Service Publications Ordering Information on page 7-14.

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

1-60

{CAUTION:

For up to 10 seconds after the ignition key is turned off and the battery is disconnected, an airbag can still inﬂate during improper service. You can be injured if you are close to an airbag when it inﬂates. Avoid yellow connectors. They are probably part of the airbag system. Be sure to follow proper service procedures, and make sure the person performing work for you is qualiﬁed to do so.

The airbag system does not need regular maintenance.

Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle

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?

Q: Is there anything I might add to the front or

sides of the vehicle that could keep the airbags from working properly?

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

frame, bumper system, front end or side sheet metal or height, they may keep the airbag system from working properly. Also, the airbag system may not work properly if you relocate any of the airbag sensors. If you have any questions about this, you should contact Customer Assistance before you modify your vehicle. The phone numbers and addresses for Customer Assistance are in Step Two of the Customer Satisfaction Procedure in this manual. See Customer Satisfaction Procedure on page 7-2.

A: Changing or moving any parts of the front seats,

safety belts, the airbag sensing and diagnostic module, or the inside rearview mirror can affect the operation of the airbag system. If you have questions, call Customer Assistance. The phone numbers and addresses for Customer Assistance are in Step Two of the Customer Satisfaction Procedure in this manual. See Customer Satisfaction Procedure on page 7-2.

1-61

Restraint System Check

Checking the Restraint Systems

Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash

Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and anchorages are working properly. Look for any other loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see anything that might keep a safety belt system from doing its job, have it repaired.

Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt is torn or frayed, get a new one right away.

Also look for any opened or broken airbag covers, and have them repaired or replaced. (The airbag system does not need regular maintenance.)

Notice: If you damage the covering for the driver’s or the right front passenger’s airbag, or the side impact airbag covering (if equipped) on the ceiling near the side windows, the airbag may not work properly. You may have to replace the airbag module in the steering wheel, both the airbag module and the instrument panel for the right front passenger’s airbag, or side impact airbag module and ceiling covering for roof-mounted side impact airbags (if equipped.) Do not open or break the airbag coverings.

1-62

{CAUTION:

A crash can damage the restraint systems in your vehicle. A damaged restraint system may not properly protect the person using it, resulting in serious injury or even death in a crash. To help make sure your restraint systems are working properly after a crash, have them inspected and any necessary replacements made as soon as possible.

If you have had a crash, do you need new belts or LATCH system parts?

After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary. But if the belts were stretched, as they would be if worn during a more severe crash, then you need new parts.

If the LATCH system was being used during a more severe crash, you may need new LATCH system parts.

If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision damage also may mean you will need to have LATCH system, safety belt or seat parts repaired or replaced. New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the belt or LATCH system was not being used at the time of the collision.

If an airbag inﬂates, you will need to replace airbag system parts. See the part on the airbag system earlier in this section.

If the airbags inﬂate you will also need to replace the driver and front passenger’s safety belt retractor assembly. Be sure to do so. Then the new retractor assembly will be there to help protect you in a collision.

After a crash you may need to replace the driver and front passenger’s safety belt retractor assemblies, even if the airbags have not deployed. The driver and front passenger’s safety belt retractor assemblies contain the safety belt pretensioners. Have your safety belt pretensioners checked if your vehicle has been in a collision, or if your airbag readiness light stays on after you start your vehicle or while you are driving. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-29.

1-63

✍ NOTES

1-64

Section 2 Features and Controls

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

Remote Keyless Entry System .........................2-4

Remote Keyless Entry System Operation ...........2-5

Doors and Locks .............................................2-7

Door Locks ....................................................2-7

Power Door Locks ..........................................2-8

Delayed Locking .............................................2-8

Programmable Automatic Door Locks ................2-9

Rear Door Security Locks ..............................2-11

Lockout Protection ........................................2-11

Liftgate/Liftglass ............................................2-12

Windows ........................................................2-13

Power Windows ............................................2-14

Sun Visors ...................................................2-15

Theft-Deterrent Systems ..................................2-15

Content Theft-Deterrent .................................2-15

Passlock

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

Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ................2-17

New Vehicle Break-In ....................................2-17

Ignition Positions ..........................................2-18

Retained Accessory Power (RAP) ...................2-18

Starting the Engine .......................................2-19

Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal ................2-20

Engine Coolant Heater ..................................2-20

Displacement on Demand™ (DoD™) ...............2-21

Automatic Transmission Operation ...................2-22

Parking Brake ..............................................2-24

Shifting Into Park (P) .....................................2-25

Shifting Out of Park (P) .................................2-26

Parking Over Things That Burn .......................2-27

Engine Exhaust ............................................2-27

Running the Engine While Parked ...................2-28

Mirrors ...........................................................2-29

Manual Rearview Mirror .................................2-29

Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar

..............2-29

Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar®,

Compass, and Temperature Display .............2-29

Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with

OnStar OnStar

and Compass ...............................2-31

, Compass and Temperature

Display ....................................................2-33

2-1

Section 2 Features and Controls

Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with

Compass .................................................2-35

Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with

Compass and Temperature Display ..............2-37

Outside Power Mirror ....................................2-39

Outside Curb View Assist Mirror .....................2-40

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

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

OnStar

Universal Home Remote System ......................2-43

2-2

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

Universal Home Remote System Operation ......2-43

Storage Areas ................................................2-46

Glove Box ...................................................2-46

Overhead Console ........................................2-47

Center Console Storage Area .........................2-47

Luggage Carrier ...........................................2-47

Rear Floor Storage Lid ..................................2-48

Convenience Net ..........................................2-49

Cargo Cover ................................................2-49

Cargo Tie Downs ..........................................2-50

Sunroof .........................................................2-50

Vehicle Personalization ...................................2-51

Memory Seat ...............................................2-51

Keys

{CAUTION:

Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition key is dangerous for many reasons. They could operate the power windows or other controls or even make the vehicle move. The children or others could be badly injured or even killed. Do not leave the keys in a vehicle with children.

2-3

This vehicle has one double-sided key for the ignition and door lock. It will ﬁt with either side up.

When a new vehicle is delivered, the dealer provides the owner with a pair of identical keys and a key code number.

The key code number tells your dealer or a qualiﬁed locksmith how to make extra keys. Keep this number in a safe place. If you lose your keys, you’ll be able to have new ones made easily using this number. Your selling dealer should also have this number.

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 ever do get locked out of your vehicle, call the GM Roadside Assistance Center. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-6.

If your vehicle is equipped with the OnStar an active subscription and you lock your keys inside the vehicle, OnStar unlock your vehicle. See OnStar

may be able to send a command to

System on page 2-41

system with

for more information.

Remote Keyless Entry System

Your keyless entry system operates on a radio frequency subject to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry Canada.

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

1. This device may not cause interference.

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

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

1. This device may not cause interference.

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

2-4

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 range. This is normal for any remote keyless entry system. If the transmitter does not work or if you have to stand closer to your vehicle for the transmitter to work, try this:

• 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” under

Remote Keyless Entry System Operation on page 2-5.

• If you are still having trouble, see your dealer or a

qualiﬁed technician for service.

Remote Keyless Entry System Operation

With this system you can lock and unlock your doors from about 3 feet (1 m) up to 30 feet (9 m) away using the remote keyless entry transmitter supplied with your vehicle.

K (Unlock): When

you press unlock, the driver’s door will unlock automatically, the parking lamps may ﬂash and the interior lights will go on.

You can program different feedback settings through the Driver Information Center (DIC). For more information see Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-43.

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

again within three seconds and the horn may chirp.

L (Panic): Press the horn symbol to make the horn

sound. The headlamps and taillamps will also ﬂash for up to 30 seconds. This can be turned off by pressing the horn button again, or by waiting for 30 seconds, or by starting the vehicle.

2-5

Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle

Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to prevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle. If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can be purchased through your dealer. Remember to bring any remaining transmitters with you when you go to your dealer. When the dealer matches the replacement transmitter to your vehicle, any remaining transmitters must also be matched. Once your dealer has coded the new transmitter, the lost transmitter will not unlock your vehicle. Each vehicle can have a maximum of four transmitters matched to it.

Battery Replacement

Under normal use, the battery in your remote keyless entry transmitter should last about two years.

You can tell the battery is weak if the transmitter won’t work at the normal range in any location. If you have to get close to your vehicle before the transmitter works, it’s probably time to change the battery.

The Driver Information Center (DIC) will display a KEY FOB # BATTERY LOW message when the transmitter battery is low.

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

To replace the battery in the remote keyless entry transmitter do the following:

1. Insert a thin coin in the slot between the covers of the transmitter housing. Gently pry the transmitter apart.

2. Remove and replace the battery with a three-volt CR2032 or equivalent battery.

3. Align the covers and snap them together.

4. Check the operation of the transmitter.

2-6

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 the remote keyless entry transmitter or the key.

From the inside, slide the manual lever forward or rearward.

The manual lever on each door works only that door’s lock.

2-7

Power Door Locks

The power door lock switches are located on the driver’s and front passenger’s door armrests.

Press the lock symbol to lock all of the doors. To unlock the doors, press the other side of the switch.

Delayed Locking

This feature delays the locking of the doors and the liftgate when using the power lock or the remote keyless entry system.

The ﬁrst press of the power door lock switch or lock button on the remote keyless entry transmitter with the driver’s door open will activate the delay locking. A chime will sound. All doors and the liftgate can be reopened for up to ﬁve seconds from the time the last door is closed.

Five seconds after the last door is closed, all the doors will lock. You can lock the doors immediately by using the power door lock switch or by pressing the lock button on the optional remote keyless entry transmitter a second time.

If the key is inserted in the ignition, this feature will not lock the doors. See Lockout Protection on page 2-11.

You can turn the delayed locking feature on or off. If the feature is turned off, the doors will lock immediately when a power door lock switch or remote keyless entry transmitter lock button is pressed.

Programming Delayed Locking

To turn the delayed locking feature on or off, do the following:

1. Press and hold the power door lock switch on the driver’s door in the lock position.

2. Press the remote keyless entry transmitter unlock button twice.

If the delayed locking feature was on, it will now be off. If the feature was off, it will now be on.

2-8

Programmable Automatic Door Locks

Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic lock/unlock feature which enables you to program your vehicle’s power door locks. You can program this feature through the Driver Information Center (DIC), or by the following method. See DIC Vehicle Customization on page 3-52.

Programmable Locking Feature

Following are the two locking modes that can be programmed:

Mode 1: All doors lock when the transmission is shifted out of PARK (P).

Mode 2: All doors lock when the vehicle speed is greater than 8 mph (13 km/h).

The automatic door locks were pre-programmed at the factory to lock all the doors when the transmission is shifted into gear. The following instructions detail how to program your door locks differently than the factory setting. Choose one of the two programming options listed previously before entering the program mode.

To enter the program mode, do the following:

1. Begin with the ignition off. Then pull the turn signal/multifunction lever toward you and hold it there while you perform the next step.

2. Turn the key to RUN and LOCK twice. Then, with the key in LOCK, release the turn signal/multifunction lever. Once you do this, you will hear the lock switch lock and unlock, the horn will chirp twice, and a 30-second program timer will begin.

3. You are now ready to program the automatic door locks. Select one of the two programming options listed previously, and press the lock side of the power door lock switch to cycle through the lock options. You will have 30 seconds to begin programming. If you exceed the 30-second limit, the locks will automatically lock and unlock and the horn will chirp twice to indicate that you have left the program mode. If this occurs, repeat the procedure beginning with Step 1 to re-enter the programming mode.

You can exit the program mode any time by turning the ignition to RUN. The locks will automatically lock and unlock and the horn will chirp twice to indicate that you are leaving the program mode. If the lock/unlock switches are not pressed while in the programming mode, the current auto lock/unlock setting will not be modiﬁed.

See your dealer for more information.

2-9

Programmable Unlocking Feature

The following is the list of available programming options:

Mode 1: Driver’s door unlocks when the transmission is shifted into PARK (P).

Mode 2: All doors unlock when the transmission is shifted into PARK (P).

Mode 3: All doors unlock when the key is removed from the ignition.

Mode 4: No automatic door unlock. The automatic door locks were pre-programmed at the

factory to unlock all doors once the transmission is shifted to PARK (P). The following instructions detail how to program your door locks differently than the factory setting. Choose one of the four programming options listed previously before entering the program mode.

To enter the program mode you need to do the following:

1. Begin with the ignition off. Then pull the turn signal/multifunction lever toward you and hold it there while you perform the next step.

3. You are now ready to program the automatic door locks. Select one of the four programming options listed above, and press the unlock side of the power door lock switch to cycle through the unlocking options. You will have 30 seconds to begin programming. If you exceed the 30-second limit, the locks will automatically lock and unlock and the horn will chirp twice to indicate that you have left the program mode. If this occurs, repeat the procedure beginning with Step 1 to re-enter the programming mode.

See your dealer for more information.

2-10

Rear Door Security Locks

Lockout Protection

Your vehicle may have this feature. You can lock the rear doors so they cannot be opened from the inside by passengers. To use one of these locks do the following:

1. Open one of the rear doors. You will ﬁnd a security lock lever located on the inside edge of each rear door.

2. Move the lever down to engage the security lock. Move the lever up to disengage the security lock.

3. Close the door.

The rear doors of your vehicle cannot be opened from the inside while this feature is in use. If you want to open the rear door while the security lock is on, unlock the door and open the door from the outside.

This feature stops the power door locks from locking when the key is in the ignition and a door is open to protect you from locking your key in the vehicle.

If the power lock switch is pressed when a door is open and the key is in the ignition, all the doors will lock and then the driver’s door will unlock.

2-11

Liftgate/Liftglass

{CAUTION:

It can be dangerous to drive with the liftgate or liftglass open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can come into your vehicle. You cannot see or smell CO. It can cause unconsciousness and even death. If you must drive with the liftgate open or if electrical wiring or other cable connections must pass through the seal between the body and the liftgate or liftglass:

• Make sure all other windows are shut.

• Turn the fan on your climate control

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

• If you have air outlets on or under the

instrument panel, open them all the way. See Engine Exhaust on page 2-27.

Liftgate Release

To unlock the liftgate, use the power door lock switch or the remote keyless entry transmitter. See Remote Keyless Entry System Operation on page 2-5. The liftglass will also unlock when the liftgate is unlocked.

Press the button on the liftglass to open it. To open the entire liftgate, lift the handle located in the center of the liftgate. When the liftgate is opened, the liftglass will lock after a short delay.

Emergency Release for Opening Liftgate

1. Remove the trim plug, located on the inside of the liftgate in the center, to expose the access hole in the trim panel.

2. Use a tool to reach through the access hole in the trim panel.

3. Pry the left release lever up to the unlock position. Pry the right release lever up to unlatch the liftgate.

4. Reinstall the trim plug.

2-12

Windows

{CAUTION:

Leaving children, helpless adults, or pets in a vehicle with the windows closed is dangerous. They can be overcome by the extreme heat and suffer permanent injuries or even death from heat stroke. Never leave a child, a helpless adult, or a pet alone in a vehicle, especially with the windows closed in warm or hot weather.

2-13

Power Windows

The controls for the power windows are located on the armrest on each of the side doors. With power windows, the switches operate the windows when the ignition is in RUN, ACCESSORY or when Retained Accessory Power (RAP) is active. See Retained Accessory Power (RAP) on page 2-18. The driver’s door also has a switch for each of the passenger’s windows.

Press down the top of the switch to lower the window and pull up on the switch to raise the window. If you hold the switch down for three to seven seconds after the window has been completely lowered or raised, the window will not operate for about 15 seconds.

Express-Down Window

AUTO (Express-down): The driver’s and front

passenger’s window switches have an express-down feature that allows you to lower the window without holding the switch down. Press down brieﬂy on the driver’s or front passenger’s window switch labeled AUTO to activate the express-down feature. Lightly tap the switch to open the window slightly. The express-down feature can be interrupted at any time by pressing the top of the switch.

Window Lockout

(Lockout): Your vehicle has a lockout feature to prevent passengers from operating the power windows. The lockout switch is located in front of the window switches on the driver’s door. A light in the lockout switch will come on to show that the switch has been activated. Press the lockout switch again to return to normal operation.

2-14

Sun Visors

Theft-Deterrent Systems

Sun Visors with Slide Rod

Your vehicle may have this feature. Pull the sun visor down to block glare. Detach the sun visor from the center mount and slide it along the rod from side-to-side to cover the driver or passenger side of the front window. Swing the sun visor to the side to cover the side window. It can also be moved along the rod from side-to-side in this position.

Sun Visors with Fixed Rod and Pull-out Extension

Your vehicle may have this feature. Pull the sun visor down to block glare. Pull the sun visor extender out for additional coverage. Detach the sun visor from the center mount and swing it to the side to cover the side window.

Visor Vanity Mirror

Pull the sun visor down to expose the vanity mirror. You may have to lift a cover to expose the mirror.

Lighted Visor Vanity Mirror

Your vehicle may have this feature. Pull the sun visor down and lift the mirror cover to turn on the lamps. The lamps will turn off when the cover is closed.

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 is equipped with a content theft-deterrent alarm system.

Here is how to operate the system:

1. Open the door.

2. Lock the door with the power door lock switch or the remote keyless entry transmitter. The security light should ﬂash.

3. Close all doors. The security light should turn off after approximately 30 seconds. The alarm is not armed until the security light turns off.

2-15

If a locked door is opened without the key or the remote keyless entry transmitter, the alarm will go off. The headlamps and parking lamps will ﬂash for two minutes, and the horn will sound for 30 seconds, then will turn off to save the battery power.

Remember, the theft-deterrent system will not activate if you lock the doors with a key or use the manual door lock. It activates only if you use a power door lock switch with the door open, or with the remote keyless entry transmitter. You should also remember that you can start your vehicle with the correct ignition key if the alarm has been set off.

Here is how to avoid setting off the alarm by accident:

• If you do not want to activate the theft-deterrent

system, the vehicle should be locked with the door key after the doors are closed.

• Always unlock a door with a key, or use the remote

keyless entry transmitter. Unlocking a door any other way will set off the alarm.

If you set off the alarm by accident, unlock any door with the key. You can also turn off the alarm by pressing unlock on the remote keyless entry transmitter. The alarm will not stop if you try to unlock a door any other way.

Testing the Alarm

The alarm can be tested by following these steps:

1. From inside the vehicle, lower the driver’s window and open the driver’s door.

2. Activate the system by locking the doors with the power door lock switch while the door is open, or with the remote keyless entry transmitter.

3. Get out of the vehicle, close the door and wait for the security light to go out.

4. Then reach in through the window, unlock the door with the manual door lock and open the door. This should set off the alarm.

When the alarm is set the power door unlock switch is not operational.

If the alarm does not sound when it should but the headlamps ﬂash, check to see if the horn works. The horn fuse may be blown. To replace the fuse, see Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-95.

If the alarm does not sound or the headlamps do not ﬂash, the vehicle should be serviced by your dealer.

2-16

Passlock

Your vehicle is equipped with the Passlock®theft-deterrent system.

Passlock enables fuel if the ignition lock cylinder is turned with a valid key. If a correct key is not used or the ignition lock cylinder is tampered with, the fuel system is disabled and the vehicle will not start.

During normal operation, the security light will turn off approximately ﬁve seconds after the key is turned to RUN.

If the engine stalls and the security light ﬂashes, wait about 10 minutes until the light stops ﬂashing before trying to restart the engine. Remember to release the key from START as soon as the engine starts.

If the engine does not start after three tries, the vehicle needs service.

If the engine is running and the security light comes on, you will be able to restart the engine if you turn the engine off. However, your Passlock not working properly and must be serviced by your dealer. Your vehicle is not protected by Passlock at this time. You may also want to check the fuse. See Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-95. See your dealer for service.

In an emergency, call the GM Roadside Assistance Center. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-6.

is a passive theft-deterrent system that

system is

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:

• Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or less for

the ﬁrst 500 miles (805 km).

• 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 your new brake linings are not yet broken in. Hard stops with new linings can mean premature wear and earlier replacement. Follow this breaking-in guideline every time you get new brake linings.

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

a Trailer on page 4-52 for the trailer towing capabilities of your vehicle and more information.

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

2-17

Ignition Positions

Use the key to turn the ignition switch to four different positions.

A (LOCK): This position locks the ignition and transmission. It is a theft-deterrent feature. You will only be able to remove the key when the ignition is turned to LOCK.

Notice: If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you cannot turn it, be sure you are using the correct key; if so, is it all the way in? Turn the key only with your hand. Using a tool to force it could break the key or the ignition switch. If none of these works, then your vehicle needs service.

B (ACCESSORY): This position lets you use things

like the radio and the windshield wipers when the engine is off.

Notice: Lengthy operation of features such as the radio in the accessory ignition position may drain the battery and prevent your vehicle from starting. Do not operate your vehicle in the accessory ignition position for a long period of time.

C (RUN): This is the position for driving. D (START): This position starts the engine.

Retained Accessory Power (RAP)

Your vehicle is equipped with a Retained Accessory Power (RAP) feature which will allow certain features of your vehicle to continue to work up to 20 minutes after the ignition key is turned to LOCK.

Your radio, power windows, sunroof (option) and overhead console will work when the ignition key is in RUN or ACCESSORY. Once the key is turned from RUN to LOCK, these features will continue to work for up to 20 minutes or until a door is opened.

2-18

Starting the Engine

Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). Your engine will not start in any other position — that is a safety feature. To restart when you are already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.

Notice: Do not try to shift to PARK (P) if your vehicle is moving. If you do, you could damage the transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only when your vehicle is stopped.

1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your engine gets warm.

Notice: Holding your key in START for longer than 15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat can damage your starter motor. Wait about 15 seconds between each try to help avoid draining your battery or damaging your starter.

2. If it does not start within 10 seconds, push the accelerator pedal all the way to the ﬂoor, while you hold the ignition key in START. When the engine starts, let go of the key and let up on the accelerator pedal. Wait about 15 seconds between each try.

When starting your engine in very cold weather (below 0°F or −18°C), do this:

1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition key to START and hold it there up to 15 seconds. When the engine starts, let go of the key.

2. If your engine still will not start, or starts but then stops, it could be ﬂooded with too much gasoline. Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the ﬂoor and holding it there as you hold the key in START for about three seconds. When the engine starts, let go of the key and accelerator. If the vehicle starts brieﬂy but then stops again, do the same thing, but this time keep the pedal down for ﬁve or six seconds. This clears the extra gasoline from the engine.

Notice: Your engine is designed to work with the electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical parts or accessories, you could change the way the engine operates. Before adding electrical equipment, check with your dealer. If you do not, your engine might not perform properly. Any resulting damage would not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty.

2-19

Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal

Engine Coolant Heater

If your vehicle has this feature, you can change the position of the throttle and brake pedals. This feature is designed for shorter drivers, since the pedals cannot move farther away from the standard position, but can move closer for better pedal reach. This feature can be programmed to work with the memory function, if equipped, on your vehicle. See Memory Seat on page 2-51.

The vehicle must be in PARK (P) for this feature to operate.

The switch used to adjust the pedals is located on the steering column.

Press the switch forward or backward to move the pedals closer or farther away from you.

2-20

Your vehicle may have an engine coolant heater. In very cold weather, 0°F (−18°C) or colder, the engine coolant heater can help. You will get easier starting and better fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually, the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of four hours prior to starting your vehicle. At temperatures above 32°F (0°C), use of the coolant heater is not required.

To Use the Engine Coolant Heater

1. Turn off the engine.

2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord. The cord is located on the driver’s side of the engine compartment, behind the battery.

3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-Volt AC outlet.

{CAUTION:

Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong kind of extension cord could overheat and cause a ﬁre. You could be seriously injured. Plug the cord into a properly grounded three-prong 110-volt AC outlet. If the cord will not reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for at least 15 amps.

4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store the cord as it was before to keep it away from moving engine parts. If you do not, it could be damaged.

How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact your dealer in the area where you will be parking your vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for that particular area.

Displacement on Demand™ (DoD™)

Your vehicle’s V8 engine may be equipped with Displacement on Demand™ (DoD™). This system allows the engine to operate on either all or half of its cylinders, depending on your driving conditions.

When less power is required, such as cruising at a constant vehicle speed, the system will operate in the half cylinder mode, allowing your vehicle to achieve better fuel economy. When greater power demands are required, such as accelerating from a stop, passing, or merging onto a freeway, the system will maintain full-cylinder operation.

2-21

Automatic Transmission Operation

There are several different positions for your gear shift lever.

PARK (P): This position locks the rear wheels. It is the best position to use when you start the engine because your vehicle cannot move easily.

{CAUTION:

It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake ﬁrmly set. Your vehicle can roll.

CAUTION: (Continued)

Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is running unless you have to. If you have left the engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be sure your vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly level ground, always set your parking brake and move the shift lever to PARK (P). See Shifting Into Park (P)

on page 2-25. If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer on page 4-52.

Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock control system. You have to fully apply the regular brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition key is in RUN. If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever, press the button on the shift lever and push the shift lever all the way into PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Move the shift lever into the gear you wish. See Shifting Out of Park (P) on page 2-26.

2-22

REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.

Notice: Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is moving forward could damage the transmission. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is stopped.

To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow, ice or sand without damaging your transmission, see If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on page 4-44.

NEUTRAL (N): In this position, the engine does not connect with the wheels. To restart when you are already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.

{CAUTION:

Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is running at high speed is dangerous. Unless your foot is ﬁrmly on the brake pedal, your vehicle could move very rapidly. You could lose control and hit people or objects. Do not shift into a drive gear while your engine is running at high speed.

Notice: Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the engine running at high speed may damage the transmission. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Be sure the engine is not running at high speed when shifting your vehicle.

DRIVE (D): This position is for normal driving.

If you need more power for passing, and you are:

• Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push

the accelerator pedal about halfway down.

• Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push

the accelerator all the way down.

You will shift down to the next gear and have more power.

DRIVE (D) can be used when towing a trailer, carrying a heavy load, driving on steep hills or for off-road driving. You may want to shift the transmission to THIRD (3) or, if necessary, a lower gear selection if the transmission shifts too often.

THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving. However, it offers more power and lower fuel economy than DRIVE (D).

2-23

SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but lower fuel economy than THIRD (3). You can use SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your speed as you go down steep mountain roads, but then you would also want to use the brakes off and on.

You can also use SECOND (2) for starting the vehicle from a stop on slippery road surfaces.

FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power but lower fuel economy than SECOND (2). You can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the gear shift lever is put in FIRST (1) while the vehicle is moving forward, the transmission will not shift into ﬁrst gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough.

Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in one place on a hill using only the accelerator pedal may damage the transmission. If you are stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.

Parking Brake

To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal down with your foot and pull up on the parking brake lever located between the seats. If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light on the instrument panel cluster will come on. See Brake System Warning Light on page 3-33.

To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal down. Pull the parking brake lever up until you can press in the button at the end of the lever. Hold the button in as you move the parking brake lever all the way down.

2-24

Notice: Driving with the parking brake on can overheat the brake system and cause premature wear or damage to brake system parts. Verify that the parking brake is fully released and the brake warning light is off before driving.

If you are towing a trailer and you must park on a hill, see Towing a Trailer on page 4-52.

Shifting Into Park (P)

CAUTION: (Continued)

vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be sure your vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly level ground, use the steps that follow. If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer on page 4-52.

{CAUTION:

It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake ﬁrmly set. Your vehicle can roll. If you have left the engine running, the

CAUTION: (Continued)

1. Hold the brake pedal down with your foot and set the parking brake.

2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by pressing the button on the shift lever and pushing the lever all the way toward the front of the vehicle.

3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.

4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can leave your vehicle with the key, your vehicle is in PARK (P).

2-25

Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine Running

{CAUTION:

It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the engine running. Your vehicle could move suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake ﬁrmly set. And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could overheat and even catch ﬁre. You or others could be injured. Do not leave your vehicle with the engine running.

If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your parking brake is ﬁrmly set before you leave it. After you have moved the shift lever into PARK (P), hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move the shift lever away from PARK (P) without ﬁrst pressing the button on the console shift lever. If you can, it means that the shift lever was not fully locked into PARK (P).

Torque Lock

If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift your transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in the transmission. You may ﬁnd it difficult to pull the shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.” To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave the driver’s seat. To ﬁnd out how, see Shifting Into Park (P) on page 2-25.

When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.

If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission, so you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).

Shifting Out of Park (P)

Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock control system. You have to fully apply the regular brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is in RUN. See Automatic Transmission Operation on page 2-22.

2-26

Parking Over Things That Burn

{CAUTION:

Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust parts under your vehicle and ignite. Do not park over papers, leaves, dry grass, or other things that can burn.

Engine Exhaust

{CAUTION:

Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas carbon monoxide (CO), which you cannot see or smell. It can cause unconsciousness and death.

You might have exhaust coming in if:

• Your exhaust system sounds strange

or different.

• Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.

• Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.

• Your vehicle was damaged when

driving over high points on the road or over road debris.

• Repairs were not done correctly.

• Your vehicle or exhaust system had been

modiﬁed improperly.

If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into your vehicle:

• Drive it only with all the windows down to

blow out any CO; and

• Have your vehicle ﬁxed immediately.

2-27

Running the Engine While Parked

It is better not to park with the engine running. But if you ever have to, here are some things to know.

{CAUTION:

Idling the engine with the climate control system off could allow dangerous exhaust into your vehicle. See the earlier caution under Engine Exhaust on page 2-27.

Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if the climate control fan is at the highest setting. One place this can happen is a garage. Exhaust — with CO — can come in easily. NEVER park in a garage with the engine running.

Another closed-in place can be a blizzard. See Winter Driving on page 4-40.

{CAUTION:

It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake ﬁrmly set. Your vehicle can roll. Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is running unless you have to. If you have left the engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be sure your vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly level ground, always set your parking brake and move the shift lever to PARK (P).

Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle will not move. See Shifting Into Park (P) on page 2-25.

If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer on page 4-52.

2-28

Mirrors

Manual Rearview Mirror

Your vehicle may have this feature. While sitting in a comfortable driving position, adjust the rearview mirror so you can see clearly behind your vehicle. Grip the mirror in the center to move it up or down and side to side. The day/night control, located at the bottom of the mirror, adjusts the mirror to reduce headlamp glare from behind during evening or dark conditions. Turn the control clockwise for night use; return it to the center for daytime use.

Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar

Your vehicle may have a rearview mirror with the OnStar®system.

Control buttons for the OnStar bottom of the mirror. See your GM dealer for more information on the OnStar subscribe to OnStar®. Also, see OnStar®System on page 2-41 for more information about the services

OnStar

provides.

system are at the

system and how to

Mirror Operation

While sitting in a comfortable driving position, adjust the rearview mirror so you can see clearly behind your vehicle. Grip it in the center to move it up or down and side to side. The day/night control, located at the bottom of the mirror, adjusts the mirror to reduce headlamp glare from behind during evening or dark conditions. Move the control to the right for night conditions. Return it to the center for daytime use.

Manual Rearview Mirror with

OnStar

, Compass, and

Temperature Display

The vehicle may have a manual rearview mirror with

OnStar display located in the upper right.

Control buttons for the OnStar®system are at the bottom of the mirror. See your GM dealer for more information about the OnStar OnStar®System on page 2-41 for more information about the services OnStar®provides.

When cleaning the mirror, use a paper towel or similar material dampened with glass cleaner. Do not spray glass cleaner directly on the mirror as that may cause the liquid cleaner to enter the mirror housing.

and an eight-point compass and temperature

system. Also, see

2-29

Mirror Operation

While sitting in a comfortable position, adjust the rearview mirror so you can see clearly behind your vehicle. Grip it in the center and move it up or down and side to side. The day/night control, located at the bottom of the mirror, adjusts the mirror to reduce headlamp glare from behind during evening or dark conditions. Turn the control clockwise for night use; return it to the center for daytime use.

Temperature and Compass Display

(On/Off): Press this button to turn the compass and temperature display on or off. The compass display, can show a maximum of two characters. For example, NE is displayed for north-east.

When the ignition and the compass/temperature feature are on, character boxes will appear for about two seconds. After two seconds, the mirror will display the direction the vehicle is facing and the outside temperature.

To set the temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius, do the following:

1. Press and hold the on/off button until either a ﬂashing F or C appears.

2. Press the button again to change the display to the desired unit of measurement. After about four seconds of inactivity, the new unit will be locked in and the compass/temperature display will return.

Compass Calibration

When on, the compass automatically calibrates as the vehicle is driven. If, after two seconds, the display does not show a compass direction, N for North, for example, there may be a strong magnetic ﬁeld interfering with the compass. Such interference may be caused by a magnetic antenna mount, magnetic note pad holder, or a similar magnetic item. If the letter C should ever appear in the compass window, the compass may need calibration.

Press and hold the on/off button for nine seconds to activate the compass calibration mode. CAL will be displayed in the compass window on the mirror.

The mirror can be calibrated by driving the vehicle in circles at 5 mph (8 km/h) or less until the display shows a direction.

Compass Variance

Compass variance is the difference between earth’s magnetic north and true geographic north. The mirror is set to zone eight upon leaving the factory. It will be necessary to adjust the compass to compensate for compass variance if you live outside zone eight. Under certain conditions, such as during a long-distance, cross-country trip, it will be necessary to adjust for compass variance. If not adjusted to account for compass variance, the compass could give false readings.

2-30

Buick Rainier 2006 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems

Front Seats

Power Seats

Power Lumbar

Heated Seats

Power Reclining Seatbacks

Head Restraints

Rear Seats

Rear Seat Operation

Safety Belts

Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone

Questions and Answers About Safety Belts

How to Wear Safety Belts Properly

Driver Position

Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy

Right Front Passenger Position

Rear Seat Passengers

Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides

Safety Belt Pretensioners

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 Outside Seat Position

Securing a Child Restraint in the Center Rear 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 System

Remote Keyless Entry System Operation

Doors and Locks

Door Locks

Power Door Locks

Delayed Locking

Programmable Automatic Door Locks

Rear Door Security Locks

Lockout Protection

Liftgate/Liftglass

Windows

Power Windows

Sun Visors

Theft-Deterrent Systems

Content Theft-Deterrent

Starting and Operating Your Vehicle

New Vehicle Break-In

Ignition Positions

Retained Accessory Power (RAP)

Starting the Engine

Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal

Engine Coolant Heater

Displacement on Demand™ (DoD™)

Automatic Transmission Operation

Parking Brake

Shifting Into Park (P)

Shifting Out of Park (P)

Parking Over Things That Burn

Engine Exhaust

Running the Engine While Parked

Mirrors

Manual Rearview Mirror