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
Maintenance Schedule
Customer Assistance and Information
Customer Assistance and Information
Reporting Safety Defects
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, CADILLAC,
the CADILLAC Crest & Wreath, and the name STS
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 in
the product after that time without notice. For vehicles
first sold in Canada, substitute the name “General
Motors of Canada Limited” for Cadillac Motor Car
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. 06STS A First Printing
ii
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.
2005 General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
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.
iv
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:
v
✍ NOTES
vi
Section 1Seats and Restraint Systems
Front Seats ......................................................1-2
Power Seats ..................................................1-2
Power Lumbar ...............................................1-2
Restraint System Check ..................................1-63
Checking the Restraint Systems ......................1-63
Replacing Restraint System
Parts After a Crash ...................................1-64
1-1
Front Seats
Power Seats
If your vehicle has the memory feature, you can
program and recall memory settings for seat positions.
See Memory Seat, Mirrors and Steering Wheel onpage 2-70.
The power seat controls
are located on the
outboard sides of the
front seat cushions.
• Move the front of the horizontal control up or down
to adjust the front portion of the cushion.
• Move the rear of the horizontal control up or down
to adjust the rear portion of the cushion.
• Slide the horizontal control forward or rearward to
move the entire seat forward or rearward.
• Press the vertical control rearward to recline the
seatback. Press the vertical control forward to raise
the seatback. See Power Reclining Seatbackon page 1-5.
1-2
Power Lumbar
Your vehicle’s seats may be equipped with power
lumbar.
You can increase or
decrease lumbar support
in an area of the lower
seatback with this control,
located on the outboard
sides of the front seat(s).
To increase support, press and hold the front of the
control. To decrease support, press and hold the rear
of the control. Let go of the control when the lower
seatback reaches the desired level of support.
To raise the position of the lumbar support, press and
hold the top of the control. To lower the position of
lumbar support, press and hold the bottom of the control.
Let go of the control when the lower seatback reaches
the desired level of support.
Your vehicle may have a memory function which allows
seat settings to be saved and recalled. See MemorySeat, Mirrors and Steering Wheel on page 2-70 for
more information.
Heated Seats
Your vehicle may have
heated front seats. The
buttons are located on the
climate control panel.
z (Heated Seat and Seatback): This button is for the
heated seat and seatback. Press the up arrow once
to turn on the heated seat at the highest setting. Press
the down arrow once to turn on the heated seat at
the lowest setting.
Pressing the up or down arrows a second time will raise
or lower the setting. To turn off the heated seat keep
pressing the down arrow until the indicator for heated
seat on the climate control display is off.
A light bar in the climate control display shows the
setting: high, medium, or low. The longest bar shows
the high range and the shortest bar shows the low
range.
The heated seat will automatically shut off when the
vehicle is turned off.
1-3
Heated and Ventilated Seats
Your vehicle may have
heated and ventilated
front seats. The buttons
are located on the climate
control panel.
z (Heated Seat and Seatback): This part of the
button is for the heated seat and seatback.
{ (Ventilated Seat): This part of the button is for
the ventilated seat.
There are three settings for each feature. A light bar
in the climate control display shows the setting;
high, medium or low. The longest bar shows the high
range and the shortest bar shows the low range.
Pressing either the heated seat or ventilated part of
the seat button will start that feature at the highest
setting. Each time you press the button, the feature
will decrease one setting.
To turn the feature off, keep pressing the button until
the display lights turn off.
The heated or ventilated seats will automatically shut
off when the vehicle is turned off.
1-4
Power Reclining Seatback
The vertical power seat control described earlier allows
the seatback to recline. See Power Seats on page 1-2
for more information.
Do no have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is
moving.
{CAUTION:
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle
is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you
buckle up, your safety belts cannot do their
job when you are reclined like this.
The shoulder belt cannot do its job because it
will not be against your body. Instead, it will be
in front of you. In a crash, you could go into it,
receiving neck or other injuries.
The lap belt cannot do its job either. In a crash,
the belt could go up over your abdomen. The
belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic
bones. This could cause serious internal
injuries.
For proper protection when the vehicle is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit
well back in the seat and wear your safety belt
properly.
1-5
Head Restraints
The front and rear head
restraints lock into place
when raised. To release
the head restraint and
lower it, press the
tab located at the base
of the restraint.
The front head restraints also tilt forward and rearward.
Adjust your head restraint so that the top of the restraint
is closest to the top of your head. This position reduces
the chance of a neck injury in a crash.
1-6
Rear Seats
Heated Seats
Your vehicle may have this feature. The buttons used to
control the heated rear seats are located on the back
of the center console. The engine must be running
for the heated seat feature to work.
z (Heated Seat and Seatback): Press this button to
turn the heated seat feature on. When you press the
button, the feature will turn on at the highest setting.
Each time you press the button, the feature will go down
one temperature setting. A light next to the button will
indicate the setting; 3 is the highest, 1 is the lowest.
To turn the feature off, keep pressing the button until
the indicator light goes off.
The heated rear seats will shut off automatically when
the ignition is turned off.
Rear Seat Pass-Through Door
Your vehicle has a pass-through door that provides
access to the trunk from the rear seats. See “Rear Seat
Pass-Through Door” under Trunk on page 2-14.
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.
Your vehicle has indicators to remind you and your
passengers to buckle your safety belts. See Safety Belt
Reminder Light on page 3-59 and Passenger Safety
Belt Reminder Light on page 3-60.
In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law
says to wear safety belts. Here is why: They work.
1-8
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.
1-13
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.
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 BeltExtender on page 1-26.
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. Move the shoulder belt height adjuster to the height
that is right for you. See Shoulder Belt HeightAdjustment on page 1-20.
6. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the
shoulder belt.
7. This safety belt has a feature that will reduce the
tension of the safety belt on the occupant’s
shoulder if the vehicle is on. To set this feature,
gently pull on the belt, or lean forward and then sit
back. The belt will retract and rest lightly against
the occupant.
1-14
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.
1-15
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.
1-16
Q: What is wrong with this?
A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place.
{CAUTION:
You can be seriously injured if your belt is
buckled in the wrong place like this. In a crash,
the belt would go up over your abdomen. The
belt forces would be there, not at the pelvic
bones. This could cause serious internal
injuries. Always buckle your belt into the
buckle nearest you.
1-17
Q: What is wrong with this?
A: The 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.
1-18
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.
To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle.
When the seatbelt is unbuckled or when the vehicle
is turned off, the tension reducer will deactivate.
The belt should go back out of the way.
1-19
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.
Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment
Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt height
adjuster to the height that is right for you.
Adjust the height so that the shoulder portion of the
belt is centered on your shoulder. The belt should
be away from your face and neck, but not falling off
your shoulder.
To move it down, press
the release button (A)
and move the height
adjuster to the desired
position. You can move
the height adjuster up just
by pushing up on the
shoulder belt guide.
After you move the height adjuster to where you want
it, try to move it down without pressing the release
button to make sure it has locked into position.
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.
1-20
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.
1-21
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 BeltExtender on page 1-26.
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.
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 a crash,
or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.
1-22
{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.
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides
Rear shoulder belt comfort guides may provide added
safety belt comfort for older children who have outgrown
booster seats and for some adults. When installed on
a shoulder belt, the comfort guide positions the belt
away from the neck and head.
There is one guide for each outboard passenger position
in the rear seat. Here is how to install a comfort guide
and use the safety belt:
To unlatch the belt, push the button on the buckle.
1. Pull the elastic cord out from between the edge of
the seatback and the interior body to remove the
guide from its storage clip.
1-23
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.
1-24
3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies flat.
The elastic cord must be under the belt and the
guide on top.
{CAUTION:
A safety belt that is not properly worn may
not provide the protection needed in a crash.
The person wearing the belt could be seriously
injured. The shoulder belt should go over the
shoulder and across the chest. These parts of
the body are best able to take belt restraining
forces.
4. Buckle, position, and release the safety belt as
described in Rear Seat Passengers on page 1-21.
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. Pull the guide upward to expose its storage
clip, and then slide the guide onto the clip. Turn the
guide and clip inward and slide them in between
the seatback and the interior body, leaving only the
loop of the elastic cord exposed.
Safety Belt Pretensioners
Your vehicle has safety belt pretensioners for the driver
and right front passenger. Although you cannot see
them, they are located on the buckle end of the safety
belts. They help the safety belts reduce a person’s
forward movement in a moderate to severe frontal
and near frontal crash.
Pretensioners work only once. If they activate in a
crash, you will need to get new ones, and probably other
new parts for your safety belt system. See ReplacingRestraint System Parts After a Crash on page 1-64.
1-25
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.
Child Restraints
Older Children
Older children who have outgrown booster seats should
wear the vehicle’s safety belts.
1-26
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.
{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.
1-27
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?
{CAUTION:
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 onpage 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.
1-28
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.
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.
1-30
For most basic types of child restraints, there are
many different models available. When purchasing
a child restraint, be sure it is designed to be
used in a motor vehicle. If it is, the restraint will
have a label saying that it meets federal motor
vehicle safety standards.
The restraint manufacturer’s instructions that come
with the restraint, state the weight and height
limitations for a particular child restraint. In addition,
there are many kinds of restraints available for
children with special needs.
{CAUTION:
Newborn infants need complete support,
including support for the head and neck. This is
necessary because a newborn infant’s neck is
weak and its head weighs so much compared
with the rest of its body. In a crash, an infant
in a rear-facing seat settles into the restraint,
so the crash forces can be distributed across
the strongest part of an infant’s body, the back
and shoulders. Infants always should be
secured in appropriate infant restraints.
{CAUTION:
The body structure of a young child is quite
unlike that of an adult or older child, for whom
the safety belts are designed. A young child’s
hip bones are still so small that the vehicle’s
regular safety belt may not remain low on the
hip bones, as it should. Instead, it may settle
up around the child’s abdomen. In a crash, the
belt would apply force on a body area that is
unprotected by any bony structure. This alone
could cause serious or fatal injuries. Young
children 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.
1-34
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.
1-35
Where to Put the Restraint
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat.
General Motors recommends that child restraints
be secured in a rear seat, including an infant riding in a
rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a forward-facing
child seat and an older child riding in a booster seat.
Your vehicle has a rear seat that will accommodate
a rear-facing child restraint. A label on your sun visor
says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in the
front.” This is because the risk to the rear-facing child
is so great, if the airbag deploys.
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger’s airbag inflates. This is because
the back of the rear-facing child restraint
would be very close to the inflating airbag.
Even though the passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal
airbag 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. General Motors recommends that
rear-facing child restraints be secured in the
rear seat, even if the airbag is off.
If you need to secure a forward-facing child
restraint in the right front seat, always move the
front passenger seat as far back as it will go.
It is better to secure the child restraint in a
rear seat.
1-36
Wherever you install a child restraint, be sure to secure
the child restraint properly.
Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can
move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure
people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure
any child restraint in your vehicle — even when no
child is in it.
Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH)
Your vehicle has the LATCH system. The LATCH
system holds a child restraint during driving or in a
crash. This system is designed to make installation of
a child restraint easier. The LATCH system uses
anchors in the vehicle and attachments on the child
restraint that are made for use with the LATCH system.
Make sure that a LATCH-compatible child restraint
is properly installed using the anchors, or use the
vehicle’s safety belts to secure the restraint,
following the instructions that came with that
restraint, and also the instructions in this manual.
When installing a child restraint with a top tether, you
must also use either the lower anchors or the safety
belts to properly secure the child restraint. A child
restraint must never be attached using only the top
tether and anchor.
In order to use the LATCH system in your vehicle,
you need a child restraint equipped with LATCH
attachments. The child restraint manufacturer will
provide you with instructions on how to use the child
restraint and its attachments. The following explains
how to attach a child restraint with these attachments
in your vehicle.
Your vehicle has lower anchors and top tether anchors.
Your child restraint may have lower attachments and
a top tether.
Not all vehicle seating positions or child restraints have
lower anchors and attachments or top tether anchors
and attachments.
1-37
Lower Anchors
Top Tether Anchor
Lower anchors (A) are metal bars built into the vehicle.
There are two lower anchors for each LATCH seating
position that will accommodate a child restraint with
lower attachments (B).
1-38
A top tether (A, C) anchors the top of the child restraint
to the vehicle. A top tether anchor is built into the
vehicle. The top tether attachment (B) on the child
restraint connects to the top tether anchor in the vehicle
in order to reduce the forward movement and rotation
of the child restraint during driving or in a crash.
Your child restraint may have a single tether (A) or a
dual tether (C). Either will have a single attachment (B)
to secure the top tether to the anchor.
Some 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
j (Lower Anchor):
Seating positions with
two lower anchors.
i (Top Tether Anchor):
Seating positions with
top tether anchors.
Rear Seat
To assist you in locating
the lower anchors, each
seating position with lower
anchors has two labels,
near the crease between
the seatback and the seat
cushion, showing where
the anchors are located.
1-39
To assist you in locating
the top tether anchors,
the top tether anchor
symbol is located on
the trim cover.
The top tether anchors are located under the trim
covers on the rear seatback filler panel. Be sure to
use an anchor located on the same side of the vehicle
as the seating position where the child restraint will
be placed.
Do not secure a child restraint in the right front
passenger’s position if a national or local law requires
that the top tether be attached, or if the instructions
that come with the child restraint say that the top tether
must be attached. There is no place to attach the
top tether in this position.
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat.
See Where to Put the Restraint on page 1-36 for
additional information.
1-40
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System
{CAUTION:
{CAUTION:
If a LATCH-type child restraint is not attached
to anchors, the restraint will not be able to
protect the child correctly. In a crash, the
child could be seriously injured or killed.
Make sure that a LATCH-type child restraint
is properly installed using the anchors, or
use the vehicle’s safety belts to secure the
restraint, following the instructions that came
with that restraint, and also the instructions
in this manual.
Each top tether anchor and lower anchor in
the vehicle is designed to hold only one child
restraint. Attaching more than one child
restraint to a single anchor could cause the
anchor or attachment to come loose or even
break during a crash. A child or others could
be injured if this happens. To help prevent
injury to people and damage to your vehicle,
attach only one child restraint per anchor.
1. Find the lower anchors, if equipped, for the desired
seating position.
2. If the desired seating position does not have lower
anchors, see Securing a Child Restraint in a RearSeat Position on page 1-43 for instructions on
installing the child restraint using the safety belts.
3. Put the child restraint on the seat.
4. Attach and tighten the lower attachments on the
child restraint to the lower anchors, if equipped,
in the vehicle. The child restraint instructions
will show you how.
1-41
5. If the child restraint is forward-facing, attach and
tighten the top tether to the top tether anchor.
Refer to the child restraint instructions and
the following steps:
5.1. Find the top tether anchor.
5.2. Open the top tether anchor trim cover to
expose the anchor.
5.3. If you have an adjustable head restraint,
raise the head restraint.
5.4. Route, attach and tighten the top tether
according to your child restraint instructions
and the following instructions:
If the position you are
using does not have a
head restraint and you
are using a single tether,
route the tether over
the seatback.
If the position you are
using does not have a
head restraint and you
are using a dual tether,
route the tether over
the seatback.
If the position you are using
has an adjustable head
restraint and you are using
a dual tether, route the
tether under the head
restraint and in between
the head restraint posts.
If the position you are using
has an adjustable head
restraint and you are using
a single tether, route the
tether under the head
restraint and in between
the head restraint posts.
6. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
1-42
Securing a Child Restraint in a
Rear Seat Position
If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH
system, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children(LATCH) on page 1-37.
If your child restraint does not have the LATCH system,
you will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the
child restraint in this position. Be sure to follow the
instructions that came with the child restraint. Secure
the child in the child restraint when and as the
instructions say.
1. Put the child restraint on the seat.
2. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder
portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or
around the restraint. The child restraint instructions
will show you how.
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.
1-43
4. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out
of the retractor to set the lock.
1-44
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.
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 see Lower Anchorsand 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
Right Front Seat Position
Your vehicle has a right front passenger 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 1-58
and Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-61
for more information on this including important
safety information.
A label on your sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing
child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the
rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger’s airbag inflates. This is because
the back of the rear-facing child restraint
would be very close to the inflating airbag.
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 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.
1-45
There is no top tether anchor in the right front
passenger’s 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 Tethersfor Children (LATCH) on page 1-37 if your 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 onpage 1-58. General Motors recommends that
rear-facing child restraints be secured in a rear seat,
even if the airbag is off. If your child restraint is
forward-facing, move the seat as far back as it
will go before securing the child restraint in this
seat. See Power Seats on page 1-2.
When the passenger sensing system has turned
off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag,
the off indicator in the passenger airbag status
indicator should light and stay lit when the vehicle
is running. See Passenger Airbag Status Indicatoron page 3-61.
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.
1-46
5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out
of the retractor to set the lock.
6. To tighten the belt, push down on the child
restraint, pull the shoulder portion of the belt
to tighten the lap portion of the belt and feed the
shoulder belt back into the retractor. If you are
using a forward-facing child restraint, you may find
it helpful to use your knee to push down on the
child restraint as you tighten the belt. 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 overhead
console will be lit and stay lit when the vehicle is
running.
1-47
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.
A thick layer of additional material such as a blanket,
or aftermarket equipment such as seat covers heaters
or massagers, located between the seat cushion and
the child restraint or small occupant, can affect how
the passenger sensing system operates. Remove
any additional material from the seat cushion before
reinstalling/securing the child restraint or small occupant.
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.
Airbag System
Your vehicle has six airbags:
• A frontal airbag for the driver and another frontal
airbag for the right front passenger,
• a seat-mounted side impact airbag for the driver
and another for the right front passenger,
• a roof-mounted side impact airbag for the driver
and passenger directly behind the driver, and
• a roof-mounted side impact airbag for the right front
passenger and the person seated directly behind
that passenger.
Frontal airbags are designed to help reduce the risk
of injury from the force of an inflating airbag. But these
airbags must inflate very quickly to do their job and
comply with federal regulations.
1-48
Here are the most important things to know about the
airbag system:
CAUTION:(Continued)
{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)
Seat-mounted side impact airbags and
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, in rollover
or in rear crashes. Everyone in your vehicle
should wear a safety belt properly — whether or
not there is an airbag for that person.
1-49
{CAUTION:
{CAUTION:
Both frontal and side impact airbags inflate
with great force, faster than the blink of an
eye. If you are too close to an inflating airbag,
as you would be if you were leaning forward,
it could seriously injure you. Safety belts help
keep you in position for airbag inflation before
and during a crash. Always wear your safety
belt even with frontal airbags. The driver
should sit as far back as possible while still
maintaining control of the vehicle. Occupants
should not lean on or sleep against the door.
1-50
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 Infantsand Young Children on page 1-29.
There is an airbag
readiness light on the
instrument panel, which
shows the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-60
for more information.
Where Are the Airbags?
The driver’s frontal airbag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.
1-51
The right front passenger’s frontal airbag is in the
instrument panel on the passenger’s side.
1-52
The seat-mounted side impact airbag for the driver is
in the side of the driver’s seatback closest to the door.
The seat-mounted side impact airbag for the right front
passenger is in the side of the passenger’s seatback
closest to the door.
The roof-mounted side impact airbag for the driver and
the person seated directly behind the driver is in the
ceiling above the side windows.
1-53
The roof-mounted side impact airbag for the right front
passenger and the person seated directly behind
that passenger is in the ceiling above the side windows.
{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
airbag, the airbag might not inflate properly
or it might force the object into that person
causing severe injury or even death. The path
of an inflating airbag must be kept clear. Do
not put anything between an occupant and an
airbag, and do not attach or put anything on
the steering wheel hub or on or near any other
airbag covering. Never secure anything to the
roof of your vehicle by routing the rope or
tie-down through any door or window opening.
If you do, the path of an inflating airbag will be
blocked. Do not let seat covers block the
inflation path of a side impact airbag. The path
of an inflating airbag must be kept clear.
1-54
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 an electronic frontal
sensor, which helps 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 12 to 16 mph
(19 to 26 km/h), and the threshold level for a full
deployment is about 18 to 24 mph (28.5 to 38.5 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.
1-55
The side impact airbags are intended to inflate in
moderate to severe side crashes. A side impact airbag
will inflate if the crash severity is above the system’s
designed “threshold level.” The threshold level can vary
with specific vehicle design. Side impact airbags are not
intended to inflate in frontal or near-frontal impacts,
rollovers or rear impacts. A side impact airbag is intended
to deploy on the side of the vehicle that is struck.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether an airbag
should have inflated simply because of the damage to
a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were. For
frontal airbags, inflation is determined by what the vehicle
hits, the angle of the impact, and how quickly the vehicle
slows down in frontal and near-frontal impacts. For side
impact airbags, inflation is determined by the location
and severity of the impact.
What Makes an Airbag Inflate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the airbag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. The
sensing system triggers a release of gas from the
inflator, which inflates the airbag. The inflator, airbag
and related hardware are all part of the airbag modules
inside the steering wheel, instrument panel, the side
of the front seatbacks closest to the door and 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. 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 for side impact airbags.
1-56
What Will You See After an Airbag
Inflates?
{CAUTION:
After the frontal and seat-mounted side impact airbags
inflate, they quickly deflate, so quickly that some people
may not even realize the airbags inflated. Roof-mounted
side impact airbags are designed to deflate more slowly
and may still be at least partially inflated minutes after
the vehicle comes to rest. Some components of the
airbag module — the steering wheel hub for the
driver’s airbag, the instrument panel for the right front
passenger’s bag, the side of the seatback closest to the
door for the seat-mounted side impact airbags and the
area along the ceiling of your vehicle near the side
windows — may be hot for a short time. The parts of
the bag that come into contact with you may be warm,
but not too hot to touch. There will be some smoke and
dust coming from the vents in the deflated airbags.
Airbag inflation does not prevent the driver from seeing
out of the windshield or being able to steer the vehicle,
nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle.
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 will automatically unlock
the doors, turn the interior lamps on, turn the hazard
warning flashers on, and turn off the climate control
system, when the airbags inflate (if battery power
is available). You can lock the doors, turn the interior
lamps off, turn the hazard warning flashers off and turn
the climate control system on by using the controls
for those features.
1-57
In many crashes severe enough to inflate the airbag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from
the right front passenger airbag.
• Airbags are designed to inflate only once. After
an airbag inflates, you will need some new parts
for 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 EventData Recorders on page 7-8.
• Let only qualified technicians work on your airbag
system. Improper service can mean that an
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 position. The passenger airbag
status indicator will be visible when the vehicle is
running. The words ON and OFF or the symbol for on
and off, will be visible in the overhead console 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 PassengerAirbag Status Indicator on page 3-61.
Passenger Airbag
Status Indicator –
United States
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.
Passenger Airbag
Status Indicator –
Canada
1-58
The passenger sensing system works with sensors
that are part of the right front passenger’s seat.
The sensors are designed to detect the presence of
a properly-seated occupant and determine if the
passenger’s frontal airbag should be enabled (may
inflate) or not.
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat.
General Motors recommends that child restraints
be secured in a rear seat, including an infant riding in a
rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a forward-facing
child seat and an older child riding in a booster seat.
Your vehicle has a rear seat that will accommodate
a rear-facing child restraint. A label on your sun visor
says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in the
front.” This is because the risk to the rear-facing child
is so great, if the airbag deploys.
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger’s airbag inflates. This is because
the back of the rear-facing child restraint would
be very close to the inflating airbag.
Even though the passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal
airbag 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. General Motors recommends that
rear-facing child restraints be secured in the
rear seat, even if the airbag is off.
If you need to secure a forward-facing child
restraint in the right front seat, always move the
front passenger seat as far back as it will go.
It is better to secure the child restraint in a
rear seat.
1-59
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 overhead console will light and stay lit to remind
you that the airbag is off. See Passenger Airbag StatusIndicator on page 3-61.
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 1-45.
If after reinstalling the child restraint and restarting the
vehicle, the on indicator is still lit, check to make
sure that the vehicle’s seatback is not pressing the child
restraint into the seat cushion. If this happens, slightly
recline the vehicle’s seatback and adjust the seat
cushion if possible. Also make sure the child restraint
is not trapped under the vehicle head restraint. If
this happens, adjust the head restraint.
If the on indicator is still lit, secure the child in the
child restraint in a rear seat position in the vehicle and
check with your dealer.
The passenger sensing system is designed to enable
(may inflate) the right front passenger’s frontal airbag
anytime the system senses that a person of adult size is
sitting properly in the right front passenger’s seat. When
the passenger sensing system has allowed the airbag to
be enabled, the on indicator will light and stay lit to
remind you that the airbag is active.
For some children who have outgrown child restraints
and for very small adults, the passenger sensing system
may or may not turn off the right front passenger’s
frontal airbag, depending upon the person’s seating
posture and body build. Everyone in your vehicle who
has outgrown child restraints should wear a safety
belt properly — whether or not there is an airbag for
that person.
1-60
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 ReadinessLight on page 3-60 for more on this, including
important safety information.
A thick layer of additional material such as a blanket,
or aftermarket equipment such as seat covers, seat
heaters and seat massagers can affect how well
the passenger sensing system operates. Remove
any additional material from the seat cushion before
reinstalling or securing the child restraint or small
occupant. 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 1-62 for more information about modifications
that can affect how the system operates.
1-61
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle
Airbags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the airbag system in several places
around your vehicle. Your dealer and the service manual
have information about servicing your vehicle and the
airbag system. To purchase a service manual, see
Service Publications Ordering Information on page 7-14.
{CAUTION:
For up to 20 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 too close to an
airbag when it inflates. Avoid wires wrapped
with yellow tape, yellow coverings or yellow
connectors. They are probably part of the
airbag systems. Be sure to follow proper
service procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is qualified to do so.
The airbag system does not need regular maintenance.
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
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
1-62
Q: Because I have a disability, I have to get my
vehicle modified. How can I find out whether
this will affect my airbag system?
A: Changing or moving any parts of the front seats,
safety belts, the airbag sensing and diagnostic
module (located under the center console), or the
overhead console 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.
Restraint System Check
Checking the Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors
and anchorages are working properly. Look for any other
loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see
anything that might keep a safety belt system from
doing its job, have it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a
crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt
is torn or frayed, get a new one right away.
Also look for any opened or broken airbag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The airbag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
Notice: If you damage the covering for the driver’s
or the right front passenger’s airbag, or the airbag
covering on the driver’s and right front passenger’s
seatback, or the side impact airbag covering on
the ceiling near the side windows, the bag may
not work properly. You may have to replace
the airbag module in the steering wheel, both the
airbag module and the instrument panel for the right
front passenger’s airbag, the airbag module and
seatback for the driver’s and right front passenger’s
seat-mounted side impact airbags, or side impact
airbag module and ceiling covering for the
roof-mounted side impact airbag. Do not open or
break the airbag coverings.
1-63
Replacing Restraint System
Parts After a Crash
{CAUTION:
A crash can damage the restraint systems
in your vehicle. A damaged restraint system
may not properly protect the person using it,
resulting in serious injury or even death in
a crash. To help make sure your restraint
systems are working properly after a crash,
have them inspected and any necessary
replacements made as soon as possible.
If you have had a crash, do you need new belts or
LATCH system parts?
After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary.
But if the belts were stretched, as they would be if
worn during a more severe crash, then you need
new parts.
If the LATCH system was being used during a more
severe crash, you may need new LATCH system parts.
If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision
damage also may mean you will need to have LATCH
system, safety belt or seat parts repaired or replaced.
New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the belt
or LATCH system was not being used at the time of
the collision.
If an airbag inflates, you will need to replace airbag
system parts. See the part on the airbag system earlier
in this section.
If the frontal airbags inflate, you will also need to replace
the driver’s and right front passenger’s safety belt buckle
assembly. Be sure to do so. Then the new buckle
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 buckle assemblies, even
if the frontal airbags have not deployed. The driver and
front passenger’s safety belt buckle 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 3-60.
Memory Seat, Mirrors and Steering Wheel .......2-70
Keys
{CAUTION:
Leaving children unattended in a vehicle is
dangerous, but it is even more dangerous if
the keyless access transmitter is also left in
the vehicle. A child or others could be badly
injured or even killed.
They could operate the power windows or
other controls or even make the vehicle move.
Do not leave the keyless access transmitter in
a vehicle with children.
2-3
There is one key for the
driver’s door, glove box
and rear seat pass-through
door. See “Rear Seat
Pass-Through Door” under
Trunk on page 2-14 for
more information.
Your vehicle has a Keyless Access System with
pushbutton start. See Ignition Positions on page 2-24
for information on starting the vehicle.
Notice: If you ever lose your transmitter(s) and/or
key, it could be difficult to get into your vehicle. You
may even have to damage your vehicle to get in.
Be sure you have a spare transmitter and/or key.
In an emergency, contact Cadillac Roadside Assistance.
See Roadside Service on page 7-5.
®
If your vehicle is equipped with the OnStar
®
OnStar
vehicle if needed. If the vehicle battery is dead,
OnStar
may be able to send a command to unlock your
®
will be unable to unlock the vehicle. See
system,
OnStar®System on page 2-45 for more information.
Keyless Access System
Your vehicle has a Keyless Access System that
operates on a radio frequency subject to Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) Rules and with
Industry Canada.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference.
2. This device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may cause
undesired operation.
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
2-4
If you ever notice a decrease in the keyless access
transmitter range, try doing one of the following:
• 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
Keyless Access System Operation on page 2-5.
• Check to make sure that an electronic device such
as a cellular phone or lap top computer is not
causing interference.
• If you are still having trouble, see your dealer or a
qualified technician for service.
Keyless Access System Operation
Your vehicle has a Keyless Access System that lets you
lock and unlock your vehicle’s doors, open the trunk
lid, remotely start the engine, and locate your vehicle, or
sound your vehicle’s alarm from a distance as much
as much as 30 feet (10 m) away.
The Keyless Access System also lets you lock and
unlock the vehicle’s doors and access the trunk without
removing the remote transmitter from your pocket,
purse, briefcase, etc. The system operates when the
transmitter is located within 3 feet (1 m) of the door or
trunk of your vehicle. See “Keyless Doors Unlock”
and “Keyless Ft (Front) Door Unlock” under VehiclePersonalization on page 2-53.
Your vehicle comes with
two transmitters.
2-5
Q (Lock): Press this button to lock the doors. The
lock status light on the front doors will turn on for
five seconds and the turn signal indicators will flash. If
this button is pressed twice, the doors will lock, the
status light on the door will turn on for five seconds, the
turn signal indicators will flash twice, and the horn
will sound once.
If the engine is off, the windows may be closed from
outside the vehicle using the lock button on the keyless
access transmitter. Press and hold the lock button
for more than two seconds to close any open window(s)
on your vehicle. If any window is unable to close
completely, it will reverse and the horn will chirp. See
“Anti-Pinch Feature” under Power Windows onpage 2-18 for more information.
You can program your vehicle so the turn signal
indicators will not flash and the horn will not sound
when pressing the lock button on the keyless access
transmitter. For more information see “Lights Flash
at Lock” and “Horn Chirps at Lock” under VehiclePersonalization on page 2-53.
/ (Remote Start): Pressing this button operates the
remote start feature. See “Remote Vehicle Start” at
the end of this section for more detailed information.
" (Unlock): Press this button once to unlock the
driver’s door. The turn signal indicators will flash twice.
Press the unlock button twice within five seconds to
unlock all the doors. If it is dark enough outside, your
interior lamps will come on.
You can program your vehicle so the turn signal
indicators will not flash and the fog lamps and reverse
lamps remain on steady for approximately 20 seconds
when the keyless access transmitter is used to
unlock the vehicle. See “Lights Flash at Lock” and “Ext.
(Exterior) Lights at Unlock” under VehiclePersonalization on page 2-53.
If your vehicle has the memory feature you can program
and recall memory settings when you press the unlock
button on the keyless access transmitter. See MemorySeat, Mirrors and Steering Wheel on page 2-70 for
more information.
G (Trunk): Press this button to open the trunk
while the engine is turned off or the shift lever is
in PARK (P).
L (Vehicle Locator/Panic Alarm): Press and release
this button to locate your vehicle. The horn will chirp
three times and the turn signal lamps will flash
three times. Press and hold the button for three seconds
to sound the panic alarm. The horn will chirp and the
turn signal lamps will flash for 30 seconds. Press
and release the button again to cancel the panic alarm.
2-6
Matching Transmitter(s) to
Your Vehicle
Each Keyless Access System is coded to allow only
transmitters programmed to your vehicle to work.
If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can be
purchased and programmed through your GM
dealer. Your GM dealer can reprogram your vehicle so
lost or stolen transmitters no longer work with your
vehicle. Each vehicle can have a maximum of
four transmitters matched to it.
To match a new transmitter to your vehicle when you
have a recognized transmitter, do the following.
Two recognized transmitters are required for
Canadian owners.
1. The vehicle must be off.
2. Have the recognized transmitter and the new,
unrecognized transmitter(s) with you.
3. Insert the vehicle key into the key lock cylinder
located on the outside of the driver’s door.
4. Turn the key to the unlock position five times within
five seconds.
5. The Driver Information Center (DIC) will display
READY FOR FOB #X, where X can be 2, 3 or 4.
6. Place the new, unrecognized transmitter into the
transmitter pocket with the transmitter buttons facing
the front of the vehicle. The transmitter pocket is
inside the center console storage area located
between the driver and front passenger seats.
7. Once the transmitter is programmed, a beep will
sound. The DIC will display READY FOR #X,
where X can be 3 or 4, or MAX # FOBS LEARNED.
8. Remove the transmitter from the transmitter pocket
and press the unlock button on the keyless access
transmitter two times.
2-7
The Canadian immobilizer standard requires Canadian
owners to see their GM dealer for matching new
transmitters when a recognized transmitter is not
available. United States Owners are permitted to match
a new transmitter to their vehicle when a recognized
transmitter is not available. The procedure will require
three, ten minute cycles to complete the matching
process. Do the following:
1. The vehicle must be off.
2. Place the new, unrecognized transmitter into the
transmitter pocket with the transmitter buttons facing
the front of the vehicle. The transmitter pocket is
inside the center console storage area located
between the driver and front passenger seats.
3. Insert the vehicle key into the key lock cylinder
located on the driver’s door.
4. Turn the key to the unlock position five times within
five seconds.
5. The DIC message will display OFF/ACC
TO LEARN.
6. Press the OFF/ACC button (ignition switch).
7. The DIC will read WAIT 10 MINUTES and will
count down to zero, one minute at a time.
8. The DIC will display OFF/ACC TO LEARN again.
9. Press the OFF/ACC button (ignition switch) again.
10. The DIC will again read WAIT 10 MINUTES
and will count down to zero, one minute at a time.
11. The DIC will display OFF/ACC TO LEARN again.
12. Press the OFF/ACC button (ignition switch) again.
13. The DIC will again read WAIT 10 MINUTES
and will count down to zero, one minute at a time.
14. A beep will sound and the DIC will read READY
FOR FOB #1. At this time, all previously known
transmitters have been erased.
15. Once the transmitter is recognized and
programmed, a beep will sound and the DIC will
display READY FOR FOB #2.
16. Remove the keyless access transmitter and press
the unlock button twice to initialize it.
2-8
If you have additional transmitters to program, this
process can be repeated until four transmitters have
been programmed. The DIC will then display MAX
# FOBS LEARNED and will exit the programming mode.
When you are done programming transmitters, press
the unlock button on each keyless access transmitter
twice. After performing this process, transmitters
previously programmed will no longer work with your
vehicle and must be reprogrammed.
Battery Replacement
Under normal use, the battery in your keyless access
transmitter should last about three years.
You can tell the battery is weak if the transmitter will not
work at the normal range in any location. If you have
to get close to your vehicle before the transmitter works,
it is probably time to change the battery. The DIC
may display KEY FOB BATTERY LOW.
A weak battery may also cause the DIC to display
NO FOBS DETECTED when you try to start the vehicle.
If this happens, place the transmitter in the center
console storage area transmitter pocket with the
buttons facing to the front of the vehicle. Then, with the
vehicle in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N), press the
brake pedal and the start button. See Starting theEngine on page 2-25, for additional information about
your vehicle’s electronic keyless ignition with push
button start. Although this will start the vehicle, it is
recommended that you replace the transmitter battery
as soon as possible.
Notice: When replacing the battery, use care not to
touch any of the circuitry. Static from your body
transferred to these surfaces may damage the
transmitter.
To replace the battery, do the following:
1. Insert a coin or similar object into the slot on the
back of the transmitter and carefully pry apart the
front and back.
2. Carefully pull the battery out of the transmitter.
2-9
3. Put the new battery in the transmitter, positive (+)
side down. Use a battery type CR2032 or
equivalent.
4. Reassemble the transmitter. Make sure to put it
together so water will not get inside the transmitter.
5. Test the transmitter.
Remote Vehicle Start
This feature allows you to start the engine from outside
the vehicle.
/ (Remote Start): To start the vehicle using the
remote start feature, do the following:
1. Aim the remote keyless access transmitter at the
vehicle.
2. Press the transmitter’s lock button, release it, and
then immediately press and hold the transmitter’s
remote start button for at least three seconds or until
the vehicle’s turn signal lamps flash. The vehicle’s
doors will be locked.
3. When the vehicle starts, the parking lamps will turn
on and remain on while the vehicle is running.
4. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 while the engine is still
running to add 10 minutes of engine running.
If the vehicle is left running it will automatically shut off
after 10 minutes unless a time extension has been done.
To manually shut off a remote start, do any of the
following:
• Aim the keyless access transmitter at the vehicle and
press the remote start button until the parking lamps
turn off.
• Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
• Press the OFF/ACC button (ignition switch). See
Ignition Positions on page 2-24.
• Turn on the valet lockout switch. See Valet Lockout
Switch on page 2-23.
When you enter the vehicle during a remote start, press
the brake pedal and press the start button on the
keyless ignition switch to transition from remote start
operation to normal vehicle operation.
Before the remote vehicle start system can be operated
with the keyless access transmitter it must be
activated. The remote start system is turned on through
the vehicle personalization system.
You can also program the remote vehicle start system
to start up the vehicle’s automatic climate control
system. If this feature is turned on, the system monitors
the outside temperature and turns on the rear window
defogger, front window defogger, and heated or
ventilated seats, if equipped. See “Personal Settings
Menu” under Vehicle Personalization on page 2-53.
2-10
Laws in some local communities may restrict the use of
remote starters, for example, requiring a person
using remote start to have the vehicle in view when
doing so. Check local regulations for any requirements
on remote starting of vehicles.
Do not use the remote start feature if your vehicle is low
on fuel. Your vehicle may run out of fuel.
The remote start feature provides two separate starts,
each with 10 minutes of engine running. If you press the
remote start button on the keyless access transmitter
again before the first 10 minutes of engine running time
has expired, 10 minutes is added to the remaining
minutes. For example, if the remote start button
is pressed again after five minutes of the engine run
time, 10 minutes is added and you now have 15 minutes
with the engine running. Once two remote starts or
20 minutes of the engine running have been provided,
the vehicle must be started using the keyless access
with pushbutton start feature, if the engine needs to be
restarted. See Starting the Engine on page 2-25 for
more information regarding the keyless ignition.
The remote start feature will not operate if any of the
following occur:
• The check engine light is displayed. See “Check
Engine Light” under Malfunction Indicator Lampon page 3-67.
• The valet lockout switch is on.
• The keyless access transmitter is in the vehicle.
• The vehicle’s hood is open.
• The vehicle personalization feature is not enabled.
• An unauthorized vehicle entry or a vehicle theft
was attempted.
Your keyless access transmitter, with the remote start
button, provides an increased range of operation.
However, the range may be less while the vehicle is
running. As a result, you may need to be closer to your
vehicle to turn it off than you were to turn it on.
There are other conditions which can affect the
performance of the transmitter, see Keyless AccessSystem on page 2-4.
2-11
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, press the lock or unlock button on
the keyless access transmitter. When you have
your transmitter with you, you may also unlock and
open the door by pulling the door handle. You do not
have to press the unlock button on the transmitter. Entry
occurs when the door handle is pulled and the vehicle
recognizes your transmitter. See Vehicle Personalizationon page 2-53 for information on how to program the
keyless access feature.
From the inside, use the power door lock switches
located on each front door. See Power Door Locks onpage 2-12 for more information. The rear passenger
doors have manual door lock knobs located at the top of
the door panel near the window. Push down the knob
to lock the door. Pull up the knob to unlock the door.
Power Door Locks
The power door lock switches are located on the
front doors.
K (Unlock): Press the side of the switch with the
unlock symbol to unlock the doors.
Q (Lock): Press the side of the switch with the lock
symbol to lock the doors.
2-12
Programmable Automatic
Door Locks
Your vehicle was programmed from the factory so that
when the doors are closed, the ignition is on and
the shift lever is moved out of PARK (P), all the doors
will lock.
The front doors can still be opened from the inside while
the doors are locked. If a rear passenger needs to
exit the vehicle, have that person use the manual knob
or use the power door lock switch on either front
door. When the door is closed again, it will not lock
automatically. Use the manual knob or the power door
lock switch to lock the door.
The doors were also programmed from the factory to
unlock every time the shift lever is moved back into
PARK (P).
The power door locks can be programmed through the
radio display. The radio display allows you to choose
various lock and unlock settings. For more information
on programming, see Vehicle Personalization onpage 2-53.
Rear Door Security Locks
Your vehicle is equipped with rear door security locks
that prevent passengers from opening the rear doors on
your vehicle from the inside.
The rear door security
locks are located on the
inside edge of each rear
door. You must open the
rear doors to access them.
To use these locks, do the following:
1. Insert your key into the slot next to the rear door
security lock label and turn it to engage the lock.
2. Close the door.
3. Repeat the steps for the other rear door.
The rear doors on your vehicle cannot be opened from
the inside when this feature is in use.
2-13
When you want to open a rear door when the security
lock is on, do the following:
1. Unlock the door using the remote keyless entry
transmitter, the front door power lock switch or
by lifting the rear door manual lock.
2. Then open the door from the outside.
To cancel the rear door security lock, do the following:
1. Unlock the door and open it from the outside.
2. Insert your key into the slot next to the rear
door security lock label and turn it to disengage
the lock.
3. Repeat the steps for the other lock.
The rear door locks will now work normally.
Lockout Protection
Your vehicle can be programmed to sound the horn
three times and unlock the driver’s door when all doors
are closed and there is a keyless access transmitter
inside the interior of the vehicle. When the driver’s door
is reopened, the key in reminder chime will sound
continuously. The vehicle will remain locked only when
at least one transmitter has been removed from the
vehicle and both doors are closed. See VehiclePersonalization on page 2-53.
Trunk
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk lid
open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can
come into your vehicle. You cannot see or
smell CO. It can cause unconsciousness and
even death. If you must drive with the trunk lid
open or if electrical wiring or other cable
connections must pass through the seal
between the body and the trunk lid:
• Make sure all other windows are shut.
• Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed and select the
control setting that will force outside air
into your vehicle. See Climate Control
System.
• If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
See Engine Exhaust on page 2-39.
2-14
Trunk Lid Release
There are several ways to release the trunk lid.
• V (Trunk Lid Release): Press this button
located on the driver’s door. The vehicle must be in
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) and the valet mode
turned off. To disable valet mode, see Valet LockoutSwitch on page 2-23.
• Press the trunk lid release button on the keyless
access transmitter. See Keyless Access SystemOperation on page 2-5. The vehicle must be
in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) and the valet mode
turned off.
• Squeeze the trunk release button located on the
rear of the trunk lid above the license plate, as
long as you have your keyless access transmitter
with you. Entry occurs when the button is being
pressed and the vehicle recognizes the transmitter.
The vehicle must be in PARK (P) and the valet
mode turned off.
If your vehicle has lost battery power, you can still
access the trunk by unlocking and lowering the rear seat
pass-through door and pulling the emergency trunk
release handle.
2-15
Rear Seat Pass-Through Door
This feature allows you to access the trunk without
opening the trunk lid. If the vehicle ever loses power,
the trunk can be accessed and opened through
this door.
To open the door, do the following:
1. Pull the rear seat armrest down.
2. If the door is locked, insert the key into the lock and
turn it counterclockwise.
3. Press the button above the lock.
4. Lower the door.
To open the trunk lid, pull the emergency trunk release
handle located in the trunk on the other side of the
door opening. See “Emergency Trunk Release Handle”
following.
Emergency Trunk Release Handle
Notice: Do not use the emergency trunk release
handle as a tie-down or anchor point when securing
items in the trunk as it could damage the handle.
The emergency trunk release handle is only
intended to aid a person trapped in a latched trunk,
enabling them to open the trunk from the inside.
There is a glow-in-the-dark trunk release handle located
inside the trunk near the back of the rear seats. This
handle will glow following exposure to light. Pull
down the release handle to open the trunk from the
inside of the vehicle.
2-16
Windows
{CAUTION:
Leaving children, helpless adults, or pets in a
vehicle with the windows closed is dangerous.
They can be overcome by the extreme heat
and suffer permanent injuries or even death
from heat stroke. Never leave a child, a
helpless adult, or a pet alone in a vehicle,
especially with the windows closed in warm or
hot weather.
2-17
Power Windows
The power window switches are located on the armrest
near each window. Press the front of the switch to
the first position to open the window to the desired level.
Lift up the front of the switch to the first position to
close the window.
Your vehicle has Retained Accessory Power (RAP) that
allows you to use the power windows once the engine
has been turned off. For more information, see RetainedAccessory Power (RAP) on page 2-25.
Express-Down Window
This feature is on all windows. It allows you to lower
the window all the way without continuously pressing
the switch.
Press the front of the switch to the second position and
release. If you want to stop the window as it is
lowering, briefly pull up the switch.
Express-Up Window
This feature is on all windows. It allows you to raise the
window all the way without continuously lifting the
switch. Lift the front of the switch briefly to activate the
express-up feature. If you want to stop the window
as it is raising, briefly press the switch.
2-18
Programming the Power Windows
If the battery on your vehicle has been recharged,
disconnected, or is not working, you will need to
reprogram each window for the express-up feature
to work.
To program each window, follow these steps:
1. With the ignition on or in ACC, or while RAP is
active, close all doors.
2. Press and hold the power window switch until the
window has fully opened.
3. Continue holding the switch for approximately
two seconds.
4. Pull up the power window switch until the window is
fully closed.
The window is now programmed. Repeat the process
for all windows.
Express Window Anti-Pinch Feature
If any object is in the path of the window when
the express-up is active, the window will stop at the
obstruction and auto-reverse to a preset factory position.
Weather conditions such as severe icing may also
cause the window to auto-reverse. The window
will return to normal operation once the obstruction or
condition is removed.
Express Window Anti-Pinch Override
{CAUTION:
If express override is activated, the window
will not reverse automatically. You or others
could be injured and the window could be
damaged. Before you use express override,
make sure that all people and obstructions are
clear of the window path.
In an emergency, the anti-pinch feature can be
overridden in a supervised mode. Hold the window
switch all the way up in the express position. The
window will rise for as long as the switch is held. Once
the switch is released, the express mode is re-activated.
In this mode, the window can still close on an object
in its path. Use care when using the override mode.
2-19
Window Lockout
Sun Visors
o
(Window Lockout): The rear window lockout
button is located on the driver’s door armrest near the
window switches. Press this button to disable the
rear window controls. The light on the button will
illuminate, indicating that the feature is in use. The rear
windows can be raised or lowered using the driver’s
window switches when the lockout feature is on.
To restore power to the rear windows, press the button
again. The light on the button will go out.
The front passenger window can be programmed to be
disabled using the window lockout button. See
Vehicle Personalization on page 2-53.
Secure Car Feature
The windows can be closed by pressing the lock button
on the keyless access transmitter. See KeylessAccess System Operation on page 2-5 for more
information. The window, if down, will express-up. If any
window was unable to completely close, it will reverse
and the horn will chirp. See “Anti-Pinch Feature”
previously. The engine must be off to operate
this feature.
2-20
Swing down the visor or detach it from the center mount
and move to the side to block out glare. The visors
also have side-to-side slide capability for greater
coverage.
Lighted Visor Vanity Mirrors
Pull the visor down and lift the cover. Move the slide
switch up or down to brighten or dim the lamp.
Theft-Deterrent Systems
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle has a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make it
impossible to steal.
Theft-Deterrent System
Your vehicle has a theft-deterrent alarm system.
The security light is
located on the instrument
panel cluster.
If the ignition is off and a door is open, the security light
will flash, reminding you to arm the theft-deterrent
system.
To arm the system, do one of the following:
• Press the lock button on the keyless access
transmitter. If the door is closed when the lock button
is pressed, the security light will stay illuminated for
30 seconds. After the security light goes off, the
theft-deterrent system is armed. Pressing the lock
button twice will arm the system immediately.
If the vehicle is locked using the keyless access
transmitter and the trunk lid, hood or a door is open
or not closed completely, the security light will flash
for 60 seconds and then turn off. At this time, the
theft-deterrent system is armed but the alarm will not
sound if the trunk lid, hood or door that was not
closed completely is tampered with or opened. The
alarm will sound for the trunk lid, hood or a door that
was completely closed at the time the vehicle was
locked using the keyless access transmitter.
• Open the door. Lock the door with the power door
lock switch or lock button on the keyless access
transmitter. The security light should flash. Close the
door. The security light will stop flashing and stay on.
After 30 seconds the light should turn off, the
theft-deterrent system is armed.
• Passive Arming, if activated through the vehicle
personalization feature, will arm the system
automatically after you close the door and take at
least one keyless access transmitter with you. The
security light will turn on. After 60 seconds the light
should turn off. The theft-deterrent system is armed.
See Vehicle Personalization on page 2-53.
2-21
If a door, hood, or the trunk is opened without the
keyless access transmitter, the horn will sound for
30 seconds and the lamps will flash for two minutes.
The vehicle cannot be started without a keyless
access transmitter.
The Theft-Deterrent system will not arm if:
• The key is used to lock the driver’s door.
• The driver’s door is locked using the power door
lock switch after the doors are closed.
If the vehicle is locked using the keyless access
transmitter and the trunk lid, hood or a door is open or
not closed completely, the security light will flash for
60 seconds and then turn off. At this time, the
theft-deterrent system is armed but the alarm will not
sound if the trunk lid, hood or door that was not closed
completely is tampered with or opened. The alarm
will sound for the trunk lid, hood or a door that was
completely closed at the time the vehicle was locked
using the keyless access transmitter.
The vehicle can be programmed to automatically unlock
the doors and disarm the theft-deterrent system when
you approach the vehicle and the keyless access
transmitter is with you. See Vehicle Personalization onpage 2-53.
Pressing the unlock button on the keyless access
transmitter or using the key to unlock the driver’s door
disarms the theft-deterrent system. Unlocking a door
any other way while the system is armed will activate
the alarm.
Testing the Alarm
1. From inside the vehicle, roll down the window, then
get out of the vehicle, keeping the door open.
2. From outside of the vehicle, with the door open,
lock the vehicle using the power door lock switch
or the keyless access transmitter and close the
door. Wait approximately 30 seconds until the
security light goes off.
3. Reach in and open the door using the inside door
handle. The horn will sound and the exterior lamps
will flash.
You can turn off the alarm by pressing the unlock button
on the keyless access transmitter or by starting the car.
2-22
If the alarm does not sound when it should, check to
see if the horn works. The horn fuse may be blown. To
replace the fuse, see Fuses and Circuit Breakers onpage 5-105. If the fuse does not need to be replaced, you
may need to have your vehicle serviced.
To reduce the possibility of theft, always arm the
Theft-Deterrent system when leaving your vehicle.
Valet Lockout Switch
The valet lockout switch
is located inside the
glove box.
9 (Off): Press the left side of the valet lockout switch
to turn the lockout feature off. When the lockout
feature is off, you can open the trunk using either the
keyless access transmitter or the trunk release
button located on the driver’s door.
R (On): Press the right side of the valet lockout switch
to turn the lockout feature on. When the lockout
feature is turned on, the trunk cannot be unlocked with
the keyless access transmitter or the trunk release
button located on the driver’s door. If the valet lockout
feature is on it will also disable the remote start
feature and the Universal Home Remote transmitter, if
equipped.
Locking the glove box with your key will also help to
secure your vehicle.
See Keyless Access System Operation on page 2-5 and
Trunk on page 2-14 for additional information.
2-23
Starting and Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice: Your vehicle does not need an elaborate
break-in. But it will perform better in the long run if
you follow these guidelines:
• Do not drive at any one constant speed, fast or
slow, for the first 500 miles (805 km). Do not
make full-throttle starts. Avoid downshifting to
brake, or slow, the vehicle.
• Avoid making hard stops for the first 200 miles
(322 km) or so. During this time 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 (STS Only) on page 4-40 for the trailer
towing capabilities of your vehicle and more
information.
Following break-in, engine speed and load can be
gradually increased.
Ignition Positions
Your vehicle has an
electronic keyless ignition
with pushbutton start.
/ (START): Press this button while your foot is on the
brake to start the engine. The shifter must be in
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) to start the engine and the
keyless access transmitter must be in the vehicle for
the ignition to work.
2-24
9 ACC (OFF/ACCESSORY): When this button is
pressed, the engine will turn off even if the shifter is not
in PARK (P). If the shifter is in PARK (P), the ignition
mode will change to RAP, if all doors are closed.
The ignition mode will change to OFF, if a front door is
opened. See Retained Accessory Power (RAP) onpage 2-25 for more information. If the shifter is not in
PARK (P), the ignition mode will change to ACC.
See Shifting Into Park (P) on page 2-36.
When the engine is off, press this button to place the
vehicle in accessory mode. ACCESSORY ACTIVE
will display on the Driver Information Center (DIC). This
mode allows you to use things like the radio and the
windshield wipers while the engine is off. Use accessory
mode if you must have your vehicle in motion while
the engine is off, for example, if your vehicle is being
towed. If the door is open while in accessory mode, the
key in reminder chime will sound continuously.
If the push-button start is not working, your vehicle may
be near a strong radio antenna signal causing
interference to the keyless access system. See DICWarnings and Messages on page 3-79 for more
information.
After being in ACC for about 20 minutes, the vehicle will
automatically enter RAP or will turn off, depending on
if the doors are opened or closed.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
The following accessories on your vehicle may be used
for up to 20 minutes after the engine is turned off:
• Radio
• Power Windows
• Audio Steering Wheel Controls
Power to these accessories stops after 20 minutes or if
one of the front doors is opened. If you want power
for another 20 minutes, close all the doors and press the
OFF/ACCESSORY button to place the vehicle in
accessory mode. Press the button again and the vehicle
will return to RAP.
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.
The keyless access transmitter must be in the vehicle
for the ignition to work.
2-25
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 on the brake pedal, press the
START button located on the instrument panel.
If there is not a keyless access transmitter present,
the DIC will display NO FOB DETECTED. See
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-79 for more
information. When the engine begins cranking, let
go of the button. The idle speed will go down
as your engine gets warm.
If the battery in the keyless access transmitter is
weak, the DIC will display FOB BATTERY
LOW. You can still drive the vehicle. See “Battery
Replacement” under Keyless Access SystemOperation on page 2-5 for more information.
Notice: Holding the button in for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause the vehicle’s battery
to be drained much sooner. This can also cause
damage to the starter motor. Wait 15 seconds
between each try to avoid draining your vehicle’s
battery or damaging the starter.
2. If the engine does not start and no DIC message is
displayed, wait 15 seconds before trying again.
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.
Stopping Your Engine
Move the shift lever to PARK (P) and press the ACC
button located on the instrument panel. If the shifter is
not in PARK (P), the vehicle will go into the accessory
mode, the engine will turn off and the DIC will display
SHIFT TO PARK. When the shifter is moved to
PARK (P), the vehicle will go into the RAP mode, if all
doors are closed. The ignition mode will change to OFF,
if a front door is opened. See Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) on page 2-25 for more information.
If the keyless access transmitter is not detected while
going to off, the DIC will display NO FOB – OFF
OR RUN?.
See DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-79 for
more information.
2-26
Engine Coolant Heater
Your vehicle may be equipped with 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. Your vehicle may also have an
internal thermostat in the plug end of the cord. This will
prevent operation of the engine coolant heater when
the temperature is at or above 0°F (−18°C) as noted
on the cord.
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
For the 3.6L V6 engine, the cord is located in
the engine compartment on the passenger’s side of
the vehicle in front of the fuse block.
For the 4.6L V8 engine, the cord is located in the
engine compartment on the driver’s side of the
vehicle near the inner fender and above the strut.
For the 4.4L V8 engine, the cord is located in
the front of the engine compartment, on the
passenger’s side of the vehicle. The plug will be
inside the upper grille cutout.
3. You must remove the plastic cap to access
the plug.
4. 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.
5. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If you do not, it could
be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead
of trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer in the area where you will be parking
your vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice
for that particular area.
2-27
Automatic Transmission
Operation (STS)
{CAUTION:
The shift lever is located on the center console between
the front seats.
There are several different
positions for the 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.
2-28
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured. To
be sure your vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground, always set your
parking brake and move the shift lever to
PARK (P). See Shifting Into Park (P) on
page 2-36. If you are pulling a trailer, see
Towing a Trailer (STS Only) on page 4-40.
Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting
the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic transmission
shift lock control system. You must fully apply your
regular brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when
the ignition is on. If you cannot shift out of PARK (P),
ease pressure on the shift lever. Push the shift lever all
the way into PARK (P) while pressing the button on the
shift lever as you maintain brake application. Then move
the shift lever into the gear you wish. See Shifting Out ofPark (P) on page 2-38.
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.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
At low vehicle speeds, you can also use REVERSE (R)
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 orSnow on page 4-31 for additional information.
NEUTRAL (N): In this position, the engine does not
connect with the wheels. To restart when you are
already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. You can also
use NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
{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.
2-29
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D): This position is for
normal driving. If you need more power for passing, and
you are:
• Going less than 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.
The transmission will shift down to a lower gear
and have more power.
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.
FOURTH (4): This position is also used for normal
driving. However, it offers more power and lower fuel
economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D).
Here are examples for using FOURTH (4) instead of
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D):
• When driving on hilly, winding roads.
• When going down a steep hill.
This position may also offer improved trailer towing
performance in certain driving conditions.
Driver Shift Control (DSC)
Notice: If you drive your vehicle at high RPMs
without upshifting while using Driver Shift Control
(DSC), you could damage your vehicle. Always
upshift when necessary while using DSC.
Your automatic transmission has a Driver Shift Control
(DSC) feature that allows you to change gears
similar to a manual transmission. To use the DSC
feature:
1. Slide the shift lever over from AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE (D) to the right into the DSC area.
When the transmission is
in DSC mode the sport
symbol in the Driver
Information Center (DIC)
will come on.
2-30
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