Chevrolet HHR 2006 Owner's Manual

2006 Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual M
Seats and Restraint Systems
Front Seats Rear Seats Safety Belts Child Restraints Airbag System Restraint System Check
Features and Controls
Keys Doors and Locks Windows Theft-Deterrent Systems Starting and Operating Your Vehicle Mirrors
®
OnStar Storage Areas Sunroof
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel Overview Climate Controls Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators Driver Information Center (DIC) Audio System(s)
............................................... 1-2
.............................................. 1-10
............................................. 1-13
....................................... 1-32
......................................... 1-56
........................................................ 2-3
...................................... 2-10
................................................. 2-14
.................................................... 2-36
System
.................................................. 2-47
...................................... 2-41
......................................... 2-43
............................................. 3-1
...................................... 3-19
....................................... 3-50
........................... 1-1
............................ 1-71
..................................... 2-1
............................ 2-16
.......................... 3-4
........... 2-20
........ 3-24
.................. 3-40
Driving Your Vehicle
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle Towing
Service and Appearance Care
Service Fuel Checking Things Under the Hood Headlamp Aiming Bulb Replacement Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement Tires Appearance Care Vehicle Identification Electrical System Capacities and Specifications
Maintenance Schedule
Maintenance Schedule
Customer Assistance and Information
Customer Assistance and Information Reporting Safety Defects
Index
................................................... 4-37
..................................................... 5-3
......................................................... 5-5
...................................................... 5-45
................................................................ 1
....................................... 4-1
.......................... 5-1
............... 5-10
..................................... 5-38
.................................... 5-40
..................................... 5-74
................................. 5-81
...................................... 5-82
..................... 5-87
..................................... 6-1
................................ 6-2
........................... 7-13
..... 4-2
......... 5-44
.............. 7-1
........... 7-2
GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, CHEVROLET, and the CHEVROLET Emblem are registered trademarks and the name HHR is a trademark of General Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada Limited” for Chevrolet Motor Division whenever it appears in this manual.
Keep this manual in the vehicle, so it will be there if it is needed while you are on the road. If the vehicle is sold, leave this manual in the vehicle.
Canadian Owners
A French language copy of this manual can be obtained from your dealer or from:
Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207
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.
Litho in U.S.A. Part No. 06HHR A First Print
ii
©
2005 General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Index
A good place to quickly locate information about the vehicle is the Index in the back of the manual. It is an alphabetical list of what is in the manual and the page number where it can be found.
Safety Warnings and Symbols
There are a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning.
{CAUTION:
These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people.
In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you do not, you or others could be hurt.
You will also find a circle with a slash through it in this book. This safety symbol means “Do Not,” “Do Not do this” or “Do Not let this happen.”
iii
Vehicle Damage Warnings
Vehicle Symbols
Also, in this manual you will find these notices:
Notice: These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle.
A notice tells about something that can damage the vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. But the notice will tell what to do to help avoid the damage.
When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words.
There are also warning labels on the vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
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 1 Seats and Restraint Systems

Front Seats ......................................................1-2
Manual Seats ................................................1-2
Driver Seat Height Adjuster ..............................1-3
Six-Way Power Driver Seat ..............................1-3
Power Lumbar ...............................................1-4
Heated Seats .................................................1-4
Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-5
Head Restraints .............................................1-7
Passenger Folding Seatback ............................1-8
Rear Seats .....................................................1-10
Split Folding Rear Seat .................................1-10
Safety Belts ...................................................1-13
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................1-13
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......1-17
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-18
Driver Position ..............................................1-18
Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment .....................1-25
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-26
Right Front Passenger Position .......................1-26
Rear Seat Passengers ..................................1-26
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides ....................1-29
Safety Belt Pretensioners ...............................1-31
Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-31
Child Restraints .............................................1-32
Older Children ..............................................1-32
Infants and Young Children ............................1-34
Child Restraint Systems .................................1-37
Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-41
Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH) ......................................1-43
Securing a Child Restraint in a
Rear Seat Position ....................................1-49
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position ............................1-51
Airbag System ...............................................1-56
Where Are the Airbags? ................................1-58
When Should an Airbag Inflate? .....................1-61
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? .......................1-62
How Does an Airbag Restrain? .......................1-62
What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? ........1-63
Passenger Sensing System ............................1-64
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...........1-70
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle ....................................................1-70
Restraint System Check ..................................1-71
Checking the Restraint Systems ......................1-71
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash ............................................1-72
1-1

Front Seats

Manual Seats

{CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you do not want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when the vehicle is not moving.
Lift the bar located under the front of the seat to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it and release the bar. Try to move the seat with your body to be sure the seat is locked in place.
1-2

Driver Seat Height Adjuster

Six-Way Power Driver Seat

If your vehicle has this feature, the driver’s seat height adjuster is located on the outboard side of the seat.
To raise the seat, move the lever upward repeatedly until the seat is at the desired height. To lower the seat, move the lever downward repeatedly until the seat is at the desired height.
Driver’s Seat with 6-way Power Seat Control and
Power Lumbar shown
If your vehicle has this feature, the power seat control is located on the outboard side of the driver’s seat.
To adjust the seat, do the following:
Move the seat forward or rearward by pushing the
control toward the front or rear of the vehicle.
Tilt the front of the seat cushion up or down by
holding the front of the control up or down.
Raise or lower the entire seat by holding the rear of
the control up or down.
1-3

Power Lumbar

Heated Seats

If your vehicle has this feature, the driver’s and passenger’s heated seat buttons are located on the climate control panel below the fan switch.
Driver’s side button
shown, Passenger’s
side button similar
If your vehicle has this feature, the control is located on the outboard side of the driver’s seat cushion.
To increase support, press and hold the front of the control. To decrease support, press and hold the rear of the control. Keep in mind that as your seating position changes, as it may during long trips, so should the position of your lumbar support. Adjust the seat as needed.
1-4
Press the button once to turn the heated seat to the high setting. Both lights below the heated seat symbol will come on. Press the button a second time and the heated seat will go to the low setting. The bottom light will come on to indicate that the setting is on low. Press the button a third time to turn the heated seat off.
The heated seat feature will need to be turned on each time the ignition is turned off and back on again.

Reclining Seatbacks

{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked.
Passenger’s Side Reclining Lever shown,
Driver’s Side similar
Your vehicle has reclining seatbacks. The lever is located on the outboard side of the seats. Lift the lever to release the seatback. Move the seatback to where you want it and release the lever to lock the seatback in place. Press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is locked into place.
1-5
Do not 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.
1-6

Head Restraints

Pull up on the head restraint to raise it. Press the button at the base of the head restraint and push the head restraint down to lower it. Only the front head restraints are adjustable.
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.
Both the front and rear head restraints can be removed. Press the button at the base of the head restraint and pull up on the head restraint to remove it. Do not remove the head restraint if someone will be sitting in that seat while the vehicle is moving.
1-7

Passenger Folding Seatback

Your vehicle has a front passenger seat that folds flat.
{CAUTION:
If you fold the seatback forward to carry longer objects, such as skis, be sure any such cargo is not near an airbag. In a crash, an inflating airbag might force that object toward a person. This could cause severe injury or even death. Secure objects away from the area in which an airbag would inflate. For more information, see Where Are the Airbags? on page 1-58 and Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-32.
{CAUTION:
Things you put on this seatback can strike and injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or in a crash. Remove or secure all items before driving.
To fold the seatback, do the following:
1. Move the front passenger seat rearward to ensure there is enough room to fold the seatback forward. See Manual Seats on page 1-2 for more information. The head restraint may need to be removed if the seat is not able to be moved fully rearward. If removing the head restraint, store it so that it will not move while the vehicle is in motion.
2. Make sure that the seatback is in an upright position. Use the recliner lever located on the outboard side of the seat to move the seatback to the upright position.
1-8
3. Use one of two levers to fold the seat flat. The levers are located on the rear of the seat near the bottom of either side of the seat. Pull up on either lever and fold the seat forward until the seatback disengages. This can most easily be down from the rear seats.
4. Continue to fold the seat forward until it locks in the folded position. Pull up on the seatback to be sure it is locked.
1-9
To raise the seatback to an upright position, do the following:
1. Pull up on one of the two levers located on the rear of the seat near the bottom of either side of the seat.
2. Push the seatback up until it is in a locked position.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked.
3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked.

Rear Seats

Split Folding Rear Seat

The seatbacks can be folded flat so that they are at the same level as the rear cargo area. This allows more cargo space.
To lower the rear seatback(s), do the following:
1. Move the front seat forward and/or put the front seatback in an upright position so it does not interfere with folding the rear seatback forward.
2. Open the rear door while the vehicle is parked.
3. The rear head restraint may need to be removed to ensure that it does not interfere with the front seat when the front seat is moved back in place. If removed, store the head restraint where it cannot move while the vehicle is in motion.
1-10
4. Move the safety belt out of the way before lowering the seatback. Do not let the safety belt get caught between the seatback and seat cushion as the seatback is folded.
5. Pull up on the knob located on the top of the seatback on the outboard side to release the seatback. With your other hand, pull the seatback forward.
6. Keep folding the seatback forward until it lies flat.
1-11
To raise the rear seatback(s), do the following:
{CAUTION:
A safety belt that is improperly routed, not properly attached, or twisted will not provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. After raising the rear seatback, always check to be sure that the safety belts are properly routed and attached, and are not twisted.
7. Lift the seatback up and push rearward until you hear a click. Make sure the safety belt has not gotten twisted or lodged between the seat and the inside panel of the vehicle.
The release knob on the top of the seatback has a red ring. If the seatback is not fully latched this ring will be visible. Push on the seatback until the ring is not visible.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always pull forward on the top of the seatback at the area of the latch to be sure it is locked.
8. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked in place.
1-12

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 3-27 and Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light on page 3-27.
1-13
In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here is why: They work.
You never know if you will be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you do not know if it will be a bad one.
A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up, a person would not survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed.
After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter...a lot!
Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes.
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it is just a seat on wheels.
1-14
Put someone on it. Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider
does not stop.
1-15
The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield...
1-16
or the instrument panel...

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.
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.
1-17
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 1-32 or Infants and Young Children on page 1-34. 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.
1-18
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 Belt Extender on page 1-31.
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 Height Adjustment on page 1-25.
6. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the shoulder belt.
1-19
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.
1-20
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.
1-21
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.
1-22
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.
1-23
Q: What is wrong with this?
A: The belt is twisted across the body.
{CAUTION:
You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt. In a crash, you would not have the full width of the belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is twisted, make it straight so it can work properly, or ask your dealer to fix it.
1-24
To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. The belt should go back out of the way.
Before you close the door, be sure the belt is out of the way. If you slam the door on it, you can damage both the belt and your vehicle.

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.
1-25

Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy

Right Front Passenger Position

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.
1-26
To learn how to wear the right front passenger’s safety belt properly, see Driver Position on page 1-18.
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.
2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.
When the shoulder belt is pulled out all the way, it will lock. If it does, let it go back all the way and start again.
If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 1-31.
Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
3. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the shoulder part.
1-27
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.
{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.
To unlatch the belt, push the button on the buckle.
1-28

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:
1. Pull the elastic cord out from between the edge of the seatback and the interior body to remove the guide from its storage clip.
2. 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.
1-29
3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies flat. The elastic cord must be under the belt and the guide on top.
1-30
{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 1-26. 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.

Safety Belt Pretensioners

Your vehicle has safety belt pretensioners for the driver and right front passenger. Although you cannot see them, they are located on the retractor part of the safety belts. They help the safety belts reduce a person’s forward movement in a moderate to severe frontal, near frontal or side crash or a rollover.
Pretensioners work only once. If they activate in a crash, you will need to get new ones, and probably other new parts for your safety belt system. See Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash on page 1-72.

Safety Belt Extender

If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you should use it.
But if a safety belt is not long enough, your dealer will order you an extender. It is free. When you go in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the extender will be long enough for you. To help avoid personal injury, do not let someone else use it, and use it only for the seat it is made to fit. The extender has been designed for adults. Never use it for securing child seats. To wear it, just attach it to the regular safety belt. For more information, see the instruction sheet that comes with the extender.
1-31

Child Restraints

Older Children

Older children who have outgrown booster seats should wear the vehicle’s safety belts.
Q: What is the proper way to wear safety belts? A: An older child should wear a lap-shoulder belt and
get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide. The shoulder belt should not cross the face or neck. The lap belt should fit snugly below the hips, just touching the top of the thighs. It should never be worn over the abdomen, which could cause severe or even fatal internal injuries in a crash.
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear seat.
In a crash, children who are not buckled up can strike other people who are buckled up, or can be thrown out of the vehicle. Older children need to use safety belts properly.
1-32
{CAUTION:
Never do this. Here two children are wearing the same belt.
The belt can not properly spread the impact forces. In a crash, the two children can be crushed together and seriously injured. A belt must be used by only one person at a time.
Q: What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt,
but the child is so small that the shoulder belt is very close to the child’s face or neck?
A: If the child is sitting in a seat next to a window,
move the child toward the center of the vehicle. Also see Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides on page 1-29. 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.
1-33
{CAUTION:
Never do this. Here a child is sitting in a seat that has a
lap-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part is behind the child. If the child wears the belt in this way, in a crash the child might slide under the belt. The belt’s force would then be applied right on the child’s abdomen. That could cause serious or fatal injuries.
Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the child’s thighs. This applies belt force to the child’s pelvic bones in a crash.

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.
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{CAUTION:
{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.
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.
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Q: What are the different types of add-on child
restraints?
A: Add-on child restraints, which are purchased by the
vehicle’s owner, are available in four basic types. Selection of a particular restraint should take into consideration not only the child’s weight, height and age but also whether or not the restraint will be compatible with the motor vehicle in which it will be used.
For most basic types of child restraints, there are many different models available. When purchasing a child restraint, be sure it is designed to be used in a motor vehicle. If it is, the restraint will have a label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle safety standards.
The restraint manufacturer’s instructions that come with the restraint, state the weight and height limitations for a particular child restraint. In addition, there are many kinds of restraints available for children with special needs.
{CAUTION:
Newborn infants need complete support, including support for the head and neck. This is necessary because a newborn infant’s neck is weak and its head weighs so much compared with the rest of its body. In a crash, an infant in a rear-facing seat settles into the restraint, so the crash forces can be distributed across the strongest part of an infant’s body, the back and shoulders. Infants always should be secured in appropriate infant restraints.
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{CAUTION:
The body structure of a young child is quite unlike that of an adult or older child, for whom the safety belts are designed. A young child’s hip bones are still so small that the vehicle’s regular safety belt may not remain low on the hip bones, as it should. Instead, it may settle up around the child’s abdomen. In a crash, the belt would apply force on a body area that is unprotected by any bony structure. This alone could cause serious or fatal injuries. Young children always should be secured in appropriate child restraints.

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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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Securing an Add-on Child Restraint in the Vehicle
{CAUTION:
A child can be seriously injured or killed in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle. Make sure the child restraint is properly installed in the vehicle using the vehicle’s safety belt or LATCH system, following the instructions that came with that restraint, and also the instructions in this manual.
To help reduce the chance of injury, the child restraint must be secured in the vehicle. Child restraint systems must be secured in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a lap-shoulder belt, or by the LATCH system. See Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-43 for more information. A child can be endangered in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle.
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.
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{CAUTION:
{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.

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.
If 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.
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.
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If your vehicle does not have a rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing child restraint, never put a child in a rear-facing child restraint in the right front passenger seat the unless passenger airbag status indicator shows off. Never put a rear facing child restraint in the right front passenger seat unless the airbag is off. Here is why:
{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. Be sure the airbag is off before using a rear-facing child restraint in the right front seat position.
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
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
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 transported in vehicles with a rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing child restraint, whenever possible.
If you need to secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go. It is better to secure the child restraint in a rear seat.
Wherever you install a child restraint, be sure to secure the child restraint properly.
Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child restraint in your vehicle — even when no child is in it.
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Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)

Your vehicle has the LATCH system. The LATCH system holds a child restraint during driving or in a crash. This system is designed to make installation of a child restraint easier. The LATCH system uses anchors in the vehicle and attachments on the child restraint that are made for use with the LATCH system
Make sure that a LATCH-compatible child restraint is properly installed using the anchors, or use the vehicle’s safety belts to secure the restraint, following the instructions that came with that restraint, and also the instructions in this manual. When installing a child restraint with a top tether, you must also use either the lower anchors or the safety belts to properly secure the child restraint. A child restraint must never be 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.
Lower Anchors
Lower anchors (A) are metal bars built into the vehicle. There are two lower anchors for each LATCH seating position that will accommodate a child restraint with lower attachments (B).
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Top Tether Anchor
A top tether (A, C) anchors the top of the child restraint to the vehicle. A top tether anchor is built into the vehicle. The top tether attachment (B) on the child restraint connects to the top tether anchor in the vehicle in order to reduce the forward movement and rotation of the child restraint during driving or in a crash.
Your child restraint may have a single tether (A) or a dual tether (C). Either will have a single attachment (B) to secure the top tether to the anchor.
Some 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.
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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
i (Top Tether Anchor):
Seating positions with top tether anchors.
Front Passenger Seat
with Rear Seat
Delete Only
To assist you in locating the lower anchors, each seating position with lower anchors has two labels, near the crease between the seatback and the seat cushion.
To assist you in locating the top tether anchors for the rear seats, the top tether anchor symbol is located on the storage compartment behind the rear seats.
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The top tether anchors are located in a storage compartment behind the rear seats. Lift the lid of the storage compartment to access the anchors. Be sure to use an anchor located on the same side of the vehicle as the seating position where the child restraint will be placed.
If the vehicle does not have rear seats, there will be a top tether anchor for the front passenger position located on the floor behind the front passenger’s seat. 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 your vehicle has rear seats, 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 1-41 for additional information.
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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. Attach and tighten the lower attachments to the lower anchors. If the child restraint does not have lower attachments or the desired seating position does not have lower anchors, secure the child restraint with the top tether and the safety belts. Refer to your child restraint manufacturer instructions and the instructions in this manual.
1.1. Find the lower anchors for the desired seating position.
1.2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
1.3. Attach and tighten the lower attachments on the child restraint to the lower anchors.
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2. If the child restraint manufacturer recommends that the top tether be attached, attach and tighten the top tether to the top tether anchor, if equipped. Refer to the child restraint instructions and the following steps:
2.1. For vehicles with rear seats, find the storage compartments behind the rear seats.
2.2. Lift the lid of the storage compartments to access the top tether anchors.
2.3. For vehicles without rear seats, find the top tether anchor.
2.4. 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 a fixed or adjustable head restraint and you are using a single tether, raise or remove the head restraint, route the tether in between the head restraint
posts, and reinstall the head restraint. See Head Restraints on page 1-7 for additional information.
If the position you are
using has a fixed or
adjustable head restraint
and you are using a
dual tether, route the tether
around the head restraint.
3. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure.
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Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position

If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH system, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-43.
If your child restraint does not have the LATCH system, you will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the child restraint in this position. Be sure to follow the instructions that came with the child restraint. Secure the child in the child restraint when and as the instructions say.
1. Put the child restraint on the seat.
2. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how.
3. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
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4. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock.
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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 Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-43.
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.
If 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.

Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position

Your vehicle has a right front passenger’s airbag. A rear seat is a safer place to secure a forward-facing child restraint. See Where to Put the Restraint on page 1-41.
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 1-64 and Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-29 for more information on this including important safety information.
{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.
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If your vehicle does not have a rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing child restraint, never put a child in a rear-facing child restraint in the right front passenger seat the unless passenger airbag status indicator shows off. Never put a rear facing child restraint in the right front passenger seat unless the airbag is off. Here is why:
{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. Be sure the airbag is off before using a rear-facing child restraint in the right front seat position.
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
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
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 transported in vehicles with a rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing child restraint, whenever possible.
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.
If you need to secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat position, move the seat as far back as it will go before securing the forward-facing child restraint. See Manual Seats on page 1-2.
If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH system, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-43.
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If your vehicle has a rear seat, there is no top tether anchor at the right front seating position. Do not secure a child seat in this position if a national or local law requires that the top tether be anchored or if the instructions that come with the child restraint say that the top tether must be anchored. See Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-43 if the child restraint has a top tether.
You will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the child restraint in this position. Be sure to follow the instructions that came with the child restraint. Secure the child in the child restraint when and as the instructions say.
1. Your vehicle has a right front passenger’s frontal airbag. See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-64. General Motors recommends that rear-facing child restraints be secured in a rear seat, even if the airbag is off. If your child restraint is forward-facing, move the seat as far back as it will go before securing the child restraint in this seat. See Manual Seats on page 1-2.
When the passenger sensing system has turned off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag, the off indicator in the passenger airbag status indicator should light and stay lit when you turn the ignition to RUN or START. See Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-29.
2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how.
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.
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5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock.
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6. To tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint, pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten the lap portion of the belt and feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor. If you are using a forward-facing child restraint, you may find it helpful to use your knee to push down on the child restraint as you tighten the belt. You should not be able to pull more of the belt from the retractor once the lock has been set.
7. If your vehicle does not have a rear seat and your child restraint manufacturer recommends using a top tether anchor, attach and tighten the top tether to the top tether anchor. Refer to the instructions that came with the child restraint and to Lower
Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-43.
8. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure.
9. If the airbag is off, the off indicator on the instrument panel will be lit and stay lit when the key is turned to RUN or START.
If a child restraint has been installed and the on indicator is lit, turn the vehicle off. Remove the child restraint from the vehicle and reinstall the child restraint.
If after reinstalling the child restraint and restarting the vehicle, the on indicator is still lit, check to make sure that the vehicle’s seatback is not pressing the child restraint into the seat cushion. If this happens, slightly recline the vehicle’s seatback and adjust the seat cushion if possible. Also make sure the child restraint is not trapped under the vehicle head restraint. If this happens, adjust the head restraint.
If the on indicator is still lit, secure the child in the child restraint in a rear seat position in the vehicle and check with your dealer.
To remove the child restraint, 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.
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Airbag System

Your vehicle has a frontal airbag for the driver and a frontal airbag for the right front passenger. Your vehicle may also have roof-mounted side impact airbags. Roof-mounted side impact airbags are available for the driver and the passenger seated directly behind the driver and for the right front passenger and the passenger seated directly behind that passenger.
If your vehicle has side impact airbags, the word AIRBAG will appear on the airbag covering on the garnish trim near ceiling and the side windows.
Frontal airbags are designed to help reduce the risk of injury from the force of an inflating frontal airbag. But these airbags must inflate very quickly to do their job and comply with federal regulations.
Here are the most important things to know about the airbag system:
{CAUTION:
You can be severely injured or killed in a crash if you are not wearing your safety belt — even if you have airbags. Wearing your safety belt during a crash helps reduce your chance of hitting things inside the vehicle or being ejected from it. Airbags are “supplemental restraints” to the safety belts. All airbags are designed to work with safety belts but do not replace them.
Frontal airbags for the driver and right front passenger are designed to deploy in moderate to severe frontal and near frontal crashes. They are not designed to inflate in rollover, rear crashes, or in many side crashes.
CAUTION: (Continued)
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CAUTION: (Continued)
{CAUTION:
And, for some unrestrained occupants, frontal airbags may provide less protection in frontal crashes than more forceful airbags have provided in the past.
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.
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.
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{CAUTION:
Anyone who is up against, or very close to, any airbag when it inflates can be seriously injured or killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder belts offer the best protection for adults, but not for young children and infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety belt system nor its airbag system is designed for them. Young children and infants need the protection that a child restraint system can provide. Always secure children properly in your vehicle. To read how, see Older Children on page 1-32 or Infants and Young Children on page 1-34.
There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument panel cluster, which shows the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag electrical system for malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-28 for more information.

Where Are the Airbags?

The driver’s airbag is in the middle of the steering wheel.
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The right front passenger’s airbag is in the instrument panel on the passenger’s side.
If your vehicle has a side impact airbag for the driver and the person seated directly behind the driver, it is located in the ceiling above the side windows.
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If your vehicle has a side impact airbag for the right front passenger and the person directly behind that passenger, it is located in the ceiling above the side windows.
{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an airbag, the bag might not inflate properly or it might force the object into that person causing severe injury or even death. The path of an inflating airbag must be kept clear. Do not put anything between an occupant and an airbag, and do not attach or put anything on the steering wheel hub or on or near any other airbag covering. And, if your vehicle has roof-mounted side impact airbags, never secure anything to the roof of your vehicle by routing the rope or tiedown through any door or window opening. If you do, the path of an inflating side impact airbag will be blocked. The path of an inflating airbag must be kept clear.
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When Should an Airbag Inflate?
The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal airbags are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to inflate only if the impact exceeds a predetermined deployment threshold. Deployment thresholds take into account a variety of desired deployment and non-deployment events and are used to predict how severe a crash is likely to be in time for the airbags to inflate and help restrain the occupants. Whether your frontal airbags will or should deploy is not based on how fast your vehicle is traveling. It depends largely on what you hit, the direction of the impact and how quickly your vehicle slows down.
In addition, your vehicle has “dual-stage” frontal airbags, which adjust the restraint according to crash severity. Your vehicle is equipped with electronic frontal sensors which help the sensing system distinguish between a moderate frontal impact and a more severe frontal impact. For moderate frontal impacts, these airbags inflate at a level less than full deployment. For more severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs. If the front of your vehicle goes straight into a wall that does not move or deform, the threshold level for the reduced deployment is about 12 to 16 mph (19 to 26 km/h), and the threshold level for a full deployment is about 18 to 24 mph (29 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.
Frontal airbags (driver and right front passenger) are not intended to inflate during vehicle rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts.
Your vehicle may or may not have side impact airbags. See Airbag System on page 1-56. 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.
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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. 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 and in the instrument panel in front of the right front passenger. For vehicles with side impact airbags, there are also airbag modules in the ceiling of the vehicle, near the side windows.

How Does an Airbag Restrain?

In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside of the vehicle. The airbag supplements the protection provided by safety belts. Airbags distribute the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But the frontal airbags would not help you in many types of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts, and many side impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward the airbag. 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.
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What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates?
{CAUTION:
After a frontal airbag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly that some people may not even realize the airbag inflated. Roof-mounted side impact airbags deflate more slowly and may still be at least partially inflated minutes after the vehicle comes to rest. Some components of the airbag module — the steering wheel hub for the driver’s airbag, the instrument panel for the right front passenger’s airbag or the garnish trim and ceiling of your vehicle near the side windows — may be hot for a short time. The parts of the airbag 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 may automatically unlock the doors, turn the interior lamps on, and turn the hazard warning flashers on when the airbags inflate (if battery power is available). You can lock the doors again, turn the interior lamps off, and turn the hazard warning flashers off by using controls for those features.
1-63
In many crashes severe enough to inflate an airbag, windshields are broken by vehicle deformation. Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the right front passenger airbag.
Airbags are designed to inflate only once. After an
airbag inflates, you will need some new parts for your airbag system. If you do not get them, the airbag system will not be there to help protect you in another crash. A new system will include airbag modules and possibly other parts. The service manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace other parts.
Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module which records information after a crash. See Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data Recorders on page 7-9.
Let only qualified technicians work on your airbag
system. Improper service can mean that your airbag system will not work properly. See your dealer for service.

Passenger Sensing System

Your vehicle has a passenger sensing system for the right front passenger’s position. A passenger airbag status indicator on the instrument panel will be visible when you turn your ignition key to START or RUN. The words ON and OFF or the symbol for on and off, will be visible on the instrument panel during the system check. If you are using remote start to start your vehicle from a distance, you may not see the system check. When the system check is complete, either the word ON or the word OFF, or the symbol for on or the symbol for off will be visible. See Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-29.
1-64
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator –
United States
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator –
Canada
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 (if equipped) are not part of the passenger sensing system.
The passenger sensing system works with sensors that are part of the right front passenger’s seat and safety belt. The sensors are designed to detect the presence of a properly-seated occupant and determine if the passenger’s frontal airbag should be enabled (may inflate) or not.
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.
If 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.
1-65
If your vehicle does not have a rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing child restraint, never put a child in a rear-facing child restraint in the right front passenger seat the unless passenger airbag status indicator shows off. Never put a rear facing child restraint in the right front passenger seat unless the airbag is off. Here is why:
{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. Be sure the airbag is off before using a rear-facing child restraint in the right front seat position.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
Even though the passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal airbag if the system detects a rear-facing child restraint, no system is fail-safe, and no one can guarantee that an airbag will not deploy under some unusual circumstance, even though it is turned off. We recommend that rear-facing child restraints be transported in vehicles with a rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing child restraint, whenever possible.
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.
1-66
{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.
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 on the instrument panel will light and stay lit to remind you that the airbag is off.
If a child restraint has been installed and the on indicator is lit, turn the vehicle off. Remove the child restraint from the vehicle and reinstall the child restraint following the child restraint manufacturer’s directions and refer to Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position on page 1-51.
1-67
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.
If a person of adult-size is sitting in the right front passenger’s seat, but the off indicator is lit, it could be because that person is not sitting properly in the seat. If this happens, turn the vehicle off and ask the person to place the seatback in the fully upright position, then sit upright in the seat, centered on the seat cushion, with the person’s legs comfortably extended. Restart the vehicle and have the person remain in this position for about two minutes. This will allow the system to detect that person and then enable the passenger’s airbag.
1-68
{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light in the instrument panel cluster ever comes on and stays on, it means that something may be wrong with the airbag system. If this ever happens, have the vehicle serviced promptly, because an adult-size person sitting in the right front passenger’s seat may not have the protection of the frontal airbag. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-28 for more on this, including important safety information.
Aftermarket equipment, such as seat covers, can affect how well the passenger sensing system operates. You may want to consider not using seat covers or other aftermarket equipment if your vehicle has the passenger sensing system. See Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-70 for more information about modifications that can affect how the system operates.
{CAUTION:
Stowing of articles under the passenger’s seat or between the passenger’s seat cushion and seatback may interfere with the proper operation of the passenger sensing system.
1-69

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. You do not want the system to inflate while someone is working on your vehicle. Your dealer and the service manual have information about servicing your vehicle and the airbag system. To purchase a service manual, see Service Publications Ordering Information on page 7-14.
{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 close to an airbag when it inflates. Avoid yellow connectors. They are probably part of the airbag system. Be sure to follow proper service procedures, and make sure the person performing work for you is qualified to do so.
The airbag system does not need regular maintenance.

Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle

Q: 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.
1-70
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 instrument panel 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 side impact airbag covering on the garnish trim and ceiling near the side windows (if equipped), the airbag may not work properly. You may have to replace the airbag module in the steering wheel, both the airbag module and the instrument panel for the right front passenger’s airbag, or side impact airbag module, garnish trim and ceiling covering for roof-mounted side impact airbags (if equipped). Do not open or break the airbag coverings.
1-71

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 airbags inflate you will also need to replace the driver and front passenger’s safety belt retractor assembly. Be sure to do so. Then the new retractor assembly will be there to help protect you in a collision.
After a crash you may need to replace the driver and front passenger’s safety belt retractor assemblies, even if the airbags have not deployed. The driver and front passenger’s safety belt retractor assemblies contain the safety belt pretensioners. Have your safety belt pretensioners checked if your vehicle has been in a collision, or if your airbag readiness light stays on after you start your vehicle or while you are driving. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-28.
1-72

Section 2 Features and Controls

Keys ...............................................................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System .........................2-5
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation ...........2-6
Doors and Locks ............................................2-10
Door Locks ..................................................2-10
Power Door Locks ........................................2-10
Delayed Locking ...........................................2-11
Automatic Door Lock .....................................2-11
Programmable Automatic Door Unlock .............2-11
Rear Door Security Locks ..............................2-12
Lockout Protection ........................................2-12
Liftgate ........................................................2-13
Windows ........................................................2-14
Power Windows ............................................2-15
Sun Visors ...................................................2-16
Theft-Deterrent Systems ..................................2-16
Content Theft-Deterrent .................................2-16
PASS-Key
PASS-Key®III+ Operation ..............................2-18
®
III+ ............................................2-18
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ................2-20
New Vehicle Break-In ....................................2-20
Ignition Positions ..........................................2-20
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) ...................2-23
Starting the Engine .......................................2-23
Engine Coolant Heater ..................................2-25
Automatic Transaxle Operation .......................2-26
Manual Transaxle Operation ...........................2-28
Parking Brake ..............................................2-30
Shifting Into Park (P)
(Automatic Transaxle) ................................2-31
Shifting Out of Park (P)
(Automatic Transaxle) ................................2-33
Parking Your Vehicle .....................................2-33
Parking Over Things That Burn .......................2-34
Engine Exhaust ............................................2-34
Running the Engine While Parked ...................2-35
2-1
Section 2 Features and Controls
Mirrors ...........................................................2-36
Manual Rearview Mirror .................................2-36
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with
OnStar OnStar
®
and Compass ...............................2-36
®
, Compass and Temperature
Display ....................................................2-38
Outside Power Mirrors ...................................2-40
Outside Convex Mirror ...................................2-40
®
OnStar
System .............................................2-41
2-2
Storage Areas ................................................2-43
Glove Box ...................................................2-43
Cupholder(s) ................................................2-43
Instrument Panel Storage Area .......................2-43
Floor Console Storage Area ...........................2-43
Rear Storage Area ........................................2-43
Rear Compartment Storage Panel/Cover ..........2-44
Roof Rack System ........................................2-46
Convenience Net ..........................................2-46
Sunroof .........................................................2-47

Keys

{CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition key is dangerous for many reasons. They could operate the power windows or other controls or even make the vehicle move. The children or others could be badly injured or even killed. Do not leave the keys in a vehicle with children.
2-3
One key is used for the ignition and the driver’s door lock.
The key has a transponder in the key head that matches a decoder in the vehicle’s steering column. If a replacement key or any additional keys are needed, you must purchase it from your dealer.
Keep the bar code tag that came with the original keys. Give this tag to your dealer if you need a new key made.
Notice: If you ever lock your keys in your vehicle, you may have to damage the vehicle to get in. Be sure you have spare keys.
In an emergency, contact Roadside Assistance. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-6 for more information.
If your vehicle is equipped with the OnStar an active subscription and you lock your keys inside the vehicle, OnStar unlock your vehicle. See OnStar
®
may be able to send a command to
®
System on page 2-41
®
system with
for more information.
2-4

Remote Keyless Entry System

Your keyless entry system operates on a radio frequency subject to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry Canada.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than an authorized service facility could void authorization to use this equipment.
At times you may notice a decrease in range. This is normal for any remote keyless entry system. If the transmitter does not work or if you have to stand closer to your vehicle for the transmitter to work, try this:
Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle. You may need to stand closer during rainy or snowy weather.
Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may
be blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the left or right, hold the transmitter higher, and try again.
Check to determine if battery replacement is
necessary. See “Battery Replacement” under
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation on page 2-6.
If you are still having trouble, see your dealer or a
qualified technician for service.
2-5

Remote Keyless Entry System Operation

The vehicle’s doors can be locked and unlocked from about 3 feet (1 m) up to 60 feet (18 m) away with the remote keyless entry transmitter.
Remote Keyless Entry
with Remote Start
Remote Keyless Entry
without Remote Start
The following functions may be available if your vehicle has the remote keyless entry system:
/ (Remote Vehicle Start): If your vehicle has this
feature, you can start the engine from outside the vehicle. See “Remote Vehicle Start” at the end of this section for more detailed information.
Q (Lock): Press the lock button to lock all the doors.
The interior lamps will turn off after all of the doors are closed. If enabled through the Driver Information Center (DIC), the parking lamps will flash once to indicate locking has occurred. If enabled through the DIC, the horn will also chirp to indicate locking has occurred. Pressing the lock button may arm the content theft-deterrent system. See Content Theft-Deterrent on page 2-16.
" (Unlock): Press the unlock button to unlock the
driver’s door. If the button is pressed again within five seconds, all remaining doors and the liftgate will unlock. The interior lamps will come on and stay on for 20 seconds or until the ignition is turned on. If enabled through the DIC, the hazard lamps will flash twice to indicate unlocking has occurred and if it is dark outside, the high beams and parking lamps will turn on and stay on for 20 seconds or until a door is opened. See LIGHT FLASH and EXT (Exterior) LIGHTS under DIC Vehicle Personalization on page 3-45 for additional information.
2-6
L (Vehicle Locator/Panic Alarm): This button may
be used to locate your vehicle. Press and release this button to activate the vehicle locate feature. The horn will chirp three times and the headlamps and parking lamps will flash three times. Press and hold the button for three seconds to sound the panic alarm. The horn will chirp and the headlamps and parking lamps will flash for 30 seconds. Press the button again to cancel the panic alarm.
Programmable Horn Chirp
Through the DIC, you may choose whether or not to have a horn chirp when you use the remote keyless entry transmitter to lock or unlock the doors. See “LOCK HORN” and “UNLOCK HORN” under DIC Vehicle Personalization on page 3-45 for more information.
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle
Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to prevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle. If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can be purchased through your dealer. Remember to bring any remaining transmitters with you when you go to your dealer in case they need to be re-coded. Each vehicle can have a maximum of four transmitters matched to it.
Battery Replacement
Under normal use, the battery in your remote keyless entry transmitter should last about four 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 KEY FOB BATT LOW message in the vehicle’s DIC will display if the remote keyless entry transmitter battery is low.
2-7
Notice: When replacing the battery, use care not to touch any of the circuitry. Static from your body transferred to these surfaces may damage the transmitter.
To replace the battery in the remote keyless entry transmitter do the following:
1. Use a flat thin object to separate the bottom half from the top half of the transmitter.
2. Remove the battery and replace it with the new one. Make sure the positive side of the battery faces up. Use one three-volt, CR2032, or equivalent, type battery.
3. Put the two halves back together. Make sure the cover is on tightly, so water will not get in.
Remote Vehicle Start
Your vehicle may have a remote start feature. This feature allows you to start the engine from outside the vehicle. It may also start the vehicle’s heating or air conditioning systems. See Climate Control System on page 3-19 for additional information.
Laws in some local communities may restrict the use of remote starters. For example, some laws may require a person using remote start to have the vehicle in view when doing so. Check local regulations for any requirements on remote starting of vehicles.
/ (Remote Vehicle Start): If your vehicle has the
remote vehicle start feature, the remote keyless entry transmitter will have a button with this symbol on it.
An increased range of operation is provided with the remote keyless entry transmitter that has the remote vehicle start button. The vehicle can be started from approximately 197 feet (60 m) away. However, the operating range may be less while the engine is running and you will need to be closer to your vehicle to turn it off than you were to turn it on.
Do not use the remote start feature if your vehicle is low on fuel. Your vehicle may run out of fuel.
2-8
To start the engine using the remote start feature, do the following:
1. Aim the remote keyless entry transmitter at the vehicle.
2. Press and release the transmitter’s lock button, then immediately press and hold the remote vehicle start button for four seconds or until the vehicle’s turn signal lamps flash. The vehicle’s doors will be locked.
3. When the vehicle’s engine starts, the parking lamps will turn on and remain on while the engine is running.
After a remote start, the engine will automatically shut off after 10 minutes unless a time extension has been done or the vehicle’s key is inserted into the ignition switch and turned to RUN.
The maximum number of remote starts between ignition cycles with the key is two.
If the remote start procedure is used again before the first 10 minute time frame has ended, the first 10 minutes will immediately expire and the second 10 minute time frame will start.
After two remote starts have been provided, the vehicle’s ignition switch must be turned to RUN and then back to LOCK using the key, before the remote start procedure can be used again.
If you enter the vehicle after a remote start, and the engine is running, insert the key into the ignition switch and turn it to the RUN position to drive the vehicle.
To manually shut off the engine after a remote start, do any of the following:
Aim the remote keyless entry transmitter at the
vehicle and press the remote start button until the parking lamps turn off.
Turn on the hazard warning flashers. See Hazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
Insert the vehicle’s key into the ignition switch and
turn the switch to RUN and then back to LOCK.
The remote vehicle start feature will not operate if:
The remote start system is disabled through the DIC.
The vehicle’s key is in the ignition.
The vehicle’s hood is open
The hazard warning flashers are on.
There is an emission control system malfunction.
See Malfunction Indicator Lamp on page 3-35.
The engine coolant temperature is too high.
The oil pressure is low.
Two remote vehicle starts have already been
provided.
2-9

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. To lock the driver’s door from the outside, turn the
key clockwise. To unlock the door, turn the key counterclockwise.
You can also use the remote keyless entry transmitter to lock and unlock the doors.
From the inside, use the manual lock knobs on each door or the power door lock switch to lock and unlock all doors.

Power Door Locks

The power door lock switches are located on the driver’s and front passenger’s door next to the door handle.
Driver’s side shown,
Passenger’s side similar
Press the top of the switch to unlock the doors. Press the bottom of the switch to lock the doors.
2-10

Delayed Locking

Automatic Door Lock

This feature will delay the actual locking of the doors and liftgate when the power door lock switch or remote keyless entry transmitter is used to lock the vehicle.
If any door is open when locking the vehicle, three chimes will sound signaling that the delayed locking feature is active. Five seconds after the last door is closed, all of the doors and liftgate will lock. The turn signal lamps will flash to indicate that the doors have been locked. To cancel the delay and lock the doors immediately, press the lock button a second time.
If the key is in the ignition this feature will not lock the doors.
If your vehicle has a Driver Information Center (DIC), you can disable this function. See DIC Vehicle Personalization on page 3-45.
If your vehicle has power door locks, the doors will automatically lock when the shift lever is moved out of PARK (P) for a vehicle with an automatic transaxle. For a vehicle with a manual transaxle, the speed must be greater than 5 mph (8 km/h).
The automatic door locking feature cannot be disabled.

Programmable Automatic Door Unlock

Your vehicle will automatically unlock all doors when the shift lever is moved into PARK (P) for a vehicle with an automatic transaxle, and when the ignition is turned off for a vehicle with a manual transaxle.
If your vehicle has a Driver Information Center (DIC), the doors can be programmed to automatically unlock several ways for vehicles with an automatic transaxle. See DIC Vehicle Personalization on page 3-45 for more information.
2-11

Rear Door Security Locks

Your vehicle has rear door security locks which prevent passengers from opening the rear doors from the inside.
The rear door security locks are located on the inside edge of each rear door. You must open the rear doors to access them.
To set the security locks, do the following:
1. Insert the key into the lock below the rear door security lock label and turn it to the horizontal position.
2. Close the door.
3. Repeat the steps for the other rear door.
To open a rear door while the security lock is on, do the following:
1. Unlock the door using the remote keyless entry transmitter, the power door lock switch, or by lifting the rear door manual lock.
2. Open the door from the outside.
To cancel the rear door security lock, do the following:
1. Unlock the door and open it from the outside.
2. Insert the key into the lock below the rear door security lock label and turn it to the vertical position.
3. Repeat the steps for the other lock.

Lockout Protection

If you press the power door lock switch when the key is in the ignition and any door is open, all the doors will lock and the driver’s door will unlock. Be sure to remove the key from the ignition when locking your vehicle.
The lockout protection can be overridden by pressing and holding the power door lock in the lock position for three seconds.
2-12

Liftgate

To unlock or lock the liftgate from the outside, use the remote keyless entry transmitter. For more information, see Remote Keyless Entry System Operation on page 2-6. You can also use the power door lock switch to lock and unlock the liftgate.
Open the liftgate using the handle located above the license plate. Once slightly opened, the liftgate will rise by itself. Lamps in the rear of the vehicle will come on, illuminating the rear cargo area.
Notice: If you open the liftgate without checking for overhead obstructions such as a garage door, you could break the liftgate glass. Always check to make sure the area above the liftgate is clear before opening it.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the liftgate open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can come into your vehicle. You cannot see or smell CO. It can cause unconsciousness and even death. If you must drive with the liftgate open or if electrical wiring or other cable connections must pass through the seal between the body and the liftgate:
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 on page 3-19.
If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way. See Engine Exhaust on page 2-34.
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Emergency Liftgate Release
If the vehicle loses power, the liftgate must be opened manually from the inside.
To open the liftgate, do the following:
1. Remove the trim plug, located on the inside of the liftgate near the center, to expose the access hole in the trim panel.
2. Push the release lever.
3. Reinstall the trim plug.

Windows

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

The window switches for all doors are located on the center console. A window switch for each rear window is located on each rear door.
To open a window, press the bottom of the switch. To close a window, press the top of the switch.
The power windows operate when the ignition is RUN or ACC (Accessory), or while in Retained Accessory Power (RAP). See Retained Accessory Power (RAP) on page 2-23.
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Express-Down Window
The driver’s window switch has an express-down feature that allows the window to be lowered without holding the switch. The switch is labeled AUTO. Press the bottom of the switch part way, and the driver’s window will open a small amount. Press the switch down all the way down and release it and the window will go down automatically.
To stop the window while it is lowering, press and release the top of the switch.
Window Lockout
(Window Lockout): Your vehicle has a lockout
o
feature to prevent rear seat passengers from operating the windows. Press the lockout button, located with the power window switches, to turn the feature on and off. When the red band on the button is showing, the lockout feature is off.

Sun Visors

To block out glare, swing down the visor(s). The sun visors can also be detached from the center mount and swung out to cover the side windows. They can also be slid along the rod to cover different areas of the front window.
Visor Vanity Mirrors
Your vehicle has visor vanity mirrors. Swing down the sun visor and lift the cover to expose the mirror.

Theft-Deterrent Systems

Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities. Although your vehicle has a number of theft-deterrent features, we know that nothing we put on it can make it impossible to steal.

Content Theft-Deterrent

Your vehicle may have a content theft-deterrent alarm system. If your vehicle has remote keyless entry, then it has content theft-deterrent.
Arming the System
With the ignition off, you can arm the system by doing any one of the following:
Press the remote keyless entry transmitter lock
button.
Press the power door lock switch while the driver’s
door is open.
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The system will arm after either of these things occur:
Thirty seconds after all the doors are closed.
Sixty seconds with any door open.
If you press the lock button on the transmitter a second time while all the doors are closed, the system will arm immediately. The system will still arm in 60 seconds if a door is open. When the open door is closed, it will also become armed.
The security light will turn on to indicate that arming has been initiated. Once the system is armed, the security light will flash once every three seconds.
If the security light is flashing twice per second, this means that a door is open.
If you do not want to arm the system, you may lock the car with the manual lock knobs on the doors.
Disarming the System
You can disarm the system by doing any one of the following:
Press the remote keyless entry transmitter
unlock button.
Turn the ignition on.
Once the system is disarmed, the security light will stop flashing.
How the System Alarm is Activated
If the system is armed, it can be activated by either:
Opening the driver’s door or tailgate. This will
cause a ten second pre-alarm chirp followed by a thirty second full alarm of horn and lights.
Opening any other door. This will immediately cause
a full alarm of horn and lights for thirty seconds.
When an alarm event has finished, the system will re-arm itself automatically.
How to Turn Off the System Alarm
To turn off the system alarm, do one of the following:
Press the lock button on the remote keyless
entry transmitter. The system will then re-arm itself.
Press the unlock button on the remote keyless entry
transmitter. This will also disarm the system.
Insert the key in the ignition and turn it on. This will
also disarm the system.
How to Detect a Tamper Condition
If you hear three chirps when you press the unlock or lock buttons on the remote keyless transmitter, it means that the content theft security system alarm was previously activated.
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PASS-Key®III+

The PASS-Key®III+ system operates on a radio frequency subject to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry Canada.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than an authorized service facility could void authorization to use this equipment.
®
PASS-Key the key that matches a decoder in your vehicle.
III+ uses a radio frequency transponder in

PASS-Key®III+ Operation

Your vehicle has PASS-Key®III+ (Personalized Automotive Security System) theft-deterrent system. PASS-Key This means you do not have to do anything special to arm or disarm the system. It works when you insert or remove the key from the ignition.
When the PASS-Key is using the wrong key, it prevents the vehicle from starting. Anyone using a trial-and-error method to start the vehicle will be discouraged because of the high number of electrical key codes.
When trying to start the vehicle if the engine does not start and the security light comes on, the key may have a damaged transponder. Turn the ignition off and try again.
If the engine still does not start, and the key appears to be undamaged, try another ignition key. At this time, you may also want to check the fuse, see Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-82. If the engine still does not start with the other key, your vehicle needs service. If your vehicle does start, the first key may be faulty. See your dealer who can service the
®
III+ is a passive theft-deterrent system.
®
III+ system senses that someone
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PASS-Key®III+ to have a new key made. In an emergency, contact Roadside Assistance. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-6, for more information.
It is possible for the PASS-Key
®
III+ decoder to “learn” the transponder value of a new or replacement key. Up to 10 keys may be programmed for the vehicle. The following procedure is for programming additional keys only. If all the currently programmed keys are lost or do not operate, you must see your dealer or a locksmith who can service PASS-Key
®
III+ to have keys
made and programmed to the system. See your dealer or a locksmith who can service
PASS-Key
®
III+ to get a new key blank that is cut
exactly as the ignition key that operates the system. To program the new key do the following:
1. Verify that the new key has “+” stamped on it.
2. Insert the already programmed key in the ignition and start the engine. If the engine will not start, see your dealer for service.
3. After the engine has started, turn the key to LOCK, and remove the key.
4. Insert the key to be programmed and turn it to the RUN position within five seconds of the original key being turned to the LOCK position.
5. The security light will turn off once the key has been programmed.
6. Repeat Steps 1 through 5 if additional keys are to be programmed.
If you are ever driving and the security light comes on and stays on, you may be able to restart your engine if you turn it off. Your PASS-Key
®
III+ system, however, is not working properly and must be serviced by your dealer. Your vehicle is not protected by the PASS-Key
If you lose or damage your PASS-Key see your dealer or a locksmith who can service PASS-Key
®
III+ system at this time.
®
III+ to have a new key made.
®
III+ key,
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Starting and Operating Your Vehicle

New Vehicle Break-In

Notice: Your vehicle does not need an elaborate break-in. But it will perform better in the long run if you follow these guidelines:
Do not drive at any one constant speed, fast or
slow, for the first 500 miles (805 km). Do not make full-throttle starts. Avoid downshifting to brake, or slow, the vehicle.
Avoid making hard stops for the first 200 miles
(322 km) or so. During this time 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 (Manual Transaxle) on page 4-39 or Towing a Trailer (Automatic Transaxle) on page 4-39 for the trailer towing capabilities of
your vehicle and more information.
Following break-in, engine speed and load can be gradually increased.

Ignition Positions

With the key in the ignition switch, you can turn it to four different positions.
Notice: Using a tool to force the key from the ignition switch could cause damage or break the key. Use the correct key and turn the key only with your hand. Make sure the key is all the way in. If it is, turn the steering wheel left and right while you turn the key hard. If none of this works, then your vehicle needs service.
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9(LOCK): This position locks your steering column.
It is a theft-deterrent feature. You will only be able to remove your key when the ignition is turned to LOCK.
If you have an automatic transaxle, the ignition switch cannot be turned to LOCK unless the shift lever is in PARK (P).
If you have a manual transaxle, the ignition switch can be turned to LOCK in any shift lever position.
ACC (ACCESSORY): This position operates some of your electrical accessories. It unlocks the steering wheel and ignition.
R (RUN): This is the position the switch returns to
after you start your engine and release the switch. The switch stays in the RUN position when the engine is running. But even when the ignition is not running, you can use RUN to operate your electrical accessories and to display some warning and indicator lights.
{CAUTION:
If you have a manual transaxle removing the key from the ignition switch will lock the steering column and result in a loss of ability to steer the vehicle. This could cause a collision. If you need to turn the engine off while the vehicle is moving, turn the key to ACC.
/ (START): This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch will return to RUN for normal driving.
A warning tone will sound if you open the driver’s door while in LOCK or ACC, when the key has not been removed from the ignition.
2-21
Column Lock Release
The following procedure allows the ignition to be turned to LOCK and for ignition key removal in case of a dead battery or low voltage battery.
1. Make sure the shift lever is in PARK (P).
2. Using a tool, pry off the cover from the bottom of the steering column.
3. Place your finger into the access hole and locate the plunger.
4. Press and hold the plunger toward the driver’s door while turning the ignition key to LOCK. Remove the key.
Have your vehicle serviced at your GM dealer as soon as possible.
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