2005 BUICK TERRAZA sensor

When Should an Airbag Inate?
The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal airbags
are designed to inate in moderate to severe frontal or
near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to inate 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 inate 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.
For moderate frontal impacts, these airbags inate at a
level less than full deployment. 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 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 18 mph (19 to 29 km/h), and the threshold
level for a full deployment is about 18 to 25 mph
(29 to 40.2 km/h). (The threshold level can vary,
however, with specic vehicle design, so that it can be
somewhat above or below this range.)Airbags may inate at different crash speeds.
For example:If the vehicle hits a stationary object, the airbag
could inate at a different crash speed than if
the object were moving.
If the object deforms, the airbag could inate at a
different crash speed than if the object does not
deform.
If the vehicle hits a narrow object (like a pole) the
airbag could inate 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
airbag could inate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle goes straight into the object.
The frontal airbags (driver and right front passenger)
are not intended to inate during vehicle rollovers, rear
impacts, or in many side impacts because ination
would not likely help the occupants.
Your vehicle may or may not have a side impact airbag.
SeeAirbag System on page 1-54. Side impact airbags
are designed to inate in moderate to severe side
crashes. A side impact airbag will inate if the crash
severity is above the system’s designed “threshold level.”
The threshold level can vary with specic vehicle design.
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The passenger sensing system will turn off the right
front passenger’s frontal airbag and side impact airbag
(if equipped) under certain conditions. The driver’s
airbag or airbags are not part of the passenger sensing
system.
The passenger sensing system works with sensors that
are part of the right front passenger’s seat and safety
belt. The sensors are designed to detect the presence
of a properly-seated occupant and determine if the
passenger’s airbag or airbags should be enabled
(may inate) or not.
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat.
General Motors recommends that child restraints
be secured in a rear seat, including an infant riding in a
rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a forward-facing
child seat and an older child riding in a booster seat.
Your vehicle has a rear seat that will accommodate
a rear-facing child restraint. A label on your sun visor
says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in the
front.” This is because the risk to the rear-facing child
is so great, if the airbag deploys.
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger’s airbag inates. This is because
the back of the rear-facing child restraint
would be very close to the inating airbag.
Even though the passenger sensing system
is designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal
airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag
(if equipped) under certain conditions, 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.
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SECOND (2):This position gives you more power
but lower fuel economy than THIRD (3). You can use
SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your speed as
you go down steep mountain roads, but then you
would also want to use your brakes off and on.
Notice:Driving in SECOND (2) for more than
25 miles (40 km) or at speeds over 55 mph (90 km/h)
may damage the transaxle. Also, shifting into
SECOND (2) at speeds above 65 mph (105 km/h) can
cause damage. Drive in THIRD (3) or AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE (D) instead of SECOND (2).
Notice:If your vehicle seems to start up rather
slowly, or if it seems not to shift gears as you go
faster, something may be wrong with a transaxle
system sensor. If you drive very far that way, your
vehicle can be damaged. So, if this happens,
have your vehicle serviced right away. Until then,
you can use SECOND (2) when you are driving less
than 35 mph (55 km/h) and THIRD (3) for higher
speeds.
FIRST (1):This position gives you even more power
but lower fuel economy than SECOND (2). You can
use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the
shift lever is put in FIRST (1), the transaxle will not
downshift into rst gear until the vehicle is going slow
enough.Notice:Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle
in one place on a hill using only the accelerator
pedal may damage the transaxle. If you are stuck,
do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill,
use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.
All-Wheel Drive
If your vehicle has all-wheel drive, your engine’s driving
power is sent to all four wheels for extra traction
when needed.
This is like four-wheel drive, but there is no separate
lever or switch to engage or disengage the front axle.
It is fully automatic, and adjusts itself as needed for road
conditions.
You may experience a brief vehicle vibration upon
acceleration when driving in slippery conditions. This is
normal and is an indication that the all-wheel drive
system is functioning properly.
SeeAll-Wheel Drive (AWD) System on page 4-12for
more information.
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A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes
the DRL work, so be sure it is not covered. The
DRL system will make front parking and turn signal
lamps come on in daylight when the following conditions
are met:
The ignition is on.
The exterior lamps control is off.
When the DRL are on, only your front turn signal lamps
will be on. Your instrument panel will not be lit up.
When it is dark enough outside, the exterior lamps
will come on automatically. When it is bright enough
outside, the exterior lamps will turn off and the DRL will
turn on. Of course, you may still turn on the headlamps
any time you need to.
If you start your vehicle in a dark garage, the automatic
headlamp system will come on immediately. Once
you leave the garage, it will take approximately
30 seconds for the automatic headlamp system to
change to DRL if it is light outside. During that delay,
your instrument panel cluster may not be as bright
as usual. Make sure your instrument panel brightness
control is in the full bright position. SeeInstrument
Panel Brightness on page 3-16.To idle your vehicle with the DRL and automatic
headlamps off, toggle the exterior lamp control to off
after starting the vehicle.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.Instrument Panel Brightness
The knob to adjust
the instrument panel
brightness is located in
the center of the interior
lamp controls.
Turn the knob clockwise to brighten the lights and
counterclockwise to dim them.
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Overhead Console Switchbank
The overhead console switchbank is located in the
overhead console. This switchbank may include
the following:
Power Sliding Door(s)/Override Switch(es).
SeePower Sliding Door (PSD) on page 2-16.
Power Rear Quarter Windows. SeePower
Rear Quarter Windows on page 2-25.
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA) Disable
Switch. SeeUltrasonic Rear Parking Assist
(URPA) on page 3-20.
If your vehicle does not have some of these options,
there will be a blank.
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist
(URPA)
If your vehicle is equipped with the Ultrasonic Rear
Parking Assist (URPA) system, it is designed to help you
park, while the vehicle is in REVERSE (R). It operates
only at very low speeds, less than 3 mph (5 km/h).
URPA can help make parking easier and to help you
avoid colliding with objects such as parked vehicles. The
URPA system can detect objects up to 5 feet (1.5 m)
behind the vehicle, and tell you how close these objects
are from your rear bumper.
Your vehicle’s URPA operates when the shift lever is
moved into REVERSE (R) and the vehicle speed is less
than 3 mph (5 km/h). Four ultrasonic sensors located
at the rear bumper are used to detect the distance to the
object. The URPA display is located inside the vehicle,
near the rear window. It has three color-coded lights
used to provide distance and system information to
the driver.
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How the System Works
Unless disabled, the URPA will turn on automatically
when the shift lever is moved into REVERSE (R). When
the system turns on, the three lights on the display
will illuminate for one and a half seconds to let you know
that the system is working. If your vehicle is moving in
REVERSE (R) at a speed greater than 3 mph (5 km/h),
the red light will ash to remind you that the system
does not work at speed greater than 3 mph (5 km/h).
If an object is detected at a REVERSE (R) speed of less
than 3 mph (5 km/h), one of the following will occur:
Description English Metric
amber light 5 ft 1.5 m
amber/amber lights 40 in 1.0 m
amber/amber/red lights &
continuous chime20 in 0.5 m
amber/amber/red lights
ashing & continuous
chime1 ft 0.3 m
A chime will sound the rst time an object is detected
between 20 inches (0.5 m) and 5 feet (1.5 m) away.URPA cannot detect objects that are above liftgate
level. In order for the rear sensors to recognize
an object, it must be within detection range behind the
vehicle.
When the System Does Not Seem to Work
Properly
The light may ash red when the vehicle is in
REVERSE (R) if the ultrasonic sensors are not kept
clean. So be sure to keep your rear bumper free of mud,
dirt, snow, ice and slush. Other conditions that may
affect system performance include things like the
vibrations from a jackhammer or the compression of air
brakes on a very large truck. If after cleaning the
rear bumper and then driving forward at least 15 mph
(25 km/h), the display continues to ash red, see
your dealer.
If a trailer was attached to your vehicle, or a bicycle or
an object was on the back of, or hanging out of your
liftgate during your last drive cycle, the light may
also ash red. The light will continue to ash whenever
in REVERSE (R) until your vehicle is driven forward
at least 15 mph (25 km/h) without any obstructions
behind the vehicle.
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Power Outlet 115 Volt Alternating
Current
Your vehicle may have a power outlet that can be
used to plug in auxiliary electrical equipment with a
maximum limit of 150 watts. If you try to use equipment
that requires more than the limit, a protection circuit
will cut the power supply. To reset the outlet, unplug
the item and plug it back in or turn the ignition key
to OFF or ACC and then back on. The power will
automatically restart when equipment that operates
within the limit is plugged in.The power outlet is
located behind the
third row seats on the
passenger’s side
rear quarter trim panel.
The power outlet is not designed for the following
electrical equipment and they may not work properly:
Equipment with high initial peak wattage:
compressor-driven refrigerators and electric
power tools.
Other equipment requiring an extremely stable
power supply: microcomputer-controlled electric
blankets, touch sensor lamps, etc.
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Passenger Safety Belt Reminder
Light
Several seconds after the key is turned to RUN or
START, a chime will be provided for several seconds
to remind the front passenger to buckle their safety
belt. This would only occur if the passenger airbag is
enabled. SeePassenger Sensing System on page 1-62
for more information. The passenger safety belt light
will also be provided and stay on for several seconds,
then it will ash for several more. You should have
the passenger buckle their safety belt.
This chime and light will be
repeated if the passenger
remains unbuckled and
the vehicle is in motion.
If the passenger’s safety belt is buckled, neither the
chime nor the light will be provided.
Airbag Readiness Light
There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the airbag symbol. The system
checks the airbag’s electrical system for malfunctions.
The light comes on if there is an electrical problem.
The system check includes the airbag sensor, the airbag
modules, the wiring and the diagnostic module. For
more information on the airbag system, seeAirbag
System on page 1-54.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it will ash
for a few seconds.
Then the light should go
out. This means the
system is ready.
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you start
the vehicle or comes on when you are driving,
your airbag system may not work properly. Have your
vehicle serviced right away.
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