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Where Are the Airbags?
The driver’s airbag is in the middle of the steering wheel.The right front passenger’s airbag is in the instrument
panel on the passenger’s side.
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{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
airbag, the bag might not in ate properly or it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or even death. The path of an
in ating 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.
When Should an Airbag In ate?
The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal airbags
are designed to in ate in moderate to severe frontal
or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to in ate
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 in ate 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.
If the front of your vehicle goes straight into a wall that
does not move or deform, the threshold level is about
9 to 17 mph (14 to 27 km/h).(The threshold level can
vary, however, with speci c vehicle design, so that it can
be somewhat above or below this range.)
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What Makes an Airbag In ate?
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
in ator, which in ates the airbag. The in ator, 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.
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. Airbags supplement 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 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 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.
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What Will You See After an Airbag
In ates?
After an airbag in ates, it quickly de ates, so quickly that
some people may not even realize the airbag in ated.
Some components of the airbag module – the steering
wheel hub for the driver’s airbag, or the instrument panel
for the right front passenger’s bag – will be hot for a short
time. The parts of the bag that come into contact with you
may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There will be
some smoke and dust coming from the vents in the
de ated airbags. Airbag in ation does not prevent the
driver from seeing or being able to steer the vehicle, nor
does it stop people from leaving the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
When an airbag in ates, 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.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
If you have breathing problems but can not get
out of the vehicle after an airbag in ates, then
get fresh air by opening a window or a door. If
you experience breathing problems following
an airbag deployment, you should seek
medical attention.
Your vehicle has a feature that will automatically unlock
the doors and turn the interior lamps on when the
airbags in ate (if battery power is available). You can
lock the doors again and turn the interior lamps off
by using the door lock and interior lamp controls.
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In many crashes severe enough to in ate the airbag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger airbag.
Airbags are designed to in ate only once. After they
in ate, 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. SeeVehicle Data Collection and Event
Data Recorders on page 7-9.
Let only quali ed technicians work on your airbag
system. Improper service can mean that an
airbag system will not work properly. See your
dealer for service.
Notice:If you damage the covering for the driver’s
or the right front passenger’s airbag, the bag
may not work properly. You may have to replace the
airbag module in the steering wheel or both the
airbag module and the instrument panel for the right
front passenger’s airbag. Do not open or break
the airbag coverings.
Airbag Off Switch
Your vehicle has a switch on the instrument panel that
you can use to turn off the right front passenger’s airbag.
United States
Canada
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Global Window Feature
The global window up and
express-down buttons are
located on the driver’s door.
This feature allows all side windows and midgate
window, if equipped, to be opened or closed at the
same time.
q:Press the express-down button to lower all side
windows and midgate window, if equipped, without
stopping. Express-down will operate while the ignition is
in RUN or ACCESSORY, or while Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) is active. SeeRetained Accessory
Power (RAP) on page 2-26.If the key is out of the ignition, express-down will only
activate while the driver’s door is open and the content
theft-deterrent system is disabled. To stop the
express-down, press the up button.
Pressing the global express-down button also activates
the power midgate latch release buttons, if equipped.
See”Lowering the Midgate” underMidgate (SUT)
on page 2-14
n:Press the up button to raise all windows. The
midgate window, if equipped, will express-up while the
side windows will go up a small amount at a time.
Press and hold the up button to raise the four side
windows all the way. The up button operates while the
ignition is in RUN or ACCESSORY, or while RAP is
active.
Midgate Window
If your vehicle has a midgate, the switch to operate the
window is located on the instrument panel to the left
of the steering wheel. SeeInstrument Panel Overview
on page 3-4.
K: Press the bottom of the switch to express-down the
window. Press the top of the switch to express-up the
window. Press the top or bottom of the switch a second
time to stop the window.
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SECOND (2):This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy. 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.
If you manually select SECOND (2), the transmission
will drive in second gear. You may use this feature
for reducing the speed of the rear wheels when you are
trying to start your vehicle from a stop on slippery
road surfaces. Once the vehicle is moving, shift into
DRIVE (D).
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) while the vehicle is moving
forward, the transmission will not shift into rst gear
until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
Notice:Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in
one place on a hill using only the accelerator
pedal may damage the transmission. If you are
stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill,
use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.
On cold days, approximately 32°F (0°C) or colder, your
transmission is designed to shift differently until the
engine reaches normal operating temperature. This is
intended to improve heater performance.Tow/Haul Mode
Your vehicle is equipped
with a tow/haul mode. The
button is located on the
instrument panel to the
right of the steering wheel.
You can use this feature to assist when towing or
hauling a heavy load. See “Tow/Haul Mode” under
Towing a Trailer on page 4-68for more information.
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OnStar®Steering Wheel Controls
A steering wheel control can be used to interact with the
OnStar®system.
Press the control with this
symbol on the steering
wheel to place an OnStar
®
call or make a phone call.
Press the control to dial menu choices when calling into
voice mail systems, or to dial directory numbers.
Press the control, say the number (s), then say “dial”.
HomeLink®Transmitter
HomeLink®a combined universal transmitter and
receiver, provides a way to replace up to three
hand-held transmitters used to activate devices such as
gate operators, garage door openers, entry door
locks, security systems and home lighting. Additional
HomeLink
®information can be found on the internet at
www.homelink.com or by calling 1-800-355-3515.
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, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
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