2007 CADILLAC DTS belt

What Makes an Airbag Inate?
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 inator, which inates the
airbag. The inator, airbag and related hardware
are all part of the airbag modules. Frontal
airbag modules are located inside the steering
wheel and the instrument panel. For vehicles with
seat-mounted side impact airbags, there are
also airbag modules in the side of the front
seatbacks closest to the door. For vehicles with
roof-mounted side impact airbags, there are
also airbag modules in the ceiling of the vehicle,
near the side window.
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.
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
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, rollovers, and rear impacts.
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 vehicles with side
impact airbags.
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The passenger sensing system will turn off the
right front passenger’s frontal airbag and
seat-mounted side impact airbag under certain
conditions. The driver’s 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 right front passenger’s frontal
airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag 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. We recommend that child restraints be
secured in a rear seat, including an infant riding in
a rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a
forward-facing child seat and an older child riding
in a booster seat.
Your vehicle has a rear seat that will accommodate
a rear-facing child restraint. A label on your sun
visor says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat
in the front.” This is because the risk to the
rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can
be seriously injured or killed if the right
front passenger’s airbag 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 right
front passenger’s frontal and
seat-mounted side impact 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 airbags are off.
CAUTION: (Continued)
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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 inate) the right front passenger’s
frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact 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 airbags to be enabled, the
on indicator will light and stay lit to remind you
that the airbags are 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 and seat-mounted
side impact 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 right
front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted
side impact airbag.
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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, height,
front end or side sheet metal, 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. SeeCustomer
Satisfaction Procedure on page 482.
Q:Because I have a disability, I have to get
my vehicle modied. How can I nd 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, steering wheel,
instrument panel, overhead console, ceiling
headliner, ceiling and pillar garnish trim,
roof-mounted airbag modules, or airbag wiring
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. SeeCustomer
Satisfaction Procedure on page 482.
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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. SeeCare of Safety Belts on page 443
for more information.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in
a crash. They can rip apart under impact forces.
If a belt is torn or frayed, get a new one right away.
Also look for any opened or broken airbag
covers, and have them repaired or replaced. The
airbag system does not need regular maintenance.Notice:If you damage the covering for the
driver’s or the right front passenger’s airbag,
or the airbag covering on the driver’s and
right front passenger’s seatback, or the side
impact airbag covering (if equipped) on
the ceiling near the side windows, the bag may
not work properly. You may have to replace
the airbag module in the steering wheel, both
the airbag module and the instrument panel
for the right front passenger’s airbag, the
airbag module and seatback for the driver’s
and right front passenger’s seat-mounted side
impact airbags, or side impact airbag module
and ceiling covering for the roof-mounted side
impact airbag (if equipped). Do not open or
break the airbag coverings.
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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 inates, you will need to replace airbag
system parts. See the part on the airbag system
earlier in this section.
If the frontal airbags inate, you will also need to
replace the driver’s and right front passenger’s
safety belt assemblies. Be sure to do so. Then the
new assemblies 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 assemblies, even
if the frontal airbags have not deployed. The driver
and front passenger’s safety belt 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. SeeAirbag Readiness Light on
page 226.
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The remote vehicle start feature will not operate if
the key is in the ignition, the hood is not closed,
or if there is an emission control system
malfunction.
The engine will turn off during a remote vehicle
start if the coolant temperature gets too high,
or the oil pressure is too low.
Your vehicle was shipped from the factory with the
remote vehicle start system enabled. The
system may be disabled through the Driver
Information Center (DIC). See “REMOTE START”
underDIC Vehicle Customization on page 259
for additional information.
SeeEngine Exhaust on page 130for important
safety information when using remote start
in a closed garage.
Remote Start Ready
If your vehicle does not have the remote vehicle
start feature, it may have the remote start
ready feature. This feature allows your dealer to
add the manufacturer’s remote vehicle start
feature. See your dealer if you would like to add
the manufacturer’s remote vehicle start feature
to your vehicle.
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.
CAUTION: (Continued)
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Center Flex Storage Unit
Your vehicle may have a center ex storage unit
that includes a front center seat with a lap belt and
an underseat storage compartment. The center
seatback can also be used as a fold down armrest.
Cupholders are also located at the front edge of
the storage unit and can be accessed by
folding the compartment forward.
When not being used, the center seat lap belt can
be stored in the underseat storage compartment.
Floor Mats
The oor mats are designed to remain in position
under your feet and out of reach of the
accelerator pedal. The driver side oor mat is held
in place by two locator pins and the passenger
side is held in place by one.
Make sure that the driver side oor mat is properly
placed on the oor so that it does not block the
movement of the accelerator pedal.To remove a oor mat,
pull up on the rear of
the mat to disconnect it
from the locator pins.
To reinstall the oor mats, line up the openings in
the oor mat over the locator pins and push it
down into place.
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