Page 83 of 458

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. Inflation is determined
by what the vehicle hits, the angle of the impact,
and how quickly the vehicle slows down in front
or near-frontal impacts.
If the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of
your vehicle is 8,500 lb (3 855 kg) or above, your
vehicle has single stage airbags. If the GVWR
is below 8,500 lb (3 855 kg), your vehicle has dual
stage airbags. You can find the GVWR on the
certification label on the rear edge of the driver’s
door. SeeLoading Your Vehicle on page 261
for more information.
Single Stage Airbags
If your vehicle has frontal airbags with single stage
deployment and your vehicle goes straight into
a wall that does not move or deform, the threshold
level is about 9 to 16 mph (14 to 26 km/h). The
threshold level can vary, however, with specific
vehicle design, so that it can be somewhat above
or below this range.
Dual Stage Airbags
If your vehicle has frontal airbags with dual stage
deployment, the restraint will adjust according
to the crash severity. Your vehicle has electronic
frontal sensors which helps the sensing system
distinguish between a moderate 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 25 mph (29 to 40 km/h).
The threshold level can vary, however, with
specific vehicle design, so that it can be somewhat
above or below this range.
Vehicles with dual stage airbags also have
sensors which enable the sensing system to
monitor the position of both the driver and
passenger front seats. The seat position sensors
provide information which is used to determine
if the airbags should deploy at a reduced level
or at full deployment.
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Page 90 of 458

The words ON and OFF, or the symbol for on and
off, will be visible on the instrument panel during
the system check. When the system check is
complete, either the word ON or the word OFF,
or the symbol for on or the symbol for off, will
be visible. SeePassenger Airbag Status Indicator
on page 172.
The passenger sensing system will turn off
the right front passenger’s frontal 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. 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. We recommend that children be secured
in a rear seat, including: an infant or a child riding
in a rear-facing child restraint; a child riding in
a forward-facing child seat; an older child riding
in a booster seat; and children, who are large
enough, using safety belts.
A label on your sun visor that 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.
90
Page 97 of 458

Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q:Is there anything I might add to the
exterior 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 424.
Q:Because I have a disability, I have to get
my vehicle modi ed. 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,
the instrument panel, 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 424.
Your dealer/retailer and the service manual
have information about the location of the airbag
sensors, sensing and diagnostic module and
airbag wiring.
97
Page 169 of 458

Passenger Safety Belt
Reminder Light
If your vehicle has this feature, several seconds
after the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime
will sound for several seconds to remind the front
passenger to buckle their safety belt. This would
only occur if the passenger airbag is enabled. See
Passenger Sensing System on page 89for more
information. The passenger safety belt light will also
come on and stay on for several seconds, then it
will flash for several more.
This light and chime
reminder 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 come on.
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 tells you if there
is an electrical problem. The system check
includes the airbag sensor, the airbag modules,
the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic
module. For more information on the airbag
system, seeAirbag System on page 78.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it will flash
for a few seconds.
Then the light should go
out. This means the
system is ready.
169
Page 397 of 458

Fuse Usage
38Powertrain Control Module Ignition 1
(Gas), Engine Control Module,
Transmission Control Module,
Glow Plug Control Module Ignition 1
(Diesel)
39Oxygen Sensor B (Gas),
Spare (Diesel)
40Oxygen Sensor A (Gas),
Spare (Diesel)
41 Windshield Wipers
42 Right Headlamp - Low Beam
43 Left Headlamp - Low Beam
44 Left Headlamp - High Beam
45 Right Headlamp - High Beam
46Truck Body Controller- Accessory
(Gas), Truck Body Controller,
Transmission Control Module
Accessory (Diesel)
47 Front Windshield Wiper
48Anti-lock Brakes, Vehicle Stability
Enhancement System
49 Ignition A
50 TrailerFuse Usage
51 Climate Control Blower
52 Ignition B
63Spare (Gas), Engine Control
Module Actuator (Diesel)
64 Spare
Relays Usage
53 Windshield Wiper
54 Air Conditioning
55Spare (Gas), Rear Fog
Lamps (Diesel)
56 Headlamp - High Beam
57 Fuel Pump
58 Headlamp - Low Beam
59 Horn
SPARE (G),
ECM (D)Spare (Gas), Engine
Control Module (Diesel)
STRTR Starter
Circuit Breaker Usage
PWR SEAT Power Seat
397