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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 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.
SeePassenger Airbag Status Indicator on
page 182.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 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 in ate) 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.
United StatesCanada
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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.
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 toSecuring a
Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position
on page 66.
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.
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{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 181for
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 89for more information about
modi cations 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.
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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 412.
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,
instrument panel, 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 412.
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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 373
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 roof-mounted side impact airbag
covering (if equipped) on the garnish trim and
ceiling near the side windows, 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 the side impact airbag module,
garnish trim and the ceiling covering for
roof-mounted side impact airbags (if equipped).
Do not open or break the airbag coverings.
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Mirrors......................................................... 134
Manual Rearview Mirror............................. 134
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with OnStar
®and Compass................... 134
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with Compass........................................ 136
Outside Power Mirrors............................... 138
Outside Convex Mirror............................... 138
OnStar
®System.......................................... 139Storage Areas............................................. 143
Glove Box................................................. 143
Cupholder(s).............................................. 143
Instrument Panel Storage Area.................. 143
Floor Console Storage Area...................... 143
Rear Storage Area.................................... 143
Rear Compartment Storage Panel/Cover ... 144
Roof Rack System.................................... 146
Convenience Net....................................... 147
Sunroof....................................................... 147
Section 2 Features and Controls
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Page 107 of 446
{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 170.
If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the
way. SeeEngine Exhaust on page 132.
Manual Liftgate Release
If the liftgate cannot be opened by pressing the
switch on the outside handle, the battery may
be run down. SeeJump Starting on page 320.
To manually open the liftgate, do the following:
1. Remove the trim plug, located on the inside of
the liftgate near the center.
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Your Responsibility
You may need to increase the volume of your
radio to hear the OnStar®advisor. If the light next
to the OnStar®buttons is red, this means that
your system is not functioning properly and should
be checked by a dealer. If the light appears
clear (no light is appearing), your OnStar
®
subscription has expired. You can always press
the OnStar®button to con rm that your OnStar®
equipment is active.
Storage Areas
Glove Box
Open the glove box by lifting up on the lever.
Close the glove box with a rm push.
Cupholder(s)
There are two cupholders located in the oor
console between the front seats. There is also a
cupholder for the rear seat passenger located
at the rear of the oor console. They can be
removed for cleaning.
Instrument Panel Storage Area
Your vehicle has a storage compartment on the
instrument panel above the air vents. Push
the button on the compartment to open the lid.
Floor Console Storage Area
There are two small storage compartments on the
oor console, one at the front under the window
switches and one next to the parking brake
lever. The rubber liners can be removed for
cleaning.
Rear Storage Area
Your vehicle may have two rear storage areas that
can be used for the convenience net or other
small items.
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