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Questions and Answers About
Safety Belts
Q:Will I be trapped in the vehicle after an
accident if I am wearing a safety belt?
A:Youcouldbe — whether you are wearing a
safety belt or not. But you can unbuckle a
safety belt, even if you are upside down. And
your chance of being conscious during and
after an accident, so youcanunbuckle and get
out, ismuchgreater if you are belted.
Q:If my vehicle has airbags, why should I
have to wear safety belts?
A:Airbags are in many vehicles today and will be
in most of them in the future. But they are
supplemental systems only; so they workwith
safety belts — not instead of them. Every
airbag system ever offered for sale has
required the use of safety belts. Even if you
are in a vehicle that has airbags, you still have
to buckle up to get the most protection. That
is true not only in frontal collisions, but
especially in side and other collisions.
Q:If I am a good driver, and I never drive far
from home, why should I wear safety belts?
A:You may be an excellent driver, but if you are
in an accident — even one that is not your
fault — you and your passengers can be hurt.
Being a good driver does not protect you
from things beyond your control, such as bad
drivers.
Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km)
of home. And the greatest number of
serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds of
less than 40 mph (65 km/h).
Safety belts are for everyone.
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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)
CAUTION: (Continued)
Young children who get into unlocked
vehicles may be unable to get out.
A child can be overcome by extreme
heat and can suffer permanent injuries
or even death from heat stroke.
Always lock your vehicle whenever
you leave it.
Outsiders can easily enter through an
unlocked door when you slow down
or stop your vehicle. Locking your
doors can help prevent this from
happening.
There are several ways to lock and unlock your
vehicle.
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Windows
{CAUTION:
Leaving children, helpless adults, or pets
in a vehicle with the windows closed is
dangerous. They can be overcome by the
extreme heat and suffer permanent
injuries or even death from heat stroke.
Never leave a child, a helpless adult, or a
pet alone in a vehicle, especially with the
windows closed in warm or hot weather.
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Theft-Deterrent Systems
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some
cities. Although your vehicle has a number of
theft-deterrent features, we know that nothing we
put on it can make it impossible to steal.
Content Theft-Deterrent
Your vehicle may have a theft-deterrent alarm
system.
A light located on top of your instrument panel,
near the center of the vehicle next to the
windshield, will ash slowly to let you know that
the system has been armed.
While armed, the doors will not unlock with the
power door lock switch.
Once armed, the alarm will go off if someone tries
to enter the vehicle without using the remote
keyless entry transmitter or a key, or turns
the ignition to RUN. The horn will sound and the
turn signal lamps will ash for up to two minutes.
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OnStar®Virtual Advisor
Your vehicle may have Virtual Advisor. It is a
feature of OnStar®Hands-Free Calling that uses
your minutes to access weather, local traffic
reports, and stock quotes. By pressing the
phone button and giving a few simple voice
commands, you can browse through the various
topics. Customize your information pro le at
www.myonstar.com. See the OnStar
®Owner’s
Guide for more information.
OnStar®Steering Wheel Controls
$
:Your vehicle may be equipped with a
Talk/Mute button that can be used to interact
with OnStar
®.
SeeAudio Steering Wheel Controls on page 353
for more information.
When calling into voice mail systems or to dial
directory numbers, press this button once, wait for
the response, say the number(s) to be dialed,
wait for the number(s) to be repeated and then say
“dial.” See the OnStar
®Owner’s Guide for more
information.
Universal Home Remote
System
Universal Home Remote System
(With Three Round LED)
The Universal Home Remote System provides
a way to replace up to three hand-held
Radio-Frequency (RF) transmitters used to
activate devices such as garage door openers,
security systems, and home lighting.
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.
2. This device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
The FCC Grant of Equipment Authorization
Certi cate number is KOBGTE05A.
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Wiper Activated Headlamps
This feature, if equipped, will automatically
activate the headlamps and parking lamps after
the windshield wipers have been in use for
about 30 seconds and when all of the following
conditions are met.
The exterior lamp control is in AUTO.
The headlamps have not already been
activated by automatic lighting.
The automatic lighting feature has not been
disabled using the exterior lamp control.
SeeExterior Lamps on page 192for additional
information.
If the wipers are activated for over 30 seconds
and the exterior lamp control is in the parking
lamps position, or the automatic lighting feature
has been disabled using the exterior lamp control,
a HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED message will
appear on the Driver Information Center, if
equipped.
Headlamps on Reminder
If you turn the ignition to LOCK while leaving the
lamps on, you will hear a warning chime once
the driver’s door is opened.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)/
Automatic Headlamp System
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier
for others to see the front of your vehicle during
the day. DRL can be helpful in many different
driving conditions, but they can be especially
helpful in the short periods after dawn and before
sunset. Fully functional Daytime Running Lamps
are required on all vehicles rst sold in Canada.
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Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
Your vehicle has the passenger sensing system.
Your instrument panel has a passenger airbag
status indicator.
When the ignition key is turned to RUN or START,
the passenger airbag status indicator will light
ON and OFF, or the symbol for on and off,
for several seconds as a system check. Then,
after several more seconds, the status indicator
will light either ON or OFF, or either the on
or off symbol to let you know the status of the
right front passenger’s frontal airbag and
side impact airbag (if equipped).If the word ON or the on symbol is lit on the
passenger airbag status indicator, it means that
the right front passenger’s airbag or airbags
are enabled (may in ate).
{CAUTION:
If the on indicator comes on when you have
a rear-facing child restraint installed in the
right front passenger’s seat, it means that
the passenger sensing system has not
turned off the passenger’s frontal airbag
and seat-mounted side impact airbag
(if equipped). A child in a rear-facing child
restraint can be seriously injured or killed if
the right front passenger’s airbag in ates.
This is because the back of the rear-facing
child restraint would be very close to the
in ating airbag. Do not use a rear-facing
child restraint in the right front passenger’s
seat if the airbag is turned on.
Passenger
Airbag Status
Indicator – United StatesPassenger Airbag
Status
Indicator – Canada
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Here are four things some owners ask about.
All these things are normal and do not indicate that
anything is wrong with the fuel gage.
At the gas station, the gas pump shuts off
before the gage reads full.
It takes a little more (or less) fuel to ll up
than the gage reads. For example, the
gage read half full, but it took more (or less)
than half of the tank’s capacity to ll it.
The gage pointer may move while cornering,
braking or speeding up.
The gage may not indicate empty when the
ignition is turned off.
Low Fuel Warning Light
The light next to the fuel gage will come on brie y
when you are starting the engine.
This light comes on when the fuel tank is low on
fuel. To turn it off, add fuel to the fuel tank.
Driver Information Center (DIC)
Your vehicle has a Driver Information Center (DIC).
All messages will appear in the DIC display
located in the instrument panel cluster, below the
tachometer. The DIC buttons are located on
the center of the instrument panel, below the
center outlets.
The DIC comes on when the ignition is on. After a
short delay, the DIC will display WELCOME
DRIVER (1 or 2) if a personalized key 1 or 2 is
used, and then the information that was last
displayed before the engine was turned off. The
driver number also corresponds to the numbers,
1 or 2, on the back of the remote keyless entry
transmitters.
The DIC displays the odometer, trip odometers,
fuel economy, trip computer, vehicle system
information, and compass display, if equipped.
It also displays warning messages if a system
problem is detected. In addition, the DIC displays
phone numbers that are called using the
OnStar
®system, if equipped. SeeOnStar®
System on page 154.
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