2008 CADILLAC XLR ECU

6. To tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint,
pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten the lap
portion of the belt and feed the shoulder belt back
into the retractor. If you are using a forward-facing
child restraint, you may nd it helpful to use your
knee to push down on the child restraint as you
tighten the belt.
7. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.If the airbags are off, the off indicator in the passenger
airbag status indicator will come on and stay on
when the vehicle is started.
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.
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.
Remove any additional material from the seat such as
blankets, cushions, seat covers, seat heaters or
seat massagers before reinstalling or securing the
child restraint.
If the on indicator is still lit, do not install a child restraint
in this vehicle and check with your dealer/retailer.
To remove the child restraint, unbuckle the vehicle’s
safety belt and let it go back all the way.
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{CAUTION:
Airbags plus lap-shoulder belts offer the best
protection for adults, but not for young
children and infants. Neither the vehicle’s
safety belt system nor its airbag system is
designed for them. Young children and infants
need the protection that a child restraint
system can provide. Always secure children
properly in your vehicle. To read how, see
Older Children on page 1-23orInfants and
Young Children on page 1-26.There is an airbag
readiness light on the
instrument panel cluster,
which shows the airbag
symbol.
The system checks the airbag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. SeeAirbag Readiness Light on page 3-46
for more information.
1-38

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.
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 rear-facing child restraints
not be transported in your vehicle, even if the airbags
are off.
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 equipped) 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
a rear seat, even if the airbag(s) are off.
If you secure a forward-facing child restraint
in the right front seat, always move the front
passenger seat as far back as it will go.
It is better to secure the child restraint in a
rear seat.
1-46

The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off
the right front passenger’s airbag and seat-mounted
side impact 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 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.
Or, if there is a critical problem with the airbag
system or the passenger sensing system.When the passenger sensing system has turned off the
right front passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted
side impact airbag, the off indicator will light and
stay lit to remind you that the airbags are off.
SeePassenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-47.
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 1-32.
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.
Remove any additional material from the seat such as
blankets, cushions, seat covers, seat heaters, or
seat massagers before reinstalling or securing the
child restraint.
1-47

Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q:Is there anything I might add to or change
about 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. Changing or moving any parts
of the front seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing
and diagnostic module, steering wheel, instrument
panel, the inside review mirror, front sensors, or
airbag wiring can affect the operation of the airbag
system.
In addition, your vehicle has a passenger sensing
system for the right front passenger’s position,
which includes sensors that are part of the
passenger’s seat. The passenger sensing system
may not operate properly if the original seat trim
is replaced with non-GM covers, upholstery or trim,
or with GM covers, upholstery or trim designed
for a different vehicle. Any object, such as an
aftermarket seat heater or a comfort enhancing pad
or device, installed under or on top of the seatfabric, could also interfere with the operation of the
passenger sensing system. This could either
prevent proper deployment of the passenger
airbag(s) or prevent the passenger sensing system
from properly turning off the passenger airbag(s).
SeePassenger Sensing System on page 1-45.
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 8-2.
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: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. See
Customer Satisfaction Procedure on page 8-2.
Your dealer/retailer and the service manual have
information about the location of the airbag sensors,
sensing and diagnostic module and airbag wiring.
1-51

The key cylinder is located behind a cover on the
lower rear fascia on the driver’s side of the vehicle.
Open the door to access the key cylinder.
Emergency Trunk Release Handle
Notice:Do not use the emergency trunk release
handle as a tie-down or anchor point when securing
items in the trunk as it could damage the handle.
There is a glow-in-the-dark emergency trunk release
handle located inside the trunk near the latch.
This handle will glow following exposure to light.
Pull the release handle and push up on the trunk
lid to release the latch from the inside.
2-15

Window Indexing
This feature automatically lowers the window a small
amount when the door is opened. Then, when the door
is closed, the window will raise to its full up position.
Sun Visors
Notice:Raising or lowering the retractable hardtop
with the visor or the visor vanity mirror cover up,
may cause damage to the visor or mirror cover.
Always return the visor to the center mount or lower
the cover on the visor vanity mirror before raising
or lowering the retractable hardtop.
Swing down the visor to block out glare. It can also
be detached from the center mount and moved to
the side.
Lighted Visor Vanity Mirrors
Swing the visor down and lift the cover. The lamp will
automatically come on when the cover is opened.
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.
Theft-Deterrent System
Your vehicle is equipped with a theft-deterrent alarm
system.
With this system, the
security light will ash
when the door is open and
locked with the power
door lock switch.
If this light is on continuously while the engine is
running, your vehicle needs service.
2-19

Arming the System
To arm the system:
Press the lock button on the keyless access
transmitter.
Open the door. Lock the door with the power
door lock switch. The security light should
ash. Remove the keyless access transmitter
from the interior of the vehicle and close the door.
The security light will stop ashing and stay on.
After 30 seconds, the light should turn off.
The vehicle can be programmed to automatically
lock the doors and arm the system when you
exit the vehicle. SeeDIC Vehicle Personalization
on page 3-76.
Now, if a door or the trunk lid is opened without the
keyless access transmitter, the alarm will go off. Your
horn will sound for two minutes, then it will go off to save
battery power. And, your vehicle will not start without
a keyless transmitter present.
The theft-deterrent system will not arm if you lock the
driver’s door with the power door lock switch after
the doors are closed.
If your passenger stays in the vehicle when you leave
with the keyless access transmitter, have the passenger
lock the vehicle after the doors are closed. This way the
alarm will not arm, and your passenger will not set it off.
Testing the Alarm
To test the system:
1. Make sure the trunk lid is latched.
2. Lower the window on the driver’s door.
3. Manually arm the system.
4. Close the doors and wait 30 seconds.
5. Reach through the open window and manually
pull the release lever on the oor.
6. Turn off the alarm by pressing the unlock button
on the transmitter.
If the alarm is inoperative, check to see if the horn
works. If not, check the horn fuse. SeeFuses and
Circuit Breakers on page 6-90. If the horn works, but
the alarm doesn’t go off, see your dealer/retailer.
Disarming the System
Always use your keyless access transmitter to unlock
a door either by pressing the unlock button on the
transmitter or by squeezing the door handle sensor while
you have the transmitter with you. Unlocking a door any
other way will set off the alarm. If your alarm sounds,
press the unlock button on the keyless access transmitter
to disarm it.
Do not leave the key or device that disarms or
deactivates the theft deterrent system in the vehicle.
2-20