2009 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE child seat

A right front passenger takes his/her weight off of
the seat for a period of time.
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 frontal airbag, the off indicator
will light and stay lit to remind you that the airbag is off.
SeePassenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-33.
The passenger sensing system is designed to turn
on (may inate) the right front passenger frontal airbag
anytime the system senses that a person of adult
size is sitting properly in the right front passenger seat.
When the passenger sensing system has allowed
the airbag to be enabled, the on indicator will light and
stay lit to remind you that the airbag is active.
For some children, including children in child restraints,
and for very small adults, the passenger sensing
system may or may not turn off the right front passenger
frontal 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.{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light ever comes on and
stays on, it means that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help avoid injury to
yourself or others, have the vehicle serviced right
away. SeeAirbag Readiness Light on page 3-32
for more information, including important safety
information.
1-72

If the On Indicator is Lit for a Child
Restraint
If a child restraint has been installed and the on
indicator is lit:
1. Turn the vehicle off.
2. Remove the child restraint from the vehicle.
3. Remove any additional items from the seat such as
blankets, cushions, seat covers, seat heaters, or
seat massagers.
4. Reinstall the child restraint following the directions
provided by the child restraint manufacturer and
refer toSecuring a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position on page 1-59.5. If, after reinstalling the child restraint and restarting
the vehicle, the on indicator is still lit, turn the
vehicle off. Then slightly recline the vehicle seatback
and adjust the seat cushion, if adjustable, to
make sure that the vehicle seatback is not pushing
the child restraint into the seat cushion.
Also make sure the child restraint is not trapped
under the vehicle head restraint. If this happens,
adjust the head restraint. SeeHead Restraints
on page 1-2.
6. Restart the vehicle.
The passenger sensing system may or may not
turn off the airbag for a child in a child restraint
depending upon the child’s seating posture
and body build. It is better to secure the child
restraint in a rear seat.
1-73

Additional Factors Affecting System
Operation
Safety belts help keep the passenger in position on the
seat during vehicle maneuvers and braking, which
helps the passenger sensing system maintain the
passenger airbag status. See “Safety Belts” and “Child
Restraints” in the Index for additional information
about the importance of proper restraint use.
If the shoulder portion of the belt is pulled out all the
way, the child restraint locking feature will be engaged.
This may unintentionally cause the passenger sensing
system to turn the airbag off for some adult size
occupants. If this happens, let the belt go back all the
way and start again.
A thick layer of additional material, such as a blanket or
cushion, or aftermarket equipment such as seat
covers, seat heaters, and seat massagers can affect
how well the passenger sensing system operates.We recommend that you not use seat covers or other
aftermarket equipment except when approved by GM for
your specic vehicle. SeeAdding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-77for more
information about modications that can affect how the
system operates.
The on indicator may be lit if an object, such as a
briefcase, handbag, grocery bag, laptop or other
electronic device, is put on an unoccupied seat. If this is
not desired remove the object from the seat.
{CAUTION:
Stowing of articles under the passenger seat or
between the passenger seat cushion and seatback
may interfere with the proper operation of the
passenger sensing system.
1-75

Power Windows
{CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the keys is
dangerous for many reasons, children or others
could be badly injured or even killed. They could
operate the power windows or other controls or
even make the vehicle move. The windows will
function and they could be seriously injured or
killed if caught in the path of a closing window. Do
not leave keys in a vehicle with children.
When there are children in the rear seat use the
window lockout button to prevent unintentional
operation of the windows.The power window
controls are located on
each of the side doors.
The driver’s door also has switches that control the
passenger and rear windows. The power windows work
when the ignition has been turned to ACC/ACCESSORY,
ON/RUN or when Retained Accessory Power (RAP) is
active. SeeRetained Accessory Power (RAP) on
page 2-34.
Press the switch to lower the window.
Pull up on the front edge of the switch to raise the
window.Driver’s Side shown
2-26

{CAUTION:
Do not load the vehicle any heavier than the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), or
either the maximum front or rear Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR). If you do, parts on
the vehicle can break, and it can change the
way your vehicle handles. These could cause
you to lose control and crash. Also,
overloading can shorten the life of the
vehicle.
Your warranty does not cover parts or components
that fail because of overloading.
The label will help you decide how much cargo
and installed equipment your truck can carry.
Using heavier suspension components to
get added durability might not change your weight
ratings. Ask your dealer to help you load your
vehicle the right way.
If you put things inside your vehicle — like
suitcases, tools, packages, or anything else — they
will go as fast as the vehicle goes. If you have to
stop or turn quickly, or if there is a crash, they will
keep going.
{CAUTION:
Things you put inside your vehicle can strike
and injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or
in a crash.
Put things in the cargo area of your
vehicle. Try to spread the weight evenly.
Never stack heavier things, like
suitcases, inside the vehicle so that some
of them are above the tops of the seats.
Do not leave an unsecured child restraint
in your vehicle.
When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
Do not leave a seat folded down unless
you need to.
There is also important loading information for
off-road driving in this manual. See “Loading Your
Vehicle for Off-Road Driving” underOff-Road
Driving on page 4-12.
4-39

Center Seat...................................................1-13
Chains, Tire...................................................5-78
Charging System Light....................................3-34
Check
Engine Lamp..............................................3-39
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-12
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-106
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-45
Infants and Young Children...........................1-41
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children..........1-49
Older Children.............................................1-37
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat
Position..................................................1-56
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Center Front Seat Position........................1-58
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position..........................1-59
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-48
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-20
Cleaning
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-105
Exterior Lamps/Lenses................................5-103
Fabric/Carpet............................................5-101
Finish Care...............................................5-104
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces...............................................5-102
Interior.....................................................5-100
Leather....................................................5-102
Tires........................................................5-105Cleaning (cont.)
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-106
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-103
Weatherstrips............................................5-103
Windshield and Wiper Blades......................5-104
Climate Control System...................................3-20
Dual Automatic............................................3-23
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-29
Clock, Setting.................................................3-77
Collision Damage Repair..................................7-11
Compass.......................................................3-55
Content Theft-Deterrent....................................2-28
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-3
Coolant
Engine.......................................................5-25
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-38
Cooled Seats................................................... 1-7
Cooling System..............................................5-24
Cruise Control................................................3-11
Cruise Control Light........................................3-43
Cupholders....................................................2-76
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation................................7-10
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY)
Users....................................................... 7-6
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-6
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program............... 7-7
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors....7-15
3

Manual Seats................................................... 1-3
Memory Seat, Mirrors, and Pedals...................... 1-8
Message
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-58
Midgate
®.......................................................2-13
Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Rearview........................2-55
Manual Rearview Mirror................................2-55
Outside Convex Mirror.................................2-57
Outside Heated Mirrors................................2-58
Outside Power Foldaway Mirrors....................2-56
Outside Power Mirrors..................................2-56
Park Tilt .....................................................2-57
MP3 ....................................................3-96, 3-101
MyGMLink.com................................................ 7-5
N
Navigation System, Privacy..............................7-18
Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation
Manual.....................................................3-108
New Vehicle Break-In......................................2-32
O
Odometer......................................................3-31
Odometer, Trip...............................................3-31
Off-Road Driving.............................................4-12
Off-Road Recovery..........................................4-11Oil
Engine.......................................................5-15
Pressure Gage............................................3-41
Pressure Light.............................................3-42
Oil, Engine Oil Life System..............................5-18
Older Children, Restraints................................1-37
Online Owner Center........................................ 7-5
OnStar, Privacy..............................................7-18
OnStar
®System, see OnStar®Manual...............2-66
Operation, Universal Home Remote System........2-70
Outlet Adjustment............................................3-29
Outlets
Accessory Power.........................................3-19
Outside
Convex Mirror.............................................2-57
Heated Mirrors............................................2-58
Power Foldaway Mirrors...............................2-56
Power Mirrors.............................................2-56
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . . 5-33
Owner Checks and Services.............................6-10
Owners, Canadian.............................................. iii
P
Paint, Damage..............................................5-106
Park
Shifting Into................................................2-50
Shifting Out of............................................2-52
Park Aid................................................2-58, 2-61
9

Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire..................................................5-86
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...................5-81
Replacement Bulbs.........................................5-53
Replacement Parts, Maintenance......................6-15
Reporting Safety Defects
Canadian Government..................................7-15
General Motors...........................................7-15
United States Government............................7-14
Restraint System Check
Checking the Restraint Systems....................1-78
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a
Crash.....................................................1-79
Retained Accessory Power...............................2-34
Roadside
Assistance Program....................................... 7-7
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out....................4-32
Routing, Engine Drive Belt...............................6-16
Running the Vehicle While Parked.....................2-54
S
Safety Belt Reminders.....................................3-31
Safety Belts
Care of ....................................................5-102
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly................1-20
Lap Belt.....................................................1-35
Lap-Shoulder Belt........................................1-29Safety Belts (cont.)
Safety Belt Extender....................................1-37
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy.................1-35
Safety Belts Are for Everyone.......................1-15
Safety Warnings and Symbols.............................. iv
Scheduled Maintenance..................................... 6-4
Seats
Center Seat................................................1-13
Heated and Cooled Seats.............................. 1-7
Heated Seats............................................... 1-7
Manual Lumbar............................................. 1-5
Memory, Mirrors and Pedals........................... 1-8
Power Lumbar .............................................. 1-6
Power Seats................................................. 1-4
Rear Seat Operation....................................1-13
Reclining Seatbacks.....................................1-10
Secondary Latch System.................................5-92
Securing a Child Restraint
Center Front Seat Position............................1-58
Rear Seat Position......................................1-56
Right Front Seat Position..............................1-59
Security Light.................................................3-43
Service........................................................... 5-3
Accessories and Modications......................... 5-3
Adding Equipment to the Outside of the
Vehicle..................................................... 5-5
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . 5-4
California Proposition 65 Warning.................... 5-4
11