According to accident statistics, children and infants are
safer when properly restrained in a child restraint system
or infant restraint system secured in a rear seating
position.
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 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 airbag in ates. This is because the
back of the rear-facing child restraint would be
very close to the in ating airbag. A child in a
forward-facing child restraint can be seriously
injured or killed if the right front passenger airbag
in ates and the passenger seat is in a forward
position.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
Even if the passenger sensing system has turned
off the right front passenger frontal airbag, no
system is fail-safe. No one can guarantee that
an airbag will not deploy under some unusual
circumstance, even though the airbag is turned off.
Secure rear-facing child restraints in a rear
seat, even if the airbag is 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.
If your vehicle does not have a rear seat that will
accommodate a rear-facing child restraint, a rear-facing
child restraint should not be installed in the vehicle,
even if the airbag is off.
1-71
The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off
the right front passenger 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 frontal airbag, the off indicator
will light and stay lit to remind you that the airbag is off.
SeePassenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-25.
The passenger sensing system is designed to turn
on (may in ate) 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 who have outgrown child restraints
and for very small adults, the passenger sensing system
may or may not turn off the right front passenger’s
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 3-24for
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 1-58.5. 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 1-8.
6. Restart the vehicle.
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/retailer.
If no rear seat is available, do not install a child
restraint in this vehicle and check with your
dealer/retailer.
1-73
If the Off Indicator is Lit for an
Adult-Size Occupant
If a person of adult-size is sitting in the right front
passenger seat, but the off indicator is lit, it could be
because that person is not sitting properly in the seat.If this happens, use the following steps to allow the
system to detect that person and enable the right front
passenger frontal airbag:
1. Turn the vehicle off.
2. Remove any additional material from the seat, such
as blankets, cushions, seat covers, seat heaters, or
seat massagers.
3. Place the seatback in the fully upright position.
4. Have the person sit upright in the seat, centered on
the seat cushion, with legs comfortably extended.
5. Restart the vehicle and have the person remain in
this position for two to three minutes after the on
indicator is lit.
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.
1-74
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 speci c
vehicle. SeeAdding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 1-76for more information about
modi cations that can affect how the system operates.
{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.
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle
Airbags affect how the vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the airbag system in several places
around the vehicle. Your dealer/retailer and the
service manual have information about servicing the
vehicle and the airbag system. To purchase a service
manual, seeService Publications Ordering Information
on page 7-15.
{CAUTION:
For up to 10 seconds after the ignition is turned off
and the battery is disconnected, an airbag can still
in ate during improper service. You can be injured
if you are close to an airbag when it in ates. Avoid
yellow connectors. They are probably part of the
airbag system. Be sure to follow proper service
procedures, and make sure the person performing
work for you is quali ed to do so.
1-75
{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.
Remember not to exceed the Gross Axle Weight
rating (GAWR) of the front or rear axle.
Two-Tiered Loading
By positioning four 2” X 6” wooden planks across
the width of the pickup box, you can create an
upper load platform. The planks must be inserted in
the pickup box depressions. The length of the
planks must allow for at least a 3/4 inch (2 cm)
bearing surface on each end of the plank.
When using this upper load platform, be sure the
load is securely tied down to prevent it from
shifting. The load’s center of gravity should be
positioned in a zone over the rear axle.
Any load that extends beyond the vehicle’s
taillamp area must be properly marked according
to local laws and regulations.
Remember not to exceed the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) of the rear axle.
4-39
CD, MP3 .......................................................3-55
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-47
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)...........5-51
Chains, Tire...................................................5-78
Charging System Light....................................3-26
Check
Engine Lamp..............................................3-30
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-108
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-41
Infants and Young Children...........................1-38
Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children..................................................1-45
Older Children.............................................1-35
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..........................1-58
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-44
Chime Level Adjustment..................................3-62
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-19Cleaning
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-107
Exterior Lamps/Lenses................................5-105
Fabric/Carpet............................................5-103
Finish Care...............................................5-105
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces...............................................5-104
Interior.....................................................5-101
Leather....................................................5-103
Tires........................................................5-108
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-108
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-105
Weatherstrips............................................5-104
Windshield and Wiper Blades......................5-106
Climate Control System...................................3-19
Outlet Adjustment
........................................3-21
Clock, Setting.................................................3-44
Clutch, Hydraulic.............................................5-26
Collision Damage Repair..................................7-11
Compass.......................................................2-40
Content Theft-Deterrent....................................2-15
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-3
Coolant
Engine.......................................................5-29
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-29
3
High-Speed Operation, Tires.............................5-64
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-27
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-28
Hood
Checking Things Under................................5-10
Release.....................................................5-11
Horn ............................................................... 3-6
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-18
Hydraulic Clutch.............................................5-26
I
Ignition Positions.............................................2-19
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-38
In ation - Tire Pressure...................................5-63
Instrument Panel
Brightness..................................................3-16
Cluster.......................................................3-22
Overview..................................................... 3-4
J
Jump Starting.................................................5-42
K
Keyless Entry System....................................... 2-4
Keys............................................................... 2-3
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall.....................................5-57
Lamp
Malfunction Indicator....................................3-30
Lamps
Dome ........................................................3-16
Dome Lamp Override...................................3-17
Exterior Cargo.............................................3-16
Lap Belt........................................................1-33
Lap-Shoulder Belt...........................................1-27
LATCH System for Child Restraints...................1-45
Latches, Seatback............................................ 1-9
License Plate Lamps.......................................5-53
Light
Airbag Readiness........................................3-24
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning............3-28
Brake System Warning.................................3-27
Charging System.........................................3-26
7