2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE sensor

Frontal airbags may inate at
different crash speeds. For example:
If the vehicle hits a stationary
object, the airbags could inate at
a different crash speed than if the
vehicle hits a moving object.
If the vehicle hits an object that
deforms, the airbags could inate
at a different crash speed than if
the vehicle hits an object that
does not deform.
If the vehicle hits a narrow object
(like a pole), the airbags could
inate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle hits a wide
object (like a wall).
If the vehicle goes into an object
at an angle, the airbags could
inate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle goes straight
into the object.
Thresholds can also vary with
specic vehicle design.
Frontal airbags are not intended to
inate during vehicle rollovers, rear
impacts, or in many side impacts.In addition, the vehicle has
dual-stage frontal airbags.
Dual-stage airbags adjust the
restraint according to crash severity.
The vehicle has electronic frontal
sensors, which help the sensing
system distinguish between a
moderate frontal impact and a more
severe frontal impact. For moderate
frontal impacts, dual-stage airbags
inate at a level less than full
deployment. For more severe frontal
impacts, full deployment occurs.
The vehicle has seat-mounted
side impact and roof-rail airbags.
SeeAirbag System on page 1-46.
Seat-mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags are intended to
inate in moderate to severe side
crashes. In addition, these roof-rail
airbags are intended to inate during
a rollover or in a severe frontal
impact. Seat-mounted side impact
and roof-rail airbags will inate if
the crash severity is above the
system’s designed threshold level.
The threshold level can vary with
specic vehicle design.Seat-mounted side impact airbags
are not intended to inate in frontal
impacts, near-frontal impacts,
rollovers, or rear impacts. Roof-rail
airbags are not intended to inate in
rear impacts. A seat-mounted side
impact airbag is intended to deploy
on the side of the vehicle that is
struck. Both roof-rail airbags will
deploy when either side of the
vehicle is struck, or if the sensing
system predicts that the vehicle is
about to roll over, or in a severe
frontal impact.
In any particular crash, no one
can say whether an airbag should
have inated simply because of the
damage to a vehicle or because
of what the repair costs were.
For frontal airbags, ination is
determined by what the vehicle
hits, the angle of the impact, and
how quickly the vehicle slows down.
For seat-mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags, deployment is
determined by the location and
severity of the side impact. In a
rollover event, roof-rail airbag
deployment is determined by the
direction of the roll.
1-50 Seats and Restraint System

Passenger Sensing
System
The vehicle has a passenger
sensing system for the right front
passenger position. The passenger
airbag status indicator will be
visible on the instrument panel when
the vehicle is started.The words ON and OFF, or the
symbol for on and off, are visible
during the system check. If you are
using remote start, if equipped,
to start the vehicle from a distance,
you may not see the system
check. When the system check is
complete, either the word ON
or OFF, or the symbol for on or off,
will be visible. SeePassenger
Airbag Status Indicator on
page 3-33.
The passenger sensing system
turns off the right front passenger
frontal airbag under certain
conditions. The driver airbag,
seat-mounted side impact airbags
and the roof-rail airbags are not
affected by the passenger sensing
system.The passenger sensing system
works with sensors that are part of
the right front passenger seat.
The sensors are designed to detect
the presence of a properly-seated
occupant and determine if the
right front passenger frontal airbag
should be enabled (may inate)
or not.
According to accident statistics,
children are safer when properly
secured in a rear seat in the correct
child restraint for their weight
and size.
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. United States
Canada
Seats and Restraint System 1-53

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 the 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, roof-rail airbag modules,
ceiling headliner or pillar
garnish trim, front sensors, side
impact sensors, rollover
sensor module, or airbag wiring
can affect the operation of
the airbag system.In addition, the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system for the
right front passenger position,
which includes sensors that are
part of the passenger 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
seat fabric, 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 1-53.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 7-1.
If the vehicle has rollover
roof-rail airbags, seeDifferent
Size Tires and Wheels on
page 5-52for additional
important information.
1-58 Seats and Restraint System

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. SeeCustomer
Satisfaction Procedure on
page 7-1.
In addition, your dealer/retailer
and the service manual have
information about the location of
the airbag sensors, sensing
and diagnostic module and airbag
wiring.
Restraint System
Check
Checking the Restraint
Systems
Safety Belts
Now and then, check that the safety
belt reminder light, safety belts,
buckles, latch plates, retractors, and
anchorages are all working
properly.
Look for any other loose or
damaged safety belt system parts
that might keep a safety belt system
from doing its job. See your
dealer/retailer to have it repaired.
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.
Make sure the safety belt reminder
light is working. SeeSafety Belt
Reminders on page 3-32for more
information.Keep safety belts clean and dry.
SeeCare of Safety Belts on
page 5-80.
Airbags
The airbag system does not need
regularly scheduled maintenance or
replacement. Make sure the
airbag readiness light is working.
SeeAirbag Readiness Light
on page 3-33for more information.
Notice:If an airbag covering
is damaged, opened, or broken,
the airbag may not work properly.
Do not open or break the airbag
coverings. If there are any opened
or broken airbag covers, have
the airbag covering and/or airbag
module replaced. For the
location of the airbag modules,
seeWhat Makes an Airbag
Inflate? on page 1-51. See your
dealer/retailer for service.
Seats and Restraint System 1-59

After removing the obstruction, the
power liftgate operation can be
used again.
If the liftgate comes across more
obstacles on the same power cycle,
the power function deactivates,
and you must manually open
or close the liftgate. A message
displays, LIFTGATE OPEN,
to indicate that the liftgate is open.
SeeDriver Information Center
(DIC) on page 3-44for more
information. After removing the
obstructions, manually open
the liftgate to the full open position
or close the liftgate to the fully
closed and latched position.
The liftgate resumes normal power
operation.
Pinch sensors are located on the
side edges of the liftgate. If an
object is caught between the liftgate
and the vehicle and presses
against this sensor, the liftgate will
reverse direction and open fully.The liftgate will remain open until
it is activated again or closed
manually. Do not force the liftgate
open or closed during a power cycle.
Manual Operation of Power
Liftgate
To change the liftgate to manual
operation, press the switch on
the center console to OFF.
With the power liftgate disabled and
all of the doors unlocked, the liftgate
can be manually opened and closed.To open the liftgate, press the
touchpad on the handle on
the outside of the liftgate and lift the
gate open. To close the liftgate,
use the pull cup to lower the liftgate
and close. The liftgate latch will
power close. Always close the
liftgate before driving.
If the RKE button or the power close
button on the liftgate is pressed while
power operation is disabled, the
lights will ash three times, but the
liftgate will not move.
It is not recommended that you
drive with the liftgate open.
However, if you must drive with the
liftgate open, the liftgate should
be set to manual operation by
pressing the OFF switch on the
center console.
Features and Controls 2-13

Object Detection
Systems
Ultrasonic Rear Parking
Assist (URPA)
For vehicles with the Ultrasonic
Rear Parking Assist (URPA) system,
it operates at speeds less than
5 mph (8 km/h), and assists the
driver with parking and avoiding
objects while in R (Reverse).
The sensors on the rear bumper are
used to detect the distance to an
object up to 8 feet (2.5 m) behind
the vehicle, and at least 10 inches
(25.4 cm) off the ground.
{CAUTION
The Ultrasonic Rear Parking
Assist (URPA) system does not
replace driver vision. It cannot
detect:
objects that are below the
bumper, underneath the
vehicle, or if they are too
close or far from the vehicle
children, pedestrians,
bicyclists, or pets.
If you do not use proper care
before and while backing; vehicle
damage, injury, or death could
occur. Even with URPA, always
check behind the vehicle before
backing up. While backing, be
sure to look for objects and check
the vehicle’s mirrors.The display is located in the
headliner and can be seen by
looking over your right shoulder.
URPA uses three color-coded lights
to provide distance and system
information.
2-36 Features and Controls

When the System Does Not
Seem to Work Properly
If the URPA system does not
activate due to a temporary
condition, the message PARK
ASSIST OFF displays on the DIC
and a red light will be shown on the
rear URPA display when the shift
lever is moved into R (Reverse).
This may occur under the following
conditions:
The driver disables the system.
The ultrasonic sensors are
not clean. Keep the vehicle’s rear
bumper free of mud, dirt, snow,
ice and slush. For cleaning
instructions, seeWashing Your
Vehicle on page 5-81.
A trailer was attached to the
vehicle, or a bicycle or an object
was hanging out of the liftgate
during the last drive cycle, the red
light may illuminate in the rear
display. Once the attached object
is removed, URPA will return to
normal operation.
A tow bar is attached to the
vehicle.
The vehicle’s bumper is
damaged. Take the vehicle to
your dealer/retailer to repair the
system.
Other conditions may affect
system performance, such as
vibrations from a jackhammer or
the compression of air brakes on
a very large truck.
If the system is still disabled, after
driving forward at least 15 mph
(25 km/h), take the vehicle to your
dealer/retailer.
Rear Vision
Camera (RVC)
The vehicle may have a Rear Vision
Camera system. Read this entire
section before using it.
{CAUTION
The Rear Vision Camera (RVC)
system does not replace driver
vision. RVC does not:
Detect objects that are
outside the camera’s eld of
view, below the bumper, or
underneath the vehicle.
Detect children, pedestrians,
bicyclists, or pets.
Do not back the vehicle by only
looking at the rear vision camera
screen, or use the screen during
longer, higher speed backing
maneuvers or where there could
be cross-traffic. Your judged
distances using the screen will
differ from actual distances.
(Continued)
2-38 Features and Controls

When the DRL are on, the regular
headlamps, taillamps, sidemarker,
and other lamps are not on.
The instrument panel and cluster
are also not on.
The headlamps automatically
change from DRL to the regular
headlamps depending on the
darkness of the surroundings.
The other lamps that come on with
the headlamps will also come on.
When it is bright enough outside,
the headlamps go off and the
DRL come on.
The regular headlamp system
should be turned on when needed.
Do not cover the light sensor on
top of the instrument panel because
it works with the DRL.Fog Lamps
#
(Fog Lamps):For vehicles
with fog lamps, the button is located
on the exterior lamps control.
The exterior lamps control is located
on the instrument panel to the left
of the steering column.
The ignition must be in the
ON/RUN position for the fog lamps
to come on.
Press
#to turn the fog lamps
on or off. A light will come on in
the instrument panel cluster.
When the headlamps are changed
to high-beam, the fog lamps also
go off.
Some localities have laws that
require the headlamps to be
on along with the fog lamps.
Instrument Panel
Brightness
D
(Instrument Panel Brightness):
The knob with this symbol on it is
located next to the exterior lamps
control to the left of the steering
wheel. Push the knob in all the way
until it extends out and then turn the
knob clockwise or counterclockwise
to brighten or dim the lights. Push the
knob back in when nished.
Instrument Panel 3-13