
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 3-30.
The passenger sensing system is designed to turn
on (may inflate) 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 those 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 in the instrument panel
cluster ever comes on and stays on, it means that
something may be wrong with the airbag system.
If this ever happens, have the vehicle serviced
promptly, because an adult-size person sitting in
the right front passenger’s seat may not have the
protection of the airbag(s). SeeAirbag Readiness
Light on page 3-27for more on this, including
important safety information.
1-73

B (ACC/ACCESSORY):This is the position in which
you can operate things like the radio and the windshield
wipers when the engine is off.
C (ON/RUN):This position can be used to operate the
electrical accessories and to display some instrument
panel cluster warning and indicator lights. The switch
stays in this position when the engine is running.
If you leave the key in the ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/
RUN position with the engine off, the battery could be
drained. You may not be able to start the vehicle if the
battery is allowed to drain for an extended period of time.
D (START):This is the position that starts the engine.
When the engine starts, release the key. The ignition
switch returns to ON/RUN for driving.
A warning tone will sound when the driver door is
opened, the ignition is in ACC/ACCESSORY or
LOCK/OFF and the key is in the ignition.Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
These vehicle accessories can be used for up to
10 minutes after the engine is turned off:
•Audio System
•Power Windows (if equipped)
These features will work when the ignition key is in
ON/RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY. Once the key is turned
from ON/RUN to LOCK/OFF, power to the radio will
continue to work 10 minutes or until the driver door is
opened. The power windows will continue to work for up
to 10 minutes or until any door is opened.
Starting the Engine
If the vehicle has the DURAMAX®Diesel engine, see
the DURAMAX®Diesel manual for more information.
To place the transmission in the proper gear:
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or N (Neutral). The
engine will not start in any other position. To restart the
engine when the vehicle is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
2-20

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Horn .............................................................3-6
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-6
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-7
Turn and Lane-Change Signals........................3-7
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer..................3-8
Flash-to-Pass.................................................3-8
Windshield Wipers..........................................3-8
Windshield Washer.........................................3-9
Cruise Control..............................................3-10
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-13
Headlamps on Reminder................................3-14
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).......................3-15
Automatic Headlamp System..........................3-15
Instrument Panel Brightness...........................3-16
Dome Lamps ...............................................3-16
Dome Lamp Override....................................3-16
Entry/Exit Lighting.........................................3-17
Reading Lamps............................................3-17
Electric Power Management...........................3-17
Battery Run-Down Protection..........................3-18
Accessory Power Outlet(s).............................3-18
Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter......................3-19Climate Controls............................................3-19
Climate Control System.................................3-19
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-21
Rear Heating System....................................3-22
Rear Air Conditioning and Heating
System....................................................3-23
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators............3-24
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-25
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-26
Trip Odometer..............................................3-26
Safety Belt Reminders...................................3-27
Airbag Readiness Light..................................3-27
Airbag Off Light............................................3-28
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator...................3-30
Charging System Light..................................3-31
Voltmeter Gage............................................3-32
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-33
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning
Light........................................................3-34
StabiliTrak
®Indicator Light.............................3-34
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-35
Tire Pressure Light.......................................3-35
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-36
Oil Pressure Gage........................................3-39
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

The main components of the instrument panel are the following:
A.Outlet Adjustment on page 3-21.
B.Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-43.
C.Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
D.Hazard Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
E.Instrument Panel Cluster on page 3-25.
F. Shift Lever. SeeStarting the Engine on page 2-20.
G.Climate Control System on page 3-19.
H.Audio System(s) on page 3-65.
I.Exterior Lamps on page 3-13.
J.Instrument Panel Brightness on page 3-16.
K.Cruise Control on page 3-10. Fast Idle System
(If Equipped). See Duramax Diesel Manual for more
information.L.Tilt Wheel on page 3-6.
M.Horn on page 3-6.
N.Audio Steering Wheel Controls on page 3-85.
O. Tow/Haul Mode Button. See “Tow/Haul Mode” under
Towing a Trailer on page 4-26.
P.Accessory Power Outlet(s) on page 3-18and
Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter on page 3-19.
Q.StabiliTrak
®System on page 4-6(If Equipped).
R.Airbag Off Switch on page 1-68.
S.Storage Areas on page 2-34.
T.Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-30.
U.Rear Heating System on page 3-22(If Equipped).
3-5

Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
G:Turn and Lane Change Signals.
53:Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer.
N:Windshield Wipers.
L:Windshield Washer.
Flash-to-Pass Feature.
Information for these features is on the pages following.
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
G:An arrow on the instrument panel cluster flashes
in the direction of the turn or lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down.
To signal a lane change, raise or lower the lever until
the arrow starts to flash. The turn signal automatically
flashes three times and if the tow-haul mode is active it
flashes six times. Holding the turn signal lever for
more than one second causes the turn signals to flash
continually until the lever is released.
The lever returns to its starting position when released.
If after signaling a turn or lane change the arrow flashes
rapidly or does not come on, a signal bulb may be
burned out.
Have the bulbs replaced. If the bulb is not burned out,
check the fuse. SeeFuses and Circuit Breakers on
page 5-104.
3-7

Turn Signal On Chime
If the turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 of a mile
(1.2 km), a chime sounds at each flash of the turn signal
and the message TURN SIGNAL ON also appears in the
Driver Information Center (DIC). SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 3-50. To turn off the chime and
message, move the turn signal lever to the off position.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
23(Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer):Pull the
turn signal lever all the way toward you to change the
headlamps from low to high beam. Then release it.
This instrument panel cluster light comes on when the
high beam headlamps are on.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature is used to signal to the vehicle ahead that
you want to pass.
If the headlamps are off or in the low-beam position,
pull the turn signal lever toward you to momentarily
switch to high-beams.
Release the lever to turn the high-beam headlamps off.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper control is located on the
multifunction lever on the left side of the steering wheel.
Turn the band with
Non it to the following positions:
8(Mist):For a single wiping cycle, hold the band
on mist until the wipers start, then let go. The wipers will
stop after one wipe. If more wipes are needed, hold
the band on mist longer.
6Delay: Turn the band to adjust the delay time between
wipes. The closer to the top of the lever, the shorter
the delay.
3-8

Setting Cruise Control
Cruise control will not work if the parking brake is set, or
if the master cylinder brake fluid level is low.
The cruise control light on the instrument panel cluster
comes on after the cruise control has been set to the
desired speed.
{CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control on when you are not
using cruise, you might hit a button and go into
cruise when you do not want to. You could be
startled and even lose control. Keep the cruise
control switch off until you want to use cruise
control.
1. Press the
Ibutton.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Press the SET−button located on the steering
wheel and release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator.
Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at a desired speed and then the
brakes are applied, this shuts off the cruise control. But it
does not need to be reset.
Once the vehicle speed reaches about 25 mph (40 km/h)
or more, press the +RES button on the steering wheel.
The vehicle returns to the previously set speed and
stays there.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
To increase the cruise speed while using cruise control:
•Press and hold the +RES button on the steering
wheel until the desired speed is reached, then
release it.
•To increase vehicle speed in small increments,
press the +RES button. Each time this is done,
the vehicle goes about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
3-11

If the vehicle is started in a dark garage, the automatic
headlamp system comes on immediately. Once the
vehicle leaves the garage, it takes approximately
30 seconds for the automatic headlamp system to
change to DRL if it is light outside. During that delay,
the instrument panel cluster may not be as bright
as usual. Make sure the instrument panel brightness
control is in the full bright position. SeeInstrument Panel
Brightness on page 3-16.
Instrument Panel Brightness
The knob for this feature is located next to the exterior
lamps control.
D(Instrument Panel Lights):Push knob to extend
and then turn clockwise or counterclockwise to brighten
or dim the instrument panel lights and the radio display.
This only works if the headlamps or parking lamps are on.
To turn on the dome lamps, with the vehicle doors
closed, turn the knob all the way clockwise.
Dome Lamps
The dome lamps come on when any door is opened.
They turn off after all the doors are closed.
The dome lamps can also be turned on by turning the
instrument panel brightness knob, located on the
instrument panel to the left of the steering column,
clockwise to the farthest position. In this position, the
dome lamps remain on whether a door is opened or
closed.
Dome Lamp Override
The dome lamp override button is located next to the
exterior lamps control.
The dome lamp override sets the dome lamps to remain
off or come on automatically when a door is opened.
E(Dome Lamp Override):Press the button in
and the dome lamps remain off when a door is opened.
Press the button again to return it to the extended
position so that the dome lamps come on when a door
is opened.
3-16