2009 GMC SAVANA PASSENGER tow

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. When installing a
forward-facing child restraint, it may be helpful to
use your knee to push down on the child restraint as
you tighten the belt.7. If the vehicle does not have a rear seat and the
child restraint has a top tether, follow the child
restraint manufacturer’s instructions regarding the
use of the top tether. SeeLower Anchors and
Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-41for more
information.
8. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
To remove the child restraint, unbuckle the vehicle
safety belt and let it return to the stowed position.
If you turned the airbag off with the switch, turn on the
right front passenger airbag when you remove the
child restraint from the vehicle unless the person who
will be sitting there is a member of a passenger
airbag risk group. SeeAirbag Off Switch on page 1-67
for more information, including important safety
information.
1-57

What Makes an Airbag Inate?
In a deployment event, the sensing system sends an
electrical signal triggering a release of gas from
the inflator. Gas from the inflator fills the airbag causing
the bag to break out of the cover and deploy. The
inflator, the airbag, and related hardware are all part of
the airbag module.
Frontal airbag modules are located inside the steering
wheel and instrument panel. For vehicles with
roof-rail airbags, there are airbag modules in the ceiling
of the vehicle, near the side windows for the first,
second, and third rows (if equipped). SeeWhere Are
the Airbags? on page 1-60for more information.
How Does an Airbag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside
of the vehicle.
Airbags supplement the protection provided by safety
belts. Frontal airbags distribute the force of the
impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body,
stopping the occupant more gradually. Roof-rail airbags
distribute the force of the impact more evenly over
the occupant’s upper body.
Rollover capable roof-rail airbags are designed to help
contain the head and chest of occupants in the
outboard seating positions in the first, second, and third
rows, if equipped. The rollover capable roof-rail
airbags are designed to help reduce the risk of full or
partial ejection in rollover events, although no system
can prevent all such ejections.
But airbags would not help in many types of collisions,
primarily because the occupant’s motion is not
toward those airbags. SeeWhen Should an Airbag
Inflate? on page 1-63for more information.
Airbags should never be regarded as anything more
than a supplement to safety belts.
1-65

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 you ever pull the shoulder portion of the belt out all
the way, you will engage the child restraint locking
feature. This may unintentionally cause the passenger
sensing system to turn the airbag(s) off for some
adult size occupants. If this happens, just 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 specific
vehicle. SeeAdding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 1-78for more information about
modifications 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.
1-76

Keys...............................................................2-2
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation . . .2-4
Doors and Locks.............................................2-6
Door Locks....................................................2-6
Power Door Locks..........................................2-7
Cargo Door Relocking.....................................2-7
Delayed Locking.............................................2-7
Programmable Automatic Door Locks................2-7
Automatic Door Lock.......................................2-8
Automatic Door Unlock....................................2-8
Rear Door Security Locks................................2-8
Lockout Protection..........................................2-9
Sliding Side Door...........................................2-9
60/40 Swing-Out Side Door............................2-10
Rear Doors..................................................2-12
Windows........................................................2-13
Manual Windows..........................................2-13
Power Windows............................................2-14
Swing-Out Windows......................................2-15
Enhanced Technology Glass..........................2-16
Sun Visors...................................................2-16
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-16
PASS-Key
®III+ Electronic Immobilizer.............2-16
PASS-Key®III+ Electronic Immobilizer
Operation.................................................2-17Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-18
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-18
Ignition Positions..........................................2-19
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)...................2-20
Starting the Engine.......................................2-20
Fast Idle System..........................................2-21
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-22
Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-23
Tow/Haul Mode............................................2-25
Parking Brake..............................................2-26
Shifting Into Park..........................................2-27
Shifting Out of Park......................................2-29
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-29
Engine Exhaust............................................2-30
Running the Vehicle While Parked..................2-30
Mirrors...........................................................2-31
Manual Rearview Mirror.................................2-31
Outside Manual Mirrors..................................2-31
Outside Towing Mirrors..................................2-32
Outside Power Mirrors...................................2-32
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-33
Outside Heated Mirrors..................................2-33
Storage Areas................................................2-33
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1

For the side sliding door,
move the button up to
engage the security
feature. Move the button
down to return the
door locks to normal
operation.
Lockout Protection
This feature protects you from locking the key in the
vehicle when the key is in the ignition and a door
is open.
If the power lock switch is pressed when either the
driver, passenger, or rear door is open, all the doors will
lock and then the driver door will unlock. This feature
does not include the side cargo door.
Sliding Side Door
To open the sliding side door from the outside, pull the
handle toward the rear of the vehicle and slide the
door open.
To close the sliding side door from the outside, use the
handle to slide the door toward the front of the vehicle.
When the door is closed, it will be flush with the side of
the body. Side Sliding Door
2-9

To open the sliding side door from the inside, pull the
handle toward the rear of the vehicle. Then, slide
the door toward the rear of the vehicle.
To close the sliding side door from the inside, grasp the
handle and slide the door toward the front of the vehicle.
Make sure the door is completely closed before
driving away.
60/40 Swing-Out Side Door
To open the front portion of a 60/40 door from the
outside, pull out on the handle and open the door.
2-10

To open the front portion of a 60/40 door from the
inside, pull the handle toward you and push the
door open.To open the rear portion of a 60/40 door from the
outside, pull the handle on the side of the rear door and
pull the door toward you.
To close the 60/40 side doors, close the rear door first.
Then close the front door. Check to make sure that
both doors are completely closed.
The front side swing-out door has a check strap
assembly in the door frame to keep the door from
opening beyond 90 degrees.
To open the door beyond 90 degrees, close the door
partially, pull the check strap toward you and then open
the door. When the door is closed, the check strap
will automatically re-engage.
2-11

Rear Doors
{CAUTION:
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
•Passengers, especially children, can easily
open the doors and fall out of a moving vehicle.
When a door is locked, the handle will not open
it. The chance of being thrown out of the
vehicle in a crash is increased if the doors are
not locked. So, all passengers should wear
safety belts properly and the doors should be
locked whenever the vehicle is driven.
•Young children who get into unlocked vehicles
may be unable to get out. A child can be
overcome by extreme heat and can suffer
permanent injuries or even death from heat
stroke. Always lock the vehicle whenever
leaving it.
•Outsiders can easily enter through an unlocked
door when you slow down or stop your vehicle.
Locking your doors can help prevent this from
happening.To open the rear doors from the outside, pull the handle
toward you to open the passenger side rear door first.
To open the driver side rear door, pull the latch release
at the inside edge of the door.
To close the rear doors, close the driver side rear door
first. Then close the passenger side rear door. Check
to make sure both doors are completely closed.
2-12