2009 HUMMER H3 Owners Manual

The parts of the airbag that come
into contact with you may be warm,
but not too hot to touch. There may
be some smoke and dust coming
from the vents in the deated
airbags. Airbag ination does not
prevent the driver from seeing out of
the windshield or being able to steer
the vehicle, nor does it prevent
people from leaving the vehicle.
{CAUTION
When an airbag inates, there may
be dust in the air. This dust could
cause breathing problems for
people with a history of asthma or
other breathing trouble. To avoid
this, everyone in the vehicle should
get out as soon as it is safe to do
so. If you have breathing problems
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
but cannot get out of the vehicle
after an airbag inates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or
a door. If you experience
breathing problems following an
airbag deployment, you should
seek medical attention.
The vehicle has a feature that may
automatically unlock the doors,
turn the interior lamps on, and turn
the hazard warning ashers on
when the airbags inate. You can
lock the doors, turn the interior
lamps off, and turn the hazard
warning ashers off by using the
controls for those features.
In many crashes severe enough to
inate the airbag, windshields are
broken by vehicle deformation.Additional windshield breakage may
also occur from the right front
passenger airbag.Airbags are designed to inate
only once. After an airbag inates,
you will need some new parts for
the airbag system. If you do not
get them, the airbag system will
not be there to help protect you
in another crash. A new system
will include airbag modules and
possibly other parts. The service
manual for your vehicle covers
the need to replace other parts.
The vehicle has a crash sensing
and diagnostic module which
records information after a crash.
SeeVehicle Data Recording and
Privacy on page 7-16andEvent
Data Recorders on page 7-16.
Let only qualied technicians work
on the airbag systems. Improper
service can mean that an airbag
system will not work properly. See
your dealer/retailer for service.
Seats and Restraint System 1-53

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. When the
system check is complete, the
word ON or OFF, or the symbol foron or off, will be visible. See
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
on page 3-26.
The passenger sensing system will
turn off the right front passenger
frontal airbag and seat-mounted side
impact airbag (if equipped) under
certain conditions. The driver
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 and
safety belt. The sensors are
designed to detect the presence of a
properly-seated occupant and
determine if the right front passenger
frontal airbag and seat-mounted side
impact airbag (if equipped) 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.
A label on the 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 inates. This is because
the back of the rear-facing child
restraint would be very close to
the inating airbag. A child in a
forward-facing child restraint can
(Continued) United States
Canada
1-54 Seats and Restraint System

CAUTION (Continued)
be seriously injured or killed if
the right front passenger airbag
inates and the passenger seat
is in a forward position.
Even if the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right
front passenger frontal airbag
and seat-mounted side impact
airbag (if equipped), no system is
fail-safe. No one can guarantee
that an airbag will not deploy under
some unusual circumstance, even
though the airbag(s) are off.
Secure rear-facing child
restraints in a rear seat, even
if the airbag(s) are 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.The passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the right
front passenger frontal 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 and
seat-mounted side impact airbag
(if equipped), the off indicator will
light and stay lit to remind you
that the airbag or airbags are off.
SeePassenger Airbag Status
Indicator on page 3-26.
The passenger sensing system is
designed to turn on (may inate) the
right front passenger frontal airbag
and seat-mounted side impact airbag
(if equipped) 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 or
airbags to be enabled, the on
indicator will light and stay lit to
remind you that the airbag or
airbags are active.
Seats and Restraint System 1-55

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 frontal
airbag and seat-mounted side
impact airbag (if equipped),
depending upon the person seating
posture and body build. Everyone
in the 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 3-25for more information,
including important safety
information.
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 1-43.5. 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. See
Head Restraints on page 1-2.
6. Restart the vehicle.
If the on indicator is still lit with a
child present in a child restraint,
secure the child restraint in a rear
seat position in the vehicle and
check with your dealer/retailer.
1-56 Seats and Restraint System

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 thesystem to detect that person and
enable the right front passenger
frontal airbag and seat-mounted side
impact airbag (if equipped):
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.
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(s) off for some
adult size occupants. If this happens,
just let the belt go back all the way
and start again.
Seats and Restraint System 1-57

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 1-58for more information
about modications 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
inate during improper service.
You can be injured if you are close
to an airbag when it inates.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
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 qualied to do so.
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
1-58 Seats and Restraint System

seats, safety belts, the airbag
sensing and diagnostic module,
steering wheel, instrument panel,
roof-rail airbag modules, ceiling
headliner or pillar garnish trim,
overhead console, 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 theseat 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 1-54.
If you have any 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 5-61for additional
important information.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.
Seats and Restraint System 1-59

Restraint System
Check
Checking the Restraint
Systems
Safety Belts
Now and then, check 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 3-24for more
information.Keep safety belts clean and dry.
SeeCare of Safety Belts on
page 5-85.
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 3-25for 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 1-52. See your
dealer/retailer for service.
Replacing Restraint
System Parts After a
Crash
{CAUTION
A crash can damage the
restraint systems in your vehicle.
A damaged restraint system may
not properly protect the person
using it, resulting in serious injury
or even death in a crash. To help
make sure your restraint systems
are working properly after a crash,
have them inspected and any
necessary replacements made
as soon as possible.
1-60 Seats and Restraint System