2010 CADILLAC ESCALADE belt

The vehicle may or may not have seat!mounted sideimpact airbags. The vehicle has roof-rail airbags. SeeAirbag Systemon page 2!74. Seat!mounted sideimpact airbags and roof-rail airbags are intended toinflate in moderate to severe side crashes. In addition,these roof-rail airbags are intended to inflate during arollover or in a severe frontal impact. Seat!mounted sideimpact airbags and roof-rail airbags will inflate if thecrash severity is above the system's designedthreshold level. The threshold level can vary withspecific vehicle design.
Roof-rail airbags are not intended to inflate in rearimpacts. A seat!mounted side impact airbag is intendedto deploy on the side of the veicle that is struck. Bothroof-rail airbags will deploy when either side of thevehicle is struck or if the sensing system predicts thatthe vehicle is about to roll over, or in a severe frontalimpact.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether anairbag should have inflated simply because of thedamage to a vehicle or because of what the repaircosts were. For frontal airbags, inflation is determinedby what the vehicle hits, the angle of the impact, andhow quickly the vehicle slows down. For seat!mountedside impact and roof-rail airbags, deployment isdetermined by the location and severity of the sideimpact. In a rollover event, roof-rail airbag deploymentis determined by the direction of the roll.
What Makes an Airbag Inflate?
In a deployment event, the sensing system sends anelectrical signal triggering a release of gas from theinflator. Gas from the inflator fills the airbag causing thebag to break out of the cover and deploy. The inflator,the airbag, and related hardware are all part of theairbag module.
Frontal airbag modules are located inside the steeringwheel and instrument panel. For vehicles with seat!mounted side impact airbags, there are airbagsmodules in the side of the front seatbacks closest to thedoor. For vehicles with roof-rail airbags, there are airbagmodules in the ceiling of the vehicle, near the sidewindows that have occupant seating positions.
How Does an Airbag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,even belted occupants can contact the steering wheelor the instrument panel. In moderate to severe sidecollisions, even belted occupants can contact the insideof the vehicle.
Airbags supplement the protection provided by safetybelts. Frontal airbags distribute the force of the impactmore evenly over the occupant's upper body, stoppingthe occupant more gradually. Seat!mounted side impactand roof-rail airbags distribute the force of the impactmore evenly over the occupant's upper body.
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Rollover capable roof-rail airbags are designed to helpcontain the head and chest of occupants in theoutboard seating positions in the first, second, and thirdrows, if equipped with a third row seat. The rollovercapable roof-rail airbags are designed to help reducethe 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 towardthose airbags. SeeWhen Should an Airbag Inflate?onpage 2!80for more information.
Airbags should never be regarded as anything morethan a supplement to safety belts.
What Will You See After an Airbag
Inflates?
After the frontal airbags and seat-mounted side impactairbags inflate, they quickly deflate, so quickly thatsome people may not even realize an airbag inflated.Roof-rail airbags may still be at least partially inflated forsome time after they deploy. Some components of theairbag module may be hot for several minutes. Forlocation of the airbag modules, seeWhat Makes anAirbag Inflate? on page 2!81.
The parts of the airbag that come into contact with youmay be warm, but not too hot to touch. There may besome smoke and dust coming from the vents in thedeflated airbags. Airbag inflation does not prevent thedriver from seeing out of the windshield or being able tosteer the vehicle, nor does it prevent people fromleaving the vehicle.
{WARNING:
When an airbag inflates, 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 but cannot get out
of the vehicle after an airbag inflates, 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 unlockthe doors, turn on the interior lamps and hazard warningflashers, and shut off the fuel system after the airbagsinflate. You can lock the doors, turn off the interiorlamps and hazard warning flashers by using thecontrols for those features.
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Passenger Sensing System
If the vehicle has the passenger airbag status indicatorpictured in the following illustration, then the vehicle hasa passenger sensing system for the right frontpassenger position. The passenger airbag statusindicator, if equipped, is visible on the overhead consolewhen the vehicle is started.
In addition, if the vehicle has a passenger sensingsystem for the right front passenger position, thelabel on the vehicle's sun visors refers to“ADVANCED AIRBAGS”.
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The words ON and OFF, or the symbol for on and off,will be visible during the system check. If you are usingremote start, if equipped, to start the vehicle from adistance, you may not see the system check. When thesystem 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 4!31.
The passenger sensing system will turn off the rightfront passenger frontal airbag under certain conditions.The driver airbag, seat!mounted side impact airbags (ifequipped) and the roof-rail airbags are not affected bythe passenger sensing system.
The passenger sensing system works with sensors thatare part of the right front passenger seat and safetybelt. The sensors are designed to detect the presenceof a properly-seated occupant and determine if the rightfront passenger frontal airbag should be enabled (mayinflate) or not.
According to accident statistics, children are safer whenproperly secured in a rear seat in the correct childrestraint 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 childrestraint; a child riding in a forward-facing child seat; anolder child riding in a booster seat; and children, whoare large enough, using safety belts.
A label on the sun visor says,“Never put a rear-facingchild seat in the front.”This is because the risk to therear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.
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For some children, including children in child restraints,and for very small adults, the passenger sensingsystem may or may not turn off the right front passengerfrontal airbag, depending upon the person's seatingposture and body build. Everyone in your vehicle whohas outgrown child restraints should wear a safety beltproperly—whether or not there is an airbag forthat person.
{WARNING:
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 Lighton page 4!30
for 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 onindicator is lit:
1. Turn the vehicle off.
2. Remove the child restraint from the vehicle.
3. Remove any additional items from the seat such asblankets, cushions, seat covers, seat heaters,or seat massagers.
4. Reinstall the child restraint following the directionsprovided by the child restraint manufacturer andrefer toSecuring a Child Restraint in the RightFront Seat Position on page 2!71.
5. If, after reinstalling the child restraint and restartingthe vehicle, the on indicator is still lit, turn thevehicle off. Then slightly recline the vehicleseatback and adjust the seat cushion, if adjustable,to make sure that the vehicle seatback is notpushing the child restraint into the seat cushion.
Also make sure the child restraint is not trappedunder the vehicle head restraint. If this happens,adjust the head restraint. SeeHead Restraintsonp a g e 2!2.
6. Restart the vehicle.
The passenger sensing system may or may notturn off the airbag for a child in a child restraintdepending upon the child’s seating posture andbody build. It is better to secure the child restraintin a rear seat.
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Additional Factors Affecting System
Operation
Safety belts help keep the passenger in position on theseat during vehicle maneuvers and braking, which helpsthe passenger sensing system maintain the passengerairbag status. See“Safety Belts”and“Child Restraints”in the Index for additional information about theimportance of proper restraint use.
If the shoulder portion of the belt is pulled out all theway, the child restraint locking feature will be engaged.This may unintentionally cause the passenger sensingsystem to turn the airbag off for some adult sizeoccupants. If this happens, let the belt go back all theway and start again.
A thick layer of additional material, such as a blanket orcushion, or aftermarket equipment such as seat covers,seat heaters, and seat massagers can affect how wellthe passenger sensing system operates. We
recommend that you not use seat covers or otheraftermarket equipment except when approved byGM for your specific vehicle. SeeAdding Equipment toYour Airbag-Equipped Vehicleon page 2!89for moreinformation about modifications that can affect how thesystem operates.
The on indicator may be lit if an object, such as abriefcase, handbag, grocery bag, laptop or otherelectronic device, is put on an unoccupied seat.If this is not desired remove the object from the seat.
{WARNING:
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.
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Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle
Airbags affect how the vehicle should be serviced.There are parts of the airbag system in several placesaround the vehicle. Your dealer/retailer and the servicemanual have information about servicing the vehicleand the airbag system. To purchase a service manual,seeService Publications Ordering Informationonpage 9!17.
{WARNING:
For up to 10 seconds after the ignition is turned off
and the battery is disconnected, an airbag can still
inflate during improper service. You can be injured
if you are close to an airbag when it inflates. 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 qualified to do so.
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q: Is there anything I might add to or change aboutthe vehicle that could keep the airbags fromworking properly?
A:Yes. If you add things that change the vehicle'sframe, bumper system, height, front end or sidesheet metal, they may keep the airbag system fromworking properly. Changing or moving any parts ofthe front seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing anddiagnostic module, steering wheel, instrument panel,roof-rail airbag modules, ceiling headliner or pillargarnish trim, overhead console, front sensors, sideimpact sensors, rollover sensor module, or airbagwiring can affect the operation of the airbag system.
In addition, the vehicle may have a passengersensing system for the right front passengerposition, which includes sensors that are part of thepassenger seat. The passenger sensing systemmay not operate properly if the original seat trim isreplaced with non-GM covers, upholstery or trim,or with GM covers, upholstery or trim designed for a
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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, andanchorages are all working properly.
Look for any other loose or damaged safety belt systemparts that might keep a safety belt system from doing itsjob. See your dealer/retailer to have it repaired. Torn orfrayed safety belts may not protect you in a crash. Theycan rip apart under impact forces. If a belt is torn orfrayed, get a new one right away.
Make sure the safety belt reminder light is working.SeeSafety Belt Reminderson page 4!29for moreinformation.
Keep safety belts clean and dry. SeeCare of SafetyBeltson page 7!102.
Airbags
The airbag system does not need regularly scheduledmaintenance or replacement. Make sure the airbagreadiness light is working. SeeAirbag Readiness Lighton page 4!30for more information.
Notice:If an airbag covering is damaged,opened, or broken, the airbag may not workproperly. Do not open or break the airbag coverings.If there are any opened or broken airbag covers,have the airbag covering and/or airbag modulereplaced. For the location of the airbag modules,seeWhat Makes an Airbag Inflate?on page 2!81.See your dealer/retailer for service.
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Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash
{WARNING:
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.
If the vehicle has been in a crash, do you need newsafety belts or LATCH system (if equipped) parts?
After a very minor crash, nothing may be necessary.But the safety belt assemblies that were used duringany crash may have been stressed or damaged. Seeyour dealer/retailer to have the safety belt assembliesinspected or replaced.
If the vehicle has the LATCH system and it wasbeing used during a crash, you may need new LATCHsystem parts.
New parts and repairs may be necessary even if thesafety belt or LATCH system (if equipped), was notbeing used at the time of the crash.
If an airbag inflates, you will need to replace airbagsystem parts. See the part on the airbag system earlierin this section.
Have the safety belt pretensioners checked if thevehicle has been in a crash, if the airbag readiness lightstays on after the vehicle is started, or while you aredriving. SeeAirbag Readiness Lighton page 4!30.
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