child restraint CHEVROLET EXPRESS 2008 Owner's Guide

{WARNING:
Children who are up against, or very close to, any
airbag when it inflates can be seriously injured or
killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder belts offer
protection for adults and older children, but not for
young children and infants. Neither the vehicle’s
safety belt system nor its airbag system is
designed for them. Young children and infants
need the protection that a child restraint system
can provide. Always secure children properly in
your vehicle. To read how, seeOlder Children on
page 2-30orInfants and Young Children on
page 2-33.There is an airbag
readiness light on the
instrument panel, which
shows the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. SeeAirbag Readiness Light on page 4-23
for more information.
2-62

Passenger Sensing System
If the instrument panel has one of the indicators
pictured in the following illustrations, the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system unless there is an airbag
off switch located on the instrument panel. If there
is an airbag off switch, the vehicle does not have
a passenger sensing system. SeeAirbag Off Switch on
page 2-70for more information.
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, will
be visible during the system check. When the system
check is complete, either the word ON or the word OFF,
or the symbol for on or the symbol for off, will be visible.
SeePassenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 4-25.The passenger sensing system will turn off the right
front passenger frontal airbag under certain conditions.
The driver airbag and roof-rail airbags, if equipped,
are not part of 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 inflate) or not.
Accident statistics show that children are safer if
they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat.
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
2-73

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.
{WARNING:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger
airbag inflates. This is because the back of the
rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the
inflating airbag. A child in a forward-facing child
restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right
front passenger airbag inflates and the passenger
seat is in a forward position.
WARNING: (Continued)
WARNING: (Continued)
Even if the passenger sensing system has turned
off the right front passenger frontal airbag, no
system is fail-safe. No one can guarantee that an
airbag will not deploy under some unusual
circumstance, even though the airbag is turned off.
Secure rear-facing child restraints in a rear seat,
even if the airbag is 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.
If the vehicle does not have a rear seat that will
accommodate a rear-facing child restraint, a rear-facing
child restraint should not be installed in the vehicle,
even if the airbag is off.
2-74

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, the off indicator
will light and stay lit to remind you that the airbag is off.
SeePassenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 4-25.
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.
{WARNING:
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 4-23for more on this, including
important safety information.
2-75

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 (With Passenger Sensing System)
in the Index.
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.
6. Restart the vehicle.
If the on indicator is still lit, secure the child in the
child restraint in a rear seat position in the vehicle,
and check with your dealer/retailer.
If no rear seat is available, do not install a child
restraint in this vehicle.
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.
2-76

If this happens, use the following steps to allow the
system to detect that person and enable the right front
passenger frontal airbag:
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.
This allows the system to detect that person and then
enable the right front passenger frontal airbag.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.
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.
2-77

{WARNING:
Do not load the vehicle any heavier than the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), or
either the maximum front or rear Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR). If you do, parts on the
vehicle can break, and it can change the way
your vehicle handles. These could cause you
to lose control and crash. Also, overloading
can shorten the life of the vehicle.
{WARNING:
Things you put inside your vehicle can strike
and injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or
in a crash.
•Put things in the cargo area of your
vehicle. Try to spread the weight evenly.
•Never stack heavier things, like
suitcases, inside the vehicle so that some
of them are above the tops of the seats.
•Do not leave an unsecured child restraint
in your vehicle.
•When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
•Do not leave a seat folded down unless
you need to.
5-25

Child Restraints
Infants and Young Children...........................2-33
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children..........2-42
Older Children.............................................2-30
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat
Position..................................................2-49
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position...........................2-52, 2-56
Systems.....................................................2-37
Where to Put the Restraint...........................2-40
Cigarette Lighter.............................................4-15
Circuit Breakers............................................6-110
Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels......................................6-107
Exterior Lamps/Lenses................................6-105
Fabric/Carpet............................................6-103
Finish Care...............................................6-106
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces...............................................6-104
Interior.....................................................6-102
Tires........................................................6-107
Underbody Maintenance.............................6-108
Washing Your Vehicle.................................6-105
Weatherstrips............................................6-105
Windshield and Wiper Blades......................6-106
Climate Control System...................................4-15
Outlet Adjustment........................................4-17
Rear Air Conditioning and Heating System......4-18
Rear Heating System...................................4-18
Climate Controls.............................................1-13Clock, Setting.................................................4-60
Collision Damage Repair..................................8-13
Compass.......................................................4-42
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 5-3
Coolant
Engine.......................................................6-29
Engine Temperature Gage............................4-29
Cooling System..............................................6-28
Courtesy Transportation Program......................8-11
Cruise Control.................................................. 4-6
Light..........................................................4-35
Customer Assistance......................................... 8-6
Offices......................................................... 8-6
Text Telephone (TTY) Users........................... 8-6
Customer Information
Service Publications Ordering Information........8-17
Customer Satisfaction Procedure........................ 8-2
D
Damage Repair, Collision.................................8-13
Data Recorders, Event....................................8-18
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).........................4-10
Defensive Driving............................................. 5-2
Delayed Locking.............................................3-10
DIC Compass.................................................4-42
Disc, MP3......................................................4-72
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 6-4
Dome Lamp Override......................................4-12
3

G
Gages
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................4-29
Fuel..........................................................4-35
Oil Pressure...............................................4-33
Speedometer..............................................4-22
Trip Odometer.............................................4-22
Voltmeter Gage...........................................4-27
Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 6-6
Specifications............................................... 6-6
Glass, Enhanced Technology............................3-19
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.................. 8-7
H
Halogen Bulbs................................................6-53
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 4-3
Head Restraints............................................... 2-2
Headlamp Wiring...........................................6-110
Headlamps....................................................6-53
Bulb Replacement.......................................6-53
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).....................4-10
Exterior Lamps............................................. 4-9
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 4-5Headlamps (cont.)
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and Parking
Lamps ....................................................6-55
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 4-5
On Reminder..............................................4-10
Heater...........................................................4-15
Engine Coolant...........................................3-25
Highbeam On Light.........................................4-35
Highway Hypnosis...........................................5-14
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................5-15
Hood
Checking Things Under................................6-12
Release.....................................................6-13
Horn ............................................................... 4-3
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................2-15I
Ignition Positions.............................................3-22
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............2-33
Inflation - Tire Pressure...................................6-68
Instrument Panel
Brightness..................................................4-11
Cluster.......................................................4-21
Introduction...................................................... 7-2
6

J
Jump Starting.................................................6-44
K
Keyless Entry
Remote (RKE) System................................... 3-4
Keyless Entry System....................................... 3-4
Keys............................................................... 3-3
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall.....................................6-61
Lamps
Daytime Running (DRL)................................4-10
Dome ........................................................4-12
Dome Lamp Override...................................4-12
License Plate..............................................6-58
Malfunction Indicator....................................4-30
Reading.....................................................4-13
Taillamps....................................................6-56
Lap-Shoulder Belt...........................................2-23
LATCH System for Child Restraints...................2-42
Lighting
Entry/Exit...................................................4-13Lights
Airbag Off..................................................4-24
Airbag Readiness........................................4-23
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning............4-28
Brake System Warning.................................4-27
Charging System.........................................4-26
Cruise Control.............................................4-35
Exterior Lamps............................................. 4-9
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 4-5
Highbeam On.............................................4-35
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 4-5
Oil Pressure...............................................4-34
On Reminder..............................................4-10
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator..................4-25
Safety Belt Reminders..................................4-22
Security.....................................................4-34
StabiliTrak
®Indicator....................................4-29
Tire Pressure..............................................4-30
Tow/Haul Mode...........................................4-35
Loading Your Vehicle.......................................5-19
Locking Rear Axle............................................ 5-8
Locks
Automatic Door Lock....................................3-11
Automatic Door Unlock.................................3-11
Cargo Door Relocking..................................3-10
Delayed Locking..........................................3-10
Door ........................................................... 3-9
7