Passenger sensing GMC SIERRA 2004 Owner's Guide

{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger's air bag in¯ates. This is because the
back of the rear-facing child restraint would be
very close to the in¯ating air bag. Be sure the air
bag is off before using a rear-facing child
restraint in the right front seat position.
Even though the passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the passenger's frontal air
bag if the system detects a rear-facing child
restraint, no system is fail-safe, and no one can
guarantee that an air bag will not deploy under
some unusual circumstance, even though it is
turned off. General Motors recommends that
rear-facing child restraints be secured in a rear
seat whenever possible, even if the air bag
is off.The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off
the right front passenger's frontal air bag 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 forward-facing 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
·the air bag off switch is in the off position
·or if there is a critical problem with the air bag
system or the passenger sensing system
When the passenger's frontal air bag has been turned
off either by the passenger sensing system or by the air
bag off switch, the off indicator will light and stay lit to
remind you that the air bag is off.
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If a child restraint has been installed and the on
indicator is lit, turn the vehicle off. Remove the child
restraint from the vehicle and reinstall the child restraint
following the child restraint manufacturer's directions
and refer to
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position (Regular and Extended Cab) on
page 1-64
orSecuring a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System (Front) on page 1-51.
If after reinstalling the child restraint and restarting the
vehicle, the on indicator is still lit, check to make
sure that the vehicle's seatback is not pressing the child
restraint into the seat cushion. If this happens, slightly
recline the vehicle's seatback and adjust the seat
cushion if possible. Also make sure the child restraint is
not trapped under the vehicle head restraint. If this
happens, adjust the head restraint.
If the on indicator is still lit, use the air bag off switch to
turn off the air bag or secure the child in the child
restraint in a rear seat position in the vehicle if one is
available and check with your dealer. See
Air Bag
Off Switch on page 1-76for more on this, including
important safety information.
The passenger sensing system is designed to enable
(may in¯ate) the right front passenger's frontal air
bag anytime the system senses that a person of adult
size is sitting properly in the right front passenger's seat.
When the passenger sensing system has allowed the
air bag to be enabled, the on indicator will light and stay
lit to remind you that the air bag is active.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's
frontal air bag, 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 Ð whether or not there is an air bag
for that person.
If a person of adult-size is sitting in the right front
passenger's seat, but the off indicator is lit, it could be
because that person is not sitting properly in the seat or
the air bag off switch is in the off position. If this
happens and the switch is in the proper position, turn
the vehicle off and ask the person to place the seatback
in the fully upright position, then sit upright in the
seat, centered on the seat cushion, with the person's
legs comfortably extended. Restart the vehicle and have
the person remain in this position for about two
minutes. This will allow the system to detect that person
and then enable the passenger's air bag.
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{CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light in the instrument
panel cluster ever comes on and stays on, it
means that something may be wrong with the
air bag system. If this ever happens, have the
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
vehicle serviced promptly, because an
adult-size person sitting in the right front
passenger's seat may not have the protection
of the frontal air bag. See ªAir Bag Readiness
Lightº in the Index for more on this, including
important safety information.
Aftermarket equipment, such as seat covers, can affect
how well the passenger sensing system operates.
You may want to consider not using seat covers or other
aftermarket equipment if your vehicle has the passenger
sensing system. See
Adding Equipment to Your Air
Bag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-86for more
information about modi®cations that can affect how the
system operates.
{CAUTION:
Stowing of articles under the passenger's seat
or between the passenger's seat cushion and
seatback may interfere with the proper
operation of the passenger sensing system.
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3. Keep pressing the on/off button until the desired
zone number appears in the display. Release the
button. After approximately four seconds of
inactivity, the new zone number will be locked in
and the compass/temperature display will return.
4. Calibrate the compass as described below.
Compass Calibration
The compass may need calibration if one of the
following occurs:
·After approximately ®ve seconds, the display does
not show a compass heading (N for North, for
example), there may be a strong magnetic ®eld
interfering with the compass. Such interference may
be caused by a magnetic antenna mount, magnetic
note pad holder or a similar magnetic item.
·The compass does not display the correct heading
and the compass zone variance is set correctly.
In order to calibrate, CAL must be displayed in the
mirror compass windows. If CAL is not displayed, push
the on/off button for approximately 12 seconds or
until CAL is displayed.
The compass can be calibrated by driving the vehicle in
circles at 5 mph (8 km/h) or less until the display
reads a direction.
Passenger Air Bag Indicator
Your vehicle may be equipped with a passenger air bag
indicator, on the mirror glass, just above the buttons.
If your vehicle has this feature, the mirror will display the
word ON, or an air bag symbol in Canada, when the
passenger air bag is enabled. For more information, see
Passenger Sensing System on page 1-81.
Cleaning the Mirror
When cleaning the mirror, use a paper towel or similar
material dampened with glass cleaner. Do not spray
glass cleaner directly on the mirror as that may cause
the liquid cleaner to enter the mirror housing.
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with Compass and Temperature
Display
If your vehicle is equipped with an automatic mirror, it
will, when on, automatically dim to the proper level
to minimize glare from lights behind you after dark.
The mirror also includes a display in the upper
right corner of the mirror face. The compass reading
and the outside temperature will both appear in
the display at the same time. The dual display can be
turned on or off by brie¯y pressing either the TEMP
or the COMP button.
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The compass can be calibrated by driving the vehicle in
circles at ®ve mph (8 km/h) or less until the display
reads a direction.
Compass Variance
The mirror is set in zone eight upon leaving the factory.
It will be necessary to adjust the compass to
compensate for compass variance if you live outside
zone eight. Under certain circumstances, as during
a long distance cross-country trip, it will be necessary to
adjust for compass variance. Compass variance is
the difference between earth's magnetic north and true
geographic north. If not adjusted to account for
compass variance, your compass could give false
readings.
To adjust for compass variance:
1. Find your current location and variance zone
number on the following zone map.
2. Press and hold the COMP button for ®ve seconds
until a zone number appears in the display.
3. Press the COMP button on the bottom of the mirror
until the new zone number appears in the display.
After you stop pressing the button, the display
will show a compass direction within a few seconds.
Passenger Air Bag Indicator
Your mirror may be equipped with a passenger air bag
indicator on the mirror glass, just above the buttons.
If you have this feature the mirror will display the word
ON, or an airbag symbol in Canada, when the
passenger air bag is enabled. For more information see
Passenger Sensing System on page 1-81
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Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will
come on for several seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts, unless the driver's safety belt is
already buckled.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay on
for several seconds, then it
will ¯ash for several more.
If the driver's belt is already buckled, neither the chime
nor the light will come on.
Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel cluster, which shows the air bag symbol.
The system checks the air bag's electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. The system check includes the air bag
sensors, the air bag modules, the passenger sensing
system (if equipped), the wiring and the crash sensing
and diagnostic module. For more information on the
air bag system, see
Air Bag Systems on page 1-70.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it will ¯ash for
a few seconds. Then
the light should go out.
This means the system is
ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your air
bag system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
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Air Bag Off Light
When you turn the right front passenger's air bag off,
this light will be lit and stay lit to remind you that the air
bag has been turned off. This light will go off when
you turn the air bag back on again. See
Air Bag
Off Switch on page 1-76for more on this, including
important safety information. The AIR BAG OFF light will
look like one of the following illustrations.
United States with Passenger Sensing System
United States without Passenger Sensing System
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Canada with Passenger Sensing SystemCanada without Passenger Sensing System
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Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator
If your vehicle has the passenger sensing system
your rearview mirror will have a passenger air bag status
indicator.
When the ignition key is turned to RUN or START, the
passenger air bag status indicator will light ON and
OFF, or the symbol for on and off, for several seconds
as a system check. Then, after several more seconds,the status indicator will light either ON or OFF, or either
the on or off symbol to let you know the status of the
right front passenger's frontal air bag.
If the word ON or the on symbol is lit on the passenger
air bag status indicator, it means that the right front
passenger's frontal air bag is enabled (may in¯ate).
{CAUTION:
If the on indicator comes on when you have a
rear-facing child restraint installed in the right
front passenger's seat, it means that the
passenger sensing system has not turned off
the passenger's frontal air bag. A child in a
rear-facing child restraint can be seriously
injured or killed if the right front passenger's air
bag in¯ates. This is because the back of the
rear-facing child restraint would be very close
to the in¯ating air bag. Don't use a rear-facing
child restraint in the right front passenger's seat
unless the air bag has been turned off. Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator ± United States
Passenger Air Bag
Status Indicator
± Canada
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If the word OFF or the off symbol is lit on the passenger
air bag status indicator, it means that the passenger
sensing system or the air bag off switch has turned off
the right front passenger's air bag. See
Passenger
Sensing System on page 1-81orAir Bag Off Switch on
page 1-76for more on this, including important safety
information.
{CAUTION:
If the right front passenger's air bag is turned
off for a person who isn't in a risk group
identi®ed by the national government, that
person won't have the extra protection of an
air bag. In a crash, the air bag wouldn't be able
to in¯ate and help protect the person sitting
there. Don't turn off the passenger's air bag
unless the person sitting there is in a risk
group. See²Air Bag Off Switch²in the Index
for more on this, including important safety
information.If, after several seconds, all status indicator lights
remain on, or if there are no lights at all, there may be a
problem with the lights or the passenger sensing
system. See your dealer for service.
{CAUTION:
If the air bag off indicator and the air bag
readiness light ever come on together, it
means that something may be wrong with the
air bag system. If this ever happens, have the
vehicle serviced promptly, because an
adult-size person sitting in the right front
passenger seat may not have the protection of
the air bag. See²Air Bag Readiness Light²in
the Index.
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