airbag off GMC SIERRA 2011 User Guide

Black plate (41,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-41
United States
Canada and Mexico
The words ON and OFF, or the
symbol for on and off, will be visible
during the system check. If you
are using remote start to start the
vehicle from a distance, if equipped,
you may not see the system check. When the system check is
complete, either the word ON or
OFF, or the symbol for on or off, will
be visible. See
Passenger Airbag
Status Indicator on page 5‑23.
The passenger sensing system will
turn off the right front passenger
frontal airbag under certain
conditions. The driver airbag,
seat‐mounted side impact airbags
(if equipped), and the roof-rail
airbags (if equipped) 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 should
be enabled (may inflate) 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.

Black plate (42,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
3-42 Seats and Restraints
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.
Even if the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right
front passenger frontal airbag, no
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
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. 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 an infant
is present in a child restraint.
.A right front passenger takes
his/her weight off of the seat for
a period of time.
.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.
See Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator on page 5‑23.

Black plate (43,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-43
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
children 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 bodybuild. 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 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. See Airbag Readiness
Light on page 5‑20 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 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 to
Securing Child Restraints
(Rear Seat Position) on
page 3‑66 orSecuring Child
Restraints (Right Front Seat
Position) on page 3‑69 or
Securing Child Restraints
(Center Front Seat Position) on
page 3‑78.

Black plate (44,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
3-44 Seats and Restraints
5. If, after reinstalling the childrestraint 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 3‑2.
6. Restart the vehicle.
The passenger sensing system
may or may not turn off the
airbag for a child in a child
restraint depending upon the
child’s seating posture and
body build. It is better to secure
the child restraint in a rear seat.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 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.

Black plate (45,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-45
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 off for
some adult size occupants. If this
happens, 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. See
Adding Equipment to
the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 3‑46 for more information
about modifications that can affect
how the system operates. The on indicator may be lit if
an object, such as a briefcase,
handbag, grocery bag, laptop or
other electronic 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.

Black plate (46,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
3-46 Seats and Restraints
Servicing the
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 and the service manual
have information about servicing
the vehicle and the airbag system.
To purchase a service manual, see
Service Publications Ordering
Information on page 13‑15.
{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 the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q: Is there anything I might addto or change about the vehicle
that could keep the airbags
from working properly?
A: Yes. If you add things that
change your 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
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,
or airbag wiring can affect the
operation of the airbag system.

Black plate (47,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-47
In addition, the vehicle may have
a passenger sensing system
for the right front passenger's
position, which includes sensors
that are part of the passenger's
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 the seat 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 3‑40. If you have any questions
about this, you should contact
Customer Assistance before you
modify your vehicle. The phone
numbers and addresses for
Customer Assistance are in
Step Two of the Customer
Satisfaction Procedure in
this manual. See
Customer
Satisfaction Procedure (U.S.
and Canada) on page 13‑1
or Customer Satisfaction
Procedure (Mexico) on
page 13‑3.
If the vehicle has rollover
roof-rail airbags, see Different
Size Tires and Wheels on
page 10‑79 for additional
important information. Q: What if I added a snow plow?
Will it keep the airbags from
working properly?
A: We have designed our airbag
systems to work properly under
a wide range of conditions,
including snow plowing with
vehicles that have the optional
Snow Plow Prep Package
(RPO VYU). But do not change
or defeat the snow plow's
“tripping mechanism.” If you do,
it can damage your snow plow
and your vehicle, and it may
cause an airbag inflation.

Black plate (51,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-51
{WARNING
Never do this.
Never allow a child to wear the
safety belt with the shoulder belt
behind their back. A child can be
seriously injured by not wearing
the lap-shoulder belt properly.
In a crash, the child would not be
restrained by the shoulder belt.
The child could move too far
forward increasing the chance of
head and neck injury. The child
might also slide under the lap
belt. The belt force would then
be applied right on the abdomen.
That could cause serious or fatal
injuries. The shoulder belt should
go over the shoulder and across
the chest.
Infants and Young
Children
Everyone in a vehicle needs
protection! This includes infants
and all other children. Neither the
distance traveled nor the age and
size of the traveler changes the
need, for everyone, to use safety
restraints. In fact, the law in every
state in the United States and in
every Canadian province says
children up to some age must be
restrained while in a vehicle.
{WARNING
Children can be seriously injured
or strangled if a shoulder belt
is wrapped around their neck
and the safety belt continues to
tighten. Never leave children
unattended in a vehicle and never
allow children to play with the
safety belts.
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. Every
time infants and young children ride
in vehicles, they should have the
protection provided by appropriate
child restraints.

Black plate (56,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
3-56 Seats and Restraints
Where to Put the
Restraint
According to accident statistics,
children and infants are safer
when properly restrained in a child
restraint system or infant restraint
system secured in a rear seating
position.
We recommend that children and
child restraints 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.
If a child restraint is secured in the
right front passenger seat, and the
vehicle has a switch in the glove
box to manually turn off the right
front passenger airbag, seeAirbag
On-Off Switch on page 3‑37 and
Securing Child Restraints (Rear
Seat Position) on page 3‑66 or
Securing Child Restraints (Right
Front Seat Position) on page 3‑69
or Securing Child Restraints (Center Front Seat Position) on page 3‑78
for more information, including
important safety information.
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.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
Even if the passenger sensing
system or airbag switch
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 it 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.

Black plate (57,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-57
{WARNING
A child in a child restraint in the
center front seat can be badly
injured or killed by the frontal
airbags if they inflate. Never
secure a child restraint in the
center front seat. It is always
better to secure a child restraint
in a rear seat.
Do not use child restraints in the
center front seat position.
When securing a child restraint in
a rear seating position, study the
instructions that came with your
child restraint to make sure it is
compatible with this vehicle.
Child restraints and booster seats
vary considerably in size, and some
may fit in certain seating positions
better than others. Always make
sure the child restraint is properly
secured. Depending on where you place
the child restraint and the size of
the child restraint, you may not
be able to access adjacent safety
belt assemblies or LATCH anchors
for additional passengers or
child restraints. Adjacent seating
positions should not be used if the
child restraint prevents access to
or interferes with the routing of the
safety belt.
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.
Wherever a child restraint is
installed, be sure to secure the
child restraint properly.
Keep in mind that an unsecured
child restraint can move around in a
collision or sudden stop and injure
people in the vehicle. Be sure to
properly secure any child restraint
in your vehicle
—even when no
child is in it.
Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children
(LATCH System)
The LATCH system holds a child
restraint during driving or in a crash.
This system is designed to make
installation of a child restraint easier.
The LATCH system uses anchors in
the vehicle and attachments on the
child restraint that are made for use
with the LATCH system.
Make sure that a LATCH-compatible
child restraint is properly installed
using the anchors, or use the
vehicle's safety belts to secure the
restraint, following the instructions
that came with that restraint, and
also the instructions in this manual.