2003 GMC Yukon Denali/Yukon XL Denali Owner Manual M · 2003 GMC Yukon Denali/Yukon XL Denali Owner...

Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1Front Seats ............................................... 1-3Rear Seats ............................................... 1-7Safety Belts ............................................. 1-25Child Restraints ....................................... 1-48Air Bag Systems ...................................... 1-72Restraint System Check ............................ 1-86

Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1Keys ........................................................ 2-3Doors and Locks ....................................... 2-8Windows ................................................. 2-14Theft-Deterrent Systems ............................ 2-16Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ........... 2-18Mirrors .................................................... 2-31OnStar® System ...................................... 2-36HomeLink® Transmitter ............................. 2-38Storage Areas ......................................... 2-42Sunroof .................................................. 2-46Vehicle Personalization ............................. 2-47

Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1Instrument Panel Overview .......................... 3-4Climate Controls ...................................... 3-20Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators ......... 3-29Driver Information Center (DIC) .................. 3-45Audio System(s) ....................................... 3-64

Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle ..... 4-2Towing ................................................... 4-44

Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1Service ..................................................... 5-3Fuel ......................................................... 5-4Checking Things Under the Hood ............... 5-10All-Wheel Drive ........................................ 5-48Rear Axle ............................................... 5-49Front Axle ............................................... 5-50Bulb Replacement .................................... 5-51Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-56Tires ...................................................... 5-57Appearance Care ..................................... 5-84Vehicle Identification ................................. 5-92Electrical System ...................................... 5-93Capacities and Specifications ................... 5-102Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts .... 5-104

Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1Maintenance Schedule ................................ 6-2

Customer Assistance Information .................... 7-1Customer Assistance Information .................. 7-2Reporting Safety Defects ............................ 7-9

INDEX ............................................................... 1

2003 GMC Yukon Denali/Yukon XL Denali Owner Manual M

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, GMC, theGMC Truck Emblem and the names YUKON andDENALI are registered trademarks of General MotorsCorporation.

This manual includes the latest information at the time itwas printed. We reserve the right to make changesafter that time without further notice. For vehicles firstsold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors ofCanada Limited” for GMC whenever it appears in thismanual.

Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will bethere if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If yousell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so thenew owner can use it.

Litho in U.S.A.Part No. S2316 A First Edition

©Copyright General Motors Corporation 6/24/02All Rights Reserved

Canadian OwnersYou can obtain a French copy of this manual from yourdealer or from:

Helm, IncorporatedP.O. Box 07130Detroit, MI 48207

How to Use This ManualMany people read their owner’s manual from beginningto end when they first receive their new vehicle. Ifyou do this, it will help you learn about the features andcontrols for your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll findthat pictures and words work together to explain things.

IndexA good place to look for what you need is the Index inback of the manual. It’s an alphabetical list of what’sin the manual, and the page number where you’ll find it.

ii

Safety Warnings and SymbolsYou will find a number of safety cautions in this book.We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you aboutthings that could hurt you if you were to ignore thewarning.

{CAUTION:

These mean there is something that could hurtyou or other people.

In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is.Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce thehazard. Please read these cautions. If you don’t, youor others could be hurt.

You will also find a circlewith a slash through it inthis book. This safetysymbol means “Don’t,”“Don’t do this” or “Don’t letthis happen.”

iii

Vehicle Damage WarningsAlso, in this book you will find these notices:

Notice: These mean there is something that coulddamage your vehicle.

A notice will tell you about something that can damageyour vehicle. Many times, this damage would not becovered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But thenotice will tell you what to do to help avoid thedamage.

When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTIONand NOTICE warnings in different colors or in differentwords.

You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They usethe same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.

Vehicle SymbolsYour vehicle has components and labels that usesymbols instead of text. Symbols, used on your vehicle,are shown along with the text describing the operationor information relating to a specific component, control,message, gage or indicator.

If you need help figuring out a specific name of acomponent, gage or indicator, reference the followingtopics:

• Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1• Features and Controls in Section 2• Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3• Climate Controls in Section 3• Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators in Section 3• Audio System(s) in Section 3• Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5

iv

These are some examples of vehicle symbols you may find on your vehicle:

v

✍ NOTES

vi

Front Seats ......................................................1-3Power Seats ..................................................1-3Power Lumbar ...............................................1-4Heated Seats .................................................1-4Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-5Head Restraints .............................................1-6

Rear Seats .......................................................1-7Rear Seat Operation .......................................1-7Heated Seats .................................................1-860/40 Split Bench Seat ...................................1-950/50 Split Bench Seat ..................................1-11Bench Seat ..................................................1-17Bucket Seats ...............................................1-22

Safety Belts ...................................................1-25Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................1-25Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......1-29How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-30Driver Position ..............................................1-30Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-38Right Front Passenger Position .......................1-39Center Passenger Position .............................1-39

Rear Seat Passengers ..................................1-41Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children

and Small Adults .......................................1-44Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-47

Child Restraints .............................................1-48Older Children ..............................................1-48Infants and Young Children ............................1-50Child Restraint Systems .................................1-54Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-56Top Strap ....................................................1-57Top Strap Anchor Location .............................1-59Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for

Children (LATCH System) ...........................1-61Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the

LATCH System .........................................1-63Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside

Seat Position ............................................1-63Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Rear

Seat Position ............................................1-65Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front

Seat Position ............................................1-68

Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems

1-1

Air Bag Systems ............................................1-72Where Are the Air Bags? ...............................1-74When Should an Air Bag Inflate? ....................1-77What Makes an Air Bag Inflate? .....................1-78How Does an Air Bag Restrain? .....................1-78What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates? ...1-79Passenger Sensing System ............................1-81Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle .........1-85Adding Equipment to Your Air Bag-Equipped

Vehicle ....................................................1-85

Restraint System Check ..................................1-86Checking Your Restraint Systems ...................1-86Replacing Restraint System Parts After a

Crash ......................................................1-87

Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems

1-2

Front Seats

Power Seats

Horizontal Control: You can adjust your vehicle’s frontseats with the horizontal control located on theoutboard edge of each front seat.

Raise or lower the front of the seat by raising orlowering the forward edge of the control. Raise or lowerthe rear of the seat by raising or lowering the rearedge of the control.

Move the seat forward or rearward by moving the wholecontrol toward the front or toward the rear of thevehicle.

Moving the whole control up or down raises or lowersthe entire seat cushion.

Vertical Control: You can use the vertical control toadjust the angle of the seatback. Move the recliningseatback forward or rearward by moving the top of thecontrol toward the front or toward the rear of thevehicle.

For information on the reclining seatbacks, see RecliningSeatbacks on page 1-5.

Your vehicle may have a memory function which allowsseat settings to be saved and recalled. See MemorySeat on page 2-47 for more information.

1-3

Power Lumbar

You can increase ordecrease lumbar supportin an area of the lowerseatback.

To increase support, press and hold the front of thecontrol. To decrease support, press and hold the rear ofthe control. Let go of the control when the lowerseatback reaches the desired level of support.You can also reshape the side wing area of the lowerseatback for more lateral support.To increase support, press and hold the top of thecontrol. To decrease support, press and hold the bottomof the control. Let go of the control when the lowerseatback reaches the desired level of support.Your vehicle may have a memory function which allowsseat settings to be saved and recalled. See MemorySeat on page 2-47 for more information.

Heated Seats

The buttons used tocontrol this feature arelocated on the front doors.The engine must berunning for the heated seatfeature to work.

To heat the entire seat, press the horizontal button withthe heated seat symbol. Press the button to cyclethrough the temperature settings of high, medium andlow and to turn the heated seat off. Indicator lightswill glow to designate the level of heat selected, threefor high, two for medium, and one for low.

The low setting warms the seatback and cushion untilthe seat temperature is near body temperature. Themedium and high settings heat the seatback and seatcushion to a slightly higher temperature. You will be ableto feel heat in about two minutes.

1-4

To heat only the seatback, press the vertical button withthe heated seatback symbol. An indicator light on theseatback button will glow to designate that only theseatback is being heated. Additional presses ofthe seatback button will cycle through the heat levels forthe seatback only. Press the horizontal button againto heat the whole seat.

The heated front seats will shut off automatically whenthe ignition is turned off.

Your vehicle also has rear heated seats. See HeatedSeats on page 1-8.

Reclining SeatbacksThe vertical power seat control described earlier allowsthe seatback to recline.

But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle ismoving.

{CAUTION:

Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicleis in motion can be dangerous. Even if youbuckle up, your safety belts can’t do their jobwhen you’re reclined like this.

The shoulder belt can’t do its job. In a crash,you could go into it, receiving neck or otherinjuries.

The lap belt can’t do its job either. In a crashthe belt could go up over your abdomen. Thebelt forces would be there, not at your pelvicbones. This could cause serious internalinjuries.

For proper protection when the vehicle is inmotion, have the seatback upright. Then sitwell back in the seat and wear your safety beltproperly.

1-5

Head Restraints

Adjust your head restraint so that the top of the restraintis closest to the top of your head. This positionreduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.

The head restraints tilt forward and rearward also.

To adjust the tilt for either of the front head restraints,pull it toward you until you hear a click. There arefour positions available: initial position, first click, secondclick and third click. Each position will click into place.After the third position (three clicks) is reached,pulling the head restraint farther will release it back tothe upright position.

Pull firmly on the top of the head restraint to position itto your liking.

The rear seat head restraints in your vehicle areadjustable. Slide an adjustable head restraint up ordown so that the top of the restraint is closest to the topof your head. This position reduces the chance of aneck injury in a crash.

On some models, the head restraints tilt forward andrearward also.

1-6

Rear Seats

Rear Seat Operation

Entering or Exiting the Third RowSeatsYukon Denali: To enter or exit the third row seat youmust fold the second row seat down following theinstructions later in this section. See “Folding theSeatback” under 60/40 Split Bench Seat on page 1-9. Ifyou are exiting the third row seat with no assistancedo the following:

1. Reach over the secondrow seat and pull up onthe strap loop. Thenpull the seat cushion upand push it forward.

2. Next, push the seatback forward until it is flat withthe floor.

Be sure to return the seat to the passenger positionwhen finished. Pull forward and push rearward on theseat to make sure it is locked in place.

Yukon XL Denali: The passenger’s side of the secondrow 60/40 or rear bucket seat has an easy entry/exitfeature. This makes it easy to get in and out of the thirdrow seat.

To operate the easy entry seat, do the following:

1. Lift the release lever on the back of the seat.

2. Tilt the seatback toward the front of the vehicle andthe seat will release.

1-7

3. Pull (push if you are exiting the third row with noassistance) the seat forward until it stops.

{CAUTION:

If the seatback isn’t locked, it could moveforward in a sudden stop or crash. That couldcause injury to the person sitting there. Alwayspress rearward on the seatback to be sure it islocked.

{CAUTION:

A safety belt that is improperly routed, notproperly attached, or twisted won’t provide theprotection needed in a crash. The personwearing the belt could be seriously injured.After raising the rear seatback, always checkto be sure that the safety belts are properlyrouted and attached, and are not twisted.

Be sure to return the seat to the passenger positionwhen finished. Pull forward and push rearward on theseat to make sure it is locked in place.

Heated Seats

The buttons used tocontrol this feature arelocated on the back of thecenter console. Theengine must be running forthe heated seat featureto work.

To heat the seat, press the button to cycle through thetemperature settings of high and low. Press thebutton a third time to turn the seats off. An Indicatorlight will glow for each heat setting when the seats areoperating.

The heated rear seats will shut off automatically whenthe ignition is turned off.

1-8

60/40 Split Bench SeatIf your vehicle has a 60/40 split bench, the seats can befolded to give you more cargo space.

Folding the Seatbacks (60/40 SplitBench Seat)The rear seat may have a 60/40 split seat which may befolded down to create a load floor and give you morecargo space. On the Yukon Denali, the rear seatbacksare equipped with rearward folding head restraints.When the seatback is being folded down, the headrestraint will automatically fold rearward.

To fold the rear seat, do the following:

1. Make sure that nothing is under or in front ofthe seat.

2. Pull up on the straploop located at the rearof the seat cushionand pull the seatcushion up. Then fold itforward.

1-9

3. Yukon Denali: Pull the seatback forward and fold itdown until it is flat.

Yukon XL Denali: On the passenger side ofYukon XL Denali models, the lever at the base ofthe seat must be pulled up to release the seatback.Pull the seatback forward and fold it down until itis flat.

If the seatback cannot fold flat because it interferes withthe cushion, try moving the front seat forward and/orbringing the front seatback more upright.

Once the seatbacks are folded down, on Yukon XLDenali models only, the rear seat footwell area will beexposed and will have to be covered by the loadfloor panel(s). To create a load floor, do the following:

1. Release the panels from the seatbacks by pushingforward on the latches.

2. Then fold the panels back to cover the rear seatfootwell area.

1-10

Returning the Seats to an UprightPosition

{CAUTION:


{CAUTION:


To return the seat to the upright position, do thefollowing:

1. Lift the seatback up and push it rearward all theway.

2. Lower the seat cushion until it latches into position.

3. On Yukon XL Denali models, lift the load floorpanels and latch them into the seatback.

4. Pull forward on the seatback and up on the seatcushion to make sure the seat is securely inplace.

5. On Yukon Denali models, return the head restraintsto the upright position.

6. Check to see that the safety belt buckles on thedriver’s side seat are accessible to the outboardand center occupants and are not under theseat cushions.

50/50 Split Bench SeatIf your vehicle has a 50/50 split bench, the seatback(s)can be folded and the entire seat(s) tilted or removedfrom the vehicle.

1-11

Folding the SeatbacksTo fold the seatbacks, do the following:

1. Pull up on the releaselever, labeled 1,located on the rear ofthe seatback, andpush the seatbackforward.

Unfolding the Seatbacks

{CAUTION:


To return the seatbacks to the passenger position, dothe following:

1. Pull up on the releaselever labeled 1 andthen pull up onthe seatback or theassist strap located onthe outboard side ofthe seat until theseatback locks into theupright position.

2. Push forward on the seatback to make sure it islocked into position.

1-12

Tilting the 50/50 Split Bench Seat1. Fold the seatbacks forward using the instructions

listed previously.2. Unlatch the seat from

the floor by pulling upon the lever labeled 2,located on the rearof the seat.

3. Lift the rear of the seat up from the floor and push itforward until it locks into place. You will not be ableto unlatch the seat from the floor unless theseatback is folded down.

The seat will now remain locked in the upright position.

Returning the Seat(s) to an UprightPosition

{CAUTION:


To return the seatback to an upright position, do thefollowing:

1. Pull the lever labeled 3 toward you.

1-13

2. While still holding the lever 3 toward you, grasp thetop of the seat and pull it toward you slightly.

3. Let go of lever 3 and pull the seat completely down.

4. Push down on the seat firmly. Try pulling it up tobe sure it is locked into place.

5. Pull up on the releaselever labeled 1 andthen pull up onthe seatback or theassist strap located onthe outboard side ofthe seat until theseatback locks into theupright position.

Removing the 50/50 Split Bench SeatsTo remove the 50/50 split bench seat, do the following:

1. Open the liftgate.2. Fold the seatback

forward onto the seatcushion by usingthe lever labeled 1.The seat cannotbe removed unless theseatback is folded.

1-14

3. To unlatch the rear ofthe seat from the floor,pull up on the releaselever labeled 2, atthe rear of the seat,and lift the rear ofthe seat up from thefloor.

4. Squeeze the release handle while pulling theseat out.

5. While holding the rear of the seat up, roll the seatout of the vehicle.

1-15

Replacing the 50/50 Split Bench Seat

{CAUTION:


{CAUTION:

A seat that isn’t locked into place properly canmove around in a collision or sudden stop.People in the vehicle could be injured. Be sureto lock the seat into place properly wheninstalling it.

{CAUTION:


To replace the 50/50 split bench, do the following:

1. While holding the rear of the seat up, slide the frontwheels into the slots on the floor. The front latchesshould lock into place. If the latches do not lock,try tilting the rear of the seat upwards.

1-16

2. Once the latches areengaged, let the seatdrop into place.Release the leverlabeled 1 and pull theseatback up usingthe assist strap on theoutboard side of theseat to return it toits upright position.

3. Push and pull on the seat to make sure it is lockedinto place. The seatback cannot be raised to theupright position unless the seat is secured tothe floor.

Bench SeatIf your vehicle has a full bench, the seatback can befolded and the seat can be tilted or removed fromthe vehicle.

Folding the Seatback

{CAUTION:


To fold the seatback on the bench seat, do the following:

Pull up on the releaselever labeled 1 located onthe rear of the seatbackand push the seatbackforward.

1-17

Unfolding the Seatback1. To return the seatback

to an upright position,pull up on therelease lever labeled 1and then pull up onthe seatback untilit locks into the uprightposition.

2. Push and pull on the seatback to check that it islocked into place.

Tilting the Full Bench Seat

{CAUTION:


1. Fold the seatbacks forward using the instructionslisted previously.

2. Unlatch the seat fromthe floor by pulling upon the lever labeled 2located on the rearof the seat.

1-18

3. Lift the rear of the seat up from the floor and push itforward. You will not be able to unlatch the seatfrom the floor unless the seatback is folded down.

{CAUTION:

If the support rod isn’t properly engaged, thefolded third row seat could come loose in asudden stop or crash. That could cause injuryto people and damage to your vehicle. Alwaysbe sure the support rod is properly engagedwhen the third row seat is folded forward.

4. While holding the seatforward, pull the proprod out from theretainer clips. Flip theprop rod (arrow)down until it latchesinto place.

The seat will now remain in the upright position.

Returning the Seat to an UprightPositionTo return the seatback to the upright position, do thefollowing:

1. Pull the lever (arrow)on the prop rod bracketuntil the rod unlatchesfrom the seatbracket.

2. Place the prop rod back into the storage position.

3. Pull the seat toward you and push firmly down untilthe seat latches in the floor.

4. Try pulling it up to be sure it is locked into place.

5. Pull up on the release lever labeled 1 and then pullup on the seatback until the seatback locks into theupright position.

1-19

Removing the Bench SeatTo remove the bench seat, do the following:

1. Open the liftgate.2. Fold the seatback

forward onto the seatcushion by usingthe lever labeled 1.The seat cannotbe removed unless theseatback is folded.

3. To unlatch the rear ofthe seat from the floor,pull up on the releaselever labeled 2 atthe rear of the seat andlift the rear of theseat up from the floor.

4. Pull on the releasestrap located in thelower middle ofthe seat to unlatch theseat from the floorand pull the seat out.Use one hand topull the release strapand the other onthe handle to pull theseat out.

5. While holding the rear of the seat up, roll the seatout of the vehicle.

1-20

Replacing the Bench Seat

{CAUTION:


{CAUTION:

A seat that isn’t locked into place properly canmove around in a collision or sudden stop.People in the vehicle could be injured. Be sureto lock the seat into place properly wheninstalling it.

{CAUTION:


To replace the bench seat, do the following:

1. While holding the rear of the seat up, slide the frontwheels into the slots on the floor. The front latchesshould lock into place. If the latches do not lock,try tilting the rear of the seat upwards.

2. Once the latches are engaged, let the seat dropinto place. Release the lever labeled 1 to returnthe seatback to its upright position.

3. Push and pull on the seat to make sure it is lockedinto place. The seatback cannot be raised to theupright position unless the seat is secured tothe floor.

1-21

Bucket SeatsIf your vehicle has bucket seats, the seatbacks can bereclined and the seats can be folded to give youmore cargo room.

Reclining the SeatbacksTo recline the seatback, do the following:

1. Pull up the leverlocated under the seatcushion. Yukon Denalilever shown,Yukon XL Denalisimilar.

2. Release the lever to lock the seatback where youwant it. Pull the lever again without pushing on theseatback and the seatback will go to an uprightposition.

Folding the SeatbacksThe seatbacks on the bucket seats may be foldedforward to give you more cargo space.

To fold the seatbacks on the bucket seats, do thefollowing:

1. Pull up on the straploop located at the rearof the seat cushionand pull the seatcushion up and fold itforward.

1-22

2. Pull the seatbackrelease lever upwardand pull the seatbackup and fold it down untilit is flat.

On the Yukon XL Denali models, you must first removethe headrest and store it on the top of the seatcushion as shown next. Yukon Denali lever shown,Yukon XL Denali similar.

Pull the headrest out from the seatback and slide thepins into the holes provided in the top of the seatcushion.

If the seatback cannot fold flat because it interferes withthe cushion, try moving the front seat forward and/orbringing the front seatback more upright.

1-23

Once the seatbacks are folded down, onYukon XL Denali models only, the rear seat footwellarea will be exposed and will have to be covered by theload floor panel. To create a load floor, do thefollowing:

3. Release the panels from the seatbacks by pushingforward on the latches.

4. Then fold the panels back to cover the rear seatfootwell area.

Returning the Seatbacks to an UprightPosition

{CAUTION:


To return the seatbacks to the upright position, do thefollowing:

1. On Yukon XL Denali models, lift the load floorpanels and latch them into the seatback.

2. Lift the seatback up and push it rearward all theway. On Yukon XL Denali models, move theheadrest to the seatback.

3. Lower the seat cushion until it latches into position.

4. On Yukon Denali models, return the headreststo the upright position.

5. Pull forward on the seatback and up on the seatcushion to make sure the seat is securely inplace.

1-24

Safety Belts

Safety Belts: They Are for EveryoneThis part of the manual tells you how to use safetybelts properly. It also tells you some things you shouldnot do with safety belts.

{CAUTION:

Don’t let anyone ride where he or she can’twear a safety belt properly. If you are in acrash and you’re not wearing a safety belt,your injuries can be much worse. You can hitthings inside the vehicle or be ejected from it.You can be seriously injured or killed. In thesame crash, you might not be, if you arebuckled up. Always fasten your safety belt,and check that your passengers’ belts arefastened properly too.

{CAUTION:

It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargoarea, inside or outside of a vehicle. In acollision, people riding in these areas are morelikely to be seriously injured or killed. Do notallow people to ride in any area of your vehiclethat is not equipped with seats and safetybelts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in aseat and using a safety belt properly.

Your vehicle has a lightthat comes on as areminder to buckle up. SeeSafety Belt ReminderLight on page 3-31.

In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the lawsays to wear safety belts. Here’s why: They work.

You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have acrash, you don’t know if it will be a bad one.

1-25

A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be soserious that even buckled up, a person wouldn’t survive.But most crashes are in between. In many of them,people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walkaway. Without belts they could have been badly hurtor killed.

After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles, thefacts are clear. In most crashes buckling up doesmatter... a lot!

Why Safety Belts WorkWhen you ride in or on anything, you go as fast asit goes.

Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat onwheels.

1-26

Put someone on it. Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The riderdoesn’t stop.

1-27

The person keeps going until stopped by something. Ina real vehicle, it could be the windshield...

or the instrument panel...

1-28

or the safety belts!

With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does.You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance,and your strongest bones take the forces. That’s whysafety belts make such good sense.

Questions and Answers AboutSafety Belts

Q: Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle after anaccident if I’m wearing a safety belt?

A: You could be – whether you’re wearing a safetybelt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt,even if you’re upside down. And your chanceof being conscious during and after an accident,so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater ifyou are belted.

Q: If my vehicle has air bags, why should I have towear safety belts?

A: Air bags are in many vehicles today and will be inmost of them in the future. But they aresupplemental systems only; so they work withsafety belts – not instead of them. Every air bagsystem ever offered for sale has required theuse of safety belts. Even if you’re in a vehicle thathas air bags, you still have to buckle up to getthe most protection. That’s true not only in frontalcollisions, but especially in side and othercollisions.

1-29

Q: If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far fromhome, why should I wear safety belts?

A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you’re in anaccident – even one that isn’t your fault – you andyour passengers can be hurt. Being a gooddriver doesn’t protect you from things beyond yourcontrol, such as bad drivers.

Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) ofhome. And the greatest number of serious injuriesand deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph(65 km/h).

Safety belts are for everyone.

How to Wear Safety Belts ProperlyThis part is only for people of adult size.

Be aware that there are special things to know aboutsafety belts and children. And there are differentrules for smaller children and babies. If a child will beriding in your vehicle, see Older Children on page 1-48or Infants and Young Children on page 1-50. Followthose rules for everyone’s protection.

First, you’ll want to know which restraint systems yourvehicle has.

We’ll start with the driver position.

Driver PositionThis part describes the driver’s restraint system.

1-30

Lap-Shoulder BeltThe driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s how to wear itproperly.

1. Close and lock the door.

2. Adjust the seat so you can sit up straight. To seehow, see “Seats” in the Index.

3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.Don’t let it get twisted.

4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.If the belt isn’t long enough, see Safety BeltExtender on page 1-47.Make sure the release button on the buckle ispositioned so you would be able to unbuckle thesafety belt quickly if you ever had to.

5. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckleend of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder belt.

1-31

The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug onthe hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, thisapplies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you’d beless likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it,the belt would apply force at your abdomen. Thiscould cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulderbelt should go over the shoulder and across thechest. These parts of the body are best able to take beltrestraining forces.

The safety belt locks if there’s a sudden stop or a crash.

1-32

Q: What’s wrong with this?

A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It won’t give nearlyas much protection this way.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder beltis too loose. In a crash, you would moveforward too much, which could increase injury.The shoulder belt should fit against your body.

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A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured if your belt isbuckled in the wrong place like this. In a crash,the belt would go up over your abdomen. Thebelt forces would be there, not at the pelvicbones. This could cause serious internalinjuries. Always buckle your belt into thebuckle nearest you.

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A: The belt is over an armrest.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured if your belt goesover an armrest like this. The belt would bemuch too high. In a crash, you can slide underthe belt. The belt force would then be appliedat the abdomen, not at the pelvic bones, andthat could cause serious or fatal injuries. Besure the belt goes under the armrests.

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A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It shouldbe worn over the shoulder at all times.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured if you wear theshoulder belt under your arm. In a crash, yourbody would move too far forward, which wouldincrease the chance of head and neck injury.Also, the belt would apply too much force tothe ribs, which aren’t as strong as shoulderbones. You could also severely injure internalorgans like your liver or spleen.

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A: The belt is twisted across the body.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt.In a crash, you wouldn’t have the full width ofthe belt to spread impact forces. If a belt istwisted, make it straight so it can workproperly, or ask your dealer to fix it.

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To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle.The belt should go back out of the way.

Before you close the door, be sure the belt is out of theway. If you slam the door on it, you can damageboth the belt and your vehicle.

Safety Belt Use During PregnancySafety belts work for everyone, including pregnantwomen. Like all occupants, they are more likely to beseriously injured if they don’t wear safety belts.

A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, andthe lap portion should be worn as low as possible,below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy.

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The best way to protect the fetus is to protect themother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it’s morelikely that the fetus won’t be hurt in a crash. Forpregnant women, as for anyone, the key to makingsafety belts effective is wearing them properly.

Right Front Passenger PositionTo learn how to wear the right front passenger’s safetybelt properly, see Driver Position on page 1-30.

The right front passenger’s safety belt works the sameway as the driver’s safety belt—except for one thing.If you ever pull the shoulder portion of the belt out all theway, you will engage the child restraint locking featurewhich may turn off the passenger’s frontal air bag. If thishappens unintentionally, just let the belt go back allthe way and start again.

Center Passenger Position

Second Row – Lap-Shoulder BeltWhen you sit in the center seat position in the secondrow you have a lap-shoulder belt which works the sameway as the rear outside seat positions. To learn howto wear this belt, see “Lap-Shoulder Belt” underRear Seat Passengers on page 1-41.

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Third Row – Lap Belt

When you sit in the center seating position in the thirdrow, you have a lap safety belt, which has no retractor.To make the belt longer, tilt the latch plate and pull italong the belt.

To make the belt shorter, pull its free end as shownuntil the belt is snug. Buckle, position and release it thesame way as the lap part of a lap-shoulder belt. Ifthe belt isn’t long enough, see Safety Belt Extender onpage 1-47.

Make sure the release button on the buckle is positionedso you would be able to unbuckle the safety beltquickly if you ever had to.

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Rear Seat PassengersIt’s very important for rear seat passengers to buckleup! Accident statistics show that unbelted people in therear seat are hurt more often in crashes than thosewho are wearing safety belts.

Rear passengers who aren’t safety belted can bethrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strikeothers in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts.

Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions

The positions next to the windows havelap-shoulder belts.

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Lap-Shoulder BeltHere’s how to wear a lap-shoulder belt properly.

1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.Don’t let it get twisted.

2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.When the shoulder belt is pulled out all the way,it will lock. If it does, let it go back all the way andstart again.

If the belt is not long enough, see Safety BeltExtender on page 1-47.Make sure the release button on the buckle ispositioned so you would be able to unbuckle thesafety belt quickly if you ever had to.

3. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckleend of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder part.

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The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug onthe hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, thisapplies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you’d beless likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it,the belt would apply force at your abdomen. Thiscould cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulderbelt should go over the shoulder and across thechest. These parts of the body are best able to take beltrestraining forces.

The safety belt locks if there’s a sudden stop or a crash.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder beltis too loose. In a crash, you would moveforward too much, which could increase injury.The shoulder belt should fit against your body.

1-43

To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle.

Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides forChildren and Small AdultsYour vehicle may have this feature already. If it doesn’tyou can get it from any GM dealer.

Rear shoulder belt comfort guides will provide addedsafety belt comfort for older children who have outgrownbooster seats and for small adults. When installed ona shoulder belt, the comfort guide better positionsthe belt away from the neck and head.

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There is one guide available for each outside passegerposition in the rear seats. Here’s how to install acomfort guide and use the safety belt:

1. For the second row, remove the guide from itsstorage clip on the trim panel near the side ofthe seatback.

For the third row, remove the guide from its storageclip on the side of the seatback.

Second Row Seat

Third Row Seat

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2. Place the guide over the belt and insert the twoedges of the belt into the slots of the guide.

3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies flat.The guide must be on top of the belt.

Second Row Seat

1-46

4. Buckle, position and release the safety belt asdescribed in Rear Seat Passengers on page 1-41.Make sure that the shoulder belt crosses theshoulder.

To remove and store the comfort guides, squeeze thebelt edges together so that you can take them out of theguides.

Safety Belt ExtenderIf the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, youshould use it.

But if a safety belt isn’t long enough to fasten, yourdealer will order you an extender. It’s free. When you goin to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, sothe extender will be long enough for you. The extenderwill be just for you, and just for the seat in yourvehicle that you choose. Don’t let someone else use it,and use it only for the seat it is made to fit. To wearit, just attach it to the regular safety belt.

Third Row Seat

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Child Restraints

Older Children

Older children who have outgrown booster seats shouldwear the vehicle’s safety belts.

If you have the choice, a child should sit in a seat thathas a lap-shoulder belt to get the additional restrainta shoulder belt can provide.

Q: What is the proper way to wear safety belts?A: If possible, an older child should wear a

lap-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint ashoulder belt can provide. The shoulder beltshould not cross the face or neck. The lap beltshould fit snugly below the hips, just touching thetop of the thighs. It should never be worn overthe abdomen, which could cause severe or evenfatal internal injuries in a crash.

Accident statistics show that children are safer if theyare restrained in the rear seat.

In a crash, children who are not buckled up can strikeother people who are buckled up, or can be thrownout of the vehicle. Older children need to use safetybelts properly.

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{CAUTION:

Never do this.

Here two children are wearing the same belt.The belt can’t properly spread the impactforces. In a crash, the two children can becrushed together and seriously injured. A beltmust be used by only one person at a time.

Q: What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt,but the child is so small that the shoulder beltis very close to the child’s face or neck?

A: If the child is sitting in a rear seat outside position,move the child toward the center of the vehicle.See Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Childrenand Small Adults on page 1-44. If the child issitting in the center position, move the child towardthe safety belt buckle. In either case, be surethat the shoulder belt still is on the child’s shoulder,so that in a crash the child’s upper body wouldhave the restraint that belts provide.

1-49

If the child is so small that the shoulder belt is stillvery close to the child’s face or neck, you mightwant to place the child in a seat that has a lap belt,if your vehicle has one.

{CAUTION:

Never do this.

Here a child is sitting in a seat that has alap-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part isbehind the child. If the child wears the belt inthis way, in a crash the child might slide underthe belt. The belt’s force would then be appliedright on the child’s abdomen. That could causeserious or fatal injuries.

Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the beltshould be worn low and snug on the hips, just touchingthe child’s thighs. This applies belt force to the child’spelvic bones in a crash.

Infants and Young ChildrenEveryone in a vehicle needs protection! This includesinfants and all other children. Neither the distancetraveled nor the age and size of the traveler changesthe need, for everyone, to use safety restraints. In fact,the law in every state in the United States and inevery Canadian province says children up to some agemust be restrained while in a vehicle.

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Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles,they should have the protection provided by appropriaterestraints. Young children should not use the vehicle’sadult safety belts alone, unless there is no other choice.Instead, they need to use a child restraint.

{CAUTION:

People should never hold a baby in their armswhile riding in a vehicle. A baby doesn’t weighmuch -- until a crash. During a crash a babywill become so heavy it is not possible to holdit. For example, in a crash at only 25 mph(40 km/h), a 12-lb. (5.5 kg) baby will suddenlybecome a 240-lb. (110 kg) force on a person’sarms. A baby should be secured in anappropriate restraint.

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{CAUTION:

Children who are up against, or very close to,any air bag when it inflates can be seriouslyinjured or killed. Air bags plus lap-shoulderbelts offer outstanding protection for adultsand older children, but not for young childrenand infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety beltsystem nor its air bag system is designed forthem. Young children and infants need theprotection that a child restraint system canprovide.

Q: What are the different types of add-on childrestraints?

A: Add-on child restraints, which are purchased bythe vehicle’s owner, are available in four basictypes. Selection of a particular restraint should takeinto consideration not only the child’s weight,height, and age but also whether or not therestraint will be compatible with the motor vehiclein which it will be used.

1-52

For most basic types of child restraints, there aremany different models available. When purchasing achild restraint, be sure it is designed to be usedin a motor vehicle. If it is, the restraint will have alabel saying that it meets federal motor vehiclesafety standards.

The restraint manufacturer’s instructions that comewith the restraint state the weight and heightlimitations for a particular child restraint. In addition,there are many kinds of restraints available forchildren with special needs.

{CAUTION:

Newborn infants need complete support,including support for the head and neck. Thisis necessary because a newborn infant’s neckis weak and its head weighs so muchcompared with the rest of its body. In a crash,an infant in a rear-facing seat settles into therestraint, so the crash forces can bedistributed across the strongest part of aninfant’s body, the back and shoulders. Infantsalways should be secured in appropriate infantrestraints.

{CAUTION:

The body structure of a young child is quiteunlike that of an adult or older child, for whomthe safety belts are designed. A young child’ship bones are still so small that the vehicle’sregular safety belt may not remain low on thehip bones, as it should. Instead, it may settleup around the child’s abdomen. In a crash, thebelt would apply force on a body area that’sunprotected by any bony structure. This alonecould cause serious or fatal injuries. Youngchildren always should be secured inappropriate child restraints.

1-53

Child Restraint Systems

An infant car bed (A), a special bed made for use in amotor vehicle, is an infant restraint system designedto restrain or position a child on a continuous flatsurface. Make sure that the infant’s head rests towardthe center of the vehicle.

A rear-facing infant seat (B) provides restraint with theseating surface against the back of the infant. Theharness system holds the infant in place and, in a crash,acts to keep the infant positioned in the restraint.

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A forward-facing child seat (C-E) provides restraint forthe child’s body with the harness and also sometimeswith surfaces such as T-shaped or shelf-like shields.

A booster seat (F-G) is a child restraint designed toimprove the fit of the vehicle’s safety belt system. Somebooster seats have a shoulder belt positioner, andsome high-back booster seats have a five-point harness.A booster seat can also help a child to see out thewindow.

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Q: How do child restraints work?A: A child restraint system is any device designed for

use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat, or positionchildren. A built-in child restraint system is apermanent part of the motor vehicle. An add-onchild restraint system is a portable one, whichis purchased by the vehicle’s owner.

For many years, add-on child restraints have usedthe adult belt system in the vehicle. To helpreduce the chance of injury, the child also has to besecured within the restraint. The vehicle’s beltsystem secures the add-on child restraint in thevehicle, and the add-on child restraint’s harnesssystem holds the child in place within the restraint.

One system, the three-point harness, has straps thatcome down over each of the infant’s shoulders andbuckle together at the crotch. The five-point harnesssystem has two shoulder straps, two hip straps and acrotch strap. A shield may take the place of hipstraps. A T-shaped shield has shoulder straps thatare attached to a flat pad which rests low against thechild’s body. A shelf- or armrest-type shield hasstraps that are attached to a wide, shelf-like shieldthat swings up or to the side.

When choosing a child restraint, be sure the childrestraint is designed to be used in a vehicle. If it is, itwill have a label saying that it meets federal motorvehicle safety standards.Then follow the instructions for the restraint. You mayfind these instructions on the restraint itself or in abooklet, or both. These restraints use the belt system inyour vehicle, but the child also has to be securedwithin the restraint to help reduce the chance of personalinjury. When securing an add-on child restraint, referto the instructions that come with the restraint which maybe on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both, andto this manual. The child restraint instructions areimportant, so if they are not available, obtain areplacement copy from the manufacturer.

Where to Put the RestraintAccident statistics show that children are safer if theyare restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. We,therefore, recommend that child restraints be securedin a rear seat including an infant riding in a rear-facinginfant seat, a child riding in a forward-facing childseat and an older child riding in a booster seat. Neverput a child in a rear-facing child restraint in the right frontpassenger seat unless your vehicle has the passengersensing system and the passenger air bag statusindicator shows off. Never put a rear facing childrestraint in the right front passenger seat unless the airbag is off. Here is why:

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{CAUTION:

A child in a rear-facing child restraint can beseriously injured or killed if the right frontpassenger’s air bag inflates. This is because theback of the rear-facing child restraint would bevery close to the inflating air bag. Be sure the airbag is off before using a rear-facing childrestraint in the right front seat position.

Even though the passenger sensing system isdesigned to turn off the passenger’s frontal airbag if the system detects a rear-facing childrestraint, no system is fail-safe, and no one canguarantee that an air bag will not deploy undersome unusual circumstance, even though it isturned off. General Motors thereforerecommends that rear-facing child restraints besecured in the rear seat whenever possible,even if the air bag is off.

If you secure a forward-facing child restraint inthe right front seat, always move the frontpassenger seat as far back as it will go. It isbetter to secure the child restraint in a rear seat.

If your vehicle has the passenger sensing system andyou need to secure a rear-facing child restraint inthe right front passenger’s seat, the passenger’s frontalair bag must be off. See Passenger Sensing Systemon page 1-81 and Securing a Child Restraint in the RightFront Seat Position on page 1-68 for more on thisincluding important safety information.

Wherever you install it, be sure to secure the childrestraint properly.

Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint canmove around in a collision or sudden stop and injurepeople in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secureany child restraint in your vehicle – even when no childis in it.

Top StrapSome child restraints have a top strap, or “top tether.” Itcan help restrain the child restraint during a collision.For it to work, a top strap must be properly anchored tothe vehicle. Some top strap-equipped child restraintsare designed for use with or without the top strap beinganchored. Others require the top strap always to beanchored. Be sure to read and follow the instructions foryour child restraint. If yours requires that the top strapbe anchored, don’t use the restraint unless it is anchoredproperly.

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If the child restraint does not have a top strap, one canbe obtained, in kit form, for many child restraints.Ask the child restraint manufacturer whether or not a kitis available.

In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing childrestraints have a top strap, and that the strap beanchored. In the United States, some child restraintsalso have a top strap. If your child restraint has atop strap, it should be anchored.

Anchor the top strap to one of the following anchorpoints. Be sure to use an anchor point located on thesame side of the vehicle as the seating positionwhere the child restraint will be placed.

If you have an adjustable head restraint, route the topstrap under it.

Once you have the top strap anchored, you’ll be readyto secure the child restraint itself. Tighten the topstrap when and as the child restraint manufacturer’sinstructions say.

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Top Strap Anchor Location

Yukon XL Denali models: A child restraint with a topstrap should only be used in the second or thirdrow. Don’t use a child restraint with a top strap in thefront seat because there’s no place to anchor thetop strap.

An anchor loop bracket for a top strap is located at thebottom rear of the seat cushion for each seatingposition in the second row, for the center seatingposition in the third row on bench seats.

Yukon XL Denali Second Row Seat(Bucket Seats Similar)

Yukon XL Denali Third Row Seat

1-59

Yukon Denali models: A child restraint with a topstrap should only be used in the second row or third row.Don’t use a child restraint with a top strap in the rightfront passenger’s position, because there’s no place toanchor the top strap.

An anchor loop bracket for a top strap is located at thebottom rear of the seat cushion for each seatingposition in the second row and in the outboardpassenger position in the third row for 50/50 split seats.

Yukon Denali Second Row Seat

Yukon Denali Third Row 50/50 Split Seat

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Lower Anchorages and Top Tethersfor Children (LATCH System)

Your vehicle has the LATCH system. You will findanchors (A) in the center and right side passengersecond row seating positions.

This system, designed to make installation of childrestraints easier, does not use the vehicle’s safety belts.Instead, it uses vehicle anchors (A, B) and childrestraint attachements to secure the restraints. Somerestraints also use another vehicle anchor to securea top tether strap (C).

1-61

In order to use the LATCH system in your vehicle, youneed a child restraint designed for that system.

To assist you in locating the lower anchors for this childrestraint system, each seating position with theLATCH system has a visible metal anchorage point inthe seat where the seatback meets the seat cushion.

{CAUTION:

If a LATCH-type child restraint isn’t attached toits anchorage points, the restraint won’t beable to protect the child correctly. In a crash,the child could be seriously injured or killed.Make sure that a LATCH-type child restraint isproperly installed using the anchorage points,or use the vehicle’s safety belts to secure therestraint. See “Securing a Child RestraintDesigned for the LATCH System”, “Securing aChild Restraint in a Rear Outside SeatPosition”, “Securing a Child Restraint in aCenter Rear Seat Position”, or “Securing aChild Restraint in the Right Front SeatPosition” in the Index for information on howto secure a child restraint in your vehicle.

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Securing a Child Restraint Designedfor the LATCH System

1. Find the anchors for the seating position you wantto use, where the bottom of the seatback meets theback of the seat cushion.

2. Put the child restraint on the seat.

3. Attach the anchor points on the child restraint to theanchors in the vehicle. The child restraintinstructions will show you how.

4. If the child restraint is forward-facing, attach the topstrap to the top strap anchor. See Top Strap onpage 1-57. Tighten the top strap according tothe child restraint instructions.

5. Push and pull the child restraint in differentdirections to be sure it is secure.

To remove the child restraint, simply unhook the topstrap from the top tether anchor and then disconnect theanchor points.

Securing a Child Restraint in a RearOutside Seat Position

If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCHsystem, see Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers forChildren (LATCH System) on page 1-61. See Top Strapon page 1-57 if the child restraint has one.

There is no top strap anchor at the third row driver sideseating position. Do not secure a child seat in thisposition if a national or local law requires that the topstrap be anchored or if the instructions that comewith the child restraint say that the top strap must beanchored.

1-63

If your child restraint does not have the LATCH system,you’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the childrestraint in this position. Be sure to follow the instructionsthat came with the child restraint. Secure the child in thechild restraint when and as the instructions say.

1. Put the restraint on the seat.

2. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulderportions of the vehicle’s safety belt through oraround the restraint. The child restraint instructionswill show you how.

3. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button ispositioned so you would be able to unbuckle thesafety belt quickly if you ever had to.

4. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out ofthe retractor to set the lock.

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5. To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt back intothe retractor while you push down on the childrestraint. If you’re using a forward-facing childrestraint, you may find it helpful to use your knee topush down on the child restraint as you tightenthe belt.


To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’ssafety belt and let it go back all the way. The safetybelt will move freely again and be ready to work for anadult or larger child passenger.

Securing a Child Restraint in aCenter Rear Seat Position

If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCHsystem, see Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers forChildren (LATCH System) on page 1-61. See Top Strapon page 1-57 if the child restraint has one.

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Second RowThe center seat position in the second row has alap-shoulder belt which works the same way as thesafety belt in the rear outside seat positions. Forinstructions on how to secure a child restraint using alap-shoulder belt see Securing a Child Restraint ina Rear Outside Seat Position on page 1-63.

Third RowThe center seat position in the third row has a lap belt.Be sure to follow the instructions that came with thechild restraint. Secure the child in the child restraintwhen and as the instructions say.

1. Make the belt as long as possible by tilting the latchplate and pulling it along the belt.


3. Run the vehicle’s safety belt through or around therestraint. The child restraint instructions will showyou how.

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5. To tighten the belt, pull its free end while you pushdown on the child restraint. If you’re using aforward-facing child restraint, you may find it helpfulto use your knee to push down on the childrestraint as you tighten the belt.


To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’ssafety belt. It will be ready to work for an adult orlarger child passenger.

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Securing a Child Restraint in theRight Front Seat Position

Your vehicle has a right front passenger air bag. A rearseat is a safer place to secure a forward-facing childrestraint. Unless your vehicle has the passenger sensingsystem, never put a rear-facing child restraint in thisseat. Here’s why:

{CAUTION:

A child in a rear-facing child restraint can beseriously injured or killed if the right frontpassenger’s air bag inflates. This is becausethe back of the rear-facing child restraintwould be very close to the inflating air bag.Always secure a rear-facing child restraint in arear seat unless the air bag is off.

If your vehicle has the passenger sensing system andyou need to secure a rear-facing child restraint inthe right front passenger’s seat, the passenger’s air bagmust be off. See Passenger Sensing System onpage 1-81 and Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator onpage 3-33 for more information on this includingimportant safety information.

1-68

{CAUTION:

A child in a rear-facing child restraint can beseriously injured or killed if the right frontpassenger’s air bag inflates. This is becausethe back of the rear facing child restraintwould be very close to the inflating air bag. Besure the air bag is off before using arear-facing child restraint in the right front seatposition.

Even though the passenger sensing system isdesigned to turn off the passenger’s frontal airbag if the system detects a rear-facing childrestraint, no system is fail-safe, and no onecan guarantee that an air bag will not deployunder some unusual circumstance, eventhough it is turned off. General Motorstherefore recommends that rear-facing childrestraints be secured in the rear seat wheneverpossible, even if the air bag is off.

You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See Top Strap onpage 1-57 if the child restraint has one. Be sure tofollow the instructions that came with the child restraint.Secure the child in the child restraint when and asthe instructions say.

1. Because your vehicle has a right front passengerair bag, always move the seat as far back as it willgo before securing a child restraint, if you needto secure a forward-facing child restraint in the rightfront seat position. See Power Seats on page 1-3.If your vehicle has the passenger sensingsystem and you are using a rear-facing childrestraint in this seat, make sure the frontal air bagis off. See Passenger Sensing System onpage 1-81.When the passenger sensing system has turned offthe right front passenger’s frontal air bag, the offindicator on the inside rearview mirror will light andstay lit when you turn the ignition to RUN orSTART.


3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulderportions of the vehicle’s safety belt through oraround the restraint. The child restraint instructionswill show you how.

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5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out ofthe retractor to set the lock.

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6. To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt back intothe retractor while you push down on the childrestraint. If you are using a forward-facing childrestraint, you may find it helpful to use your knee topush down on the child restraint as you tighten thebelt. You should not be able to pull more of the beltout of the retractor once the lock has been set.


8. If your vehicle has the passenger sensing systemand you’re using a rear-facing child restraint in thisseat, check to be sure the right front passenger’sfrontal air bag is off before you begin to drive. If theair bag has been turned off the off indicator willlight and stay lit when the key is turned to RUN orSTART.If the on indicator is lit, the passenger’s frontal airbag has not been turned off. If this ever happens,turn off the vehicle, unbuckle the safety beltand perform the steps to install the rear-facingrestraint again. After restarting the vehicle, if the airbag still doesn’t turn off, install the infant restraintin a rear seat position of the vehicle and have yourvehicle serviced as soon as possible.

To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’ssafety belt and let it go back all the way. The safetybelt will move freely again and be ready to work for anadult or larger child passenger.

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Air Bag SystemsThis part explains the frontal and side impact air bagsystems.

Your vehicle has air bags – a frontal air bag for thedriver and another frontal air bag for the right frontpassenger. Your vehicle may also have a side impactair bag. Side impact air bags are available for the driverand right front passenger.

If your vehicle has a side impact air bag for the driverand/or the right front passenger, the words AIR BAG willappear on the air bag covering on the side of theseatback closest to the door.

Frontal air bags are designed to help reduce the risk ofinjury from the force of an inflating frontal air bag.But these air bags must inflate very quickly to do theirjob and comply with federal regulations.

Here are the most important things to know about theair bag systems:

{CAUTION:

You can be severely injured or killed in a crashif you aren’t wearing your safety belt – even ifyou have air bags. Wearing your safety beltduring a crash helps reduce your chance ofhitting things inside the vehicle or beingejected from it. Air bags are designed to workwith safety belts but don’t replace them.

CAUTION: (Continued)

1-72


Frontal air bags for the driver and right frontpassenger are designed to deploy only inmoderate to severe frontal and near frontalcrashes. They aren’t designed to inflate at allin rollover, rear or low-speed frontal crashes,or in many side crashes. And, for someunrestrained occupants, frontal air bags mayprovide less protection in frontal crashesthan more forceful air bags have provided inthe past.

The side impact air bags for the driver andright front passenger are designed to inflateonly in moderate to severe crashes wheresomething hits the side of your vehicle. Theyaren’t designed to inflate in frontal, in rolloveror in rear crashes.

Everyone in your vehicle should wear a safetybelt properly – whether or not there’s an airbag for that person.

{CAUTION:

Both frontal and side impact air bags inflatewith great force, faster than the blink of aneye. If you’re too close to an inflating air bag,as you would be if you were leaning forward, itcould seriously injure you. Safety belts helpkeep you in position for air bag inflation beforeand during a crash. Always wear your safetybelt, even with frontal air bags. The drivershould sit as far back as possible while stillmaintaining control of the vehicle. Frontoccupants should not lean on or sleep againstthe door.

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{CAUTION:

Anyone who is up against, or very close to,any air bag when it inflates can be seriouslyinjured or killed. Air bags plus lap-shoulderbelts offer the best protection for adults, butnot for young children and infants. Neither thevehicle’s safety belt system nor its air bagsystem is designed for them. Young childrenand infants need the protection that a childrestraint system can provide. Always securechildren properly in your vehicle. To read how,see the part of this manual called “OlderChildren” or “Infants and Young Children.”

There is an air bagreadiness light on theinstrument panel cluster,which shows the airbag symbol.

The system checks the air bag electrical system formalfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electricalproblem. See Air Bag Readiness Light on page 3-32for more information.

Where Are the Air Bags?

The driver’s frontal air bag is in the middle of thesteering wheel.

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The right front passernger’s frontal air bag is in theinstrument panel on the passenger’s side.

If your vehicle has one, the driver’s side impact airbag is in the side of the driver’s seatback closest tothe door.

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If your vehicle has one, the right front passenger’s sideimpact air bag is in the side of the passenger’sseatback closest to the door.

{CAUTION:

If something is between an occupant and anair bag, the bag might not inflate properly or itmight force the object into that person causingsevere injury or even death. The path of aninflating air bag must be kept clear. Don’t putanything between an occupant and an air bag,and don’t attach or put anything on thesteering wheel hub or on or near any other airbag covering. Don’t let seat covers block theinflation path of a side impact air bag.

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When Should an Air Bag Inflate?

Frontal Air BagsThe driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal air bagsare designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontalor near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to inflateonly if the impact speed is above the system’sdesigned “threshold level.”

In addition, your vehicle has “dual stage” frontal airbags, which adjust the amount of restraint according tocrash severity. For moderate frontal impacts, theseair bags inflate at a level less than full deployment. Formore severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs.If the front of your vehicle goes straight into a wall thatdoesn’t move or deform, the threshold level for thereduced deployment is about 10 to 16 mph(16 to 25 km/h), and the threshold level for a fulldeployment is about 20 to 25 mph (32 to 40 km/h). Thethreshold level can vary, however, with specificvehicle design, so that it can be somewhat above orbelow this range.

If your vehicle strikes something that will move ordeform, such as a parked car, the threshold level will behigher. The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontalair bags are not designed to inflate in rollovers, rearimpacts, or in many side impacts because inflationwould not help the occupant.

Seat Position SensorsVehicles with dual stage air bags are also equipped withspecial sensors which enable the sensing system tomonitor the position of both the driver and passengerfront seats. The seat position sensor providesinformation which is used to determine if the air bagsshould deploy at a reduced level or at full depoyment.

Side Impact Air BagsYour vehicle may or may not have a side impact airbag. See Air Bag Systems on page 1-72. Side impact airbags are designed to inflate in moderate to severeside crashes. A side impact air bag will inflate ifthe crash severity is above the system’s designed“threshold level.” The threshold level can vary withspecific vehicle design. Side impact air bags arenot designed to inflate in frontal or near-frontal impacts,rollovers or rear impacts, because inflation would nothelp the occupant. A side impact air bag will only deployon the side of the vehicle that is struck.

Air Bag SystemsIn any particular crash, no one can say whether an airbag should have inflated simply because of the damageto a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were.

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For frontal air bags, inflation is determined by the angleof the impact and how quickly the vehicle slows downin frontal and near-frontal impacts. For side impactair bags, inflation is determined by the locationand severity of the impact.

The air bag system is designed to work properly undera wide range of conditions, including off-road usage.Observe safe driving speeds, especially on roughterrain. As always, wear your safety belt. See OperatingYour All-Wheel-Drive Vehicle Off Paved Roads onpage 4-16 for tips on off-road driving.

What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensingsystem detects that the vehicle is in a crash. Forboth frontal and side impact air bags, the sensingsystem triggers a release of gas from the inflator, whichinflates the air bag. The inflator, the air bag andrelated hardware are all part of the air bag modules.Frontal air bag modules are located inside the steeringwheel and instrument panel. For vehicles with sideimpact air bags, the air bag modules are located in theseatback closest to the driver’s and/or right frontpassenger’s door.

How Does an Air Bag Restrain?In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel orthe instrument panel. In moderate to severe sidecollisions, even belted occupants can contact the insideof the vehicle. The air bag supplements the protectionprovided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force ofthe impact more evenly over the occupant’s upperbody, stopping the occupant more gradually. But thefrontal air bags would not help you in many typesof collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts, and manyside impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motionis not toward the air bag. Side impact air bags would nothelp you in many types of collisions, including frontalor near frontal collisions, rollovers, and rear impacts,primarily because an occupant’s motion is not towardthose air bags. Air bags should never be regardedas anything more than a supplement to safety belts, andthen only in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontalcollisions for the driver’s and right front passenger’sfrontal air bags, and only in moderate to severeside collisions for vehicles with a driver’s and right frontpassenger’s side impact air bag.

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What Will You See After an Air BagInflates?After the air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quicklythat some people may not even realize the air baginflated. Some components of the air bag module will behot for a short time. These components include thesteering wheel hub for the driver’s frontal air bag and theinstrument panel for the right front passenger’s frontalair bag. For vehicles with side impact air bags, the sideof the seatback closest to the driver’s and/or rightfront passenger’s door will be hot. The parts of the bagthat come into contact with you may be warm, butnot too hot to touch. There will be some smoke and dustcoming from the vents in the deflated air bags. Airbag inflation doesn’t prevent the driver from seeing orbeing able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stoppeople from leaving the vehicle.

{CAUTION:

When an air bag inflates, there is dust in theair. This dust could cause breathing problemsfor people with a history of asthma or otherbreathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone inthe vehicle should get out as soon as it is safeto do so. If you have breathing problems butcan’t get out of the vehicle after an air baginflates, then get fresh air by opening awindow or a door. If you experience breathingproblems following an air bag deployment, youshould seek medical attention.

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In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.Additional windshield breakage may also occur from theright front passenger air bag.

• Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After anair bag inflates, you’ll need some new parts foryour air bag system. If you don’t get them, the airbag system won’t be there to help protect youin another crash. A new system will include air bagmodules and possibly other parts. The servicemanual for your vehicle covers the need to replaceother parts.

• Your vehicle is equipped with electronic frontalsensors which help the sensing system distinguishbetween a moderate and a more severe frontalimpact. Your vehicle is also equipped with a crashsensing and diagnostic module, which recordsinformation about the frontal air bag system. Themodule records information about the readiness ofthe system and when the system commands airbag inflation. It records the status of the driver’s

safety belt usage in a crash in which the air bagdeploys or a crash in which the air bag nearlydeploys. The module also records speed, enginerpm, brake and throttle data.

• Let only qualified technicians work on your air bagsystems. Improper service can mean that an airbag system won’t work properly. See your dealer forservice.

Notice: If you damage the covering for the driver’sor the right front passenger’s air bag, or the airbag covering on the driver’s and right frontpassenger’s seatback, the bag may not workproperly. You may have to replace the air bagmodule in the steering wheel, both the air bagmodule and the instrument panel for the right frontpassenger’s air bag, or both the air bag moduleand seatback for the driver’s and right frontpassenger’s side impact air bag. Do not open orbreak the air bag coverings.

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Passenger Sensing SystemIf your rearview mirror has one of the indicators picturedin the following illustrations, your vehicle has a passengersensing system. The indicator will be visible when youturn your ignition key to START or RUN. The words ONand OFF or the symbol for on and off, will be visible onthe rearview mirror during the system check. When thesystem check is complete, either the word ON or the wordOFF, or the symbol for on or the symbol for off will bevisible. See Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator onpage 3-33. If your rearview mirror doesn’t have either ofthe indicators pictured, then your vehicle doesn’t have thepassenger sensing system.

The passenger sensing system will turn off the rightfront passenger’s frontal air bag under certainconditions. The driver’s air bag and the side air bagsare not part of the passenger sensing system.The passenger sensing system works with sensors thatare part of the right front passenger’s seat and safetybelt. The sensors are designed to detect the presence ofa properly-seated occupant and determine if thepassenger’s frontal air bag should be enabled (mayinflate) or not.Accident statistics show that children are safer if theyare restrained in the rear rather than the front seat.General Motors, therefore, recommends that childrestraints be secured in a rear seat, including an infantriding in a rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in aforward-facing child seat and an older child riding in abooster seat. Never put a child in rear-facing childrestraint in the right front passenger seat unless yourvehicle has the passenger sensing system and thepassenger air bag status indicator shows off.

Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator – United States

Passenger Air BagStatus Indicator

– Canada

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Never put a rear-facing child restraint in the right frontpassenger seat unless the air bag is off.

{CAUTION:

A child in a rear-facing child restraint can beseriously injured or killed if the right frontpassenger’s air bag inflates. This is becausethe back of the rear-facing child restraintwould be very close to the inflating air bag. Besure the air bag is off before using arear-facing child restraint in the right front seatposition.

Even though the passenger sensing system isdesigned to turn off the passenger’s frontal airbag if the system detects a rear-facing childrestraint, no system is fail-safe, and no onecan guarantee that an air bag will not deployunder some unusual circumstance, eventhough it is turned off. General Motors,therefore, recommends that rear-facing childrestraints be secured in the rear seat wheneverpossible, even if the air bag is off.

The passenger sensing system is designed to turn offthe 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 presentin a forward-facing child restraint

• the system determines that a small child is presentin a booster seat

• a right front passenger takes his/her weight off ofthe seat for a period of time

• the right front passenger seat is occupied by asmaller person, such as a child who has outgrownchild restraints

• or if there is a critical problem with the air bagsystem or the passenger sensing system.

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When the passenger sensing system has turned off thepassenger’s frontal air bag, the off indicator will lightand stay lit to remind you that the air bag is off.

The passenger sensing system is designed to turn offthe passenger’s frontal air bag when a rear facing infantseat, a forward-facing child restraint or a booster seatis detected. If the child restraint has been installedand the on indicator is lit, turn the vehicle off, removethe child restraint from the vehicle and reinstall therestraint following the child restraint manufacturer’sdirections and refer to Securing a Child Restraint in theRight Front Seat Position on page 1-68 of this manual.If after reinstalling the child restraint and restartingthe vehicle, the on indicator is still lit, secure the child inthe child restraint in a rear seat position in the vehicleand check with your dealer.

The passenger sensing system is designed to enable(may inflate) the right front passenger’s frontal airbag anytime the system senses that a person of adultsize is sitting properly in the right front passenger’s seat.When the passenger sensing system has allowed theair bag to be enabled, the on indicator will light and staylit to remind you that the air bag is active.

For some children who have outgrown child restraintsand for very small adults, the passenger sensing systemmay or may not turn off the right front passenger’sfrontal air bag, depending upon the person’s seatingposture and body build. Everyone in your vehiclewho has outgrown child restraints should wear a safetybelt properly — whether or not there is an air bagfor that person.

If a person of adult-size is sitting in the right frontpassenger’s seat, but the off indicator is lit, it could bebecause that person isn’t sitting properly in the seat.If this happens, turn the vehicle off and ask the personto place the seatback in the full upright position,then sit upright in the seat, centered on the seat cushion,with the person’s legs comfortably extended. Restartthe vehicle and have the person remain in this positionfor about two minutes. This will allow the system todetect that person and then enable the passenger’sair bag.

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{CAUTION:

If the air bag readiness light in the instrumentpanel cluster ever comes on and stays on, itmeans that something may be wrong with theair bag system. If this ever happens, have the



vehicle serviced promptly, because anadult-size person sitting in the right frontpassenger’s seat may not have the protectionof the frontal air bag. See “Air Bag ReadinessLight” in the Index for more on this, includingimportant safety information.

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2003 GMC Yukon Denali/Yukon XL Denali Owner Manual M · 2003 GMC Yukon Denali/Yukon XL Denali Owner...

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