Chevrolet 2009 TrailBlazer User manual

Seats and Restraint System ............................. 1-1
Front Seats ............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats .............................................. 1-11
Safety Belts ............................................. 1-13
Child Restraints ....................................... 1-32
Airbag System ......................................... 1-55
Restraint System Check ............................ 1-70
Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1
Keys ........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks ....................................... 2-7
Windows ................................................. 2-14
Theft-Deterrent Systems ............................ 2-17
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ........... 2-21
Mirrors .................................................... 2-40
OnStar
®
System ...................................... 2-45
Universal Home Remote System ................ 2-48
Storage Areas ......................................... 2-53
Sunroof .................................................. 2-57
Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview .......................... 3-4
Climate Controls ...................................... 3-20
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators ........ 3-28
Driver Information Center (DIC) .................. 3-47
Audio System(s) ....................................... 3-62
Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle ....... 4-2
Towing ................................................... 4-40
Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1
Service ..................................................... 5-3
Fuel ......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood ............... 5-10
All-Wheel Drive ........................................ 5-48
Rear Axle ............................................... 5-49
Four-Wheel Drive ..................................... 5-50
Front Axle ............................................... 5-51
Headlamp Aiming ..................................... 5-52
Bulb Replacement .................................... 5-52
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-55
Tires ...................................................... 5-58
Appearance Care ................................... 5-109
Vehicle Identification ............................... 5-117
Electrical System .................................... 5-118
Capacities and Specifications ................... 5-125
Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule ................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information .................... 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information ........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects ........................... 7-15
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy ........... 7-17
Index ................................................................ 1
2009 Chevrolet TrailBlazer Owner Manual M

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
CHEVROLET, the CHEVROLET Emblem, and the
name TRAILBLAZER are registered trademarks
of General Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time it
was printed. GM reserves the right to make changes after
that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in
Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada
Limited” for Chevrolet Motor Division wherever it appears
in this manual.
This manual describes features that may or may not be
on your specific vehicle.
Read this manual from beginning to end to learn about
the vehicle’s features and controls. Pictures, symbols,
and words work together to explain vehicle operation.
Keep this manual in the vehicle for quick reference.
Canadian Owners
A French language copy of this manual can be obtained
from your dealer/retailer or from:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
1-800-551-4123
helminc.com
Propriétaires Canadiens
On peut obtenir un exemplaire de ce guide en français
auprès de concessionnaire ou à l’adresse suivante:
Helm Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
1-800-551-4123
helminc.com
Index
To quickly locate information about the vehicle use the
Index in the back of the manual. It is an alphabetical
list of what is in the manual and the page number where
it can be found.
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 25820780 A First Printing
©
2008 General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
ii

Safety Warnings and Symbols
A circle with a slash
through it is a safety
symbol which means
“Do Not,” “Do not do this” or
“Do not let this happen.”
A box with the word CAUTION is used to tell about
things that could hurt you or others if you were to ignore
the warning.
{CAUTION:
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.
Cautions tell what the hazard is and what to do to avoid
or reduce the hazard. Read these cautions.
A notice tells about something that can damage the
vehicle.
Notice: These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
Many times, this damage would not be covered by the
vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. The notice
tells what to do to help avoid the damage.
There are also warning labels on the vehicle which use
the same words, CAUTION or Notice.
iii

Vehicle Symbols
The vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along
with the text describing the operation or information
relating to a specific component, control, message,
gage, or indicator.
M:This symbol is shown when you need to see your
owner manual for additional instructions or information.
*:This symbol is shown when you need to see a
service manual for additional instructions or information.
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols that may be found on
the vehicle and what they mean. For more information
on the symbol, refer to the index.
0:Adjustable Pedals
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
g:Audio Steering Wheel Controls or OnStar
®
$:Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B:Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.:Fuel Gage
+:Fuses
i:Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
j:LATCH System Child Restraints
*:Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
F:Traction Control
M:Windshield Washer Fluid
iv

Front Seats ......................................................1-2
Manual Seats ................................................1-2
Power Seats ..................................................1-3
Manual Lumbar ..............................................1-3
Power Lumbar ...............................................1-4
Heated Seats .................................................1-4
Memory Seat .................................................1-5
Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-7
Head Restraints ............................................1-10
Rear Seats .....................................................1-11
Rear Seat Operation .....................................1-11
Safety Belts ...................................................1-13
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................1-13
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-18
Lap-Shoulder Belt .........................................1-27
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-31
Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-32
Child Restraints .............................................1-32
Older Children ..............................................1-32
Infants and Young Children ............................1-35
Child Restraint Systems .................................1-39
Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-42
Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH) ......................................1-43
Securing a Child Restraint in a
Rear Outside Seat Position .........................1-49
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Center Rear Seat Position ..........................1-51
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position ............................1-52
Airbag System ...............................................1-55
Where Are the Airbags? ................................1-58
When Should an Airbag Inflate? .....................1-60
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? .......................1-61
How Does an Airbag Restrain? .......................1-61
What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? .....1-62
Passenger Sensing System ............................1-63
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...........1-68
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle .............................1-68
Restraint System Check ..................................1-70
Checking the Restraint Systems ......................1-70
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash ............................................1-71
Section 1 Seats and Restraint System
1-1

Front Seats
Manual Seats
{CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is
moving. The sudden movement could startle and
confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you
do not want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when
the vehicle is not moving.
If the vehicle has a manual seat, it can be moved
forward or rearward. 1. Lift the bar to unlock
the seat.
2. Slide the seat to the
desired position and
release the bar.
Try to move the seat with your body to be sure the seat
is locked in place.
1-2

Power Seats
On vehicles with power
seats, the controls used to
operate them are located
on the outboard side of
the seats.
To adjust the seat:
•Move the seat forward or rearward using the
horizontal control.
•Raise or lower the front of the seat cushion using
the front of the horizontal control.
•Raise or lower the rear of the seat cushion using
the rear of the horizontal control.
•Raise or lower the entire seat using the entire
horizontal control.
For seats with power reclining seatbacks, see “Power
Reclining Seatbacks” under Reclining Seatbacks
on page 1-7.
Manual Lumbar
On vehicles with this
feature, the knob is
located on the outboard
side of the driver seat.
Turn the knob to increase or decrease lumbar support.
1-3

Power Lumbar
On vehicles with power
lumbar, the control is
located on the outboard
side of the seat.
To increase or decrease support, hold the control
forward or rearward.
Heated Seats
Your vehicle may have
heated front seats. The
buttons used to control this
feature are located on the
front door armrests. The
engine must be running
for the heated seat feature
to work.
To heat the entire seat, press the horizontal button with
the heated seat and seatback symbol. Press the button to
cycle through the temperature settings of high, medium,
and low and to turn the heated seat off. The indicator
lights above the button will come on to designate the
level of heat selected: three for high, two for medium,
and one for low. The low setting warms the seatback and
seat cushion until the seat temperature is near body
temperature. The medium and high settings heat the
seatback and seat cushion to a slightly higher
temperature. You will be able to feel heat in about
two minutes.
1-4

To heat only the seatback, press the vertical button with
the heated seatback symbol. An indicator light on the
button will come on to designate that only the seatback
is being heated. Additional presses will cycle through
the heat levels for the seatback only.
The feature will shut off automatically when the ignition
is turned off.
Memory Seat
If your vehicle has this
feature, the controls for
the memory function
are located on the
driver door.
These buttons are used to program and recall memory
settings for the driver’s seating position and the
adjustable pedals, if equipped. The settings for these
features can be saved for up to two drivers.
To store the memory settings:
1. Adjust the driver’s seat, including the seatback
recliner and lumbar and the adjustable pedals, if
equipped, to the desired position.
See Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal on
page 2-24 for more information.
2. Press and hold the 1 or 2 button of the memory
control for three seconds. A double chime will sound
to let you know that the position has been stored.
To repeat the procedure for a second driver, follow the
preceding steps, but press the other numbered memory
control button.
To recall the memory settings, do one of the following:
•Press and release button 1 or 2 while the vehicle
is in (P) Park. A single chime will sound and the
memory position will be recalled.
•If programmed to do so through the Driver
Information Center (DIC), pressing the unlock button
on the remote keyless entry transmitter will recall
the preset driver’s memory seat and adjustable
pedals position. The numbers on the back of the
transmitters, 1 or 2, correspond to the numbers
on the memory controls.
•If programmed to do so through the DIC, placing
the key in the ignition will recall the driver’s
memory seat and adjustable pedals positions.
1-5

See “Seat Recall” under DIC Vehicle Customization on
page 3-56 for more information.
To stop recall movement of the memory seat feature at
any time, press one of the memory buttons or power
seat controls.
Easy Exit Seat
The control for the easy exit seat function is located on
the driver’s door below the memory buttons 1 and 2.
The easy exit seat button is used to program and recall
the desired driver’s seat position when exiting or entering
the vehicle. The power lumbar, recline, and adjustable
pedals, if equipped, positions will not be stored or
recalled when using the easy exit seat function.
The seat position can be saved for up to two drivers.
To store the easy exit seat position:
1. Press and release the 1 or 2 button of the memory
control for less than three seconds. The seat will
move to the stored memory position.
2. Adjust the seat to the desired exit position.
3. Press and hold the easy exit seat button for more
than three seconds. A double chime will sound to
let you know that the position has been stored
for the selected button 1 or 2.
To repeat the procedure for a second driver, follow
the preceding steps, but press the other numbered
memory control button.
To recall the easy exit seat position:
•Press the easy exit seat button on the memory
control while the vehicle is in (P) Park. The seat
will move to the stored exit position.
•Or, if the easy exit seat feature is activated in the
Driver Information Center (DIC), removing the key
from the ignition will move the seat to the exit
position. See “Easy Exit Seat” under DIC Vehicle
Customization on page 3-56 for more information
on activating this feature in the DIC.
If an easy exit seat position has not been stored, the
default position is all the way rearward.
1-6

Reclining Seatbacks
Manual Reclining Seatbacks
{CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is
moving. The sudden movement could startle and
confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you
do not want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when
the vehicle is not moving.
{CAUTION:
If either seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
push and pull on the seatbacks to be sure they
are locked.
If the seats have manual reclining seatbacks, the lever
used to operate them is located on the outboard
side of the seat(s).
To recline the seatback, do the following:
1. Lift the recline lever.
2. Move the seatback to the desired position, then
release the lever to lock the seatback in place.
3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is
locked.
1-7

To return the seatback to an upright position, do the
following:
1. Lift the lever fully without applying pressure to the
seatback and the seatback will return to the upright
position.
2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is
locked.
Power Reclining Seatbacks
If your seats have power
reclining seatbacks, use
the vertical power seat
control located on the
outboard side of the
seat(s).
•To recline the seatback, press the control toward the
rear of the vehicle.
•To raise the seatback, press the control toward the
front of the vehicle.
1-8

{CAUTION:
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is
in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle
up, your safety belts cannot do their job when you
are reclined like this.
The shoulder belt cannot do its job. In a crash,
you could go into it, receiving neck or other
injuries.
The lap belt cannot do its job either. In a crash the
belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt
forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones.
This could cause serious internal injuries.
For proper protection when the vehicle is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well
back in the seat and wear your safety belt
properly.
Do not have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is
moving.
1-9

Head Restraints
Adjust the head restraint so that the top of the restraint
is at the same height as the top of the occupant’s
head. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury
in a crash.
Pull the head restraint up
to raise it.
To lower the head restraint, press the button, located
on the top of the seatback, and push the head
restraint down.
1-10

Rear Seats
Rear Seat Operation
Your vehicle has flip and fold second row seats which
provide additional cargo space.
To flip and fold the seat(s), do the following:
1. Pull up on the loop located where the seat cushion
meets the seatback and flip the seat cushion
forward.
Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts
still fastened may cause damage to the seat or
the safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts
and return them to their normal stowed position
before folding a rear seat.
2. Lift the lever, located
on the outboard side
of the seatback,
and fold the seatback
forward.
The head restraint will automatically fold out of the
way as the seatback is folded down.
1-11

To return the seat(s) to the original position, do the
following:
{CAUTION:
If either seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
push and pull on the seatbacks to be sure they
are locked.
1. Lift the seatback until it locks into the upright
position. Push and pull on the seatback to
make sure it is locked. 2. Return the head restraints to the upright position by
reaching behind the seat and pulling it forward until
it locks into place. Push and pull on the head
restraint to make sure that it is locked.
3. Flip the seat cushion back into place.
1-12

Safety Belts
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone
This section of the manual describes how to use
safety belts properly. It also describes some things not
to do with safety belts.
{CAUTION:
Do not let anyone ride where a safety belt cannot
be worn properly. In a crash, if you or your
passenger(s) are not wearing safety belts, the
injuries can be much worse. You can hit things
inside the vehicle harder or be ejected from the
vehicle. You and your passenger(s) can be
seriously injured or killed. In the same crash, you
might not be, if you are buckled up. Always fasten
your safety belt, and check that your passenger(s)
are restrained properly too.
{CAUTION:
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people
riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously
injured or killed. Do not allow people to ride in any
area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats
and safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is
in a seat and using a safety belt properly.
This vehicle has indicators as a reminder to buckle the
safety belts. See Safety Belt Reminders on page 3-31
for additional information.
1-13

In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law
requires wearing safety belts. Here is why:
You never know if you will be in a crash. If you do have
a crash, you do not know if it will be a serious one.
A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be
so serious that even buckled up, a person would not
survive. But most crashes are in between. In many
of them, people who buckle up can survive and
sometimes walk away. Without safety belts, they
could have been badly hurt or killed.
After more than 40 years of safety belts in vehicles,
the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does
matter... a lot!
Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as
it goes.
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it is just a seat on
wheels.
1-14

Put someone on it. Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider
does not stop.
1-15

The person keeps going until stopped by something. In
a real vehicle, it could be the windshield... or the instrument panel...
1-16