1994 GMC SIERRA Owners Manual

Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Seat Position
When you secure a child restraint in a center seating position, you’ll be
using the lap belt.
See the earlier section about the top strap if the child restraint has one.
1. Make the belt as
long as possible
by tilting the
latch plate and
pulling it along
the belt.
2. Put the restraint on the seat. Follow the instructions for the child
restraint.
3. Secure the child in the child restraint as the instructions say.
4. Run the vehicle’s safety belt through or around the restraint. The child
restraint instructions will show you how.
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5. Buckle the belt.
Make
sure the
release button
is
positioned so you
would be able to
unbuckle the safety belt
quickly if you
ever had to.
6. To tighten the belt, pull its free end while you push down on the child
restraint.
7. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to b\
e sure it is
secure.
If the child restraint isn't secure, turn the latch plate over and
buckle
it again. Then see if it is secure. If it isn't, secure the restraint in
a different place in the vehicle and contact the child restraint maker for
their advice about how to attach the child restraint properly.
To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle's safety be.lt. It will
be ready
to work for an adult or larger child passenger.
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat
You'll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier section about the top
strap if the child restraint has one.
1. Put the restraint on the seat. Follow the instructions for the child
restraint.
2. Secure the child in the child restraint as the instructions say.
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3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder portions of the
vehicle’s safety belt through or around the restraint.
The child restraint
instructions will show you how.
If the shoulder belt
goes in front of the child’s face or neck, put it
behind the child restraint.
4. Buckle the belt.
Make sure the
release button is
positioned
so you
would be able to
unbuckle the
safety belt
quickly
if you
ever had to.
5. Pull the rest of
the lap belt all the
way out
of the
retractor to set
the lock.
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I
6. To tighten the
belt, feed the lap
belt back into the
retractor while
you push down
on the child
restraint.
7. Push and pull the
child restraint in
different
directions to be
sure
it is secure.
To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle's safety belt and let
it
go back all the way.
The safety belt will move freely again and be ready to work for an adult or
larger child passenger.
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Larger Children
Children who have
outgrown child
restraints should we
the vehicle’s safety
belts. .ar
If you have the choice, a child should sit next
to a window so the child can
wear
a lap-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can
provide.
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained
in the
rear seat. But they need
to use the safety belts properly.
a Children who aren’t buckled up can be thrown out in a crash.
Children who aren’t buckled up can strike other people who are.
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A: Move the child toward the center of the vehicle, but be sure that the
shoulder belt still is
on the child’s shoulder, so that in a crash the
child’s upper body would have the restraint that belts provi\
de.
If the
child is so small that the shoulder belt is still very close to the child’s
face or neck, you might want to place the child
in a seat that has a lap
belt, if
your vehicle has one.
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Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the belt should be worn low and
snug on
the hips, just touching the child’s thighs. This applies belt force to
the child’s pelvic bones
in a crash.
Safety Belt Extender
If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you should\
use it.
But
if a safety belt isn’t long enough to fasten, your dealer will order you an
extender. It’s free. When you go
in to order it, take the heaviest coat you
will wear, so the extender will be long enough for you. The extender will be
just for
you, and just for the seat in your vehicle that you choose. Don’t let
someone else use it, and use it only for
the seat it is made to fit. To wear it,
just attach
it to the regular safety belt.
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Checking Your Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors,
anchorages and reminder systems are working properly.
Look for any loose
parts or damage. If you see anything that might keep a restraint system from
doing its job, have it repaired.
Replacing Safety Belts After a Crash
If you’ve had a crash, do you need new belts?
After
a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary. But if the belts were
stretched,
as they would be if worn during a more severe crash, then you
need new belts.
If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision damage
also may mean
you will need to have safety belt or seat parts repaired or replaced. New
parts and repairs may be necessary even
if the belt wasn’t being used at the
time
of the collision.
Q: What’s wrong with this?
A: The belt is torn.
Torn or frayed belts may not protect you
in a crash. They can rip apart under
impact forces. If a belt is torn
or frayed, get a new one right away.
Before replacing any safety belt, see your dealer for the correct part number.
You’ll need the model year and model number for
your vehicle. The model
year is on your title and registration. And
you can find the model number on
the CertificatiodTire label
of your vehicle. See “CertificatiodTire Label” in
the Index.
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