1996 GMC SIERRA Owners Manual

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Children who have outgrown child restraints should
wear the vehicle’s safety belts.
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.
0 Children who aren’t buckled up can be thrown out in
a crash.
0 Children who aren’t buckled up can strike other
people
who are.
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I A CAUTION:
Here two children are wearing the same belt. The
belt can’t properly spread the impact forces. In a
crash, the two children can
be crushed together
and seriously injured.
A belt must be used by
only one person at
a time.
Q=
A:
What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt,
but the child is
so small that the shoulder belt is
very close to the child’s face or neck?
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 provide.
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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Never do this.
Here a child is sitting in
a seat that has a
lap-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part is behind
the child.
If the child wears the belt in this way, in
I a crash the child might slide under the belt. The
belt’s force would then be applied right
on the
child’s abdomen. That could cause serious
or
fatal injuries.
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.
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Safety Belt Extender Checking Your Restraint SI ~tems
If the vehicle‘s safety belt will hsten around you, you
should use
it.
But ifa safety belt isn’t long enough to Faten, 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. Now
and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and
anchorages are working properly.
Look ,for any other
loose or damaged safety belt system parts.
If you see
anything that might keep a safety belt system from
doing its job, have
it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety 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.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
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Replacing Restraint System Parts
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 you ever see a label on the right front passenger’s
safety belt in an Extended Cab model that says
to
replace the belt, be sure to do so. Then the new belt will
be there to help protect
you in a collision. You would
see this label on the belt near the door opening.
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.
If an air bag inflates, you’ll need to replace air bag
system parts. See the part
on the air bag system earlier
in this section.
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NOTES
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Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn .about the many standard and
optional features on your vehicle, and information
on
starting, shifting and braking. Also explained are the
instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if
everything is working properly
-- and what to do if you
have a problem.
Keys
Leaving young children in a vehicle with the
ignition key is dangerous for many reasons.
A child or others could- be badly injured or
even killed.
They could operate power windows or other
controls
or even make the vehicle move. Don’t
leave the keys in a vehicle with young children.
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Your vehicle has one
double-sided key for the
ignition and all door locks.
If you ever lose your keys, your dealer will be able to
assist
you with obtaining new ones.
NOTICE:
Your vehicle has a number of new features that
can help prevent theft. But you can have a lot of
.
trouble getting into your vehicle if you ever lock
your key inside. You may even have to damage
your vehicle to get in.
So be sure you have an
extra key.
Tailgate
You can open the tailgate by lifting up on its handle
while
pulling t.he tailgate toward you.
To shut the tailgate, firmly push it away from you into
the latch.
When
you put the tailgate back up, pull it back towara
you, to be sure that it latches securely.
Tailgate Removal
The tailgate on your vehicle can be removed to allow
for different loading situations. Although the tailgate
can be removed without assistance,
you may want
someone to assist you
with the removal to avoid
possible finish damage.
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