1996 PONTIAC GRAND-AM Owners Manual

7. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure 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 belt. It
will be ready to work for an adult or larger
child passenger.
Securing.a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position
Your vehicle has a right front passenger air bag. Never
put a rear-facing child restraint in this seat. Here's why:
,I I
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured if the right front passenger's air
bag inflates. This
is because the back of a
rear-facing child restraint would
be very close to
the inflating air bag. Always secure a rear-facing
child restraint in the rear seat.
you'll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier part
about the top strap if the child restraint has one.
1. Because your vehicle has a right front passenger air
bag, always move the seat as far back as. it will
go
before securing a forward-facing child restraint. (See
"Seats"
in the Index.)
2. Put the restraint on the seat. Follow the instructions
3. Secure the child in the child restraint as the
for the child restraint,
instructions say.
4. 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.
- A-
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Tilt the latch plate to adjust the belt if needed.
If the shoulder belt goes in front of the child’s face or
neck, put it behind the child restraint.
c
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.
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Larger Children
6. To tighten the belt, pull up on the shoulder belt while
7. Push and pull the child restraint in different
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.
you push down on the child restraint.
directions
to be sure it is secure. 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.
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Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear seat. But they need to use the
safety belts properly.
Children who aren’t buckled up can be thrown out in
Children who aren’t buckled up can strike other
a crash.
people who are.
#
Never do this.
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.
e.’ 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?
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 provide. If the
child is sitting in a rear seat outside position, see
“Rear Safety Belt
Comfort Guides” in the Index.
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 the center seat position,
the one that has only a lap belt.
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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
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
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 lsng 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 t’o fit. To wear it, just attach it
to the regular safety belt.
Checking Your Restraint Sys’tems
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
rin apart under impact forces. If a belt is
torn or frayed, gc . .I 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.)
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 s’evere crash, hen 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,
If your seat adjuster won’t work after a crash, the special
part of the safety belt that goes ‘through the seat to the
adjuster may need to be replaced.
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 siction.
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NOTES
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NOTES
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I. .!
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