1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO belt

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 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.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 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
for the child restraint.
3. Secure the child in the child restraint as the
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.
If the shoulder belt goes in front of the child’s face or
neck, put
it behind the child restraint.
a
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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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 6. Pull the rest of the lap belt all the way out of the
retractor to set the lock. 7. To tighten the belt, feed the lap belt back into the
8. 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. retractor
while you push down
on the child restraint.
directions to be sure it is secure.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Larger Children
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.
Children who aren’t buckled up can be thrown out in
0 Children who aren’t buckled up can strike other
a
crash.
people who are.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I- 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.
&.” 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 a seat that has
a lap belt,
if your vehicle has one.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and
anchorages are working properly. If your vehicle has a
built-in child restraint, also periodically make sure the
harness straps, latch plates, buckle, clip, retractors and
anchorages are working properly.
Look for any other
loose or damaged safety belt and built-in child restraint
system parts. If
you see anything that might keep a
safety belt or built-in child restraint 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.
If your vehicle has the built-in child restraint, torn or
frayed harness straps can rip apart under impact forces
just like torn or frayed safety belts can. They may
not
protect a child in a crash. If a harness strap is torn or
frayed, get a new harness 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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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash
If you’ve had a crash, do you need new safety belts or
built-in child restraint parts?
After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary.
But if the safety belts
or built-in child restraint harness
straps were stretched, as they would be if worn during a
more severe crash, then you need new safety belts
or
harness straps. If
you ever see a label
on a right front safety belt 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 latch plate.
If safety belts or built-in child restraint harness straps
are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision damage also
may mean
you will need to have safety belt, built-in
child restraint or seat parts repaired or replaced. New
parts and repairs may be necessary even
if the safety belt
or built-in child restraint 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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