1997 GMC SAVANA Owners Manual

Wherever you install it, be sure to secure the child
restraint properly.
Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move
around in
a collision or sudden stop and injure people in
the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child
restraint in your vehicle
-- even when no child is in it.
Where to Put the Restraint (Cargo
Vans and Cab and Chassis Models)
The child restraint must be secured properly in the
passenger seat.
If your vehicle has a passenger air bag,
never put a rear-facing child restraint in this vehicle.
Here’s why:
--
A CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured if the 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.
Do not use a rear-facing child restraint in
this vehicle.
If a forward-facing child restraint is suitable for
your child, always move the passenger seat
as far
back as it
will go.
Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move
around in a collision
or sudden stop and injure people
in the vehicle. Be sure
to properly secure any child
restraint in your vehicle
-- even when no child is in it.
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Top Strap
Some child restraints have a top strap. Don’t use
a restraint like that in your vehicle because the top
strap anchor cannot be installed properly.
You
shouldn’t use this type of child restraint without
anchoring the top strap.
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position
You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier part
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.
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.
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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 shoulder belt all the way out of
the retractor to set the lock.
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6. To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder 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.
Securing a Child Restraint in a
Center Seat Position
You'll be using the lap belt.
See the earlier part about the top strap
if the child
restraint has one.
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1.
2.
3.
4.
Make the belt as long as possible by tilting the latch
plate and pulling it along the belt.
Put the restraint on the seat. Follow the instructions
for the child restraint.
Secure the child
in the child restraint as the
instructions say.
Run the vehicle’s safety belt through or around the
restraint. The child restraint instructions will show
you how.
5.
6.
7.
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.
To tighten the belt, pull its free end while you push
down on the child restraint.
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.
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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
If your vehicle has a front passenger air bag, never put a
rear-facing child restraint in this seat. Here’s why:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured if the 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.
If your vehicle is a passenger van, always
secure a rear-facing child restraint in a rear seat.
If your vehicle is a cargo van with a right front
passenger air bag, do not use a rear-facing child
restraint in this vehicle.
If a forward-facing child
restraint is suitable for your child, always move
the passenger seat
as far back as it will go.
I
I
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You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier part
about the top strap if
the child restraint has one.
1.
2.
3.
4.
If 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.)
Put the restraint
on the seat. Follow the instructions
for
the child restraint.
Secure the child in the child restraint as the
instructions say.
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
@eS in front of the child’s face or
neck, put it behind the child restraint.
h
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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6. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of
the retractor to set the lock. 7. To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt back into the
retractor while you push down on the child restraint.
8. 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.
1-48
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