1997 NISSAN SENTRA belt

This Supplemental Restraint System sec-
tion contains important information concern-
ing the driver and passenger supplemental
air bags. The Supplemental Restraint Sys-
tem Air Bag can help reduce impact force to
the driver and to the front passenger in
certain frontal collisions. The supplemental
air bags are designed tosupplementthe
crash protection provided by the driver and
front passenger seat belts and arenot a
substitutefor them. The seat belts should
always be correctly worn and the driver and
front passenger seated a suitable distance
from the steering wheel and instrument
panel. (See ``Seat belts'' for instructions and
precautions on seat belt usage.)
NOTE:
For Canada, some vehicles are not equipped
with a Supplemental Air Bag System.
Your vehicle may not have a Driver and
Passenger-side Supplemental Air Bag.
If your vehicle is not equipped with a
Supplemental Air Bag System,it will not
havethe following equipment:
cSupplemental Air Bag Warning Light
(see ``Supplemental air bag warning
light'' later in this section).cDriver Supplemental Air Bag (see
``Meters and gauges'' in the ``Instru-
ments and controls'' section).
cPassenger-side Supplemental Air Bag
(see ``Meters and gauges'' in the ``Instru-
ments and controls'' section).
cSupplemental Restraint System Warn-
ing Labels (see ``Warning labels'' later in
this section).
Every person who drives or rides in this vehicle
should use a seat belt at all times. Children
should be in appropriate child restraints (see
``Seat belts'' and ``Child restraints for infants
and small children'' later in this section).
The supplemental air bags operate only
when the ignition switch is in the ON or
START position.
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM (supplemental air bag
system) (if so equipped)
2-16
ZX

WARNING
cThe supplemental air bags ordinarily
will not inflate in the event of a side
impact, rear impact, roll over, or
lower severity frontal collision. Al-
ways wear your seat belts to help
reduce the risk or severity of injury
in various kinds of accidents.
c
The seat belts and the supplemental
air bags are most effective when you
are sitting back and upright in the
seat. Supplemental air bags inflate
with great force. If you are unre-
strained, leaning forward, sittingsideways or out of position in any
way, you are at greater risk of injury
or death in a crash and may also
receive serious or fatal injuries from
the supplemental air bag if you are up
against it when it inflates. Always sit
back against the seatback and as far
away as practical from the steering
wheel or instrument panel. Always
use the seatbelts.cKeep hands on the outside of the
steering wheel. Placing them inside
the steering wheel rim could increase
the risk that they are injured when the
air bag inflates.
APD0717
2-17
ZX

The driver supplemental air bag is located in
the center of the steering wheel; the front
passenger supplemental air bag is mounted in
the dashboard above the glove box. The
supplemental air bag system is designed to
inflate in higher severity frontal collisions, al-
though it may inflate if the forces in another
type of collision are similar to those of a higher
severity frontal impact. It may not inflate in
certain frontal collisions. Vehicle damage (or
lack of it) is not always an indication of proper
supplemental air bag operation.
When the supplemental air bag inflates, a
fairly loud noise may be heard, followed bythe release of smoke. This smoke is not
harmful and does not indicate a fire, but
care should be taken to not unintentionally
inhale it, as it may cause irritation and
choking. Those with a history of breathing
trouble should get fresh air promptly.
The supplemental air bags, along with the
use of seat belts, help to cushion the impact
force on the face and chest of the occupant.
They can help save lives and reduce seri-
ous injuries. However, an inflating supple-
mental air bag may cause facial abrasions
or other injuries. Supplemental air bags do
not provide restraint to the lower body.
Seat belts should be correctly worn, and the
driver and passenger seated upright as far
as practical away from the steering wheel or
dashboard. Since the supplemental air bag
inflates quickly in order to help protect the
occupant, the force of the supplemental air
bag inflating can increase the risk of injury if
the occupant is too close to or is against the
supplemental air bag module during inflation.
The supplemental air bag deflates quickly
after a collision.
The supplemental air bags operate only
when the ignition switch is in the ON or
START position.
WARNING
c
Do not place any objects on the steer-
ing wheel pad or on the instrument
panel. Also, do not place any objects
between any occupant and the steer-
ing wheel or instrument panel. Such
objects may become dangerous pro-
jectiles and cause injury if the supple-
mental air bag inflates.
cRight after inflation, several supple-
mental air bag system components
will be hot. Do not touch them; you
may severely burn yourself.
APD0644
SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG
SYSTEM (if so equipped)
2-20
ZX

PRECAUTIONS ON SEAT BELT
USAGE
If you are wearing your seat belt properly
adjusted, your chances of being injured or
killed in an accident and/or the severity of
injury may be greatly reduced. NISSAN
strongly encourages you and all of your
passengers to buckle up every time you
drive, even if your seating position includes
a supplemental air bag.
Some states and all Canadian provinces
or territories require that seat belts be
worn at all times when a vehicle is being
driven.
WARNING
cEvery person who drives or rides in
this vehicle should use a seat belt at
all times. Children should be prop-
erly restrained and, if appropriate in
a child restraint.
cThe belt should be properly adjusted
to a snug fit. Failure to do so may
reduce the effectiveness of the en-
tire restraint system and increase
the chances or severity of injury in
an accident. Serious injury or death
can occur if the seat belt is not worn
properly.cAlways route the shoulder belt over
your shoulder and across your
chest. Never run the belt behind your
back, under your arm or across your
neck. The belt should be away from
your face and neck, but not falling
off your shoulder.
cPosition the lap belt as low as pos-
sible AROUND THE HIPS, NOT THE
WAIST. A lap belt worn too high
could increase the risk of internal
injuries in an accident.
cBe sure the seat belt tongue is se-
curely fastened to the proper buckle.
APD0658APD0718APD0533
SEAT BELTS
2-24
ZX

cDo not wear the belt inside out or
twisted. Doing so may reduce its
effectiveness.
cDo not allow more than one person
to use the same belt.
cNever carry more people in the ve-
hicle than there are seat belts.
cIf the seat belt warning lamp glows
continuously while the ignition is
turned ON with all doors closed and
all seat belts fastened, it may indi-
cate a malfunction in the system.
Have the system checked by your
NISSAN dealer.
cAll seat belt assemblies including
retractors and attaching hardware
should be inspected after any colli-
sion at your NISSAN dealer. NISSAN
recommends that all seat belt as-
semblies in use during a collision be
replaced unless the collision was
minor and the belts show no damage
and continue to operate properly.
Seat belt assemblies not in use dur-
ing a collision should also be in-
spected and replaced if either dam-
age or improper operation is noted.
2-25
ZX

CHILD SAFETY
Children need adults to help protect
them.
WARNING
Infants and children need special pro-
tection. The vehicle's seat belts may
not fit them properly. The shoulder belt
may come too close to the face or neck.
The lap belt may not fit over their small
hip bones. In an accident, an improp-
erly fitting seat belt could cause seri-
ous or fatal injury. Always use appro-
priate child restraints.
All U.S. states and provinces of Canada
require the use of approved child restraints
for infants and small children. (See ``Child
Restraints for Infants and Small Children''
later in this section.)
In addition, there are many types of child
restraints available for larger children which
should be used for maximum protection.
Infant or small child
NISSAN recommends that infants or small
children be placed in child restraints thatcomply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards or Canadian Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards. You should choose a
child restraint which fits your vehicle and
always follow the manufacturer's instruc-
tions for installation and use.
Children
Children who are too large for child re-
straints should be seated and restrained by
the seat belts which are provided.
NISSAN recommends that children sit in the
rear seat if possible. According to accident
statistics, children are safer when properly
restrained in the rear seat than in the front
seat.
If the child's seating position has a shoulder
belt that fits close to the face or neck, the use
of a booster seat (commercially available)
may help overcome this. The booster seat
should raise the child so that the shoulder
belt is properly positioned across the top,
middle portion of the shoulder and the lap
belt is low on the hips. The booster seat
should fit the vehicle seat and have a label
certifying that it complies with Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards or Canadian Mo-
tor Vehicle Safety Standards. Once the childhas grown enough so the shoulder belt is no
longer on or near the face and neck, use the
shoulder belt without the booster seat.
WARNING
Never let a child stand or kneel on any
seat and do not allow a child in the
cargo areas while the vehicle is mov-
ing. The child could be seriously in-
jured or killed in an accident.
Pregnant women
NISSAN recommends that pregnant women
use seat belts. Contact your doctor for spe-
cific recommendations. The lap belt should
be worn snug and positioned as low as
possible around the hips, not the waist.
Injured persons
NISSAN recommends that injured persons
use seat belts. Check with your doctor for
specific recommendations.
2-26
ZX

3-POINT TYPE WITH RETRACTOR
WARNING
cEvery person who drives or rides in
this vehicle should wear a seat belt
at all times.
cDo not ride in a moving vehicle when
the seatback is reclined. This can be
dangerous. The shoulder belt will
not be against your body. In an acci-
dent, you could be thrown into it and
receive neck or other serious inju-ries. You could also slide under the
lap belt and receive serious internal
injuries.
cFor the most effective protection
when the vehicle is in motion, the
seat should be upright. Always sit
well back in the seat and adjust the
seat belt properly.
Fastening the belts
1. Adjust the seat.
2. Slowly pull the seat belt out of the retrac-
tor and insert the tongue into the buckle
until it snaps.
The retractor is designed to lock during
a sudden stop or on impact. A slow
pulling motion permits the belt to move,
and allows you some freedom of move-
ment in the seat.
3. Position the lap belt portionlow on the
hipsas shown.
4. Pull the shoulder belt portion toward the
retractor to take up extra slack.The front seat passenger side seat belt and
rear 3-point seat belts have a cinching
mechanism for child seat installation. It is
referred to as the automatic locking mode.
When the cinching mechanism is activated
the seat belt cannot be withdrawn again
until the seat belt tongue is detached from
the buckle and fully retracted. Refer to
``Child Restraints for Infants and Small
Children'' later in this section for more infor-
mation.APD0500PD1024M
2-27
ZX

The automatic locking mode should be
used only for child seat installation. Dur-
ing normal seat belt use by a passenger,
the locking mode should not be acti-
vated. If it is activated it may cause
uncomfortable seat belt tension.
Unfastening the belts
To unfasten the belt, press the button on the
buckle. The seat belt automatically retracts.
Shoulder belt height adjustment
(for front seats)
The shoulder belt anchor height should be
adjusted to the position best for you. (See
``Precautions on Seat Belt Usage''.) To ad-
just, press both release buttons and move it
to the desired position so the belt passes
over the center of the shoulder. The belt
should be away from your face and neck,
but not falling off of your shoulder.
WARNING
After adjustment, release the button
and check that it does not move up and
down to make sure the shoulder belt
anchor is securely fixed in position.
Checking seat belt operation
(3-point type with retractor)
Your seat belt retractors are designed to
lock belt movement by two separate meth-
ods:
1) When the belt is pulled quickly from the
retractor.
2) When the vehicle slows down rapidly.
To increase your confidence in the belts,
check the operation as follows:
cGrasp the shoulder belt and pull forward
quickly. The retractor should lock and
restrict further belt movement.
If the retractor does not lock during this
check or if you have any question about belt
operation, see your NISSAN dealer.
PD1023MAPD0617
2-28
ZX