1998 GMC SIERRA belt

3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Don‘t
let
it get twisted.
Pull
up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.
If the belt isn’t long enough, see “Safety Belt
Extender”
at the end of this section.
Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned
so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly
if you ever had to.
The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on
the hips, .just touching the thighs.
In a crash, this applies
force
to the strong pelvic bones. And you’d be less likely
to slide under the lap belt.
If you slid under it, the belt
would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause
serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go
over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts
of the
body are best able
to take belt restraining forces.
The safety belt locks
if there’s a sudden stop or a crash.
1-15
ProCarManuals.com

Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster
Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt
adjuster to the height that
is right for you.
To move it down, push in at the word PRESS and move
the height adjuster
to the desired position. You can move
the adjuster
up just by pushing up on the shoulder belt
guide. After you move the adjuster to where you want
it,
try to move it down without pushing in to make sure it
has locked into position.
Adjust the height
so that the shoulder portion of the
belt is centered
on your shoulder. The belt should be
away from your face and neck, but
not falling off
your shoulder.
1-16
ProCarManuals.com

@ What’s wrong with this?
A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It won’t give nearly
as much protection this way.
You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is
too loose. In a crash, you would move forward
too much, which could increase injury.
The
shoulder belt should fit against your body.
1-17
ProCarManuals.com

What's wrong with this?
A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place.
A CAUTION':
You can be seriously injured if your belt is
buckled in the wrong place like this.
In a crash,
the belt would go
up over your abdomen. The
belt forces would be there, not at the pelvic
bones. This could cause serious internal injuries.
Always buckle your belt into the buckle
nearest you.
1-1s
ProCarManuals.com

&: What’s wrong with this?
n
A: The belt is over an armrest.
A WTION:
P-
You can be seriously injured if your belt goes
over an armrest like this. The belt would be much
too high. In a crash, you can slide under the belt.
The belt force would then be applied at the
abdomen, not at the pelvic bones, and that could
cause serious or fatal injuries. Be sure the belt
goes under the armrests.
1-19
ProCarManuals.com

2; What’s wrong with this?
I
A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should
be
worn over the shoulder at all times.
I --
You can be seriously injured if you wear the
shoulder belt under
your arm. In a crash, your
body would move too far forward, which would
increase the chance of head and neck injury.
Also, the belt would apply too much force
to the
ribs, which aren’t
as strong as shoulder bones.
You could also severely injure internal organs
like your liver or spleen.
1-20
ProCarManuals.com

Q." What's wrong with this?
A: The belt is twisted across the body.
You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt. In
a crash, you wouldn't have the full width of the
belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is twisted,
make it straight
so it can work properly, or ask
your dealer to
fix it.
1-21
ProCarManuals.com

To unlatch the beIt, just push the button on the buckle.
The belt should go back out of the way.
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant
women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be
seriously injured if they don't wear safety belts.
Before you close the door, be sure the belt is out of the
way. I€ YOU slaurr the door an it, you can damage both the
belt and your vehicle.
A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and
the lap portion should
be worn as low as possible, below
the rounding, throughout the pregnancy.
1-22
ProCarManuals.com