1999 PONTIAC FIREBIRD Owners Manual

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Child Restraints
Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles,
they should have protection provided by
appropriate restraints.
Q:What are the different types of add-on
child restraints?
A:Add-on child restraints are available in four basic
types. When selecting a child restraint, take into
consideration not only the child's weight and size,
but also whether or not the restraint will be
compatible with the motor vehicle in which it
will be used.
An infant car bed (A) is a special bed made for use
in a motor vehicle. It's an infant restraint system
designed to restrain or position a child on a
continuous flat surface. With an infant car bed,
make sure that the infant's head rests toward the
center of the vehicle.

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A rear-facing infant restraint (B) positions an infant
to face the rear of the vehicle. Rear
-facing infant
restraints are designed for infants of up to about
20 lbs. (9 kg) and about one year of age. This type
of restraint faces the rear so that the infant's head,
neck and body can have the support they need in
a frontal crash. Some infant seats come in two
parts
-- the base stays secured in the vehicle and
the seat part is removable.

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A forward-facing child restraint (C-E) positions a
child upright to face forward in the vehicle. These
forward
-facing restraints are designed to help
protect children who are from 20 to 40 lbs. (9 to
18 kg) and about 26 to 40 inches (66 to 102 cm) in
height, or up to around four years of age. One type,
a convertible restraint, is designed to be used either
as a rear
-facing infant seat or a forward-facing
child seat.

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A booster seat (F, G) is designed for children who
are about 40 to 60 lbs., or even up to 80 lbs. (18 to
27 kg, or even up to 36 kg), and about four to eight
years of age. A booster seat is designed to improve
the fit of the vehicle's safety belt system. Booster
seats with shields use lap
-only belts; however,
booster seats without shields use lap
-shoulder belts.
Booster seats can also help a child to see out
the window.

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When choosing a child restraint, be sure the child
restraint is designed to be used in a vehicle. If it is, it
will have a label saying that it meets Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards.
Then follow the instructions for the restraint. You may
find these instructions on the restraint itself or in a
booklet, or both. These restraints use the belt system in
your vehicle, but the child also has to be secured within
the restraint to help reduce the chance of personal injury.
The instructions that come with the infant or child
restraint will show you how to do that. Both the owner's
manual and the child restraint instructions are important,
so if either one of these is not available, obtain a
replacement copy from the manufacturer.
Where to Put the Restraint
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. We at
General Motors therefore recommend that you put your
child restraint in the rear seat. Never put a rear
-facing
child restraint in the front passenger seat. Here's why:
CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger's air bag inflates, even though your
vehicle has Next Generation frontal air bags.
This is because the back of the rear
-facing child
restraint would be very close to the inflating air
bag. Always secure a rear
-facing child restraint
in a rear seat.
You may secure a forward-facing child restraint
in the right front seat, but before you do, always
move the front passenger seat as far back as it
will go. It's better to secure the child restraint in
a rear seat.
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.

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1-40 Top Strap
If your child restraint has a top strap, it should
be anchored.
Vehicles First Sold in the United States:
Was your vehicle first sold in the United States? If so,
the label on the rear edge of the driver's door will say
that the vehicle meets ªall U.S. safety standards.º If your vehicle was first sold in the United States, don't
use a top strap child restraint in a convertible, because
the anchor can't be installed properly.
If your vehicle is not a convertible, ask your dealer to
install the top strap anchor, using a special kit the dealer
can obtain that has the correct anchor hardware and
installation instructions for vehicles built for sale in the
United States. The hardware, and the cost of installation
is free. You can install the anchor yourself, using the
instructions provided in the kit, but:
CAUTION:
The place where the anchor has to go is quite
close to your fuel tank. If the anchor isn't
installed correctly, it can make a hole in the
fuel tank
-- either then, or in a later collision.
Gasoline could leak out and be ignited, and
people in the vehicle or outside it could be badly
burned. Don't install the anchor yourself unless
you know you can do it correctly.

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Vehicles First Sold in Canada:
If your vehicle was first sold in Canada, the label on the
rear edge of the driver's door will say that the vehicle
meets ªall Canada safety standards.º Canadian law
requires that forward
-facing child restraints have a top
strap, and that the strap be anchored. Cars first sold in
Canada are built to accept a top strap anchor, unless the
vehicle is a convertible. Don't use a top strap child
restraint in a convertible, because the anchor can't be
installed properly.
If your vehicle is not a convertible, ask your dealer to
install the top strap anchor, using a special kit the dealer
can obtain that has the correct anchor hardware and
installation instructions. The hardware, and the cost of
installation, is free. You can install the anchor yourself,
using the instructions provided in the kit, but:
CAUTION:
The place where the anchor has to go is quite
close to your fuel tank. If the anchor isn't
installed correctly, it can make a hole in the fuel
tank
-- either then, or in a later collision.
Gasoline could leak out and be ignited, and
people in the vehicle or outside it could be badly
burned. Don't install the anchor yourself unless
you know you can do it correctly.
Canadian law requires that child restraints have a top
strap, and that the strap be anchored.
If your child restraint has a top strap, your dealer
can obtain a kit with anchor hardware and installation
instructions specifically designed for this vehicle. The
dealer can then install the anchor for you. This work will
be done for you free of charge. Or, you may install the
anchor yourself using the instructions provided in the kit.

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1-42 Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Seat Position
You'll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier
part about the top strap if the child restraint has one.
Be sure to follow the instructions that came with the
child restraint. Secure the child in the child restraint
when and as the instructions say.
1. Put the restraint on the seat.
2. 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.
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.