2001 GMC SONOMA ECU

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There is limited space in the rear seating area of a crew
cab pickup model. If you want to secure a child restraint
in a rear outside seating position of a crew cab model, be
sure to study the instructions that came with your child
restraint to see if there is enough room to secure your
seat properly. Don't secure a child restraint in the
center rear seating position, because the restraints won't
work properly.
If a forward
-facing child seat must be secured in the
vehicle's right front seat, the seat should be moved back
as far as possible. However, it is better to secure the
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.
Top Strap
Some child restraints have a top strap, or ªtop tether.º
It can help restrain the child restraint during a collision.
For it to work, a top strap must be properly anchored to
the vehicle.
If the child restraint does not have a top strap, one
can be obtained, in kit form, for many child restraints.
Ask the child restraint manufacturer whether or not a kit
is available.

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In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child
restraints have a top strap, and that the strap be
anchored. In the United States, some child restraints also
have a top strap. If your child restraint has a top strap, it
should be anchored.
Anchor the top strap to this bracket (regular or extended
cab). Once you have the top strap anchored, you'll be
ready to secure the child restraint.
The three anchor points for the rear seat child restraint
positions in the Crew Cab are located on the back wall
behind the rear passenger's seat.
Anchor the top strap to one of these anchor points.
Be sure to use an anchor point located on the same side
of the vehicle as the seating position where the child
restraint will be placed.

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When using a top strap-equipped child restraint in a rear
outboard seating position of a crew cab model, route the
top strap through the opening in the head restraint. Then,
attach it to the anchor point for that seating position.
Once you have the top strap anchored, you'll be ready to
secure the child restraint itself. Tighten the top strap
when and as the child restraint manufacturer's
instructions say.
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position (Crew Cab Models)
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.
If the shoulder belt goes in front of the child's face or
neck, put it behind the child restraint.

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5. To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt back into the
retractor while you push down on the child restraint. If
you're using a forward
-facing child restraint, you may
find it helpful to use your knee to push down on the
child restraint as you tighten the belt.
6. 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 the Center
Front Seat Position (Regular Cab &
Extended Cab Models) and in the Center
Rear Seat Position (Crew Cab Models)
Don't use child restraints in these positions.
The restraints won't work properly.

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Jump Seats (Extended Cab)
Don't use child restraints in these positions.
The restraints won't work properly.
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position
Your vehicle has a passenger air bag. If your vehicle is a
regular cab pickup or an extended cab pickup, there's a
switch on the instrument panel that you can use to turn
off the right front passenger's air bag when you want
to secure a rear
-facing child restraint at the right front
passenger's position. See ªAir Bag Off Switchº in
the Index for more on this, including important
safety information.

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Unless your vehicle has the air bag off switch and the
passenger's air bag has been turned off, never put a
rear
-facing child restraint in the right front passenger's
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. This is because the
back of the rear
-facing child restraint would be
very close to the inflating air bag. If your vehicle
is a crew cab, do not use a rear
-facing child
restraint in the right front passenger's position.
If your vehicle is a regular cab pickup or an
extended cab pickup, be sure to turn off the air
bag before using a rear
-facing child restraint in
the right front seat position.
If a forward-facing child restraint is suitable for
your child, always move the passenger seat as far
back as it will go.
Although a rear seat is a safer place, you can secure a
forward
-facing child restraint in the right front seat of a
crew cab.

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CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light ever comes on when
you have turned off the air bag, it means that
something may be wrong with the air bag system.
The right front passenger's air bag could inflate
even though the switch is off. If this ever
happens, don't let anyone whom the national
government has identified as a member of a
passenger air bag risk group sit in the right front
passenger's position (for example, don't secure a
rear
-facing child restraint in your vehicle) until
you have your vehicle serviced. See ªAir Bag Off
Switchº in the Index.
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. Your vehicle has a right front passenger's air bag.
If your vehicle is a regular cab pickup or an extended
cab pickup and you are using a rear
-facing child
restraint in this seat, make sure the air bag is turned
off. See ªAir Bag Off Switchº in the Index. On all
models, if your child restraint is forward
-facing,
always move the seat as far back as it will go before
securing it in this seat. See ªSeatsº in the Index.
2. Put the restraint on the seat.
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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6. To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt back into the
retractor while you push down on the child restraint.
If you're using a forward
-facing child restraint, you
may find it helpful to use your knee to push down on
the child restraint as you tighten the belt.
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.
If you were using a rear
-facing child restraint in a
regular cab model or extended cab model, turn on the
right front passenger's air bag when you remove the
rear
-facing child restraint from the vehicle unless the
person who will be sitting there is a member of a
passenger air bag risk group. See ªAir Bag Off Switchº
in the Index.
CAUTION:
If the right front passenger's air bag is turned off
for a person who isn't in a risk group identified
by the national government, that person won't
have the extra protection of an air bag. In a
crash, the air bag wouldn't be able to inflate and
help protect the person sitting there. Don't turn
off the passenger's air bag unless the person
sitting there is in a risk group. See ªAir Bag Off
Switchº in the Index for more on this, including
important safety information.