2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM Owners Manual

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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 one of the following 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.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.
Your vehicle has top strap anchors already installed for
the rear seating positions. You'll find them behind the
rear seat on the filler panel.

1-44 Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)
Your vehicle has the LATCH system. You'll find
anchors (A) in the rear outside seat positions.
To assist you in locating the lower anchors for this child
restraint system, each seating position with the LATCH
system will have a label sewn to the seatback at each
anchor position.
The labels are located near
the base of the two rear
outside seating positions.
In order to use the system, you need either a
forward
-facing child restraint that has attaching
points (B) at its base and a top tether anchor (C), or a
rear
-facing child restraint that has attaching points (B),
as shown here.

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With this system, use the LATCH system instead of the
vehicle's safety belts to secure a child restraint.
CAUTION:
If a LATCH-type child restraint isn't attached to
its anchorage points, the restraint won't be able
to protect a child sitting there. In a crash, the
child could be seriously injured or killed. Make
sure that a LATCH
-type child restraint is
properly installed using the anchorage points,
or use the vehicle's safety belts to secure the
restraint. See ªSecuring a Child Restraint in a
Rear Outside Seat Positionº in the Index for
information on how to secure a child restraint in
your vehicle using the vehicle's safety belts.

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Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System
1. Find the anchors for the seating position you want to
use, where the bottom of the seatback meets the back
of the seat cushion.
2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
3. Attach the anchor points on the child restraint to the
anchors in the vehicle. The child restraint
instructions will show you how.
4. If the child restraint is forward
-facing, attach the top
strap to the top strap anchor. See ªTop Strapº in the
Index. Tighten the top strap according to the child
restraint instructions.
5. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
To remove the child restraint, simply unhook the top
strap from the top tether anchor and then disconnect
the anchor points.
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position
If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH
system, see ªLower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH)º 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. 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.

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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.3. 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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4. To tighten the belt, pull up on the shoulder belt 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.
5. 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.

1-49 Securing a Child Restraint in the Center
Rear Seat Position
You'll be using the lap belt. 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.
See the earlier part about the top strap if the child
restraint has one.
1. Make the belt as long as possible by tilting the latch
plate and pulling it along the belt.
2. Put the restraint on the seat.
3. Run the vehicle's safety belt through or around the
restraint. The child restraint instructions will show
you how.

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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. To tighten the belt, pull its free end 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. It will be ready to work for an adult or larger
child passenger.