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There is a 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 tetherº. It
can help restrain the child restraint during a collision.
For it to work, a top strap must be properly anchored to
the vehicle. Some top strap-equipped child restraints
are designed for use with or without the top strap being
anchored. Others require the top strap always to be
anchored. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for
your child restraint. If yours requires that the top strap
be anchored, don't use the restraint unless it is anchored
properly.
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 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. If you have an
adjustable head restraint, route the top strap under it.
When using a top strap-equipped child restraint in a rear
outboard seating position of a crew cab model, route
the top strap over the top of the seatback. 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.
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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 the child correctly. 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
Designed for the LATCH Systemº, ªSecuring a
Child Restraint in a Rear Outside Seat
Positionº or ªSecuring a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Positionº in the Index for
information on how to secure a child restraint
in your vehicle.
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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
Top Strap on
page 1-41. 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
Crew Cabž
If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH system,
seeLower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children
(LATCH System) on page 1-44.
You'll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See
Top Strap on
page 1-41if 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.
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Page 54 of 432
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 ®nd 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.
Extended Cab (Jump Seat)
Don't use child restraints in these positions. The
restraints won't work properly.
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Page 55 of 432
Securing a Child Restraint in a
Center Seat Position
Don't use child restraints in these positions. The
restraints won't work properly.
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position
If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH
system, seeLower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) on page 1-44.
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
Air Bag Off
Switch on page 1-61for more on this, including
important safety information.
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Page 57 of 432

CAUTION: (Continued)
some unusual circumstance, even though it is
turned off. General Motors therefore
recommends that rear-facing child restraints
be transported in vehicles with a rear seat that
will accommodate a rear-facing child restraint,
whenever possible.
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.
{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 in¯ate even though the switch is off. If
this ever happens, don't let anyone whom the
national government has identi®ed 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.
See²Air Bag Off Switch²in the Index.
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You'll be using the lap-shoulder belt. SeeTop Strap on
page 1-41if 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 air bag. If
your vehicle is a regular cab pickup or extended
cab pickup and you are using a rear-facing
child restraint in this seat, make sure the air bag is
turned off. See
Air Bag Off Switch on page 1-61.
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
Manual Seats on page 1-3orPower Seats
on page 1-4.
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.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.
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