2003 GMC YUKON Owner's Manual

A forward-facing child seat (C-E) provides restraint for
the child’s body with the harness and also sometimes
with surfaces such as T-shaped or shelf-like shields.A booster seat (F-G) is a child restraint designed to
improve thefit of the vehicle’s safety belt system. Some
booster seats have a shoulder belt positioner, and
some high-back booster seats have afive-point harness.
A booster seat can also help a child to see out the
window.
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Q:Howdo child restraints work?
A:A child restraint system is any device designed for
use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat, or position
children. A built-in child restraint system is a
permanent part of the motor vehicle. An add-on
child restraint system is a portable one, which
is purchased by the vehicle’s owner.
For many years, add-on child restraints have used
the adult belt system in the vehicle. To help
reduce the chance of injury, the child also has to be
secured within the restraint. The vehicle’s belt
system secures the add-on child restraint in the
vehicle, and the add-on child restraint’s harness
system holds the child in place within the restraint.
One system, the three-point harness, has straps that
come down over each of the infant’s shoulders and
buckle together at the crotch. Thefive-point harness
system has two shoulder straps, two hip straps and a
crotch strap. A shield may take the place of hip
straps. A T-shaped shield has shoulder straps that
are attached to aflat pad which rests low against the
child’s body. A shelf- or armrest-type shield has
straps that are attached to a wide, shelf-like shield
that swings up or to the side.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. When securing an add-on child restraint, refer
to the instructions that come with the restraint which may
be on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both, and
to this manual. The child restraint instructions are
important, so if they are not available, obtain a
replacement copy from the manufacturer.
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Where to Put the Restraint
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat.
General Motors, therefore, recommends that child
restraints be secured in a rear seat including an infant
riding in a rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a
forward-facing child seat and an older child riding in a
booster seat. Never put a child in a rear-facing child
restraint in the right front passenger seat unless
your vehicle has the passenger sensing system and the
passenger air bag status indicator shows off. Never
put a rear facing child restraint in the right front
passenger seat unless the air bag is off. 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. Be sure the air
bag is off before using a rear-facing child
restraint in the right front seat position.
Even though the passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal air
bag if the system detects a rear-facing child
restraint, no system is fail-safe, and no one can
guarantee that an air bag will not deploy under
some unusual circumstance, even though it is
turned off. General Motors therefore
recommends that rear-facing child restraints be
secured in the rear seat whenever possible,
even if the air bag is off.
If you secure a forward-facing child restraint in
the right front seat, always move the front
passenger seat as far back as it will go. It is
better to secure the child restraint in a rear seat.
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If your vehicle has the passenger sensing system and
you need to secure a rear-facing child restraint in the right
front passenger’s seat, the passengers frontal air bag
must be off. SeePassenger Sensing System on
page 1-81andSecuring a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position on page 1-66for more on this
including important safety information.
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“top tether.”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.
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.Top Strap Anchor Location
Tahoe/Suburban/Yukon/Yukon XL models without
rear seats:Top strap anchor loops are located at
the bottom rear of the front seat cushion for the right
front passenger’s position.
Anchor the top strap to this bracket. Once you have the
top strap anchored, you’ll be ready to secure the
child restraint itself.Suburban/Yukon XL Models without Rear Seats
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Tahoe/Suburban/Yukon/Yukon XL models with rear
seats:A child restraint with a top strap should only
be used in the second or third row. Don’t use a
child restraint with a top strap in the front seat because
there’s no place to anchor the top strap.
An anchor loop bracket for a top strap is located at the
bottom rear of the seat cushion for each seating
position in the second row, and for the center seating
position in the third row.
Suburban/Yukon XL Second RowSeat, Bucket
Seats Similar
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Tahoe/Yukon models:A child restraint with a top strap
should only be used in the second or third row. Don’t
use a child restraint with a top strap in the right
front passenger’s position, because there’s no place to
anchor the top strap.
An anchor loop bracket for a top strap is located at the
bottom rear of the seat cushion for the center seating
position in the third row.
Third RowBench Seat
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Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers
for Children (LATCH System)
Your vehicle may have the LATCH system. If it does,
you’llfind anchors (A) in the second row seats,
where the seatback meets the seat cushion. Tahoe/Yukon Second RowSeat
Third Row50/50 Split Bench Seat
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