2005 CADILLAC XLR Owners Manual

{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the passenger’s
airbag inates. This is because the back of the
rear-facing child restraint would be very close
to the inating airbag. Be sure to turn off the
airbag before using a rear-facing child restraint
in the passenger seat position.
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,”
which can help hold the child restraint during a
crash. For it to work, a top strap must be properly
anchored to the vehicle. Some child restraints with a top
strap are designed to be used whether or not the top
strap is anchored. Others require that the top strap
be anchored. Also, a national or local law may require
that the top strap be anchored.
If your child restraint top strap must be anchored, then
do not use the restraint in this vehicle, because in
it, a top strap cannot be properly anchored.
1-27

Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers
for Children (LATCH System)
Your vehicle has lower anchors at the passenger
position that can be used to install a child seat.
A label on the seatback
shows where each lower
anchor is.
You can use these lower anchors to install the child
seat instead of using the vehicle’s safety belts if the child
seat has the necessary attachments.
However, your vehicle does not have a third anchor,
called a top strap, or tether, anchor. If the instructions
that come with the child seat say that it must be secured
at all three anchors, do not use that child seat in this
vehicle. SeeTop Strap on page 1-27.A. Lower Anchorage
B. Lower Anchorage
C. Top Tether
1-28

A. Lower Anchorage
B. Lower Anchorage
{CAUTION:
If a LATCH-type child restraint is not attached
to its anchorage points, the restraint will not
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, following the
instructions that came with that restraint, and
also the instructions in this manual.
1-29

Securing a Child Restraint Designed
for the LATCH System
Your vehicle has passenger airbags. There is an airbag
off switch in the glove box you can use to turn off the
passenger’s airbags. SeeAirbag Off Switch on page 1-44
for more on this, including important safety information.
Your vehicle will either have the Canadian switch
design (A) or the United States switch design (B).
A. Canadian Switch
B. United States SwitchUnless the passenger’s airbags have been turned off,
neverput a rear-facing child restraint in this vehicle.
Here is why:
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the passenger’s
airbag inates. This is because the back of the
rear-facing child restraint would be very close
to the inating airbag. Do not use a rear-facing
child restraint in this vehicle unless the
passenger’s airbag has been turned off.
Even though the airbag off switch is designed
to turn off the passenger’s airbags under
certain conditions, no system is fail-safe, and
no one can guarantee that an airbag will not
deploy under some unusual circumstance,
even though it is turned off.
CAUTION: (Continued)
1-30

CAUTION: (Continued)
We, therefore, recommend that rear-facing
child restraints be transported in vehicles with
a rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing
child restraint, whenever possible.
If you need to secure a forward-facing child
restraint in the passenger seat, always move
the passenger seat as far back as it will go.
{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light ever comes on
when you have turned off the airbags, it means
that something may be wrong with the airbag
system. The passenger’s airbags could inate
even though the switch is off.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
If this ever happens, do not let anyone whom
the national government has identied as a
member of a passenger airbag risk group sit in
the passenger’s position (for example, do not
secure a rear-facing child restraint in your
vehicle) until you have your vehicle serviced.
SeeAirbag Off Switch on page 1-44.
1. Find the anchors in the passenger seat. SeeLower
Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) on page 1-28.
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. SeeTop Strap on page 1-27if
your child restraint has one.
4. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
To remove the child restraint, disconnect the anchor
points.
1-31

Securing a Child Restraint in the
Passenger Seat Position
Your vehicle has passenger airbags. There is an airbag
off switch in the glove box you can use to turn off the
passenger’s airbags. SeeAirbag Off Switch on page 1-44
for more on this, including important safety information.
Your vehicle will either have the Canadian switch design
(A) or the United States switch design (B).
A. Canadian Switch
B. United States SwitchUnless the passenger’s airbags have been turned off,
neverput a rear-facing child restraint in this vehicle.
Here is why:
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the passenger’s
airbag inates. This is because the back of the
rear-facing child restraint would be very close
to the inating airbag. Do not use a rear-facing
child restraint in this vehicle unless the
passenger’s airbag has been turned off.
Even though the airbag off switch is designed
to turn off the passenger’s airbags under
certain conditions, no system is fail-safe, and
no one can guarantee that an airbag will not
deploy under some unusual circumstance,
even though it is turned off. We, therefore,
recommend that rear-facing child restraints be
transported in vehicles with a rear seat that
will accommodate a rear-facing child restraint,
whenever possible.
CAUTION: (Continued)
1-32

CAUTION: (Continued)
If you need to secure a forward-facing child
restraint in the passenger seat, always move
the passenger seat as far back as it will go.
{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light ever comes on
when you have turned off the airbags, it means
that something may be wrong with the airbag
system. The passenger’s airbags could inate
even though the switch is off. If this ever
happens, do not let anyone whom the national
government has identied as a member of a
passenger airbag risk group sit in the
passenger’s position (for example, do not
secure a rear-facing child restraint in your
vehicle) until you have your vehicle serviced.
SeeAirbag Off Switch on page 1-44.If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH
system, seeLower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) on page 1-28.
There are no top strap anchors in this vehicle. Do not
secure a child seat in this vehicle if a national or
local law requires that the top strap be anchored, or if
the instructions that come with the restraint say that the
top strap must be anchored. SeeTop Strap on
page 1-27if the child restraint has one.
If your child restraint does not have the latch system,
you will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the child
restraint in this position. 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 passenger’s airbags. If you need
to use a rear-facing child restraint in this seat, make
sure the airbags are turned off. SeeAirbag Off
Switch on page 1-44. 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
Power Seats on page 1-2.
2. Put the child 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.
1-33

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. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of
the retractor to set the lock.
1-34