2008 SATURN ASTRA child restraint

A label on the sun visor says,
“Never put a rear-facing child seat
in the front.” This is because the risk
to the rear-facing child is so great,
if the airbag deploys.
{CAUTION
A child in a rear-facing child
restraint can be seriously
injured or killed if the right
front passenger airbag inates.
This is because the back of
the rear-facing child restraint
would be very close to the
inating airbag. A child in a
forward-facing child restraint
can be seriously injured or
killed if the right front passenger
airbag inates and the
passenger seat is in a forward
position.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Even if the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right
front passenger frontal airbag
and seat-mounted side impact
airbag (if equipped), no system
is fail-safe. No one can
guarantee that an airbag will
not deploy under some unusual
circumstance, even though the
airbag(s) are off.
Secure rear-facing child
restraints in a rear seat, even
if the airbag(s) are 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.The passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the right front
passenger’s frontal airbag and
seat-mounted side impact airbag if:
The right front passenger seat is
unoccupied.
The system determines that an
infant is present in a rear-facing
infant seat.
The system determines that a
small child is present in a child
restraint.
The system determines that
a small child is present in a
booster seat.
A right front passenger takes
his/her weight off of the seat for
a period of time.
The right front passenger seat is
occupied by a smaller person,
such as a child who has outgrown
child restraints.
Or, if there is a critical problem
with the airbag system or the
passenger sensing system.
Seats and Restraints 1-31
ProCarManuals.com

When the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right
front passenger’s frontal airbag and
seat-mounted side impact airbag,
the off indicator will light and stay lit
to remind you that the airbags are
off. SeePassenger Airbag Status
Indicator on page 4-15.
If a child restraint has been installed
and the on indicator is lit, turn
the vehicle off. Remove the child
restraint from the vehicle and
reinstall the child restraint following
the child restraint manufacturer’s
directions and refer toSecuring
Child Restraints (Rear Seat) on
page 1-50orSecuring Child
Restraints (Right Front Seat)
on page 1-53.If, after reinstalling the child restraint
and restarting the vehicle, the on
indicator is still lit, check to make
sure that the vehicle’s seatback is
not pressing the child restraint into
the seat cushion. If this happens,
slightly recline the vehicle’s seatback
and adjust the seat cushion if
possible. Also make sure the child
restraint is not trapped under
the vehicle head restraint. If this
happens, adjust the head restraint.
SeeHead Restraints on page 1-5.
Remove any additional material from
the seat such as blankets, cushions,
seat covers, seat heaters, or seat
massagers before reinstalling or
securing the child restraint.
If the on indicator is still lit, secure
the child in the child restraint in
a rear seat position in the vehicle,
and check with your dealer/retailer.The passenger sensing system is
designed to enable (may inate)
the right front passenger’s frontal
airbag and seat-mounted side impact
airbag anytime the system senses
that a person of adult size is sitting
properly in the right front passenger’s
seat. When the passenger sensing
system has allowed the airbags to
be enabled, the on indicator will light
and stay lit to remind you that the
airbags are active.
For some children who have
outgrown child restraints and for
very small adults, the passenger
sensing system may or may not turn
off the right front passenger’s frontal
airbag and seat-mounted side impact
airbag, depending upon the person’s
seating posture and body build.
Everyone in the vehicle who has
outgrown child restraints should wear
a safety belt properly —whether or
not there is an airbag for that person.
1-32 Seats and Restraints
ProCarManuals.com

If a person of adult-size is sitting
in the right front passenger’s seat,
but the off indicator is lit, it could be
because that person is not sitting
properly in the seat. If this happens,
turn the vehicle off, remove any
additional material from the seat,
such as blankets, cushions, seat
covers, seat heaters or seat
massagers and ask the person
to place the seatback in the fully
upright position, then sit upright
in the seat, centered on the seat
cushion, with the person’s legs
comfortably extended. Restart the
vehicle and have the person remain
in this position for two to three
minutes. This will allow the system
to detect that person and then enable
the right front passenger’s frontal
airbag and seat-mounted side
impact airbag.Safety belts help keep the
passenger in position on the
seat during vehicle maneuvers
and braking, which helps the
passenger sensing system maintain
the passenger airbag status.
See “Safety Belts” and “Child
Restraints” in the Index for
additional information about
the importance of proper
restraint use.{CAUTION
If the airbag readiness light in
the instrument panel cluster
ever comes on and stays on, it
means that something may be
wrong with the airbag system.
If this ever happens, have the
vehicle serviced promptly,
because an adult-size person
sitting in the right front
passenger’s seat may not have
the protection of the airbag(s).
SeeAirbag Readiness Light
on page 4-14for more on this,
including important safety
information.
A thick layer of additional material,
such as a blanket or cushion, or
aftermarket equipment such as
seat covers, seat heaters, and seat
massagers can affect how well the
passenger sensing system operates.
Seats and Restraints 1-33
ProCarManuals.com

Child Restraints
Older Children
Older children who have outgrown
booster seats should wear the
vehicle’s safety belts.The manufacturer’s instructions that
come with the booster seat, state the
weight and height limitations for that
booster. Use a booster seat with a
lap-shoulder belt until the child
passes the below t test:
Sit all the way back on the seat.
Do the knees bend at the seat
edge? If yes, continue. If no,
return to the booster seat.
Buckle the lap-shoulder belt.
Does the shoulder belt rest on the
shoulder? If yes, continue. If no,
then return to the booster seat.
Does the lap belt t low and snug
on the hips, touching the thighs?
If yes, continue. If no, return to the
booster seat.
Can proper safety belt t be
maintained for the length of the
trip? If yes, continue. If no, return
to the booster seat.
Q:What is the proper way to
wear safety belts?
A:An older child should wear a
lap-shoulder belt and get the
additional restraint a shoulder belt
can provide. The shoulder belt
should not cross the face or neck.
The lap belt should t snugly
below the hips, just touching the
top of the thighs. This applies belt
force to the child’s pelvic bones in
a crash. It should never be worn
over the abdomen, which could
cause severe or even fatal
internal injuries in a crash.
According to accident statistics,
children and infants are safer when
properly restrained in a child restraint
system or infant restraint system
secured in a rear seating position.
In a crash, children who are not
buckled up can strike other people
who are buckled up, or can be
thrown out of the vehicle. Older
children need to use safety belts
properly.
Seats and Restraints 1-37
ProCarManuals.com

{CAUTION
Never do this.
Never allow two children to
wear the same safety belt.
The safety belt can not properly
spread the impact forces. In a
crash, the two children can be
crushed together and seriously
injured. A safety belt must be
used by only one person at
a time.
{CAUTION
Never do this.
Never allow a child to wear the
safety belt with the shoulder belt
behind their back. A child can be
seriously injured by not wearing
the lap-shoulder belt properly.
In a crash, the child would not
be restrained by the shoulder
belt. The child could move too
far forward increasing the
chance of head and neck injury.
The child might also slide under
the lap belt. The belt force would
then be applied right on the
abdomen. That could cause
serious or fatal injuries. The
shoulder belt should go over the
shoulder and across the chest.
Infants and Young
Children
Everyone in a vehicle needs
protection! This includes infants
and all other children. Neither the
distance traveled nor the age and
size of the traveler changes the
need, for everyone, to use safety
restraints. In fact, the law in every
state in the United States and in
every Canadian province says
children up to some age must be
restrained while in a vehicle.
1-38 Seats and Restraints
ProCarManuals.com

{CAUTION
Children can be seriously
injured or strangled if a
shoulder belt is wrapped around
their neck and the safety belt
continues to tighten. Never
leave children unattended in a
vehicle and never allow children
to play with the safety belts.
Every time infants and young
children ride in vehicles, they should
have the protection provided by
appropriate restraints. Children who
are not restrained properly can strike
other people, or can be thrown out
of the vehicle. In addition, young
children should not use the vehicle’s
adult safety belts alone; they need
to use a child restraint.
{CAUTION
Never do this.
Never hold an infant or a child
while riding in a vehicle. Due to
crash forces, an infant or a child
will become so heavy it is not
possible to hold it during a
crash. For example, in a crash at
only 25 mph (40 km/h), a 12 lb
(5.5 kg) infant will suddenly
become a 240 lb (110 kg) force
on a person’s arms. An infant
should be secured in an
appropriate restraint.
Seats and Restraints 1-39
ProCarManuals.com

{CAUTION
Never do this.
Children who are up against, or
very close to, any airbag when it
inates can be seriously injured
or killed. Never put a rear-facing
child restraint in the right front
seat. Secure a rear-facing child
restraint in a rear seat. It is also
better to secure a forward-facing
child restraint in a rear seat.
If you must secure a
forward-facing child restraint
in the right front seat, always
move the front passenger
seat as far back as it will go.
Q:What are the different types of
add-on child restraints?
A:Add-on child restraints, which
are purchased by the vehicle’s
owner, are available in four basic
types. Selection of a particular
restraint should take into
consideration not only the child’s
weight, height, and age but also
whether or not the restraint will be
compatible with the motor vehicle
in which it will be used.For most basic types of child
restraints, there are many
different models available.
When purchasing a child
restraint, be sure it is designed
to be used in a motor vehicle.
If it is, the restraint will have a
label saying that it meets federal
motor vehicle safety standards.
The restraint manufacturer’s
instructions that come with the
restraint state the weight and
height limitations for a particular
child restraint. In addition, there
are many kinds of restraints
available for children with
special needs.
1-40 Seats and Restraints
ProCarManuals.com

{CAUTION
To reduce the risk of neck and
head injury during a crash,
infants need complete support.
This is because an infant’s neck
is not fully developed and its
head weighs so much compared
with the rest of its body. In a
crash, an infant in a rear-facing
child restraint settles into the
restraint, so the crash forces
can be distributed across the
strongest part of an infant’s
body, the back and shoulders.
Infants should always be
secured in rear-facing child
restraints.
{CAUTION
A young child’s hip bones are
still so small that the vehicle’s
regular safety belt may not
remain low on the hip bones,
as it should. Instead, it may
settle up around the child’s
abdomen. In a crash, the belt
would apply force on a body
area that is unprotected by
any bony structure. This alone
could cause serious or fatal
injuries. To reduce the risk
of serious or fatal injuries
during a crash, young children
should always be secured in
appropriate child restraints.
Child Restraint Systems
A rear-facing infant seat (A) provides
restraint with the seating surface
against the back of the infant.
The harness system holds the infant
in place and, in a crash, acts to keep
the infant positioned in the restraint.(A) Rear-Facing Infant Seat
Seats and Restraints 1-41
ProCarManuals.com