2008 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA Owners Manual

2-28
BEFORE DRIVING
66J22-03E
Infant restraint - rear seat only
65D584
Booster seat
65D203
SUZUKI highly recommends that you use
a child restraint system to restrain infants
and small children. Many different types of
child restraint systems are available; make
sure that the restraint system you select
meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stan-
dards.
All child restraint systems are designed to
be secured in vehicle seats by either seat
belts (lap belts or the lap portion of lap-
shoulder belts) or by special rigid lower
anchor bars built into the seats. Whenever
possible, SUZUKI recommends that child
restraint systems be installed on the rear
seat. According to accident statistics, chil-
dren are safer when properly restrained in
rear seating positions than in front seating
positions.
If you must use a front-facing child restraint
in the front passenger’s seat, be sure to
move the front passenger’s seat as far
back as possible.
EXAMPLE
WARNING
Children could be endangered in a
crash if their child restraints are not
properly secured in the vehicle.
When installing a child restraint sys-
tem, be sure to follow the instruc-
tions below. Be sure to secure the
child in the restraint system accord-
ing to the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions.
WARNING
In an accident or sudden stop, the
rear seat armrest (if equipped) could
fall forward. If there is a child in a
rear-facing child restraint in the cen-
ter seating position, the falling arm-
rest could injure the child. Make sure
the armrest is back in the seat and
locked when not in use.
Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems: 14

2-29BEFORE DRIVING
66J22-03E
65D607 65D608
65D609
Installation with Lap-Shoulder Seat
Belts (Child Restraint with No Top
Strap)NOTE:
There are two types of lap-shoulder belts
depending on the vehicle’s specification,
A-ELR (Automatic-Emergency Locking
Retractor) type and ELR (Emergency
Locking Retractor) type.
The A-ELR type belts have emergency
locking retractors (ELRs) that can be tem-
porarily converted to function as automatic
locking retractors (ALRs).
The ELR type belts have ELRs that can
not be converted to function as ALRs.
To identify the belt is the A-ELR type or the
ELR type, slowly pull all of the shoulder
webbing out of the retractor. Then let the
webbing retract a little and pull it out, and
repeat this a few times. If the belt is locked
each time you pull the belt, the belt is the
A-ELR type. If the belt is not locked, the
belt is the ELR type.
Mostly, rear outboard lap-shoulder belts
are the A-ELR type.
Please note that the methods to secure the
child restraint system with the ELR lap-
shoulder belt and with the A-ELR lap-
shoulder belt are different.
WARNING
Do not install a rear-facing child
restraint in the front passenger’s
seat. If the passenger’s air bag
inflates, a child in a rear-facing child
restraint could be seriously injured.
The back of a rear-facing child
restraint would be too close to the
inflating air bag.
Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems: 14

2-30
BEFORE DRIVING
66J22-03E
ELR type belt
65D233
Install your child restraint system accord-
ing to the instructions provided by the child
restraint system manufacturer.
Make sure that the seat belt is securely
latched.
Try to move the child restraint system in all
directions, to make sure it is securely
installed.A-ELR type belt
83E031
Install your child restraint system accord-
ing to the instructions provided by the child
restraint system manufacturer. If you install
the child restraint system in the front seat,
be sure to slide the seat to the rearmost
position. After making sure that the seat
belt is securely latched:A-ELR type
83E035
1) Pull all of the remaining webbing out of
the retractor. You will hear a click, which
means that the emergency locking
retractor (ELR) has converted to func-
tion as an automatic locking retractor
(ALR).
CAUTION
Before installing a child restraint sys-
tem in the rear seat, raise the head
restraint to the most upper position.EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems: 14

2-31BEFORE DRIVING
66J22-03E
A-ELR type
83E032
2) Allow the extra webbing to retract, and
pull the webbing toward the retractor to
take up any slack. Make sure that the
lap portion of the belt is tight around the
child restraint system and the shoulder
portion of the belt is positioned so that it
can not interfere with the child’s head or
neck.A-ELR type
83E036
3) Make sure that the retractor has con-
ver ted to the ALR mode by trying to pull
webbing out of the retractor. If the
retractor is in the ALR mode, the belt
will be locked.A-ELR type
65D234
A-ELR type
65D235
4) Try moving the child restraint system in
all directions, to make sure it is securely
installed. If you need to tighten the belt,
pull more webbing toward the retractor.
EXAMPLE
WARNING
If the retractor is not in the ALR
mode, the child restraint system can
move or tip over when your vehicle
turns or stops abruptly.EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
Move to check
EXAMPLE
Pull to tighten
Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems: 14

2-32
BEFORE DRIVING
66J22-03E
To revert from ALR to ELR
65D267
When you unbuckle the seat belt and allow
it to retract to a certain length, the retractor
will automatically revert back to the normal
ELR mode.
Installation with the LATCH System
66J162
Rear seat
64J027
Your vehicle is equipped with lower
anchors for securing up to two standard
LATCH-type child restraints in the rear
seats. (LATCH stands for Lower Anchorsand Tethers for Children.) The anchors are
located where the rear of the seat cushion
meets the bottom of the seatback.
Install a LATCH-type child restraint system
according to the instructions provided by
the child restraint system manufacturer.
After installing the child restraint system,
try moving it in all directions, especially for-
ward, to make sure the flexible straps or
rigid connecting bars are securely latched
to the anchors.
NOTE:
Although there are three second row seat-
ing positions, you cannot install three
LATCH type child restraints in the rear
seat. You can install one or two LATCH
restraint(s). Be sure to install the LATCH
type child restraint(s) in the outboard seat-
ing positions.
If your LATCH restraint has flexible lower
connecting straps, these general instruc-
tions apply:
1) If possible, fold the seatback rearward
for easier installation.
2) Place the child restraint in the rear seat.
EXAMPLE
Rigid lower connecting
bar typeFlexible lower connecting
strap type
Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems: 14

2-33BEFORE DRIVING
66J22-03E
65D340
3) Snap the strap hooks to the anchors.
Take care not to pinch your fingers.
65D341
4) Return the seatback to the normal,
upright position. Tighten the lower
straps as described in the child restraintowner’s manual. Attach the top tether
strap, if applicable.
65D342
5) Make sure the child restraint is securely
fastened by trying to move the child
restraint system in all directions, espe-
cially forward.If your LATCH restraint has rigid lower con-
necting bars, these general instructions
apply:
1) If possible, fold the seatback rearward
for easier installation.
2) Place the child restraint in the rear seat,
inserting the connecting bars through
the slots in the seat cushion or the slots
in the seatback bottom.
54G183
3) Use your hands to carefully align the
connecting bar tips with the anchors.
Take care not to pinch your fingers.
EXAMPLEEXAMPLE
WARNING
The seatback should always be
securely latched in a fairly upright
position when any type of child seat
is installed. An unlatched or reclined
seatback will reduce the intended
effectiveness of the child restraint
system.EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems: 14

2-34
BEFORE DRIVING
66J22-03E
54G184
4) Push the child restraint toward the
anchors so that the connecting bar tips
are partially hooked to the anchors.
Use your hands to confirm the position.
54G185
5) Grasp the front of the child restraint and
push the child restraint forcefully to
latch the connecting bars. Make sure
they are securely latched by trying to
move the child restraint system in all
directions, especially forward.
6) Return the seatback if folded. Attach
the top tether strap, if applicable.
Installation-Child Restraint with Top
StrapRear seat
64J029
Some child restraint systems require the
use of a top strap. Top strap anchor brack-
ets are located on the back of the rear seat
as shown in the illustration. Install the child
restraint system as follows:
1) Remove the luggage compartment
cover.
2) Secure the child restraint on the rear
seat using the procedure described
above for securing a restraint system
that does not require a top strap.
3) Hook the top strap to the anchor
bracket and tighten the top strap
according to the instructions provided
by the child restraint system manufac-
turer. Be sure to attach the top strap to
the corresponding anchor located
directly behind the child restraint. Do
EXAMPLE
WARNING
The seatback should always be
securely latched in a fairly upright
position when any type of child seat
is installed. An unlatched or reclined
seatback will reduce the intended
effectiveness of the child restraint
system.EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems: 14

2-35BEFORE DRIVING
66J22-03E
not attach the top strap to the luggage
restraint loops (if equipped).
86G032
4) When routing the top strap, be sure to
pass it between the head restraint and
the rear seatback as shown. (Refer to
“Head Restraints” section for details onhow to raise or lower the head
restraint.)
5) Make sure that cargo does not interfere
with routing of the top strap.
Seat Belt Extender
65D613
(1) Center of body
(2) Less than 152 mm (6 inches)
(3) Open end of extender buckle
If a seat belt cannot be fastened securely
because it is not long enough, see your
authorized SUZUKI dealer for a seat belt
extender. Seat belt extenders are available
for each seating position except for the
rear center position. After inspecting the
relationship between the seat belt length,
the occupant’s body size, and the seat
adjustment (the driver’s seat should always
be adjusted as far back as possible while
still maintaining control of the vehicle, andother adjustable seats should be adjusted
as far back as possible), your dealer can
select the appropriate seat belt extender.
 A seat belt extender should only be used
for the person, vehicle and seating loca-
tion it was provided for.
 When using the extender, ensure that
both ends are latched securely. Do not
use the extender if the open end of the
extender’s buckle is within 152 mm (6
inches) of the center of the occupant’s
body (See diagram). Use of the extender
when the buckle is too close to the cen-
ter of the body could increase the risk of
abdominal injury in the event of an acci-
dent, and could cause the shoulder belt
to be positioned incorrectly.
 Make sure to use the correct buckle cor-
responding to your seating position.
 Seat belt extenders are not intended for
use by pregnant women, and should
only be used upon approval by their
medical advisors.
 Remove and stow the extender when it
is not being used.
WARNING
Do not attach the child restraint top
strap to the luggage restraint loops
(if equipped). Incorrectly attached top
strap will reduce the intended effec-
tiveness of the child restraint system.Ty p e 2 Ty p e 1
Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems: 14