2009 PONTIAC VIBE ECU

Where to Put the
Restraint
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.
We recommend that children and
child restraints be secured in a rear
seat, including: an infant or a child
riding in a rear-facing child restraint;
a child riding in a forward-facing child
seat; an older child riding in a booster
seat; and children, who are large
enough, using safety belts.
A label on the sun visor says,
“Never put a rear-facing child
restraint 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.
Even if the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right
front passenger frontal airbag, no
system is fail-safe. No one can
guarantee that an airbag will not
deploy under some unusual
circumstance, even though it is
turned off.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Secure rear-facing child restraints
in a rear seat, even if the airbag 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.
SeePassenger Sensing System
on page 1-28for additional
information.
When securing a child restraint in
a rear seating position, study
the instructions that came with the
child restraint to make sure it is
compatible with this vehicle.
Wherever a child restraint is
installed, be sure to secure the child
restraint properly.
Seats and Restraints 1-43
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

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 the vehicle — even
when no child is in it.
Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children
(LATCH)
The LATCH system holds a child
restraint during driving or in a crash.
This system is designed to make
installation of a child restraint easier.
The LATCH system uses anchors
in the vehicle and attachments
on the child restraint that are made
for use with the LATCH system.Make sure that a LATCH-compatible
child restraint is properly installed
using the anchors, 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.
When installing a child restraint with
a top tether, you must also use either
the lower anchors or the safety belts
to properly secure the child restraint.
A child restraint must never be
installed using only the top tether
and anchor.
In order to use the LATCH system in
the vehicle, you need a child restraint
has LATCH attachments. The child
restraint manufacturer provides
instructions on how to use the child
restraint and its attachments. The
following explains how to attach a
child restraint with these attachments
in the vehicle.Not all vehicle seating positions or
child restraints have lower anchors
and attachments or top tether
anchors and attachments.
Lower Anchors
Lower anchors (A) are metal bars
built into the vehicle. There are
two lower anchors for each
LATCH seating position that will
accommodate a child restraint with
lower attachments (B).
1-44 Seats and Restraints
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

Top Tether Anchor
A top tether (A, C) anchors the
top of the child restraint to the
vehicle. A top tether anchor is built
into the vehicle. The top tether
attachment (B) on the child restraint
connects to the top tether anchor in
the vehicle in order to reduce the
forward movement and rotation of
the child restraint during driving or in
a crash.The child restraint may have a single
tether (A) or a dual tether (C). Either
will have a single attachment (B) to
secure the top tether to the anchor.
Some child restraints with top
tethers are designed for use with or
without the top tether being attached.
Others require the top tether always
to be attached. In Canada, the law
requires that forward-facing child
restraints have a top tether, and that
the tether be attached. Be sure to
read and follow the instructions for
the child restraint.
If the child restraint does not have a
top tether, one can be obtained,
in kit form, for many child restraints.
Ask the child restraint manufacturer
whether or not a kit is available.
Lower Anchor and Top Tether
Anchor Locations
i(Top Tether Anchor): Seating
positions with top tether anchors.
j(Lower Anchor): Seating positions
with two lower anchors.
Rear Seat
Seats and Restraints 1-45
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

To assist you in locating the lower
anchors, each seating position
with lower anchors has two labels,
near the crease between the
seatback and the seat cushion.
To assist you in locating the top
tether anchors, the top tether anchor
symbol is located on the cover.The top tether anchors are located
on the oor of the rear cargo area.
Open the cover to access the
anchors. If the vehicle has a cargo
mat, you may need to fold it back
to access the top tether anchors.
Be sure to use an anchor located on
the same side of the vehicle as the
seating position where the child
restraint will be placed.
Do not secure a child restraint
in a position without a top tether
anchor if a national or local
law requires that the top tether
be attached, or if the instructions
that come with the child restraint
say that the top tether must
be attached.Accident statistics show that
children are safer if they are
restrained in the rear rather than the
front seat. SeeWhere to Put the
Restraint on page 1-43for additional
information.Securing a Child Restraint
Designed for the LATCH
System
{CAUTION
If a LATCH-type child restraint is
not attached to anchors, the child
restraint will not be able to protect
the child correctly. In a crash, the
child could be seriously injured or
killed. Install a LATCH-type child
restraint properly using the
anchors, or use the vehicle’s
safety belts to secure the
restraint, following the instructions
that came with the child restraint
and the instructions in this
manual.
1-46 Seats and Restraints
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

{CAUTION
Do not attach more than one child
restraint to a single anchor.
Attaching more than one child
restraint to a single anchor could
cause the anchor or attachment to
come loose or even break during
a crash. A child or others could
be injured. To reduce the risk of
serious or fatal injuries during a
crash, attach only one child
restraint per anchor.
{CAUTION
Children can be seriously injured
or strangled if a shoulder belt is
wrapped around their neck and
the safety belt continues to
tighten. Buckle any unused safety
belts behind the child restraint so
children cannot reach them. Pull
the shoulder belt all the way out
of the retractor to set the lock, if
your vehicle has one, after the
child restraint has been installed.
Notice:Do not let the LATCH
attachments rub against the
vehicle’s safety belts. This may
damage these parts. If necessary,
move buckled safety belts to
avoid rubbing the LATCH
attachments.Do not fold the empty rear seat
with a safety belt buckled. This
could damage the safety belt or
the seat. Unbuckle and return the
safety belt to its stowed position.
1. Attach and tighten the lower
attachments to the lower
anchors. If the child restraint
does not have lower attachments
or the desired seating position
does not have lower anchors,
secure the child restraint with the
top tether and the safety belts.
Refer to the child restraint
manufacturer instructions and the
instructions in this manual.
1.1. Find the lower anchors for
the desired seating position.
1.2. Put the child restraint on
the seat.
1.3. Attach and tighten the lower
attachments on the child
restraint to the lower
anchors.
Seats and Restraints 1-47
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

If the position you are using
has an adjustable headrest
or head restraint and
you are using a dual tether,
route the tether around
the headrest or head
restraint.If the position you are using
has an adjustable headrest
or head restraint and you are
using a single tether, raise
the headrest or head
restraint and route the tether
under the headrest or head
restraint and in between the
headrest or head restraint
posts.
3. Push and pull the child restraint
in different directions to be sure
it is secure.
Replacing LATCH
System Parts After a
Crash
{CAUTION
A crash can damage the LATCH
system in the vehicle. A damaged
LATCH system may not properly
secure the child restraint, resulting
in serious injury or even death in
a crash. To help make sure the
LATCH system is working
properly after a crash, see your
dealer/retailer to have the system
inspected and any necessary
replacements made as soon as
possible.
If the vehicle has the LATCH
system and it was being used during
a crash, new LATCH system
parts may be needed.
Seats and Restraints 1-49
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

New parts and repairs may be
necessary even if the LATCH
system was not being used at the
time of the crash.
Securing Child Restraints
(Right Front Seat)
This vehicle has airbags. A rear
seat is a safer place to secure
a forward-facing child restraint.
SeeWhere to Put the Restraint
on page 1-43.
In addition, your vehicle has a
passenger sensing system which
is designed to turn off the right front
passenger frontal and seat-mounted
side impact airbag under certain
conditions. SeePassenger Sensing
System on page 1-28and
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
on page 4-15for more information,
including important safety
information.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, no
system is fail-safe. No one can
guarantee that an airbag will not
deploy under some unusual
circumstance, even though it is
turned off.
Secure rear-facing child restraints
in a rear seat, even if the airbag 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.
SeePassenger Sensing System
on page 1-28for additional
information.
1-50 Seats and Restraints
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual

If the child restraint has the LATCH
system, seeLower Anchors and
Tethers for Children (LATCH) on
page 1-44for how to install the child
restraint using LATCH. If a child
restraint is secured in the seating
position using a safety belt and it
uses a top tether, seeLower Anchors
and Tethers for Children (LATCH)
on page 1-44for top tether anchor
locations.
Do not secure a child seat in a
position without a top tether anchor
if a national or local law requires
that the top tether be anchored,
or if the instructions that come with
the child restraint say that the
top strap must be anchored.
In Canada, the law requires that
forward-facing child restraints have
a top tether, and that the tether
be attached.You will be using the lap-shoulder
belt to secure the child restraint in
this position. Follow the instructions
that came with the child restraint.
1. Move the seat as far back as it
will go before securing the
forward-facing child restraint.
When the passenger sensing
system has turned off the
right front passenger frontal
and seat-mounted side impact
airbag, the off indicator on
the passenger airbag status
indicator should light and stay lit
when you start the vehicle.
SeePassenger Airbag Status
Indicator on page 4-15.
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.4. Push the latch plate into the
buckle until it clicks.
Position the release button on
the buckle so that the safety belt
could be quickly unbuckled if
necessary.
Seats and Restraints 1-51
2009 - Pontiac Vibe Owner Manual