2010 CADILLAC DTS child restraint

If the child restraint has the LATCH system, seeLowerAnchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) onpage 2-45for how and where to install the child restraintusing LATCH. If a child restraint is secured using asafety belt and it uses a top tether, seeLower Anchorsand Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 2-45fortop tether anchor locations.
Do not secure a child seat in a position without a toptether anchor if a national or local law requires that thetop tether be anchored, or if the instructions thatcome with the child restraint say that the top strap mustbe anchored.
In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing childrestraints have a top tether, and that the tether beattached.
You will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure thechild restraint in this position. Follow the instructions thatcame with the child restraint.
1. Move the seat as far back as it will go beforesecuring the forward-facing child restraint.
When the passenger sensing system has turned offthe right front passenger frontal airbag andseat-mounted side impact airbag, the off indicatoron the passenger airbag status indicator should lightand stay lit when you start the vehicle. SeePassenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 4-51.
2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulderportions of the vehicle’s safety belt through oraround the restraint. The child restraint instructionswill show you how.
2-55

6. To tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint,pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten thelap portion of the belt and feed the shoulderbelt back into the retractor. When installing aforward-facing child restraint, it may be helpful touse your knee to push down on the child restraint asyou tighten the belt.
7. Push and pull the child restraint in differentdirections to be sure it is secure.
If the airbags are off, the off indicator in the passengerairbag status indicator will come on and stay onwhen the vehicle is started.
If a child restraint has been installed and the onindicator is lit, see “If the On Indicator is Lit for aChild Restraint ” underPassenger Sensing System onpage 2-67for more information.
To remove the child restraint, unbuckle the vehiclesafety belt and let it return to the stowed position.
2-57

{WARNING:
Children who are up against, or very close to, any
airbag when it inflates can be seriously injured or
killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder belts offer
protection for adults and older children, but not for
young children and infants. Neither the vehicle’s
safety belt system nor its airbag system is designed
for them. Young children and infants need the
protection that a child restraint system can provide.
Always secure children properly in your vehicle.
To read how, seeOlder Children on page 2-33or
Infants and Young Children on page 2-37.
There is an airbagreadiness light on theinstrument panel, whichshows the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag electrical system formalfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electricalproblem. SeeAirbag Readiness Light on page 4-50for more information.
Where Are the Airbags?
The driver frontal airbag is in the middle of thesteering wheel.
2-60

When the system check is complete, either the wordON or OFF, or the symbol for on or off, will be visible.SeePassenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 4-51.
The passenger sensing system turns off the rightfront passenger frontal airbag and seat-mounted sideimpact airbag under certain conditions. The driverairbags and the roof-rail airbags are not affected by thepassenger sensing system.
The passenger sensing system works with sensors thatare part of the right front passenger seat. The sensorsare designed to detect the presence of a properly-seatedoccupant and determine if the right front passengerfrontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbagshould be enabled (may inflate) or not.
According to accident statistics, children are safer whenproperly secured in a rear seat in the correct childrestraint for their weight and size.
We recommend that children be secured in a rear seat,including: an infant or a child riding in a rear-facingchild restraint; a child riding in a forward-facing childseat; 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-facingchild seat in the front.” This is because the risk tothe rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.
{WARNING:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger
airbag inflates. This is because the back of the
rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the
inflating airbag. A child in a forward-facing child
restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right
front passenger airbag inflates and the passenger
seat is in a forward position.
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.
2-68

The passenger sensing system is designed to turn offthe right front passenger airbag and seat-mountedside 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 outgrownchild restraints.
•Or, if there is a critical problem with the airbag
system or the passenger sensing system.
When the passenger sensing system has turned off theright front passenger frontal airbag and seat-mountedside impact airbag, the off indicator will light and stay litto remind you that the airbags are off. SeePassengerAirbag Status Indicator on page 4-51.
The passenger sensing system is designed to turn on(may inflate) the right front passenger frontal airbag andseat-mounted side impact airbag anytime the systemsenses that a person of adult size is sitting properly inthe right front passenger seat.
When the passenger sensing system has allowed theairbags to be enabled, the on indicator will light and staylit to remind you that the airbags are active.
For some children who have outgrown child restraintsand for very small adults, the passenger sensing systemmay or may not turn off the right front passenger frontalairbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag, dependingupon the person’s seating posture and body build.Everyone in the vehicle who has outgrown child restraintsshould wear a safety belt properly — whether or not thereis an airbag for that person.
{WARNING:
If the airbag readiness light ever comes on and
stays on, it means that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help avoid injury to
yourself or others, have the vehicle serviced right
away. SeeAirbag Readiness Light on page 4-50
for more information, including important safety
information.
2-69

If the On Indicator is Lit for a Child
Restraint
If a child restraint has been installed and the onindicator is lit:
1. Turn the vehicle off.
2. Remove the child restraint from the vehicle.
3. Remove any additional items from the seat such asblankets, cushions, seat covers, seat heaters, orseat massagers.
4. Reinstall the child restraint following the directionsprovided by the child restraint manufacturer andrefer toSecuring a Child Restraint in the Right FrontSeat Position on page 2-54.
5. If, after reinstalling the child restraint and restartingthe vehicle, the on indicator is still lit, turn thevehicle off. Then slightly recline the vehicle seatbackand adjust the seat cushion, if adjustable, tomake sure that the vehicle seatback is not pushingthe child restraint into the seat cushion.
Also make sure the child restraint is not trappedunder the vehicle head restraint. If this happens,adjust the head restraint. SeeHead Restraintson page 2-2.
6. Restart the vehicle.
If the on indicator is still lit, secure the child in thechild restraint in a rear seat position in the vehicle,and check with your dealer/retailer.
2-70

Additional Factors Affecting System
Operation
Safety belts help keep the passenger in position on theseat during vehicle maneuvers and braking, whichhelps the passenger sensing system maintain thepassenger airbag status. See “Safety Belts” and“Child Restraints” in the Index for additional informationabout the importance of proper restraint use.
A thick layer of additional material, such as a blanket orcushion, or aftermarket equipment such as seatcovers, seat heaters, and seat massagers can affecthow well the passenger sensing system operates.We recommend that you not use seat covers or otheraftermarket equipment except when approved by GM foryour specific vehicle. SeeAdding Equipment to YourAirbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 2-73for moreinformation about modifications that can affect how thesystem operates.
{WARNING:
Stowing of articles under the passenger seat or
between the passenger seat cushion and seatback
may interfere with the proper operation of the
passenger sensing system.
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle
Airbags affect how the vehicle should be serviced.There are parts of the airbag system in several placesaround the vehicle. Your dealer/retailer and theservice manual have information about servicing thevehicle and the airbag system. To purchase a servicemanual, seeService Publications Ordering Informationon page 8-17.
{WARNING:
For up to 10 seconds after the ignition is turned off
and the battery is disconnected, an airbag can still
inflate during improper service. You can be injured
if you are close to an airbag when it inflates. Avoid
yellow connectors. They are probably part of the
airbag system. Be sure to follow proper service
procedures, and make sure the person performing
work for you is qualified to do so.
2-72

Notice:Overloading the vehicle may causedamage. Repairs would not be covered by thevehicle warranty. Do not overload the vehicle.
If you put things inside your vehicle, likesuitcases, tools, packages, or anything else, theywill go as fast as the vehicle goes. If you haveto stop or turn quickly, or if there is a crash, theywill keep going.
{WARNING:
Things you put inside your vehicle can strikeand injure people in a sudden stop or turn, orin a crash.
•Put things in the trunk of your vehicle. In
a trunk, put them as far forward as youcan. Try to spread the weight evenly.
•Never stack heavier things, like
suitcases, inside the vehicle so that someof them are above the tops of the seats.
•Do not leave an unsecured child restraint
in your vehicle.
•When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
Automatic Level Control
This feature keeps the rear of your vehicle levelas the load changes. It is automatic, you donot need to adjust anything.
This type of level control is fully automatic and willprovide a better leveled riding position as well asbetter handling under a variety of passenger andloading conditions. An air compressor connected tothe rear shocks will raise or lower the rear of thevehicle to maintain proper vehicle height. Thesystem is activated when the ignition key is turnedto ON/RUN and will automatically adjust vehicleheight thereafter. The system may exhaust(lower vehicle height) for up to ten minutes afterthe ignition key has been turned to LOCK/OFF.You may hear the air compressor operating whenthe height is being adjusted.
5-23