2010 CADILLAC DTS Owners Manual

Q:What is wrong with this?
A:The belt is twisted across the body.
{WARNING:
You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt. In a
crash, you would not have the full width of the belt
to spread impact forces. If a belt is twisted, make
it straight so it can work properly, or ask your
dealer/retailer to fix it.
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Lap-Shoulder Belt
All seating positions in the vehicle have a lap-shoulderexcept for the center front passenger position(if equipped), which has a lap belt. SeeLap Belt onpage 2-32for more information.
The following instructions explain how to wear alap-shoulder belt properly.
1. Adjust the seat, if the seat is adjustable, so you cansit up straight. To see how, see “Seats” in the Index.
2. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.Do not let it get twisted.
The lap-shoulder belt may lock if you pull the beltacross you very quickly. If this happens, let the beltgo back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the beltacross you more slowly.
If the shoulder portion of a passenger belt is pulledout all the way, the child restraint locking featuremay be engaged. If this happens, just let the belt goback all the way and start again.
Engaging the child restraint locking feature in theright front seating position may affect the passengersensing system. SeePassenger Sensing Systemon page 2-67for more information.
3. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
If the latch plate will not go fully into the buckle,check if the correct buckle is being used.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.If the belt is not long enough, seeSafety BeltExtender on page 2-33.
Position the release button on the buckle so that thesafety belt could be quickly unbuckled if necessary.
4. If equipped with a shoulder belt height adjuster,move it to the height that is right for you. See“Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment” later in thissection for instructions on use and important safetyinformation.
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5. To make the lap part tight, pull up on theshoulder belt.
It may be necessary to pull stitching on the safetybelt through the latch plate to fully tighten thelap belt on smaller occupants.
To unlatch the belt, push the button on the buckle.The belt should return to its stowed position. Slide thelatch plate up the safety belt webbing when thesafety belt is not in use. The latch plate should rest onthe stitching near the guide loop on the side wall.
Before a door is closed, be sure the safety belt is out ofthe way. If a door is slammed against a safety belt,damage can occur to both the belt and the vehicle.
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Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster
The vehicle has a shoulder belt height adjuster for thedriver and right front passenger seating positions.
Adjust the height so that the shoulder portion of the beltis centered on the shoulder. The belt should be awayfrom the face and neck, but not falling off the shoulder.Improper shoulder belt height adjustment couldreduce the effectiveness of the safety belt in a crash.
Press the releasebutton (A) and move theheight adjuster to thedesired position. Theadjuster can be moved upby pushing up on theshoulder belt guide.
After the adjuster is set to the desired position, try tomove it down without pressing the release buttonto make sure it has locked into position.
Safety Belt Pretensioners
This vehicle has safety belt pretensioners for frontoutboard occupants. Although the safety beltpretensioners cannot be seen, they are part of thesafety belt assembly. They can help tighten the safetybelts during the early stages of a moderate to severefrontal or near frontal crash if the threshold conditions forpretensioner activation are met. And, if your vehiclehas side impact airbags, safety belt pretensioners canhelp tighten the safety belts in a side crash.
Pretensioners work only once. If the pretensionersactivate in a crash, they will need to be replaced, andprobably other new parts for the vehicle’s safetybelt system. SeeReplacing Restraint System PartsAfter a Crash on page 2-75.
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides
This vehicle may have rear shoulder belt comfort guidesfor each outside passenger position in the rear seat. Ifnot, they are available through your dealer/retailer. Theguides may provide added safety belt comfort for olderchildren who have outgrown booster seats and for someadults. When installed the comfort guide positions theshoulder belt away from the neck and head.
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Here is how to install a comfort guide to the safety belt:
1. Remove the guide from its storage pocket on therear side of the seatback.
2. Place the guide over the belt, and insert thetwo edges of the belt into the slots of the guide.
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3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies flat.The elastic cord must be under the belt and theguide on top.
{WARNING:
A safety belt that is not properly worn may not
provide the protection needed in a crash. The
person wearing the belt could be seriously injured.
The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and
across the chest. These parts of the body are best
able to take belt restraining forces.
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4. Buckle, position, and release the safety belt asdescribed earlier in this section. Make sure thatthe shoulder belt crosses the shoulder.
To remove and store the comfort guide, squeeze thebelt edges together so that the safety belt can beremoved from the guide. Slide the guide into its storagepocket on the side of the seatback.
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnantwomen. Like all occupants, they are more likely to beseriously injured if they do not wear safety belts.
A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, andthe lap portion should be worn as low as possible,below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy.
The best way to protect the fetus is to protect themother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it is morelikely that the fetus will not be hurt in a crash. Forpregnant women, as for anyone, the key to makingsafety belts effective is wearing them properly.
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Lap Belt
This part is only for the lap belt. To learn how to wear alap-shoulder belt, seeLap-Shoulder Belt on page 2-26.
You vehicle may have a center seating position.When you sit in the center front seating position, youhave a lap safety belt, which has no retractor.
To make the belt longer, tilt the latch plate and pull italong the belt.
Buckle, position and release it the same way as the lappart of a lap-shoulder belt.
To make the belt shorter, pull its free end as shownuntil the belt is snug.
If the belt is not long enough, seeSafety Belt Extenderon page 2-33.
Make sure the release button on the buckle is positionedso you would be able to unbuckle the safety beltquickly if necessary.
If you find that the latch plate will not go fully into thebuckle, see if you are using the correct buckle. Be surethat the latch plate clicks when inserted into thebuckle.
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