2011 GMC SIERRA Owner's Manual

Black plate (61,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-61
For regular cab models, the top
tether anchors are located under
covers on the back panel behind
the passenger seat. Remove the
trim plug to access the anchor.
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.
Crew Cab Shown, Extended CabSimilar For crew and extended cab models,
the top tether anchors are the loops
located near the top of the seatback
for each rear seating position.
These loops will be used to route
the top tether through, as well as, to
secure the top tether in the vehicle.
Be sure to use an anchor (loop)
located on the same side of the
vehicle as the seating position
where the child restraint will be
placed.
Be sure to read the instructions
following to properly install a child
restraint using these loops.
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.
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. See
Where to Put the
Restraint on page 3‑56 for
additional information.

Black plate (62,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
3-62 Seats and Restraints
Securing a Child Restraint
Designed for the LATCH
System
{WARNING
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 safety
belts to secure the restraint,
following the instructions that
came with the child restraint and
the instructions in this manual.
{WARNING
Do not attach more than one
child restraint to a single anchor,
except for the center top tether
anchors in the crew and extended
cabs. 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.
{WARNING
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 the 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.

Black plate (63,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-63
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, before folding
the seat.
Regular Cab Models
1. If the child restraint manufacturerrecommends that the top tether
be attached, attach and tighten
the top tether to the top tether
anchor, if your vehicle has
one. Refer to the child restraint
instructions and the following
steps:
1.1. Pull the passenger seatback forward by pulling
the recliner handle upward
to access the top tether
anchor. See Reclining
Seatbacks on page 3‑6
for additional information.
1.2. Find the top tether anchor. 1.3. Remove the cover to
expose the anchor.
1.4. Route, attach, and tighten the top tether according
to your child restraint
instructions and the
following instructions:
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.

Black plate (64,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
3-64 Seats and Restraints
2. SeeSecuring Child Restraints
(Rear Seat Position) on
page 3‑66 orSecuring Child
Restraints (Right Front Seat
Position) on page 3‑69 or
Securing Child Restraints
(Center Front Seat Position) on
page 3‑78 for instructions on
installing the child restraint
using the safety belts.
3. Before placing a child in the child restraint, make sure
it is securely held in place.
To check, grasp the child
restraint at the LATCH path
and attempt to move it
side‐to‐side and back‐and‐forth.
There should be no more than
2.5 cm (1 in) of movement for
proper installation. Crew and Extended Cab Models
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 your
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. 2. If the child restraint manufacturer
recommends that the top tether
be attached, attach and tighten
the top tether to the top tether
anchor (loop), if your vehicle has
one. Refer to the child restraint
instructions and the following
steps:
Example —Rear Driver Side
Position

Black plate (65,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-65
Example—Rear Driver Side
Position
2.1. When using a child restraint with a top tether in the rear
driver side position:
A. Raise the headrest or head restraint.
B. Route the top tether (B) between
the headrest or
head restraint posts,
through the loop (A),
behind the inboard
headrest or head restraint post, and
under the center
shoulder belt (C).
C. Attach the top tether (B) to
the top tether
anchor (loop) (D)
at the center rear
seating position.
2.2. When using a child restraint with a top tether in the rear
center position:
A. Route the top tether (B) through
the center loop (D),
and behind the
inboard passenger
side headrest or
head restraint post.
B. Attach the top tether (B) to the
top tether anchor
(loop) at the rear
passenger side
seating position. 2.3. When using a child restraint
with a top tether in the rear
passenger position:
A. Raise the headrest
or head restraint.
B. Route the top tether (B) between
the headrest or
head restraint posts,
through the loop
on the passenger
side and behind the
inboard headrest or
head restraint post.
C. Attach the top tether (B) to
the top tether
anchor (loop) (D)
at the center rear
seating position.

Black plate (66,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
3-66 Seats and Restraints
2.4. Tighten the top tetherwhen and as the child
restraint manufacturer's
instructions say.
When the top tether is
tightened, the anchor (loop)
may bend. This is normal
and will not damage the
vehicle.
3. Before placing a child in the child restraint, make sure
it is securely held in place.
To check, grasp the child
restraint at the LATCH path
and attempt to move it
side‐to‐side and back‐and‐forth.
There should be no more than
2.5 cm (1 in) of movement for
proper installation.Replacing LATCH System
Parts After a Crash
{WARNING
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 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.
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
(Rear Seat Position)
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.
If the child restraint has the
LATCH system, see Lower Anchors
and Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) on page 3‑57 for how and
where to install the child restraint
using LATCH. If a child restraint
is secured in the vehicle using a
safety belt and it uses a top tether,
see Lower Anchors and Tethers
for Children (LATCH System) on
page 3‑57 for 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.

Black plate (67,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-67
In Canada, the law requires that
forward-facing child restraints have
a top tether, and that the tether be
attached.
If the child restraint does not have
the LATCH system, you will be
using the safety belt to secure
the child restraint in this position.
Be sure to follow the instructions
that came with the child restraint.
Secure the child in the child restraint
when and as the instructions say.
If more than one child restraint
needs to be installed in the rear
seat, be sure to readWhere to
Put the Restraint on page 3‑56.
1. Put the child restraint on the seat.
2. 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.
For crew cab second row
seatings positions, tilt the latch
plate to adjust the belt if needed.3. 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.

Black plate (68,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
3-68 Seats and Restraints
4. Pull the shoulder belt all the wayout of the retractor to set the
lock. When the retractor lock is
set, the belt can be tightened but
not pulled out of the retractor.5. To tighten the belt, push downon the child restraint, pull the
shoulder portion of the belt to
tighten the lap portion of the belt,
and feed the shoulder belt back
into the retractor. When installing
a forward-facing child restraint,
it may be helpful to use your
knee to push down on the child
restraint as you tighten the belt.
Try to pull the belt out of
the retractor to make sure
the retractor is locked. If the
retractor is not locked, repeat
Steps 4 and 5. 6. If the child restraint has a top
tether, follow the child restraint
manufacturer's instructions
regarding the use of the top
tether. See Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) on page 3‑57 for more
information.
7. Before placing a child in the child restraint, make sure
it is securely held in place.
To check, grasp the child
restraint at the safety belt
path and attempt to move it
side‐to‐side and back‐and‐forth.
When the child restraint is
properly installed, there should
be no more than 2.5 cm (1 in)
of movement.
To remove the child restraint,
unbuckle the vehicle safety belt and
let it return to the stowed position.
If the top tether is attached to a top
tether anchor, disconnect it.