CHEVROLET ASTRO CARGO VAN 2004 2.G Workshop Manual

A booster seat (F-G) is a child restraint designed to
improve the t of the vehicle’s safety belt system.
Some booster seats have a shoulder belt positioner,
and some high-back booster seats have a ve-point
harness. A booster seat can also help a child to see
out the window.
Q:How do child restraints work?
A:A child restraint system is any device designed for
use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat, or position
children. A built-in child restraint system is a
permanent part of the motor vehicle. An add-on
child restraint system is a portable one, which
is purchased by the vehicle’s owner.
For many years, add-on child restraints have used
the adult belt system in the vehicle. To help
reduce the chance of injury, the child also has to be
secured within the restraint. The vehicle’s belt
system secures the add-on child restraint in the
vehicle, and the add-on child restraint’s harness
system holds the child in place within the restraint.
One system, the three-point harness, has straps
that come down over each of the infant’s shoulders
and buckle together at the crotch. The ve-point
harness system has two shoulder straps, two
hip straps and a crotch strap. A shield may take
the place of hip straps. A T-shaped shield has
shoulder straps that are attached to a at pad
which rests low against the child’s body. A shelf- or
armrest-type shield has straps that are attached
to a wide, shelf-like shield that swings up or
to the side.
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When choosing a child restraint, be sure the child
restraint is designed to be used in a vehicle. If it is,
it will have a label saying that it meets federal motor
vehicle safety standards.
Then follow the instructions for the restraint. You may
nd these instructions on the restraint itself or in a
booklet, or both. These restraints use the belt system
or the LATCH system in your vehicle, but the child also
has to be secured within the restraint to help reduce
the chance of personal injury. When securing an add-on
child restraint, refer to the instructions that come with
the restraint which may be on the restraint itself or in a
booklet, or both, and to this manual. The child restraint
instructions are important, so if they are not available,
obtain a replacement copy from the manufacturer.
Where to Put the Restraint
Except Cargo Vans
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat.
General Motors, therefore, recommends that child
restraints be secured in a rear seat including an infant
riding in a rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a
forward-facing child seat and an older child riding in a
booster seat.Neverput a rear-facing child restraint
in the front passenger seat. Here is why:
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger’s air bag inates. This is because
the back of the rear-facing child restraint
would be very close to the inating air bag.
Always secure a rear-facing child restraint in
a rear seat.
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.
Wherever you install it, be sure to secure the child
restraint properly.
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 your vehicle – even when no
child is in it.
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Cargo Vans
The child restraint must be secured properly in the
passenger seat.Neverput a rear-facing child restraint
in this vehicle. Here is why:
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the passenger’s air
bag inates. This is because the back of the
rear-facing child restraint would be very close
to the inating air bag. Do not use a
rear-facing child restraint in this vehicle.
If you secure a forward-facing child restraint in
the front passenger position, always move the
front passenger seat as far back as it will go.
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 your vehicle – even when no
child is in it.
Top Strap
Some child restraints have a top strap, or “top tether.”
It can help restrain the child restraint during a collision.
For it to work, a top strap must be properly anchored
to the vehicle. Some top strap-equipped child restraints
are designed for use with or without the top strap
being anchored. Others require the top strap always
to be anchored. Be sure to read and follow the
instructions for your child restraint. If yours requires
that the top strap be anchored, do not use the restraint
unless it is anchored properly.
If the child restraint does not have a top strap, one
can be obtained, in kit form, for many child restraints.
Ask the child restraint manufacturer whether or not
a kit is available.
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In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child
restraints have a top strap, and that the strap be
anchored. In the United States, some child restraints
also have a top strap. If your child restraint has a
top strap, it should be anchored.
Anchor the top strap to one of the following anchor
points. Be sure to use an anchor point located on the
same side of the vehicle as the seating position
where the child restraint will be placed.If you have an adjustable head restraint, route the top
strap under it.
{CAUTION:
Each top tether bracket is designed to anchor
only one child restraint. Attaching more than
one child restraint to a single bracket could
cause the anchor to come loose or even break
during a crash. A child or others could be
injured if this happens. To help prevent injury
to people and damage to your vehicle, attach
only one child restraint per bracket.
Once you have the top strap anchored, you will be
ready to secure the child restraint itself. Tighten the top
strap when and as the child restraint manufacturer’s
instructions say.
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Top Strap Anchor Location
Cargo Van
If your vehicle is a cargo van, the anchoring point for
a top strap is located at the rear of the seat cushion
on the right front passenger’s seat spacer bar.
Anchor the top strap through the two slots.
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the passenger’s
air bag inates. This is because the back of
the rear-facing child restraint would be very
close to the inating air bag. Do not use a
rear-facing child restraint in this vehicle.
If you secure a forward-facing child restraint in
the front passenger position, always move the
front passenger seat as far back as it will go.Cargo Van
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Passenger Van
Bucket Seats:An anchoring point is located below
the rear of the seat cushion on the spacer bar.
Anchor the top strap through the two slots on the bar.Bench Seats:An anchor bracket is located at the rear
of the seat cushion near the top rear of the seat leg
for each outboard seating position of the second row.
For the third row, an anchor bracket is located at
the rear of the seat cushion near the top rear of the
seat leg for the right outboard seating position. Passenger Van Bucket Seats
Passenger Van Bench Seat (Second row)
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If you have adjustable head restraints, raise the head
restraint and route the top strap under it.
The third row has one anchor for the passenger side
outboard position only.
Do not secure a child restraint with a top strap in the
right front passenger’s position, the second or third row
center positions, or the third row driver side position
if a national or local law requires that the top strap
be anchored, or if the instructions that come with
the child restraint say that the top strap must be
anchored. There is no place to anchor the top strap
in these positions.Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers
for Children (LATCH System)
If you have a passenger van it has the LATCH system.
It has two sets of anchors in the second row of seats.
In a seven passenger van, the anchors are located
in each of the bucket seats in the second row.
In an eight passenger van, the anchors are located
in the driver and passenger side seating positions of
the second row bench seat.
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This system, designed to make installation of child
restraints easier, does not use the vehicle’s safety belts.
Instead, it uses vehicle anchors and child restraint
attachments to secure the restraints. Some restraints
also use another vehicle anchor to secure a top
tether strap.
A. Lower Anchorage
B. Lower Anchorage
C. Top TetherA. Lower Anchorage
B. Lower Anchorage
In order to use the LATCH system in your vehicle,
you need a child restraint designed for that system.
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With this system, use
the LATCH system
instead of the vehicle’s
safety belts to secure
a child restraint.
To assist you in locating the lower anchors for this
child restraint system, each seating position with the
LATCH system has a label on the seatback at each
lower anchor position. The labels are located on
the inboard and outboard positions of the rear seats.
{CAUTION:
If a LATCH-type child restraint is not attached
to its anchorage points, the restraint will
not be able to protect the child correctly.
In a crash, the child could be seriously injured
or killed. Make sure that a LATCH-type child
restraint is properly installed using the
anchorage points, 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.
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Securing a Child Restraint Designed
for the LATCH System
1. Find the LATCH anchorages for the seating
position you want to use, where the bottom of
the seatback meets the back of the seat cushion.
SeeLower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) on page 1-51.
2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
3. Attach and tighten the LATCH attachments on
the child restraint to the LATCH anchorages in
the vehicle. The child restraint instructions will
show you how.
4. If the child restraint is forward-facing, attach and
tighten the top tether to the top tether anchorage.
The child restraint instructions will show you
how. Also seeTop Strap on page 1-47.
5. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
To remove the child restraint, simply unhook the
top tether from the top tether anchorage and then
disconnect the LATCH attachments from the
LATCH anchorages.
Securing a Child Restraint in a
Rear Outside Seat Position
If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH system,
seeLower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children
(LATCH System) on page 1-51in the Index. SeeTop
Strap on page 1-47if the child restraint has one.
There is no top strap anchor at the third row driver side
position. Do not secure a child seat in this position if
a national or local law requires that the top strap
be anchored, or if the instructions that came with the
child restraint say that the top strap must be anchored.
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