GMC SAVANA 2007 Workshop Manual

Securing the Child Within the Child
Restraint
There are several systems for securing the child
within the child 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 five-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 flat 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.
{CAUTION:
A child can be seriously injured or killed
in a crash if the child is not properly
secured in the child restraint. Make sure
the child is properly secured, following the
instructions that came with that restraint.Because there are different systems, it is important
to refer to the instructions that come with the
restraint. A child can be endangered in a crash if
the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
Where to Put the Restraint
Accident statistics show that children are safer if
they are restrained in the rear rather than the
front seat. We recommend 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. Never put a child in a
rear-facing child restraint in the right front
passenger seat unless your vehicle has the
passenger sensing system or an airbag off switch
and the passenger airbag status indicator or
the airbag off light shows off.
51

If your vehicle has a rear seat that will
accommodate a rear-facing child restraint, there is
a label on your sun visor that 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’s airbag inates. This is
because the back of the rear-facing child
restraint would be very close to the
inating airbag.
Even though the passenger sensing
system or the airbag off switch is
designed to turn off the right front
passenger’s frontal airbag if the system
detects a rear-facing child restraint, no
system is fail-safe, and no one can
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
guarantee that an airbag will not deploy
under some unusual circumstance, even
though it is turned off. We recommend
that rear-facing child restraints be secured
in the rear seat, even if the airbag is off.
If you need to 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.
If your vehicle does not have a rear seat that
will accommodate a rear-facing child restraint,
never put a child in a rear-facing child restraint
in the right front passenger seat unless the
passenger airbag status indicator or the airbag
off light shows off. Here is why:
52

{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can
be seriously injured or killed if the right
front passenger’s airbag inates. This is
because the back of the rear-facing child
restraint would be very close to the
inating airbag. Be sure the airbag is off
before using a rear-facing child restraint
in the right front seat position.
Even though the passenger sensing
system or the airbag off switch is
designed to turn off the right front
passenger’s frontal airbag if the system
detects a rear-facing child restraint, no
system is fail-safe, and no one can
guarantee that an airbag will not deploy
under some unusual circumstance,
even though it is turned off.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
We recommend that rear-facing child
restraints be transported in vehicles with
a rear seat that will accommodate a
rear-facing child restraint, whenever
possible.
If you need to 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.
If your vehicle has the passenger sensing system
or the airbag off switch and you need to secure
a rear-facing child restraint in the right front
passenger’s seat, the passenger’s frontal airbag
must be off. SeePassenger Sensing System
on page 89,Airbag Off Switch on page 86, and
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat
Position (With Passenger Sensing System)
on page 68orSecuring a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position (With Airbag Off Switch)
on page 72for more on this, including important
safety information.
53

Wherever you install a child restraint, 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.
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 strap and anchor.
In order to use the LATCH system in your vehicle,
you need a child restraint that has LATCH
attachments. The child restraint manufacturer will
provide you with instructions on how to use
the child restraint and its attachments. The
following explains how to attach a child restraint
with these attachments in your vehicle.
Not all vehicle seating positions or child restraints
have lower anchors and attachments or top
tether anchors and attachments.
54

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).
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.
Your 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.
55

Some child restraints that have a top tether 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. In
the United States, some child restraints also have
a top tether. Be sure to read and follow the
instructions for your 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.
See the information following for installing a child
restraint with a top tether in the second row
center position.
Second Row
56

Do not install three child restraints in the rear
seat and never install two top tethers using the
same top tether anchor.
i(Top Tether Anchor):
Seating positions with
top tether anchors.
i(Top Tether Anchor):
Seating positions with
top tether anchors.
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.
Third and Fourth Row
with Three Passenger
Bench Seat
Front Passenger
Position
57

There are two top tether anchors in the second
row. To install a child restraint in the left outboard
seating position, use anchor point (A). To install
a child restraint in the right outboard seating
position, use anchor point (B). To install a child
restraint in the center seating position, use either
anchor point (A) or (B). Never install two top
tethers using the same top tether anchor.There is a top tether anchor for the center seating
positions in the third and fourth rows, if equipped,
with a three-passenger bench seat. The anchor
is located at the bottom rear of the seat cushion.
Second Row — Passenger Van
Third or Fourth Row — Three Passenger
Bench Seat
58

There is a top tether anchor for the front
passenger position with a front passenger seat.
The anchor is located at the rear of the seat
cushion on the right front passenger’s seat.
There are no top tether anchors or lower anchors
in a four passenger fourth or fifth row seat.Do not secure a child restraint in the outside
seating positions of the third and fourth rows if the
vehicle has a three-passenger bench seat, or in
any four-passenger rear bench seat, 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. There is no place to attach the top tether
in these positions.
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 51
for additional information.
Front Passenger Position
59

Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System
{CAUTION:
If a LATCH-type child restraint is not
attached to anchors, 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 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.
{CAUTION:
Each top tether anchor and lower anchor
in the vehicle is designed to hold only
one child restraint. 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 if this
happens. To help prevent injury to people
and damage to your vehicle, attach only
one child restraint per anchor.
60