GMC SIERRA 2011 Owner's Manual

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.

Black plate (69,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-69
Securing Child Restraints
(Right Front Seat
Position)
With Passenger Sensing
System
This vehicle has airbags. A rear
seat is a safer place to secure
a forward-facing child restraint.
SeeWhere to Put the Restraint on
page 3‑56.
In addition, the vehicle may have a
passenger sensing system which is
designed to turn off the right front
passenger frontal airbag under
certain conditions. See Passenger
Sensing System on page 3‑40 and
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
on page 5‑23 for more information
on this, including important safety
information.
A label on the sun visor 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.
{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.
The vehicle may have a
passenger sensing system which
is designed to turn off the right
front passenger frontal airbag
under certain conditions.
Even if the passenger sensing
system, if equipped, has turned
off the right front passenger
frontal airbag, no system is
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
fail-safe. No one can guarantee
that an airbag will not deploy
under some unusual
circumstance, even though
it is turned off.
Secure rear-facing child
restraints in a rear seat, even if
the airbag is 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.
SeePassenger Sensing System
on page 3‑40 for additional
information.
If the vehicle does not have
a rear seat that will accommodate
a rear-facing child restraint, a
rear-facing child restraint should not
be installed in the vehicle, even if
the airbag is off.

Black plate (70,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
3-70 Seats and Restraints
If the child restraint has the
LATCH system, seeLower Anchors
and Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) on page 3‑57 for how and
where to install the child restraint
using LATCH. If you secure a child
restraint 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.
In Canada, the law requires that
forward-facing child restraints have
a top tether, and that the tether be
attached. You will be using the lap-shoulder
belt to secure the child restraint in
this position. Follow the instructions
that came with the child restraint.
1. Move the seat as far back as
it will go before securing the
forward-facing child restraint.
When the passenger sensing
system, if equipped, has turned
off the right front passenger
frontal airbag, the off indicator
in the passenger airbag status
indicator should light and stay
lit when you start the vehicle.
See Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator on page 5‑23.
2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
3. 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.
4. Push the latch plate into the
buckle until it clicks.
Position the release button so
that the safety belt could be
quickly unbuckled if necessary.

Black plate (71,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-71
5. 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.6. 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 5 and 6. 7. If the vehicle does not have a
rear seat and 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.
8. 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.

Black plate (72,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
3-72 Seats and Restraints
If the vehicle is equipped with
a passenger sensing system,
and when the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right front
passenger frontal airbag, the off
indicator in the passenger airbag
status indicator should light and
stay lit when you start the vehicle.
If a child restraint has been installed
and the on indicator is lit, see
“If the On Indicator is Lit for a Child
Restraint”underPassenger Sensing
System on page 3‑40 for more
information.
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.With Airbag Off Switch
This vehicle has airbags. A rear
seat is a safer place to secure
a forward-facing child restraint.
See Where to Put the Restraint on
page 3‑56.
There may be a switch in the glove
box that you can use to turn off the
right front passenger frontal airbag.
See Airbag On-Off Switch on
page 3‑37 for more information,
including important safety
information.
A label on the sun visor says,
“Never put a rear-facing child seat
in the front unless airbag is off.” This
is because the risk to the 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.
(Continued)