BUICK SKYLARK 1993 Workshop Manual

Securing: a Child Restraint in the Center Y
Rear Seat Position
When you secure a child restraint in a center seating
position, you’ll be using the lap belt.
See the earlier section about
. I’ !,;F Ft the to$ strap if the child
restraint has one.
i .+*) +,“.#kg! ::.,.: . ” .: .< ,~~~~~~~~~,~~.‘:;,,$ I. l.. r.: ,* -~ ._
1. Make the. belt as long as possible by tilting the latch
plate
ad pulling it along-the belt.
2. Put the restraint on the seat. Follow the instructions
for the child restraint.
3. Secure the child in the child restraint as the
instructions say.

4. Run the vehicle’s safety belt through or around the
restraint. The child restraint instructions will show
you how.
5. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button faces
upward or outward,
so you’ll be able to unbuckle it
quickly if you ever need to.
6. To tighten the belt, pull its free end while you push
down on the child restraint.
I 51

To use a child restraint here, you will need a special
Si infant/child seat attaching belt and the hardware that goes with it. See the earlier section about the top strap if \
the child restraint has one.
Your dealer can get these and install the hardware for
you. It’s
free. The special belt is GM Part Number
12340286. Your dealer can find the correct hardware in
the accessory section of the GM Parts Catalog.
I

Once the special hardware is installed, please follow the
instructions with it and these steps:
1. Unbuckle the automatic lap-shoulder belt by pushing
the button on the buckle.
2. Snap one hook of the infant/child seat attaching belt
near the
floor at the door side of the seat.
It will stay on the door, ready to be rebuckled for use
by adults or older children.
53

4. You can make the belt longer by tilting the buckle
and pulling it along the belt.
5.
6.
Put the restraint on the seat. Follow the instructions
for the child restraint.
Secure the child in the child restraint
as the
instructions
say.

7. Run the belt through or around the child restraint. 9. To make it tight, pull the belt while you push down
The child restraint instructions will show
you how. on
the child restraint. If the belt won’t stay tight,
8. Put the hook on tk free end through the slot in the
latch plate. switch
it end for end.
directions-to be sure it is secure.
55

Tu remove the infantlchild seat restraint:
1. Push the button on the safety belt buckle and remove
the special latch plate. Leave the latch plate
on the
special belt.
2. Push the spring on the hook near the door and
remove the special 'belt.
6
56

Children who have outgrown child restraints should
wear the vehicle's safety belts.
If you have the choice,
a child should sit next to a
window
so the child can wear a lap-shoulder belt and
get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide.
Accident statistics show that children
are safer if they
are restrained in the rear seat. But they need to use the
safety belts properly.
0 Children who aren't buckled up can be thrown out in
a crash.
* Children who aren't buckkd up can strike other
people who are.
1 I 57

f&’ What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt,
but the child
is so small that the shoulder belt is
very close to the child’s face OF neck?
A: Move the child toward the center of the vehicle, but
be sure that the shoulder belt still is on the child’s
shoulder,
so that in a crash the child’s upper body
would have the restraint that belts provide.
If the
child is
so small that the shoulder belt is still very
close to the child’s face or neck, you might want to
place the child
in the center seat position, the one
that has only a lap belt.

Here a child is sitting in a seat that has a
lap-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part is behind
the child.
If the child wears the belt in this way, in
a crash the child might slide under the belt. The
belt’s force would then be applied right
on the
child’s abdomen. That could cause serious or
fatal injuries.’
Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the belt
should be worn low, snug below the hips, and just
touching the child’s thighs. This applies belt force to the
Ghild’s pelvic bones
in a crash.
Safety Belt Extender
If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you
should use it. The automatic lap-shoulder belt has plenty
of extra length built
in, so it will fasten around almost
all people.
But
if a safety belt isn’t long enough to fasten, your
dealer will order you an extender. It’s free. When you go
in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear,
so the
extender will be long enough for you. The extender will
be just for you, and just for the seat in your vehicle that
you choose. Don’t let someone else use it, and use it
only for the seat it is made to fit. To wear it, just attach it
to the regular safety belt.
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure all your belts, buckles, latch
plates, retractors, anchorages and reminder systems are working properly. Look for any loose parts or damage.
If you see anything that might keep a restraint system
from doing its job, have it repaired.
59