CHEVROLET ASTRO 1996 Workshop Manual

Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position
You'll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier part
about the top strap
if the child restraint has one.
1. Put the restraint on the seat. Follow the instructions
for the child restraint.
2. Secure the child in the child restraint as the
instructions say.
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. Tilt
the
latch plate to adjust the belt if needed. If the
shoulder belt goes in front of the child's face or neck,
put it behind the child restraint.
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4. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is
positioned
so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if
you ever had to.
5. To tighten the belt, pull up on the shoulder belt while
you push down on the child restraint.
6. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure
it is secure.
To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’s
safety belt and let
it go back all the way. The safety belt
will move freely again and be ready to work for an adult
or larger child passenger.
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Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Seat
Position (Bench Seat)
You’ll be using the lap belt.
See the earlier part about the top strap if the child
restraint has
one.
1.. .
1. Make the belt as long as possible by tilting the latch
2. Put the restraint on the seat. Follow the instructions
plate and pulling
it along the belt.
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.
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5. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is
positioned
so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
6. To tighten the belt, pull its free end while you push
7. Push and pull the child restraint in different
down
on the child restraint.
directions to be sure it is secure. If it isn’t, secure
the restraint in
a different place in the vehicle and
contact the child restraint maker for their advice
about how to attach the child restraint properly.
To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’s
safety belt. It will be ready
to work for an adult or larger
child passenger.
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position
Your vehicle has a front passenger air bag. Never put a
rear-facing child restraint in this seat. Here’s why:
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A ch 1 a rear-fac lg child ;traint can be
seriously injured
if the front passenger’s air bag
inflates. This is because the back of a rear-facing
child restraint would be very close to the inflating
air bag.
If your vehicle is a passenger van, always
secure a rear-facing child restraint in
a rear seat.
If your vehicle is a cargo van, do not use a
rear-facing child restraint in this vehicle.
If a
forward-facing child restraint is suitable for your
child, always move the passenger seat as far back
as it will go.
You’ll be using
the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier part
about the top strap if the child restraint has one.
1. Because your vehicle has a front passenger air bag,
always move
the seat as far back as it will go before
securing a forward-facing child restraint. (See
“Seats”
in the Index.)
4. 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.
If the shoulder belt goes in front
of the child’s face or
neck, put it behind
the child restraint.
2. Put the restraint on the seat. Follow the instructions
3. Secure the child in the child restraint as the positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
for
the child restraint.
5. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is
instructions say. safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
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6. Pull the rest of the lap belt all the way out of the
retractor to set the lock.
.a.
7. To tighten the belt, feed the lap belt back into the
8. Push and pull the child restraint in different
retractor while
you push
down on the child restraint.
directions
to be sure it is secure.
To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle's
safety belt and let
it go back all the way. The safety belt
will move freely again and be ready to work for an adult
or larger child passenger.
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I %.
Larger Children 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.
I j are restrained in the rear seat. But they need to use the
'I Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
I safety belts properly. I I
0 ,Children who aren'i buckled up can be thrown out in
0 Children who aren't buckled upcan strike other
a
crash.
I.
peopl-e who are.
I
' Children who have outgrown child restraints should
wear the vehicle's safety belts.
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A CAUTION:
-
Never do this.
Here two children are wearing the same belt. The
belt can’t properly spread the impact forces.
In a
crash, the two children can be crushed together
and seriously injured.
A belt must be used by
only one person at a time.
@ 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 or neck?
A: Move the child toward the centex 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 sitting in a rear seat outside position,
see
“Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides” in the Index.
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 a seat that has a lap belt,
if your vehicle has one.
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A CAUTION:
Never do this.
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,
CAUTION: (Continued) 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 and snug on the hips, just touching
the child’s thighs. This applies belt force to the child’s
pelvic bones
in a crash.
Safety Belt Extender
If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you
should use it.
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.
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Checking Your Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and
all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and
anchorages are working properly. Look for any other
loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If
you see
anything that might keep a safety belt system from
doing its job, have it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you
in a
crash.
They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt is
torn or frayed, get a new one right away.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash
If you’ve had a crash, do you need new belts?
After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary.
But if the belts were stretched, as they would be
if worn
during a more severe crash, then you need new belts.
r
If you ever see a label on a right front safety belt that
says to replace the belt, be sure
to do so. Then the new
belt will be there
to help protect you in a collision. You
would see this label on the belt near the latch plate.
If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision damage
also may mean you will need to have safety belt or seat parts
repaired or replaced. New parts and repairs may be necessary
even
if the belt wasn’t being used at the time of the collision.
If an air bag inflates, you’ll need
to replace air bag system
parts. See the part on the air bag system earlier in this se\
ction.
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