CHEVROLET CORVETTE 2001 5.G Workshop Manual

1-33
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 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.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
find these instructions on the restraint itself or in a
booklet, or both. These restraints use the belt 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.
The child restraint must be secured properly in the
passenger seat. If you want to secure a rear
-facing child
restraint in the passenger's seat, turn off the passenger's
air bag. See ªAir Bag Off Switchº and ªSecuring a
Child Restraint in the Passenger Seat Positionº in
the Index for more on this, including important
safety information.

1-34
CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the passenger's air
bag inflates. This is because the back of the
rear
-facing child restraint would be very close to
the inflating air bag. Be sure to turn off the air
bag before using a rear
-facing child restraint in
the passenger seat position.
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 ªtop tether.º
It can help restrain the child restraint during a collision.
For it to work, a top strap must be properly anchored to
the vehicle.
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.

1-35
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.
If your vehicle is a Z06, an anchor bracket for a top
strap is located behind the passenger's seat in the cargo
area. Anchor the top strap to the bracket.If your vehicle is a convertible or has a removable roof,
don't use a child restraint with a top strap in your
vehicle because the strap cannot be anchored properly.
You shouldn't use this type of child restraint without
anchoring the top strap.
Once you have the top strap anchored, you'll be ready to
secure the child restraint itself. Tighten the top strap
when and as the child restraint manufacturer's
instructions say.

1-36 Securing a Child Restraint in the Passenger
Seat Position
Your vehicle has a passenger air bag. There's an air bag
off switch in the glove box you can use to turn off the
passenger's air bag when you want to secure a
rear
-facing child restraint at the passenger's position.
See ªAir Bag Off Switchº in the Index for more on this,
including important safety information.
Unless the passenger's air bag has been turned
off, never put a rear
-facing child restraint in this vehicle.
Here's why:

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CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the passenger's air
bag inflates. This is because the back of the
rear
-facing child restraint would be very close to
the inflating air bag. Do not use a rear
-facing
child restraint in this vehicle unless the
passenger's air bag has been turned off.
If a forward-facing child restraint is suitable for
your child, always move the passenger seat as far
back as it will go.
CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light ever comes on when
you have turned off the air bag, it means that
something may be wrong with the air bag system.
The passenger's air bag could inflate even though
the switch is off. If this ever happens, don't let
anyone whom the national government has
identified as a member of a passenger air bag
risk group sit in the passenger's position (for
example, don't secure a rear
-facing child
restraint in your vehicle) until you have your
vehicle serviced. See ªAir Bag Off Switchº in
the Index.

1-38
You'll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier part
about the top strap if the child restraint has one. 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.
1. Your vehicle has a passenger's air bag. If you are
using a rear
-facing child restraint in this seat, make
sure the air bag is turned off. See ªAir Bag Off
Switchº in the Index. If your child restraint is
forward
-facing, always move the seat as far back as
it will go before securing it in this seat. See ªSeatsº
in the Index.
2. Put the 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.
If the shoulder belt goes in front of the child's face or
neck, put it behind the child restraint.
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.

1-39
5. Pull the rest of the lap belt all the way out of the
retractor to set the lock.6. To tighten the belt, feed the lap belt back into the
retractor while you push down on the child restraint.
You may find it helpful to use your knee to push
down on the child restraint as you tighten the belt.
7. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.

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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.
If you were using a rear
-facing child restraint, turn on
the passenger's air bag when you remove the rear
-facing
child restraint from the vehicle unless the person who
will be sitting there is a member of a passenger air bag
risk group. See ªAir Bag Off Switchº in the Index.
CAUTION:
If the passenger's air bag is turned off for a
person who isn't in a risk group identified by the
national government, that person won't have the
extra protection of an air bag. In a crash, the air
bag wouldn't be able to inflate and help protect
the person sitting there. Don't turn off the
passenger's air bag unless the person sitting there
is in a risk group. See ªAir Bag Off Switchº in
the Index for more on this, including important
safety information.
Older Children
Older children who have outgrown booster seats should
wear the vehicle's safety belts.

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Q:What is the proper way to wear safety belts?
A:If possible, an older child should wear a
lap
-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint a
shoulder belt can provide. The shoulder belt should
not cross the face or neck. The lap belt should fit
snugly below the hips, just touching the top of the
thighs. It should never be worn over the abdomen,
which could cause severe or even fatal internal
injuries in a crash.
In a crash, children who are not buckled up can strike
other people who are buckled up, or can be thrown
out of the vehicle. Older children need to use safety
belts properly.
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.

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Q: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 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.
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, 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.
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.