CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1996 Workshop Manual

Buckle, position and release it the same way as the lap part of a
lap-shoulder belt. If the belt isn’t long enough, see “Safety Belt Extender’’
at the end
of this section.
Make sure the release button
on the buckle is positioned so you would be
able
to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
Rear Seat Passengers
It’s very important for rear seat passengers to buckle up! Accident statistics
show that unbelted people
in the rear seat are hurt more often in crashes
than those who are wearing safety belts.
Rear passengers who aren’t safety belted can be thrown
out of the vehicle in
a crash. And they can strike others in the vehicle who are wearing safety
belts.
Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions
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Lap-Shoulder Belt
The positions next to the windows have lap-shoulder belts. Here’s how to
wear one properly.
1. Pick up the latch
plate and pull the belt across you. Don’t let it get
twisted.
2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. If the belt stops
before it reaches the buckle, tilt the latch plate and keep pulling until
you can buckle it.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.
If the belt is not long enough, see “Safety Belt Extender” at the end of
this section.
Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned
so you would
be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
3. To make the lap
part tight, pull down on the
buckle end of the
belt as you pull
up on the
shoulder part.
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The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just
touching the thighs. In
a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones.
And you’d be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the
belt would apply force at
your abdomen. This could cause serious or even
fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should
go over the shoulder and across the
chest. These parts
of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces.
The safety belt locks
if there’s a sudden stop or a crash.
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Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster (4-Door Utility Models)
Move the shoulder belt adjuster to the height that is right for you.
To move it down, push in at the word PRESS and move the height adjuster
to the desired position.
You can move the adjuster up just by pushing up on
the shoulder belt guide. After you move the adjuster to where you want it,
try to move it down without pushing in to make sure it has locked into
position.
Adjust the height
so that the shoulder portion of the belt is centered on your
shoulder. The belt should be away from your face and neck, but not falling
off your shoulder.
To unlatch the belt,
just push the button
on
the buckle.
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Children
Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! That includes infants and all
children smaller than adult size. In fact, the law in every state in the United
States and in every Canadian province says children up to some age must be
restrained while
in a vehicle.
Smaller Children and Babies
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Child Restraints
Be sure to 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. The instructions that
come with the infant or child restraint will show you how to do that.
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 at General Motors therefore recommend
that you put your child restraint in the rear seat unless the child is an infant
and you’re the only adult in the vehicle.
In that case, you might want to
secure the restraint in the front seat where you can keep an eye on the baby.
Wherever you install it, 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.
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Top Strap
If your child restraint has a top strap, it should be anchored. If you need to
have an anchor installed,
you can ask your GM dealer to put it in for you. If
you want to install an anchor yourself, your dealer can tell you how to do it.
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Seat Position
You’ll be using the lap belt.
See the earlier part about the top strap if the child restraint has one.
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.
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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 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 down on the child
restraint.
7. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is
secure.
If the child restraint isn’t secure, turn the latch plate over and
buckle it again. Then see if 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
You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier part about the top strap
if the child restraint has one.
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