ECU CHEVROLET VENTURE 2001 1.G User Guide

1-69
6. Select only one side of the harness. Place the harness
over the child's shoulder.
7. Push the latch plate (B) into the buckle until it clicks.
Be sure the buckle is free of any foreign objects
that may prevent you from securing the latch plates.
If you can't secure a latch plate, see your dealer for
service before using the child restraint.8. Place the other side of the harness over the
child's shoulder.
9. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
10. Pull up on both latch plates to make sure they
are secure.

1-74
4. Then press the leg rest firmly into the seatback, and
secure it by pressing the upper corners against the
fastener strips on the seatback.5. Rotate the head restraint forward and push it all the
way down.
Just like the other restraint systems in your vehicle, your
built
-in child restraint needs to be periodically checked
and may need to have parts replaced after a crash. See
ªChecking Your Restraint Systemsº and ªReplacing
Seat and Restraint System Parts After a Crashº in
the Index.

1-77
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.
Q:When securing an aftermarket child seat in a
bucket seat, I am unable to get the seat fastened
in snugly enough. What should I do?
A:With some child seats, it may be difficult to tighten
the vehicle belts so that there is less side
-to-side
or front
-to-back movement of the child seat.
A replacement buckle, which makes it easier to
secure your child seat, is available from your dealer
at no charge to you.

1-78 Where to Put the Restraint
(Except Cargo Vans)
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat.
General Motors, therefore, recommends that child
restraints be secured in a rear seat including an infant
riding in a rear
-facing infant seat, a child riding in a
forward
-facing child seat and an older child riding in a
booster seat. Never put a rear
-facing child restraint
in the front passenger seat. Here's why:
CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
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. Always secure
a rear
-facing child restraint in a rear seat.
You may secure a forward-facing child restraint
in the right front seat, but before you do, always
move the front passenger seat as far back as it
will go. It's better to secure the child restraint in
a rear seat.
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.

1-79
Where to Put the Restraint (Cargo Vans)
The child restraint must be secured properly in the
passenger seat. Never put a rear
-facing child restraint
in this vehicle. Here's why:
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.
If a forward-facing child restraint is suitable for
your child, always move the passenger seat as far
back as it will go.
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.

1-82
Anchor the top strap to one of these anchor points.
Be sure to use an anchor point located on the same
side of the vehicle as the seating position where the
child restraint will be placed. If you have an adjustable
head restraint, raise the head restraint and route the top
strap under it.
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.Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)
Your vehicle has the LATCH system. You'll find
anchors (A) in the second row driver's side bucket seat,
the 40 side of the 60/40 split bench seat and both
second row captain's chairs.

1-84
With this system, use the LATCH system instead of the
vehicle's safety belts to secure a child restraint.
CAUTION:
If a LATCH-type child restraint isn't attached to
its anchorage points, the restraint won't be able
to protect a child sitting there. In a crash, the
child could be seriously injured or killed.
Make sure that a LATCH
-type child restraint
is properly installed using the anchorage points,
or use the vehicle's safety belts to secure the
restraint. See ªSecuring a Child Restraint in
a Rear Outside Seat Positionº in the Index for
information on how to secure a child restraint
in your vehicle using the vehicle's safety belts.

1-85
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System
1. Find the anchors for the seating position you want to
use, where the bottom of the seatback meets the back
of the seat cushion.
2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
3. If the child restraint is forward
-facing, attach the
anchor points on the child restraint to the anchors in
the vehicle. The child restraint instructions will show
you how.
4. Attach the top strap to the top strap anchor. See ªTop
Strapº in the Index. Tighten the top strap according
to the child restraint instructions.
5. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
To remove the child restraint, simply unhook the top
strap from the top tether anchor and then disconnect
the anchor points.
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.
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.

1-88

If your vehicle has the child restraint locking
feature on the shoulder belt retractor, pull the
rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of the
retractor to set the lock.
To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt back
into the retractor while you push down on the
child restraint. If you're using a forward
-facing
child restraint, you may find it helpful to use your
knee to push down on the child restraint as you
tighten the belt.

If your vehicle doesn't have the child restraint
locking feature on the shoulder belt retractor,
tighten the belt by pulling up on the shoulder
belt while you push down on the child restraint.
If you're using a forward
-facing child restraint
you may find it helpful to use your knee to push
down on the child restraint as you tighten the belt.
5. 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.

1-89
Securing a Child Restraint in the Center
Seat Position (Third Row Bench Seat)
You'll be using the lap belt. 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.
See the earlier part about the top strap if the child
restraint has one.1. Make the belt as long as possible by tilting the latch
plate and pulling it along the belt.
2. Put the restraint on the seat.
3. Run the vehicle's safety belt through or around the
restraint. The child restraint instructions will show
you how.