GMC SIERRA 2009 Repair Manual

Notice:Do not let the LATCH attachments rub
against the vehicle’s safety belts. This may damage
these parts. If necessary, move buckled safety
belts to avoid rubbing the LATCH attachments.
Do not fold the empty rear seat with a safety belt
buckled. This could damage the safety belt or
the seat. Unbuckle and return the safety belt to its
stowed position, before folding the seat.
Regular Cab Models
1. If the child restraint manufacturer recommends that
the top tether be attached, attach and tighten the
top tether to the top tether anchor, if your
vehicle has one. Refer to the child restraint
instructions and the following steps:
1.1. Pull the passenger seatback forward by
pulling the recliner handle upward to access
the top tether anchor. SeeReclining
Seatbacks on page 1-10for additional
information.
1.2. Find the top tether anchor.
1.3. Remove the cover to expose the anchor.1.4. Route, attach, and tighten the top tether
according to your child restraint instructions
and the following instructions:
If the position you are using
has an adjustable headrest
or head restraint and you
are using a dual tether,
route the tether around the
headrest or head restraint.
If the position you are using
has an adjustable headrest
or head restraint and you
are using a single tether,
raise the headrest or head
restraint and route the
tether under the headrest
or head restraint and in
between the headrest or
head restraint posts.
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2. SeeSecuring a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position (With Airbag Off Switch) on page 1-62
orSecuring a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat
Position (With Passenger Sensing System) on
page 1-66orSecuring a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position (Heavy Duty Crew Cab Only) on
page 1-70for instructions on installing the child
restraint using the safety belts.
3. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
Crew and Extended Cab Models
1. Attach and tighten the lower attachments to the
lower anchors. If the child restraint does not have
lower attachments or the desired seating position
does not have lower anchors, secure the child
restraint with the top tether and the safety belts.
Refer to your child restraint manufacturer
instructions and the instructions in this manual.
1.1. Find the lower anchors for the desired
seating position.
1.2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
1.3. Attach and tighten the lower attachments on
the child restraint to the lower anchors.2. If the child restraint manufacturer recommends that
the top tether be attached, attach and tighten the top
tether to the top tether anchor (loop), if your vehicle
has one. Refer to the child restraint instructions and
the following steps:
Example — Rear Driver’s Side Position
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2.1. When using a child restraint with a top tether
in the rear driver side position:
A. Raise the headrest or head restraint.
B. Route the top tether (B) between
the headrest or head restraint posts,
through the loop (A), behind the inboard
headrest or head restraint post, and
under the center shoulder belt (C).
C. Attach the top tether (B) to the top
tether anchor (loop) (D) at the center
rear seating position.2.2. When using a child restraint with a top tether
in the rear center position:
D. Route the top tether (B) through the
center loop (D), and behind the
inboard passenger side headrest or
head restraint post.
E. Attach the top tether (B) to the top
tether anchor (loop) at the rear
passenger side seating position.
2.3. When using a child restraint with a top tether
in the rear passenger position:
F. Raise the headrest or head restraint.
G. Route the top tether (B) between
the headrest or head restraint
posts, through the loop on the
passenger side and behind the inboard
headrest or head restraint post.
H. Attach the top tether (B) to the top
tether anchor (loop) (D) at the center
rear seating position.
2.4. Tighten the top tether when and as the child
restraint manufacturer’s instructions say.
When the top tether is tightened, the anchor
(loop) may bend. This is normal and will not
damage the vehicle.
3. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure. Example — Rear Driver’s Side Position
1-57

Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Seat Position
When securing a child restraint in a rear seating position,
study the instructions that came with the child restraint to
make sure it is compatible with this vehicle.
If the child restraint has the LATCH system, seeLower
Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-49
for how and where to install the child restraint using
LATCH. If a child restraint is secured in the vehicle using
a safety belt and it uses a top tether, seeLower Anchors
and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-49for top
tether anchor locations.
Do not secure a child seat in a position without a top
tether anchor if a national or local law requires that
the top tether be anchored, or if the instructions
that come with the child restraint say that the top strap
must be anchored.In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child
restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be
attached.
If the child restraint does not have the LATCH system,
you will be using the safety belt to secure the child
restraint in this position. 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.
If more than one child restraint needs to be installed
in the rear seat, be sure to readWhere to Put the
Restraint on page 1-48.
1. Put the child restraint on the seat.
2. 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.
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For crew cab second row seatings positions, tilt the
latch plate to adjust the belt if needed.3. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Position the release button on the buckle so that
the safety belt could be quickly unbuckled if
necessary.
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4. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of
the retractor to set the lock.5. To tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint,
pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten the lap
portion of the belt and feed the shoulder belt back
into the retractor. When installing a forward-facing
child restraint, it may be helpful to use your knee
to push down on the child restraint as you tighten
the belt.
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6. If the child restraint has a top tether, follow the child
restraint manufacturer’s instructions regarding the
use of the top tether. SeeLower Anchors and
Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-49for
more information.
7. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
To remove the child restraint, unbuckle the vehicle
safety belt and let it return to the stowed position.
If the top tether is attached to a top tether anchor,
disconnect it.Securing a Child Restraint in the
Center Front Seat Position
{CAUTION:
A child in a child restraint in the center front seat
can be badly injured or killed by the frontal airbags
if they inate. Never secure a child restraint in the
center front seat. It is always better to secure a
child restraint in a rear seat.
Do not use child restraints in the center front seat
position.
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Securing a Child Restraint in
the Right Front Seat Position
(With Airbag Off Switch)
This vehicle has airbags. A rear seat is a safer place to
secure a forward-facing child restraint. SeeWhere to
Put the Restraint on page 1-48.
There may be a switch in the glove box that you can
use to turn off the right front passenger frontal airbag.
SeeAirbag Off Switch on page 1-81for more on
this, including important safety information.
A label on the sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing
child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to
the rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger airbag inates. This is because the
back of the rear-facing child restraint would be
very close to the inating airbag. A child in a
forward-facing child restraint can be seriously
injured or killed if the right front passenger airbag
inates and the passenger seat is in a forward
position.
Even if the airbag switch has turned off the right
front passenger frontal airbag, no system is
fail-safe. No one can guarantee that an airbag will
not deploy under some unusual circumstance,
even though it is turned off.
Secure rear-facing child restraints in a rear
seat, even if the airbag is off. If you secure a
forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat,
always move the front passenger seat as far back
as it will go. It is better to secure the child restraint
in a rear seat.
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{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light ever comes on when
you have turned off the airbag, it means that
something may be wrong with the airbag system.
The right front passenger’s airbag could inate
even though the switch is off. If this ever happens,
do not let anyone whom the national government
has identied as a member of a passenger airbag
risk group sit in the right front passenger’s position
(for example, do not secure a rear-facing child
restraint in the right front passenger’s seat) until
you have your vehicle serviced. SeeAirbag Off
Switch on page 1-81andAirbag Readiness Light
on page 3-37for more on this, including important
safety information.
If the vehicle does not have a rear seat that will
accommodate a rear-facing child restraint, a rear-facing
child restraint should not be installed in the vehicle,
even if the airbag is off.
If your child restraint has the LATCH system, seeLower
Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-49
for how and where to install your child restraint usingLATCH. If you secure a child restraint using a safety belt
and it uses a top tether, seeLower Anchors and Tethers
for Children (LATCH) on page 1-49for top tether anchor
locations.
Do not secure a child restraint in a position without a
top tether anchor if a national or local law requires that
the top tether be anchored, or if the instructions that
come with the child restraint say that the top strap must
be anchored.
In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child
restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be
attached.
You will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the
child restraint in this position. Follow the instructions that
came with the child restraint.
1. Move the seat as far back as it will go before
securing the forward-facing child restraint.
If you have no other choice but to install a rear-facing
child restraint in this seat, make sure the airbag is off
once the child restraint has been installed.
When the airbag off switch has turned off the right
front passenger frontal airbag, the off indicator in the
airbag off light should light and stay lit when you start
the vehicle. SeeAirbag Off Light on page 3-38.
2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
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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.
4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Position the release button so that the safety belt
could be quickly unbuckled if necessary.5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of
the retractor to set the lock.
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