ECU GMC SONOMA 2002 User Guide

1-51 Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position (Crew Cab Models)
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. Put the 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.
If the shoulder belt goes in front of the child's face or
neck, put it behind the child restraint.
3. 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.

1-52
4. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of
the retractor to set the lock.5. 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.
6. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.

1-53
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 the Center
Front Seat Position (Regular Cab &
Extended Cab Models) and in the Center
Rear Seat Position (Crew Cab Models)
Don't use child restraints in these positions. The
restraints won't work properly.Jump Seats (Extended Cab)
Don't use child restraints in these positions. The
restraints won't work properly.

1-54 Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position
Your vehicle has a passenger air bag. If your vehicle is a
regular cab pickup or an extended cab pickup, there's a
switch on the instrument panel that you can use to turn
off the right front passenger's air bag when you want to
secure a rear
-facing child restraint at the right front
passenger's position. See ªAir Bag Off Switchº in the
Index for more on this, including important safety
information.
Unless your vehicle has the air bag off switch and the
passenger's air bag has been turned off, never put a
rear
-facing child restraint in the right front passenger's
seat. Here's why:

1-55
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. If your vehicle
is a crew cab, do not use a rear
-facing child
restraint in the right front passenger's position.
If your vehicle is a regular cab pickup or an
extended cab pickup, be sure to turn off the air
bag before using a rear
-facing child restraint in
the right front seat position.
If a forward-facing child restraint is suitable for
your child, always move the passenger seat as far
back as it will go.
Although a rear seat is a safer place, you can secure a
forward
-facing child restraint in the right front seat of a
crew cab.
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 right front 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 right front
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.

1-56
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 right front passenger's air bag.
If your vehicle is a regular cab pickup or an extended
cab pickup and 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. On all
models, 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.

1-57
5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of
the retractor to set the lock.6. 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.
7. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.

2-10 Rear Door Security Locks (If Equipped)
With this feature, you can lock the rear doors so they
can't be opened from the inside by passengers.
The security lock lever is
located on the inside edge
of each rear door.
To use the security locks, do the following:
1. Open one of the rear doors.2. Slide the lever up to the lock symbol to engage the
lock or, slide the lever down to the unlock symbol to
disengage the lock.
3. Close the door.
4. Repeat these steps on the opposite rear door.
If the security locks are engaged, the rear doors of your
vehicle cannot be opened from the inside. If you want to
open the rear door when the security lock is on, unlock
the door and open the door from the outside.
Lockout Prevention
This feature protects you from locking your key in
the vehicle when the key is in the ignition and a door
is open.
If the power lock switch is pressed when a door is open
and the key is in the ignition, all of the doors will lock
and then the driver's door will unlock.
Leaving Your Vehicle
If you are leaving the vehicle, take your keys, open your
door and set the locks from inside. Then get out and
close the door.

2-14
Third Door (Extended Cab)
(If Equipped)
Your vehicle may be equipped with a side access panel
for convenience in loading and unloading cargo.
To open the side access panel, first open the driver's
front door. Then, use the handle located on the front
edge of the door panel to open it.
You must close the side access panel before you can
close the driver's door.
Tailgate
You can open the tailgate by pulling up on the handle
while pulling the tailgate down.
When you put the tailgate back up, be sure it latches
securely.
Follow these steps if you want to remove the tailgate:
1. Raise the tailgate slightly.
2. Remove both retaining
cables. To remove each
cable, turn it so the end
faces the front. Then,
push forward so the
larger part of the hole is
over the bolt. Pull the
end over the bolt.

2-15
3. With the tailgate halfway down, pull the tailgate
toward you at the left side and then move the tailgate
to the left to release the right side.
Reverse the procedure to reinstall the tailgate. Make
sure it is secure.
Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle has a number of theft
-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make
it impossible to steal. However, there are ways you
can help.
Key in the Ignition
If you leave your vehicle with the keys inside, it's an
easy target for joy riders or professional thieves
-- so
don't do it.
When you park your vehicle and open the driver's door,
you'll hear a chime reminding you to remove your key
from the ignition and take it with you. Always do this.
Your steering wheel will be locked, and so will your
ignition. If you have an automatic transmission, taking
your key out also locks your transmission. Also
remember to lock the doors.