User manual CHEVROLET CAVALIER - 2003

The 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner Manual Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... ............................................... Front Seats ............................................... Rear Seats Safety Belts .............................................. ....................................... Child Restraints ...................................... Air Bag Systems ............................ Restraint System Check Features and Controls ..................................... Keys ........................................................ ....................................... Doors Locks and ?AdilldGVd§ ................................................. ............................ Theft-Deterrent Systems ........... Starting and Operating Your Vehicle Mirrors .................................................... Onstar@ System ...................................... ......................................... Storage Areas .................................................. Sunroof Instrument Panel ............................................. Instrument Panel Overview .......................... ...................................... Climate Controls Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators ......... Audio System(s) ....................................... 1-1 1-2 1-8 1-9 1-31 1-51 1-61 2-1 2-2 2-8 2-14 2-16 2-18 2-33 2-36 2-38 2-39 3-1 3-2 3-17 3-21 3-36 . Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1 Towing ..................................................... 4-2 Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle ....... 4-31 Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1 Service ..................................................... 5-3 5-5 Fuel ......................................................... CheckingThingsUnder the Hood ................. 5-10 .................................... 5-45 Bulb Replacement Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-50 ...................................................... 5-51 Tires ..................................... 5-71 Appearance Care ................................. 5-80 Vehicle Identification Electrical System ...................................... 5-81 ..................... 5-85 Capacities and Specifications Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts ...... 5-86 Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1 Maintenance Schedule ................................ 6-2 Customer Assistance Information .................... 7-1 Customer Assistance Information .................. 7-2 7-10 Reporting Safety Defects ........................... INDEX ............................................................... 1 Canadian Owners You can obtain a French copy of this manual from your dealer or from: Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207 GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, CHEVROLET, the CHEVROLET Emblem and the name CAVALIER are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation. This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name "General Motors of Canada Limited" for Chevrolet Motor Division whenever it appears in this manual. Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be there if you ever need it when you're on the road. If you sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the new owner can use it. How to Use This Manual Many people read their owner's manula1 from begin ning to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you do this, it will help you learn about the features and controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you'll find that pictures and words work together to explain things. Index A good place to look for what you need is the Index in back of the manual. It's an alphabetical list of what's in the manual, and the page number where you'll find it. Litho in U.S.A. Part No. 22686694 A First Edition `Copyright General Motors Corporation 08/02/02 All Rights Reserved Safety Warnings and Symbols You will find a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning. You will also find a circle with a slash through it in this book. This safety symbol means "Don't,'' "Don't do this'' or "Don't let this happen." These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people. In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don't, you or others could be hurt. ... Ill Vehicle Damage Warnings Also, in this book you will find these notices: Notice: These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle. A notice will tell you about something that can damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid the damage. When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words. You'll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE. Vehicle Symbols Your vehicle has components and labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols, used on your vehicle, are shown along with the text describing the operation or information relating to a specific component, control, message, gage or indicator. If you need help figuring out a specific name of a component, gage or indicator reference the following topics: Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1 Features and Controls in Section 2 Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3 Climate Controls in Section 3 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators in Section 3 Audio System(s) in Section 3 Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5 iV These are some examples of vehicle symbols you may find on your vehicle: CAUTION POSSIBLE INJURY A LATCH BOTH LAP AND SHOULDER BELTS TO PROTECT OCCUPANT DO TWIST NOT SAFETY BELT WHEN ATTACHING FASTEN SEAT BELTS MOVE SEAT FULLY REARWARD* SECURE CHILD SEAT PULL BELT COMPLETELY rHEN SECURE CHILD SEAT 4:@ 8 LIGHTING MASTER 0 SWITCH -, 8- ENGINE COOLANT cc TEMP BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM ACCESS l.fJ PROTECT EYES BY SHIELDING ENGINE COOLANT FAN CAUSTIC BAlTERY 4CID COULD CAUSE BURNS \& / z DO NOT INSTALL A REAR-FACING CHILD RESTRAINT IN THIS SEATING POSITION HAZARD WARNING FLASHER COOLANT AVOID SPARKS OR FLAMES SPARK OR FLAME COULD EXPLODE BATTERY '\b' DO NOT INSTALL A 'ORWARD-FACING CHILD RESTRAINT IN THIS SEATING POSITION DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS '{o :i ENGINE OIL PRESSUREw d 4 OWNERS MANUAL SERVICE ?"OR L"CK UNLOCK a SERVICE MANUAL a IfL?I Section Seats and Restraint Systems Where to Put the Restraint ............................. Top Strap .................................................... Top Strap Anchor Location ............................. Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System) ........................... Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System ......................................... Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position ................................................... Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position ............................................ 1-40 1-41 1-42 1-43 1-45 1-45 1-48 Front Seats ...................................................... 1.2 Manual Seats ................................................ 1.2 Reclining Seatbacks ........................................ 1.4 Head Restraints ............................................. 1.5 Seatback Latches ........................................... 1-6 Easy Entry Seat ............................................. 1-7 Rear Seats ....................................................... 1.8 Rear Seat Operation ....................................... 1.8 Safety Belts ..................................................... 1-9 Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................. 1-9 Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ...... 1-13 How to Wear Safety Beits Properiy ................. 1-14 Driver Position .............................................. 1.1 4 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-22 Right Front Passenger Position ....................... 1.23 Rear Seat Passengers .................................. 1-23 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults ....................................... 1.27 -Satety Belt Extenaer ..................................... i -;JU Child Restraints ............................................. 1.31 Older Children .............................................. 1.31 Infants and Young Children ............................ 1-34 Child Restraint Systems ............. ..... 1-37 Air Bag Systems ............................................ 1-51 Where Are the Air Bags? ............................... 1-54 When Should an Air Bag Inflate? .................... 1-57 What Makes an Air Bag Inflate? ..................... 1-57 How Does an Air Bag Restrain? ..................... 1-58 What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates? ...... .l -58 Se!?.licincJ Vnllr Air B._g-Eqlrippec!\!ehic!E? .........1-69 Restraint System Check .................................. 1-61 Checking Your Restraint Systems ................... 1-61 Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash ...................................................... 1-62 1-1 Front Seats Manual Seats You can lose contrL, . ihe vehicle if you try to , adjust a manual driver's seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you don't want to. Adjust the driver's seat only when the vehicle is not moving. Lift the lever located on the front of the driver's seat to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it and release the lever. Then try to move the seat with your body, to make sure the seat is locked into place. 1 -2 Your vehicle will be equipped with one of the following passenger seat adjusters. If your vehicle is not equipped with easy entry seats, your passenger seat adjuster looks like this. Slide the lever located under the passenger's seat to the right to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it and release the lever. Then try to move the seat with your body, to make sure the seat is locked into place. If your vehicle is equipped with easy entry seats, this is your front passenger seat adjuster. Pull up on the lever located at the front of the passenger's seat up to unlock it. Slide the seat to a comfortable position and release the lever. Then try to move the seat with your body, to make sure the seat is locked into place. 1-3 Reclining Seatbacks To adjust the seatback, lift the lever located on the outboard side of the seat and move the seatback to where you want it. Release the lever and push rearward on the seatback to make sure it is locked. Pull up on the lever without pushing on the seatback and the seatback will go to an upright position. But don't have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving. 1-4 Head Restraints Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts can't do their job when you're reclined like this. The shoulder belt can't do its job because it won't be against your body. Instead, it will be in front of you. In a crash you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries. The lap belt can't do its job either. In a crash the beit could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not your pelvic at bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. For proper protection when the vehicle is in motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat ana wear your safety beit properly. I Adjust your head restraint so that the top of the restraint . is ciosesi io ihe iop oi yvur ileaci. I 111s3 i i u l - l p reduces the chances of a neck injury in a crash. I , 1-5 Seatback Latches If your vehicle is a two-door model, the front seatback folds forward to let people get into the back seat. the seatback isn't locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is locked. I To fold a front seatback forward, lift the latch located on the lower back side of the seatback and push the seatback forward. When you return the seatback to its original position, make sure the seatback is locked. The latch must be down for the seat to work properly. 1-6 Easy Entry Seat If your vehicle has this feature, the right front seat makes it easy to get in and out of the rear seat. 1. Lift the right front seatback latch to release the seatback. 2. Tilt the seatback completely forward and the whole seat will slide forward. .. .he easy entry right front seat isn't loc..,d, it can move. In a sudden stop or crash, the person sitting there could be injured. After you've used it, be sure to push rearward on an easy entry seat to be sure it is locked. I 3. Move the right front seatback to its original position after someone gets into the rear seat area. 4. Then move the seat rearward until it locks. Tilt the seatback completely forward again and move the seat to get out of the back seat. 1-7 Rear Seats Rear Seat Operation Folding the Seatback To fold the seatback, do the following: 1. Pull the release straps located in the trunk. The right strap operates the passenger's side rear split seat. The left strap operates the driver's side rear split seat. If the seatback isn't locked,it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is locked. A safety belt that is improperly routed, not properly attached, or twisted won't provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. After raising the rear seatback, always check to be sure that the safety belts are properly routed and attached, and are not twisted. 2. Fold the seatback down from the inside of the vehicle. To raise the seatback, push the seatback up to return it to its original position. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is latched securely in the fully upright position. 1-8 Safety Belts Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts properly. It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts. It is extren.,.y dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. not Do allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly. Don't let anyone rib= where he or she ca,, J wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and you're not wearing a safety belt, your injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously injured or killed. In the same crash, you might not be, if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt, and check that your passengers' beirs are fastened properly too. Your vehicie has a iignt that comes on as a reminder to buckle up. See Safety Belt Reminder Light on page 3-24. In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here's why: They work. 1-9 You never know if you'll be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you don't know if it will be a bad one. A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up, a person wouldn't survive. f But most crashes are in between. In many o them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed. After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter... a lot! Why Safety Belts Work When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes. Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it's just a seat on wheels. 1-10 11-1 The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield ... or the instrument panel... 1-12 Questions and Answers About Safety Belts Q: Won't I be trapped in the vehicle after an accident if I'm wearing a safety beit? A: You could be - whether you're wearing a safety belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you're upside down. And your chance of being conscious during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted. or the safety belts! With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does. \/-a. A: t n ptn* I VU L l l l l u l G L I I I I G j G ?.-+ -,-.r* tirnn t dlvy. u V n , , p+nn n,,nr r n * r o d ; c + g n r n I vu v ~ v yY U S V I I I V Sv UOYLUO uvv, and your strongest bones take the forces. That's why safety belts make such good sense. Air bags are in many vehicles today and will be in most of them in the future. But they are ! q y & m . ~ n t ~ l s t ~ m on!!/; s n they work with y c safety belts - not instead of them. Every air bag system ever offered for sale has required the use ot safety belts. Even if you're in a vehicle that has air bags, you still have to buckle up to get the most protection. That's true not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions. 1-13 Q: If I'm a good driver, and I never drive far from home, why should I wear safety belts? How to Wear Safety Belts Properly This part is only for people of adult size. Be aware that there are special things to know about safety belts and children. And there are different rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be riding in your vehicle, see Older Children on page 1-31 or lnfanfs and Young Children on page 1-34. Follow those rules for everyone's protection. First, you'll want to know which restraint systems your vehicle has. We'll start with the driver position. A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you're in an accident - even one that isn't your fault - you and your passengers can be hurt. Being a good driver doesn't protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers. Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of home. And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h). Safety belts are for everyone. Driver Position This part describes the driver's restraint system. 1-14 Lap-Shoulder Belt The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here's how to wear it properly. 1. Close and lock the door. 3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Don't let it get twisted. 2. Adjust the seat so you can sit up straight. To see how, see "Front Seats" in the index. The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly. 4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. If the belt isn't long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 1-30. 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. 1-15 5. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder belt. 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 crash, or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor. 1-16 Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster (Four Door Models) Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt adjuster to the height that is right for you. 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 move it down, squeeze the release button 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 squeezing the release button to make sure it has locked into position. 1-17 Q: What's wrong with this? You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should fit against your body. I I J A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It won't give nearly as much protection this way. 1-18 Q: What's wrong with this? You can be seriously ir,,w,GJ if your be.. .s buckled in the wrong place like this. In a crash, the belt would go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at the pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. Always buckle your belt into the buckle nearest you. 1-19 Q: What's wrong with this? You can be seriously injured if you wear the shoulder belt under your arm. In a crash, your body would move too far forward, which would increase the chance of head and neck injury. Also, the belt would apply too much force to the ribs, which aren't as strong as shoulder bones. You could also severely injure internal organs like your liver or spleen. 1 I I 1 I I I I I I I A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should be worn over the shoulder at all times. 1-20 Q : What's wrong with this? You can be seriously injured b) tw.,,,, belt. In a crash, you wouldn't have the full width of the belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is twisted, make it straight so it can work properly, or ask your dealer to fix it. - 1-21 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be seriously injured if they don't wear safety belts. To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. The belt should go back out of the way. Before you close the door, be sure the belt is out of the way. If you slam the door on it, you can damage both the belt and your vehicle. A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and the lap portion should be worn as low as possible, below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy. 1-22 The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it's more likely that the fetus won't be hurt in a crash. For pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making safety belts effective is wearing them properly. 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. Wear 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. Right Front Passenger Position To learn how to wear the right front passenger's safety belt properly, see Driver Position on page 1-14. The right front passenger's safety belt works the same way as the driver's safety belt - except for one thing. If you ever pull the shoulder portion of the belt out all the way, you will engage the child restraint locking feature. If this happens, just let the belt go back all the way and start again. n 1-23 Lap-Shoulder Belt All rear seating positions 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. The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly. 2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. 1-24 If the belt stops before it reaches the buckle, tilt the latch plate and keep pulling until you can buckle it. 3. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder part. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 1-30. 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. 1-25 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, or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor. You can be seriously ..urt if bwdrshoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should fit against your body. 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, 1-26 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults Your vehicle may have this feature already. If it doesn't, you can get it from any GM dealer. Rear shoulder belt comfort guides will provide added safety belt comfort for older children who have outgrown booster seats and for small adults. When installed on a shoulder belt, the comfort guide better positions the belt away from the neck and head. There is one guide available for each outside passenger position in the rear seat. To provide added safety belt comfort for children who have outgrown child restraints and booster seats and for smaller adults, the comfort guides may be installed on the shoulder belts. Here's how to install a comfort guide and use the safety belt: To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. 1-27 1. Pull the elastic cord out from between the edge of the seatback and the interior body to remove the guide from its storage clip. 2. Slide the guide under and past the belt. The elastic cord must be under the belt. Then, place the guide over the belt, and insert the two edges of the belt into the slots of the guide. 1-28 3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies flat. The elastic cord must be under the belt and the guide on top. 4. Buckle, position and release the safety belt as described in Rear Seat Passengers on page 1-23. Make sure that the shoulder belt crosses the shcL!!der. 1-29 To remove and store the comfort guides, squeeze the belt edges together so that you can take them out of the guides. Pull the guide upward to expose its storage clip, and then slide the guide onto the clip. Turn the guide and clip inward and in between the seatback and the interior body, leaving only the loop of elastic cord exposed. Safety Belt Extender If the vehicle's safety belt will fasten around you, you should use it. But if a safety belt isn't long enough to fasten, your dealer will order you an extender. It's free. When you go in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the extender will be long enough for you. The extender will be just for you, and just for the seat in your vehicle that you choose. Don't let someone else use it, and use it only for the seat it is made to fit. To wear it, just attach it to the regular safety belt. 1-30 Child Restraints Older Children 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. Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear seat. 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. Older children who have outgrown booster seats should wear the vehicle's safety belts. 1-31 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: If the child is sitting in a seat next to a window, move the child toward the center of the vehicle. If the child is sitting in the center rear seat passenger position, move the child toward the safety belt buckle. In either case, 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. If the child is so small that the shoulder belt is still very close to the child's face or neck, you might want to place the child in a seat that has a lap belt, if your vehicle has one. 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. 1-32 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 inthis 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. Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the beit 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. 1-33 Infants and Young Children Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! This includes infants and all other children. Neither the distance traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes the need, for everyone, to use safety restraints. 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. Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles, they should have the protection provided by appropriate restraints. Young children should not use the vehicle's adult safety belts alone, unless there is no other choice. Instead, they need to use a child restraint. People should never hold a baby in their arms while riding in a vehicle. A baby doesn't weigh much -- until a crash. During a crash a baby will become so heavy it is not possible to CAUTION: (Continued) 1-34 holdit. For example, in a crash only 25 mph at (40 km/h), a 12-lb. (5.5 kg) baby will suddenly become a 240-lis. (1 10 kg) force on a person's arms. A baby should be secured in an appropriate restraint. against, or very close to, any air bag when it inflates can be seriously injured or killed. Air bags plus lap-shoulder belts offer outstanding protection for adults and older children, but not for young children and infants. Neither the vehicle's safety belt system nor its air bag system is designed for them. Young children and infants need the protection that a child restraint system can 1-35 Q: What are the different types of add-on child restraints? A: Add-on child restraints, which are purchased by the vehicle's owner, are available in four basic types. Selection of a particular restraint should take into consideration not only the child's weight, height and age but also whether or not the restraint will be compatible with the motor vehicle in which it will be used. For most basic types of child restraints, there are many different models available. When purchasing a child restraint, be sure it is designed to be used in a motor vehicle. If it is, the restraint will have a label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. The restraint manufacturer's instructions that come with the restraint, state the weight and height limitations for a particular child restraint. In addition, there are many kinds of restraints available for children with special needs. swborn infants need complete support, including support for the head and neck. This is necessary because a newborn infant's neck is weak and its head weighs so much compared with the rest of its body. In a crash, an infant in a rear-facing seat settles into the restraint, so the crash forces can be distributed across the strongest part an of infant's body, the back and shoulders. Infants always should be secured in appropriate infant restraints. 1-36 Child Restraint Systems I The body structure of a young child is quite unlike that of an adult or older child, for whom the safety belts are designed. A young child's hip bones are still so small that the vehicle's regular safety belt may not remain low on the hip bones, as it should. Instead, it may settle up around the child's abdomen. In a crash, the belt would apply force on a bodyarea that's unprotected by any bony structure. This alone could cause serious or fatal injuries. Young children always should be secured in appropriate child restraints. An infant car bed (A), a special bed made for use in a rrwior vehicie, is a I iI ~ i ~i ~e:si~ai~-~i deSigiT& 1 a~ systei-1-1 to restrain or position a child on a continuous flat surface. Make sure that the infant's head rests toward the center of the vehicle. 1-37 A rear-facing infant seat (B) provides restraint with the seating surface against the back of the infant. The harness system holds the infant in place and, in a crash, acts to keep the infant positioned in the restraint. A forward-facing child seat (C-E) provides restraint for the child's body with the harness and also sometimes with surfaces such as T-shaped or shelf-like shields. 1-38 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 chiid restraint's harness system holds the child in place within the restraint. I A booster seat (F-G) is a child restraint designed to improve the fit of the vehicle's safety belt system. Some booster seats have a shoulder belt positioner, and some high-back booster seats have a five-point harness. A booster seat can also help a child to see out the window. 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 tne place oi nip 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 :ha: swings up Br tG the side. 1-39 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. Where to Put the Restraint 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. N e w - put a rear-facing child restraint '- the front pass ger seat. Here's why: A child in a rear-facing child restraint can 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. CAUTION: (Continued) 1-40 Top Strap may secure a forward-facing ,hild 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. 'I u , 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. Some child restraints have a top strap, or "top tether". It can help restrain the child restraint during a collision. For it to work, a top strap must be properly anchored to the vehicle. Some top strap-equipped child restraints are designed for use with or without the top strap being anchored. Others require the top strap always to be anchored. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for your child restraint. If yours requires that the top strap be anchored, don't use the restraint unless it is anchored properly. 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. 1-41 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. Top Strap Anchor Location Top strap anchors are already installed in your vehicle for the rear seating positions. You'll find them behind the rear seat on the filler panel. 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. Anchor the top strap to one of the following 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. Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System) Your vehicle has the LATCH system. You'll find anchors (A) in the rear outside seat positions. To assist you in locating the lower anchors for this child restraint system, each seating position with the LATCH system will have a label applied to the seatback at each anchor position. 1 The labels are located near the base of the two rear outside seating positions. In order to use the system, you need either a forward-facing child restraint that has attaching points (B) at its base and a top tether anchor (C), or a .---. L--:.--L:lA + L e + L-it3a1-la~tltyI I I I UI G G L I ~ I ~ ILLI I ~ LI I ~ ~ ~ G uabl~llly V I I I L D a ~ -+&--L;--.. +,;.,. .-. ID\ [u), as shown here. U 1-43