INFORMATION ON SEAT BELT EXTENDERS. Chevrolet Astro

SUBJECT: INFORMATION ON SEAT BELT EXTENDERS

MODELS: 1994 AND PRIOR CHEVROLET AND GMC TRUCK G/M/L VANS (INCLUDING RPO YF7 CONVERSION)

*********************************************************** THIS BULLETIN CANCELS AND REPLACES CORPORATE BULLETIN 261609. PREVIOUS DIVISIONAL PUBLICATION NUMBERS WERE:

CHEVROLET 92-183-10 GMC TRUCK 92-10A2-83 GM CANADA 92-2-260 ***********************************************************

SOME OWNERS OF THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES MAY COMMENT THAT THE SEAT BELT OR THE LAP SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT PROVIDE A SUFFICIENT COMFORTABLE LENGTH. THE SEAT BELT EXTENDER OFFERINGS HAVE BEEN REDUCED TO TWO FOR EACH TRUCK PLATFORM (9 INCHES AND 15 INCHES). BEFORE ORDERING AN EXTENDER, **FIRST** DETERMINE THAT THERE IS A PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT FOR THE EXTENDER BECAUSE THE SHORTEST LENGTH AVAILABLE IS A 9 INCH BELT EXTENDER. IF THIS LENGTH IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY LONG ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE OCCUPANT TO PHYSICALLY BUCKLE THE SEAT BELT, THEN THE LONGER 15 INCH SEAT BELT EXTENDER SHOULD BE ORDERED.

USE OF THE 15 INCH EXTENDER SHOULD BE LIMITED TO **ONLY** THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE IT IS ABSOLUTELY REQUIRED.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO EMPHASIZE THE FOLLOWING TO YOUR CUSTOMER:

- THE SEAT BELT EXTENDER SHOULD NOT BE USED BY ANYONE UNLESS IT IS PHYSICALLY REQUIRED IN ORDER TO USE THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY BELT SYSTEM.

- USE OF AN EXTENDER, WHERE IT IS NOT PHYSICALLY REQUIRED, SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES THE POTENTIAL FOR BELT-INDUCED ABDOMINAL INJURY IN A SEVERE CRASH.

- EXTENDERS **MUST** ONLY BE USED IN THE SPECIFIC SEATING POSITION FOR THE VEHICLE AND OCCUPANT FOR WHICH IT WAS PROVIDED. THE EXTENDER SHOULD BE REMOVED AND STOWED WHEN NOT IN USE.

- THE SEAT BELT EXTENDER **MUST NOT** BE USED IF IT CAUSES THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FRONT EDGE OF THE BUCKLE AND THE CENTER OF THE OCCUPANT'S BODY TO BE LESS THAN 6 INCHES.

- ONLY ONE SEAT BELT EXTENDER PER SEATING POSITION PER REQUEST.

- SEAT BELT EXTENDERS ARE PROVIDED AT NO COST TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES AND THE ONLY AVAILABLE COLOR IS BLACK.

SERVICE PARTS INFORMATION

P/N DESCRIPTION 12546204 BELT EXTENDER 9 INCHES 12546205 BELT EXTENDER 15 INCHES

PARTS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GMSPO.

FIGURES: 0

GENERAL MOTORS BULLETINS ARE INTENDED FOR USE BY PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS, NOT A "DO-IT-YOURSELFER". THEY ARE WRITTEN TO INFORM THOSE TECHNICIANS OF CONDITIONS THAT MAY OCCUR ON SOME VEHICLES, OR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT COULD ASSIST IN THE PROPER SERVICE OF A VEHICLE. PROPERLY TRAINED TECHNICIANS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND KNOW-HOW TO DO A JOB PROPERLY AND SAFELY. IF A CONDITION IS DESCRIBED, DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE BULLETIN APPLIES TO YOUR VEHICLE, OR THAT YOUR VEHICLE WILL HAVE THAT CONDITION. SEE A GENERAL MOTORS DEALER SERVICING YOUR BRAND OF GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE FOR INFORMATION ON WHETHER YOUR VEHICLE MAY BENEFIT FROM THE INFORMATION.