GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Restraint System

Seat belts are the primary means of occupant restraint.

Seat belts help to keep the occupant(s) inside the passenger compartment and to gradually reduce the impact forces during the following events:

    • Frontal impact
    • Rear impact
    • Side impact
    • Roll-over

All seat belt retractors have emergency locks. The retractors remain unlocked during normal operation and under normal driving conditions. The retractors remain unlocked during normal conditions in order to allow free movement of the upper body of each occupant.

A pendulum locks the seal belt webbing into position. The pendulum causes a locking bar to engage a cog on the spool of the retractor mechanism when the following conditions occur:

    • A rapid extraction of the seat belt webbing from the retractor
    • An abrupt change in vehicle speed
    • An abrupt change in vehicle direction
    • Operation of the vehicle on a steep upgrade
    • Operation of the vehicle on a downgrade

The seat belts have an automatic locking (cinch) feature. The cinch feature is activated when the seat belt webbing is completely extended from the retractor. The cinch feature prevents the webbing from extending beyond the position from which it is allowed to retract.

Use of the cinch feature is recommended for securing a child seat.

The cinch feature may be cancelled by allowing the webbing to wind back completely into the retractor. After the cinch feature is cancelled, the webbing is unlocked. After the cinch feature is cancelled, the webbing will extend from the retractor.

This vehicle is also equipped with a Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (SIR) System. Refer to Supplemental Inflatable Restraints in Restraints for more information about the SIR system.

Front Seat System

The front seat belts on sedans are equipped with an adjustable shoulder belt guide loop. The shoulder belt can be adjusted to one of the four positions by a release switch located at the center pillar. The release switch permits adjustment of the shoulder belt to the height of the occupant.

The front passenger seat and the rear seat retractors are dual-mode type retractors with emergency locking and automatic features.

The automatic locking feature is for use with a child seat.

The front seat belt system includes the following components:

    • The driver and the passenger's retractor side belt
        The retractor side belt is located and attached on the center pillar post in all coupes and sedans
    • The front seat center driver and passenger's buckle belts located between the two front seats.
        These buckle belts are attached to the seat.

The driver's seat belt system includes a seat belt switch in the driver's seat buckle-side belt. The seat belt switch controls a reminder lamp and a tone alarm. The tone lamp and the reminder lamp will not operate when the following conditions exist:

    • The driver's seat belt is buckled
    • The driver's door is closed
    • The ignition switch is turned ON

When the above conditions exist, the following events will occur:

    • The tone alarm will operate 4 to 8 seconds and then turn off.
    • The reminder lamp will operate for 20 seconds.
        The reminder lamp will the flash for an additional 55 seconds and then turn off.

Refer to Electrical Diagnosis in order to diagnose a failure of the remainder lamp or the tone alarm.

Rear Seat System

The rear seat belt system includes the following components:

    • The rear seat retractor side belt.
      • The rear retractor side belt is located under the rear deck trim panel.
      • The rear seat retractor side belt is attached to the rear deck body panel.
    • The rear seat center and outer seat buckle belt.
      • The rear seat center and outer seat buckle belt is located in the center of the lower seat cushion.
      • The rear seat center and outer seat buckle belt is attached to the rear floor pan.

Child Restraint

Caution: A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured if the front passenger's air bag inflates. This is because the back of a rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the inflating air bag. It is always better to secure a child restraint in the rear seat. If a forward-facing child seat is suitable for your child, always secure a rear-facing child restraint in the rear seat.

You may, however, secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat. Before you secure a forward-facing child restraint, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go. Or, secure the child restraint in the rear seat.

Install and secure the child seat according to the manufacturer's directions.

The automatic locking (cinch) feature can be used in order to secure the child seat.

If the child seat has a top strap, the child seat top strap must be anchored. Refer to Child Seat Tether Outer Hardware Kit .

Do not allow passengers to sit at locations where the seat belts are being used in order to secure the child seat.