RAM Chassis Cab (2021 year). Manual in english — page 17

266

SAFETY

(Continued)



Flash hazard lights as long as the battery has

power.



Turn on the interior lights, which remain on as

long as the battery has power or for 15 minutes

from the intervention of the Enhanced Accident

Response System.



Unlock the power door locks.

Your vehicle may also be designed to perform any

of these other functions in response to the

Enhanced Accident Response System:



Turn off the Fuel Filter Heater, Turn off the HVAC

Blower Motor, Close the HVAC Circulation Door



Cut off battery power to the:



Engine



Electric Motor (if equipped)



Electric power steering



Brake booster



Electric park brake



Automatic transmission gear selector



Horn



Front wiper



Headlamp washer pump

NOTE:

After an accident, remember to place the ignition

to the STOP (OFF/LOCK) position and remove the

key from the ignition switch to avoid draining the

battery. Carefully check the vehicle for fuel leaks in

the engine compartment and on the ground near

the engine compartment and fuel tank before

resetting the system and starting the engine. If

there are no fuel leaks or damage to the vehicle

electrical devices (e.g. headlights) after an

accident, reset the system by following the

procedure described below. If you have any doubt,

contact an authorized dealer.

Enhanced Accident Response System

Reset Procedure

In order to reset the Enhanced Accident Response

System functions after an event, the ignition switch

must be changed from ignition START or ON/RUN

to ignition OFF. Carefully check the vehicle for fuel

leaks in the engine compartment and on the

ground near the engine compartment and fuel

tank before resetting the system and starting the

engine.
After an accident, if the vehicle will not start after

performing the reset procedure, the vehicle must

be towed to an authorized dealer to be inspected

and to have the Enhanced Accident Response

System reset.

Maintaining Your Air Bag System

WARNING!



Modifications to any part of the air bag system

could cause it to fail when you need it. You

could be injured if the air bag system is not

there to protect you. Do not modify the compo

-

nents or wiring, including adding any kind of

badges or stickers to the steering wheel hub

trim cover or the upper passenger side of the

instrument panel. Do not modify the front

fascia/bumper, vehicle body structure, or add

aftermarket side steps or running boards.



It is dangerous to try to repair any part of the

air bag system yourself. Be sure to tell anyone

who works on your vehicle that it has an air

bag system.

SAFETY

267

Event Data Recorder (EDR)

This vehicle is equipped with an event data

recorder (EDR). The main purpose of an EDR is to

record, in certain crash or near crash-like

situations, such as an air bag deployment or hitting

a road obstacle, data that will assist in

understanding how a vehicle’s systems performed.

The EDR is designed to record data related to

vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short

period of time, typically 30 seconds or less. The

EDR in this vehicle is designed to record such data

as:



How various systems in your vehicle were oper

-

ating;



Whether or not the driver and passenger safety

belts were buckled/fastened;



How far (if at all) the driver was depressing the

accelerator and/or brake pedal; and,



How fast the vehicle was traveling.

These data can help provide a better

understanding of the circumstances in which

crashes and injuries occur.
NOTE:

EDR data are recorded by your vehicle only if a

non-trivial crash situation occurs; no data are

recorded by the EDR under normal driving condi

-

tions and no personal data (e.g., name, gender,

age, and crash location) are recorded. However,

other parties, such as law enforcement, could

combine the EDR data with the type of personally

identifying data routinely acquired during a crash

investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR, special

equipment is required, and access to the vehicle or

the EDR is needed. In addition to the vehicle

manufacturer, other parties, such as law

enforcement, that have the special equipment,

can read the information if they have access to the

vehicle or the EDR.

C

HILD

R

ESTRAINTS

Everyone in your vehicle needs to be buckled up at

all times, including babies and children. Every

state in the United States, and every Canadian

province, requires that small children ride in

proper restraint systems. This is the law, and you

can be prosecuted for ignoring it.
Children 12 years or younger should ride properly

buckled up in a rear seat, if available. According to

crash statistics, children are safer when properly

restrained in the rear seats rather than in the front.

There are different sizes and types of restraints for

children from newborn size to the child almost

large enough for an adult safety belt. Always check

the child seat Owner’s Manual to make sure you

have the correct seat for your child. Carefully read



Do not attempt to modify any part of your air

bag system. The air bag may inflate acciden

-

tally or may not function properly if modifica

-

tions are made. Take your vehicle to an

authorized dealer for any air bag system

service. If your seat, including your trim cover

and cushion, needs to be serviced in any way

(including removal or loosening/tightening of

seat attachment bolts), take the vehicle to an

authorized dealer. Only manufacturer

approved seat accessories may be used. If it is

necessary to modify the air bag system for

persons with disabilities, contact an autho

-

rized dealer.

WARNING!

WARNING!

In a collision, an unrestrained child can become

a projectile inside the vehicle. The force required

to hold even an infant on your lap could become

so great that you could not hold the child, no

matter how strong you are. The child and others

could be badly injured or killed. Any child riding

in your vehicle should be in a proper restraint for

the child’s size.

6

268

SAFETY

and follow all the instructions and warnings in the

child restraint Owner’s Manual and on all the

labels attached to the child restraint.
Before buying any restraint system, make sure that

it has a label certifying that it meets all applicable

Safety Standards. You should also make sure that

you can install it in the vehicle where you will use it.
NOTE:



For additional information, refer to http://

www.nhtsa.gov/parents-and-caregivers or call:

1–888–327–4236



Canadian residents should refer to Transport

Canada’s website for additional information:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/en/services/road/

child-car-seat-safety.html

Summary Of Recommendations For Restraining Children In Vehicles

Child Size, Height, Weight Or Age

Recommended Type Of Child Restraint

Infants and Toddlers

Children who are two years old or younger and who

have not reached the height or weight limits of their

child restraint

Either an Infant Carrier or a Convertible Child

Restraint, facing rearward in a rear seat of the

vehicle

Small Children

Children who are at least two years old or who have

outgrown the height or weight limit of their

rear-facing child restraint

Forward-Facing Child Restraint with a five-point

Harness, facing forward in a rear seat of the

vehicle

Larger Children

Children who have outgrown their forward-facing

child restraint, but are too small to properly fit the

vehicle’s seat belt

Belt Positioning Booster Seat and the vehicle seat

belt, seated in a rear seat of the vehicle

Children Too Large for Child Restraints

Children 12 years old or younger, who have

outgrown the height or weight limit of their booster

seat

Vehicle Seat Belt, seated in a rear seat of the

vehicle

SAFETY

269

Infant And Child Restraints

Safety experts recommend that children ride

rear-facing in the vehicle until they are two years

old or until they reach either the height or weight

limit of their rear-facing child restraint. Two types of

child restraints can be used rear-facing: infant

carriers and convertible child seats.
The infant carrier is only used rear-facing in the

vehicle. It is recommended for children from birth

until they reach the weight or height limit of the

infant carrier. Convertible child seats can be used

either rear-facing or forward-facing in the vehicle.

Convertible child seats often have a higher weight

limit in the rear-facing direction than infant carriers

do, so they can be used rear-facing by children who

have outgrown their infant carrier but are still less

than at least two years old. Children should remain

rear-facing until they reach the highest weight or

height allowed by their convertible child seat.

WARNING!



Never place a rear-facing child restraint in

front of an air bag. A deploying passenger front

air bag can cause death or serious injury to a

child 12 years or younger, including a child in

a rear-facing child restraint.



Never install a rear-facing child restraint in the

front seat of a vehicle. Only use a rear-facing

child restraint in the rear seat. If the vehicle

does not have a rear seat, do not transport a

rear-facing child restraint in that vehicle.

WARNING!

Do not install a rear-facing car seat using a rear

support leg in this vehicle. The floor of this

vehicle is not designed to manage the crash

forces of this type of car seat. In a crash, the

support leg may not function as it was designed

by the car seat manufacturer, and your child may

be more severely injured as a result.

6

270

SAFETY

(Continued)

Older Children And Child Restraints

Children who are two years old or who have

outgrown their rear-facing convertible child seat

can ride forward-facing in the vehicle.

Forward-facing child seats and convertible child

seats used in the forward-facing direction are for

children who are over two years old or who have

outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit of

their rear-facing convertible child seat. Children

should remain in a forward-facing child seat with a

harness for as long as possible, up to the highest

weight or height allowed by the child seat.
All children whose weight or height is above the

forward-facing limit for the child seat should use a

belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle’s

seat belts fit properly. If the child cannot sit with

knees bent over the vehicle’s seat cushion while

the child’s back is against the seatback, they

should use a belt-positioning booster seat. The

child and belt-positioning booster seat are held in

the vehicle by the seat belt.

Children Too Large For Booster Seats

Children who are large enough to wear the

shoulder belt comfortably, and whose legs are long

enough to bend over the front of the seat when

their back is against the seatback, should use the

seat belt in a rear seat. Use this simple 5-step test

to decide whether the child can use the vehicle’s

seat belt alone:
1. Can the child sit all the way back against the

back of the vehicle seat?

2. Do the child’s knees bend comfortably over

the front of the vehicle seat – while the child is

still sitting all the way back?

3. Does the shoulder belt cross the child’s

shoulder between the neck and arm?

4. Is the lap part of the belt as low as possible,

touching the child’s thighs and not the

stomach?

5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole

trip?

If the answer to any of these questions was “no”,

then the child still needs to use a booster seat in

this vehicle. If the child is using the lap/shoulder

belt, check seat belt fit periodically and make sure

the seat belt buckle is latched. A child’s squirming

or slouching can move the belt out of position. If

the shoulder belt contacts the face or neck, move

the child closer to the center of the vehicle, or use

a booster seat to position the seat belt on the child

correctly.

WARNING!



Improper installation can lead to failure of an

infant or child restraint. It could come loose in

a collision. The child could be badly injured or

killed. Follow the child restraint manufac

-

turer’s directions exactly when installing an

infant or child restraint.



After a child restraint is installed in the

vehicle, do not move the vehicle seat forward

or rearward because it can loosen the child

restraint attachments. Remove the child

restraint before adjusting the vehicle seat

position. When the vehicle seat has been

adjusted, reinstall the child restraint.



When your child restraint is not in use, secure

it in the vehicle with the seat belt or LATCH

anchorages, or remove it from the vehicle. Do

not leave it loose in the vehicle. In a sudden

stop or accident, it could strike the occupants

or seatbacks and cause serious personal

injury.

WARNING!

WARNING!

Never allow a child to put the shoulder belt

under an arm or behind their back. In a crash,

the shoulder belt will not protect a child properly,

which may result in serious injury or death. A

child must always wear both the lap and

shoulder portions of the seat belt correctly.

SAFETY

271

Recommendations For Attaching Child Restraints

Lower Anchors And Tethers For CHildren

(LATCH) Restraint System

LATCH Label

Your vehicle is equipped with the child restraint

anchorage system called LATCH, which stands for

Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren. The

LATCH system has three vehicle anchor points for

installing LATCH-equipped child seats. There are

two lower anchorages located at the back of the

seat cushion where it meets the seatback and one

top tether anchorage located behind the seating

position. These anchorages are used to install

LATCH-equipped child seats without using the

vehicle’s seat belts. Some seating positions may

have a top tether anchorage but no lower

anchorages. In these seating positions, the seat

belt must be used with the top tether anchorage to

install the child restraint. Please see the following

table for more information.

Restraint Type

Combined Weight of

the Child + Child

Restraint

Use Any Attachment Method Shown With An “X” Below

LATCH – Lower Anchors

Only

Seat Belt Only

LATCH – Lower Anchors

+ Top Tether Anchor

Seat Belt + Top Tether

Anchor

Rear-Facing Child

Restraint

Up to 65 lbs

(29.5 kg)

X

X

Rear-Facing Child

Restraint

More than 65 lbs

(29.5 kg)

X

Forward-Facing Child

Restraint

Up to 65 lbs

(29.5 kg)

X

X

Forward-Facing Child

Restraint

More than 65 lbs

(29.5 kg)

X

6

272

SAFETY

LATCH Positions For Installing Child

Restraints In This Vehicle

Regular Cab LATCH Positions

Crew Cab 60/40 Split Bench LATCH Positions

Crew Cab Full Bench LATCH Positions

Top Tether Anchorage Symbol

Lower Anchorage Symbol (2 Anchorages Per

Seating Position)

Top Tether Anchorage Symbol

Lower Anchorage Symbol (2 Anchorages Per

Seating Position)

Top Tether Anchorage Symbol

Frequently Asked Questions About Installing Child Restraints With LATCH

What is the weight limit (child’s weight + weight of the child

restraint) for using the LATCH anchorage system to attach the

child restraint?

65 lbs (29.5 kg)

Use the LATCH anchorage system until the combined weight of

the child and the child restraint is 65 lbs (29.5 kg). Use the seat

belt and tether anchor instead of the LATCH system once the

combined weight is more than 65 lbs (29.5 kg).

Can the LATCH anchorages and the seat belt be used together to

attach a rear-facing or forward-facing child restraint?

No

Do not use the seat belt when you use the LATCH anchorage

system to attach a rear-facing or forward-facing child restraint.
Booster seats may be attached to the LATCH anchorages if

allowed by the booster seat manufacturer. See your booster seat

owner’s manual for more information.

SAFETY

273

Locating The LATCH Anchorages — Crew

Cab Only

The lower anchorages are round bars

that are found at the rear of the seat

cushion where it meets the seatback.

They are just visible when you lean into

the rear seat to install the child restraint. You will

easily feel them if you run your finger along the gap

between the seatback and seat cushion.

Crew Cab Rear Outboard Seats Driver Side

Locating The Upper Tether Anchorages

Regular Cab models have tether strap

anchorages behind the front center and

right seats. Crew Cab models have tether

strap anchorages located behind each of

the rear seats.

Can a child seat be installed in the center position using the inner

LATCH lower anchorages from the outboard seating positions?

N/A – Regular / Crew

Split Rear Bench

No – Crew Full Rear

Bench

Regular Cab Front/Full Bench Rear Seat: Use the seat belt and

tether anchor to install a child seat in the center seating position.
Split Bench Rear Seat: Use the supplied center lower anchorages

to install a child restraint in the center position.

Can two child restraints be attached using a common lower

LATCH anchorage?

No

Never “share” a LATCH anchorage with two or more child

restraints. If the center position does not have dedicated LATCH

lower anchorages, use the seat belt to install a child seat in the

center position next to a child seat using the LATCH anchorages

in an outboard position.

Can the rear-facing child restraint touch the back of the front

passenger seat?

Yes

The child seat may touch the back of the front passenger seat if

the child restraint manufacturer also allows contact. See your

child restraint owner’s manual for more information.

Can the rear head restraints be removed?

Yes

The head restraints can be removed in every rear seating

position if they interfere with the installation of the child restraint

Ú

page 34.

Frequently Asked Questions About Installing Child Restraints With LATCH

6

274

SAFETY

Regular Cab Tether Anchorages (Behind Covers)

Crew Cab Outboard Tether Anchorage

Crew Cab Center Tether Anchorage With Head Restraint In

Raised Position

LATCH-compatible child restraint systems will be

equipped with a rigid bar or a flexible strap on each

side. Each will have a hook or connector to attach

to the lower anchorage and a way to tighten the

connection to the anchorage. Forward-facing child

restraints and some rear-facing child restraints will

also be equipped with a tether strap. The tether

strap will have a hook at the end to attach to the

top tether anchorage and a way to tighten the strap

after it is attached to the anchorage.

Center Seat LATCH

Regular Cab Or Crew Cab Full Bench Rear Seat: No

Lower Center LATCH Anchorages Available

Crew Cab Split Bench Rear Seat: Center LATCH

Anchorages Available
If a child restraint installed in the center position

blocks the seat belt webbing or buckle for the

outboard position, do not use that outboard

position. If a child seat in the center position blocks

the outboard LATCH anchors or seat belt, do not

install a child seat in that outboard position.

1 — Tether Anchor
2 — Tether Strap Hook
3 — Tether Strap To Child Restraint

WARNING!



Do not install a child restraint in the center

position using the LATCH system. This position

is not approved for installing child seats using

the LATCH attachments. You must use the

seat belt and tether anchor to install a child

seat in the center seating position.



Never use the same lower anchorage to

attach more than one child restraint. For

typical installation instructions, see

Ú

page 275.

SAFETY

275

Always follow the directions of the child restraint

manufacturer when installing your child restraint.

Not all child restraint systems will be installed as

described here.

To Install A LATCH-Compatible Child

Restraint

If the selected seating position has a Switchable

Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) seat belt, stow

the seat belt, following the instructions below. See

Ú

page 276 to check what type of seat belt each

seating position has.
1. Loosen the adjusters on the lower straps and

on the tether strap of the child seat so that

you can more easily attach the hooks or

connectors to the vehicle anchorages.

2. Place the child seat between the lower

anchorages for that seating position. If the

second row seat can be reclined, you may

recline the seat and/or raise the head restraint

(if adjustable) to get a better fit. If the rear seat

can be moved forward and rearward in the

vehicle, you may wish to move it to its

rear-most position to make room for the child

seat. You may also move the front seat forward

to allow more room for the child seat.

3. Attach the lower hooks or connectors of the

child restraint to the lower anchorages in the

selected seating position.

4. If the child restraint has a tether strap, connect

it to the top tether anchorage. See

Ú

page 279 for directions to attach a tether

anchor.

5. Tighten all of the straps as you push the child

restraint rearward and downward into the

seat. Remove slack in the straps according to

the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions.

6. Test that the child restraint is installed tightly

by pulling back and forth on the child seat at

the belt path. It should not move more than

1 inch (25.4 mm) in any direction.

How To Stow An Unused Switchable-ALR

(ALR) Seat Belt:

When using the LATCH attaching system to install

a child restraint, stow all ALR seat belts that are not

being used by other occupants or being used to

secure child restraints. An unused belt could injure

a child if they play with it and accidentally lock the

seat belt retractor. Before installing a child

restraint using the LATCH system, buckle the seat

belt behind the child restraint and out of the child’s

reach. If the buckled seat belt interferes with the

child restraint installation, instead of buckling it

behind the child restraint, route the seat belt

through the child restraint belt path and then

buckle it. Do not lock the seat belt. Remind all

children in the vehicle that the seat belts are not

toys and that they should not play with them.

WARNING!

Never use the same lower anchorage to attach

more than one child restraint. For typical

installation instructions, see

Ú

page 275.

WARNING!



Improper installation of a child restraint to the

LATCH anchorages can lead to failure of the

restraint. The child could be badly injured or

killed. Follow the child restraint manufac

-

turer’s directions exactly when installing an

infant or child restraint.



Child restraint anchorages are designed to

withstand only those loads imposed by

correctly-fitted child restraints. Under no

circumstances are they to be used for adult

seat belts, harnesses, or for attaching other

items or equipment to the vehicle.

6

276

SAFETY

Installing Child Restraints Using The

Vehicle Seat Belt

Child restraint systems are designed to be secured

in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion

of a lap/shoulder belt.

The seat belts in the passenger seating positions

are equipped with either a Switchable Automatic

Locking Retractor (ALR) or a cinching latch plate or

both. Both types of seat belts are designed to keep

the lap portion of the seat belt tight around the

child restraint so that it is not necessary to use a

locking clip. The ALR retractor can be “switched”

into a locked mode by pulling all of the webbing out

of the retractor and then letting the webbing

retract back into the retractor. If it is locked, the

ALR will make a clicking noise while the webbing is

pulled back into the retractor. The cinching latch

plate is designed to hold the lap portion of the seat

belt tight when webbing is pulled tight and straight

through a child restraint’s belt path.
See the “Automatic Locking Mode” description

Ú

page 258 for additional information on ALR.

Please see the table below and the following

sections for more information.

Lap/Shoulder Belt Systems For Installing

Child Restraints In This Vehicle

Regular Cab Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) Locations

Crew Cab Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) Locations

WARNING!



Improper installation or failure to properly

secure a child restraint can lead to failure of

the restraint. The child could be badly injured

or killed.



Follow the child restraint manufacturer’s

directions exactly when installing an infant or

child restraint.

ALR — Switchable Automatic Locking Retractor

Top Tether Anchorage Symbol

Cinching Latch plate — Cinching Latch plate
ALR — Switchable Automatic Locking Retractor

Top Tether Anchorage Symbol

SAFETY

277

(Continued)

Installing A Child Restraint With A

Switchable Automatic Locking Retractor

(ALR):

Child restraint systems are designed to be secured

in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion

of a lap/shoulder belt.

1. For Crew Cab Models

Place the child seat in the center of the seating

position. If the second row seat can be re

-

clined, you may recline the seat and/or raise

the head restraint (if adjustable) to get a better

fit. If the rear seat can be moved forward and

rearward in the vehicle, you may wish to move

it to its rear-most position to make room for the

child seat. You may also move the front seat

forward to allow more room for the child seat.
For Regular Cab Models
Place the child seat in the center of the seating

position. Move the vehicle seat as far rearward

as possible to keep the child as far from the

passenger air bag as possible.

2. Pull enough of the seat belt webbing from the

retractor to pass it through the belt path of the

child restraint. Do not twist the belt webbing in

the belt path.

3. Slide the latch plate into the buckle until you

hear a “click.”

Frequently Asked Questions About Installing Child Restraints With Seat Belts

What is the weight limit (child’s weight + weight of the child

restraint) for using the Tether Anchor with the seat belt to attach

a forward facing child restraint?

Weight limit of the

Child Restraint

Always use the tether anchor when using the seat belt to install a

forward facing child restraint, up to the recommended weight

limit of the child restraint.

Can the rear-facing child restraint touch the back of the front

passenger seat?

Yes

Contact between the front passenger seat and the child restraint

is allowed, if the child restraint manufacturer also allows contact.

Can the rear head restraints be removed?

Yes

The head restraints can be removed in every rear seating

position if they interfere with the installation of the child restraint

Ú

page 34.

Can the buckle stalk be twisted to tighten the seat belt against

the belt path of the child restraint?

Yes – Cinching Latch

Plate

No – ALR

In positions with cinching latch plates (CINCH), the buckle stalk

may be twisted up to 3 full turns. Do not twist the buckle stalk in

a seating position with an ALR retractor.

WARNING!



Improper installation or failure to properly

secure a child restraint can lead to failure of

the restraint. The child could be badly injured

or killed.



Follow the child restraint manufacturer’s

directions exactly when installing an infant or

child restraint.

WARNING!

6

278

SAFETY

4. Pull on the webbing to make the lap portion

tight against the child seat.

5. To lock the seat belt, pull down on the shoulder

part of the belt until you have pulled all the

seat belt webbing out of the retractor. Then,

allow the webbing to retract back into the

retractor. As the webbing retracts, you will hear

a clicking sound. This means the seat belt is

now in the Automatic Locking mode.

6. Try to pull the webbing out of the retractor. If it

is locked, you should not be able to pull out any

webbing. If the retractor is not locked, repeat

step 5.

7. Finally, pull up on any excess webbing to

tighten the lap portion around the child

restraint while you push the child restraint

rearward and downward into the vehicle seat.

8. If the child restraint has a top tether strap and

the seating position has a top tether

anchorage, connect the tether strap to the

anchorage and tighten the tether strap. See

Ú

page 279 for directions to attach a tether

anchor.

9. Test that the child restraint is installed tightly

by pulling back and forth on the child seat at

the belt path. It should not move more than

1 inch (25.4 mm) in any direction.

Any seat belt system will loosen with time, so check

the belt occasionally, and pull it tight if necessary.

Installing A Child Restraint With A Cinching

Latch Plate (CINCH) — If Equipped:

Child restraint systems are designed to be secured

in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion

of a lap/shoulder belt.

1. Place the child seat in the center of the

seating position. If the second row seat can

be reclined, you may recline the seat and/or

raise the head restraint (if adjustable) to get a

better fit. If the rear seat can be moved

forward and rearward in the vehicle, you may

wish to move it to its rear-most position to

make room for the child seat. You may also

move the front seat forward to allow more

room for the child seat.

2. Next, pull enough of the seat belt webbing

from the retractor to pass it through the belt

path of the child restraint. Do not twist the belt

webbing in the belt path.

3. Slide the latch plate into the buckle until you

hear a “click.”

4. Finally, pull up on any excess webbing to

tighten the lap portion around the child

restraint while you push the child restraint

rearward and downward into the vehicle seat.

5. If the child restraint has a top tether strap and

the seating position has a top tether

anchorage, connect the tether strap to the

anchorage and tighten the tether strap. See

Ú

page 279 for directions to attach a tether

anchor.

6. Test that the child restraint is installed tightly

by pulling back and forth on the child seat at

the belt path. It should not move more than

1 inch (25.4 mm) in any direction.

Any seat belt system will loosen with time, so check

the belt occasionally, and pull it tight if necessary.
If the buckle or the cinching latch plate is too close

to the belt path opening of the child restraint, you

may have trouble tightening the seat belt. If this

happens, disconnect the latch plate from the

buckle and twist the short buckle-end belt up to

three full turns to shorten it. Insert the latch plate

into the buckle with the release button facing out,

away from the child restraint. Repeat steps 4 to 6,

above, to complete the installation of the child

restraint.

WARNING!



Improper installation or failure to properly

secure a child restraint can lead to failure of

the restraint. The child could be badly injured

or killed.



Follow the child restraint manufacturer’s

directions exactly when installing an infant or

child restraint.

SAFETY

279

If the belt still cannot be tightened after you

shorten the buckle, disconnect the latch plate from

the buckle, turn the buckle around one half turn,

and insert the latch plate into the buckle again. If

you still cannot make the child restraint installation

tight, try a different seating position.

Installing Child Restraints Using The Top

Tether Anchorage

Regular Cab Trucks:

In the regular cab truck, the top tether

anchorages are located behind the center and

right passenger seats. There is a plastic cover over

each anchorage. To attach the tether strap of the

child restraint:
1. Place the child restraint on the seat and

adjust the tether strap so that it will reach

over the seat back, under the head restraint

and to the tether anchor directly behind the

seat.

Regular Cab Tether Anchorages

2. Route the tether strap to provide the most

direct path between the anchorage and the

child seat. The tether strap should go between

the head restraint posts underneath the head

restraint. You may need to adjust the head

restraint to the upward position to pass the

tether strap underneath the head restraint

and between its posts.

3. Lift the cover (if so equipped), and attach the

hook to the square opening in the sheet metal.

Tighten the tether strap according to the child

seat manufacturer’s instructions.

Crew Cab Trucks

The top tether anchorages in this vehicle are

tether strap loops located between the rear glass

and the back of the rear seat. There is a tether

strap loop located behind each seating position.

Follow the steps below to attach the tether strap of

the child restraint.

WARNING!

Do not attach a tether strap for a rear-facing car

seat to any location in front of the car seat,

including the seat frame or a tether anchorage.

Only attach the tether strap of a rear-facing car

seat to the tether anchorage that is approved for

that seating position, located behind the top of

the vehicle seat. For the location of approved

tether anchorages in your vehicle, see

Ú

page 271.

1 — Tether Anchor
2 — Tether Strap Hook
3 — Tether Strap To Child Restraint

WARNING!

Never place a rear-facing child restraint in front

of an air bag. A deploying Passenger Front Air

Bag can cause death or serious injury to a child

12 years or younger, including a child in a

rear-facing child restraint.

6

280

SAFETY

Right Or Left Outboard Seats:
1. Raise the head restraint and reach between

the rear seat and rear glass to access the

tether strap loop.

Head Restraint In Raised Position

Tether Strap Loop With Center Head Restraint In Raised

Position

2. Place a child restraint on the seat and adjust

the tether strap so that it will reach over the

seat back, under the head restraint, through

the tether strap loop behind the seat and over

to the tether strap loop behind the center seat.

3. Pass the tether strap hook under the head

restraint behind the child seat, though the

tether strap loop behind the seat and over to

the center tether strap loop.

Tether Strap Through Outboard Tether Strap Loop

4. Attach the hook to the center tether strap loop

(see diagram). Tighten the tether strap

according to the child seat manufacturer’s

instructions.

Tether Strap Through Outboard Tether Strap Loop And

Attached To Center Tether Strap Loop

NOTE:

If there are child seats in both of the outboard (left

and right) seating positions, the tether strap hooks

of both child seats should be connected to the

center tether strap loop. This is the correct way to

tether two outboard child seats.

SAFETY

281

Center Seat:
1. Raise the head restraint and reach between

the rear seat and rear glass to access the

tether strap loop.

Tether Strap Loop With Head Restraint In Raised Position

2. Place a child restraint on the seat and adjust

the tether strap so that it will reach over the

seat back, under the head restraint, through

the tether strap loop behind the seat and over

to the tether strap loop behind either the right

or left outboard seat.

3. Pass the tether strap hook under the head

restraint behind the child seat, though the

tether strap loop behind the seat and over to

the right or left outboard tether strap loop.

Tether Strap Through Center Tether Strap Loop

4. Attach the hook to the outboard tether strap

loop (see diagram). Tighten the tether strap

according to the child seat manufacturer’s

instructions.

Tether Strap Through Center Tether Strap Loop And

Attached To Outboard Tether Strap Loop

Installing Three Child Restraints:
1. Place a child restraint on each outboard rear

seat. Route the tether straps following the

directions for right and left seating positions,

above.

2. Attach both hooks to the center tether strap

loop, but do not tighten the straps yet.

3. Place a child restraint on the center rear seat.

Route the tether strap following the directions

for the center seating position, above.

4. Attach the hook to the outboard tether strap

loop.

5. Tighten the tether straps according to the child

seat manufacturer’s instructions, tightening

the right and left tether straps before the

center tether strap.

Outboard And Center Seating Positions Shown

6