Seat Belt Systems: Adjustments

Fastening Safety Belts
After entering the vehicle, adjust the front seat to obtain the best position for driving comfort, access to controls and visibility. Then, use the following procedure for fastening safety belts.

Before you fasten your combination lap/shoulder safety belt, you may have to lengthen it. To lengthen the safety belt, pull some safety belt webbing out of the retractor. While holding the safety belt webbing below the safety belt tongue, grasp the tip (metal portion) of the safety belt tongue (not the safety belt tongue cover). Then, while keeping the metal portion of the safety belt tongue parallel to the safety belt webbing, slide the safety belt tongue upward.

To fasten the safety belt, pull the lap/shoulder belt from the retractor so that the shoulder portion of the safety belt crosses the shoulder and chest. Be sure the safety belt is not twisted. If it is, remove the twist. Insert the safety belt tongue into the proper safety belt buckle end for that seating position until a "snap" is heard. Make sure the safety belt tongue is securely fastened to the safety belt buckle end.

To tighten the lap portion of the safety belt, pull up on the shoulder belt until it fits snugly. The safety belt should rest as low on the hips as possible.

The safety belt system allows freedom of movement, locking only on hard braking or impacts of approximately 8 km/h (5 mph) or more. The system cannot be made to lock by jerking on the safety belt.

Unfastening Safety Belts
Push the release button in the safety belt buckle end and allow the safety belt to unlatch.

After unbuckling the safety belt, it is recommended that care be taken during retraction to prevent it from striking other passengers, hitting trim panels or painted door surfaces.

Shoulder Portion Adjustment
The shoulder belt portion of the safety belt adjusts automatically to a snug position.

WARNING: DO NOT INTRODUCE SLACK INTO THE SAFETY BELT SYSTEM BECAUSE THE SAFETY BELT LOCKS UPON IMPACT WHERE IT IS POSITIONED. USE THE SHOULDER BELT ON THE OUTSIDE SHOULDER ONLY. NEVER WEAR THE SHOULDER BELT UNDER THE ARM. NEVER SWING IT AROUND THE NECK OVER THE INSIDE SHOULDER. NEVER USE A SINGLE SAFETY BELT FOR MORE THAN ONE PERSON. ENSURE THE LAP PORTION OF THE SAFETY BELT IS FITTED SNUGLY AND AS LOW AS POSSIBLE AROUND THE HIPS, NOT ON THE WAIST. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE PRECAUTIONS COULD INCREASE THE CHANCE AND/OR SEVERITY OF INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT.