Seat Belt System Description and Operation: Notes

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2002 GMC Savana Special, 2002 GMC Savana Camper Special, 2002 GMC Savana, and 2002 Chevrolet Chevy Express. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

WARNING: To help avoid personal injury from unrepaired crash damage to a restraint system, perform the seat belt check for each seat belt system. Replace the seat belt system if there is any doubt about the condition of system components

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 seat 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 DESCRIPTION & OPERATION for additional information about the SIR system.