SEAT BELT EXTENDER INFORMATION
Model and Year ALL
TO: ALL CHEVROLET DEALERS
Several states are considering or have enacted mandatory seat belt legis- tration. The State of New York enacted a mandatory seat belt law effective January 1, 1985. Chevrolet Motor Division and General Motors strongly endorse and support efforts to enact legislation requiring the use of seat belts and child restraint systems.
With this new legislation, there may be increased interest by dealers regarding the availability of seat belts to supply customer replacement needs. Seat belts are available as complete assemblies only and repairs (as opposed to replacements) are not recommended. Dealers should not attempt to stock seat belt assemblies for all model years covered by mandatory state laws, since there are too many variations. New seat belt assemblies should be ordered as needed from GMWDD in the normal manner.
In addition, special seat belt extenders are available to accommodate these people who cannot fit the seat belt around themselves. Parts and Accessories Information Bulletin No. 84-212 updated by Accessory Informa- tion Bulletin No. 84-230 provide information about seat belt extenders.
Recent inquiries regarding seat belt extenders availability indicate that some Service Managers, Body Shop Managers, Shop Foreman, Service Advisors or Sales Personnel were not fully aware Chevrolet offered them for sale. Please be certain all appropriate personnel in your dealership are informed. Both increased use of seat belts and improved customer satisfaction should result.
In as much as GM vehicle restraint systems have sufficient belt length to accommodate most drivers and passengers. Requests for belt extensions are infrequent. In the event a customer does make such a request, the attached "Questionnaire" must be completed and sent to the Flint Order Department, attention National Section, where it will be processed as a dealer order. Copies of the three page questionnaire should be made as required.
The extension is available for most GM vehicles produced in recent years. The design is such that it can be coupled to the existing belts included in each vehicle. Since the extension makes the belt arrangement a "custom fit", use by anyone else, or in a different vehicle, may lessen the effectiveness afforded by the restraint system. Therefore, before the order for the extension can be processed, the "Questionnaire" must be completed in every respect, particularly the signature of the person who will be using the extension.
A word of caution - orders for seat belt extensions should not be submitted if it is determined that the intent is simply to provide a vehicle occupant with more slack for the sake of comfort. Please note that orders will not be filled if the measurement called for is 12 inches or less.
Seat belt extenders will be a no charge item to all GM customers who request them for their specific vehicles, effective January 1, 1985.
Since each extension is made up individually after receipt of order, the customer should expect to experience a reasonable delay in availability. The time will vary depending on the vendor and his inventory of materials.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Seat Belt Extender
We have received your request for a Seat Belt Extension. In order to respond, specific information must be supplied regarding the individual and vehicle involved.
Please answer the following questions:
1. Write in the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the car or cars in which you need the longer belt. The VIN is located on the left front top surface of the instrument panel and is visible from the outside of the car. Note the VIN below.
2. Part number, if shown, Manufacturer's Name and Model Number that appears on the label of the seat belt assembly along with the color of the webbing. Colored extenders for past model vehicles are furnished on an "as material available basis" only. If webbing of the color designated for a past model vehicle is not available, the extension will be furnished in black.
The label (Figure 2) which is stitched to the webbing is located either slightly above where the webbing attaches to the floor (near the door) or in the retractor. The label on the webbing stowed inside the retractor can be found by fully extracting the webbing from the retractor. Note information below:
3. Measurement in Inches
Place the seat in the position that it is in when you drive or ride in the car. With you sitting in the seat make sure that the buckle is extended as far through the seat as possible. This may be done by giving the buckle a hard pull. With the buckle resting against your hip, measure from the lap area directly below the navel to the front edge of the buckle (Figure 3) and note dimension below.
*NOTE: If measurement is 12 inches (304.8mm) or less, a seat belt extender is not available.
With this information, we can supply a seat belt extender tailored for your personal use that will maintain the proper seat belt orientation.
Body of letter to be included with
the Seat Belt Extender
Enclosed Seat Belt Extender was made according to the information you supplied on the Questionnaire. This extender will allow you to use your seat belt properly.
We must stress that this seat belt extender was custom made for you and should be used only by you and only in the particular vehicle for which it was made. As noted on the label affixed to the seat belt extender, it should not be used in any other vehicle or by other persons because it will not fit others in a way that affords the protection that belt restraints are designed to offer. There is always a risk of serious injury in a crash, and seat belt restraints usually reduce that risk. However, the risk would not be reduced (it may even be made worse) for people other than you using the extender, or for you if you use it in another vehicle.
4. Customer Information -------------------- Name: Address: City, State:
Customer Signature:
5. Dealer Information ------------------ Name: Address: City, State:
Dealer Parts Code:
Parts Manager's Signature
Mail completed questionnaire to:
Warehousing and Distribution Division of GM 6060 West Bristol Road Flint, MI 48554
ATTENTION:
National Order Department
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.
