While browsing throught the Technical service bulletins, I came across this. Anyone with young children who does not have the top teather attachment on their cars may want to check into it.

Bulletin No.: 99-09-40-004a

Date: April 12, 2005

INFORMATION
Subject:
Top Tether Hardware Package for Child Restraint Seats

Models:
1989-2002 Passenger Cars, Light Duty Trucks and Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles

(Except EV1 and Prizm)

Supercede:

This bulletin is being revised to add the 2000-2002 model years. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 99-09-40-009 (Section 09 - Restraints).
Important: GM of Canada and IPC Dealers are not authorized to utilize this service bulletin.

Beginning in August, 1997 General Motors began providing Child Restraint Seat Top Tether Hardware Packages to customers in the United States who requested them. The Top Tether Hardware Package contains the necessary hardware for anchoring a forward facing child restraint seat top tether.

One Child Restraint Seat Top Tether Hardware Package will be provided per vehicle to the retail customer at no charge for installation. Charges for installation of additional Top Tether Hardware Packages per vehicle are the responsibility of the customer.

Most forward facing child restraint seats (CRS) sold in the United States prior to calendar year 1999 were not sold with top tether straps, but have provisions for them. Top tethers, which are required in Canada, can help to better secure the seat in the vehicle. When a forward facing CRS including a top tether is used, specially designed components must be used to secure the child seat top tether. These components are included in the Hardware Package from GMSPO.

Top tethers are not normally required or used with rearward facing infant restraint seats. Rearward facing infant restraint seats should never be secured in the front seat of an air bag equipped vehicle unless the vehicle is equipped with an air bag de-activation (shut-off) switch and the switch has been used to turn the air bag off.

Should a retail customer request installation of a Tether Hardware Package at the time of sale or delivery, it is to be installed at no charge to the owner. The labor to install a Tether Hardware Package prior to delivery of a new vehicle to the customer is considered to be part of the delivery "get ready process", and as such, is not claimable. Claiming for the cost and applicable handling allowance of the proper Tether Hardware Package used in the installation is allowed.

If the customer requests installation of a Tether Hardware Package some time after delivery, the package is to be provided free of charge. Hardware Packages include installation instructions which are easily followed and can be installed by most customers. However, should the customer request the dealership'* assistance to install the Tether Hardware Package, it is to be installed at no charge to the customer and the labor may be claimed. All claims submitted for installation labor of an approved Tether Hardware Package must be supported by a signed customer work order. Additional Hardware Packages and installation charges are the responsibility of the customer.

In addition, passenger vehicle deliveries, including vans and sport utilities for daily rental usage, may have one tether hardware package supplied. Additional packages are the owner'* responsibility. Dealers may claim appropriate parts under these circumstances. Sufficient quantities of parts should be ordered in advance of the arrival of vehicles to avoid delays.
Important: When installing a Child Restraint Seat Top Tether Hardware Package, follow the installation instructions included in the package. Additional information about specific mounting locations and installations may be available in the Seat Belt Section (Sections 9, 10-10, 10-11 or 10A) I of the appropriate Service Manual, or the Restraints section of SI.

Any questions regarding this policy should be directed to your Area Manager, Parts or Service.

Parts Information

For Top Tether Hardware Package part numbers and usage, see Group 14.870 (passenger cars & U-van), or Group 16.710 (Light Duty Truck) of the appropriate GMSPO Parts Catalog. In addition, they can also be found in Accessories Group 21.042.

Warranty Information

The dealership will be reimbursed for the parts and labor, if applicable, through the submission of a regular warranty claim.

All claims submitted must be supported by a signed customer work order. Purchase and installation of additional Hardware Packages is the responsibility of the customer.

I wonder how exactly they install it. It'* usually a steel loop where the rear deck meets the top of the backrest of the back seat. I'd love to have one in my car, if my son'* car seat isn't secured *really tightly* with the seatbelt, the whole mass of car seat + child can flop around from side to side in turns. Of course, this happens when you don't know it isn't *really tight* when you're on an exit ramp or something, and your kid and his seat go sliding off to one side while you're in a tight turn on a ramp, and you can't readily straighten out of it, so your kid starts to scream and . . . well let'* just say things are a lot easier in my wife'* 2001 Grand Prix GT which has the upper restraint as original equipment.

So I wonder if they weld it on, or drill holes and use bolts, or use sheet metal screws to attach it, or what. I'll have to ask my dealership about it.

I'd be sort of curious about just what type it is too. It must be something quite simple if they state that most customers should be able to install it by themselves. My son'* '99 GP doesn't have it - so he'll be checking into it also

Hmmm, thats interesting because I have 2 different car seats that don't really fit in the back of my car all that well. Well, they do, but the way it sits in their, it doesn't give you that warm and fuzzy feeling. My Neon has the tether attachments in the back seat. Putting a car seat in that car makes you think your strapping your kid in for a shuttle launch.

My wife and I have a pair of these carseats, one in her `01 GP, and one in my `97 Bonneville:



See that strap with the big steel clip on the end, to the right side of the picture by the base? That'* the thing that clips to the additional restraint loop this tech bulletin is referring to.

Because my car didn't have the restraint loop, I didn't want this "webbed nylon strap with a steel weight on the end" flopping around in my car, so I removed it from the baby'* carseat. Funny thing is, for all that harnessing and steel clips, the other end of the webbed strap is attached to the plastic carseat frame with a 1/2" sheet metal screw, driven through the webbing into the plastic. I think you could probably pull it out with a good solid tug.

If I get one of the restraint loops in this technote, I'm going to find a better way to attach the webbed strap to the baby'* carseat too.

Sidenote: This seat was priced $189 at Toys-R-Us, but on the EddieBauer.com website, I got them for just $99 each, however they are now priced at $219 there now. Weird.

Don't do that. Call the consumer affairs division and file a complaint. Then call the company that made it and Let them know.

I'm kindo confused...how do I go about getting one of these. Do I call a dealer? I really want one, but how?

Yes, call/go to the dealer.

Since my car is at the dealership for AC compressor, I asked them about this TSB and it'* for real. They aren't sure if it bolts on or sheet metal screws on or what, but they're going to install it. They asked me if I wanted it on a side or in the middle, and I chose in the middle.

They said they have to order the kit, they don't have it in stock.
It won't cost me anything, and they get to charge GM.

Whenever it gets installed I'll take pics and post.
-Mark

So cool. I'm gonna have to call real soon.