Jeep Grand Cherokee Owner's Manual page 41

Tether Strap Mounting
Many, but not all restraint systems will be
equipped with separate straps on each side,
with each having a hook or connector for
attachment to the lower anchorage and a
means of adjusting the tension in the strap.
Forward-facing toddler restraints and some
rear-facing infant restraints will also be
equipped with a tether strap, a hook for attach-
ment to the tether strap anchorage and a
means of adjusting the tension of the strap.
First, loosen the adjusters on the lower straps
and on the tether strap so that you can more
easily attach the hooks or connectors to the
vehicle anchorages. Next, attach the lower
hooks or connectors over the top of the anchor-
age bars, pushing aside the seat cover mate-
rial. Then, locate the tether anchorage directly
behind the seat where you are placing the child
restraint and attach the tether strap to the
anchorage, being careful to route the tether
strap to provide the most direct path between
the anchor and the child restraint. Finally,
tighten all three straps as you push the child
restraint rearward and downward into the seat,
removing slack in the straps according to the
child restraint manufacturer's instructions.
WARNING!
Improper installation of a child restraint to the
LATCH anchorages can lead to failure of an
infant or child restraint. The child could be
badly injured or killed. Follow the manufactur-
er's directions exactly when installing an in-
fant or child restraint.
Installing Child Restraints Using the
Vehicle Seat Belts
The passenger seat belts are equipped with
either cinching latch plates or automatic lock-
ing retractors, which are designed to keep the
lap portion tight around the child restraint so
that it is not necessary to use a locking clip. If
the seat belt has a cinching latch plate, pulling
up on the shoulder portion of the lap/shoulder
belt will tighten the belt. The cinching latch
plate will keep the belt tight; however, any seat
belt system will loosen with time, so check the
belt occasionally and pull it tight if necessary.
For seat belts having an Automatic Locking
Retractor (ALR), pull the belt from the retractor
until there is enough allowance to pass it
through the child restraint and slide the latch
plate into the buckle. Then, pull the belt until it
is fully extended from the retractor. Allow the
belt to return into the retractor, pulling on the
excess webbing to tighten the lap portion
around the child restraint. Refer to "Automatic
Locking Mode" earlier in this section.
In the rear seat, you may have trouble tighten-
ing the lap/shoulder belt on the child restraint
because the buckle or latch plate is too close to
the belt path opening on the restraint. Discon-
nect the latch plate from the buckle and twist
the short buckle-end belt several times to
shorten it. Insert the latch plate into the buckle
with the release button facing out.
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