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Old Nov 21, 2006 | 10:13 AM
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Default Infant Passenger

How practical is it to put an infant car seat in a 2001 C5? I don't drive mine everyday, but quite a bit. I'm wondering, in the event of a new baby, how easy is it going to be to transport the baby in the Vette. Thoughts?
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Old Nov 21, 2006 | 10:19 AM
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I know I turn into a kid every time I drive the vette..

Since infants are supposed to be secured in the back seat I'm wondering if it's even a good idea.
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Old Nov 21, 2006 | 10:24 AM
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Old Nov 21, 2006 | 10:25 AM
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Right. I checked and having an infant in the front seat in my state is legal. I agree, whether it's a good idea is an entirely different issue. I'm just wondering what my options are.
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Old Nov 21, 2006 | 10:31 AM
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I am not sure about an infant, but I carry my Grandaughter in her car seat. She is big enough to face forward. I turn off the passenger side air bag. She loves going with Papa in the corvette. You have to start them young. Check your owners manual. Good luck.
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Old Nov 21, 2006 | 10:50 AM
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I think it should be fine as long as you disable the passenger side air bag.
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Old Nov 21, 2006 | 10:58 AM
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I don't take the baby in the car...since it's a '99 with no real easy way to disable the airbag, aside from pulling the fuse every time. If I had a disable button near my A.H. button like newer C5's, I'd take the infant seat, facing the rear, with the seat all the way back.

The only thing I don't like is there's no hardpoint in the rear to really lock the car seat down to.

I do, however, take my 3 y.o. in his booster seat (held down by the seatbelt in ratchet lock). I leave the airbag on, put the seat all the way back, and remember when my parents would put me in a baby seat between the seats of their '64...its' seats didn't lock back, so in the event of any accident, I would have eaten the dash.
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Old Nov 21, 2006 | 12:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Cozmo
I think it should be fine as long as you disable the passenger side air bag.

Just be sure you can securely mount the seat with the seatbelt.
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Old Nov 21, 2006 | 02:14 PM
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Your 01 should have an airbag cutoff button. Make sure you press it each time and you should be fine.
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Old Nov 21, 2006 | 02:22 PM
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I have taken my boy (he was 6 months and now is almost 2 years) for many trips in my vette. I just make sure my air bag is off and have fun. The boy loves it!

Micah
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Old Nov 21, 2006 | 02:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Blue Lion
Your 01 should have an airbag cutoff button. Make sure you press it each time and you should be fine.
It doesn't have a button - it has a warning indicator on the console that the bag is disabled, which you have to do with your key in the glovebox switch.
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Old Nov 21, 2006 | 03:06 PM
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The only thing dangerous (and illegal) is the rear-facing seat. Front-facing seats are fine up front. Notice that the safety warning says it's "safer" to put the child seat in the back. It doesn't mean that it's dangerous to put the forward-facing child seat up front.
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Old Nov 21, 2006 | 05:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Wah
The only thing dangerous (and illegal) is the rear-facing seat. Front-facing seats are fine up front. Notice that the safety warning says it's "safer" to put the child seat in the back. It doesn't mean that it's dangerous to put the forward-facing child seat up front.
You don't want an infant in a front-facing seat - they need the support provided by a rear-facing car seat until they're old enough to be belted in properly. The airbag shouild be deactivated, and the seat all the way back.
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Old Nov 21, 2006 | 05:57 PM
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are you saying, if you havent installed a airbag cut off switch yet (98, 97) that you can pull a fuse?

will the fuse stop anything else from working or is just for the passenger air bag?

if so, what fuse is it?!

( i did consider this a few months ago, but no one could confirm, just say 'oh i wouldnt' ' you shouldnt' etc )

tx





Originally Posted by Mo'Phat
I don't take the baby in the car...since it's a '99 with no real easy way to disable the airbag, aside from pulling the fuse every time. If I had a disable button near my A.H. button like newer C5's, I'd take the infant seat, facing the rear, with the seat all the way back.

The only thing I don't like is there's no hardpoint in the rear to really lock the car seat down to.

I do, however, take my 3 y.o. in his booster seat (held down by the seatbelt in ratchet lock). I leave the airbag on, put the seat all the way back, and remember when my parents would put me in a baby seat between the seats of their '64...its' seats didn't lock back, so in the event of any accident, I would have eaten the dash.
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Old Nov 21, 2006 | 06:07 PM
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When mine was big enough for a booster seat (38 lbs/4 yrs) then a ride in the vette was one birthday present for her. Not worth it before a booster seat in my opinion. Also if you have mid-2000 or before you need an aftermarket passenger side air bag switch.
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Old Nov 21, 2006 | 11:05 PM
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What do you mean "not worth it". As in the hassle of putting the seat in the car or as in the risk that comes with putting a child in the front seat.

I guess that's my other big question. How much more dangerous (if at all) is it to have an infant in the front seat rather than the back?

Don't worry, I certainly wouldn't put a new child in harms way. I just think it would be so great to have a baby in the Vette with me if safety allows.
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Old Nov 22, 2006 | 12:47 AM
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kids are messy and sticky, keep them out !
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To Infant Passenger

Old Nov 22, 2006 | 12:57 AM
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It's absolutely fine with the airbag off. Same issue many have with pick-up trucks that don't have the extended cabs. If it was a big problem, it wouldn't be legal........it's not like I'm running 1/4 milers with her in the car!
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Old Nov 22, 2006 | 04:10 AM
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Originally Posted by Bounty Hunter 6
It's absolutely fine with the airbag off. Same issue many have with pick-up trucks that don't have the extended cabs. If it was a big problem, it wouldn't be legal........it's not like I'm running 1/4 milers with her in the car!

here here!

i think we can all agree that:

1. no one wants to harm their child
2. proper booster or forward facing baby seat is a given
3. putting the seat as far back as possible
4. using the airbag disable when fitted, or if not
- only doing so with a larger child (not baby)
and seat pushed right back
5. or disabling the airbag by pulling the fuse
6. gentle driving, probably to and from dairyqueen

as for me, the only person driving with me
will be my little mate , now 3.5yrs, who for some
UNKNOWN reason is a car fanatic






now, ive ordered the passenger airbag kit,
but it never got installed by my mechanic -
until i do, given its only gonna be me and him -
can i pull this fuse thats talked about?-
will it affect any thing else? whats its number?

Tx
Peace

safestyler
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Old Nov 22, 2006 | 10:10 AM
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Duct tape in the rear works great. Course My kids have grown up and off on their own.
If you are old like me you like I might remember sitting on a rear seat (big enough to have a dance on) no seatbelts, etc. When my Dad took a corner you slid from one side to another (door to door). Metal dashboards, no safety glass, sharp gearshifts and radio buttons, no seatbelts. They were deathtraps looking to happen. When there was a wreck the devisatation was awesome. Now you see people walking away from wrecks just as bad with a bruise.
God forbid when I was a kid if there was never a rollover or a head on or myself and thousands of other kids would have never been able to buy a Vette.
My Grandson sits in the drivers seat on occasion (hands clean no chocolate etc) and goes Varoom, Varoom just like the rest of use Vette owners.
When he can see over the chicken bar, he can go for a ride with Pops.
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