Graco 8488 User manual

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Car Seat/Booster Seat
Owner’s Manual
Model 8488
READ THIS MANUAL.
Do not install or use this car seat until you read and
understand the instructions in this manual.
FAILURE TO PROPERLY USE THIS
CAR SEAT INCREASES THE RISK OF
SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IN A
SUDDEN STOP OR CRASH.
© 2001 Graco 431-9-01

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1.0 Warnings to Parents and Other Users . . . . . .3
2.0 Registration Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
2.1 Register Your Car Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
2.2 Recall Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
2.3 If You Need Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
3.0 Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-6
4.0 Important Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-10
4.1 Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
4.2 Height and Weight Limitations . . . . . . . . . . .9
4.2.1 WITH Built-In Harness System . . . . .10
4.2.2 WITHOUT Built-In Harness System .10
5.0 Car Seat Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-16
5.1 Vehicle Seat Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . .11
5.2 Vehicle Seat Belt Requirements . . . . . . . .12
5.2.1 UNSAFE Vehicle Belt Systems . . . . .12
5.2.2 SAFE Vehicle Belt Systems . . . . . . .14
6.0 Using Car Seat With Built-In Harness . . .17-24
6.1 Positioning the Harness Straps . . . . . . . . .17
6.2 Securing the Car Seat in Your Vehicle . . . .21
6.3 Securing Your Child in the Car Seat . . . . .23
7.0 Using Car Seat Without Built-In Harness . . .25-27
7.1 Harness Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
7.2 Securing Child and Booster
Seat in Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
8.0 Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28-29
8.1 Using the Tether . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
8.2 Airplane Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
8.3 Cupholder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
9.0 Care and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30-33
10.0 Replacement Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34-35
Table of Contents

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Failure to properly use this car seat increases the risk of
serious injury or death in a sharp turn, sudden stop or
crash. Your child’s safety depends on you installing and
using this car seat correctly.
Even if using this car seat seems easy to figure out on
your own, it is very important to READ THE OWNER’S
MANUAL and the vehicle owner’s manual.
Your child’s safety depends on:
1. Choosing the correct mode of use for the car
seat depending on your child’s size.
2. Inserting the harness straps (if needed) in the
proper slots for your child.
3. Selecting a suitable location for the car seat in
your vehicle.
4. Properly routing the vehicle seat belt.
5. Properly securing the car seat in the vehicle
using a seat belt designed to restrain the car seat
and your child. Many seat belts are NOT safe to
use with this car seat, even though they can easily
be threaded through or around the car seat!
6. Properly securing your child in the car seat.
1.0 Warnings to Parents and
Other Users

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Model Number:
Manufactured in:
Purchase Date:
2.0 Registration Information
2.1 Register Your Car Seat
2.3 If You Need Help
Please fill in the above information. The model number
can be found on a label underneath your car seat. Fill
out the prepaid registration postcard attached to the
seat cover and mail it today.
Child restraints could be recalled for safety reasons.
You must register this restraint to be reached in a recall.
Send your name, address and model number to:
Graco Children’s Products Inc.
P.O. Box 100
Elverson, PA, 19520-9974
or call 1-888-224-6549
Please contact our Customer Service Department with
any questions you may have concerning parts, use, or
maintenance. When you contact us, please have your
product’s model number ready so that we may help
you efficiently. This number can be found on a
sticker on the underside of your car seat.
1-888-224-6549 or www.gracobaby.com
• Call the U.S. Government’s Auto Safety Hotline
at 1-800-424-9393 (202-366-0123 in D.C. area)
• www.nhtsa.dot.gov
• Graco: 1-888-224-6549 or www.gracobaby.com
2.2 Recall Information

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Harness slot
Harness clip
Harness strap
Crotch strap
Harness
buckle
3.0 Features
Cupholder (certain models)
Shoulder belt
positioner
Harness
adjustment strap
Harness
adjustment
button
Harness
adjustment
button plate
Harness
buckle
tongue

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**Vehicles are now (or can be) equipped with tether
anchor points behind some seats. A tether anchors
the top of the car seat to the body of the vehicle.
When used properly with the vehicle seat belt,
a tether helps reduce injury in a sudden stop
or crash.
Locking clip
storage*
Tether strap**
Owner’s manual
storage compartment
Expiration date
Tether clip
—
*The locking clip is stored on the back of
the car seat. You will need to use it with
certain types of vehicle seat belts.
Metal junction
plate
Junction plate
storage

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•DO NOT INSTALL OR USE THIS CAR SEAT
UNTIL YOU READ AND UNDERSTAND THE
INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL AND IN YOUR
VEHICLE OWNER’S MANUAL. DO NOT let others
install or use the car seat unless they understand
how to use it.
•FAILURE TO PROPERLY USE THIS CAR SEAT
INCREASES THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY OR
DEATH IN A SHARP TURN, SUDDEN STOP OR
CRASH. Your child can be injured in a vehicle even
if you are not in a crash. Sudden braking and sharp
turns can injure your child if the car seat is not
properly installed or if your child is not properly
secured in the car seat.
• According to accident statistics, CHILDREN ARE
SAFER WHEN PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN
REAR VEHICLE SEATING POSITIONS, RATHER
THAN FRONT SEATING POSITIONS. For a vehicle
with a front passenger air bag, refer to your vehicle
owner’s manual as well as these instructions for car
seat installation.
•NEVER LEAVE YOUR CHILD UNATTENDED.
•NEVER LEAVE A CAR SEAT UNSECURED IN
YOUR VEHICLE. An unsecured car seat can be
thrown around and may injure occupants in a sharp
turn, sudden stop or crash. Remove it or make sure
that it is securely belted in the vehicle.
•REPLACE THE CAR SEAT AFTER AN ACCIDENT
OF ANY KIND. An accident can cause damage to
the car seat that you cannot see.
4.0 Important Information
4.1 Warnings

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•STOP USING CAR SEAT AND THROW IT AWAY
after the date molded into the back of the car seat.
•DO NOT MODIFY YOUR CAR SEAT or use any
accessories or parts supplied by other manufacturers.
•NEVER USE CAR SEAT IF IT HAS DAMAGED OR
MISSING PARTS. DO NOT use a cut, frayed or
damaged car seat harness or vehicle seat belt.
•THE CAR SEAT CAN BECOME VERY HOT IF
LEFT IN THE SUN. Contact with these parts can
burn your child’s skin. Always touch the surface of
any metal or plastic parts before putting your child
in the car seat.
•THIS CHILD RESTRAINT CONFORMS to all
applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
and is certified for use in motor vehicles. It is
certified for use in Aircraft ONLY when used with
the built-in harness. When used as a booster
without the harness, this restraint is NOT certified
for use in aircraft.
•NEVER GIVE THIS CAR SEAT to someone else
without also giving them this manual.
•NEVER USE A SECOND-HAND CAR SEAT or a
car seat whose history you do not know.

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FAILURE TO USE CAR SEAT IN A MANNER
APPROPRIATE FOR YOUR CHILD’S SIZE MAY
INCREASE THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY OR
DEATH. Instructions for the use of this car seat
and your vehicle’s seat belt differ greatly depending
on the size of your child. Be sure you are using the car
seat in the correct mode and with the correct features
for your child.
4.2 Height and Weight Limits

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4.2.1 WITH Built in Harness
Your child MUST meet all requirements:
• WEIGHT: 20 to 40 lbs. (9 to 18 kg)
• HEIGHT: 27 to 43 inches (69 to 109 cm)
• At least one year old and can sit upright unassisted
• Shoulders are BELOW top harness slots. If
shoulders are above top harness slots, child is
too large for built-in harness.
4.2.2 WITHOUT Built in Harness
Your child MUST meet all requirements:
• WEIGHT: 30 to 80 lbs. (14 to 36 kg)
• HEIGHT: 35 to 54 inches (89 to 138 cm)
• Child’s ears are BELOW top of booster seat. If tops
of ears are above top of seat, child is too large for
booster seat.
If child is between 30 and 40 lbs. and shoulders
are below the upper harness slots, we highly
recommend use of the built-in harness for as long
as it is suitable and comfortable (up to 40 lbs.) .

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•Children are safer when properly restrained in
rear vehicle seating positions. Whenever possible
secure the car seat in the center position of the seat
directly behind the front seats. However, this position
is often equipped with a
lap belt only and cannot
be used when this car
seat is used without the
built-in harness.
•The vehicle seat must face forward.
5.0 Car Seat Location
5.1 Vehicle Seat Requirements
IMPROPER PLACEMENT OF THE CAR SEAT
INCREASES THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY
OR DEATH. Some seating positions in your vehicle
may not be safe for this car seat. Some vehicles do
not have any seating positions that can be used
safely with the car seat. If you are not sure where
to place the car seat in your vehicle, consult your
vehicle owner’s manual or Graco Children's Products
Inc., 1-888-224-6549.
•Front of car seat must not hang
over edge of vehicle seat.

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DO NOT USE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING SYSTEMS
TO SECURE THE CAR SEAT.
•Lap Belts with Emergency
Locking Retractor (ELR)
This lap belt stays loose and
can move until it locks in a
crash or sudden stop.
• Combination Lap/Shoulder
Belt with Retractor
Each strap has a retractor
at one end and is attached
to the latch plate at the
other end.
5.2 Vehicle Seat Belt
Requirements
MANY SEAT BELT SYSTEMS ARE NOT SAFE TO
USE WITH THE CAR SEAT. THE VEHICLE SEAT
BELT MUST BE DESIGNED TO HOLD THE CAR
SEAT TIGHTLY AT ALL TIMES.
Pay careful attention to these systems; some of the
seat belts that are not safe to use look very much
like seat belts that are safe to use. If you are
unsure, consult your vehicle owner’s manual or
Graco Children's Products Inc., 1-888-224-6549.
5.2.1 UNSAFE Vehicle Belt
Systems

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• Passive Restraint -
Lap or Shoulder Belt
Mounted on Door
• Passive Restraint -
Lap Belt with Motorized
Shoulder Belt
DO NOT use vehicle belts
that are attached to the
door in any way or that
move along a track to
automatically surround
the passenger when the
door is closed.
• Lap Belts Forward of
Seat Crease

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5.2.2 SAFE Vehicle Belt
Systems
• Lap Belts - Manually Adjusted
When buckled, the belt is tightened manually by
pulling on the excess belt.
• Lap Belts with Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)
The automatic locking retractor will not permit the lap
belt to lengthen once it is buckled. Tighten the belt
by feeding the belt back into the retractor while
pushing down hard on the car seat.
THE FOLLOWING BELT SYSTEMS CAN BE USED
WITH YOUR CAR SEAT, IF the seat location meets
all other requirements of these instructions and those
in your vehicle owner's manual.
For Built-in Harness Only

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• Combination Lap/Shoulder Belt with Locking
Latch Plate
Once it is buckled, this type of belt has a latchplate
that will not allow the lap portion of the belt to loosen.
Belt is tightened by pulling hard on the shoulder
portion of the vehicle belt while pushing down hard
on the car seat.
• Combination Lap/Shoulder Belt with Sliding
Latch Plate
This belt has a latchplate that slides freely along
the belt.
WITH Built-in harness: This belt MUST be
converted to prevent movement of the lap
portion of the belt. You must use
the locking clip provided with the
car seat, unless your vehicle's seat
belt can be converted in another
way as described in your vehicle
owner's manual.
WITHOUT Built-in harness: Conversion or locking
clip are not needed.
With OR Without Built-in
Harness
Locking clip

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To Install Locking Clip:
1. Tighten the buckled
belt by pushing down
hard on the car seat
and pulling hard on the
shoulder belt.
2. While pushing down on
seat, pinch the two straps
together behind the the
buckle tongue. Unbuckle
the belt without allowing
it to slip.
3. Connect lap and
shoulder belts as
shown .
4. Rebuckle belt. Check
that lap belt does not
move by pulling hard. If
belt loosens or lengthens,
repeat procedure.
Remove locking clip when
not using car seat. Store
under it’s tab on the back
of seat.
½
inch


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6.0 Using Car Seat WITH
Built-in Harness
6.1 Positioning the Harness
Straps
FAILURE TO PROPERLY ADJUST THE HARNESS
STRAPS FOR YOUR CHILD INCREASES THE RISK
OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT
OF A SHARP TURN, SUDDEN STOP OR CRASH.
Snugly adjust the belts provided with this child restraint
around your child.
1. Open harness clip .
2. Unbuckle harness
straps .
3. Place child in the seat.



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4. Check the crotch strap.
Choose the position that
is closest to but not under
your child.
To move the strap:
Reach under seat and
push the metal retainer
up through the slot
sideways . Place the
retainer in the appropriate
slot. Pull on buckle to
make sure it is secure.
5. The harness straps
must go into the slots
even with or just above
the shoulders .
6. If straps are in the proper
slots, go to step 11 on
page 20.
7. To adjust harness
straps: Remove straps
from metal junction
plate .




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8. Pull strap ends through
slots and reinsert them
in the correct slots 
as determined in step 5.
9. Reassemble straps onto
metal junction plate
exactly as shown .
Check that straps are
completely within the
slots.
10. Check that the straps are
inserted at the same level
and that they are not
twisted. Pull on harness
to make sure it is
secure.



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11. Harness Adjustment
Loosen the harness
straps by fully pushing in
the red adjustment button
on the front of the seat
and pulling the straps out
at the shoulders as
shown .
(See also Section 6.3,
Securing Your Child in the
Car Seat, page 23.)
REMEMBER to check
the shoulder and crotch
straps as your child
grows and move them
to the next position
when necessary.
