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6. Push and pull the child restraint in different Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’s
directions to be sure
it is secure.
Front Seat Position
Your vehicle has a right front passenger air bag. Never
put a rear-facing child restraint in this seat. Here’s why:
Don’t use child restraints in these positions. The
restraints won’t work properly.
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A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured if the right front passenger’s air
bag inflates.
This is because the back of a
rear-facing child restraint would be very close to
the inflating air bag. Always secure a rear-facing
child restraint in the rear seat.
You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier part
about the top strap
if the child restraint has one. Be sure
to follow the instructions that came with the child
restraint.
Secure the child in the child restraint when and
as the instructions say.
1. Because your vehicle has a right front passenger air
bag, always move the seat as far back as
it will go
before securing
a forward-facing child restraint.
(See “Seats” in the Index.)
2. Put the restraint on the seat.
3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder
portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or
around the restraint. The child restraint instructions
will show you how. If
the shoulder belt goes
in front of the child’s face or
neck,
put it behind the child restraint.
4. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is
positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt
quickly if you ever had to.
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5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of
the retractor to set the lock. 6. To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt back into the
retractor while you push down
on the child restraint.
You may find it helpful to use your knee to push down
on the child restraint
as you tighten the belt.
7. Push and pull the child restraint in different
To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle's
safety belt and let it
go back all the way. The safety belt
will move freely again and be ready to work for an adult
or larger child passenger. directions
to be sure it
is secure.
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Larger Children If you have the choice, a child should sit next to a
window so the child can wear a lap-shoulder belt and
get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide.
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained
in the rear seat. But they need to use the
safety belts properly.
Children who aren’t buckled up can be thrown out in
a crash.
Children who have outgrown child restraints should
wear the vehicle’s safety belts.
Children who aren’t buckled up can strike other
people who are.
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Never do this.
Here two children are wearing the same belt. The
belt can't properly spread the impact forces. In a
crash, the
two children can be crushed together
and seriously injured.
A belt must be used by
only one person at a time.
e: What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt,
but the child is
so small that the shoulder belt is
very close to the child's face
or neck?
A: Move the child toward the center of the vehicle, but
be sure that the shoulder belt still
is on the child's
shoulder.
so that in a crash the child's upper body
would have the restraint that belts provide.
If the
child is sitting
in a rear seat outside position. see
"Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides"
in the Index. If
the child is so small that the shoulder belt is still
very close to the child's face or neck, you might
want to place the child
in a seat that has a lap belt,
if your vehicle
has one.
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Never do this.
Here a child is sitting in a seat that has
a
lap-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part is behind
the child.
If the child wears the belt in this way, in
a crash the child might slide under the belt. The
belt’s force would then be applied right
on the
child’s abdomen. That could cause serious or
fatal injuries.
Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the belt
should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching
the child’s thighs. This applies belt force to the child’s
pelvic bones in a crash.
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Safety Belt Extender
If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you
should use
it.
But if a safety belt isn’t long enough to Fasten, your
retailer will order
you an extender. It’s free. When you
L eo in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so
the extender will be long enough for you. The extender
will be just for you, and just for the seat in your vehicle
that you choose. Don’t let someone else use
it, and use it
only for the seat it is made to fit. To wear it, just attach it
to the regular safety belt.
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and
anchorages are working properly. Look for any other
loose or damaged safety belt system parts.
If you see
anything that might keep
a safety belt system from
doing its job, have
it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a
crash. They can rip apart under impact forces.
If a belt is
torn or frayed, get a new one right away.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash
If you’ve had a crash, do you need new belts‘?
After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary.
But if the belts were stretched, as they would be if worn
during a more severe crash, then you need new belts.
ACAUTION I
To help avoid personal
injury, belt assembly
must
be replaced if this vehicle is
in a collision or if “Replace
Belt” appears below. See
Owner’s Manual for more
information.
If you ever see a label on
the driver’s or the right
front passenger’s safety belt
that
says to replace the belt,
be sure to do
so. Then the
new belt will be there to
help protect you
in a
collision. You would see
this label on the belt near
the door opening.
If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision
damage
also may mean you will need to have safety belt
or seat parts repaired or replaced. New parts and repairs
may be necessary even
if the belt wasn’t being used at
the time of the collision.
If an air bag inflates, you’ll need to replace air bag system
parts. See the part on the air bag system earlier in this section.
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