2000 HONDA CIVIC SEDAN Owner's Manual (in English)

Protectin
g Childre n

Childre n Shoul d Si t i n th e Bac k

Sea t

Accordin g t o acciden t statistics ,
childre n o f al l age s an d size s ar e
safe r whe n the y ar e restraine d in th e
bac k seat , no t th e fron t seat . Th e
Nationa l Highwa y Traffi c Safet y
Administratio n an d Transpor t
Canad a recommen d tha t al l childre n
age s 1 2 an d unde r b e properl y
restraine d in th e bac k seat .
I n th e bac k seat , childre n ar e les s
likel y t o b e injure d b y strikin g har d
interio r part s durin g a collisio n o r
har d braking . Also , childre n canno t
b e injure d b y a n inflatin g airba g
whe n the y rid e in th e back . Th
e Passenger' s Airba g Pose s
Seriou s Risk s t o Childre n
Airbag s hav e bee n designe d to hel p
protec t adult s in a moderat e to
sever e fronta l collision . T o d o this ,
th e passenger' s airba g is quit e large ,
an d it inflate s wit h tremendou s

speed .

Infants
Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger's airbag. I f th e

airba g inflates , i t ca n hi t th e bac k o f
th e chil d sea t wit h enoug h forc e t o
kil l o r ver y seriousl y injur e a n infant .Small Children

Placing a forward-facing child seat in the front seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger's airbag can be

hazardous. I f th e vehicl e sea t i s to o
fa r forward , o r th e child' s hea d is
throw n forwar d durin g a collision , a n
inflatin g airba g ca n strik e th e chil d
wit h enoug h forc e t o kil l o r ver y
seriousl y injur e a smal l child .

Larger Children
Children who have outgrown child
seats are also at risk of being injured or killed by an inflating passenger's

airbag. Wheneve r possible , large r

childre n shoul d si t i n th e bac k seat ,
properl y restraine d wit h a sea t belt .
(Se e pag e 3 7 fo r importan t
informatio n abou t protectin g large r
children. )
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Childre n

U.S. Models

T o remin d yo u o f th e passenger' s
airba g hazards , an d tha t childre n
mus t b e properl y restraine d i n th e
bac k seat , you r ca r ha s warnin g
label s o n th e dashboar d an d o n th e
driver' s an d fron t passenger' s visors .
Pleas e rea d an d follo w th e
instruction s o n thes e labels . Canadian Models
T o remin d yo u o f th e airba g hazards ,
you r ca r ha s warnin g label s o n th e
driver' s an d fron t passenger' s visors .
Pleas e rea d an d follo w th e
instruction s o n thes e labels .

Driver an d Passenge r Safet y

PRECAUTION
:

POU R EVITE R DE S BLESSURE S GRAVES :

POU R PROFITE R D'UNE PROTECTIO N
MAXIMAL E LOR S D'UN E COLLISIO N BOUCLE Z
TOUJOUR S VOTR E CEINTUR E D E SECURITE .
N'lNSTALLE Z JAMAI S U N SIEG E POU R
ENFANT S FAISAN T FAC E A L'ARRIER E SU R
L E SIEG E D U PASSAGE R AVANT .
N E VOU S APPUYE Z PA S E T N E VOU S ASSEYE Z
PA S PRE S D U COUSSI N GONFLABLE .
N E DEPOSE Z AUCU N OBJE T SU R L E COUSSI N
GONFLABL E O U ENTR E L E COUSSI N
GONFLABL E E T VOUS .
LISE Z L E GUID E UTILISATEU R POU R D E
PLU S AMPLE S RENSEIGNEMENTS .
CAUTIO
N

T O AVOI D SERIOU S INJURY :

FO R MAXIMU M SAFET Y PROTECTIO N IN
AL L TYPE S O F CRASHES , YO U MUS T
ALWAY S WEA R YOU R SAFET Y BELT .
D O NO T INSTAL L REARWARD-FACIN G
CHIL D SEAT S I N AN Y FRON T
PASSENGE R SEA T POSITION .
D O NO T SI T O R LEA N UNNECESSARIL Y
CLOS E T O TH E AI R BAG .
D O NO T PLAC E AN Y OBJECT S OVE R TH E
AI R BA G O R BETWEE N TH E AI R BA G
AN D YOURSELF .
SE E TH E OWNER' S MANUA L FO R FURTHE R
INFORMATIO N AN D EXPLANATIONS .

Protectin
g Childre n

I f Yo u Mus t Driv e wit h Severa l
Childre n
You r ca r ha s thre e seatin g position s
i n th e bac k sea t wher e childre n ca n
b e properl y restrained .
I f yo u eve r hav e t o carr y mor e tha n
thre e childre n in you r car :
Plac e th e larges t chil d i n th e fron t
seat , provide d th e chil d is larg e
enoug h t o wea r a sea t bel t
properl y (se e pag e 3 7 ) .
Mov e th e vehicl e sea t a s fa r t o th e
rea r a s possibl e (se e pag e 12 ).
Hav e th e chil d si t uprigh t an d wel l
bac k in th e sea t (se e pag e 18 ).
Mak e sur e th e sea t bel t i s properl y
positione d an d secure d (se e pag e
15 ). I
f a Chil d Require s Clos e
Attentio n
Man y parent s sa y the y prefe r t o pu t
a n infan t o r smal l chil d i n th e fron t
passenge r sea t s o the y ca n watc h th e
child , o r becaus e th e chil d require s
attention .
Placin g a chil d in th e fron t sea t
expose s th e chil d t o hazard s fro m
th e airbag , an d payin g clos e
attentio n t o a chil d distract s th e
drive r fro m th e importan t task s o f
driving , placin g bot h o f yo u a t risk .
I f a chil d require s physica l attentio n
o r frequen t visua l contact , w e
strongl y recommen d tha t anothe r
adult ride wit h th e chil d i n th e bac k
seat . Th e bac k sea t i s fa r safe r fo r a
chil d tha n th e front . Additiona
l Safet y Precaution s

Use childproof door locks to
prevent children from opening the
doors. Usin g thi s featur e wil l
preven t childre n fro m openin g th e
door s an d accidentall y fallin g ou t
(se e pag e 7 5 ) .

Use the main power window
switch to prevent children from
opening the rear windows. Usin g

thi s featur e wil l preven t childre n
fro m playin g wit h th e windows ,
whic h coul d expos e the m to
hazard s o r distrac t th e drive r (se e
pag e 8 1 ) .
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Childre n
Do not leave children alone in your
vehicle. Leavin g childre n withou t
adul t supervisio n is illega l i n mos t
state s an d Canadia n provinces ,
an d ca n b e ver y hazardous . Fo r
example , infant s an d smal l
childre n lef t i n a vehicl e o n a ho t
da y ca n di e fro m heatstroke . An d
childre n lef t alon e wit h th e ke y i n
th e ignitio n ca n accidentall y se t
th e vehicl e in motion , possibl y
injurin g themselve s o r others . Genera
l Guideline s fo r Usin g
Chil d Seat s
Th e followin g page s giv e genera l
guideline s fo r selectin g an d installin g
chil d seat s fo r infant s an d smal l
children .
Selecting a Child Seat
T o provid e prope r protection , a chil d
sea t shoul d mee t thre e
requirements :

1. The child seat should meet safety
standards. Th e chil d sea t shoul d
mee t Federa l Moto r Vehicl e
Safet y Standar d 21 3 (FMVS S 213 )
o r Canadia n Moto r Vehicl e Safet y
Standar d 21 3 (CMVS S 213) . Loo k
fo r th e manufacturer' s statemen t
o f complianc e o n th e bo x an d seat .

2. The child seat should be of the
proper type and size to fit the child.
Infants: Childre
n u p t o abou t on e
yea r ol d shoul d b e restraine d in a
rear-facing , reclinin g chil d seat . Onl y
a rear-facin g sea t provide s th e
prope r suppor t t o protec t a n infant' s
head , neck , an d back . Se e pag e
2 9 fo r additiona l informatio n o n
protectin g infants .

CONTINUED

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Childre n

Small Children: A chil d wh o is to o

larg e fo r a rear-facin g chil d seat , an d
wh o ca n si t u p withou t support ,
shoul d b e restraine d in a forward -
facin g chil d seat . Se e pag e 3 3 fo r

additiona l informatio n o n protectin g

smal l children .
3. The child seat should fit the
vehicle seating position (or

positions) where it will be used.

Du e to variation s in th e desig n o f
chil d seats , vehicl e seats , an d sea t
belts , al l chil d seat s wil l no t fi t al l
vehicl e seatin g positions .
However , Hond a is confiden t tha t
on e o r mor e chil d sea t model s ca n fi t
an d b e properl y installe d in al l
recommende d seatin g position s in
you r car . Befor
e purchasin g a chil d seat , w e
recommen d tha t parent s tes t th e
chil d sea t i n th e specifi c vehicl e
seatin g positio n (o r positions ) wher e
the y inten d to us e th e seat . I f a
previousl y purchase d chil d sea t doe s
no t fit , yo u ma y nee d to bu y a
differen t on e tha t wil l fit .
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Childre n

Placing a Child Seat
Thi s pag e briefl y summarize s

Honda' s recommendation s o n wher e

t o plac e rear-facin g an d forward -

facin g chil d seat s in you r car . Front Passenger's Seat
Infants: Neve
r i n th e fron t seat , du e
t o th e passenger' s airba g hazard .

Small children: No t recommended ,

du e to th e passenger' s airba g
hazard . I f a smal l chil d mus t rid e
i n front , mov e th e vehicl e sea t t o
th e rear-mos t positio n an d secur e
a front-facin g chil d sea t wit h th e
sea t bel t (se e pag e 3 4 ) .

Back Seats

Infants: Recommende d
positions
.

Secur e a rear-facin g chil d sea t

wit h th e sea t bel t (se e pag e 3 0 ) .

Small children: Recommende d

positions . Secur e a front-facin g

chil d sea t wit h th e sea t bel t (se e

pag e 34 ).

CONTINUED

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y
Airbag
s Pos e Seriou s
Risk s t o Childre n
Th e passenger' s airba g inflate s
wit h enoug h forc e t o kil l o r
seriousl y injur e a n infan t i n a
rear-facin g chil d seat .
A smal l chil d in a forward-facin g
chil d sea t i s als o a t risk . I f th e
vehicl e sea t i s to o fa r forward ,
o r th e child' s hea d is throw n
forwar d durin g a collision , a n
inflatin g airba g ca n kil l o r
seriousl y injur e th e child .
I f a smal l chil d mus t rid e i n th e
front , follo w th e instruction s
provide d in thi s section .

Protectin
g Childre n

Installing a Child Seat

Afte r selectin g a prope r chil d seat ,
an d a goo d positio n to instal l th e seat ,
ther e ar e thre e mai n step s i n
installin g th e seat :

1. Secure the child seat to the car
with a seat belt. Al l chil d seat s
mus t b e secure d t o th e ca r wit h
th e la p bel t o r th e la p par t o f a lap /
shoulde r belt . A chil d whos e sea t
i s no t properl y secure d t o th e ca r
ca n b e endangere d in a crash . Se e
page s 3 0 an d 3 4 fo r instruction s o n
ho w to secur e chil d seat s i n thi s
car .

2. Make sure the child seat is firmly
secured. Afte r installin g a chil d

seat , pus h an d pul l th e sea t
forwar d an d fro m sid e t o sid e t o
verif y tha t i t i s secure . T
o provid e securit y durin g norma l
drivin g maneuver s a s wel l a s durin g
a collision , w e recommen d tha t
parent s secur e a chil d sea t a s firml y
a s possible .
However , a chil d sea t doe s no t nee d
t o b e "roc k solid. " I n som e vehicle s
o r seatin g positions , i t ma y b e
difficul t t o instal l a chil d sea t s o tha t
i t doe s no t mov e a t all . Som e side-to -
sid e o r back-and-fort h movemen t ca n
b e expecte d an d shoul d no t reduc e
th e chil d seat' s effectiveness .
I f th e chil d sea t i s no t secure , tr y
installin g it i n a differen t seatin g
position , o r us e a differen t styl e o f
chil d sea t tha t ca n b e firml y secure d
i n th e desire d seatin g position . 3. Secure the child in the child seat.
Mak e sur e th e chil d is properl y
strappe d in th e chil d sea t
accordin g t o th e chil d sea t maker' s
instructions . A chil d wh o is no t
properl y secure d in a chil d sea t
ca n b e throw n ou t o f th e sea t i n a
cras h an d seriousl y injured .

Storing a Child Seat

Whe n yo u ar e no t usin g a chil d seat ,
eithe r remov e i t an d stor e it i n a saf e
place , o r mak e sur e it i s properl y
secured . A n unsecure d chil d sea t ca n
b e throw n aroun d th e ca r durin g a
cras h o r sudde n sto p an d injur e

someone .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Childre n

Protectin g Infant s
Child Seat Type
Onl y a rear-facin g chil d sea t provide s
prope r suppor t fo r a baby' s head ,
neck , an d back . Infant s u p to abou t
on e yea r o f ag e mus t b e restraine d in
a rear-facin g chil d seat .
Tw o type s o f seat s ma y b e used : a
sea t designe d exclusivel y fo r infants ,
o r a convertibl e sea t use d in th e rear -
facing , reclinin g mode . W
e recommen d tha t a n infan t b e
restraine d in a rear-facin g chil d sea t
unti l th e infan t reache s th e sea t
maker' s weigh t o r heigh t limi t an d is
abl e t o si t u p withou t support .
Rear-Facing Child Seat Placement

I n thi s car , a rear-facin g chil d sea t
ca n b e place d in an y seatin g positio n
i n th e bac k seat , bu t no t i n th e fron t

seat .

Never put a rear-facing child seat in
the front seat. I f th e passenger' s
airba g inflates , i t ca n hi t th e bac k o f
th e chil d sea t wit h enoug h forc e t o
kil l o r seriousl y injur e a n infant . I f a n
infan t mus t b e closel y watched , w e
recommen d tha t anothe r adul t si t i n
th e bac k sea t wit h th e baby .

Do not put a rear-facing child seat in

a forward-facing position. I f place d

facin g forward , a n infan t coul d b e
ver y seriousl y injure d durin g a
fronta l collision .

CONTINUED

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Placin
g a rear-facin g chil d sea t
i n th e fron t sea t ca n resul t i n
seriou s injur y o r deat h if th e
airbag s inflate .
Alway s plac e a rear-facin g chil d
sea t i n th e bac k seat , no t th e

front .