2001 Acura Integra Owner's Manual

Protectin
g Childre n

Protectin g Large r Childre n
When a child reaches the recommended weight or height limit
for a forward-facing child seat, thechild should sit in one of the backseats and wear a lap/shoulder belt.
If a child is too short for the shoulder
part of the belt to properly fit, we recommend that the child use a
booster seat until the child is tall enough to use the seat belt without a

booster.

The following pages give instructions on how to check proper
seat belt fit, what kind of boosterseat to use if one is needed, and
important precautions for a child
who must sit in the front seat.
Checking Seat Belt Fit

To determine if a lap/shoulder belt properly fits a child, have the child
put on the seat belt. Follow the
instructions on page 16. Then check
how the belt fits.
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y Allowing a larger child to sit
improperly in the front seat can
result in injury or death if the
airbags inflate.
If a larger child must sit in front,

make sure the child moves the

seat as far back as possible
and wears the seat belt properly.

Protectin
g Childre n

If the shoulder part of the belt rests
over the child's collarbone and
against the center of the chest, as shown, the child is large enough to
wear the seat belt.
However, if the belt touches orcrosses the child's neck, the child
needs to use a booster seat. Do not let a child wear a seat belt
across the neck. This could result in
serious neck injuries during a crash.
Do not let a child put the shoulder
part of a seat belt behind the back or under the arm. This could cause
very serious injuries during a crash. It also increases the chance that thechild will slide under the belt in a
crash and be injured.

Do not put any accessories on a seat
belt. Devices intended to improve
occupant comfort or reposition the
shoulder part of a seat belt, severely
compromise the protective capability
of the seat belt and increase the
chance of serious injury in a crash.

Two children should never use the

same seat belt. If they do, they could
be very seriously injured in a crash.
Using a Booster Seat

If a child needs a booster seat, we
recommend choosing a style that
allows the child to use the lap/ shoulder belt directly, without a
shield, as shown.
Whichever style you select, follow the booster seat maker's instructions.
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Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Childre n
A child may continue using a booster seat until the tops of the ears are
even with the top of the seat-back. A
child of this height should be tall
enough to use the lap/shoulder belt
without a booster.
When Can a Larger Child Sit in Front
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport Canada recommend that all children
ages 12 and under be properly
restrained in a back seat.
The back seat is the safest place for a child of any age or size.
In addition, the passenger's airbag
poses serious risks to children. If the seat is too far forward, or the child's
head is thrown forward during a collision, or the child is unrestrainedor out of position, an inflating airbag
can kill or seriously injure the child. Of course, children vary widely. And
while age may be one indicator of
when a child can safely ride in the front, there are other important
factors you should consider.
Physical Size
Physically, a child must be large enough for the lap/shoulder belt to
properly fit over the hips, chest, and shoulder (see pages 16 and38). If
the seat belt does not fit properly,
the child should not sit in the front.

Maturity

To safely ride in front, a child must be able to follow the rules, including sitting properly and wearing the seat
belt properly throughout a ride. If you decide that a child can safely
ride up front, be sure to: Carefully read the owner's manual
and make sure you understand all seat belt instructions and all safety
information. Move the vehicle seat to the rear-
most position. Have the child sit up straight, back
against the seat, and feet on or
near the floor. Check that the child's seat belt is
properly positioned and secured. Supervise the child. Even mature
children sometimes need to be
reminded to fasten the seat belts or sit properly.
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Childre n

Usin g Chil d Seat s wit h Tether s
Your Acura has two tether anchorages on the rear panel forsecuring a tether-style child seat to
the car.
Since a tether can provide additionalsecurity, we recommend using a
tether whenever one is required or
available.
Attach the tether strap hook to the
tether anchorage point as shown in
the illustration, then tighten thestrap according to the child seat
maker's instructions.
When you reinstall the tether

hardware after replacing the tail/stoplight or back-up light bulb, make
sure the toothed washer is on the
bottom of the bolt, Tighten the bolt

to:
16 lbf.ft (22 N.m,2.2 kgf.m)

If a
torque wrench was not used, see
your Acura dealer as soon as possible to verify proper
reinstallation.
If you are not sure how to reinstall
the tether hardware, contact your
Acura dealer.

Driver an d Passenge r Safet y

CARG
O ARE A

Additiona
l Informatio n Abou t You r Sea t Belt s
Sea t Bel t Syste m Component s
Your seat belt system includes lap/ shoulder belts in all four seating
positions.
The seat belt system alsoincludes a light on the
instrument panel to remind you and
your passengers to fasten your belts. If the driver's seat belt is not
fastened before the ignition is turned ON (II), the light will come on and a
beeper will also sound. The beeper
will stop after a few seconds, but the light will stay on until the driver's seat belt is fastened. Lap/Shoulde
r Bel t
This seat belt has a single belt that goes over your shoulder, across yourchest and across your hips. To fasten the belt, insert the latch
plate into the buckle, then tug on the
belt to make sure the buckle is

latched.

To unlock the belt, push the red PRESS button on the buckle.
Guide the belt across your body to
the door pillar. After exiting the car,
be sure the belt is out of the way and
will not get closed in the door.

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Additiona
l Informatio n Abou t You r Sea t Belt s
All seat belts have an emergency locking retractor. In normal driving,
the retractor lets you move freely in
your seat while it keeps sometension on the belt. During a collisionor sudden stop, the retractor
automatically locks the belt to help
restrain your body.
The seat belts in all seating positions except the driver's have an additional
locking mechanism that must be activated to secure a child seat. (See
pages 31 and 35 for instructions on how to secure child seats with this
type of seat belt.)
If the shoulder part of the belt is
pulled all the way out, the locking
mechanism will activate. The belt
will retract, but it will not allow the passenger to move freely. To deactivate the locking
mechanism, unlatch the buckle and
let the seat belt fully retract. To refasten the belt, pull it out only as
far as needed.
See page 16 for instructions on how
to wear the lap/shoulder belt
properly. Sea
t Bel t Maintenanc e
For safety, you should check the
condition of your seat belts regularly.
Pull each belt out fully and look for
frays, cuts, burns, and wear. Check
that the latches work smoothly and
that the lap/shoulder belts retract easily. Any belt not in good condition
or not working properly will not
provide good protection and should
be replaced as soon as possible.
U.S. Models
Acura provides a lifetime warranty on seat belts. Acura will repair or
replace any seat belt component that
fails to function properly during
normal use. Please see your Acura
Warranty Information booklet for

details.

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Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Additiona
l Informatio n Abou t You r Sea t Belt s
If a seat belt is worn during a crash,
you should have your dealer inspect the belt, and replace it if necessary.
A belt that has been worn during a crash may not provide the same level
of protection in a subsequent crash.
The dealer should also inspect the anchors for damage and replace
them if needed.
For information on how to clean yourseat belts, see page 221.

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y
Not checking or maintaining
seat belts can result in serious injury or death if the seat belts
do not work properly when
needed.

Check your seat belts regularly
and have any problem
corrected as soon as possible.

Additiona
l Informatio n Abou t You r SR S

SR S Component s
Your Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) includes: Two front airbags. The driver's
airbag is stored in the center of
the steering wheel; the front
passenger's airbag is stored in the dashboard. Both are marked "SRS
AIRBAG." Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe frontal

collision.

A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors
information about the sensors, the
control unit, and the airbagactivators when the ignition is ON (II). An indicator light on the
instrument panel that alerts you toa possible problem with thesystem (see page 47). Emergency backup power in case
your car's electrical system is disconnected in a crash.
Ho
w You r Airbag s Wor k

If you ever have a moderate to severe frontal collision, the sensors
will detect rapid deceleration and signal the control unit to instantly
inflate the airbags.
During a crash, your seat belt helps
restrain your lower body and torso.
Your airbag provides a cushion to help restrain and protect your headand chest.

Driver an d Passenge r Safet y

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