2004 DODGE DURANGO remove seats

Standards. The manufacturer recommends that you
try a child restraint in the vehicle seats where you will
use it before you buy it.
²The restraint must be appropriate for your child's
weight and height. Check the label on the restraint for
weight and height limits.
²Carefully follow the instructions that come with the
restraint. If you install the restraint improperly, it may
not work when you need it.
²The second row outside seating positions and all third
row seats have cinching latch plates. The second row
center position has an adjustable locking retractor.
These are designed to keep the lap portion tight
around the child restraint so that it is not necessary to
use a locking clip. If the seat belt has a cinching latch
plate, pulling up on the shoulder portion of the
lap/shoulder belt will tighten the belt. The cinching
latch plate will keep the belt tight, however, any seatbelt system will loosen with time, so check the belt
occasionally and pull it tight if necessary. If the seat
belt has a automatic locking retractor, it will have a
distinctive label. Pull the belt from the retractor until
there is enough to allow you to pass through the child
restraint and slide the latch plate into the buckle. Then,
pull the belt until it is all extracted from the retractor.
Allow the belt to return to the retractor, pulling on the
excess webbing to tighten the lap portion about the
child restraint. Refer to9Automatic Locking Mode9
earlier in this section.
²Buckle the child into the restraint exactly as the
manufacturer's instructions tell you.
²When your child restraint is not in use, secure it in the
vehicle with the seat belt or remove it from the vehicle.
Do not leave it loose in the vehicle. In a sudden stop or
collision, it could strike the occupants or seat backs
and cause serious personal injury.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 53
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Child Restraints in Third Row Seating (If
Equipped)
The third seating row is not capable of installing child
restraints that require the use of a tether strap. There are
no tether anchor provisions for the third seating row in
your vehicle, the hooks in the rear floor are not designed
to withstand the forces that may occur during a crash.
WARNING!
An incorrectly anchored tether strap could lead to
increased head motion and possible injury to the
child. Use only the anchor positions directly behind
the child seat to secure a child restraint top tether
strap. Do not install a child restraint that requires a
tether strap in the third seating row (if equipped) of
this vehicle.
Child Restraint Tether Anchor
There are tether strap anchorages behind each seating
position in the second row. For vehicles equipped with
third row seating, there is no Child Tether Anchorage
provided for the third row of seats. To install child
restraint tethers follow these instructions.
1. Place the child restraint in the second row of seats.
2. Route the tether strap under the head restraint and
between the two posts.
3. Attach the tether strap hook of the child restraint to
the tether anchor located on the seat back and remove the
slack in the tether strap according to the manufacturer's
instructions.
60 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Raising the lever allows third row seat passengers to fold
the seatbacks and release the latches when exiting the
vehicle. Once the seatback is in a folded position continue
raising the lever fully to release the cushion latches and
tumble the seat. This folding and tumbling action pro-
vides easy access to the third row seat.NOTE:The secondary lever on the rear of each cushion
allows third row-seat passengers to release the latches
and fold the seatbacks when exiting the vehicle.
NOTE:The head restraints must be lowered but do not
have to be removed to fold and tumble the seats.
92 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

To Achieve Maximum Cargo Capacity
Pull up the release handles and strap on the second row
seats and fold the seat backs flat. Then fold the third row
seat flat. Unsnap the flipper panel on the third row seat
and flip it forward on the backs of the second row seats.
NOTE:When returning the second row seats to their
upright position, always snap the third row seat flipper
panel(s) back to the third row seat first.
NOTE:The head restraints must be lowered when
folding the back but do not have to be removed.
NOTE:The seat belt buckles are hinged to fold with the
back.WARNING!
Make sure the cushion is properly engaged under
the seatback to properly lock the seatback in the
riding position.
Do not sit in the 3rd row seat with the second row
seatbacks folded or with the second row seats folded
and tumbled. In a collision, you could slide under
the seat belt and be seriously or even fatally injured.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 95
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