2004 HONDA ACCORD COUPE Owners Manual

Other LATCH-compatible seats have
a f lexible-type connection as shown
above.Whatever type you have, f ollow
the child seat maker’s instructions
f or adjusting or tightening the f it. Route the tether strap through the
legs of the head restraint, then
attach the hook to the anchorage
point as shown.
Make sure the strap is not twisted,
then tighten the strap according to
the child seat maker’s instructions.
Push and pull the child seat
f orward and f rom side-to-side to
verif y that it is secure.
4. 5.
6. 7.
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety42
Flexible type
——y

y
(%
yy

CONT INUED
When not using the LATCH system,
all child seats must be secured to the
vehicle with the lap part of a lap/
shoulder belt.
In addition, the lap/shoulder belts in
the rear seat and the f ront passenger
seat have a locking mechanism that
must be activated to secure a child
seat.With the child seat in the desired
seating position, route the belt
through the child seat according
to the seat maker’s instructions,
then insert the latch plate into the
buckle.To activate the lockable retractor,
slowly pull the shoulder part of the
belt all the way out until it stops,
then let the belt f eed back into the
retractor.
Af ter the belt has retracted, tug on
it. If the belt is locked, you will not
be able to pull it out. If you can pull
thebeltout,itisnotlocked,and
you will need to repeat these steps.
1.
2. 3.
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Installing a Child Seat with a L ap/
Shoulder Belt
43
——y
y
(%
yy

To deactivate the locking
mechanism and remove a child seat,
unlatch the buckle, unroute the seat
belt, and let the belt f ully retract.
Push and pull the child seat
f orward and f rom side to side to
verif y that it is f irmly secured. If
the child seat is not secure,
unlatch the belt, allow it to retract
f ully, then repeat these steps.
Af ter conf irming that the belt is
locked, grab the shoulder part of
the belt near the buckle and pull
up to remove any slack from the
lap part of the belt. Remember, if
the lap part of the belt is not tight,
the child seat will not be secure.
To remove slack, it may help to
putweightonthechildseat,or
push on the back of the seat while
pulling up on the belt. 5.
4.
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety44
——y


y
(%
yy

CONT INUED
Since a tether can provide additional
security to the lap/shoulder belt
installation, we recommend using a
tether whenever one is required or
available. (Tethers are required in
Canada.)
A child seat with a tether can be
installed in any seating position in
the back seat, using one of the
anchorage points shown above.
Lif t the anchor point lid, then
attach the tether strap hook to the
anchor, making sure the strap is
not twisted.
Tighten the strap according to the
seat maker’s instructions.
Af ter securing the child seat in the
desired position (see page ), lif t
the head restraint, then route the
tether strap over the top of the
seat-back and through the head
restraint legs.
1.
2. 3.
43
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Installing a Child Seat with a
TetherUsing an Out er A nchorage Point
45
COVER
TETHER ANCHORAGE P OINTS ANCHOR
TETHER
STRAP
HOOK
——y
y
(%
yy

Af ter properly securing the child
seat (see page ), route the
tether strap over the top of the
seat-back.
Attach the tether strap hook to the
anchor, making sure the strap is
not twisted, then tighten the strap
according to the seat-maker’s
instructions.
1. 2.
43
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Using t he Cent er A nchorage Point
46
TETHER STRAP HOOK
TETHER ANCHORAGE P OINT
——y
y
(%
yy

When a child reaches the
recommended weight or height limit
for a forward-facing child seat, the
child should sit in the back seat on a
booster and wear a lap/shoulder belt.To determine if a lap/shoulder belt
properly f its a child, have the child
put on the seat belt, then ask
yourself :Does the child sit all the way back
against the seat?
Do the child’s knees bend
comf ortably over the edge of the
seat? Does the shoulder belt cross
between the child’s neck and arm?
Is the lap part of the belt as low as
possible, touching the child’s
thighs?
Will the child be able to stay
seated like this f or the whole trip?
The f ollowing pages give
instructions on how to check proper
seat belt f it, what kind of booster
seat to use if one is needed, and
important precautions f or a child
who must sit in f ront.
If you answer yes to all these
questions, the child is ready to wear
the lap/shoulder belt correctly. If
you answer no to any question, the
child needs to ride on a booster seat.
1. 2. 3.4. 5.
Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Checking Seat Belt Fit
47
Allowing a large child age 12 or
under to sit in front can result in
injury or death if the passenger’s
front airbag inflates.
If a large child must ride in front,
move the vehicle seat as far
back as possible, use a booster
seat if needed, have the child
sit up properly and wear the
seat belt properly.
——y

y
(%
yy

A child who has outgrown a forward-
f acing child seat should ride in the
back seat and use a booster seat
until the lap/shoulder belt f its them
properly without the booster.
Some states also require children to
use a booster until they reach a
given age or weight (e.g., 6 years or
60lbs).Besuretocheckcurrent
laws in the state or states where you
intend to drive.The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that all children
ages 12 and under be properly
restrained in the back seat.
Even with advanced front airbag, the
back seat is the safest place for a
child of any age or size.
If the passenger’s f ront airbag is on,
and it inflates in a moderate to
severe f rontal collision, the airbag
can cause serious injuries to a child
who is unrestrained, improperly
restrained, sitting too close to the
airbag, or out of position.
The side airbag also poses risks. If
any part of a larger child’s body is in
the path of a deploying side airbag,
the child could receive possibly
serious injuries.
Booster seats can be high-back or
low-back. Whichever style you select,
make sure the booster meets f ederal
saf ety standards (see page ) and
that you f ollow the booster seat
maker’s instructions.
If a child who uses a booster must
ride in f ront, move the vehicle seat
as far to the rear as possible, and be
sure the child is wearing the seat
belt properly.
A child may continue using a booster
seat until the tops of their ears are
even with the top of the vehicle’s or
booster’s seat-back. A child of this
height should be tall enough to use
the lap/shoulder belt without a
booster.
40
Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Using a Booster Seat
When Can a L arger Child Sit in
Front
48
——y
y
(%
y
y

Of course, children vary widely. And
while age may be one indicator of
when a child can saf ely ride in f ront.
There are other important f actors
youshouldconsider.If you decide that a child can saf ely
ride up f ront, be sure to:
Caref ully read the owner’s manual
and make sure you understand all
seat belt instructions and all saf ety
inf ormation.
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 f loor.
Check that the child’s seat belt is
properly and securely positioned.
Supervise the child. Even mature
children sometimes need to be
reminded to f asten the seat belts
or sit properly.
To saf ely ride in f ront, a child must
be able to f ollow the rules, including
sitting properly, and wearing the seat
belt properly throughout a ride.
Physically, a child must be large
enough f or the lap/shoulder belt to
properly f it (see pages and ). If
the seat belt does not f it properly,
with or without the child sitting on a
booster, the child should not sit in
front.
14 47
CONT INUED
Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Maturity
Physical Size
49
——y
y
(%
yy