2004 HONDA CIVIC HATCHBACK ECU

Place the child seat on the vehicle
seat, and attach the seat to the
lower anchors according to the
child seat maker’s instructions.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.
Some LATCH-compatible seats
have a rigid-type connection as
shown above.
Lif t the rear head restraint, then
route the tether strap over the
seat-back between the legs of the
head restraint, making sure the
strap is not twisted.Attach the tether strap hook to the
tether anchor, then tighten the
strap as instructed by the child
seat maker.
Pushandpullthechildseat
f orward and f rom side-to-side to
verif y that it is secure.
6.
5.
3.
4.7.
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety39
Rigid type
Flexible type TETHER STRAP HOOK
ANCHORAGE POINT
——y
y
()yy

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 back seating positions, and in 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.
1.
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Installing a Child Seat with a L ap/
Shoulder Belt 40
——y
y
()yy

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.Af ter conf irming that the belt is
locked,thengrabtheshoulder
part of the belt near the buckle
andpulluptoremoveanyslack
f rom the lap part of the belt.
Remember, if the lap part of the
belt is not tight, the child seat will
not be secure.
Pushandpullthechildseat
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.
To remove slack, it may help to
putweightonthechildseat,or
push on the back of the seat while
pulling up on the belt. To deactivate the locking
mechanism and remove a child seat,
unlatch the buckle, unroute the seat
belt, and let the belt f ully retract.
2. 3.
4.
5.
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety41
——y

y
()yy

One tether anchorage point f or each
of the outer rear seats is located
under the cargo f loor carpet and the
tailgate sill. Pull up the carpet to
access the anchorage point
(outboard anchor) when securing a
tether-style child seat to the vehicle.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.)
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 pages and
), lif t the head restraint, then
route the tether strap over the top
of the seat-back and through the
head restraint legs.
2. 3.
1.
34
35
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Installing a Child Seat with a
Tether
Using an Outer A nchorage Point
42 ANCHORAGE POINT
TETHER STRAP HOOK
——y

y
()yy

Af ter properly securing the child
seat with the lap/shoulder belt
(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.When a child reaches the
recommended weight or height limit
for a forward-facing child seat, the
child should sit in a back seat on a
booster and wear a lap/shoulder belt.
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.
1. 40
2.
Installing a Child Seat, Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Using the Center A nchorage
Point
Protecting L arger Children
43
ANCHORAGE
POINT
Allowing a larger child age 12 or
under to sit in front can result in
injury or death if the passenger’s
front airbag inflates.
If a larger 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

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 positioned and secured. This could result in
serious neck injuries during a crash.
This could cause
very serious injuries during a crash.
It also increases the chance that the
child will slide under the belt in a
crash and be injured.
If they do, they could
be very seriously injured in a crash.
Devices intended to improve a
child’s comf ort or reposition the
shoulder part of a seat belt can make
the belt less ef f ective, and increase
the chance of serious injury in a
crash.
Of course, children vary widely. And
while age may be one indicator of
when a child can saf ely ride in the
f ront. There are other important
f actors you should consider.
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 page ). If the seat
belt does not f it properly, with or
without the child sitting on a booster,
the child should not sit in the f ront. Supervise the child. Even mature
children sometimes need to be
reminded to f asten the seat belts
or sit properly.
44 Additional Saf ety Precautions
Do not let a child wear a seat belt
across t he neck.
Do not let a child put the shoulderpart of a seat belt behind t he back orunder t he arm.
T wo children should never use t hesame seat belt .
Do not put any accessories on a seatbelt.
Maturity
Physical Size
Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
46
——y

y
()yy

Make sure the rear window is clear
and you have good visibility bef ore
starting to drive.
Thedefoggerwiresontheinsideof
the rear window can be accidentally
damaged. When cleaning the glass,
always wipe side-to-side.Make any steering wheel adjustment
bef ore you start driving.
To adjust the steering wheel upward
or downward:
Push the lever under the steering
column all the way down. Move the steering wheel so it
points to your chest, not toward
yourface.Makesureyoucansee
the instrument panel gauges and
indicators.
Push the lever up to lock the
steering wheel in that position.
Make sure you have securely
locked the steering wheel in place
by trying to move it up and down.
1.
4.
3.
2.
See page f or important saf ety
inf ormation about how to properlyposition the steering wheel. 16
Rear Window Def ogger, Steering Wheel A djustment
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Steering Wheel A djustment
63
Adjusting the steering wheel
position while driving may
cause you to lose control of the
vehicle and be seriously injured
inacrash.
Adjust the steering wheel only
when the vehicle is stopped.
——y


y
()yy

To unlatch either side of the seat-
back, pull up on the release lever,
then fold the seat-back down.Never drive with the seat-back
f olded down and the hatch open. See
on page
.
Make sure all items in the cargo area
are secured. Loose items can f ly
f orward and cause injury if you have
to brake hard. See
on page .
To lock the seat-back upright, push it
firmly against its latch. Tug on the
seat-back to make sure it is latched.
Make sure the seat belts are
positioned in f ront of the rear seat-
back and the seat belt buckles are on
the seat cushion whenever the seat-
back is in its upright position. 47
117
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols Carbon Monoxide Hazard
Carrying Cargo
74 RELEASE LEVER
——y
y
()yy