2004 HONDA ELEMENT Owners Manual

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.
To deactivate the locking
mechanism and remove a child
seat, unlatch the buckle, unroute
the seat belt, and let the belt f ully
retract.
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.
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.
4.
5.
2. 3.
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Installing a Child Seat
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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 either seating position in
the back seat, using one of the
anchorage points shown above.
Af ter securing the child seat in the
desired position (see page ),
remove the head restraint, then
route the tether strap over the top
of the seat-back.
Tighten the strap according to the
seat maker’s instructions.
Slide the anchor cover open, then
attach the tether strap hook to the
anchor, making sure the strap is
not twisted.
1.
3.
2.
41
Installing a Child Seat with a
Tether
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety43
TETHER STRAP HOOK
ANCHOR POINTS
TETHER ANCHOR
ANCHOR COVER TETHER ANCHOR
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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.
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Protecting L arger Children
44
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.
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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?
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. A child who has outgrown a f orward- f acing child seat should ride in a
back seat and use a booster seat
until the lap/shoulder belt f its them
properly without the booster.
3. 4. 5.
1. 2.
CONT INUED
Protecting L arger Children
Checking Seat Belt Fit Using a Booster Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety45
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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.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.
Booster seats can be high-back or
low-back. Whichever style you select,
make sure the booster meets f ederal
saf ety standards 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 back 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. 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.
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that all children
age 12 and under be properly
restrained in the back seat.
If the passenger’s f ront airbag
inf lates 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.
On models with side airbags, the
passenger’s 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.
45
Maturity
Physical Size
Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
When Can a L arger Child Sit in
Front
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If you decide that a child can saf ely
ride up f ront, be sure to: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.
Supervise the child. Even mature
children sometimes need to be
reminded to f asten the seat belts
or sit properly.
Check that the child’s seat belt is
properly positioned and secured.
Have the child sit up straight, back
against the seat, and feet on or
near the f loor.
Move the vehicle seat to the rear-
most position.
Caref ully read the owner’s manual,
and make sure you understand all
seat belt instructions and all saf ety
inf ormation.
Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
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.
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Your vehicle’s exhaust contains
carbon monoxide gas. You should
have no problem with carbon
monoxide entering the vehicle in
normal driving if you maintain your
vehicle properly.
Have the exhaust system inspected
f or leaks whenever:The vehicle is raised f or an oil
change.
You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust.
The vehicle was in an accident
that may have damaged the under-
side. High levels of carbon monoxide can
collect rapidly in enclosed areas,
such as a garage. Do not run the
engine with the garage door closed.
Even with the door open, run the
engine only long enough to move the
vehicle out of the garage. If you must sit in your parked vehicle,
even in an unconf ined area, with the
engine running, adjust the heating
and cooling system as f ollows:
Select the Fresh Air mode.
Select the mode.
Turn the f an on high speed.
Set the temperature control to a
comfortable setting.
With the tailgate/hatch open, air
f low can pull exhaust gas into your
vehicle’s interior and create a
hazardous condition. If you must
drive with the tailgate/hatch open,
openallthewindowsandsetthe
heating and cooling system as shown
below. 1. 2.3.4.
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
Driver and Passenger Saf ety48
Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause
unconsciousness and even killyou.
Avoid any enclosed areas or
activities that expose you to
carbon monoxide.
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These labels are in the locations
shown. They warn you of potential
hazards that could cause serious
injury. Read these labels caref ully. If
a label comes of f or becomes hard to
read, contact your Honda dealer f or
a replacement.
CONT INUED
U.S. models onlyU.S. models
Canadian modelsU.S. models only
Saf ety L abels
Driver and Passenger Saf ety49
SUN VISOR
DASHBOARD
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