2004 HONDA ODYSSEY Owners Manual

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 second row seats, the outer seats
in the third row, 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
the belt out, it is not locked 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
46

To remove slack, it may help to put
weight on the child seat, or push on
the back of the seat while pulling up
on the belt.Follow instruction number 5
beginning on page . Route the lap belt through the
child seat according to the seat
maker’s instructions, then insert
the latch plate into the buckle. Pull
hard on the loose end of the belt to
remove any slack.
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.
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. 5.
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1.
2
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Inst alling a Child Seat in t he Cent er
Position of the T hird Row
47

A child seat with a tether can be
installed in any seating position in
the second or third row.
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.)Each second row bucket seat has a
tether anchorage point on the
underside of the seat cushion. Af ter securing the child seat in the
desired position (see page ),
route the tether strap over the top
of the seat-back and between the
head restraint legs.
1.
46
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Installing a Child Seat with a
TetherSecond Row Inst allat ion
48
TETHER ANCHORAGE POINT

Attach the tether strap hook to the
anchor as shown above, then
tighten the strap according to the
child seat maker’s instructions.
Make sure the strap is not twisted.Followsteps1and2of thesecond
row seat installation.
There are three anchorage points on
the tailgate sill. The tether hardware
is installed on the center anchorage
point. If you want to use either of the
outside anchorage points shown
above, remove the tether
hardware f rom the center
anchorage point on the tailgate sill.
With a f lat tipped screwdriver,
remove the plug f rom the
anchorage point you intend to use,
then install the tether hardware.
Make sure the toothed washer is on
the bottom of the bolt. Tighten the
bolt to:
To attach the tether to the child
seat, f ollow the child seat maker’s
instructions.
If you did not use a torque wrench,
or you are not sure how to install the
tether or the hardware, contact your
Honda dealer f or assistance.
2. 2.
1. 3.
4.
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
T hird Row Inst allat ion
49
16 lbf·ft (22 N·m , 2.2 kgf·m)

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.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.
1.
2. 3.
4.
5.
Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Checking Seat Belt Fit
50
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.

A child who has outgrown a forward-
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.
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.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.
We strongly recommend that a child
whousedaboosterrideinaback
seat,notthefront.Evenif the
passenger’s f ront airbag is of f , a
back seat is the safest place for the
child.
Even then, the child may still need to
use a booster seat. Note that some
states now require children to use
boosters until they reach a certain
ageand/orweight.Besuretocheck
current laws in the state or states
where you intend to drive.
35
Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Using a Booster Seat
51

The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that all children
age 12 and under be properly
restrained in a 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.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 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
the front.
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.
5014
Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
When Can a L arger Child Sit in
Front
Maturity
Physical Size
52

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.
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 seat
belt.
53