2004 HONDA S2000 child seat

Because an inf lating airbag can
seriously injure or kill small children,
we recommend that you do not carry
a small child as a passenger in this
vehicle.
If you decide to transport a small
child in this vehicle, be sure to move
the passenger seat as far to the rear
as possible, and follow the
instructions and guidelines in the
f ollowing pages.A child who is at least one year old,
and who fits within the child seat
maker’s weight and height limits,
should be restrained in a f orward-
f acing, upright child seat.
Of the different seats available, we
recommend those that have a f ive-
point harness system as shown.We also recommend that a small
child uses the child seat as long as
possible, until the child reaches the
weight or height limit f or the seat.
Protecting Small Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Child Seat T ype
26
Placing a forward-facing child
seat in the passenger’s seat
can result in serious injury or
death if the airbag inflates.
Ifyoumustplaceaforward-
facing child seat in the
passenger’s seat, move the
vehicle seat as far back as
possible, and properly restrain
the child.

To provide proper protection, a child
seat should meet three
requirements:Look f or FMVSS
213 or CMVSS 213 on the box.
Bef ore purchasing a child seat, or
using a previously purchased one, we
recommend that you test the seat to
make sure it f its properly in the
passenger’s seat. Af ter selecting a proper child seat,
there are three main steps to install
it:
All child seats must be
secured to the vehicle with the lap
part of a lap/shoulder belt. A child
whose seat is not properly secured
to the vehicle can be endangered
in a crash.
Af ter installing a child
seat, push and pull the seat
f orward and f rom side to side to
verif y that it is secure. Make sure the child is properly
strappedinthechildseat
according to the child seat maker’s
instructions. A child who is not
properly secured in a child seat
can be seriously injured in a crash.
The f ollowing pages provide
guidelines on how to properly install
a f orward-f acing child seat.
A child seat secured with a seat
belt should be installed as f irmly
as possible. However, it does not
need to be ‘‘rock solid’’. Some side-
to-side movement can be expected
and should not reduce the child
seat’s ef f ectiveness.
Selecting a Child Seat
Installing a Child Seat
T he child seat should meet U.S. or
Canadian Mot or Vehicle Saf et ySt andard 213.
T he child seat should be of theproper t ype and size t o f it t he child.
T he child seat should f it thepassenger’s seat . Properly secure t he child seat t o
the vehicle.
Make sure t he child seat is f irmlysecured. Secure the child in the child seat.
1. 2.3. 1.
2. 3.
Selecting a Child Seat, Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety27

The passenger’s seat belt has a
locking mechanism that must be
activated to secure a child seat.Move the vehicle seat to the rear-
most position. Moving the seat as
f ar back as possible reduces the
chance of a child being injured or
killed if the passenger’s airbag
inf lates. With the child seat in 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.
3.4.
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Installing a Child Seat with a L ap/
Shoulder Belt
28

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.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. 6.
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety29

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.
Since this vehicle does not have a
back seat, we recommend that you
do not carry a larger child, age 12 or
under, as a passenger.
The f ollowing pages provide
guidelines to help you decide when a
given child may ride in this vehicle,
and how to properly protect the child.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?
1.
2.
Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Checking Seat Belt Fit
30
Allowing a larger child age 12 or
under to ride in the vehicle can
result in injury or death if the
passenger’s airbag inflates.
If a larger child must ride in the
vehicle, move the vehicle seat
as far back as possible, use a
booster seat if needed, and
have the child sit up properly
and wear the seat belt properly.

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 use a
booster seat until the lap/shoulder
belt fits 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 and that you f ollow
the booster seat maker’s instructions.
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.
3.
4.
5.
Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Using a Booster Seat
31

If the passenger’s 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.
Of course, children vary widely. And
while age may be one indicator of
when a child can saf ely ride in this
vehicle. There are other important
f actors you should consider.To saf ely ride in this vehicle, a child
must be able to f ollow the rules,
including sitting properly, and
wearing the seat belt properly
throughout 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 this vehicle.If you decide that a child can saf ely
ride in this vehicle, 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.
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Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
When Can a L arger Child Ride in
this VehicleMaturity
Physical Size
32

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 seatbelt.
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