2004 JAGUAR XJ Owners Manual

3 - 18 Before Driving
Air bag de-activation warning light
(YELLOW)
The PASS AIR BAG OFF warning light on
the passenger fascia is associated with the
deployment conditions for front seat
passenger air bags only.
• The warning light will NOT be lit if the seat is empty and the front air bag will
not be activated.
• The warning light will NOT be lit if the seat is occupied by a larger child or
adult. The front air bag will be
activated and will be deployed in the
event of a frontal impact. • The PASS AIR BAG OFF warning light
WILL be lit if the seat is occupied by,
for example, a small child and in this
case the front air bag will not be
activated.
• If the passenger adopts a posture (e.g. leaning very far forward) which
could cause injury from an inflating
air bag, the PASS AIR BAG OFF
warning light WILL be lit and the front
air bag will not be activated.
Note: Whenever the yellow PASS AIR
BAG OFF warning light on the passenger
fascia is illuminated, the front passenger
air bag will not be deployed in the event
of an impact.

Before Driving 3 - 19
Side protection
The side protection system utilizes
four air bags: Two mounted in the front
seats, and two curtain air bags located
just above the front and rear door
openings under the headlining trim.
When the seat mounted thorax air bag
inflates upon a vehicle side impact,
it breaks through the seat bolster
stitching, protecting the side of the rib
cage of the driver or front seat passenger.
When the curtain air bag inflates upon a
vehicle side impact, it breaks through the
headlining and de ploys downwards,
giving head protection to the front and
rear seat occupants on the impact side. The curtain air bag on the front passenger
side is always deployed in a side impact
even if the front passenger air bags are
deactivated. This is to maintain
protection for a
rear occupant.
Seat mounted thorax and curtain air bags
are designed to inflate in a side impact
collision, not rollover, rear-impact,
frontal or near-frontal collisions, unless
the collision causes sufficient lateral
deceleration.
The air bags, in combin ation with the seat
belts, can help reduce the risk of severe
injuries in the event of a significant side
impact collision.
!WARNING:
To ensure that the side air bags are
fully effective:
DO NOT sit too close to, lean or sleep
against the door trim. The side and
curtain air bags could injure you as
they deploy.
DO NOT lean out of the window.
Only use JAGUAR APPROVED
accessories (e.g. seat covers).
Due to the function of the CURTAIN
AIR BAG deployment, CONSULT your
Jaguar Retailer prior to installing any
ACCESSORIES in the upper
environment/pillar trim area
(e.g. HANDS-FREE TELEPHONE KITS).

3 - 20 Before Driving
Rear Impact Protection
Both front seats have active, energy
absorbent backrests which, with correctly
positioned headrests, reduce the risk of
neck and spinal injury (‘whiplash’) in the
event of a rear impact.
When activated, the seat backrests
automatically move back and recline,
altering the occupants’ posture and
reducing relative motion between the
body and head.
The degree of backrest movement in a
rear collision depends on the angle,
speed and nature of the colliding vehicle.
After activation, the w hiplash protection
mechanism will not work again and the
seat must be serviced by a Jaguar Retailer
to restore the protective function.
Note: The amount of backrest movement
depends on the severity of the impact and
for a minor collision there may be no
apparent change to the seat even where
the protective system has been activated.
After any rear collisio n, therefore, the seat
must always be inspected by an
authorised Retailer.
!WARNING:
1. For optimum protection, the driver and passenger should
sit in the centre of the seat with
the head as close as possible to the
head restraint.
2. Adjust the head re straint so that it
is just behind your head and never
behind your neck.
3. Do not wedge objects (e.g. luggage) between the front
seat backrest and the rear seat
cushion. 4. After a rear collision, the front
seats must be inspected by a
Jaguar Retailer even where there
is no apparent da mage or change
to the seat.
5. Do not attempt to service or tamper with the seat recliner
mechanism.

Before Driving 3 - 21
Wrong
Unbelted and too close Use seat belts If adjustable pedals fitted, move pedals towards seat
Move seat rearwards and recline seat back Tilt wheel down/forwards Correct
*Belted and 10 inches (25.4 cm) or more away

3 - 22 Before Driving
Driving Position
!WARNING:
Driver and front seat passenger
should always move their seats as far
rearwards as is practical.
Ideally, drivers should sit with at least
10 inches (25.4 cm) between the centre
of their breastbone and the cover of the
steering wheel air bag.
Since the risk zone at the time of
deployment is the first 2 to 3 inches
(5.5 cm – 7.5 cm) from the air bag cover,
sitting back 10 inches (25.4 cm) provides
a clear margin of safety. Very few drivers
are unable to achieve and maintain that
safety gap. The vast majority of drivers who do not
now sit that far back can change their
position and achieve that distance.
• If adjustable pedals are fitted, move
them towards the seat.
• Move your seat back as far as you can while still comfortably reaching the
pedals.
• Recline the back of your seat one or two notches from the upright
position. If reclining the back of your
seat makes it hard to see the road,
raise the seat.
• Tilt the steering wheel/column downwards so as to point the air bag
at your chest instead of your head and
neck. Adjust the steering wheel/
column fore/aft so that it extends
towards the driver as little as possible,
ensuring that the air bag has plenty of
room to deploy.
• Sit in the centre of the seat with the head as close to the head restraint as
possible. Note:
Seat, steering wheel and pedal
adjustment controls are described
elsewhere in this section.

Before Driving 3 - 23
Child Safety
JAGUARCARSLTD. STRONGLY RECOMMEND
THAT AT ALL TIMES CHILDREN SHOULD BE
CARRIED IN THE REAR SEATS.
!WARNING:
Children must be restrained by a
child safety restraint that is suitable
for their weight and size.
In many countries legislation governs
how and where children should be
carried when travelling in a vehicle.
It is the responsibility of the driver to
comply with all regulations in force in the
country where the vehicle is being used. Note:
It is important to read and
understand all the information contained
in this handbook rela ting to child safety
before carrying a child in your vehicle.
!WARNING:
DO NOT install a rearward-facing
child seat in the fr ont passenger seat
position since deployment of the
passenger fascia air bag could cause
death or serious injury to the child.
This is emphasised by the label
displayed on the end of the fascia on
the front passenger side (see above). If however, you hav
e no alternative
but to place a child in the front
passenger seat, use only a forward-
facing child seat with the passenger
seat set fully rearward and in its
lowest position.
Always follow the fitting instructions
supplied with the appropriate child
restraint system.

3 - 24 Before Driving
Holding a baby or child in a person’s
arms is not a substitute for a child
restraint system. Do not use a seat belt to
restrain more than one person.
In an accident, a baby or child held in a
person’s arms can be crushed between
the vehicles interior and a restrained
person.
The child can also be injured by hitting
the interior or being thrown from the
vehicle during a sudden manoeuvre or
impact.
Injury can also be caused if the baby or
child is allowed to ride on the seat
unrestrained. Other occupants should
also be properly restra ined to help reduce
the chance of injuring the child.
Do not allow children to stand in the
space between the front seats, or on the
passenger seats.
!WARNING:
1. Do not put an adult seat belt around two children.
2. Choose a child seat that sits
securely on the seat cushion and
against the back seat.
3. Always use the top tether to secure a forward-facing child seat
where possible (see page 3 - 29). Choosing a suitable child seat
Before you buy a child seat, it is
important to note that your child’s
weight, rather than age, determines the
type of seat that is required.
Jaguar recommends that a rear-
facing seat with a harness is used for
as long as your infant’s development
allows.
Do not use a forward-facing seat until
your child is able to sit up unaided.
Up to the age of 2, a child’s spine and
neck are not sufficiently developed to
avoid injury in a frontal impact.
When choosing a child seat, it is also
important to consider how you plan to
use it. For longer journeys, a reclining
seat may offer a
dded comfort and
support for a sleepin g child, while a
lightweight design may be easier to lift in
and out of the vehicle.
It is also worth noting that some children
are more suited to a harness-style seat
than a booster seat during their toddler
years. Because child seats vary in shape, certain
designs may be more stable when
mounted on the ou
ter rear seating
positions rather than in the centre.
Always check that a child seat can be
mounted securely in the required
position: if in doubt, speak to your Jaguar
Retailer.
We strongly advise that you do not buy or
use a second-hand child seat. The seat
may have been used inappropriately,
or been involved in an accident. In such
circumstances, the seat may not protect
your child.

Before Driving 3 - 25
Securing child restraints with an
adult seat belt
All passenger seat belts (not the driver’s)
have an automatic locking device for use
with child seats.
If engaged, this device allows the belt to
be retracted (tightened) but not pulled
out. When used to secure a child seat,
therefore, the belt will automatically lock
at any point to which it has retracted.
Always ensure that child restraint
assemblies are fitted in strict accordance
with the child restraint manufacturer’s
instructions. Keep the fitting instructions
for future reference.
The following checks should always be
carried out:
• Fit the child seat in the correct position and secure with the seat belt
in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions.
If necessary, remove the headrest to
accommodate a larger child seat.
• Pull the seat belt all the way out to engage the locking device.
• Make sure the child seat is fitted firmly to the car seat. There should
not be excessive forward or sideways
movement. • To fix the seat firm
ly, retract the belt
back onto the reel; a ratchet
operation may be felt as the belt
retracts. Continue to pay the belt back
onto the reel until it fits snugly around
the child seat.
• Regularly check and refit the child seat to ensure there is no slack in the
installation.
• The seat belt must not be twisted and
the buckle must not rest on the child
seat frame, as it may snap open in an
accident.
• Never modify the seat, or install it differently to the instructions.
The above is a guide only. Depending on
the features of a particular child seat,
e.g. forward or rearwa rd-facing, engage
the locking device before or after
attaching the belt, as convenient.
Unbuckling the belt and releasing the
child seat will allow th e belt to resume its
normal operation.
Always secure an unoccupied child seat
safely. In an accident an unsecured child
seat may pose a risk to the vehicle
occupants. Safe use of child restraints
!WARNING:
The top tether anchor point must
always be used to secure forward-
facing child seats (see page 3 - 29).
Ensure that there is no slack in the
webbing and that the restraints fits the
child snugly across the rib cage and hips.
These are the parts of the body most able
to take the force of an impact.
• Ensure the path and position of an integral harness across the shoulders
is appropriate for your child’s
development – consult the
manufacturer’s instructions.
• The lap strap should pass across the top of the child’s thighs, bearing on
the pelvis, not the abdominal area.
• Adjust the harness every time so that one or two fingers only can be
inserted between the child and the
harness. Different clothing on a child
can make a difference to the correct
fitting of the harness.
• Make sure that the webbing is not twisted.