2005 Acura MDX child seat

When not using the LATCH system,
all child seats must be secured to the
vehicle with the lap part of a lap/
shoulder belt.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
thebeltout,itisnotlocked,and
you will need to repeat these steps.
In addition, the lap/shoulder belts in
all seating positions except the
driver’s have a locking mechanism
that must be activated to secure a
child seat.
1.2.
3.
CONT INUED
Installing a Child Seat with a L ap/
Shoulder Belt
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
47

Push and pull the child seat
f orward and f rom side to side to
verif y that it is secure enough to
stay upright during normal driving
maneuvers. If the child seat is not
secure, unlatch the belt, allow it to
retract f ully, then repeat these
steps.A child seat with a tether can be
installed in any seating position in
the second or third row.
To deactivate the locking
mechanism and remove a child seat,
unlatch the buckle, unroute the seat
belt, and let the belt f ully retract. Since a tether can provide additional
security to the lap/shoulder belt
installation, we recommend using a
tether whenever one is required or
available.
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.
4.
5. Installing a Child Seat with a
Tether
Installing a Child Seat
48

Each second row seat has a tether
anchorage point behind the seat-
back.Af ter properly securing the child
seat (see page ), lif t the head
restraint, then route the tether
strap over the seat-back.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.
2.
1.
47
3.
CONT INUED
Second Row Inst allat ion
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
49
TETHER ANCHORAGE POINT

Select the anchor point you want
to use. Raise the cargo area f loor,
and remove the cover with a small
f lat-tipped screwdriver or
f ingernail f ile.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 seat and wear a lap/shoulder
belt.
Each third row seat has a tether
anchorage point on the tailgate sill. Followsteps1and2of thesecond
row installation. 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.
2. 1.
T hird Row Inst allat ionProtecting L arger Children
Installing a Child Seat, Protecting L arger Children
50
Allowing a larger child age 12or
under to sit in front can result in
injury or death if the passenger’s
front airbag inflates.
If a 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.

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.
1.
2. 3.
4.
5.
CONT INUED
Checking Seat Belt Fit
Using a Booster Seat
Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
51

Some states also require children to
use a booster seat 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.
If a child who uses a booster seat
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 seat.
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.
A 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.
Booster seats can be high-back or
low-back. Whichever style you select,
make sure the booster seat meets
f ederal saf ety standards and that you
f ollow the booster seat maker’s
instructions.
Protecting L arger Children
When Can a L arger Child Sit in
Front
52

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. 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 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 f ront.
51
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.
Physical Size
Maturity
Protecting L arger Children
Additional Saf ety Precautions
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
53

The childproof door locks are
designed to prevent children seated
in the rear f rom accidentally opening
the rear doors. Each rear door has a
lock lever near the edge. With the
lever in the LOCK position, the door
cannot be opened f rom the inside
regardless of the position of the lock
tab. To open the door, pull the lock
tab up, and use the outside door
handle.
To lock all doors and the tailgate,
press the master door lock switch on
either f ront door, press the lock tab
down on the driver’s door, or use the
keyontheoutsidelockonthedriver’s
door.
Pressing up on either master door
lock switch will unlock all of the
doors and the tailgate. With the driver’s door open and the
key in the ignition, both master door
lock switches are disabled. They are
not disabled if the driver’s door is
closed. Pushing the switch down on
the open passenger’s door will lock
all doors and the tailgate.
To open the tailgate, pull the handle,
then lif t up. To close the tailgate, use
the inner handle to pull it down, then
press down on the back edge.
Keep the tailgate closed at all times
while driving to avoid damaging the
tailgate and to prevent exhaust gas
f rom getting into the interior. See
on page
.
The lock tab on any door locks and
unlocks that door. To unlock the driver’s door f rom the outside, turn
the key and release it. If you turn
and hold it, all doors and the tailgate
unlock.
54
Door L ocks
Childproof Door L ocks
Tailgate
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
L ockout Prevent ion
82
LOCK LEVER
MASTER DOOR LOCK SWITCH
LOCK TAB