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Attaching child safety seats with tether straps
Most new forward-facing child safety seats include a tether strap which
goes over the back of the seat and hooks to an anchoring point. Tether
straps are available as an accessory for many older safety seats. Contact
the manufacturer of your child seat for information about ordering a
tether strap.
Children should be placed in the rear in an appropriate child
safety seat that is properly secured to the vehicle.
The tether anchors in your vehicle are in the positions shown:
40/40 second row seats
60/40 second row seats
Delivery van
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Front passenger seating position (delivery van only)
1. Position the child safety seat on
the passenger seat cushion.
2. Route the child safety seat tether
strap over the back of the seat. If
the head restraint is adjustable,
route the tether strap under the
head restraint and between the
head restraint posts. If the top of
the safety seat hits the head
restraint, raise the head restraint to
let the child seat fit further
rearward.
3. Grasp the tether strap and
position it to the seat frame.
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4. Rotate the tether hook, and clip
the tether strap to the seat frame.
If the tether strap is clipped
incorrectly (as shown) the
child safety seat may not be
retained properly in the event of a
collision.
5. Rotate the tether strap clip.
6. Install the child safety seat tightly
using the LATCH anchors or safety
belts. Follow the instructions in this
chapter.
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7. Tighten the child safety seat
tether strap according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.
Rear seating positions
Follow Steps 1–7 as described above for the following available seats:
•2nd row bucket (40/40)
•2nd row bench (60/40)
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•3rd row bench
Note: The cargo tie-downs at the
rear edge of the floor are not
tether anchors.
For additional important safety information on the proper use of safety
belts, child seats and infant seats, please read the entireSeating and
safety restraintschapter in this owner’s guide.
Attaching safety seats with LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children) attachments for child seat anchors
New child safety seats have two rigid or webbing mounted attachments
that connect to two anchors at certain seating positions in your vehicle.
This type of child seat eliminates the need to use safety belts to attach
the child seat. For forward-facing child seats, the tether strap must also
be attached to the proper tether anchor. SeeAttaching safety seats with
tether strapsin this chapter.
Your vehicle has LATCH anchors for child seat installation at the seating
positions marked with the child seat symbol.
Never attach two LATCH
child safety seats to the
same anchor. In a crash, one
anchor may not be strong enough
to hold two child safety seat
attachments and may break,
causing serious injury or death.
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The lower anchors for child seat
installation are located at the rear
section of the rear seat between the
cushion and seat back.
Follow the child seat manufacturer’s instructions to properly install a
child seat with LATCH attachments.
Attach LATCH lower attachments of the child seat only to the
anchors shown.
If you install a child seat with rigid LATCH attachments, do not tighten
the tether strap enough to lift the child seat off the vehicle seat cushion
when the child is seated in it. Keep the tether strap just snug without
lifting the front of the child seat. Keeping the child seat just touching the
vehicle seat gives the best protection in a severe crash. Adjusting the
seat back angle may allow the tether strap to be tight without lifting the
child seat.
Each time you use the safety seat, check that the seat is properly
attached to the lower anchors and tether anchor. Try to tilt the child
seat from side to side. Also try to tug the seat forward. Check to see if
the anchors hold the seat in place.
If the safety seat is not anchored properly, the risk of a child
being injured in a crash greatly increases.
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A
Accessory delay ..........................67
Air cleaner filter .......................269
Air conditioning ........42, 44, 46, 49
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ................132–133, 142, 144
and child safety seats ............134
description ..............133, 142, 144
disposal ....................................147
driver airbag ............135, 142, 145
indicator light .................135, 146
operation .................135, 142, 145
passenger airbag .....135, 142, 145
side airbag ...............................142
All Wheel Drive (AWD),
driving off road .........................198
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................251
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................190
Anti-theft system ......................103
arming the system ..................103
disarming a triggered
system .....................................104
Audio system
(see Radio) ............................17, 20
Automatic transaxle
fluid, adding ............................268
fluid, checking ........................268
fluid, refill capacities ..............270
fluid, specification ..................274
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................195
Axle
lubricant specifications ..........272B
Battery .......................................249
acid, treating emergencies .....249
jumping a disabled battery ....222
maintenance-free ....................249
replacement, specifications ...269
servicing ..................................249
BeltMinder .................................126
Brakes ........................................189
anti-lock ...................................190
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................190
fluid, checking and adding ....268
fluid, refill capacities ..............270
fluid, specifications .........272, 274
lubricant specifications ..272, 274
parking ....................................191
shift interlock ..........................193
Bulbs ............................................56
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....270
Cargo cover .................................89
Cargo net .....................................88
Cassette tape player ...................17
Cell phone use ..............................7
Changing a tire .........................214
Child safety restraints ..............147
child safety belts ....................147
Child safety seats ......................151
in front seat ............................152
in rear seat ..............................152
tether anchorage hardware ...155
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............237
instrument panel ....................239
interior .....................................239
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Relays ........................................207
Remote entry system .................92
illuminated entry ................96–97
Reverse sensing system ...........196
Roadside assistance ..................205
Roof rack .....................................89
S
Safety Belt Maintenance ..........131
Safety belts
(see Safety restraints) ............118,
122–125
Safety Canopy ...........................144
Safety defects, reporting ..........235
Safety restraints ........118, 122–125
belt minder .............................126
extension assembly ................131
for adults .........................123–125
for children .............................147
Occupant Classification
Sensor ......................................120
safety belt maintenance .........131
warning light and chime ........126
Safety seats for children ..........151
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................276
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) .............118
Seats ..........................................105
child safety seats ....................151
front seats ...............105–106, 109
heated ............................44, 46, 49
memory seat .....................93, 110
second row seats ............111, 114
third row seats ........114, 116–117
Servicing your vehicle ..............242Setting the clock
AM/FM/In-dash 6 CD ................21
Spare tire
(see Changing the Tire) ...........216
Spark plugs, specifications ......269,
274
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................272, 274
Speed control ..............................70
Starting your vehicle ........186–188
jump starting ..........................222
Steering wheel
controls ......................................73
tilting .........................................62
T
Tilt steering wheel ......................62
Tires ...........................161–162, 214
alignment ................................168
care ..........................................166
changing ..................214, 216–217
checking the pressure ............166
inspecting and inflating .........163
label .........................................175
replacing ..................................170
rotating ....................................168
safety practices .......................167
sidewall information ...............170
snow tires and chains ............176
spare tire .................................214
terminology .............................162
tire grades ...............................162
treadwear ........................161, 166
Towing .......................................182
recreational towing .................185
trailer towing ..........................182
wrecker ....................................227
Traction control ........................192
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