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1379299
2) Slide the guide under and past the belt.
The elastic cord must be under the belt.
Then, place the guide over the belt, and
insert the two edges of the belt into the
slots of the guide.
1397291
3) Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it
lies flat. The elastic cord must be under
the belt and the guide on top.
1400065
4) Buckle, position, and release the safety
belt as described in “Rear Seat Passen-
gers” in this section. Make sure that the
shoulder belt crosses the shoulder.
To remove and store the comfort guide,
squeeze the belt edges together so that
you can take them out of the guide. Slide
the guide back onto its storage clip located
on the seatback.
WARNING
A safety belt that is not properly worn
may not provide the protection
needed in a crash. The person wear-
ing the belt could be seriously
injured. The shoulder belt should go
over the shoulder and across the
chest. These parts of the body are
best able to take belt restraining
forces.
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Safety Belt PretensionersYour vehicle has safety belt pretensioners
for the driver and right front passenger.
Although you cannot see them, they are
part of the safety belt assembly. They help
tighten the safety belts during the early
stages of a moderate to severe frontal,
near frontal, rear or side crash, or a roll-
over if the threshold conditions for preten-
sioner activation are met.
Pretensioners work only once. If they acti-
vate in a crash, you will need to get new
ones, and probably other new parts for
your safety belt system. Refer to “Replac-
ing Restraint System Parts After a Crash”
in this section.Safety Belt ExtenderIf the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around
you, you should use it.
But if a safety belt is not long enough, your
dealer will order you an extender. When
you go in to order it, take the heaviest coat
you will wear, so the extender will be long
enough for you. To help avoid personal
injury, do not let someone else use it, and
use it only for the seat it is made to fit. The
extender has been designed for adults.
Never use it for securing child seats. To
wear it, just attach it to the regular safety
belt. For more information see the instruc-
tion sheet that comes with the extender.
Child RestraintsOlder Children
1379300
Older children who have outgrown booster
seats should wear the vehicle’s safety
belts.
Question:
What is the proper way to wear safety
belts?
Answer:
An older child should wear a lap-shoulder
belt and get the additional restraint a
shoulder belt can provide. The shoulder
belt should not cross the face or neck. The
lap belt should fit snugly below the hips,
just touching the top of the thighs. It should
never be worn over the abdomen, which
could cause severe or even fatal internal
injuries in a crash.According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front
seating positions.
In a crash, children who are not buckled up
can strike other people who are buckled
up, or can be thrown out of the vehicle.
Older children need to use safety belts
properly.
WARNING
Never do this.
Here two children are wearing the
same belt. The belt cannot properly
spread the impact forces. In a crash,
the two children can be crushed
together and seriously injured. A belt
must be used by only one person at a
time.
1-19 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
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1379302
Question:
What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder
belt, but the child is so small that the
shoulder belt is very close to the child’s
face or neck?
Answer:
If the child is sitting in a seat next to a win-
dow, move the child toward the center of
the vehicle. Also refer to “Rear Safety Belt
Comfort Guides” in this section. If the child
is sitting in the center rear seat passenger
position, move the child toward the safety
belt buckle. In either case, be sure that the
shoulder belt still is on the child’s shoulder,
so that in a crash the child’s upper body
would have the restraint that belts provide.
1379303
Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of
the belt should be worn low and snug on
the hips, just touching the child’s thighs.
This applies belt force to the child’s pelvic
bones in a crash.
Infants and Young ChildrenEveryone in a vehicle needs protection!
This includes infants and all other children.
Neither the distance traveled nor the age
and size of the traveler changes the need,
for everyone, to use safety restraints. In
fact, the law in every state in the United
States and in every Canadian province
says children up to some age must be
restrained while in a vehicle.
Every time infants and young children ride
in vehicles, they should have the protection
provided by appropriate restraints. Young
children should not use the vehicle’s adult
safety belts alone, unless there is no other
choice. Instead, they need to use a child
restraint.
WARNING
Never do this.
Here a child is sitting in a seat that
has a lap-shoulder belt, but the
shoulder part is behind the child. If
the child wears the belt in this way, in
a crash the child might slide under
the belt. The belt’s force would then
be applied right on the child’s abdo-
men. That could cause serious or
fatal injuries.
WARNING
Children can be seriously injured or
strangled if a shoulder belt is
wrapped around their neck and the
safety belt continues to tighten.
Never leave children unattended in a
vehicle and never allow children to
play with the safety belts.
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1379304 1379315
Question:
What are the different types of add-on
child restraints?
Answer:
Add-on child restraints, which are pur-
chased by the vehicle’s owner, are avail-
able in four basic types. Selection of a
particular restraint should take into consid-
eration not only the child’s weight, height,
and age but also whether or not the
restraint will be compatible with the motor
vehicle in which it will be used.
For most basic types of child restraints,
there are many different models available.
When purchasing a child restraint, be sure
it is designed to be used in a motor vehicle.
If it is, the restraint will have a label saying
that it meets federal motor vehicle safety
standards.
WARNING
People should never hold a baby in
their arms while riding in a vehicle. A
baby does not weigh much – until a
crash. During a crash a baby will
become so heavy it is not possible to
hold it. For example, in a crash at
only 25 mph (40 km/h), a 12 lb (5.5 kg)
baby will suddenly become a 240 lb
(110 kg) force on a person’s arms. A
baby should be secured in an appro-
priate restraint.
WARNING
Children who are up against, or very
close to, any airbag when it inflates
can be seriously injured or killed. Air-
bags plus lap-shoulder belts offer
protection for adults and older chil-
dren, but not for young children and
infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety
belt system nor its airbag system is
designed for them. Young children
and infants need the protection that a
child restraint system can provide.
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The restraint manufacturer’s instructions
that come with the restraint state the
weight and height limitations for a particu-
lar child restraint. In addition, there are
many kinds of restraints available for chil-
dren with special needs.
Child Restraint Systems
1379317
An infant car bed (A), a special bed made
for use in a motor vehicle, is an infant
restraint system designed to restrain or
position a child on a continuous flat sur-
face. Make sure that the infant’s head rests
toward the center of the vehicle.
WARNING
Newborn infants need complete sup-
port, including support for the head
and neck. This is necessary because
a newborn infant’s neck is weak and
its head weighs so much compared
with the rest of its body. In a crash,
an infant in a rear-facing seat settles
into the restraint, so the crash forces
can be distributed across the stron-
gest part of an infant’s body, the back
and shoulders. Infants always should
be secured in appropriate infant
restraints.
WARNING
The body structure of a young child
is quite unlike that of an adult or
older child, for whom the safety belts
are designed. A young child’s hip
bones are still so small that the vehi-
cle’s regular safety belt may not
remain low on the hip bones, as it
should. Instead, it may settle up
around the child’s abdomen. In a
crash, the belt would apply force on a
body area that is unprotected by any
bony structure. This alone could
cause serious or fatal injuries. Young
children always should be secured in
appropriate child restraints.
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Question:
How Should I Use a Child Restraint?
Answer:
A child restraint system is any device
designed for use in a motor vehicle to
restrain, seat, or position children. A built-
in child restraint system is a permanent
part of the motor vehicle. An add-on child
restraint system is a portable one, which is
purchased by the vehicle’s owner. To help
reduce injuries, an add-on child restraint
must be secured in the vehicle. With built-
in or add-on child restraints, the child has
to be secured within the child restraint.
When choosing an add-on child restraint,
be sure the child restraint is designed to be
used in a vehicle. If it is, it will have a label
saying that it meets federal motor vehicle
safety standards. Then follow the instruc-
tions for the restraint. You may find these
instructions on the restraint itself or in a
booklet, or both.
Securing an Add-on Child Restraint
in the VehicleTo help reduce the chance of injury, the
child restraint must be secured in the vehi-
cle. Child restraint systems must be
secured in vehicle seats by lap belts or the
lap belt portion of a lap-shoulder belt, or by
the LATCH system. Refer to “Lower
Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH)” in this section for more informa-
tion. A child can be endangered in a crash
if the child restraint is not properly secured
in the vehicle.
When securing an add-on child restraint,
refer to the instructions that come with the
restraint which may be on the restraint
itself or in a booklet, or both, and to this
manual. The child restraint instructions are
important, so if they are not available,
obtain a replacement copy from the manu-
facturer.Keep in mind that an unsecured child
restraint can move around in a collision or
sudden stop and injure people in the vehi-
cle. Be sure to properly secure any child
restraint in your vehicle – even when no
child is in it.
Securing the Child Within the Child
RestraintThere are several systems for securing the
child within the child restraint. One system,
the three-point harness, has straps that
come down over each of the infant’s shoul-
ders and buckle together at the crotch. The
five-point harness system has two shoul-
der straps, two hip straps, and a crotch
strap. A shield may take the place of hip
straps. A T-shaped shield has shoulder
straps that are attached to a flat pad which
rests low against the child’s body. A shelf-
or armrest-type shield has straps that are
attached to a wide, shelf-like shield that
swings up or to the side.
Because there are different systems, it is
important to refer to the instructions that
come with the restraint. A child can be
WARNING
A child can be seriously injured or
killed in a crash if the child restraint
is not properly secured in the vehicle.
Make sure the child restraint is prop-
erly installed in the vehicle using the
vehicle’s safety belt or LATCH sys-
tem, following the instructions that
came with that restraint, and also the
instructions in this manual.
WARNING
A child can be seriously injured or
killed in a crash if the child is not
properly secured in the child
restraint. Make sure the child is prop-
erly secured, following the instruc-
tions that came with that restraint.
1-24 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
78J00-03E
endangered in a crash if the child is not
properly secured in the child restraint.Where to Put the RestraintAccident statistics show that children are
safer if they are restrained in the rear
rather than the front seat. We recommend
that child restraints be secured in a rear
seat, including an infant riding in a rear-
facing infant seat, a child riding in a for-
ward-facing child seat and an older child
riding in a booster seat. Never put a rear-
facing child restraint in the front passenger
seat. Here is why:There is limited space in the third row rear
seating area. If you want to secure a child
restraint in a rear seating position in the
third row, be sure to study the instructions
that came with your child restraint to see if
there is enough room to secure your seat
properly. If the length of the seat cushion is
too short for your child restraint and you
cannot install it in accordance with the
child restraint manufacturers instructions,
secure it in the second row.
If you need to secure more than one child
restraint in the rear seat, review the follow-
ing illustrations.
NOTE:
Depending on where you place the child
restraint or the size of the child restraint,
you may not be able to access certain
safety belt assemblies for additional pas-
sengers or LATCH anchors for child
restraints. For more information about
where to place the child restraint, refer to
“Lower Anchor and Top Tether Anchor
Locations” in this section.Configurations for Use of Two
Child Restraints
1507695
A. Child restraint using LATCH
B. Occupant prohibited
WARNING
A child in a rear-facing child restraint
can be seriously injured or killed if
the right front passenger's airbag
inflates. This is because the back of
the rear-facing child restraint would
be very close to the inflating airbag.
Even though the passenger sensing
system is designed to turn off the
right front passenger's frontal airbag
if the system detects a rear-facing
child restraint, no system is fail-safe,
and no one can guarantee that an air-
bag will not deploy under some
unusual circumstance, even though
it is turned off. We recommend that
rear-facing child restraints be
secured in the rear seat, even if the
airbag is off.
(Continued)
WARNING
(Continued)
If you need to secure a forward-fac-
ing child restraint in the right front
seat, always move the front passen-
ger seat as far back as it will go. It is
better to secure the child restraint in
a rear seat.
1-28 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
78J00-03E
to Put the Restraint” in this section for
additional information.Securing a Child Restraint
Designed for the LATCH System
1252139
A. Passenger’s side rear seat lower
anchors
B. Center rear seat lower anchors
C. Driver’s side rear seat lower anchors
Make sure to attach the child restraint at
the proper anchor location.
This system is designed to make installa-
tion of child restraints easier. When using
lower anchors, do not use the vehicle’s
safety belts. Instead use the vehicle’s
anchors and child restraint attachments to
secure the restraints. Some restraints also
use another vehicle anchor to secure a top
tether.
1) Attach and tighten the lower attach-
ments to the lower anchors. If the child
restraint does not have lower attach-
ments or the desired seating position
does not have lower anchors, secure
WARNING
If a LATCH-type child restraint is not
attached to anchors, the restraint will
not be able to protect the child cor-
rectly. In a crash, the child could be
seriously injured or killed. Make sure
that a LATCH-type child restraint is
properly installed using the anchors,
or use the vehicle’s safety belts to
secure the restraint, following the
instructions that came with that
restraint, and also the instructions in
this manual.
WARNING
Each top tether anchor and lower
anchor in the vehicle is designed to
hold only one child restraint. Attach-
ing more than one child restraint to a
single anchor could cause the anchor
or attachment to come loose or even
break during a crash. A child or oth-
ers could be injured if this happens.
To help prevent injury to people and
damage to your vehicle, attach only
one child restraint per anchor.
WARNING
Children can be seriously injured or
strangled if a shoulder belt is
wrapped around their neck and the
safety belt continues to tighten.
Secure any unused safety belts
behind the child restraint so children
cannot reach them. Pull the shoulder
belt all the way out of the retractor to
set the lock, if your vehicle has one,
after the child restraint has been
installed. Be sure to follow the
instructions of the child restraint
manufacturer.
CAUTION
Contact between the child restraint or
the LATCH attachment parts and the
vehicle’s safety belt assembly may
cause damage to these parts. Make
sure when securing unused safety
belts behind the child restraint that
there is no contact between the child
restraint or the LATCH attachment
parts and the vehicle’s safety belt
assembly.
Folding an empty rear seat with the
safety belts secured may cause dam-
age to the safety belt or the seat.
When removing the child restraint,
always remember to return the safety
belts to their normal, stowed position
before folding the rear seat.