2008 HONDA RIDGELINE child seat

Lif t the head restraint (see page), then route the tether strap
over the seat-back and through
the head restraint legs.
Lift the cover, then route the
tether strap around the upper
guide. Route the tether strap
downward properly, making sure
the strap is not twisted, then
attach the strap hook to the tether
anchor on the outside of the seat
bottom (see page ). Push and pull the child seat
f orward and f rom side-to-side to
verify that it is secure.
Tighten the strap according to the
seat maker’s instructions.
6. 7.
8.
46
103
On the outer seating position
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
43
UPPER
GUIDE
Outer Position UPPER
GUIDE
Center Position TETHER ANCHOR
TETHER ANCHOR
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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 lockable retractor
that must be activated to secure a
child seat.
If you intend to install the child seat
in the rear center seating position
and use the tether strap for
additional security, make sure to
push down the head restraint to the
lowest position and hook the tether
strap hook to the anchor bef ore
securing the child seat with the lap/
shoulder belt. Ref er to page f or
how to route the tether strap
properly.
1. 2.
3.
46
Installing a Child Seat with a L ap/
Shoulder Belt
Installing a Child Seat
44
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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.Push and pull the child seat
f orward and f rom side-to-side to
verify 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.
To remove slack, it may help to
putweightonthechildseat,or
push on the back of the seat while
pulling up on the belt. To deactivate the lockable retractor
and remove a child seat, unlatch the
buckle, unroute the seat belt, and let
the belt fully retract.
4. 5.
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
45
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When using a tether anchor, always
hook the tether strap through the
upper guide to route it properly.
Since a tether can provide additional
security to the lap/shoulder belt
installation, we recommend using a
tether whenever one is required or
available.
Each outer seating position has a
tether anchor at the outside of the
seat bottom. The center seating
position has a tether anchor between
the lower anchors f or the LATCH-
compatible child seat. Each anchor
point is shown above. Lif t the cover, then hook the
tether strap through the upper
guide as shown.
Af ter properly securing the child
seat (see page ), lif t the head
restraint, then route the tether
strap over the seat-back and
through the head restraint legs.
A child seat with a tether can be
installed in any seating position in
the back seat. 1.
2.44
Installing a Child Seat
Installing a Child Seat with a
TetherUsing an Out er T et her A nchor
46
COVER
UPPER
GUIDE UPPER
GUIDE
CENTER
TETHER
ANCHOR
OUTER
TETHER
ANCHOR OUTER TETHER ANCHOR
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Route the tether strap downward
properly, making sure the strap is
not twisted.
Attach the tether strap hook to the
outertetheranchorontheoutside
of the seat bottom.Make sure to attach the tether strap
hook to the anchor bef ore installing
the child seat, because the tether
anchor is positioned behind the child
seat.
Place the child seat on the rear
seat.
Push down the rear center head
restraint to the lowest position. Route the tether strap over the
seat-back, lift the cover, then hook
the tether strap through the upper
guide as shown.
Route the tether strap downward
properly along the seat-back,
making sure the strap is not
twisted.
Tighten the strap according to the
seat maker’s instructions.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
3.
4.
CONT INUED
Installing a Child Seat
Using t he Cent er T et her A nchor
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
47
UPPERGUIDE
CENTER TETHER ANCHOR
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Attach the tether strap hook to the
center tether anchor between the
loweranchorsfortheLATCH-
compatible child seat.Properlysecurethechildseat(see
page ), then tighten the tether
strap according to the seat maker’s
instructions.
Whenever using the tether strap,
make sure to route the strap through
the upper guide bef ore attaching the
tether strap hook to the tether
anchor. If the tether strap is not
routed properly and secured, the
child seat may not be secured. This
could lead to serious injury or death.
5. 6.
44
Installing a Child Seat
48
UPPER GUIDE
CENTER TETHER ANCHOR
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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.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?
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.
1.
2.
CONT INUED
Protecting L arger Children
Checking Seat Belt Fit
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
49
Allowing a child age 12 or 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.
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Booster seats can be high-back or
low-back. Whichever style you select,
make sure the booster seat meets
f ederal saf ety standards (see page) and that you f ollow the booster
seat maker’s instructions.
If a child who uses a booster seat
must ride in f ront, move the vehicle
seat as far back 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.
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 forward-
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.
Some states and Canadian provinces
also require children to use a booster
seat until they reach a given age or
weight (e.g., 6 years or 60 lbs). Be
sure to check current laws in the
states or provinces where you intend
to drive.
3.
4.
5.
39
Protecting L arger Children
Using a Booster Seat
50
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