2008 JEEP COMPASS child restraint

shoulder belt. (Some booster seats are equipped with a
front shield and are held in the vehicle by the lap
portion.)
NOTE:For additional information refer to
www.seatcheck.org.
WARNING!
²Improper installation can lead to failure of an
infant or child restraint. It could come loose in a
collision. The child could be badly injured or
killed. Follow the manufacturer's directions ex-
actly when installing an infant or child restraint.
²A rearward facing child restraint should only be
used in a rear seat. A rearward facing child re-
straint in the front seat may be struck by a deploy-
ing passenger airbag which may cause severe or
fatal injury to the infant.Here are some tips on getting the most out of your child
restraint:
²Before buying any restraint system, make sure that it
has a label certifying that it meets all applicable Safety
Standards. We also recommend that you make sure
that you can install the child restraint in the vehicle
where you will use it, before you buy it.
²The restraint must be appropriate for your child's
weight and height. Check the label on the restraint for
weight and height limits.
²Carefully follow the instructions that come with the
restraint. If you install the restraint improperly, it may
not work when you need it.
The passenger seat belts are equipped with either
cinching latch plates or seat belt retractors that can be
switched to an automatic locking mode, which are
designed to keep the lap portion tight around the child
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 59
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restraint so that it is not necessary to use a locking clip.
If the seat belt has a cinching latch plate, pulling up on
the shoulder portion of the lap/shoulder belt will
tighten the belt. The cinching latch plate will keep the
belt tight, however, any seat belt system will loosen
with time, so check the belt occasionally and pull it
tight if necessary.
If the seat belt has a switchable retractor, it will have a
distinctive label. To operate the switchable retractor,
please refer to Automatic-Locking Retractor (ALR) in this
section.
²In the rear seat, you may have trouble tightening the
lap/shoulder belt on the child restraint because the
buckle or latch plate is too close to the belt path
opening on the restraint. Disconnect the latch plate
from the buckle and twist the short buckle end of the
belt several times to shorten it. Insert the latch plate
into the buckle with the release button facing out.
²If the belt still can't be tightened, or if by pulling and
pushing on the restraint loosens the belt, disconnect
the latch plate from the buckle, turn the latch plate
around, and insert the latch plate into the buckle
again. If you still can't make the child restraint secure,
try a different seating position.
²Buckle the child into the seat according to the child
restraint manufacturer's directions.
²When your child restraint is not in use, secure it in the
vehicle with the seat belt or remove it from the vehicle.
Don't leave it loose in the vehicle. In a sudden stop or
collision, it could strike the occupants or seat backs
and cause serious personal injury.
60 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Automatic-Locking Retractor (ALR)
To operate the switchable retractor, pull the belt from the
retractor until there is enough to allow you to pass
through the child restraint and slide the latch plate into
the buckle. Then pull on the belt until it is all removed
from the retractor. Allow the belt to return into the
retractor, pulling on the excess webbing to tighten the lap
portion about the child restraint. Follow the instructions
of the child restraint manufacture.
NOTE:To reset this feature you must let all of the belt
webbing return into the retractor. You will not be able to
pull out more webbing until all of the webbing has been
returned back into the retractor.
Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren (LATCH)
Your vehicle is equipped with the child restraint anchor-
age system called LATCH, which stands for Lower
Anchors and Tether for CHildren. The LATCH system
provides for the installation of the child restraint without
using the vehicle seat belt. All three rear seating positions
have lower anchorages that are capable of accommodat-
ing LATCH-compatible child seats having flexible,
webbing-mounted lower attachments. Child seats with
fixed lower attachments must be installed in the out-
board positions only. Regardless of the specific type of
lower attachment,NEVERinstall LATCH-compatible
child seats such that two seats share a common lower
anchorage. If you are installing LATCH-compatible child
restraints in adjacent rear seating positions, you can use
the LATCH anchors or the vehicle's seat belt for the
outboard position, but you must use the vehicle's seat
belt at the center position. If your child restraints are not
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 61
2

LATCH-compatible, you can only install the child re-
straints using the vehicle's seat belts. Please refer to,
Installing the Child Restraint System for typical installa-
tion instructions.Child restraints systems having attachments designed to
connect to the lower anchorages are now available. Child
restraints having tether straps and hooks for connection
to the top tether anchorage have been available for some
time. In fact, many child restraint manufacturers will
provide add-on tether strap kits for some of their older
products. Tether anchorage kits are also available for
most older vehicles.
Because the lower anchorages are to be introduced to
passenger carrying vehicles over a period of years, child
restraint systems having attachments for those anchor-
ages will continue to have features for installation in
vehicles using the lap or lap/shoulder belt. They will also
have tether straps, and you are urged to take advantage
of all of the available attachments provided with your
child restraint in any vehicle.
Rear Seat LATCH
62 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

NOTE:When using the LATCH attaching system to
install a child restraint, please ensure that all seat belts
not being used for occupant restraints are stowed and out
of reach of children. It is recommended that before
installing the child restraint, buckle the seat belt so the
seat belt is tucked behind the child restraint and out of
reach. If the buckled seat belt interferes with the child
restraint installation, instead of tucking the seat belt
behind the child restraint, route the seat belt through the
child restraint belt path and then buckle it. This should
stow the seat belt out of the reach of an inquisitive child.
Remind all children in the vehicle that the seat belts are
not toys and should not be played with, and never leave
your child unattended in the vehicle.Installing the Child Restraint System
We urge that you carefully follow the directions of the
manufacturer when installing your child restraint. Many,
but not all, restraint systems will be equipped with
separate straps on each side, with each having a hook or
connector and a means for adjusting the tension in the
strap. Forward-facing toddler restraints and some
rearward-facing infant restraints will also be equipped
with a tether strap with a hook and means for adjusting
the tension in the strap.
In general, you will first loosen the adjusters on the lower
and tether straps so that you can more easily attach the
hook or connector to the lower and tether anchorages.
The tether strap should be routed under the center of the
head restraint and attached to the tether anchor on the
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rear of the seat back. Then tighten all three straps as you
push the child restraint rearward and downward into the
seat.
Not all child restraint systems will be installed as we
have described here. Again, carefully follow the instruc-
tions that come with the child restraint system.NOTE:If your child restraint seat is not LATCH com-
patible, install the restraint using the vehicle seat belts.
WARNING!
An incorrectly anchored tether strap could lead to
increased head motion and possible injury to the
child. Use only the anchor position directly behind
the child seat to secure a child restraint top tether
strap.
Children Too Large For Booster Seats
Children who are large enough to wear the shoulder belt
comfortably, and whose legs are long enough to bend
over the front of the seat when their back is against the
seat back, should use the lap/shoulder belt in a rear seat.
²Make sure that the child is upright in the seat.
Rear Seat Tether Anchors
64 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Carrier, Luggage........................ 154
Catalytic Converter...................... 321
Caution, Exhaust Gas...................... 66
CD (Compact Disc) Player...............183,190
CD (Compact Disc) Player Maintenance........ 214
Cellular Phone........................76,214
Center High Mounted Stop Light............ 358
Chains, Tire............................ 265
Changing A Flat Tire..................... 298
Chart, Tire Sizing........................ 249
Check Engine Light (Malfunction Indicator Light) . 314
Child Restraint.......................... 57
Child Restraint Tether Anchors............... 61
Child Restraint with Automatic Belts........... 60
Child Safety Locks........................ 30
Child Seat.............................. 63
Clean Air Gasoline....................... 276
Cleaning
Wheels............................. 343Climate Control......................... 214
Clock........................182,185,193,205
Clutch............................... 337
Clutch Fluid........................... 337
Coin Holder........................... 147
Compact Disc (CD) Maintenance............. 214
Compact Spare Tire...................... 260
Compass.............................. 180
Compass Calibration..................... 180
Compass Variance....................... 178
Console.............................. 147
Contract, Service........................ 374
Coolant (Antifreeze)...................360,361
Cooling System......................... 329
Adding Coolant (Antifreeze).............. 331
Coolant Level......................330,333
Disposal of Used Coolant................ 333
Drain, Flush, and Refill.................. 330
Inspection........................... 333
384 INDEX

Pretensioners
Seat Belts............................. 43
Programmable Electronic Features............ 175
Programming Transmitters (Remote Keyless
Entry)................................. 22
Radial Ply Tires......................... 259
Radio Broadcast Signals................... 181
Radio, Navigation....................... 204
Radio Operation...................183,190,214
Radio, Satellite.......................205,208
Radio (Sound Systems).................183,190
Rear Axle (Differential).................... 340
Rear Drive Assembly..................... 340
Rear Liftgate (Sedan)...................... 32
Rear Seat, Folding....................... 109
Rear Window Defroster................... 153
Rear Window Features.................... 152
Rear Wiper/Washer...................... 152Recorder, Event Data...................... 55
Recreational Towing...................... 293
Refrigerant............................ 326
Reminder, Seat Belt....................... 44
Remote Control
Door Locks........................... 19
Security Alarm......................... 18
Remote Keyless Entry (Sedan)............... 19
Remote Sound System (Radio) Controls........ 212
Replacement Bulbs....................... 350
Replacement Keys........................ 16
Replacement Parts....................... 316
Replacement Tires....................... 263
Reporting Safety Defects................... 375
Restraints, Child.......................57,63
Restraints, Infant......................... 57
Restraints, Occupant...................... 34
Retractable Cargo Area Cover............... 150
Roll Over Warning........................ 4
INDEX 393
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