2009 Acura RL child seat

CONT INUED
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 feed 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.
1. 2.
3.
Installing a Child Seat
Installing a Child Seat with a L ap/
Shoulder Belt
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
49
2009 RL

To deactivate the lockable retractor
andremoveachildseat,unlatchthe
buckle, unroute the seat belt, and let
the belt fully retract.
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.
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. 5.
4.
Installing a Child Seat
50
2009 RL

A child seat with a tether can be
installed in any seating position in
the back seat, using one of the
anchorage points shown above.
Since a tether can provide additional
security to the lap/shoulder belt
installation, we recommend using a
tether whenever one is required or
available.Lift the anchor cover, then 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.
Af ter properly securing the child
seat with the lap/shoulder belt
(see page ), pivot the head
restraint down (see page ) and
route the tether strap over the
head restraint.
1. 2.
3.
22 157
Installing a Child Seat
Installing a Child Seat with a
Tether
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
51
COVER
ANCHOR
TETHER ANCHORAGE P
OINTS
TETHER STRAP HOOK
ANCHOR
2009 RL

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.
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.
1.
2.
Checking Seat Belt Fit
Protecting L arger Children
52
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.
2009 RL

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.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.
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.
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.
3.
4.
5.
45
Using a Booster Seat
Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
53
2009 RL

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.
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.
If the passenger’s front 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.
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that all children
age 12 and under be properly
restrained in a back seat. Physically, a child must be large
enough f or the lap/shoulder belt to
properly f it (see pages and ). If
the seat belt does not f it properly,
with or without the child sitting on a
booster seat, the child should not sit
in f ront.
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.52
17
Protecting L arger Children
Physical Size
Maturity
When Can a L arger Child Sit in
Front
54
2009 RL

This could result
in serious neck injuries during 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.
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.
Do not let a child wear a seat belt
across t he neck. Do not put any accessories on a
seat belt.
Do not let a child put the shoulder part of a seat belt behind t he backor under t he arm.
T wo children should never use thesame seat belt .
Additional Saf ety Precautions
Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
55
2009 RL

This section gives inf ormation about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your vehicle. All the essential
controls are within easy reach............................
Control Locations .60
............................
Instrument Panel .61 ..........
Instrument Panel Indicators .62
.............................................
Gauges .70
...................
Temperature Gauge .70
..................................
Fuel Gauge .70
.............
Multi-Inf ormation Display .71
Controls Near the Steering
.........................................
Wheel .136
Windshield Wipers and
.....................................
Washers .137
.......
Turn Signals and Headlights .140
.................................
Fog Lights .142
.........
Daytime Running Lights .142
Automatic Lighting Off
...................................
Feature .143
Adaptive Front Lighting System ..........................................
(AFS) .144
...............
Hazard Warning Button .146
......
Instrument Panel Brightness .146
...............
Rear Window Def ogger .147
......
Steering Wheel Adjustments .148
.............................
Keys and Locks .150
......................
Immobilizer System .151
..............................
Ignition Switch .152
....................................
Door Locks .153
..............................................
Trunk .154
......
Emergency Trunk Opener .155 ................
Childproof Door Locks .155
...............................................
Seats .156
...........................................
Mirrors .161
Driving Position Memory
........................................
System .163
................
Keyless Access System .166
.......................
Front Seat Heaters .181
Front Seat Heaters and Seat
.................................
Ventilation .182
Rear Seat Heaters ...................
(Canadian models) .184
............................
Power Windows .185
.......................................
Moonroof .188
...............................
Parking Brake .191
.........
Interior Convenience Items .192
..................................
Glove Box .193
.....................
Beverage Holders .194
.............
Console Compartment .195
..................................
Sun Visors .196
............................
Vanity Mirror .196
........
Accessory Power Sockets .197
..................
Front Door Pockets .197
..............
Power Rear Sunshade .198
..............
Integrated Sunshades .199
...............................
Interior Lights .200
Instruments and Controls
Inst rument s and Cont rols
59
2009 RL