2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Owners Manual

113
1
1-7. Safety information
Before driving
Child restraint systems
Points to rememberStudies have shown that installing a child restraint on a rear seat is
much safer than installing one to the front passenger seat.
● Choose a child restraint system th at suits your vehicle and is
appropriate to the age and size of the child.
● For installation details, follow the instructions provided with the
child restraint system.
General installation instructions are provided in this manual.
( P. 117)
Types of child restraint
Child restraint systems are classi fied into the following 3 types
according to the age and size of the child.
Rear facing — Infant seat/convertible seat
A child restraint system for a small ch ild or baby must itself be prop-
erly restrained on the seat with the lap portion of the lap/shoulder
belt.
The laws of all 50 states of the U.S.A. and Canada now require the
use of child restraint systems.

114 1-7. Safety information
Forward facing — Convertible seat
Booster seat
■Selecting an appropriat e child restraint system
● Use a child restraint system appropriate for the child until the child
becomes large enough to properly wear the vehicle’s seat belts.
● If a child is too large for a child restraint system, sit the child on a rear
seat and use the vehicle’s seat belt. ( P. 63)

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1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
CAUTION
■
Child restraint precautions
●For effective protection in automobile accidents and sudden stops, a child
must be properly restrained, using a seat belt or child restraint system
depending on the age and size of the child. Holding a child in your arms is
not a substitute for a child restraint system. In an accident, the child can be
crushed against the windshield, or between you and the vehicle’s interior.
● Toyota strongly urges the use of a proper child restraint system that con-
forms to the size of the child, installed on the rear seat. According to acci-
dent statistics, the child is safer when properly restrained in the rear seat
than in the front seat.
● Never install a rear-facing child restraint system on the front passenger
seat even if the AIR BAG OFF indicator light is illuminated.
In the event of an accident, the force of the rapid inflation of the front pas-
senger airbag can cause death or serious injury to the child if the rear-fac-
ing child restraint system is installed on the front passenger seat.
● A forward-facing child restraint system may be installed on the front pas-
senger seat only when it is unavoidable. A child restraint system that
requires a top tether strap should not be used in the front passenger seat
since there is no top tether strap anchor for the front passenger seat.
Adjust the seatback as upright as possible and always move the seat as
far back as possible even if the AIR BA G OFF indicator light is illuminated,
because the front passenger airbag could inflate with considerable speed
and force. Otherwise, the child may be killed or seriously injured.
● Do not use the seat belt extender when installing a child restraint system
on the front or rear passenger seat. If installing a child restraint system
with the seat belt extender connected to the seat belt, the seat belt will not
securely hold the child restraint system, which could cause death or seri-
ous injury to the child or other passengers in the event of an accident.
● Do not allow the child to lean his/her head or any part of his/her body
against the door or the area of the seat , front and rear pillars or roof side
rail from which the side airbags or curtain shield airbags deploy even if the
child is seated in the child restraint system. It is dangerous if the side air-
bags and curtain shield airbags inflate, and the impact could cause death
or serious injury to the child.

116 1-7. Safety information
CAUTION
■Child restraint precautions
●Make sure you have complied with all installation instructions provided by
the child restraint manufacturer and that the system is properly secured. If
it is not secured properly, it may cause death or serious injury to the child
in the event of a sudden stop or an accident.
■ Child restraint lock function belt precaution
Do not allow children to play with the child restraint lock function belt. If the
belt becomes twisted around a child’s neck, it will not be possible to pull the
belt out leading to choking or other serious injuries that could result in death.
If this occurs and the buckle cannot be unfastened, scissors should be used
to cut the belt.
■ When the child restrain t system is not in use
● Keep the child restraint system properly secured on the seat even if it is
not in use. Do not store the restraint unsecured in the passenger compart-
ment.
● If it is necessary to detach the child restraint system, remove it from the
vehicle or store it securely in the luggage compartment. This will prevent it
from injuring passengers in the event of a sudden stop or accident.

117
1
1-7. Safety information
Before driving
Installing child restraints
Follow the child restraint system manufacturer’s instructions. Firmly
secure child restraints to the r ear seats using the LATCH anchors or
a seat belt. Attach the top teth er strap when installing a child
restraint.
The lap/shoulder belt can be used if your child restraint system is
not compatible with the LATCH (Low er Anchors and Tethers for Chil-
dren) system.
Vehicles without third seats
Child restraint LATCH anchors
LATCH anchors are provided
for the outside rear seats. (But-
tons displaying the location of
the anchors are attached to the
seats.)
Vehicles with third seats
Second seat: Child restraint
LATCH anchors
LATCH anchors are provided
for the right side seat and
between the center and left
side seats. (Buttons displaying
the location of the anchors are
attached to the seats.)

118 1-7. Safety information
Seat belts equipped with a
child restraint locking mecha-
nism (ALR/ELR belts except
driver’s seat belt) (P. 6 3 
Vehicles without third seats Anchor brackets (for top tether
strap)
Anchor brackets are provided
for all rear seats.
Vehicles with third seatsAnchor brackets (for top tether
strap)
Anchor brackets are provided
for all second seats.

119
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
Installation with LATCH s
ystem (rear/second seat only)
■ Installing on the rear seats (vehicles without third seats)
Type A
Widen the gap between
the seat cushion and
seatback slightly.
Latch the buckles onto
the LATCH anchors.
If the child restraint has a
top tether strap, the top
tether strap should be
latched onto the top
tether strap anchor.
( P. 126)
For owners in Canada:
The symbol on a child restraint
system indicates the presence of
a lower connector system.
Canada only

120 1-7. Safety information
Type BWiden the gap between
the seat cushion and
seatback slightly.
Latch the hooks of the
lower straps onto the
LATCH anchors and
tighten the lower straps.
If the child restraint has a
top tether strap, the top
tether strap should be
latched onto the top
tether strap anchor.
( P. 126)
For owners in Canada:
The symbol on a child restraint
system indicates the presence of
a lower connector system.
■ Installing on the second seats (v ehicles with third seats)
Fold the seatback while pulling
the lever. Return the seatback
and secure it at the 1st lock posi-
tion (most upright position).
Adjust the seatback to the 5th
lock position. ( P. 44)
1st lock position
5th lock position
Canada only