2010 JEEP COMPASS child restraint

that you can install the child restraint in the vehicle
where you will use it, before you buy it.
•The restraint must be appropriate for your child’s
weight and height. Check the label on the restraint for
weight and height limits.
•Carefully follow the instructions that come with the
restraint. If you install the restraint improperly, it may
not work when you need it.
Installing Child Restraints Using the Vehicle Seat
Belt
The seat belts in the passenger seating positions are
equipped with either an Automatic Locking Retractor
(ALR) or a cinching latch plate or both. Both types of
seatbelts are designed to keep the lap portion of the seat
belt tight around the child restraint so that it is not
necessary to use a locking clip. The ALR will make a
ratcheting noise if you extract the entire belt from theretractor and then allow the belt to retract into the
retractor. For additional information on ALR, refer to
“Automatic Locking Mode”.
•Buckle the child into the seat according to the child
restraint manufacturer ’s directions.
•When your child restraint is not in use, secure it in the
vehicle with the seat belt or remove it from the vehicle.
Do not leave it loose in the vehicle. In a sudden stop or
collision, it could strike the occupants or seatbacks and
cause serious personal injury.
•To install a child restraint, first, pull enough of the seat
belt webbing from the retractor to route it through the
belt path of the child restraint and slide the latch plate
into the buckle. Next, extract all the seat belt webbing
out of the retractor and then allow the belt to retract
into the retractor. Finally, pull on any excess webbing
to tighten the lap portion around the child restraint.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 75

Any seat belt system will loosen with time, so check
the belt occasionally, and pull it tight if necessary.
•In 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.
•If the belt still can’t be tightened, or if 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.
Children too Large for Booster Seats
Children who are large enough to wear the shoulder belt
comfortably and whose legs are long enough to bendover the front of the seat when their back is against the
seatback should use the lap/shoulder belt in a rear seat.
•Make sure that the child is upright in the seat.
•The lap portion should be low on the hips and as snug
as possible.
•Check belt fit periodically. A child’s squirming or
slouching can move the belt out of position.
•If the shoulder belt contacts the face or neck, move the
child closer to the center of the vehicle. Never allow a
child to put the shoulder belt under an arm or behind
their back.
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
76 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

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
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 instal-
lation 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
Rear Seat LATCH
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 77

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.
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 you to 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.
78 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

In general, you will first loosen the adjusters on the lower
and tether straps so that you can attach the hook or
connector to the lower and tether anchorages more easily.
The tether strap should be routed over the center of the
head restraint and attached to the tether anchor on the rear
of the seatback. 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-
compatible, 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.
Rear Seat Tether Anchors
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 79

Cargo Light............................ 169
Cargo Load Floor ........................ 172
Cargo Tie-Downs ........................ 173
Carrier, Luggage ........................ 176
Cellular Phone ........................ 93,259
Center High Mounted Stop Light ............ 419
Chains, Tire ............................ 324
Changing A Flat Tire ..................... 360
Chart, Tire Sizing ........................ 309
Check Engine Light
(Malfunction Indicator Light) ............... 380
Checking Your Vehicle For Safety ............. 81
Checks, Safety ........................... 81
Child Restraint .......................... 72
Child Restraint Tether Anchors ............... 76
Child Restraint with Automatic Belts ........... 75
Child Safety Locks ........................ 32
Child Seat .............................. 78
Clean Air Gasoline ....................... 335 Cleaning
Wheels ............................. 405
Climate Control ......................... 259
Clock ..................... 208,222,224,227,236
Clutch ............................... 399
Clutch Fluid ........................... 399
Coin Holder ........................... 168
Compact Disc (CD) Maintenance ............. 258
Compact Spare Tire ...................... 320
Compass Variance ....................... 204
Connector UCI ................................ 247
Universal Consumer Interface (UCI) ......... 247
Console .............................. 168
Contract, Service ........................ 449
Coolant (Antifreeze) ................... 421,422
Cooling System ......................... 393
Adding Coolant (Antifreeze) .............. 395
Coolant Level ...................... 393,397
458 INDEX

LocksChild Protection ........................ 32
Door ................................ 28
Power Door ........................... 29
Lubrication, Body ....................... 389
Luggage Rack (Roof Rack) ................. 176
Lumbar Support ........................ 128
Maintenance Free Battery .................. 387
Maintenance, General ..................... 382
Maintenance Procedures ................... 382
Maintenance Schedule .................... 426
Malfunction Indicator Light (Check Engine) . . 194,380
Manual, Service ......................... 451
Manual Transaxle .................. 277,280,401
Downshifting ......................... 281
Fluid Level Check ................... 402,403
Frequency of Fluid Change ............402,403
Lubricant Selection ...............401,402,403Map/Reading Lights
..................... 144
Master Cylinder (Brakes) .................. 399
Mirrors ................................ 89
Automatic Dimming ..................... 89
Electric Powered ....................... 91
Heated .............................. 92
Outside .............................. 90
Rearview ............................. 89
Vanity ............................... 92
Modifications/Alterations, Vehicle ............. 8
Monitor, Tire Pressure System ............... 326
Mopar Parts ......................... 381,450
Multi-Function Control Lever ............... 140
New Vehicle Break-In Period ................ 80
Occupant Restraints ................... 37,63,67
Occupant Restraints (Sedan) ...........59,60,63,66
Octane Rating, Gasoline (Fuel) .............. 335
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INDEX 465

Windows............................. 33
Power Steering Fluid ..................... 423
Power Transfer Unit ...................... 403
Pregnant Women and Seat Belts .............. 55
Preparation for Jacking .................... 361
Pretensioners Seat Belts ............................ 49
Programmable Electronic Features ............ 201
Radial Ply Tires ......................... 320
Radio Operation ........................ 259
Radio, Satellite (Uconnect studios)........... 252
Rear Axle (Differential) .................... 402
Rear Drive Assembly ..................... 402
Rear Liftgate (Sedan) ...................... 35
Rear Seat, Folding ....................... 136
Rear Window Defroster ................... 175
Rear Window Features .................... 174
Rear Wiper/Washer ...................... 174 Recreational Towing
...................... 355
Refrigerant ............................ 389
Reminder, Seat Belt ....................... 53
Remote Control Door Locks ........................... 19
Security Alarm ......................... 18
Remote Keyless Entry (Sedan) ............... 19
Remote Sound System (Radio) Controls ........ 257
Remote Starting System .................... 25
Replacement Bulbs ....................... 412
Replacement Keys ........................ 16
Replacement Parts ....................... 381
Replacement Tires ....................... 323
Reporting Safety Defects ................... 450
Restraint, Head ......................... 133
Restraints, Child ....................... 72,78
Restraints, Infant ......................... 73
Restraints, Occupant ...................... 37
Retractable Cargo Area Cover ............... 170
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INDEX 467