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Installing a Child Seat with
LATCHYour vehicle is equipped with
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers
for CHildren) at the rear seats.
The lower anchors are located
between the seat-back and seat
bottom, and are to be used only with
a child seat designed for use with
LATCH.
The location of each lower anchor is
indicated by a small button above the
anchor point.
To install a LATCH-compatible child
seat:
1. Remove both anchor covers bypulling forward.
2. Make sure there are no objects near the anchors that could
prevent a secure connection
between the child seat and the
anchors.
3. Place the child seat on the vehicleseat, then attach the seat to the
lower anchors according to the
child seat maker's instructions.
Some LATCH-compatible seats
have a rigid-type connector as
shown above.
MARKS
LOWER ANCHORS
ANCHOR COVER
Rigid-type
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Other LATCH-compatible seats have
a flexible-type connector as shown
above.4. Whatever type you have, follow the child seat maker's instructions for
adjusting or tightening the fit.
5. Remove the head restraint (seepage 85). Make sure the removed
head restraints are secured in the
cargo area, and reinstalled when
the child seat is removed.
6. Route the tether strap over the top of the seat-back, making sure the
strap is not twisted.
7. Slide the anchor cover open.
Flexible-type
ANCHOR COVER TETHER ANCHOR
CONTINUED
Installing a Child Seat
45
Driver and Passenger Safety
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8. Attach the tether strap hook to thetether anchor, then tighten the
strap as instructed by the child
seat maker.
If the tether strap is too long and
cannot be tightened firmly, find a
route where the strap can be
tightened securely.
9. Push and pull the child seat forward and from side-to-side to
verify that it is secure. Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/
Shoulder Belt
When not using the LATCH system,
all child seats must be secured to the
vehicle with the lap part of a lap/
shoulder belt.
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. 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 and remove any slack from
the lap portion of the belt.
TETHER STRAP HOOK
TETHER ANCHOR
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Using a Booster SeatA child who has outgrown a forward-
facing child seat should ride in a
back seat and use a booster seat until
the lap/shoulder belt fits them
properly without the booster.
Some states 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 where you intend
to drive.Booster seats can be high-back or
low-back. Whichever style you select,
make sure the booster meets federal
safety standards and that you follow
the booster seat maker's
instructions.
If a child who uses a booster seat
must ride in front, 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.
When Can a Larger Child Sit in
Front
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration recommends that all
children aged 12 and under be
properly restrained in a back seat.
If the passenger's front airbag
inflates in a moderate to severe
frontal 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.Protecting Larger Children5010/08/06 08:34:41 11 ELEMENT MMC North America Owner's Man 50 31SCV680 enu
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This section gives information about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your vehicle. All the essential
controls are within easy reach.
Control Locations
..........................
56
Instrument Panel
..........................
57
Instrument Panel Indicators
..........
58
Gauges
..........................................
64
Information Display
..................
65
Odometer
..................................
65
Trip Meter
................................
66
Fuel Gauge
...............................
66
Check Fuel Cap Message
.........
66
Temperature Gauge
..................
67
Maintenance Minder ™
..............
67Outside Temperature
Indicator
...............................
68
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
.......................................
69
Windshield Wipers and Washers
....................................
70
Turn Signals and Headlights
.........
71
Instrument Panel Brightness
........
72
Hazard Warning Button
................
73
Rear Window Defogger
.................
74
Steering Wheel Adjustment
..........
74
Keys and Locks
.............................
75
Immobilizer System
......................
76
Remote Transmitter
......................
77
Ignition Switch
..............................
79
Door Locks
...................................
80
Power Door Locks
....................
80
Rear Doors
................................
81
Hatch
........................................
81
Tailgate
.....................................
82
Seats
.............................................
83
Seat Adjustments
......................
83
Driver's Seat Height Adjustment
...........................
84 Front Seat Armrests
..................
85
Head Restraints
.........................
85
Reclining the Front Seats
..........
87
Folding the Rear Seats
..............
88
Removing the Rear Seats
..........
90
Power Windows
............................
92
Mirrors
.........................................
93
Adjusting the Power Mirrors
.....
93
Rear Windows
...............................
94
Parking Brake
...............................
94
Interior Lights
...............................
95
Light Control Switch
.................
95
Individual Map Lights
...............
95
Ceiling Light
.............................
96
Cargo Area Light
.......................
96
Ignition Switch Light
.................
96
Interior Convenience Items
...........
97
Cooler Box
................................
98
Beverage Holders
.....................
99
Accessory Power Sockets
.......
100
Glove Box
...............................
100
Sun Visor
................................
100
Vanity Mirror
..........................
101
Overhead Console
..................
101
Instruments and Controls
55
Instruments and Controls
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See page 154 for information on
cargo loading. Keep the tailgate and
the hatch closed at all times while
driving to avoid damaging them, and
to prevent exhaust gas from getting
into the interior. SeeCarbon
Monoxide Hazard on page 52. Seat Adjustments
See pages 11
-13 for important safety
information and warnings about how to properly position seats and seat-backs.Make all seat adjustments before you
start driving.
Front SeatTo adjust the seat forward and
backward, pull up on the bar under
the seat cushion's front edge. Try to
move the seat to make sure it is
locked in position.
CONTINUED
Door Locks, Seats
83
Instruments and Controls
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To change the seat-back angle of the
front seat, pull up on the lever on the
outside of the seat bottom. Adjust the
seat-back and make sure it locks into
position.
Rear SeatTo change the angle of the rear seat-
back, pull the strap at the inside edge
of the seat cushion, make sure the
seat-back locks into position.Driver's Seat Height Adjustment
To adjust the height of the driver's
seat, turn the dial on the outside of
the seat bottom.
SEAT-BACK ADJUSTMENT STRAP
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Front Seat ArmrestsOn EX modelEach front seat has an armrest on the
side of the seat-back. To use it, pivot
it down.Head Restraints
See page 13 for important safety
information and a warning aboutimproperly positioning head restraints.Your vehicle is equipped with head
restraints in all seating positions to
help protect you and your
passengers from the likelihood of
whiplash and other injuries.
They are most effective when you
adjust them so the center of the back
of the occupant's head rests against
the center of the restraint.
CONTINUED
Seats
85
Instruments and Controls
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