2012 Acura ZDX ECU

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uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
Safe DrivingIf a child is at least one year old and with in the weight range indicated by the child
seat manufacturer, the child should be pr operly restrained in a firmly secured
forward-facing child seat.
■Forward-facing child seat placement
We strongly recommend placing a forward-
facing child seat in a rear seating position.
Placing a forward-facing child seat in the front seat can be hazardous, even with
advanced front airbags that automatically turn the passeng er’s front airbag off. A
rear seat is the safest place for a child.
■Protecting Smaller Children1 Protecting Smaller Children
Educate yourself about the laws and regulations
regarding child seat use where you are driving, and
follow the child seat manufacturer’s instructions.
Many experts recommend us e of a rear-facing seat
up to age two, if the child’s height and weight are
appropriate for a rear-facing seat.
3WARNING
Placing a forward-facing child seat in the
front seat can result in serious injury or
death if the front airbag inflates.
If you must place a forward-facing child
seat in front, move the vehicle seat as far
back as possible, and properly restrain the
child.

uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
54
Safe DrivingMost child seats are LATCH-compatible (L ower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren).
Some have a rigid-type connector, while othe rs have a flexible-type connector. Both
are equally easy to use. Some existing and previously owned child seats can only be
installed using the seat belt. Whichever type you choose, follow the child seat
manufacturer’s use and care instructions as well as the instructions in this manual.
Proper installation is key to maximizing your child’s safety.
In seating positions and vehicles not e quipped with LATCH, a LATCH compatible
child seat can be installed using the seat belt and a top tether for added security.
This is because all child seats are required to be designed so that they can be secured
with a lap belt or the lap part of a lap/shoulder belt. In addition, the child seat
manufacturer may advise that a seat belt be used to attach a LATCH-compatible seat
once a child reaches a specified weight. Pl ease read the child seat owner’s manual
for proper installation instructions.
■Important consideration when selecting a child seat
Make sure the child seat meets th e following three requirements:
• The child seat is the correct type and size for the child.
• The child seat is the correct type for the seating position.
• The child seat is compliant with Federa l Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 or
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213.
■Selecting a Child Seat1 Selecting a Child Seat
Installation of a LATCH-co mpatible child seat is
simple.
LATCH-compatible child s eats have been developed
to simplify the installation process and reduce the
likelihood of injuries caused by incorrect installation.

uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
56
Safe Driving
3. Place the child seat on the vehicle seat then
attach the child seat to the lower anchors
according to th e instructions that came
with the child seat.
u When installing the child seat, make sure
that the lower anchors are not
obstructed by the seat belt or any other
object.
Rigid Type
Lower Anchors
Flexible
Type
1Installing a LATCH-Compatible Child Seat
For your child’s safety, when using a child seat
installed using the LATCH sy stem, make sure that the
seat is properly secured to the vehicle. A child seat
that is not properly secu red will not adequately
protect a child in a crash an d may cause injury to the
child or other vehicle occupants.

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uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
Continued
Safe Driving
4. Raise the head restraint, then route the
tether strap between the head restraint
legs, and secure the tether strap hook onto
the anchor.
5. Tighten the tether strap as instructed by the
child seat maker.
6. Lower the head restraint until it locks in
place.
7. Make sure the child seat is firmly secured by
rocking it forward and back and side to
side; little movement should be felt.
8. Make sure any unused seat belt that a child
can reach is buckled, the lockable retractor
is activated, and the belt is fully retracted
and locked.
Tether
Strap
Hook Anchor

uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
58
Safe Driving1. Place the child seat on the vehicle seat.
2. Route the seat belt th rough the child seat
according to the seat maker’s instructions,
and insert the latch pl ate into the buckle.
u Insert the latch plate fully until it clicks.
3. Slowly pull the shoulder part of the belt all
the way out until it st ops. This activates the
lockable retractor.
4. Let the seat belt completely wind up into
the retractor, then try to pull it out to make
sure the retractor is locked.
u If you are able to pul l the shoulder belt
out, the lockable retractor is not
activated. Pull the seat belt all the way
out, and repeat steps 2 – 4.
5. Grab the shoulder part of the seat belt near
the buckle, and pull up to remove any slack
from the lap part of the belt.
u When doing this, place your weight on
the child seat and push it into the vehicle
seat.
■Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt1Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt
A child seat that is not properly secured will not
adequately protect a child in a crash and may cause
injury to the child or other vehicle occupants.

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uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
Safe Driving
6. Make sure the child restraint system is
firmly secured by rocking it forward and
back and side to side; little movement
should be felt.
7. Make sure any unused seat belt that a child
can reach is buckled, the lockable retractor
is activated, and the belt is fully retracted
and locked.1Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt
To deactivate a lockable re tractor, release the buckle
and allow the seat belt to wind up all the way.

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60
Safe DrivingA tether anchorage point is provided behind
each rear seating position. A child seat that is
installed with a seat belt and comes with a
tether can use the tether for additional
security.
■Using an outer anchor
1. Raise the head restra int, then route the
tether strap through th e head restraint legs.
Make sure the strap is not twisted.
2. Secure the tether strap hook onto the
anchor.
3. Lower the head restraint until it locks in
place.
4. Tighten the tether strap as instructed by the
child seat manufacturer.
■Adding Security with a Tether1Adding Security with a Tether
Since a tether can provide additional security to the
lap/shoulder seat belt in stallation, we recommend
using a tether whenever one is available.
Anchor
Tether Anchorage Points
Outer Position
Tether Strap Hook

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uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
Safe Driving
■Using the center anchor
1. Lower the head restraint.
2. Route the tether strap over the head
restraint and seat-back.
Make sure the strap is not twisted.
3. Secure the tether strap hook onto the
anchor.
4. Tighten the tether strap as instructed by the
child seat manufacturer.
Anchor
Tether
Strap
HookCenter Position