2012 FIAT FREEMONT child restraint

Children should remain in a forward-facing child seat
with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest
weight or height allowed by the child seat. These child
seats are also held in the vehicle by the lap/shoulder
belt or the ISOFIX child restraint anchorage system.
Refer to “ISOFIX — Child Seat Anchorage System”.
All children whose weight or height is above the
forward-facing limit for the child seat should use a
belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle’s seat
belts fit properly. If the child cannot sit with knees bent
over the vehicle's seat cushion while the child's back is
against the seatback, they should use a belt-positioning
booster seat. The child and belt-positioning booster
seat are held in the vehicle by the lap/shoulder belt.
Integrated Child Booster Seat (for
versions/markets, where provided)
The Integrated Child Booster Seat is located in each
outboard second-row passenger seat. The Booster
Seat is designed for children weighing between 22 and
39 kg and between 119 cm and 145 cm tall.
To position a child into the Integrated Child Booster
Seat follow these steps:
1. Slide the second row seat to the full rear position touse the Integrated Child Booster Seat.
NOTE: The second row bench with Integrated Child
Booster Seat must remain in the full rear position
during use. 2. Pull the release loop forward to release the latch
and seat cushion. (fig. 130)
3. Lift the seat cushion up and push back to lock it in the booster seat position. (fig. 131)
4. Place the child upright in the seat with their back firmly against the seatback.
5. Grasp the latch plate and pull out the seat belt.
6. Slide the latch plate up the webbing as far as neces- sary to allow the seat belt to go around the child's
lap.
NOTE: The lap portion of the seat belt should be low
on the hips and as snug as possible.
7. Once the seat belt is long enough to fit properly,
insert the latch plate into the buckle until you hear
a “click.” (fig. 132)
(fig. 130) Release Loop
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WARNING!
 Improper installation can lead to fail-
ure of an infant or child restraint . It
could come loose in a collision.The child could be
badly injured or killed. Follow the manufacturer's
directions exactly when installing an infant or
child restraint .
 A rearward-facing child restraint should only
be used in a rear seat . A rearward-facing child
restraint in the front seat may be struck by a
deploying passenger air bag, which may cause
severe or fatal injury to the infant .
Here are some tips on getting the most out of
your child restraint:
• Before buying any restraint system, make sure that it has a label certifying that it meets all applicable Safety
Standards. FIAT also recommends that you make
sure 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.
• Buckle the child into the seat according to the child restraint manufacturer's directions.
WARNING!
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 accident ,
it could strike the occupants or seatbacks and
cause serious personal injury.
ISOFIX — Child Seat Anchorage System
Your vehicle's second row passenger seats are
equipped with the child restraint anchorage system
called ISOFIX. The ISOFIX system provides for the
installation of the child restraint without using the
vehicle's seat belts, instead securing the child restraint
using lower anchorages and upper tether straps from
the child restraint to the vehicle structure.
ISOFIX-compatible child restraint systems are now
available. However, because the lower anchorages are
to be introduced over a period of years, child restraint
systems having attachments for those anchorages will
continue to have features for installation using the
vehicle's seat belts. Child restraints having tether straps
and hooks for connection to the top tether anchorages
have been available for some time. For some older child
restraints, many child restraint manufacturers offer
add-on tether strap kits or retrofit kits. You are urged
to take advantage of all the available attachments pro-
vided with your child restraint in any vehicle.
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All three second-row passenger seating positions have
lower anchorages that are capable of accommodating
ISOFIX-compatible child seats. You should never install
ISOFIX-compatible child seats so that two seats share
a common lower anchorage. If installing child seats in
adjacent seating positions, or if your child restraints are
not ISOFIX-compatible, install the restraints using the
vehicle's seat belts. (fig. 133)
Installing The ISOFIX-Compatible Child
Restraint System
We urge you to follow the manufacturer's directions
carefully when installing your child restraint. Not all
child restraint systems will be installed as described
here. Again, carefully follow the installation instruc-
tions that are provided with the child restraint system.
NOTE:When installing a child restraint, if it inter-
feres with the Head Restraint, recline the seatback
slightly to remove the interference.
(fig. 133)
ISOFIX Anchorages
1 — Outer 60% Seating Position. Use Lower Anchor
Loops A and B. If placing a second child seat in the
vehicle, use the Outer 40% Seating Position and Lower
Anchor Loops D and E. DO NOT USE Middle 60%
Seating Position and Lower Anchorage Loops B and C.
2 — Middle 60% Seating Position. Use Lower Anchor
Loops B and C. If placing a second child seat in the
vehicle, use the Outer 40% Seating Position and Lower
Anchor Loops D and E. DO NOT USE Outer 60%
Seating Position and Lower Anchor Loops A and B.
3 — Outer 40% Seating Position. Use Lower Anchor
Loops D and E. If placing a second child seat in the
vehicle, use Outer 60% Seating Position and Lower
Anchor Loops A and B or Middle 60% Seating Position
and Lower Anchor Loops B and C.
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The lower anchorages are round bars located
at the rear of the seat cushion where it meets
the seatback and are just visible when you
lean into the rear seat to install the child
restraint. You will easily feel them if you run your finger
along the intersection of the seatback and seat cushion
surfaces. (fig. 134)
In addition, there are tether strap anchorages located
behind each rear seatback, near to the floor. (fig. 135)
Many, but not all, restraint systems will be equipped
with separate straps on each side, with each having a
hook or connector for attachment to the lower an-
chorage and a means of adjusting the tension in the
strap. Forward-facing toddler restraints and some rear- facing infant restraints will also be equipped with a
tether strap, a hook for attachment to the tether strap
anchorage and a means of adjusting the tension of the
strap.
You will first loosen the child seat adjusters on the
lower straps and on the tether strap so that you can
more easily attach the hooks or connectors to the
vehicle anchorages. Next, attach the lower hooks or
connectors over the top of the seatcover material.
Then attach the tether strap to the anchorage directly
behind the seat where you are placing the child re-
straint, being careful to route the tether strap to
provide the most direct path between the anchor and
the child restraint, preferably between the head re-
straint posts underneath the head restraint. For center
(fig. 134)
ISOFIX Anchorages
(fig. 135)Tether Strap Anchors
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seating position, adjust the head restraint to the up-
ward position and route the tether strap between the
head restraint posts underneath the head restraint.
Then, attach the hook to the tether anchor located on
the back of the seat. Finally, tighten all three straps as
you push the child restraint rearward and downward
into the seat, removing slack in the straps according to
the child restraint manufacturer's instructions.
NOTE:
• Ensure that the tether strap does not slip into the
opening between the seatbacks as you remove slack in
the strap.
• When using the ISOFIX 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. Remind all children in the vehicle
that the seat belts are not toys and that they should not
play with them. In addition, never leave unattended
children in the vehicle.
WARNING!
Improper installation of a child restraint
to the ISOFIX anchorages can lead to
failure of an infant or child restraint . The child
could be badly injured or killed. Follow the manu-
facturer's directions exactly when installing an
infant or child restraint . Installing Child Restraints Using The Vehicle
Seat Belt
The seat belts in the passenger seating positions are
equipped with an Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)
or a cinching latch plate to secure a Child Restraint
System (CRS). These types of seat belts 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 the retractor and then
allow the belt to retract into the retractor. For addi-
tional information on ALR, refer to “Automatic Locking
Mode” description under “Seat Belts in Passenger Seat-
ing Positions” section. The chart below defines the
seating positions with an Automatic Locking Retractor
(ALR) or a cinching latch plate.
Driver Center Passenger
CRS Lock CRS Lock CRS Lock
First Row N/A N/A ALR
Second Row ALR ALR ALR
• N/A — Not Applicable
• ALR — Automatic Locking Retractor
Installing a Child Restraint with a Cinching Latch Plate:
1. To install a child restraint with a cinching latch plate,
first, pull enough of the seat belt webbing from the
retractor to route it through the belt path of the
child. Slide the latch plate into the buckle until you
hear a “click.”
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2. Finally, pull on any excess webbing to tighten the lapportion around the child restraint. Any seat belt
system will loosen with time, so check the belt
occasionally, and pull it tight if necessary.
Installing a Child Restraint with an ALR:
1. To install a child restraint with ALR, first, pull enough of the seat belt webbing from the retractor
to route it through the belt path of the child re-
straint. Slide the latch plate into the buckle until you
hear a “click.” Next, extract all the seat belt webbing
out of the retractor and then allow the belt to
retract into the retractor. As the belt retracts, you
will hear a ratcheting sound. This indicates the
safety belt is now in the Automatic Locking mode.
2. Finally, pull on any excess webbing to tighten the lap portion around the child restraint. Any seat belt
system will loosen with time, so check the belt
occasionally, and pull it tight if necessary.
NOTE: When installing a child restraint, if it inter-
feres with the Head Restraint, recline the seatback
slightly to remove the interference.
To attach a child restraint tether strap:
• Route the tether strap to provide the most direct
path for the strap between the anchor and the child
seat, preferably between the head restraint posts un-
derneath the head restraint. For center seating posi-
tion, adjust the head restraint to the upward position
and route the tether strap between the head restraint posts underneath the head restraint. Then, attach the
hook to the tether anchor located on the back of the
seat. (fig. 136)
• If necessary, move the seat forward to provide better
access to the tether anchor. (fig. 137)
• Attach the tether strap hook of the child restraint to
the tether anchor and remove slack in the tether strap
according to the child restraint manufacturer's instruc-tions.
NOTE:
Ensure that the tether strap does not slip into
the opening between the seatbacks as you remove
slack in the strap.
(fig. 136) Tether Strap Mounting
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WARNING!
 Child Restraint Anchorages are de-
signed to withstand only those loads im-
posed by correctly-fitted child restraints. Under
no circumstances are they to be used for adult
seat belts, harnesses or for attaching other items
or equipment to the vehicle.
 An incorrectly anchored tether strap could lead
to increased head motion and possible injury to
the child. Use only the anchor positions directly
behind the child seat to secure a child restraint
top tether strap. SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM
(SRS) — AIR BAGS
This vehicle has Advanced Front Air Bags for both the
driver and front passenger as a supplement to the seat
belt restraint systems. The driver's Advanced Front Air
Bag is mounted in the center of the steering wheel. The
passenger's Advanced Front Air Bag is mounted in the
instrument panel, above the glove compartment. The
words SRS AIRBAG are embossed on the air bag
covers. (fig. 138)
NOTE:
These air bags are certified to the new
regulations for Advanced Air Bags.
(fig. 137) Seat Track Release Lever
(fig. 138)Advanced Front Air Bag And Knee Bolster Locations
1 — Driver And Passenger Advanced Front Air Bags
2 — Knee Bolsters (for versions/markets, where
provided)
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(Continued)
 Do not use accessory seat covers or place ob-
jects between you and the side air bags; the
performance could be adversely affected and/or
objects could be pushed into you, causing serious
injury.
Knee Impact Bolsters (for versions/markets,
where provided)
The Knee Impact Bolsters help protect the knees of
the driver and the front passenger, and position front
occupants for the best interaction with the Advanced
Front Air Bags.
Along with seat belts and pretensioners, Advanced
Front Air Bags work with the knee bolsters to provide
improved protection for the driver and front passenger.
Side air bags also work with seat belts to improve
occupant protection.
Here are some simple steps you can take to minimize
the risk of harm from a deploying air bag:
Children 12 years old and under should always ride
buckled up in a rear seat.
WARNING!
Infants in rear-facing child restraints
should never ride in the front seat of a
vehicle with a passenger Advanced Front Air Bag.
An air bag deployment can cause severe injury or
death to infants in that position.
Children that are not big enough to wear the vehicle
seat belt properly (see Section on Child Restraints)
should be secured in the rear seat in child restraints or
belt-positioning booster seats. Older children who do
not use child restraints or belt-positioning booster
seats should ride properly buckled up in the rear seat.
Never allow children to slide the shoulder belt behind
them or under their arm.
You should read the instructions provided with your
child restraint to make sure that you are using it
properly.
All occupants should always wear their lap and shoul-
der belts properly.
The driver and front passenger seats should be moved
back as far as practical to allow the Advanced Front Air
Bags room to inflate.
Do not lean against the door or window. If your vehicle
has side air bags, and deployment occurs, the side air
bags will inflate forcefully into the space between you
and the door. 185
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