2012 HONDA FIT belt

uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children
56Safe Driving
1.Place the child seat on the vehicle seat.
2.Route the seat belt through the child seat
according to the seat maker’s instructions,
and insert the latch plate into the buckle.
uInsert the latch plate fully until it clicks.
3.Slowly pull the shoulder part of the belt all
the way out until it stops. 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.
uIf you are able to pull the shoulder belt
out, the lockable retractor is not
activated. Pull the seat belt all the way
out, and repeat steps 3 – 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.
uWhen 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 Belt
1Installing 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.

Continued
57
uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children
Safe Driving
6.Make sure the child seat 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.
Two tether anchorage points are provided
behind the rear outer seating positions and
one in the ceiling for the rear center. A child
seat that is installed with a seat belt and
comes with a tether can use the tether for
additional security.
1Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt
To deactivate a lockable retractor, release the buckle
and allow the seat belt to wind up all the way.
■
Adding Security with a Tether
1Adding Security with a Tether
Since a tether can provide additional security to the
lap/shoulder seat belt installation, we recommend
using a tether whenever one is available.
Tether Anchorage Points

59
uuChild SafetyuSafety of Larger Children
Continued
Safe Driving
Safety of Larger ChildrenThe following pages give instructions on how to check proper seat belt fit, what kind
of booster seat to use if one is needed, and important precautions for a child who
must sit in front.
When a child is too big for a child seat, secure the child in a rear seat using the lap/
shoulder seat belt. Have the child sit upright and all the way back, then answer the
following questions.
■
Checklist
•Do the child’s knees bend comfortably over
the edge of the seat?
•Does the shoulder belt cross between the
child’s neck and arm?
•Is the lap part of the seat belt as low as
possible, touching the child’s thighs?
•Will the child be able to stay seated like this
for the whole trip?
If you answer yes to all these questions, the child is ready to wear the lap/shoulder
seat belt correctly. If you answer no to any question, the child needs to ride on a
booster seat until the seat belt fits properly without a booster seat.
■
Protecting Larger Children
■
Checking Seat Belt Fit
1Safety of Larger Children
3
WARNING
Allowing a child age 12 or under to sit in
front can result in injury or death if the
passenger’s front airbag inflates.
If a larger child must ride in front, move the
vehicle seat as far to the rear as possible,
have the child sit up properly and wear the
seat belt properly, using a booster seat if
needed.

uuChild SafetyuSafety of Larger Children
60Safe Driving
If a lap/shoulder seat belt cannot be used
properly, position the child in a booster seat in
a rear seating position. For the child’s safety,
check that the child meets the booster seat
manufacturer’s recommendations.
Your vehicle has a rear seat where children can be properly restrained. If you ever
have to carry a group of children, and a child must ride in front:
•Make sure you read and fully understand the instructions and safety information
in this manual.
•Move the front passenger seat as far back as possible.
•Have the child sit upright and well back in the seat.
•Check that the seat belt is properly positioned so that the child is secure in the
seat.
■
Monitoring child passengers
We strongly recommend that you keep an eye on child passengers. Even older, more
mature children sometimes need to be reminded to fasten their seat belts and sit up
properly.
■
Booster Seats
1Booster Seats
When installing a booster seat, make sure to read the
instructions that came with it, and install the seat
accordingly.
There are high- and low-type booster seats. Choose a
booster seat that allows the child to wear the seat
belt correctly.
Some U.S. states and Canadian provinces and
territories 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 state or
province, or territory where you intend to drive.
■
Protecting Larger Children-Final Checks

66
uuIndicatorsu
Instrument Panel
Indicator
Name
On/Blinking
Explanation
Transmission
Indicator
*
●
Comes on for a few seconds when you
turn the ignition switch to ON
(w
, then
goes off.
●
Blinks if the transmission system has a
problem.
●
Blinks while driving - Avoid sudden starts and
acceleration and have the vehicle checked by a
dealer immediately.
M (sequential shift
mode) Indicator/
Gear Position
Indicator
*
●
Comes on when the manual sequential
shift mode is applied.
●
Blinks if the transmission system has a
problem.
2Sequential Shift Mode P. 169
Seat Belt Reminder
Indicator
●
Comes on and the beeper sounds if you
are not wearing a seat belt when you
turn the ignition switch to ON
(w
. If the
front passenger is not wearing a seat
belt, the indicator comes on about a few
seconds later.
●
Blinks while driving if either you or the
front passenger has not fastened a seat
belt. The beeper sounds and the
indicator blinks at regular intervals.
●
The beeper stops and the indicator goes off when
you and the front passenger fasten their seat belts.
●
Stays on after you or the front passenger has
fastened the seat belt - A detection error may
have occurred in the sensor. Have the vehicle
checked by a dealer.
2Seat Belt Reminder P. 27
Low Fuel Indicator
●
Comes on when the fuel reserve is
running low (approximately 1.64 U.S.
gal./6.2 Liter left).
●
Blinks if there is a problem with the fuel
gauge.
●
Comes on - Refuel your vehicle as soon as possible.
●
Blinks - Have the vehicle checked by a dealer.
* Not available on all models

67
uuIndicatorsu
Continued
Instrument Panel
Indicator
Name
On/Blinking
Explanation
ABS (Anti-lock
Brake System)
Indicator
●
Comes on for a few seconds when you
turn the ignition switch to ON
(w
, then
goes off.
●
If it comes on at any other time, there is
a problem with the ABS.
●
Stays on constantly - Have the vehicle checked by
a dealer. With this indicator on, your vehicle still has
normal braking ability but no anti-lock function.
2ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) P. 183
Supplemental
Restraint System
Indicator
●
Comes on for a few seconds when you
turn the ignition switch to ON
(w
, then
goes off.
●
Comes on if a problem with any of the
following is detected:
-Supplemental restraint system
-Side airbag system
-Side curtain airbag system
-Seat belt tensioner
●
Stays on constantly or does not come on at all
- Have the vehicle checked by a dealer.
High Temperature
Indicator
●
Comes on for a few seconds when you
turn the ignition switch to ON
(w
, then
goes off.
●
Blinks when the engine coolant
temperature goes up, and stays on if the
temperature continues to rise.
●
Blinks while driving - Drive slowly to prevent
overheating.
●
Stays on while driving - Immediately stop in a
safe place and allow the engine to cool.
2Overheating P. 254
Low Temperature
Indicator
●
Comes on for a few seconds when you
turn the ignition switch to ON
(w
.
●
Comes on when the engine coolant
temperature is low.
●
If the indicator stays on after the engine has reached
normal operating temperature, there may be a
problem with the temperature sensors. Have the
vehicle inspected by a dealer.

uuAdjusting the SeatsuAdjusting the Seat Positions
104Controls
Adjust the driver’s seat-back to a comfortable,
upright position, leaving ample space
between your chest and the airbag cover in
the center of the steering wheel.
The front seat passenger should also adjust
their seat-back to a comfortable, upright
position.
Reclining a seat-back so that the shoulder part of the belt no longer rests against the
occupant’s chest reduces the protective capability of the belt. It also increases the
chance of sliding under the belt in a crash and being seriously injured. The farther a
seat-back is reclined, the greater the risk of injury.
■
Adjusting the Seat-Backs
1Adjusting the Seat-Backs
Do not put a cushion, or other object, between the
seat-back and your back.
Doing so may interfere with proper seat belt or airbag
operation.
If you cannot get far enough away from the steering
wheel and still reach the controls, we recommend
that you investigate whether some type of adaptive
equipment may help.
3
WARNING
Reclining the seat-back too far can result in
serious injury or death in a crash.
Adjust the seat-back to an upright position,
and sit well back in the seat.

107
uuAdjusting the SeatsuAdjusting the Seat Positions
Controls
The driver’s and front passenger’s seats have active head restraints. In a rear impact,
an occupant properly secured by a seat belt will be pushed against the seat-back and
the head restraint will move forward. This reduces the distance between the
restraint and the occupant’s head, which helps reduce the likelihood of whiplash
and injuries to the neck and upper spine.
After all occupants have adjusted their seats and head restraints, and put on their
seat belts, it is very important that they continue to sit upright, well back in their
seats, with their feet on the floor, until the vehicle is safely parked and the engine is
off.
Sitting improperly can increase the chance of injury during a crash. For example, if
an occupant slouches, lies down, turns sideways, sits forward, leans forward or
sideways, or puts one or both feet up, the chance of injury during a crash is greatly
increased.
In addition, an occupant who is out of position in the front seat can be seriously or
fatally injured in a crash by striking interior parts of the vehicle or being struck by an
inflating front airbag.■
Active Head Restraints
1Active Head Restraints
In order for the active head restraints to operate
properly:•Do not hang any items on the head restraints, or
from the restraint legs.•Do not place any objects between an occupant and
the seat-back.•Install each restraint in its proper location.
After a collision, the activated restraint should return
to its normal position. If the restraint does not return
to its normal position, or in the event of a severe
collision, have the vehicle inspected by a dealer.
■
Maintain a Proper Sitting Position
1Maintain a Proper Sitting Position
3
WARNING
Sitting improperly or out of position can
result in serious injury or death in a crash.
Always sit upright, well back in the seat,
with your feet on the floor.