Page 177 of 294

M N <( (.J 
'SI: ,...., \!) 1.1'1 
N \!) ,...., 
personal  injury  and  death  in a  collision  or  oth
er  emergency  situation. 
- Children  on  the front  seat  of  any  car,  even 
with  Advanced  Airbags,  can  be  seriously  in
jured  or  even  killed  when  an  airbag  inflates. 
A child  in a  rearward-facing  child  safety  seat installed  on  the  front  passenger  seat  will  be 
seriously  injured and  can  be  killed  if the 
front  airbag  inflates  -even  with  an  Ad
vanced  Airbag  System. 
- The  inflating  airbag  will  hit  the  child  safety 
seat  or  infant  carrier  with  great  force  and 
will smash  the  child  safety  seat  and  child  against  the  backrest,  center  arm  rest,  door 
or  roof. 
- Always  install  rear-facing  child  safety  seats 
on  the  rear  seat. 
- If you  must  install  a  rearward  facing  child 
safety  seat  on  the  front  passenger  seat  be
cause  of  exceptional  circumstances  and  the 
PASSENGER AIR  BAG OFF light  does  not 
come  on  and  stay  on,  immediately  install 
the  rear-facing  child  safety  seat  in a  rear 
seating  position  and  have  the  airbag  system 
inspected  by your  Audi dealer . 
- The  rear side  of the  child  safety  seat  should 
be  positioned  as  close  as  possible  to  the 
backrest  on  the  vehicle  seat . 
- For adjustable  head  restraints:  adjust or  re
move  the  rear seat  head  restraint if it  is dif
ficult  to install  the  child  seat  with  the  head 
restraint  in place 
r=;.page  56. Install  the 
head  restraint  again  immediately  once  the 
child  seat  is  removed.  Driving without  head 
restraints  or with  head  restraints  that are 
not  properly  adjusted  increases  the  risk  of 
serious  or fatal  neck  injury  dramatically. 
- Always  read  and  heed  all WARNINGS when
ever  using  a  child  restrained  in a vehicle  is 
being  used 
r=;, page  135,  Safety  belts, 
r=;, page  143,  Airbag  system and 
9 page  167,  Important  information. 
_&. WARNING 
If  exceptional  circumstances  require  the use 
of a  forward-facing  child  restraint  on  the  front 
passenger's  seat,  the  child's  safety  and  well-
Child  safety 
being  require  that  the  following  special  pre
cautions  be  taken: 
- Make sure  the  forward-facing  seat  has  been 
designed  and  certified  by its  manufacturer 
for  use  on  a front  seat  with  a  passenger 
front  and  side  airbag. 
- Always follow  the  manufacturer's  instruc
tions  provided  with  the  child  safety  seat  or 
infant  carrier . 
- Always  move  the  front  passenger  seat  into 
the  rearmost  position  of  the passenger 
seat's  fore  and  aft  adjustment  range,  and  as 
far  away  from  the  airbag  as  possible  before  installing  the  child  restraint. 
- Always make  sure  that  nothing  prevents  the  front  passenger's  seat  from  being  moved  to 
the  rearmost  position  in its fore  and  aft  ad
justment  range. 
- Always make  sure  the  backrest  is  in an  up
right  position. 
- Never  place  or  use  any  electrical  device 
(such  as  a  laptop, CD player,  electronic 
games  device,  power inverter  or  seat heater 
for  child  seats)  on  the front  passenger  seat 
if  the  device  is connected  to  the 12-volt 
socket  or  the  cigarette  lighter  socket. 
- If  a  seat  heater  has  been  retrofitted  or oth
erwise  added  to  the  front  passenger  seat,  never  install  any  child  restraint  system  on 
this  seat. 
- Make sure  that  there  are  no  wet  objects 
(such  as  a wet  towel)  and  no water  or  other 
liquids  on  the  front  passenger  seat  cushion. 
- Never  place  objects  on  the  seat  (such  as  a 
laptop,  CO player,  electronic  games  device, 
power  inverter  or  seat  heater  for  child 
seats).  These  may  influence  the  electrical 
capacitance  measured  by the  capacitive  pas
senger  detection  system  and  can  also  fly 
around  in an  accident  and  cause serious  per
sonal  injury. 
- Make sure  that  the 
PASSENGER AIR  BAG 
OFF 
light  comes  on  and  stays  on  all  the  time 
whenever  the  ignition  is switched  on. 
- If  the 
PASSENGER AIR  BAG OFF light  does 
not  come  on  and  stay  on,  immediately  in
stall  the  forward-facing  child seat  at  a  seat-
ing  position  on  the  rear  seat  and  have  the 
Ill-
175  
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 178 of 294

Child safety 
airbag  system  inspected  by your  authorized 
Audi dealer. 
- Take the  child  restraint off the  front  passen
ger  seat  and  install  it  properly  at  one  of the 
rear  seat  positions  if the 
PASSENGER AIR 
BAG OFF 
light  does  not  stay  on  whenever 
the  ignition  is switched  on . 
Booster  seats  and  safety  belts 
Properly  used booster  seats  con help  protect 
children  weighing  between  about  40  lbs.  and  80 
lbs. (18  kg and  36  kg)  who  ore  less than  4 
ft. 9 
in . (57  inches/1 .45  meters)  tall . 
Fig.  171 Rear seat: ch ild prope rly restrained  in a booster 
seat 
"' ,-. 
i i 
The  vehicle's  safety  belts  alone  will  not  fit  most 
children  until  they are  at  least  4 
ft. 9  in . (57  in
ches/1.45  meters)  tall  and  weigh  about  80  lbs. 
(36  kg).  Booster seats  raise  these  children  up  so 
that  the  safety belt  will  pass  properly  over  the 
stronger  parts  of  their  bodies and the safety  belt 
can  help  protect  them in a crash. 
•  Do not  use  the  convertible locking  retractor 
when  using  the  vehicle's  safety belt to restrain 
a child  on  a  booster  seat. 
•  The  shoulder  be lt must  lie as  close  to  the  cen
ter  of the  child's  collar  bone as  possible  and 
must  lie flat  and  snug  on  the  upper  body.  It 
must  never  lie across  the  throat  or  neck. The 
lap  belt  must  lie across  the  pelvis  and  never 
across  the  stomach  or  abdomen . Make sure  the 
belt  lies  flat  and  snug . Pull  on  the  belt  to  tight
en  if necessary. 
•  If you  must  transport an  older  child  in a  boos
ter  seat  on  the  front passenger  seat,  you  can 
use  the safety  belt  height  adjustment  to  help 
adjust  the  shoulder  portion  properly . 
176 
• Secure  unused  safety  belts  on  the  rear  seat 
r=;, page  172 . 
Children  up  to  at  least  8  years  old  (over  40 lbs or 
18  kg) are  best  protected in child  safety  seats  de
signed  for  their  age  and  weight . Experts  say that 
the  skeletal  structure,  particularly the pelvis,  of 
these  children  is not  fully  developed,  and  they 
must  not  use the  vehicle  safety  belts  without  a 
suitable  child  restraint . 
It  is usually  best  to  put  these  children  in appro
priate  booster  seats . Be sure  the  booster  seat 
meets  all  applicable  safety  standards. 
Booster  seats  raise  the  seating  position of the 
child  and  reposition  both  the  lap  and  shoulder  parts  of the  safety  belt  so  that  they  pass  across 
the  child 's  body  in the  right  places.  The  routing  of 
the  belt  over  the  child 's  body  is very  important 
for  the  child's  protection,  whether  or  not a  boos 
ter  seat  is  used. Children  age  12 and  under  must 
always  ride in the  rear  seat. 
Children  who  are  at  least 4 
ft. 9 in. (57  inches/ 
1.45  meters)  tall  can  generally  use  the  vehicle's 
three  point lap  and  shoulder  belts . Never use  the 
lap  belt  portion  of the  vehicle's  safety  belt  alone 
to  restrain  any child,  regardless  of  how  big the 
child  is. Always remember  that childr en do  not 
have  the  pronounced  pelvic structure  required for 
the  proper  function of  lap  belt  portion  of the  ve
hicle 's three  point  lap  and  shoulder  belts.  The 
child's  safety  absolutely  requires  that  a  lap  belt 
portion  of  the  safety  belt  be  fastened  snugly  and 
as  low as  possible  around  the  pelvis . Never  let 
the  lap  belt  portion  of  the safety  belt  pass  over 
the  child's  stomach  or  abdomen . 
In  a  crash,  airbags  must  inflate  within  a  blink  of 
an  eye  and  with  considerable  force . In  order  to  do 
its  job,  the airbag  needs  room to inflate  so  that  it 
will  be  there  to  protect the  occupant  as  the occu
pant  moves  forward  into the  airbag . 
A vehicle  occupant  who  is out  of  position  and  too 
close  to  the  airbag  gets  in the  way of  an  inflating 
airbag . When  an  occupant  is too  close, he  or  she 
will  be struck  violently  and  will  receive  serious  or 
possibly  even  fatal  injury.  .,..  
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 179 of 294

M N <( (.J 
'SI: ,...., \!) 1.1'1 
N \!) ,...., 
In order  for the  airbag  to  offer  protection,  it  is 
important  that  all  vehicle  occupants,  especially 
any  children,  who  must  be  in the  front  seat  be
cause  of exceptional  circumstances,  be  properly 
restrained  and  as  far  away from  the  airbag  as 
possible . By keeping  room  between  the  child's 
body  and  the  front  of  the  passenger  compart
ment,  the  airbag  can  inflate completely  and  pro
vide  supplemental  protection  in certain  frontal 
collisions . 
A WARNING 
Not using  a  booster  seat,  using the  booster 
seat  improperly,  incorrectly  installing  a  boos
ter  seat  or  using  the  vehicle  safety  belt  im
properly  increases  the  risk  of serious  personal 
injury  and  death  in a collision  or  other  emer
gency  situation.  To help  reduce  the  risk of  se
rious  personal  injury  and/or  death: 
- The  shoulder  belt  must  lie as  close  to  the 
center  of the  child's  collar  bone  as  possible 
and  must  lie flat  and  snug  on  the  upper 
body . It  must  never  lie across  the  throat  or 
neck.  The  lap  belt  must  lie across  the  pelvis 
and  never  across  the  stomach  or  abdomen. 
Make  sure  that  the  belt  lies flat  and  snug. 
Pull  on  the  belt  to  tighten  if necessary. 
- Failure  to  properly  route  safety  belts  over  a 
child's  body  will cause  severe  injuries  in an 
accident  or  other  emergency  situation 
¢ page  135. 
-The  rear  side  of  the child  safety  seat  should 
be  positioned  as  close  as  possible  to  the 
backrest  on  the  vehicle  seat. 
- For adjustable  head  restraints : adjust  or  re
move  the  rear seat  head  restraint if it  is dif
ficult  to  install  the  child  seat  with  the  head  restraint  in place¢ 
page  56. Install  the 
head  restraint  again  immediately  once  the 
child  seat  is  removed. Driving without  head 
restraints  or  with  head  restraints that  are 
not  properly  adjusted  increases the  risk  of 
serious  or  fatal  neck  injury  dramatically . 
- Children  on  the  front  seat  of  any  car,  even 
with  Advanced  Airbags,  can  be  seriously  in
jured  or  even  killed  when  an  airbag  inflates. 
- Never  let  a  child  stand  or  kneel  on  any  seat, 
for  example  the front  seat. 
-
Child  safety 
-Never  let  a  child  ride  in the  cargo  area  of 
your  vehicle. 
- Always remember  that  a  child  leaning for
ward,  sitting  sideways  or  out  of  position  in  any way  during  an  accident  can  be  struck  by 
a  deploying  airbag.  This  will  result  in serious 
personal  injury or  death. 
- If you  must  install  a  booster  seat  on  the 
front  passenger  seat  because  of  exceptional 
circumstances  the 
PASSENGER AIR  BAG 
OFF 
light  must  come  on  and  stay  on,  when
ever  the  ignition  is switched  on. 
- If  the 
PASSENGER AIR  BAG OFF light  does 
not  come  on  and  stay  on,  perform  the 
checks  described ¢ 
page  154,  Monitoring 
the Advanced  Airbag  System. 
- Take the  child  restraint  off  the  front  passen
ger  seat  and  install  it properly  at one  of  the 
rear  seat  positions  if  the 
PASSENGER AIR 
BAG OFF 
light  does  not  stay  on  whenever 
the  ignition  is switched  on. 
- Always read  and heed  all  WARNINGS  when
ever  using  a  child  restrained  in a vehicle  is 
being  used 
¢ page  135,  Safety  belts, 
¢ page  143,  Airbag system and 
¢ page  167,  Important  information. 
Securing  child  seats 
Securing a child safety  seat  using  a safety 
belt 
Safety  belts  for  the rear seats  and  the  front  pas
senger  can be locked with  the convertible  locking 
retractor  to properly  secure child safety  seats. 
The  safety  belts  emergency  locking  retractors  for 
the  rear  seats  safety  belts  and  for  the  front  pas
senger's  seat  safety  belt  have  a  convertible lock
ing  retractor  for  child  restraints.  The safety  belt 
must  be  locked so  that  belt  webbing  cannot  un
reel.  The  retractor  can  be  activated  to  lock the 
safety  belt  and  prevent  the  safety  belt  webbing 
from  loosening  up during  normal  driving.  A child 
safety  seat  can  only  be  properly  installed  when 
the  safety  belt  is locked  so  that  the  child  and 
child  safety  seat  will stay  in place . 
Always  remember:  Even though  your  vehicle  is  equipped  with  an  Advanced  Airbag  system,  all 
177  
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 180 of 294

Child  safety 
children,  especially  those  12 years  and  younger, 
should  always  ride  in the  back  seat  properly  re
strained  for  their  age  and  size. 
A WARNING 
Improperly  installed  child  safety  seats  in
crease  the  risk of  serious  personal  injury  and 
death  in a collision. 
-
-Always  make  sure  that  the  safety  belt  re
tractor  is locked  when  installing  a child  safe
ty  seat . An unlocked  safety  belt  retractor 
cannot  hold  the  child  safety  seat  in place 
during  normal  driving  or  in a  crash. 
- Always  buckle  the child  safety  seat  firmly  in 
place  even  if a  child  is  not  sitting  in it . A 
loose  child safety  seat  can fly  around  during 
a sudden  stop  or  in a  collision. 
- Always  make sure  that  the  rear  seat  back
rest  to  which  the  center  rear  safety belt* is 
attached  is securely  latched whenever  the 
rear  center  safety  belt  is being  used  to se
cure  a  child  restraint. 
- If  the  backrest  is not  securely  latched,  the 
child  and  the  child  restraint  will  be  thrown 
forward  together  with  the  backrest  and  will 
strike  parts  of the  vehicle  interior.  The  child  can  be  seriously  injured  or  killed. 
- Never  install  rear-facing  child  safety  seats  or 
infant  carriers  on  the  front  passenger  seat. 
A child  will  be  seriously  injured  and  can  be  killed  when  the  passenger  airbag  inflates. 
- The  inflating  airbag  will  hit  the  child  safety  seat  or  infant  carrier  with  great  force  and 
will smash  the  child  safety  seat  and  child against  the  backrest,  center  armrest,  door 
or  roof. 
- Always  install rear-facing  child  safety  seats 
or  infant  carriers  on  the  rear  seat . 
- Forward-facing  child  safety  seats  or  infant 
carriers  installed  on  the front  passenger's 
seat  may  interfere  with  the  deployment  of 
the  airbag  and  cause  serious  injury  to  the  child. 
- It  is safer  to  install  a forward-facing  child 
safety  seat  on  the  rear  seat. 
- Always  read and  heed  all WARNINGS when
ever  using  a  child  restrained  in a vehicle  is 
being  used 
Qpage  167. Special  precautions 
178 
apply  when  installing  a  child  safety  seat  on 
the  front  passenger  seat 
Q page  144,  Child 
restraints  on the  front  seat  -some  impor
tant  things  to  know. 
A WARNING 
Always take  special  precautions  if you  must 
install  a forward  or  rearward-facing child  re
straint  on  the  front  passenger's  seat  in excep
tional  situations: 
- Whenever  a forward  or  rearward-facing 
child  restraint  is installed  on  the  front  pas
senger  seat, the 
PASSENGER  AIR  BAG OFF 
light  must  come  on  and  stay on  whenever 
the  ignition  is switched  on. 
- If the PASSENGER  AIR  BAG OFF light  does 
not  come  on  and  stay on,  perform  the 
checks  described 
Q page  154,  Monitoring 
the Advanced  Airbag  System. 
- Take the  child  restraint  off  the  front passen
ger  seat  and  install  it  properly  at  one  of the 
rear  seat  positions  if the 
PASSENGER  AIR 
BAG OFF 
light  does  not  stay  on  whenever 
the  ignition  is switched  on. 
- Improper  installation  of child  restraints  can 
reduce  their  effectiveness  or  even  prevent 
them  from  providing  any  protection. 
- An improperly  installed  child  restraint  can  interfere  with  the  airbag  as  it  deploys  and 
seriously  injure  or  even  kill the  child . 
-Always  carefully  follow the  manufacturer's 
instructions  provided  with  the  child  safety 
seat  or  carrier. 
- After  checking  to  make  sure  that  the  child 
restraint  is  properly  installed,  make  certain 
that  the  child  restraint  is correctly  recog
nized  by the  capacitive  passenger  detection 
system  in the  front  passenger  seat  and  that 
the 
PASSENGER  AIR  BAG OFF light  signals 
the  correct  front  passenger  frontal  airbag 
status. 
A WARNING 
Forward-facing  child  restraints: 
- 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 181 of 294

M N <( (.J 
'SI: ,...., \!) ..,., 
N \!) ,...., 
-Always  mak e sure  the  forward-facing  seat 
has  been  designed  and  certified  by its  man
ufacturer  for  use  on  a front  seat  with  a 
passenger  front  and  side  airbag . 
- Never  pu t the  forward-facing  child  restraint 
up,  aga inst  or very  near  the  ins trument  pan
el. 
- Always  move  the  passenger  seat  into  its 
rearmost  position  in the  seat's  fore  and  aft 
adjustment  range,  as  far  away  from  the  air
bag  as  possib le  befo re  installing  the  for
wa rd-fac ing  child  restra int.  The  backres t 
must  be ad justed  to  an  up right  posit io n. 
- Make sure  that  the 
PASSENGER AIR  BAG 
OFF 
light  comes  on  and  s tays  on  all  the  t ime 
whe never  the  ignition  is switched  on. 
_& WARNING 
Rearw ard-fac ing ch ild  restra ints: 
- A ch ild  in a  rearwa rd-facing  child  safety  seat 
installed  on  the  fron t passenger  seat  will  be 
seriously  injured  and  can  be  k ille d if the 
front  airbag  inflates  - even  with  an  Ad 
vanced  Airbag  System . 
- The  inflati ng  a irbag  w ill hit  the  child  safety 
seat  or  infant  carrier  with  great  fo rce and 
will smash  the  ch ild  safety  seat  and  chi ld 
against  the  backrest,  center  armrest,  door 
o r  roof. 
- Always  be  especially  caref ul if you  must  in
stall  a  rearward  facing  ch ild  safety  seat  on 
the  front  passenger  seat  in exceptional  cir
cumstances . 
- Make sure  that  the 
PASSENGER AIR  BAG 
OFF 
light  comes  on  and  stays  on  all  the  t ime 
whenever  the  ignition  is switched  on . 
- If the 
PASSENGER AIR  BAG OFF light  does 
not  come  on  and  stay  on,  immed iately  in
stall  the  rear-fac ing  c hild  safety  seat  in a 
rear  seating  position  and  have  the  airbag 
system  inspected  by your  Au di deale r. 
Child  sa fety 
Act ivating  the  convertible  locking  retractor 
Use the  convertible  locking retractor  to secure  a 
child restraint . 
Always  heed  the  ch ild  safety  seat  manufac ture r's 
ins truc tions  when  ins talling  a  child  res train t in 
your  vehicle . T o activate  the  convertible  locking 
re tractor: 
..  Place  the  child  restraint  on  a  sea t,  preferably  on 
the  rear  sea t. 
..  Slowly  p ull the  belt 
all the  way out . 
.. Route  it  a round  or  through  the  child  rest ra int 
be lt  pat h 
~ .& . 
..  Push  the  c hild  safety  sea t down  with  you r full 
we igh t to  ge t  the  sa fe ty belt  re ally t igh t. 
..  Insert  the  belt  tongue  into  the  buc kle for  tha t 
seating  posit ion . 
..  Guide  the  saf ety  belt  back  into  the  retractor  un 
til  the  belt  lies  flat  and  sn ug  on  the  ch ild  safety 
seat . 
..  You should  hear  a  "clicking"  noise  as  the  belt 
w inds  bac k into  the  ine rtia  reel.  Test  the  con
vert ible  locking  retracto r by pu lli ng  on  the  belt . 
Yo u shou ld  no  lo nger  be  able  to  pull  the  belt 
ou t of the  re tr actor.  The  conve rtible  locking  re
t racto r is  now  ac tiva ted . 
..  Ma ke  s ure  that  the  red  release  button  is fac ing 
away  from  the  child  rest raint  so  that  it  can  be 
unbuckled  quickly . 
..  Pull on  the  belt  to  make  sure  the  safety  be lt  is 
properly  tight  and  fastened  so  t hat  the  se at 
cannot  move  forward  or  sideways  more  than 
one  inch  (2 .5  cm) . 
_& WARNING 
Using  the  wrong  child  re straint  o r an  i mprop
e rly  insta lled  child  rest raint  can  cau se  serious 
p erson al  injury  or  deat h in a  cra sh . 
- Always ma ke  sure  that  the  safe ty  belt  re
tr act o r i s  lo cked  when  in sta lling  a child  safe
ty  seat . An unloc ked  sa fety  belt  retrac tor 
cannot  hold  the  child  safety  seat  in  place 
du ring  normal  d riving  or  in a  c rash. 
- Always buckle  the  child  sa fe ty seat  firmly  in 
p lace  even  if a ch ild  is not  sitting  in  it.  A 
loose  child  safety  seat  can  fly aro und  durin g 
a sudden  stop  or  in a  c rash.  ..,. 
179  
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 182 of 294

Child  safety 
-Always  make  sure  the  seat  backrest  to  which 
the  child  restraint  is  installed is in  an  up
right  position  and  securely  latched  into 
place  and  cannot  fold  forward.  Otherwise, 
the  seatback  with  the  child  safety  seat  at
tached  to  it could  fly forward  in the  event  of 
an  accident  or  other emergency  situation. 
- Always  read and  heed  all  WARNINGS when
ever  using  a  child  restrained  in  a vehicle  is 
being  used¢ 
page  167 . Special precautions 
apply  when  installing  a  child safety  seat  on 
the  front  passenger  seat¢ 
page  144,  Child 
restraints  on the  front  seat  -some  impor
tant  things  to know. 
Deactivating  the  convertible  locking 
retractor 
The convertible  locking retractor  for  child re
straints  will be deactivated  automatically  when 
the  belt  is wound  all the  way back into  the  re
tractor . 
~ Press  the  red  button  on  the  safety  belt  buckle. 
Th@  belt  tongue  will  pop  out  of  the buckle. 
~ Guide  the  safety  belt  all  the  way  back  into  its 
stowed  position . 
Always let  the  safety  belt  retract  completely  into  its  stowed  position . The  safety  belt  can  now  be 
used  as  an  ordinary  safety  belt  without  the  con
vertible  locking  retractor  for  child  restraints. 
If  the  convertible  locking retractor  should  be  ac
tivated  inadvertently,  the  safety  belt  must  be  un
fastened  and  guided  completely  back  into  its 
stowed  position  to  deactivate  this  feature . 
If the 
convertible  locking retractor  is not  deactivated, 
the  safety  belt  will  gradually  become  tighter  and 
uncomfortable  to wear. 
_& WARNING 
Improperly  installed child safety  seats  in
crease  the  risk of  serious  personal  injury  and 
death  in  a collision. 
-
- Never  unfasten  the safety  belt  to  deactivate 
the  convertible  locking retractor  for  child  re
straints  while  the  vehicle  is  moving.  You 
180 
would  not  be  restrained  and  could  be  seri ously  injured  in an  accident. 
- Always read  and  heed  all  WARNINGS when
ever  using  a  child  restrained  in a vehicle  is 
being  used 
¢page  167. Special  precautions 
apply  when  installing  a  child  safety  seat  on 
the  front  passenger  seat 
c> page  144,  Child 
restraints  on the  front  seat -some  impor
tant  things  to  know. 
LATCH  system  (Lower 
anchorages  and  tethers 
for  children) 
' Child Restraint  System  anchors  and  how 
are they  related  to  child  safety 
To provide  a  simpler  and  more  practicable  way to 
attach  the  chi ld  restraint  on  the  vehicle  seat,  Fed
eral  regulations  require  special  lower  anchorages 
in  vehicles  and  devices  on  new  child  restraints  to 
attach  to  the  vehicle  anchorages. 
The  combination  of the  tether  anchorages  and 
the  lower  anchorages  is  now generally  called  the 
LATCH system  for  " Lower  Anchorages  and 
Tethers  for Children ." 
Forward-facing  child  restraints  manufactured  af
ter  September  1,  1999,  are  required  by  U.S. fed
eral  regulations  to  comply  with  new  child  head 
movement  performance  requirements . These 
new  performance  requirements  make  a  tether 
necessary  on  most  new child  seats . 
Installing  a child  restraint  that  requires  a  top 
tether  without  one  can  seriously  impair the  per
formance  of  the child  restra int  and  its  ability  to 
protect  the  child  in  a collision . Installing  a  child 
restraint  that requires  a top tether  without  the 
top  tether  may  be  a violation  of state  law. 
Child  restraint  manufacturers  offer  LATCH lower 
anchorages  on  their  child  seats  with  hook-on  or  push-on  connectors  attached  to adjustable 
straps. 
In  addition  to  the  LATCH  lower  anchorages,  these 
child  restraint  systems  usually require  the  use  of 
tether  straps  to  help keep  the  child  restraint 
firmly  in pla ce.  .,.  
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 183 of 294

M N <( I.J "". rl I.O 
"' N I.O rl 
,&_ WARNING 
Improper insta llation  of  chi ld  restraints  will 
increase  the  risk of  injury and  death  in a  crash. 
- Always follow  the  instructions  prov ided  by 
the  manufacturer  of the  child  restraint  you  intend  to  install  in your  vehicle. 
- Never  install  a  child  restraint  witho ut  a 
properly  attached  top  tether  strap  if the 
child  restraint  manufacturer's  instructions  requ ire the  top  tether  strap  to  be  used . 
- Improper  use  of child  restraint  LATCH lower 
anchorage  points  can  lead  to  injury  in a  colli
sion.  The  LATCH lower  anchorage  po ints  are 
designed  to  withstand  only  those  loads  im
posed  by correctly  fitted  ch ild  restraints . 
- Never  mount  two  child  restraint  systems  on 
one  LATCH  lower  anchorage  point . 
- Never  secure  or attach  any  luggage  or  other 
item  to  the  LATCH  lower  anchorages. 
(D Tips 
- In  Canada,  the  terms  "top  tether"  with 
"lower  universa l anchorages"  (or  "lower  uni
versal  anchorage  bars")  are  used  to  describe 
the  system. 
- In  other  countries,  the  term  "ISO FIX" is 
used  to  describe  the  lower  anchorages. 
Location 
F ig . 17 2 Sche matic  overvi ew : LA TCH an ch o rag e point  lo ca
tions 
The  illustration  shows  the  seating  locations  in 
your  ve hicle  which  are  eq uipped  w ith  the  lower 
anchorages  system. 
Chil d sa fe ty 
Description 
T he lower  anchorage  positions  are marked  for 
quick  locating . 
Fig. 173  Low er an cho rag es,  co ver s marke d 
Fig . 1 74 Re ar s eats:  lowe r an cho rag e bra cket  lo ca tion s 
Lower  anch orages 
The  circular  markings  on  the  rear  sea t help  you  to 
identify  th e location  of  lower  anchorages  for  the 
two  outboard  seating  posit ions ¢ 
fig.  173. The 
LATCH  low er universal  anchorage  attachm ent 
points  are  between  the  rear  seatback  and  re ar 
seat  cush ion . 
Remov e the  covers ¢ 
fig. 173 to  access  the  lower 
anchorage  attachment  points . 
T he  lower  a nch o rage  attachmen t po ints  are  visi 
ble 
¢ fig . 174. 
Lower anchorages  secure  the  child  restraint  in 
the  seat  without  using  the  vehicle's  safety  belts . 
Anchorages  provide  a  secure  and  easy -to-use  at
tachment  and  minim ize  the  poss ibility  of  improp 
er  child  restraint  installation. 
All child  rest raints  manufactured  after  Septem 
ber  1,  2002,  must  have  lower  anchorage  at ta ch-
ments  for the 
LATCH system.  .,. 
181  
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 184 of 294

Child  safet y 
Please  remembe r that  the  lower  anchorage 
points  are  on ly  intended  for  installation  and  at
tachment  of  child  restra ints  specifica lly certified 
for  use  w ith 
LATCH lower  anchorages . Child  re
straints  that  are  not  equ ipped  w ith  the  lower  an
chorage  attachme nts  can  still  be  installed  in 
comp liance  with  the  child  restraint  manufactur
er 's  instructions  on  using  vehicle  safety  belts . 
A WARNING 
Improper use  of  LATCH lower  anchorages  can 
cause  serious  personal  injury  in an  accident. 
- Always  ca refully  follow  the  ch ild  restraints 
man ufa ctu rer's  instructions  for  proper  in
sta llation  of  the  child  rest raint  and  proper 
use  of  the  lower  anchorages  or  safety  belts 
in your  vehicle . 
- Never  sec ure  o r attach  any  l uggage  or  other 
items  to  the 
LATCH lower  anchorages . 
- Always  read  and  heed  the  impor tant  i nfor
mation  about  child  res traints  in this  chap ter 
and  WARNINGS 
<=>  page  167,  Child safety . 
Installing a child restraint with LATCH 
lower  anchorages 
Whenever you  install  a child  restraint  always  fol
low  the child  restraint  manufacturer 's instruc
tions. 
F ig . 175 Lowe r an ch orages: proper  mount ing 
Mounting 
.,.  Make  sure  the  seatback  of  the  rear  seat  bench  is 
i n the  upright  pos ition  and  securely  latched  in 
place . 
..  Attach  both  hook-on  connectors  with  the  spring 
catch  release  on  the  child  sa fety  seat  onto  the 
182 
LA TC H lower  anchorage  so that  the  connectors 
lock into  p lace 
<=> fig.  175 . 
.. Pull  on  the  connector  attachments  to  make 
sure  they  are  properly  attached  to  the  LATCH  lower  anchorage . 
..  Pull  straps  tight  follow ing  the  child  restraint 
manufactu re r's  instruct ions . 
Releasing 
.. Loosen  the  tension  on  the  straps  following  the 
child  restraint  manufacturer's  instructions. 
..  Depress  the  spring  catches  to  release  the  an
chorage  hooks  from  the  lower  anchorages . 
Remember:  Use  tether  straps  to  help  keep  the 
ch ild  restra int  firmly  in  place. 
A WARNING 
-
Improper  use  of  the  LATCH system  can  in
crease  the  risk  of  serious  pe rsonal  injury  and 
death  in an  accident . 
- These  ancho rs were  developed  only  for  child 
safety  seats  using  the  "LATCH"  system . 
- Never  attach  other  ch ild  safety  seats,  belts 
or  other  objects  to  these  anchors . 
- Always  make  sure  that  you  hear  a click when 
latching  the  seat  in  place.  If  you  do  not  hear 
a  cl ick the  seat  is  not  secure  and  could  fly 
forward  and  hit  the  inter ior  of  the  vehicle, 
or  be  ejec ted  from  the  vehicle. 
A WARNING 
Imp roper  ins tallat ion  of  child  restra ints  w ill 
inc rease  the  r is k  of  i njury  in  an  a ccident. 
- Always follow  the  chi ld  restraint  system 
manufact urer's  inst ruct ions  for  p rope r in
s tallat ion  o f the  child  restraint  system  and 
prope r use  of  te ther  st raps  as  we ll as  the 
lower  anchorages  or  safety  be lts  in your  ve 
hicle. 
- Always  read  and  heed  the  important  infor
mation  and  WARNINGS abo ut  child  safety 
and  the  installation  of  chi ld  restra int  sys
tems 
r::> page  167,  Child safety.