6.Allow the belt to retract to removeslack. The belt clicks as it retracts toindicate it is in the automatic lockingmode.
7.Try to pull the belt out of the retractorto make sure the retractor is in theautomatic locking mode. You shouldnot be able to pull more belt out. If theretractor is not locked, unbuckle thebelt and repeat Steps 5 and 6.
8.Remove remaining slack from the belt.Force the seat down with extra weight,for example, by pressing down orkneeling on the child restraint whilepulling up on the shoulder belt in orderto force slack from the belt. This isnecessary to remove the remainingslack that exists once you add the extraweight of the child to the child restraint.It also helps to achieve the propersnugness of the child restraint to yourvehicle. Sometimes, a slight leantoward the buckle will help to removeremaining slack from the belt.
9.If the child restraint has a tether strap,attach it.
10.Before placing the child in the seat,forcibly move the seat forward andback to make sure the seat is securelyheld in place.
To check this, grab the seat at the belt pathand attempt to move it side to side andforward and back. There should be nomore than 1 in (2.5 cm) of movement forproper installation.
We recommend checking with a NHTSACertified Child Passenger SafetyTechnician to make certain the childrestraint is properly installed. In Canada,check with Transport Canada for referralto a Child Car Seat Clinic.
Using Tether Straps
Many forward-facing child restraintsinclude a tether strap which extends fromthe back of the child restraint and hooksto an anchoring point called the top tetheranchor. Tether straps are available as anaccessory for many older child restraints.Contact the manufacturer of your childrestraint for information about ordering atether strap, or to obtain a longer tetherstrap if the tether strap on your childrestraint does not reach the appropriatetop tether anchor in the vehicle.
Attach the tether strap only to the tetheranchor as shown. The tether strap may notwork properly if attached somewhere otherthan the correct tether anchor.
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BOOSTER SEATS
WARNING: Do not put the shouldersection of the seatbelt or allow the childto put the shoulder section of theseatbelt under their arm or behind theirback. Failure to follow this instructioncould reduce the effectiveness of theseatbelt and increase the risk of injury ordeath in a crash.
Use a belt-positioning booster seat forchildren who have outgrown or no longerproperly fit in a child safety restraint(generally children who are less than 57 in(1.45 m) tall, are greater than age 4 andless than age 12, and between 40 lb (18 kg)and 80 lb (36 kg) and upward to 100 lb(45 kg) if recommended by your childrestraint manufacturer). Many state andprovincial laws require that children useapproved booster seats until they reachage eight, a height of 57 in (1.45 m) tall, or80 lb (36 kg).
Booster seats should be used until you cananswer YES to ALL of these questionswhen seated without a booster seat:
•Can the child sit all the way backagainst their vehicle seat backrest withknees bent comfortably at the edge ofthe seat cushion?
•Can the child sit without slouching?
•Does the lap belt rest low across thehips?
•Is the shoulder belt centered on theshoulder and chest?
•Can the child stay seated like this forthe whole trip?
Always use booster seats in conjunctionwith your vehicle lap and shoulder belt.
Types of Booster Seats
•Backless booster seats
If your backless booster seat has aremovable shield, remove the shield. If avehicle seating position has a low seatbackrest or no head restraint, a backlessbooster seat may place your child's head(as measured at the tops of the ears)above the top of the seat. In this case,move the backless booster to anotherseating position with a higher seat backrestor head restraint and lap and shoulderbelts, or consider using a high back boosterseat.
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•High back booster seats
If, with a backless booster seat, you cannotfind a seating position that adequatelysupports your child's head, a high backbooster seat would be a better choice.
Children and booster seats vary in size andshape. Choose a booster that keeps thelap belt low and snug across the hips,never up across the stomach, and lets youadjust the shoulder belt to cross the chestand rest snugly near the center of theshoulder. The following drawings comparethe ideal fit (center) to a shoulder beltuncomfortably close to the neck and ashoulder belt that could slip off theshoulder. The drawings also show how thelap belt should be low and snug across thechild's hips.
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If the booster seat slides on the vehicleseat upon which it is being used, placing arubberized mesh sold as shelf or carpetliner under the booster seat may improvethis condition. Do not introduce any itemthicker than this under the booster seat.Check with the booster seatmanufacturer's instructions.
CHILD RESTRAINT
POSITIONING
WARNING: Do not place arearward facing child restraint in front ofan active airbag. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injuryor death.
WARNING: Properly securechildren 12 years old and under in a rearseating position whenever possible. Ifyou are unable to properly secure allchildren in a rear seating position,properly secure the largest child on thefront seat. If you must use a forwardfacing child restraint on the front seat,move the seat as far back as possible.Failure to follow these instructions couldresult in personal injury or death.
WARNING: Always carefully followthe instructions and warnings providedby the manufacturer of any childrestraint to determine if the restraintdevice is appropriate for your child's size,height, weight, or age. Follow the childrestraint manufacturer's instructions andwarnings provided for installation anduse in conjunction with the instructions
and warnings provided by your vehiclemanufacturer. A safety seat that isimproperly installed or utilized, isinappropriate for your child's height, age,or weight or does not properly fit thechild may increase the risk of seriousinjury or death.
WARNING: Do not allow apassenger to hold a child on their lapwhen your vehicle is moving. Failure tofollow this instruction could result inpersonal injury or death in the event of asudden stop or crash.
WARNING: Do not use pillows,books or towels to boost your child'sheight. Failure to follow this instructioncould result in personal injury or death.
WARNING: Properly secure childrestraints or booster seats when they arenot in use. They could become projectilesin a sudden stop or crash. Failure tofollow this instruction could result inpersonal injury or death.
WARNING: Do not put the shouldersection of the seatbelt or allow the childto put the shoulder section of theseatbelt under their arm or behind theirback. Failure to follow this instructioncould reduce the effectiveness of theseatbelt and increase the risk of injury ordeath in a crash.
WARNING: Do not leave childrenor pets unattended in your vehicle.Failure to follow this instruction couldresult in personal injury or death.
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Recommendations for Attaching Child Restraints
Use Any Attachment Method as Indicated Below by X.
Restraint TypeSeatbelt OnlySeatbelt and TopTether Anchor
Combined Weight ofChild and ChildRestraint
XUp to 65 lb (29.5 kg)Rear-facingchild restraint
XOver 65 lb (29.5 kg)Rear-facingchild restraint
X1XUp to 65 lb (29.5 kg)Forward-facingchild restraint
X1XOver 65 lb (29.5 kg)Forward-facingchild restraint
1 We recommend using a top tether if the child restraint has one, and the child restraintmanufacturer recommends its use.
Note:The child restraint must rest tightlyagainst the vehicle seat upon which it isinstalled. It may be necessary to lift orremove the head restraint. See HeadRestraints (page 77).
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PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
WARNING: Always drive and ridewith the seat backrest upright and thelap belt snug and low across the hips.
WARNING: To reduce the risk ofinjury, make sure children sit where theycan be properly restrained.
WARNING: Never let a passengerhold a child on his or her lap while yourvehicle is moving. The passenger cannotprotect the child from injury in a crashwhich may result in serious injury ordeath.
WARNING: All occupants of thevehicle, including the driver, shouldalways properly wear their safety belts,even when an airbag supplementalrestraint system is provided. Failure toproperly wear your safety belt couldseriously increase the risk of injury ordeath.
WARNING: It is extremelydangerous to ride in a cargo area, insideor outside of a vehicle. In a crash, peopleriding in these areas are more likely to beseriously injured or killed. Do not allowpeople to ride in any area of your vehiclethat is not equipped with seats andsafety belts. Be sure everyone in yourvehicle is in a seat and using a safety beltproperly.
WARNING: In a rollover crash, anunbelted person is significantly morelikely to die than a person wearing asafety belt.
WARNING: Each seating positionin your vehicle has a specific safety beltassembly which is made up of onebuckle and one tongue that are designedto be used as a pair. 1) Use the shoulderbelt on the outside shoulder only. Neverwear the shoulder belt under the arm. 2)Never swing the safety belt around yourneck over the inside shoulder. 3) Neveruse a single belt for more than oneperson.
WARNING: When possible, allchildren 12 years old and under shouldbe properly restrained in a rear seatingposition. Failure to follow this couldseriously increase the risk of injury ordeath.
WARNING: Safety belts and seatscan become hot in a vehicle that hasbeen closed up in sunny weather; theycould burn a small child. Check seatcovers and buckles before you place achild anywhere near them.
WARNING: Front and rear seatoccupants, including pregnant women,should wear safety belts for optimumprotection in an accident.
All seating positions in this vehicle havelap and shoulder safety belts. Alloccupants of the vehicle should alwaysproperly wear their safety belts, even whenan airbag supplemental restraint systemis provided.
The safety belt system consists of:
•Lap and shoulder safety belts.
•Shoulder safety belt with automaticlocking mode, (except driver safetybelt).
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•Height adjuster at the front outboardseating positions.
•Safety belt pretensioner at the frontoutboard seating positions.
•Safety belt warning light and chime.
•Crash sensors and monitoring systemwith readiness indicator.
The safety belt pretensioners at the frontseating positions are designed to tightenthe safety belts when activated. In frontaland near-frontal crashes, the safety beltpretensioners may be activated alone or,if the crash is of sufficient severity, togetherwith the front airbags.
FASTENING THE SEATBELTS
The front outboard safety restraints in thevehicle are combination lap and shoulderbelts.
1.Insert the belt tongue into the properbuckle (the buckle closest to thedirection the tongue is coming from)until you hear a snap and feel it latch.Make sure the tongue is securelyfastened in the buckle.
2.To unfasten, press the release buttonand remove the tongue from thebuckle.
Using Seatbelts During Pregnancy
WARNING: Always ride and drivewith your seatback upright and properlyfasten your seatbelt. Fit the lap portionof the seatbelt snugly and low acrossthe hips. Position the shoulder portion ofthe seatbelt across your chest. Pregnantwomen must follow this practice. Seethe following figure.
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Pregnant women should always wear theirseatbelt. Position the lap belt portion of acombination lap and shoulder belt lowacross the hips below the belly and wornas tight as comfort allows. Position theshoulder belt to cross the middle of theshoulder and the center of the chest.
Seatbelt Locking Modes
WARNING: If your vehicle isinvolved in a crash, have the seatbeltsand associated components inspectedas soon as possible. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injuryor death.
All safety restraints in the vehicle arecombination lap and shoulder belts. Thedriver seatbelt has the first type of lockingmode. The front outboard passengerseatbelt has both types of locking modesdescribed as follows:
Vehicle Sensitive Mode
This is the normal retractor mode, whichallows free shoulder belt lengthadjustment to your movements andlocking in response to vehicle movement.For example, if the driver brakes suddenlyor turns a corner sharply, or the vehiclereceives an impact of about 5 mph(8 km/h) or more, the combinationseatbelts lock to help reduce forwardmovement of the driver and passengers.
In addition, the retractor is designed to lockif you pull the webbing out too quickly. Ifthe seatbelt retractor locks, slowly lowerthe height adjuster to allow the seatbeltto retract. If the retractor does not unlock,pull the seatbelt out slowly then feed a
small length of webbing back toward thestowed position. For rear seatbelts, reclinethe rear seat backrest or push the seatbackrest cushion away from the seatbelt.Feed a small length of webbing backtoward the stowed position.
Automatic Locking Mode
In this mode, the shoulder beltautomatically pre-locks. The belt will stillretract to remove any slack in the shoulderbelt. The automatic locking mode is notavailable on the driver seatbelt.
When to Use the Automatic LockingMode
Use this mode any time a child safety seat,except a booster, is installed in thepassenger front seating position. SeeChild Safety (page 20).
How to Use the Automatic LockingMode
1.Buckle the combination lap andshoulder belt.
2.Grasp the shoulder portion and pulldownward until the entire belt is pulledout.
3.Allow the belt to retract. As the beltretracts, you will hear a clicking sound.This indicates the seatbelt is now in theautomatic locking mode.
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