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Securing a child restraint with lap/
shoulder belt
When not using the LATCH system, all
child restraints must be secured to a
vehicle rear seat with the lap part of a
lap/shoulder belt.
WARNING
ALWAYS place a rear-facing child
restraint in the rear seat of the vehicle.
Placing a rear-facing child restraint in
the front seat can result in serious injury
or death if the child restraint is struck
by an inflating air bag.
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Automatic locking mode
Since all passenger seat belts move
fr
eely under normal conditions and
only lock under extreme or emergency
conditions (emergency locking mode),
you must manually pull the seat belt all
the way out to shift the retractor to the
“Automatic Locking” mode to secure a
child restraint.
The “Automatic Locking” mode will
help prevent the normal movement of
the child in the vehicle from causing
the seat belt to loosen and compromise
the child restraint system. To secure a
child restraint system, use the following
procedure. To install a child restraint system on the
rear seats, do the following:
1. Place the child restraint system on a rear seat and route the lap/ shoulder
belt around or through the child
restraint, following the restraint
manufacturer’s instructions. Be sure
the seat belt webbing is not twisted.
Information
When using the rear center seat belt, you
should also refer to the “Rear Seat Belt –
Passenger’s 3-point system” section in this
chapter.
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2. Fasten the lap/shoulder belt latch into the buckle. Listen for the distinct
“click” sound.
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Information
Position the release button so that it is easy
to access in case of an emergency.
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3. Pull the shoulder portion of the seat belt all the way out. When the
shoulder portion of the seat belt
is fully extended, it will shift the
retractor to the “Automatic Locking”
(child restraint) mode.
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4. Slowly allow the shoulder portion of the seat belt to retract and listen for
an audible “clicking” or “ratcheting”
sound. This indicates that the retractor
is in the “Automatic Locking” mode.
If no distinct sound is heard, repeat
steps 3 and 4.
5. Remove as much slack from the belt as possible by pushing down on the
child restraint system while feeding
the shoulder belt back into the
retractor. 6. Push and pull on the child restraint
system to confirm that the seat belt
is holding it firmly in place. If it is not,
release the seat belt and repeat steps
2 through 6.
7. Double check that the retractor is in the “Automatic Locking” mode by
attempting to pull more of the seat
belt out of the retractor. If you cannot,
the retractor is in the “Automatic
Locking” mode.
If your CRS (child restraint system)
manufacturer instructs or recommends
you to use a tether anchor with the lap/
shoulder belt, refer to the previous pages
for more information.
Information
When the seat belt is allowed to retract to
its fully stowed position, the retractor will
automatically switch from the “Automatic
Locking” mode to the emergency lock
mode for normal adult usage.
WARNING
If the retractor is not in the “Automatic
Locking” mode, the child restraint
can move when your vehicle turns or
stops suddenly. A child can be seriously
injured or killed if the child restraint
is not properly anchored in the car,
including manually pulling the seat belt
all the way out to shift the retractor to
the “Automatic Locking” mode.
To remove the child restraint, press the
release button on the buckle and then
pull the lap/shoulder belt out of the
restraint and allow the seat belt to retract
fully.
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This vehicle is equipped with a Supplemental Air Bag System for the driver’s seat and
front passenger’s seats.
The front air bags are designed to supplement the three-point seat belts. For these air
bags to provide protection, the seat belts must be worn at all times when driving.
You can be severely injured or killed in an accident if you are not wearing a seat belt.
Air bags are designed to supplement seat belts, but do not replace them. Also, air bags
are not designed to deploy in every collision. In some accidents, the seat belts are the
only restraint protecting you.
WARNING
AIR BAG SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
ALWAYS use seat belts and Child Restraint Systems - every trip, every time,
everyone! Even with air bags, you can be seriously injured or killed in a collision if
you are improperly belted or not wearing your seat belt when the air bag inflates.
NEVER place a child in any Child Restraint System or booster seat in the front
passenger seat, unless the air bag is deactivated.
An inflating air bag could forcefully strike the infant or child causing serious or fatal
injuries.
ABC - Always Buckle Children under age 13 in the back seat. It is the safest place
for children of any age to ride. If a child age 13 or older must be seated in the front
seat, he or she must be properly belted and the seat should be moved as far back as
possible.
All occupants should sit upright with the seatback in an upright position, centered
on the seat cushion with their seat belt on, legs comfortably extended and their feet
on the floor until the vehicle is parked and the vehicle is turned off. If an occupant
is out of position during an accident, the rapidly deploying air bag may forcefully
contact the occupant causing serious or fatal injuries.
You and your passengers should never sit or lean unnecessarily close to the air bags
or lean against the door or center console.
Move your seat as far back as possible from front air bags, while still maintaining
control of the vehicle. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) recommends that drivers allow at least 10 in. (25 cm) between the center of
the steering wheel and the chest.