2001 Honda Civic Coupe Owners Manual

advantage from the airbag.

Driver and Passenger Safety

00/08/10 11:53:04 31S5P600_013

Your Car’s Safety Features

Airbags

Your car has a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) with front airbags to help protect the heads and chests of the driver and a front seat passenger during a moderate to severe frontal collision.

Onlyonmodelsequippedwithside airbags. Your car also has side airbags to help protect the upper torso of the driver or a front seat passenger during a moderate to severe side impact.

The most important things you need to know about your airbags are:

Airbagsdonotreplaceseatbelts. They are designed to supplement

10

Driver and Passenger Safety

the seat belts.

Airbagsoffernoprotectioninrear impacts,rollovers,orminor frontalorsidecollisions.

Airbagscanposeserioushazards. To do their job, airbags must inflate with tremendous force and speed. So while airbags help save lives, they can cause minor injuries, or more serious or even fatal injuries if occupants are not properly restrained or sitting properly.

Always wear

Whatyoushoulddo: your seat belt properly, and sit upright and as far back as possible from the steering wheel or dashboard.

Your Car’s Safety Features

Door Locks Keeping your doors locked reduces the chance of being thrown out of the car during a crash. It also helps prevent occupants from accidentally opening a door and falling out, and outsiders from unexpectedly opening your doors.

Move the front

Whatyoushoulddo: seats as far back as possible, and keep adjustable seat-backs in an upright position whenever the car is moving.

Head Restraints Head restraints can help protect you from whiplash and other injuries. For maximum protection, the back of your head should rest against the center of the head restraint.

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Seats & Seat-Backs Your car’s seats are designed to keep you in a comfortable, upright position so you can take full advantage of the protection offered by seat belts and the energy absorbing materials in the seats.

How you adjust your seats and seat- backs can also affect your safety. For example, sitting too close to the steering wheel or dashboard increases the risk of you or your passenger being injured by striking the inside of the car, or by an inflating airbag.

Reclining a seat-back too far reduces the seat belt’s effectiveness and increases the chance that the seat’s occupant will slide under the seat belt in a crash and be seriously injured.

Driver and Passenger Safety

11

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Your Car’s Safety Features

Pre-Drive Safety Checklist To make sure you and your passengers get the maximum protection from your car’s safety features, check the following each time before you drive away:

All adults, and children who have outgrown child safety seats, are wearing their seat belts and wearing them properly (see page 16

).

Any infant or small child is properly restrained in a child seat in the back seat (see page

21

).

12

Driver and Passenger Safety

The rest of this section gives more detailed information about how you can maximize your safety.

Remember, however, that no safety system can prevent all injuries or deaths that can occur in severe crashes, even when seat belts are properly worn and the airbags deploy.

Front seat occupants are sitting upright and as far back as possible from the steering wheel and dashboard (see page

13

).

Seat-backs are upright (see page 14

).

Head restraints are properly adjusted (see page

15

).

Both doors are closed and locked (see page

13

).

All cargo is properly stored or secured (see page

171

).

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Introduction The following pages provide instructions on how to properly protect the driver and other adult occupants.

These instructions also apply to children who have outgrown child seats and are large enough to wear lap/shoulder belts. (See page for important additional guidelines on how to properly protect larger children.)

37

Close and Lock the Doors

1. After everyone has entered the car, be sure the doors are closed and locked.

For safety, locking the doors reduces the chance that a passenger, especially a child, will open a door while the car is moving and accidentally fall out. It also reduces the chance of someone being thrown out of the car during a crash.

For security, locked doors can prevent an outsider from unexpectedly opening a door when you come to a stop.

See page doors.

83

for how to lock the

Protecting Adults

2.

Adjust the Front Seats

Any driver who sits too close to the steering wheel is at risk of being seriously injured or killed by striking the steering wheel or from being struck by an inflating front airbag during a crash.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

13

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Protecting Adults

To reduce the chance of injury, wear your seat belt properly, sit upright with your back against the seat, and move the seat as far back as possible from the steering wheel while still maintaining full control of the car. Also make sure your front seat passenger moves the seat as far to the rear as possible.

Sitting too close to a front airbag can result in serious injury or death if the front airbags inflate.

Always sit as far back from the front airbags as possible.

Most shorter drivers can get far enough away from the steering wheel and still reach the pedals. However, if you are concerned about sitting too close, we recommend that you investigate whether some type of adaptive equipment may help.

Once your seat is adjusted correctly, rock it back and forth to make sure the seat is locked in position.

See page 90
front seats.

for how to adjust the

Adjust the Seat-Backs

3. 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. If you sit too close to the steering wheel, you could be injured if the front airbag inflates.

14

Driver and Passenger Safety

A front passenger should also adjust the seat-back to an upright position, but as far from the dashboard as possible. A passenger who sits too close to the dashboard could be injured if the front airbag inflates.

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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.

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.

See page backs.

90

for how to adjust seat-

4.

Adjust the Head Restraints

Before driving, make sure everyone with an adjustable head restraint has properly positioned the head restraint. The restraint should be positioned so the back of the occupant’s head rests against the center of the restraint. A taller person should adjust the restraint as high as possible.

Protecting Adults

Improperly positioning head restraints reduces their effectiveness and you can be seriously injured in a crash.

Make sure head restraints are in place and positioned properly before driving.

Properly adjusted head restraints will help protect occupants from whiplash and other crash injuries.

See page head restraints.

93

for how to adjust the

Driver and Passenger Safety

15

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Protecting Adults

5.

Fasten and Position the Seat Belts

Insert the latch plate into the buckle, then tug on the belt to make sure the belt is securely latched. Also check that the belt is not twisted, because a twisted belt can cause serious injuries in a crash.

Position the lap part of the belt as low as possible across your hips, then pull up on the shoulder part of the belt so the lap part fits snugly. This lets your strong pelvic bones take the force of a crash and reduces the chance of internal injuries.

If necessary, pull up on the belt again to remove any slack from the shoulder part, then check that the belt rests across the center of your chest and over your shoulder. This

16

Driver and Passenger Safety

spreads the forces of a crash over the strongest bones in your upper body.

Improperly positioning the seat belts can cause serious injury or death in a crash.

Make sure all seat belts are properly positioned before driving.

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Neverplacetheshoulderportionofa lap/shoulderbeltunderyourarmor behindyourback. very serious injuries in a crash.

This could cause

If a seat belt does not seem to work as it should, it may not protect the occupant in a crash. Nooneshould sitinaseatwithaninoperativeseat Anyone using a seat belt that is belt. not working properly can be seriously injured or killed. Have your Honda dealer check the belt as soon as possible.

43

for additional

See page information about your seat belt system and how to take care of your belts.

Protecting Adults

6.

Adjust the Steering Wheel

Adjust the steering wheel, if needed, so that the wheel points toward your chest, not toward your face.

Pointing the steering wheel toward your chest provides optimal protection from the airbag.

See page steering wheel.

75

for how to adjust the

Driver and Passenger Safety

17

00/08/10 11:54:21 31S5P600_021

Protecting Adults

7.

Maintain a Proper Sitting Position

After all occupants have adjusted their seats and put on 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 car is parked and the engine is off.

18

Driver and Passenger Safety

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 by striking interior parts of the car, or by being struck by an inflating front airbag. Being struck by an inflating side airbag can result in possibly serious injuries.

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.

Remember, to get the best protection from your car’s airbags and other safety features, you must sit properly and wear your seat belt properly.

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Advice for Pregnant Women

Because protecting the mother is the best way to protect her unborn child, a pregnant woman should always wear a seat belt whenever she drives or rides in a vehicle.

Remember to keep the lap portion of the belt as low as possible across your hips.

Pregnant women should also sit upright and as far back as possible from the steering wheel or dashboard. This will reduce the risk of injuries to both the mother and her unborn child that can be caused by a crash or an inflating airbag.

Each time you have a check-up, ask your doctor if it’s okay for you to drive.

Protecting Adults

Additional Safety Precautions

Twopeopleshouldneverusethe sameseatbelt. could be very seriously injured in a crash.

If they do, they

Donotputanyaccessoriesonseat Devices intended to improve belts. occupant comfort or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt can severely compromise the protective capability of the seat belt and increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

19

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Protecting Adults

Donotplacehardorsharpobjects betweenyourselfandafront Carrying hard or sharp airbag. objects on your lap, or driving with a pipe or other sharp object in your mouth, can result in injuries if your front airbag inflates.

Donotattachorplaceobjectson Any object thefrontairbagcovers. attached to or placed on the covers marked ‘‘SRS AIRBAG’’ in the center of the steering wheel and on top of the dashboard could interfere with the proper operation of the airbags. Or, if the airbags inflate, the objects could be propelled inside the car and hurt someone.

If a side airbag

Onmodelswithsideairbags,do notattachhardobjectsonornear afrontdoor. inflates, a cup holder or other hard object attached on or near the door could be propelled inside the car and hurt someone.

Keepyourhandsandarmsaway If your fromtheairbagcovers. hands or arms are close to the airbag cover in the center of the steering wheel or on top of the dashboard, they could be injured if the front airbags inflate.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

00/08/10 11:54:49 31S5P600_024

Children depend on adults to protect them. However, despite their best intentions, many parents and other adults may not know how to protect young passengers.

properly

So if you have children, or if you ever need to drive with a grandchild or other children in your car, be sure to read this section.

Children who are unrestrained or improperly restrained can be seriously injured or killed in a crash.

Any child too small for a seat belt should be properly restrained in a child seat. A larger child should be properly restrained with a seat belt.

Protecting Children

All Children Must Be Restrained Each year, many children are injured or killed in vehicle crashes because they are either unrestrained or not properly restrained. In fact, vehicle accidents are the number one cause of death of children ages 12 and under.

To reduce the number of child deaths and injuries, every state and Canadian province requires that infants and children be restrained whenever they ride in a vehicle.

Anychildwhoistoosmalltoweara seatbeltshouldbeproperly restrainedinachildseat. 26

(See page

.)

Alargerchildshouldalwaysbe restrainedwithaseatbelt. 37

.)

(See page

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Driver and Passenger Safety

21

00/08/10 11:55:00 31S5P600_025

Protecting Children

AdditionalPrecautionstoParents Neverholdaninfantorchildon If you are not wearing a yourlap. seat belt in a crash, you could be thrown forward into the dashboard and crush the child.

If you are wearing a seat belt, the child can be torn from your arms during a crash. For example, if your car crashes into a parked vehicle at 30 mph (48 km/h), a 20-lb (9 kg) infant will become a 600-lb (275 kg) force, and you will not be able to hold on.

Neverputaseatbeltoveryourself During a andaninfantorchild. crash, the belt could press deep into the child and cause very serious injuries.

22

Driver and Passenger Safety

Children Should Sit in the Back Seat According to accident statistics, children of all ages and sizes are safer when they are restrained in the back seat, not the front seat. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transport Canada recommend that all children ages 12 and under be properly restrained in the back seat.

In the back seat, children are less likely to be injured by striking hard interior parts during a collision or hard braking. Also, children cannot be injured by an inflating airbag when they ride in the back.

The Passenger’s Front Airbag Poses Serious Risks to Children Front airbags have been designed to help protect adults in a moderate to severe frontal collision. To do this, the passenger’s front airbag is quite large, and it inflates with tremendous speed.

Infants Neverputarear-facingchildseatin thefrontseatofavehicleequipped If withapassenger’sfrontairbag. the airbag inflates, it can hit the back of the child seat with enough force to kill or very seriously injure an infant.

00/08/10 11:55:12 31S5P600_026

Protecting Children

SmallChildren Placingaforward-facingchildseatin thefrontseatofavehicleequipped withapassenger’sfrontairbagcan If the vehicle seat is behazardous. too far forward, or the child’s head is thrown forward during a collision, an inflating front airbag can strike the child with enough force to kill or very seriously injure a small child.

U.S.Models To remind you of the passenger’s front airbag hazards, and that children must be properly restrained in the back seat, your car has warning labels on the dashboard and on the driver’s and front passenger’s visors. Please read and follow the instructions on these labels.

LargerChildren Childrenwhohaveoutgrownchild seatsarealsoatriskofbeinginjured orkilledbyaninflatingpassenger’s frontairbag. larger children should sit in the back seat, properly restrained with a seat belt. (See page information about protecting larger children.)

Whenever possible,

for important

37

CONTINUED

Driver and Passenger Safety

23

00/08/10 11:55:28 31S5P600_027

Protecting Children

CanadianModels To remind you of the front airbag hazards, your car has warning labels on the driver’s and front passenger’s visors. Please read and follow the instructions on these labels.

If You Must Drive with Several Children Your car has three seating positions in the back seat where children can be properly restrained.

If you ever have to carry more than three children in your car:

Place the largest child in the front seat, provided the child is large enough to wear a seat belt properly (see page

37

).

Move the vehicle seat as far to the rear as possible (see page

13

).

Have the child sit upright and well back in the seat (see page

18

).

Make sure the seat belt is properly positioned and secured (see page 16

).

24

Driver and Passenger Safety

If a Child Requires Close Attention Many parents say they prefer to put an infant or small child in the front passenger seat so they can watch the child, or because the child requires attention.

Placing a child in the front seat exposes the child to hazards from the passenger’s front airbag, and paying close attention to a child distracts the driver from the important tasks of driving, placing both of you at risk.

If a child requires physical attention or frequent visual contact, we strongly recommend that another adult ride with the child in the back seat. The back seat is far safer for a child than the front.

00/08/10 15:22:49 31S5P600_028

Protecting Children

Even very young

Keepcarkeysandremote transmittersoutofthereachof children. children learn how to unlock vehicle doors, turn on the ignition, and open the trunk, which can lead to accidental injury or death.

Additional Safety Precautions

Donotleavechildrenaloneinyour Leaving children without vehicle. adult supervision is illegal in most states and Canadian provinces, and can be very hazardous. For example, infants and small children left in a vehicle on a hot day can die from heatstroke. And children left alone with the key in the ignition can accidentally set the vehicle in motion, possibly injuring themselves or others.

Lockbothdoorsandthetrunk whenyourcarisnotinuse. Children who play in cars can accidentally get trapped inside the trunk. Teach your children not to play in or around cars. Know how to operate the emergency trunk opener and decide if your children should be shown how to use this feature (See page

89

).

Driver and Passenger Safety

25

00/08/10 11:55:43 31S5P600_029

Protecting Children

General Guidelines for Using Child Seats The following pages give general guidelines for selecting and installing child seats for infants and small children.

26

Driver and Passenger Safety

SelectingaChildSeat To provide proper protection, a child seat should meet three requirements:

1.

Thechildseatshouldmeetsafety The child seat should standards. meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 (FMVSS 213) or Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 (CMVSS 213). Look for the manufacturer’s statement of compliance on the box and seat.

2.

Thechildseatshouldbeofthe propertypeandsizetofitthechild.

Children up to about one Infants: year old should be restrained in a rear-facing, reclining child seat. Only a rear-facing seat provides the proper support to protect an infant’s head, neck, and back. See page 30
for additional information on protecting infants.

00/08/10 11:55:52 31S5P600_030

3.

Thechildseatshouldfitthe vehicleseatingposition(or positions)whereitwillbeused.

Due to variations in the design of child seats, vehicle seats, and seat belts, all child seats will not fit all vehicle seating positions.

However, Honda is confident that one or more child seat models can fit and be properly installed in all recommended seating positions in your car.

A child who is too

SmallChildren: large for a rear-facing child seat, and who can sit up without support, should be restrained in a forward- facing child seat. See page for additional information on protecting small children.

34

Protecting Children

Before purchasing a child seat, we recommend that parents test the child seat in the specific vehicle seating position (or positions) where they intend to use the seat. If a previously purchased child seat does not fit, you may need to buy a different one that will fit.

Your car has lower anchorages installed for use with Child Restraint Anchorage System-compatible child seats. For more information, see page

42

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Driver and Passenger Safety

27

00/08/10 15:23:02 31S5P600_031

Protecting Children

PlacingaChildSeat This page briefly summarizes Honda’s recommendations on where to place rear-facing and forward- facing child seats in your car.

Airbags Pose Serious

Risks to Children

The passenger’s front airbag inflates with enough force to kill or seriously injure an infant in a rear-facing child seat.

A small child in a forward-facing child seat is also at risk. If the vehicle seat is too far forward, or the child’s head is thrown forward during a collision, an inflating front airbag can kill or seriously injure the child.

If a small child must ride in the front, follow the instructions provided in this section.

28

Driver and Passenger Safety

FrontPassenger’sSeat Infants:

Never in the front seat, due

to the front airbag hazard.

Smallchildren:

Not recommended,

due to the front airbag hazard. If a small child must ride in front, move the vehicle seat to the rear- most position and secure a front- facing child seat with the seat belt (see page

35

).

BackSeats Infants:

Recommended positions.

Properly secure a rear-facing child seat (see page

31

).

Smallchildren:

Recommended

positions. Properly secure a front- facing child seat (see page

35

).

00/08/10 11:56:15 31S5P600_032

InstallingaChildSeat After selecting a proper child seat, and a good position to install the seat, there are three main steps in installing the seat:

To provide security during normal driving maneuvers as well as during a collision, we recommend that parents secure a child seat as firmly as possible.

1.

All child seats are

Properlysecurethechildseatto thecar. designed to be secured to the car with the lap part of a lap/shoulder belt. Some child seats can be secured to the vehicle’s lower anchorages instead. A child whose seat is not properly secured to the car can be endangered in a crash. See pages instructions on how to properly secure child seats in this car.

and

for

31

35

42

2.

After installing a child

Makesurethechildseatisfirmly secured. seat, push and pull the seat forward and from side to side to verify that it is secure.

However, a child seat does not need to be ‘‘rock solid.’’ In some vehicles or seating positions, it may be difficult to install a child seat so that it does not move at all. Some side-to- side or back-and-forth movement can be expected and should not reduce the child seat’s effectiveness.

If the child seat is not secure, try installing it in a different seating position, or use a different style of child seat that can be firmly secured in the desired seating position.

Protecting Children

3.

Securethechildinthechildseat. Make sure the child is properly strapped in the child seat according to the child seat maker’s instructions. A child who is not properly secured in a child seat can be thrown out of the seat in a crash and be seriously injured.

StoringaChildSeat When you are not using a child seat, either remove it and store it in a safe place, or make sure it is properly secured. An unsecured child seat can be thrown around the car during a crash or sudden stop and injure someone.

Driver and Passenger Safety

29

00/08/10 11:56:26 31S5P600_033

Protecting Children

Protecting Infants

ChildSeatType Only a rear-facing child seat provides proper support for a baby’s head, neck, and back. Infants up to about one year of age must be restrained in a rear-facing child seat.

Two types of seats may be used: a seat designed exclusively for infants, or a convertible seat used in the rear- facing, reclining mode.

30

Driver and Passenger Safety

Placing a rear-facing child seat in the front seat can result in serious injury or death if the passenger’s front airbag inflates.

Always place a rear-facing child seat in the back seat, not the front.

We recommend that an infant be restrained in a rear-facing child seat until the infant reaches the seat maker’s weight or height limit and is able to sit up without support.

Rear-FacingChildSeatPlacement In this car, a rear-facing child seat can be placed in any seating position in the back seat, but not in the front seat.

Neverputarear-facingchildseatin If the passenger’s thefrontseat. front airbag inflates, it can hit the back of the child seat with enough force to kill or seriously injure an infant. If an infant must be closely watched, we recommend that another adult sit in the back seat with the baby.

Donotputarear-facingchildseatin If placed aforward-facingposition. facing forward, an infant could be very seriously injured during a frontal collision.

00/08/10 11:56:36 31S5P600_034

When properly installed, a rear- facing child seat may prevent the driver or a front-seat passenger from moving the seat as far back as recommended (see page ). Or it may prevent them from locking the seat-back in the desired upright position (see page

13

14

).

In either case, we recommend that you place the child seat directly behind the front passenger seat, move the front seat as far forward as needed, and leave it unoccupied. Or you may wish to get a smaller child seat that allows you to safely carry a front passenger.

Rear-FacingChildSeatInstallation The lap/shoulder belts in the back seats have a locking mechanism that must be activated to secure a child seat.

The following pages provide instructions and tips on how to secure a rear-facing child seat with this type of seat belt.

If you have a child seat designed to attach to the vehicle’s lower anchorages, follow the instructions on page

42

Protecting Children

1.

With the child seat in the desired back seating position, route the belt through the child seat according to the seat maker’s instructions, then insert the latch plate into the buckle.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

31

00/08/10 11:56:44 31S5P600_035

Protecting Children

2.

To activate the lockable retractor, slowly pull the shoulder part of the belt all the way out until it stops, then let the belt feed back into the retractor (you might hear a clicking noise as the belt retracts).

3.

After the belt has retracted, tug on it. If the belt is locked, you will not be able to pull it out. If you can pull the belt out, it is not locked and you will need to repeat these steps.

4.

After confirming that the belt is locked, grab the shoulder part of the belt near the buckle and pull up to remove any slack from the lap part of the belt. Remember, if the lap part of the belt is not tight, the child seat will not be secure. To remove slack, it may help to put weight on the child seat, or push on the back of the seat, while pulling up on the belt.

5.

Push and pull the child seat forward and from side to side to verify that it is secure enough to stay upright during normal driving maneuvers. If the child seat is not secure, unlatch the belt, allow it to retract fully, then repeat these steps.

32

Driver and Passenger Safety

00/08/10 11:56:50 31S5P600_036

To deactivate the locking mechanism and remove a child seat, unlatch the buckle, unroute the seat belt, and let the belt fully retract.

Rear-FacingChildSeatInstallation Tips

Protecting Children

For proper protection, an infant must ride in a reclined, or semi-reclined position. To determine the proper reclining angle, check with the baby’s doctor or follow the seat maker’s recommendations.

To achieve the desired reclining angle, it may help to put a rolled up towel under the toe of the child seat, as shown.

Driver and Passenger Safety

33

00/08/10 11:56:59 31S5P600_037

Protecting Children

Protecting Small Children

ChildSeatType A child who can sit up without support, and who fits within the child seat maker’s weight and height limits, should be restrained in a forward-facing, upright child seat.

34

Driver and Passenger Safety

Of the different seats available, we recommend those that have a five- point harness system as shown.

We also recommend that a small child stay in the child seat as long as possible, until the child reaches the weight or height limit for the seat.

ChildSeatPlacement In this car, the best place to install a forward-facing child seat is in one of the seating positions in the back seat.

Placingaforward-facingchildseatin thefrontseatofavehicleequipped withapassenger’sfrontairbagcan If the vehicle seat is behazardous. too far forward, or the child’s head is thrown forward during a collision, an inflating front airbag can strike the child with enough force to cause very serious or fatal injuries. If a small child must be closely watched, we recommend that another adult sit in the back seat with the child.

00/08/10 11:57:09 31S5P600_038

Improperly placing a forward- facing child seat in the front seat can result in serious injury or death if the front airbags inflate.

If you must place a forward- facing child seat in front, move the vehicle seat as far back as possible and properly restrain the child.

If it is necessary to put a forward- facing child seat in the front, move the vehicle seat as far to the rear as possible, be sure the child seat is firmly secured to the car, and the child is properly strapped in the seat.

ChildSeatInstallation The lap/shoulder belts in the back and front passenger seating positions have a locking mechanism that must be activated to secure a child seat.

The following pages provide instructions on how to secure a forward-facing child seat with this type of seat belt.

If you have a child seat designed to attach to the vehicle’s lower anchorages, follow the instructions on page

42

Protecting Children

1.

With the child seat in the desired seating position, route the belt through the child seat according to the seat maker’s instructions, then insert the latch plate into the buckle.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

35

00/08/10 11:57:17 31S5P600_039

Protecting Children

2.

To activate the lockable retractor, slowly pull the shoulder part of the belt all the way out until it stops, then let the belt feed back into the retractor (you might hear a clicking noise as the belt retracts).

3.

After the belt has retracted, tug on it. If the belt is locked, you will not be able to pull it out. If you can pull the belt out, it is not locked and you will need to repeat these steps.

4.

After confirming that the belt is locked, grab the shoulder part of the belt near the buckle and pull up to remove any slack from the lap part of the belt. Remember, if the lap part of the belt is not tight, the child seat will not be secure. It may help to put weight on the child seat, or push on the back of the seat, while pulling up on the belt.

5.

Push and pull the child seat forward and from side to side to verify that it is secure enough to stay upright during normal driving maneuvers. If the child seat is not secure, unlatch the belt, allow it to retract fully, then repeat these steps.

36

Driver and Passenger Safety

00/08/10 11:57:25 31S5P600_040

To deactivate the locking mechanism in order to remove a child seat, unlatch the buckle, unroute the seat belt, and let the belt fully retract.

Protecting Larger Children When a child reaches the recommended weight or height limit for a forward-facing child seat, the child should sit in the back seat and wear a lap/shoulder belt.

If a child is too short for the shoulder part of the belt to properly fit, we recommend that the child use a booster seat until the child is tall enough to use the seat belt without a booster.

The 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 the front seat.

Protecting Children

Allowing a larger child to sit improperly in the front seat can result in injury or death if the passenger’s front airbag inflates.

If a larger child must sit in front, make sure the child moves the seat as far back as possible and wears the seat belt properly.

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Protecting Children

CheckingSeatBeltFit

To determine if a lap/shoulder belt properly fits a child, have the child put on the seat belt. Follow the instructions on page how the belt fits.

. Then check

16

If the shoulder part of the belt rests over the child’s collarbone and against the center of the chest, as shown, the child is large enough to wear the seat belt.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

However, if the belt touches or crosses the child’s neck, the child needs to use a booster seat.

Donotletachildwearaseatbelt This could result in acrosstheneck. serious neck injuries during a crash.

Donotletachildputtheshoulder partofaseatbeltbehindthebackor underthearm. very serious injuries during a crash. It also increases the chance that the child will slide under the belt in a crash and be injured.

This could cause

Donotputanyaccessoriesonaseat Devices intended to improve belt. occupant comfort or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt, severely compromise the protective capability of the seat belt and increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.

Twochildrenshouldneverusethe If they do, they could sameseatbelt. be very seriously injured in a crash.

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UsingaBoosterSeat

Protecting Children

A child may continue using a booster seat until the tops of the ears are even with the top of the seat-back. A child of this height should be tall enough to use the lap/shoulder belt without a booster.

WhenCanaLargerChildSitinFront The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transport Canada recommend that all children ages 12 and under be properly restrained in a back seat.

If a child needs a booster seat, we recommend choosing a style that allows the child to use the lap/ shoulder belt directly, without a shield, as shown.

Whichever style you select, follow the booster seat maker’s instructions.

The back seat is the safest place for a child of any age or size.

In addition, the passenger’s front airbag poses serious risks to children. If the seat is too far forward, or the child’s head is thrown forward during a collision, or the child is unrestrained or out of position, an inflating front airbag can kill or seriously injure the child.

The side airbag also poses risks. If any part of a larger child’s body is in the path of a deploying airbag, the child could receive possibly serious injuries.

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Protecting Children

Of course, children vary widely. And while age may be one indicator of when a child can safely ride in the front, there are other important factors you should consider.

PhysicalSize Physically, a child must be large enough for the lap/shoulder belt to properly fit over the hips, chest, and shoulder (see pages ). If the seat belt does not fit properly, the child should not sit in the front.

and

16

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Maturity To safely ride in front, a child must be able to follow the rules, including sitting properly and wearing the seat belt properly throughout a ride.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

Supervise the child. Even mature children sometimes need to be reminded to fasten the seat belts or sit properly.

If you decide that a child can safely ride up front, be sure to:

Carefully read the owner’s manual and make sure you understand all seat belt instructions and all safety information.

Move the vehicle seat to the rear- most position.

Have the child sit up straight, back against the seat, and feet on or near the floor.

Check that the child’s seat belt is properly positioned and secured.

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Using Child Seats with Tethers

Protecting Children

Attach the tether strap hook to the tether anchorage point and tighten the strap according to the child seat maker’s instructions.

CCOOVVEERR

AANNCCHHOORRAAGGEE PPOOIINNTT Your car has three tether anchorage points under the rear window for securing a tether-style child seat to the car.

Since a tether can provide additional security, we recommend using a tether whenever one is required or available.

To use the anchorage point, pivot its cover up.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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Protecting Children

Using the Lower Anchorages

LLOOWWEERR AANNCCHHOORRAAGGEESS

Your car is equipped with lower anchorages at the outer rear seats. These anchorages are located between the seat-back and seat bottom and are only to be used with a child seat designed to attach to the lower anchorages.

The exact location of each anchor is marked with a small circle above the lower anchor point.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

To install a child seat designed to attach to the lower anchorages:

1.

2.

Move the seat belt buckle or center seat belt away from the anchorages.

Make sure there are no foreign objects around the anchorages. Foreign objects could get in the way of a secure connection between the child seat and the anchorage.

RRiiggiidd ttyyppee

3.

Put the child seat in the rear left or right vehicle seat and attach the child seat to the lower anchorages according to the child seat maker’s instructions.

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Protecting Children

FFlleexxiibbllee ttyyppee Follow the child seat maker’s 4. instructions for any additional advice on adjusting or tightening the fit.

5.

6.

Attach the tether strap hook to the tether anchorage point and tighten the strap according to the child seat maker’s instructions.

Push and pull the child seat forward and from side to side to verify that it is secure enough to stay upright during normal driving maneuvers.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

Lap/Shoulder Belt

This seat belt has a single belt that goes over your shoulder, across your chest and across your hips.

To fasten the belt, insert the latch plate into the buckle, then tug on the belt to make sure the buckle is latched.

Seat Belt System Components Your seat belt system includes lap/ shoulder belts in all five seating positions.

The seat belt system also includes a light on the

instrument panel to remind you and your passengers to fasten your belts. If the driver’s seat belt is not fastened before the ignition is turned ON (II), the light will come on and a beeper will also sound. The beeper will stop after a few seconds, but the light will stay on until the driver’s seat belt is fastened.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

To unlock the belt, push the red PRESS button on the buckle. Guide the belt across your body to the door pillar. After exiting the car, be sure the belt is out of the way and will not get closed in the door.

All seat belts have an emergency locking retractor. In normal driving, the retractor lets you move freely in your seat while it keeps some tension on the belt. During a collision or sudden stop, the retractor automatically locks the belt to help restrain your body.

The seat belts in all seating positions except the driver’s have an additional locking mechanism that must be activated to secure a child seat. (See pages for instructions on how to secure child seats with this type of seat belt.)

and

31

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If the shoulder part of the belt is pulled all the way out, the locking mechanism will activate. The belt will retract, but it will not allow the passenger to move freely.

To deactivate the locking mechanism, unlatch the buckle and let the seat belt fully retract. To refasten the belt, pull it out only as far as needed.

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners

If your airbags inflate, the tensioners immediately tighten the front seat belts to help hold the occupants in place. The belts will remain tight until you unbuckle them in the normal way.

16

for instructions on how

See page to wear the lap/shoulder belt properly.

For added protection, the front seat belts are equipped with automatic seat belt tensioners. When activated, the tensioners immediately tighten the belts to help hold the driver and a front passenger in place.

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Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

The SRS indicator light will come on if there is a

problem with your automatic seat belt tensioners (see page

51

).

Seat Belt Maintenance For safety, you should check the condition of your seat belts regularly.

Pull each belt out fully and look for frays, cuts, burns, and wear. Check that the latches work smoothly and that the lap/shoulder belts retract easily. Any belt not in good condition or not working properly will not provide good protection and should be replaced as soon as possible.

Not checking or maintaining seat belts can result in serious injury or death if the seat belts do not work properly when needed.

Check your seat belts regularly and have any problem corrected as soon as possible.

U.S.Models Honda provides a lifetime warranty on seat belts. Honda will repair or replace any seat belt component that fails to function properly during normal use. Please see your WarrantyInformation details.

booklet for

Honda

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Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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If a seat belt is worn during a crash, you should have your dealer inspect the belt, and replace it if necessary. A belt that has been worn during a crash may not provide the same level of protection in a subsequent crash. The dealer should also inspect the anchors for damage and replace them if needed.

Automatic seat belt tensioners that deployed during a crash must be replaced.

For information on how to clean your seat belts, see page

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Driver and Passenger Safety

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

How Your Front Airbags Work

A sophisticated electronic system that continually monitors and records information about the sensors, the control unit, the airbag activators, and driver and passenger seat belt use when the ignition is ON (II).

An indicator light on the instrument panel that alerts you to a possible problem with the system (see page

51

).

Emergency backup power in case your car’s electrical system is disconnected in a crash.

If you ever have a moderate to severe frontal collision, the sensors will detect the vehicle’s rapid deceleration. If the rate of deceleration is high enough, the control unit will instantly inflate the front airbags.

SRS Components Your Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) includes:

Two front airbags. The driver’s airbag is stored in the center of the steering wheel; the front passenger’s airbag is stored in the dashboard. Both are marked ‘‘SRS AIRBAG.’’

Automatic seat belt tensioners (see page

45

).

Sensors that can detect a moderate to severe frontal collision.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

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During a frontal crash, your seat belts help restrain your lower body and torso. Your airbag provides a cushion to help restrain and protect your head and chest.

Since both airbags use the same sensors, both airbags normally inflate at the same time. However, it is possible for only one airbag to inflate.

This can occur when the severity of a collision is at the margin, or threshold, that determines whether or not the airbags will deploy. In such cases, the seat belt will provide sufficient protection, and the supplemental protection offered by the airbag would be minimal.

Additional Information About Your Airbags

After inflating, the front airbags immediately deflate, so they won’t interfere with the driver’s visibility, or the ability to steer or operate other controls.

The total time for inflation and deflation is approximately one-tenth of a second, so fast that most occupants are not aware that the airbags deployed until they see them lying in their laps.

After a crash, you may see what looks like smoke. This is actually powder from the airbag’s surface. Although the powder is not harmful, people with respiratory problems may experience some temporary discomfort. If this occurs, get out of the car as soon as it is safe to do so.

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

How Your Side Airbags Work Onlyonmodelsequippedwithside airbags.

U.S. Owners: For additional information on how your airbags work, see the booklet titled SRS:WhatYouNeedtoKnow that came with your AboutAirbags owner’s manual.

Canadian Owners: For additional information on how your airbags work, ask your dealer for a copy of the booklet titled SRS: WhatYouNeedtoKnowAboutAirbags.

Your car is equipped with side airbags for the driver and a front seat passenger. The airbags are stored in the outer edges of the front seat-backs, and both are marked ‘‘SIDE AIRBAG.’’

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Driver and Passenger Safety

If you ever have a moderate to severe side impact, the sensors will detect rapid deceleration and signal the control unit to instantly inflate either the driver’s or the passenger’s side airbag.

Only one airbag will deploy during a side impact. If the impact is on the passenger’s side, the passenger’s side airbag will deploy even if there is no passenger.

To get the best protection from the side airbags, front seat occupants should wear their seat belts and sit upright and well back in their seats.

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

How the SRS Indicator Light Works

The purpose of the SRS indicator light is to alert

you to a potential problem with your front airbags. On cars with side airbags, this light will also alert you to a potential problem with your automatic seat belt tensioners (page 45
passenger’s side airbag automatic cutoff system (page

); or your side airbags or

50

).

When you turn the ignition ON (II), this indicator will light briefly then go out. This tells you that the system is working properly.

Ignoring the SRS indicator light can result in serious injury or death if the airbags, cutoff system, or tensioners do not work properly.

Have your vehicle checked by a dealer as soon as possible if the SRS light alerts you to a potential problem.

If the light comes on at any other time, or does not come on at all, you should have the system checked by your dealer. For example:

If the SRS indicator light does not come on after you turn the ignition ON (II).

If the light stays on after the engine starts.

If the light comes on or flashes on and off while you drive.

If you see any of these indications, your front or side airbags may not deploy, your passenger’s side airbag automatic cutoff system may not work properly, or your seat belt tensioners may not work when you need them. See your Honda dealer as soon as possible.

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

If a small-statured adult leans sideways, or larger adult slouches and leans sideways into the deployment path of the side airbag, the system may also shut off the side airbag.

If the side airbag indicator light comes on, you should have the passenger sit upright. Once the passenger is out of the deployment path of the side airbag, the system will turn the airbag back on and the light will go out.

A front seat passenger should not use a cushion or other object as a backrest. It may prevent the cutoff system from working properly.

When you turn the ignition ON (II), the indicator should light briefly and go out (see page ). If it doesn’t light, stays on, or comes on while driving without a passenger in the front seat, have the system checked.

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How The Side Airbag Indicator Light Works Onlyonmodelsequippedwithside airbags

This light alerts you that the passenger’s side airbag

has been automatically shut off.

To reduce the risk of injury from an inflating side airbag, your car has an automatic cutoff system for the passenger’s side airbag.

Although Honda does not encourage children to ride in the front, this system is designed to shut off the side airbag if a child leans sideways and the child’s head is in the side airbag deployment path.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

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Airbag Service Your front and side airbag systems (if equipped) are virtually maintenance-free, and there are no parts you can safely service. However, you must have your car serviced if:

Any

Yourairbagseverinflate. airbag that has deployed must be replaced along with the seat belt tensioners, control unit and other related parts. Do not try to remove or replace any airbag by yourself. This must be done by a Honda dealer or a knowledgeable body shop.

TheSRSindicatorlightalertsyou Take your car to an toaproblem. authorized Honda dealer as soon as possible. If you ignore this indication, the airbags might not inflate when you need them.

Additional Information About Your Airbags

Improperly

Donotcoverorreplacefrontseat- backcoverswithoutconsultinga Hondadealer. replacing or covering front seat- back covers can prevent your side airbags from inflating during a collision.

170

for further information

See page and precautions relating to your airbags.

Additional Safety Precautions

Donotattempttodeactivateyour airbags. seat belts provide the best protection.

Together, airbags and

Donottamperwithairbag componentsorwiringforany Tampering could cause reason. the airbags to deploy, possibly causing very serious injury.

If rain or spilled water

Donotexposethefrontseat-backs towater. soaks into a seat-back, it can prevent the side airbag system from working properly.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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Carbon Monoxide Hazard

Your car’s exhaust contains carbon monoxide gas. You should have no problem with carbon monoxide entering the car in normal driving if you maintain your car properly. Have the exhaust system inspected for leaks whenever: