Acura MDX 2008 Workshop Manual

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Your vehicle is equipped with
LATCH (lower anchors and tethers
f or children) at each of the second
row seats.To install a LATCH-compatible child
seat in either outer second row seat:Move the seat belt buckle or
tongue away f rom the lower
anchors.
Make sure there are no objects
near the anchors that could
prevent a secure connection
between the child seat and the
anchors.
When you install a child seat in rear
seating position, use the lower
anchors as shown in the illustration.
You can install up to three child
seats at a time with LATCH.
Do not attach two child seat
connectors to a single lower anchor
at a time.
The location of each lower anchor is
indicated by a small button above the
anchor point.
The lower anchors are located
between the seat-back and seat
bottom, and are to be used only with
a child seat designed f or use with
LATCH.
1.
2.
Installing a Child Seat with
LATCH
Installing a Child Seat
Using t he Out er L A T CH
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
47
LOWER ANCHORS
MARKS
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Place the child seat on the vehicle
seat, then attach the seat to the
lower anchors according to the
child seat maker’s instructions.
Some LATCH-compatible seats
have a rigid-type connector as
shown above.Whatever type you have, f ollow
the child seat maker’s instructions
f or adjusting or tightening the f it.Lif t the head restraint (see page
), then route the tether strap
through the legs of the head
restraint and over the seat-back,
making sure the strap is not
twisted.
Other LATCH-compatible seats
have a f lexible-type connector as
shown above.
3.
4.5.
141
Installing a Child Seat
48
RIGID TYPE FLEXIBLE TYPE TETHER STRAP
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Attach the tether strap hook to the
tether anchor, then tighten the
strap as instructed by the child
seat maker.To install a LATCH-compatible child
seat in the center seating position on
the second row seat, use the center
lower anchors as shown above. Follow step 1 through 4 as
described previously to secure the
child seat.
Lower the head restraint f irst.
Route the tether strap over the
head restraint and seat-back, then
attach the tether strap hook to the
anchor, making sure the strap is
not twisted.
Push and pull the child seat
f orward and f rom side-to-side to
verify that it is secure.
Pull up the cover below the
armrest and f ind one of the
anchors. The other anchor is
located underneath the f lap at the
bottom of the outer seat’s inner
bolster.
Push and pull the child seat
f orward and f rom side-to-side to
verify that it is secure.
6.
7. 2.
3.
4.
1.
Using t he Cent er L A T CH
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
49
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When not using the LATCH system,
all child seats must be secured to the
vehicle with the lap part of a lap/
shoulder belt.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.To activate the lockable retractor,
slowly pull the shoulder part of the
belt all the way out until it stops,
then let the belt f eed back into the
retractor.
Af ter 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
thebeltout,itisnotlocked,and
you will need to repeat these steps.
In addition, the lap/shoulder belts in
all seating positions except the
driver’s have a lockable retractor
that must be activated to secure a
child seat.
If you intend to install a child seat in
the center seating position of second
row seat, make sure the detachable
seat belt is securely latched (see
page).
1. 2.
3.
146
Installing a Child Seat with a L ap/
Shoulder Belt
Installing a Child Seat
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Push and pull the child seat
f orward and f rom 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 f ully, then repeat these
steps.A child seat with a tether can be
installed in any seating position in
the second or third row.
To deactivate the lockable retractor
and remove a child seat, unlatch the
buckle, unroute the seat belt, and let
the belt fully retract. Since a tether can provide additional
security to the lap/shoulder belt
installation, we recommend using a
tether whenever one is required or
available.
Af ter conf irming 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
putweightonthechildseat,or
push on the back of the seat while
pulling up on the belt.
4. 5.
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Installing a Child Seat with a
Tether
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
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Each second row seat has a tether
anchorage point behind the seat-
back.For the center seat, lower the head
restraint, then route the tether strap
over the head restraint and seat-back.
Af ter properly securing the child
seat (see page ), lif t the head
restraint, then route the tether
strap over the seat-back and
through the head restraint legs.
1.
50
Second Row Inst allat ion
Installing a Child Seat
52
TETHER ANCHORAGE P OINTTETHER STRAP
Outer Seating Position
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Route the tether strap over the
head restraint, then attach the
tether strap hook to the anchor,
making sure the strap is not
twisted.
Each third row seat has a tether
anchorage point on the tailgate sill.
Secure the child seat in the
desired position (see page ).
Select the anchor point you want
to use. Then open the anchor
cover with a small flat-tip
screwdriver.
Tighten the strap according to the
seat maker’s instructions.
Attach the tether strap hook to the
anchor, making sure the tether
strap is not twisted.
Tighten the strap according to the
seat maker’s instructions.
2.
1. 3.
2.
3.
504.
Installing a Child Seat
T hird Row Inst allat ion
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
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When a child reaches the
recommended weight or height limit
for a forward-facing child seat, the
child should sit in a back seat on a
booster seat and wear a lap/shoulder
belt.
The f ollowing pages give
instructions on how to check proper
seat belt f it, what kind of booster
seat to use if one is needed, and
important precautions f or a child
who must sit in f ront.To determine if a lap/shoulder belt
properly f its a child, have the child
put on the seat belt, then ask
yourself :Does the child sit all the way back
against the seat?
Do the child’s knees bend
comf ortably over the edge of the
seat?
1.
2.
Protecting L arger Children
Checking Seat Belt Fit
54
Allowing a child age 12 or under
to sit in front can result in injury
or death if the passenger’s front
airbag inflates.
If a child must ride in front,
move the vehicle seat as far
back as possible, use a booster
seat if needed, have the child
sit up properly and wear the
seat belt properly.
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Does the shoulder belt cross
between the child’s neck and arm?
Is the lap part of the belt as low as
possible, touching the child’s
thighs?
Will the child be able to stay
seated like this f or the whole trip?
If you answer yes to all these
questions, the child is ready to wear
the lap/shoulder belt correctly. If
you answer no to any question, the
child needs to ride on a booster seat. A child who has outgrown a f orward- f acing child seat should ride in a
back seat and use a booster seat
until the lap/shoulder belt f its them
properly without the booster.Some states and Canadian provinces
also require children to use a booster
seat until they reach a given age or
weight (e.g., 6 years or 60 lbs). Be
sure to check current laws in the
states or provinces where you intend
to drive.
Booster seats can be high-back or
low-back. Whichever style you select,
make sure the booster seat meets
f ederal saf ety standards (see page
) and that you f ollow the booster
seat maker’s instructions.
3.
4.
5.
45
Protecting L arger Children
Using a Booster Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
55
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If a child who uses a booster seat
must ride in f ront, move the vehicle
seat as far back as possible and be
sure the child is wearing the seat
belt properly.
A child may continue using a booster
seat until the tops of their ears are
even with the top of the vehicle’s or
booster’s seat-back. A child of this
height should be tall enough to use
the lap/shoulder belt without a
booster seat.The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that all children
age 12 and under be properly
restrained in a back seat.
If the passenger’s front airbag
inf lates in a moderate to severe
f rontal collision, the airbag can cause
serious injuries to a child who is
unrestrained, improperly restrained,
sitting too close to the airbag, or out
of position.
A side airbag also poses risks. If any
part of a larger child’s body is in the
path of a deploying side airbag, the
child could receive possibly serious
injuries.Of course, children vary widely. And
while age may be one indicator of
when a child can saf ely ride in f ront,
there are other important f actors you
should consider.
Physically, a child must be large
enough f or the lap/shoulder belt to
properly f it (see pages and ). If
the seat belt does not f it properly,
with or without the child sitting on a
booster seat, the child should not sit
in f ront.
To saf ely ride in f ront, a child must
be able to f ollow the rules, including
sitting properly, and wearing the seat
belt properly throughout a ride.
15
54
Protecting L arger Children
When Can a L arger Child Sit in
Front
Physical Size
Maturity
56
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