belt Acura RDX 2013 Owner's Guide

uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
56Safe Driving
Most child seats are LATCH-compatible (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren).
Some have a rigid-type connec tor, while others have a flexible-type connector. Both
are equally easy to use. Some existing and previously owned child seats can only be
installed using the seat belt. Whichever type you choose, follow the child seat
manufacturer's use and care instructions as well as the instructions in this manual.
Proper installation is key to maximizing your child's safety.
In seating positions and vehicles not equipped with LATCH, a LATCH compatible
child seat can be installed using th e seat belt and a top tether for added security.
This is because all child seats are required to be designed so that they can be secured
with a lap belt or the lap part of a lap/shoulder belt. In addition, the child seat
manufacturer may advise that a seat belt be used to attach a LATCH-compatible seat
once a child reaches a specified weight. Please read the child seat owner’s manual
for proper installation instructions.■
Important consideration when selecting a child seat
Make sure the child seat meets the following three requirements:
• The child seat is the correct type and size for the child.
• The child seat is the correct type for the seating position.
• The child seat is compliant with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 or
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213.
■
Selecting a Child Seat
1Selecting a Child Seat
Installation of a LATCH-compatible child seat is
simple.
LATCH-compatible child seats have been developed
to simplify the installation process and reduce the
likelihood of injuries caused by incorrect installation.

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uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
Continued
Safe Driving
A LATCH-compatible child seat can be installed in either of the two outer rear seats.
A child seat is attached to the lower anchors with either the rigid or flexible type of
connectors.
1.Locate the lower anchors under the marks.
2. Place the child seat on the vehicle seat then
attach the child seat to the lower anchors
according to the instructions that came
with the child seat.
u When installing the child seat, make sure
that the lower anchors are not
obstructed by the seat belt or any other
object.■
Installing a LATCH-Compatible Child SeatMarks
Rigid Type
Lower Anchors

uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
58Safe Driving
3. Put the head restraint to its upper-most
position, then route the tether strap
between the head restraint legs, and secure
the tether strap hook onto the anchor.
4. Tighten the tether strap as instructed by the
child seat maker.
5. Make sure the child seat is firmly secured by
rocking it forward and back and side to
side; little movement should be felt.
6. Make sure any unused seat belt that a child
can reach is buckled, the lockable retractor
is activated, and the belt is fully retracted
and locked.
2 Protecting Child Passengers P. 52
Flexible Type
1Installing a LATCH-Compatible Child Seat
For your child's safety, when using a child seat
installed using the LATCH system, make sure that the
seat is properly secured to the vehicle. A child seat
that is not properly secured will not adequately
protect a child in a crash and may cause injury to the
child or other vehicle occupants.
Tether
Strap
Hook
Anchor

Continued
59
uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
Safe Driving
1. Place the child seat on the vehicle seat.
2. Route the seat belt through the child seat
according to the seat maker's instructions,
and insert the latch plate into the buckle.
u Insert the latch plate fully until it clicks.
3. Slowly pull the shoulder part of the belt all
the way out until it stops. This activates the
lockable retractor.
4. Let the seat belt completely wind up into
the retractor, then try to pull it out to make
sure the retractor is locked.
u If you are able to pull the shoulder belt
out, the lockable retractor is not
activated. Pull the seat belt all the way
out, and repeat steps 3 – 4.
5. Grab the shoulder part of the seat belt near
the buckle, and pull up to remove any slack
from the lap part of the belt.
u When doing this, place your weight on
the child seat and push it into the vehicle
seat.
■
Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt
1Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt
A child seat that is not properly secured will not
adequately protect a child in a crash and may cause
injury to the child or other vehicle occupants.

uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children
60Safe Driving
6. Make sure the child seat is firmly secured by
rocking it forward and back and side to
side; little movement should be felt.
7. Make sure any unused seat belt that a child
can reach is buckled, the lockable retractor
is activated, and the belt is fully retracted
and locked.
2 Protecting Child Passengers P. 52
Two tether anchorage points are provided
behind the rear outer seating positions and
one in the ceiling for the rear center. A child
seat that is installed with a seat belt and
comes with a tether can use the tether for
additional security.
1Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt
To deactivate a lockable retractor, release the buckle
and allow the seat belt to wind up all the way.
■
Adding Security with a Tether
Tether Anchorage Points
Anchor Fitting
1Adding Security with a Tether
Since a tether can provide additional security to the
lap/shoulder seat belt installation, we recommend
using a tether whenever one is available.

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uuChild Safety uSafety of Larger Children
Safe Driving
Safety of Larger ChildrenThe 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 front.
When a child is too big for a child seat, secure the child in a rear seat using the lap/
shoulder seat belt. Have the child sit upright and all the way back, then answer the
following questions.
■
Checklist
• Do the child's knees bend comfortably over
the edge of the seat?
• Does the shoulder belt cross between the
child's neck and arm?
• Is the lap part of the seat belt as low as
possible, touching the child's thighs?
• Will the child be able to stay seated like this
for the whole trip?
If you answer yes to all these questions, the child is ready to wear the lap/shoulder
seat belt correctly. If you answer no to any question, the child needs to ride on a
booster seat until the seat belt fits properly without a booster seat.
■
Protecting Larger Children
■
Checking Seat Belt Fit
1 Safety of Larger Children
3
WARNING
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 larger child must ride in front, move the
vehicle seat as far to the rear as possible,
have the child sit up properly and wear the
seat belt properly, using a booster seat if
needed.

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uuChild Safety uSafety of Larger Children
Safe Driving
If a lap/shoulder seat belt cannot be used
properly, position the child in a booster seat in
a rear seating position. For the child's safety,
check that the child meets the booster seat
manufacturer's recommendations.
Your vehicle has a rear seat where children can be properly restrained. If you ever
have to carry a group of children, and a child must ride in front:
• Make sure you read and fully understand the instructions and safety information
in this manual.
• Move the front passenger seat as far back as possible.
• Have the child sit upright and well back in the seat.
• Check that the seat belt is properly positioned so that the child is secure in the
seat.
■
Monitoring child passengers
We strongly recommend that you keep an eye on child passengers. Even older, more
mature children sometimes need to be reminded to fasten their seat belts and sit up
properly.
■
Booster Seats
1 Booster Seats
When installing a booster seat, make sure to read the
instructions that came with it, and install the seat
accordingly.
There are high- and low-type booster seats. Choose a
booster seat that allows the child to wear the seat
belt correctly.
Some U.S. states and Canadian provinces and
territories 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 state or
province, or territory where you intend to drive.
■
Protecting Larger Children-Final Checks

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uuIndicators u
Continued
Instrument Panel
Indicator
Name
On/Blinking
Explanation
Message
Seat Belt
Reminder
Indicator
●Comes on and the beeper sounds if
you are not wearing a seat belt
when you set the power mode to
ON.●If the front passenger is not
wearing a seat belt, the indicator
comes on about a few seconds
later.●Blinks while driving if either you or
the front passenger has not
fastened a seat belt. The beeper
sounds and the indicator blinks at
regular intervals.
●The beeper stops and the indicator goes off
when you and the front passenger fasten
their seat belts.●Stays on after you or the front
passenger has fastened the seat belt -
A detection error may have occurred in the
sensor. Have the vehicle checked by a
dealer.
2 Seat Belt Reminder P. 30
Low Fuel
Indicator
●Comes on when the fuel reserve is
running low (approximately 2.5
U.S. gal./9.2 Liter left).●Blinks if there is a problem with the
fuel gauge.
●Comes on - Refuel your vehicle as soon as
possible.●Blinks - Have the vehicle checked by a
dealer.
ABS (Anti-lock
Brake System)
Indicator
●Comes on for a few seconds when
you set the power mode to ON,
then goes off.●If it comes on at any other time,
there is a problem with the ABS.
●Stays on constantly - Have the vehicle
checked by a dealer. With this indicator on,
your vehicle still has normal braking ability
but no anti-lock function.
2 ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) P. 259

72
uuIndicators u
Instrument Panel
Indicator
Name
On/Blinking
Explanation
Message
Supplemental
Restraint System
Indicator
●Comes on for a few seconds when
you set the power mode to ON,
then goes off.●Comes on if a problem with any of
the following is detected:
-Supplemental restraint system
- Side airbag system
- Side curtain airbag system
- Seat belt tensioner
●Stays on constantly or does not come
on at all - Have the vehicle checked by a
dealer.
AWD (All-Wheel
Drive) with
Intelligent
Control System
Indicator
*
●Comes on for a few seconds when
you set the power mode to ON,
then goes off.●Comes on if there is a problem with
the AWD with intelligent control
system.●Blinks when the AWD with
intelligent control system is
overheated. The system is inactive.
●Stays on constantly - the engine drives
only the front wheels in this state. Have the
vehicle checked by a dealer.●Blinks while driving - the engine drives
only the front wheels in this state. Stop in a
safe place, shift to
(P
, and idle the engine
until the indicator goes off. If the indicator
does not stop blinking, take your vehicle to
a dealer.
2 AWD (All-Wheel Drive) with
Intelligent Control System
* P. 253
* Not available on all models

Continued
137
uuAdjusting the Seats uAdjusting the Seat Positions
Controls
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.
The front seat passenger should also adjust
their seat-back to a comfortable, upright
position.
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.
■
Adjusting the Seat-Backs
1 Adjusting the Seat-Backs
Do not put a cushion, or other object, between the
seat-back and your back. Doing so may interfere with
proper seat belt or airbag operation.
If you cannot get far enough away from the steering
wheel and still reach the controls, we recommend
that you investigate whether some type of adaptive
equipment may help.
3
WARNING
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.