belt Acura TSX 2011 User Guide

Seat Belts
26Safe Driving
About Your Seat BeltsSeat belts are the single most effective safety device because they keep you
connected to the vehicle so that you can take advantage of many built-in safety
features. They also help keep you from being thrown against the inside of the
vehicle, against other passengers, or out of the vehicle. When worn properly, seat
belts also keep your body properly positioned in a crash so that you can take full
advantage of the additional protection provided by the airbags.
In addition, seat belts help protect you in almost every type of crash, including:
- frontal impacts
- side impacts
- rear impacts
- rollovers
Lap/shoulder seat belts
All five seating positions are equipped with lap/shoulder seat belts with emergency
locking retractors. In normal driving the retractor lets you move freely while
keeping some tension on the belt. During a collision or sudden stop the retractor
locks to restrain your body. The rear seat belts also have a lockable retractor for
use with child seats.
Installing a Child Seat using the Lockable Retractor Seat Belt

P. 5 5
About Your Seat Belts
Seat belts cannot completely protect you in every
crash. But in most cases, seat belts can reduce your
risk of serious injury.
Most states and all Canadian provinces and
territories require you to wear seat belts.
WARNING
Not wearing a seat belt properly increases
the chance of serious injury or death in
a crash, even though your vehicle has
airbags.
Be sure you and your passengers always
wear seat belts and wear them properly.

Seat Belts
About Your Seat Belts
27
Continued
Safe Driving
Your vehicle monitors front seat belt use. If
the ignition switch is turned to ON
II
before
the driver's seat belt is fastened, a beeper will
sound and the indicator will blink. If the
driver does not fasten the belt before the
beeper stops, the indicator will remain on.
The beeper will also periodically sound and
the indicator will blink while driving until the
driver's and front passenger’s seat belts are
fastened.
Seat Belt Reminder
Seat Belt Reminder
The indicator will also come on if a front passenger
does not fasten their seat belt within 6 seconds
after the ignition switch is turned to ON
II.
When no one is sitting in the front passenger's seat,
or a child or small adult is riding there, the indicator
will not come on.
This is because the weight sensors in the seat
cannot detect their presence.
Proper use of seat belts
Follow these guidelines for proper use:
All occupants should sit upright, well back in the seat, and remain in that t
position for the duration of the trip. Slouching and leaning reduces the
effectiveness of the belt and can increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.
Never place the shoulder part of a lap/shoulder seat belt under your arm or t
behind your back. This could cause very serious injuries in a crash.
Two people should never use the same seat belt. If they do, they could be very t
seriously injured in a crash.
Do not put any accessories on the seat belts. Devices intended to improve t
comfort or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt can reduce the protective
capability and increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.
About Your Seat Belts
If a rear seat passenger moves around and extends
the seat belt, the lockable retractor may activate. If
this happens, release the retractor by unfastening
the seat belt and allow the belt to retract
completely. Then refasten the belt.

Seat Belts
About Your Seat Belts
28Safe Driving
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners
The front seats are equipped with automatic seat belt tensioners to enhance
safety.
The tensioners automatically tighten the front seat belts during a moderate-to-
severe frontal collision, sometimes even if the collision is not severe enough to
inflate the front airbags.
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners
The seat belt tensioners can only operate once.
If a tensioner is activated, the SRS indicator will
come on. Have a dealer replace the tensioner and
thoroughly inspect the seat belt system as it may
not offer protection in a subsequent crash.
During a moderate-to-severe side impact, the
tensioner on that side of the vehicle also activates.

Seat Belts
Fastening a Seat Belt
29
Continued
Safe Driving
Latch
Plate
Buckle
2. Insert the latch plate into the buckle, then
tug on the belt to make sure the buckle is
secure.
Make sure that the belt is not twisted or
caught on anything.
Fastening a Seat Belt
1. Pull the seat belt out slowly.
Correct
Seated
Posture Pull out slowly.
Fastening a Seat Belt
No one should sit in a seat with an inoperative seat
belt or one that does not appear to be working
correctly. Using a seat belt that is not working
properly may not protect the occupant in a crash.
Have a dealer check the belt as soon as possible.
Never insert any foreign objects into the buckle or
retractor mechanism.
After adjusting a front seat to the proper position, and while sitting upright and
well back in the seat:
Adjusting the Seats

P.11 6

Seat Belts
Fastening a Seat Belt
30Safe Driving
Lap belt
as low as
possible
3. 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.
4. If necessary, pull up on the belt again to
remove any slack, then check that the belt
rests across the center of your chest and
over your shoulder. This spreads the forces
of a crash over the strongest bones in your
upper body.
Fastening a Seat Belt
To release the belt, push the red PRESS button
then guide the belt by hand until it has retracted
completely.
When exiting the vehicle, be sure the belt is out of
the way and will not get closed in the door.
Adjusting the Shoulder Anchor
The front seats have adjustable shoulder anchors to accommodate taller and
shorter occupants.
1. Move the anchor up and down while
holding the release button.
2. Position the anchor so that the belt rests
across the center of your chest and over
your shoulder.
Adjusting the Shoulder Anchor
The shoulder anchor height can be adjusted to four
levels. If the belt contacts your neck, lower the
height one level at a time.
After an adjustment, make sure that the shoulder
anchor position is secure.
WARNING
Improperly positioning the seat belts can
cause serious injury or death in a crash.
Make sure all seat belts are properly
positioned before driving.
Push

Seat Belts
Fastening a Seat Belt
31Safe Driving
Advice for Pregnant Women
If you are pregnant, the best way to protect yourself and your unborn child when
driving or riding in a vehicle is to always wear a seat belt and keep the lap part of
the belt as low as possible across the hips.
Advice for Pregnant Women
Each time you have a checkup, ask your doctor if it
is okay for you to drive.
To reduce the risk of injuries to both you and your
unborn child that can be caused by an inflating
front airbag:
When driving, sit upright and adjust the seat as tfar back as possible while allowing full control of
the vehicle.
When sitting in the front passenger's seat, adjust tthe seat as far back as possible.
Wear the shoulder belt
across the chest avoiding
the abdomen.
Wear the lap part of the
belt as low as possible
across the hips.

Seat Belts
Seat Belt Inspection
32Safe Driving
Seat Belt InspectionRegularly check the condition of your seat belts as follows:
Pull each belt out fully, and look for frays, cuts, burns, and wear. t
Check that the latches work smoothly and the belts retract easily. t
If a belt does not retract easily, cleaning the belt may correct the problem.
Only use a mild soap and warm water. Do not use bleach or cleaning
solvents. Make sure the belt is completely dry before allowing it to retract.
Any belt that is not in good condition or working properly will not provide proper
protection and should be replaced as soon as possible.
A belt that has been worn during a crash may not provide the same level of
protection in a subsequent crash. Have your seat belts inspected by a dealer after
any collision.
Seat Belt Inspection
WARNING
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.

34Safe Driving
Airbags
Airbag System Components
The front, front side, and side curtain
airbags are deployed according to the
direction and severity of impact. The airbag
system includes:
Two SRS (Supplemental Restraint
System) 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". Two side airbags, one for the driver and
one for a front passenger. The airbags
are stored in the outer edges of the
seat-backs. Both are marked "SIDE
AIRBAG." Two side curtain airbags, one for each
side of the vehicle. The airbags are
stored in the ceiling, above the side
windows. The front and rear pillars are
marked "SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG."
An electronic control unit that
continually monitors and records
information about the sensors, the
airbag activators, the seat belt
tensioners, and driver and front
passenger seat belt use when the
ignition switch is in ON
II
.
Automatic front seat belt tensioners. The
driver's and front passenger's seat belts
incorporate sensors that detect whether
or not they are fastened. A driver's seat position sensor. If the seat
is too far forward, the airbag will inflate
with less force. Weight sensors in the front passenger's
seat. The front passenger's airbag will
be turned off if the weight on the seat
is 65 lbs (29 kg) or less (the weight of an
infant or small child).
Impact sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe front or side
collision. An indicator on the dashboard that
alerts you that the front passenger's
front airbag has been turned off. Sensors that can detect if a child or small
statured adult is in the deployment path
of the front passenger's side airbag. An indicator on the instrument panel
that alerts you to a possible problem
with your airbag system or seat belt
tensioners. An indicator on the instrument panel
that alerts you that the front passenger's
side airbag has been turned off. Safing Sensor

35Safe Driving
Airbags
Airbag System Components
Important Facts About Your Airbags
Airbags can pose serious hazards. To do their job, airbags must inflate with
tremendous force. So, while airbags help save lives, they can cause minor injuries,
sometimes even fatal ones if occupants are not properly wearing their seat belts
properly and sitting correctly.

What you should do: Always wear your seat belt properly, and sit upright and
as far back from the steering wheel as possible while allowing full control of the
vehicle. A front passenger should move their seat as far back from the dashboard
as possible.

Remember, however, that no safety system can prevent all injuries or deaths
that can occur in a severe crash, even when seat belts are properly worn and the
airbags deploy.
Do not place hard or sharp objects between yourself and a front airbag.
Carrying hard or sharp 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.
Do not attach or place objects on the front airbag covers. Objects on the
covers marked ”SRS AIRBAG” could interfere with the proper operation of the
airbags or be propelled inside the vehicle and hurt someone if the airbags inflate.
Important facts about your airbags
Do not attempt to deactivate your airbags.
Together, airbags and seat belts provide the best
protection.
When driving, keep hands and arms out of the
deployment path of the front airbag by holding
each side of the steering wheel. Do not cross an
arm over the airbag cover.

Airbags
Types of Airbags
36Safe Driving
Front Airbags (SRS)The front SRS airbags inflate in a moderate to severe frontal collision to help protect
the head and chest of the driver and/or front passenger.
SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) indicates that the airbags are designed to
supplement seat belts, not replace them. Seat belts are the occupant's primary
restraint system.
Housing Locations
The front airbags are housed in the center of the steering wheel for the driver, and
in the dashboard for the front passenger. Both airbags are marked SRS AIRBAG. Types of AirbagsYour vehicle is equipped with three types of airbags:
Front airbags: tAirbags in front of the driver's and front passenger's seats.
Side airbags: t Airbags in the driver's and front passenger's seat-backs.
Side curtain airbags: tAirbags above the side windows.
Each is discussed in the following pages.
Types of Airbags
The airbags can inflate whenever the ignition switch
is in ON
II.
Front Airbags (SRS)
Dual-Stage, Multiple-Threshold Front Airbags
(SRS)
Your vehicle is equipped with dual-stage, multiple-
threshold front airbags (SRS).
During a frontal crash severe enough to cause
one or both front airbags to deploy, the airbags
can inflate at different rates, depending on the
severity of the crash, whether or not the seat belts
are latched, and/or other factors. Frontal airbags
are designed to supplement the seat belts to help
reduce the likelihood of head and chest injuries in
frontal crashes.