Acura TSX 2011 Workshop Manual

Child Safety
Safety of Infants and Small Children
50Safe Driving
Safety of Infants and Small Children
Positioning a rear-facing child seat
Child seats must be placed and secured in a
rear seating position.
Protecting Infants
Rear-facing child seats should never be installed in a
forward facing position.

Always refer to the child seat manufacturer’s
instructions before installation.
WARNING
Placing a rear-facing child seat in the front
seat can result in serious injury or death
during a crash.
Always place a rear-facing child seat in the
rear seat, not the front.
Protecting Infants
An infant must be properly restrained in a rear-facing, reclining child seat until the
infant reaches the seat maker's weight or height limit for the seat, and the infant is
at least one year old.When properly installed, a rear-facing child seat may prevent the driver or a front
passenger from moving their seat all the way back, or from locking their seat-back
in the desired position.

It can also interfere with proper operation of the passenger's advanced front
airbag system.
Airbags

P. 3 3

If this occurs, we recommend that you install the child seat directly behind the
front passenger's seat, move the seat as far forward as needed, and leave it
unoccupied. Or, you may wish to get a smaller rear-facing child seat.

Child Safety
Safety of Infants and Small Children
51
Continued
Safe Driving
Protecting Smaller Children
Educate yourself about the laws and regulations
regarding child seat use where you are driving, and
follow the child seat manufacturer's instructions.
Many experts recommend use of a rear-facing seat
up to age two, if the child’s height and weight are
appropriate for a rear-facing seat.
Protecting Smaller Children
If a child is at least one year old and within the weight range indicated by the
child seat manufacturer, the child should be properly restrained in a firmly secured
forward-facing child seat.
Forward-facing child seat placement
We strongly recommend placing a forward-
facing child seat in a rear seating position.
Placing a forward-facing child seat in the front seat can be hazardous, even with
advanced front airbags that automatically turn the passenger's front airbag off. A
rear seat is the safest place for a child.
WARNING
Placing a foward-facing child seat in the
front seat can result in serious injury or
death if the front airbag inflates.
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.

Child Safety
Safety of Infants and Small Children
52Safe Driving
Selecting a Child Seat
Most child seats are LATCH-compatible (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren).
Some have a rigid-type connector, while others have a flexible-type connector.
Both are equally easy to use. Whichever one you choose, follow the manufacturer's
use and care instructions.
LATCH-compatible child seats can be secured to the vehicle by using two lower
anchors and a top tether anchor in one of the outer seating positions.
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. t
The child seat is the correct type for the seating position. t
The child seat is compliant with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 or t
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213.
Selecting a Child Seat
Installation of a L ATCH-compatible child seat is
simple.
L ATCH-compatible child seats have been developed
to simplify the installation process and reduce the
likelihood of injuries caused by incorrect installation.

Child Safety
Safety of Infants and Small Children
53
Continued
Safe Driving
Installing a LATCH-Compatible Child Seat
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.

When installing the child seat, make
sure that the lower anchors are not
obstructed by the seat belt or any other
object.
Marks
Lower Anchors
Rigid Type

Child Safety
Safety of Infants and Small Children
54Safe Driving
3. Open the tether anchor cover behind the
head restraint.
4. Release the head restraint, then route the
tether strap between the head restraint
legs, and secure the tether strap hook
onto the anchor.
5. Tighten the tether strap as instructed by
the child seat maker.
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.
Enhancing Child Safety

P. 5 3
Installing a LATCH-compatible Child Seat
For your child's safety, when using a child seat
installed using the L ATCH 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.
Flexible Type
Te t h e r
Strap
Hook
Anchor

Child Safety
Safety of Infants and Small Children
55
Continued
Safe Driving
Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt
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.
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. 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 2 – 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. When doing this, place your weight on
the child seat and push it into the
vehicle seat.

Child Safety
Safety of Infants and Small Children
56Safe 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.
Enhancing Child Safety

P. 5 3
Installing a Child Seat with a 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.
To deactivate a lockable retractor, release the buckle
and allow the seat belt to wind up all the way.

Child Safety
Safety of Infants and Small Children
57Safe Driving
1. Locate the appropriate tether anchorage
point and lift the cover.
2. If using an outer seating position, raise the
head restraint to its highest position, then
route the tether strap through the head
restraint legs. Make sure the strap is not
twisted.
Adding Security with a Tether
A tether anchorage point is provided behind
each rear seating position. A child seat that
is installed with a seat belt and comes with
a tether can use the tether for additional
security.
Adding 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.
If using the center seating position, raise
the head restraint to its highest position,
then route the tether strap through the
head restraint legs. Make sure the strap is
not twisted.
3. Lift the anchor cover and secure the tether
strap hook onto the anchor.
4. Tighten the tether strap as instructed by
the child seat manufacturer.
Tether Anchorage Points
AnchorAnchor
Cover
Outer Position
Te t h e r Strap Hook
AnchorCenter Position
Te t h e r Strap Hook

Child Safety
Safety of Larger Children
58Safe Driving
Safety of Larger Children
Protecting Larger Children
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 front.
Checking Seat Belt Fit
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 t
over the edge of the seat?
Does the shoulder belt cross between the t
child's neck and arm?
Is the lap part of the seat belt as low as t
possible, touching the child's thighs?
Will the child be able to stay seated like t
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.
WARNING
Allowing a child to sit in front can result in
serious 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. Safety of Larger Children

Child Safety
Safety of Larger Children
59Safe Driving
Booster Seats
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.
Protecting Larger Children - Final Checks
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 t
in this manual.
Move the front passenger seat as far back as possible. t
Have the child sit upright and well back in the seat. t
Check that the seat belt is properly positioned so that the child is secure in the t
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
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.