belt Acura TSX 2011 Owner's Guide

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.

66Instrument Panel
Indicators
Indicator Name On/Blinking Explanation Message
Seat Belt
Reminder
Indicatort
$PNFT
PO
BOE
UIF
CFFQFS
TPVOET

if you are not wearing a seat belt
when you turn the ignition switch
to ON
II
. If the front passenger
is not wearing a seat belt, the
indicator comes on about six
seconds later.
t
#MJOLT
EVSJOH
ESJWJOH
JG
FJUIFS
ZPV

or the front passenger has not
fastened a seat belt. The beeper
sounds and the indicator blinks at
regular intervals.t
5IF
CFFQFS
TUPQT
BOE
UIF
JOEJDBUPS

goes off when you and the front
passenger fasten their seat belts.
t
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.
 Seat Belt Reminder Indicator P. 2 7
Indicator
Low Fuel
Indicatort
$PNFT
PO
XIFO
UIF
GVFM
SFTFSWF
JT

running low (approximately 2.8 U.S.
gal./10.5 Liter left).

t
#MJOLT
JG
UIFSF
JT
B
QSPCMFN
XJUI
UIF

fuel gauge.t
Comes on - Refuel your vehicle as
soon as possible.
t
Blinks - Have the vehicle checked by
a dealer.ABS (Anti-lock
Brake System)
Indicatort
$PNFT
PO
GPS
B
GFX
TFDPOET
XIFO

you turn the ignition switch to ON
II
, then goes off.
t
*G
JU
DPNFT
PO
BU
BOZ
PUIFS
UJNF


there is a problem with the ABS.t
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.
 ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
P. 2 12

67Instrument Panel
Indicators
Continued
Indicator Name On/Blinking Explanation Message
Supplemental
Restraint System
Indicatort
$PNFT
PO
GPS
B
GFX
TFDPOET
XIFO

you turn the ignition switch to ON
II
, then goes off.
t
$PNFT
PO
JG
B
QSPCMFN
XJUI
BOZ
PG

the following is detected:
- Supplemental restraint system
- Side airbag system
- Side curtain airbag system
- Seat belt tensionert
Stays on constantly or does not
come on at all - Have the vehicle
checked by a dealer.
VSA
® (Vehicle
Stability Assist)
System Indicatort
$PNFT
PO
GPS
B
GFX
TFDPOET
XIFO

you turn the ignition switch to ON
II
, then goes off.
t
#MJOLT
XIFO
74"
® is active.
t
$PNFT
PO
JG
UIFSF
JT
B
QSPCMFN

with the VSA
® system.t
Stays on constantly - Have the
vehicle checked by a dealer.
 VSA
® (Vehicle Stability Assist)
System P. 2 0 4
VSA
® (Vehicle
Stability Assist)
OFF Indicatort
$PNFT
PO
GPS
B
GFX
TFDPOET
XIFO

you turn the ignition switch to ON
II
, then goes off.
t
$PNFT
PO
XIFO
ZPV
EFBDUJWBUF

VSA®.
 VSA
® (Vehicle Stability Assist)
System P. 2 0 5
—

Adjusting the Seats
Adjusting the Seat Positions
117
Continued
Controls
Adjusting the Seat-Backs
Adjusting the Seat-Backs
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.
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. 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.

Adjusting the Seats
Adjusting the Seat Positions
121
Continued
Controls
Maintain a Proper Sitting Position
After all occupants have adjusted their seats and head restraints, and put on their
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 vehicle is safely parked and the engine
is off.
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 in a crash by striking interior parts of the vehicle or being struck by
an inflating front airbag.
WARNING
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. Maintain a Proper Sitting Position

Adjusting the Seats
Adjusting the Seat Positions
122Controls
Active Head Restraints
The driver’s and front passenger’s seats have active head restraints. In a rear
impact, an occupant properly secured by a seat belt will be pushed against the
seat-back and the head restraint will move forward. This reduces the distance
between the restraint and the occupant’s head, which helps reduce the likelihood
of whiplash and injuries to the neck and upper spine.
Active Head Restraints
In order for the active head restraints to operate
properly:
Do not hang any items on the head restraints, or tfrom the restraint legs.
Do not place any object between an occupant tand the seat-back.
Install each restraint in its proper location. tAfter a collision, the activated restraint should
return to its normal position. If the restraint does
not return to its normal position, or in the event of
a severe collision, have the vehicle inspected by a
dealer.