HONDA CIVIC SEDAN 2000 (in English) Owner's Guide

Protectin
g Adult s

6.Adjus t th e Steerin g Whee l
Adjus t th e steerin g wheel , i f needed ,
s o tha t th e whee l point s towar d you r
chest , no t towar d you r face .

Pointin g th e steerin g whee l towar d

you r ches t provide s optima l
protectio n fro m th e airbag .
Se e pag e 6 5 fo r ho w to adjus t th e

steerin g wheel .
7.Maintai
n a Prope r Sittin g
Positio n
Afte r al l occupant s hav e adjuste d
thei r seat s an d pu t o n sea t belts , i t i s
ver y importan t tha t the y continu e t o
si t upright , wel l bac k in thei r seats ,
wit h thei r fee t o n th e floor , unti l th e
ca r i s parke d an d th e engin e is off .
Sittin g improperl y ca n increas e th e
chanc e o f injur y durin g a crash . Fo r
example , i f a n occupan t slouches ,
lie s down , turn s sideways , sit s
forward , lean s forwar d o r sideways ,
o r put s on e o r bot h fee t up , th e
chanc e o f injur y durin g a cras h is
greatl y increased .
I n addition , a n occupan t wh o is ou t o f
positio n in th e fron t sea t ca n b e
seriousl y o r fatall y injure d b y
strikin g interio r part s o f th e car , o r
b y bein g struc k b y a n inflatin g airbag .Remember
, t o ge t th e bes t
protectio n fro m you r car' s airbag s
an d othe r safet y features , yo u mus t
si t properl y an d wea r you r sea t bel t
properly .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y
Sittin
g improperl y o r ou t o f
positio n ca n resul t i n seriou s
injur y o r deat h in a crash .
Alway s si t upright , wel l bac k in
th e seat , wit h you r fee t o n th e

floor .

Protectin
g Adult s

Advic e fo r Pregnan t Wome n
Becaus e protectin g th e mothe r i s th e
bes t wa y t o protec t he r unbor n child ,
a pregnan t woma n shoul d alway s
wea r a sea t bel t wheneve r sh e drive s
o r ride s in a vehicle .
W e recommen d tha t pregnan t
wome n us e a lap/shoulde r bel t
wheneve r possible . Remembe r t o
kee p th e la p portio n o f th e bel t a s
lo w a s possibl e acros s you r hips . Pregnan
t wome n shoul d als o si t
uprigh t an d a s fa r bac k a s possibl e
fro m th e steerin g whee l o r
dashboard . Thi s wil l reduc e th e ris k
o f injurie s t o bot h th e mothe r an d
he r unbor n chil d tha t ca n b e cause d
b y a cras h o r a n inflatin g airbag .
Eac h tim e yo u hav e a check-up , as k
you r docto r i f it' s oka y fo r yo u t o

drive .
Additiona
l Safet y Precaution s
Two people should never use the

same seat belt. I f the y do , the y

coul d b e ver y seriousl y injure d in a

crash .
Do not put any accessories on seat

belts. Device s intende d to improve
occupan t comfor t o r repositio n th e
shoulde r par t o f a sea t bel t ca n
severel y compromis e th e
protectiv e capabilit y o f th e sea t
bel t an d increas e th e chanc e o f
seriou s injur y in a crash .

CONTINUED

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Adult s
Do not place hard or sharp objects
between yourself and an airbag.

Carryin g har d o r shar p object s o n
you r lap , o r drivin g wit h a pip e o r
othe r shar p objec t i n you r mouth ,
ca n resul t i n injurie s i f you r
airbag s inflate .
Do not attach or place objects on
the airbag covers. An y objec t

attache d to o r place d o n th e cover s
marke d "SR S AIRBAG, " i n th e
cente r o f th e steerin g whee l an d
o n to p o f th e dashboard , coul d
interfer e wit h th e prope r operatio n
o f th e airbags . Or , i f th e airbag s
inflate , th e object s coul d b e
propelle d insid e th e ca r an d hur t

someone .
Keep your hands and arms away
from the airbag covers. If you r
hand s o r arm s ar e clos e t o th e SR S
cover s i n th e cente r o f th e
steerin g whee l an d o n to p o f th e
dashboard , the y coul d b e injure d if
th e airbag s inflate .
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Childre n
Childre n depen d o n adult s t o protec t
them . However , despit e thei r bes t
intentions , man y parent s an d othe r
adult s ma y no t kno w ho w to properly
protec t youn g passengers .
S o if yo u hav e children , o r i f yo u eve r
nee d to driv e wit h a grandchil d o r
othe r childre n in you r car , b e sur e t o
rea d thi s section . Al
l Childre n Mus t B e Restraine d
Eac h year , man y childre n ar e injure d
o r kille d i n vehicl e crashe s becaus e
the y ar e eithe r unrestraine d o r no t
properl y restrained . I n fact , vehicl e
accident s ar e th e numbe r on e caus e
o f deat h o f childre n age s 1 2 an d
under .
T o reduc e th e numbe r o f chil d
death s an d injuries , ever y stat e an d
Canadia n provinc e require s tha t
infant s an d childre n b e restraine d
wheneve r the y rid e i n a vehicle .

Any child who is too small to wear a seat belt should be properly

restrained in a child seat. (Se e pag e

25 .)
A larger child should always be
restrained with a seat belt. (Se e pag e

37 .)

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Childre
n wh o ar e unrestraine d
o r improperl y restraine d ca n b e
seriousl y injure d o r kille d in a
crash .
An y chil d to o smal l fo r a sea t
bel t shoul d b e properl y
restraine d in a chil d seat . A
large r chil d shoul d b e properl y
restraine d wit h a sea t belt .

Protectin
g Childre n

Childre n Shoul d Si t i n th e Bac k

Sea t

Accordin g t o acciden t statistics ,
childre n o f al l age s an d size s ar e
safe r whe n the y ar e restraine d in th e
bac k seat , no t th e fron t seat . Th e
Nationa l Highwa y Traffi c Safet y
Administratio n an d Transpor t
Canad a recommen d tha t al l childre n
age s 1 2 an d unde r b e properl y
restraine d in th e bac k seat .
I n th e bac k seat , childre n ar e les s
likel y t o b e injure d b y strikin g har d
interio r part s durin g a collisio n o r
har d braking . Also , childre n canno t
b e injure d b y a n inflatin g airba g
whe n the y rid e in th e back . Th
e Passenger' s Airba g Pose s
Seriou s Risk s t o Childre n
Airbag s hav e bee n designe d to hel p
protec t adult s in a moderat e to
sever e fronta l collision . T o d o this ,
th e passenger' s airba g is quit e large ,
an d it inflate s wit h tremendou s

speed .

Infants
Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger's airbag. I f th e

airba g inflates , i t ca n hi t th e bac k o f
th e chil d sea t wit h enoug h forc e t o
kil l o r ver y seriousl y injur e a n infant .Small Children

Placing a forward-facing child seat in the front seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger's airbag can be

hazardous. I f th e vehicl e sea t i s to o
fa r forward , o r th e child' s hea d is
throw n forwar d durin g a collision , a n
inflatin g airba g ca n strik e th e chil d
wit h enoug h forc e t o kil l o r ver y
seriousl y injur e a smal l child .

Larger Children
Children who have outgrown child
seats are also at risk of being injured or killed by an inflating passenger's

airbag. Wheneve r possible , large r

childre n shoul d si t i n th e bac k seat ,
properl y restraine d wit h a sea t belt .
(Se e pag e 3 7 fo r importan t
informatio n abou t protectin g large r
children. )
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Childre n

U.S. Models

T o remin d yo u o f th e passenger' s
airba g hazards , an d tha t childre n
mus t b e properl y restraine d i n th e
bac k seat , you r ca r ha s warnin g
label s o n th e dashboar d an d o n th e
driver' s an d fron t passenger' s visors .
Pleas e rea d an d follo w th e
instruction s o n thes e labels . Canadian Models
T o remin d yo u o f th e airba g hazards ,
you r ca r ha s warnin g label s o n th e
driver' s an d fron t passenger' s visors .
Pleas e rea d an d follo w th e
instruction s o n thes e labels .

Driver an d Passenge r Safet y

PRECAUTION
:

POU R EVITE R DE S BLESSURE S GRAVES :

POU R PROFITE R D'UNE PROTECTIO N
MAXIMAL E LOR S D'UN E COLLISIO N BOUCLE Z
TOUJOUR S VOTR E CEINTUR E D E SECURITE .
N'lNSTALLE Z JAMAI S U N SIEG E POU R
ENFANT S FAISAN T FAC E A L'ARRIER E SU R
L E SIEG E D U PASSAGE R AVANT .
N E VOU S APPUYE Z PA S E T N E VOU S ASSEYE Z
PA S PRE S D U COUSSI N GONFLABLE .
N E DEPOSE Z AUCU N OBJE T SU R L E COUSSI N
GONFLABL E O U ENTR E L E COUSSI N
GONFLABL E E T VOUS .
LISE Z L E GUID E UTILISATEU R POU R D E
PLU S AMPLE S RENSEIGNEMENTS .
CAUTIO
N

T O AVOI D SERIOU S INJURY :

FO R MAXIMU M SAFET Y PROTECTIO N IN
AL L TYPE S O F CRASHES , YO U MUS T
ALWAY S WEA R YOU R SAFET Y BELT .
D O NO T INSTAL L REARWARD-FACIN G
CHIL D SEAT S I N AN Y FRON T
PASSENGE R SEA T POSITION .
D O NO T SI T O R LEA N UNNECESSARIL Y
CLOS E T O TH E AI R BAG .
D O NO T PLAC E AN Y OBJECT S OVE R TH E
AI R BA G O R BETWEE N TH E AI R BA G
AN D YOURSELF .
SE E TH E OWNER' S MANUA L FO R FURTHE R
INFORMATIO N AN D EXPLANATIONS .

Protectin
g Childre n

I f Yo u Mus t Driv e wit h Severa l
Childre n
You r ca r ha s thre e seatin g position s
i n th e bac k sea t wher e childre n ca n
b e properl y restrained .
I f yo u eve r hav e t o carr y mor e tha n
thre e childre n in you r car :
Plac e th e larges t chil d i n th e fron t
seat , provide d th e chil d is larg e
enoug h t o wea r a sea t bel t
properl y (se e pag e 3 7 ) .
Mov e th e vehicl e sea t a s fa r t o th e
rea r a s possibl e (se e pag e 12 ).
Hav e th e chil d si t uprigh t an d wel l
bac k in th e sea t (se e pag e 18 ).
Mak e sur e th e sea t bel t i s properl y
positione d an d secure d (se e pag e
15 ). I
f a Chil d Require s Clos e
Attentio n
Man y parent s sa y the y prefe r t o pu t
a n infan t o r smal l chil d i n th e fron t
passenge r sea t s o the y ca n watc h th e
child , o r becaus e th e chil d require s
attention .
Placin g a chil d in th e fron t sea t
expose s th e chil d t o hazard s fro m
th e airbag , an d payin g clos e
attentio n t o a chil d distract s th e
drive r fro m th e importan t task s o f
driving , placin g bot h o f yo u a t risk .
I f a chil d require s physica l attentio n
o r frequen t visua l contact , w e
strongl y recommen d tha t anothe r
adult ride wit h th e chil d i n th e bac k
seat . Th e bac k sea t i s fa r safe r fo r a
chil d tha n th e front . Additiona
l Safet y Precaution s

Use childproof door locks to
prevent children from opening the
doors. Usin g thi s featur e wil l
preven t childre n fro m openin g th e
door s an d accidentall y fallin g ou t
(se e pag e 7 5 ) .

Use the main power window
switch to prevent children from
opening the rear windows. Usin g

thi s featur e wil l preven t childre n
fro m playin g wit h th e windows ,
whic h coul d expos e the m to
hazard s o r distrac t th e drive r (se e
pag e 8 1 ) .
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Childre n
Do not leave children alone in your
vehicle. Leavin g childre n withou t
adul t supervisio n is illega l i n mos t
state s an d Canadia n provinces ,
an d ca n b e ver y hazardous . Fo r
example , infant s an d smal l
childre n lef t i n a vehicl e o n a ho t
da y ca n di e fro m heatstroke . An d
childre n lef t alon e wit h th e ke y i n
th e ignitio n ca n accidentall y se t
th e vehicl e in motion , possibl y
injurin g themselve s o r others . Genera
l Guideline s fo r Usin g
Chil d Seat s
Th e followin g page s giv e genera l
guideline s fo r selectin g an d installin g
chil d seat s fo r infant s an d smal l
children .
Selecting a Child Seat
T o provid e prope r protection , a chil d
sea t shoul d mee t thre e
requirements :

1. The child seat should meet safety
standards. Th e chil d sea t shoul d
mee t Federa l Moto r Vehicl e
Safet y Standar d 21 3 (FMVS S 213 )
o r Canadia n Moto r Vehicl e Safet y
Standar d 21 3 (CMVS S 213) . Loo k
fo r th e manufacturer' s statemen t
o f complianc e o n th e bo x an d seat .

2. The child seat should be of the
proper type and size to fit the child.
Infants: Childre
n u p t o abou t on e
yea r ol d shoul d b e restraine d in a
rear-facing , reclinin g chil d seat . Onl y
a rear-facin g sea t provide s th e
prope r suppor t t o protec t a n infant' s
head , neck , an d back . Se e pag e
2 9 fo r additiona l informatio n o n
protectin g infants .

CONTINUED

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Childre n

Small Children: A chil d wh o is to o

larg e fo r a rear-facin g chil d seat , an d
wh o ca n si t u p withou t support ,
shoul d b e restraine d in a forward -
facin g chil d seat . Se e pag e 3 3 fo r

additiona l informatio n o n protectin g

smal l children .
3. The child seat should fit the
vehicle seating position (or

positions) where it will be used.

Du e to variation s in th e desig n o f
chil d seats , vehicl e seats , an d sea t
belts , al l chil d seat s wil l no t fi t al l
vehicl e seatin g positions .
However , Hond a is confiden t tha t
on e o r mor e chil d sea t model s ca n fi t
an d b e properl y installe d in al l
recommende d seatin g position s in
you r car . Befor
e purchasin g a chil d seat , w e
recommen d tha t parent s tes t th e
chil d sea t i n th e specifi c vehicl e
seatin g positio n (o r positions ) wher e
the y inten d to us e th e seat . I f a
previousl y purchase d chil d sea t doe s
no t fit , yo u ma y nee d to bu y a
differen t on e tha t wil l fit .
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Childre n

Placing a Child Seat
Thi s pag e briefl y summarize s

Honda' s recommendation s o n wher e

t o plac e rear-facin g an d forward -

facin g chil d seat s in you r car . Front Passenger's Seat
Infants: Neve
r i n th e fron t seat , du e
t o th e passenger' s airba g hazard .

Small children: No t recommended ,

du e to th e passenger' s airba g
hazard . I f a smal l chil d mus t rid e
i n front , mov e th e vehicl e sea t t o
th e rear-mos t positio n an d secur e
a front-facin g chil d sea t wit h th e
sea t bel t (se e pag e 3 4 ) .

Back Seats

Infants: Recommende d
positions
.

Secur e a rear-facin g chil d sea t

wit h th e sea t bel t (se e pag e 3 0 ) .

Small children: Recommende d

positions . Secur e a front-facin g

chil d sea t wit h th e sea t bel t (se e

pag e 34 ).

CONTINUED

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y
Airbag
s Pos e Seriou s
Risk s t o Childre n
Th e passenger' s airba g inflate s
wit h enoug h forc e t o kil l o r
seriousl y injur e a n infan t i n a
rear-facin g chil d seat .
A smal l chil d in a forward-facin g
chil d sea t i s als o a t risk . I f th e
vehicl e sea t i s to o fa r forward ,
o r th e child' s hea d is throw n
forwar d durin g a collision , a n
inflatin g airba g ca n kil l o r
seriousl y injur e th e child .
I f a smal l chil d mus t rid e i n th e
front , follo w th e instruction s
provide d in thi s section .