airbag HONDA CIVIC SEDAN 2000 Owner's Manual (in English)

Drive
r an d Passenge r Safet y

Thi s sectio n give s yo u importan t

informatio n abou t ho w to protec t

yoursel f an d you r passengers . I t

show s yo u ho w to us e sea t belt s

properly . I t explains your Supple -

menta l Restrain t System . An d it tell s

yo u ho w to properl y restrai n infant s
an d childre n in you r car .

Importan t Safet y Precautions......... . 6

You r Car' s Safet y Features............. . 7

Sea t Belts....................................... . 8
Airbags...........................................
. 9

Seat s & Seat-Backs..................... . 1 0

Hea d Restraints.......................... . 1 0

Doo r Locks.................................. . 1 1

Pre-Driv e Safet y Checklist........ . 1 1

Protectin g Adults............................ . 1 2

1 . Clos e an d Loc k th e Doors..... . 1 2

2 . Adjus t th e Fron t Seats........... . 1 2

3 . Adjus t th e Seat-Backs............ . 1 3

4 . Adjus t th e Hea d Restraints... . 1 4

5 . Faste n an d Positio n th e Sea t

Belts..................................... . 1 5

6 . Adjus t th e Steerin g Wheel.... . 1 8

7 . Maintai n a Prope r Sittin g

Position................................ . 1 8

Advic e fo r Pregnan t Women..... . 1 9

Additiona l Safet y Precautions... . 1 9

Protectin g Children........................ . 2 1

Al l Childre n Mus t B e

Restrained............................... . 2 1

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

Seat........................................... . 2 2

Th e Passenger' s Airba g Pose s

Seriou s Risk s t o Children...... . 2 2

I f Yo u Mus t Driv e wit h Severa l

Children................................... . 2 4
I
f a Chil d Require s Clos e
Attention.................................. . 2 4
Additiona l Safet y Precautions... . 2 4
Genera l Guideline s fo r Usin g

Chil d Seats............................... . 2 5

Protectin g Infants....................... . 2 9
Protectin g Smal l Children......... . 3 3
Protectin g Large r Children....... . 3 7
Usin g Chil d Seat s wit h
Tethers..................................... . 4 0
Additiona l Informatio n Abou t You r

Sea t Belts................................. . 4 2

Sea t Bel t Syste m Components.. . 4 2
Lap/Shoulde r Belt...................... . 4 2
La p Belt........................................ . 4 3
Sea t Bel t Maintenance............... . 4 4
Additiona l Informatio n Abou t You r

SRS........................................... . 4 5

SR S Components........................ . 4 5

Ho w You r Airbag s Work........... . 4 5
Ho w th e SR S Indicato r Ligh t
Works....................................... . 4 7

SR S Service.................................. . 4 7

Additiona l Safet y Precautions... . 4 8

Carbo n Monoxid e Hazard............. . 4 9

Safet y Labels................................... . 5 0

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Important
Safety Precautions
You'l l fin d man y safet y
recommendation s throughou t thi s
section , an d throughou t thi s manual .
Th e recommendation s o n thi s pag e
ar e th e one s w e conside r t o b e th e
mos t important .
Alway s Wea r You r Sea t Bel t
A sea t bel t i s you r bes t protectio n i n
al l type s o f collisions . Airbag s
supplemen t sea t belts , bu t airbag s
ar e designe d t o inflat e onl y i n a
moderat e to sever e fronta l collision .
S o eve n thoug h you r ca r i s equippe d
wit h airbags , mak e sur e yo u an d
you r passenger s alway s wea r you r
sea t belts , an d wea r the m properly .
(Se e pag e 15 .)
Restrai n Al l Childre n
Childre n ar e safes t whe n the y ar e
properl y restraine d i n th e bac k seat ,
no t th e fron t seat . A chil d wh o i s to o
smal l fo r a sea t bel t mus t b e properl y
restraine d in a chil d safet y seat . (Se e
pag e 21 .) B
e Awar e o f Airba g Hazard s
Whil e airbag s ca n sav e lives , the y
ca n caus e seriou s o r fata l injurie s t o
occupant s wh o si t to o clos e t o them ,
o r ar e no t properl y restrained .
Infants , youn g children , an d shor t
adult s ar e a t th e greates t risk . B e
sur e t o follo w al l instruction s an d
warning s i n thi s manual . (Se e pag e
9 .)

Don' t Drin k an d Driv e

Alcoho l an d drivin g don' t mix . Eve n
on e drin k ca n reduc e you r abilit y t o
respon d t o changin g conditions , an d
you r reactio n tim e get s wors e wit h
ever y additiona l drink . S o don' t drin k
an d drive , an d don' t le t you r friend s
drin k an d drive , either . Contro
l You r Spee d
Excessiv e spee d is a majo r facto r i n
cras h injurie s an d deaths . Generally ,
th e highe r th e spee d th e greate r th e
risk , bu t seriou s accident s ca n als o
occu r a t lowe r speeds . Neve r driv e
faste r tha n i s saf e fo r curren t
conditions , regardles s o f th e
maximu m spee d posted .
Kee p You r Ca r i n Saf e Conditio n
Havin g a tir e blowou t o r a
mechanica l failur e ca n b e extremel y
hazardous . T o reduc e th e possibilit y
o f suc h problems , chec k you r tir e
pressure s an d conditio n frequently ,
an d perfor m al l regularl y schedule d
maintenance . (Se e pag e 17 8 .)

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

You
r Car' s Safet y Feature s

(1 ) Safet y Cag e
(2 ) Crus h Zone s

(3 ) Seat s & Seat-Back s
(4 ) Hea d Restraint s

(5 ) Collapsibl e Steerin g Colum n

(6 ) Sea t Belt s

(7 ) Airbag s

(8 ) Doo r Lock s
You
r ca r i s equippe d wit h man y
feature s tha t wor k togethe r t o
protec t yo u an d you r passenger s
durin g a crash .
Som e safet y feature s d o no t requir e
an y actio n o n you r part . Thes e
includ e a stron g stee l framewor k
tha t form s a safet y cag e aroun d th e
passenge r compartment ; fron t an d
rea r crus h zone s tha t ar e designe d t o
crumpl e an d absor b energ y durin g a
crash ; an d a collapsibl e steerin g

column .

Thes e safet y feature s ar e designe d
t o reduc e th e severit y o f injurie s i n a
crash . However , yo u an d you r
passenger s can' t tak e ful l advantag e
o f thes e safet y feature s unles s yo u
remai n sittin g in a prope r positio n

an d always wear your seat belts

properly. I n fact , som e safet y
feature s ca n contribut e to injurie s if
the y ar e no t use d properly .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

You
r Car' s Safet y Feature s
Sea t Belt s
Fo r you r safety , an d th e safet y o f
you r passengers , you r ca r i s
equippe d wit h sea t belt s i n al l seatin g
positions .
You r sea t bel t syste m als o include
s a ligh t o n th e
instrumen t pane l t o remin d yo u an d
you r passenger s t o faste n you r sea t
belts .

Why Wear Seat Belts

Sea t belt s ar e th e singl e mos t
effectiv e safet y devic e fo r adult s an d
large r children . (Infant s an d smalle r
childre n mus t b e properl y restraine d
i n chil d seats. )
No t wearin g a sea t bel t properl y
increase s th e chanc e o f seriou s
injur y o r deat h in a crash , eve n
thoug h you r ca r ha s airbags . I
n addition , mos t state s an d al l
Canadia n province s requir e yo u to
wea r sea t belts .
Whe n properl y worn , sea t belts :
Kee p yo u connecte d t o th e vehicl e
s o yo u ca n tak e advantag e o f th e
vehicle' s built-i n safel y features . Hel
p protec t yo u i n almost every
typ e o f crash , includin g sid e an d
rea r impact s an d rollovers . (You r
airba g ca n onl y b e helpfu l i n a
moderat e t o sever e fronta l
collision.
)
Hel p kee p yo u fro m bein g throw n

agains t th e insid e o f th e vehicl e

an d agains t othe r occupants .

Kee p yo u fro m bein g throw n ou t

o f th e vehicle .
Hel
p kee p yo u in a goo d positio n

shoul d th e airbag s eve r deploy . A

goo d positio n reduce s th e ris k o f

injur y fro m an inflatin g airbag , an d

allow s yo u to ge t th e bes t

advantag e fro m th e airbag .
O f course , sea t belt s canno t

completel y protec t yo u in ever y

crash . Bu t i n mos t cases , sea t belt s

ca n reduc e you r ris k o f seriou s

injury .

What you should do: Alway s wea r

you r sea t belt , an d mak e sur e yo u
wea r i t properly .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y
No
t wearin g a sea t bel t properl y

increase s th e chanc e o f seriou s

injur y o r deat h i n a crash , eve n

i f yo u hav e airbags .

B e sur e yo u an d you r

passenger s alway s wea r sea t

belt s an d wea r the m properly .

You
r Car' s Safet y Feature s

Airbag s
You r ca r ha s a Supplementa l
Restrain t Syste m (SRS ) wit h fronta l
airbag s t o hel p protec t th e drive r an d
a fron t sea t passenger .
Thi s syste m als o include s
a n indicato r ligh t o n th e
instrumen t pane l t o aler t yo u t o a
possibl e proble m wit h th e system .Th
e mos t importan t thing s yo u nee d
t o kno w abou t you r airbag s are : Airbags do not replace seat belts.
Th e sea t belt s ar e th e occupants '
primar y protectio n in al l type s o f
collisions . Th e airbag s supplemen t
th e sea t belt s b y providin g extr a
protectio n fo r th e hea d an d ches t
o f eac h fron t sea t occupan t i n a
moderat e t o sever e fronta l

collision .
Airbags offer no protection in side

impacts, rear impacts, rollovers,
or minor collisions. Airbag s ar e

designe d t o deploy only durin g a
moderat e t o sever e fronta l

collision .
Airbags can pose serious hazards.
T
o d o thei r job , airbag s mus t
inflat e wit h tremendou s forc e an d
speed . S o whil e airbag s sav e lives ,
the y ca n caus e seriou s injurie s to
adult s an d large r childre n wh o ar e
no t wearin g sea t belts , ar e no t
wearin g the m properly , ar e sittin g
to o clos e t o th e airbag , o r ar e no t
sittin g in a prope r position . Infant s
an d smal l childre n ar e a t a n eve n
greate r ris k o f injur y o r death .

What you should do : Alway s wea r

you r sea t bel t properly , an d 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 .
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

S R
S

You
r Car' s Safet y Feature s

Seat s & Seat-Back s
You r car' s seat s ar e designe d to kee p
yo u in a comfortable , uprigh t
positio n s o yo u ca n tak e ful l
advantag e o f th e protectio n offere d
b y sea t belt s an d th e energ y
absorbin g material s i n th e seats .
Ho w yo u adjus t you r seat s an d seat -
back s ca n als o affec t you r safety . Fo r
example , sittin g to o clos e to th e
steerin g whee l o r dashboar d
increase s th e ris k o f yo u o r you r
passenge r bein g injure d b y strikin g
th e insid e o f th e car , o r b y a n
inflatin g airbag .
Reclinin g a seat-bac k to o fa r reduce s
th e sea t belt' s effectivenes s an d
increase s th e chanc e tha t th e seat' s
occupan t wil l slid e unde r th e sea t
bel t i n a cras h an d b e seriousl y

injured .
What you should do: Mov
e th e fron t

seat s a s fa r bac k a s possible , an d
kee p adjustabl e seat-back s in a n
uprigh t positio n wheneve r th e ca r i s

moving .
Hea
d Restraint s
Hea d restraint s ca n hel p protec t yo u
fro m whiplas h an d othe r injuries . Fo r
maximu m protection , th e bac k o f
you r hea d shoul d res t agains t th e
cente r o f th e hea d restraint .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

You
r Car' s Safet y Feature s
Doo r Lock s
Keepin g you r door s locke d reduce s
th e chanc e o f bein g throw n ou t o f
th e ca r durin g a crash . I t als o help s
preven t occupant s fro m accidentall y
openin g a doo r an d fallin g out , an d
outsider s fro m unexpectedl y openin g
you r doors . Pre-Driv
e Safet y Checklis t
T o mak e sur e yo u an d you r
passenger s ge t th e maximu m
protectio n fro m you r car' s safet y
features , chec k th e followin g eac h
tim e befor e yo u driv e away :
Al l adults , an d childre n wh o hav e
outgrow n chil d safet y seats , ar e
wearin g thei r sea t belt s an d
wearin g the m properl y (se e pag e
15 ).

An y infan t o r smal l chil d is
properl y restraine d in a chil d sea t

i n th e bac k sea t (se e pag e 21 ).
Fron t sea t occupant s ar e sittin g
uprigh t an d a s fa r bac k a s possibl e
fro m th e steerin g whee l an d
dashboar d (se e pag e 12 ). Seat-back
s ar e uprigh t (se e pag e
13 ). Hea
d restraint s ar e properl y
adjuste d (se e pag e 1 4 ) .
Al l door s ar e close d an d locke d
(seepag e 11 ). Al
l carg o i s properl y store d o r
secure d (se e pag e 151 ).
Th e res t o f thi s sectio n give s mor e
detaile d informatio n abou t ho w yo u
ca n maximiz e you r safely .
Remember , however , tha t n o safet y
syste m ca n preven t al l injurie s o r
death s tha t ca n occu r i n sever e
crashes , eve n whe n sea t belt s ar e
properl y wor n an d th e airbag s deploy .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Adult s

T o reduc e th e chanc e o f injury , wea r
you r sea t bel t properly , si t uprigh t
wit h you r bac k agains t th e seat , an d
mov e th e sea t a s fa r bac k a s possibl e
fro m th e steerin g whee l whil e stil l
maintainin g ful l contro l o f th e car .
Als o mak e sur e you r fron t sea t
passenge r move s th e sea t a s fa r t o
th e rea r a s possible . Mos
t shorte r driver s ca n ge t fa r
enoug h awa y fro m th e steerin g
whee l an d stil l reac h th e pedals .
However , i f yo u ar e concerne d abou t
sittin g to o close, we recommen d tha t
yo u investigat e whethe r som e typ e
o f adaptiv e equipmen t ma y help .
Onc e you r sea t i s adjuste d correctly ,
roc k i t bac k an d fort h t o mak e sur e
th e sea t i s locke d in position .
Se e pag e 7 7 fo r ho w to adjus t th e
fron t seats . 3.Adjus
t th e Seat-Back s
Adjus t th e driver' s seat-bac k t o a
comfortable , uprigh t position ,
leavin g ampl e spac e betwee n you r
ches t an d th e airba g cove r i n th e
cente r o f th e steerin g wheel . I f yo u
si t to o clos e t o th e steerin g wheel ,
yo u coul d b e injure d if th e airba g
inflates .

CONTINUED

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Sittin
g to o clos e t o a n airba g
ca n resul t i n seriou s injur y o r
deat h i f th e airbag s inflate .
Alway s si t a s fa r bac k fro m th e
airbag s a s possible .

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