ECU HONDA CIVIC HATCHBACK 2003 7.G User Guide

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Whichever style you select, f ollow
the booster seat maker’s instructions.The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that all children
ages 12 and under be properly
restrained in a back seat.
The back seat is the saf est place f or
a child of any age or size.
In addition, the passenger’s f ront
airbag poses serious risks to children.
If the seat is too f ar f orward, or the
child’s head is thrown f orward
during a collision, or the child is
unrestrained or out of position, an
inf lating f ront airbag can kill or
seriously injure the child.
Thesideairbagalsoposesrisks.If
any part of a larger child’s body is in
the path of a deploying airbag, the
child could receive possibly serious
injuries.
If a child needs a booster seat, we
recommend choosing a high or low-
back style that allows the child to be
directly secured with the lap/
shoulder belt. A child should continue using a
booster seat until the child exceeds
the booster seat manufacturer’s
requirements.
Even then, the child may still need to
use a booster seat. Note that some
states now require children to use
boosters until they reach a certain
ageand/orweight.Besuretocheck
current laws in the state or states
where you intend to drive.
Protecting Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Using a Booster Seat
When Can a Larger Child Sit in Front
37

Of course, children vary widely. And
while age may be one indicator of
when a child can saf ely ride in the
f ront, there are other important
f actors you should consider.
Physically, a child must be large
enough f or the lap/shoulder belt to
properly f it over the hips, chest, and
shoulder (see pages and ). If
the seat belt does not f it properly,
the child should not sit in the f ront.To saf ely ride in f ront, a child must
be able to f ollow the rules, including
sitting properly and wearing the seat
belt properly throughout a ride.
If you decide that a child can saf ely
ride up f ront, be sure to:
Caref ully read the owner’s manual
and make sure you understand all
seat belt instructions and all saf ety
inf ormation.
Move the vehicle seat to the rear-
most position.
Have the child sit up straight, back
against the seat, and feet on or
near the f loor. Check that the child’s seat belt is
properly positioned and secured.
Supervise the child. Even mature
children sometimes need to be
reminded to f asten the seat belts
or sit properly.
Remind the child not to lean
toward the door.
15 36
Physical Size Maturity
Protecting Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
38

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Lift the head restraint, then route
the tether strap over the seat-back
between the legs of the head
restraint.
One tether anchorage point f or each
of the outer rear seats is located
under the cargo f loor carpet and the
tailgate sill. Pull up the carpet to
access the anchorage point
(outboard anchor) when securing a
tether-style child seat to the vehicle.
Since a tether can provide additional
security, we recommend using a
tether whenever one is required or
available. Attach the tether strap hook to the
tether anchorage point as shown in
the illustration, then tighten the
strap according to the child seat
maker’s instructions. Make sure the
strap is not twisted.
Protecting Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Using Child Seats with T ethers
39
TETHER STRAP HOOK
ANCHORAGE POINT

Your car is equipped with LATCH
(Lower Anchors and Tethers f or
Children) at the outer rear seats.
The lower anchors are located
between the seat-back and seat
bottom and are to be used only with
a child seat designed f or use with
LATCH.
When the child seat is used, f ollow
the instructions that came with the
child seat.
To attach the tether to the child seat,
f ollow the child seat maker’s
instructions.
You can also remove the rear head
restraints (see page ). The
removedheadrestraintsshouldbe
securedsotheywillnotbethrown
while you are driving. Make sure
to replace the rear head restraints
when the child seats are not in use. 82
Protecting Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety Using L A T CH
40 MARKS
LOWER
ANCHORS
——y
y
()
yy

Follow the child seat maker’s
instructions f or any additional
advice on adjusting or tightening
the fit.
The exact location of each lower
anchor is marked with a small circle
above the lower anchor points.
To install a LATCH-compatible child
seat:
Move the seat belt buckle away
f rom the lower anchors.
Make sure there are no f oreign
objects around the anchors.
Foreign objects could get in the
way of a secure connection
between the child seat and the
anchors. Put the child seat in the rear lef t
or right vehicle seat and attach the
child seat to the lower anchors
according to the child seat maker’s
instructions.
3.
4.
2.
1.
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Protecting Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
41
Rigid type
Flexible type

Lift the head restraint, then route
the tether strap over the seat-back
between the legs of the head
restraint.Attach the tether strap hook to the
tether anchorage point, and
tighten the strap according to the
child seat maker’s instructions.
Make sure the strap is not twisted.
Push and pull the child seat
f orward and f rom side to side to
verif y that it is secure enough to
stay upright during normal driving
maneuvers.This symbol on rear or f orward
f acing child seats or booster
cushions indicates the presence of
LATCH compatible hardware.
5.
6. 7.
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Protecting Children
L ower Universal Anchorage
System Symbol
42 TETHER STRAP HOOK
ANCHORAGE POINT
——y
y
()
yy

This seat belt has a single belt that
goes over your shoulder, across your
chest and across your hips.To unlock the belt, push the red
PRESSbuttononthebuckle.
To fasten the belt, insert the latch
plate into the buckle, then tug on the
belt to make sure the buckle is
latched.
Your seat belt system includes lap/
shoulder belts in all f ive seating
positions.
The seat belt system also
includes a light on the
instrument panel to remind you and
your passengers to f asten your belts.
If the driver’s seat belt is not
fastened before the ignition is turned
ON (II), the light will come on. The
light will stay on until the driver’s
seat belt is f astened. Guide the belt across your body to
the door pillar. Af ter exiting the
vehicle, be sure the belt is out of the
way and will not get closed in the
door.
The seat belts in all seating positions
except the driver’s have an additional
locking mechanism that must be
activated to secure a child seat. (See
pages and f or instructions on
how to secure child seats with this
type of seat belt.)
All seat belts have an emergency
locking retractor. In normal driving,
the retractor lets you move f reely in
your seat while it keeps some
tension on the belt. During a collision
or sudden stop, the retractor
automatically locks the belt to help
restrain your body.
33
30
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Seat Belt System Components L ap/Shoulder Belt
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Additional Inf ormation About Your Seat Belts
43

Make sure the rear window is clear
and you have good visibility bef ore
starting to drive.Make any steering wheel adjustment
bef ore you start driving.
To adjust the steering wheel upward
or downward:Push the lever under the steering
column all the way down.
Thedefoggerwiresontheinsideof
the rear window can be accidentally
damaged. When cleaning the glass,
always wipe side to side.
Move the steering wheel to the
desired position, making sure the
wheel points toward your chest,
not toward your f ace. Make sure
you can see the instrument panel
gauges and the indicator lights.
Push the lever up to lock the
steering wheel in that position.
Make sure you have securely
locked the steering wheel in place
by trying to move it up and down.
1.
4.
3.
2.
See page f or important saf ety
inf ormation about how to properlyposition the steering wheel. 17
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Steering Wheel A djustment
71
Adjusting the steering wheel
position while driving may
cause you to lose control of the
vehicle and be seriously injured
inacrash.
Adjust the steering wheel only
when the vehicle is stopped.

Make sure all items in the cargo area
are secured. Loose items can f ly
f orward and cause injury if you have
to brake hard. See
on page .
To lock the seat-back upright, push
the seat-back firmly against its latch.
Tug on the seat-back to make sure it
is latched.
Do not put any heavy items on the
seat-back when it is folded.
Make sure the seat belts are
positioned in f ront of the rear seat-
back and the seat belt buckles are on
the seat cushion whenever the seat-
back is in its upright position.
The cargo area cover may be re-
moved to give you more cargo room.
To remove the cargo area cover,
disconnect the cables f rom the hatch
by lif ting up each end, then pulling it
outward. Then push up on the
underside of the cargo cover at each
f ront corner to unsnap it f rom the
body.To install the cargo area cover, place
it in its normal position over the
cargo area. Then push down on each
f ront corner to snap it in place. Lif t
up the rear of the cover, then
reconnect the cables to the hatch.
137 Cargo Area Cover
Carrying Cargo
Folding Rear Seat, Cargo A rea Cover
Inst rument s and Cont rols
84 HOOK
NOTCHES

Wipe the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel.
Check the engine oil level every time
you f ill the car with f uel. Wait a f ew
minutes af ter turning the engine of f
bef ore you check the oil.
Remove the dipstick (orange
handle).
After closing the hood, make sure
it is securely latched.
2.
1.
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving
Oil Check
132 DIPSTICK