belt HONDA CIVIC HATCHBACK 2004 7.G Owner's Guide

To activate the lockable retractor,
slowly pull the shoulder part of the
belt all the way out until it stops,
then let the belt f eed back into the
retractor.
Af ter the belt has retracted, tug on
it. If the belt is locked, you will not
be able to pull it out. If you can pull
thebeltout,itisnotlocked,and
you will need to repeat these steps.Af ter conf irming that the belt is
locked,thengrabtheshoulder
part of the belt near the buckle
andpulluptoremoveanyslack
f rom the lap part of the belt.
Remember, if the lap part of the
belt is not tight, the child seat will
not be secure.
Pushandpullthechildseat
f orward and f rom side to side to
verif y that it is f irmly secured. If
the child seat is not secure,
unlatch the belt, allow it to retract
f ully, then repeat these steps.
To remove slack, it may help to
putweightonthechildseat,or
push on the back of the seat while
pulling up on the belt. To deactivate the locking
mechanism and remove a child seat,
unlatch the buckle, unroute the seat
belt, and let the belt f ully retract.
2. 3.
4.
5.
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety41
——y

y
()yy

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 to the lap/shoulder belt
installation, we recommend using a
tether whenever one is required or
available. (Tethers are required in
Canada.)
Lif t the anchor point lid, then
attach the tether strap hook to the
anchor, making sure the strap is
not twisted.
Tighten the strap according to the
seat maker’s instructions.
Af ter securing the child seat in the
desired position (see pages and
), lif t the head restraint, then
route the tether strap over the top
of the seat-back and through the
head restraint legs.
2. 3.
1.
34
35
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Installing a Child Seat with a
Tether
Using an Outer A nchorage Point
42 ANCHORAGE POINT
TETHER STRAP HOOK
——y

y
()yy

Af ter properly securing the child
seat with the lap/shoulder belt
(see page ), route the tether
strap over the top of the seat-back.
Attach the tether strap hook to the
anchor, making sure the strap is
not twisted, then tighten the strap
according to the seat-maker’s
instructions.When a child reaches the
recommended weight or height limit
for a forward-facing child seat, the
child should sit in a back seat on a
booster and wear a lap/shoulder belt.
The f ollowing pages give
instructions on how to check proper
seat belt f it, what kind of booster
seat to use if one is needed, and
important precautions f or a child
who must sit in f ront.
1. 40
2.
Installing a Child Seat, Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Using the Center A nchorage
Point
Protecting L arger Children
43
ANCHORAGE
POINT
Allowing a larger child age 12 or
under to sit in front can result in
injury or death if the passenger’s
front airbag inflates.
If a larger child must ride in front,
move the vehicle seat as far
back as possible, use a booster
seat if needed, have the child
sit up properly and wear the
seat belt properly.
——y
y
()yy

To determine if a lap/shoulder belt
properly f its a child, have the child
put on the seat belt, then ask
yourself :Does the child sit all the way back
against the seat?
Do the child’s knees bend
comf ortably over the edge of the
seat? Does the shoulder belt cross
between the child’s neck and arm?
Is the lap part of the belt as low as
possible, touching the child’s
thighs?
Will the child be able to stay
seated like this f or the whole trip?
If you answer yes to all these
questions, the child is ready to wear
the lap/shoulder belt correctly. If
you answer no to any question, the
child needs to ride on a booster seat. A child who has outgrown a f orward- f acing child seat should ride in a
back seat and use a booster seat
until the lap/shoulder belt f its them
properly without the booster.
1. 2. 3.4. 5.
Checking Seat Belt Fit
Using a Booster Seat
Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
44
——y
y
()yy

Some states also require children to
use a booster until they reach a
given age or weight (e.g., 6 years or
60lbs).Besuretocheckcurrent
laws in the state or states where you
intend to drive.
Booster seats can be high-back or
low-back. Whichever style you select,
make sure the booster meets f ederal
saf ety standards and that you 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 the back seat.
If the passenger’s f ront airbag
inf lates in a moderate to severe
frontal collision, the airbag can cause
serious injuries to a child who is
unrestrained, improperly restrained,
sitting too close to the airbag, or out
of position.
Thesideairbagalsoposesrisks.If
any part of a larger child’s body is in
the path of a deploying side airbag,
the child could receive possibly
serious injuries.
A child may continue using a booster
seat until the tops of their ears are
even with the top of the vehicle’s or
booster’s seat-back. A child of this
height should be tall enough to use
the lap/shoulder belt without a
booster.
If a child who uses a booster must be
in f ront, move the vehicle seat as f ar
back as possible and be sure the
child is wearing the seat belt
properly.When Can a Larger Child Sit in Front
Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety 45
——y
y
()yy

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. This could result in
serious neck injuries during a crash.
This could cause
very serious injuries during a crash.
It also increases the chance that the
child will slide under the belt in a
crash and be injured.
If they do, they could
be very seriously injured in a crash.
Devices intended to improve a
child’s comf ort or reposition the
shoulder part of a seat belt can make
the belt less ef f ective, and increase
the chance of serious injury in a
crash.
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.
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.
Physically, a child must be large
enough f or the lap/shoulder belt to
properly f it (see page ). If the seat
belt does not f it properly, with or
without the child sitting on a booster,
the child should not sit in the f ront. Supervise the child. Even mature
children sometimes need to be
reminded to f asten the seat belts
or sit properly.
44 Additional Saf ety Precautions
Do not let a child wear a seat belt
across t he neck.
Do not let a child put the shoulderpart of a seat belt behind t he back orunder t he arm.
T wo children should never use t hesame seat belt .
Do not put any accessories on a seatbelt.
Maturity
Physical Size
Protecting L arger Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
46
——y

y
()yy

The U.S. instrument panel is shown. Dif f erences f or the Canadian models are noted in thetext.
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Instrument Panel Indicators
51
PARKING BRAKE AND
BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR
HATCH-OPEN INDICATOR
CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATOR
LOW OIL PRESSURE
INDICATOR
MALFUNCTION
INDICATOR LAMP
IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM INDICATOR CRUISE CONTROL
INDICATOR
HIGH BEAM INDICATOR
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR ELECTRIC POWER
STEERING INDICATOR
LOW FUEL
INDICATOR
SUPPLEMENTAL
RESTRAINT SYSTEM
INDICATOR
MAINTENANCE
REQUIRED
INDICATOR
(P. 53) (P. 54)
(P. 56) (P. 53)
(P. 54)
(P. 55)
(P. 54)
(P. 52)
(P. 52)
(P. 55)
(P. 53, 179)
(P. 52, 177)
(P. 52, 177)
(P. 53, 178) SIDE AIRBAG OFF
INDICATOR
SEAT BELT REMINDER INDICATOR
(P. 52)
——y

y
()yy

The instrument panel has many
indicators to give you important
inf ormation about your vehicle.
The seat belt system includes an
indicator on the instrument panel
and a beeper to remind you and your
passengers to f asten your seat belts.
If you turn the ignition switch to ON
(II) bef ore f astening your belt, the
beeper sounds and the indicator
f lashes. If you do not f asten your
seat belt bef ore the beeper stops, the
indicator stops f lashing but remainson.
If you continue driving without
f astening your seat belt, the beeper
sounds and the indicator f lashes
again at regular intervals.If this indicator comes on when the
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged. For more inf ormation,
see page .
The engine can be severely damaged
if this indicator f lashes or stays on
when the engine is running. For
more inf ormation, see page .
This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch to ON (II). If
it comes on at any other time, it
indicates that the passenger’s side
airbag has automatically shut off.
For more inf ormation, see page .
This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch to ON (II). If
it comes on at any other time, it
indicates a potential problem with
your f ront airbags or automatic seat
belt tensioners. On models equipped
with side airbags, this indicator will
also alert you to a potential problem
with your side airbags or passenger’s
side airbag automatic cutoff system.
For complete inf ormation, see page
.26
177
177
27
If equipped
Inst rument s and Cont rolsSeat Belt Reminder
Indicator
Charging System
Indicator
L ow Oil Pressure
IndicatorSupplemental Restraint
System Indicator
Side Airbag Of f Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
52
——y

y
()yy

The back of the rear seat folds down
to give you more cargo space. Each
side f olds down separately. With only
half the seat f olded, you can still
carry a passenger in the back seat.Beforefoldingdowntheseat-back,
move the seat belt out of the way
and put the shoulder part of the
outside seat belt in the clip on each
side.
After you return the seat-back to the
upright position, push the whole seat
backwards until it latches. Make
sure the seat is f ully latched bef ore
you sit in it.
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Folding Rear Seat
73
CLIP
——y
y
()yy

To unlatch either side of the seat-
back, pull up on the release lever,
then fold the seat-back down.Never drive with the seat-back
f olded down and the hatch open. See
on page
.
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 it
firmly against its latch. Tug on the
seat-back to make sure it is latched.
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. 47
117
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols Carbon Monoxide Hazard
Carrying Cargo
74 RELEASE LEVER
——y
y
()yy