HONDA CIVIC SEDAN 2000 (in English) User Guide

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

Introductio n
Th e followin g page s provid e
instruction s o n ho w to properl y
protec t th e drive r an d othe r adul t

occupants .

Thes e instruction s als o appl y t o
childre n wh o hav e outgrow n chil d
seat s an d ar e large enoug h to wea r
lap/shoulde r belts . (Se e pag e 3 7 fo r
importan t additiona l guideline s o n
ho w to properl y protec t large r
children. ) 1.Clos
e an d Loc k th e Door s
Afte r everyon e ha s entere d th e car ,
b e sur e th e door s ar e close d an d

locked .

Fo r safety , lockin g th e door s reduce s
th e chanc e tha t a passenger ,
especiall y a child , wil l ope n a doo r
whil e th e ca r i s movin g an d
accidentall y fal l out . I t als o reduce s
th e chanc e o f someon e bein g throw n
ou t o f th e ca r durin g a crash .
Fo r security , locke d door s ca n
preven t a n outside r fro m
unexpectedl y openin g a doo r whe n
yo u com e to a stop .
Se e pag e 7 1 fo r ho w to loc k th e

doors .
2.Adjus
t th e Fron t Seat s
An y drive r wh o sit s to o clos e t o th e
steerin g whee l i s a t ris k o f bein g
seriousl y injure d o r kille d b y strikin g
th e steerin g wheel , o r fro m bein g
struc k b y a n inflatin g airba g durin g a

crash .

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

A fron t passenge r shoul d als o adjus t
th e seat-bac k t o a n uprigh t position ,
bu t a s fa r fro m th e dashboar d a s
possible . A passenge r wh o sit s to o
clos e to th e dashboar d coul d b e
injure d if th e airba g inflates .
Reclinin g a seat-bac k s o tha t th e
shoulder part o f th e bel t n o longe r
rest s agains t th e occupant' s ches t
reduce s th e protectiv e capabilit y o f
th e belt . I t als o increase s th e chanc e
o f slidin g unde r th e bel t i n a cras h
an d bein g seriousl y injured . Th e
farthe r a seat-bac k is reclined , th e
greate r th e ris k o f injury . Se
e pag e 7 7 fo r ho w to adjus t seat -

backs .
4.Adjus
t th e Hea d Restraint s
Befor e driving , mak e sur e everyon e
wit h a n adjustabl e hea d restrain t ha s
properl y positione d th e hea d
restraint . Th e restrain t shoul d b e
positione d s o th e bac k o f th e
occupant' s hea d rest s agains t th e
cente r o f th e restraint . A talle r
perso n shoul d adjus t th e restrain t a s
hig h a s possible .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y
Reclinin
g th e seat-bac k to o fa r
ca n resul t i n seriou s injur y o r
deat h in a crash .
Adjus t th e seat-bac k t o a n

uprigh t positio n an d si t wel l

bac k in th e seat .

Protectin
g Adult s
Properl y adjuste d hea d restraint s
wil l hel p protec t occupant s fro m
whiplas h an d othe r cras h injuries .
Se e pag e 7 9 fo r ho w to adjus t th e
hea d restraints . 5.Faste
n an d Positio n th e Sea t
Belt s

Using a Lap/Shoulder Belt

Inser t th e latc h plat e int o th e buckle ,
the n tu g o n th e bel t t o mak e sur e th e
bel t i s securel y latched . Als o chec k
tha t th e bel t i s no t twisted , becaus e a
twiste d bel t ca n caus e seriou s
injurie s in a crash .
Position th e la p par t o f th e bel t a s
lo w a s possibl e acros s you r hips ,
the n pul l u p o n th e shoulde r par t o f
th e bel t s o th e la p par t fit s snugly .
Thi s let s you r stron g pelvi c bone s
tak e th e forc e o f a cras h an d reduce s
th e chanc e o f interna l injuries .

CONTINUED

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Improperl
y positionin g hea d
restraint s reduce s thei r
effectivenes s an d yo u ca n b e
seriousl y injure d in a crash .
Mak e sur e hea d restraint s ar e
i n plac e an d positione d properl y
befor e driving .

Protectin
g Adult s
I f necessary , pul l u p o n th e bel t agai n
t o remov e an y slac k fro m th e
shoulde r part , the n chec k tha t th e
bel t rest s acros s th e cente r o f you r
ches t an d ove r you r shoulder . Thi s
spread s th e force s o f a cras h ove r
th e stronges t bone s i n you r uppe r
body .
If th e sea t bel t touche s o r crosse s
you r neck , o r i f i t crosse s you r ar m
instea d o f you r shoulder , yo u nee d to
adjus t th e sea t bel t ancho r height .T
o adjus t th e heigh t o f a fron t sea t
bel t anchor , squeez e th e tw o releas e
button s an d slid e th e ancho r u p o r
dow n a s neede d (i t ha s fou r
positions) .

Never place the shoulder portion of a lap/shoulder belt under your arm orbehind your back. Thi s coul d caus e

ver y seriou s injurie s i n a crash .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Improperl
y positionin g th e sea t
belt s ca n caus e seriou s injur y
o r deat h in a crash .
Mak e sur e al l sea t belt s ar e
properl y positione d befor e

driving .

Protectin
g Adult s

Using the Lap Belt
Inser t th e latc h plat e int o th e buckl e
marke d CENTER .
I f th e bel t i s to o short , hol d th e latc h
plat e a t a righ t angl e an d pul l o n th e
plat e to exten d th e belt . The n inser t
th e latc h plat e int o th e buckle , an d
tu g o n th e bel t t o mak e sur e th e bel t
i s securel y latched . Positio
n th e bel t a s lo w a s possibl e
acros s you r hips . Thi s let s you r
stron g pelvi c bone s tak e th e forc e o f
a cras h an d reduce s th e chanc e o f
interna l injuries .
Pul l o n th e loos e en d o f th e bel t fo r a
snu g bu t comfortabl e fit .
If a Seat Belt Doesn't Work Properly

I f a sea t bel t doe s no t see m to wor k
a s it should , i t ma y no t protec t th e

occupan t i n a crash . No one should

sit in a seat with an inoperative seat

belt. Anyon e usin g a sea t bel t tha t i s
no t workin g properl y ca n b e
seriousl y injure d o r killed . Hav e you r
Hond a deale r chec k th e bel t a s soo n
a s possible .
Se e pag e 4 2 fo r additiona l
informatio n abou t you r sea t bel t
syste m an d ho w to tak e car e o f you r
belts .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y