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

Protectin
g Childre n

Installing a Child Seat

Afte r selectin g a prope r chil d seat ,
an d a goo d positio n to instal l th e seat ,
ther e ar e thre e mai n step s i n
installin g th e seat :

1. Secure the child seat to the car
with a seat belt. Al l chil d seat s
mus t b e secure d t o th e ca r wit h
th e la p bel t o r th e la p par t o f a lap /
shoulde r belt . A chil d whos e sea t
i s no t properl y secure d t o th e ca r
ca n b e endangere d in a crash . Se e
page s 3 0 an d 3 4 fo r instruction s o n
ho w to secur e chil d seat s i n thi s
car .

2. Make sure the child seat is firmly
secured. Afte r installin g a chil d

seat , pus h an d pul l th e sea t
forwar d an d fro m sid e t o sid e t o
verif y tha t i t i s secure . T
o provid e securit y durin g norma l
drivin g maneuver s a s wel l a s durin g
a collision , w e recommen d tha t
parent s secur e a chil d sea t a s firml y
a s possible .
However , a chil d sea t doe s no t nee d
t o b e "roc k solid. " I n som e vehicle s
o r seatin g positions , i t ma y b e
difficul t t o instal l a chil d sea t s o tha t
i t doe s no t mov e a t all . Som e side-to -
sid e o r back-and-fort h movemen t ca n
b e expecte d an d shoul d no t reduc e
th e chil d seat' s effectiveness .
I f th e chil d sea t i s no t secure , tr y
installin g it i n a differen t seatin g
position , o r us e a differen t styl e o f
chil d sea t tha t ca n b e firml y secure d
i n th e desire d seatin g position . 3. Secure the child in the child seat.
Mak e sur e th e chil d is properl y
strappe d in th e chil d sea t
accordin g t o th e chil d sea t maker' s
instructions . A chil d wh o is no t
properl y secure d in a chil d sea t
ca n b e throw n ou t o f th e sea t i n a
cras h an d seriousl y injured .

Storing a Child Seat

Whe n yo u ar e no t usin g a chil d seat ,
eithe r remov e i t an d stor e it i n a saf e
place , o r mak e sur e it i s properl y
secured . A n unsecure d chil d sea t ca n
b e throw n aroun d th e ca r durin g a
cras h o r sudde n sto p an d injur e

someone .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Childre n

Protectin g Infant s
Child Seat Type
Onl y a rear-facin g chil d sea t provide s
prope r suppor t fo r a baby' s head ,
neck , an d back . Infant s u p to abou t
on e yea r o f ag e mus t b e restraine d in
a rear-facin g chil d seat .
Tw o type s o f seat s ma y b e used : a
sea t designe d exclusivel y fo r infants ,
o r a convertibl e sea t use d in th e rear -
facing , reclinin g mode . W
e recommen d tha t a n infan t b e
restraine d in a rear-facin g chil d sea t
unti l th e infan t reache s th e sea t
maker' s weigh t o r heigh t limi t an d is
abl e t o si t u p withou t support .
Rear-Facing Child Seat Placement

I n thi s car , a rear-facin g chil d sea t
ca n b e place d in an y seatin g positio n
i n th e bac k seat , bu t no t i n th e fron t

seat .

Never put a rear-facing child seat in
the front seat. I f th e passenger' s
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 seriousl y injur e a n infant . I f a n
infan t mus t b e closel y watched , w e
recommen d tha t anothe r adul t si t i n
th e bac k sea t wit h th e baby .

Do not put a rear-facing child seat in

a forward-facing position. I f place d

facin g forward , a n infan t coul d b e
ver y seriousl y injure d durin g a
fronta l collision .

CONTINUED

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Placin
g a rear-facin g chil d sea t
i n th e fron t sea t ca n resul t i n
seriou s injur y o r deat h if th e
airbag s inflate .
Alway s plac e a rear-facin g chil d
sea t i n th e bac k seat , no t th e

front .

Protectin
g Childre n

Installing a Rear-Facing Child Seat
with a Lap/Shoulder Belt

Th e lap/shoulde r belt s i n th e oute r
bac k seat s hav e a lockin g
mechanis m tha t mus t b e activate d to
secur e a chil d seat .
Th e followin g page s provid e
instruction s o n ho w to secur e a rear -
facin g chil d sea t wit h thi s typ e o f
sea t belt .
Se e pag e 3 2 fo r ho w to secur e a rear -
facin g chil d sea t i n th e cente r bac k
sea t wit h th e la p belt .
Fo r tip s o n installin g a rear-facin g
chil d sea t wit h eithe r typ e o f sea t
belt , se e pag e 3 2 . 1
. Wit h th e chil d sea t i n th e desire d
bac k seatin g position , rout e th e
bel t throug h th e chil d sea t
accordin g to th e sea t maker' s
instructions , the n inser t th e latc h
plat e int o th e buckle . 2
. T o activat e th e lockabl e retractor ,
slowl y pul l th e shoulde r par t o f th e
bel t al l th e wa y ou t unti l i t stops ,
the n le t th e bel t fee d bac k int o th e
retracto r (yo u migh t hea r a
clickin g nois e a s th e bel t retracts) .
3 . Afte r th e bel t ha s retracted , tu g o n
it . I f th e bel t i s locked , yo u wil l no t
b e abl e t o pul l i t out . I f yo u ca n pul l
th e bel t out , i t i s no t locke d an d
yo u wil l nee d t o repea t thes e steps .
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Childre n

4 . Afte r confirmin g tha t th e bel t i s
locked , gra b th e shoulde r par t o f
th e bel t nea r th e buckl e an d pul l
u p to remov e an y slac k fro m th e
la p par t o f th e belt . Remember , i f
th e la p par t o f th e bel t i s no t tight ,
th e chil d sea t wil l no t b e secure .
T o remov e slack , i t ma y hel p t o
pu t weigh t o n th e chil d seat , o r
pus h o n th e bac k o f th e seat , whil e
pullin g u p o n th e belt . 5
. Pus h an d pul l th e chil d sea t
forwar d an d fro m sid e to sid e to
verif y tha t i t i s secur e enoug h to
sta y uprigh t durin g norma l drivin g
maneuvers . I f th e chil d sea t i s no t
secure , unlatc h th e belt , allo w it t o
retrac t fully , the n repea t thes e

steps .
T
o deactivat e th e lockin g
mechanis m an d remov e a chil d seat ,
unlatc h th e buckle , unrout e th e sea t
belt , an d le t th e bel t full y retract .

CONTINUED

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Childre n

Installing a Rear-Facing Child Seat with the Lap Belt

T o instal l a rear-facin g chil d sea t i n
th e cente r bac k sea t wit h th e la p belt ,
follo w instructio n numbe r 1 o n pag e
3 0 fo r routin g an d latchin g th e sea t
belt . The n pul l har d o n th e loos e en d
o f th e bel t t o remov e an y slac k (i t
ma y hel p t o pu t weigh t o n th e chil d
sea t whil e pullin g o n th e belt) .
Finally , follo w instructio n numbe r 5
o n pag e 3 1 t o verif y tha t th e chil d
sea t i s secure .
Rear-Facing Child Seat Installation
Tips

Fo r prope r protection , a n infan t mus t
rid e in a reclined , o r semi-recline d
position . T o determin e th e prope r
reclinin g angle , chec k wit h th e baby' s
docto r o r follo w th e sea t maker' s
recommendations .
T o achiev e th e desire d reclinin g
angle , i t ma y hel p t o pu t a rolle d u p
towe l unde r th e to e o f th e chil d seat ,
a s shown . Whe
n properl y installed , a rear -
facin g chil d sea t ma y preven t th e
drive r o r a front-sea t passenge r fro m
movin g th e sea t a s fa r bac k a s
recommende d (se e pag e 12 ). O r i t
ma y preven t the m fro m lockin g th e
seat-bac k i n th e desire d uprigh t
positio n (se e pag e 13 ).
I n eithe r case , w e recommen d tha t
yo u plac e th e chil d sea t directl y
behin d th e fron t passenge r seat ,
mov e th e fron t sea t a s fa r forwar d a s
needed , an d leav e it unoccupied . O r
yo u ma y wis h t o ge t a smalle r chil d
sea t tha t allow s yo u t o safel y carr y a
fron t passenger .
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Childre n

Additional Precautions for Infants
Never hold an infant on your lap.

I f yo u ar e no t wearin g a sea t bel t
i n a crash , yo u coul d b e throw n
forwar d int o th e dashboar d an d
crus h th e infant .
I f yo u ar e wearin g a sea t belt , th e
infan t ca n b e tor n fro m you r arms .
Fo r example , i f you r ca r crashe s
int o a parke d vehicl e a t 3 0 mp h
(4 8 km/h) , a 20-l b ( 9 kg ) infan t
wil l becom e a 600-l b (27 5 kg ) force ,
an d yo u wil l no t b e abl e to hol d on .
Never put a seat belt over yourself

and an infant. Durin g a crash , th e
bel t coul d pres s dee p int o th e
infan t an d caus e ver y seriou s
injuries . Protectin
g Smal l Childre n
Child Seat Type
A chil d wh o ca n si t u p withou t
support , an d wh o fit s withi n th e chil d
sea t maker' s weigh t an d heigh t
limits , shoul d b e restraine d in a
forward-facing , uprigh t chil d seat .
O f th e differen t seat s available , w e
recommen d thos e tha t hav e a five -
poin t harnes s syste m as shown . W
e als o recommen d tha t a smal l
chil d sta y in th e chil d sea t a s lon g a s
possible , unti l th e chil d reache s th e
weigh t o r heigh t limi t fo r th e seat .
Child Seat Placement
I n thi s car , th e bes t plac e to instal l a
forward-facin g chil d sea t i s in on e o f
th e seatin g position s in th e bac k seat .

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 passenger' s airba g ca n
strik e th e chil d wit h enoug h forc e t o
caus e ver y seriou s o r fata l injuries . I f
a smal l chil d mus t b e closel y
watched , w e recommen d tha t
anothe r adul t si t i n th e bac k sea t
wit h th e child .

CONTINUED

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Childre n
I f i t i s necessar y t o pu t a forward -
facin g chil d sea t i n th e front , mov e
th e vehicl e sea t a s fa r t o th e rea r a s
possible , b e sur e th e chil d sea t i s
firml y secure d to th e car , an d th e
chil d is properl y strappe d in th e seat .
Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/
Shoulder Belt

Th e lap/shoulde r belt s i n th e oute r
bac k an d fron t passenge r seatin g
position s hav e a lockin g mechanis m
tha t mus t b e activate d t o secur e a
chil d seat .
Th e followin g page s provid e
instruction s o n ho w to secur e a
forward-facin g chil d sea t wit h thi s
typ e o f sea t belt .
Se e pag e 3 6 fo r ho w to secur e a
forward-facin g chil d sea t i n th e
cente r bac k sea t wit h th e la p belt . 1
. Wit h th e chil d sea t i n th e desire d
bac k seatin g position , rout e th e
bel t throug h th e chil d sea t
accordin g t o th e sea t maker' s
instructions , the n inser t th e latc h
plat e int o th e buckle .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Improperl
y placin g a forward -
facin g chil d sea t i n th e fron t
sea t ca n resul t i n seriou s injur y
o r deat h if th e airbag s inflate .
I f yo u mus t plac e a forward -
facin g chil d sea t i n front , mov e
th e vehicl e sea t a s fa r bac k a s
possibl e an d properl y restrai n
th e child .

Protectin
g Childre n

2 . T o activat e th e lockabl e retractor ,
slowl y pul l th e shoulde r par t o f th e
bel t al l th e wa y ou t unti l i t stops ,
the n le t th e bel t fee d bac k int o th e
retracto r (yo u migh t hea r a
clickin g nois e a s th e bel t retracts) .
3 . Afte r th e bel t ha s retracted , tu g o n
it . I f th e bel t i s locked , yo u wil l no t
b e abl e t o pul l i t out . I f yo u ca n pul l
th e bel t out , i t i s no t locke d an d
yo u wil l nee d to repea t thes e steps .
4
. Afte r confirmin g tha t th e bel t i s

locked , gra b th e shoulde r par t o f

th e bel t nea r th e buckl e an d pul l
u p to remov e an y slac k fro m th e

la p par t o f th e belt . Remember , i f

th e la p par t o f th e bel t i s no t tight ,

th e chil d sea t wil l no t b e secure . I t

ma y hel p to pu t weigh t o n th e

chil d seat , o r pus h o n th e bac k o f

th e seat , whil e pullin g u p o n th e

belt . 5
. Pus h an d pul l th e chil d sea t
forwar d an d fro m sid e t o sid e t o
verif y tha t i t i s secur e enoug h t o
sta y uprigh t durin g norma l drivin g
maneuvers . I f th e chil d sea t i s no t
secure , unlatc h th e belt , allo w it t o
retrac t fully , the n repea t thes e

steps .

CONTINUED

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Childre n

T o deactivat e th e lockin g
mechanis m in orde r t o remov e a
chil d seat , unlatc h th e buckle ,
unrout e th e sea t belt , an d le t th e bel t
full y retract .
Installing a Child Seat with the Lap
Belt

T o instal l a forward-facin g chil d sea t
i n th e cente r bac k sea t wit h th e la p
belt , follo w instructio n numbe r 1 o n
pag e 3 4 fo r routin g an d latchin g th e
sea t belt . The n pul l har d o n th e loos e
en d o f th e bel t t o remov e an y slack ;
i t ma y hel p t o pu t weigh t o n th e chil d
sea t whil e pullin g o n th e belt . Finally ,
follo w instructio n numbe r 5 o n pag e
3 5 to verif y tha t th e chil d sea t i s

secure .
Additional Precautions for Small
Children
Never hold a small child on your

lap. I f yo u ar e no t wearin g a sea t
bel t i n a crash , yo u coul d b e
throw n forwar d int o th e
dashboar d an d crus h th e child .
I f yo u ar e wearin g a sea t belt , th e
chil d ca n b e tor n fro m you r arm s
durin g a crash . Fo r example , i f
you r ca r crashe s int o a parke d
vehicl e a t 3 0 mp h (4 8 km/h) , a
30-l b (1 4 kg ) chil d wil l becom e a
900-l b (41 0 kg ) force , an d yo u wil l
no t b e abl e to hol d on .
Never put a seat belt over yourself

and a child. Durin g a crash , th e

bel t coul d pres s dee p int o th e chil d

an d caus e ver y seriou s injuries .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Protectin
g Childre n

Protectin g Large r Childre n
Whe n a chil d reache s th e
recommende d weigh t o r heigh t limi t
fo r a forward-facin g chil d seat , th e
chil d shoul d si t i n on e o f th e oute r
bac k seat s an d wea r a lap/shoulde r
belt . Th e lap/shoulde r bel t provide s
bette r protectio n tha n th e la p belt .
I f a chil d is to o shor t fo r th e shoulde r
par t o f th e bel t t o properl y fit , w e
recommen d tha t th e chil d us e a
booste r sea t unti l tal l enoug h to us e
th e sea t bel t withou t a booster .
Th e followin g page s giv e
instruction s o n ho w to chec k prope r
sea t bel t fit , wha t kin d o f booste r
sea t t o us e if on e is needed , an d
importan t precaution s fo r childre n
wh o mus t si t i n th e fron t seat .
Checking Seat Belt Fit

T o determin e i f a lap/shoulde r bel t
properl y fit s a child , hav e th e chil d
pu t o n th e sea t belt . Follo w th e
instruction s o n pag e 1 5 . The n chec k
ho w th e bel t fits .
I f th e shoulder part o f th e bel t rest s
ove r th e child' s collarbon e an d
agains t th e cente r o f th e chest , a s
shown , th e chil d is large enoug h to
wea r th e sea t belt .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Allowin
g a large r chil d to si t
improperl y in th e fron t sea t ca n
resul t i n injur y o r deat h if th e

airbag s inflate .

I f a large r chil d mus t si t i n front ,
mak e sur e th e chil d move s th e
sea t a s fa r bac k a s possibl e
an d wear s th e sea t bel t properly .

CONTINUED