KIA PICANTO 2008 Owner's Guide

317
Safety features of your vehicle
Height adjustment (if equipped)
You can adjust the height of the shoulder
belt anchor to one of the 4 positions for
maximum comfort and safety. The height of the adjusting seat belt
should not be too near your neck. The
shoulder portion should be adjusted so
that it lies across your chest and midway
over your shoulder near to the door and
not your neck.
To adjust the height of the seat belt
anchor, lower or raise the height adjuster
to an appropriate position.To raise the height adjuster, pull it up (1).
To lower it, push it down (3) while press-
ing the height adjuster button (2).
Release the button to lock the anchor
into position. Try sliding the height
adjuster to make sure that it has lockedinto position.
OSA037040
Front seat
WARNING
Verify if the shoulder belt anchor is locked into position at the
appropriate height. Never posi-
tion the shoulder belt across your
neck or face. Improperly posi-tioned seat belts can cause seri-ous injuries in an accident.
Failure to replace seat belts after an accident could leave you with
damaged seat belts that will not
provide protection in the event ofanother collision leading to per-
sonal injury or death. Replace
your seat belts after being in an
accident as soon as possible.
B200A02NF
WARNING
You should place the lap belt por-
tion as low as possible and snugly
across your hips, not on your waist.If the lap belt is located too high on
your waist, it may increase the
chance of injury in the event of a
collision. Both arms should not be
under or over the belt. Rather, one
should be over and the other under,
as shown in the illustration.
Never wear the arm near the door side under the seat belt.

Safety features of your vehicle
18
3
When using the rear center seat belt, the
buckle with the “CENTER” mark must beused (if equipped). To release the seat belt:
The seat belt is released by pressing the
release button (1) of the buckle. When itis released, the belt should automatically
draw back into the retractor.
If this does not happen, check if the belt
is twisted, then try again.C020103AUNLap belt (if equipped)
To fasten your seat belt:
To fasten a 2-point static type belt, insert
the metal tab into the buckle. There will
be an audible "click" when the tab locks
into the buckle. Check to make sure the
belt is properly locked and that the belt isnot twisted.
B210A01NF-1OSA037041B220A04NF

319
Safety features of your vehicle
WARNING
The center lap belt latching mecha-
nism is different from those for the
rear seat shoulder belts. When fas-tening the rear seat shoulder belts
or the center lap belt, make sure
they are inserted into the correct
buckles to obtain maximum protec-
tion from the seat belt system and
assure proper operation.
With a 2-point static type seat belt, the
length must be adjusted manually so it
fits snugly around your body. Fasten thebelt and pull on the loose end to tighten.
The belt should be placed as low as pos-
sible on your hips, not on your waist. Ifthe belt is too high, it could increase the
possibility of injury in an accident. When using the rear center seat belt, the
buckle with the “CENTER” mark must beused (if equipped).
To release the seat belt:
When you want to release the seat belt,
press the button (1) of the buckle.
OEN036030
B220B01NF
Too high
ShortenCorrect
OSA037042B210A02NF-1

Safety features of your vehicle
20
3
C020105APA
Stowing the rear seat belt
(if equipped)
The rear seat belt buckles can be stowed in the pocket between the rear
seatback and cushion when not in use.
The center seat belt can be stowed with the plate and webbing rolled in the
pocket between the rear seatback andcushion. C020200APA Pre-tensioner seat belt (if equipped)
Your vehicle is equipped with driver's and front passenger's pre-tensioner seat
belts. The purpose of the pre-tensioner is
to make sure that the seat belts fit tightly
against the occupant's body in certain
frontal collisions. The pre-tensioner seat
belts may be activated in crashes where
the frontal collision is severe enough. When the vehicle stops suddenly, or if
the occupant tries to lean forward too
quickly, the seat belt retractor will lock
into position. In certain frontal collisions,
the pre-tensioner will activate and pullthe seat belt into tighter contact against
the occupant's body.
If the system senses excessive seat belt
tension on the driver or passenger's seat
belt when the pre-tensioner activates, theload limiter inside the pre-tensioner willrelease some of the pressure on the
affected seat belt (if equipped).
OEN036300
Lap belt type
Lap/shoulder belt type
OSA037045
OSA037043 OSA037044

321
Safety features of your vehicle
The seat belt pre-tensioner system con-
sists mainly of the following components.
Their locations are shown in the illustra-tion:
1. SRS air bag warning light
2. Retractor pre-tensioner assembly
3. SRS control module
✽✽NOTICE

Safety features of your vehicle
22
3
✽✽
NOTICE
Because the sensor that activates the
SRS air bag is connected with the pre-
tensioner seat belt, the SRS air bag
warning light on the instrument
panel will illuminate for approximately
6 seconds after the ignition switch hasbeen turned to the ON position, andthen it should turn off.WARNING
Pre-tensioners are designed to operate only one time. After acti-
vation, pre-tensioner seat belts
must be replaced. All seat belts,
of any type, should always be
replaced after they have been
worn during a collision.
The pre-tensioner seat belt assembly mechanisms become
hot during activation. Do not
touch the pre-tensioner seat belt
assemblies for several minutes
after they have been activated.
Do not attempt to inspect or replace the pre-tensioner seat
belts yourself. This must be done
by an authorized KIA dealer.
Do not strike the pre-tensioner seat belt assemblies.
Do not attempt to service or repair the pre-tensioner seat belt
system in any manner.
(Continued)
CAUTION
If the pre-tensioner seat belt is notworking properly, this warning light will illuminate even if there is no malfunction of the SRS air bag. If
the SRS air bag warning light does not illuminate when the ignitionswitch is turned ON, or if it remains illuminated after illuminating for
approximately 6 seconds, or if it illuminates while the vehicle is being driven, please have anauthorized KIA dealer inspect the
pre-tensioner seat belt and SRS airbag system as soon as possible.
(Continued)
Improper handling of the pre-ten- sioner seat belt assemblies, and failure to heed the warnings not
to strike, modify, inspect, replace,
service or repair the pre-tension-
er seat belt assemblies may lead
to improper operation or inadver-
tent activation and serious injury.
Always wear the seat belts when driving or riding in a motor vehi-
cle.

323
Safety features of your vehicle
C020300AUN Seat belt precautionsC020306AUN
Infant or small child
You should be aware of the specific
requirements in your country. Child
and/or infant seats must be properly
placed and installed in the rear seat. For
more information about the use of these
restraints, refer to the “Child restraint sys-
tem” in this section.
✽✽
NOTICE
Small children are best protected from
injury in an accident when properly
restrained in the rear seat by a child
restraint system that meets the require-
ments of the Safety Standards of your
country. Before buying any child
restraint system, make sure that it has alabel certifying that it meets Safety
Standards of your country. The restraint
must be appropriate for your child'sheight and weight. Check the label on
the child restraint for this information.
Refer to “Child restraint system” in thissection.
WARNING
All occupants of the vehicle must wear their seat belts at all times.
Seat belts and child restraintsreduce the risk of serious or fatal
injuries for all occupants in the
event of a collision or sudden stop.
Without a seat belt, occupants
could be shifted too close to a
deploying air bag, strike the interior
structure or be thrown from the
vehicle. Properly worn seat belts
greatly reduce these hazards.
Always follow the precautions
about seat belts, air bags and occu-pant seating contained in this man-ual.
WARNING
Every person in your vehicle needs
to be properly restrained at all
times, including infants and chil-
dren. Never hold a child in yourarms or lap when riding in a vehi-
cle. The violent forces created dur-
ing a crash will tear the child from
your arms and throw the child
against the interior. Always use a
child restraint appropriate for your
child's height and weight.

Safety features of your vehicle
24
3
C020301ASA
Larger children
Children who are too large for child
restraint systems should always occupy
the rear seat and use the available
lap/shoulder belts. The lap portion should
be fastened on the hips and as low as
possible. Check if the belt fits periodical-
ly. A child's squirming could put the belt
out of position. Children are given the
most safety in the event of an accident
when they are restrained by a proper
restraint system in the rear seat. If a larg-
er child (over age 12) must be seated inthe front seat, the child should be secure-
ly restrained by the available lap/shoul-der belt and the seat should be placed in
the rearmost position. Children age 12
and under should be restrained securely
in the rear seat. NEVER place a child age
12 and under in the front seat. NEVER
place a rear facing child seat in the front
seat of a vehicle. If the shoulder belt portion slightly touch-
es the child’s neck or face, try placing the
child closer to the center of the vehicle. If
the shoulder belt still touches their face
or neck they need to be returned to a
child restraint system.
C020302AUN
Pregnant women
The use of a seat belt is recommended
for pregnant women to lessen the chance
of injury in an accident. When a seat belt
is used, the lap belt portion should be
placed as low and snugly as possible on
the hips, not across the abdomen. For
specific recommendations, consult a
physician.
C020303AUN
Injured person
A seat belt should be used when an
injured person is being transported.
When this is necessary, you should con-
sult a physician for recommendations.
C020304AUN
One person per belt
Two people (including children) should
never attempt to use a single seat belt.
This could increase the severity of
injuries in case of an accident.
WARNING
- Shoulder belts
on small children
Never allow a shoulder belt be in contact with a child’s neck or
face while the vehicle is inmotion.
If seat belts are not properly worn and adjusted on children, there is
a risk of death or serious injury.

325
Safety features of your vehicle
C020305APA
Do not lie down
To reduce the chance of injuries in the event
of an accident and to achieve maximum
effectiveness of the restraint system, all pas-sengers should be sitting up and the front
and rear seats should be in an upright posi-
tion when the car is moving. A seat belt can-
not provide proper protection if the person is
lying down in the rear seat or if the front andrear seats are in a reclined position.C020400AEN Care of seat belts
Seat belt systems should never be disas-
sembled or modified. In addition, care
should be taken to assure that seat belts
and belt hardware are not damaged by
seat hinges, doors or other abuse.
C020401AEN
Periodic inspection
All seat belts should be inspected peri-
odically for wear or damage of any kind.
Any damaged parts should be replaced
as soon as possible.
C020402AUN
Keep belts clean and dry
Seat belts should be kept clean and dry.
If belts become dirty, they can be
cleaned by using a mild soap solution
and warm water. Bleach, dye, strong
detergents or abrasives should not be
used because they may damage and
weaken the fabric. C020403ASA
When to replace seat belts
The entire in-use seat belt assembly or
assemblies should be replaced if the
vehicle has been involved in an accident.
This should be done even if no damage
is visible. Additional questions concern-
ing seat belt operation should be directed
by an authorized KIA dealer.
WARNING
Riding with a reclined seatback
increases your chance of serious or
fatal injuries in the event of a colli-
sion or sudden stop. The protection
of your restraint system (seat belts
and air bags) is greatly reduced by
reclining your seat. Seat belts must
be snug against your hips and
chest to work properly. The more
the seatback is reclined, the greater
the chance that an occupant's hipswill slide under the lap belt causingserious internal injuries or the
occupant's neck could strike the
shoulder belt. Drivers and passen-
gers should always sit well back in
their seats, properly belted, andwith the seat backs upright.
WARNING
When you return the rear seatback to its upright position after the rear
seatback has been folded down, be
careful not to damage the seat belt
webbing or buckle. Be sure that the
webbing or buckle does not get
caught or pinched in the rear seat.
A seat belt with damaged webbing
or buckle could possibly fail during
a collision or sudden stop, result-
ing in serious injury. If the webbing
or buckles are damaged, get them
replaced immediately.

Safety features of your vehicle
26
3
CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM (IF EQUIPPED)
C030000AEN
Children riding in the car should sit in the
rear seat and must always be properly
restrained to minimize the risk of injury inan accident, sudden stop or sudden
maneuver. According to accident statis-
tics, children are safer when properly
restrained in the rear seats than in the
front seat. Larger children not in a child
restraint should use one of the seat belts
provided.
You should be aware of the specific
requirements in your country. Child and/or
infant safety seats must be properly
placed and installed in the rear seat. You
must use a commercially available child
restraint system that me ets the require-
ments of the Safety Standards of your
country. Children could be injured or killed in a
crash if their restraints are not properly
secured. For small children and babies, a
child seat or infant seat must be used.
Before buying a particular child restraint
system, make sure it fits your car seat
and seat belts, and fits your child. Follow
all the instructions provided by the man-
ufacturer when installing the child
restraint system.
WARNING
A child restraint system must be placed in the rear seat. Never
install a child or infant seat on the
front passenger's seat. Should anaccident occur and cause the
passenger-side air bag to deploy,
it could severely injure or kill an
infant or child seated in an infant
or child seat. Thus only use a
child restraint in the rear seat of
your vehicle.
A seat belt or child restraint sys- tem can become very hot if it is
left in a closed vehicle on a sunny
day, even if the outside tempera-
ture does not feel hot. Be sure to
check the seat cover and buckles
before placing a child there.
(Continued)(Continued)
When the child restraint systemis not in use, store it in the lug-
gage area or fasten it with a seat
belt so that it will not be thrown
forward in the case of a suddenstop or an accident.
Children may be seriously injured or killed by an inflating air bag.
All children, even those too large
for child restraints, must ride inthe rear seat.