NISSAN MAXIMA 2001 A33 / 5.G Owner's Guide

The automatic locking mode should be
used only for child restraint installation.
During normal seat belt use by a passen-
ger, the locking mode should not be acti-
vated. If it is activated it may cause uncom-
fortable seat belt tension.
WARNING
When fastening the seat belts, be certain
that seatbacks are completely secured
in the latched position. If they are not
completely secured in the right position,
passengers may be injured in an acci-
dent or sudden stop.
Unfastening the seat beltsTo unfasten the belt, press the button on the
buckle. The seat belt will automatically retract.Checking seat belt operationYour seat belt retractors are designed to lock
belt movement using two separate methods:
Iwhen the belt is pulled quickly from the
retractor.
Iwhen the vehicle slows down rapidly.
You can check their operation as follows:
Igrasp the shoulder belt and pull quicklyforward. The retractor should lock and re-
strict further belt movement.
If the retractor does not lock during this check
or if you have any questions about belt opera-
tion, see your NISSAN dealer.
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Center of rear seat (if so equipped)Selecting correct set of seat belts:
The center seat belt buckle is identified by the
CENTER mark. The center seat belt tongue
can be fastenedonlyinto the center seat belt
buckle.
Shoulder belt height adjustment
(For front seats)The shoulder belt anchor height should be
adjusted to the position best suited for you.
(See ªPrecautions on seat belt usageº earlier
in this section.) To lower, push the release
button, and then move the shoulder belt an-
chor to the desired position, so that the belt
passes over the shoulder. Release the adjust-
ment button to lock the shoulder belt anchor
into position.
To raise, move the adjuster up to the desired
position without pushing the button.
WARNING
IAfter adjustment, release the adjust-
ment button and try to move the
shoulder belt down to make sure it is
securely fixed in position.
IThe shoulder belt anchor height
should be adjusted to the position
best for you. Failure to do so may
reduce the effectiveness of the entire
restraint system and increase the
chance or severity of injury in an
accident.SEAT BELT EXTENDERSIf, because of body size or driving position, it is
not possible to properly fit the lap-shoulder belt
and fasten it, an extender is available which is
compatible with the installed seat belts. The
extender adds approximately 8 inches (200
mm) of length and may be used for either the
driver or front passenger seating position. See
your NISSAN dealer for assistance if the ex-
tender is required.
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WARNING
IOnly NISSAN belt extenders, made by
the same company which made the
original equipment belts, should be
used with NISSAN belts.
IPersons who can use the standard
seat belt should not use an extender.
Such unnecessary use could result in
serious personal injury in the event of
an accident.SEAT BELT MAINTENANCEITo clean the seat belt webbings,apply a
mild soap solution or any solution recom-
mended for cleaning upholstery or carpets.
Then brush the webbing, wipe it with a cloth
and allow it to dry in the shade. Do not allow
the seat belts to retract until they are com-
pletely dry.
IIf dirt builds up in the shoulder belt guide of
the seat belt anchors, the seat belts may
retract slowly. Wipe the shoulder belt guide
with a clean, dry cloth.
IPeriodically check to see that the seat
belt and the metal componentssuch asbuckles, tongues, retractors, flexible wires
and anchors work properly. If loose parts,
deterioration, cuts or other damage on the
webbing is found, the entire belt assembly
should be replaced.
PRECAUTIONS ON CHILD
RESTRAINTS
WARNING
IInfants and small children should al-
ways be placed in an appropriate
child restraint while riding in the ve-
hicle. Failure to use a child restraint
can result in serious injury or death.
IInfants and small children should
never be carried on your lap. It is not
possible for even the strongest adult
to resist the forces of a severe acci-
dent. The child could be crushed be-
tween the adult and parts of the ve-
hicle. Also, do not put the same seat
belt around both your child and your-
self.
INever install a rear facing child re-
straint in the front seat. An inflating
supplemental air bag could seriously
injure or kill your child. A rear facing
child restraint must only be used in
the rear seat.CHILD RESTRAINTS
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INISSAN recommends that the child
restraint be installed in the rear seat.
According to accident statistics, chil-
dren are safer when properly re-
strained in the rear seat than in the
front seat.
IAn improperly installed child re-
straint could lead to serious injury or
death in an accident.
In general, child restraints are designed to be
installed with the lap portion of a three-point
type seat belt. In addition, this vehicle is
equipped with a universal child restraint lower
anchor system, referred to as the LATCH
(Lower Anchors and Tether for Children) sys-
tem. Some child restraints include two rigid or
webbing-mounted attachments that can be
connected to these lower anchors. For details,
see ªLATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether for
Children) SYSTEMº later in this section.
Child restraints for infants and children of
various sizes are offered by several manufac-
turers. When selecting any child restraint,
keep the following points in mind:
Ichoose only a restraint with a label certify-
ing that it complies with Federal MotorVehicle Safety Standard 213 or Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213.
Icheck the child restraint in your vehicle to
be sure it is compatible with the vehicle's
seat and seat belt system. Choose a child
restraint that meets the guidelines of the
Society of Automotive Engineers recom-
mended practice J1819 for child restraint
installation.
Iif the child restraint is compatible with your
vehicle, place your child in the child re-
straint and check the various adjustments
to be sure the child restraint is compatible
with your child. Always follow all recom-
mended procedures.
All US states and Canadian provinces re-
quire that infants and small children be
restrained in approved child restraints at
all times while the vehicle is being oper-
ated.
WARNING
IImproper use of a child restraint can
result in increased injuries for both
the infant or child and other occu-
pants in the vehicle.IFollow all of the child restraint manu-
facturer's instructions for installation
and use. When purchasing a child
restraint, be sure to select one which
will fit your child and vehicle. It may
not be possible to properly install
some types of child restraints in your
vehicle.
IIf the child restraint is not anchored
properly, the risk of a child being
injured in a collision or a sudden stop
greatly increases.
IAdjustable seatbacks should be posi-
tioned to fit the child restraint, but as
upright as possible.
IAfter attaching the child restraint,
test it before you place the child in it.
Tilt it from side to side. Try to tug it
forward and check to see if the belt
holds the restraint in place. If the
restraint is not secure, tighten the
belt as necessary, or put the restraint
in another seat and test it again.
IFor a front facing child restraint,
check to make sure the shoulder belt
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does not go in front of the child's face
or neck. If it does, put the shoulder
belt behind the child restraint. If you
must install a front facing child re-
straint in the front seat, see instruc-
tions later in this section.
IWhen your child restraint is not in
use, store it in the trunk or keep it
secured with a seat belt to prevent it
from being thrown around in case of
a sudden stop or accident.
CAUTION
Remember that a child restraint left in a
closed vehicle can become very hot.
Check the seating surface and buckles
before placing your child in the child
restraint.
INSTALLATION ON REAR SEAT
OUTBOARD OR CENTER
POSITIONS
WARNING
IThe three-point belt on your vehicle is
equipped with a locking mode retrac-
tor which must be used when install-
ing a child restraint.
IFailure to do so will result in the child
restraint not being properly secured.
It could tip over or otherwise be un-
secured and cause injury to the child
in a sudden stop or collision.
Front facingWhen you install a child restraint in a rear
outboard or center seat, follow these steps:
1. Position the child restraint on the seat. It
can be placed in a front facing direction,
depending on the size of the child. Always
follow the restraint manufacturer's instruc-
tions.
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2. Route the seat belt tongue through the child
restraint and insert it into the buckle until
you hear and feel the latch engage.
Be sure to follow the child restraint manu-
facturer's instructions for belt routing.3. Pull on the shoulder belt until all of the belt
is fully extended. At this time, the belt
retractor is in the automatic locking mode
(child restraint mode). It reverts back to
emergency locking mode when the belt is
fully retracted.
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4. Allow the belt to retract. Pull up on the belt
to remove any slack in the belt.5. Before placing the child in the child re-
straint, use force to tilt the child restraint
from side to side, and tug it forward to make
sure that it is securely held in place.
6. Check that the retractor is in the automatic
locking mode by trying to pull more belt out
of the retractor. If you cannot pull any more
belt webbing out of the retractor, the belt is
in the automatic locking mode.
7. Check to make sure that the child restraint
is properly secured prior to each use. If the
belt is not locked, repeat steps 3 through 6.
After the child restraint is removed and the
seat belt is allowed to wind back into theretractor, the automatic locking mode (child
restraint mode) is canceled; the seat belt only
locks during a sudden stop or impact.
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Rear facingWhen you install a child restraint in a rear
outboard or center seat, follow these steps:
1. Position the child restraint on the seat. The
direction of the child restraint depends on
the type of the child restraint and the size of
the child. Always follow the restraint manu-
facturer's instructions.2. Route the seat belt tongue through the child
restraint and insert it into the buckle until
you hear and feel the latch engage.
Be sure to follow the child restraint manu-
facturer's instructions for belt routing.
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3. Pull on the shoulder belt until all of the belt
is fully extended. At this time, the belt
retractor is in the automatic locking mode
(child restraint mode). It reverts back to
emergency locking mode when the belt is
fully retracted.4. Allow the belt to retract. Pull up on the belt
to remove any slack in the belt.5. Before placing the child in the child re-
straint, use force to tilt the child restraint
from side to side, and tug it forward to make
sure that it is securely held in place.
6. Check that the retractor is in the automatic
locking mode by trying to pull more belt out
of the retractor. If you cannot pull any more
belt webbing out of the retractor, the belt is
in the automatic locking mode.
7. Check to make sure that the child restraint
is properly secured prior to each use. If the
belt is not locked, repeat steps 3 through 6.
After the child restraint is removed and the
seat belt is allowed to wind back into the
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retractor, the automatic locking mode (child
restraint mode) is canceled; the seat belt only
locks during a sudden stop or impact.
LATCH (LOWER ANCHORS AND
TETHER FOR CHILDREN)
SYSTEM
WARNING
IAttach LATCH system compatible
child restraints only at the locations
shown. If a child restraint is not se-
cured properly, your child could be
seriously injured or killed in an
accident.IDo not secure a child restraint in the
center rear seating position using the
child restraint lower anchors. The
child restraint will not be secured
properly.
IThe LATCH system anchors are de-
signed to withstand only those loads
imposed by correctly fitted child re-
straints. Under no circumstance are
they to be used for adult seat belts or
harnesses.
Some child restraints include two rigid or
webbing-mounted attachments that can be
connected to two anchors located at certain
seating positions in your vehicle. This system
is known as the LATCH (Lower Anchors and
Tether for Children) system. This system may
also be referred to as the ISOFIX or ISOFIX
compatible system. With this system, you do
not have to use a vehicle seat belt to secure
the child restraint. Your vehicle is equipped
with special anchor points that are used with
LATCH system compatible child restraints.
Check your child restraint for a label stating
that it is compatible with the LATCH system.
This information may also be in the child
restraint owner's manual. If you have such a
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