warning NISSAN MAXIMA 2002 A33 / 5.G Owner's Manual

IPosition the lap belt as low and snug
as possible around the hips, not the
waist. A lap belt worn too high could
increase the risk of internal injuries in
an accident.
IBe sure the seat belt tongue is se-
curely fastened to the proper buckle.
IDo not wear the belt inside out or
twisted. Doing so may reduce its ef-
fectiveness.
IDo not allow more than one person to
use the same belt.
INever carry more people in the ve-
hicle than there are seat belts.
IIf the seat belt warning light glows
continuously while the ignition is
turned ON with all doors closed and
all seat belts fastened, it may indicate
a malfunction in the system. Have the
system checked by your NISSAN
dealer.
IOnce the pre-tensioner seat belt has
activated, it cannot be reused and
must be replaced together with theretractor. See your NISSAN dealer.
IRemoval and installation of the pre-
tensioner seat belt system compo-
nents should be done by an autho-
rized NISSAN dealer.
IAll seat belt assemblies including re-
tractors and attaching hardware
should be inspected after any colli-
sion by your NISSAN dealer. NISSAN
recommends that all seat belt assem-
blies in use during a collision be
replaced unless the collision was mi-
nor and the belts show no damageand continue to operate properly.
Seat belt assemblies not in use dur-
ing a collision should also be in-
spected and replaced if either dam-
age or improper operation is noted.
IAll child restraints and attaching
hardware should be inspected after
any collision. Always follow the re-
straint manufacturer's inspection in-
structions and replacement recom-
mendations. The child restraints
should be replaced if they are dam-
aged.
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CHILD SAFETYChildren need adults to help protect them.
They need to be properly restrained.
The proper restraint depends on the child's
size. Generally, infants (up to about 1 year and
less than 20 lb (9 kg) should be placed in rear
facing child restraints. Front facing child re-
straints are available for children who outgrow
rear facing child restraints.
WARNING
Infants and children need special pro-
tection. The vehicle's seat belts may not
fit them properly. The shoulder belt may
come too close to the face or neck. The
lap belt may not fit over their small hip
bones. In an accident, an improperly
fitting seat belt could cause serious or
fatal injury. Always use appropriate child
restraints.All US states and provinces of Canada require
the use of approved child restraints for infants
and small children. (See ªChild restraintsº later
in this section.)
In addition, there are many types of child
restraints available for larger children which
should be used for maximum protection.
NISSAN recommends that all preteens and
children be restrained in the rear seat if
possible. According to accident statistics,
children are safer when properly restrained
in the rear seat than in the front seat.
This is especially important because your
vehicle has a supplemental restraint sys-
tem (air bag system) for the front passen-
ger (see ªSupplemental Restraint Systemº
earlier in this section for precautions).
Infants and small childrenNISSAN recommends that infants and small
children be placed in child restraints that com-
ply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stan-
dards or Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Stan-
dards. You should choose a child restraint that
fits your vehicle and always follow the manu-
facturer's instructions for installation and use.
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Larger childrenChildren who are too large for child restraint
systems should be seated and restrained by
the seat belts which are provided.
If the child's seating position has a shoulder
belt that fits close to the face or neck, the use
of a booster seat (commercially available) may
help overcome this. The booster seat should
raise the child so that the shoulder belt is
properly positioned across the top, middle
portion of the shoulder and the lap belt is low
on the hips. The booster seat should fit the
vehicle seat and have a label certifying that it
complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards or Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards. Once the child has grown so the
shoulder belt is no longer on or near the face
and neck, use the shoulder belt without the
booster seat.
WARNING
Never let a child stand or kneel on any
seat and do not allow a child in the cargo
areas while the vehicle is moving. The
child could be seriously injured or killed
in an accident or a sudden stop.
PREGNANT WOMENNISSAN recommends that pregnant women
use seat belts. The seat belt should be worn
snug, and always position the lap belt as low
as possible around the hips, not the waist.
Place the shoulder belt over your shoulder and
across your chest. Never run the lap/shoulder
belt over your abdominal area. Contact your
doctor for specific recommendations.INJURED PERSONSNISSAN recommends that injured persons
use seat belts, depending on the injury. Check
with your doctor for specific recommendations.
THREE-POINT TYPE SEAT BELT
WITH RETRACTOR
WARNING
IEvery person who drives or rides in
this vehicle should use a seat belt at
all times.
IDo not ride in a moving vehicle when
the seatback is reclined. This can be
dangerous. The shoulder belt will not
be against your body. In an accident
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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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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.
WARNING
IOnly NISSAN belt extenders, made by
the same company which made the
original equipment belts, should be
used with NISSAN belts.
IAdults and children who can use the
standard seat belt should not use an
extender. Such unnecessary use
could result in serious personal in-
jury in the event of an accident.
INever use seat belt extenders to in-
stall child restraints. If the child re-
straint is not secured properly, the
child could be seriously injured in a
collision or a sudden stop.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.
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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 as
buckles, 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.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 MotorCHILD RESTRAINTS
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Vehicle 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 beltdoes 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.
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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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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 achild restraint, refer to the illustration for the
rear seating positions equipped with LATCH
system anchors which can be used to secure
the child restraint.
The LATCH system anchors are located at the
rear of the seat cushion near the seatback. A
label is attached to the seatback to help you
locate the LATCH system anchors.
Some child restraints may also require the use
of a top tether strap. See ªTop tether strap
child restraintº later in this section for installa-
tion instructions.
When installing a child restraint, carefully read
and follow the instructions in this manual and
those supplied with the child restraint.
When you install a LATCH system compatible
child restraint to the lower anchor attachments
in the rear seat, follow these steps.
WARNING
Inspect the lower anchors by inserting
your fingers into the lower anchor area
and feeling to make sure there are no
obstructions over the LATCH system
anchors, such as seat belt webbing or
seat cushion material. The child
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restraint will not be secured properly if
the LATCH system anchors are ob-
structed.
1. To install the LATCH system compat-
ible child restraint, insert the child
restraint LATCH system anchor at-
tachments into the anchor points on
the rear seat. If the child restraint is
equipped with a top tether, see ªTop
tether strap child restraintº later in
this section for installation instruc-
tions.
2. After attaching the child restraint and
before placing the child in it, use
force to tilt the child restraint from
side to side and tug it forward to
make sure that the child restraint is
securely held in place.
3. Check to make sure that the child
restraint is properly secured prior to
each use.
TOP TETHER STRAP CHILD
RESTRAINTIf your child restraint has a top tether strap, it
must be secured to the provided anchor point.
First, secure the child restraint with the rear
seat belt.
Remove the anchor cover from the anchor
point which is located directly behind the child
seat.
Secure the top tether strap to the anchor
bracket.
Keep the removed cover in a secured place to
prevent loss or damage to the cover.
WARNING
The child restraint anchor point is de-
signed to withstand only those loads
imposed by correctly fitted child re-
straints. Under no circumstance is it to
be used for adult seat belts or har-
nesses.Anchor point locationsAnchor points are located on the rear parcel
shelf finisher.
If you have any questions when installing a
top strap child restraint on the rear seat,
consult your NISSAN dealer for details.
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