child restraint SUZUKI RENO 2008 1.G Owners Manual

0-3
85Z14-03E
Vehicle SymbolsYour vehicle has components and labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols, used on your vehicle, are shown along with the text
describing the operation or information relating to a specific component, control, message, gauge or indicator.
If you need help figuring out a specific name of a component, gauge or indicator, reference the following topics:
 Seats and Restraint Systems in Section
1
 Features and Controls in Section 2
 Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3 Climate Controls in Section 3
 Warning Lights, Gauges and Indicators
in Section 3
 Audio System(s) in Section 3 Engine Compartment Overview in Sec-
tion 5
These are some examples of vehicle symbols you may find on your vehicle:
WARNING
POSSIBLE
INJURY
PROTECT
EYES BY
SHIELDINGFASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
POWER
WINDOWDOOR LOCK
UNLOCK DO NOT INSTALL
A REAR-FACING
CHILD RESTRAINT
IN THIS SEATING
POSITION AIR BAGMALFUNCTION
INDICATOR
LAMPENGINE
COOLANT
TEMP
FUEL
OWNER'S
MANUAL BATTERY
CHARGING
SYSTEM
BRAKE
COOLANT
ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
BRAKES TURN
SIGNALS
HAZARD
WARNING
FLASHER
HIGHBEAM
ON
LIGHT
FOG
LAMPS
SULFURIC
BATTERY
ACID CAN
CAUSE
BLINDNESS
OR SEVERE
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS OR
FLAMES
FLUSH EYES
IMMEDIATELY
WITH WATER
L3U0002CS
DOOR
AJAR
LIGHT
POWER
STEERING
FLUID
FUEL
FILLER
EMERGENCY
TRUNK
RELEASEINSTRUMENT
PANEL
BRIGHTNESS
TRUNK
AJAR
LIGHT
HOOD
RELEASEDAYTIME
RUNNING
LAMPS
TRACTION
CONTROL
SYSTEM
ACTIVE LIGHTWASHER
FLUID
TIRE
PRESSURE
WARNING
LIGHT
CRUISE
CONTROL
LIGHT
HOLD MODE
ACTIVE
LIGHT
SPEED
SENSITIVE
POWER
STEERING
WARNING
LIGHT

SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
1
85Z14-03E
SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMSFront Seats .......................................................................... 1-1
Rear Seats ............................................................................ 1-4
Safety Belts .......................................................................... 1-5
Child Restraints ................................................................... 1-15
Supplemental Restraint System (air bags) ....................... 1-26
Restraint System Check ..................................................... 1-33

1-7SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
85Z14-03E
strongest bones take the forces. That’s
why safety belts make such good sense.Questions and Answers About
Safety BeltsQuestion: Won’t I be trapped in the
vehicle after an accident if I’m wearing a
safety belt?
Answer: You could be – whether you’re
wearing a safety belt or not. But you can
unbuckle a safety belt, even if you’re
upside down. And your chance of being
conscious during and after an accident, so
you can unbuckle and get out, is much
greater if you are belted.
Question: If my vehicle has air bags,
why should I have to wear safety belts?
Answer: Air bags are in many vehicles
today and will be in most of them in the
future. But they are supplemental systems
only; so they work with safety belts – not
instead of them. Every air bag system ever
offered for sale has required the use of
safety belts. Even if you’re in a vehicle that
has air bags, you still have to buckle up to
get the most protection. That’s true not
only in frontal collisions, but especially in
side and other collisions.Question: If I’m a good driver, and I
never drive far from home, why should I
wear safety belts?
Answer: You may be an excellent driver,
but if you’re in an accident – even one that
isn’t your fault – you and your passengers
can be hurt. Being a good driver doesn’t
protect you from things beyond your con-
trol, such as bad drivers.
Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40
km) of home. And the greatest number of
serious injuries and deaths occur at
speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h).
Safety belts are for everyone.
How to Wear Safety Belts ProperlyThis section is only for people of adult size.
Be aware that there are special things to
know about safety belts and children. And
there are different rules for smaller children
and babies. If a child will be riding in your
vehicle, see “Older Children” or “Infants
and Young Children” in this section. Follow
those rules for everyone’s protection.
First, you’ll want to know which restraint
systems your vehicle has.
We’ll start with the driver position.Driver PositionThis section describes the driver’s restraint
system.Lap-Shoulder Belt
The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s
how to wear it properly.
1) Close and lock the door.
2) Adjust the seat so you can sit up
straight. To see how, see “Seats” in the
Index.
3) Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt
across you. Don’t let it get twisted.
The shoulder belt may lock if you pull
the belt across you very quickly. If this
happens, let the belt go back slightly to
unlock it. Then pull the belt across you
more slowly.
4) Push the latch plate into the buckle until
it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure
it is secure.
Make sure the release button on the
buckle is positioned so you would be
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1-15SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
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Child RestraintsOlder ChildrenOlder children who have outgrown booster
seats should wear the vehicle’s safety
belts.
Question: What is the proper way to
wear safety belts?
Answer: If possible, an older child should
wear a lap-shoulder belt and get the addi-
tional restraint a shoulder belt can provide.
The shoulder belt should not cross the face
or neck. The lap belt should fit snugly
below the hips, just touching the top of the
thighs. It should never be worn over the
abdomen, which could cause severe or
even fatal internal injuries in a crash.Accident statistics show that children are
safer if they are restrained in the rear seat.
In a crash, children who are not buckled up
can strike other people who are buckled
up, or can be thrown out of the vehicle.
Older children need to use safety belts
properly.
WARNING
Failure to follow these instructions
may increase the risk of injury in a
crash.
 Only use an extender for the per-
son, vehicle and seating position it
was provided for.
 A front safety belt extender must
only be used in a front seating
position, and a rear safety belt
extender must only be used in a
rear seating position.
 Safety belt extenders are not
intended for use by pregnant
women, and should only be used
upon approval by their medical
advisors.
 The extender has been designed
for adults. Never use it for securing
child seats.
 Do not use a safety belt extender if
the open end of the extender’s
buckle is within 152 mm (6 inches)
of the center of the occupant’s
body (See diagram).
 Remove and stow the extender
when it is not being used.
L3U1036A
WARNING
Never do this.
Here two children are wearing the
same belt. The belt can’t properly
spread the impact forces. In a crash,
the two children can be crushed
together and severely injured. A belt
must be used by only one person at a
time.
L3U1037A
Safety Belts:
Child Restraints:

1-16
SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
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Question: What if a child is wearing a
lap-shoulder belt, but the child is so
small that the shoulder belt is very
close to the child’s face or neck?
Answer: If the child is sitting in a seat next
to a window, move the child toward the
center of the vehicle. If the child is sitting in
the center rear seat passenger position,
move the child toward the safety belt
buckle. In either case, be sure that the
shoulder belt still is on the child’s shoulder,
so that in a crash the child’s upper body
would have the restraint that belts provide.
If the child is so small that the shoulder belt
is still very close to the child’s face or neck,
you might want to place the child in a seat
that has a lap belt, if your vehicle has one.
Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of
the belt should be worn low and snug on
the hips, just touching the child’s thighs.
This applies belt force to the child’s pelvic
bones in a crash.
Infants and Young ChildrenEveryone in a vehicle needs protection!
This includes infants and all other children.
Neither the distance traveled nor the age
and size of the traveler changes the need
to use safety restraints. In fact, the law in
every state in the United States and in
every Canadian province says children up
to some age must be restrained while in a
vehicle.
Every time infants and young children ride
in vehicles, they should have the protection
provided by appropriate restraints. Young
children should not use the vehicle’s adult
safety belts alone, unless there is no other
choice. Instead, they need to use a child
restraint.
WARNING
Never do this.
Here a child is sitting in a seat that
has a lap-shoulder belt, but the
shoulder part is behind the child. If
the child wears the belt in this way, in
a crash the child might slide under
the belt. The belt’s force would then
be applied right on the child’s abdo-
men. That could cause serious or
fatal injuries.
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Child Restraints:

1-17SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
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Question: What are the different types
of add-on child restraints?
Answer: Add-on child restraints, which are
purchased by the vehicle’s owner, are
available in four basic types. Selection of a
particular restraint should take into consid-
eration not only the child’s weight, height
and age but also whether or not the
restraint will be compatible with the motor
vehicle in which it will be used.
For most basic types of child restraints,
there are many different models available.
When purchasing a child restraint, be sure
it is designed to be used in a motor vehicle.
If it is, the restraint will have a label saying
that it meets federal motor vehicle safety
standards.
The restraint manufacturer’s instructions
that come with the restraint, state the
weight and height limitations for a particu-
lar child restraint. In addition, there are
many kinds of restraints available for chil-
dren with special needs.
WARNING
People should never hold a baby in
their arms while riding in a vehicle. A
baby doesn’t weigh much – until a
crash occurs. During a crash a baby
will become so heavy it is not possi-
ble to hold it. For example, in a crash
at only 25 mph (40 km/h), a 12-lb. (5.5
kg) baby will suddenly become a 240-
lb. (110 kg) force on a person’s arms.
A baby should be secured in an
appropriate restraint.
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WARNING
Children who are up against, or very
close to, any air bag when it inflates
can be severely injured or killed. Air
bags plus lap-shoulder belts offer
outstanding protection for adults and
older children, but not for young chil-
dren and infants. Neither the vehi-
cle’s safety belt system nor its air bag
system is designed for them. Young
children and infants need the protec-
tion that a child restraint system can
provide.
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Child Restraints:

1-18
SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
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Child Restraint SystemsAn infant car bed (A), a special bed made
for use in a motor vehicle, is an infant
restraint system designed to restrain or
position a child on a continuous flat sur-
face. Make sure that the infant’s head rests
toward the center of the vehicle.A rear-facing infant seat (B) provides
restraint with the seating surface against
the back of the infant. The harness system
holds the infant in place and, in a crash,
acts to keep the infant positioned in the
restraint.
WARNING
Newborn infants need complete sup-
port, including support for the head
and neck. This is necessary because
a newborn infant’s neck is weak and
its head weighs so much compared
with the rest of its body. In a crash,
an infant in a rear-facing seat settles
into the restraint, so the crash forces
can be distributed across the stron-
gest part of an infant’s body, the back
and shoulders. Infants always should
be secured in appropriate infant
restraints.
WARNING
The body structure of a young child
is quite unlike that of an adult or
older child, for whom the safety belts
are designed. A young child’s hip
bones are still so small that the vehi-
cle’s regular safety belt may not
remain low on the hip bones, as it
should. Instead, it may settle up
around the child’s abdomen. In a
crash, the belt would apply force on a
body area that’s unprotected by any
bony structure. This alone could
cause serious or fatal injuries. Young
children always should be secured in
appropriate child restraints.
(A)
L3U1041A
(B)
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Child Restraints:

1-19SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
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A forward-facing child seat (C–E) provides
restraint for the child’s body with the har-
ness and also sometimes with surfaces
such as T-shaped or shelf-like shields.A booster seat (F–G) is a child restraint
designed to improve the fit of the vehicle’s
safety belt system. Some booster seats
have a shoulder belt positioner, and some
high-back booster seats have a five-point
harness. A booster seat can also help a
child to see out the window.
Question: How do child restraints
work?
Answer: A child restraint system is any
device designed for use in a motor vehicle
to restrain, seat, or position children. A
built-in child restraint system is a perma-
nent part of the motor vehicle. An add-on
child restraint system is a portable one,
which is purchased by the vehicle’s owner.
For many years, add-on child restraints
have used the adult belt system in the
vehicle. To help reduce the chance ofinjury, the child also has to be secured
within the restraint. The vehicle’s belt sys-
tem secures the add-on child restraint in
the vehicle, and the add-on child restraint’s
harness system holds the child in place
within the restraint.
One system, the three-point harness, has
straps that come down over each of the
infant’s shoulders and buckle together at
the crotch. The five-point harness system
has two shoulder straps, two hip straps
and a crotch strap. A shield may take the
place of hip straps. A T-shaped shield has
shoulder straps that are attached to a flat
pad which rests low against the child’s
body. A shelf- or armrest-type shield has
straps that are attached to a wide, shelf-
like shield that swings up or to the side.
When choosing a child restraint, be sure
the child restraint is designed to be used in
a vehicle. If it is, it will have a label saying
that it meets federal motor vehicle safety
standards.
Then follow the instructions for the
restraint. You may find these instructions
on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or
both. These restraints use the belt system
in your vehicle, but the child also has to be
secured within the restraint to help reduce
the chance of personal injury. When secur-
ing an add-on child restraint, refer to the
instructions that come with the restraint
which may be on the restraint itself or in a
booklet, or both, and to this manual. The
(D)
(C) (E)
L3U1043A
(F) (G)
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Child Restraints:

1-20
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85Z14-03E
child restraint instructions are important,
so if they are not available, obtain a
replacement copy from the manufacturer.Where to Put the RestraintAll child restraint systems are designed to
be secured in vehicle seats by either safety
belts (lap belts or the lap portion of lap-
shoulder belts) or by special rigid lower
anchor bars built into the seats. Whenever
possible, SUZUKI recommends that child
restraint systems be installed on the rear
seat. According to accident statistics, chil-
dren are safer when properly restrained in
rear seating positions than in front seating
positions. Never put a rear-facing child
restraint in the front passenger seat.
Here’s why:
Wherever you install it, be sure to secure
the child restraint properly.
Keep in mind that an unsecured child
restraint can move around in a collision or
sudden stop and injure people in the vehi-
cle. Be sure to properly secure any child
restraint in your vehicle – even when no
child is in it.
To p S t r a pSome child restraints have a top strap, or
“top tether.” It can help restrain the child
restraint during a collision. For it to work, a
top strap must be properly anchored to the
vehicle. Some top strap-equipped child
restraints are designed for use with or with-
out the top strap being anchored. Others
require the top strap always to be
anchored. Be sure to read and follow the
instructions for your child restraint. If yours
requires that the top strap be anchored,
don’t use the restraint unless it is anchored
properly.
If the child restraint does not have a top
strap, one can be obtained, in kit form, for
many child restraints. Ask the child
restraint manufacturer whether or not a kit
is available.
WARNING
A child in a rear-facing child restraint
can be severely injured or killed if the
right front passenger’s frontal air bag
inflates. This is because the back of
the rear-facing child restraint would
be very close to the inflating air bag.
(Continued)
WARNING
(Continued)
Even though the passenger sensing
system is designed to turn off the
passenger’s frontal air bag and side
air bag under certain conditions, no
system is fail-safe, and no one can
guarantee that an air bag will not
deploy under some unusual circum-
stance, even though it is turned off.
Always secure a rear-facing child
restraint in the rear seat, even if the
air bags are off.
If you need to secure a forward-fac-
ing child restraint in the right front
seat, always move the front passen-
ger seat as far back as it will go. It is
better to secure the child restraint in
a rear seat.
WARNING
Children could be endangered in a
crash if their child restraints are not
properly secured in the vehicle.
When installing a child restraint sys-
tem, be sure to follow the instruc-
tions below. Be sure to secure the
child in the restraint system accord-
ing to the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions.
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1-21SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
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In Canada, the law requires that forward-
facing child restraints have a top strap, and
that the strap be anchored. In the United
States, some child restraints also have a
top strap. If your child restraint has a top
strap, it should be anchored.
Anchor the top strap to an anchor point
specified in “Top Strap Anchor Location” in
this section. Be sure to use an anchor
point located on the same side of the vehi-
cle as the seating position where the child
restraint will be placed.Once you have the top strap anchored,
you’ll be ready to secure the child restraint
itself. Tighten the top strap when and as
the child restraint manufacturer’s instruc-
tions say.
Top Strap Anchor LocationTop strap anchors are already installed in
your vehicle for the three rear seating posi-
tions.
Do not use a child restraint with a top strap
in the right front passenger’s position
because there is no place to anchor the
top strap.Top strap anchors are located at both sides
and at the center of the lower rear tail
member in the rear cargo area.
Pull the front part of the plastic cover
downward to access the top strap anchors.
Securing a Child Restraint with Top
StrapInstall the child restraint system as follows:
1) Remove the luggage compartment
cover (if equipped).
2) Secure the child restraint on the rear
seat using the procedure described in
“Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Seat Position” of this section.
3) Pull the front part of the plastic cover
downward to access the top strap
anchors.
4) Hook the top strap to the anchor
bracket and tighten the top strap
S4U1010A
WARNING
Each top tether bracket is designed
to anchor only one child restraint.
Attaching more than one child
restraint to a single bracket could
cause the anchor to come loose or
even break during a crash. A child or
others could be injured if this hap-
pens. To help prevent injury to people
and damage to your vehicle, attach
only one child restraint per bracket.
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Child Restraints: