2003 S2000 Online Reference Owner's Manual Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through this reference. For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.helminc.com. Contents Owner's Identification Form Introduction .....................................................................................................................................................i A Few Words About Safety ..........................................................................................................................ii Your Car at a Glance......................................................................................................................................2 Driver and Passenger Safety .......................................................................................................................5 Proper use and care of your car's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System. Instruments and Controls...........................................................................................................................43 Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls. Comfort and Convenience Features.........................................................................................................85 How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features. Before Driving .............................................................................................................................................119 What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new car, and how to load luggage and other cargo. Driving...........................................................................................................................................................133 The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, plus towing a trailer. Maintenance.................................................................................................................................................147 The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your car to the dealer. Appearance Care.........................................................................................................................................207 Tips on cleaning and protecting your car. Things to look for if your car ever needs body repairs. Taking Care of the Unexpected...............................................................................................................217 This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, and how to handle them. Technical Information...............................................................................................................................247 ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information. Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)......................................................................261 A summary of the warranties covering your new Honda, and how to contact us. Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)...............................................................................................................265 How to order manuals and other technical literature. Index .................................................................................................................................................................I Service Information Summary A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.
This Owner’s Manual should be considered a permanent part of the vehicle, and should remain with the vehicle when it is sold. This Owner’s Manual covers all models of the S2000. You may find descriptions of equipment and features that are not on your particular model. The information and specifications included in this publication were in effect at the time of approval for printing. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. reserves the right, however, to discontinue or change specifications or design at any time without notice and without incurring any obligation whatsoever. Owner’s Identification OWNER ADDRESS V. I. N. DELIVERY DATE DEALER NAME DEALER NO. ADDRESS OWNER’S SIGNATURE DEALER’S SIGNATURE STREET CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE/ POSTAL CODE (Date sold to original retail purchaser) STREET CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE/ POSTAL CODE
One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new Honda is to read this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls and convenience items. Afterwards, keep this owner’s manual in your car so you can refer to it at any time. Several warranties protect your new Honda. Read the warranty booklet thoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rights and responsibilities. Maintaining your car according to the schedules given in this manual helps to keep your driving trouble-free while it preserves your investment. When your car needs maintenance, keep in mind that your Honda dealer’s staff is specially trained in servicing the many systems unique to your Honda. Your Honda dealer is dedicated to your satisfaction and will be pleased to answer any questions and concerns. As you read this manual, you will find information that is preceded by a symbol. This information is intended to help you avoid damage to your S2000, other property, or the environment. California Proposition 65 Warning This product contains or emits chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Congratulations on your selection of the 2003 Honda S2000. We are certain you will be pleased with your purchase of one of the most sophisticated and technologically-advanced sports cars in the world. Introduction WARNING: i
ʵ ʵ ʵ ʵ ʵ ʵ To help you make informed decisions about safety, we have provided operating procedures and other information on labels and in this manual. This information alerts you to potential hazards that could hurt you or others. You will find this important safety information in a variety of forms, including: preceded by a safety alert symbol and one of three signal words: , , or . These signal words mean: such as Driver and Passenger Safety. This entire book is filled with important safety information please read it carefully. such as Important Safety Reminders or Important Safety Precautions. Your safety, and the safety of others, is very important. And operating this car safely is an important responsibility. Of course, it is not practical or possible to warn you about all the hazards associated with operating or maintaining your car. You must use your own good judgement. on the car. how to use this car correctly and safely. AF e wW o r d sA b o u tS afety Safety Messages Safety Section Safety Headings Safety Labels Instructions DANGER WARNING CAUTION ii You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don’t follow instructions. You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don’t follow instructions. You CAN be HURT if you don’t follow instructions.
Your Car at a Glance 2 HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNAL SWITCH (P.53) HOOD RELEASE HANDLE DOOR LOCK SWITCH (P.62) POWER WINDOW SWITCHES MIRROR CONTROLS (P.80) ROOF SWITCH (P.73) HAZARD WARNING SWITCH (P.80) AUDIO SYSTEM (P.94) HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING (P.86) REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER BUTTON (P.57) WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROLS (P.55) (P.122) (P.70)
Your Car at a Glance 3 ENGINE START BUTTON HEADLIGHTS/ TURN SIGNALS (P.53) HOOD RELEASE HANDLE CRUISE CONTROL MASTER SWITCH HORN WINDSHIELD WIPERS/ WASHERS (P.55) REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER BUTTON (P.57) INSTRUMENT PANEL BRIGHTNESS (P.54) REMOTE AUDIO CONTROLS (P.113) (P.135) (P.122) (P.115)
4
This section gives you important information about how to protect yourself and your passenger. It shows you how to use seat belts properly. It explains your Supple- mental Restraint System. And it tells you how to properly restrain children in your car. .........Important Safety Precautions . 6 .............Your Car’s Safety Features . 7 .......................................Seat Belts . 8 ...........................................Airbags . 9 .....................Seats & Seat-Backs . 10 ..........................Head Restraints . 10 ..................................Door Locks . 10 ........Pre-Drive Safety Checklist . 11 ............................Protecting Adults . 12 .....1. Close and Lock the Doors . 12 ...........2. Adjust the Front Seats . 12 ............3. Adjust the Seat-Backs . 13 4. Fasten and Position the Seat .....................................Belts . 15 5. Maintain a Proper Sitting ................................Position . 16 .....Advice for Pregnant Women . 17 ...Additional Safety Precautions . 18 ........................Protecting Children . 18 All Children Must Be ...............................Restrained . 19 Your Car is Not Recommended ..............for Child Passengers . 19 The Passenger’s Airbag Poses ......Serious Risks to Children . 20 ...Additional Safety Precautions . 22 General Guidelines for Using ...............................Child Seats . 22 .........Protecting Small Children . 26 .......Protecting Larger Children . 29 Additional Information About Your .................................Seat Belts . 33 ..Seat Belt System Components . 33 ......................Lap/Shoulder Belt . 33 Automatic Seat Belt ...............................Tensioners . 34 ...............Seat Belt Maintenance . 34 Additional Information About Your ...........................................SRS . 36 ........................SRS Components . 36 ...........How Your Airbags Work . 36 How the SRS Indicator Light .......................................Works . 38 ..................................SRS Service . 39 ...Additional Safety Precautions . 39 .............Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 40 ...................................Safety Labels . 41 Driver and Passenger Safety Driver and Passenger Safety 5
A seat belt is your best protection in all types of collisions. Airbags supplement seat belts, but airbags are designed to inflate only in a moderate to severe frontal collision. So even though your car is equipped with airbags, make sure you and your passenger always wear your seat belts, and wear them properly. (See page ). Since all children are safest in the back seat of a car, and your car does not have a back seat, we recommend that you do not carry a child passenger. If a small child who must be restrained in a forward- facing child seat, or a larger child, must ride in this car, be sure to follow all instructions and safety warnings in this manual. (See pages and .) While airbags can save lives, they can cause serious or fatal injuries to occupants who sit too close to them, or are not properly restrained. Infants, young children, and short adults are at the greatest risk. Be sure to follow all instructions and warnings in this manual. (See page .) Alcohol and driving don’t mix. Even one drink can reduce your ability to respond to changing conditions, and your reaction time gets worse with every additional drink. So don’t drink and drive, and don’t let your friends drink and drive, either. Excessive speed is a major factor in crash injuries and deaths. Generally, the higher the speed the greater the risk, but serious accidents can also occur at lower speeds. Never drive faster than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the maximum speed posted. Having a tire blowout or a mechanical failure can be extremely hazardous. To reduce the possibility of such problems, check your tire pressures and condition frequently, and perform all regularly scheduled maintenance. (See page .) You’ll find many safety recommendations throughout this section, and throughout this manual. T h er ecommendation so nt h i sp a g e are the ones we consider to be the most important. 15 26 29 150 9 Driver and Passenger Safety Important Safety Precautions Due to the passenger’s airbag hazard, you should never carry an infant in a rear-facing child seat in this car. Be Aware of Airbag Hazards Don’t Drink and Drive Control Your Speed Keep Your Car in Safe Condition Always Wear Your Seat Belt Your Car is Not Recommended for Child Passengers 6
Your car is equipped with many features that work together to protect you and your passenger during a crash. These safety features are designed to reduce the severity of injuries in a crash. However, you and your passenger can’t take full advantage of these safety features unless you remain sitting in a proper position and In fact, some safety features can contribute to injuries if they are not used properly. Some safety features do not require a n ya ctio no ny o u rp a r t .These include a strong steel framework that forms a safety cage around the passenger compartment; front and rear crush zones that are designed to crumple and absorb energy during a crash; a collapsible steering column; and seat belt tensioners that automatically tighten the seat belts in the event of a crash. Driver and Passenger Safety Your Car’s Safety Features always wear your seat belts properly. 7 (8) (1) (9) (3) (4) (7) (6) (2) (5) (2) (1) Safety Cage (2) Crush Zones (3) Seats & Seat-Backs (4) Head Restraints (5) Collapsible Steering Column (6) Seat Belts (7) Seat Belt Tensioners (8) Airbags (9) Door Locks
In addition, most states and all Canadian provinces require you to wear seat belts. F o ry o u rs afety ,a n dt h es afet yo f your passenger, your car is equipped with seat belts in both seating positions. Seat belts have proven to be the singl em o s te ffectiv es afet yd evice . Not wearing a seat belt properly increases the chance of serious injury or death in a crash, even though your car has airbags. Your seat belt system also includes a light on the instrument panel to remind you and your passenger to fasten your seat belts. Always wear your seat belt, and make sure you wear it properly. Of course, seat belts cannot completely protect you in every crash .B u ti nm o s tc ases ,s e a tb elts can reduce your risk of serious injury. Help keep you in a good position should the airbags ever deploy. A good position reduces the risk of injury from an inflating airbag, and allows you to get the best advantage from the airbag. Keep you from being thrown out of the vehicle. Help protect you in almost every type of crash, including side and rear impacts and rollovers. (Your airbag can only be helpful in a moderate to severe frontal collision.) Keep you connected to the vehicle so you can take advantage of the vehicle’s built-in safety features. When properly worn, seat belts: Help keep you from being thrown against the inside of the car and against another occupant. Driver and Passenger Safety Why Wear Seat Belts What you should do: Your Car’s Safety Features Seat Belts 8 Not wearing a seat belt properly increases the chance of serious injury or death in a crash, even if you have airbags. Be sure you and your passenger always wear seat belts and wear them properly.
This system also includes an indicator light on the instrument panel to alert you to a possible problem with the system. The most important things you need to know about your airbags are: Always wear your seat belt properly, and sit upright and as far back as possible from the steering wheel or dashboard. To do their job, airbags must inflate with tremendous force and speed. So while airbags save lives, they can cause serious injuries to adults and larger children who are not wearing seat belts, are not wearing them properly, are sitting too close to the airbag, or are not sitting in a proper position. Infants and small children are at an even greater risk of injury or death. Your car has a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) with frontal airbags to help protect the driver and a passenger. Airbags are designed to deploy only during a moderate to severe frontal collision. The seat belts are the occupants’ primary protection in all types of collisions. Airbags supplement seat belts by providing extra protection for occupants’ heads and chests. Driver and Passenger Safety Airbags What you should do: Airbags can pose serious hazards. Airbags offer no protection in side impacts, rear impacts, rollovers, or minor collisions. Airbags do not replace seat belts. Your Car’s Safety Features 9
Head restraints can help protect you from whiplash and other injuries. Keeping your doors locked reduces t h ec hanc eo fb e i n gt hrow no u to f the car during a crash. It also helps prevent occupants from accidentally opening a door and falling out, and outsiders from unexpectedly opening your doors. Move the seats as far back as possible, and keep adjustable seat-backs in an upright position whenever the car is moving. Your car’s seats are designed to keep you in a comfortable, upright position so you can take full advantage of the protection offered by seat belts and the energy absorbing materials in the seats. How you adjust your seats and seat- backs can also affect your safety. For example, sitting too close to the steering wheel or dashboard increases the risk of you or your passenger being injured by striking t h ei nsid eo ft h ec a r ,o rb ya n inflating airbag. Reclining a seat-back too far reduces the seat belt’s effectiveness and increases the chance that the seat’s occupant will slide under the seat belt in a crash and be seriously injured. Seats & Seat-Backs Door Locks Head Restraints Driver and Passenger Safety Your Car’s Safety Features What you should do: 10
Seat-backs are upright (see page ). To make sure you and your passenger get the maximum protection from your car’s safety features, check the following each time before you drive away: A small child riding in a forward- facing child seat is properly restrained (see page ). Both doors are closed and locked (see page ). All cargo is properly stored or secured (see page ). Remember, however, that no safety system can prevent all injuries or deaths that can occur in severe crashes, even when seat belts are properly worn and the airbags deploy. Occupants are sitting upright and as far back as possible from the steering wheel and dashboard (see page ). You and any adult passenger, or a larger child who has outgrown child seats, are wearing your seat belts and wearing them properly (see page ). The rest of this section gives more detailed information about how you can maximize your safety. 15 26 13 12 12 128 Driver and Passenger Safety Your Car’s Safety Features Pre-Drive Safety Checklist 11
Any driver who sits too close to the steering wheel is at risk of being seriously injured or killed by striking the steering wheel, or from being struck by an inflating airbag during a crash. After everyone has entered the car, be sure the doors are closed and locked. The following pages provide instructions on how to properly protect adult occupants. These instructions also apply to a child whom you have decided is large enough and mature enough to ride as a passenger. (See page for important additional guidelines on how to properly protect larger children.) Your car has a door monitor light on the instrument panel to indicate when a specific door is not tightly closed. For safety, locking the doors reduces the chance that a passenger, especially a child, will open a door while the car is moving and accidentally fall out. It also reduces the chance of someone being thrown out of the car during a crash. For security, locked doors can prevent an outsider from unexpectedly opening a door when you come to a stop. See page for how to lock the doors. 29 62 Driver and Passenger Safety Protecting Adults Introduction Adjust the Front Seats Close and Lock the Doors1. 2. 12
CONTINUED To reduce the chance of injury, wear your seat belt properly, sit upright with your back against the seat, and m o v et h es e a ta w a yf r o mt h e steering wheel to the farthest distance that allows you to maintain full control of the car. Once your seat is adjusted correctly, rock it back and forth to make sure the seat is locked in position. See page for how to adjust the seats. Adjust the driver’s seat-back to a comfortable, upright position, leaving ample space between your chest and the airbag cover in the center of the steering wheel. If you sit too close to the steering wheel, you could be injured if the airbag inflates. Most shorter drivers can get far enough away from the steering wheel and still reach the pedals. However, if you are concerned about sitting too close, we recommend that you investigate whether some type of adaptive equipment may help. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transport Canada recommend that drivers adjust the seat so the center of the chest is at least 10 inches (25 cm) away from the center of the steering wheel .A l s om a k es u r ey o u r passenger moves the seat as far to the rear as possible. 69 Driver and Passenger Safety Protecting Adults Adjust the Seat-Backs3. 13 Sitting too close to an airbag can result in serious injury or death if the airbags inflate. Always sit as far back from the airbags as possible.
See page for how to adjust seat- backs. Reclining a seat-back so that the shoulder part of the belt no longer rests against the occupant’s chest reduces the protective capability of the belt. It also increases the chance of sliding under the belt in a crash and being seriously injured. The farther a seat-back is reclined, the greater the risk of injury. A passenger should also adjust the seat-back to an upright position, but as far from the dashboard as possible. A passenger who sits too close to the dashboard could be injured if the airbag inflates. 69 Driver and Passenger Safety Protecting Adults 14 Reclining the seat-back too far can result in serious injury or death in a crash. Adjust the seat-back to an upright position and sit well back in the seat.
CONTINUED Position the lap part of the belt as low as possible across your hips, then pull up on the shoulder part of the belt so the lap part fits snugly. This lets your strong pelvic bones take the force of a crash and reduces the chance of internal injuries. Insert the latch plate into the buckle, then tug on the belt to make sure the belt is securely latched. Also check that the belt is not twisted, because a twisted belt can cause serious injuries in a crash. If necessary, pull up on the belt again to remove any slack from the shoulder part, then check that the belt rests across the center of your chest and over your shoulder. This spreads the forces of a crash over the strongest bones in your upper body. This could cause very serious injuries in a crash. Driver and Passenger Safety Protecting Adults Fasten and Position the Seat Belts 4. Never place the shoulder portion of a lap/shoulder belt under your arm or behind your back. 15 Improperly positioning the seat belts can cause serious injury or death in a crash. Make sure all seat belts are properly positioned before driving.
See page for additional information about your seat belt system and how to take care of your belts. If a seat belt does not seem to work as it should, it may not protect the occupant in a crash. Anyone using a seat belt that is not working properly can be seriously injured or killed. Have your Honda dealer check the belt as soon as possible. After occupants have adjusted their seats and put on seat belts, it is very important that they continue to sit upright, well back in their seats, with their feet on the floor, until the car is parked and the engine is off. Sitting improperly can increase the chance of injury during a crash. For example, if an occupant slouches, lies down, turns sideways, sits forward, leans forward or sideways, or puts one or both feet up, the chance of injury during a crash is greatly increased. In addition, an occupant who is out of position can be seriously or fatally injured by striking interior parts of t h ec a r ,o rb yb e i n gs truc kb ya n inflating airbag. Remember, to get the best protection from your car’s airbags and other safety features, you must sit properly and wear your seat belt properly. 33 Driver and Passenger Safety Protecting Adults No one should sit in a seat with an inoperative seat belt. Maintain a Proper Sitting Position 5. 16 Sitting improperly or out of position can result in serious injury or death in a crash. Always sit upright, well back in the seat, with your feet on the floor.
Pregnant women should also sit upright and as far back as possible from the steering wheel or dashboard. This will reduce the risk of injuries to both the mother and her unborn child that can be caused by a crash or an inflating airbag. Each time you have a check-up, ask your doctor if it’s okay for you to drive. Because protecting the mother is the best way to protect her unborn child, a pregnant woman should always wear a seat belt whenever she drives or rides in a vehicle. Remember to keep the lap portion of the belt as low as possible across your hips. Protecting Adults Driver and Passenger Safety Advice for Pregnant Women 17
If they do, they could be very seriously injured in a crash. Devices intended to improve occupant comfort or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt can severely compromise the protective capability of the seat belt and increase the chance of serious injury in a crash. Carrying hard or sharp objects on your lap, or driving with a pipe or other sharp object in your mouth, can result in injuries if your airbags inflate. If your hands or arms are close to the airbag covers in the center of the steering wheel and on top of the dashboard, they could be injured if the airbags inflate. Any object attached to or placed on the covers marked ‘‘SRS AIRBAG,’’ in the center of the steering whee la n do nt o po ft h e dashboard, could interfere with the proper operation of the airbags. Or, if the airbags inflate, the objects could be propelled inside the car and hurt someone. Children depend on adults to protect them. However, despite their best intentions, many parents and other adults may not know how to protect young passengers. So if you have children, or if you ever need to drive with a grandchild or othe rc hildre ni ny o u rc a r ,b es u r et o read this section. properly Driver and Passenger Safety Two people should never use the same seat belt. Do not put any accessories on seat belts. Do not place hard or sharp objects between yourself and an airbag. Keep your hands and arms away from the airbag covers. Do not attach or place objects on the airbag covers. Additional Safety Precautions Protecting Children Protecting Adults, Protecting Children 18
ʵ Each year, many children are injured or killed in vehicle crashes because they are either unrestrained or not properly restrained. In fact, vehicle accidents are the number one cause of death of children ages 12 and under. To reduce the number of child deaths and injuries, every state and Canadian province requires that infants and children be restrained whenever they ride in a vehicle. (See page .) (See page .) We strongly recommend that you do not carry any child in this car. One reason is that your car does not have a back seat, and accident statistics show that a child of any size or age is safer when they are properly restrained in the back seat of a vehicle. In addition, your car has a passenger’s airbag which poses serious risks to children particularly infants and small children. 26 29 Driver and Passenger Safety Protecting Children All Children Must Be Restrained Your Car is Not Recommended for Child Passengers A n yc h i l dw h oi st o os m a l lt ow e a ra seat belt should be properly restrained in a child seat. A larger child should always be restrained with a seat belt. 19 Children who are unrestrained or improperly restrained can be seriously injured or killed in a crash. Any child too small for a seat belt should be properly restrained in a child seat. A larger child should be properly restrained with a seat belt.
Airbags have been designed to help protect adults in a moderate to severe frontal collision. To do this, the passenger’s airbag is quite large, and it inflates with tremendous speed. As a result, we urge you to follow these guidelines. If a larger child must ride in this car, see page for important guidelines on how to decide whether a child is large enough and mature enough to ride as a passenger, and how to properly protect the child. If the vehicle seat is too far forward, or the child’s head is thrown forward during a collision, an inflating airbag can strike the child with enough force to kill or very seriously injure a small child. If a small child must ride in this car, follow the instructions on page . If the airbag inflates, it can hit the back of the child seat with enough force to kill or very seriously injure an infant. If you are not wearing a seat belt in a crash, you could be thrown forward into the dashboard and crush the child. I fy o ua r ew earin gas e a tb e l t ,t h e child can be torn from your arms during a crash. For example, if your car crashes into a parked vehicl ea t3 0m p h( 4 8k m / h ) ,a 30-lb (14 kg) child will become a 900-lb (410 kg) force, and you will not be able to hold on. During a crash, the belt could press deep into the child and cause very serious injuries. 29 26 Driver and Passenger Safety Protecting Children The Passenger’s Airbag Poses Serious Risks to Children Small Children Infants Children who have outgrown child seats are also at risk of being injured or killed by an inflating passenger’s airbag. Larger Children Placing a forward-facing child seat in the front seat of a car equipped with a passenger’s airbag can be hazardous. Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front seat of a car equipped with a passenger’s airbag. Never hold a small child on your lap. Never put a seat belt over yourself and a child. 20
To remind you of the passenger’s airbag hazards, your car has warning labels on the dashboard and on the driver’s and passenger’s visors. Please read and follow the instructions on these labels. To remind you of the airbag hazards, your car has warning labels on the driver’s and passenger’s visors. Please read and follow the instructions on these labels. Driver and Passenger Safety Protecting Children U.S. Models Canadian Models 21
Leaving a child without adult supervision is illegal in most states and Canadian provinces and can be very hazardous. For example, a small child left in a car on a hot day can die from heatstroke. A child left alone with the key in the ignition can accidentally set the car in motion, possibly injuring themselves or others. As discussed on page , because your car does not have a back seat, and because of the passenger’s airbag hazard, we strongly recommend that you do not carry a small child as a passenger in this car. However, if you must carry a small child in this car, the child must be properly restrained in a child seat. The following pages give general guidelines for selecting and installing a child seat. See page for additional information. Even very young children learn how to unlock vehicle doors, turn on the ignition, and open the trunk, which can lead to accidental injury or death. Children who play in cars can accidentally get trapped inside the trunk. Teach your children not to play in or around cars. Know how to operate the emergency trunk opener and decide if your children should be shown how to use this feature (See page ). 26 67 19 Protecting Children Driver and Passenger Safety Do not leave a child alone in your car. Keep car keys and remote transmitters out of the reach of children. Lock both doors and the trunk when your car is not in use. General Guidelines for Using Child Seats Additional Safety Precautions 22
CONTINUED To provide proper protection, a child seat should meet three requirements: The child seat should meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 (FMVSS 213) or Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 (CMVSS 213). Look for the manufacturer’s statement of compliance on the box and seat. Due to variations in the design of child seats, vehicle seats, and seat belts, all child seats will not fit all seating positions in all cars. However, Honda is confident that one or more child seat models can fit a n db ep roperl yi nstalle di na l l recommended seating positions in your car. Before purchasing a child seat, we recommend that parents test the child seat to make sure it fits properly in the passenger’s seat. If a previously purchased child seat does not fit, you will need to buy a different one that will fit. A child who is too large for a rear-facing child seat, and who can sit up without support, should be restrained in a forward- facing child seat. See page for additional information on protecting small children. 26 Protecting Children Driver and Passenger Safety The child seat should fit the passenger’s seat. The child seat should be of the proper type and size to fit the child. The child seat should meet safety standards. Selecting a Child Seat Small Children: 2. 3. 1. 23
The passenger’s airbag inflates with enough force to kill or seriously injure an infant in a rear-facing child seat. Never in the passenger’s seat, due to the passenger’s airbag hazard. Not recommended, due to the passenger’s airbag hazard. If a small child must ride in this car, move the vehicle seat to the rear-most position and secure a front-facing child seat with the seat belt. (see page ). A small child in a forward-facing child seat is also at risk. If the vehicle seat is too far forward, or the child’s head is thrown forward during a collision, an inflating airbag can kill or seriously injure the child. This page briefly summarizes Honda’s recommendations on where to place a child seat in your car. If a small child must ride in this car, follow the instructions provided in this section. This car is not equipped with a tether attachment point. 27 Placing a Child Seat Infants: Small children: Passenger’s Seat Protecting Children Driver and Passenger Safety Airbags Pose Serious Risks to Children 24
After selecting a proper child seat, there are three main steps in installing the seat: After installing a child seat, push and pull the seat forward and from side to side to verify that it is secure. To provide security during normal driving maneuvers as well as during a collision, we recommend that parents secure a child seat as firmly as possible. Make sure the child is properly strappe di nt h ec h i l ds e a t according to the child seat maker’s instructions. A child who is not properly secured in a child seat c a nb et hrow no u to ft h es e a ti na crash and be seriously injured. When you are not using a child seat, either remove it and store it in a safe place, or make sure it is properly secured. An unsecured child seat can be thrown around the car during a crash or sudden stop and injure someone. However, a child seat does not need to be ‘‘rock solid.’’ It may be difficult to install a child seat so that it does not move at all. Some side-to-side or back-and-forth movement can be expected and should not reduce the child seat’s effectiveness. All child seats must be secured to the car with the lap part of a lap/shoulder belt. A child whose seat is not properly secured to the car can be endangered in a crash. See page for instructions on how to secure a forward-facing child seat in this car. 27 Protecting Children Driver and Passenger Safety Make sure the child seat is firmly secured. Secure the child in the child seat. Storing a Child Seat Installing a Child Seat Properly secure the child seat to the car with a seat belt. 1. 2. 3. 25
The passenger’s airbag poses serious risks to small children. If the vehicle seat is too far forward, or the child’s head is thrown forward during a collision, or the child is unrestrained or improperly restrained, an inflating airbag can kill or seriously injure the child. For these reasons, we recommend that you do not carry a small child as a passenger. If you decide to carry a small child in this car, follow the instructions and guidelines below. A child at least one year old who can sit up without support, and who fits within the child seat maker’s weight and height limits, should be restrained in a forward-facing, upright child seat. We also recommend that a small child stay in the child seat as long as possible, until the child reaches the weight or height limit for the seat. Of the different seats available, we recommend those that have a five- point harness system as shown. If it is necessary to put a forward- facing child seat in the passenger’s seat, move the passenger’s seat as far to the rear as possible, be sure the child seat is firmly secured to the car, and the child is properly strappe di nt h es e a t . Protecting Small Children Protecting Children Driver and Passenger Safety Child Seat Type 26 Improperly placing a forward- facing child seat in the front seat can result in serious injury or death if the airbags inflate. I fy o um u s tp l a c eaf orward - facing child seat in front, move the vehicle seat as far back as possible and properly restrain the child.
To activate the lockable retractor, slowly pull the shoulder part of the belt all the way out until it stops, then let the belt feed back into the retractor (you might hear a clicking noise as the belt retracts). After the belt has retracted, tug on it. If the belt is locked, you will not be able to pull it out. If you can pull the belt out, it is not locked and you will need to repeat these steps. The passenger’s seat belt has a locking mechanism that must be activated to secure a child seat. Move the vehicle seat to the rear- most position. Moving the seat as far back as possible reduces the chance of a child being injured or killed if the passenger’s airbag inflates. (See page for instructions on how to adjust the seat.) With the child seat in position, route the belt through the child seat according to the seat maker’s instructions, then insert the latch plate into the buckle. The following pages provide instructions on how to secure a forward-facing child seat with this type of seat belt. 1. 2. 3. 4. 69 CONTINUED Child Seat Installation Protecting Children Driver and Passenger Safety 27
After confirming that the belt is locked, grab the shoulder part of the belt near the buckle and pull up to remove any slack from the lap part of the belt. Remember, if the lap part of the belt is not tight, the child seat will not be secure. It m a yh e l pt op u tw eigh to nt h e child seat, or push on the back of the seat, while pulling up on the belt. Push and pull the child seat forward and from side to side to verify that it is secure enough to stay upright during normal driving maneuvers. If the child seat is not secure, unlatch the belt, allow it to retract fully, then repeat these steps. To deactivate the locking mechanism in order to remove a child seat, unlatch the buckle, unroute the seat belt, and let the belt fully retract. 5. 6. Protecting Children Driver and Passenger Safety28
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