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Acura ILX Hybrid (2015 year). Manual - part 4

Child Safety

Protecting Child Passengers

Each year, many children are injured or killed in vehicle crashes because they are

1Protecting Child Passengers

either unrestrained or not properly restrained. In fact, vehicle accidents are the

3WARNING

number one cause of death of children ages 12 and under.

Children who are unrestrained or

To reduce the number of child deaths and injuries, every state, Canadian province

improperly restrained can be seriously

and territory requires that infants and children be properly restrained when they ride

injured or killed in a crash.

in a vehicle.

Any child too small for a seat belt should be

Children should sit properly restrained in a rear seat. This is because:

properly restrained in a child seat. A larger

• An inflating front or side airbag can injure

child should be properly restrained with a

or kill a child sitting in the front seat.

seat belt, using a booster seat if necessary.

• A child in the front seat is more likely to

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

interfere with the driver's ability to safely

and Transport Canada recommend that all children

ages 12 and under be properly restrained in a rear

control the vehicle.

seat. Some states or provinces/territories have laws

restricting where children may ride.

• Statistics show that children of all sizes and

ages are safer when they are properly

restrained in a rear seat.

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uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children

Safety of Infants and Small Children

1Protecting Infants

■ Protecting Infants

An infant must be properly restrained in a rear-facing, reclining child seat until the

3WARNING

infant reaches the seat maker's weight or height limit for the seat, and the infant is

Placing a rear-facing child seat in the front

at least one year old.

seat can result in serious injury or death

■ Positioning a rear-facing child seat

during a crash.

Child seats must be placed and secured in a

rear seating position.

Always place a rear-facing child seat in the

rear seat, not the front.

Rear-facing child seats should never be installed in a

forward facing position.

Always refer to the child seat manufacturer’s

instructions before installation.

When properly installed, a rear-facing child seat may prevent the driver or a front

passenger from moving their seat all the way back, or from locking their seat-back

in the desired position.

It can also interfere with proper operation of the passenger's advanced front airbag

system.

2 Airbags P. 39

If this occurs, we recommend that you install the child seat directly behind the front

passenger's seat, move the seat as far forward as needed, and leave it unoccupied.

Or, you may wish to get a smaller rear-facing child seat.

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uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children

1Protecting Smaller Children

■ Protecting Smaller Children

If a child is at least one year old and within the weight range indicated by the child

3WARNING

seat manufacturer, the child should be properly restrained in a firmly secured

Placing a forward-facing child seat in the

forward-facing child seat.

front seat can result in serious injury or

■ Forward-facing child seat placement

death if the front airbag inflates.

We strongly recommend placing a forward-

facing child seat in a rear seating position.

If you must place a forward-facing child

seat in front, move the vehicle seat as far

back as possible, and properly restrain the

child.

Educate yourself about the laws and regulations

regarding child seat use where you are driving, and

follow the child seat manufacturer's instructions.

Placing a forward-facing child seat in the front seat can be hazardous, even with

advanced front airbags that automatically turn the passenger's front airbag off. A

Many experts recommend use of a rear-facing seat

for a child up to two years old if the child’s height and

rear seat is the safest place for a child.

weight are appropriate for a rear-facing seat.

Continued

57

uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children

■ Installing a LATCH-Compatible Child Seat

A LATCH-compatible child seat can be installed in either of the two outer rear seats.

A child seat is attached to the lower anchors with either the rigid or flexible type of

connectors.

1. Locate the lower anchors under the marks.

Marks

2. Place the child seat on the vehicle seat then

Lower Anchors

attach the child seat to the lower anchors

according to the instructions that came

with the child seat.

u When installing the child seat, make sure

that the lower anchors are not

obstructed by the seat belt or any other

Rigid Type

object.

Continued

59

uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children

1Installing a LATCH-Compatible Child Seat

For your child's safety, when using a child seat

installed using the LATCH system, make sure that the

seat is properly secured to the vehicle. A child seat

that is not properly secured will not adequately

protect a child in a crash and may cause injury to the

child or other vehicle occupants.

Flexible Type

3. Open the tether anchor cover behind the

Tether

Strap

head restraint.

Hook

4. Raise the head restraint to its highest

position, then route the tether strap

between the head restraint legs, and secure

the tether strap hook onto the anchor.

5. Tighten the tether strap as instructed by the

child seat maker.

Anchor

6. Make sure the child seat is firmly secured by

rocking it forward and back and side to

side; little movement should be felt.

7. Make sure any unused seat belt that a child

can reach is buckled, the lockable retractor

is activated, and the belt is fully retracted

and locked.

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uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children

1Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt

■ Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt

A child seat that is not properly secured will not

1. Place the child seat on the vehicle seat.

adequately protect a child in a crash and may cause

2. Route the seat belt through the child seat

injury to the child or other vehicle occupants.

according to the seat maker's instructions,

and insert the latch plate into the buckle.

u Insert the latch plate fully until it clicks.

3. Slowly pull the shoulder part of the belt all

the way out until it stops. This activates the

lockable retractor.

4. Let the seat belt completely wind up into

the retractor, then try to pull it out to make

sure the retractor is locked.

u If you are able to pull the shoulder belt

out, the lockable retractor is not

activated. Pull the seat belt all the way

out, and repeat steps 3 - 4.

5. Grab the shoulder part of the seat belt near

the buckle, and pull up to remove any slack

from the lap part of the belt.

u When doing this, place your weight on

the child seat and push it into the vehicle

seat.

Continued

61

uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children

6. Make sure the child seat is firmly secured by

1Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt

rocking it forward and back and side to

To deactivate a lockable retractor, release the buckle

side; little movement should be felt.

and allow the seat belt to wind up all the way.

7. Make sure any unused seat belt that a child

can reach is buckled, the lockable retractor

is activated, and the belt is fully retracted

and locked.

62

uuChild Safety uSafety of Infants and Small Children

1Adding Security with a Tether

■ Adding Security with a Tether

Since a tether can provide additional security to the

A tether anchorage point is provided behind

Tether Anchorage Points

lap/shoulder seat belt installation, we recommend

each rear seating position. A child seat that is

using a tether whenever one is available.

installed with a seat belt and comes with a

tether can use the tether for additional

security.

1. Locate the appropriate tether anchorage

point and lift the cover.

Anchor

Cover

2. Raise the head restraint to its highest

Outer Position

Tether

Strap

position, then route the tether strap

Hook

through the head restraint legs. Make sure

the strap is not twisted.

Anchor

3. Secure the tether strap hook onto the

Center Position

Tether

Strap

anchor.

Hook

4. Tighten the tether strap as instructed by the

child seat manufacturer.

Anchor

63

uuChild SafetyuSafety of Larger Children

Safety of Larger Children

1Safety of Larger Children

■ Protecting Larger Children

The following pages give instructions on how to check proper seat belt fit, what kind

3WARNING

of booster seat to use if one is needed, and important precautions for a child who

Allowing a child age 12 or under to sit in

must sit in front.

front can result in injury or death if the

passenger's front airbag inflates.

■ Checking Seat Belt Fit

If a larger child must ride in front, move the

When a child is too big for a child seat, secure the child in a rear seat using the lap/

vehicle seat as far to the rear as possible,

shoulder seat belt. Have the child sit upright and all the way back, then answer the

have the child sit up properly and wear the

following questions.

seat belt properly, using a booster seat if

■ Checklist

needed.

• Do the child's knees bend comfortably over

the edge of the seat?

• Does the shoulder belt cross between the

child's neck and arm?

• Is the lap part of the seat belt as low as

possible, touching the child's thighs?

• Will the child be able to stay seated like this

for the whole trip?

If you answer yes to all these questions, the child is ready to wear the lap/shoulder

seat belt correctly. If you answer no to any question, the child needs to ride on a

booster seat until the seat belt fits properly without a booster seat.

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uuChild SafetyuSafety of Larger Children

1Booster Seats

■ Booster Seats

When installing a booster seat, make sure to read the

If a lap/shoulder seat belt cannot be used

instructions that came with it, and install the seat

properly, position the child in a booster seat in

accordingly.

a rear seating position. For the child's safety,

There are high- and low-type booster seats. Choose a

check that the child meets the booster seat

booster seat that allows the child to wear the seat

belt correctly.

manufacturer's recommendations.

Some U.S. states and Canadian provinces and

territories require children to use a booster seat until

they reach a given age or weight (e.g. 6 years or 60

lbs). Be sure to check current laws in the state or

province, or territory where you intend to drive.

■ Protecting Larger Children-Final Checks

Your vehicle has a rear seat where children can be properly restrained. If you ever

have to carry a group of children, and a child must ride in front:

• Make sure you read and fully understand the instructions and safety information

in this manual.

• Move the front passenger seat as far back as possible.

• Have the child sit upright and well back in the seat.

• Check that the seat belt is properly positioned so that the child is secure in the

seat.

■ Monitoring child passengers

We strongly recommend that you keep an eye on child passengers. Even older, more

mature children sometimes need to be reminded to fasten their seat belts and sit up

properly.

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Safety Labels

Label Locations

These labels are in the locations shown. They warn you of potential hazards that can cause serious injury or death. Read these labels

carefully.

If a label comes off or becomes hard to read (except for the U.S. dashboard label which may be removed by the owner), contact a dealer

for a replacement.

Sun Visor

U.S. models

Canadian models

Dashboard

Doorjambs

U.S. models only

Canadian

U.S. models

models

Radiator Cap

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Indicators

Indicator

Name

On/Blinking

Explanation

Message

^● Comes on for a few seconds when

^● Comes on while driving - Make sure the

you set the power mode to ON, then

parking brake is released. Check the brake

goes off if the parking brake has

fluid level.

been released.

2 What to do when the indicator comes

^● Comes on when the parking brake is

on while driving P. 339

U.S.

applied, and goes off when it is

^● Comes on along with the ABS indicator

released.

- Have the vehicle checked by a dealer.

^● Comes on when the brake fluid level

2 If the Brake System Indicator (Red)

Parking Brake

Comes On P. 339

Canada

is low.

and Brake System

^● Comes on if there is a problem with

Indicator (Red)

the brake system.

^● The beeper sounds and the indicator

(Red)

comes on if you drive with the

parking brake not fully released.

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uuIndicatorsu

Indicator

Name

On/Blinking

Explanation

Message

^● Comes on for a few seconds when

^● Stays on constantly - Have the vehicle

U.S.

you set the power mode to ON, then

checked by a dealer. Normal braking is not

goes off.

affected.

U.S.

^● Comes on if there is a problem with

the cooperative control with

regenerative braking.

Brake System

Canada

Indicator (Amber)

Canada

(Amber)

^● Comes on when you set the power

^● Readiness codes are part of the on board

mode to ON, and goes off either

diagnostics for the emissions control

when the engine starts or after

systems.

several seconds if the engine is not

2 Testing of Readiness Codes P. 351

started. If “readiness codes” have

^● Comes on while driving - Have the

not been set, it blinks five times

vehicle checked by a dealer.

Malfunction

before it goes off.

^● Blinks while driving - Stop in a safe place

Indicator Lamp

^● Comes on if there is a problem with

where there are no flammable objects. Stop

the emissions control system.

the engine for 10 minutes or more, and

^● Blinks when a misfire in the engine's

wait for it to cool down. Then, take the

cylinders is detected.

vehicle to a dealer.

2 If the Malfunction Indicator Lamp

Comes On or Blinks P. 338

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Continued

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