HONDA S2000 2004 Owner's Manual

2004 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.

Owner's Identification Form

Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... i

A Few Words About Safety.................................................................................................................ii

Your Vehicle at a Glance.....................................................................................................................2

Driver and Passenger Safety ..............................................................................................................5

Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System.

Instruments and Controls.................................................................................................................37

Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.

Comfort and Convenience Features ................................................................................................73

How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.

Before Driving....................................................................................................................................99

What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.

Driving ..............................................................................................................................................111

The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.

Maintenance.....................................................................................................................................119

The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.

Taking Care of the Unexpected......................................................................................................153

This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, and how to handle them.

Technical Information.....................................................................................................................177

ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.

Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................191

A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact us.

Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)......................................................................................................195

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.

Contents

Owner’s Identification

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OWNER

ADDRESS

STREET

CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE/

V. I. N.

DELIVERY DATE

(Date sold to original retail purchaser)

DEALER NAME DEALER NO.

ADDRESS

STREET

CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE/

OWNER’S SIGNATURE

DEALER’S SIGNATURE

POSTAL CODE

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 inf ormation 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 specif ications or design at any time without notice and without incurring any obligation whatsoever.

Introduction

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Congratulations on your selection of the 2004 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.

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 vehicle so youcanrefertoitatanytime.

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 vehicle according to the schedules given in this manual helps to keep your driving trouble-free while it preserves your investment. When your vehicle 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.

California Proposition 65 Warning

WARNING:

California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

This product contains or emits chemicals known to the State of

As you read this manual, you will find inf ormation that is preceded by

NOTICE:

a symbol. This information is intended to help you avoid damage to your Honda, other property, or the environment.

AFewWordsAboutSafety

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Your safety, and the safety of others, is very important. And operating this vehicle safely is an important responsibility.

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.

Of course, it is not practical or possible to warn you about all the hazards associated with operating or maintaining your vehicle. You must use your own good judgement.

You will f ind this important safety information in a variety of f orms, including:

Safety Labels Safety Messages

three signal words: , , or . These signal words mean:

Safety Headings

Safety Precautions.

Safety Section Instructions

This entire book is filled with important safety information please read it carefully.

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on the vehicle.

−

preceded by a safety alert symbol and one of

DANGER WARNING CAUTION

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.

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such as Important Safety Reminders or Important

−

such as Driver and Passenger Safety.

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how to use this vehicle correctly and safely.

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Your Vehicle at a Glance

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HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNAL SWITCH (P.48)

HOOD RELEASE HANDLE (P.102)

DOOR LOCK SWITCH (P.54)

POWER WINDOW SWITCHES (P.59)

MIRROR CONTROLS (P.66)

WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROLS (P.47)

ROOF SWITCH (P.62)

REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER BUTTON (P.50)

HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING (P.74)

AUDIO SYSTEM (P.78)

HAZARD WARNING BUTTON (P.49)

Your Vehicle at a Glance

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(P.93)

ENGINE START BUTTON (P.113)

HEADLIGHTS/ TURN SIGNALS (P.48)

HOOD RELEASE HANDLE (P.102)

INSTRUMENT PANEL BRIGHTNESSREMOTE AUDIO CONTROLS (P.49)

CRUISE CONTROL MASTER SWITCH HORN (P.95)

REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER BUTTON (P.50)

WINDSHIELD WIPERS/ WASHERS (P.47)

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Driver and Passenger Safety

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This section gives you important information about how to protect yourself and your passengers. It shows you how to use seat belts. It explains how your airbags work, and it tells you how to properly restrain children in your vehicle.

.........Important Safety Precautions . 6

.......Your Vehicle’s Safety Features . 7

.......................................Seat Belts . 8

...........................................Airbags . 9

.........Protecting Adults and Teens . 10

.....1. Close and Lock the Doors . 10

......................2. Adjust the Seats . 10

............3. Adjust the Seat-Backs . 11

4. Fasten and Position the

.............................Seat Belts . 12

5. Maintain a Proper Sitting

................................Position . 13

.....Advice for Pregnant Women . 14

...Additional Safety Precautions . 15

Additional Information About Your

.................................Seat Belts . 15

..Seat Belt System Components . 15

......................Lap/Shoulder Belt . 16

Automatic Seat Belt

...............................Tensioners . 16

...............Seat Belt Maintenance . 17

Additional Information About Your

.....................................Airbags . 18

....................Airbag Components . 18

...........How Your Airbags Work . 18

How the SRS Indicator

.......................................Works . 20

.............................Airbag Service . 21

Protecting Children General

....................................Guidelines . 22

All Children Must Be

Your Vehicle is Not

Recommended for Child

The Passenger’s Airbag Can

Driver and Passenger Safety

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...............................Restrained . 22

..........................Passengers . 23

.................Pose Serious Risks . 23

.............Protecting Small Children . 26

......................Selecting Child Seats . 27

......................Installing Child Seats . 27

...........Protecting Larger Children . 30

...............Checking Seat Belt Fit . 30

..................Using a Booster Seat . 31

.............Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 34

...................................Safety Labels . 35

...Additional Safety Precautions . 21

...Additional Safety Precautions . 25

...Additional Safety Precautions . 33

Important Safety Precautions

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You’ll find many safety recommendations throughout this section, and throughout this manual. Therecommendationsonthispage are the ones we consider to be the most important.

Always Wear Your Seat Belt

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 vehicle is equipped with airbags, make sure you and your passenger always wear your seat belts, and wear them properly. (See page ).

Your Vehicle is Not Recommended for Child Passengers

Since all children are safest in the back seat of a vehicle, and your vehicle does not have a back seat, we recommend that you do not carry a

Driver and Passenger Safety

child passenger.

passenger’s airbag hazard, you should never carry an inf ant in a rear-f acing child seat in this vehicle.

Due to the

If a small child who must be restrained in a forward-facing child seat, or a larger child, must ride in this vehicle, be sure to follow all instructions and safety warnings in this manual (see pages and ).

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Be Aware of Airbag Hazards

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 f ollow all instructions and warnings in this manual.

Don’t Drink and Drive

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.

Control Your Speed

Excessive speed is a major factor in crash injuries and deaths. Generally, the higher the speed, the greater the risk, but serious injuries can also occur at lower speeds. Never drive faster than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the maximum speed posted.

Keep Your Vehicle in Safe Condition

Having a tire blowout or a mechanical f ailure 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 ).

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(1) (9) (3) (4) (7) (6)

(5)

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

Your vehicle is equipped with many features that work together to protect you and your passengers during a crash.

Some safety features do not require anyactiononyourpart.These include a strong steel framework that forms a safety cage around the passenger compartment; front and rear crush zones, a collapsible steering column, and seat belt

(2)

tensioners that tighten the seat belts in the event of a crash.

(2)

(1) Safety Cage (2) Crush Zones (3) Seats and Seat-Backs (4) Head Restraints (5) Collapsible Steering Column (6) Seat Belts (7) Seat Belt Tensioners (8) Airbags (9) Door Locks

However, you and your passenger can’t take full advantage of these safety features unless you remain sitting in a proper position and always wear your seat belts properly. Infact,somesafetyfeaturescan contribute to injuries if they are not used properly. The f ollowing pages explain how you cantakeanactiveroleinprotecting yourself and your passenger.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

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Seat Belts

Your vehicle is equipped with seat belts in both seating positions.

Your seat belt system also includes an indicator on the instrument panel to remind you and your passenger to fasten your seat belts.

Why Wear Seat Belts

Seat belts have proven to be the singlemosteffectivesafetydevice.

Not wearing a seat belt properly increases the chance of serious injury or death in a crash, even though your vehicle has airbags.

Driver and Passenger Safety

In addition, most states and all Canadian provinces require you to wear seat belts.

Not wearing a seat belt properly increases the chance of serious injury or death in a crash, even though your vehicle has airbags.

Be sure you and your passenger always wear seat belts and wear them properly.

When properly worn, seat belts:

Keep you connected to the vehicle so you can take advantage of the vehicle’s built-in safety features.

Help protect you in almost every type of crash, including f rontal, side,rearimpacts,androllovers.

Help keep you from being thrown against the inside of the vehicle and against another occupant.

Keep you from being thrown out of the vehicle.

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.

Of course, seat belts cannot completely protect you in every crash.Butinmostcases,seatbelts can reduce your risk of serious injury.

What You Should Do:

Always wear your seat belt, and make sure you wear it properly.

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

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Airbags

Your vehicle has a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) with frontal airbags to help protect the heads and chests of the driver and a passenger during a moderate to severe frontal collision (see page for more

information on how your airbags work).

The most important things you need to know about your airbags are:

Airbags do not replace seat belts.

They are designed to supplement the seat belts.

Airbags offer no protection in side impacts, rear impacts, rollovers, or minor collisions.

Airbags can pose hazards.

To do their job, airbags must inflate with tremendous f orce. So while airbags help save lives, they can cause minor injuries or more serious or even fatal injuries if occupants are not properly restrained or sitting properly.

What you should do:

Always wear your seat belt properly, and sit upright and as far back from the steering wheel while allowing full control of the vehicle. A passenger should move the seat as far back from the dashboard as possible.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults and Teens

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The rest of this section gives more detailed inf ormation about how you can maximize your saf ety.

Remember however, that no safety system can prevent all injures or deaths that can occur in severe crashes, even where seat belts are properly worn and the airbags deploy.

The f ollowing pages provide instructions on how to properly protect the driver, adult passengers and teenage children who are large enough and mature enough to ride in your Honda.

See page for important guidelines

22 54

on how to properly protect small children and larger children who ride in your vehicle.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Close and Lock the Doors Adjust the Seats1. 2.

After everyone has entered the vehicle, be sure the doors are closed and locked.

Locking the doors reduces the chance of someone being thrown out of the vehicle during a crash, and it helps prevent a passenger from accidentally opening a door and falling out.

Locking the doors also helps prevent an outsider from unexpectedly opening a door when you come to a stop.

See page for how to lock the doors.

Adjust driver’s seat as far to the rear as possible while allowing you to maintain control of the vehicle. Have a passenger adjust his or her seat as far to the rear as possible.

If you sit too close to the steering wheel or dashboard, you can be seriously injured by an inflating airbag, or by striking the steering wheel or dashboard.

Protecting Adults and Teens

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transport Canada recommend that drivers allow at least 10 inches (25 cm) between the center of the steering wheel and the chest. If you cannot get far enough away from the steering wheel and still reach the controls, we recommend that you investigate whether some type of adaptive equipment may help. Once your seat is adjusted correctly, rock it back and forth to make sure it is locked into position. See page

for how to adjust the seats. Adjust the driver’s seat-back to a

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 while allowing full control of the vehicle.

Adjust the Seat-Backs3.

comfortable, upright position, leaving ample space between your chest and the airbag cover in the center of the steering wheel.

A passenger should also adjust the seat-back to an comfortable, upright position.

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.

See page for how to adjust seat-

backs.

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.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults and Teens

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Fasten and Position the Seat

Belts

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.

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.

Driver and Passenger Safety

If necessary, pull up on the belt again to remove any slack, 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.

Never place the shoulder portion of a lap/shoulder belt under your arm or behind your back.

This could cause

very serious injuries in a crash.

Improperly positioning the seat belts can cause serious injury or death in a crash.

Make sure all seat belts are properly positioned before driving.

Protecting Adults and Teens

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If a seat belt does not seem to work as it should, it may not protect the occupant in a crash.

No one should sit in a seat with an inoperative seat belt.

Using a seat belt that is not working properly can result in serious injury or death. Have your Honda dealer check the belt as soon as possible.

See page for additional

information about your seat belts and how to take care of them.

Maintain a Proper Sitting

5. Position

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 vehicle 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 in a crash by striking interior parts of the vehicle, or being struck by an inflating front airbag.

Sitting improperly or out of position can result in serious injury or death.

Always sit upright, well back in the seat, with your feet on the floor.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults and Teens

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Advice for Pregnant Women

Driver and Passenger Safety

If you are pregnant, the best way to protect yourself and your unborn child when driving or riding in a vehicle is to always wear a seat belt, and keep the lap part of the belt as low as possible across the hips.

When driving, remember to sit upright and adjust the seat as far back as possible while allowing full control of the vehicle. When riding as a passenger, adjust the seat as far back as possible.

This will reduce the risk of injuries to both you and your 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.

Protecting Adults and Teens, Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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Additional Safety Precautions Seat Belt System Components

Two people should never use the same seat belt.

If they do, they could be very seriously injured in a crash.

Keep your hands and arms away from the airbag covers.

If your hands or arms are close to an airbag cover, they could be injured if the airbags inflate.

Your seat belt system includes lap/ shoulder belts in both seating positions. The seat belts are also equipped with automatic seat belt tensioners.

Do not put any accessories on seat belts.

Devices intended to improve occupant comf ort or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt can reduce the protective capability of thebeltandincreasethechanceof serious injury in a crash.

Do not attach or place objects on the airbag covers.

Objects on the covers marked SRS AIRBAG could interf ere with the proper operation of the airbags or be propelled inside the vehicle and hurt someone if the airbags inflate.

The seat belt system

includes an indicator on the instrument panel to remind you and your passenger to fasten your belts.

If you turn the ignition switch to ON (II) before fastening your seat belt,

Do not place hard or sharp objects between yourself and an airbag.

Carrying hard or sharp objects on your lap, or driving with a pipe or other sharp object in your mouth,

the beeper sounds and the indicator flashes. If you do not fasten your seat belt before the beeper stops, the indicator stops flashing but remains on.

can result in injuries if your airbags inflate.

If you continue driving without fastening your seat belt, the beeper sounds and the indicator flashes again at regular intervals.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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Lap/Shoulder Belt Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners

body. The lap and shoulder belt goes over your shoulder, across your chest, and across your hips.

The passenger’s seat belt has an

additional locking mechanism that

must be activated to secure a child To fasten the belt, insert the latch

seat (see page ).

plate into the buckle, then tug on the belt to make sure the buckle is latched (see page for how to

properly position the belt).

If the shoulder part of the belt is pulled all the way out, the locking mechanism will activate. The belt will retract, but it will not allow the

To unlock the belt, push the red

passenger to move freely. PRESSbuttononthebuckle.Guide the belt across your body so that it retracts completely. After exiting the vehicle, be sure the belt is out of the way and will not get closed in the door.

To deactivate the locking

mechanism, unlatch the buckle, and

let the seat belt fully retract. To

refasten the belt, pull it out only as

far as needed.

For added protection, the seat belts are equipped with automatic seat belt tensioners. When activated, the tensioners immediately tighten the beltstohelpholdthedriverandthe

Both seat belts have an emergency

passenger in place. retractor. In normal driving, the retractor lets you move freely in your seat while it keeps some tension on the belt. During a collision or sudden stop, the retractor automatically locks the belt to help restrain your

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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The tensioners are designed to activate primarily in frontal collisions, andtheyshouldactivateinany collision severe enough to cause airbag inflation.

However, the tensioners can be activated during a collision in which the airbags do not deploy. In this case, the airbags would not be needed, but the additional restraint could be helpful.

When the tensioners are activated, the seat belts will remain tight until they are unbuckled in the normal manner.

Seat Belt Maintenance

For safety, you should check the condition of your seat belts regularly.

Pull each belt out f ully and look for frays, cuts, burns, and wear. Check that the latches work smoothly and the belts retract easily. Any belt that is not in good condition or not working properly will not provide good protection and should be replaced as soon as possible.

Acura provides a lifetime warranty on seat belts for U.S. models. See

Acura Warranty Information

your booklet for details.

If a seat belt is worn during a crash, it must be replaced by the dealer. A belt that has been worn during a crash may not provide the same level of protection in a subsequent crash.

The dealer should also inspect the

anchors for damage and replace

them if needed. If the automatic seat

belt tensioners activate during a

crash, they must be replaced.

For information on how to clean your

seat belts, see page .143

Not checking or maintaining seat belts can result in serious injury or death if the seat belts do not work properly when needed.

Check your seat belts regularly and have any problem corrected as soon as possible.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Airbags

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Airbag System Components How Your Airbags Work

Your airbag system includes:

An indicator on the instrument panel that alerts you to a possible problem with your airbags (see

Two SRS (Supplemental Restraint

page ).

System) airbags. The driver’s airbag is stored in the center of the steering wheel; the passenger’s airbag is stored in the dashboard.

Emergency backup power in case your vehicle’s electrical system is disconnected in a crash.

Both are marked ‘‘SRS AIRBAG.’’

Automatic seat belt tensioners (see page ).

Sensors that can detect a moderate to severe frontal collision.

If you ever have a moderate to severe f rontal collision, sensors will

detect the vehicle’s rapid A sophisticated electronic system that continually monitors information about the sensors, the control unit, and the airbag

deceleration. If the rate of

deceleration is high enough, the

control unit will instantly inflate the

drivers and passenger’s airbags. activators when the ignition is in the ON (II) position.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Airbags

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During a frontal crash, your seat belt restrains your lower body and torso, and the airbag helps protect your head and chest.

Although both airbags normally inflate within split second of each other, it is possible for only one airbag to deploy.

This can happen if the severity of a collision is at the margin, or threshold, that determines whether or not the airbags will deploy. In such cases, the seat belt will provide sufficient protection, and the supplemental protection offered by the airbag would be minimal.

After inflating, the airbags will immediately deflate, so they won’t interfere with the driver’s visibility, or the ability to steer or operate other controls.

The total time for inflation and deflation is one-tenth of a second, so fast that most occupants are not aware that the airbags deployed until they see them lying in their laps.

After a crash, you may see what

looks like smoke. This is actually

powder from the airbag’s surface.

Although the powder is not harmful,

people with respiratory problems

mayexperiencesometemporary

discomfort. If this occurs, get out of

the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do

so.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Airbags

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How the SRS Indicator Works

The SRS indicator alerts

you to a potential problem with your airbags or seat belt tensioners (see page ).

When you turn the ignition to ON (II), this indicator will come on briefly then go out. This tells you the system is working properly.

If the indicator comes on at any other time, or does not come on at all, you should have the system checked by your dealer. For example:

If the SRS indicator does not come on after you turn the ignition to ON (II).

If the indicator stays on after the engine starts.

Driver and Passenger Safety

If the indicator comes on or flashesonandoffwhileyoudrive.

If you see any of these indications, your airbags and seat belt tensioners may not work properly when you need them.

Ignoring the SRS indicator can result in serious injury or death if the airbags or tensioners do not work properly.

Have your vehicle checked by a dealer as soon as possible if the SRS indicator alerts you to a possible problem.

Additional Information About Your Airbags

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Airbag Service Additional Safety Precautions

Your airbag systems are virtually maintenance-free, and there are no parts you can safely service. However, you must have your vehicle serviced if:

Your airbags ever inflate.

The airbags, seat belt tensioners, and control unit must be replaced. Do not try to remove or replace the airbags yourself. This must be done by a Honda dealer or a knowledgeable body shop.

The SRS indicator alerts you to a problem.

Take your vehicle to an authorized Honda dealer as soon as possible. If you ignore this indication, your airbags may not operate properly.

Donotattempttodeactivateyour airbags.

Together, airbags and seat belts provide the best protection.

Do not tamper with airbag components or wiring for any reason.

Tampering could cause the airbags to deploy, possibly causing very serious injury.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Children General Guidelines

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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 and use a booster if necessary.

Children depend on adults to protect them. However, despite their best intentions many adults do not know how to properly protect child passengers.

If you ever need to drive with a child in your vehicle, be sure to read this section. It begins with important general guidelines, then presents special information for small children and larger children.

All Children Must Be Restrained

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 properly restrained when they ride in a vehicle.

A small child must be restrained in an approved child seat that is properly secured to the vehicle

pages ).27 29

A larger child must be restrained with a booster until the seat belt fits him her properly

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(see pages

(see

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Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Children General Guidelines

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Your Vehicle is Not Recommended for Child passengers

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transport Canada recommend that all children age 12 and under be properly restrained in a back seat.

Since this vehicle does not have a back seat, we strongly recommend that you do not carry any child who is not large enough or mature enough to ride in f ront (see page ).

The Passenger’s Airbag Can Pose Serious Risks

Airbags have been designed to help protect adults in a moderate to severe f rontal collision. To do this, the passenger’s airbag is quite large and it can inflate with enough force to cause very serious injuries.

Infants

Never put a rear-f acing child seat in this vehicle.

If the passenger’s airbag inflates, it can hit the back of the child seat with enough force to kill or very seriously injure an infant.

Small Children

Placing a f orward-facing child seat in the passenger’s seat can be hazardous.

If the vehicle seat is too far forward, or the child’s head is thrown f orward during a collision, an inflating passenger’s airbag can strike the child with enough force to kill or very seriously injure them.

Larger Children

Children who have outgrown child seats are also at risk of being injured or killed by an inflating passenger’s airbag.

this vehicle, see page for

If a larger child must ride in

important guidelines on how to decide when a child is ready to ride in front and how to properly protect the child.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Children General Guidelines

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U.S. Models Canadian Models

To remind you of the passenger’s airbag hazards, your vehicle has warninglabelsonthedashboardand on the driver’s and passenger’s visors. Please read and follow the instructions on these labels.

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To remind you of the airbag hazards, your vehicle 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 General Guidelines

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Additional Safety Precautions

Never hold a small child on your lap. If you are not wearing a seat belt in crash, you could be thrown forward and crush the child against the dashboard. If you are wearing a seat belt, the child can be torn from your arms and be seriously hurt or killed.

Never put a seat belt over yourself and a child. During a crash, the belt could press deep into the child and cause serious or fatal injuries.

Never let two children use the same seat belt. If they do, they could be very seriously injured in a crash.

Do not leave children alone in a vehicle. Leaving children without adult supervision is illegal in most states and Canadian provinces, and can be very hazardous. For example, a small child lef t in a vehicle on a hot day can die from heatstroke. A child lef t alone with the key in the ignition can accidentally set the vehicle in motion, possibly injuring themselves or others.

Lock both doors and the trunk when your vehicle is not in use. Children who play in vehicles can accidentally get trapped inside the trunk. Teach your children not to play in or around vehicles. Know how to operate the emergency trunk opener and decide if your children should be shown how to use this feature (see page ).

Keep vehicle keys and remote transmitters out of the reach of children. 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.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Small Children

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Because an inflating airbag can seriously injure or kill small children, we recommend that you do not carry a small child as a passenger in this vehicle.

If you decide to transport a small child in this vehicle, be sure to move the passenger seat as far to the rear as possible, and follow the instructions and guidelines in the following pages.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Child Seat Type

A child who is at least one year old, and who fits within the child seat maker’s weight and height limits, should be restrained in a forwardfacing, upright child seat.

Of the different seats available, we recommend those that have a f ivepoint harness system as shown.

We also recommend that a small child uses the child seat as long as possible, until the child reaches the weight or height limit for the seat.

Placing a forward-facing child seat in the passenger’s seat can result in serious injury or death if the airbag inflates.

Ifyoumustplaceaforwardfacing child seat in the passenger’s seat, move the vehicle seat as far back as possible, and properly restrain the child.

Selecting a Child Seat, Installing a Child Seat

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Selecting a Child Seat Installing a Child Seat

To provide proper protection, a child seat should meet three requirements:

The child seat should meet U.S. or

1. Canadian Motor Vehicle Saf ety Standard 213.

Look f or FMVSS

213 or CMVSS 213 on the box.

The child seat should be of the

2. proper type and size to fit the child.

After selecting a proper child seat, there are three main steps to install it:

Properly secure the child seat to

1. the vehicle.

All child seats must be secured to the vehicle with the lap part of a lap/shoulder belt. A child whose seat is not properly secured to the vehicle can be endangered in a crash.

Secure the child in the child seat.

Make sure the child is properly strappedinthechildseat according to the child seat maker’s instructions. A child who is not properly secured in a child seat can be seriously injured in a crash.

The f ollowing pages provide guidelines on how to properly install a forward-facing child seat.

The child seat should fit the

3. passenger’s seat.

Before purchasing a child seat, or using a previously purchased one, we recommend that you test the seat to make sure it fits properly in the passenger’s seat.

Make sure the child seat is firmly

2. secured.

After installing a child seat, push and pull the seat forward and from side to side to verify that it is secure.

A child seat secured with a seat belt should be installed as firmly as possible. However, it does not need to be ‘‘rock solid’’. Some sideto-side movement can be expected and should not reduce the child seat’s effectiveness.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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