Get Occupant Restraints -> Child Restraints Guide for Volkswagen Routan SUV First Generation (2009-2014)

31

before accessing the electronic data stored, unless or- 3. Requested by police under a legal warrant.

dered to image the data by a court with legal jurisdiction

(i.e., pursuant to a warrant). A copy of the data will be

4. Otherwise required by law.

provided to the custodial entity upon request. General Data parameters that are recorded:

data that does not identify particular vehicles or crashes

•

Diagnostic trouble code(s) and warning light status for

electronically-controlled safety systems, including the

airbag system

may be released for incorporation in aggregate crash

databases, such as those maintained by the U.S. govern-

ment and various states. Data of a potentially sensitive

nature, such as would identify a particular driver, ve-

hicle, or crash, will be treated confidentially. Confidential

data will not be disclosed by Volkswagen Group of

America, Inc. to any third party except when:

•

Vehicle speed

Engine RPM

Brake switch status

Pedal position

1. Used for research purposes, such as to match data

with a particular crash record in an aggregate database,

provided confidentiality of personal data is thereafter

preserved.

And other parameters depending on vehicle

configuration

Child Restraints

Everyone in your vehicle needs to be buckled up at all

times, including babies and children. Every state in the

2. Used in defense of litigation involving a Volkswagen

Group of America, Inc. product.

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United States and all Canadian provinces require that Infants and Small Children

small children ride in proper restraint systems. This is the There are different sizes and types of restraints for

law, and you can be prosecuted for ignoring it.

children from newborn size to the child almost large

enough for an adult safety belt. Always check the child

seat owner’s manual to ensure you have the right seat for

your child. Use the restraint that is correct for your child.

Children 12 years and younger should ride properly

buckled up in a rear seat. According to crash statistics,

children are safer when properly restrained in the rear

seats rather than in the front.

•

Safety experts recommend that children ride

rearward-facing in the vehicle until they are at least

one year old and weigh at least 20 lbs (9 kg). Two types

of child restraints can be used rearward-facing: infant

carriers and ЉconvertibleЉ child seats. Both types of

child restraints are held in the vehicle by the lap/

shoulder belt or the LATCH child restraint anchorage

system. Refer to “Lower Anchors and Tether for CHil-

dren (LATCH)”.

WARNING!

In a collision, an unrestrained child, even a tiny baby,

can become a projectile inside the vehicle. The force

required to hold even an infant on your lap could

become so great that you could not hold the child, no

matter how strong you are. The child and others

could be badly injured. Any child riding in your

vehicle should be in a proper restraint for the child’s

size.

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•

The infant carrier is only used rearward-facing in the Older Children and Child Restraints

vehicle. It is recommended for children who weigh up Children who weigh more than 20 lbs (9 kg) and who are

to about 20 lbs (9 kg). ЉConvertibleЉ child seats can be older than one year can ride forward-facing in the

used either rearward-facing or forward-facing in the vehicle. Forward-facing child seats and convertible child

vehicle. Convertible child seats often have a higher seats used in the forward-facing direction are for children

weight limit in the rearward-facing direction than who weigh 20 to 40 lbs (9 to 18 kg) and who are older

infant carriers do, so they can be used rearward-facing than one year. These child seats are also held in the

by children who weigh more than 20 lbs (9 kg) but are vehicle by the lap/shoulder belt or the LATCH child

less than one year old.

restraint anchorage system. Refer to “Lower Anchors and

Tether for CHildren (LATCH)”.

WARNING!

An aftermarket belt-positioning booster seat is for chil-

dren weighing more than 40 lbs (18 kg), but who are still

too small to properly fit the vehicle’s seat belts. If the

child can not sit with knees bent over the vehicles seat

cushion while the child’s back is against the seatback,

they should use a belt-positioning booster seat. The child

and booster seat are held in the vehicle by the lap/

shoulder belt.

Rearward-facing child seats must NEVER be used in

the front seat of a vehicle with a front passenger

airbag. An airbag deployment could cause severe

injury or death to infants in this position.

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Children Too Large for Booster Seats

NOTE:

For additional information, refer to

Children who are large enough to wear the shoulder belt www.seatcheck.org or call 1–866–SEATCHECK. Cana-

comfortably, and whose legs are long enough to bend dian residents, should refer to Transport Canada’s web-

over the front of the seat when their back is against the site for additional information. http://ww w .tc.gc.ca/

seatback, should use the lap/shoulder belt in a rear seat. roadsafety/safedrivers/childsafety/index.htm

•

Make sure that the child is upright in the seat.

WARNING!

The lap portion should be low on the hips and as snug

as possible.

•

Improper installation can lead to failure of an

infant or child restraint. It could come loose in a

collision. The child could be badly injured or

killed. Follow the manufacturer’s directions ex-

actly when installing an infant or child restraint.

A rearward-facing child restraint should only be

used in a rear seat. A rearward-facing child re-

straint in the front seat may be struck by a deploy-

ing passenger airbag which may cause severe or

fatal injury to the infant.

•

Check belt fit periodically. A child’s squirming or

slouching can move the belt out of position.

If the shoulder belt contacts the face or neck, move the

child closer to the center of the vehicle. If this doesn’t

help, move the child to the center rear seating position

and use the lap belt. Never allow a child to put the

shoulder belt under an arm or behind their back.

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Here are some tips on getting the most out of your child

restraint:

shoulder portion of the lap/shoulder belt will tighten

the belt. The cinching latch plate will keep the belt

tight; however, any seat belt system will loosen with

time, so check the belt occasionally and pull it tight if

necessary.

•

Before buying any restraint system, make sure that it

has a label certifying that it meets all applicable Safety

Standards. We also recommend that you make sure

that you can install the child restraint in the vehicle

where you will use it, before you buy it.

•

In the rear seat, you may have trouble tightening the

lap/shoulder belt on the child restraint because the

buckle or latch plate is too close to the belt path

opening on the restraint. Disconnect the latch plate

from the buckle and twist the short buckle end of the

belt several times to shorten it. Insert the latch plate

into the buckle with the release button facing out.

•

The restraint must be appropriate for your child’s

weight and height. Check the label on the restraint for

weight and height limits.

Carefully follow the instructions that come with the

restraint. If you install the restraint improperly, it may

not work when you need it.

•

If the belt still can’t be tightened, or if pulling and

pushing on the restraint loosens the belt, disconnect

the latch plate from the buckle, turn the buckle

around, and insert the latch plate into the buckle

again. If you still can’t make the child restraint secure,

try a different seating position.

The passenger seat belts are equipped with cinching

latch plates, which are designed to keep the lap

portion tight around the child restraint so that it is not

necessary to use a locking clip. Pulling up on the

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•

Buckle the child into the seat according to the child

restraint manufacturer’s directions.

WARNING!

Improper installation of a child restraint to the

LATCH anchorages can lead to failure of an infant or

child restraint. The child could be badly injured or

killed. Follow the manufacturer’s directions exactly

when installing an infant or child restraint.

•

When your child restraint is not in use, secure it in the

vehicle with the seat belt or remove it from the vehicle.

Don’t leave it loose in the vehicle. In a sudden stop or

collision, it could strike the occupants or seatbacks and

cause serious personal injury.

Installing the Child Restraint System

Installing the LATCH-Compatible Child Restraint

System

In general, you will first loosen the adjusters on the lower

straps and tether straps so that you can more easily attach

the hook or connector to the lower anchorages and tether

anchorages. Then tighten all three straps as you push the

child restraint rearward and downward into the seat.

Each vehicle, except commercial cargo vehicles, is

equipped with the child restraint anchorage system

called LATCH, which stands for Lower Anchors and

Tether for CHildren. Two LATCH child restraint anchor-

age systems are installed on all second-row seats and in

the center position on all third row fold-in-floor seats.

Second-row seats also feature tether strap anchorages,

located in the rear surface of the seatback. In addition, all

Not all child restraint systems will be installed as we

have described here. Again, carefully follow the instruc-

tions that come with the child restraint system.

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third row fold-in-floor seats are equipped with a child NOTE:

restraint tether anchor at the center seating position.

•

When using the LATCH attaching system to install a

child restraint, please ensure that all seat belts not

being used for occupant restraints are stowed and out

of reach of children. It is recommended that before

installing the child restraint, buckle the seat belt so the

seat belt is tucked behind the child restraint and out of

reach. If the buckled seat belt interferes with the child

restraint installation, instead of tucking the seat belt

behind the child restraint, route the seat belt through

the child restraint belt path and then buckle it. This

should stow the seat belt out of the reach of an

inquisitive child. Remind all children in the vehicle

that the seat belts are not toys and should not be

played with, and never leave your child unattended in

the vehicle.

We urge you to follow the manufacturer’s directions

carefully when installing your child restraint. Many, but

not all restraint systems will be equipped with separate

straps on each side, with each having a hook or connec-

tor, and a means for adjusting the tension in the strap.

Forward facing toddler restraints and some rearward

facing infant restraints will also be equipped with a tether

strap, a hook and means for adjusting the tension in the

strap. Not all child restraint systems will be installed as

described here. Again, carefully follow the installation

instructions that are provided with the child restraint

system.

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•

If your child restraint seat is not LATCH-compatible, 2. Loosen the adjusters on the lower child restraint

install the restraint using the vehicle seat belts.

attachment straps (reference the child restraint seat in-

structions) to ease the installation.

WARNING!

NOTE: It is recommended to loosen the top tether strap

and route it loosely prior to securing the lower anchors so

the top tether strap is not trapped between the vehicle

seat and child restraint.

Improper installation of a child restraint to the

LATCH anchorages can lead to failure of an infant or

child restraint. The child could be badly injured or

killed. Follow the manufacturer’s directions exactly

when installing a infant or child restraint.

3. Attach the lower child restraint attachment straps to

the vehicle’s lower anchor bars. Ensure that the lower

attachment strap is firmly engaged and that the hook is

secure.

Installing the Lower Attachments:

1. The vehicle lower anchorages are round bars located

at the rear of the seat cushion where it meets the seatback.

39

4. Tighten the lower attachment strap while firmly push- Installing the Top Tether Strap (with either Lower

ing the child restraint rearward and downward into the Anchors or Vehicle Seat Belt):

vehicle seat. Remove all slack in the lower attachment

1. Route the top tether strap under the adjustable head

restraint between the steel posts.

straps. Reference the child restraint instructions for infor-

mation on properly removing slack.

2. Provide enough slack (reference child restraint in-

structions) for the tether strap to reach the tether anchor

located near the bottom of the seat back.

3. Clip tether hook to tether anchor. Ensure that the hook

is firmly engaged and secure.

4. Remove all slack and tighten tether strap according to

child restraint manufacturer’s instructions.

NOTE: The top tether strap is always to be secured,

regardless of if the child restraint is installed with the

lower anchors or the vehicle seat belt.

LATCH Anchorages

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WARNING!

An incorrectly anchored tether strap could lead to

increased head motion and possible injury to the

child. Use only the anchor positions directly behind

the child seat to secure a child restraint top tether

strap.

Installing the Child Restraint Using the Vehicle

Seat Belts

Because the lower anchorages are to be introduced to

passenger carrying vehicles over a period of years, child

restraint systems having attachments for those anchor-

ages will continue to have features for installation in

vehicles using the lap or lap/shoulder belt. They will also

have tether straps, and you are urged to take advantage

of all of the available attachments provided with your

child restraint in any vehicle.

Rear Seat Tether Strap Mounting

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Seat belts, except for the driver seat belt, are equipped Once you have completed securing the child restraint

with an Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) and/or a with the seat belt secure the top tether strap. Refer to

cinching latch plate. Both types of seat belts are designed ЉInstalling the Top Tether StrapЉ for instructions.

to keep the lap portion tight around the child restraint so

Transporting Pets

that it is not necessary to use a locking clip. In seating

Airbags deploying in the front seat could harm your pet.

positions that are equipped with an ALR retractor, it will

An unrestrained pet could be thrown about and possibly

make a ratcheting noise after all the webbing is extracted

injured, or injure a passenger during panic braking or in

and allowed to return back. For additional information,

a collision.

refer to “Automatic Locking Mode”.

Pets should be restrained in the rear seat in pet harnesses

or pet carriers that are secured by seat belts.

To install a child restraint, pull enough of the seat belt

webbing from the retractor to route it through the belt

path of the child restraint and slide the latch plate into the

buckle. Next, pull all the seat belt webbing, until it is fully

extracted, from the retractor. Allow the belt to return to

the retractor, pulling on the excess webbing to tighten the

lap portion around the child restraint. (Any seat belt

system will loosen with time, so check the belt occasion-

ally and pull it tight if necessary).

Occupant Restraints -> Child Restraints for Your Volkswagen Routan SUV First Generation (2009-2014)

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