Audi A4: Securing child safety seats to the lower LATCH anchors

Fig. 71 Rear bench seat: lower LATCH anchors

Observe the safety precautions.

In the United States and Canada, child safety seats can be secured without safety belts using the LATCH system. LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. In Canada, similar systems are called UCRA, LUAS, or UAS.

The lower LATCH anchors in your vehicle are located on the outer seats of the rear bench seat between the seat surface and the backrest. These seating locations each have two lower LATCH anchors that can be used to secure a LATCH child safety seat. Marking points with a > fig. 77 symbol are located on the covers for the lower LATCH anchors. You can locate the LATCH anchors using the marking points.

• Activate the child safety lock.

  Remove the cover* from both lower LATCH anchors.

• If you secure a child safety seat to the rear seat, secure any unused safety belts that are within reach of the child.
• Secure the child safety seat according to the child safety seat manufacturer instructions.
• Pull on the child safety seat to check if both sides are engaged correctly in the LATCH anchors.
• If possible, also secure the child safety seat to the respective top tether anchor in the vehicle.

WARNING

The LATCH anchors in the vehicle are only designed for child safety seats with the LATCH system. To reduce the risk of serious or fatal injury, never secure other child restraint systems, belts, or objects to the anchors.

Tips

The LATCH anchors are designed for a total weight (child and child safety seat combined) up to 65 lbs (29 kg). If the total weight is greater than this, the child safety seat must be secured with the vehicle safety belt.

Securing child safety seats with a safety belt

Observe the safety precautions. The front passenger's seat is a dangerous location for a child, even with an advanced airbag system. If exceptional circumstances require the child safety seat to be placed on the front passenger's seat, then the front passenger's airbag must be deactivated.

Securing child safety seats

• Activate the child safety lock.
• If you secure a child safety seat to the rear seat, secure any unused safety belts that are within reach of the child.
• If you secure a child safety seat to the front passenger's seat, adjust the front passenger's seat to the highest position.
• Secure the child safety seat according to the child safety seat manufacturer instructions.
• If necessary, activate the belt retractor lock.
• If the child safety seat is secured on the front passenger's seat, adjust the front passenger's seat backrest until it rests flat against the child safety seat. Also make sure that the upper safety belt fixture is behind the child safety seat.
• If you secure a child safety seat on the rear seat, also secure it to the correct top tether anchor if possible.

Activating the belt retractor lock

If you secure a child safety seat using the vehicle safety belt, you must activate the belt retractor lock. Follow the child safety seat manufacturer instructions.

The belt retractor lock prevents the safety belt from becoming loose while driving, which could result in the child safety seat no longer being adequately secured.

• Secure the child safety seat according to the child safety seat manufacturer instructions.

  While doing so, pull out the safety belt. Insert the safety belt into the belt latch that belongs to that seat until it audibly locks.

• Pull the upper belt out completely and then allow it to retract. You will hear a clicking sound while the belt is retracting. It will not be possible to pull the safety belt out any farther.
• Push the child safety seat into the seat and allow the belt to retract more.
• Make sure that the child safety seat cannot move more than 1 inch (2.5 cm).

Deactivating the belt retractor lock

• Unbuckle the safety belt from the belt latch.
• Remove the child safety seat according to the manufacturer instructions.
• Allow the safety belt to retract completely. The belt retractor lock is deactivated.

WARNING

• A safety belt that is not locked by the belt retractor lock or a locking device cannot secure a child safety seat while driving or in the event of an accident, which increases the risk of fatal injury. Always make sure the belt retractor lock on the safety belt is activated if the child safety seat manufacturer instructions require it.
• Due to the risk of fatal injury, never place a rear-facing child safety seat on the front passenger's seat when the front passenger's airbag is switched on.
• For the child safety seat to offer the maximum protection, it is especially important to route the vehicle safety belt correctly. Always follow the instructions from the child safety seat manufacturer for routing the safety belt correctly. Incorrectly fastened safety belts can cause injuries, even during minor accidents.

Additionally securing a child safety seat to the top tether anchors

Fig. 72 Version (1) rear shelf/ Version (2) rear backrest: top tether anchors for securing a child safety seat with an upper strap

Fig. 73 Version (1) rear shelf/ Version (2) rear backrest: securing the upper strap on the top tether anchor

Observe the safety precautions.

There is a top tether anchor behind every seat in the rear bench seat to additionally secure a child safety seat with an upper belt.

• Move the head restraint behind the child safety seat upward.
• Applies to: version 1: Fold the cover for the top tether anchor upward.
• Guide the upper belt on the child safety seat under the head restraint or along both sides of it and toward the rear (depending on the child safety seat model).
• Fasten the belt to the top tether anchor => fig. 73. While doing this, make sure the belt is not twisted and is not running over any sharp edges.
• Secure the child safety seat according to the child safety seat manufacturer instructions.
• Pull the belt tightly so that the child safety seat rests at the top of the seat backrest.
• If necessary, move the head restraint behind the child safety seat downward.

WARNING

The top tether anchors in the vehicle are only designed for child safety seats equipped with an upper strap. To reduce the risk of serious or fatal injury, never secure other child restraint systems, belts, or objects to the anchors.

Securing unused safety belts on the rear bench seat

Fig. 74 Rear bench seat: securing unused safety belts

If a child safety seat is used on the rear bench seat, the child must not be able to reach any safety belts that are not being used. Secure safety belts that are within reach of the child.

• If you secure a child safety seat to the LATCH anchors, fasten the safety belt on the seat where the child safety seat is installed using the seat's safety belt latch.
• If you secure a child safety seat to one of the outer seats, fasten the safety belt for the center seat in its latch.
• Activate the belt retractor lock on the fastened safety belts. To do this, pull the upper belt out completely and then allow it to retract. You will hear a clicking sound while the belt is retracting.
• It will not be possible to pull the safety belt out any farther.
• Make sure the fastened safety belt does not block access to the LATCH anchors. Otherwise, it may not be possible to secure the child safety seat to the LATCH anchors correctly.

WARNING

A child in a child safety seat could play with the unused safety belts and then become entangled in them, which increases the risk of fatal injury. Always secure unused safety belts so that they are not within reach of children in child safety seats.

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