Land Rover Freelander 2003my Owners Handbook 2nd Edition Nas Rover

							Seat Belts
40
Seat BeltsSEAT BELT SAFETY
WARNING
Seat belts are life-saving equipment. In a 
collision, occupants not wearing a seat belt 
can be thrown around inside, or possibly 
thrown out of, the vehicle. This is likely to 
result in more serious injuries than would 
have been the case had a seat belt been worn. 
It may even result in loss of life!
Dont take chances with safety!
•DO make sure that ALL occupants are 
securely strapped in at all times - even for 
the shortest journeys.
•The airbag supplemental restraint system 
(SRS) is designed to add to the overall 
effectiveness of the seat belts. It does not 
replace them. SEAT BELTS MUST ALWAYS 
BE WORN!
•Ensure that all seat belts are worn 
correctly - an improperly worn seat belt 
increases the risk of death or serious 
injury in the event of a collision.
•DO use the seat belts to secure items of 
luggage that are to be carried on the seats 
- in the event of an accident, loose items 
become flying missiles capable of causing 
serious injury, or even death.
WARNING
•DO NOT fit more than one person into a 
belt; this could result in the occupants 
striking each other and causing injury in 
the event of a crash.
•DO NOT use, or attempt to fit, a seat belt 
that is twisted or obstructed in any way 
that could impede its smooth operation. If 
a belt is twisted, it must be straightened 
before use. Using a twisted or obstructed 
seat belt could increase the risk of injury 
in a crash.
•ALWAYS use the seat belt lock (buckle) 
nearest the wearer. If the belt is locked in 
the wrong place, the seat belt will not fit 
correctly and may ride up over the 
abdomen, causing serious internal injury 
in a crash.
•ALWAYS transport children 12 years old 
and under in the back seat and always 
properly use appropriate child restraints.
•For children that are too small to fit the 
3-point seat belt properly, the use of 
appropriate child safety seats or 
belt-positioning booster seats is 
recommended.
NOTE: For additional information, (see ‘CHILD 
RESTRAINTS FOR SMALL CHILDREN AND 
BABIES’, page 45). 
						

							Seat Belts
41
WEARING SEAT BELTS CORRECTLY
Fastening the seat belts
Inertia reel belts are fitted to all front and rear 
seating positions.
Draw the belt over the shoulder and across the 
chest and, ensuring that the webbing is not 
twisted, insert the metal tongue plate into the 
buckle nearest the wearer - a ‘CLICK’ indicates 
that the belt is securely locked.
In some circumstances, perhaps due to the 
vehicle being parked on a slope, the inertia 
mechanism may engage, preventing the initial 
extension of a belt. This is not a fault - ease the 
belt free and use it.
NOTE: The center rear seat belt tongue plate will 
not latch into either of the outer seating position 
buckles.
NOTE: Where possible, rear seat passengers 
should adjust their position on the seat to 
enable the seat belt webbing to cross the 
shoulder without pressing on the neck.
Adjust the seat belt to eliminate any slack in the 
webbing. DO NOT slacken the webbing by 
holding the belt away from the body - to be fully 
effective, the seat belt must remain in full 
contact with the body at all times. Also, ensure 
that the lap belt fits as low on the hips as 
possible and that the shoulder belt passes 
across the shoulder without slipping off or 
pressing on the neck.Positioning the beltWARNING
Seat belts are designed to bear upon the bony 
structure of the body (pelvis, chest and 
shoulders), and can only be worn safely with 
the seats in a normal, upright, position.
•ALWAYS fit the lap strap as low on the hips 
as possible (never across the abdomen) 
and ensure that the diagonal belt passes 
across the shoulder without slipping off or 
pressing on the neck.
•DO NOT travel with the seat backs reclined 
steeply rearwards. Optimum benefit from 
the seat belt is obtained with the seat back 
set to an angle of 30 degrees from the 
upright (vertical). Seat belts are only 
effective when they are properly 
positioned on the body - a steeply reclined 
seat could allow a passenger to slip under 
either the shoulder or the lap belt.
•DO NOT wear the shoulder belt under your 
arm. In an accident this could increase 
your chances of being injured.
H3303 
						

							Seat Belts
42
Wearing seat belts during pregnancy
The seat belts have been designed for all adults, 
including pregnant women. In a crash situation 
any occupant is less likely to be injured while 
correctly restrained by a seat belt. However, 
pregnant women should wear the lap belt as 
low on the hips as possible to avoid pressure on 
the abdomen. 
Women should consult their doctor to establish 
the best use of seat belts during pregnancy.
Upper anchorage adjustment (5-door 
vehicle,front seats only) 
The height of the seat belt upper anchorage can 
be adjusted for comfort AND safety. Adjust the 
height of the anchorage point by pressing the 
button (arrowed in illustration). For safety, the 
seat belt should always be worn with the 
webbing crossing the shoulder MIDWAY 
BETWEEN THE NECK AND THE EDGE OF THE 
SHOULDER.
WARNING
Misadjustment of the seat belt could reduce 
its effectiveness in a crash. Always ensure 
that the anchorage is correctly located and 
properly locked in one of the height positions 
before driving and DO NOT adjust the height 
once the vehicle is in motion.
Where possible, rear seat passengers should 
adjust their position on the seat to enable the 
seat belt webbing to cross the shoulder without 
pressing on the neck.
WARNING
Always transport children 12 years and under 
in the back seats and always properly use 
appropriate child restraints.
For children that are too small to fit the 
3-point seat belt properly, the use of 
appropriate child safety seats or 
belt-positioning booster seats is 
recommended.
NOTE: For additional information, (see ‘CHILD 
RESTRAINTS FOR SMALL CHILDREN AND 
BABIES’, page 45).
Releasing the belt
Press the RED button on the seat belt buckle.
H2344A 
						

							Seat Belts
43
FRONT SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONERS
The seat belt pre-tensioners activate in 
conjunction with the airbag SRS and provide 
additional protection in the event of a severe 
frontal impact on the vehicle (see ‘HOW THE 
AIRBAG SRS WORKS’, page 51). The 
pre-tensioners reduce any slack in both the lap 
and diagonal portions of the belts, thereby 
reducing forward movement of the belt wearer 
in the event of a severe frontal collision.
The airbag SRS warning light on the instrument 
panel will alert you to any malfunction of the 
seat belt pre-tensioners.
If the pre-tensioners have been activated, the 
seat belts will still function as restraints, and 
must be worn in the event that the vehicle 
remains in a driveable condition.
NOTE: The seat belt pre-tensioners will NOT be 
activated by rear, side or minor frontal impacts.
WARNING
After the seat belt pre-tensioners have been 
activated once, they MUST BE REPLACED by a 
Land Rover retailer. Failure to replace the 
pre-tensioners will reduce the efficiency of 
the vehicles front restraint systems.
After any frontal impact, always have the seat 
belts and pre-tensioners checked and, if 
necessary, replaced by a Land Rover retailer.
In the interests of safety, it is recommended 
that removal or replacement of the front seats 
and seat belts, with the use of 
factory-specified parts, should ONLY be 
carried out by a Land Rover retailer.Service information
WARNING
DO NOT attempt to service, repair, replace, 
modify or tamper with any part of the 
pre-tensioner and airbag SRS, or wiring in the 
vicinity of a pre-tensioner or airbag SRS 
component; this could cause the system to 
activate, resulting in personal injury.
After a number of years from the original date 
of registration (or the installation date of a 
replacement pre-tensioners), some 
components will need to be replaced by a Land 
Rover retailer. These replacement dates are 
shown in the Passport to Service. 
In addition, ALWAYS contact your retailer if: 
•an airbag inflates.
•a pre-tensioner activates.
•the front or side of the vehicle is damaged, 
even if the pre-tensioner has not activated.  
						

							Seat Belts
44
CARE & MAINTENANCE OF SEAT BELTS
WARNING
•DO NOT allow foreign matter (particularly 
sugary food and drink particles) to enter 
the seat belt locks - such substances can 
render the locks inoperative.
•Regularly inspect the belt webbing for 
signs of fraying, cuts and wear, and also 
pay particular attention to the condition of 
the fixing points and adjusters. 
•DO NOT bleach or dye the webbing. Clean 
the webbing using warm water and 
non-detergent soap only - allow to dry 
naturally and DO NOT retract or use the 
belts until they are completely dry.
•Always replace a seat belt that shows 
signs of webbing wear or has withstood 
the strain of a severe vehicle impact. 
Testing inertia reel belts 
•With the seat belt fastened, give the 
webbing near the buckle a quick upward 
pull. The buckle must remain securely 
locked.
•With the seat belt unfastened, unreel the 
webbing to the limit of its travel. Check that 
unreeling is free from snatches and snags 
and then allow the belt to FULLY retract.
•Partially unreel the webbing, then hold the 
tongue plate and give it a quick forward pull. 
The mechanism must lock automatically 
and prevent any further unreeling.
If a seat belt should fail any of these tests, 
contact your retailer immediately. 
						

							Child Restraints
45
Child RestraintsCHILD RESTRAINTS FOR SMALL 
CHILDREN AND BABIES
Infants and children too small for adult seat 
belts should be restrained in a child safety seat 
or restraint system appropriate to their age 
and/or size. 
Child seats and restraint systems designed for 
your vehicle will be one of two types:
•Those secured in vehicle seats by the seat 
belts.
•‘LATCH’ type child restraints employing 
anchor bars built into the rear seat frame.
All new and most older type child restraint 
systems incorporate a tether strap which can 
be attached to an anchorage point on the 
vehicle. Information about tether strap 
attachment points and the seat belt locking 
mechanism, which is used to restrain child 
seats and restraints, is shown later in this 
section. 
CAUTION: When fitting child seats and restraint 
systems, always ensure that the 
manufacturers fitting instructions are followed 
exactly. Note that crash statistics show that 
children are safer when properly restrained in 
the rear seating positions than in the front.
CHILD RESTRAINTS FOR LARGER 
CHILDREN
In a situation where a child is too large to fit into 
a child safety seat, but is still too small to safely 
fit the 3 point seat belt properly, a booster seat 
is recommended for maximum safety. Follow 
the manufacturer’s fitting instructions exactly, 
then adjust the seat belt to suit. 
WARNING
•DO NOT allow a baby or infant to be carried 
on the lap. The force of a crash can 
increase effective body weight by as much 
as 30 times, making it impossible to hold 
on to the child.
•Children typically require the use of a 
booster seat appropriate to their age and 
size, thereby enabling the seat belts to be 
properly fitted, reducing the risk of injury 
in a crash.
•Children could be endangered in a crash if 
their child restraints are not properly 
secured in the vehicle.
•DO NOT use a child seat that hooks over 
the seat back. This type of seat cannot be 
satisfactorily secured, and is unlikely to 
be safe for your child.
•Never leave a child unattended in your 
vehicle. 
						

							Child Restraints
46
Vehicles fitted with a passenger airbag
Children under 12 years should travel in the 
rear of the vehicle at all times. Crash statistics 
show that children are safer when properly 
restrained in the rear seating positions than in 
the front. 
However, if it is essential that a child travel in 
the front, set the seat fully rearward and seat 
the child in an approved, FORWARD FACING 
child seat.
The above symbol affixed to the passenger side 
facia panel of your vehicle, warns against the 
use of a REAR FACING child seat in the front 
passenger seat, when a passenger airbag is 
fitted. This type of child seat could cause 
serious injury to a child in the event of an airbag 
deployment.
Take careful note of all labels concerning child 
restraint useage, attached to your vehicle.
WARNING
EXTREME HAZARD! Under no circumstances 
should a rearward-facing child seat be 
installed in any front passenger seat position. 
Inflation of the airbag could result in serious 
injury or death to the child.Seat belt locking mechanism
All front passenger and rear seat belts have a 
special locking mechanism which aids the 
securing of child restraints. The mechanism is 
used to secure a child restraint as follows:
1.Attach the seat belt to the child restraint in 
accordance with the manufacturers 
instructions.
2.Insert the metal tongue of the seat belt into 
the lock ensuring that it engages with a 
click.
3.Pull on the shoulder section of the belt 
until it is fully extended. 
4.Allow the belt to retract. A clicking sound 
will confirm that the mechanism has 
engaged.
5.Remove all slack from the mechanism, by 
pulling upwards on the shoulder belt, 
immediately above the child restraint.
6.Evaluate the tightness of the installation by 
rocking the child seat back and forth to 
ensure it is tight and stable.
7.If the child seat needs to be tightened 
further, remove the metal tongue of the 
seat belt from the buckle and feed some of 
the shoulder belt webbing back into the 
reel (thereby shortening the belt). Then 
re-attach the metal tongue into the buckle 
(if the belt has been tightened correctly, 
this will take some effort).
8.Re-evaluate the tightness of the 
installation. If the child seat is still too 
loose, repeat the above procedure, making 
the belt incrementally shorter (and 
therefore tighter). It may be necessary to 
put your weight onto the seat (to 
compress the seat cushion) in order to 
fasten the belt. 
To deactivate the locking mechanism, unlatch 
the seat belt and allow it to fully retract. 
						

							Child Restraints
47
TETHER STRAP ANCHORAGES
Provision is made for the fitting of up to three 
child seats or restraint systems in the rear 
seats, of the type that require tether strap 
anchorage points.
WARNING
Child restraint anchorages are designed to 
withstand only those loads imposed by 
correctly fitted child restraints. Under no 
circumstances should they be used for adult 
rear seat belts or for harnesses for attaching 
other items or equipment to the vehicle.There are three tether strap anchorage points. 
These should be used to attach tether straps 
from child seats or restraint systems. All three 
anchorage points are fitted to the back of the 
rear seat (shown in the accompanying 
illustration).
Attaching tether straps
1.Install the child restraint securely in one of 
the rear seating positions.
2.Pass the tether strap over the back of the 
vehicle seat and beneath the underside of 
the head restraint.
3.Attach the clip on the head of the tether 
strap to the tether anchor on the back of 
the vehicle seat.
4.Tighten the tether strap according to the 
manufacturer’s instructions to remove any 
slack in the webbing.
WARNING
•Always follow the child seat or restraint 
system manufacturer’s instructions when 
fitting tether straps.
•When fitting a child seat or restraint 
system, always pass the tether strap over 
the top of the seat back and beneath the 
underside of the head restraint.
•If a child seat or restraint system is to be 
fitted to the center seating position, the 
center armrest must be in the stowed 
position (folded into the seat).
H4240 
						

							Child Restraints
48
‘LATCH’ TYPE CHILD RESTRAINTS
‘LATCH’ (Lower Anchors and Tether for 
Children)
The ‘LATCH’ three-point type child restraint 
system complies with Federal Motor Vehicle 
Safety Standards and is approved for fitting in 
your vehicle.
Fitting the restraints
This type of child restraint system should only 
be fitted in the two outer seating positions of 
the second row seats. Anchor bars built into the 
rear seat frame enable ‘LATCH’ type restraints 
to be securely attached to the vehicle seat in 
these positions only. The anchor bar locations 
are shown in the illustration above.
Pass the tether strap over the top of the seat 
back and beneath the underside of the head 
restraint. Attach the clip on the head of the 
tether strap to the appropriate tether anchor 
and tighten the tether strap.WARNING
If the restraint is not correctly anchored, there 
is a significant risk of injury to the child, in the 
event of a collision or emergency braking.
DO NOT attempt to fit ‘LATCH’ type restraints 
to the center seating position - the anchor 
bars are designed to hold restraints in the 
outer seating positions only.
When fitting this type of child restraint, always 
follow the instructions supplied by the 
manufacturer of the restraint.
Once the restraint is installed, test the security 
of the installation before seating the child. 
Attempt to twist the restraint from side to side, 
and to pull the restraint away from the vehicle 
seat, then check that the anchors are still 
securely in place.
H4322 
						

							Airbag SRS
49
Airbag SRS
AIRBAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS)
The airbag supplemental restraint system 
(SRS) provides additional protection for the 
driver and front seat passenger, in the event of 
a severe frontal impact on the vehicle.
WARNING
Always remember; the SRS/airbags are a 
supplemental restraint system providing 
ADDITIONAL protection in certain types of 
frontal impact collisions only - they DO NOT 
replace the need to wear a seat belt. To 
reduce the risk of severe injury or death in the 
event of a crash, all occupants in all seating 
positions including the driver, should always 
wear their seat belt whether or not an airbag 
is present in that seating position!Provided the front seat occupants are correctly 
seated, with seat belts properly worn, the 
airbags will provide additional protection to the 
chest and facial areas in the event of the vehicle 
receiving a severe frontal impact.
NOTE: Inflation and deflation of the airbags 
takes place very quickly and will not protect 
against the effects of secondary impacts that 
can occur during multiple vehicle collisions.
The airbags are located in the center pad of the 
steering wheel and the facia panel above the 
glovebox.
H3362