Combi Avatar 8100 Series User manual

Avatar™8100 Series
Instruction Manual
Avatar™Convertible Car Seat
WARNING
Correct installation
and use can be a matter
of Life or Death! Read
and understand these
instructions before
using this car seat.
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Para instrucciones en Español,
llamar al: 1-800-992-6624.
•Certified for use in motor
vehicles and aircraft.
•Meets or exceeds all
applicable requirements
of Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard 213.
Combi USA • 1962 Hwy 160 West, #100 • Fort Mill, SC 29708
• Customer Service Telephone [phone]
• Se Habla Español 1-803-548-6633 •
Fax [phone] • www.combi-intl.com •
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time • Monday - Friday
©2004 Combi USA, Inc. ACS0903c
Keep this instruction manual for future use.
Store instruction manual inside pocket
on back of car seat.
Designed by Parents, for Parents

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Section 1 - Table of Contents
Section 1. Table of Contents.....................................................1
Section 2. Warnings.................................................................3
Section 3. Proper Use Check List.............................................5
Section 4. Avatar™Car Seat Parts...........................................7
Section 5. Use Recommendations...........................................9
Section 6. Selecting A Vehicle Seating Location....................12
Section 7. LATCH System.....................................................15
Section 8. Rear-facing Installation.........................................17
8a. • Rear-facing Installation With LATCH............18
8b. • Rear-facing Installation With
Vehicle Seat Belt...........................................25
Section 9. Forward-facing Installation...................................29
9a. • Forward-facing Installation With LATCH.......30
9b. • Forward-facing Installation
With Vehicle Seat Belt..................................36
Section 10. Securing Child In Car Seat....................................41
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Section 11. Operation and Adjustments
A. • Harness Use and Adjustment.......................45
B. • Changing Harness Positions.........................46
C. • Changing Crotch Strap Position...................49
D. • Infant Insert...................................................50
E. • Recline Position Adjustment.........................51
F. • Changing Forward-Facing/Rear-Facing
Use Position..................................................52
G. • LATCH - Changing Belt Path Location..........53
Section 12. Vehicle Seat Belts................................................54
Section 13. Additional Information
• Certification...................................................59
•Aircraft Use...................................................59
•Warm Weather..............................................59
•Vehicle Seat Protection.................................59
•Car Seat Useful Life......................................60
•Instructions Manual Storage.........................60
Section 14. Care and Cleaning................................................60
Section 15. Registration Information........................................62
Keep this instruction manual for future use.
Store instruction manual inside pocket
on back of car seat.

WARNING
3
Section 2 - Warnings
DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY can occur
•Failure to follow these instructions and car seat labels can
result in injury or death to a child from striking the vehicle’s
interior during a sudden stop or crash.
•Use only in a rear-facing position when using this car seat
with an infant less than one year old and weighing less than
20 pounds (9 kg).
•Use only with children who weigh between 5 and 40 pounds
(2.3 and 18 kg) and whose height is between 19 and 40 inches
(48 and 102 cm).
•Discontinue use when child’s weight exceeds 40 pounds
(18 kg) or shoulders are above the top shoulder belt slots.
•Snugly adjust harness provided with the car seat around child.
• For proper harness fit, infant insert MUST be used with small
infants.
•Secure this child restraint with the vehicle’s LATCH System if
available or with a vehicle seat belt as shown in this manual.
•LATCH System or vehicle seat belt MUST stay tightly adjusted
around car seat at all times.
•Secure the top anchor strap provided with this child restraint
as specified in this instruction manual.
•Securely belt this car seat in vehicle, even when not occupied.
An unsecured car seat can injure other occupants in a crash.
4
•Never leave child unattended, even when sleeping.
•Strangulation Hazard: Child can strangle in loose harness
straps. Never leave child in car seat when straps are loose or
undone.
•DONOT use accessories or parts other than those provided by
COMBI International Corporation. Use of accessories or parts
from other manufacturers could alter the performance of the
car seat.
•DONOT use car seat if it has been in a crash, it must be
replaced. A crash can cause unseen damage and using it
again could result in serious injury or death.
•DONOT use car seat if it is damaged, missing instructions, or
missing parts.
•Register your child restraint with the manufacturer.
Proper Use Is Required:
No car seat can guarantee protection from injury in every
situation, but proper use helps reduce the risk of serious injury or
death.

5
Section 3 - Proper Use Check List
•Proper use is required. Read and understand instructions
and car seat labels.
•Securely install car seat with LATCH System or vehicle seat
belt and top tether strap.
•Snugly adjust harness around child.
•Infants less than one year old and 20 lbs. (9 kg) must use
car seat rear-facing.
•Do not use car seat rear-facing in vehicle front seating
location with an air bag.
•Secure children in back seat whenever possible.
•Never leave child unattended.
•Do not allow anyone (babysitter, relatives, etc.) to use car
seat without first understanding all instructions.
6
Need help installing your infant car seat?
Contact one of the following sources to locate a child safety
seat inspection station in your area:
•Your vehicle dealer.
• Call 1-866-SEAT CHECK (1-866-732-8243).
•Visit www.nhtsa.dot.gov and select “Child Seat
Inspections”.
•Visit www.seatcheck.org.
•Contact a certified child passenger safety technician in
your area. To locate a certified “Child Passenger
Safety” Technician in your area visit www.nhtsa.dot.gov
and select “Child Passenger Safety” and then select
“Technician Contact Locator”.

7
Section 4 - Avatar™Car Seat Parts
Chest Clip Buckle Tongues
Harness
Adjuster Lever
Crotch Strap
with Buckle
Harness
Adjuster Strap
Shoulder Harness
Recline Lever
(Red handle under
front of seat)
Shoulder
Harness
Slots
Shoulder Harness Cover
Infant Insert
Avatar™8100 Series
Instruction Manual
Avatar™Convertible Car Seat
WARNING
CMBI
®
Correct installation
and use can be a matter
of Life or Death! Read
and understand these
instructions before
using this car seat.
L
A
T
C
H
L
o
w
e
r
A
n
c
h
o
r
s
a
n
d
T
e
t
h
e
r
s
f
o
r
C
H
i
l
d
r
e
n
Para instrucciones en Español,
llamar al: 1-800-992-6624.
•Certified for use in motor
vehicles and aircraft.
•Meets or exceeds all
applicable requirements
of Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard 213.
8
ACS11
ACS11
ACS15
Top
Tether
Strap
Forward-facing
Belt Path
Rear-facing
Belt Path
Rear-facing
Level Indicator
Lower Anchor
Belt and Connector
Top
Tether
Hook
Instruction Manual
Storage Pocket
Metal Harness
Strap Clip Adjuster
Strap
Loop
Upper
Base
Lower
Base
Recline
Indicator
Use Position
Indicator
Use Position
Indicator
LATCH Connector
Storage Ring
Instruction
Manual

9
Section 5 - Use Recommendations
Height and Weight Limits:
This child restraint is designed for use only by children whose:
-Weight is between 5 and 40 pounds (2.3 and 18 kg) and,
-Height is between 19 and 40 inches (48 and 102 cm).
Infants With Special Needs
Apreterm infant or low birth weight infant may be at special risk
traveling reclined in a vehicle or aircraft. According to the American
Academy of Pediatrics, these infants may be at increased risk of
suffering breathing or other difficulties if improperly reclined or
positioned in a car seat.
Have your physician or hospital staff evaluate your infant in this car
seat before you and your infant leave the hospital. If your infant is
not able to travel in a reclined position, DO NOT use this car seat.
Use a car bed for your infant.
WARNING
DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY can occur
•Children less than one year old and 20 lbs. (9 kg) must use this
car seat rear-facing. Serious crippling injury or death can
result if infant faces front of vehicle.
10
Rear-facing Use: 5 to 30 lbs. (2.3 to 13.6 kg)
•Infants less than one year old and 20 lbs. (9 kg) MUST be
rear-facing.
•Infants or toddlers 20 to 30 lbs. (9 to 13.6 kg) may be
rear-facing.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping
children over 1 year of age rear-facing as long as possible.
IMPORTANT: This car seat is certified for use rear-facing with
children up to 30 lbs. (13.6 kg). However, some children
approaching 30 lbs. (13.6 kg) may be too tall to fit comfortably
rear-facing. When child can no longer comfortably fit and knees
remain bent, child can use car seat forward-facing only if child is
over one year old and 20 lbs. (9 kg) and can sit upright
unassisted.
Rear-facing Use
40 lbs.
(18 kg)
5 lbs.
(2.3 kg)
30 lbs.
(13.6 kg)
20 lbs.
(9 kg)

11
Forward-facing Use: 20 to 40 lbs. (9 to 18 kg)
•Toddlers 20 to 30 lbs. (9 to 13.6 kg), over one year of age,
and who are capable of sitting upright unassisted may be
forward-facing. If unable to sit unassisted, use rear-facing.
•Toddlers 30 to 40 lbs. (13.6 to 18 kg) and up to 40 inches
(102 cm) tall MUST be forward-facing.
Forward-facing Use
One Year or Older
40 lbs.
(18 kg)
5 lbs.
(2.3 kg)
30 lbs.
(13.6 kg)
20 lbs.
(9 kg)
WARNING
DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY can occur
•To avoid injuries from whiplash, top of child’s ears must be
below top edge of car seat.
•Child’s shoulders MUST not be above top harness slots.
12
Section 6 - Selecting A Vehicle Seating Location
WARNING
DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY can occur
•DONOT use this child restraint rear-facing in a vehicle front
seating location with an air bag. Child’s head and neck may be
seriously injured when an inflating air bag hits back of child
restraint.
•Never put a car seat in a vehicle front seating location unless
recommended by vehicle owner’s manual.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) alerts
vehicle owners that according to accident statistics, children up to
age 12 are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating
positions rather than the front seating positions.
DO NOT use car seat on vehicle seats which face
the side (fig. a) or face the rear (fig. b) of the
vehicle.
1
2
(fig. a)
(fig. b)

Refer to vehicle owner’s manual for car seat installation instructions
for your vehicle.
-Use car seat in a rear vehicle seat location whenever possible.
-Never put a car seat in a front seat location unless
recommended by vehicle owner’s manual.
-DONOT use rear-facing
on front seat with an
air bag.
-For vehicles with air bags,
refer to vehicle owner’s
manual for child restraint
installation information.
-For a toddler over one year old and forward-facing, if a vehicle
front seat location with an air bag must be used, follow the
vehicle manufacturer’s instructions for child restraint use and
move the vehicle seat back as far as possible.
13
3
DO NOT place rear-facing child seat
on front seat with air bag. DEATH OR
SERIOUS INJURY can occur.
The back seat is the safest place for
children 12 and under.
NO coloque el asiento infantil para el automóvil orientado hacia
atrás en el asiento delantero del vehículo que tenga una bolsa
neumática de seguridad. El niño podría MORIR O SUFRIR
LESIONES GRAVES. El asiento trasero es el lugar más seguro
para los niños de 12 años o menores.
WARNING
14
Options For Securing ACar Seat:
This car seat can be secured to a vehicle using a vehicle seat belt
or the new LATCH System.
1. LATCH System:
LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren.
Starting with model year 2003 vehicles are equipped
with LATCH Systems. See “LATCH System” section
for more information. Check vehicle owner’s manual
to determine if your vehicle has the LATCH System
that may be identified with the symbol in fig. c.
Some vehicle owner’s manuals may identify the LATCH
System as “ISOFIX”. An ISOFIX System can be used in the
same way as the LATCH System.
If your vehicle has the LATCH System, the LATCH System
should be used whenever possible.
2. Vehicle Seat Belt and Top Tether Strap:
If your vehicle does not have LATCH System, the car seat
MUST be secured to the vehicle using a vehicle seat belt and
top tether strap.
Check vehicle owner’s manual for seating locations
recommended for car seat use and location of top tether
anchorage.
Top Tether Information:
If a top tether anchor is not available in your vehicle, the car
seat MUST be secured with only the vehicle seat belt until a top
tether anchor can be installed.
(fig. c)

15
Section 7 - LATCH System
(fig. b)
(fig. a)
2
3
1
21
LATCH System On This Car Seat:
The LATCH System on the Avatar Car Seat consists
of a lower anchor belt with lower anchor connectors
and for forward-facing use, a top tether strap with
tether hook (fig. a).
Rear-facing car seat installation typically uses only the
lower anchor belt with lower anchor connectors
(fig. b), no top tether.
Securing Car Seat To Vehicle:
The lower anchor connectors and top tether
hook on the car seat connect to the LATCH
System in a vehicle.
2
3
3
1
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2
16
LATCH System In Vehicles:
Child restraint anchorage system or LATCH
System in the vehicle consists of two lower
anchors located at the vehicle seat bight
and a top tether anchor (fig. c). Refer to
vehicle owner’s manual for seating locations
which have the LATCH System.
Lower anchors are visible in some vehicles
and others are not. Those that are not visible
are identified by a solid color round dot on the
vehicle upholstery or a round dot with a picture
of a car seat in the center as shown in fig. d.
The vehicle manufacturer may provide funnel guides
to separate the vehicle seat cushions providing easier
access to the lower anchorage. See vehicle owner’s manual.
5
6
4
(fig. c)
6
4
5
(fig. d)

17
Section 8 - Rear-facing Installation
Rear-facing For Use 5 to 30 Pounds (2.3 to 13.6 kg)
WARNING
DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY can occur
•DONOT use this car seat rear-facing in a vehicle front seating
location with an air bag.
•LATCH or vehicle seat belt MUST be routed though rear-facing
belt path when using car seat rear-facing.
•Rear-facing car seat must be properly reclined:
-Too reclined can result in injury or ejection.
-Too upright can result in breathing difficulties.
18
Section 8a - Rear-facing Installation With LATCH
WARNING
DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY can occur
•LATCH belt MUST stay tightly adjusted around car seat at all
times.
•Only use the car seat LATCH System in vehicle seating
locations designated by the vehicle manufacturer for use with
LATCH and have an anchor spacing of 11 inches (280 mm).
•LATCH connectors must be secured to the vehicle LATCH
anchors only. Connection to other vehicle anchors or vehicle
components could result in the anchor tearing free in a crash.
•Never attach more than one lower anchor connector to a
vehicle lower anchor unless recommended by the vehicle
owner’s manual for that vehicle.
Refer to vehicle owner’s manual to identify the seating locations
with LATCH System. Select the seating location to be used and
locate the vehicle lower anchors at the seat bight.
LATCH Anchorages with 11 inch (280 mm) spacing may not be
available in your vehicle in the rear center seating position. If
use of the rear center position is preferred, use the vehicle seat
belt to secure the car seat. See “Rear-facing Installation With
Vehicle Seat Belt” section.
1