Safety Belt System (Description and Operation)

WARNING: All safety belt assemblies include retractors, buckles, front seat belt buckle support assemblies (slide bar, if so equipped), shoulder belt height adjuster (if equipped), child safety seat tether bracket assemblies (if equipped) and attaching hardware should be inspected after any collision. Ford recommends new safety belt assemblies be installed unless a qualified technician finds the assemblies show no damage and operate correctly. Safety belt assemblies not in use during a collision should also be inspected and new assemblies installed if either damage or incorrect operation is noted.

WARNING: Each seating position in the vehicle has a specific safety belt assembly which consists of one buckle and one tongue. The safety belt assembly is designed to be used as a pair and is not to be used across seating positions.

A continuous-loop, single retractor active restraint system is used on this vehicle for both the front seats and the rear seats.

Safety Belt, Lap/Shoulder-Dual Locking Mode

WARNING: Rear-facing infant seats should never be placed in the front seats. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.

The dual locking mode retractor on the shoulder belt portion of the combination lap/shoulder safety belt for the front seat passenger and rear seat outboard passengers operates in two ways:

1. In the vehicle-sensitive (emergency locking) mode, the shoulder belt retractor will allow the occupant freedom of movement, locking tightly only on hard braking, hard cornering or impacts of approximately 8 km/h (5 mph) or more. The front and rear outboard safety belt retractors can also be made to lock by pulling/jerking on the belt.

2. In the automatic locking mode, the shoulder belt retractor locks automatically and remains locked when the combination lap/shoulder safety belt is buckled, restricting occupant movement. This mode provides tight lap/shoulder belt fit on the occupant and on a child safety seat or infant carrier installation restraint.

When the combination lap/shoulder belt is unbuckled and allowed to retract completely, the retractor switches to the vehicle sensitive (emergency) locking mode.

The automatic locking mode must be used when installing a child safety seat on the front passenger seat and rear outboard seats where dual locking retractors are provided.

Safety Belt Warning System

The safety belt warning indicator illuminates and a chime sounds to remind the occupants to fasten their safety belts.

The conditions of operation for the safety belt warning indicator and chime are as follows:

• If the driver safety belt is not buckled before the ignition switch is turned to ON, then the safety belt warning indicator illuminates for one to two minutes and the warning chime sounds for four to eight seconds.
• If the driver safety belt is buckled while the warning indicator is illuminated and the reminder chime is sounding, then the safety belt warning indicator and reminder chime turn off.
• If the driver safety belt is buckled before the ignition switch is turned to ON, then the safety belt warning light will turn on for 3 seconds and then off. The indicator chime will remain off.

Belt Minder (if equipped)

The Belt Minder feature is a supplemental warning to the safety belt warning function. This feature provides additional reminders to the driver that the driver's safety belt is unbuckled by intermittently sounding a chime and illuminating the safety belt warning lamp in the instrument cluster.

Safety Belt Extension

A safety belt that is too short even when fully extended can be lengthened. The safety belt extension (611C22) is available. This assembly will add approximately 20 cm (8 inches) to the length of the safety belt. Use the safety belt extension only if the safety belt is too short when fully extended. Do not use the safety belt extension to alter the fit of the shoulder belt across the torso. Safety belt extensions are available at no cost from any authorized Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer.

Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)

The lower anchors and tethers for children (LATCH) system is a standarized and uniform attachment system for installing child safety seats in passenger vehicles. LATCH-equipped child safety seats have two lower attachments that connect to the vehicle portion of the LATCH system.

The vehicle portion of the system consists of two attachment points (6-mm wires) bolted to the floor pan at both second row outboard seating positions. The attachment points protrude from the biteline between the seat cushion and seat backrest.

If a child safety seat was in use during a collision, inspect the vehicle portion of the system for damage. If any of the attachment points (6-mm wires) are damaged, a new one must be installed. See the appropriate removal and installation procedure in this section for service.

Attaching Safety Seats with Tether Straps

Some manufacturers make child safety seats that include a tether strap that goes over the back of the vehicle seat and attaches to an anchoring point. Other manufacturers offer the tether strap as an accessory. Contact the manufacturer of the child safety seat for information about ordering a tether strap.

WARNING: It is important that the bolt/anchor be securely tightened to specification.

Instructions for installing the child safety belt anchor tether kit are included in the kit with the tether attachment.